Chapter 100: She didn’t make any mistakes…
"What?" Chen Qi stood up in shock. "Is the Emperor going to abolish the position of female officials?"
Will there be such a sign?
When female officials take up this position, they will be called by Zhao Changning to be admonished. They rely on the emperor's trust, so they cannot cause any ugly or unpleasant things, cannot embezzle or accept bribes, cannot have emotional entanglements with officials, and must have self-respect and self-love. Only then can female officials go far.
But the last one was difficult, as emotions were uncontrollable. Some people even used this as a springboard, but my aunt didn't say anything. She just removed their official positions and let them get married.
Because of this, Song Huan got very angry and called those people traitors, but it was just an accusation.
Thinking of this, Chen Qi couldn't help but look at Zhao Changning with a look of surprise and doubt.
Zhao Changning was silent for a long time. She knew in her heart that the days of surviving in this crack were numbered.
What they rely on is too fragile, like a castle in the air. In the past, it was the Hu Party that made the eunuchs lose trust in the emperor, and later it was the cabinet that suppressed the emperor too harshly, so the female officials were able to develop rapidly. But now the emperor has been on the throne for several years, will he still support the female officials?
"I have to go back."
Chen Qi was a little worried. "Aunt, if I don't get summoned, I'll be reported if I go back like this."
I originally left Yujing to avoid disaster. Now if I go back, who knows what will be waiting for me.
Zhao Changning shook his head. "If the emperor summons me, those people will make even more trouble. Yunsheng will be in danger, and Xiaoshun and the others... I can't let things develop like this."
The struggles in the palace have always been like this. She was not surprised. This was also the reason why she kept Yunsheng.
At this time, Mingxuan's letter also arrived.
He was promoted to the Governor-General of Zhejiang and Fujian and needed to return to Beijing immediately to report on his work and take over. In his letter, he expressed his gratitude to her and said that without her, there would be no him in this position.
Zhao Changning held the letter, somewhat confused, but with Mingxuan's achievements and abilities, promotion was a matter of time. In addition, the money from the tea exports went directly into the imperial treasury, so to the emperor, he was a great contributor.
She sighed. After all, she was always making things difficult for others.
When it comes to being an official and wielding power, she is no less capable than anyone else. Unfortunately, she is a woman, and therefore she has to work in the Maritime Customs Office to consolidate the positions of the female officials.
However, she couldn't hate Mingxuan. He was a good man and a good official.
When she had settled matters in Guangzhou and was preparing to return to Yujing, the emperor's decree came, asking her to go to Fujian to supervise the export of tea.
Zhao Changning had many doubts in his mind. Could it be that Anyi had already walked to the emperor's side, or that the emperor no longer wanted female officials to exist?
But now, she can only obey the emperor's orders, and at this time, she must not let anyone catch her.
She also felt that the emperor was increasingly unpredictable. This matter was by no means aimless, and was even planned in advance.
Inside the Qinzheng Hall, the ice basin was melting. Under the light from the sixteen bright windows, the shadow of a five-clawed golden dragon emerged, and the fragrance of jasmine floated in the air.
Qin Fu stood below and said, "Your Majesty, the female secretary has taken office."
The emperor continued writing, "I didn't act impulsively this time. That's good."
"Your Majesty, didn't you want her to come back?" Qin Fu was puzzled. "Why did you send her to Fujian?"
The emperor smiled and shook his head. "There's no rush for her to come back. It's just that she has forgotten her identity. I need to make her remember it. Besides, don't you think there are too many women in the officialdom these days?"
Besides, if he asked to recall her, I'm afraid a lot of people would submit impeachment petitions, and that matter would not be so easy to resolve.
Thinking of her happily running to see Mingxuan, the emperor clenched the pen in his hand, looked at the almost completed spring outing kite painting, and added another black line to the kite flying into the sky. After all, the kite string was in the owner's hand.
He put down his pen and smiled with satisfaction.
Qin Fu saw this and couldn't help but shudder. He felt that the emperor was very different from before. He became more scheming and unpredictable, and he was becoming more and more like the previous emperor.
When Zhao Changning arrived in Fujian, he did not see the situation change, but instead saw a major upheaval in the officialdom.
The emperor actually abolished the cabinet and re-employed the Secretariat, but did not appoint a Secretariat Order. The Secretariat was in charge of the six ministries.
Zhou Min, Sun Zhidao and Qi Yuwei all resigned from their positions as cabinet ministers. Sun Zhidao was extremely dissatisfied with this, so he simply resigned from his position as Minister of War and retired directly to his hometown.
As for the Minister of War, the emperor promoted someone on his own.
The Ministry of Revenue also had a lot of disputes over the fact that the profits from the tea were directly put into the imperial treasury. However, because most of the female officials were on second-hand duty in the Ministry of Revenue and were only loyal to the emperor, they were implicated with each other and the Ministry was unable to make a fuss.
However, many people still submitted their resignations, and the late emperor was mentioned again in the court. The emperor finally gave in. Zhou Min and Qi Yuwei entered the Secretariat, with Qi Yuwei serving as the Right Prime Minister. The Left Prime Minister was temporarily vacant, so Zhou Min served as the Left Prime Minister of the Secretariat. The rest of the people were appointed by the emperor himself.
The chaos ended with both the emperor and his ministers taking a step back, but any discerning person could see that the emperor had finally revealed his tyranny. In this confrontation between power, the emperor won.
In addition to the gradually increasing treasury, the greatest reliance was the bird gun. This item, which was made at a huge price, became the key.
The late emperor once said that whoever has the stronger fist will have his word carried out. This is true for the common people, the court officials, and even the throne.
Zhao Changning looked at the letter from Song Huan and suddenly remembered what the emperor had said before she left, "When you return, perhaps the world will be completely changed, and you will get what you wish for."
She felt a little complicated. What world had changed and whose wish had been fulfilled?
Seeing that the emperor had already consolidated his power, what else did he need? Fortunately, the female official played a significant role in this matter, contributing to the emperor's checks and balances. She didn't have to worry about this matter for the time being.
She could also understand that the emperor did not want to abolish female officials, but she did not understand why the emperor did not let her go back and why he reused Anyi?
She made no mistake.
Zhao Changning had no choice but to submit a memorial, asking the emperor to send someone to assist, and specifically asking for Yunsheng by name.
But after the memorial was submitted, it fell into oblivion and there was no response.
Zhao Changning was disappointed, but she also knew that she couldn't move rashly. The more she talked, the more mistakes she made. The more she did, the more mistakes she made. She could only lie low, but what about Yunsheng?
During this period, Mingxuan's letter also arrived. He was more straightforward, saying that the emperor was now extremely powerful in the court, far from the cold and gentle Fourteenth Prince. It was not known whether abolishing the cabinet and promoting his confidants was a blessing or a curse.
How should the ruler and his subjects get along with each other?
Zhao Changning didn't know either. Even the previous emperor didn't understand this matter. Looking through history books, so many emperors didn't understand it either.
But there is one thing she is very clear about, that is, she absolutely does not want to be a Hu Gouer.
He also highlighted the female officials, saying, "…it's very convenient. All kinds of paperwork are issued very quickly. There's no bribery or sarcasm. We just follow the rules. "Nüshu Ling, I'm cheering for your recommendation of a female official."
Finally, he was very grateful to Zhao Changning for taking care of Yunqiu, and when they met next time, he would personally cook a meal to thank her.
After Zhao Changning learned that he could not return to Fujian for the time being, he concentrated on making tea, and even took over some of Mingxuan's work and built a port with Wen Yu.
That is, after she submitted the report, Yunsheng stopped sending letters, and Song Huan also said that he could not find any information about Yunsheng.
But there was a good thing. She invited a special teacher, a Portuguese, to teach the palace maids and eunuchs the Portuguese bird language.
"If this course can be maintained, those arrogant people in the Ministry of Rites will eventually lower their proud heads. Aunt, I look forward to that day."
Zhao Changning couldn't help but smile. Song Huan really made her worry-free.
In September, 60,000 kilograms of tea were shipped from the port of Fujian. Mingxuan went to Zhejiang at this time and was told that a strange religion was spreading in the local area and he was asked to go and suppress it.
Soon, it was October again, the weather turned cooler, and I heard that the first snow had fallen in Yujing.
Everything seems normal, but one can also feel that there are undercurrents, as if something is about to happen. But now the emperor is wise, the people live in peace, and the world is at peace. What could happen?
Zhao Changning had been suffering from a sore throat and no matter how much cold tea she drank, it didn't help. She always felt uneasy, but she couldn't figure out what was going on.
Finally, a letter came from Yujing.
"...The Third Prince drowned, the Empress was devastated and nearly mad. The Emperor was furious, the palace was in chaos, and the court was also in turmoil..."
Zhao Changning was holding Song Huan's letter and was extremely shocked. However, the letter did not mention why the third prince drowned, but only mentioned it vaguely.
She quickly packed up and prepared to return to Beijing. It was at this time that the emperor finally allowed her to return to Beijing to report on her work.
Granny Xu also started to pack her things, but was stopped by Zhao Changning. "Girl, I have to follow you. How can you take care of yourself?"
Zhao Changning shook his head, very firmly, "No, the journey back this time is not safe. You take Yunqiu to Zhejiang. No, you stay in Fujian and wait for Mingxuan to come back. Don't go out unless necessary."
Gao Cong said before she could even speak: "I must go back with you. I want to return to Yujing. If I stay here, I will implicate them."
Seeing this, Zhao Changning did not stop him. He took him, the bird gun, and the two hired strong men and quietly set off with the boat.
Occasionally she stopped by the roadside, and she did encounter people who came to kill her, which was similar to what happened when she was demoted, but this time she had no soldiers to protect her and could only rely on herself.
Gao Cong had to hide behind her all the way, and he couldn't help feeling guilty. But when he thought of Zhao Changning saying that he was not even as good as a bird gun, he felt justified in his anger. He followed her regardless of his life and death, so what right did Zhao Changning have to say that to him?
Along the way, he cooked for her, although the recipes were made by Mingxuan.
He already has this reputation, so it doesn't matter if he's called a coward.
Fortunately, Anyi is not Hu Gouer. Even if it came to this, he would not have the brains to do so. The female official is still there, and his hand cannot reach far.
Zhao Changning returned to Yujing with difficulty. At this time, it was almost New Year.
I left Yujing at the end of the fourth year of Cheng'an and returned to Yujing at the end of the sixth year of Cheng'an. The seventh year of Cheng'an is about to come.
Yujing is still Yujing, the city walls are tall and majestic, and even the trees along the road are still the same as yesterday. Under the white snow, the world is solemn and solemn.
Everything seems to be unchanged, but only those who live here can see the subtle differences.
For example, the soldiers guarding the gate were replaced twice, the steamed bun shop on the street was replaced by a noodle shop, the old shoe repairman was replaced by a young old man, and the bamboo craftsman had a young wife by his side.
Zhao Changning breathed a sigh of relief, but didn't dare to be careless. He went straight to the gatekeeper and didn't run anymore, waiting for someone to come and pick him up.
The first person to arrive was Zhou Miao. She was very excited to see Zhao Changning.
"My cousin has been talking about you, aunt, you," Zhou Miao burst into tears, "you are finally back."
Only then did Zhao Changning learn about the new events of this year. Although Yunsheng wrote her a letter, the content inside was definitely not what Yunsheng wanted to write, because the emperor had held another beauty contest, and there were several more children in the palace. As a result, the number of palace maids and eunuchs increased by nearly two thousand, and a trend of extravagance gradually emerged. It was impossible for Yunsheng not to tell her.
In addition, the emperor's dominance and indifference also made the queen very heartbroken.
"The Third Prince was drowned by the Second Princess and the Fourth Prince." Zhou Miao's face was filled with tears, and he gritted his teeth. "My cousin helped raise two evil spirits, and yet she couldn't even avenge them. Aunt, our whole family is heartbroken. My cousin is getting older now, almost forty, and there's no way she can have children. The Zhou family..."
Zhao Changning was shocked by what he heard and understood Mingxuan's concerns. Perhaps it was not wrong for the minister to be strong between the monarch and his subjects.
Gao Yun's words echoed in her ears again.
Zhao Changning frowned and took Gao Cong back to Shuier Lane. After bathing and changing clothes, he immediately entered the palace despite his wet hair.
Anyi came to greet her personally, his face alert, "Aunt, you're back."
Zhao Changning nodded slightly at him, walked around and prepared to go to the Qinzheng Hall to see the emperor. At this time, he should be reviewing memorials.
An Yi looked at her back with a complicated look, "Aunt, don't you want to know what's going on in the palace now?"
Zhao Changning suddenly stopped in his tracks, turned around and looked at him, his eyes gleaming with sarcasm. "Do you think replacing me is a great thing, a joyous occasion? Are you prepared to die? Do you truly understand what your godfather said back then? Do you think there's any difference between you and Yunhe?"
Anyi was speechless for a moment after being asked these questions by Zhao Changning.
Zhao Changning looked at him as if he were a dead man, looking at a fool who had no desire for power and didn't even understand what power was.
"Do you really think I'm being magnanimous and kind by letting you stay here? Anyi, it's a gift from God that you can get to where you are now."
After saying that, he turned around, leaving Anyi disheveled in the wind.
Compared to the outside of the palace, the palace was like a stagnant pool of water, with no changes at all. The plum forest outside the Qinzheng Hall was blooming like fire again, but it looked particularly desolate against the backdrop of the white lanterns hanging under the eaves.
Yun Hui, however, remained unchanged. Seeing her aunt entering the palace so quickly, she stepped forward cautiously and said briefly, "Aunt, be careful. The Emperor is waiting for you."
Zhao Changning nodded, patted her shoulder, and walked into the main hall.
The emperor was still reviewing memorials. Now that the cabinet had been abolished and the Secretariat had been established, the emperor had to issue many decrees personally.
The stove in the house was burning brightly, and it was as warm as spring. Two somewhat withered plum blossoms were placed in a sky-blue vase with a thick mouth and a thin neck, emitting a faint cold fragrance.
Zhao Changning hesitated, but knelt down to pay his respects first. Then he quietly walked to the messy imperial desk and tidied it up carefully.
Nothing here has changed, as if she had never left.
She put the sorted memorials into different categories, and turned her head inadvertently, and found that the emperor had a new white hair on his temples, which gleamed silver under the candlelight and was particularly conspicuous.
"Your Majesty," Zhao Changning handed over a cup of warm tea, "Please keep your eyes open."
The emperor raised his head, revealing an increasingly majestic and elegant face, and looked at her calmly.
"Changning, you're back."
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The author has something to say: [helpless] [helpless]
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