first minister

Chapter 197 Ultimate Move Accumulation

Gongsun Jing left suspiciously.

Xia Jingyun and Su Yuanshang sat opposite each other in front of a chessboard.

Su Yuanshang said softly: "We guessed right, but we don't seem to feel joy in our hearts."

Xia Jingyun twisted a chess piece and rubbed it with his fingertips, "I walked the roads of Sishui Prefecture and Yunmeng Prefecture, and saw the sufferings of the people. I actually had some guesses about the imperial court and His Majesty, but I still didn't want to believe it or face it. When I came to the capital, I saw it with my own eyes and reached a tacit understanding in secret. I deeply know how terrifying this person is, and how proficient in power and tactics. However, he is so indifferent to this world and these common people. There was no response at all to the will."

He looked at Su Yuanshang with burning eyes and sincere words, "Actually, I would rather guess wrong in this game and lose the bet."

Su Yuanshang smiled wryly and shook his head, "Who isn't!"

He also stroked a black chess piece, "If it weren't for this, how could the country's affairs have taken a turn for the worse in more than ten years, and the faint trend of revival came to an abrupt end. Outside of Zhongjing, there is already a chaotic scene at the end of the dynasty."

Xia Jingyun placed a piece on the chessboard and said softly, "Then let's work harder."

Su Yuanshang gently put down the chess pieces, nodded and said, "Well, there are always people who have to do something."
-
"Everyone in the family rewards five taels of silver!"

"Let the kitchen cook a few tables of delicious dishes tonight, and all the servants in the mansion will have a good meal!"

In Shifu, Mrs. Shi, the mistress of the house, gave instructions happily, she didn't see any sadness of being deprived of her mandate, let alone her husband's jealousy when she heard about her husband's private storage.

At this point in marriage, for both parties, it is just a cooperation where each gets what he needs.

In the study room, the staff members cupped their hands and congratulated the master for his safe passage.

Shi Dingzhong put down the pen to write the letter, and relaxed with fear on his face, "The old man has been in politics for decades, this time is really dangerous!"

The staff immediately relieved, "No matter what, the proprietor is a blessing in disguise this time. He not only found out where His Majesty's bottom line lies, but also eliminated these biggest hidden dangers. In the future, no one can use this as an article to criticize the proprietor."

When Shi Dingzhong was said so, he was really happy.

He looked at the other party with satisfaction. Although this staff member's ability to hit the nail on the head was a bit weak, he could really speak to his heart. He thought in a daze that maybe this was the reason why His Majesty spared him.

It had to be the Duke of England, and in a few words, he pointed out the direction for himself, and it reached His Majesty's heart.

As he put the ink-dried paper into an envelope, he asked, "Where did you go?"

"The subordinates don't know, but as soon as the central government's decree came out today, the prince rode out and ran out without knowing where he was going."

"This child, at this age, still doesn't know the rules!"

Shi Dingzhong said something displeased, and as soon as he finished speaking, Shi Zijun opened the door and walked in, greeting him.

"Where have you been?"

"Today, the father was overjoyed, and the child was also excited, so he went outside the city to indulge himself."

Shi Dingzhong frowned, "No one was killed, right?"

Shi Zijun paused, then smiled, but didn't speak.

"Weifu has just passed through this calamity, and you are causing trouble again!" Shi Dingzhong said angrily, pointing at him, "Nizi, are you going to kill Weifu before you stop!"

"Your Majesty didn't care about so many things before, so how could you pay attention to such a small matter."

Shi Zijun smiled disapprovingly, "Father spent 5 taels of silver to buy a peace, and we will spend it later. It's not like our Shi family can't afford such a small amount of money!"

Shi Dingzhong was startled, and flicked his sleeves, but he was unable to refute.
-
"My lord, a letter from Mr. Shi from the Ministry of Rites!"

The staff of the British government sent a secret letter to British Duke Lu Rusong.

Lu Rusong looked up and threw it into the brazier.

Flames shot up suddenly, like the soaring ambition in his heart at the moment.

"Another important minister of the Six Departments has been solved, God help me! Great things can be expected, great things can be expected! Haha!"
-
In a private room of an ordinary restaurant, several young officials gathered together.

The delicious dishes were quickly brought out, but everyone sat silently, no one moved their chopsticks.

"Don't drink! If you drink again, you will be drunk!"

A man stopped the companion next to him who kept drinking, took his glass away, and tried to persuade him.

"It doesn't matter if I'm drunk! At least in my dreams, I can still have dreams that I believe are real!"

These words made the person who was persuading just now depressed, so he picked up the cup, poured himself a cup, and drank it with his neck back.

"Abduction of women, rape and murder, seven lives, with all the witnesses and evidence, His Majesty let it go so lightly."

"It's inappropriate to raise servants, Shi Shangshu really knows how to find a reason!"

"No matter how he finds a reason to ignore it, the key is His Majesty's true faith!"

"But what's more important is that the center didn't raise any objections to this kind of disposal, and just let this decree pass!"

They spoke, their suppressed tones filled with grief and pain.

They are all newly promoted officials in the last two imperial examinations, and the oldest one has been an official for only six or seven years. It is the time when they are full of ambitions and full of confidence.

But this fact was laid bare in front of them, brutally impacting their long-held beliefs.

It turns out that fairness and justice can be played like this.

It turns out that the background and base of power can be so dirty.

It turns out that even His Majesty just talked about the creed and bottom line they have always adhered to, and never took it seriously.

In the small private room, overwhelming disappointment and anger were suppressed.

And in this vast city of Zhongjing, there are countless private rooms like this tonight.

But in an imperial palace in Beicheng, the imperial power is like the largest everlasting mountain in the world, calm and majestic, suppressing all words and dissatisfaction.

But although the surface of the water is still, the flow below is already deep.
-
The days passed by seemingly peacefully. On the sixth day of the first lunar month, the aftertaste of the New Year's Day is still strong.

Although the officials of the Yamen have resumed work, there are still a large number of relatives of officials in the capital idle.

Not to mention another extremely large group, the royal relatives and honorable groups.

A group of guards with big waists and thick arms separated a circle from the bustling crowd, and several noble ladies walked with a smile on their face.

"I haven't come out for some days, and I have to watch the fireworks more, so that it feels like days!"

"Isn't it? The common people in this street must also hope that the princess will have more fun with the people!"

"Why do you feel that there are a lot more people on this street? Could it be that they came to see you when they heard that the concubine is coming and the year is over?"

"What kind of nonsense is this? What's so good about an old woman in this palace alone."

"Your Majesty, this is too modest. You look young with such a good face, much better-looking than the most beautiful oiran in Liuyun Tianxiang Pavilion!"

Cheng Wangfei, who was held in the middle by a group of noble ladies like stars and moons, slowly suppressed her smile when she heard this, and said lightly: "Let's go, go ahead and have a look."

Only then did the woman come to her senses, wishing she could slap herself a few times on the spot, she was so dazed, she compared Cheng Wangfei with that humble courtesan!
Earlier, a group of talking and laughing women passed her calmly, and followed Princess Cheng with a smile.

"Your Majesty, there is Shishiji in front of it, and it is the most outstanding jewelry store in Beijing right now, why don't we go in and have a look?"

Princess Cheng looked up at the shop that exudes endless luxury just by looking at the plaque, and said with a smile: "I know this shop, and Sheng'er would give my filial piety to me on weekdays. The things of their house are really good."

Amid the compliments of "The son is really filial, the empress is really blessed", everyone walked in.

Seeing the battle, the shopkeeper immediately knew that a distinguished guest was coming, and went out to greet them personally, leading everyone to the second floor.

There are also a lot of jewels and jade on the second floor, and the grade is much higher than that on the first floor. There are also private rooms for those nobles who don't want to walk to choose things by themselves, and they will bring things over in person.

Since Princess Cheng and her party were out for a stroll, they didn't rest, they walked and watched with interest, while the shopkeeper personally waited aside and introduced in a low voice.

At this moment, there was a noise from the other side of the second floor.

"I spent so much money and trusted you Shitouji, you fucking sold me rocks! Come and see, this Shitouji sells fakes!"

A man in expensive clothes shouted angrily.

The shopkeeper saw that this end was full of big customers and big business, and they couldn't be messed up, so he quickly charged a crime and went there in person.

"Guest officer, our stone record has been in Beijing for many years, and we will never sell fakes. Where did you say that!"

The man got angry, his voice was louder, and he took out a bill, "Never sell fakes? You mean that people who can buy jewelry for 8000 taels will frame you?"

"Guest officer, that's not what you mean!" The shopkeeper hurriedly reassured him. He glanced at the inventory and found that it was indeed sold by his own house a few days ago. Then he glanced at the ladies not far away and said in a low voice, "Guest officer, why don't you sit over there for a while, and I will handle it for you later, how about it?"

"There is nothing to deal with, lose money! If you fake it, you will pay ten! 8 taels!"

As soon as the man opened his mouth, the shopkeeper squinted his eyes and instantly understood that he had encountered a ruthless person. He said in a low voice: "Brother, did you not think twice about going to Shitouji to play this game? You don't know who is behind Shitouji, do you?"

"Scare me?" The man sneered, and said loudly without hesitation: "So what if you belong to the Shi family? I am not afraid of the Shi family! What? Do you think that in this capital city, Shi Dingzhong, a minister of the Ministry of Rites, can cover the sky with one hand?"

(End of this chapter)