Forbidden City Qianqing Palace

After entering the winter months, the weather quickly became colder. Even though the sun hung brightly in the sky, there was no warmth at all.

Although Liu Zhong had changed into winter clothes, he still couldn't help but shrink his neck and close his sleeves, trying to block the cold wind that kept getting into his clothes without losing his etiquette.

After entering the Dongnuan Pavilion, the curtains were lifted and a warm breeze hit his face. When he stepped through the door, he felt warm all over his body. Liu Zhong let out a long sigh of relief.

The little waiter holding the curtain came over and greeted him with fawning greetings, and Liu Zhong responded politely with a smile on his face.

As soon as he turned around and saw no one around him, the little chamberlain quickly whispered, "Qiu Ju didn't say anything. Gao Feng said about the post-election. Gu Dayong said about Xiyuan. Grandpa Qian was very unhappy."

Although this little chamberlain worshiped Liu Jin as his godfather, he was actually Xiao Jing's son, and Xiao Jing was later left to Liu Zhong.

Liu Zhong nodded calmly, straightened his clothes, and went to the inner room.

The room was as warm as a spring day. Brother Shou, dressed in light casual clothes, was lying on the small table of the Arhat bed and looking at some paintings.

When Liu Zhong saw the gift, he glanced at it from the corner of his eye and knew it was a drawing of Xiyuan Garden.

Brother Shou looked at it for a long time, then stretched out, stretched his muscles and bones, smiled and said to Liu Zhong: "The painting that Gu Dayong found by some Cangting layman is really good." Then he said again: "Modify the victims. It’s up to you to do the work-for-relief work in Xiyuan.”

Liu Zhong could hardly conceal his surprise, but the emperor spoke the golden words. He still responded quickly to the order to thank him, but he still couldn't help but think about it.

Usually such good things like going out of the palace to do errands to make money are the good jobs that can only be obtained by the eunuchs who are close to the emperor.

Although there is a lot of quarrel between Xiyuan and the victims, it is really not an easy job to deal with. Those cunning eunuchs will not accept it, but it is not a hot potato, and everyone does not want it. want.

After all, Liu Zhong has only been with the emperor for a short period of time, and it is not his turn no matter what.

Then he heard the little emperor say again: "These are the notes written by Shen Rui about Xiyuan and the victims. Take it and read it, and finish the errands."

Liu Zhong felt relieved, it turned out that it was because of his and Shen Rui's romantic relationship... But then his heart tightened again, he said yes, and looked at the little emperor's expression furtively.

Because of the affairs of Xiyuan and the victims, the princes in the court were quarreling endlessly. No one mentioned the previous incident of offering wine to Shen Zhou in Nanjing Imperial College, which was not good for his personal ethics. However, he, a close minister of the emperor, knew about it, and the emperor was very concerned about this matter. It's annoying.

The emperor has now handed over the matter of dealing with Shen Rui to him, Shen Rui's old friend. Is this to appease Shen Rui, or is he trying to test it...

Brother Shou called Liu Zhong over to collect the drawings and notes before filing the case. He shook his head, nodded at the papers and said, "Shen Rui is really a hard-working person. It's a pity that he doesn't have any fame now, and he's been dragged down by his family many times. ."

Liu Zhong heard the regret in these words, and felt reassured, so he smiled and replied: "The emperor also often said that 'tempting one's heart and forbearance will help you achieve what you can't do'. Shen Hengyun has been tempered by this, if he can strengthen his mind , increase your talents and serve the royal family better in the future."

Brother Shou smiled and said: "You and Zhang Hui have already talked about the same thing. I think so too. It would be good for him to sharpen his skills."

Seeing Liu Zhong packing his things, Brother Shou added: "Zhang Yong's third good news has also arrived. I hope that the matter in Taihu will be settled before next year, and I will return to the court after the new year."

Liu Zhong was overjoyed when he heard this and hurriedly bowed and chanted: "Great joy! Great joy! Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

Brother Shou smiled and waved his hands and said: "We are all happy." He smiled until there was only a slit in his eye, showing his thin white teeth, but he said: "When you have time, go to Zhang Hui and go to Shen's house.

We also have a good discussion with Shen Rui on how to guide and resettle the victims."

The topic changed quickly, and Liu Zhong's brain was not slow to react. He immediately understood what Brother Shou meant. He felt completely at ease. He took the instructions and went out to find Zhang Huitong and go to Shen's house.

Brother Shou sent Liu Zhong away, thinking about the situation of Xiyuan after it was completed next year. He was in a good mood. He went to the bookcase, picked up the top one from the thick piles of memorials, and read it gently in the hall.

Pacing.

However, after reading a few sentences, he threw down the note angrily and muttered, "It's such a shame, why is Liu Daxia making such a fuss!"

This is the third time Liu Daxia, Minister of War, has written to beg for leave due to illness.

Nowadays, the borders are tight and there are wars everywhere. How could Brother Shou let him go? He refused several times.

It is true that Liu Daxia said that he was in poor health, but he was not so ill that he could not do anything. It was just a matter of not getting what he asked for.

After the late emperor's great success, Liu Daxia first asked to appoint eunuchs from all directions who were not within the quota, but Shou Ge did not approve.

Later, he was allowed to dismiss redundant officials, Han generals Qianbaihu, Xue Fuking and 48 others. These people went on strike and made trouble in front of Brother Shou. Brother Shou accepted the request of the consort Fan Kai and reinstated them to their official positions.

Regardless of whether Liu Daxia is begging for divorce because he is dissatisfied or discouraged, Brother Shou will not let him go at this time.

And it was clear to him what the Director of Ceremonies meant by putting this book at the top.

Leaving the book aside, Brother Shou muttered a few curses, walked back angrily and grabbed another book. He read ten lines at a glance, but was quickly stunned. He slowly sat down on the dragon chair behind the desk and read over and over again.

Did it twice.

He raised his eyebrows in surprise at first, and then slowly, a naughty smile emerged. Then he laughed out loud, and then burst out laughing.

There were already two waiters at the door. Hearing the laughter, they quietly paid attention to the situation in the palace. When they heard Brother Shou calling someone inside: "Call Mou Bin, Qiu Judu come over!"

The young chamberlains looked at each other and were confused, but they thought it was a good thing that the emperor smiled, so they all ran to spread the word happily. Just four words of "the emperor smiled" can get a lot of rewards.

Brother Shou once played the memorial in his hand.

This is an excerpt from the Ministry of Rites. It is said that Li Shi, the king of Nanhai County, the king of Qingcheng in the Jin Dynasty, was convicted of taking money and food. However, the prince went to Beijing privately to beat drums and file a lawsuit. The Ministry of Rites wrote a letter asking for the envoy to be sent back, but still ordered the king to restrain him.

, and punish the professor and the city guard.

After a clan of the Ming Dynasty was granted a vassal status, they were not allowed to leave the vassal territory without permission, and were not allowed to return to Beijing without permission without an edict.

This Nanhai County Lord is really brave. In order to get his husband out of prison, he dared to enter the capital secretly.

Brother Shou really can't remember which of the Qingcheng Wang family this county prince is. Because King Qingcheng's lineage has really contributed a lot to continue the Zhu family's incense, now the Qingcheng King's adult children are recorded in the book.

More than ninety people.

But no matter who she is, she is insignificant, otherwise she would not come to Beijing in person.

However, since he is collecting money and food, he still dares to go to Beijing to "litigate grievances". I wonder if he is too stupid or too smart?

Brother Shou sneered and slapped the book on the case, his eyes filled with coldness.

At this time, taxes were still mainly collected in kind. Field taxes were divided into summer tax, autumn grain tax, summer tax on wheat, autumn grain tax on rice. In addition, there were silk, cotton and linen, etc. In some areas, fodder was also required, and households were required to bring designated items to themselves.

Delivered to designated location for payment.

To extort money and grain refers to soliciting for payment of taxes. It is not uncommon for evil gentry to extort money and extort money from ordinary people, and to pass off substandard grain and rice materials.

During the Jingtai and Chenghua years, the Ministry of Household Affairs reported that there were scoundrels who took money and food, mixed the food with soil, soaked the fodder, replaced thin cloth with thick cloth, etc. When they were dismissed when they were handed over to officials, they would not acknowledge the account and put it all in the household.

Nahu was afraid of his reputation, so he had to swallow his anger and go out to supplement the official family. Not only did it not "save trouble", but it made the burden heavier.

In all dynasties, it was a serious crime to collect money and food.

At that time, policies were also introduced to crack down for a period of time, but the profits were huge, and some people still took risks out of desperation.

After a while, Mou Bin, the commander of the Jinyi Guards, and Qiu Ju, the head of the Dongchang stall, knelt in front of Brother Shou.

Brother Shou threw the paper at the feet of the two of them, and said calmly: "Go and find out, how did Nanhai get to the capital, and who gave her the idea? She is a fool, and I'm afraid she won't be able to get to the capital. Go and find out, this Li Bin is a

What kind of stuff is this? What’s going on with all the money and food? Who made the judgment?”

Mou Bin and Qiu Ju both responded one after another. In detail, they failed to report the clan's unauthorized entry into the capital immediately and asked her to beat the drum to complain. They were both guilty of negligence.

Brother Shou had no intention of pursuing these matters. Instead, he stood up and walked to Mou Bin, and ordered in a cold voice: "Go and find out whether the victims of this disaster have anything to do with Li Bin."

A chill ran down Mu Bin's spine, and he reasoned that the greed for money and food was not small, but it would not have caused so many victims. Moreover, the victims also claimed that the disaster was caused by an earth dragon, but the emperor said so...

In the past few days, the government has been criticizing the Chief Envoy of Shanxi Province and the various state governments for their failure in disaster relief. Is the Emperor trying to find a scapegoat?

Thinking that the border was tight and Shanxi's officialdom should seek stability, Mou Bin, who thought he had figured out the emperor's thoughts, hurriedly accepted the order.

Qiu Ju knelt beside him, thinking the same thing as Mou Bin, and he was even more fortunate to have met him first and didn't say anything.

Since the incident about the disaster victims came out, He Dongsheng began to send money to him again, thinking that after overthrowing Shen Zhou, he would pursue the victory and then overthrow the eldest son of the Shen family, Shen Xuan, who was serving in Shanxi Province.

Qiu Juke was never one to use people's money to eliminate disasters. He accepted the money from the He family without fail. As for the imperial speech, he planned for his own family and took care of the life and death of the He family! But he couldn't do it without eighty thousand silver.

He Qiu's stall opened a golden door.

He threw the He family's request out of the sky and never planned to mention it again. He glanced at the comment on the brochure, "It is a good etiquette for a prince to go out to the city to litigate, and he is ordered to meet with the judicial council." Then he had another thought, Zhang

Yongpin has won many victories, and the capture of Taihu Lake is just around the corner. The emperor has broken King Ning's arm, and is he going to attack the northwest vassals again...

*

Renshoufang Shen Mansion

Although Liu Zhong came in casual clothes, his arrival undoubtedly gave Shen Rui, Xu and the third master a reassurance.

It is nothing if Shen Zhou loses his official position. What is important is that the emperor cannot have any prejudice against the children of the Shen family because of Shen Zhou's affairs. Otherwise, the children of the Shen family may have a bumpy career. Xu Youzhen is a lesson learned from the past.

After the Tumubao Incident, Xu Youzhen, whose name was still Xu Jue, was disliked by the inner court for suggesting moving the capital to Nanjing.

After Emperor Jing ascended the throne, Xu Jue wanted to arrange a wine ceremony in the Imperial Academy, so he reported to Emperor Jing. Emperor Jing bluntly said, "This man is cunning by nature, and serving in the Imperial Academy's wine ceremony will corrupt Jiang Sheng's mind" and refused.

It was not until Xu Jue changed his name to Xu Youzhen at the suggestion of his cabinet minister Chen Xun and was recommended to govern the Yellow River that Emperor Jing didn't know that Xu Youzhen was Xu Jue, so he appointed him as the censor of Zuoqiandu, giving Xu Youzhen a chance to make a comeback.

Shen Rui understands Brother Shou's character relatively well and is not very worried that Brother Shou will distance himself from him because of Shen Zhou's matter.

However, Liu Zhong was able to deal with the disaster victims with him, which made him relieved. At least it was much better than the internal officials or the imperial guards who had to deal with it all over again. With Liu Zhong's cooperation, he was more confident to handle this matter well.

If you want to establish a firm foothold in front of the emperor, it is impossible to rely solely on youth friendship, eating, drinking and having fun.

As he gets older, the little emperor needs loyal ministers who are talented and capable of doing practical things.

But now, Shen Rui doesn't even have any fame, and it will be two or three years before he becomes an official at the earliest, let alone show any talent as an official, so he can only accumulate brother Shou's favorability through side errands.

This is Shen Rui's first time working for Brother Shou. He doesn't expect any surprises. He is not a crouching dragon or a phoenix. As long as he handles things steadily and properly, he will be credited.

Shen Rui welcomed Liu Zhong and Zhang Hui into the study. Since he and Zhang Hui were getting closer now, he did not hide it from Zhang Hui and bluntly said that Liu Zhong was his "master uncle".

Liu Zhong was taught by Wang Hua in the inner school, and he had the title of master and apprentice. Later, he became friends with Wang Shouren. Wang Shouren always called him "junior brother". Even though Shen Rui was only one or two years younger than Liu Zhong, he was shorter. After a generation, you should call me uncle.
To be continued...