Chapter 025: Deliberate Difficulties

“Very well, I’ll introduce you. This is Brother Fu Cong; his main duty is assisting the lord in compiling the calendar. You may address him as Senior Fu. This is Brother Shi Nan, responsible for lunar eclipse calculations. As for myself, my name is Shi Xiang, also engaged in calendar compilation. In short, everyone in this office is a true expert, so mind your manners.”

Though these astronomy apprentices appeared timid before their superiors, in front of someone like Xue Rui—who hadn’t yet passed the annual examination and was a hereditary student—their sense of superiority was overwhelming. They strutted about with arrogance, seizing the chance to lecture him, regarding hereditary students as mere freeloaders and looking down on them with unconcealed contempt.

Xue Rui, however, was unfazed. He knew he possessed genuine knowledge—indeed, more than any of them. Their disdain washed over him like a passing breeze; he simply ignored it.

With the introductions complete, Shi Xiang waved his hand imperiously and ordered, “Go fetch a kettle of hot water and brew some tea for your seniors. We've been working all morning without a sip—it's been most exhausting.”

“Yes, sir.”

Resigned to his temporary role as a menial assistant, Xue Rui accepted the instruction and headed to the kitchen to fetch hot water.

Once he’d left, the astronomy students lowered their voices to converse.

Shi Nan glanced at the inner office and snickered. “Truly, heaven’s justice turns full circle. Who would’ve thought the Xue family’s son would end up in our office? He’s in for a rough time.”

“His father has only himself to blame for refusing to recognize his place, stubbornly siding with the wrong faction and angering the lord. Now we all have to suffer for it!” grumbled Fu Cong, still simmering after the scolding he’d just received.

“Now that the boy’s fallen into our hands, he’s at our mercy! Let’s settle old scores while we can—opportunity knocks but once!” Shi Xiang added with a laugh.

After a round of jokes, the group returned to their respective tasks, once again absorbed in their work.

The hot water provided by the Astronomical Bureau was kept in a shed beside the kitchen, where four or five stoves held kettles at the boil. With primitive insulation technology, attendants were needed to keep the fires stoked so the water stayed hot.

It took Xue Rui a while to make his way there and return with a kettle. The kettle was heavy, and Xue Rui, frail as he was, was drenched in sweat by the time he made it back to the office.

None of the astronomy students showed the slightest sympathy. Watching him struggle to pour the tea, they made no move to help, instead urging him impatiently to hurry up.

Irritated but unable to protest, Xue Rui could only swallow his anger and endure it.

So it went, with Xue Rui being sent on one errand after another until his legs felt weighted with lead. Only after he’d completed all the tasks assigned did he finally catch his breath—only to hear Fu Cong order, “Xue Rui, go to the Registrar’s Hall and fetch some paper. Our supply is nearly out.”

Because astronomical calculations required constant verification, the Bureau consumed enormous quantities of paper. To control waste and save public funds, each office had to collect its quota from the Registrar’s Hall at fixed intervals. Excessive use could even lead to disciplinary action.

The office, in truth, still had enough paper for another day. Fu Cong simply couldn’t stand to see Xue Rui idle and sent him off, hoping he’d either succeed or, better yet, make the trip for nothing.

With no alternative, Xue Rui set off for the Registrar’s Hall.

In earlier times, the registrar’s duties were the most onerous in the Bureau, but since the records office split off, things had become much lighter.

When Xue Rui arrived, he found Cui Shizuo reclining comfortably on a lounge chair.

“Student Xue Rui requests an audience with the lord,” he announced loudly, seeing no sign of Zheng Debiao.

Cui Shizuo glanced over, noting his respectful demeanor with satisfaction. “Come in, then. What brings you here?”

“I’m here to collect paper for the Autumn Office,” Xue Rui replied.

Cui Shizuo frowned, thinking for a moment. “The Autumn Office just received a batch yesterday. How has it run out so soon? And why are you here? Weren’t you assigned to the records room? How did you end up on duty for the Autumn Office?”

Xue Rui forced a wry smile. “With every office short-staffed, the department heads agreed to temporarily assign hereditary students wherever needed. Scholar Peng sent me to the Autumn Office, and I drew this duty.”

“No wonder,” Cui Shizuo chuckled. “Have they been making things difficult for you?”

“Not really, sir—just had me running a few more errands than usual. Nothing serious,” Xue Rui replied, feigning indifference.

“In my opinion, that’s exactly what you call making things difficult!”

Cui Shizuo stood, pointing to a stack of white paper on his desk. “The paper used here is different from other offices. All documents and records must be preserved long-term, so we use only the finest rice paper—durable, fade-resistant, and very expensive. This small stack costs dozens of copper coins. If I’m not mistaken, the Autumn Office received enough yesterday to last three days. Sending you again today is nothing but an attempt to embarrass you!”

Scoundrels!

The truth ignited Xue Rui’s fury. It was one thing for the astronomy students to send him on errands, but to have him fetch paper right after a supply run—clearly, they were making a fool of him.

“Then I’ll take my leave,” Xue Rui said, suppressing his anger and planning to confront Fu Cong once he returned.

“Wait,” said Cui Shizuo. “This is a lean office—expenses like these are strictly controlled. Every office tries to get more supplies than allotted, and it’s considered clever if you succeed, incompetent if you don’t. If you go back and argue, you’ll only end up humiliated. But I have a plan—if you use it well, no one in the Autumn Office will dare trouble you again. Would you like to hear it?”

Xue Rui was overjoyed and bowed deeply. “Please instruct me, my lord!”

Cui Shizuo smiled, settling back into his chair. “I heard that a few days ago, you and Peng Ying had a dispute, and you broke his ruler. Is that true?”

Caught off guard, Xue Rui hastened to explain, “It’s true, but only because Scholar Peng bore a grudge and forced me to stand up for myself.”

The incident was sensitive, and Xue Rui had warned the other hereditary students not to spread it. Yet in just two days, even Cui Shizuo had heard—making Xue Rui nervous, lest the authorities connect him to other recent events.

Fortunately, Cui Shizuo pressed no further. “If you were the timid sort, I wouldn’t suggest this. But you’re tough enough to stand your ground. Listen closely—this is how you must proceed…”

After hearing the plan, Xue Rui’s spirits soared, and he thanked Cui Shizuo profusely.

The astronomy students of the Autumn Office only dared bully him because he was a temporary menial. If this plan succeeded, he’d turn the tables and ensure they never troubled him again.

With the clerks all out on errands, Cui Shizuo fetched several reams of paper himself from the storeroom and handed them to Xue Rui.

“This is a three-day quota. If you don’t use my plan well, don’t expect to get more from me in the future.”

“I understand,” Xue Rui replied solemnly.