Chapter 588: Tao Yunshi: From Now On I Will Obey Only the Prime Minister's Command

Chen Yan heard that, the amused glint in his eyes vanished instantly, and he blinked, "Oh?"

Immediately, he turned around, waved at Hongye, and said briskly, "Invite them quickly!"

Hongye respectfully answered "Yes", turned swiftly, and walked outward with light steps, daring not to delay at all.

Soon, footsteps came from the doorway, and a tall, robust figure entered quickly.

The newcomer was about twenty years old, clad in a dark‑blue sturdy outfit, his build towering, muscle lines distinct, filling the garment to the brim.

He entered the Shufang, stopped immediately, bowed to Chen Yan, and said respectfully, "I have the honor of meeting the Prime Minister!"

Chen Yan's gaze fell on the newcomer, his pupils narrowed slightly, his face showing obvious surprise; after a careful look, he recognized that the person before him was Lord Pingyang's heir, Tao Yunshi.

It should be noted that in Chen's memory, Tao Yunshi was plump, with a greasy face, and walked rather clumsily…

Completely different from the muscular man before him, as if they were two different people!

Chen Yan couldn't help but step forward two paces, circle Tao Yunshi, his eyes full of amazement, and said with a hint of disbelief, "No way! Tao Yunshi, how did you lose so much weight?!"

"This change is too great!?"

Speaking, he again examined Tao Yunshi from head to toe, his gaze landing on the familiar facial contours and hearing the familiar voice, then slowly said, "If it weren't for your facial features still resembling the old ones and your voice unchanged, this Duke would have almost failed to recognize you…"

Chen thought, there is no liposuction or cosmetic surgery in this era, huh?!

Tao Yunshi heard that, his face instantly showing bitterness, his once straight back sagging slightly as he recalled the days in the barracks, his eyes filled with unbearable pain, his tone lifeless and tinged with grievance and helplessness: "It was because Father gave me a severe reprimand and threw me straight into the barracks!"

"In the barracks those old soldiers and rascals drilled me harshly for over a year; every day we had to rise before dawn for training…"

"Horse riding, archery, chopping, bearing loads—none were omitted!"

"I was so exhausted I wanted to collapse onto the ground, could barely eat any food; this flesh was worn away piece by piece. Looking back, those days feel like torment!"

Speaking, he raised his hand to pat his sturdy arm, his tone full of bitterness: "Before, I never thought of eating whenever I wanted or playing whenever I wanted—those days were so comfortable. I never imagined barracks life could be so harsh…"

Chen Yan looked at Tao Yunshi's face full of grievance and deep bitterness; the suppressed smile burst out, a few low chuckles escaped his throat, then grew louder as he threw his head back and laughed aloud, "Hahaha!"

The hearty laugh made the window lattice rattle slightly; his eyes were full of mockery. While rolling with laughter, he teased, "It seems Lord Pingyang could no longer tolerate your former dandy appearance, so he ruthlessly sent you to the barracks for 'training'!"

Tao Yunshi heard that, his shoulders slumped further, and he sighed, "Alas!"

His face was piled with inescapable bitterness and grievance, his brows knit, and he pleaded, "Prime Minister, please stop rubbing salt on my wound!"

Chen Yan, seeing his demeanor, gradually restrained his smile, his expression regaining composure, raised his hand and pointed to the empty seat beside the desk, saying plainly, "Sit first."

Having said that, he turned and walked slowly to the main seat and sat down.

After sitting, he lifted his gaze and instructed Hongye, who was standing nearby, "Serve tea to the heir Tao."

Hongye bowed and replied, "Yes."

Immediately, he hurried out, and shortly returned carrying a pot of hot tea and two celadon cups, deftly pouring tea into them.

One cup was handed to Chen Yan, the other placed beside Tao Yunshi.

Tao Yunshi quickly took both cups with both hands; his fingertips felt the warm cup wall, a slight warmth easing his heart, and he said respectfully, "Thank you, Prime Minister!"

Chen Yan lifted his cup, his fingertips grazing the dark pattern on the rim, took a gentle sip of hot tea; the tea fragrance lingered on his tongue, dispelling some of the evening's heaviness.

When he set the cup down, his gaze fell on Tao Yunshi, and in a casual tone he asked, "Yunshi, you are Lord Pingyang's legitimate eldest son and heir of the marquisate; you should have studied at the Imperial Academy in your youth, right?"

Tao Yunshi, holding his cup, nodded, a hint of embarrassment on his face, and said with a touch of insecurity, "I did study…"

He said, shrugged his shoulders, his tone becoming more frank, with a hint of resigned defiance, continuing, "But my studies at the Imperial Academy were mediocre; I never had the mind to study, often arriving late and leaving early…"

"When the master taught, I always thought of ways to slip out—either go to Goulan to listen to songs or meet friends for drinks; my studies were soon almost completely abandoned!"

Chen Yan heard that, a smile tugging at his mouth, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes, and in a playful tone asked, "So, you lad must be thoroughly familiar with all the Imperial Academy's procedures and the tricks for skipping classes, right?"

Tao Yunshi, who had still looked a bit insecure, instantly changed; his eyes brightened, his back straightened instinctively, his face full of pride and confidence, and he declared firmly, "Of course!"

After speaking, he set the cup down, raised his hand to pat his chest, and proudly said, "I'm not good at other studies, nor have the inclination to delve into them…"

"But the twists and turns within the Imperial Academy, how to evade the master's inspections, which walls are easy to scale, when the guards are lax—those are second nature; I could feel the openings with my eyes closed!"

While speaking, he even made a firm gripping gesture, his expression resolute, as if this were a skill to be proud of.

Chen Yan, watching him, felt a hint of satisfaction, slowly nodded and praised, "Very good, you haven't wasted your time at the Imperial Academy!"

Having said that, he set his cup down, tapped his fingertips lightly on the desk, and in a slightly solemn tone asked, "Do you know what assignment Grand Preceptor has recently sent to this Duke?"

Tao Yunshi, hearing that, shook his head blankly and replied honestly, "I don't know."

Immediately, a hint of melancholy appeared on his face, his brows furrowed, and he said plaintively, "Recently, I just returned from the barracks, only to be locked in the manor by my father, forced to study military texts and practice riding and archery; day after day I stare at dense scripts until my head feels like it will split, and I can hardly step out of the manor gate…"

"If it weren't for the Prime Minister personally summoning me, my father would have given me no face; today I probably couldn't even leave the manor, let alone know about court assignments."

Chen Yan, seeing this, smiled calmly, and in a gentle tone explained, "Grand Preceptor intends to reform the selection of talent across court and provinces, ordering this Duke to merge the previously separate Imperial Academy and the Grand Academy into the Imperial Academy Observatory, with this Duke appointed as Sacrificial Wine to oversee all its affairs!"

"In addition, we will expand recruitment, admitting talented youths from humble families, and later evaluate academic performance through examinations, selecting the best to receive official posts, thereby providing Great Zhou with capable talent!"

Tao Yunshi, hearing that, immediately set his cup down, his face beaming with a full smile, and said flattery‑laden, "Prime Minister, you are a heaven‑born prodigy, adept in both civil and martial arts; whether court affairs or academic cultivation, you handle them with ease!"

"Now that you personally take charge of the Imperial Academy Observatory's affairs, merging the two schools and expanding recruitment and appointments, it will surely be effortless, a snap for you, unmatched by anyone!"

Chen Yan waved his hand, cutting off the flattery, "Enough flattery!"

His words finished, his expression steadied, the aura around him suddenly turning solemn, his sharp gaze fixed on Tao Yunshi, and in a solemn tone said, "I have summoned you for a serious matter…"

Tao Yunshi scratched his head, chuckled, and, with a hint of anticipation and nervousness, asked tentatively, "I wonder, Prime Minister, how you intend to assign me?"

"As long as it's not sending me back to the barracks, I'm willing to take any other assignment, even if it's tiring or harsh…"

Chen Yan looked up at him, a hint of mockery in his eyes, smiling wryly as he examined him, and leisurely asked, "Yunshi, do you still wish to return to the barracks, to be harshly trained by Lord Pingyang, rising before dawn each day for horse riding, archery, and heavy chopping?"

The moment those words left his mouth, Tao Yunshi's whole body stiffened, the smile vanished without a trace, his head shook like a tambourine, his entire being exuded resistance, and without thinking he blurted, "I don't want to!"

"Absolutely don't want to!"

"The hardships of the barracks, I never want to endure a second time in this life; I was exhausted to the point of collapsing each night, the food was coarse and hard to swallow. Compared to the barracks, even studying military texts at home is far more comfortable."

Chen Yan, seeing his face full of resistance, his smile deepening, tapped his fingertips lightly on the desk, producing a crisp sound, and in a meaning‑laden tone asked, "Since you don't want to return to the barracks and suffer that fate, would you like to hold a minor official post, no longer just a dandy heir, so that Lord Pingyang would look at you with new respect?"

"Would you like to achieve concrete achievements, so that when Lord Pingyang mentions you, it's no longer with sighs but with pride, allowing you to hold your head high before outsiders?"

Tao Yunshi, hearing that, his eyes instantly brightened, he quickly nodded vigorously, and said eagerly, "Of course I want that!"

"Who doesn't want an official position and to achieve some results?"

In the past I was wayward and disgraceful, always disappointing my father; now I want to do something that will change his view of me and later be able to uphold the reputation of the Marquis' residence!

As he spoke, as if he realized something, his pupils dilated slightly, his eyes widened, and he stared at Chen Yan with a face full of astonishment, his tone tinged with disbelief: "Wait! Chen Zhuguo, you aren't planning…?!"

Chen Yan looked at Tao Yunshi's shocked expression, a knowing smile curling at the corner of his mouth, gave a slight nod, and said calmly: "Just as you think…"

After speaking, he crossed his ten fingers and placed them on the desk, his tone solemn and loud: "I, the Duke, wish to promote you, Tao Yunshi, to a post at the Imperial Academy, appointing you as Assistant Director, to assist Wei Siyie in managing the Academy's daily affairs. How does that sound?"

Tao Yunshi was both shocked and delighted, his face full of disbelief, his lips moving but unable to speak for a long moment, repeatedly stammering: "This… this…"

Excitement surged in his chest, his voice trembling slightly, his eyes brimming with elation yet faintly tinged with unease.

A moment later, Tao Yunshi gradually calmed, the exuberance on his face fading a bit, replaced by deep hesitation.

He looked anxiously at Chen Yan, his tone uneasy: "Chen Zhuguo, you know I have been unstudied and incompetent, with little knowledge in my belly; the Imperial Academy is a place for cultivating talent, filled with learned individuals. I'm afraid I cannot fulfill the duties of Assistant Director, can I?"

"Especially matters of teaching and lecturing, I am completely clueless. If I were to jeopardize the students' studies, that would be a grave sin…"

Chen Yan heard this and couldn't help but chuckle, waved his hand, his tone a little helpless: "Who told you to teach?"

"The Imperial Academy has dedicated doctors and teaching assistants responsible for lecturing; where could a half‑baked fellow like you get involved…"

After speaking, a deep glint flashed in his eyes, and he explained with a meaning‑laden tone: "Your duty is to supervise those students!"

"You also know that the Imperial Academy has traditionally been attended by aristocratic youths; the academic atmosphere has been lax. Many students, relying on their illustrious families and deep backgrounds, habitually arrive late, leave early, or skip classes—it's commonplace…"

"Some even form cliques, band together to bully classmates of humble lineage, turning the Academy into a chaotic mess!"

"These entrenched bad habits have persisted for ages. Now the Imperial Academy and the Imperial University have merged to form the Imperial Academy, and it will expand recruitment of students from modest families…"

"If we do not strictly rectify them, these undesirable trends will spread, affecting the overall academic atmosphere of the Imperial Academy, hindering modest‑born students from studying peacefully, and even obstructing the progress of examinations and official appointments!"

Tao Yunshi, after hearing this, was instantly illuminated, the hesitation and anxiety on his face vanished, replaced by sheer excitement and confidence. He pounded his chest with delight and said resolutely: "That's simple!"

"Supervising students and rectifying the academic atmosphere is my specialty!"

"Back when I was at the Imperial Academy, I knew exactly who liked to cause trouble, who skipped classes, who formed cliques. Their little tricks never escaped my eyes!"

"From now on, with me watching over the Imperial Academy, I will keep those wayward students in line, never allowing them to disrupt the academic atmosphere or bully classmates, ensuring that modest‑born students can study peacefully!"

Making umbrellas is indeed not my forte…

But tearing umbrellas—well, comrade Tao Yunshi is a professional at that!

Chen Yan, seeing his confident demeanor, raised his eyebrows slightly and asked again: "Do you truly have no other concerns?"

"You must understand that the students of the Imperial Academy have complex backgrounds—both aristocratic youths and modest‑born scholars—making supervision far from easy…"

"If you encounter aristocratic youths who rely on their lineage to defy discipline, or even deliberately oppose you, do you have a way to deal with them?"

"Don't back down at the first sign of trouble and disappoint this Duke!"

Tao Yunshi straightened his back, responded firmly: "Nothing at all! Chen Zhuguo, rest assured, I have no reservations whatsoever!"

"Having lingered in the Imperial Academy for so long, I've seen every type of aristocratic youth. Their tactics of leveraging family background I have long seen through…"

"From now on, if anyone dares to disobey discipline or deliberately cause trouble, I will have a way to deal with them, never allowing them to break the rules of the Imperial Academy, nor disappoint you, Chen Zhuguo!"

After more than a year of training in the barracks, he is no longer the frivolous playboy of his youth, having gained a measure of responsibility and resolve.

He also feels confident he can fulfill the task entrusted by Chen Zhuguo.

Chen Yan, seeing this, nodded with satisfaction, raised his hand toward Tao Yunshi, and said crisply: "Very well! From today onward, you are the Assistant Director of the Imperial Academy!"

Tao Yunshi sprang to his feet, clasped his fists, bowed deeply before Chen Yan, and said reverently and excitedly: "Thank you, Chen Zhuguo, for the promotion!"

"I shall not betray your trust and cultivation, Chen Zhuguo; I will do my duties well and never disappoint your high expectations!"

Chen Yan smiled calmly, and gently instructed: "When you serve at the Imperial Academy, you must assist Wei Heqing well!"

"If this matter is handled well, I, the Duke, will personally petition the Grand Preceptor on your behalf, and let Lord Tao see that his son has been transformed, capable of standing on his own!"

Tao Yunshi trembled with excitement, his eyes hot, his gaze full of gratitude toward Chen Yan. He rose straight, his voice resonant and forceful, declaring: "I… I will risk my very life to repay the kindness of Chen Zhuguo!"

"Henceforth I shall obey only Chen Zhuguo's commands!"

"Chen Zhuguo, wherever you point, old Tao will strike there, without any hesitation!"