After seeing Xie Yunxiu off, Xu Jing called Bai Lu, Ling Xiao and several other elders over.
Bai Lu is now a fourth-rank female official beside Xu Jing, responsible for handling harem affairs.
Xu Jing felt that it was a bit of a waste of talent to let Bai Lu, who was both civil and military, be her housekeeper, and he had to make new arrangements.
"Bai Lu, you are not young anymore. If there is a man you like, I can arrange a marriage for you."
Bai Lu was capable and graceful in her actions. She had no qualms about talking about marriage.
"In reply to your Majesty, I do not wish to get married."
This is what Bai Lu thought. Rather than marrying blindly and finding a suitable man to live with, it would be better to stay by the emperor's side and be a court lady.
Life was pretty good now. She had plenty of people fawning over her, and she had her own mansion. She didn't need to rely on others for support, and being on her own was much freer.
Xu Jing asked, "Is there really no one I like?"
"No." Bai Lu said, "I want to stay in the palace to accompany Your Majesty and help you solve your problems."
Xu Jing looked at Xiangcao and asked, "What are your plans? Getting married or staying in the palace?"
"I want to stay in the palace with Sister Bailu and don't want to get married."
Xu Jing said, "Xiangcao, I appoint you as a fifth-rank attendant, replacing Bai Lu in charge of all affairs of the six harem offices. From now on, your name will be Lan Yue."
Lan Yue knelt down and kowtowed. "Your servant Lan Yue accepts your command and thanks you."
"Bai Lu, I appoint you as a Third Rank Emissary, responsible for drafting documents for the Cabinet. From now on, the Silijian will be under your control."
"Your humble servant obeys your order."
"Ling Xiao."
Ling Xiao knelt down and said, "I am here."
Xu Jing said, "I'll leave the Imperial City Division in your charge. Contact the previous commander as soon as possible and recruit personnel from various locations. I need to be fully informed of important local affairs. Have Xiangpu establish an intelligence network throughout the region and report any signs of trouble to me immediately."
"Your humble servant obeys your order."
"Okay, everyone, leave."
Xu Jing couldn't help but sigh. There were still so few people around him who could be used. Recruiting people was urgent.
The government should have a traditional HR system, which doesn't require the traditional imperial examination system to recruit people. Instead, they should immediately recruit the right person. Unfortunately, there are too many old and pedantic people in the court, and any big move could easily backfire.
While reviewing the memorials, Xu Jing asked Feng Bao, "Feng Bao, how many of those Jinshi who passed the imperial examination in the thirty-fifth year of the late emperor are still in the capital?"
In order to please the emperor as quickly as possible, Feng Bao stayed up all night to intensively study. Whenever he had free time, he would consult the eunuchs of the previous emperor for advice, and now it finally came in handy.
"Second place winner Feng Ke is still working as an editor in the Imperial Academy, third place winner Yan Xing is serving as Junior Minister of the Dali Temple, and Grand Tutor Song Xingcheng's son Song Yongzhen is serving as a Doctor of the Ministry of Revenue, and..."
"That's enough. What are the personalities of these three people? Are they worthy of being reused?"
Feng Bao replied, "Feng Ke is pedantic and inflexible, and he loves compiling books. Yan Xing is generous and unconcerned with details, but he's inefficient and is being ostracized by the Dali Temple. Song Yongzhen, on the other hand, loves to manage money, but he's also straightforward and easily offends people."
Xu Jing held his forehead. "None of them sounded reliable." To be among the top in the imperial examination, they must have some special qualities. At least they must have a good memory and be highly efficient.
It’s a pity that there is no one available now, I still have to meet him.
Xu Jing said, "After court tomorrow, go summon the three of them to the Purple Palace. I'll see if the rumors are true."
"Yes. Your Majesty must have dinner."
Well, I was so busy that I even forgot to eat dinner.
Xu Jing put down his pen and rubbed his aching wrist. "Serve the meal." "Your Majesty, Lord Zhou wishes to see you."
Xu Jing asked, "Which Lord Zhou?"
"Minister of Personnel Zhou Siheng."
Oh, Xu Jing just remembered that the eunuchs from the cabinet had gone to Zhou's residence to announce the imperial decree. Were they coming to the palace to express gratitude?
"Xuan."
When Zhou Siheng entered, Xu Jing was having his meal. There were only five dishes on the table, three of which were vegetarian, worse than what he, a minister, ate.
"Have you eaten yet?"
After Zhou Siheng bowed and greeted, he said, "I have something to tell Your Majesty."
"explain."
"I heard that Your Majesty is going to marry. Is this true?"
Xu Jing put down his chopsticks and said with a smile, "Are you here to confront me about this?"
"I dare not." Zhou Siheng lowered his head and said, "I do not want the emperor to marry. If the emperor really wants to marry, it will only be me."
He seems quite confident.
Xu Jing finished eating and asked the eunuch to clear the table. After rinsing his mouth, he said, "My promise to you is valid. Give me some time, and I will take care of the rest."
"Your Majesty." Zhou Siheng looked up at him, tears welling up in his eyes without him noticing. "I know I was being too presumptuous. Before I came here, I knew you would refute me and kill me. But I didn't expect Your Majesty to actually agree. I truly don't deserve such kindness from Your Majesty."
"What's worth it? If you're so fussy about everything, what's the point?" Xu Jing waved at him and said, "Come here."
Zhou Siheng followed his instructions and walked over.
Xu Jing held him in his arms and whispered, "Do you know why I was angry yesterday?"
"Perhaps I have neglected Your Majesty."
"No." Xu Jing smiled and said, "I'm angry because you don't take me seriously."
Zhou Siheng retorted: "No, Your Majesty is much more important to me."
His face flushed with shame, and he couldn't swallow the words he had spoken. He could only grab Xu Jing's belt and bury his head in his chest. "Your Majesty, I don't want to touch her because she saved my life. If I repay kindness with hatred, Your Majesty will not tolerate me."
"Why can't I tolerate it?" Xu Jing sighed and said, "You've already paid back what you owed her, so why are you still thinking about her? I'm angry that you're too soft-hearted. My surroundings are full of dangers, and if you keep being kind, I'm afraid you'll be taken advantage of by those with ulterior motives."
Xu Jing took his hand and found a seat. "You've become a favorite of mine now. There are people fawning over you and flattering you. They all approach you with ulterior motives. If you're not careful, you'll be ensnared. How do you expect me to rescue you when the time comes?"
"If that day ever comes, Your Majesty, please don't punish me. I will accept the blame."
The officialdom is like a battlefield. How can a clean-handed person survive to the end?
Who among those who have been in officialdom for decades is a good person?
What Xu Jing feared was that his soft-heartedness would give others leverage to attack him.
I was even more afraid that I would push him to the forefront, and by then it would be too late to protect him. He had to stand up on his own, otherwise no one could save him.
"Or, you can stay in my harem as the Phoenix Queen and teach the Qingfeng Palace's hostages for me."
Zhou Siheng was so angry that he didn't know how to start speaking for a moment.
Xu Jing pinched his angry face and said, "Stay in the harem. I will protect you from the storm outside."
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