Qi Tuizhi initially thought that Lu Xingzhou’s instruction for him to report for duty today was just a show of power.

From a student of the Imperial Academy to an official, the process is long; how could one assume office just like that? And “tomorrow”? Lu Xingzhou himself might not even be able to assume office tomorrow.

Even if he were assigned a position, it would just be for “getting acquainted.”

Unexpectedly, he actually sat there for half a day, and his official credentials and rank came down. Not only that, but it was for a newly established department.

Is creating new positions so easy? Even if Pei Qingyan is your father-in-law, he wouldn’t exert himself this much, let alone when he’s not even the father-in-law.

Qi Tuizhi was clever; he knew this wasn’t just Pei Qingyan doing a favor out of personal obligation. There must have been an exchange of interests between Lu Xingzhou and the Pei family for this to happen. To avoid any complications, they had acted so decisively and quickly.

What kind of Langzhong could have an exchange of interests with a Prime Minister!

He took a deep breath and performed a formal subordinate’s bow: “Then this subordinate will go to the Ministry of Personnel first.”

Lu Xingzhou waved his hand casually: “Go ahead. I’ll wait for you to host a banquet, alright?”

Qi Tuizhi smiled: “No time like the present; how about tonight?”

“Tonight?… I’m busy.”

Qi Tuizhi was about to say something more when a head poked through the door: “Busy?”

Qi Tuizhi turned to look, and it was Pei Chuyun.

She’s openly running to the Six Ministries to find a man now? Qi Tuizhi’s cheek twitched. He didn’t dare to say more and went directly to the Ministry of Personnel to complete the formalities.

Lu Xingzhou looked up from his desk and smiled: “Why are you here? I still have to go to your house for dinner tonight. Is it just for this short half-day?”

“Humph.” Pei Chuyun pulled out a stack of documents from behind her: “Pei Chuyun, the new Zhubu of the Zhuke Si, reporting to Langzhong Lu.”

Lu Xingzhou: “?”

A Zhubu is essentially a secretary.

It’s a bit more prestigious than a personal secretary, like a head secretary for a department… but given their relationship, isn’t she just his personal assistant?

Such a position exists in a Da Si, but not in the Zhuke Si… Of course, this doesn’t require a new position. The position already exists; with connections, one can go straight in. In terms of official rank, it’s equivalent to the Zhushi of various departments.

Female officials are not uncommon in Da Gan… The problem is that Qi Tuizhi is an alumnus who graduated from the Imperial Academy, while she hasn’t even finished her first year and is far from graduating.

What is Pei Qingyan doing?

Pei Chuyun giggled: “Didn’t you tell a certain Prime Minister that there would be benefits if Miss Pei was in charge, otherwise there wouldn’t be?”

Lu Xingzhou was dumbfounded: “Does Prime Minister Pei not know I was joking? Could I really suggest an unspoken rule to him?”

“But Prime Minister Pei seems to have accepted your unspoken rule. What should I do?” Pei Chuyun blinked her eyes: “Sir, do you want to instruct your subordinate on her work?”

Instruct where, point where?

Lu Xingzhou suddenly understood. Pei Qingyan was optimistic about the current status of the Zhuke Si; there were many merits to be earned, and after just a year or so, he could promote his daughter.

If Qi Tuizhi could ride Lu Xingzhou’s rising tide, why couldn’t the Pei family?

As for whether his daughter acting as a personal assistant might be a bit much, well, she had snuck out to stay overnight countless times already; did it still matter?

Thinking of this, Lu Xingzhou also let out a wry smile: “Alright, alright, then pick an office space.”

Pei Chuyun swayed her hips and leaned over, sitting on the desk in front of him, one hand propped on the table as she twisted to look at him, her posture truly alluring: “Can I choose here?”

Lu Xingzhou straightened his face: “That’s for when your father promotes you to Langzhong.”

Pei Chuyun bit her lower lip: “The door is closed.”

Lu Xingzhou was quite helpless: “It’s drafty.”

He said so, but secretly set up a soundproofing barrier and also used the Five Ghosts Transport method to lock the door from the inside.

Pei Chuyun watched his series of actions and giggled. Once he finished, she jumped off the table and ran off: “Dream on.”

“Damn it…” Lu Xingzhou bent over, groaning.

Pei Chuyun opened the door, looked back, and smiled: “There’s always… a long future ahead, Sir.”

Actually, Pei Chuyun originally wanted to set up a desk right outside Lu Xingzhou’s office to work, to block any little vixen who dared to enter.

Unfortunately, such an advanced secretarial concept was not suited for the times; there was no space for such an arrangement here. As a Zhubu, she had her own office. Luckily, the room next to Lu Xingzhou, originally reserved for the Right Langzhong, was currently empty, and Pei Chuyun promptly occupied it.

Even if a Right Langzhong was assigned in the future, they shouldn’t even think about snatching the room from Miss Pei.

Pei Chuyun surveyed her office, pondering how to create a small secret door in the middle to connect it with Lu Xingzhou’s…

While she was contemplating, there was another clamor outside, and Shen Yuanyao’s voice called out: “Old Lu, Old Lu, where’s the office?”

Then someone led her into Lu Xingzhou’s office.

Pei Chuyun: “?”

She no longer had the heart to research and quickly poked her head out of Lu Xingzhou’s doorway. She saw Shen Yuanyao smiling and sitting on the same desk she had just occupied, also propping her hand on the tabletop: “Not bad, small official rank, but the office is quite spacious.”

If Pei Chuyun’s posture just now exuded charm, Shen Yuanyao’s posture only conveyed boldness. They were truly like spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, each excelling in their own way, making Lu Xingzhou feel refreshed: “Why are you here too? Your official rank is higher than mine; don’t tell me you’re also here to take a position?”

“Also?” Shen Yuanyao’s willow-like eyebrows shot up: “Did that Pei family green tea beat me to it again?”

*Knock knock* Pei Chuyun leaned against the doorframe and knocked twice, her face clearly saying, “Go on, I’m listening.”

Shen Yuanyao couldn’t be bothered with her and spat: “Shameless.”

“Oh really?” Pei Chuyun smiled: “If I’m shameless, then what are you doing here?”

Shen Yuanyao snorted coldly: “This General is a third-rank General, not here for just this meager department. I am responsible for the mission safety of the entire Ministry of Rites, the protection and guarding of various sacrificial ceremonies, and the security of foreign envoys upon their arrival, and all such matters.”

Lu Xingzhou found this amusing.

While it was true that the safety of other departments within the Ministry of Rites also fell under Shen Yuanyao’s responsibility, there wasn’t much going on there… At present, the department most in need of armed protection was indeed his Zhuke Si. So, saying it was specifically set up for the Zhuke Si didn’t seem too problematic.

“Didn’t His Majesty furiously extend your actual post indefinitely this morning?”

“That’s right, so a great general who was guarding a region now does these nameless tasks.” Shen Yuanyao smiled: “Langzhong Lu, there will be much cooperation in the future; please guide me often.”

Pei Chuyun was fuming.

What was wrong with the Emperor? Didn’t he know how to do things?

This blockhead’s job was even idler than her own. With her constantly poking around, how could she connect the two offices as planned?

Seeing Shen Yuanyao in such a cheerful, smiling mood, as if this demotion was actually a reward for her, made Pei Chuyun utterly exasperated. She finally couldn’t help but say: “This is a vital area of the Six Ministries, during office hours. What is an irrelevant warrior making such a clamor about? Someone, get her out of here for this Zhubu!”

Shen Yuanyao: “?”

Seeing that the two were about to fight, Lu Xingzhou, sweating profusely, wedged himself between them: “Let’s talk this over, let’s talk this over…”

Just then, Qi Tuizhi returned. Seeing the situation in the Langzhong’s office, he quietly backed out again.

“Hey, hey, Lao Qi, don’t leave.” Lu Xingzhou felt as if he had been granted amnesty: “Speak your mind.”

“Nothing much, just, just to inform Sir that the formalities are complete. Should I start working today?… That, Sir, just call me if you need anything.” Qi Tuizhi tried to slip away as if fleeing for his life.

Lu Xingzhou grabbed him again: “Wait, do you know what your job is?”

Qi Tuizhi composed himself, looked at the two women’s displeased expressions, and swallowed: “The Ministry of Personnel told this subordinate.”

“Then you must know that I need to develop trade with multiple countries, and the staff in the department are far from enough. Coincidentally, although our department has few people, its territory as a vital office of the Six Ministries is not small. We can definitely get more people; don’t let it be so desolate.”

Qi Tuizhi was stunned, his urge to leave vanishing: “Sir wants me to be responsible for recruitment?”

“Yes, you used to associate with Prince Jin in the capital and know countless low-ranking officials and clerks. Go pick some people… And, if anyone from your Lingtian Pavilion wants to help, that’s also fine. I can’t give official positions, but I have some authority over clerks and temporary staff.”

“People from the former Prince Jin, Sir doesn’t mind?”

“I told you yesterday… I only mind if they are incompetent, not where they come from. By the way, among Prince Jin’s retainers, I think there are many fools; you need to vet them carefully. If one person can’t handle it, I’ll have the other Zhushi help you.”

Qi Tuizhi looked at him deeply: “Alright, this subordinate will go and do it.”

Qi Tuizhi knew clearly that Lu Xingzhou genuinely didn’t know many people, and recruitment indeed required help from others. But with Shen Yuanyao and Pei Chuyun standing there, he didn’t ask them to help with this matter; instead, he entrusted it to himself.

Lu Xingzhou had a big ambition; he was unwilling to merely be an appendage of the Pei or Shen families.

The problem was, he actually trusted himself… The power to recruit was not small, and there were many maneuvers he could make, whether it was to embezzle money or insert his own people to hollow out authority.

Lu Xingzhou seemed utterly unconcerned.

He wasn’t without other available staff; Princess Chaohuang also had people…

Was this true recognition?