Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

Cai Si was a jinshi from Xi Ning’s third year, and he was already Prime Minister when the Late Emperor was still on the throne.

He has been in office longer than Zhao Ji has reigned.

Being only a Third Grade Martial Artist and able to remain in office for such a long time speaks volumes about his capabilities.

In the afternoon, Cai Si was sitting under the pavilion fishing, with his newlywed concubine massaging his leg beside him. At nearly seventy, his energy remained vigorous.

The fish hook had been empty for a long time, and under the concubine’s pressing, Cai Si’s eyes gradually grew drowsy.

Just then, the fishing rod in his hand twitched.

The concubine exclaimed, ”Prime Minister, a fish is biting.”

Cai Si’s eyes popped open, he raised his hand, pulling from the opening of the concubine’s collar... with the other hand flicking lightly, a carp broke through the water, and the fishing line suddenly straightened.

Just then.

In the nearby corridor, a figure as stout as a barrel came gasping towards them, and before he arrived, he was already saying, ”Prime Minister Cai, my Prime Minister, you must help me this time, otherwise my child will truly have no chance.”

”Swish!”

The fishing line abruptly snapped.

The carp plunged back into the water and escaped.

The concubine beside him frowned, ”Prime Minister, it hurts.”

Cai Si withdrew his hand from the concubine’s clothes.

At this moment, Gao Qiu also arrived at the pavilion, looking at the young girl sitting at Cai Si’s feet, her collar wide open... exposed to the air, seemingly younger than Cai Si’s granddaughter.

”Why are you not retreating quickly!” Cai Si furrowed his brow and barked at the concubine.

The concubine did not dare to disobey Cai Si, stood up, the light-gauze green pants slipped down, covering her two lotus-like smooth calves, bowed her head, and hurriedly left.

Cai Si clapped his hands, and maids brought over cool chairs, serving snacks and tea.

Cai Si invited Gao Qiu to sit.

The teapot holding the tea was an expensive purple sandalwood pot.

After Gao Qiu sat down.

Cai Si waved his hand again, and all the maids in the courtyard departed one after another.

Under the pavilion, only Gao Qiu and Cai Si remained.

Cai Si wanted to pour tea for Gao Qiu, but Gao Qiu hastily took the teapot, respectfully poured a cup of tea for Cai Si, and then for himself.

Cai Si sipped a mouthful and said, ”Grand Commandant, what exactly is going on?”

Gao Qiu looked anxious, ”Xiao Yunqi just came to see me.”

”What did he come to see you for?” Cai Si looked puzzled.

Although they were not in alignment with Xiao Yunxi, they were not adversaries either, usually minding their own business.

”He wants me to do him a favor, or more accurately, to ask Prime Minister Cai for help.”

”What kind of help?”

”It’s just...” Gao Qiu whispered into Cai Si’s ear.

After listening, Cai Si furrowed his brow, not answering but continuing to ask, ”Then why help you, and what does your child’s life have to do with it?”

”Xiao Yunqi said if we don’t help, he will report my son’s trouble in Nanyang to His Majesty, personally presenting a memorial, but if we do help, he’ll plead to His Majesty to spare my son.” Gao Qiu explained thoroughly.

Upon hearing this, Cai Si’s face darkened, unhappy about cleaning up Gao Fen’s mess, but he was aligned with Gao Qiu.

If he didn’t help, it would surely create a rift between him and Gao Qiu.

But if he did help...

Cai Si sighed inwardly, then said, ”Who exactly is this Chen Hong?”

”Based on what we can currently ascertain, he’s an eunuch in Weiyang Palace, and a disciple of the Shenxiao Sect, rumored to be favored by the State Preceptor. But Xiao Yunqi told me he’s also an Innate Martial Artist.” Gao Qiu pondered and said.

”Eunuch...”

Cai Si pondered for a moment, then said, ”Eunuch is false, Xiao Family assigning a guard to the Empress seems true.

It seems Wang Ze became the Chief of Staff of the Infantry Department, giving him a lot of pressure, so he wants to elevate this Chen Hong.”

”I think so too,” Gao Qiu nodded.

Cai Si stood up, the fishing rod in his hand swung, and the fish line without a hook shot into the lake like an arrow.

With a gentle lift of his hand, a carp broke through the water.

The broken fishing line actually rejoined.

Cai Si chuckled, ”Grand Commandant, have you eaten?”

”Not yet, after sending off Xiao Yunqi, I came straight to the Prime Minister’s Mansion.”

”Then stay and eat at my mansion.”

Gao Qiu’s eyes lit up, knowing this was Cai Si’s way of agreeing.

...

Celestial River City.

Luo Mansion.

The current Luo Mansion could be described as desolate, in just a dozen days, the entire Luo Mansion transformed from a wealthy family’s grand house into a tattered haunted house.

As for why it’s a haunted house.

Over a hundred people in the Luo Mansion had died inside, could it not be called a haunted house?

Yet even as a tattered haunted house, it’s better than other places in Celestial River City.

After the rebel army and the Song Army left Celestial River City.

The refugees and beggars in the city resided in this tattered haunted house.

”Go, go, hurry up, is this a place you can stay? If you don’t leave, we’ll beat you...”

At sunset, a group appeared inside and outside the Luo Mansion, their armor bright and clear, driving the refugees residing in the Luo Mansion out and gathering them together.

They trembled at the sight of the Imperial Guard holding weapons.

Just then, they saw a young man in black armor riding a white horse dismount, stepping up to the stone steps in front of the Luo Mansion’s gate, looking down at them, saying, ”I am from the Infantry Department...”

After introducing himself, Chen Mo continued, ”The Nanyang rebel army has been suppressed, and we will establish relief stations in the east, west, south, and north of the city. Starting tomorrow, everyone who goes to a relief station can receive some food daily to alleviate hunger.”

This was not Chen Mo’s unilateral decision but an order from Huangfu Hao, and Chen Mo transmitted it whenever he arrived in a county.

And the grains for disaster relief were sent from neighboring counties around Nanyang.

When the battle report from Nanyang reaches the Capital, shortly thereafter, neighboring counties will allocate certain officials to come to Nanyang to restore civil affairs.

But before the officials arrive, the military and political affairs of several counties near Celestial River are under Chen Mo’s command.

Yet Chen Mo could manage them, after speaking, he glanced at the crowd, asking, ”Among you, who has served as an official?”

The crowd looked at each other.

No one spoke.

Chen Mo said again, ”If anyone has served as an official, raise your hand, and I will give you an extra meal of rice daily.”

After a moment, someone raised their hand and said, ”General, I... I managed documents at the Liuzhou County Government Office, does that... count as an official?”

”It counts,” Chen Mo thought for a moment and said.

”Sir, though I have never been an official, I am... a scholar, wrote legal papers for people, is that okay?” A shabby, weak-looking scholar stepped forward.

”Scholars are good, this emissary needs scholars, what’s your name?” Chen Mo asked.

”Fu Bi.”

ps: Previous Chapter blocked, reposted