Chapter 166: Luo Jin'an's scheming after the election

Luo Jinan frowned and looked at the portrait carefully again, then suddenly curled his lips into a smile. Noticing that the people below were lowering their heads, he straightened his expression.

"This Lord Zhao's only daughter is extremely good, but unfortunately—"

The ministers, who had originally let go of their worries, began to worry again. Shen Qingsong looked up and then lowered his head again, continuing to be a stone statue.

The old minister waited for the next words in confusion, and then he saw Luo Jin'an continue: "This Zhao family girl has a small mole on her hand. If it were an ordinary official family, it would be nothing, but I have been weak since I was young, and this may affect my health!"

The old minister was puzzled as to why he had not noticed the mole on the Zhao girl's hand, and why he did not remember this statement in the Book of Changes.

But matters involving the emperor's health were no small matter, so they dared not advise him any further.

When the old minister took back the portrait and looked at the hand of the girl from the Zhao family, he couldn't help but twitch his lips, thinking that it was hard for His Majesty to have such good eyesight.

Mo Yan escorted a group of old men out of Yu's study. Shen Qingsong deliberately lagged behind a few steps and looked at Mo Yan standing aside.

"I have a question, could you help me solve it?"

Mo Yan bowed and said he dared not do it, but in fact he was very happy in his heart. Finally, a minister came to his senses. If His Majesty continued to torture him, they, the palace maids, would suffer as well.

What the palace ladies fear most now is that His Majesty will ask them to talk about their own shortcomings, but they can't even make up a story now.

"I wonder which official in the court do you think is the most upright?"

"Oh, Lord Shen, you really make it difficult for me. Lord Shen is the most honest and upright official in the Manchu court. However," Mo Yan changed the subject, "Recently, His Majesty has often praised Lord Xu, the newly transferred Zuo Si Zheng. I heard that this Lord is very proficient in farming. The bumper harvest in the northern border in the past two years is inseparable from Lord Xu's work."

Shen Qingsong laughed out loud, "I am very curious about this Lord Xu. I will definitely get to know him if I have the chance. I have nothing to thank you for, so please don't reject this couplet."

Mo Yan looked at Lord Shen who was walking away, then turned around and went back to Yu's study.

"Your Majesty, this is the benefit that Lord Shen gave to me."

Luo Jinan looked at the word "Fu" on the paper and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This Shen Qingsong was different from the other ministers. Others used gold and silver to reward their servants, but he always used the word "Fu" to get rid of people.

"What did Lord Shen ask?"

Mo Yan did not dare to hide anything and repeated the conversation between him and Shen Qingsong word for word.

Luo Jin'an looked at Mo Yan's happy face and couldn't help but laugh and scold: "You can't hold two ounces of oil in your stomach. I heard that your godfather wants to leave the palace? I rewarded him with a small house with two entrances in Fu'an Lane."

Mo Yan knelt down and kowtowed in disbelief, saying, "On behalf of my godfather, I would like to thank Your Majesty for your kindness. I am willing to risk my life for Your Majesty."

"Get up. Go to the Shen residence again later and give Shen Qingsong some silver and cloth. Don't let people think he is a stingy person."

Mo Yan smiled and said, "Your Majesty is indeed kind, but Lord Shen is an honest and upright official. Who would dare to think of him as stingy?"

"Well, there is no best."

Mo Yan bowed and left Yu's study, then wiped the sweat from his forehead and waved to call his apprentice.

"You little brats, keep your eyes open. If you take things you shouldn't take or say things you shouldn't say, I'll have you on your back."

The eunuch Ping An begged for mercy again and again, "Master, how dare we? Since your majesty ascended the throne, we have recorded everything we have received and everything the ministers have asked."

"No, it's best. The current emperor is not like the previous emperor. If you do something to deceive your superiors and lie to your subordinates, don't say that we are ruthless if you are found out."

"Yes... yes, don't worry, I will go and tighten the skin of the people below."

After reprimanding the people below, Mo Yan hurried to the prison. He had to bring the good news that his godfather could leave the palace.

It was rare for an emperor's attendant to have a good end, and it was even rarer for an eunuch like Mo Lu to escape unscathed and live out his days in the palace. Mo Yan thought about the sufferings they had endured along the way, and couldn't help but tear up. But now, they had finally gotten their reward.

Let’s not talk about how the Mo Zhu father and son cried with joy, but let’s talk about how lively and lively the Xu family was.

The Xu family had been in Shengdu for half a month. During this period, Xu Yaozu had already taken up his post. The three Xu Ji brothers also entered the Imperial College to continue their studies, and Xu Cai also entered the Shen family school under Xu Yaozu's arrangement.

This Shen Clan School was founded by Shen Qingsong for the children of the Shen Clan, but it does not only accept children of the Shen family. Whether it is the son of a high-ranking official or a commoner, as long as they pass the entrance examination, they can study here. What is even more rare is that the famous scholar Mr. Zhen was invited by Shen Qingsong to teach at the Shen Clan School, so the Shen Clan School has always been a popular place for families in Shengdu.

At this time, the two little girls Xu Ling and Niuniu were surrounding Wang. Wang was older now and liked the hustle and bustle very much, so the chattering of the two girls not only did not annoy her but she actually enjoyed it very much.

Especially the little girl Niuniu. Wang knew that she was alone at such a young age and she felt really distressed for her. Moreover, the little girl was very sweet-talker. Now in Wang's eyes, Xu Nian had to retreat.

"Niuniu, if you eat any more and your tooth hurts, don't come and cry to me."

Xu Nian couldn't help but speak out when he saw Niuniu stuffing another candied fruit into her mouth.

Wang hugged Niu Niu and said angrily, "Children like sweet things. You can't scare Niu Niu like this, girl." As she said this, she brought the plate of preserved fruits to Niu Niu with a kind smile on her face.

"It's okay, Niuniu, eat as many as you want. After you're done, let Mammy take you downstairs to rinse your mouth. Eat..."

Xu Nian was very helpless. Ever since the Xu family came, everyone who saw Niu Niu had to feed her cakes, candied fruits, etc. The rules she had originally set for Niu Niu were now ignored by the girl.

"Granny—just get used to her."

Niu Niu hid in Wang's arms like a cat stealing fish, her eyes were almost invisible from laughing.

Zheng teased Xu Jia in Wang's arms and couldn't help laughing and said, "Looking at Nian'er's attitude, someone who didn't know would think you were a mother, haha..."

"That's right, but speaking of it, Nian'er's coming-of-age ceremony is coming soon. I wonder if my sister-in-law has decided how to organize it?"

Wang let her eldest daughter-in-law make the decisions on other matters, but she made a rare suggestion regarding Xu Nian's coming-of-age ceremony.

"I have told your sister-in-law that Nian'er's coming-of-age ceremony must be held in a grand manner. Nian'er is the eldest daughter of our Xu family. We must let the wives of officials in Shengdu City know that our Xu family values ​​this daughter the most."

Zheng and Xiao Wang both nodded in agreement. Although Su Qiaohui had only been married into the Xu family for a short time and did not know every detail of the Xu family's affairs, she was able to get a glimpse of them, so she also agreed.