Ji Dongxue presented the memorial, and Emperor Mingde glanced at it briefly before raising his eyes and asking, "How many officials have completed their terms but have not yet been transferred?"
"Your Majesty, I must go and do some statistics," he said, bowing.
Emperor Mingde slammed the memorial onto the dragon desk and said coolly, "No need. I've already had someone compile the statistics for you. You, Ji Dongxue, as the head of the Ministry of Personnel, I give you a salary and authority, and this is how you manage the Ministry of Personnel for me!"
Ji Dongxue hurriedly explained, “Your Majesty, these re-elected officials have excellent reputations. Moreover, I believe that frequent changes in local officials are not conducive to the development of people’s livelihood. A region cannot prosper without its virtuous officials. If the changes are too frequent, I fear it will be difficult to govern.”
Emperor Mingde was furious. He picked up the memorial on the table and threw it in Ji Dongxue's face. "I'm giving you the empire. How about you govern it?"
Ji Dongxue lowered his head and knelt down with a thud. "Your Majesty, I dare not. Every word I have said is true. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly."
He cannot admit his mistake; if he backs down, he will face an abyss.
Emperor Mingde sneered, "I, the emperor, can't even control my own Minister of Personnel. It's truly a disgrace to our ancestors. Did you consult me before making these decisions?"
Ji Dongxue raised his head, his gaze firm and neither humble nor arrogant, and said, "Your Majesty, I drafted a memorial at the time, and you reviewed it with your vermilion pen, which is why I dared to leave their terms untouched."
When Emperor Mingde saw that he refused to admit his mistake and was still being stubborn, he was furious and pointed at him, saying, "Go and bring me the list of all the officials who have not been promoted for more than three years." Although he was pointing at Ji Dongxue, he was actually speaking to Wang Jiyang.
Wang Jiyang glanced at Ji Dongxue, took his leave, and went out of the Taihe Hall. He then ran into Sun Ganzheng. As a junior and a subordinate, he gave a junior's greeting, "Lord Sun," and walked past Sun Ganzheng.
At this moment, Emperor Mingde's voice came from inside, "Officials are strict and disciplined, and the people are honest and kind. There are no corrupt officials and no treacherous ministers in the court. I don't know where you have learned all the classics. When your mentors recommended you for official positions, did they ever think that you would end up like this? I wonder if they would feel heartbroken and ashamed. Where do you place yourselves in the laws of the court!"
Sun Ganzheng listened and muttered to himself, "The Emperor has gone to any lengths to achieve his goals, what a tyrant!"
Zhao Shu couldn't see what was happening in the Taihe Hall. At that moment, Xiao Zhuzi was bowing his head and reporting, "Princess, news has come from the palace that the Emperor has sent Lord Wang to investigate officials who have served for more than three consecutive years."
After listening, she gently stroked the green peony that the Empress had given her, without looking at Xiao Zhuzi, and said softly, "I understand. Where is the teacher?"
"The gentleman is playing chess with the prince," he answered truthfully.
Zhao Shu smiled faintly, "It's time. Go to the yamen and beat the grievance drum."
"Yes." Xiao Zhu bowed and withdrew.
After Xiao Zhuzi left, Zhao Shu led Luoluo to Chensong Courtyard. When they arrived, Bi Qiao and Uncle Fu were not there; Qingxi was guarding the door. Zhao Shu stopped Qingxi from speaking.
Luo Hu said to Prince Yong, "The Empress Dowager is probably going to bestow a marriage upon you. Aren't you worried? Even if you're not worried, you should think about my student. Are you going to take care of her dowry?"
“With the Imperial Household Department here, they wouldn’t dare to withhold A-Jun’s dowry. Not to mention me, you should also find someone to take care of her. I have my own daughter, but you don’t.” After saying this, Prince Yong moved a horse on the chessboard.
Luo Hu stared at the chessboard. "I have enough students. You wouldn't understand someone who wanders the world."
“You have a good idea. A student is a student, and a daughter is a daughter. They cannot be compared. If you cannot find a suitable person, I will give Bi Qiao to you. She is quite old anyway, so she will be just right for you.” Prince Yong was immediately indignant. His daughter had just been raised, and this fellow wanted to snatch her away? How could this be?
Luo Hu clicked his tongue. "What do you mean by 'too old for me'? Am I old?" He looked down at his hands, which were still fair and had not yet developed age spots. "If that's the case, then the eldest daughter of the Huo family is suitable for you. She's about the same age, and she's good to my student. Go and ask for permission."
"Stop talking." Prince Yong suddenly fell silent and continued playing chess.
"Alright, alright, I won't say anymore. You wasted such a great opportunity. What can I say? With your kind heart, my brother Jiang can rest in peace."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Shu gestured for Qingxi to be quiet and then returned to Qionghua Courtyard, thinking about their conversation the whole way.
Women shouldn't be too strong-willed. Take Huo Danlan, for example. She's too strong-willed and independent, which makes it difficult for her to get married. Even after her illness was cured, she still wanted to establish her own household, which is really worrying.
If Huo Danlan were the kind of person who, after seeing a portrait and finding someone fairly handsome, would compromise and marry according to her parents' wishes, the matchmaker's words, and the traditional rites... then she wouldn't be her Aunt Huo.
"Princess, Miss Sun has arrived," Chu Chun reported.
Zhao Shu quickly gathered her chaotic thoughts and said, "Please come in."
"No need to invite me, I'm already here. You seem unhappy, what are you thinking about?" Sun Yun walked in, holding an invitation card and handing it to Zhao Shu.
Upon opening the post, it clearly stated that the Fourth Prince's Consort's Midsummer Flower Banquet was scheduled for June 6th.
The two women, Bao Xia, each found a comfortable spot to sit down, while Chu Chun and the others waited at a distance, not wanting to disturb their conversation.
"Ah Jun, I've heard that my grandmother wants to marry me off to a member of a collateral branch of the Yang family," Sun Yun said worriedly.
Zhao Shu frowned. A collateral branch of the Yang family? Yang Shixuan inexplicably came to mind. He was a collateral branch of the Yang family, but he also attended Emperor Mingde's birthday banquet that day, which showed that he must have gained Yang Zhong's favor over the years. In her previous life, this man was Lin Xiuxue's husband.
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