The number one sycophant of the Ming Dynasty

During the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, top-tier flattery was not about kneeling and shouting hollow praises; it was about making the emperor feel utterly dependent on you. Armed with modern problem-solving skills rather than ancient court scheming, Chen Han navigates the treacherous waters of imperial politics with surgical precision. When ritual offerings go wrong, he quietly shields his superiors while preserving their dignity. When superiors attempt to reprimand him, he masterfully elevates their families into elite social circles, turning potential adversaries into grateful debtors. Playing both sides of the formidable political divide between Yan Song and Xu Jie, he ensures everyone believes they are profiting from his maneuvers. As the secluded Jiajing Emperor pores over palace memorials, a lingering question arises in the deep halls of the Forbidden City: has the seemingly indispensable official in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices ever made a single mistake?