Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 550 - 386: Qian’s Thoughts

Picking up yesterday’s corrected records, Gu Chengyu was troubled over what he should do today.

"Qian Yi greets all the esteemed officials!"

Upon hearing Qian Yi’s voice, Gu Chengyu turned his head. As expected, Qian Yi was already standing outside the room, greeting them.

"Ah, it’s Qian, no need for formalities!" Despite Qian Yi’s low rank, he still had some influence in front of Zhang Hai. So Liu Zonghan and the others had to treat him kindly, regardless of status.

Gu Chengyu also smiled at him, though he wondered why Qian Yi, whom he had only seen on his first day, had come today.

"I’m here to invite Mr. Gu. Mr. Zhang has instructed Mr. Gu to go to Wenhua Pavilion to arrange books. The specific matters will be detailed by Gan Dianji at Wenhua Pavilion upon your arrival."

Gu Chengyu was somewhat stunned to hear this, realizing he had to go to Wenhua Pavilion to move books again. However, he would have to wait until reaching Wenhua Pavilion to know exactly what he would be doing.

Liu Zonghan couldn’t help but glance sympathetically at Gu Chengyu. It seemed this newly arrived Champion Scholar didn’t fare well in front of Mr. Zhang! Instead of being guided by superiors or colleagues in tasks befitting his rank, how could a Secondary Sixth Rank official be tasked with duties meant for a Secondary Eighth Rank minor official?

Gu Chengyu responded with a smile, tidied up the documents on his desk, and was ready to follow Qian to Wenyuan Pavilion.

Just then, Ren Ge also entered from outside.

"Eh? Jinyu, where are you headed?" He asked, somewhat surprised, seeing Gu Chengyu about to follow Qian Yi out.

"I’m heading to Wenhua Pavilion today to organize books," Gu Chengyu replied with a smile. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Once he said that, Ren Ge gave him a sympathetic look as well. Gu Chengyu smiled, then followed Qian on ahead.

Ren Ge couldn’t help but sigh for Gu Chengyu, thinking that Gu Chengyu wasn’t like those scholars who couldn’t be properly arranged due to numbers. He’d been here for several days; logically, tasks like drafting documents should’ve been arranged for Gu Chengyu.

It was unclear what Mr. Zhang was thinking, given his usual demeanor, as he never bothered to trouble subordinates. Ren Ge shook his head, remaining indifferent since it wasn’t his affair. Besides, he couldn’t influence Mr. Zhang’s decisions; perhaps Mr. Zhang aimed to curb Gu Chengyu’s arrogance?

"Mr. Gu, how has your Senior Brother Lord Yin been? I haven’t seen him for quite some time," Qian Yi, trailing a step behind Gu Chengyu, suddenly inquired about Gu Chengyu’s master brother Yin Kun.

Hmm? Gu Chengyu was a bit surprised. Could it be that Qian Yi knew his senior brother? This was somewhat intriguing. As far as he knew, Qian wasn’t part of the aristocratic family, and his senior brother had never mentioned having any strong connections in the Hanlin Academy. If he did, surely he would have asked someone to look after him.

Nonetheless, recalling how Qian Yi had been quite warm on his first day, perhaps there indeed was some connection he was unaware of.

"So, Mr. Qian is familiar with my master brother?"

"I am Lord Yin’s cousin-in-law, Yin Jian, a relative through marriage, you might say. I have met Lord Yin twice at my brother-in-law’s residence," Qian Yi replied with a smile.

Gu Chengyu couldn’t help but twitch his lips upon hearing this, thinking that the connection was quite distant, hardly qualifying as kinship. So this was Qian Yi’s real intention.

As they say, having someone in the court eases one’s ways as an official. Was this his attempt to leverage his senior brother? He mentioned that Yin’s cousin is still just a scholar. Yin Kun didn’t originate from a powerful family, his ancestors were involved in agriculture and reading, and naturally, the family would support him.

Although his cousin was a scholar, he had always been studying in the Capital. Qian Yi may have found that avenue with Yin’s cousin unsuccessful and now aimed to throw an olive branch to Gu Chengyu, hoping to climb onto Yin Kun’s elevated branch through him.

"So there’s this connection after all. My master brother has been busy with state affairs lately, and I haven’t seen him for days. When I see him next, I’ll convey your regards," Gu Chengyu replied honestly, for he had last seen Yin Kun during a coming-of-age ceremony. He had subsequently visited Yin Kun’s residence several times, only to find him often away.

Upon hearing this, Qian Yi beamed with joy, exclaiming, "Lord Yin is indeed a core member of the court, naturally very busy. Mr. Gu, we’re almost there."

Qian Yi wasn’t expecting immediate advocacy from Gu Chengyu in front of Yin Kun; such things were a gradual process. As long as Gu Chengyu mentioned him, making Yin Kun familiar with his name would suffice. Once he became well-acquainted with Gu Chengyu, opportunities to stand out before Yin Kun would naturally increase.

Moreover, being warm to Gu Chengyu and exchanging a few kind words was without cost, even if Gu Chengyu was merely placating him, it wouldn’t harm him. Isn’t every opportunity earned? He was taking a gamble on Gu Chengyu.

Gu Chengyu visibly sensed that Qian Yi became even warmer than before. Mentioning him to Yin Kun was but a trivial matter; being quite familiar with Yin Kun, a mere mention would go unnoticed by Yin Kun.

In reality, Qian Yi hoped Gu Chengyu would help him reconnect with Yin Kun, although Gu Chengyu was perplexed as to why that Yin Jian hadn’t played his role.

Wenhua Pavilion lay ahead, and Gu Chengyu scrutinized the two-story pavilion. The front porch featured a fret-pattern railing, decorative beams under the eaves, along with green eave columns. The structure was two stories high, with concealed layers at the waistband eaves, spanning across six partitions, with a staircase on the west end linking the upper and lower levels.

"Mr. Gu, you may enter here, Gan Dianji has received the order and awaits inside the pavilion." Having given Gu Chengyu a heads-up about his upcoming task earlier, Qian Yi had provided him with a general understanding.

"Thank you for accompanying me!" Gu Chengyu politely expressed to Qian Yi, leaving Qian rather flattered.

"You’re too kind, serving you is my honor. Now, I shall report back to Mr. Zhang." Qian Yi respectfully saluted Gu Chengyu, turned around, and retraced his steps.

As Gu Chengyu withdrew his gaze from Qian Yi, he proceeded to the entrance of Wenhua Pavilion.

Returning along his way, Qian Yi inwardly assessed Gu Chengyu as someone who had been neglected by Mr. Zhang for several days, yet appeared neither anxious nor resentful.

Feeling that Gu Chengyu’s temperament was quite composed, while understanding Mr. Zhang’s perspective, Qian Yi reasoned that if Gu Chengyu maintained his poise these days, Mr. Zhang would definitely reassess this exceptionally talented Champion Scholar. As for Xia Qing and Gu Chengyu’s discord, he sneered at it.

Through his observations over the past days, he concluded that Gu Chengyu was steady, opportunistic, and talented, certainly not an ordinary figure. Even Chief Minister Xia might find it hard to control Gu Chengyu.

If he were to emulate others in flattering Chief Minister Xia by setting pitfalls for Gu Chengyu, not only would he not reap benefits, but he’d gain an enemy, making it utterly pointless.

Furthermore, given Gu Chengyu’s rank, even if favored by Mr. Zhang, his own rank would only be Secondary Seventh. How much inconvenience could he cause Gu Chengyu? Better to trade favors.