Chapter 51: Why can't I release it first? ...

Yunsheng was delighted, his eyes sparkling. "Aunt, the Ministry of Personnel has sent someone to ask you to go get your official credentials."

Zhao Changning paused, stunned for a rare moment, and asked again, "What?"

Yunsheng repeated, "...Aunt, let's go quickly. Your position is more difficult than those two female officials. Don't delay."

Zhao Changning's footsteps suddenly quickened, and his heart felt like it was about to jump out of his chest.

She didn't expect that this would happen like this. She thought about using threats and bribes, and even murder and arson. Although she hadn't done it yet, she had really thought about it.

It seems that the elders have finally faced reality and know that they cannot defeat the emperor no matter what, and they cannot use laws, principles or human feelings to restrain the emperor. He is no longer the insignificant Fourteenth Prince.

"Should I go back and change my clothes?" She stopped again, suppressed the nervousness in her heart, turned her head and asked Yunsheng.

Yunsheng looked at his aunt's half-new coat and scratched his head. "Aunt, whether I change it or not, it's still yours. What's the big deal?"

Zhao Changning was stunned, then suddenly laughed.

The offices of the six ministries were all located inside the Meridian Gate, not far from the Wenhua Hall. The Ministry of Personnel was just one of them, and the Minister of Personnel was Gao Yun, the chief minister of the cabinet.

She hesitated for a moment, thinking that the money she had on her didn't seem to be enough, so she turned around and asked, "Do you have any banknotes on you?"

Yunsheng nodded quickly and took out all the banknotes in his arms, "Aunt, if it's not enough, I'll go back and ask Xiaoshun for more."

Zhao Changning took the banknotes and looked at them, frowning, "Aren't you tired of carrying so many banknotes on you every day?"

I only gave him that much, but he actually carried it all with him every day?

Yunsheng's face immediately turned red, and he said awkwardly: "I, I'm just afraid of losing it."

Zhao Changning shook his head, took out only part of it, and returned the rest to him. "Leave it with Xiaoshun from now on. Just ask for as much as you need. Although she loves money, she can be trusted."

Yunsheng nodded and urged, "Aunt, let's go quickly."

Zhao Changning had no idea what the situation would be like today, so he could only tell Yunsheng, "No matter what happens, don't interfere. Understand?"

"I understand, auntie, I won't do anything bad." Yunsheng said obediently.

As we walked along, there were piles of snow everywhere, long icicles hung under the eaves, and the cold wind whistled as it passed through the palaces.

Finally, they entered the place where the Ministry of Personnel was located. Since it was the first time for both of them, they were inevitably a little confused. They saw that every room was hung with felt carpets, the doors and windows were closed, and the roofs were all covered with the same white snow. There were no signs outside, and they felt dizzy and had no idea where to get the official certificate.

Zhao Changning looked at the people coming and going and stopped a man in a green official uniform. "Sir, may I ask where the official credentials are?"

The man walked hurriedly, holding a large stack of books in his arms, and pointed impatiently, "Go ask the person in charge."

Zhao Changning had his hand on the banknote, but he let it go after hearing what he said. He simply said, "Thank you."

She went to the room and knocked on the door but no one answered, so she pushed it open and saw two seventh-rank officials wearing green official uniforms with egret patches embroidered on their chests. They were not sitting at the table working, but were roasting chestnuts around the stove.

Zhao Changning sniffed the aroma of chestnuts in the air and thought to himself, if they don't even open the shop to do work just to roast chestnuts, isn't this job a bit too easy?

Probably because they didn't expect someone to push the door open, the four pairs of eyes met, all of them stunned.

Zhao Changning saw the obvious displeasure in the two men's eyes, so he knelt and saluted, "My two masters, is this the place where you can get your official credentials?"

One of them frowned and shouted, "Where are you from? You have to come in person to get the official certificate, don't you understand?"

Zhao Changning smiled and said, "Yes, I'm here to collect my official certificate."

The other person finally reacted and pulled the man back, looking him up and down with suspicion and an unfriendly look.

"Then, you must be Zhao Changning, the Emperor's newly appointed Imperial Secretary?"

Zhao Changning sensed his disdain and sarcasm, but ignored it. She simply nodded and said, "Your Excellency is correct. I am the Emperor's newly appointed Imperial Secretary. I've come here today to receive my official credentials."

The two men looked at each other, raised their eyebrows, put on a smile, and bowed to Zhao Changning in a sarcastic manner.

"Oh, we are so blind that we didn't recognize the recently famous Nv Shu Ling. I heard that you served the emperor and were highly regarded by him, and you were suddenly promoted to a high position. We, who graduated from the Imperial College, have been here for so many years and are only ranked seventh. I wonder how Nv Shu Ling suddenly became an official and even jumped to the sixth rank?"

The two of them spoke and acted so frivolously that not only Zhao Changning but even Yunsheng couldn't stand it anymore.

"Since you know that my aunt is a sixth-rank official, what are you doing? Are you also mocking others who come to receive their official certificates?"

The man grinned, "Since you're going to be an official, you'll be colleagues in the future. What's wrong with colleagues asking questions and learning from each other? You don't allow people to ask questions, so is your position illegitimate?"

"Please don't blame me, Nv Shu Ling. Colleagues should be friendly and respectful to each other, but occasionally chatting and laughing is harmless, harmless, hahahaha..."

Each of them spoke a few words, especially the frivolous one, who laughed from time to time to express his dissatisfaction and sarcasm.

Yunsheng was not stupid. The obvious mockery from the two people made him feel more upset than if they had scolded him. He was so angry that he wanted to hit them, but his aunt stopped him with a glance. He then remembered that his aunt had warned him before he came.

Zhao Changning listened to these words with a calm expression, without a single ripple in his heart.

She became more and more confident. If these people did what she did, they would probably not be able to survive for a day. In the time of the previous emperor, they might have been chopped into pieces and fed to dogs, but she had held on for so many years.

From this we can see that there is not much difference between being an official and being a palace maid. It is not difficult or great.

These two people are extremely stupid. They may only be ranked as seventh-rank officials in their entire lives. As for her, she feels at ease with her sixth-rank official position.

"May I know this gentleman's name?"

The man said proudly, "My name is Cen Chun, and I'm an official in the Seal Verification Department of the Ministry of Personnel."

"I'll remember that, Master Cen." Zhao Changning raised his eyes and looked directly at the two of them. He said calmly, "Why don't you two come with me to ask the Emperor whether I've earned this position properly?"

The two men stopped laughing immediately and looked at each other. They were just seventh-rank officials, how could they be qualified to enter the palace and meet the emperor?

"No, no, we thank Nvshu Ling for her kindness, but that's not necessary."

Zhao Changning refused to let go. "Don't worry, you two. We're colleagues, so we have camaraderie. If you have any questions, I'll take you to the palace to see the emperor and have them answered. This will save you from sitting in this room forever, never to see the emperor. Wouldn't that be a shame?"

The two men looked nervous. They only dared to say these things in private. If the emperor really heard them, they would be in trouble.

The man forced a smile and said, "Nu Shu Ling, this is not the place to ask for official credentials."

Yunsheng couldn't help himself and blurted out, "Isn't this the place to get your official certificate? Then why are you all complaining so much? Can you afford to delay my aunt from serving the emperor?"

The two men were both furious and angry at the young eunuch's yelling, but they could only endure it. Then they asked Zhao Changning to go and get the official certificate.

After Zhao Changning walked away, the two men's eyes were filled with anger and unwillingness, and they spat on the ground at the same time.

Yunsheng walked to the corner and looked around like a thief. Seeing that there was no one around, he looked back and spat.

Zhao Changning found it amusing. "This is just one time. Don't do it again. If someone sees you, you'll inevitably get into trouble."

Yunsheng lowered his head and said, "Yes, auntie, I remember it."

Zhao Changning originally thought that after enduring the ridicule, she would be able to obtain the official certificate, but she did not expect that these people would be so hateful and play her around.

She went from one room to another and met a bunch of managers and clerks, but no one could make a decision. They all kept making excuses and looked her up and down as if she were some strange thing.

Zhao Changning was not unaware of the underlying rules. It was human nature to occasionally suffer losses or be fooled. After all, there were legitimate reasons for it and it would not be reported to the higher authorities.

I just didn't expect that it was so difficult to move from the harem to the position of seal holder, and now I have to go through it again in officialdom, which is bound to make people feel disgusted.

Her face was tense, and she coldly addressed the chattering clerk opposite her, "Prime Minister Gao Yun, is he also serving as an official in the Ministry of Personnel? If you can't make the decision, I'll go find him. As for the complicated and delayed work at the Ministry of Personnel today, I'll report everything to the Emperor."

Suddenly, the people standing in the snow were speechless. Many of them began to shrink their heads, but some were not afraid at all and looked at Zhao Changning with disdain.

It seemed as if he was certain that she couldn't take away the official certificate.

Zhao Changning has been treated with disrespect by few people now. He has been treated like a monkey for so long just to get an official certificate. He is filled with rage and wants to chop these idiots to pieces with a knife.

She looked at these people's faces carefully and calmly so that she could identify them in the future. She had an obvious shortcoming, which was that she held grudges.

She simply left the six departments and headed straight for the Wenhua Palace.

If I remember correctly, it happened to be Prime Minister Gao who was here today. He was also an official from the Ministry of Personnel. Zhao Changning didn't believe that this old man didn't know about what happened today.

Unfortunately, she was not delivering a memorial today, so the person on duty would not let her in, saying that Gao Yun was not there.

Zhao Changning was so angry that he had no place to vent his anger. His blood was boiling and he was not afraid of the cold. He stood in front of the Wenhua Hall for a long time, looking inside with a cold gaze.

She knew that the old man must be inside.

Of course Gao Yun was inside. There was even an official certificate on his desk with all the details about Zhao Changning written on it and stamped with the seal of the Ministry of Personnel. As long as it was delivered to the person and the cabinet issued an imperial edict, the official position would be set in stone.

He watched silently, knowing that Zhao Changning was outside, but he was reluctant to get up.

No one, whether it was him or the officials of Dayong, wanted to see such a scene. How could they face the students who had studied hard for ten or twenty years?

As the Prime Minister, he couldn't control many people. Take the last time repairing the river bank for example. He actually didn't participate in it at all. It was his subordinates who racked their brains to study and caused that situation, but he still had to bear the responsibility.

But he has to bear the burden of so many students, old friends, relatives and friends. If he can't hold on, what will be waiting for him? He sighed deeply.

Now the emperor seems to be hostile to these old ministers. If they do not retreat today, no one can guess what the emperor will do. The bird gun pointed at them is an example.

Actually, if she was just a female secretary in front of the emperor, it wouldn't be a problem. The cabinet is still the cabinet after all, and the emperor can't do without her...

Gao Yun thought about it and felt that if he took a step back, he would have a broader view. After all, the emperor just wanted to get rid of the cabinet and was determined to lose face for the cabinet. What use would it be to have a female official and a female scribe in front of the emperor?

He still got up.

Unfortunately, Zhao Changning is gone.

Gao Yun sighed, called someone over, and ordered, "Send this to the Ministry of Personnel and give it to them."

On the way, Yunsheng kept cursing, "...Aunt, when you see the emperor, you must tell him everything. These officials are not good at doing their jobs. They are so hateful..."

Zhao Changning shook her head. It is better to lend a helping hand than to dig a trap for others. If she opens her mouth today, she will never be able to stay in it in the future.

She has to fit in eventually, and fighting alone is not an option.

Returning to the Qinzheng Hall, Zhao Changning sorted out his thoughts and appearance, took the teacup from Anzhong's hand, and went into the main hall to serve.

The emperor was painting at this time and seemed to be in a good mood. He only saw Zhao Changning after he put pen to paper.

"I remember that you should have gone to the Ministry of Personnel to get your official certificate today." He blew gently on the drawing paper and said in a calm tone, "Why? Didn't you get it?"

Zhao Changning put down the lacquer tray, knelt down and kowtowed, "Changning is useless."

The emperor wasn't surprised and chuckled. "Changning, the position of Nüshuling is dispensable, but I insisted on giving it to you despite all the scolding. Do you know why?"

Zhao Changning knew why, but he just shook his head. "Changning, please enlighten me, Your Majesty."

The emperor picked up the wolf-hair brush and added two more strokes. He said slowly, "You are extremely intelligent. You are always by my side. You know everything. You should know everything. But if you can't even get the official certificate, I don't know whether I should give you this position. Those old foxes in the cabinet... Humph, Changning, I need help. It's not good to be too weak. There are so many people. I only trust you. Don't let me down."

Zhao Changning didn't expect the emperor to speak so bluntly. He bowed deeply and said in a resounding voice, "Changning will do his best."

The emperor just happened to put down the last stroke and showed a satisfied look.

Zhao Changning knew very well that she had no way out. She also knew what the emperor wanted to do. If she wanted to be rich and powerful, she had to keep up.

She had thought it through clearly a long time ago. She liked power and status, as well as money to enjoy herself. For these, she would do anything.

The sixth-rank female secretary is within her reach, so what is there for her to hesitate about?

Zhao Changning first went to Kunning Palace to ask for leave, and then asked Anyi to take the badge that allowed him to leave the palace temporarily and went straight out of the palace.

Anyi was puzzled, "Aunt, what are you going to do today?"

Zhao Changning's eyes were as cold as ice. "Harming people."

Anyi stopped talking and looked serious. "Aunt, is it necessary? After that, I, I..."

Zhao Changning didn't understand his stammering words at first, but she was so smart that she couldn't help laughing.

"Do you think I'm asking you to trade your life for another's?"

She sneered and said, "I'm not Hu Gou'er. I won't do such a thing. Anyi, follow me and keep your heart in your stomach."

Anyi breathed a sigh of relief.

At some point, snow started falling again, flakes of snow floating freely, landing on roofs, rivers, roadsides, dead branches, and everywhere.

The city of Yujing was covered in silver, and the world was filled with a solemn and desolate atmosphere. A few bare trees on the roadside stood tall in the cold wind, waiting for the coming spring.

Zhao Changning first went back to Shuier Lane and spent a long time in the cellar. When he saw that it was almost time, he came out of the cellar.

Seeing her in such a mess, Granny Xu rushed forward and slapped her.

"I just stuffed a lot of jars in there the other day, and some dust has fallen on it. What do you want? I'll help you find it. Look at your nice clothes, they're all dirty..."

Zhao Changning smiled and said, "That's all right, Grandma Xu. Make more spicy cabbage and beetroot to fill up the cellar. I love them."

Granny Xu was very happy. "Don't worry, I'll buy more tomorrow. I guarantee there will be enough for you all."

Zhao Changning didn't have time to care about who the "you" that Grandma Xu was talking about were. She was now completely satisfied with her official credentials. She took Anyi with her, got on a rented carriage, and headed straight for another street.

She sat in the carriage, thinking that she still had to have her own carriage, otherwise it would be inconvenient and unsafe.

At this moment, the pedestrians on the street have all returned home, the shops have closed, and instead, thousands of lights are lit in the rows and layers of residential houses.

There were laughter and joy in every household, smoke rising from the chimneys, and the aroma of food filled the air. But soon everything became quiet again, the lights were turned off, and it was time to go to bed.

Ordinary people have ordinary, monotonous lives.

The sedan chair was carried from the beginning to the end of the street, and the bearers took the money and left.

Cen Chun staggered and knocked on the door, but as soon as his hand touched it, his own door opened.

"Eh." He cried out in surprise, not even seeing who it was. He muttered, "You damn bitch, are you trying to scare me to death?"

When Anyi heard him cursing his aunt without any knowledge, he was so angry that he slapped him into the yard and closed the gate with his foot.

Cen Chun shouted angrily, "Are you going to die? What are you doing?"

Zhao Changning lifted his hood. His hands and feet were cold and his expression was not good because he had been waiting for too long.

"Master Cen is back from Zhenweilou? A trip there costs no less than five taels of gold. Master Cen must be very rich."

Cen Chun heard something strange in the voice. She opened her eyes and thought she was dizzy. She stammered, "You, you, you are Zhao Changning, the Imperial Secretary?"

Zhao Changning pursed his lips and chuckled softly, but his voice was as cold as snow on the eaves. "Yes, I am Zhao Changning, but I am not a female secretary yet because I don't have the official certificate."

Cen Chun came out of the Ministry of Personnel and looked at the tall and strong Anyi standing beside him. At this moment, he was not as tough as he was during the day.

"You, why are you looking for me? I'm not the one who issued you the official certificate."

Zhao Changning fetched a bench from the courtyard, sat down, and said gently, "It's alright, Master Cen. I really wanted that official certificate, but after what happened this day, I don't want to take it myself."

Cen Chun's hands and feet were shaking. He was tough during the day because his colleagues were there, and because that was the Ministry of Personnel, and they had played tricks on new officials like this before.

But now, facing this woman, he realized that serving the emperor was not easy. Her cold face was even more frightening than that of the superior, and it made his heart jump out of his chest.

He regretted it in his heart, "Nu Shu Ling, I was blind during the day. I am sorry for that. I was wrong."

Zhao Changning frowned, her eyes full of disgust. How could she be so spineless? She was just a woman, how could she be so scared?

She sighed, "No, Master Cen, I'm not here to hear you admit your mistakes today."

Cen Chun trembled, "Then you, then what are you doing here?"

Zhao Changning shrugged casually, leaned back in his chair, and said with a relaxed expression, "I'm here to take your life."

Her tone was so relaxed, as if she was discussing the weather.

Cen Chun fell to the ground with a thud, his legs weakening. However, he was still an official from the Ministry of Personnel, not an ordinary citizen, so he still said stubbornly, "You, you can't. I'm an official appointed by the court. How dare you?"

He pointed at Zhao Changning and said, "I know, you can't become the female secretary. I said that the official in the Ministry of Personnel is Gao Ge Lao, the chief minister of the cabinet. How can a mere maid like you surpass him? Impossible..."

Zhao Changning sneered and did not answer him, but suddenly talked about something else.

"In the fiftieth year of the Yong'an reign, the eldest son of a noble family inexplicably inherited the title; in the forty-eighth year of the Yong'an reign, a prefectural official in Fujian inexplicably rose from second-rate to first-rate in performance appraisals; in the forty-fifth year of the Yong'an reign, an official in a certain place was promoted, but his financial calculations were inexplicably blocked; in the forty-fourth year of the Yong'an reign, a certain thousand-householder unexpectedly inherited the title to a concubine's son, leaving the wife with nowhere to turn..."

"You, what are you talking about?" Cen Chun was strong and calm. "I don't understand what you are saying."

Zhao Changning stood up with a smile. "How could I not understand? The Seal Verification Office is in charge of matters such as official titles, inheritance, commendations, and official accounts. Everything I mentioned was just your signature and seal verification, Lord Cen. You must have received a lot of money, right? What's wrong? Do you have a bad memory and forgot?"

Cen Chun's eyes were about to burst. "I don't understand what you are saying. Do you know what crime you are committing by slandering court officials?"

Zhao Changning laughed heartily. "Slander? I don't know. I only know that a small official like you couldn't possibly do this, but those people behind the scenes can't do without you either. Do you think those people will protect you if these scandals are exposed? Or will they simply give up on you? I remember the Dayong laws clearly outline that your property will be confiscated and your head will be beheaded. Your descendants will be enslaved for five generations. Lord Cen, you graduated from the Imperial College and are the most talented. Tell me, am I wrong?"

Cen Chun's upper and lower teeth kept chattering, not because she was afraid because she knew the truth, but because she was someone close to the emperor. Such things were secretive and no one would know about them. How did this woman know?

"You, you, what do you want to do? You won't do this. Even if those people want to kill you, it's not impossible..."

He suddenly seemed to come to his senses. "You can't do this. You're a woman, it's already difficult. You absolutely can't do this. You'll kill many people. You can't..."

Zhao Changning said coldly, "How many people died? What does it have to do with me?"

Cen Chun was panting non-stop, no longer looking drunk. He kept swallowing, "No, why do you have to be an official? Serving the Emperor is an honor, why do you have to come to the former court to stir up trouble? The officialdom is not what you think."

Zhao Changning countered, "Why shouldn't I? Officialdom, in my opinion, is just like this. I don't consider myself a troublemaker. I've been diligent and relentless since I began serving the late emperor. While you and your colleagues were drinking in the brothel, I was diligently studying the Great Yong Code. While you were enjoying family happiness with your wife and children, I was studying every single person. While you were enjoying yourself with prostitutes, I was familiarizing myself with everything about officials and their staff. To survive, I dare not waste even a single moment of my life. I'm more useful than you, the useless people who only know how to get by. If even you can become a seventh-rank official, why can't I become a sixth-rank female secretary?"

Why can't she be an official? How does it hinder these men?

Cen Chun opened his mouth and stared blankly at Zhao Changning. In the dark snowy night, the white snow reflected his speechless face, and he couldn't utter a word for a long time.

Zhao Changning glanced at Anyi, took the porcelain bottle from his hand and handed it to Cen Chun.

"Master Cen, I am very considerate. The poison here will only torture you for a short time. However, you can choose to ignore it. You can seek help. You can go to anyone you can find. Is there anyone in Manyujing who can save you?"

She changed the subject, her face full of tenderness, "But if you die, I will be safe and sound, and I will spare your wife, children, and your people."

Cen Chun couldn't understand why they were looking for him, and why they wanted him dead?

His voice still trembling, he asked, "Why?"

Zhao Changning sneered coldly and did not answer his stupid question.

Ever since Anyi got on the carriage, he had been silent since he saw his aunt had her eyes closed, but he couldn't help but speak in the end.

"Auntie, can he drink?"

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