Chapter 526 You want him to enter officialdom?
Shang Ruyi was filled with joy and pride for Shen Wuzheng, and a deep smile couldn't be contained on her face. Seeing her like this, Ji Hong also smiled faintly, his aged eyes, weathered by time, slowly turning back to the main hall—
At this time, some officials of lower rank began to leave the Taiji Hall and return to their respective departments to stay at their posts; others remained in the hall to discuss how to deal with the epidemic. In short, the hall was bustling with people and filled with noise.
But a hint of desolation appeared in Ji Hong's eyes.
He smiled faintly and said, "Once the important matters are settled, some of the old guys here will retire as they should. In the end, the Taiji Hall and the court will belong to the young. Your cousin will definitely achieve great things."
"...!"
Shang Ruyi's eyes lit up.
Yes, Shen Wuzheng's future!
She had previously tried to persuade Shen Shiyan to stay away from the court, and had also talked about this with Shen Wuzheng at the Zhanping River post station. Both of them expressed dissatisfaction and disappointment with the court at that time, so she always believed that Shen Wuzheng should also stay away from that dangerous, even filthy, court.
But the situation is different now than before.
If Yuwen Yuan ascends the throne, the court will surely take on a new look. Shen Wuzheng is learned and capable. If he can work in such a court, it will be a blessing for the court and the people, and it will not be in vain for his years of hard study!
Shang Ruyi immediately said, "Thank you for your help, Lord Ji!"
Upon hearing this, both Ji Hong and Yuwen Ye, who were standing in front of her, were taken aback for a moment, but then they both understood—the fastest way for Shen Wuzheng to enter officialdom was through someone's patronage. Since he was closest to Shang Ruyi, if he entered officialdom through this route, people would inevitably think he relied on kinship, and even if he was highly capable, it would certainly cause controversy. However, if he entered officialdom through Ji Hong's patronage, the situation would be different. Ji Hong was a highly respected veteran official, and by entering officialdom through him, Shen Wuzheng's reputation would be much cleaner.
Looking into Shang Ruyi's clear eyes, Ji Hong couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He had been impressed by this young mistress of the Duke's mansion when he visited Dayan Temple. Now it seemed that she was quick-witted, intelligent, loyal to the emperor and patriotic, yet not bound by etiquette, and not blindly loyal.
If she were a man, she would probably be no less capable than those people in the court today who wear court robes and hold tablets.
However, even though she is a woman, she seems to be stronger than many others.
Thinking of this, Ji Hong smiled, looking at Yuwen Qian, who had entered Daxing City without losing a single soldier, and Yuwen Ye, who had made countless military achievements and was renowned, as well as Shang Ruyi in front of him, and sighed: "With a son and daughter-in-law like these, how can the Duke of Sheng not succeed in his great cause?"
After saying that, he simply cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to them, then turned and left with a sigh.
Although he didn't say it explicitly, Shang Ruyi knew from his attitude that he had agreed. She bowed deeply to his back, and when she turned around, she saw Yuwen Ye frowning slightly, looking at her thoughtfully.
Shang Ruyi asked, "What's wrong?"
Yuwen Ye looked at her: "You want him to enter officialdom?"
Shang Ruyi shook her head: "It's not that I want him to—my brother wouldn't listen to my arrangements anyway. I just feel that if he can't put his knowledge and skills to good use, he will be letting himself down, and it will also be a loss for the court and the people."
"..."
"Therefore, if there is a possibility, I am willing to lend him a hand."
"..."
Yuwen Ye looked at her for a while, and finally nodded: "Indeed, it would be a loss to the court if someone like him didn't become an official."
Shang Ruyi smiled and nodded.
But after laughing, when she looked at Yuwen Ye again, she seemed to have thought of something, and her expression suddenly froze. Yuwen Ye seemed to sense something as well and asked, "What's wrong?"
"you--"
Shang Ruyi hesitated, as if unsure how to begin, before finally whispering, "You will go—"
But before she could finish speaking, she suddenly saw someone walking past them, preparing to leave the Taiji Hall. She quickly turned around and called out to the person, "Lord Yan, please wait!"
"...?"
Yuwen Ye was taken aback and immediately followed her gaze to the side, where he saw that the person preparing to leave the main hall was none other than Yan Shaoxuan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.
This man was about the same age as Yuwen Yuan, not tall, but clearly a robust middle-aged man with a few graying temples and piercing eyes that revealed a shrewdness. Upon hearing Shang Ruyi call him, he immediately stopped and politely asked, "Young Madam Yuwen, what is it?"
Shang Ruyi hurriedly walked up to him, bowed, and said, "Lord Yan, I have a favor to ask."
"Oh? Please go ahead."
“Yesterday in the Liangyi Hall, His Majesty the Emperor and the Princess promised me that if a calamity were to occur today, fulfilling the prophecy of the comet’s appearance, they would declare the Zhili Lang innocent and release him. Just now—it has already happened. I beg Lord Yan to order my uncle’s release.”
Yan Shaoxuan raised an eyebrow slightly: "Is that so?"
Shang Ruyi hurriedly said, "This matter is of great importance, and I would never dare to lie. If Lord Yan does not believe me, you may ask His Majesty and the Princess for confirmation. But my uncle—he is in poor health and cannot remain in prison any longer. I beg Lord Yan to do me this favor."
"this--"
Yan Shaoxuan hesitated for a moment, then looked at Shang Ruyi and forced a smile, "I naturally wouldn't doubt what you say, Madam. However, the Ministry of Justice has rules for detaining and releasing people. If there's no written order from His Majesty, there should at least be an oral order. But just now, His Majesty didn't say anything, nor did he issue any written order. If I'm asked to release them like this, what if something goes wrong—"
Shang Ruyi hurriedly said, "Lord Yan can immediately go and verify with His Majesty and the Eldest Princess!"
Yan Shaoxuan looked back and said, "But just now, the inner palace was sealed off."
"ah?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi immediately became anxious.
Just then, Yuwen Ye slowly walked to Shang Ruyi's side, bowed to Yan Shaoxuan, and said, "Lord Yan, this situation is special. His Majesty has already returned to the inner palace to avoid the epidemic. Where did the imperial edict come from? Why don't you take responsibility and release the official in charge of rites first? Once this matter is settled, I will immediately ask my father to provide you with a written edict."
"...!"
A glint flashed in Yan Shaoxuan's eyes, and he immediately understood.
Yuwen Ye was trying to win him over, and at the same time, he was doing him a favor.
After all, everyone standing in the court today knows that once the "major matter is settled," the real imperial edict will not be issued by that child who was just terrified by the plague, but by the father of this General Tian Ce, the person who will truly be able to issue the edict in the future.
By then, Shen Shiyan had already been released, so the supplementary edict would no longer be an edict to release Shen Shiyan.
It is, rather, a personal achievement!
Moreover, he understood that at such a crucial moment, Minister Zheng of the Ministry of Justice's continued sick leave clearly indicated his dissatisfaction with the Grand Chancellor's monopolization of power and even the Grand Secretary's blatant suggestion that the Emperor abdicate. Since he had already expressed his stance, if the Grand Chancellor were to truly ascend the throne, he feared his position as Minister Zheng would be insecure, and at that time—
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