The Lucky Farmgirl

Chapter 1714 - 1689: Excitement

Manbao shut her mouth but planned to take action. She rolled up her sleeves and said, "Director Xiao, if you’re going to submit a memorial, I’ll also submit a memorial to impeach them. Hmph, who doesn’t know how to scold people?"

Director Xiao, who was organizing his language to pacify his subordinates, paused and asked, "How can you submit a memorial?"

The imperial doctors in the Imperial Hospital generally don’t have the right to submit memorials. In the entire Imperial Hospital, only the Director and two deputy directors can submit memorials concerning the hospital’s affairs.

But currently, both deputy directors’ positions are vacant, so only Director Xiao has the right.

Director Xiao habitually does not involve himself in matters outside the Imperial Hospital and rarely submits memorials. When he does, it’s typically about the Ministry of Revenue withholding funds for their medicine, and these routine reminders often don’t reach the emperor.

Manbao said, "I’m still an editor at Chongwen Pavilion, why can’t I submit a memorial?"

Oh right, Zhou Man is still a fifth-grade editor. Wait a minute, Director Xiao only now vaguely sensed something was off.

They didn’t contribute less to book editing than Zhou Man, so why do they hold single positions and receive one salary while Zhou Man is both a sixth-grade imperial doctor and a fifth-grade editor?

After Zhou Man had been in office for almost half a year, Director Xiao finally sensed something amiss.

Manbao noticed Director Xiao’s strange look and leaned back, blinking in confusion, "Director Xiao, what’s wrong, are you stunned with anger?"

Director Xiao gave her a sidelong glance and thought: Stunned? That’s putting it mildly.

But now wasn’t the time to discuss such matters. He turned to look at the others, sighed, and said, "Everyone, get to work. The Imperial Secretariat hasn’t sent me the memorial yet, so it’s not decided. No rush."

"Besides, the impeachment is primarily directed at the Crown Prince. You don’t need to worry."

Manbao was dumbstruck and said discontentedly, "Director, how can you be so cowardly?"

Director Xiao couldn’t hold back and smacked her on the head, saying, "Shut up already. This is adult business; don’t meddle."

Manbao rubbed her head where he’d hit it and said, "I’ve already decided, I’ll write it today and submit the impeachment memorial, hmph!"

Director Xiao wanted to persuade her but reconsidered; she would submit the memorial as an editor of Chongwen Pavilion. Her superiors were Yang Heshu and Libationer Kong, so what did it have to do with him?

So he shut his mouth again.

Manbao took a copy of the names from the table, handed her partially completed work to other imperial doctors, and was about to leave.

"Stop," Director Xiao called her back, unable to resist advising, "The people at the Censorate have sharp tongues, don’t add fuel to the fire when submitting your memorial."

"I’m not afraid," Manbao said, "The chief there is Lord Tang, and Lord Tang is quite reasonable."

With that, she ran off.

Imperial Doctor Liu couldn’t help but worry, "Director, aren’t you going to stop her? Lord Zhou Junior is still young and speaks without careful consideration."

Director Xiao said coldly, "You mentioned she’s young. The Emperor and other court officials are watching and won’t take it too seriously."

He paused and took up the list that Manbao had circled, saying, "Right, these circled ones should be dropped. Let’s see how many people are left before making selections."

Imperial Doctor Liu: ... Wasn’t it said not to hold private grudges?

Still, Imperial Doctor Liu took the list, removed those few names, circled any duplications, and copied them onto another sheet for easier selection.

For example, Ms.Wang. Three families had submitted names; Wang Ji was just one of them, and the other two were listed together.

Laying it out this way made it much easier, and following this, they could select at a glance.

Manbao cheerfully ran back to Chongwen Pavilion, even brought a freshly boiled pot of water for herself, poured a cup, and started grinding ink.

Once the ink was well-ground and the water had cooled, she drank it in one gulp, poured another cup, set it aside, then took her seat, spread out a sheet of paper, took a deep breath, selected a pen from the rack, exhaled, dipped the pen in ink, and began writing with bright eyes and great interest.

The other editors across the room couldn’t help but approach, asking with a smile, "Lord Zhou Junior, what has made you so happy?"

Without raising her head, Manbao said, "Nothing."

Feeling that this was wrong, she raised her head, solemnly denied, "I’m not happy, I’m angry and sad."

The editor looked at her skeptically, noting her eyes were shining despite her efforts to maintain a stern face, thinking: Is this how one looks when angry and sad?

Manbao had already lowered her head again.

For some people in the Censorate, she had long wanted to scold them, but last time she was impeached it was indeed her fault, and even if she retorted, she wasn’t confident in her grounds.

Privately, she thought, while they were right in catching their lateness, dragging the Crown Prince and others into it was too much.

Especially since their entanglement didn’t aim to prevent such events from happening again, but for personal gain. So although she admitted her penalty later, she wasn’t particularly convinced in her heart.

Some things she kept to herself, and Bai Shan also said the timing wasn’t right; speaking up would only come off as arrogant and shirking responsibility. Why dispute with them and leave that impression?

The teacher also advised her to maintain a broad mind, calmly waiting for change.

She thought that change would take a long time, but only after a few months did the opportunity arise, a grudge she thought she’d forget after a couple of months.

Indeed, Heaven Master treats her well, hahaha...

Manbao wrote more and more spiritedly, unaware of the time until it was mealtime. Only when Bai Shan left-waiting for her in the canteen, right did she not appear, he said to Xu Yu standing nearby, "Leave the meal box here, I’ll take it to her later."

Xu Yu was already used to this, bowed, and withdrew.

Bai Shan put down his chopsticks and told Bai Erlang, "Watch over things for us, I’m going to find her."

Bai Erlang, eating with his head down, just nodded slightly.

Bai Shan found Chongwen Pavilion, and in the study room, only Manbao was there.

Bai Shan pushed the door open, walked to her side, and she still didn’t notice him, making him curious to peek at what she was writing.

After a while, he finally couldn’t help but say, "Are you planning to start a fight with the Censorate?"

Manbao was startled, looked up to see Bai Shan, and let out a breath, "Why do you walk so quietly?"

"When we were coming back after lessons, we ran past the study’s side and saw its doors and windows closed. We thought nobody was here, but you were still inside." Bai Shan pointed to the hourglass to explain why he was here, "It’s mealtime now; aren’t you hungry?"

Only then did Manbao feel hungry. Not paying attention was one thing, but once she did, she felt famished, and looking at the paper in front of her, she couldn’t write a single word.

Bai Shan laughed, "Come on, let’s eat lunch first, then you can come back and write."

Manbao was about to press a paperweight on her papers but suddenly thought of something, glanced at the few desks not far away, and simply folded it up and tucked it into her jacket.

Bai Shan slightly raised an eyebrow and laughed, "Not bad, much more cautious now."

Manbao said, "It’s called attention to detail."