Discussion

He continued walking towards the east wing, "Come with me, but don't go in yet. Wait outside. When I tell you to do something, just do it. Don't talk too much or ask too many questions. If anyone asks you anything, just say you don't know, that it was an order from an adult."

"Yes, yes," Qin Wang replied repeatedly, following Guan Jian'an to the east wing corridor. He stopped and watched Guan Jian'an enter a room in the center.

"Uncle Chen." Upon entering the room, Guan Jian'an bowed to a man who appeared to be around fifty years old.

The man was of medium height, with a thin face and a goatee. He was looking down at a book. Hearing someone call him, he turned around, glanced at the book, and then smiled, "It's Jian'an! Come, sit down. How have you been lately? How's your mother?"

"Okay, okay, thanks to you."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Chen Kang asked, "What brings you here now? I heard that Lord Liu assigned you to serve the newly arrived Magistrate Zhao?"

Guan Jian'an was able to stay in the government office thanks to Chen Kang. Chen Kang was one of the people Guan Jian'an's father protected back then. Before the prefect was promoted, he repeatedly instructed Chen Kang to take care of Guan Jian'an's family and left Guan Jian'an some money. Chen Kang was also a grateful person and had been protecting Guan Jian'an under his wing all these years.

The Guan family was also grateful. They didn't consider themselves benefactors, and were very grateful for Chen Kang's care. Whenever the Guan family cooked something delicious, Guan Jian'an's mother would send some to Chen Kang's wife to try.

Therefore, the two families usually get along like relatives, and they visit each other frequently.

Those who had spent a considerable amount of time in the government office knew about their relationship.

The information Xiao Lingyan gave to Zhao Ruxi also mentioned this relationship.

"Yes." Guan Jian'an gave a wry smile and repeated what Zhao Ruxi had just told him.

Then he asked, "Uncle Chen, what do you think I should do? I didn't expect Lord Liu to summon me and assign me to Lord Zhao. Lord Zhao didn't give me time to think when he was questioning me, and I couldn't even come back to discuss it with you. I agreed on a whim."

Chen Kang didn't answer, but instead frowned and said, "You don't really want to follow that Lord Zhao, do you? She's a noble lady, and of marriageable age. She might only serve here for half a year before leaving. Once she's gone, Lord Cai will take over Lord Liu's position. How will you handle that?"

"You!" He pointed at Guan Jian'an with a reproachful finger, "Lord Liu probably only assigned you to serve under Lord Zhao because Lord Cai was too arrogant. On the surface, it seems that it's because you're weak and sickly and incompetent, and you don't serve any other official, so he assigned you. But in reality, it's to give Lord Cai a warning."

He spoke intimately, but a hint of annoyance flashed in his eyes.

"Ah?" Guan Jian'an panicked. "At the time, I was thinking that I was just drifting along every day. The higher-ups didn't pay attention to me, and the other clerks didn't take me seriously either, treating me like a mere servant. I'm incompetent, and I'm a disgrace to you. Since I now have an opportunity, I'll take a gamble. I never thought it would involve you, Uncle Chen."

He hesitated, "Should I go and refuse Lord Zhao now? Anyway, she has no power base here and can't do anything to me. Even if I change my mind and stop following her, there's nothing she can do about it."

Chen Kang shook his head. "Forget it. A person should keep their promises. Since you've agreed, don't go back on your word. Besides, your Uncle Chen is still in good health and will have to stay in the yamen for the next two or three years. Even if Lord Zhao leaves and Lord Cai takes over, with your Uncle Chen there, he can protect you to some extent."

"Uncle Chen..." Guan Jian'an's eyes reddened slightly.

Chen Kang sat in the recliner, his eyes half-closed, seemingly about to fall asleep. He remained motionless and silent for a long time.

Guan Jian'an sat beside him, not daring to move.

After a while, Chen Kang finally spoke, "Go ahead, go directly to Wang Yongshou and tell him it was ordered by Lord Liu. See what his attitude is. If he refuses, go back and report to Lord Zhao and see how she handles it."

"Anyway, you're just a minor official. You can do stupid things, but it's impossible for you to stand up against the other officials in the yamen. Just tell Lord Zhao that your small frame is too weak to handle it."

He earnestly advised Guan Jian'an: "Remember this, 'the camp remains, but the soldiers come and go.' Those officials only serve three-year terms; when their term ends, they just pack up and leave, while we still have to stay here and make a living. Let them fight it out; we just need to deal with it as long as we don't make any major mistakes. Who cares who's in power? If they get promoted, we won't benefit; we'll still have to stay here and eat our meager meals. What's the point of paying attention to them?"

"Yes, nephew, I understand." Guan Jian'an bowed respectfully to Chen Kang before leaving.

Meanwhile, on Zhao Ruxi's side, after Guan Jian'an and Qin Wang left, Li Li stood up and said to Zhao Ruxi, "If Lord Zhao has nothing else, I'll head over there. If there's anything you don't know, you can always send your attendant to ask me. The middle room in this row belongs to Lord Liu, and my office is to his right. I'll do my best to help Lord Zhao in any way I can."

"Yes, thank you, Lord Li. This is my first time serving as an official, and there are many things I don't understand. I will be very sorry to trouble Lord Li in the future," Zhao Ruxi said with a smile.

We're all smart people; without needing to spell it out, a couple of polite words back and forth formed an alliance.

Before leaving, Li Li gave one more reminder: "The morning shift at the yamen is from the beginning of the day to noon; the afternoon shift is from the beginning of the day to late afternoon. Lord Liu prefers his subordinates to be present at the yamen on time. If there is official business or other matters, you must inform him in advance and not be absent without a valid reason."

"Thank you, Lord Li, I will remember this," Zhao Ruxi replied, bowing slightly.

After Li Li left, Zhao Ruxi said to Zhou Chun, "From now on, I'll have to trouble you to take care of things at the yamen."

Ordinary officials, except for prefects, magistrates, and county magistrates who are the main officials and have secretaries, stewards, and attendants by their side, do not dare to overstep their superiors and usually only have stewards and attendants by their side. The stewards do miscellaneous tasks, and the attendants run errands. If someone is even more low-key, they will only have one attendant.

Zhao Ruxi's status was special, so she had to bring a female servant with her. Although Qingfeng was capable, she was still a young girl who didn't know martial arts. When she encountered ruffians and scoundrels, she was no match for them.

Therefore, Zhao Ruxi left Qingfeng at home, planning to take Lady Luo with her whenever she went out in the future.

Xiao Lingyan gave her three guards, two men and one woman. Originally, Zhao Ruxi should have brought the female guard and one male guard. However, the Ma Sheng family had followed Zhao Ruxi for so long and were extremely loyal, and Lady Luo was someone Zhao Ruxi was familiar with, so she was unwilling to replace Lady Luo with a strange female guard.