Chapter 6

In this fiercely competitive environment, the Jiang Han Hou residence is in a difficult situation. Now, only half a year remains until the final test of the Qianlong Examination. The performance of the previous Jiang Chen was a complete mess. The assessments he was supposed to complete are still a huge pile of unfinished tasks.

Even without the incident of the Heaven Worship Ceremony, the previous Jiang Chen was already a strong candidate for demotion, with only a 30-40% chance of passing the assessments.

However, the current Jiang Chen is not at all disheartened; on the contrary, he is extremely excited.

"Strength is respected. It seems that this law of survival applies from the heavens above to the mortal world below. In my previous life, I could not cultivate and had no chance to experience it. In this life, during my prime years, I cannot afford to miss this opportunity!"

In his previous life, he was the son of the Heavenly Emperor, with an exalted status. Almost no one dared to offend him. Moreover, his body of extreme yin could not cultivate. Even if he wanted to hide his identity and compete with others, it was impossible.

In this life, he can finally cultivate and enjoy the thrill of pursuing the peak of martial arts. This is the stage he likes.

"I promised Dongfang Lu that I would enter the palace to diagnose the princess in three days. I must make good use of these three days. And my current identity is that of a vassal lord's heir, participating in the Qianlong Examination. The final test of the Qianlong Examination is only half a year away. As the heir of Jiang Han Hou, although the position of vassal lord is not significant, I must at least give my dear father some face. I can't let my father lose the vassal lord's order, can I?"

After organizing his thoughts, Jiang Chen realized that time was tight.

It must be said that the whipping at the Heaven Worship Temple was indeed brutal. Even if the previous Jiang Chen had twice the strength, he would still have been in mortal danger.

Now, Jiang Chen has taken advantage of the situation and obtained the physical body of the previous Jiang Chen. However, this body is seriously injured. If not treated, he would not only miss the princess's diagnosis in three days but also the minor test at the end of this month of the Qianlong Examination.

The Qianlong Examination has a minor test every month, and the results are cumulative. Missing any one of these tests would result in falling behind in many subjects.

The previous Jiang Chen already owed a large number of subjects. If this continues, he would be kicked out before the final test.

This is something Jiang Chen does not want to happen.

In his previous life, with such injuries, as the son of the Heavenly Emperor, who had studied alchemy for a million years and was a renowned alchemy master in the heavens, even many alchemy immortals would seek his advice. A single pill in his previous life could instantly restore him to full vigor.

However, the current conditions are far from those of his previous life.

Fortunately, Jiang Chen had managed the Tianlang Book Pavilion for a million years and had read through all the classics of the heavens. From the mortal world to the divine realms, his knowledge was extensive.

Dealing with such injuries was a minor matter.

After resting for a night, the next morning, Jiang Chen thought for a moment, took out a pen and ink, and wrote a list.

"Jiang Zheng!" he called out to the door.

Jiang Zheng was a servant specially arranged by Jiang Han Hou to take care of Jiang Chen's daily life, including his meals and living arrangements. When Jiang Chen was poisoned at the Songhe Building, Jiang Zheng also received a lot of criticism.

He had been restless all night. As the saying goes, "When the master is disgraced, the servant dies." In theory, he should have committed suicide to atone for his failure.

However, he was not willing to do so. He had served this young lord with all his heart, but this young lord was not very ambitious.

Other vassal lords' servants and managers enjoyed a luxurious life and were always welcomed wherever they went. The one he served, however, always caused trouble and came up with strange ideas every other day.

Whenever this young master got into trouble, he would often make Jiang Zheng take the blame.

So, in the days he followed Jiang Chen, he was always putting out fires and taking the blame. Instead of feeling honored, he felt exhausted and could not bear it.

Not to mention, this young master spent money without restraint. Today, a friend had a problem, and he spent money to resolve it; tomorrow, a brother caused trouble, and he spent money to fix it.

Although Jiang Han Hou was generous with money, he could not afford this young master's extravagance. By mid-month, the monthly expenses were already depleted.

So, Jiang Zheng now preferred a peaceful life. Hearing Jiang Chen's voice, his head started to ache.

However, he could not ignore his master's call.

"Little Lord, I have failed in my duties and could not take good care of you. Please punish me severely. Even if you dismiss me, I will have no complaints," Jiang Zheng said as he knelt down upon entering the room.

The previous "failure in duties, requesting punishment" were just polite words. Since Jiang Han Hou did not pursue the matter, it meant that Jiang Zheng had escaped a crisis.

Although this young lord was frivolous and not ambitious, he did not have the habit of mistreating his subordinates.

If it were the previous Jiang Chen, he might not have understood the true meaning of Jiang Zheng's words. However, the current Jiang Chen, with a million years of experience, was well-versed in the ways of the world and human relations.

He knew that Jiang Zheng, the manager, had been tormented by the previous Jiang Chen and wanted to quit.

Jiang Chen did not reveal this and chuckled, "Jiang Zheng, my father assigned you to me to bestow you with wealth. Although you have not enjoyed wealth, you have been busy helping me clean up messes. I have noted your efforts and contributions."

Jiang Zheng was taken aback. What kind of wind was blowing today? When did this young master learn to speak such considerate words?

"Jiang Zheng, the monthly allowance is almost depleted, right?" Jiang Chen asked with a smile before Jiang Zheng could respond.

"Um... well..." Jiang Zheng had never experienced such a warm conversation and was at a loss, almost wanting to guarantee that he would handle it without the young master's worry.

But then he thought, "No, that's not right! If I guarantee this, where will I find the money to fill these gaps? Is this young master's mouth sweet today, or is he planning something new to torment me?"

In an instant, Jiang Zheng's vigilance increased tenfold.

Seeing Jiang Zheng's wary expression, Jiang Chen laughed, "Jiang Zheng, let's pretend we are not master and servant, just friends chatting. Tell me, what do you think is the ideal state of a manager? Or, what is the best manager in your mind?"

The best manager?

Jiang Zheng was almost in tears. Forget the best; among the 108 vassal lords' servants, he would be happy not to be the last.

"Don't look so gloomy, tell me," Jiang Chen encouraged.

Jiang Zheng paused, swallowed, and bravely asked, "Really?"

"Tell me, and if you do well, there will be a reward!"

The promise of a reward was just a hollow check. Jiang Zheng did not dare to accept it. Jiang Chen often gave rewards, but more often, after giving you a thousand taels, he would ask to borrow two thousand.

However, when it came to the best manager, the most stylish manager, and the ideal state of a manager, Jiang Zheng's thoughts began to wander.

After all, even though servants of the nobility are not nobles themselves, they still have career aspirations.

Some even made it into a little rhyme—

Seeing Jiang Chen's serious face, Jiang Zheng didn't know where he got the courage to say, "Little Lord, there are some rhymes that are very popular among the nobility. They are about our line of work."

"Oh? Tell me," Jiang Chen was curious.

"The rhymes go—mountain delicacies, fine clothes, a private mansion, a house full of gold and jade."

"Talking with the nobility, associating with the aristocracy; wives and concubines living in harmony, children and grandchildren enjoying happiness."

"A regular customer at the Songhe Building, a patron at the Chunhui Garden; having visited brothels with princes and drunk with ministers..."

Jiang Zheng recited three or four rhymes, making Jiang Chen clap and laugh, "Not bad, not bad, very interesting. The Chunhui Garden, I suppose, is a place of pleasure?"

Jiang Zheng chuckled, but in his heart, he was quite disdainful. "You've been there before, why are you pretending to be innocent?"

"Jiang Zheng, after observing you for some time, I trust your abilities. If you can handle this task, it won't take long, and I will help you achieve the wealth and status described in these rhymes. Then, you will surely feel that you are the most successful and proud manager in the Dongfang Kingdom!"

"Task? What task?" Jiang Zheng was taken aback. His first thought was that this young master was up to something again, and he needed to be on guard.

"It's the list in your hand. Keep it safe; it's worth more than a thousand taels. Take it to the Medicine Hall and find their head."

"What for? Any clerk in the Medicine Hall can get these herbs. The head of the Medicine Hall is very arrogant and not easy to see," Jiang Zheng said in a low voice.

"Hehe, just go. If the head of the Medicine Hall doesn't see you, tell them that once this opportunity is missed, there will be no second chance. They will regret it when they beg you for help later."

Jiang Zheng couldn't help but touch the young master's forehead. Was this young master confused or running a fever? Was he talking in his sleep?

He knew all too well how high the threshold of the Medicine Hall was and how arrogant its people were. Every time he went to get spiritual medicines for this young master, he had to endure their arrogance. They never had time to chat with him.

"Jiang Zheng, I know you are cursing me in your heart, thinking I am talking in my sleep. You think I am sending you to get herbs without money, which is a trap. Let me tell you, the list in your hand is not just a list; it's a formula, an ancient formula that has been lost. If this formula were auctioned, even a million taels would not be enough to buy it."

"Formula?" Jiang Zheng's smile was more like a grimace. "Little Lord, don't tease me. When did our Jiang family have an ancient formula? Are you trying to see how far I can be pushed?"

Jiang Zheng's smile turned into a frown, and his eyes reddened. He was almost in tears.