Is this bribe just for me, or for other officials as well?

[Ding-ding-ding——]

[Host! Received, please reply! Received, please reply! ]

This sound? !

The old emperor smelled the cold snow in the wind, and a bad feeling rose in his heart.

"Xu Yanmiao! Let's go! Let's start the next step of the crown ceremony!"

Trying to use this to distract Xu Yanmiao's attention, the old emperor directly pulled Xu Yanmiao up from the table with both hands in a hurry.

But he was already 66 years old, and the sudden force, and the other party was a 160-pound adult man, his lower body was unstable, and his feet were crooked...

The old emperor: "Hiss——"

This did divert Xu Yanmiao's attention. He immediately supported the man: "Your Majesty! What's wrong!"

The old emperor lowered his head and looked at him, then said calmly: "Nothing."

Xu Yanmiao breathed a sigh of relief.

The old emperor: "My left toe is cramped."

Xu Yanmiao: "!!!"

[Imperial Physician! ]

[Where's the Imperial Physician!!!]

The Imperial Physician probably heard what the old emperor said, and before Xu Yanmiao could shout, he came over with a medicine box, took off the emperor's shoes and checked his feet.

Xu Yanmiao stood by, his face full of worry. At the same time, he used half of his mind to respond: [Got it. There was no sizzling sound, did you finally fix yourself? ]

[Not really. I had a hard time contacting the nearest system before, and asked it to borrow some energy so that I could come back to you, I... sizzling... sizzling...]

[System? Are you okay? ! 】

【Zizi... Fortunately... Zizi... The signal was not good just now. I only drew a little energy to use, and the remaining energy can send you back, do you want to go back! 】

【Huh? Go back? 】

The old emperor's heart also jumped heavily, and he looked at Xu Yanmiao suddenly.

Lian Hang wanted to run to Xu Yanmiao subconsciously, but was grabbed by the prince. When he heard the prince whispered "Don't force him", Lian Hang turned his head and glanced at the prince. It was hard to tell whether his serious expression had feelings for Xu Yanmiao. He hoped that he could stay, but when he felt that the other party's fingers were curled up like cramps, Lian Hang was silent.

He nodded gently in silence, and then the prince let go of his hand.

Lian Hang did not move any more, but just looked at Xu Yanmiao nervously, his eyes were already red.

"Xu Lang..."

The other officials turned their eyes away, unable to bear to watch Xu Lang's choice.

Perhaps it was their fate...

[I...]

They heard Xu Yanmiao's hesitant voice. They also saw Xu Yanmiao seemed to look up at His Majesty.

[If you choose not to go back now, can you still leave in the future? ]

"!!!"

The joy and surprise in the expressions of the monarchs and ministers of Daxia were particularly obvious.

Then the artifact "system" spoke: [Of course you can! Whenever you want to leave, just call me! You see that button on the system interface, just press it when you want to leave in the future. 】

With his back to Xu Yanmiao, the prince pressed Lian Hang's shoulder, and used his strength to stand on his tiptoes, leaning his head to look, but he couldn't see the button no matter how hard he looked.

The prince murmured, "As expected."

But... I really want to see what the artifact looks like! Especially the artifact that can return to heaven!

The prime minister and the six ministers beside the prince also actively leaned their heads to see, and then withdrew their gazes with regret.

"I wonder if Xiao Bai Ze can take us to the Heavenly Palace for the sake of working together."

Thinking of the majestic and mysterious Heavenly Palace, Prime Minister Dou's old eyes seemed to reveal a child's pure curiosity at this moment.

If I could see such a scene one day, I would die without regrets.

＊

The system’s voice is still going on: [Zizi——]

[Host, Zizi——I still have some energy. Upgrade my skills. Zizi——upgrade!]

[From now on, you can do more than just read gossip! You can also predict what gossip will happen in advance! For example, if the system senses that a minister is going to beat a child tonight, it will be displayed in the gossip column some time in advance. It may be one hour, two hours, or half a day. As long as you search for it, you can rush over in time and see the live version! Are you happy or not! Are you happy or not!]

Xu Yanmiao:!!!

Great Xia’s monarch and ministers:!!!

Xu Yanmiao: [Happy!!!]

Great Xia’s monarch and ministers: We are not happy!!!

Why can the artifact be upgraded?

Otherwise, Xu Yanmiao, you should go back to heaven! The world is not worthy of you!

A faint sob could be heard among the ministers.

*

The system came and went in a hurry, and with the sound of "sizzle-sizzle--", it went offline again.

Xu Yanmiao looked at the new functions in the system with great satisfaction, and wanted to raise a candle to look at it again and again, and was very satisfied!

[In the future, I can rush to the scene to eat melons! ]

[I'll try it now! ]

The emperor and ministers of Daxia: Stop it!!!

The old emperor stood up and grabbed Xu Yanmiao's wrist.

Xu Yanmiao: "Your Majesty?"

The old emperor opened his mouth and was about to speak.

Then he suddenly realized: That's not right! The artifact was said to predict gossip in advance, but he was now performing the coming-of-age ceremony for Xu Yanmiao, and it was estimated that it would take at least an hour to finish. The prediction that Xu Yanmiao saw now could not possibly be his!

Moreover, even if it was his, couldn't he take precautions in advance?

"Hiss--" The old emperor pretended to take a breath and sat back down, "It's okay, you take a rest, my toes are cramping again."

Xu Yanmiao quickly expressed his concern for his boss, and the emperor and his subjects performed a harmonious performance for a long time. When the old emperor was about to die of anxiety, Xu Yanmiao began to open the system and search for gossip brought by the new function.

[Huh!] Xu Yanmiao's eyes were hot: [Someone wants to bribe me!]

[Finally! This day has come for me! Great!

Let me check the time!] The civil and military officials in the court showed a look of seeing a ghost.

Now, someone still dares to bribe Xiao Bai Ze? Could it be a candidate for the imperial examination?

Those officials whose relatives and friends are going to participate in the imperial examination thought woodenly: Isn't it my bad luck again?

[Hmm... Tonight, at 12:30 pm, someone will come to knock on my door...]

The old emperor narrowed his eyes.

12:30 pm, right?

Prime Minister Dou pinched his old bones.

It seems that I can't go to bed early tonight.

Princess Wanshou glanced at her sister who was smiling and ready to join in the fun, and closed her eyes sadly.

I can't persuade her! I can't persuade her at all! Well... then take me with you.

...

The rest of the procedures of the crown ceremony were completed step by step, and it was soon night.

Within a day, the emperor and some ministers quickly came up with reasons and arranged reasonable procedures to make it very reasonable for them to appear near Xu Yanmiao.

——Those who couldn't come up with a reason were forced to stay at home, anxiously waiting for the next day to see if anyone had secretly spread the news.

The snow was white, the faces were frozen red, and one, two, three, and four heads popped out from the walls of the houses and yards around Xu Yanmiao.

The old emperor sat in the room of the Marquis of Yongchang, warming himself by the kotatsu, with a small red clay stove beside him cooking wine.

He looked at those heads through the window, his expression full of disdain as if an eagle was looking at a chick: "Does Xu Yanmiao's inner voice seem to be able to hide things? Is there any need to go up the wall to see?"

The Marquis of Yongchang smiled awkwardly.

The old emperor realized belatedly: "Where is the prince?"

The Marquis of Yongchang pointed, and the old emperor looked closely. The figure standing on a dozen wooden boards, leaning on the wall, stamping his feet and blowing on his fingers, who else could it be but the prince.

Next to the prince, his two gentle and virtuous concubines were also standing there on tiptoe. The fifth concubine was not very good at climbing walls, and there was mud on her face and dress.

The old emperor: "..."

If this is said to others, who will believe that they are the prince and princess?

The old emperor curled his lips and turned to look at other objects in the room. Then he saw a set of "Compilation and Annotation of Poems by Ji Wenzhenggong" on the cabinet of Yongchang Marquis. It was all woodcut, a total of 60 pieces, and the characters were carved very elegantly.

The old emperor leaned over, took a piece of woodcut book, put it in his hand and examined it carefully. Yongchang Marquis next to him seemed to be afraid of the cold and wrapped his robe tightly.

"Is this the original edition? Not the reprinted edition from the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty?" The old emperor also studied on a daily basis. After being an emperor for so many years, his ability to appreciate poetry had long been improved. "It took a lot of effort and money, right?"

Yongchang Hou nodded uncomfortably: "Yes."

The old emperor said meaningfully: "I vaguely remember that you don't like to read poetry collections?"

Yongchang Hou hesitated: "I'm old. I didn't like it before, but I like it now."

The old emperor laughed immediately: "Really? Why did I hear that Xingcong admired Ji Wenzhenggong?"

- Xingcong is the pen name of He Bi, the Minister of Rites.

Yongchang Hou's eyes flickered.

The old emperor saw through his thoughts: "Want to give it to him?"

Yongchang Hou corrected: "I want to give it to Xiaocha Girl."

But later he learned that Xiaocha Girl was a man, so Yongchang Hou could not give this set of books away. But it was not lost. His explanation was: "It's such a valuable book, it's a waste to throw it away!"

The old emperor: "Really?"

Yongchang Hou: "Yes!"

In winter, the days are short and the nights are long. Wine is brewing and tea is simmering. As the steam slightly lifts the lid, some time passes and the street slowly becomes quiet, with only the occasional barking of dogs and the sound of people walking on the snow.

[Wuhu! People are coming!]

A group of bigwigs who are dressed brightly but shivering from the cold "swish" raised their ears.

A head wearing a Dou hat popped out from the corner of the wall, looked left and right at the street, and confirmed that there was no one. Soon, he exposed his whole body, his boots were stained white by the snow, and he ran all the way to Xu Yanmiao's house with an exquisite box in his arms.

"Tuk-tuk-tuk--"

There was a knock on the door, but he didn't notice that on this east-west street, a pair of eyes were staring at him with gleaming eyes, just like a black cat sheriff ambushing a criminal.

*

Xu Yanmiao opened the door happily: "What's the matter?"

The briber was immediately startled, stepped back, and almost slipped.

Xu Yanmiao did not invite him in-after all, he did not really intend to accept the bribe, and it would be difficult to explain if he let him in.

He just immediately grabbed the man and asked him to stand firm, and then asked again impatiently: "What's the matter?"

The briber was stunned for a moment, and began to doubt whether he should give a gift to a young boy-even if the other party was the emperor's favorite.

He was so eager to eat! It was as if he had never received any bribes!

But, since he was here...

the man suppressed his worries and saw that Xu Yanmiao didn't want him to come in, so he raised the box in his hand: "Xu Lang, I am the magistrate of Shangyuan County. I have been in office for seven years. When I am transferred to another position in the future, I want to join the Hanlin Academy. I hope Xu Lang... can help me."

Xu Yanmiao glanced at him and asked curiously: "What do you want to give me?"

Shangyuan County Magistrate: This, this, this... isn't this too straightforward? !

Then he was delighted!

He was not afraid that Xu Yanmiao was greedy, but he was afraid that Xu Yanmiao was not greedy! He

immediately said with a mysterious smile: "Xu Lang, you will know it at a glance." As he said that, he opened the box.

Xu Yanmiao leaned over to take a look: "Painting?"

The Shangyuan County Magistrate continued to smile mysteriously: "The eight beauties in the painting are all natural beauties, charming and attractive, and they are still budding."

Xu Yanmiao was puzzled: [How can there be such a strange expression to describe the person in the painting as a bud waiting to bloom?]

The old emperor, who was still trying to steal the wall, was furious.

Xu Yanmiao didn't understand, and he didn't understand! This was clearly a hint to Xu Yanmiao that he would send him eight stunning beauties!

Eight!!!

Is this because he was afraid that he couldn't empty Xu Yanmiao's body? What

a mess!

Immediately, the Shangyuan County Magistrate's nose was not a nose, and his face was not a face.

He lowered his voice and said angrily: "Shangyuan County is not a very rich and luxurious county. The county magistrate is actually a fat man. He must have exploited the people on weekdays!"

The prince: "..."

The prince whispered: "Dad, isn't this too arbitrary?" The

old emperor was angry: "Where is it arbitrary! Isn't he fat!"

The prince: "..."

You can't say that he is fat because of exploitation!

On the other side.

Xu Yanmiao: [......]

Xu Yanmiao: [It is better to give a pound of bacon than a picture of a beauty. ]

The old emperor turned his anger into joy and whispered to the prince: "Look, Bai Ze is worthy of being a divine beast, he is determined!"

The prince: "..."

He has been silent too many times today.

Xu Yanmiao didn't notice that there were many people on the wall beside him - mainly because it was the first time someone bribed him and he was too excited. Although he planned to report the person later, it might as well hinder his excitement now.

In his excitement, he asked casually: "Is this bribe given to me alone, or to other officials?"

The county magistrate of Shangyuan County said carefully in a low voice, fearing that others would hear: "This... The gifts I gave to others are naturally different from those given to Xu Lang."

He was careful and didn't say who he gave them to.

But Xu Yanmiao had a system.

[???]

[Bribes were given to everyone in the Ministry of Personnel? Including the Ministry of Personnel's clerks?]

The prince covered his eyes in dismay.

The people in the Ministry of Personnel present immediately panicked.

Although some of them accepted the money and some did not, they still know their own business. Just because they did not accept the money this time does not mean that there are no other mistakes!

God bless! Xu Lang, please do not reveal other things!

The old emperor sneered in his heart.

It seems that it is time to let the Jinyiwei check the Ministry of Personnel from top to bottom.

Xu Yanmo did not reveal the other people in the Ministry of Personnel immediately. He just politely rejected the Shangyuan County Magistrate and closed the door mercilessly. He

felt aggrieved in his heart: [Why! Don’t I deserve a separate bribe!]

The prince expressed a little sympathy.

[Damn it! I want to see who accepted his bribe.]

The prince: Forget it, let’s "sympathize" with those officials in the Ministry of Personnel.

*

It’s really cold on a snowy day.

The official of the Ministry of Personnel felt his heart go cold. When he looked at the tightly closed door of Xu Yanmiao, he seemed to see a big morning glory rising high from behind the door, telling the world——

【Oh my! The right assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel accepted thirty farms and promised to help the magistrate of Shangyuan County to transfer to the Hanlin Academy. 】

The right assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel took two sharp breaths of cold wind and shuddered.

【Oh, oh my!!!】

【It happened a few days ago! The right assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel did take money to do things! But at the end of the day, he actually forgot what the other person's name was! This is also okay! 】

【It's so funny, let's transfer all the county magistrates who have served for seven years and have the surname Sun to the Hanlin Academy, right? It seems that he vaguely remembered the word "Sun"...】

【But. 】

Xu Yanmiao almost died of laughter on the bed.

【My name is Zuosun! 】

【Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, you helped the wrong person! 】

The prince: "Puff——"

The old emperor cast a death glare.