With the Kaifeng Prefecture case being halted, the entire Bianliang city was suddenly gripped by a pervasive sense of unease, as if every shadow and rustle of grass signaled an impending danger.
Both Wang Fu and the faction of Prince Yun were desperately seeking information through every available channel.
However, precisely at this juncture, Li Bangyan, the Academician of the Hanlin Academy, received an uninvited guest.
"Scholar, there is a visitor at the gate, claiming to have come specifically to pay his respects. This is the calling card he presented!"
"Didn't I say I wouldn't see any outsiders these past few days? Send him back wherever he came from!"
This was a critical period, and Li Bangyan was unwilling to invite any complications.
"He also presented a generous gift to me, the student. This is the gift list he sent!"
As the butler spoke, he took out a gift list from his sleeve and handed it over directly.
"Is that so?"
Upon hearing the butler's words, Li Bangyan's interest was piqued.
A glance at the contents of the gift list made Li Bangyan's eyes light up.
Although he was one of the candidates for the position of Chancellor at this time, unlike Wang Fu and Bai Shizhong, one was the current Junior Chancellor and the other was the esteemed Minister of Personnel.
Each of them held immense power. In this era, power was equivalent to wealth.
As for Li Bangyan, he was merely an Academician of the Hanlin Academy, a third-rank official.
To put it simply and colloquially, this position was the head of the Hanlin Academy.
This position was indeed highly respected, especially among civil officials.
After all, one could not be appointed as an Academician of the Hanlin Academy without passing the imperial examinations, and without the status of an Academician, one naturally could not enter the ranks of high officials.
The Hanlin Academy was the essential pathway for the promotion of every high-ranking civil official.
The position of Academician of the Hanlin Academy was excellent for accumulating connections.
But the problem was, apart from the meager salary from the court, he had absolutely no additional income.
Not only did he have no extra income, but his expenses were also much greater than those of other officials.
After all, as an Academician of the Hanlin Academy, it was a rare position of pure prestige.
Without the annual performance reviews of officials posted outside the capital, nor so many complex official duties.
The matter of compiling books could be done today or tomorrow, and it made no difference to them.
This was essentially a position for slacking off during work hours and drinking after work. As the head of the Academy, he couldn't always ask his subordinates to treat him.
The cost of living in Bianliang city was already high. Furthermore, as Academicians of the Hanlin Academy, they couldn't possibly frequent unknown small taverns when they went out for drinks.
Each time they went out, over a dozen people would descend, and every one of them was a seasoned drinker. With Li Bangyan's meager salary, it was often completely spent before the middle of the month.
Moreover, Li Bangyan did not come from a wealthy family.
Li Bangyan's father, Li Pu, was merely a humble silversmith.
He had done his utmost to raise him and support his studies, but he didn't have that much money to spare.
If not for the considerable dowry his wife brought when she married into the family, his entire family would be sleeping on the streets right now.
It was already nearing the end of the month. Although he might soon be promoted to Chancellor, possibilities were just possibilities; they couldn't conjure money out of thin air.
No matter how magnanimous Li Bangyan was, the feeling of having to ask his wife for money every month was truly unpleasant.
Coincidentally, at this very moment, someone had sent such a generous gift, which genuinely made Li Bangyan feel a surge of unexpected joy.
"Please invite him in!"
After putting away the gift list, Li Bangyan took a deep breath, tidied his clothes, and then instructed the butler.
"Yes!"
The butler acknowledged, did not dare to delay, and immediately hurried towards the gate.
"Greetings, Esteemed Scholar!"
A moment later, Yuan Xingchi, dressed in a blue robe, swaggered in.
"This gentleman looks unfamiliar. We haven't met before, have we?"
After observing Yuan Xingchi, Li Bangyan asked with some curiosity.
"Indeed, we have never met. I have come on this occasion due to hearing your reputation, and I specifically wish to interview Scholar Li!"
"Hahaha, if you are seeking a favor, then you have come to the wrong place!"
Although he desperately wanted it, Li Bangyan understood clearly that a gift offered without reason implies a hidden agenda.
For no apparent reason, this fellow had bestowed such a grand gift upon him. He did not want to court trouble at this critical juncture.
"Scholar, you might have misunderstood. I do indeed have a matter I wish to entrust to Scholar today, but these matters will absolutely not bring any trouble to Scholar. In fact, for Scholar, this might even be an opportunity!"
As Yuan Xingchi spoke, he took out a memorial from his sleeve and placed it directly before Li Bangyan.
"What is this?"
Li Bangyan looked at him doubtfully, unsure of what this man intended to do.
"Scholar, why not take a look first!"
Yuan Xingchi said, making a gesture of invitation to Li Bangyan.
Although Li Bangyan found his actions somewhat unexpected, he still reached out and opened the memorial.
"What is this?"
However, upon opening the memorial, he was utterly stunned.
The initial part of the memorial was completely blank, with no writing.
Instead, at the end of the memorial, a line of small characters was neatly written:
Xu Churen, Grand Supervisor of the Capital and concurrently Commissioner of the Hebei Circuit!
Furthermore, there was a large red seal. Whether it was the signature, the calligraphy, or the seal, there were no issues whatsoever.
Li Bangyan's expression immediately turned peculiar.
How could Xu Churen casually give such a blank memorial to someone else!
"Doesn't Scholar recognize it already?"
Yuan Xingchi said with a smile.
"What do you need me to do?"
After a moment of hesitation, Li Bangyan, without even asking his name, directly asked.
"Scholar need not do anything. It is just that after Scholar ascends to his position, my lord hopes that the next Transport Commissioner of the Hebei Circuit will not have significant friction with my lord!"
Yuan Xingchi stated directly, without any evasion.
"Just this?"
"Precisely. Moreover, to demonstrate sincerity, among the vacant positions in the Hebei Circuit, for officials below the fifth rank, Scholar may personally nominate no more than ten individuals!"
After hearing Yuan Xingchi's words, even Li Bangyan was astonished by Xu Churen's magnanimity.
For officials below the fifth rank, this should have been Xu Churen's personal domain. Yet, he was willing to concede ten positions in this tier, along with the position of Transport Commissioner of the Hebei Circuit!
With these positions, Li Bangyan would have more flexibility when navigating between the two princes...