Whoa!
A red wish already?
If I remember correctly, a red wish should be in the one-hundred comprehension value tier.
Zhao Ci was a bit puzzled. 'Doesn't that Old Deng, Zhao Huan, know what I'm capable of? How could he possibly want me to open my own office?'
In Great Yu, "opening an office" was somewhat similar to the concept from the ancient times of his past life, but not entirely the same.
In his past life, "opening an office" was like what the Grand General of Celestial Strategy, Li Er, did. It was equivalent to establishing a small court, appointing your own officials—a privilege for subjects who had reached the pinnacle of power.
Opening an office in Great Yu also involved recruiting one's own officials, but it was on a completely different level. One could only grant the lowest-ranking official posts.
Any member of the Imperial Family in the capital between the ages of sixteen and eighteen could open an office. This included everyone from Princes to Prince Heirs and even a Prince's Heirs. They could recruit officials from among their peers in the major clans and those who had passed the imperial examinations. Then, they would enter the grassroots level of government, taking on tasks issued by the four ministries—Households, Works, Punishments, and War—to accumulate merit.
The merit accumulated during this period could be exchanged for extremely generous Cultivation Resources. Ultimately, it could even be traded for core official positions in Lingge and the territories of the various great clans.
The system of opening offices had existed since the founding of Great Yu and played a huge role in its development.
First, the system was like a youth training camp. Those who could rise from the grassroots level possessed outstanding administrative skills.
Second, Great Yu was surrounded by powerful enemies. The stability of its borders heavily relied on the fiefdoms of the seven great Merit Clans. These fiefdoms held immense local power. While they stabilized the frontiers, they also had the potential to carve out their own kingdoms.
To limit their power, the Imperial Family would designate direct descendants from the seven great clans to study at the Great Yu Academy Palace each year. In reality, they were Hostages, though the treatment and atmosphere were much better. Since they also had their families' businesses to manage in Lingge, the arrangement was rather harmonious.
These individuals grew up in Lingge and studied at the Academy Palace run by the Imperial Family, so they developed a strong sense of belonging to the Imperial Family.
Then, through the system of opening offices, they would form communities of shared interest and deep bonds with members of the Imperial Family. As long as they achieved sufficient political merit, they could, according to the rules, exchange it for key positions that the clans had offered as tribute to the Court. They would then return to their fiefdoms to take up their posts, maintaining contact with their corresponding Imperial Family member.
Generation after generation, the Imperial Family's lines of control within the seven great clans became deeply intertwined, allowing them to easily manipulate and balance the clans' internal power.
The military power of the fiefdoms remained incredibly fierce, yet they lacked the capacity to rebel.
Moreover, there were many emotional ties at play, and with the constant major external threats, the seven great clans and the Imperial Family were quite united in the grand scheme of things.
Of course!
This was all based on two conditions.
The first and foremost condition was that the Imperial Family had to consistently produce talented individuals.
Therefore, the Zhao Imperial Family was exceptionally competitive, and the Imperial Clan Court's rules were extremely strict.
It wasn't that slackers like the old Zhao Ci didn't exist, but they could never hold any real power. Their Cultivation Resources would be restricted, and even if they were enfeoffed as a Prince and sent to a fiefdom, their noble title would be severely downgraded with each generation. In less than five generations, they would be reduced to commoners.
Even though Zhao Huan's love for Zhao Ci was boundless, he couldn't break this rule. This led to the strange situation where Zhao Ci, despite being favored by the Emperor, was looked down upon by many.
The other point.
Was that with so many talented people in the Imperial Family, their ambitions for the throne had to be suppressed as much as possible. Otherwise, chaos could easily erupt.
In all these generations, the Fourth Prince was the only exception.
But there was nothing to be done about it. The year he and the Crown Prince opened their offices, his merits completely crushed the Crown Prince's throughout the entire process.
So.
In summary, opening an office was a game for the elite.
'Why would that Old Deng, Zhao Huan, want a good-for-nothing like me to open an office?'
Zhao Ci was genuinely confused, but when he thought about Zhao Yong's behavior today, he seemed to understand something.
'That Old Deng... he seems to be in a real hurry to make people hate me.'
Whatever!
A look of pleasant surprise appeared on Zhao Huan's face. "Ci, you want to open an office?"
Zhao Ci put on a hesitant expression. "I've had the thought, but I'm feeling apprehensive, so I came specifically to ask for your guidance, Father!"
"It's not that difficult to open an office, really!"
Zhao Huan smiled and explained the details of opening an office. It was mostly information Zhao Ci already knew, but the Emperor embellished the process, making it sound not difficult at all and full of benefits.
Zhao Ci listened with immense excitement, pounding his chest and stomping his feet as if he couldn't wait to reach the pinnacle of his life.
Finally, he couldn't help but ask, "Father! Do you think... I can do it?"
Zhao Huan's expression was serious. "You are my son, Zhao Huan's son! If a son of Zhao Huan cannot open an office, then whose son can?"
Oh my god!
'Talk about a convincing argument!'
Zhao Ci nodded. "Then... I shall open an office?"
As if afraid Zhao Ci was being impulsive.
Zhao Huan asked again, "Ci, are you sure?"
Zhao Ci's expression was grave. "I'm sure! I must open an office. Ever since I was little, everyone has considered me your worst son, Father. They all think I can't do anything but play with birds and walk dogs!
"I don't want to prove anything to them. I just want to do something for you, Father!
"I thought about it for a long time after I went home earlier.
"Since I've decided to stay in Lingge, I should properly serve you with filial piety and help ease your burdens, Father!"
The words nearly made Zhao Ci himself want to puke. He couldn't help but marvel internally, 'My acting is actually this good.'
Zhao Huan seemed a bit lost in thought as he listened, a flicker of guilt even showing in his eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.
"Good!"
He stood up abruptly and turned to the eunuch beside him. "Xiaolizi! Go post an imperial edict outside the palace. Announce that my Ci is opening an office! Tell the ambitious youth of Lingge not to miss this recruitment!"
"Yes!"
Eunuch Li's expression was a little strange.
'These days, even Zhao Ci is opening an office?'
But he didn't say anything more, simply scurrying out of the Imperial Palace with quick, small steps.
[System Prompt]: Wish completed. Reward received: Comprehension Value +100, Courage Talisman x1.
[Courage Talisman]: When applied to a target, their courage increases without limit, and their mind becomes dominated by courage.
Whoa!
'A Rash Man Talisman! I like it!'
"Ci, is there anything else?"
"Nothing else, Father!"
"Then you may go. After you open your office, you'll still have to handle the recruitment yourself. The rules of Great Yu are strict. It was already a bit out of line for me to post an imperial edict!"
"I understand, Father. Thank you!"
"Go on, then!"
"Yes!"
Zhao Ci bowed and prepared to leave. Just as he was about to go, he suddenly turned back. "Oh, right, Father. When I went to pay my respects to Mother Consort this morning, I got the feeling that the Royal Pill Workshop has great potential. It's just that Mother Consort is working too hard. Could you perhaps send her some more restorative supplements?"
Zhao Huan smiled and nodded. "Rest assured! I am more concerned about your mother consort than you are. Now, go back!"
A new wish appeared.
[Zhao Huan's Current Wish]: Hope that Gu Xiangzhu can successfully disrupt the Gongdan Conference and create an opening for the Royal Pill Workshop. Wish Completion Reward: Comprehension Value +1000, Imperial Extreme Scattering Hand.
Hmm?
'Isn't Gu Xiangzhu busy with the Royal Pill Workshop?'
And!
'Zhao Huan knows her real name, which means he knows her true identity as a member of the Demon Sect.'
'That makes sense. Zhao Huan is a Heroic Lord, the likes of which is seen once a century. How could he not even know the identity of his own Consort?'
'But why would he allow a woman from the Demon Sect to take the place of his Noble Consort?'
Zhao Ci didn't understand!
This man, Zhao Huan, acted like a loving father in front of him—an ordinary, couldn't-be-more-ordinary loving father.
And yet, every single one of his actions had an unfathomable quality to it.
That was what made him so terrifying.
However, after uncovering a part of the inside story, he felt much more at ease.
He left the Imperial Study and went straight out of the Imperial Palace.
When he reached the main gate, he saw that, sure enough, the wish on Huang Duzhe's forehead had changed.
[Huang Duzhe's Current Wish]: I can't hold it anymore, I really have to go to the latrine! Wish Completion Reward: Comprehension Value +1, On-Spot Relief Charm x1.
Good grief!
'You knew you had a small bladder, and you still downed two bowls of Yangzhi Ganlu?'
Zhao Ci went up and patted his shoulder. "Old Huang! Where's the latrine? Let's go together!"
Huang Duzhe was incredibly moved. "Your Highness! Your memory is bad, too! I just took you there this morning, and you've already forgotten!"
Zhao Ci: "???"
'If it weren't for the sake of that On-Spot Relief Charm, I really wouldn't want to talk to someone with such low emotional intelligence.'
...
「The imperial edict was posted.」
The Tenth Prince was opening an office. The news sent ripples through the capital.
Zhao Ci had always been favored by the Emperor. Even back when he was useless in both literary and martial pursuits, some had suspected the Emperor had other plans for him.
Now, he had even gone out of his way to post an imperial edict to recruit officials for Zhao Ci.
It was impossible to stop people from letting their imaginations run wild.
For a time, an undercurrent of turmoil surged through Lingge.
The first person to be affected was Zhao Ci's fake mother consort—Gu Xiangzhu.
「In the afternoon.」
"Your Majesty! Lady Jing requests an audience!"
"Let her in!"
A moment later, Gu Xiangzhu gracefully walked in.
Zhao Huan immediately dismissed the eunuchs and Palace Maids from the Imperial Study and had them close the doors.
"My dear consort, you've come!"
"I'm here!"
Gu Xiangzhu's expression was cold. "I can understand that you dote on Zhao Ci and don't want to send him to a fiefdom. But why did you allow him to open an office?
"His staying in Lingge only invites jealousy and was already affecting the expansion of my Sect's enterprises. What do you mean by allowing him to open an office now?
"Emperor! Have you completely forgotten the deal you made with my Sect all those years ago?"