Chapter 346: The Lady of the Marquisate vs. the Younger Prince 89
Penglai Restaurant is very lively.
Sitting by the window on the first floor was a table of newly-appointed scholars. As they had not yet been assigned positions, they had plenty of time to chat and socialize.
Kong Liang remained low-key, but as he was the top scholar, he naturally attracted widespread attention and was pushed to the main seat. Everyone also complimented him a lot.
"Mr. Kong is a young and promising man. I don't know how many women in the capital have won his heart. I heard that Minister Zhao is interested in choosing a son-in-law. Minister Zhao has only one daughter. Doesn't the Zhao family belong to Brother Kong in the future?"
"I heard that the princess also intends to marry the young princess. I wonder if it's true or not? The prince consort was the third place winner in the imperial examination, and the princess prefers young and handsome men. If I were younger, I might be able to marry the princess."
"Brother Kong has a promising future. No matter who you hook up with, you won't have to worry about your future. You are all of the same age. I hope you can help me in the future."
Everyone burst into laughter, drinking glass of wine one after another, and were already a little tipsy.
Kong Liang just took a few sips and his face turned deep red. He made the excuse that he couldn't handle the alcohol, so people didn't try to persuade him anymore.
"You don't have to guess anymore. I have already gone to the Ji family to propose marriage. We have exchanged birth dates and horoscopes. If nothing unexpected happens, the marriage is settled."
Kong Liang did not wait for a good price. Since he had decided to marry the third daughter of the Ji family, he could not allow these gossips to spread everywhere. This was unfair to the third daughter and would also tarnish the reputation of the other daughters.
Everyone couldn't help but feel regretful. "Prime Minister Ji's daughter is already married. Is your brother going to marry a daughter from a branch of the family? After all, there is still a gap between them."
Another person said, "People only know the eldest daughter of the Ji family, but few know that Ji Shoufu has a concubine's daughter. But she is not famous for her talent, and I don't know if she is worthy of Brother Kong."
Kong Liang smiled shyly, revealing the shyness of a young man, "The daughters of the Ji family are naturally good. It's obvious that I am marrying up to the level of the Third Miss."
Everyone laughed and joked, "You are indeed young, thin-skinned, and shy. It seems that you have already seen it. However, the eldest daughter of the Ji family was well-known in the capital back then, and the third daughter should not be bad either."
Kong Liang breathed a sigh of relief. He had never actually met the Third Miss Ji, and didn't know whether she was pretty or ugly, or what her personality was like, but he couldn't let outsiders think that the Third Miss was a bad person.
A new recruit came in breathlessly, shouting, "Something bad has happened! I heard that Prime Minister Ji has resigned!"
With a buzzing sound, the entire Penglai Restaurant became restless. Many people gathered around and started asking questions at once.
Kong Liang thought he had heard it wrong and was a little bit unconvinced. It was not until the person next to him pushed him that he came to his senses and said sternly:
"You are talking nonsense! Prime Minister Ji is just recuperating at home, and His Majesty the Third Prince even came to visit him in person. How could he possibly resign? His Majesty would not agree to that!"
The newly-appointed Jinshi drank a large cup of tea and said with a bitter face, "I don't believe it either, but it's all spread out there. Ji Shoufu finally came to court today and he said right away that he was old and weak and wanted to resign. He even handed in his official tablet and seal."
"The emperor kept the memorial of Ji Shoufu's resignation, and I don't know what it said."
Kong Liang really couldn't understand why Prime Minister Ji wanted to resign?
In order to appease Prime Minister Ji, the emperor also reprimanded the second prince and asked him to reflect on his mistakes in seclusion. Prime Minister Ji still had a sincere heart, and Pei Ci Fu was just a clown. When Prime Minister Ji "recovered from his illness" and returned, the cabinet was still under the control of Prime Minister Ji.
Everyone at the table stood up and started chattering.
"What do you mean old and weak? Ji Shoufu is less than 40 years old and is in the prime of his life. He must have been driven away by Pei Cifu!"
"Humph! I think Pei Ci Fu himself is not clean. I don't believe that the imperial examination fraud has nothing to do with him? I don't know how he deceived the emperor in the court, and Your Majesty didn't kill him!"
"If it weren't for Prime Minister Ji re-examining the papers and ranking the candidates, many talented people would have failed. If Prime Minister Ji really left, I wonder what the court would be like in the future."
"Brother Kong, where are you going?"
Kong Liang couldn't stay there any longer. He didn't believe that Pei Ci Fu could drive away Ji Shou Fu. There must be another reason.
Minister Zhao of the Ministry of Revenue was recommended by Prime Minister Ji. Although Minister Zhao always felt that he had achieved his success through his own abilities, with Minister Zhao's temper, without Prime Minister Ji's protection, he would have been harmed countless times.
The six ministries can get along peacefully and the government orders can be understood by the whole country, and Ji Shoufu has made an indelible contribution.
The emperor is obsessed with power struggles and cannot distinguish between right and wrong. If Prime Minister Ji is gone, will this court still be the court he wants to serve?
Kong Liang ran out in a hurry and bumped into a carriage head-on. Fortunately, the carriage stopped quickly and no one was hurt.
Ji Yunhuan did not get off the carriage. After all, she should be "recuperating" at home now. She also heard the rumors on the street.
No wonder her father agreed to let her out today. It turned out that everything was a foregone conclusion. She wanted to stop her father, but it was too late.
Ji Yunhuan felt a pang of bitterness in his heart, almost filled with guilt, "Go home, I want to see my father."
The carriage passed the square in front of the Penglai Restaurant, where many scholars were talking and discussing. Everyone was skeptical. Some people felt that Prime Minister Ji was retreating to advance and it was impossible for him to give up his high position.
Ji Yunhuan understood that her father sincerely resigned from his post so that she could marry Jing Yu.
The curtain of the carriage was lifted, Jing Yu jumped in, and Shiqin went out very discerningly and sat on the shaft of the carriage.
Jing Yu came over and sat next to Sister Huan, and put his arm around her shoulders. "Father-in-law doesn't want you to feel guilty, so he asked me to come and persuade you."
Ji Yunhuan's eyes were red, and she glared at Jing Yu in anger, "It's all your fault! Why did you come to propose marriage for no reason? Father is betting the entire Ji family, betting that my vision is right, and betting that you can win!"
"I chose to accompany you through fire and water, but my father has the entire Ji family behind him. Without Prime Minister Ji in the court, there will be no leader. The vassals and relatives of the Ji family, and my father's disciples will definitely be suppressed. How difficult life will be."
Jing Yu's hand had already moved to Ji Yunhuan's waist. He really missed Sister Huan. Before he could caress her twice, Ji Yunhuan pushed his hand away and said angrily:
"Before the emperor agrees, father should go back and apologize. There is still room for maneuver. You don't need to persuade me. You should persuade my father."
Jing Yu sighed helplessly, "Father-in-law knew you would think this way. You want the Ji family to be immune to the struggle in the court, but who can be immune to the struggle in the court?"
"My father-in-law didn't do this entirely for you. The Second Prince is very ambitious, and the Emperor is obsessed with supporting the Second Prince and has been slow to appoint a Crown Prince. The political situation is too stable now. If nothing changes, how can I have a chance to come forward?"
"Sister Huan, I am now in charge of the Ministry of Justice. I will not withdraw. Soon I will have a seat in the court. Whether my father is willing or not, he will make me the crown prince!"
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