Chapter 235: Now This Is a High-Level Way to Acknowledge Ancestors! (2 / 2)

[You want me to investigate???]

[What do you think I am, a deity?]

[Even if you assigned this to the Jinyiwei, they might not be able to determine its authenticity!]

[And! I already have two major tasks on my plate—compiling the official history and drafting the examination topics! You want to add a third? Even a donkey needs a break!]

The Minister of War felt a slight pang of guilt, but it passed quickly. He pressed down on Xu Yanmiao’s shoulder and smiled, the expression uncannily resembling that of a modern capitalist. “Xu Lang, I am aware that you’ve been busy lately, carrying heavy responsibilities…”

[You know, yet you still give me more work?! Can’t you assign this to the Jinyiwei instead?]@@novelbin@@

Without missing a beat, the Minister of War lied with a straight face: “But this matter is of utmost importance, and the Jinyiwei might not be able to uncover the truth. We’ll need to rely on the former Jin Prince’s covert agents. Each of them is fiercely loyal and only recognizes you as their leader now. They’re not entirely unwilling to work under others, but they are far more effective under your command.”

The old emperor’s lips pressed together to suppress a grin, lest Xu Yanmiao notice his amusement.

Brilliantly done!

This way, the covert agents could be seamlessly transferred under Xu Yanmiao’s control.

[!!!]

[They only recognize me?!]

[That makes it even worse! I’ll handle this task, but once it’s done, I’m returning those agents immediately!]

The old emperor’s fingertips tightened sharply around the armrest of his chair.

No way!

Do you know what the Jinyiwei is? Even their Commander has never made me feel uneasy!

The old emperor tentatively said, “Xu Yanmiao, have you ever considered taking control of covert agents, just like the Commander of the Jinyiwei?”

Xu Yanmiao’s eyes widened. “Your Majesty! Absolutely not!”

The old emperor decided to pressure him further. “Oh? Why not? Could it be that you think I lack the capacity to tolerate others?”

Xu Yanmiao instinctively thought: [That’s not it, but human nature isn’t something to be tested.]

The emperor froze slightly at this response.

Whatever reasons Xu Yanmiao gave afterward, the emperor didn’t really listen. He was still mulling over that inner thought.

After a while, the emperor’s fingers moved slightly on the armrest.

“Very well,” he finally said with a slight smile. “Once you finish investigating that genealogical record, you may return the covert agents. In the future, I’ll take charge of them myself.”

[Yes!!!]

Though his inner voice was lively, Xu Yanmiao maintained his usual composed and elegant demeanor. With a graceful movement of his sleeves, he saluted properly and said, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s kindness.”

“Do a good job,” the old emperor said with a smile. “Once this task is done, I’ll have you deal with a tiger.”

Though Xu Yanmiao wasn’t a deity, he had a system.

At home, he sat by a brazier, flipping through the genealogical record name by name.

The windows were covered with animal skins to keep the cold wind out, and he wrapped himself in a fluffy goose-down quilt. Sitting by the fire for two or three hours made him feel warm and cozy, ensuring a good night’s sleep.

Inside the winter room, clotheslines were strung up to dry the washed garments. Water dripped steadily into the basin below.

“Mmm, no one from the common folk would dare forge something like this, right?” Xu Yanmiao muttered to himself. The genealogical record rested on his upright knees as he absentmindedly touched it. Meanwhile, he scooped cooked pumpkin from the fire and started eating it spoon by spoon.

“Pfft—!”

“Cough, cough, cough!”

Xu Yanmiao turned his head quickly in panic. Thankfully, the pumpkin hadn’t splattered onto the genealogical record.

[This… this is absolutely absurd?!]

This thought, like a bolt of lightning, echoed all around Xu Yanmiao’s house.

Whether it was the Marquis of Yongchang returning from Japan, the Left Army Assistant Commander who had just finished his duties, or other officials, all of them shuddered at the sound and froze in their tracks. Their ears perked up.

What?

What’s absurd?

—After two years, they had come to understand that “absurd” meant ridiculous or preposterous.

The officials had already heard some inside information: someone had a genealogical conflict with the emperor! Given the context, Xu Yanmiao’s reaction… could it be that there was something fishy about the genealogical record? But it couldn’t be someone plotting something malicious, or Xu Yanmiao wouldn’t have called it “absurd.”

The Marquis of Yongchang ventured a bold guess: “Could it be that the Crown Prince ran out of money and sold his family’s genealogical record?”

At home, the Minister of Revenue, having just finished eating a roast chicken and wiping his mouth with a damp cloth, burst into laughter, only to have the sound muffled by thick fabric.

After moving the towel away, he suppressed his laughter and said, “The Crown Prince hasn’t fallen into such financial straits.”

The Marquis of Yongchang waved his hand with a laugh. “Of course, I know that! Just joking around. Anyway, the Crown Prince isn’t here to complain.”

The Minister of Revenue laughed again, this time unable to hold back at all, tossing his damp towel aside. Laughing as he joined the fun, he said, “Little Bai Ze once said, ‘Stories will make things sound logical, but reality doesn’t need to care about logic at all.’ I bet this scholar and His Majesty aren’t descendants of the Great Prince of Yu, but they might actually be blood-related somehow!”

The Marquis of Yongchang sharply inhaled. This time, he was genuinely shocked. “That sounds scarily plausible. Could it really be true?”

The Minister of Revenue’s pupils dilated in astonishment. After a long moment, he opened his mouth and heard himself say, “It’s definitely possible…”

The Marquis stroked the rough stubble on his chin and suddenly grinned mischievously. “No matter what Xu Yanmiao discovers, there’s no way it’ll outdo the wild guesses we’ve just made! He won’t scare us this time!”

The Minister of Revenue chuckled. “Absolutely right! Come on, let’s eat!”

The Marquis kicked him lightly. “You’re eating at my house, so serve me! Peel some garlic for your master!”

The Minister of Revenue immediately put on a show, peeling the garlic in the most uneven and clumsy way possible.

The Marquis didn’t mind. He placed the garlic on the fire to roast, watching white steam rise from it, and commented leisurely, “This is pretty average.”

Just then, Xu Yanmiao’s inner thoughts reached them, full of surprise: [I was wondering how a commoner’s genealogical record could trace back several dynasties. Turns out, it’s all fabricated!]

The Marquis relaxedly watched the garlic roast, not forgetting to add his own commentary. “Indeed, that’s about right.”

[Someone in this man’s lineage, about eight generations back, took advantage of their position to forge records in The Annals, claiming their grandfather was a descendant of the Yu royal family. They even cited The Historical Records as proof. Then, in The Historical Records, they wrote the same claim, but cited The Annals.]

[Hahahahaha! They’re just playing ping-pong with their own lies!]

The Marquis, in the middle of eating a garlic clove, was caught completely off guard by the spiciness that shot straight up his nose. Tears instantly welled up in his eyes, and snot began to drip from his nose.

“Cough, cough, cough!”

“Water! Water!”The Marquis groped for a cup on the table as he choked, all while cursing in his mind: What kind of genius is this?! Truly a master of creative nonsense!