True heartbreak isn't about loud quarrels and commotions.

In that instant, Ji Weiqiu didn't even want to speak, or rather, he had no idea what to say.

He knew it was somewhat absurd, but... whatever scheme Ji Su was plotting, did it have to make him get up at three in the morning?! Huh?! That wasn't even eight! — If there was nothing major during today's court session, he might have been able to get back for a nap by eight.

But on second thought, that seemed unlikely. Going back for a nap at eight was a privilege for ordinary ministers. The so-called 'entering the cabinet to discuss matters'—what kind of place was the Grand Secretariat?! It was Ji Su's high-level secretarial team! Simply put, after the court session ended, he would have to go to the Imperial Study and continue discussing state affairs with Ji Su. After that, he'd go to work at the Wenyuan Pavilion, reviewing memorials and continuing to discuss state affairs with his colleagues (the three Grand Secretaries).

Of course, there was power involved, but the problem was, what did a good-for-nothing prince like him need power for?!

The gazes of the several Grand Secretaries toward Ji Weiqiu changed. Prime Minister Gu's eyes held a smile, with a hint of teasing. Prime Minister Liu already had an amiable appearance, and now his gaze toward Ji Weiqiu was even gentler. He even nodded at him, and Ji Weiqiu almost felt that the man was somewhat gratified... Only Prime Minister Wang's gaze was extremely cold.

Prime Minister Wang looked as if he had been struck on the head.

Ji Weiqiu looked back magnanimously and then gave him a smile—'What are you looking at? Am I not smiling beautifully?'

Ji Weiqiu bit the tip of his tongue to compose himself, then said aloud, "Your younger brother is young and inexperienced. The heavy responsibilities of the Grand Secretariat, I fear I am not competent enough to handle. I implore the Emperor to retract his command."

Hearing this, Ji Su actually revealed a very faint smile. "What do you ministers think?"

As soon as he said this, the gazes of the court officials swept vaguely over Ji Weiqiu. The hairs on Ji Weiqiu's back stood on end. He hoped these people would be helpful and quickly say that he was unfit for the heavy responsibility, to delay the matter.

Zhou Qiming, the Minister of Personnel, immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "This subject believes that His Highness, the Prince of Rui, is of the imperial clan, was a prodigy in his youth, and is sincere and true. It is his duty to share the burdens of the state. Your Highness, the Prince of Rui, you mustn't be so modest!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's gazes toward the Minister of Personnel became somewhat subtle. Lord Zhou is quite adept at reading the situation!

But that was the truth. Who couldn't see that the current Emperor was determined to place the Prince of Rui in the cabinet? In the Grand Secretariat, Prime Minister Gu Yunhe was the Senior Grand Secretary, from a humble background. Prime Minister Wang Luyin was the Second Grand Secretary, from an aristocratic family. Prime Minister Liu Zhaoying was the Assisting Grand Secretary, from the scholar-gentry faction, the most impartial of them all. For the Prince of Rui to enter the Grand Secretariat as an imperial kinsman was perfectly logical and reasonable.

Was this something they could postpone for discussion just by objecting? Taking a step back, even if it weren't the Prince of Rui today, there was still the Imperial Clan Prince! If His Majesty ordered the Imperial Clan Prince to enter the Grand Secretariat, that old prince was of high seniority and had the merit of having supported the Emperor's ascension. What could they use to dissuade him? Claim that the Imperial Clan Prince was too old and shouldn't be overworked? Wasn't that a joke?!

Rather than letting that shrewd and cunning Imperial Clan Prince enter the Grand Secretariat, it was better to have the Prince of Rui! Although everyone knew the Prince of Rui represented His Majesty, the Prince of Rui was young and couldn't overshadow the other Grand Secretaries too much. If the Imperial Clan Prince were to come instead, he would sit there with perfect justification, and even Prime Minister Gu would have to yield to him.

For a moment, the officials all stepped forward one after another to approve the Prince of Rui's entry into the cabinet. Praises rained down in baskets as if they were free, and Ji Weiqiu grew numb listening to them—he suspected this bunch of old foxes weren't talking about him, but about a saint.

Ji Su nodded. "In that case, it is settled."

The officials chorused, "The Emperor is wise."

Ji Weiqiu: "..."

Eunuch Qingxi, standing diagonally in front of Ji Su, was frantically winking at Ji Weiqiu, his meaning clear: 'Your Highness, hurry up and give thanks for the grace! All the officials have no objections. You've made a token refusal, that's enough. Don't, by any means, refuse a second time!'

Ji Weiqiu, as if mourning his parents, said, "...Your younger brother receives the decree."

Ji Su watched Ji Weiqiu's dejected appearance and found it amusing—hadn't he come to question him about not being given anything to do and not being told anything? Now that things had been made clear to him, he shouldn't think he could so easily go back to being his carefree prince.

After this matter was settled, seeing that the officials had no more memorials to present, Ji Su dismissed the court. As his figure disappeared behind the screen, Ji Weiqiu felt the officials invisibly relax a great deal. Ji Weiqiu hesitated for a moment, then thought of slipping away—'I can slip into the inner palace. That way, since it's in roughly the same direction as Taiji Palace, no one should notice, right?'

But while the ideal was beautiful, reality was often cruel. Before Ji Weiqiu could take more than a few steps, he was surrounded by officials, all of them saying, 'So-and-so official, so-and-so person, congratulates the Prince!' What else could Ji Weiqiu do? He could only respond with a foolish grin!

"Thank you, this prince has other matters to attend to..."

"Your Highness." A voice suddenly stopped him. Ji Weiqiu's steps stiffened. He could only turn to look and saw Prime Minister Liu standing with his hands behind his back, looking like a retired old man from next door. He smiled and said, "From now on, this old subject and Your Highness will be colleagues. If there is anything you do not understand, feel free to ask this old subject."

Ji Weiqiu gave a bitter smile and said, "Prime Minister Liu, please don't tease me. My Imperial Elder Brother truly caught me off guard today... I have always set my heart on mountains and rivers. How could I possibly enter the Grand Secretariat?"

"Ah—Your Highness must not say that." He looked at Ji Weiqiu with admiration. "Your Highness is not someone who would remain in a small pond. Why look down on yourself? Since the Emperor has given the order, Your Highness should accept it with peace of mind!"

Prime Minister Gu also joined in the fun, "That is right. Today is Your Highness's first day in the Grand Secretariat. It is just right for you to go with us."

"The Prince has hidden himself too deeply." Prime Minister Wang's cold gaze fell on Ji Weiqiu as he said, "It is a pity that old men like us are old and blind, and actually failed to see it."

In his entire life, aside from when he was in front of Ji Su, when had Ji Weiqiu ever tolerated this kind of passive-aggressive insult to his face? He chuckled. "Does Prime Minister Wang also suffer from this ailment? This prince knows a craftsman who is skilled at grinding crystal into lenses. Wearing them can make one's vision clear, allowing one to read words as small as mosquitoes and flies without error. That craftsman said it is mostly the elderly who are prone to this ailment, which is why those crystal lenses are also called reading glasses... Shall this prince have that craftsman visit the Prime Minister's residence another day?"

Prime Minister Wang glared fiercely at Ji Weiqiu and said menacingly, "Then many thanks to the Prince!"

After saying that, he flung his sleeves and left, without even a semblance of courtesy.

Ji Weiqiu looked at Prime Minister Gu and Prime Minister Liu with a bewildered expression. "Prime Minister Wang... was very rude?"

Prime Minister Gu could barely contain the smile in his eyes. Prime Minister Liu coughed twice and said, "His Lordship Prime Minister Wang was indeed rude... He must have urgent business to attend to."

Ji Weiqiu nodded in understanding. "When one gets old, nature calls... It was my fault for holding him up to talk."

The officials who hadn't left yet stared at Ji Weiqiu as if he were a deity.

G-good heavens! This was cursing Prime Minister Wang for being old and dim-sighted to his face! How could the Prince of Rui dare... No, he really did dare.

Ji Weiqiu thought for a moment and said, "Forget it. I was going to say that etiquette cannot be discarded, but seeing as Prime Minister Wang is old, I'll let it slide..."

The officials: "..."

Prime Minister Gu, his face full of smiles, raised a hand slightly. "Your Highness, please."

Ji Weiqiu could only follow.

Since there was still an hour, there was no rush. Ji Weiqiu was first led to the Wenyuan Pavilion. It was actually considered part of the Taiji Palace grounds, though it was still some distance from Qingning Hall. As the Senior Grand Secretary, Prime Minister Gu arranged a place for Ji Weiqiu—a place that seemed to have been prepared long ago.

Ji Weiqiu couldn't help but whisper, "Prime Minister Gu, since my Imperial Elder Brother had this plan, you didn't even give me a little hint."

Prime Minister Gu smiled. "Your Highness overpraises me. The Emperor's heart is like an abyss; this subject dares not fathom His Majesty's intentions."

Ji Weiqiu nearly choked. What was the difference between what Prime Minister Gu had said and him getting right in his face to say 'I knew, but I'm not admitting it'?! He glared at Prime Minister Gu, who calmly averted his gaze and continued to introduce the layout of the Wenyuan Pavilion.

Besides his place in the main hall, he also had a side hall, which served as his exclusive office. Ji Weiqiu had always avoided this place before and had never explored it in detail. He had thought that besides palace staff, only the few Grand Secretaries could enter the Wenyuan Pavilion. He hadn't expected to find quite a few people inside after entering—which made sense. Over a hundred memorials reached Ji Su's desk, and even more came to the Wenyuan Pavilion. If there were only three people, Ji Su would be waiting until dark for the memorials.

Prime Minister Gu led him to the side hall. Three people were already waiting inside, all dressed in the green official robes. Seeing them enter, they cupped their hands in a salute:

"This subject, Reader-Attendant Ye Enguang, pays his respects to the Prince of Rui."

"This subject, Archivist Wei Jinyan, pays his respects to the Prince."

"This subject, Central Secretariat Drafter Yuan Zhu, pays his respects to the Prince."

Needless to say, this was the team assigned to him.

Ji Weiqiu first told them to rise. According to custom, he should give some reward money for their first meeting. However, these were officials, not his household servants. Ji Weiqiu felt he probably didn't need to, so he subconsciously looked at Prime Minister Gu, waiting for a hint.

Prime Minister Gu saw Ji Weiqiu looking at him and thought Ji Weiqiu had some instructions. As their eyes met, a trace of confusion slowly rose in Ji Weiqiu's eyes, and only then did Prime Minister Gu understand what he meant. Prime Minister Gu withdrew his gaze and said solemnly, "From now on, you will follow His Highness the Prince of Rui. You must serve diligently and must not be remiss."

The three men answered in unison. Prime Minister Gu then said, "It's about time. Your Highness, we should go to the Imperial Study."

Ji Weiqiu replied, looking like an eggplant hit by frost. He yawned, feeling truly sleepy, and said, "Let's go then..."

Prime Minister Gu nodded and led him out. Eunuch Xiao Zhuo was already waiting outside the door. Eunuch Xiao Zhuo was not under the jurisdiction of the Wenyuan Pavilion and could not take a single step inside without an imperial decree, so he could only wait outside. Seeing Ji Weiqiu come out, he hurried forward to bow and support Ji Weiqiu, saying, "Your Highness, would you like to take a sedan chair?"

Ji Weiqiu yawned sleepily, "That would be good."

"Aye!" Eunuch Xiao Zhuo replied with a beaming smile and waved the sedan carriers over. Ji Weiqiu didn't stand on ceremony and got into the sedan chair—it was quite a long distance. He hadn't had enough sleep, had been standing for two hours, and hadn't eaten a proper breakfast. He truly felt he couldn't walk anymore.

Just as the sedan chair was lifted, Prime Minister Wang and Prime Minister Liu happened to come out of the Wenyuan Pavilion, watching helplessly as the sedan chair carried Ji Weiqiu away.

Prime Minister Wang immediately snorted coldly, "Absurd!"

Prime Minister Liu looked amiable, but the words he spoke had nothing to do with amiability, "Your Lordship Prime Minister Wang, watch your words! Your Lordship should understand the proper relationship between a sovereign and his subjects. Do not forget your place!"

His Lordship Prime Minister Wang glanced sideways at Prime Minister Liu. "Naturally, I understand... I underestimated you before, Prime Minister Liu. This move of yours was truly brilliant!"

Prime Minister Gu said placatingly, "Prime Minister Wang, don't be so angry... We have been officials in the same court for many years, so naturally, we won't hold it against you. But Prime Minister Wang should also be more cautious, lest you make the Emperor think you harbor resentment toward him... wouldn't you agree?"

His Lordship Prime Minister Wang gave Prime Minister Gu a deep look, then flung his sleeves and strode away.