Chapter 595: Underachiever's Daily Life

Xie Yuan went to the former dynasty at dawn, intending to finish his work and go early to block the King. He didn't expect to be early, but the King was early too.

He had just arrived at the office and hadn't settled when the little eunuch Tongchen ran up before the King.

"Mister Xie, great happy news!"

Xie Yuan held a reserved attitude, full of vigilance. "What happy news?"

"Reply, Sir: Commander Chang and the Wei Tinghou Heir have taken Fudu and are about to send troops to Peishui."

Xie Yuan pondered and indeed it was good news.

"His Highness has Mister Xie select two reliable people to send as governors to the two commanderies! His Highness's rule is to first register households; we urgently need someone to take charge of the overall situation!"

Xie Yuan: ……

Last night it was indeed not a chill.

He doesn't know many Chang'an officials; these two are not easy to pick.

The King went early to try on ceremonial robes, and after finishing immediately went to Chengming Hall to meet with Xie Tu.

"Quick, quick, quick! I found a task to keep Mister occupied; let's quickly recall last time's homework!"

The King blinked and said, "Uncle, what homework did you assign me last time?"

Xie Tu: …… He wouldn't know!

After the imperial exams he had entered service; the King was also busy, and he hadn't done substitute work in a long time.

"Does His Highness not remember at all?"

The King clutched his head, trying hard to recall: "I've forgotten the time; last time…… or the previous time. I also don't remember the content." His expression was extremely innocent.

Xie Tu: ……

The King paced twice in the study and arranged a seat for Xie Tu: "Just sit here; in a moment, look at my expression for a hint. If you can't cough, just secretly hint to me."

Xie Tu had nothing to live for.

He glanced at the chair placed beside the King's desk; the King had already flattened and pasted them together to hear clearly. Not to mention the grave impropriety, just speaking of Uncle's eyes, one would need to spend a lot to not see them as cat-nappy.

The King felt he already had a countermeasure, relaxed and sat down, flipping the books on the table: "Zhao Bao, where are the books Mister had me look at last time?"

Zhao Bao hurriedly carried over the bundle of books he had brought from the Youzhou study: "Your Highness, they're all here! Not a single one missing."

The King: ……

He furrowed his brow and opened a volume; the book Xie Yuan gave him to read had obviously increased in difficulty—hmm, harder to read.

This volume is exactly that—a vertical text with no punctuation at all; the King's head swelled from reading it. He's used to horizontal layout, clear paragraphs, and punctuated leisure reading; he can't stand even a bit of this.

Obscure and hard to understand, the King sighed in frustration; the diligent student Xie Tu found it amusing.

The King's character is optimistic; such a moment is rare. He was observing when he suddenly saw the King's brow relax and a pleased expression appear on his face. Xie Tu also relaxed, saying, "Look, reading isn't hard; just persevere a bit longer and you'll find enjoyment."

Then the King slapped the table: "Promoting punctuation is absolutely necessary! How could I not have thought of this earlier?! This is totally incomprehensible!"

Xie Tu: ……

When Xie Yuan finally freed up and arrived at Chengming Hall, the King was pulling Xie Tu to explain his grand plan for promoting punctuation; upon seeing Mister, his heart tightened—he had come really fast!

They exchanged greetings; Xie Yuan went straight to the point without any small talk. He didn't even ask why Xie Tu was also there.

"Did you finish reading the books I previously told Your Highness to look at during leisure? Your Highness, on the southern campaign, military affairs were tight and you had no time; having been in Chang'an for so long, you should have read about the same amount by now."

The King thought: he had been here so long yet never attended court; saying he's busy is enough to be believed. He hesitated, nodded, and said he had looked—even just a page and a half counts as having looked.

Xie Yuan nodded, satisfied.

"Where is the homework from last time? Bring it over for me to look."

The King: …… To be frank, I've forgotten all the content, let alone having written it.

"Well… I am still a bit busy, didn't write it out, but I've already worked it out in my mind; Mister, go ahead and ask."

Xie Yuan: …… That's fine.

"Your Highness once said that today's great chaos has feudal lords carving out domains as a cause, and you later wanted to replace the Thirteen Provinces Inspectors to end feudal lords' autonomy. Now if we re‑inspect the surveillance districts, should we base it on grain and tax or on customs? Initially I had Your Highness sketch a rough map; today you insist on speaking it out, so let's do that."

The King: ……

The King opened his mouth, discovering that drawing a map with his mouth was a bit difficult.

But the big principles, I, the King, am also super good at explaining.

"Grain and tax are the lifeblood, customs are the soul."

"If we re‑divide, we should take grain and tax as the foundation, customs as the coloring, mutually forming the warp and weft."

"As for the map…… I, the King, can explain it verbally; Xie Tu, if you have time, draw it—I'm not good at it, but I understand the big principles." The King, though lacking justification, felt emboldened.

Xie Tu: ……

Xie Yuan: ……

"The court promotes overseas good seed rice, but the village elders fear harming the earth's veins, while the young and strong like its abundant yield. How should this dispute be settled? Last time I had Your Highness write an essay entitled 'Encouragement of Agriculture'."

The King slammed the table and stood up: "Which old guy, full of food, is this idle?!"

Xie Yuan: ……

He also wanted to slam the table and stand up.

Xie Yuan pulled a long face: "I'm just setting the question, if… if…"

The King is completely unafraid: "Even if not, whoever dares to affect my promotion of good seed rice, I'll cut them down."

Xie Yuan: …… "Third question, have the Grand Tutor Xu enter the capital. I'm too busy; one person bringing Your Highness risks delaying Your Highness's studies." Urgently need someone to share this black pot.