Chapter 69: Reward
"My dear Ji, you are the backbone of the court. How can I do without you?" Emperor Kang Cheng said this to retain him and rejected his resignation.
Your Majesty, if you continue to call Lord Ji Yongqing "Ai Qing" instead of "Ai Qing Ji", then your words will be more credible.
"Your Majesty, I am in such poor health that I am really unable to do it." Ji Yongqing declined again.
Emperor Kangcheng refused again, "Don't worry, my dear Ji. After the court session, I will have the imperial physician go to the Ji residence to examine you. Just focus on your work."
The king and his minister started to refuse and reject each other repeatedly.
"Your Majesty, please grant me your permission. I am really in poor health." Ji Yongqing kowtowed for the last time.
Emperor Kang Cheng responded quickly this time, "Since Lord Ji insists on doing so, I will grant your request."
As a result, the position of Dali Temple Minister became vacant, and for a time, the ministers were in turmoil.
At this time, Xie Mingtang stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I recommend Censor Lü Desheng to be promoted to the position of Minister of the Dali Temple."
Emperor Kang Cheng was stunned. He hadn't expected things to turn out this way. He had just been wondering what the Xie family was planning to do by giving up the position of Supreme Court Justice, which they had firmly held. He also wondered, since they had given it up, who should take the position next?
"Why do you say that, my dear minister?" Emperor Kang Cheng, who was sitting at the top of the table, narrowed his old eyes and stared at His Highness Xie Mingtang. What was the Xie family trying to do?
Lü Aiqing had recently been accompanying the emperor in the palace and had already told him about his daughter's lesson to Zhao Bin. He had described Zhao Bin's ambush and scheme, as well as his daughter's counterattack and revenge.
The counterattack was just a bit too strong, these were Lu Aiqing's exact words at the time.
Seeing that Lu Desheng's face looked a little strange and his attitude was hesitant, he asked a question, and only then did he know the specific counterattack of his little daughter.
After hearing this, he couldn't help but twitch his lips.
Lü Aiqing immediately apologized for his daughter's crime. What could Kang Cheng do? Of course, he forgave him. Emperor Kang Cheng liked the feeling that Lü Desheng was open and honest with him. This Lü Desheng made him feel sincere and close.
But what is Xie Mingtang doing now? Lü Er beat Zhao Si. The Zhao and Xie families are relatives. Instead of helping the Zhao family get back at their old age, the Xie family is actually trying to help Lü Desheng get a promotion?
Xie Mingtang held the tablet in both hands, bowed slightly, and said respectfully, "Lord Lu has the ability to judge people and has a keen eye for detail. He has spotted problematic ministers in the court before we, the ministers, noticed them, and impeached them. Isn't this a form of ability? Therefore, I believe Lord Lu is suitable for the position of Dali Temple."
The ministers looked at him with complicated expressions as he spoke nonsense in a serious manner! I think you are quite capable, the ability to confuse right and wrong!
At this time, Lu Desheng was also shocked.
The Dali Temple Minister is a third-rank official in charge of judicial affairs.
To get him, the Xie and Zhao families were actually willing to throw out such a big piece of cake? They really thought too highly of him! From the fifth rank to the third rank, did they think that after hearing this, he would be unable to resist and throw himself up at all costs?
But they really underestimated him, thinking that throwing him the position of Dali Temple Minister would make him lose his mind? Dali Temple Minister? Whoever wants it can take it. Damn it, they are just trying to tire him to death!
As soon as Xie Mingtang expressed his gratitude, officials on both sides echoed him.
"Your Majesty, I second the motion."
"I second the motion."
…
Lu Desheng glared at them. "Okay, you guys, are you ganging up on me? I'll remember every last one of you! Just wait for me! Don't even think about running away!" Lu Desheng's gaze fell on the faces of the people who had just recommended him.
Some of the ministers caught in his glare were baffled, while others were worried, primarily because Lu Desheng was too powerful. Even if they faced him alone, they wouldn't be his match. Hopefully, the Xie family would make a better effort this time and finish him off. Otherwise, this would be a terrible feeling.
Prince Gong was standing next to him and couldn't help but whisper to him, "Censor Lu, don't be like this. They have good intentions."
Lu Desheng rolled his eyes. "Do you really think I'm stupid and can't tell the difference between good and bad?"
Prince Gong was stunned. Recommending him for promotion is not a good thing?
"You, you don't know anything." Lu Desheng kindly advised him, "Hurry up and find a place to stand. Don't talk too much. You can't control this situation."
Listen to others' advice and eat your fill. Prince Gong was a good man, not a very courageous one. After hearing what Lü Desheng said, he also felt that something was not right in the court, and immediately found a place where no one could notice him and stood.
Most of the other unrelated ministers thought the Xie family was very generous. They made up a reason for Xie Mingtang's actions. The position of Dali Temple Minister was the compensation given by the Xie family to the Lu family. The engagement between the two families could not continue, but it was true that Lu Songli had saved Xie Zhan. So the Xie family compensated the Lu family with a Dali Temple Minister, which made sense.
They would assume that everything stemmed from the Xie and Lu families returning the engagement letter in exchange for the engagement token. The Xie family also gave the Lu family a substantial compensation, a fact neither party concealed, nor widely publicized. Lu Desheng and his wife preferred not to discuss it, while the Xie family, somewhat self-assured of their status, kept quiet about it, though they would share it if asked. The other two witnesses were not known to be talkative, leading to limited public awareness of the Xie family's compensation.
This is a misunderstanding caused by information asymmetry.
Some of these ministers who were not well-informed or did not understand the situation could not help but sigh at the generosity of the Xie family, and then looked at Zhao Wenkuan. What do you think about your future relatives being so good to your former relatives?
Zhao Wenkuan's expressionless face gave no clues. But his expression made it easy for people to imagine he was unhappy. This reaction was normal; if they were Zhao Wenkuan, they would be unhappy too.
These ministers are not cunning enough, and some of them who are cunning have already discovered the clues.
Emperor Kang Cheng saw so many ministers standing out and following Xie Mingtang to support his proposal, and asked Lü Desheng, "Lord Lü, what do you think?"
Lu Desheng quickly expressed his loyalty, "Your Majesty, I refuse! I dare not even think about it, nor can I do it. I know I am of little talent, little learning, and little character. Being appointed a Fifth-Rank Censor is a stroke of luck and a great favor from Your Majesty. I am truly incapable of anything and am completely unfit and incapable of fulfilling the role of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court."
Flatterer!
Xie Mingtang immediately said, "There's no need for Censor Lu to be so modest. Your Majesty, Censor Lu has been in the position of Fifth Rank Censor for too long. Even if he hasn't made any contributions, he has worked hard over the years. Your Majesty cannot fail to reward him."
When Xie Mingtang said this, he was actually exhausted. He hadn't thought about giving him a promotion, not dragging him to be beheaded. Was it necessary to refuse like this? If only a few people knew about their plan and he dared to guarantee that they would never leak the secret, he would have suspected that Lu Desheng had learned about their plan in advance!
"Yes, Your Majesty, we cannot let our meritorious officials feel disheartened."
"Lord Lu has done a lot for the emperor over the years."
…
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