He Fengsheng's eyes lit up the moment he heard his name, and he nudged Liang Shixian with barely concealed excitement, his voice dropping but unable to hide the thrill bubbling underneath.
"Ah, Liang-xiong, they called me, finally my turn."
Liang Shixian smiled calmly, the kind of smile that carried both distance and quiet amusement.
"Congratulations."
He Fengsheng rubbed his hands together, already stepping forward with a grin that leaned closer to greed than dignity.
"I wonder what position they will give me. Grand Secretary is out of the question, that seat will surely go to one of their own people. As for someone like me, an old official, I would be satisfied with a lower-ranked idle post, something comfortable, nothing too demanding."
Liang Shixian gave a small nod, his tone gentle but layered.
"Let us hope so."
He Fengsheng did not catch the nuance at all, already hurrying inside with brisk steps, his robe swaying as he called out loudly.
"He Fengsheng reports in."
The moment he entered, the scene inside the hall made him pause for a fraction of a second. The leaders of the Public Governance faction were seated in a circle, not in rigid hierarchy but in a loose formation that felt strangely informal yet deliberate. At the center sat a statue of Dao Xuan Tianzun, but it was only a statue, devoid of presence, without that overwhelming aura that came when the real one intervened.
Around it sat Zhu Cunji, Zhu Yujian, Chen Qianhu, Flat Rabbit, and the others, each holding a sheet of paper, clearly reviewing his submitted background.
Flat Rabbit was the first to finish, or rather the first to put the paper down, since he could not read anyway. He waved his hand casually as if dismissing something trivial.
"He Fengsheng, we have looked at your resume."
He Fengsheng immediately bent slightly at the waist, smile stretched wide in practiced humility.
"So… what will my future position be?"
"You will go home and retire."
Zhu Yujian cut in directly, his tone clean and without hesitation, like a blade that did not bother to hide its edge.
"Our new system has no need for an official who only drifts along."
The smile on He Fengsheng's face froze instantly, then shattered.
"What? That is not accurate. I did not only drift along. I helped establish the fertilizer factory, I took the lead in the waterworks project, the steel plants around the capital, the power stations, and recently I have been working on electric lighting and electric fans…"
Zhu Youzhong chuckled softly, his eyes narrowing with amusement.
"Are you sure? Those were Liang Shixian's projects, were they not?"
He Fengsheng stiffened, then quickly tried to salvage the situation.
"But I was the one leading them. That counts as a contribution."
Laughter broke out across the circle, not mocking in a cruel way, but unmistakably dismissive.
"So when it comes to doing the work, you float around and avoid effort, but when the credit is handed out, you step forward to claim your share. An official like that has no place here. Go home."
The verdict was final.
He Fengsheng stood there for a moment, the color draining from his face, before turning and walking out with heavy steps, his shoulders slumped as if someone had taken a knife and cut out the spine that held his pride together.
When he reached Liang Shixian, he lowered his voice, the earlier excitement completely gone.
"Liang-xiong… I was not accepted. I have to return home."
Liang Shixian smiled, still calm, still composed.
"Congratulations. You have lost your position, but you have kept your life."
He Fengsheng blinked, stunned, then paused to think.
"Ah… that is true. When I chose to drift along before, it was precisely to protect my life. Now the position is gone, but I am still alive. That is already not bad."
His expression shifted gradually, the bitterness thinning out, replaced by a kind of reluctant relief. He clasped his hands toward Liang Shixian.
"Then I shall return to my hometown. May your career flourish."
Liang Shixian inclined his head.
"May the mountains remain green, and the waters flow long…"
Before he could finish, a voice from inside called out again.
"Liang Shixian, your turn."
Liang Shixian gave a brief apology and stepped inside, leaving He Fengsheng standing outside.
Instead of leaving, He Fengsheng hesitated, then quietly moved toward the door, pressing his ear against it, curiosity overpowering dignity.
He muttered to himself.
"I want to see what kind of position Liang-xiong will get. He used to be the emperor's trusted man, helping gather funds, practically part of Zhu Youjian's inner circle. In the new system, he should be sidelined. Maybe reduced to a minor post, or even sent home like me."
He held his breath and listened.
Inside, Zhu Yujian's voice rang out clearly.
"Minister Liang, I believe the position of Minister of Revenue is yours."
Zhu Youzhong spoke immediately after.
"I agree."
Chen Qianhu followed.
"Approved."
Flat Rabbit slapped the table lightly.
"Solid choice."
Unanimous.
Liang Shixian's voice carried a faint smile.
"Then I will accept."
Outside, He Fengsheng nearly coughed up blood, his whole body shaking.
What kind of outcome was this.
Fear that a friend might suffer, yet dread that the same friend might succeed beyond measure, all tangled together until his heart felt like it was being twisted.
He turned around, dazed, taking a few unsteady steps, only to see another man ahead walking in the same hollow manner.
It was Chen Xinjia.
He Fengsheng blinked.
"Minister Chen, you too?"
Chen Xinjia looked just as lost.
"Grand Secretary, you as well?"
The two men stared at each other, then sighed in unison.
"So we both lost our positions."
They stood there, exchanging looks filled with shared misery, words failing them.
After a moment, He Fengsheng spoke again.
"Who will become the new Minister of War?"
Before the question could settle, a familiar figure approached with steady steps, wearing a composed and confident smile.
Sun Chuanting.
Chen Xinjia raised his brows.
"Minister Sun, you are here too?"
Sun Chuanting laughed lightly.
"Of course. I have been sitting idle for long enough. Time to move again."
Chen Xinjia lowered his voice.
"You came to apply for Minister of War?"
Sun Chuanting nodded.
"That is the plan."
He Fengsheng and Chen Xinjia exchanged glances, both showing the same expression.
Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
Yet before they could dwell on it, a Public Governance officer standing at the gate suddenly snapped to attention and gave a crisp salute.
"Principal Sun, sir."
Sun Chuanting waved casually.
"Ah, Xiao Wu. You used to be such a troublemaker, and now you are an officer."
The officer's face flushed with pride.
"All thanks to your teaching. I am no longer the useless brat I once was."
Sun Chuanting nodded.
"Good. Keep it up."
As he walked forward, more officers recognized him, each one greeting him with respect.
"Principal Sun."
"Long time no see."
"How have you been?"
"I will visit you sometime."
He Fengsheng and Chen Xinjia watched in stunned silence, their expressions growing darker by the second.
"So he was the academy head of their military."
A realization hit them like a hammer.
Not long after, the news spread. Sun Chuanting had been appointed Minister of War once again, commanding all military forces.
Chen Xinjia could not help but mutter.
"What about Lu Xiangsheng?"
He Fengsheng frowned.
"Yes, Lu Xiangsheng is still out there with his army. When he returns and sees the capital like this, what will he do? Will he march against the city?"
Neither of them had answers.
But one thing was clear. This was no longer their concern.
The old court was gone, the new system had no place for them, and aside from returning home, there was nothing left to do.
So they left.
He Fengsheng's hometown was in Wuchang of Hubei. He had lived in the capital for many years and had not returned for a long time. Now, on his journey back, what he saw overturned everything he had imagined.
The villages were densely populated, people moved along the roads carrying goods on their shoulders, markets formed at midday and dispersed at dusk, a lively and orderly rhythm pulsing through the land.
This was not the chaos he had expected. This was peace.
When he finally entered Wuchang, he saw something even more astonishing.
At the center of the city stood a towering statue of Dao Xuan Tianzun, gleaming under sunlight, its golden surface reflecting brilliance in every direction.
At its base was a plaque.
"Funded by Prince Chu, Zhu Huadie."
The old Prince of Chu, already seventy years old, was kneeling before the statue, holding incense with both hands, his posture devout, his voice low.
"Dao Xuan Tianzun, protect us."
He Fengsheng stood there, stunned, his mind struggling to catch up.
"So my hometown… already joined the Public Governance faction?"
He blinked again, still unable to process it.
"When did that happen?"