Grand Confucians Target Him, a Commandery Prince Rages, Xu Qingxiao's Fury, the Pingqiu Relief Case [Bonus chapter for Most Innocent]

When Xu Qingxiao left the imperial palace, he still looked bewildered.

He simply could not figure out why the Great Wei Female Emperor had summoned him.

Had she really just wanted to ask whether he had eaten?

That made no sense.

Could she have wanted a closer look at his peerless good looks?

Xu Qingxiao was genuinely curious. Everyone said the sovereign's intentions were unfathomable, but surely this was a little too unfathomable?

He did not dwell on it. Xu Qingxiao would return to the inn first.

Meanwhile.

Inside the Great Wei Literary Palace.

Three Grand Confucians sat in the Inner Hall.

They were Chen Zhengru, Sun Jing'an, and Zhengming.

"At court today, His Majesty intended to assign Xu Qingxiao to our Ministry of Personnel, but ultimately changed it to the Ministry of Punishment. What do you two make of this?"

Chen Zhengru spoke, posing the question to them.

"His Majesty proposed sending him to our Ministry of Personnel merely to advance by retreating. Of the six ministries, Personnel, Revenue, and War are the most important."

"However, His Majesty would never send Xu Qingxiao to the Ministry of War. Great Wei cannot launch the Northern Expedition, and Xu Qingxiao lacks the talent for the Ministry of Revenue."

"That leaves the Ministry of Personnel. But entering it immediately upon joining the court clearly would not work either. After weighing the options, the Ministry of Punishment was the best choice."

"Still, logically speaking, no matter how talented Xu Qingxiao is, he should not have been assigned an official post directly. In theory, he should have gone there as a records clerk. Instead, he has immediately become a section chief of the Subordinate Seventh Rank."

"All I can say is that His Majesty played this move well."

Sun Jing'an spoke, dissecting the matter