“Grand Secretary, my attendant reader Henry Foster is clever and alert, exceptionally loyal, and I did promise to reward him generously.”

James Young’s eyelids twitched ever so slightly, then he echoed, “This old minister has heard as much—Henry Foster is indeed a prodigy among youths. He serves Your Majesty with utmost dedication and effort, truly a young talent with boundless prospects... To be honest, in my younger years I was called a child prodigy, but compared to Reader Foster, I am as far beneath him as earth is to clouds! If I may be so bold, Your Majesty’s gain in having Reader Foster is akin to Liu Bei gaining Zhuge Liang!”

Such praise made even Charles Brooks feel a bit embarrassed.

“Grand Secretary, you flatter him. Actually... Reader Foster is still a bit impulsive, not steady enough, and needs more experience.”

Charles Brooks was just being polite, but to his surprise, James Young immediately nodded and even gave a thumbs-up. “Your Majesty is wise! Even the finest jade needs careful polishing. The same goes for Reader Henry Foster. If he is suddenly given an official post, not only will it fail to win people over, but it may also stunt his growth—gains would not outweigh the losses... For the sake of Reader Foster’s future, I humbly suggest selecting renowned teachers to instruct him. I believe that with Reader Foster’s intelligence, in a few years he will surely achieve top honors in the imperial exams. Once he has earned his degree and has Your Majesty’s favor, it won’t take more than eight or ten years before he can enter the cabinet and serve as Your Majesty’s right-hand man.”

Charles Brooks frowned. Does it really have to take that many years?

“Can’t it be a bit faster?”

James Young smiled and explained, “Appointments in the court have always been made with caution. Promoting someone rashly only stirs unrest and disrupts the rules of selection. But there are exceptions—for example, Lord Shang Wenyigong, who entered the cabinet within four years after becoming the top scholar. Today, upon first meeting Reader Foster, I already feel that the younger generation is truly formidable—like the surging river, the waves behind drive on those ahead. In the blink of an eye, Your Majesty must look further ahead; doing right by Reader Foster is also doing right by Your Majesty!”

“Oh!”

Charles Brooks grunted in frustration. On the surface, this all sounded reasonable and was supposedly for Henry Foster’s sake. For the moment, Charles Brooks couldn’t find a way to refute it, so he lowered his head in thought. Yet the more he pondered, the more something felt off.

Suddenly, he remembered—wasn’t that Lord Shang Wenyigong the very same Shang Lu his father had mentioned many times, the one who achieved top honors in all three imperial exams?

Up to now, in the Ming dynasty, the only officially recognized person to achieve top honors in all three exams was Shang Lu! And he even set a historical record by entering the cabinet within four years. The God of Literature is truly extraordinary! That protagonist’s aura is so dazzling it blinds the eyes. Honestly, if any protagonist in a time-travel novel entered the cabinet in four years, they’d be criticized to no end. So, history is often more fantastical than fiction!

But the reason Shang Lu could enter the cabinet was because of the Tumu Crisis, which killed off a huge number of old ministers who had served under Emperor Yingzong, leaving the cabinet empty and the new emperor in urgent need of help—only then did Shang Lu get to serve in the cabinet.

That was an exception among exceptions, impossible to replicate.

James Young using him as an example—wasn’t that just trying to fool a child? Could there ever be a second Tumu Crisis in Ming? I have no intention of being another Emperor Yingzong.

And is the imperial examination really that easy? Could someone like Fugui, just by his talent, achieve top honors in all three exams?

Dream on!

Unless I help him cheat.

No, even if I gave him the questions, this kid might not be able to write an essay that outshines all others. This is just deceiving me! Charles Brooks was furious. He had witnessed James Young’s prime ministerial bearing and experienced the momentum of hundreds and thousands of officials.

If given a choice, he truly didn’t want to keep fighting like this.

But the problem was, he wanted to promote two people, and James Young cut both proposals in half, even trying to talk him around—this was simply too much!

The young emperor’s anger flared. His gaze toward James Young grew sharper, while James Young kept his head bowed, as if he hadn’t heard a thing. Charles Brooks clenched his fists, growing even more enraged.

But just then, the carriage suddenly stopped. After this brief clash, Charles Brooks seemed to have gained a little, but it was far from enough. Is this the skill of a Grand Secretary? Charles Brooks hesitated, while James Young looked up, all smiles.

“Your Majesty, the carriage has arrived at the Meridian Gate. It’s time for the next step.”

With that, James Young took the initiative to get out, leaving Charles Brooks with only his back. It was as if to say, “I still have eighteen more tricks up my sleeve—today was just a warm-up. Just you wait and see!”

This is my Grand Secretary!

Charles Brooks’s face flushed red with anger. He had just experienced another masterstroke from a civil official. Outwardly, it was all for his own good, but in reality, a bottomless pit had been dug, just waiting for him to fall in!

It was true that Charles Brooks valued Henry Foster, but what he wanted was for his companion to gain power as soon as possible, to help him in every way. He needed people—immediately! Right now! Without delay!

Under normal circumstances, it would take at least ten years to enter the cabinet. Even if that time were cut in half, Charles Brooks couldn’t wait!

I cannot be someone who breaks my word. Fugui’s official post must be arranged! No bargaining allowed.

James Young, you old fox, how dare you scheme against me!

No, wait!

It seems that all along, I haven’t escaped his schemes.

I absolutely refuse to lose. I’ll get my revenge right now!

Charles Brooks’s fighting spirit soared—he grew braver with every setback, unwilling to admit defeat. Just then, Grand Secretary Samuel Grant came over to remind him.