Chapter 440: Only when your own people use it can you feel comfortable

On a cold night, a cool breeze blew across the back of Duke Qiu's neck.

The old minister secretly shuddered in his heart, but he could only pretend to be happy with the emperor.

Xiahou Jie's mood brightened. Halfway through his game of chess, he looked up and surveyed his surroundings, seemingly casually saying, "Is Qiu Suan not at home?"

The old Duke coaxed the emperor with all sorts of talk for a long time, because he was worried that his son would be missed by the emperor before he returned home. Now that the emperor asked about it, he had to go back.

"In reply to Your Majesty, my son has been busy with official duties lately and often returns home late. I don't know where he was wandering today. If Your Majesty has anything to do with him, I will send someone to find him immediately."

Implicit in his words, Duke Qiu didn't know whether the servants in the mansion had found his son Qiu Suan.

Really!

The more you fear something, the more it will come to you.

On weekdays, when I work hard at home, I cannot make it in time to welcome the Holy Emperor.

Today I went out with my colleagues and had fun, and I ran into them red-handed.

The old Duke was worried about his son and secretly observed the expression of the Current Emperor. Xiahou Jie's expression was no longer the same as when he first entered the mansion.

However, Duke Qiu still did not dare to act recklessly and responded cautiously.

The restoration of the Qiu family today was a reward from the current Emperor Longqing. The emperor’s grace was so great that the Qiu family had to respond with caution.

He couldn't help but turn his head and look outside.

This damn son, why is there still no sign of him!

Xiahou Jie casually changed his posture. Although he asked Qiu Suan one more question, he had no intention of continuing to delve into the matter. This made Duke Qiu feel even more stressed.

I don't know how many times I cursed my son in my heart.

Emperor Longqing glanced up at him, picked up a chess piece with his fingertips, and placed it on the chessboard. "Don't worry, old Duke. Minister Qiu is probably in the land of comfort right now, and hasn't come back to his senses yet."

scare!

Duke Qiu secretly took a deep breath!

The fact that Emperor Longqing could blurt out these words must mean that he had a plan in mind before he came to the Qiu Mansion.

Now, such things happening in the capital cannot escape the eyes of the emperor.

Duke Qiu stood up and prostrated himself on the ground, resting his forehead on the backs of his folded hands. "I am ashamed of my poor parenting skills. Your Majesty, please punish me!"

"Please stand up, old Duke. This is just a small matter. Why should you worry about it?"

Xiahou Jie raised his hand to support him gently. Duke Qiu knew when to stop and thanked the emperor again before getting up and sitting down again.

The atmosphere between the emperor and his ministers suddenly became quiet and strange.

Xiahou Jie didn't say much, looking completely focused on playing chess.

Duke Qiu on the opposite side observed for a while and roughly figured out that the words that Emperor Longqing just "pointed out" were not meant to find fault with Qiu Suan, but just a "reminder" in an indirect way.

As long as it is something that the emperor wants to know, he will definitely know it.

The capital is not big, but the world is not small.

This invisible and subtle deterrence made Duke Qiu nervous for a moment and he dared not have any second thoughts.

Xiahou Jie glanced at him lightly, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, and the light in his eyes seemed very satisfied.

Sure enough, when I couldn't sleep at night, it was quite interesting to come out and see the various aspects of my ministers.

"Play chess, play chess." Xiahou Jie said with a faint smile.

It seemed as if he had no idea how much psychological pressure he had just put on the old minister.

In the warm chess room, Duke Qiu's sleepiness was scared away by Emperor Longqing!

The wind blew through the treetops. Wei Xi, the chief eunuch guarding the corridor outside the door, put his hands in his pockets and looked intently at the sky above the Qiu Mansion for a while.

Behind him was a conversation between the emperor and his ministers, which he could hear but pretend was deaf.

"The old Duke is both experienced in handling affairs and has the ability to judge people. I wonder if there is anyone who is suitable for the Imperial Observatory and who would catch the old Duke's eye?"

Emperor Longqing was really too polite in saying this.

Duke Qiu was so frightened that he dared not interfere in the affairs of the emperor and help him to meddle in such a big matter.

"Your Majesty, the position of Director of the Imperial Observatory is no small matter. Wang Yu may not be competent, but he has considerable talent. Your Majesty has suddenly asked me this, and I, at this moment, am at a loss to identify any individuals within the court who are qualified for this important position."

“But it’s not easy.”

Emperor Longqing said lightly.

Duke Qiu thought that the position seemed like a lucrative one in the past, but it was not the case now in the court. Even the former Supervisor Wang Yu nearly lost his life because he angered the emperor due to a moment of carelessness.

If the old wise king had not stepped in to save his life, who knows how serious the consequences would have been.

Others may not have as much face as Wang Yu to invite a noble person to come out of retirement.

Ever since the legendary god of the Xie family appeared in the sky above the ancestral hall on the day when the Duke of Huguo's mansion was ransacked, the current emperor's temperament has become unpredictable.

The emperor's thoughts, which were already difficult to understand, became even more puzzling and bizarre.

Duke Qiu recalled the rumors his son mentioned after returning home yesterday.

After the New Year, the emperor in the palace might have the idea of ​​holding a beauty contest.

After listening to what his son said, Duke Qiu did not think that there was anything wrong with the emperor selecting beauties. He was the emperor himself, and it was nothing more than selecting a few more beauties to fill the harem for his enjoyment. It was not worth the discussion among the court officials.

However, the expression on my son's face when he mentioned this was quite strange.

This made the old Duke secretly remember it in his heart.

Now, the emperor mentioned to him the issue of selecting the person to be the head of the Imperial Observatory. The Qiu family has received the emperor's grace and should help the emperor share his worries and solve his problems.

But Duke Qiu knew very well that with the Qiu family's current great favor, they could only bow down and follow the emperor's orders, and must not become complacent or self-righteous.

He guessed that Emperor Longqing was just "talking casually" in front of him tonight and was not asking for his opinion.

"Does the Emperor have a favorite candidate?"

Xiahou Jie shook his head, "I haven't thought about it yet."

Duke Qiu thought to himself, that was a close call!

It is right not to express an opinion. The emperor said "I haven't thought about it yet", not "I haven't thought about it yet."

In other words, the emperor already has a suitable candidate in mind.

Duke Qiu smiled and said, "Your Majesty is so powerful and wise, there will definitely be capable ministers to help you!"

Xiahou Jie raised his eyes and looked at Duke Qiu steadily for a long time.

The latter was very nervous.

"Your Majesty, what did I say that was wrong?"

Upon hearing this, Xiahou Jie suddenly laughed, lowered his head and made a move, his voice low and mixed with a hint of joy.

"You are worthy of being the Duke of Anguo of Daliang. Your sincere words are truly heartfelt to me."

Xiahou Jie was cheered up by Duke Qiu's words.

He has to be a minister that he can use, so that he can feel at ease and every word he says will be pleasing to his ears!

Unlike the old stubborn man in the Duke of Protectorate’s Mansion, who would only stare at the mistakes of the emperor every day when he opened his eyes, he really didn’t know whether the world still belonged to their Xiahou family!

Xiahou Jie was laughing heartily in the greenhouse.

Outside, the eunuch Wei Xitong reported: "Your Majesty, the Minister of Justice, Mr. Qiu, is outside requesting an audience!"

"Let him in."