YWTGU -Chapter 6 What? He Sold His Official Post?

“Li… An! I’m going to kill you!!!”

With brows blazing red, her furious shout pierced the air like it could split clouds and shatter stone. She had clearly infused it with inner force, giving Li An a firsthand experience of what the legendary Lion’s Roar must feel like.

Dust rained down from the rafters, and in an instant, the last trace of romantic ambiguity in the bedroom was completely swept away.

The room was now thick with killing intent.

And it was directed squarely at him.

Li An immediately sensed that things were very, very bad.

Though he had only just woken up and his mind was still foggy, that did nothing to dampen his survival instincts, which skyrocketed to maximum in a split second.

Just as Hongmei’s jade-like palm, brimming with internal energy, was about to slam down on his skull—

In that hair’s-breadth moment, he suddenly executed a perfect “salted fish flip,” rolling in utter disgrace to the inner side of the bed. He wrapped the blanket tightly around himself, leaving only a pair of wide, innocent eyes blinking pitifully.

“Calm down! Commander Hongmei! You must calm down!”

Curled into the corner against the wall, Li An shouted loudly, “This is all a misunderstanding! A pure misunderstanding! I didn’t do anything!”

“A misunderstanding?”

Hongmei was already mortified beyond measure.

Her originally cool and breathtaking face was now red enough to drip.

The place Li An had just kneaded was rising and falling with her rapid breathing, making the memory of the “sinful hand” that had touched her moments ago suddenly all the more vivid in his mind.

In her rage, a cold gleam flashed—

Somehow, a dagger had appeared in Hongmei’s hand. Gnashing her teeth, she growled, “Where exactly were your filthy paws just now? And you call that a misunderstanding? If I don’t chop off your hands today, I won’t be worthy of being a Thousand-Household Commander!”

“It really was a misunderstanding! At most, an accidental mistake! I was taking your pulse! You slept too deeply last night—I was worried your heart meridians were blocked! I just touched you… to check if your heartbeat was normal! I was doing it for your own good! How can you not appreciate good intentions?!”

Li An babbled shamelessly. Seeing her about to pounce again—clearly this excuse wasn’t working—

His expression suddenly changed. In an instant, he switched to a stern, disappointed look, shouting:

“Stop! Hongmei! If you kill me now, what about the two million taels silver plan to sell official posts? What about the grand strategy to bring down Great Yan? Have you forgotten the Blackwater Terrace’s orders?!”

That shout truly did halt her.

The dagger froze just three inches from Li An’s nose.

Her chest rose and fell violently. Though the killing intent in her eyes had not completely vanished, reason had finally gained the upper hand.

The Governor’s secret order still echoed in her ears. If she killed him out of personal rage and ruined the grand plan to weaken Great Yan, she would bear an unforgivable crime.

“Fine… fine!”

Hongmei took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her shame and anger. Coldly, she said, “I’ll remember this debt. Once the mission is complete, I will hack you into pieces!”

“As long as the mission succeeds—for the prosperity of Northern Yan—even if you chop me into minced meat and make dumplings out of me, I’d accept it.”

Seeing his life spared, Li An immediately adopted a righteous tone.

Then, slipping back into his usual roguish grin, he poked half his head out from the blanket while getting dressed and said in a deliberately profound manner:

“And besides, what I did just now… was actually testing your reaction. Think about it—even a well-trained agent like you loses composure in a sudden situation. How could those old foxes in court possibly remain calm when faced with the massive temptation and crisis I’m about to throw at them?”

“Spare me your twisted logic!”

Hongmei shot him a disgusted glare and turned her back. “Get ready. Today is the first day your ‘Revenue-Raising Office’ opens. Do you even know what’s happening outside? How do you plan to clean this up?”

“I’m not in a hurry.”

Li An leisurely put on his official robe and adjusted his slightly crooked black gauze hat in front of the bronze mirror.

“They’re the ones who are anxious. Hongmei, since you’re so energetic, do me a favor—go out and gather some information.”

“Information about what?”

“See how widely the rumors are spreading across the streets. Check what moves those major aristocratic clans are making. Especially that Imperial Uncle Liu—he’s full of tricks. There’s no way he’ll just sit and watch.”

Though Hongmei wished she could stab this bossy scoundrel, she snorted coldly and vanished from the room in a flash.

…

An hour later.

Li An was sitting in the front hall, sipping his morning tea leisurely, when Hongmei returned, carrying a chill in her aura.

“The situation is not optimistic.”

Her face was expressionless, though she still seemed resentful about the morning’s events.

“As you expected, the entire capital is spreading rumors that this selling of official posts is a scam. And just now, Blackwater Terrace received word—Imperial Uncle Liu hasn’t merely been watching. He’s made his move.”

“Oh? And how did he move?” Li An perked up with interest.

“He sent his household steward with five hundred taels of silver, making a grand show of heading straight for our Revenue-Raising Office.”

Hongmei frowned. “The steward is beating gongs along the way, loudly proclaiming that he’s here to buy a ‘real authority’ official post. Liu De is deliberately humiliating you—trying to use a mere five hundred taels to buy an office. If you sell it, you lower your own price and become a joke. If you refuse, you violate your promise of ‘clearly marked prices, fair to all,’ and slap your own face. After buying it, they plan to announce publicly that the purchased post holds no real power, is full of restrictions, and is nothing but paying money to suffer…”

“And…”

She paused. “Prime Minister Wang Fu and Grand Commandant Sun Qian both have men watching secretly. Once this farce begins, they’ll join forces to pressure you until your Revenue-Raising Office can’t continue and has no choice but to shut down.”

After saying all this, Hongmei looked at Li An seriously, with a hint of mocking anticipation.

“So this is your brilliant plan? It hasn’t even begun, and all your paths are already blocked. Let’s see how you plan to solve this.”

To her surprise, upon hearing the “bad news,” Li An didn’t panic at all. Instead, he burst into relaxed, carefree laughter.

“Good! What a fine Imperial Uncle! Just when I needed a pillow, someone brings one! I was just worrying about who would fire the first shot for me!”

He stood up, sweeping his sleeves dramatically, eyes gleaming with manic excitement.

“Five hundred taels? Too little? No, no, no. As long as someone is willing to take the lead and walk money through the doors of my Revenue-Raising Office, that’s the best possible start!”

“Come! To the Revenue-Raising Office! Let’s go meet this God of Wealth who’s come knocking!”

…

Revenue-Raising Office.

It had originally been an unused office under the Ministry of Revenue. Because it had long fallen into disrepair, it looked shabby and worn.

On normal days, not even stray dogs would come near. Spider webs and dust covered every corner.

But today, the dilapidated yamen was exceptionally lively.

After all, the court publicly selling official posts—and having the newly crowned top scholar conduct the sales—was unprecedented in Great Qi.

Three layers inside and three layers outside, the place was packed with curious onlookers craning their necks and pointing toward the entrance.

At the center of the crowd stood a fat man dressed in silk, his face full of flesh. With several servants beside him carrying a small chest, he stood arrogantly in the middle of the hall.

He was Sun Fu, steward of the Imperial Uncle’s residence.

“What? That top scholar hasn’t arrived yet?”

One foot planted on a chair, fanning himself, Sun Fu shouted loudly, stirring up trouble. “Wasn’t today the grand opening for selling official posts? Our Imperial Uncle, in support of the court, specially sent me with five hundred taels of silver! Real gold and silver! What’s the matter? Too little? Or is this whole selling-offices business just a scam?”

The surrounding crowd burst into laughter.

Ding!

【The Imperial Uncle’s steward publicly humiliates the Revenue-Raising Office!】

【The commoners roar with laughter; official authority plummets!】

【Great Qi National Fortune -5】

【Current National Fortune: 87,851】

From the back hall, Li An glanced at the system panel and couldn’t help but smile.

Another five-point drop!

Good, good, good—this Imperial Uncle really is a good man!

Keep stirring things up! Keep going!

In the shadows, spies from other factions sneered.

Sun Fu was notorious for being a shameless rogue. With him making a scene, the Revenue-Raising Office’s reputation would surely be ruined.

Just then, however, a lazy voice sounded from the back hall:

“A ruler’s word carries weight. His Majesty personally agreed to this in court. Who dares say selling offices is a scam? Am I not here?”

Everyone turned curiously toward the voice.

Li An appeared in a crimson official robe and black gauze hat. Though his steps seemed slightly unsteady, the aura of absolute arrogance was perfectly maintained.

Hongmei, today, was not dressed as a maid.

In a place like this, only a guard could command authority.

Thus, she was clad in male attire, dressed as a guard, face cold, hand resting on her blade. The killing intent around her made the crowd quiet down considerably.

“Oh my, Top Scholar, you’ve finally arrived!”

Though merely a servant, Sun Fu relied on the saying that even a prime minister’s gatekeeper ranks seventh. As steward of the Imperial Uncle’s residence, he showed no respect for Li An.

He did not bow, merely cupped his hands casually with a fake smile.

“I come under my master’s orders to support your business. Here are five hundred taels of silver. My master says just give me some seventh- or eighth-rank post. Preferably one where I don’t have to work but can meddle a bit. So, Top Scholar—how about arranging something for me? Let me wear official robes and taste what it’s like to be an official! Hahaha…”

The words weren’t especially damaging, but the humiliation was intense.

Ding!

【The steward publicly mocks the newly crowned top scholar!】

【Whispers spread through the crowd; the court’s dignity plummets!】

【Great Qi National Fortune -3】

【Current National Fortune: 87,848】

Watching the steadily dropping national fortune, Li An’s mood brightened further.

This Imperial Uncle Liu was truly a warm-hearted angel!

Hongmei stood behind him, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. She murmured, “He’s here to cause trouble. Shall I throw him out?”

“Throw him out? How could that do? A guest who comes through the door is a guest! What kind of hospitality is that? The customer is God, understand?”

Li An replied softly. Then, plastering on a smile even brighter than Sun Fu’s, he strode forward and grabbed Sun Fu’s hand with exaggerated enthusiasm—like greeting a long-lost brother.

“Ah! Steward Sun! What an honored guest!”

Gripping his hand tightly, Li An beamed.

“My Revenue-Raising Office has just opened, and I was worried no one would patronize it! Imperial Uncle is truly wise and righteous—sending someone first to support us! I will remember this favor!”

Sun Fu was momentarily stunned by the excessive enthusiasm. Trying to pull his hand free, he found that this seemingly frail scholar possessed astonishing strength.

“Ahem… Top Scholar, you’re too kind. Since you say so, then hand over the official credentials and seal?”

Sun Fu said impatiently. He had come to smash the place and wanted to finish his task quickly.

“Give? Of course I’ll give!”

Li An waved grandly and shouted into the empty hall:

“Someone! Serve tea! The best tea! Steward Sun is our major client!”

Then he turned to Sun Fu with a beaming smile and said loudly, “Steward Sun, five hundred taels of silver is indeed no small sum. Judging by the market these past few days, it’s more than enough to buy a county deputy magistrate in some remote county. But…”

At this point, Li An changed his tone. A trace of difficulty appeared on his face as he continued, “His Excellency the Imperial Uncle holds such an exalted status. Though you’re merely the steward of his residence, what you represent is the Imperial Uncle’s face! If you only bought a minor county deputy magistrate, wouldn’t that be a slap to the Imperial Uncle’s dignity? Once word got out, people might think he couldn’t even afford a better post!”

“That’s not how it is, Top Scholar…”

Sun Fu was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Li An to use the Imperial Uncle’s reputation to turn the tables on him.

Still, he wasn’t afraid. Just as he was about to refute him, Li An cut him off directly.

“Here’s what we’ll do!”

Li An suddenly slapped the table. With a commanding sweep of his gaze across the hall, he solemnly announced:

“Since the Imperial Uncle is showing such strong support for this official, I can’t be stingy! Today, I’ve decided—we won’t be selling ordinary posts for now! They’re too cheap!”

“If I’m going to sell something, I’ll sell something big! Something unprecedented! A post that stands one man below and ten thousand above—a truly enormous and lucrative position!”

The moment those words fell, the entire place went silent.

Even the spies hidden in the shadows pricked up their ears.

Sun Fu was also stunned by Li An’s boldness. He subconsciously asked, “Wh-what kind of lucrative post dares to claim it’s one man below and ten thousand above?”

A sly smile spread across Li An’s face.

He slowly raised his hand, pointing at the plaque above his head—the one that had just been hung up reading “Commission for War Funds”—then pointed to the ground beneath his feet and said earnestly:

“What I’m selling is the position of Chief Administrator of the Commission for War Funds!”

Boom!

The moment Li An’s words left his mouth, the hall instantly erupted.

Ding!

【Top Scholar Li An’s shocking move!】

【Intends to sell an imperial-bestowed office!】

【The court and commoners are shaken; panic spreads!】

【National Fortune of Great Qi -20】

【Current National Fortune: 87,828】

“What?!”

“Has he gone mad? Chief Administrator of the Commission for War Funds? Isn’t that his own post?”

“You can sell that too? If someone buys it, wouldn’t all future sales of offices fall under that person’s control?”

Sun Fu’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. “Top Scholar… Y-you must be joking? That’s an appointment personally granted to you by His Majesty…”

“Ah, none of this ‘yours’ and ‘mine.’”

Li An waved dismissively, looking righteous. “I’m a scholar. I only know how to read the classics. Business and accounting give me a headache. Since this is about sharing His Majesty’s burdens, naturally we must find someone knowledgeable to help me shoulder them!”

As he spoke, he looked at the dumbfounded Sun Fu, then at the furtive spies outside the door, and proclaimed loudly:

“Listen well! Although the rank of Chief Administrator of the Commission for War Funds isn’t especially high, during the fundraising period he holds full authority over the sale of offices! In other words, who may buy an office, who may not, how much each post sells for, and to whom it is sold… all will be decided by this Chief Administrator! I will merely give final approval and stamp the seal!”

“This is real power—power that controls half of Great Qi’s future officialdom!”

Li An raised a single finger and shouted out the suffocating price:

“Starting bid: one hundred thousand taels of silver! Highest bidder wins! Seal and credentials transferred on the spot—take office immediately!”

Ding!

【Li An publicly auctions a position of real authority!】

【Power given a price tag; the court’s order collapses!】

【National Fortune of Great Qi -30】

【Current National Fortune: 87,798】

Li An secretly glanced at the system panel, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

Another thirty points down!

Hahaha!

This felt amazing!

Silence.

Deathly silence.

Everyone was stunned by Li An’s earth-shattering maneuver.

This wasn’t selling an office.

It was selling power.

And not just any power—but authority capable of deciding countless fates and even shifting the balance of the court!

The fan in Sun Fu’s hand fell to the ground with a clatter.

Though merely a servant, he understood the stakes.

If… if this position were bought by someone else—

Say, by someone under Grand Commandant Sun Qian—

Wouldn’t the civil faction and the Imperial Uncle have to look to that military brute’s face to place their people in office? They might even be deliberately obstructed!

On the other hand, if the Imperial Uncle secured the position…

Wouldn’t he be able to make anyone an official—or block anyone at will? The profits and political gains involved were worth far more than a mere million taels!

“Hiss…”

In the shadows, the spies all sucked in cold breaths, their expressions drastically changing.

They had originally come to stir up trouble and mock Li An. Before this, the various factions at court had reached a tacit understanding: Li An’s messy task of selling offices must be sabotaged. No one had considered the possibility of seizing the task for their own faction.

But now it was different.

With this small maneuver, Li An had instantly transformed a mess into a “treasure basin”—even into a “Sword of Imperial Authority” that could be handed to someone else.

Whoever grasped the hilt could stab the others.

“Quick! Hurry back and report to the master!”

“Something major has happened! Li An is selling his own office!”

Ding!

【Various factions stirred; undercurrents surge in court!】

【National Fortune of Great Qi -15】

【Current National Fortune: 87,783】

In an instant, those who had been mingling in the crowd to heckle fled as though their backsides were on fire, racing back to their respective patrons’ estates.

The supposedly unbreakable “Anti–Li An Office-Selling Alliance” formed beneath the court collapsed at once under Li An’s sudden move of “outsourcing power.” It even devolved into a battlefield of mutual suspicion among the factions.

Smiling, Li An turned to Hongmei, who stood beside him frozen like a wooden chicken, and said in a low voice:

“Well? Thousand-Household Commander? What do you think of my strategy?”

“I told you long ago—smart people never do the work themselves. See? Soon enough, someone will rush to deliver us money—and even do the work for us.”

He sneaked another glance at the system.

【Today’s National Fortune Change: -73】

【Cumulative Change: -217】

【Current National Fortune: 87,783】

【Estimated Settlement Reward: 21,700 taels of gold】

Over twenty thousand taels of gold!

And this was just the beginning!

Once the factions started tearing each other apart, wouldn’t the National Fortune plummet even further?

Hongmei looked at the man before her, wearing a crafty grin. For the first time, she felt a deep sense of powerlessness—and a faint trace of admiration.

This guy was a devil who toyed with human hearts.

With a single move, he had calculated the greed and fear of all those old foxes in Great Qi’s court.

…

Meanwhile, deep within the imperial palace of Great Qi.

Inside the warm pavilion of the Imperial Garden, steam swirled thickly.

Emperor Zhao Ling’er had just finished reviewing a stack of memorials. Exhausted, she was preparing to bathe and change clothes for a short rest.

Outside the screen, a young eunuch hurried in, knelt with his head lowered, and meticulously reported the latest news from outside the palace.

“What did you say?”

Zhao Ling’er suddenly stood up.

Clad only in a thin gauze robe, her damp hair clinging to her cheeks, she could not conceal the shock and fury on her face.

“Li An… sold his own office first?”

“Y-yes, Your Majesty.”

Terrified by the emperor’s anger, the young eunuch stammered, “The Top Scholar said he doesn’t understand accounting and needs someone knowledgeable to manage it for him… starting price one hundred thousand taels…”

“Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!”

Zhao Ling’er’s chest heaved violently. She grabbed a jade comb from beside her and hurled it to the floor in fury.

“I trusted him so deeply! I even overruled objections to grant him full authority over raising funds! How could he so casually sell away my trust?”

“What does he take my empire for? A marketplace?!”

This time, Zhao Ling’er was truly enraged.

She had thought Li An must have some brilliant plan. Even if he sold a few nominal posts, she could tolerate it.

But she had never imagined that he would be so lazy as to sell off his own position outright!

If that post fell into the hands of those scheming power-hungry ministers, wouldn’t the court of Great Qi descend into even greater chaos?