Ruan Geng walked to the desk and sat down, stroking his beard, looking at the two brothers in front of him, and snorted angrily.
"Worried? I'm not worried. Although Mianmian is young, she is much more understanding than her incompetent father."
Ruan Qi's face turned white, red, and green. It was the first time in his life that he was scolded in front of his face, especially when the person scolding him was his father. He felt aggrieved, but he couldn't refute and didn't dare to talk back.
Ruan Zhu didn't say anything. Ruan Qi didn't understand him but he understood that the old marquis's willingness to scold him meant that he was still willing to cultivate him.
I'm afraid the old father did it on purpose, just to temper Ruan Qi's temper and give him a warning so that he wouldn't be ignorant of the truth.
Such good intentions! Ruan Zhu felt sour in his heart.
"Sit down and let's get down to business." Ruan Geng pointed to the two chairs in front of the desk, and the two brothers bowed respectfully before taking their seats.
Ruan Geng pondered for a moment before saying: "The King of Southern Xinjiang is going to Beijing. He will arrive in about half a month and will go back after the New Year."
Upon hearing the news, Ruan Zhu and Ruan Qi both looked surprised.
The current Queen Mother gave birth to two sons, the eldest is the current emperor, and the younger is Li Gong, the King of Southern Xinjiang.
At that time, Jin Shang and this prince had a deep brotherhood, and everyone thought that Li Gong would stay in the capital.
Unexpectedly, ten years ago, the emperor suddenly issued an imperial edict and made him the king of southern Xinjiang. He immediately set off for the fiefdom. After leaving the capital, he never came back after so many years.
"The Queen Mother is old and misses the King of Southern Xinjiang, so she has requested the Emperor several times." Ruan Geng said concisely and comprehensively.
Ruan Zhu intervened and said: "In this case, the emperor actually does not want the King of Southern Xinjiang to come back."
"Whether you like it or not, Li Gong is coming back." Ruan Qi's mind was still racing very fast, "Is this matter related to our Hou Mansion?"
"Yes." Ruan Geng nodded and looked at Ruan Qi, "Speaking of which, you and the prince are old acquaintances."
Ruan Qi smiled and said: "He is a few years older than me. When I was a teenager, I often hung out with him."
"My lord has not returned to the capital for a long time, please walk around more." Ruan Geng gave Ruan Qi a meaningful look.
"Yes, I understand."
This made Ruan Qi stare at Li Gong, and Ruan Zhu lowered his eyes slightly. It must be the emperor's intention that such a good opportunity to make a contribution was directly given to him. The old father has always been partial to his third brother.
Speaking of which, Ruan Zhu and the Prince of Southern Xinjiang were also old acquaintances. Ruan Qi was just a young boy back then, a follower of him and Li Gong. In fact, the two of them were truly friends.
Ruan Geng asked Ruan Qi to monitor Li Gong's actions. This must be the emperor's order. If the task is successfully completed, he will definitely be reused when the King of Southern Xinjiang leaves the capital.
Sure enough, I heard Ruan Geng continue to say: "The emperor wanted you to join the Household Department back then. As for what official position he will give you, we will decide later."
The old father had never thought of giving him this great opportunity. When Ruan Zhu thought about this, darkness flashed in his eyes.
"And you." Ruan Geng suddenly turned to Ruan Zhu, "The Emperor's grace is so great that you will fill the position of the Minister of Rites."
Hearing this, Ruan Zhu was completely stunned, and then he was overjoyed. He was originally a fifth-grade bachelor, and if he filled Ruan Chan's position, he would be a third-grade minister of etiquette.
To say that such a promotion would not have been possible without Ruan Geng's handiwork, Ruan Zhu replied happily: "Thank you very much, father."
"It is estimated that the imperial edict will be issued in the next two days." Ruan Geng looked at Ruan Zhu, "The King of Southern Xinjiang has only returned this time in ten years. You must be more careful and must not neglect it."
Ruan Zhu understood. He was able to take over Ruan Chan's position because the King of Southern Xinjiang returned to the capital. It was probably because the emperor wanted to leave this job to the Ruan family that he could rest assured. This was a double-edged sword, and he felt a shiver in his heart.
I heard Ruan Geng Youyou say: "You two can take care of yourself. Remember not to act rashly."
"Yes." Ruan Zhu and Ruan Chan agreed in unison.
Ruan Geng exhaled a long breath: "Go down."
After Ruan Zhu and Ruan Qi left, Ruan Gengduan sat behind the desk and thought for a long time.
"A Dong, go take a look in the front yard and tell Jiu'er to let her come if the princess wakes up."
As soon as he finished speaking, a voice came from outside the door: "I knew my grandfather wanted Mianmian."
Ruan Geng looked up and saw Jiu'er carrying Ruan Mianmian away and back.
"You little dumpling, don't you think you're sleepy?"
"It's cold outside, and I won't feel sleepy after I go out." Ruan Mianmian replied while motioning for Jiu'er to put him down, "We just walked around outside."
Watching Jiu'er exit, Ruan Mianmian turned around and closed the study door before sitting down.
"Are you not sleepy at all? You just don't want to see your father." Ruan Geng said firmly.
Ruan Mianmian pursed her lips and said dissatisfiedly: "Grandpa, see through but don't speak out. You have to learn to turn a blind eye."
"You still don't want to see him that much?"
"It's not so much that I don't want to see him, it's better to say that he doesn't want to see me. I hate seeing each other, but it's better to see him less." The immature child's voice said the most mature words.
Ruan Geng saw Ruan Mianmian's stubbornness and could only sigh and said: "Actually, your father is right, he is your father no matter what."
"Grandpa didn't come to me just to talk to me about this, right?" Ruan Mianmian made it clear that he didn't want to continue this topic.
"Is there anything you want to say?"
Ruan Geng suddenly said such a sentence out of nowhere. Others may not have been able to turn around, but Ruan Mianmian smiled. It was obvious that she knew what he was talking about.
"Grandpa hesitated?" Ruan Mianmian put his hands in front of him and looked at his fingers, "It shows that he is not that good."
"The King of Southern Xinjiang came to Beijing. Taking this opportunity, I gave your father and second uncle equal opportunities."
"My grandfather wanted to see which of the two of them was most suitable to inherit the throne."
After finishing his words, Ruan Geng looked directly at Ruan Mianmian with a stern and sharp look.
Ruan Mianmian looked at Ruan Geng calmly, his eyes as clear as a gurgling stream.
"Don't tell her when you see it." Ruan Geng returned Ruan Mianmian's words intact to her.
Xiao Naituanzi frowned and said helplessly: "I have already said that it is all up to my grandfather to make the decision, but you have repeatedly tested me, so I have no choice but to do so."
Hearing this, Ruan Geng couldn't help laughing: "So it's my fault?"
"I don't dare." Ruan Mianmian just said that she didn't dare.
Ruan Geng stretched out his hand and tapped Xiao Tuanzi's forehead: "Is there anything else you don't dare to do?"
"That's fair." Ruan Mianmian still said what he was thinking.
Hearing Xiao Naituanzi confirming himself, Ruan Geng nodded with a smile.
"Grandpa, tell me about this King of Southern Xinjiang." Ruan Mianmian was very curious.
Ruan Geng originally called Ruan Mianmian here because he wanted to tell her, but when she took the initiative to ask about it, he naturally told her.
After listening for a long time, Ruan Mianmian finally figured out that although they were brothers, although they didn't show it on the surface at the time, they were actually rivals for the throne.
Because of brotherly affection, the emperor drove him to southern Xinjiang. Although times have changed, he has not let go of his wariness.