Reincarnation of the powerful minister

No matter how long the palace road is, there is a time when it comes to an end.

The night was dark, and the air was filled with a chilly autumn air.King Yu said, "I'll take you back."

Su Yan declined politely: "The car for the next official is parked outside the Donghua Gate, so there is no need for the prince to send it away."

So King Yu took the lantern from Su Yan's hand, and said again: "Then you take me back? Anyway, your house is adjacent to the square where my palace is located, so it happened to be on the way."

Su Yan couldn't find a reason to refuse again.And thinking that King Yu had done him a great favor by sending him into the palace tonight, he invited him into his carriage.

All the way without words.The carriage first arrived at the gate of King Yu's Mansion in Qingqingfang. Before King Yu got off the carriage, he suddenly told Su Yan, "Be careful of my mother."

Su Yan: "!"

King Yu: "Didn't I go to the Compassionate Ning Palace this morning, and saw the palace lady take out a basket of dead flowers and throw them away."

Su Yan: "Decapitation... flowers?"

"Crack." King Yu made his fingers like scissors, and gesticulated sinisterly at Su Yan's neck, "My mother loves flower arrangements, but when she is anxious and angry, she can't help but give the flower stems to Su Yan." Cut it off. The more killing intent in my heart, the higher the cutting position, so it is called a broken head flower... By the way, there was a dispute between my mother and my emperor brother, and I turned my head and crushed my favorite bird of paradise to death , and sent the bird carcass to my imperial brother."

Hearing this, Su Yan's internal organs were twisted, and he subconsciously shrunk his neck, feeling a chill on his back.

King Yu took the opportunity to grab his shoulders and put it in his arms: "Don't worry, this king will protect you well. But you'd better stay in my palace for a while, to avoid my mother's anger first, let me slowly persuade you she."

Su Yan regretted his life, but he still felt that it was inappropriate to live in the palace—what if he was misunderstood as King Yu's new "confidant"?Although King Yu claimed to have been cultivating himself for more than half a year, he had a criminal record after all.So he pushed Yu Wang's hand away, shook his head and said: "Your official is not a servant of the prince, it is really inappropriate to live in the palace rashly to provoke criticism for no reason."

King Yu didn't like his tone of intentionally keeping the distance, raised his eyebrows and said: "It's fine if I go to your house to bother you for a while - then Shen Qi didn't borrow flowers to present Buddha, and transferred the house I bought to you, and even repaired it Yes? Enough for quite a few people.”

Su Yan knew that King Yu was worried about his personal safety, and was afraid that the queen mother would harm him, but he didn't want to confront his mother publicly, so he used this seemingly sloppy way to protect him.He was a little moved, but he had to refuse: "Thank you for your kindness, but there is really no need. The next official may leave soon, to Nanjing."

"——Nanjing?" The smile on King Yu's face gradually disappeared, "Are you so reluctant to part with that brat Zhu Helin?" He pressed the corner of his mouth mockingly, "Oh, is this a new order tonight? Out of a erotic picture In this matter, you are still allowed to hang out with the prince, it seems that my brother is really... magnanimous."

The last word is full of thick irony.Su Yan was not happy to hear King Yu taunting the Emperor, but it was not good to scold and slap him like before, and sighed helplessly, "Can you...be nicer to your brother?"

You asked the wrong way, it should be my brother, can you treat me better?Considering Su Yan's mood, King Yu didn't say this, but said with a calm face: "Go and go! Remember, don't make any trouble with that brat. I know Brother Huang's temper. He looks calm and reserved. , In fact, hypocritical and cruel, don't think that when the time comes to choose between pros and cons, he will still care about the past friendship."

Su Yan knew that the ten-year confinement was an inextricable knot in King Yu's heart. No matter whether he felt aggrieved or resentful, he couldn't get rid of it with a few words of persuasion, so he could only sigh: "In your opinion, I, Su Qinghe, are just so hungry. ?”

King Yu smiled pointedly: "That's right, you've eaten all the delicacies of mountains and seas, how can you still look at the unripe cabbage in the field?"

Su Yan seriously suspects that "Treasures from Mountains and Seas" refers to King Yu himself - he is a narcissist!As for the meaning of the word "eat", it is even more obscene.

He pushed King Yu out of the carriage: "Shaote, Pili Yangqiu, go and do what you should do! Isn't the Tiangong Academy enough for you?"

The next day, Su Yan went to the morning court on time, and received an order to leave Beijing to take up his post as expected.

Unexpectedly, the official position turned out to be "Nanjing Rites Zuo Shilang".

Su Yan stared at the seven words on the imperial decree for a long time, feeling a little funny.

Among the six ministries, the Ministry of Officials is the most powerful, the Ministry of Households is the richest, and the Ministry of Rites is the most noble.Zuo Shilang is the second-in-command of each ministry, his position is only under the minister, and he is the third-rank official.

Because of his merits such as reforming horse administration, appeasing Shaanxi, eradicating cults, establishing a management and assessment system for local officials, etc., he jumped from the fourth rank to the third rank in one fell swoop, which can be said to be promoted at the same speed as a monkey.

——If there is no word "Nanjing" in the prefix.

With these two words, it changes from pure gold to gold-plated.

Because Nanjing is the accompanying capital and the backup of the capital, the Imperial Court of Daming also set up the Sixth Department of Nanjing as a backup leadership team by comparing with the Sixth Department in the capital.

Have you ever seen the ten-thousand-year-old bench on the court where the substitute players sit?That's it.

Generally, what kind of officials will be sent to Nanjing to take up a post? They are probably those who are regarded as an eyesore by the superiors, those who are squeezed out by their colleagues, and those who are about to retire and just want a smooth transition... In a word: Jinling Nursing Home, warmly welcome you.

What is even more tragic is the "Nanjing Ministry of Rites".

If it is necessary to rank among nursing homes, the "Nanjing Household Department" should be the most important. After all, it is responsible for collecting taxes and grains in Nanzhili, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Huguang provinces. It is also responsible for water transportation and national salt exploration cooperation. Wait, it's fat.

Then there is the "Nanjing Officials Department", which is responsible for the Beijing inspection of officials in the Nanjing area every six years.Because the officials in the capital are not allowed to interfere, in this one-third of an acre of land, the monkey can be regarded as the king.

The second is the "Nanjing Ministry of War" and "Nanjing Ministry of Punishment".The former is responsible for the defense of the Nanjing area and has the military power of fifty guards.The latter is responsible for the criminal names of Nanjing Zhusi, Gonghou Bofu, and Jingwei Office, and has local judicial power.

It is "Nanjing Ministry of Industry" again.The Ministry of Industry was raised by the stepmother, and was responsible for construction, logistics, water conservancy, manufacturing and other "unreliable" jobs-everything was low-grade, except for reading.Even the Ministry of Industry in the capital has always been ignored, and they have become accustomed to sitting on small benches.

Of course, Su Yan founded the "Tiangongyuan", advocated "Gewuxue", and wanted to promote the development of natural science in the current era, which benefited the Ministry of Industry the most.Xia Houkun, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry in the capital, has a high degree of affection for him because of this, but it is a pity that Su Yan is busy with business trips and does not deal with him very much.

——If it is going to the Ministry of Industry to do infrastructure construction, Mr. Su is probably willing to do so.

However, the emperor asked him to go to the "Nanjing Ministry of Rites".

The Ministry of Rites is the department that Su Yan least likes to get involved in. It is full of old masters who pay attention to red tape.The Ministry of Rites is in charge of content, among which "scientific examinations" are better, and the selection of talents is of great significance, but in recent years, bachelors from the Imperial Academy are also responsible for the chief examiners.

Other fortune-telling ceremonies, entertaining foreign guests, feasting on meritorious officials... Su Yan is not interested at all.

The above mentioned is the Ministry of Rites of the capital.So what does the "Nanjing Ministry of Rites" do?

—that is to do nothing.

Yes, because the emperors of this dynasty seldom went to Nanjing, so there were not many ceremonial and sacrificial activities, and the Ministry of Rites in Nanjing was basically a vase.

This year's mausoleum sacrifice ceremony in Nanjing was presided over by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. For the Ministry of Rites in Nanjing, it is probably the highest standard they have ever experienced.

It is the dream of many salted fish officials to spend all day drinking tea and reading newspapers in the mansion, only receiving salary and not working!

However, our Lord Su is too young. He is a good young man with dreams, revenge, and passion. He doesn't want to be a salted fish in a vase.

Therefore, for him, this "Nanjing Ministry of Rites Zuo Shilang" is a third-rank official, but he is promoted and demoted secretly, which marginalizes him as a whole.

The courtiers in the court also saw this at once, and they all cast regretful and injustice eyes on him when they were friendly with him;

——Aren’t you the favorite minister of the emperor?Isn't it the imperial celebrity?What was the result, once he lost his Sacred Heart, he would go to Nanjing to retire in advance without an imperial decree.

Even if His Royal Highness treats you kindly, you can continue to hug your thighs when you go to Nanjing, but after the Winter Solstice Mausoleum Ceremony is completed, the Crown Prince will return to the capital.And you, Su Twelve, still have to stay in the Nanjing Nursing Home, it's best not to come back in this life!

A few officials with a sharp mouth and thick skin and deep hatred almost laughed out loud on the spot.For example, the doctor of the Ministry of Justice who overturned the boat of friendship because of a disagreement with his friend on the topic of "Is Su Yan a little bastard"—Master Zuo Guangbi Zuo.

By the way, Zuo Guangbi’s good friend in the past tense—Chuqiu Chu Lingchuan, the censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, is now an ironclad Soviet party, and has replaced the dismissed "Nongzhang Censor" (because he went to Lingguang Temple to ask for help. He got this nickname after being exposed by Su Yan for accepting bribes by throwing a big feast for the newborn) Jia Gongji was originally the right-handed governor and censor.

By the way, I would like to mention that Zuo Guangbi is now attached to Jiao Yang, the second assistant of the cabinet.

Jiao Yang has been staring at the position of the chief minister of the cabinet for many years, pointing to Li Chengfeng, an old man, to "beg for his bones" to return home quickly.However, Li Chengfeng suffered from a small stroke, and still occupied the position of Minister of the Ministry of Officials and Chief Assistant of the Cabinet. Lai was recuperating in the capital, probably because he felt that he had no successors, so he was worried about submitting his resignation.Emperor Jinglong was also generous and allowed him to ask for leave.

Hearing the faint laughter, Su Yan glanced sideways at Zuo Guangbi, and gave him a sharp look of "be careful to shoot you to death".

Although he was dismissed from the position of You Shaoqing in Dali Temple and demoted to Nanjing, his status as a censor is still there, like a shabby-looking amulet that is actually quite useful. point.

Zuo Guangbi closed his mouth, stopped smiling, and looked contemptuous.

Chu Qiu frowned in disgust at this ex-friend who had fallen into trouble, turned his head to look at Su Yan, and showed a gentlemanly comforting smile.

Su Yan smiled back at him like a peach blossom flowing water.

After the court was over, Su Yan planned to go back to the mansion to pack his bags, and set off the next day according to the requirements in the appointment document.As soon as he walked to the side of the square, he saw a servant coming out of the Wenzhao Pavilion next to him, chasing after him with small steps, and whispered to him: "Master Su, the emperor summoned you, the one on your left Wen Zhao Pavilion."

Su Yan was a little surprised.For some reason, he always felt that after leaving the imperial study, the emperor might not come to see him off again, but he didn't expect to summon him in such a hurry after the imperial court was over and no one had left the Meridian Gate.

In addition to accidents, there is more joy in my heart.He entered Wenzhao Pavilion with his servant, and saw the emperor standing by the window with his hands behind his back, waiting for him.The palace people in the palace seemed to have got their orders early and retreated completely.

"My lord..." Su Yan called out, feeling a little sour about the imminent parting, which could not be concealed from his tone.

After realizing it, he spurned his childish attitude, coughed quickly, and changed his tone of dignity: "My lord."

The emperor did not turn around, and turned his back to him and asked, "Are you acceptable?"

Su Yan was taken aback for a moment, and suddenly realized that he was talking about a new official position, so he replied: "Yes."

"Really? Not a little dissatisfied and annoyed?"

"Really. The emperor asked me to sit in this position. There must be considerations by the emperor. Every official position has its meaning. I can't pick and choose. I have to do what I do and love what I do."

His answer brightened the emperor's gloomy mood, almost a smile appeared from the corner of his mouth.

But that smile was fleeting, and the emperor said, "Come here."

Su Yan walked over, looked left and right to make sure that there was no one in the hall, and hugged the emperor's waist from behind: "Why are you so serious? This time I will see you off. I won't send Shang Fangjian or recite poems. Give me a smile anyway." .”

The emperor sighed vaguely, turned around and hugged him tightly.

It took a long time before he let go.The emperor lifted his face with his fingers, and said seriously: "I have something to entrust to you."

Su Yan also suppressed the affection in his eyes, and replied seriously: "But please tell me, I will do my best."

The emperor took out a kit from his pocket and put it in Su Yan's palm.

The brocade pouch was bigger than a palm, and the dark blue satin was embroidered with dense ring patterns, and its appearance was unremarkable.Su Yan weighed it, feeling that the weight was very light, and he didn't know what was in his bag.

The emperor said: "The inside has been treated with water release, keep it close to your body, and don't lose it."

"What is this kit...for?" Su Yan asked curiously.

The emperor said: "When you are desperate, take it apart."

"Desperate? When?"

"At that time, you will naturally know. Remember, you can only disassemble it when you are in a desperate situation, remember?"

Su Yan nodded, and solemnly promised: "Don't worry, the emperor, I will remember."

He carefully put the kit into his arms and put it close to the flesh.

"...My private seal, do you still carry it with you?" the emperor asked.

Su Yan smiled, and unbuttoned his clothes to show him the suet jade seal tied with a red string, hanging neatly on his chest.

The emperor lowered his head and couldn't help but kiss along the skin under the red rope. The last kiss landed on Su Yan's heart and stayed for a moment.

Stretching out his hands to close his clothes, the emperor said flatly, "Let's go. Let's set off today, don't wait until tomorrow."

After thinking about being free and easy, but this moment was so sad, Su Yan put his arms around the emperor's neck, sniffed and said, "I can't bear to...Jin Kui."

In the eyes of the emperor, there are profound colors and moist light, just like the surface of the sea at sunrise.He withdrew his fingers stroking Su Yan's eyebrows halfway, and said, "Retire, I won't see you off this time."

Su Yan forcibly suppressed the stagnation in his chest, bowed and cupped his hands: "Chen... let's go, the emperor takes care of the dragon's body." After saying that, he gritted his teeth and turned around, leaving Wen Zhao Pavilion without looking back.

He didn't go through the Meridian Gate, turned eastward, and went to Deyi Pavilion where Chen Shiyu lived, but he still didn't see anyone, and suspected that Dr. Chen was hiding from him.

Su Yan wanted to inquire about the emperor's condition but failed, so he had no choice but to leave the palace first, and ordered Su Xiaobei, who was standing by the carriage, to go back and pack his bags with Xiao Jing, and prepare for departure that day.

Afterwards, he took a package prepared in advance, rented a carriage from a dental shop, and rushed to visit Li Chengfeng, his teacher's mentor. On the one hand, he sent carefully selected medicinal materials to show his heart; Farewell, with full etiquette.

Li Chengfeng, the chief minister of the cabinet who once ruled the court, now half of his hands and feet are trembling, and he can't speak fluently.Su Yan leaned over to listen to him patiently, carefully distinguishing those vague words.

Li Chengfeng said: "The cabinet...Jiao Yang, Wang Qianhe...short-sighted, embarrassing. Although Yang Ting has righteousness...but he lacks tenderness. Xie Shiyan...is a clay sculpture. Don't worry...don't leave...I wanted to wait for you ...waiting for you...I'm afraid I can't wait..."

With wet eyes, Su Yan held his hand tightly and called out sincerely: "Master!"

"Master, don't worry, I will select the most suitable chief assistant to lead the cabinet." Su Yan tried his best to comfort him, "The disciples and grandchildren are still young, and they still need to experience, and there is no rush to prepare for the official career."

Li Chengfeng shook his head strenuously: "I have been afraid to hand in my resignation for so long... just because I'm afraid... after I become an official... some ministers in the cabinet will fight for power and mess up the court... You... come back early... Prince... ..."

The old man coughed violently, and his throat was full of phlegm.Su Yan stretched out his hand to pat him on the back, his heart filled with the sadness of the sunset.

"Master, don't worry. When I go to Nanjing, I will advise His Royal Highness to give up fun and personal affairs, and concentrate on studies and political affairs."

"Da Ming... seems to be blooming like a brocade, but there are still internal and external troubles, treacherous evil in the dark... The emperor can see clearly, but he may not be able to... kill the enemy without hurting himself... You have to persuade him... persuade him ...Love yourself so much..." Li Chengfeng's cough gradually stopped, and in his old but not cloudy eyes, there was a kind of enlightenment that was close to that of an eminent monk, "The era that belongs to the old man has passed, and the future-"

What would happen in the future, he couldn't say it, and slowly closed his eyes.

Su Yan hurried to take the old man's pulse, and found that the pulse was weak but steady, and he must have fallen asleep from exhaustion.

He let go of his heartstrings, and called the servants outside the house and the doctor to come in to take care of him, then he exited the busy main house and left the Shangshu Mansion.

Looking up at the sky, the late autumn sky in the capital is as clear as washing, and there are faint sounds of eagles passing by in the sky.Su Yan let out a long breath, couldn't help clenching his fists, and murmured: "——in the future!"