Chapter 146 Speak from the heart
The lights were on in a study in the sleeping quarters.
Qian Renxue sat upright behind her large desk, her slender hands holding a pen, annotating each official document.
A few stray hairs fell beside her ears, swaying gently as she lowered her head.
The candlelight illuminated her profile, outlining a delicate and aloof silhouette.
Her brows furrowed, her pace of reviewing the papers slowed, and her writing revealed obvious frustration.
On the left side of the desk , there is a small stack of official documents that have been approved.
On the right , documents awaiting approval... are piled up like a small mountain.
Jiang Bai saw when he pushed open the door.
He carried a mahogany food box in his hand, gently placed it on a corner of the desk, walked around behind Qian Renxue, and put his hands on her shoulders.
Qian Renxue’s shoulders and neck, which were originally as tense as a bowstring, finally relaxed slowly under his massage.
She put down her pen, raised her hand to cover his hand that rested on her shoulder, and felt the warmth from his palm. She closed her eyes and sighed softly.
"This Pope..."her voice held a rare hint of resentment ,"... why is there so much to deal with?!"
Jiang Bai smiled, lowered his head to her ear, and his warm breath brushed against her earlobe :"How about... you let Hei Xue do those things?"
Qian Renxue slowly opened her eyes, which had been closed, turned her head, and glanced at him with a look that said ,"Are you kidding me?"
"she?"
Qian Renxue’s lips twitched slightly as Hei Xue’s eternally languid and alluring face appeared in her mind, along with the image of her lying on the bed reading a novel without any regard for her image.
"Forget it."
Her tone was flat, yet carried an undeniable disdain :"Let her approve official documents? She’d probably bankrupt the Spirit Hall’s finances in less than three days."
Jiang Bai chuckled softly and didn’t continue the topic.
He casually picked up a completed official document from the desk and glanced at it.
In eastern district of Wuhun City , two commoner families had a dispute over the boundary of their homesteads, which escalated to a branch of the Wuhun Hall. Unable to make a decision, the branch’s administrator reported the matter to the Papal Palace, requesting a ruling.
Jiang Bai frowned slightly.
He picked up another one.
A certain martial spirit hall applied for repair funds, citing"leaky roof , affecting office operations."
One more.
The wife of a count in the Star Luo Empire wanted to become an honorary deacon of the Spirit Hall and requested the Pope to personally sign the letter of appointment.
Another one...
Jiang Bai put down the official document and remained silent for a few moments.
Qian Renxue noticed his unusual behavior and looked up at him :"What’s wrong?"
Jiang Bai pointed to the stack of documents awaiting approval, his voice calm :"These... many are trivial matters. Can’t the branch clerks and bishops handle them? Why do they have to consult the Pope for everything?"
Qian Renxue paused for a moment, then smiled wryly :"This has always been the rule of the Spirit Hall. The Pope oversees all political affairs, and has the final say on everything, big or small."
Jiang Bai was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke :"Sister Xue’er, do you want to unify the continent?"
Qian Renxue was stunned.
The question came suddenly, and she didn’t answer immediately.
A few breaths later.
She nodded gently."Yes."
Jiang Bai smiled, a smile that conveyed both understanding and a long-planned scheme.
"Then the Spirit Hall will have to gradually transform from a religious organization into a centralized state system."
Qian Renxue’s gaze sharpened slightly.
Jiang Bai continued ,"The current model is too inefficient and relies too heavily on the Pope’s personal abilities."
"The Spirit Hall’s subsidiary and branch halls are scattered throughout the continent , controlling over 80% of the continent’s spirit master resources. This is a vast network, which should have unleashed unimaginable power."
"Unfortunately... it wasn’t effectively integrated."
Qian Renxue seemed to be deep in thought.
She did not immediately refute or question him. Since Jiang Bai dared to say these words, he must have thought them through carefully.
"So... what do you think we should do?"
Jiang Bai sat down in the chair beside her , dipped his index finger in the water in his teacup, and lightly traced lines on the table :"Below the Pope, there shall be a cabinet."
"The cabinet members are composed of several bishops specializing in political affairs. They don’t need to be titled Douluo or possess great combat strength; what they need is the ability to govern."
"The government affairs reported from various regions are first reviewed and drafted by relevant cabinet members, who then provide professional solutions. These are then submitted to the Pope..."
He drew a line between the"Cabinet"and the"Pope"with his fingertip :"The Pope only needs to approve the final verdict."
Qian Renxue’s eyes brightened slightly.
Jiang Bai continued sketching on the table :"Besides the cabinet , other affairs can be divided into broad categories: military, economy, criminal, rites and music, engineering... Specialized departments will be established to handle these."
"For example , military affairs were uniformly under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War, which included subordinate departments such as the Knights Order Management Office, the Border Defense Office, and the Logistics and Supplies Office."
"The Ministry of Revenue is responsible for the economy, overseeing all industries, taxes, and salary distribution for the Spirit Hall."
"This clear division of labor ensures that each department performs its duties effectively and improves efficiency. Moreover, the final decision-making power always remains in your hands. The cabinet can draft proposals, but only the Pope can approve them. Departments can submit proposals, but the final decision rests with you."
Qian Renxue listened quietly, her eyes growing brighter and brighter.
simple yet clear"architecture diagram"on the table , she seemed to see a brand new, more efficient and orderly Spirit Hall through those rough lines.
"How do you know so much about this?"
Jiang Bai’s lips curled slightly, a hint of smugness and mischief in his smile :"Because I am a genius"
He leaned back slightly, his tone light :"I’m not just some reckless brawler."
Qian Renxue couldn’t help but let out a soft"tsk"and turned her face away so he wouldn’t see the smile on her lips.
"Let’s eat something first."
Jiang Bai changed the subject at the right moment and opened the food box.
Inside the food box, four delicate side dishes were neatly arranged.
Sweet stuffed chicken, buttered matsutake mushrooms, matsutake mushroom stuffed meat rolls...
Jiang Bai set out the bowls and chopsticks, then suddenly seemed to remember something and turned to look at the other side of the study.
"Where is Li’er?"
Qian Renxue followed his gaze, a slight smile playing on her lips :"Reading over there."
Jiang Bai raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise in his eyes :"She can read books?"
He followed Qian Renxue’s gaze.
The west side of the study is a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf that covers an entire wall, filled with all kinds of classics, historical records, and illustrations of spirit beasts.
A small, soft cashmere rug lay in front of the bookshelf, and at that moment, a golden figure was sitting cross-legged on the floor without any regard for appearances.
Jiang Li’er.
Today she was dressed in a simple white outfit, with her long golden hair casually draped over her shoulders, a few strands falling down her chest.
She leaned against the bookshelf, a sketchbook spread out on her lap.
Jiang Bai squinted, making out the fancy artistic lettering on the cover :"Reincarnated as a Titan Ape, Becoming Stronger by Eating Soft-Boned Rabbits"
Jiang Bai :"..."
Qian Renxue remarked calmly from the side ,"She ’s been watching like this for almost two hours."
Jiang Bai took a few steps closer and looked down at the book in Jiang Li’er’s hand.
The illustrations on the cover are exquisite.
A majestic and powerful Titan ape was opening its blood-red maw, about to put a trembling pink-furred rabbit... no, a soft-boned rabbit, into its mouth.
The artist has solid skills, and the fear and despair in the little rabbit’s eyes are vividly portrayed.
Jiang Li’er was engrossed in reading a particular page, her crimson eyes filled with concentration.
Jiang Bai was silent for a moment before speaking :"Is it beautiful?"
Jiang Li’er didn’t even look up :"It’s amazing! This Titan Ape is so powerful. It ate so many Soft Bone Rabbits, and its cultivation level has increased by leaps and bounds..."
She suddenly stopped.
Slowly raise your head.
Seeing Jiang Bai’s face, which had a half-smile on it.
He then glanced at Qian Renxue behind him, who was sitting gracefully at the table, exuding elegance.
Looking down again , I saw myself sitting cross-legged on the ground, completely lacking any decorum.
And this storybook in my hand, with its peculiar illustrations and outrageous content.
Jiang Li’er :"..."
She slammed the book shut with a"snap ,"the movement so quick it created a gust of wind :"I... I was just browsing!"
A faint blush crept onto her fair cheeks.
Jiang Bai said ,"Let’s eat first."
He took her hand and helped her up from the ground :"The book won’t run away, you can read it later, let’s have some late-night snacks first."
Jiang Li’er muttered something under her breath, but did not resist and obediently followed him to the table.
...
The three of them had a late-night snack.
Jiang Li’er continued to immerse herself in her sketchbook, while Jiang Bai and Qian Renxue stood side by side by the window, gazing at the bright moonlight outside.
A gentle night breeze stirred the gauze curtains.
Jiang Bai gently wrapped his arms around Qian Renxue’s waist from behind ,"Sister Xue’er."
"Um?"
"I need to go out for a couple of days."
Qian Renxue’s body stiffened slightly, but she did not turn around.
After a few moments of silence, she asked softly ,"Why?"
Jiang Bai hugged her tighter , leaned close to her ear, and whispered mysteriously ,"I observed the celestial phenomena last night and foresaw a treasure waiting for me to retrieve."
Qian Renxue finally couldn’t help but turn her head, looking at him suspiciously :"A treasure?"
She squinted :"You’re not lying to me, are you?"
"What ’ observing celestial phenomena ’... you want to go out and seduce other women, don’t you?"
Jiang Bai’s hand slowly moved up from her waist.
It passed over her flat stomach, over her soft waist, and finally gently rested on her tender conscience.
He spoke with utmost seriousness and sincerity :"I assure you with my own conscience... absolutely not."
Qian Renxue’s pretty face instantly flushed red.
She grabbed his mischievous hand, her voice trembling slightly :"Whose conscience are you touching?!"
Jiang Bai lowered his head and gently pecked her reddened earlobe.
"Isn’t what’s yours mine?"
Qian Renxue’s body stiffened slightly, then went limp. She bit her lower lip, stopped struggling, and whispered ,"Don’t... make a fuss..."
Her voice was soft, tinged with a hint of coquettishness and helplessness :"This is the study... Sister Li’er is still here..."
she could finish speaking, Jiang Bai had already let go of her hand.
Instead of stopping, I picked him up horizontally!
"ah--!"
Qian Renxue gasped softly and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.
Jiang Bai carried her and walked steadily toward the study door. Behind them, Jiang Li’er, holding a sketchbook, leaned against the bookshelf, watching the two with a half-smile.
Qian Renxue buried her face in Jiang Bai’s chest, her voice muffled :"Sister Li’er is still watching..."
Jiang Bai didn’t turn his head :"Li’er, get some rest."
Jiang Li’er raised her chin, her tone languid :"I know, I know, we have to travel tomorrow."