Chapter 21: Medical Parole
Ji Yanli had just passed the imperial examination and had no real power. Although he wanted to help others, he could not find a good opportunity to speak.
Hearing that King Xuanming seemed to be offering help in his words, he did not dare to interrupt, for fear that the envoy would wake up.
After hearing Su Shengsheng say that Old Master Su was ill, I realized that she had taken such a risk out of helplessness...
"I hope you will show mercy and exempt my grandfather from the heavy labor. The Su family is willing to bear the lost wages, just to allow my grandfather to be released on medical parole and enjoy his old age." Su Shengsheng spoke sincerely.
Upon hearing this, Fang Sishi's list of listless laborers lit up instantly. "You're saying that people can be on the hard labor list just to ask not to work?"
Seeing that this man didn't even want to be an official, Su Shengsheng could only settle for the next best thing. "Grandfather is nearly 70 years old, and it's really hard for him to endure the hardship in the mines."
"This..." Fang Si Shi twirled his beard and pondered, "This is not a bad idea..."
Before he finished speaking, he quietly observed Xie Xuan's reaction.
Seeing that Xie Xuan did not express any objection, he had a plan in mind.
"The Emperor's grace is immense. Since Old Master Su is under my jurisdiction, I shall follow the Emperor's benevolence and grant him a chance to live. Now that Old Master Su is seriously ill, I will grant him medical parole."
Although Su Shengsheng was still a little unwilling, she also understood that this was the best result at the moment.
Envoy Fang was just breathing a sigh of relief to keep his official hat, but unexpectedly he heard Su Shengsheng say, "Most of the men in the Su family are weak and frail. I am willing to offer two hundred thousand coins to compensate them for their hard labor."
"You woman, how dare you go so far!" Fang Sishi's face darkened and he was furious.
"Do you think the imperial court is a place for children to play with, where you can buy and sell as you please?"
Su Shengsheng knew that her request was too high, but she had never intended to do so.
After all, if all the members of the Su family were dismissed as soon as they arrived at the place, it would be too disrespectful to the emperor.
So, she pretended to be a woman who was fussy and said, "Isn't this because the official's promise has been discounted? I said I would give another 200,000 yuan..."
Fang Sishi's face turned pale. "You woman, do you really think the Mint is your own? You are so arrogant!"
He originally thought that a scolding would make Su Shengsheng give up, but he didn't expect that the granddaughter of the imperial teacher was someone who was unwilling to suffer any loss.
"I promised to give you the full three million... Now, I'm really at a huge disadvantage..."
Without waiting for Fang Sishi to reprimand her again, she continued, "My father is very frail. If Your Excellency could allow him to do some light clerical work, I would be very satisfied."
Fang Sishi's eyes widened. "Do you think the mine is for idlers? Don't you see what kind of place it is?"
At this time, Mu Ze interrupted impatiently.
"The prince asked Lord Fang to quickly resolve this matter. How could Lord Fang still not distinguish the important from the unimportant? Don't blame me for not reminding you, Lord Fang, the military expedition is about to begin this month."
Fang Si's expression changed very quickly, "I'll solve it, I'll solve it..."
However, he was secretly muttering in his heart.
King Xuanming was most impatient with dealing with officials, and in the past he never gave them a polite response even when he had official business to attend to.
Today, the young generals around him interrupted him several times...
He rolled his eyes and thought to himself.
I haven't heard that King Xuanming has a personal relationship with Old Master Su!
But today's events are really strange...
The woman came after the announcement of the results, accompanied by several other successful candidates.
As soon as he arrived, the Xuanming King arrived...
The more Fang Sishi thought about it, the more frightened he became, and he felt that something was wrong.
It's like being led by the nose, but not being able to touch the string.
He looked at Su Shengsheng's face, which was as beautiful as the moon emerging from the clouds, and thought to himself.
"Today, in recognition of your great merit, and because of your loyalty, bravery, benevolence, and filial piety, I will exempt your father from his heavy military service."
Su Shengsheng smiled broadly and bowed solemnly, "Thank you for your kindness, sir."
Envoy Fang simply waved his hand and said, "You should thank the prince. If it weren't for the prince's magnanimity, you and I would have been in big trouble today."
Su Shengsheng turned around and knelt down to thank him, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your great kindness!"
Her smile is like the midday sun outside the window, gently pouring down on the earth, bringing endless warmth, as if it can melt all the ice and snow in the world.
It also dispelled the gloom in the house.
…
Before the announcement, the lottery was almost over.
Su Shengsheng disappeared. If the ten money boxes filled with fake copper coins were not still there, everyone would have suspected that they had been cheated.
"Miss, you are back." Qing Ning stepped forward and looked at Fang Sishi, who was leading the group, curiously.
"Dear fellow villagers, please be quiet." Su Shengsheng walked to the center with a smile.
"Today's plan is led by Envoy Fang. We have already captured two counterfeiters. Lord Fang will personally present the prize later."
On the way here to withdraw money, Su Shengsheng expressed his loyalty to Fang Sishi.
Only if the imperial court intervenes can people's hearts be reassured sooner.
Therefore, her lottery model has been transferred to the Mint.
Firstly, she has family members working at the mine and she has to take them into consideration.
Secondly, she is not an official after all. If she forces herself to step forward, it may be counterproductive.
Minister Fang originally had a grudge against Su Shengsheng because of the previous incident, but when he heard that she would put this plan under her own name, his expression improved slightly.
Fake copper coins were rampant, but the imperial court had no solution and was always in a passive position.
But Su Shengsheng's strategy can achieve big results with small efforts.
He roughly calculated that even so, less than 80,000 of Su Shengsheng's 300,000 yuan bounty had been paid out.
If this plan can be implemented, the rewards will be enormous!
When the time comes, once he presents this recipe, the problem of counterfeit copper coins in various places will be solved. Wouldn't his status rise accordingly?
Originally, he was embarrassed to take credit in front of King Xuanming, but Su Shengsheng said that his identity was inconvenient and he did not want to show off.
Seeing that she really meant it, he accepted it.
In fact, he was already very happy.
When Su Shengsheng finished speaking and the people cheered, Fang Sishi straightened himself up and walked to the center with a smile.
"I..."
"No wonder there was such a commotion just now. Turns out they were catching counterfeiters."
"They've even mobilized the Qilin Army this time, so it's clear they're serious about this."
"Hey, both of you stop arguing, Master Fang is starting to redeem the prizes."
The crowd, buzzing with discussions, craned their necks, looking with envy at the hundreds of people who came forward to receive their awards.
At the rear of the team, Xie Xuanan sat on his horse.
Mu Ze was amused. "This Miss Su is really not simple. She has only been here for a few days and she has already turned the world upside down."
Turning his head, he saw Xie Xuan staring at a place with a frown on his face, and he looked over there in surprise.
"What is the General looking at?"
With most of her worries resolved, Su Shengsheng felt relaxed all over. With a smile on her face, she followed Fang Sishi to finish the scene.
Xie Xuan opened his thin lips and said, "Public opinion."
But his voice was drowned out by the people's jubilant cheers, and Mu Ze turned his head back without hearing clearly.
"What did the General just say?"
Xie Xuan had already reined in his horse and turned around. "Hurry up and go to the main camp to mobilize the troops and search every house."
Mu Ze clasped his fists in acceptance, but couldn't help but ask curiously, "Where are you going, General?"
"Prison." Xie Xuan's voice gradually faded away.
Mu Ze finally came to his senses and patted his head, "Yes, I still have to put on a show for people to see."
He pulled the reins and glanced at Fang Sishi, whose face was flushed. "No wonder they couldn't catch him. He turned out to be a paper tiger."
"Hah." Mu Ze squeezed his horse's belly hard and headed towards the southern suburbs camp.
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