"This..," Dean Zhu Lao was caught off-guard by the statement that he was a little lost for words. He had just gained freedom from his forced seclusion and now he was being thrown into more work before he even had time to savor the taste.
His wife, Formation hall master Ling Meimei was giggling, gleefully taking the moment in. With this sudden turn of events, her biggest worry of Dean Zhu Lao going back to prior habits was put to bed.
With his new crazy schedule where would he get the time to go crack jokes with his friends all night long over warm wine and ginseng tea?
Just as Dean Zhu Lao was about to make a plea he was interrupted by the Vice-chancellor.
"The chancellor has signed off on this," calmly said Vice-chancellor Wu Ling.
Dean Zhu Lao hurriedly swallowed the words that were at the tip of his tongue as his demeanor turned subservient with a pitiful nod of agreement.
"Vice dean Yu Long you're free to take those accumulated leave days anytime you wish to. On behalf of the institute I thank you for studiously going above and beyond in your duties. It's not easy having undependable bosses," said Vice-chancellor Wu Ling as he sighed.
"It really isn't," said Vice Dean Yu Long as he sighed too in return.
The two seemed like kindred spirits while Dean Zhu Lao was wondering why they had to dig into him further. Wasn't the inhuman work schedule even by the Order's standard enough?
Meanwhile, Yang Qing's sadistic mind surfaced. Dean Zhu Lao's situation was somewhat pleasing to him. Knowing there was another person being overworked even more than he was, gave him some sort of comfort. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he may actually enjoy going to work and not do his usual routine of incessant complaining and threats he would never follow through to the dread that washes over him when he gets caught in a scheme.
People saw the glamor but they didn't know how stressful it was to be an employee of the black-hearted Order. Atleast from tomorrow he would only have one thing in his daily routine which was cursing Lei Weiyuan for a bit before he went to work.
Just as Yang Qing was lost in his thoughts thinking about whether to mix it up with the morning curse the Vice-chancellor turned his way.
"Yang Qing it's good that you're here too as I had something to tell you too. A few days after your ceremony you will be in charge of setting and supervising the entrance examinations for the prospective students for the institute. It's one of the duties of newly promoted palace court judges, since we are understaffed and all, adding the growing number of students we need all the help we can get.
I'll send one of my assistants with the particulars and you can also consult some of your seniors here who have had some experience with it.
Well then everyone I will be taking my leave, do enjoy yourselves.
Zhu Lao tomorrow early and don't be a second late," said Vice-chancellor Wu Ling as he threateningly narrowed his gaze on Dean Zhu Lao before he flashed and disappeared from the spot.
Dean Zhu Lao was left with a pale and crestfallen figure but atleast this time he wasn't alone as Yang Qing was right there with him.
Supervising the entrance examination would seem glamorous but it was too much work and would span more than a day where he would be required to be present at the examination grounds day and night. Worst of all, you got paid nothing.
"I see bleak days ahead."
"I see them too."
Young and old stood slumped shoulder to shoulder sighing continuously whilst lamenting their future.
Yang Qing's mood improved a bit when finally food appeared. It turns out the food was deliberately hidden away as an elaborate prank arranged by Meng Chao, Lei Weiyuan, Formation Hall master Ling Meimei, and Yu Hong, Yu Huifang's mom to tease Yang Qing, especially with his known reputation as a foodie.
Yang Qing was shocked when he learned of this and how many people were involved.
"Do they have a grudge against me or something? Old man Lei I understand but the rest..No….and shouldn't they be using their time better rather than scheme. They give the Order a bad name," Yang Qing righteously thought as he gorged himself on some sweet and sour pork fillet.
Dean Zhu Lao had gone off to make the most of his limited time and catch up with some friends and exchange some laughs before his brutal work schedule sentence began.
Yang Qing finally got a chance to talk to Vice warden Shao An and gain some insight into the prisoner release program. No one would be qualified to guide him through it than the vice warden of the place, well maybe the warden would be the best but he was a little out of reach for Yang Qing's current level and if it wasn't for the invite to the party so would have Vice warden Shao An.
The Vice warden was generous enough to offer his two cents on the matter but they had to reschedule it to a later date as the vice warden got dragged away by Dean Zhu Lao for a dao discussion along with other peak domain experts within the hall. Some of the early domain experts and even the late-stage palace experts joined along to expand their horizons by listening in.
Yang Qing, Mao Yunru, and Yu Huifang were left to hang out by themselves as their levels were too low to really harvest much from their level of discussion. Yang Qing didn't mind it too much as he happily devoured the delicacies that were left untouched and still in large quantities.
However, he had to take a pause on eating when Meng Chao came over to talk to him before he left.
"I'll find you the week after your ceremony to discuss Jiang Fu's situation and my plan moving forward,"
"I wonder if I could make a presumptuous request senior Meng Chao." Yang Qing politely asked.
"What is it?" Meng Chao curiously asked.
"I wanted to bring Zhang Qingge with me. She is very close to Jiang Fu and I feel like she ought to know especially if what Jiang Fu is doing is dangerous," Yang Qing hesitantly said carefully watching Meng Chao's expression.
"Oh her? There's no problem because I intended to invite her too. It was Jiang Fu's request that she be made privy to everything that is going on including his past," said Meng Chao as he smiled.
Yang Qing couldn't but heave a sigh of relief.
They exchanged a few more words before Meng Chao left. A few hours later Lei Weiyuan came and brought Mao Yunru and Yang Qing back to the junction he had picked them from.
The other guests were in no hurry as they stayed well through the night engrossed in their dao discussion.
As for Yang Qing after he made his way into his abode he sat weakly in one of the chairs by the porch. He kept on repetitively sighing as he ate some of the takeaways he had on him.
The reason for his languishing look was, he was three days away from his ceremony. What should have been a cause for celebration was now something he dreaded very much.
"Maybe I should just accept Ren Shu's offer and join the medicine valley."
