Chapter 47 Vermilion Endorsements

Chapter 47: Vermilion Approval

"No one helps me reach the clouds, I... can't get up there myself either.

Startled awake from a sickbed, the clown... was me all along.

North of Lone Hill Temple, west of Jia Pavilion, I really wanna eat... fried chicken."

Cheng Ge held the *Records of the Grand Historian*, his back ramrod straight, his eyes glued to the pages.

A flash of wisdom occasionally lit up his eyes, and he muttered under his breath now and then, looking real studious.

Grand Tutor Lin Zhufeng glanced at him from across the room and nodded, satisfied.

Then his gaze shifted to Zhou Zhan, who was gripping a brush with a pained look, his brow furrowed as he let out a heavy sigh.

Zhou Zhan seemed to sense it, looked up, and met Lin Zhufeng's disappointed glare.

He pursed his lips helplessly, lowered his head again, and scribbled a few random lines on the paper, getting more irritated by the second. He stole a few glances at Cheng Ge.

But Cheng Ge was lost in his own world, undisturbed by anything outside.

Watching him, Zhou Zhan felt a weird surge of frustration. He deliberately jabbed his brush into the paper, smearing a big ink blot like he was venting.

Hearing the noise, Cheng Ge slowly turned around.

He saw Zhou Zhan staring at him with clear displeasure, holding the dripping brush.

Though he had no clue what was up with Zhou Zhan, he remembered the saying: "A smile never gets you slapped."

So he slowly lifted the corners of his mouth, his eyes crinkling, flashing a perfect eight-tooth grin.

Seeing this, Zhou Zhan's face turned a little red. He quickly looked away and muttered, "Hmph, what are you grinning at, bookworm?"

Cheng Ge didn't let it bother him. He kindly swapped Zhou Zhan's paper for a fresh one. "Your Highness, want some tea?"

Zhou Zhan didn't look at Cheng Ge, his grip on the brush tightening, his expression still awkward. "No, just focus on your own reading."

"Okay, then call me if you need anything, Your Highness." With that, Cheng Ge turned back and kept flipping through the mini *The Wrongly Executed Cui Ning* hidden in his book.

He was totally into it, and some snacks would've made it perfect.

But good times, like seaweed, were gone in two mouthfuls.

"Tutor Cheng, His Majesty wants to see you." The young eunuch had a smile that seemed a bit fake.

Cheng Ge, who'd seen plenty of big moments, calmly hid the book in his sleeve without changing his expression. He got up, bowed to Zhou Zhan, and followed the eunuch out.

Zhou Zhan watched Cheng Ge walk away, feeling a weird emptiness inside.

At the Imperial Study, Cheng Ge bowed respectfully. "Your Majesty, why did you summon me?"

The Emperor set down the memorial and gestured for him to come closer. "You've been with the Crown Prince for a while now. How's he doing?"

Cheng Ge lowered his head, figuring the Emperor was checking up on his work.

Honestly, Zhou Zhan's learning was average, his understanding so-so, and at his age, he couldn't focus.

But he couldn't just say that. He didn't know if the Crown Prince would get in trouble, but as a tutor who'd slacked off, he'd definitely get punished.

So he chose his words carefully. "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is really smart. He studies hard every day and often forgets to eat or sleep while learning how to govern."

First, stress his good attitude. As for how much he actually learns, that's out of my hands.

"Plus, His Highness really cares about the realm. He often talks with me about people's lives, showing his kind heart."

Your son's not here, so I can praise him however I want. And even if he were, he wouldn't argue.

"In martial arts, with Prince Cui personally teaching him, His Highness's skills have improved a ton. I can almost see the Grand Ancestor's legacy in him."

Cheng Ge thought to himself he was a little genius, managing to flatter two people at once.

And it wasn't entirely a lie—Zhou Zhan's martial arts had indeed improved recently.

He just used slightly grander words. It shouldn't be a problem.

Zhou Mingqi: "..."

Zhou Mingqi didn't need to think twice to know that Cheng Ge's words were probably three parts truth and seven parts fluff, heavily watered down.

He was tired of hearing such sycophantic talk. His gaze fell on Cheng Ge.

A slender, jade-white neck caught his eye, strands of dark hair clinging to the skin, damp with sweat.

The Imperial Study was some distance from the Eastern Palace, and Cheng Ge, who hated the heat, had already soaked his clothes with sweat.

Seeing Zhou Mingqi silent, Cheng Ge kept his head down, afraid to move. His knees ached from kneeling, and he was thinking of subtly adjusting his position.

"Rise."

Hearing this, Cheng Ge quickly stood up, secretly flexing his knees.

Zhou Mingqi looked at him and suddenly said, "Come here."

Cheng Ge's heart tightened. Forcing calm, he walked step by step toward the Emperor. By the time he reached Zhou Mingqi, his palms were sweating.

"Read the memorials for me." With that, Zhou Mingqi pushed a stack of unprocessed memorials toward him.

Fu Quan, keeping his eyes down and mind focused, quickly had a young eunuch bring a small desk and place it beside Cheng Ge.

Cheng Ge dared not speak further. He picked up a memorial and began to read.

"Your subject, Zhao Qingxian, Governor-General of Xuanfu, humbly submits:

Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have been diligent in governance and loving toward the people, rising early and eating late, with virtue matching heaven and grace covering all living beings.

Your subject, far away in Xuanfu, gazes up at Your Majesty's countenance, filled with endless longing.

I reflect that Your Majesty, managing a myriad of affairs daily, still radiates vigor and enjoys robust health—this is the blessing of all people..."

Before he could finish, Zhou Mingqi interrupted, "Ridiculous drivel. You approve them for me."

Cheng Ge was startled. Vermilion approval was the Emperor's exclusive privilege. Having him do it was a monumental matter.

"Your Majesty, this is inappropriate."

Zhou Mingqi looked at him calmly. "I told you to do it, so do it. I'll take responsibility." Cheng Ge had no choice. A subject could not defy the sovereign's command. He reluctantly picked up the vermilion brush.

Carefully weighing his words, he wrote: "I am well. I hope you will continue to fulfill your duties diligently and protect the peace of your region."

Zhou Mingqi watched from the side, his eyes fixed on the hand gripping the brush, but he said nothing.

Seeing this, Cheng Ge let out a small sigh of relief and continued processing the next memorial.

As time passed, tiny beads of sweat broke out on Cheng Ge’s forehead, and his hand began to ache.

He couldn’t help but complain to himself, no wonder he used to hear that ancient emperors often reviewed memorials late into the night.

Back then, he hadn’t believed it—could this little stuff really take all day? Weren’t they just goofing off?

But now, he was thoroughly convinced.

No wonder Zhou Mingqi always wore a stern face—these memorials were long-winded and full of BS.

What could be said in two sentences was stretched into hundreds or thousands of words, like they were trying to show off how smart they were.

After reviewing several memorials of greetings in a row, Cheng Ge felt totally wiped out, almost sick from all the words, like he was about to puke.

“…In Anping County and elsewhere, floods have ravaged the land, submerging fields and homes, destroying roads, leaving the people displaced, and the disaster is extremely severe…”

“Get to the point.” Zhou Mingqi’s face went dark, clearly pissed off.