Yanchuan City.
Oriental Restaurant.
Before dusk, when the sunset had not yet appeared on the horizon, Li Shu and his son Li Guanyu sat in a private room in the corner. Li Shu sat upright, while Li Guanyu appeared more relaxed; both father and son looked like they were waiting for someone.
Li Shu admired the poems and prose hanging in the private room, all of which were original works by Mr. Pu. After looking at them several times, he said, "Young Prime Minister, what is the purpose of this invitation to my father and me?"
Li Guanyu said, "Father, I don't know more than you. Just wait patiently. He never does anything meaningless."
Li Shu said, "Seeing how well you've managed this No. 1 restaurant in Yanchuan, your father is very pleased. You've finally grown up. But you should also make good use of the resources. I heard that Jin Yong and Mr. Pu often come here. If you build a good relationship with them, you can ask your father for more calligraphy and paintings from them."
After a pause, Li Shu continued, "Especially Chen Feier. This woman's new works have received rave reviews. Given time, her reputation may surpass that of Master Tu. It would be even better if we could collect more of her paintings."
Li Guanyu sighed.
Li Shu asked suspiciously, "Why are you sighing?"
Li Guanyu said regretfully, "Chen Feier almost became your daughter-in-law."
Li Shu glanced at Li Guanyu and said, "I know about this. It's all your fault for being useless. You didn't fight for the good girls you should have fought for, but you fought for the courtesans you shouldn't have!"
"Father, how dare you say that to me?" Li Guanyu said angrily, "Aren't you the same? You don't fight for what you should fight for, and you fight for what you shouldn't fight for."
Li Shu asked, "Do I have one?"
Li Guanyu retorted without any politeness, "What's the use of thinking about these calligraphy and paintings all day? With the political situation changing, why don't you think about how to get promoted?"
Li Shu said, "What do you know? While I'm alive, these paintings and calligraphy are my collection. When I'm gone, they'll all be money. If I accumulate enough, they can ensure you a lifetime of wealth. Isn't everything your father did for you?"
"And then..."
Li Shu took a sip of tea in frustration and said, "I'm just a Vice Minister of Rites in the secondary capital. How can I possibly control the political situation in Changsui?"
Li Guanyu looked up at the ceiling and sighed, "The Marquis of Qingdong is now a central minister, ranking second. That brat Xu An is getting too cocky!"
"Hey, is my tail really that long? Believe me or not, I'll strangle you with it!" (Qianqian Xiaoshang)
Xu An's voice came from outside the door. The door to the private room opened, and Zhao Cheng and Xu An walked in.
Zhao Hu stood guard at the door and closed it behind him.
Li Shu quickly stood up and responded, saying, "Young Prime Minister! Young Marquis!"
Li Guanyu was like a brother to the two of them, so he didn't stand on ceremony and simply got up.
"Xu An, you're eavesdropping on me!" Li Guanyu shouted.
Xu An sat down casually and said, "With your jealous voice so loud, why would I need to eavesdrop?"
"Please have a seat," Zhao Cheng said. "The political situation has changed. The Left Chancellor has been dismissed, and the Emperor's intention to remove the Chancellor is clear. My father, the Right Chancellor, will probably be dismissed soon as well. Lord Li, you can call me by my first name from now on."
Li Shu said respectfully, "Now that Da Jing only has one prime minister, the position of the young prime minister is even more prestigious."
"We're all family, no need for formalities."
Zhao Cheng smiled slightly at Li Shu and said, "I invited Lord Li here today because there are some things I would like to discuss with you."
Li Shu said, "Young Prime Minister, please speak."
Zhao Cheng suppressed his smile and said calmly, "Lord Li entered officialdom through years of diligent study and fought his way up in the imperial examinations with his true talent. He served as an official his whole life, yet he retired early in the secondary capital. Is he content with that?"
Upon hearing this, Li Shu's hand holding the wine glass trembled slightly.
Zhao Cheng's opening remarks made Li Shu realize that this drinking party was not simple!
Li Guanyu also became nervous and quickly gave Li Shu a meaningful look.
Li Shu said, "To say I am willing is against my will. I studied hard for years and passed the imperial examination to enter officialdom, of course I wanted to realize my ambitions. But alas, it is fate, and I have only empty ambitions."
"It's good that you have ambition." Zhao Cheng raised his glass and said, "Let's drink to that together first!"
After drinking it, Zhao Cheng said, "Opportunities may come again if you miss them, but once ambition is extinguished, it is hard to rekindle."
Li Shu asked, "Judging from what you're saying, young prime minister, do I still have a chance?"
Zhao Cheng said, "When the Left Chancellor fell from power, the Central Secretariat did not touch the Left Party's military generals, but it wiped out all the Left Party's civil officials. Lu Zhao was among them."
"Lord Li, the position of Minister of Rites has become vacant. If you were promoted to that position, it would be a perfect fit for your profession."
Li Shu's breathing quickened as she thought to herself, "Zhao Cheng has quite the appetite!"
When Qingdong Hou was reinstated and transferred to Changsui, he was only the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, while Zhao Cheng set his sights directly on the position of Minister of Rites!
Li Shu said, "But now the Minister of Personnel is Chen Changyun, and the power to appoint officials is completely controlled by the Central Secretariat. I have no connection with them, so how could they possibly think of me?"
Zhao Cheng shook his head and said, "Lord Li, you are wrong about two things."
Li Shu said, "I would like to hear the details."
"First, the emperor's personal opinion has more power than that of the central government in appointing officials."
"Secondly, who said you have no connection with the Central Secretariat?"
“I…” Li Shu thought quickly, then suddenly saw Xu An looking at him with a smile, and immediately blurted out, “Lord Marquis!”
Zhao Cheng said, "I have an idea for you. My son, Changli, is already learning to walk and is very cute. You and your son can visit the Princess under the pretense of visiting the child and tell her about this directly."
Li Shu exclaimed in surprise, "Isn't this too abrupt?"
“Ah Yun knows the relationship between our two families, so our interactions are normal and not abrupt.”
"The eldest princess has long since withdrawn from politics; would he agree?"
“Normally, she might not have agreed. But now... is the best time.”
Zhao Cheng's eyes gleamed as he said, "The Left Party officials were purged, the Central Secretariat frantically installed its own people, the emperor seized the prime minister's power and distributed it to Prince Xin and others, while he himself lived a carefree and happy life. He may be indulging in it, and those involved are often blinded by their own interests, but the Princess, who is far removed from the court, sees things clearly."
“Lord Li, at this time, you need to present yourself as the Princess’s man, and then you’ll be guaranteed the position of Minister of Rites.”
After going over Zhao Cheng's words in her mind, Li Shu's expression immediately relaxed.
The emperor removed the Left Chancellor because he was worried about one minister becoming too powerful and wanted to divide the Left Chancellor's power. Therefore, he certainly did not want an even more powerful minister to emerge.
At this critical juncture, if one can promote one's own people, the eldest princess would certainly be happy to help her brother control the situation.
Secretly, the eldest princess recommended him to the emperor; openly, the Marquis of Qingdong recommended him; and he himself happened to be the Vice Minister of Rites in the secondary capital.
This Minister of Rites is really something!
Li Shu became increasingly excited as he thought about it, and repeatedly clasped his hands in a fist and bowed to Zhao Cheng, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, young prime minister. I will bring my wife and son to visit the Right Prime Minister's residence first thing tomorrow morning!"
Zhao Cheng raised his index finger and waved it, saying, "It's not a visit to the Right Prime Minister's residence."
Li Shu quickly replied, "Yes, yes, we're going to visit the Princess!"
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