Chapter 15 (15) Intent on Establishing Authority
"Master Bai, this is your first time invigilating. How do you feel?"
Bai Kang looked up. The person questioning him was a deputy minister of the Ministry of Rites. He was now in his forties and quite ordinary. His official position wasn't too low, but he hadn't been promoted in years. Bai Kang waved his hand. "That's it. Boring."
The official snorted, "I've seen the list. Prince Mu's Mansion in Rongcheng recommended several students for this selection! I hope our Shangshu-sama won't cover up for them!"
Bo Kang was stunned. After a long moment of recollection, he remembered that when they were sifting through the list, Prince Mu's palace had indeed submitted two name cards. Rongcheng was his hometown, his father was a subordinate of Prince Mu, and he himself could be considered a disciple of Prince Mu. Logically, he should avoid suspicion.
But when he was screening the list, he only paid attention to whether the students met the criteria, and did not pay attention to their family background. He prided himself on being upright and honest, never cheating, and would not protect anyone who came from Prince Mu's palace, let alone someone sent by his father.
"If you have any doubts, just report me to His Majesty." Bo Kang leaned back and said nonchalantly, "If I wanted to protect him, I would have done so long ago. Why would I leave it here for you to exploit? The Prime Minister has said that I am a rare person of integrity. Of course, I must live up to the Prime Minister's trust."
Yuanwailang's beard was almost twisted with anger. How could he dare to report this to the emperor? Besides, he was not qualified to enter the gate of the Golden Palace. He said this just to deliberately annoy Bai Kang. He said no more and left in a huff. Bai Kang yawned and was about to lie down and sleep in his clothes. Just then, there was a knock on the door.
She came back to bother him again. He opened the door and said impatiently, "You don't want to sleep..."
He closed his mouth before he finished speaking. A servant stood outside the door and handed over a still-steaming food box: "Sir, Master Lianzhi asked me to bring you a midnight snack."
The food box was steaming hot, clearly someone had asked the servant to deliver it as quickly as possible. He opened it and saw fresh food inside. The servant added, "Master Lianzhi said that the master must not have had dinner yet, and asked the master to take care of himself."
I hope he wasn't poisoned.
Bo Kang shook his head, pointed at the lunch box and asked, "How did he know?"
The servant scratched his head, also puzzled. Master Lianzhi said that he knew the selection process of the Imperial College and asked him to send it over as soon as possible. Although he didn't know where Master Lianzhi heard this, he didn't dare to disobey.
"Forget it, just let it go." Bai Kang said.
The servant put down the lunch box and hurried back. It was getting late, and if he didn't go back, the road would be unsafe. Bai Kang stared at the food in front of him, a little unsure whether to eat it or not.
"Master Bai is so lucky, but was it sent by your wife?"
Several Imperial College officials passed by and greeted him with a teasing tone. Even at this point, Bo Kang didn't hide his words: "Yes."
Was it really a gift from the Madam? He actually admitted it? The others around him were all surprised to hear his words. They thought Bai Kang would feel that this arranged marriage was a humiliation for him and would be angry if anyone mentioned it.
"What are you looking at? Are you envious?"
Bai Kang knew someone was trying to make fun of him, so he didn't take the bait. Instead, he jokingly said to one of the officials, "You also want your wife to bring you midnight snacks? You'd better take in fewer beauties. You're still imitating others' romantic pursuits at your age."
The official's face flushed red, his temper flaring. This man was a playboy, or, to put it bluntly, a lecher. Over fifty years old, he had married six concubines. His family affairs were known to all the nobles in the capital. Now that Bai Kang had mentioned this, how could he not be furious?
Never mind, just bear with it. After all, he was only a fourth-rank official, not as high-ranking as Bai Kang. The man spat in anger and went back with his colleagues in disgrace. Seeing this, the Imperial Academy's chief academic officer advised, "Lord Bai, please don't be too ostentatious in your daily actions."
"Thanks for the tip." Bai Kang smiled, picked up the lunch box and went back to his room.
It was late at night, after a tiring day, and it was really nice to be able to eat a hot meal. At this moment, Bai Kang suddenly understood the benefits of having a wife waiting at home. After arriving in the capital, no one except the housekeeper would care about his food and daily life.
Lianzhi actually thought of him, it seems that the little guy is a good person.
"Where did you distribute the people I brought back?"
Lianzhi stared at the butler in front of him with wide eyes. The old butler, who was always kind and polite, was a little timid and didn't dare to answer him.
"You asked him to clean the toilet? That's the man I brought back!" Lianzhi was so angry that he didn't care about exposing his excessive concern for Eunuch Wen. He shouted, "I told you, I bought him back to serve me. You asked him to do such a dirty job. Are you deliberately neglecting me? You look down on me!"
"Young Master Lianzhi is seriously ill. I dare not," the housekeeper said bitterly. A few days ago, after Lianzhi brought the young man back, they had him properly groomed and dressed before sending him back. But Bokang said that Eunuch Wen was not allowed to get close to Lianzhi and assigned him to a job away from the inner courtyard.
Eunuch Wen, a eunuch, couldn't possibly be a palace guard. He'd been injured during the coup, and his body was frail, so menial tasks weren't suited for him. After much deliberation, the only thing the palace needed was someone to clean the toilets. While it was a bit dirty, it wasn't too tiring.
"Hurry up and bring him back!" Lianzhi was so anxious that she almost died. The housekeeper didn't dare to neglect it any longer and quickly ordered someone to clean up Eunuch Wen and bring him to Lianzhi. After all, he had been cleaning the toilet for several days, and no matter how clean he was, he still had a bit of smell on him. But Lianzhi, who had always been delicate, didn't mind at all and said to the housekeeper, "You can go now. From now on, he will serve me. If Bo Kang doesn't allow it, I will explain it myself!"
Did he realize this was Master Bai's order? The housekeeper was a bit surprised, and he repeatedly said yes before leaving the room. There was no one around except Lianzhi and Eunuch Wen. In the silence, Eunuch Wen knelt down, his knees hitting the ground with a dull thud.
"Your Majesty, you are Your Majesty!" Eunuch Wen burst into tears. Lianzhi couldn't help crying too. She didn't care about his embarrassment at all and walked over to him, "Little Wenzi, you are still alive!"
During the palace coup, it was Eunuch Wen who risked his life to protect him, buying him three more days of life. Otherwise, he would have died in the Golden Throne Hall when Chen Fengke led his troops into the palace. Although the protection at that time did not allow him to survive, he was still deeply moved.
He was reduced from an emperor to a prisoner, and all the palace maids defected, except Eunuch Wen who remained with him.
"I'm relieved to see that Guard Bai is protecting Your Majesty!" Eunuch Wen wiped his tears. He thought Bai Kang had also recognized Lianzhi and was now protecting him closely.
As expected, Guard Bai was a good man and did not abandon His Majesty.
Lianzhi's emotions were mixed, unsure how to explain the arranged marriage between her and Bai Kang. Eunuch Wen's loyalty to him was almost blind, and knowing he was committed to Bai Kang, he might even risk his life. Finally, he could only say, "Bai Kang isn't entirely trustworthy either. Little Wenzi, wait for me. I'll definitely find a way to get you out of here!"
Eunuch Wen obeyed his words without hesitation. Upon hearing this, he nodded heavily.
Eunuch Wen thought that even though Lianzhi was no longer the emperor, others would still respect him. However, he did not expect that the servants in the Shangshu Mansion not only showed him little respect, but also acted arrogantly in front of him.
Although Lianzhi wasn't one for wielding power, if he could be asked to manage a household, even a small one like the Shangshu Mansion, he'd take charge. But when he got the roster for report this morning, half the servants refused to show up. The Shangshu Mansion had only a handful of servants to begin with, and his courtyard seemed even more empty.
"Your Majesty... Young Master, why not capture them and punish them severely!" Eunuch Wen suggested. In the past, in the palace, anyone who broke the rules was simply arrested and beaten with a stick. Under such severe punishment, who would dare to disobey?
If he really did that, Bai Kang would be the first to disagree. Lianzhi looked at the few people around her who were willing to obey her, and with a painful heart, she took out a few silver notes and distributed them to them: "You guys are obedient, and there will be rewards for obedient people. Be obedient in the future, and you will definitely get benefits."
Several servants took the banknotes, thinking he was using money to win over people and secure confidants, and their faces lit up with joy. After checking the roster and positions, Lianzhi let the man go and glanced at Xiaoliu and Xiaoye beside him.
These two people were assigned to him directly by Bai Kang. Compared with others, they can be considered trustworthy.
"You two go with them and see what they're up to," Lianzhi said. "If you hear people talking about me, they'll say they took my banknotes. Come tomorrow and there's still money to be claimed."
Xiao Liu and Xiao Ye nodded in agreement and left. Eunuch Wen praised, "Young Master, you have forgiven past grudges and are willing to treat them well. You are truly magnanimous!"
Lianzhi snorted. He wasn't going to let it go so easily. If those servants dared to insult him, he would get back at them.
"Young Master, should we take control of the Shangshu Mansion's finances next?" Eunuch Wen asked eagerly. He believed that since His Majesty had rewarded Guard Bai, the Shangshu Mansion must be very wealthy, and all this money should belong to His Majesty.
After all, even the world belongs to Your Majesty.
"I don't want to. Let's go for a walk." Lianzhi yawned softly. He had gone to bed early last night and was only slightly sleepy now. He thought it would be a good idea to catch some disobedient servants and scare them. After taking Eunuch Wen to the Shangshu Mansion's pond for a while, Lianzhi immediately fell asleep.
The courtyard was truly shabby, and the small pond looked no different from a puddle to him. Just as he was dozing off, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned around and saw a young man with a face somewhat similar to his passing by, holding a few boxes.
At first he thought it was a lotus seed, but upon closer inspection, it wasn't. The other person looked at him without resentment or hostility. He carefully recalled the few similar people and remembered: "Lotus leaf?"
"Master remembers me." Lian Ye said flattered.
Lianzhi was very pleased with his respectful attitude and waved to him: "Come and keep me company."
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