Chapter 194: Exploring the original male lead's background...
After hearing the explanation, Song Gu's expression immediately changed, showing that he knew the gravity of the situation.
"Your Highness, rest assured, this servant will take good care of it." Song Gu solemnly replied, her heart filled with excitement, so much so that her body trembled slightly, unable to stop.
He wondered if he had ever seen such a spirited and ambitious new ruler in his past life!
Monitoring the daily entry and exit of palace staff… what other meaning could this statement imply? His Highness, he's plotting to seize the throne!
The divine beings that did not appear in the previous life because of the new ruler's listlessness have come in this life!
With a surge of emotion, Song Gu secretly vowed that even if it cost him his life, he would do everything in his power to preserve the new emperor's well-being. He only hoped that the emperor would be well, steadily supported by everyone, so that they, as ruler and subject, could benefit from this life and surely move forward together!
As the chief steward of the prince, Song Gu couldn't spend all his time in front of the radar, but he didn't trust others to do the job.
He mentally reviewed the eunuchs under his body, and selected Zhao Guofang—the eunuch still called Xiao Fangzi now—who remained loyal and honest after his ascension to the throne in his previous life. He then presented him to the new emperor.
Qi Chengming carefully examined Song Gu for a while, then stared at Xiao Fangzi's name on the talent list, and gritted his teeth and agreed.
He had the anxieties of an ordinary person, but he also forced himself to uphold certain principles of being a ruler. "If you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them." He trusted Song Gu implicitly, and in this situation, he might as well trust the trusted confidant Song Gu recommended. If something went wrong, he would immediately recall all the radars to the system space; things wouldn't be without hope of a turnaround.
"Perfect timing. Don't rush off yet. Make a copy of this list and send it to the Imperial Clan Court for them to read aloud." Qi Chengming led Song Gu into the study and picked up a list from the table. Song Gu, being very perceptive, came over to grind ink and hand over a brush. After the young prince added and revised a few strokes in the blank spaces on the paper, he took it and read it carefully.
Those were the various positions in the Prince's Palace that had been delayed in being finalized.
The rumors had caused quite a stir in the manor, and people were in an uproar, but now the matter has finally been settled.
On the civil service side, the Left Chief Secretary, a fifth-rank official, is still Song Gu, who retains the responsibility of overseeing the entire prefecture and is undoubtedly the Grand Steward. The Right Chief Secretary position is currently vacant, depending on the academic performance of Qin Liusong.
He Santie was appointed as a clerk of the ninth rank. Although the position was low, he was finally able to make use of his talents instead of being a lazy official who was good at both calligraphy and painting.
On the military side, Commander Mao was rightfully appointed as a fifth-rank military advisor, and his two clerks were given to Youzi and Zhao Emao.
The old Imperial Guard under Commander Mao, skilled in investigation, was transferred to the Prince's court as a deputy clerk, receiving a rank of ninth grade. The two stewards, Hua and Liu, were respectively in charge of regulations and medicine, each becoming a clerk—yes, they both came to the capital, much to the delight of both families. Only some eunuchs and the original servants remained in Liuzhou.
Xiao Dezi is in charge of the storeroom, and Xiao Chengzi is in charge of the food. Now that they are officials, they should revert to their original surnames and adopt formal names. Qi Chengming specifically instructed them that Song Gu would have to make a trip to their place later to make the necessary records.
Then Bishu took charge of the artisans' workshop...
After filling in some familiar names for the remaining positions, the remaining tasks were mostly completed by skilled workers appointed by Emperor Hongren, who thoroughly filled in the framework of the Prince's Palace.
"Putting everything else aside, once Bishu becomes an official, go and find out her real name. Also, I don't want to hear any rumors, either inside or outside the manor," Qi Chengming specifically instructed.
Song Gu understood the new emperor's high regard for him and nodded knowingly, "Understood."
Besides the civil and military officials of the Prince's Palace, a total of eight positions were meticulously divided, with the previous responsibilities held by three stewards being delegated and assigned to individuals. People of standing now received official positions, and everyone was delighted; it was a joyous occasion.
But only Bishu's matter might cause a stir—we must pay attention to it.
The situation at the Eighth Palace seems normal now. It is mostly managed by officials, eunuchs and palace maids. For example, Gan Tang, the personal maid, is a deputy clerk in charge of the storeroom, assisting Xiao Dezi. She is also a ninth-rank official with a salary.
So what exactly is the difference between her and Bishu?
Whether it's the imperial palace or a prince's residence, there's actually a distinction between the front and back courtyards. The eight departments within a prince's residence encompass the responsibilities of both the front and back courtyards, much like a simplified version of the imperial palace's internal affairs department combined with the framework of the imperial court and the Dali Temple, among others.
It's like a fully functioning mini-court.
Within the palace, female officials were only responsible for matters concerning the inner palace or internal affairs. Some became trusted subordinates of the empresses, holding positions of considerable influence. Others worked in the Imperial Household Department, wielding considerable power and influence, managing important duties such as food, fabrics, and the storeroom. However, matters outside the inner palace were handled by regular officials.
The eight departments within Prince Rui's residence should also have such strict regulations, currently divided into two systems, inner and outer. If palace maids like Bishu and Gantang wish to be promoted, they can only follow the process of becoming female officials, which is their exclusive promotion system. Gantang is currently a female official responsible for the internal affairs of the Prince's residence.
However, since the Prince Rui's residence had no mistress, the front and back courtyards were always managed equally, with no clear distinction between them. Therefore, the boundaries between internal and external duties were very weak. For Bi Shu to cross these boundaries and be appointed as the official clerk of the Craftsmen's Office at this time was unprecedented—a legitimate official position, equivalent to a registered official in the Ministry of Works.
Strictly speaking, her new identity even allows her to leave the palace and attend court, and she can rightfully call herself a subject of Emperor Hongren.
How could a palace maid not be promoted within the royal palace system, but instead compete with eunuchs and officials for credit outside?
Qi Chengming had already publicly acknowledged Bi Shu's involvement with the emperor, ensuring she wouldn't attract attention outside the palace; she would simply be seen as quietly managing the craftsmen. Song Gu, however, wanted to maintain a semblance of secrecy within the household.
Having been reborn once, he knew in his heart that the new emperor genuinely intended to use Bishu as an official—this originally simple palace maid possessed such talent and ability.
The list was submitted, and new officials began to arrive at the government office one after another. Everything was in good order and gradually got on track.
...
After the congratulations from all nations, officials from the Court of State Ceremonial accompanied the now-docile delegation in a three-day banquet. They then led the delegation around to showcase the capital's current strength before finally sending them off.
Qi Chengming devoted himself to the honeycomb briquette factory, eager to develop the coal formula before the weather got colder. He almost wore out the thick two-volume book "Friends of Dual-Use Talents for Military and Civilian Use," and he spent every day having heated discussions with Bi Shu, Zhao Jianghu, and several vice ministers from the Ministry of Works.
He never stops, and now he's setting up cement plants, glass factories, blast furnace steel mills, and all sorts of other businesses, from meat shops to candy and pastry shops.
These places are difficult to support without manpower, and they can't be built in a short time. Qi Chengming simply applied for land first, and planned to have officials from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue keep an eye on them, while his own people taught them step by step for a period of time before making any decisions.
Fortunately, there was a list of those who had pledged allegiance to Grand Tutor Wu and Grand Secretary Mu. The names on the list were all reliable and capable officials, at least they were law-abiding and wouldn't be jealous of others' success. This also reduced the amount of chaos and trouble, so that Qi Chengming wouldn't have to worry about this even more when he was already overwhelmed with work.
Because he was too busy to be in two places at once, Qi Chengming even conscripted men from the Xue family, the family that had come to him for help. After all, they were minor officials who could speak and write, weren't they? The Xue family never expected that they would be able to turn their fortunes around because of this.
The outskirts of the capital were changing almost daily as a result. The Sixth Prince had no intention of blocking anyone; whatever location or mountain his second brother requested, he readily approved it, carefully fulfilling his duties. Once, the Sixth Prince was so envious that he cautiously offered his brother, who was also a student's companion, as a test. Surprisingly, his request was granted!
His second elder brother generously went directly to the Emperor and handed him the job at the glass factory, but made it clear beforehand: "Sixth brother, this isn't for my benefit, but rather something Father expects of you. Father hates nothing more than those parasites who line their own pockets..."
The sixth prince also received a meaningful look, a look that hinted at a subtle malice.
He suddenly realized the intention perfectly.
Doesn't their father know whether or not he can tolerate corruption? It's clearly their second brother who can't! If he dares to commit such an offense... it won't just be a question of whether or not he'll get a job, but whether or not their father will report him to the emperor.
The sixth prince has now given up on competing for the throne and doesn't value his father's favor as much, but he's worried that his second brother's impression of him will suffer!
The sixth prince patted his chest and sincerely guaranteed it again, then invited his second brother to dinner: "I'll host a banquet, let's have lunch at Chun Ya Pavilion! I heard that there are many fresh dishes from Jiangnan there, which are even more delicious than those made by the imperial chefs in the palace."
He mentioned inviting me last month, and now we've finally got the chance.
To ensure he wouldn't offend any of his brothers, the Sixth Prince also planned to invite the Eldest Prince, who was currently doing very well in the Ministry of War, so that the two of them could go together to "thank" their Second Brother.
Qi Chengming smiled silently, thinking of the various recipes circulating in his household and the fresh delicacies of Jiangnan. But he also harbored expectations—
The ancients were actually quite innovative. Ever since sesame oil and pork became widely available, the variety of stir-fried dishes has been constantly increasing. Perhaps some new stir-fry dish has emerged in the Jiangnan region.
The three brothers, in a harmonious and respectful atmosphere, were heading out when they spotted a thin, frail figure standing forlornly outside the prince's residence, lost in thought. Despite the freezing weather, his clothes were ill-fitting, the fabric appearing worn and faded from repeated washing, with little fur remaining.
"Seventh brother?" The eldest prince was surprised for a moment, then a smile appeared on his lips that was neither a smile nor a smile. He glanced at his second brother's reaction and remained silent.
"What are you doing here, Seventh Brother?" Qi Chengming paused for a moment, then asked calmly.
The memory of watching palace dramas resurfaced, instantly triggering his alarm bells. He dared not underestimate the original male lead in the story. Was he deliberately portraying a pathetic state and being mistreated by servants? Or was he showing people how he would appear after being punished...?
But why show it to the three of them? If they were going to perform, they should have done it in front of Emperor Hongren. Based on Qi Chengming's understanding of the old emperor over this period, Emperor Hongren might have softened a little and even lost his temper. No matter how much he disliked his son, he wouldn't tolerate anyone bullying him.
Qi Chengming was still scrutinizing the situation.
The young boy turned around, looking as awkward as the Sixth Prince's second brother, and asked his three older brothers with little confidence, "Eldest brother, second brother, sixth brother... are you leaving the palace?"
He asked with longing, looking extremely envious.
In the palace, only the youngest prince, the seventh prince, is not attending court or participating in political affairs, and he has no official duties. He's not much older than the others, and normally, given Emperor Hongren's favor, he might have been given special opportunities ahead of schedule. But now, because of Qi Chengming's assassination attempt, Emperor Hongren has distanced himself from him, so he can only watch with envy.
The eldest prince and the sixth prince exchanged glances, neither able to bring up the topic of not including the seventh prince or continuing the conversation: "..."
If this were presented to the Emperor, he would say they weren't respectful or affectionate enough as brothers.
Qi Chengming's mind stirred, and he also wanted to explore the original male lead's intentions, so he lost his resistance and took the initiative to invite him: "We were just about to go to the restaurant for a meal, why don't you come with us, Seventh Brother?"
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Author's Note: I went back to my hometown to recuperate these past few days, and I was shocked to discover that I might not be weak and sickly, or my immune system might not have recovered... it's just that I'm having trouble adjusting to the new city! I felt much better after getting home, and the journey didn't cause me any more illnesses...
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