Chapter 225 Maybe she's already climbed into the emperor's bed.
Admittedly, those who could enter the Zhongshu Ren (a high-ranking official position) all had certain family backgrounds, but these family backgrounds were not all the same. For example, Kou Bin and the other two were all from noble families, but the highest official position in their families was only third or fourth rank, while Jiang Lihui was different.
Although the Chiang family did not hold noble titles, every generation of the Chiang family had produced officials in the imperial court since the founding of the Great Han Dynasty. It is said that someone in the Chiang family once held the rank of first-grade official. Currently, the highest-ranking official in the Chiang family is Chiang Li-hui's father, a second-grade censor-in-chief, and the emperor also trusts Censor Chiang very much.
This is also the source of Jiang Lihui's confidence.
Kou Bin, Lu Tianzong, and Jing Yingyu watched Jiang Lihui's departing figure, all shaking their heads involuntarily. At the same time, they also wanted to see who would win the contest between Jiang Lihui and the Duke of Chu.
.........
Marquis of Jinyang's Residence
The Marquis of Jinyang held a sinecure in the court, so he spent most of his time at home. Upon hearing that a maidservant from the Duke of Chu's household had arrived, he immediately ordered Xia He to be invited to the hall. He had been working diligently to secure Li Zhengze's position. Now that someone from the Duke of Chu's household had come, he felt it must be a joyous occasion.
He entered the hall with a broad smile, and Xia He handed him the letter. The Marquis of Jinyang couldn't resist tearing it open immediately. Upon reading its contents, he laughed heartily and then told Xia He, "Please convey my thanks to the Duke of Chu."
He sent Xia He away, then looked at the letter in his hand and laughed heartily. He had never dared to imagine letting Li Zhengze enter the Secretariat. After Jiang Yu's advice, he felt that transferring Li Zhengze to Jufeng Money Shop or a trading company would likely lead to good prospects.
But who knew that a member of the Jiang family, lacking common sense, would create an opportunity for him. Under normal circumstances, someone like Li Zhengze, who was neither good at studying nor had enough merit, would have had virtually no chance of entering the Secretariat.
However, now that Li Zhengze has made a significant contribution, it will be much easier for the Marquis of Jinyang to ask the emperor for his permission, and with Jiang Yu's approval, to enter the Secretariat to assist Jiang Yu in his work.
The Marquis of Jinyang walked around the hall with the letter in his hand, then said, "Someone, prepare to go to the palace."
He had to hurry; if Jiang Hongsheng realized what was happening, things would get complicated. He went back to his dormitory, changed his clothes, mounted his horse, and headed for the palace.
Although the Marquis of Jinyang held a low-ranking official position, he was still a marquis, and the emperor treated him fairly well, so it wasn't difficult for him to enter the palace for an audience with the emperor. After being informed, he entered the imperial study.
The emperor had been in a good mood these past few days. He smiled and asked the emperor to sit down, saying, "Your son also played a part in the case of the illegal minting of official silver. I'm thinking about how to reward him."
Upon hearing this, the Marquis of Jinyang quickly replied, "Your Majesty, as you know, my son was somewhat unruly before, but fortunately, he has improved somewhat by working under the Duke of Chu."
His words were true, and the emperor nodded in agreement.
The Marquis of Jinyang then said, "I know that my son is fickle, but he is my only son. I don't expect him to bring glory to the family, but at the very least, I don't want him to ruin the family."
At this point, he knelt down again, "Your Majesty, I beg you to allow him to serve under the Duke of Chu. I do not ask him to achieve anything, but only that he may learn some principles from the Duke of Chu."
The Emperor frowned upon hearing his words. "Yesterday, the Grand Secretary told me that four Grand Secretaries have been assigned to the Duke of Chu to assist him in handling official business."
At this moment, the most important thing in the emperor's mind is to quickly seize control of Jufeng Money Shop and the trading company; even the matter of establishing a crown prince has to be postponed. Therefore, he is paying close attention to the progress of Jiang Yu's official duties. He even summoned the Grand Secretary to the Imperial Study to assist Jiang Yu with his work.
The Grand Chancellor told the Emperor that he would send four people to assist Jiang Yu. Four people were already quite a lot; if Li Zhengze were added, the number would be a bit too many.
Marquis Jinyang had already prepared his explanation, and he said, "I have heard that today a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat who assists the Duke of Chu in his work is dissatisfied with the Duke of Chu's arrangements."
The Emperor remained silent after hearing this. The Marquis of Jinyang would have known about what had happened that day, and the fact that he was able to enter the palace to ask for a job for his son must have been because Jiang Yu had informed him.
The emperor was not displeased by this. Li Zhengze had previously worked with Jiang Yu, so it was normal for Jiang Yu to want to continue using Li Zhengze. Besides, it was not a big deal.
He said, "Then let Li Zhengze go to the Secretariat and serve as a principal officer to assist the Duke of Chu in handling official business."
Marquis Jinyang immediately kowtowed, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace."
"Get up," the emperor said.
He was also a father and an elder brother, and he could understand the feelings of the Marquis of Jinyang.
Marquis Jinyang walked home happily. The position of Director of the Secretariat was also a sixth-rank official. Although the rank hadn't changed, being transferred from the Ministry of Revenue to the Secretariat was equivalent to a promotion. He felt lucky again, lucky that Jiang Yu had gone to the Ministry of Revenue and worked with Li Zhengze.
......
One family rejoices while another grieves. At this moment, Imperial Censor Jiang Hongsheng is so angry that he wants to take a feather duster and beat Jiang Lihui.
"I knew the Grand Secretary was going to arrange someone to assist the Duke of Chu in handling official business. I gave him gifts and said nice things to get you in, and you just caused trouble for me in one day."
Jiang Lihui, with his neck stiff, said, "In the entire Great Leap Forward, who else would write memorials or draft regulations as blatantly as her, having someone else write them for her?"
"You're talking complete nonsense." Jiang Hongsheng was so angry that he swore. "The Duke of Chu has already informed the Emperor about the general outline of the restructuring of Jufeng Bank and Trading Company. The Emperor basically agreed before letting her write the detailed rules. Jufeng Bank and Trading Company are so large, how could restructuring them be so simple? What's wrong with her delegating some of the work?"
"Doesn't the Duke of Chu's mansion have any advisors? Why doesn't she let her advisors do it?" Jiang Lihui retorted.
He said this was based on some evidence. When high-ranking officials make suggestions or proposals, they usually write down the procedures themselves, submit them to their superiors or the emperor, and only work with their colleagues to implement them after they have been approved.
Those who have suggestions and regulations written by others are generally incompetent. After hearing about the tasks Jiang Yu had arranged for him, Jiang Lihui felt that Jiang Yu was just a fame-seeker, and that the rumors about her intelligence and wit were all false.
As for her handling of several major cases, it must have been the old Duke of Chu who advised her behind the scenes. How could a woman like her possibly handle such significant cases?
Jiang Hongsheng angrily picked up a feather duster and lashed it hard at him. "Even the Emperor doesn't say anything about what she does, so what right do you, a mere seventh-rank official, have to criticize her?"
"She's always been good at flattering the Emperor; she might have already climbed into his bed."
"Shut up!" Jiang Hongsheng's face turned red with anger. He kicked Jiang Lihui in the knee, and Jiang Lihui fell to his knees with a thud.
"Tell me, where did you hear that from?"
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