Grand Advisor Xuan

Laughing at the reaction of Xuan Yueji, Lin Tengfei asked while smiling, "What? Do you not like this position?"

With an angry face, Xuan Yueji stated loudly while trying to keep a calm voice, "Naturally, I do not like it."

Many of the officials on the side then faced each other thinking that Xuan Yueji was crazy. Most of them knew each other already and were quietly shuffling about to talk in a low voice to discuss the current situation. There was no one that was standing in the lines that was thinking that from the person right next to them.

One of the officials from the civil affairs department had even turned to the stranger next to him and asked, "Is this young man crazy?"

The stranger asked, "I have no idea, but honestly...How could he be so honest and reject the favor of the emperor so straightforwardly?"

Another official stepped in to say, "Indeed. He has no fear of the wrath of the emperor."

"Is he too greedy for power?" Someone chipped in.

Immediately, another person said, "How can that be? The grand advisor already has too much power. It is only fifth in place, behind the crowned prince, empress dowager, the empress, and the emperor."

"Then...Maybe he really does not want this position?" Someone shyly suggested amidst the ongoing conversation.

While they were all thinking and suggesting ideas to each other, Lin Tengfei had already asked Xuan Yueji, "Why do you not like it? From what I know, there are many people who would wish to have this position. Do you wish for an even powerful position?"

Shaking his head, Xuan Yueji immediately denied with a growing frustration, "I do not want power. What I want is freedom. Becoming the grand advisor, I will be shackled."

Hearing his answer, Lin Tengfei said, trying to persuade Xuan Yueji, "Actually, the grand advisor has more freedom than any other position in the royal family."

Looking at Lin Tengfei, Xuan Yueji demonstrated his suspicion to the truth of the words by squinting his eyes. With the look that he was giving the emperor, Chen Shi already knew that many disrespect had occurred in this one meeting, but he gave no care. He also did not warn since the emperor was not saying anything about the squint full of suspicion targeted at him.

Seeing that Xuan Yueji was full of suspicion, Lin Tengfei explained, "Becoming the grand advisor, you have full access to every part of this empire. As long as you are doing nothing harmful to the citizens, you can do anything you want and no one can speak against you. Your actions can only be questioned by me, the emperor, alone. Even the empress can not question it. Is it not full of freedom?"

With that explanation, Xuan Yueji relaxed a bit and asked for more information, "Do I have to attend every morning session?"

Chuckling, Lin Tengfei answered, "Naturally not. You are not bound to the normal rules and norms of the officials, nor are you forced to come to the palace. The only mandatory sessions you must attend...they only exist when I say they do."

Putting a hand to his chin, Xuan Yueji thought about it again before asking another question, "Will my location be tracked? Must I be by your side everyday?"

"No. Being the grand advisor, I will naturally leave people at your side that will deliver my messages to you," Lin Tengfei said.

"Hm… I see…" Xuan Yueji said whilst still pondering.

"So, do you still not want this position? Or do you want another position?" Lin Tengfei asked while changing his position on his golden dragon throne.

"Chen Shi, is there any position in royalty that has more freedom than this position?" Xuan Yueji turned to Chen Shi and asked.

With a light sarcastic but truthful tone, Chen Shi said, "Do you think I would be the grand advisor if it was full of the normal things those old men had to do?"

"Hm… You're right. Considering your personality, you indeed would not accept," Xuan Yueji muttered. "Alright, I accept this new position."

As Xuan Yueji finally accepted the new position, Lin Tengfei looked at Chen Shi and said, "It's your job to transfer everything to him now."

"Don't worry," Chen Shi told Lin Tengfei with a light smile and a happy glint in his eyes. "When have you ever seen me be irresponsible?"

Lin Tengfei shook his head at the joking retort of Chen Shi and turned to the officials and announced, "All pay respects to the new Grand Advisor, Xuan Yueji. From this moment, the respect you give to me, my empress mother, empress, and princes and princesses, will be the same to Grand Advisor Tutor Chen and Grand Advisor Xuan."

Hearing a new name in the position, the officials became confused but they all still bowed their heads and responded with, "Congratulations to Grand Advisor Xuan and Grand Advisor Tutor Chen on your promotions!"

As the promotion has already been addressed, Lin Tengfei then moved onto the essential matters. He knew that many of the officials had questions about the title that he gave Chen Shi, but he ignored it and decided that whenever someone asked him he would finally make an official statement. For now, he wanted to see who was smart and who was stupid, and would try to cause issues with the newly promoted persons.

"Alright, let us move onto the important issues at hand," Lin Tengfei announced. "Recently, there has been a famine in the southern part of the country. Do any of you have a plan to fix this?"

Seeing that Lin Tengfei did not tell them to leave and that Chen Shi was also dragging him to a seat right below the emperor, Xuan Yueji guessed that they would have or he would have to take action soon. Whether it was to prove himself or something, this must be the reason why the emperor was so rushed to ask this question about the famine in the south. Of course, there could always be a different reason, but he was too lazy to think about the other reasons and just kept with his first assumption.

At the immediate question of the emperor, many of the officials nervously stared at the floor while some stood still trying to think until someone voiced out, "Your Majesty, I believe that if we supply some food source and money to the villages, towns, and cities in poverty we can improve the famine."

"Do you think we have not done that?" Lin Tengfei asked condescendingly.

The person that suggested that idea immediately shriveled up and in a tiny voice, said, "I apologize, Your Majesty. This servant was not thinking."

After that, he stepped back to his place and soon another person suggested, "Your Majesty, this official thinks that by sending someone to the most poverty stricken places and aid them, we can improve this famine."

Changing his position to lean his head on his hand, Lin Tengfei said, "That is indeed a good idea. However, who do you think is just and not greedy enough to steal the money provided for the famine?"

The official then said, "This official believes that Grand Advisor Xuan should take this role. This official believes that by solving this famine, his name will get out to the country and people will not look down on his abilities."

"You are suggesting this for the good of Grand Advisor Xuan?" Lin Tengfei casually asked with a twinkle in his eye.

Bowing respectfully before going back to his place, the official answered, "Yes. Your Majesty, this official has barely seen young men that have been recommended by General Zheng and Grand Advisor Chen to be promoted by Your Majesty. This official thinks that by allowing Grand Advisor Xuan to help the empire, he will surely be positively received by the world. After all, a famine is not a small problem."

Staring at Xuan Yueji who was sitting down as though they were not talking about him, Lin Tengfei asked, "What do you think, Grand Advisor Xuan?"

Casually grabbing the tea cup in front of him, Xuan Yueji responded with little emotion, "How much time?"

"You need a deadline?" Lin Tengfei asked with surprise.

"If there is no deadline, I will not feel motivated to work hard," Xuan Yueji commented.

Lin Tengfei laughed upon hearing that, but replied, "You have five years."

"Five years?" Xuan Yueji chuckled with a small hidden light in his black eyes.

"Yes. Is it too short?" Lin Tengfei asked, hearing the chuckle from Xuan Yueji while thinking that it sounded like a devil laughing instead of a human.

"Not at all," Xuan Yueji said. "I shall be back soon then. If there are any messages for me, please relay them to Chen Shi. I will not be in the capital for a while."

As soon as Xuan Yueji said that, he immediately used his qinggong and left the hall, not caring at all about the rest of the issues that needed to be discussed or about the awards Lin Tengfei wanted to give him. It was as though he actually cared about the famine happening in the southern parts of the country when he did not truly care. In fact, he really wanted to just see the eyes of Bai Shuixian open instead of working for the empire.