Rebirth: From being expelled from the imperial court to becoming a high-ranking official

In fact, Hu Shuli was not the kind of person who liked to put on airs and order people around, but Zhao Ping was very diligent.

Since following him, Zhao Ping would make tea for him every day when he went on duty, and he would naturally be the first to deliver any documents.

Shuli Hu was very pleased to have such a diligent, sweet-talking and motivated little apprentice. And because of Shuli Hu, the other clerks were reluctant to tease or order Zhao Ping around too much.

Ten days passed in a flash, and Song Shuli, who had been recuperating at home for many days, could no longer hide and returned to the desk to take up his duty.

But he didn't expect that as soon as he came in, he saw Zhao Ping asking something diligently in front of Hu Shuli's desk.

Although he was the one who fell into Qin Yunhe's hands, he disliked everyone and was suspicious of everyone, especially Zhao Ping.

During these days of recuperation at home, he thought more and more that Zhao Ping was a bad kid, and must have been sent by the magistrate to spy on everyone. Maybe Zhao Ping said something that made the magistrate suspicious.

Otherwise, with his level of handwriting imitation, how could it be discovered?

Song Shuli frowned and sat down at his desk, muttering, "Anyone can come to the desk, making it so smoky and foul."

Clerks Hu and Zhao Ping ignored him, but other clerks winked at him.

Song Shuli didn't take it seriously. He banged and grumbled for a while before he finally calmed down.

"What? Old Hu actually accepted Zhao Ping as his apprentice?"

It was not until the lunch break that a clerk with whom he had a good relationship took the opportunity to tell him about Zhao Ping's apprenticeship.

He was originally very unhappy about being asked to help Hu Shuli. Now when he heard that Hu Shuli had accepted Zhao Ping as his apprentice, he became even more dissatisfied.

"Why should he? He is just a servant and can't even recognize a single word. Does the office look like a school? It's ridiculous for him to come here to learn to read!"

Scribe Song was so angry that he almost dropped his chopsticks.

Why? Why should he?

I learned from my father for many years before I was able to take on the position of clerk, and I have worked in the office for several years.

Now not only is he asked to help other clerks, but he is also asked to do the same job as a servant who can't even recognize all the characters?

Song Shuli just couldn't swallow this insult. He kept muttering on the way back to the government office, and became more and more angry as he spoke.

"Why, why should I help Lao Hu? We are both clerks, why should I be ordered around by him..."

The clerk who was eating with him looked embarrassed but could not stop him. He could only look left and right. As a result, he saw Liu Dianshi standing not far away, looking at him.

It was too late for him to shut up Song Shuli, so he could only bow to Liu Dianshi with a bitter face: "Sir Dianshi, you have finished your meal."

When Song Shuli suddenly heard him calling Dianshi, he was startled. When he raised his eyes, he saw Dianshi Liu looking at them with a sullen face.

Song Shuli's heart sank, his hands and feet turned cold, and he quickly saluted with his hands and feet stiff.

"Song Cheng, come with me!" Liu Dianshi said and turned to leave. Song Shuli did not dare to delay and followed him hurriedly.

Liu Dianshi took him back to the hall and found an empty side hall.

Song Shuli was in a state of confusion, secretly hating himself for being short-sighted and quick-witted. But as soon as Liu Dianshi closed the door, he said, "You don't repent! It's a waste of my time to plead for you!"

Liu Dianshi was very good at winning people's hearts and always had a high prestige in the government office.

When Song Shuli heard him say this, he felt wronged and moved: "Master Dianshi, are you pleading for me?"

"What else? You falsified the testimony so brazenly, and let the adults find out. Given the adults' strictness, why would they let you off so easily? Haven't you ever thought about it?

What about you? You have no remorse at all! If I had known earlier, I would have let the adults punish you to do hard labor!"

Song Shuli had always believed in Liu Dianshi, so he just bowed with his head lowered and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Dianshi. I am ungrateful. It's not that I have no regrets, I just... I just feel a little bit unconvinced...

My Lord has already beaten me, why do you want me to help Hu Shuli? We are all the same clerks..."

The clerk Song felt more and more aggrieved as he spoke: "If I were to help the Dianshi Lord, even if it was just to serve tea and water, I would have no complaints..."

Song Shuli lowered his eyes and complained but did not hear Liu Dianshi say anything. When he looked up, he saw Liu Dianshi looking at him silently.

Scribe Song quickly shut up.

At this time, Liu Dianshi spoke up: "If you don't want to follow Lao Hu, who do you want to follow? Yuan Shuli? Li Shuli? I heard that you and Yuan Shuli have always been at odds. Do you want to help him?"

Song Shuli was shocked and quickly shook his head.

"Li Shuli is always good at ordering others around, do you want to serve him tea or water and get scolded?

How about Xu Shuli? He has less experience than you. If you want to help him, I will arrange it later. I can still handle this matter for you."

Song Shuli was speechless for a moment and just shook his head repeatedly.

What he was thinking in his mind was naturally to continue to be himself as before, and everyone was still a colleague.

Liu Dianshi naturally knew what he was thinking, so he said, "You have caused such a big trouble, if you just let the adults catch you and beat you with a few sticks, how can the adults control the people in the hall in the future?

I picked Hu Shuli on purpose. He has the longest tenure among the clerks, and he can be considered your elder. Moreover, he has always been kind to others and never makes things difficult for others. Why can't I take you with me? Not to mention that he doesn't like to put on airs, even if you are ordered around by him, it's better than being ordered around by Yuan Shuli and Li Shuli, right?"

Scribe Song was silent. He knew that Scribe Hu was indeed the most talkative among all the scribes.

Liu Dianshi continued, "Your Excellency has already been very lenient this time. Letting you start learning again is only a minor punishment. In a year or so, when your supervisor says that you have learned well and are ready to become a teacher, this matter will be over. You can still be your clerk, no different from before.

Don’t you know who Lao Hu is? Will he deliberately embarrass you? If you keep talking sweetly, he might become your apprentice in a few months.”

After hearing this, Song Shuli's resentment had already disappeared for the most part, but there was still a small lump in his heart, and he muttered.

"Then why do you let Zhao Ping and I serve Lao Hu together and be his apprentice?"

Isn't that the same as not only throwing my face to the ground, but also stepping on it?

Liu Dianshi was so angry that he laughed: "Who told you that Zhao Ping was arranged by me? It was arranged by the adults!"

Song Shuli looked up in surprise and asked, "Did the master ask Lao Hu to arrest Zhao Ping?"

"What else? Who Zhao Ping worships has nothing to do with me?

Besides, isn't it a good thing to have Zhao Ping? I see Zhao Ping is in high spirits, serving tea, running errands and doing odd jobs more actively than anyone else. Maybe you can't even get in the way if you want to curry favor with Hu Shuli."

Scribe Song wanted to curl his lips but didn't dare.

"Anyway, don't bully Zhao Ping because he is young. After all, he and his father were brought here by adults themselves. You should think about it yourself."

Scribe Song nodded reluctantly.

Liu Dianshi sighed: "You really need to change your temper!"

There was a hint of disappointment in Liu Dianshi's tone, but Song Shuli's gratitude and admiration for him once again reached its peak.

Song Shuli folded his hands and said, "Song Cheng thanks the Dianshi for taking the trouble to protect me and guide me."