Chapter 18 Join Me
Chi Li lowered her head slightly, with an evil smile on her lips.
That was a potion that would turn anyone into an idiot if they drank it, and it cost her twenty points.
Turning to look at Zhao Mingyue, he unexpectedly met a pair of bright and clear eyes. Under the hazy moonlight, they sparkled like gem beads. His heart skipped a beat and the words that were about to come to his lips suddenly stopped.
This kind and pure look is really annoying!
Chi Li looked away and walked forward. "That medicine can really calm the nerves. Let's go and go back to rest early. You won't have time to rest later."
A hint of doubt flashed in Zhao Mingyue's eyes. Is there anything that needs her help?
Thinking of this, he put Zhao Chun behind him and quickly caught up with Chi Li.
————
The next day.
Chi Qi called Zhao Mingyue and brought the palace maids to Xihua Palace.
This is where the deceased emperor handled government affairs and met with ministers. The space inside the hall is very large, with a rosewood chair placed in the middle. The long tables on both sides of the hall are filled with memorials and documents.
On the cushion behind the long desk, a man was kneeling, reading and organizing memorials.
Hearing the footsteps of Chi Lan and her group coming in, Wu Wenxiu immediately stood up and bowed to them.
Chi Qi didn't let her kneel down, but said "no need to be polite" and then walked to the seat in the middle and sat down.
Zhao Mingyue had never been to Xihua Palace before. The smell of ambergris mixed with ink in the room was very novel. She looked around and found an embroidered cushion in front of the desk, so she walked over and sat down.
Chunying stood quietly behind her, with lowered brows and eyes.
Dan Yingze stood beside the table, skillfully took the red ink from the copper box and began to grind it.
Wu Wenxiu held up several memorials and came to the desk with her head bowed, looking a little hesitant. "Your Highness, the memorial from the Ministry of Rites has just been delivered."
"They're really quick," Chi Li raised her eyelids slightly and tapped the table with her fingers. "Tell me, what nonsense did those ministers write?"
"It's about the funeral. Minister of Rites Liu Yu insisted on Prime Minister Li's proposal to let the crown prince preside over the funeral." Wu Wenxiu said, with a bit of resentment in his expression.
Chi Li raised her eyebrows and sneered, "I knew that Li Mian, that old man, wouldn't give in so easily. I won't read the memorial. Just write a reply for me and write -"
She paused, and after thinking for a moment, she changed her mind.
"Forget it, there's no need to write it. Just throw it back and ask them to redraft it. The Crown Prince is ill and can't go out to see people. If they have the nerve to delay it, I'll hold them accountable when the Emperor's body stinks and rots."
Zhao Mingyue, who was listening nearby, opened her eyes wide in surprise. Isn't A Niang really afraid of the officials' opinions by doing this?
But the same goes for those officials. Why are they always so conservative? They keep saying that the old system of their ancestors cannot be changed and they keep going against my mother.
Can't they see that A Niang is much more courageous than her useless brother?
She couldn't help but want to say something, but when the words came to her lips, she felt that the affairs of the court were not something she, a princess, could have a say in, so she closed her mouth again.
Hearing Chi Li's order, Wu Wenxiu hesitated, but still responded respectfully: "Yes."
Chi Li then asked, "Is there anything else?"
Wu Wenxiu quickly replied, "The Ministry of Justice has also sent a memorial and case files regarding the names of those to be executed this autumn, which require the Emperor's approval."
"Death penalty list? I'm afraid they won't recognize it even if I approve it now. Let's put it aside for now and talk about it after the funeral."
"Also, there are the memorials that have accumulated during the time His Majesty has been away on tour. Some have been approved by Prime Minister Li, and some have not. I haven't finished sorting them yet."
Chi Yan glanced at the documents on the two long tables, showed an appreciative look, and nodded to Wu Wenxiu:
"Thank you for your diligence, but this won't be finished in a short time, so don't worry. I'll just have you work hard for the next few days. After a while, I'll have someone clean up a few rooms next to Xihua Palace and give them to you as duty rooms. I'll also find a few more people to work with you, so you won't be too busy."
Wu Wenxiu was obviously very happy to be recognized by his boss right after starting work. He just tried to calm down and bowed, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Chi Yu then looked at Dan Ying and said, "You should take charge of this matter. You can select the women officials from the Six Shang Bureaus. They all passed the examinations of the Ministry of Rites. They are literate and proficient in astronomy and arithmetic. The most important thing is that they have to be smart."
Dan Ying Mo Mo paused, then quickly raised the corner of his mouth and responded with a smile, "Yes, Master."
Zhao Mingyue saw her eyebrows raised, looking very excited, and she immediately started to murmur in her heart.
She knew Danying's reputation for loving money. She had made a lot of money by using her identity as the queen's former maid.
A Niang asked her to select people from the Liushang Bureau. Could it be that she wanted to make a fortune again?
Compared with handling memorials and documents and managing palace affairs, there is a world of difference.
Although on the surface the position of Shishu does not even have a rank, in fact, the power is so great that one can interfere in the political affairs of the previous dynasty.
The harem is not allowed to interfere in government affairs, which was originally written into the ancestral laws.
The highest rank these female officials could reach was only a fifth-rank palace lady. If they tried to put their hands forward, they would be executed immediately.
But ever since her father became lazy and gradually handed over power to her mother, this decree became a piece of waste paper. However, except for Queen Chi, no female official could really interfere in state affairs.
However, all of these female officials came from upright families and were well versed in literature and history. They voluntarily left their families and entered the palace through layers of selection. After witnessing the supreme power and enjoying endless wealth, were they really willing to be just a small female official in the harem and fight for the position of head of the firewood room?
Zhao Mingyue had never thought about these questions before, but she felt that the answer was no.
Even someone as indifferent as her would have wondered why the person accepting the officials' kneeling homage could not be her when she saw them at the gate of the capital city.
Therefore, she thought that as long as Danying spread the news, anyone with a little ambition would rush to get in touch with her.
How could Danying not make a killing then? Who cares about literary talent and virtue? They'll just recommend whoever offers the most money.
Thinking of this, Zhao Mingyue couldn't help but frowned. If it were her, she would never hire such a greedy person. Chunying and the others were much more loyal and honest than Danying.
She was lost in thought until a cold voice rang in her ears, "Mingyue, go away."
She raised her eyes hurriedly and saw Chi Qi had already walked out of the palace door, leaving only her back. She quickly stood up and followed her.
————
The sun was shining brightly outside the hall, and the blue-gray marble tiles reflected white light, dazzling the eyes.
The male cicadas chirped one after another, the sound piercing the eardrums like needles. Several eunuchs stood under the tree, holding poles wrapped with spider silk to catch cicadas.
I don’t know if these rootless eunuchs would have a moment of sympathy when they drowned the male cicada that was chirping for a mate in the water, feeling sad for the other party and sympathizing with the other party.
However, people's joys and sorrows are not the same. Zhao Mingyue, as a woman, did not have this feeling. She just felt that the noise was annoying.
He raised his hand to block the light in front of his eyes, and through the gaps between his fingers, he saw Chi Qi standing on the stone steps facing the light. The sunlight outlined her body in a light golden color, giving people a strong sense of unreality.
My mind was shaken and random thoughts arose.
Chi Li suddenly turned around and glanced at her. "What do you think about what happened just now?"
Zhao Mingyue concentrated her thoughts. What happened just now?
Does it mean that the Ministry of Rites will submit a memorial to the Crown Prince requesting him to preside over the funeral, or does it mean that Danying will select a secretary for Wu Shishu?
After hesitating for a moment, he honestly expressed his thoughts and doubts.
"...The book says that we should appoint people based on their merit. But why don't those officials, and you, mother, appoint more capable people?"
Chi Li smiled faintly, but this smile was like a river under a glacier, cold and distant.
"Mingyue, do you think that virtue is more important than position?"
Zhao Mingyue hesitated and nodded. It was written in the book, so it should be correct.
"If you were in my position, and the court was full of people who opposed you, including some so-called talented people, what would you do? Would you listen to them and hide away in your little harem, waiting to die?"
Zhao Mingyue opened her mouth, but for a moment she didn't know how to answer.
She had never thought about these issues. Before this, she only knew that she was a princess, and a princess had to be generous and decent, not fight or compete, and wait obediently to leave the palace, set up a house, get married and have children.
A princess is definitely not allowed to interfere in family and national affairs, as well as the right and wrong of the previous dynasty, otherwise the court officials would be able to drown her with a single spit.
Zhao Mingyue thought for a long time before speaking, "Then promote those who support me and suppress those who oppose me. Didn't that counselor Song Guangyi support my mother last time? Maybe we can use him!"
Seeing her serious answer, Chi Yan couldn't help but chuckle, "Mingyue, you can't just look at those poor party members supporting me without considering what they want from me. The more talented those officials are, the less they want to be inferior to women."
Looking into Zhao Mingyue's clear eyes, he moved closer, reached out to straighten the hair by her ear, and whispered, "That's their position as men."
Zhao Mingyue opened her eyes wide, her breath catching. Only when she felt the warmth beside her ears fade away did she find her voice. "So, mother, are you trying to tell me that when it comes to hiring people, stance is far more important than talent?"
Chi Li seemed a little happy and said with a smile: "You should have the answer in your heart, right?"
When Zhao Mingyue saw her smile, she couldn't help but be stunned. No matter how brightly Chi Li smiled before, her eyes were always cold, but at this moment, she saw a little warm light in her eyes.
Is it an illusion because the sunlight is too bright?
Zhao Mingyue felt confused, as if she understood something, but also as if she understood nothing. The chirping of countless cicadas in her chest made her anxious and uneasy.
Just as he was about to speak, Yuzhao came over with a few guards.
She had a knife at her waist and a bow in her hand.
Who would have thought that a palace maid could actually use a knife? This is really strange - wait, is this really strange?
Yuzhao had no idea what was going on in Zhao Mingyue's mind. She saluted calmly and raised the bow in her hand. "Your Highness, this is the bow you requested. It has a draw weight of 60 kilograms."
Chi Li took the bow and arrow, took out the ring and put it on, hooking her thumb on the bowstring to test it out. "It's a little light, but it's perfect for the princess to practice with."
As he said that, he handed the bow and arrow to Zhao Mingyue.
Zhao Mingyue was a little surprised. So this bow was prepared for her? She took the bow and weighed it in her hand. It was lighter than the bow she had used at the Nanyang Palace Hunting Ground.
"Mom, do you want me to accompany you hunting?" Zhao Mingyue asked doubtfully, with an expression of disapproval on her face.
The capital is not like the temporary palace. Not only is the royal hunting ground far away in Shanglinyuan outside the city, but it is also a period of national mourning, so it is really not suitable to travel.
Chi Yan glanced at her sideways and reached out to tap the bow in her hand. "This is my homework for you. Stroke the bow fifty times a day. Don't be lazy. I won't have time to teach you in the future. I will hire another teacher to teach you."
Zhao Mingyue became interested and asked with a smile, "Which teacher are you going to hire, mother? Is he also going to teach me archery?"
She had only learned music, chess, calligraphy and painting before, but she only dabbled in them and was not proficient in them.
"You'll know when you see her. Go draw the bow first." As if she had thought of something, the smile on Chi Qi's face deepened.
Zhao Mingyue looked at it and curled her lips, "Okay."
Chi Li turned to look at Yu Zhao who was standing beside her, "Keep an eye on the princess. She won't be allowed to have lunch until she's done fifty strokes."
Yu Zhao responded, "Yes."
Zhao Mingyue thought, "It's only fifty strokes, what's so difficult about that?" He picked up his bow and walked towards the front yard.
Seeing that she was confident, Yuzhao smiled and turned to follow her.
Chi Qi looked at their backs as they left, her expression suddenly turned cold, and a dark emotion surged in her dark eyes.
The system, which had been silent for a long time, seemed to sense her change in mood and spoke carefully, "Host, have you noticed that the heroine is becoming more and more relaxed in your presence? Perhaps we can try to change our plan, for example, give up playing the role of the evil stepmother."
Chi Li lowered her head and smiled softly, "Xiao Liu, don't you know that the reason I'm nice to the heroine is just to gain her trust and earn points? Why are you so persistent in persuading me to complete the Lord God's mission?"
In the sea of consciousness, a cold and dangerous heartbeat sounded:
"Perhaps, you can also try to change your mind, for example, join my great acting plan."
The system was a little bit unbelievable, "Ah? Host, are you trying to turn me against you?"
But I am not a human being, and I have no emotions. I can only follow the set procedures.
I won't be deceived by you, host!
Chi Qi looked up into the void, her gaze fixed on a certain spot.
"My points are now enough to buy you a new body. Do you want to experience the real world?"
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