The famous book tour starting from the Red House

Chapter 162 Wang An Calls for Help
His Majesty Dan Jiaofang of the Daqing Palace was playing rites and music. In the main hall, a large group of eunuchs and maids were busy setting up. In the hall, two tables were temporarily set up, covered with apricot-yellow satin tablecloths. On the other table, there is an imperial edict of "asking names", and beside it is a pile of gifts to the family of Cao Tai, the minister of rites.

Today is the period of "Adoption" and "Ask for Name". Mu Xu stood at His Highness early, surrounded by some ministers.About half an hour later, the Qin Tianjian was loudly announcing that the auspicious time had come. Immediately afterward, Tu Zhen, dressed neatly, made his grand entrance surrounded by eunuchs and guards, and stepped into the hall to take his seat amidst the sound of music.

All civil and military officials in the hall who are qualified to come to congratulate today, princes and ministers bowed and saluted, shouting long live.The Xuanzhi official held the edict in both hands, stood on the east side of the altar, announced the edict loudly, and appointed two angels, the chief and the deputy, to go to Mr. Cao's mansion to accept and ask for their names.

Mu Xu had already memorized these procedures last night, and besides, the Minister of Rites on the other side can follow the example, so there is nothing wrong.Following the imperial decree, Huang Mingguang, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, was appointed as the envoy of the Festival, and Mu Xu was the deputy envoy, holding the imperial edict, with guards of honor and drum music leading the way, starting from the Daqing Palace, opening the Meridian Gate, and a group of people went straight to Cao Mansion.

The head of the internal guard who is in charge of guarding the guard of honor is Wang An. Since the death of Emperor Jiading, Mu Xu has never seen him. Before, he thought that this guy had lost his power. He didn't want to show up again today, and he didn't know who left. way.Because Mu Xu shouldered a heavy responsibility, he just nodded to him from a distance, and did not have any in-depth communication.

When a group of people came to Cao's mansion, Cao Tai greeted the angel with a smile like a chrysanthemum, and welcomed everyone into the gate. He knelt down to accept the imperial decree, and handed in the "form" with his daughter's name, resume, birth date, etc. Zheng Angel, then hosted a banquet to entertain the emperor's envoys. As for the guard of honor, drums and guards, they could only squat in the courtyard and hold a large bowl with vegetables and rice to barely have a bite.

Seeing that everyone had already entered the table, Cao Tai toasted one by one with a wine glass. He only got acquainted with everyone in the etiquette department for a while, and then came to Mu Xu to greet him.He is also an old man who has been in the officialdom for many years, how can he not see the situation of the court, when he is young today, he doesn't like them veterans.Although my daughter will be the mother of a country in the future, there are many queens who have been neglected by the emperor since ancient times.

Cao Tai knew that if he wanted his daughter to be favored by the emperor, he would need the cooperation of the emperor's most trusted courtiers, and Mu Xu was the most suitable candidate, because he had a detached status, besides being a relative of the royal family, he also had a close relationship with the emperor.That's why Cao Tai was so nice to Mu Xu.

But Mu Xu turned a blind eye to his enthusiasm, because Wang An squeezed to sit beside him as soon as the banquet started, hesitant to speak several times, just like at this moment, looking at Cao Tai who was nagging, Wang An From time to time, he looked at him with resentful eyes, which made Cao Tai feel uncomfortable, thinking that the old eunuch had some bad habits.

Mu Xu who was at the side knew the expressions of the two of them clearly, and laughed secretly in his heart.Finally he couldn't bear it any longer, got up and apologized to everyone, and then asked Cao Taidao, "I don't know where is the place to wash hands in the mansion, I'm going to make it easier."

Cao Tai quickly called a servant to lead Mu Xu.Mu Xu went outside the hut and sent the servant away, and when he came out after urinating, he saw Wang An was already waiting outside.He deliberately asked, "Eunuch Wang also wants to clean his hands?"

Wang An grabbed Mu Xu's arm and said anxiously, "My lord, you have to help our family."

"Why did the prince say such a thing, with your dignity in the palace, why do you need my help?"

"My lord, it's time now, so please stop joking with me, Lao Wang. I really have no choice but to rely on my lord to help me now." Wang An begged.

Seeing him like this, Mu Xu also guessed about the reason, but he said first, "Let's talk in another place."

The two came to an empty courtyard in the front yard of Cao's house. Seeing that there was no one around, Mu Xu said, "If you have any difficulties, please tell me. I will listen attentively."

Wang An's original description of his situation was almost the same as what Mu Xu guessed, it was nothing more than an emperor and a courtier.Since the death of Emperor Jiading, the life of these close ministers has become more and more difficult. Now the close servants like Zhao Le who serve the current emperor are eyeing the positions occupied by these old people.

After listening to him, Mu Xu murmured, "Didn't Your Majesty still let the father-in-law continue to be the chief inspector? It can be seen that he still remembers the father-in-law's service to the late emperor. Why are you so worried?"

Wang An explained with a wry smile, "Your Majesty doesn't know something. We internal ministers are different from foreign ministers. All of our honor and favor come from His Majesty. Although His Majesty still misses the old love, anyone with discerning eyes in the palace can see that His Majesty's most trusted It’s still the former minister of the hidden mansion. Just like now, our family looks the same as before, but those eunuchs and maids would rather listen to the bastards like Zhao Le and Li Yan than mine, and they have already emptied our family. I'm sure I won't die well."

"Then how does the father-in-law want me to help you?"

As soon as Wang An heard that Mu Xu was willing to help, he quickly knelt down to salute, but was grabbed by Mu Xu, and he only heard him say, "What are you doing? I said it when I was in Yangzhou. Treat your father-in-law as a friend. Is this necessary?"

"Your Majesty, you are really a disgraceful old slave." Wang An was so moved that his nose burst into tears, and he seemed to be the first to promise himself, making Mu Xu disgusted enough.If he was a young woman, maybe Mu Xu would feel sorry for her, but when an old eunuch who was almost fifty made such an expression, Mu Xu only felt his eyes were hot.So he hurriedly urged, "Eunuch, time is running out, and we have to go back to the palace to revise the order later, so let's make a long story short."

Only then did Wang An say, "I know that if I continue to stay in the palace, I may end badly, so I would like to ask His Majesty to speak kindly to you, and it would be best if you can help me be transferred to the Yanke Division to accompany Liu Hong."

Mu Xu thought for a while, but shook his head and said, "This is just a temporary solution. Don't forget that the Salt Administration occupies the majority of the imperial court's tax revenue. His Majesty will definitely send cronies to take over in the future. Even if you go now, you will have to pay for it in the future." People make room."

Wang An thought about it for a while, and felt that what Mu Xu said was very reasonable, so he couldn't help but asked with a sad face, "Then what is your opinion, please advise?"

Mu Xu said confidently, "If I were my father-in-law, I would take the initiative to ask Your Majesty to be the guarding eunuch in the old capital of Jinling."

"This…"

Seeing Wang An's resignation, Mu Xu understood that he disliked the eunuch guarding Jinling for not having a good reputation, so he could only ask, "Eunuch, do you want to continue to be a powerful and powerful eunuch, or do you want to take care of yourself?"

Only then did Wang An come to his senses, yes, what he asked for was not much, and it would be fine if he could get away with all the money he had looted over the years. Wouldn't it be good to go to Jinling Tiangao Emperor Yuan?Having figured this out, he hurriedly thanked Mu Xu.

Mu Xu interrupted him and reminded in a low voice, "After you go, don't have any contact with the Zhen family."

"This prince can rest assured that our family has served the late Emperor for many years, and we know the Zhen family's affairs very well, so naturally we won't be so stupid as to get involved with his family."

"It's good that Eunuch understands. It can't be said that Eunuch will be worse in Jinling in the future than in the palace. Don't you forget what the Zhen family is in charge of?"

Hearing Mu Xu's words, Wang An's breathing became short of breath, "Your Majesty, you mean weaving in the south of the Yangtze River?"

Mu Xu nodded, "Jiangnan Weaving originally belonged to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It was only because the Supreme Emperor trusted the Zhen family that it was managed by his family. If his family collapsed, then... I don't think I need to continue talking?"

Wang An rubbed his hands, grinning so much that his mouth reached his ears, nodded and bowed his head, "Thank you, my son, for your advice. I will go through fire and water in the future, and I will not hesitate to do so."

"Among our friends, what are you talking about! Let's go back quickly. After disappearing for so long, others should be suspicious."

The two returned to the table one after the other, and continued to exchange glasses with everyone.

(End of this chapter)