Chapter 38

"Give it back. Don't take other people's things; that's not right."

"Xiaojiu and I are no strangers." An empty food box was placed between the siblings. Nian Youyu wiped his mouth with his sleeve as he spoke, "There's no reason for this government to take back what it has sent. Lunchtime is over, and the Six Ministries have a meeting to discuss. I'll take my leave now, Xiaojiu."

"..." Don't talk to her brother like a husband telling his wife what to do when he's at work!

Wait, wait, wait! He just said the Six Ministries have a meeting? Given her current status, doesn't that mean she has to rush to the meeting immediately?

"Lord Nian!"

"..." He turned around, raising an eyebrow in displeasure, indicating that she should speak if she had something to say.

"Um... which room is the Six-Ministry Review in...? I don't really know it. Could I hitch a ride with you there?"

"What does the meeting of the Six Ministries have to do with you?"

"... Because... it seems I was just shut down by the Minister of Works..."

She scratched her head awkwardly, not daring to look into Zhu Xiaojiu's wide eyes, and could only chuckle ingratiatingly.

"... The newly appointed Minister of Works? It's you...!"

Author's Note:

Mwah mwah mwah! Thank you Yuqi, Yunyun, Xiaozhi, Shisi, and Qiyi, I love you all!

Almost there! Only two or three more chapters until the first volume ends QAQ

Volume Two will be here soon!

Chapter 39, Chapter Thirty-Eight

"Hehe, yes, yes... that's me."

"--This kind of stuff." (This is a continuation of the previous sentence.)

"..." What do you mean by "she's like that"? She was completely framed by Your Majesty.

"Hmph... but—in some ways, he's quite suitable." Nian Youyu sized Zhu Bafu up and down, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. "You don't need to attend the Six Ministries meeting."

"Huh? We're both under the Six Ministries Commander Mansion, so why don't I have to go?"

"Because we're too busy."

"Too busy? I have absolutely nothing to do right now. By the way, what exactly does the Minister of Works do? And what did that gentleman from before do?" It has to be said that among the Six Ministries Eastern Order, the other ministries are all filled with real power, but this Minister of Works of the Minister of Works is practically invisible. No one knows what he's busy with; he seems like a ghost. It seems this position might just be a sinecure. Perhaps His Your Majesty is indirectly increasing her salary?

"It seems you have no idea what the position in the Minister of Works is—" Nian Youyu slowly raised the Wide Sleeves of his patched-up scholar's Confucian Robe and pointed to the west wing, "That's where you work."

The Library Pavilion in the west wing? Wasn't it supposed to have burned down in a fire a few months ago?

Now all that's left is a mess of broken bricks and sloping tiles, crumbling wooden planks and blackened walls. Every time I go home from school, I have to take a special detour to avoid it. To say that this is where she works? What a joke! Does she think I don't know what the Ministry of Works is?

The Ministry of Works is in charge of engineering, craftsmen, land reclamation, water conservancy, transportation... Don't try to fool her with such official rhetoric!

"Lord Zhu, ten shi of coarse sand and ten shi of fine sand, please sign for receipt."

"Lord Zhu, has the imperial court approved the construction of the New Library Pavilion using cedar wood?"

"Lord Zhu, could you please pass me those two mud buckets?"

"Lord Zhu, those bricks over there, yes, those few, please pick them up and put them on those steps over there."

"Lord Zhu, could you please take care of the stone bricks over there as well?"

Compared to Ministry of Rites Ministry of Revenue Rites, which could easily get things done with just a word; compared to the Ministry of War, which amassed wealth through its abacus; compared to the Ministry of War, which was domineering and held immense military power; compared to the Ministry of Ministry of Punishments, which wielded the power to judge right and wrong; and compared to the Ministry of Ministry of Personnel, which commanded the five ministries and could turn the tide of history with a single sentence, deciding someone's career path, what exactly was the Ministry of Works?

They are the laborers who move things around, carry buckets, transport wood, and silently help others repair houses by hammering and banging!

She finally understood why the Minister of Works had been completely invisible during the Six-Ministry Review and the enrollment of new students—because they were genuinely absent! They were all huddled in the junkyard, doing manual labor, and had no time to show off in front of them!

No wonder he showed no regrets after stepping down from his Commander Mansion, handing over the position and all his work to her without a word...

Holding the blueprints for repairing the Library Pavilion, Zhu Bafu looked at them from left to right but couldn't understand them. Looking up, she could only awkwardly laugh as she watched the Academy Student from the Ministry of Works waiting expectantly for her approval.

"These blueprints—"

"The blueprints were designed before the Commander Mansion Governor was transferred. This is the outer structure, and this is the inner structure. Lord Zhu take a look and see if there are any modifications needed. Please let me know so I can make the necessary changes promptly."

The Ministry of Works Academy Student holding the blueprints had a kind face, which made Zhu Bafu even more uneasy. He hoped she would offer some ridiculous suggestions for improvement. She was just a street urchin who made a living writing love letters for others. She could manage to write some pretentious lyrics and compose some cheesy songs, showing off her petty cleverness. But to put in charge of building houses? Forget about her! She's a scourge on the country!

What kind of favor is this? It's just a cruel joke on her!

She shouldn't have been so kind as to comfort Your Majesty! Serves you right for being so talkative! She slapped herself in frustration, her heart pounding.

"Lord Zhu? Lord Zhu? Are you alright, Lord Zhu?"

"Uh?" Stopping her self-pity, she coughed twice. "Ahem—the blueprints are excellent, excellent. Just continue building; I don't need any changes. You can handle the blueprints yourself; don't ask me. I'll just focus on this."

With that, she bent down and picked up the white jade brick at her feet. "I can still help with moving stone bricks and carrying buckets of water."

The white jade brick in her hand was smooth and lustrous, but it was also quite heavy. Two of them stacked together were enough to make her break out in a sweat and the base sink. Since she was a worker in the Ministry of Works and couldn't read the blueprints, she could only do more manual labor.