Li Rong hurried out of the Princess's Mansion. When she reached the door, she turned around and said to the attendant in a low voice, "Go find Deputy Chief Shangguan right away and ask her to check the list of court officials that Hua Le and Concubine Rou have had contact with recently. Who put the name of the consort in the hands of the Minister of Personnel? Ask her to find out right away."

The attendant responded in a low voice, and Li Rong got on the carriage, which took her to the palace.

When Li Rong hurried to the palace, Concubine Rou was leading Hua Le to paint their nails.

"Pei Wenxuan actually fainted," Hua Le sat next to Concubine Rou and handed her hand to the maid, who trimmed her nails. She was a little puzzled and asked, "Isn't it good to be the Minister of Personnel? Did he faint or was he too happy?"

"If he is upset, I will be happy." Concubine Rou closed her eyes and let the servants massage her back and trim her nails. She said lazily, "But I am afraid that he has passed out."

"You're still angry even after getting promoted," Hua Le frowned, "How is that possible?"

"How is that impossible?" Concubine Rou explained slowly without even looking at him, "If he were smarter, he would definitely not be happy."

"Why?"

"If he becomes the Minister of Personnel, the court officials will not agree," Concubine Rou looked down at her fingernails painted bright red, her voice calm, "Not only will he not be able to take the position, but it will also cause suspicion from His Majesty, who will wonder how powerful the princess is. If the princess is too powerful, His Majesty will definitely be worried. His Majesty is worried that the princess's career in the court," Concubine Rou raised her eyes and smiled softly, "will come to an end."

"Advance to retreat," Hua Le said happily, "My mother is still amazing. That old bastard Liu Chunhang actually chose her instead of my mother. He is simply blind!"

"I have no real power now, and I rely entirely on your majesty's favor," Concubine Rou listened to Hua Le's words, but she was not angry, and said slowly, "Ping Le holds the Supervisory Office, so the court officials are naturally afraid of her. However, the court officials are afraid," Concubine Rou raised her eyes, looked at Hua Le, and said with a smile, "your father is naturally afraid too."

As she said that, she turned her head and looked out the window towards Yu's study: "Pingle, you are still too young."

"Father is really something," Hua Le said in frustration after listening to Concubine Rou's words, "He gave Ping Le such an important task as the Inspection Department, but gave me nothing. That's too much."

Concubine Rou listened to Hua Le's words and looked at her with a smile, as if she was looking at a child who had never grown up.

"Do you know why you are not as good as Pingle?"

"I'm not as good as her?" Hua Le got angry. "How am I not as good as her?"

"Pingle, what ever she wants, she will fight for it," said Concubine Rou, smiling at Huale. "She knows clearly that the most important thing for a woman is to hold power. But you, silly child, only want to find a husband of your dreams."

"If you want power, you have to marry someone with power," Hua Le said, and walked to Concubine Rou's side, holding her hand, and said coquettishly, "Just like mother, after marrying father, didn't she become a noble woman?"

"You are wrong," Concubine Rou pulled Hua Le's hand away and said solemnly and gently, "You must remember that you have fought for your power. Men are just your means," Concubine Rou's voice became softer, "but they should never be your goal."

"I don't believe it." Hua Le turned his head away and said proudly, "Father loves you the most. If it weren't for the pressure from the Shangguan family, you would have been the empress long ago."

Concubine Rou listened to Hua Le's words, lowered her head and smiled, and only said: "Silly child."

Then he turned his head and shifted his gaze to the vibrant weeds in the courtyard.

Spring is here, and the plants are growing luxuriantly. From Mingle Palace to Yu's study, the plants are all thriving.

Li Ming looked at Wang Houwen kneeling on the ground and walking back and forth in the hall. He wanted to curse him, but he felt it would be too humiliating for Wang Houwen. After all, Wang Houwen was an old minister, so he had to give him face.

"What qualifications does Pei Wenxuan have? Do you dare to put him in the position of Minister of Personnel?"

Li Ming was furious. He stared at Wang Houwen and said, "If you put a mediocre person in such an important position, I would not ask you any questions. I have always believed that you know your limits in the Ministry of Personnel. But what do you mean now? Pei Wenxuan is just a kid!" Li Ming shouted, "How dare you put him in the position of the Minister of Personnel?!"

"Although Pei Yushi is young," Wang Houwen seemed a little nervous and praised him hesitantly, "he is the princess's consort after all. The princess..."

"What happened to the princess?!"

Li Ming shouted: "Can the princess go beyond the law, the government, and me?! Let me ask you, why did Pei Wenxuan become the Minister of Personnel? Why?!"

Li Ming had just finished yelling when he heard a report from outside saying that Li Rong had arrived.

Li Ming raised his head and shouted, "No!"

After he finished speaking, he saw the eunuch hurriedly go down, and called the eunuch again: "Forget it," Li Ming said, "bring the person in."

As he spoke, Li Ming looked down at Wang Houwen, waved his hand, and said helplessly: "It's done. You go down first and reflect on it yourself. I'll have someone investigate the rest."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Wang Houwen saluted respectfully, then stood up and walked away.

Li Rong stood at the door for a while, thinking about what to say when she saw Li Ming later.

She couldn't keep the position of the Minister of Personnel, but if she didn't stay, Pei Wenxuan would miss the time for transfer, and he wouldn't be the Minister of Personnel, nor would he be able to take other positions. If he was transferred again, he would have to wait until next year.

Most importantly, I cannot be transferred, so I will miss this year's imperial examination. I am afraid I will have to wait for the next lifetime to see the list of top candidates.

She had to keep Pei Wenxuan's position as the Minister of Personnel, but if she didn't give up this position, Li Ming would definitely be suspicious of her.

Concubine Rou's current plan is probably to put her in a dilemma. Either make Li Ming suspicious, or give up Pei Wenxuan's promotion. If she follows Concubine Rou's thinking, she will suffer losses in any case. So now her best way is to move people with emotion and save Zhao by attacking Wei.

What Concubine Rou showed Li Ming was that she was secretly working with the ministers to seek an official position for Pei Wenxuan. Then she would just agree to this matter and then file a complaint against Concubine Rou.

She colluded with the ministers and colluded with the aristocratic families together with Concubine Rou.

Li Rong sneered. She wanted to see which of the two Li Ming thought was more serious.

Li Rong was just thinking about it when she saw Wang Houwen coming out.

After reaching the door, Wang Houwen bowed respectfully to Li Rong. Li Rong had a stern face. Seeing Wang Houwen bowing, she said coldly: "Minister Wang, a third-rank minister and a senior official in the court, I cannot accept this courtesy."

"So what if he's a minister?" Wang Houwen sighed. "Xie Lanqing, the minister of the Ministry of Justice and the head of the Xie family, can be overthrown at will, right?"

After hearing this, Li Rong raised her head and stared at Wang Houwen coldly.

Wang Houwen smiled lightly, bowed and said, "Your Highness, I will take my leave."

After saying this, Wang Houwen turned around and walked straight down.

Li Rong entered Yu's study and bowed respectfully. Li Ming had a cold face and asked her to stand up. He said in a cold voice: "What are you doing now?"

As he spoke, Li Ming became furious: "Pei Wenxuan's official position has already been decided, what else are you dissatisfied with?"

"That's why I came here."

Li Rong knelt down again in a hurry: "I beg you, father, to choose another candidate for the Minister of Personnel!"

Li Ming's expression eased when he heard this: "It's a good thing that Pei Wenxuan is the Minister of Personnel. Why do you want to change him?"

"Father," Li Rong said anxiously, "I will tell you the truth. I actually helped Pei Wenxuan in this transfer and secretly operated it."

"I know." Li Ming sneered, "How else could he have become the Minister of Personnel?"

"But the position I seek is not that of a minister of the Ministry of Personnel."

Li Rong raised her head anxiously: "Father, the position I'm seeking is the sixth-rank examination officer."

"Does the person in charge of the examination need you to ask for help?"

Li Ming frowned. When Li Rong heard this, his eyes turned red. He said in a hoarse voice, "Father, you don't know. Since I became the head of the Inspection Department, I have offended many people in the court. Because of me, the son-in-law has to do things with difficulty. According to the custom, he should be promoted to the sixth rank official after marrying me, no matter what rank he was before. He has been polishing his skills in the Imperial History Bureau for a year and has helped me handle several major cases. It is more than reasonable for him to be transferred to the Imperial Examination Bureau. But because of me, he was caught in a dilemma by the court. No one was willing to accept him. But he can't be an inspector for his whole life, right?"

"Isn't Shangguan Minzhi in charge of Yushitai?" Li Ming knocked on the table and thought, "Wouldn't it be good for you to let him stay in Yushitai?"

"This is really a dilemma!" Li Rong burst into tears as she spoke. "You know how many people from the Shangguan family I have investigated. Uncle Minzhi hates me for not letting go of even my relatives and making things difficult for my son-in-law. If there was any way, I wouldn't be so anxious and campaign for him. The Historian made things difficult for him, and other departments were unwilling to accept him. I had no choice but to lobby for him and ask officials from all walks of life to see if they could come up with a solution. If I can't be a Yuanwailang, I can be a chief official. But those officials refused to do so. I... I had no choice but to ask people and spend a lot of money to finally get my son-in-law a position as a chief official. But I didn't expect that today in the hall, he would become a minister of the Ministry of Personnel!"

"Becoming the Minister of Personnel, isn't that good?" Li Ming observed Li Rong's expression. Li Rong wiped her tears and said, "Father, I am greedy for power, but I also know that things will turn into the opposite when they reach the extreme. Wenxuan and I are still young. He has been in the court for less than a year, and he has been promoted to the Minister of Personnel. How many eyes are on him? If he really gets this position, how many people will hate him and say that I used the power of the Inspection Department to pave the way for him. If he doesn't have talent, it's fine, but the son-in-law is obviously a talented person. He has to suffer such grievances. How can this help him? This is harming him!"

Li Ming frowned as he listened to Li Rong's words. He was silent for a long time before he said, "Why didn't you tell me earlier if you had any difficulties?"

"Just because your son is in trouble, does that mean your father is gone?" Li Rong controlled herself and sobbed softly, "Your son established the Inspection Department to relieve your father's worries. It's fine if I can't help you, but I can't ask you to worry about my own affairs. This is indeed my son's fault. I shouldn't have secretly thought about finding ways for the son-in-law. If they don't let him get promoted, then don't let him get promoted. If they bully him, then bully him. I just endured it when others laughed at me. I should be punished for trying to find ways for him in private. I hope your father will think of a way now. We really don't dare to take the position of the Minister of Personnel."

As she spoke, Li Rong bowed her head and cried breathlessly.

Li Ming felt sorry for her crying and heard her say that someone laughed at her. After all, she was the child he raised. She used to be arrogant and domineering, but now she is like this. So he said angrily, "Who dares to laugh at you? I want to hear who is so bold as to laugh at you?"

Li Rong didn't say anything, and Li Ming was quite impatient: "Why don't you say anything? Why are you just crying?"

"Father, it's not that I don't want to tell you, but if I tell you, I'm afraid you'll think I'm spreading rumors."

Li Ming frowned. He had guessed it: "Is it someone from the palace?"

Li Rong lowered her head, looking a little tired.

Seeing that she didn't say anything, Li Ming became a little angry: "Speak."

"Father," Li Rong supported herself and stood up, "If you insist that I tell you, then I will tell you the truth."

Li Rong stared at Li Ming and smiled with tears in her eyes: "Ever since I got married, I have been ridiculed by other princesses in the palace. Sister Hua Le said that Pei Wenxuan is of low status and is not important, and that my father did not like me, so he gave me to him."

"Nonsense!"

Li Ming shouted angrily, his face turning pale and blue: "How could Hua Le say such a thing!"

"What does your father mean by this?" Li Rong laughed out loud, "Do you think Hua Le would not say such a thing, or do you think Hua Le should not say such a thing?"

Li Ming was speechless for a moment, and Li Rong continued, "Father, why do you think I am so scared today? Why did I rush into the palace to ask you to take down the position of the Minister of Personnel? Not only because Pei Wenxuan is too young. In terms of youth, Su Rongqing is also young. Why can he be the Minister of Justice, but my husband can't be a minister? But I still have to come, because I know that if I don't come," Li Rong smiled with her head down, tears on her hair, "Father will definitely think that I was behind the scenes to help Wenxuan become the Minister of Personnel. I'm afraid."

"I..." Li Ming looked embarrassed, "Why do you think I would think so?"

"Because I'm used to being afraid." Li Rong choked up, "If I were Hua Le's sister today, I would certainly not be afraid. Because I know that my father trusts me. But I'm the daughter of the Shangguan family."

"What happened to your Shangguan family's daughter?" Li Ming asked anxiously, "Your Shangguan family's daughter is also my eldest princess!"

"But sister Huale said," Li Rong stared at Li Ming, "because my father was suspicious of the Shangguan family, so he married me to a poor family."

"She's talking nonsense! Nonsense!" Li Ming was so angry that he slammed the table. "Pei Wenxuan is Pei Lizhi's son. He was the top scholar that year. He has good character and good looks. Don't you know how good he is? I value his character."

"I know my father's good intentions, so when I got married, I was overjoyed." Li Rong looked tired, "But after listening to it for a long time... I also get scared. I always hope that my father will think I'm good and trust me more, so I don't fight, ask, or fight. My husband is not from a noble family and is of low rank, so I never said anything. Even when they talked about me and laughed at me behind my back, I pretended not to hear it."

"I'm tired."

Li Rong said, and kowtowed again: "I only ask Father, please don't be suspicious of me. I don't have such great ability. I have tried my best, just to seek justice. I hope my husband will not be unable to become a sixth-rank official because of me."

"Pingle..."

Li Ming felt a little sad when he heard what Li Rong said.

"Please grant me your permission, Father."

Li Ming didn't say anything. After a long time, he sighed, walked up to Li Rong and helped her up.

"You get up first." Li Ming said in a gentle voice, "I will give you justice in this matter. You go back first."

"Thank you, Father."

Li Rong bowed respectfully, but her words were a little distant. Li Ming suddenly felt uncomfortable.

Li Rong used to love to act coquettishly with him, and he thought that he didn't care about the comings and goings of his children since he had so many of them. But when Li Rong really expressed her disappointment in him, he realized that deep in his heart, he still had some love as a father for his eldest daughter.

"Let's go back first."

He controlled his emotions and patted Li Rong on the shoulder. Li Rong saluted respectfully, her posture was always elegant and proper. After she saluted and left, Li Ming stood there, quietly watching Li Rong's back as she walked away.

Fulai brought the tea and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, His Highness has gone far away."

"Fulai," Li Ming suddenly asked, "Am I not good to Rong'er?"

"Why would your Majesty say that?" Fu Lai answered tactfully, "Your Majesty is very good to all the princes. He is an extremely loving father."

"I think Pingle is disappointed in me."

Li Ming spoke slowly, and Fulai smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you are joking. His Highness Pingle has always trusted Your Majesty the most. No matter what Your Majesty says, His Highness will believe it. You are his best father, and she will never be disappointed in you."

"You make me even more sad when you say that."

Li Ming said, turned around, and sighed: "In this palace, anyone who wants to use feelings as a sharp blade will be hurt by the blade."

Fulai raised his hand to help Li Ming, and Li Ming sat down again. He hesitated for a moment, and finally said, "Send someone to check who was in charge of Pei Wenxuan's entry into the Ministry of Personnel."

"yes."

Fulai said, holding up his sleeve with one hand, picked up the inkstone with the other, and began to grind ink for Li Ming. He said, "But Your Majesty, regardless of whether His Highness Pingle intervened or not, it is not right for Lord Pei to be the Minister of Personnel..."

"Is it something?"

Li Ming raised his eyes to look at Fu Lai, who smiled awkwardly: "Is it... too young?"

"Why do you always say Pei Wenxuan is young, but never say Su Rongqing is young?"

"After all, Minister Su comes from an aristocratic family..."

"So you all bully Pei Wenxuan because he comes from a poor family and his father died young, right?"

Li Ming sneered, and Fu Lai knelt on the ground in a hurry, saying anxiously: "Your Majesty, please calm down. It is I who am guilty. I just heard from outsiders..."

"According to what you said, are there really many people laughing and laughing behind the scenes?"

Fu Lai didn't dare to speak.

Li Ming took a deep breath and said, "Okay." He raised his hand and pointed at Fu Lai, nodding his head, "Very good."

Fulai knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly, begging Li Ming to forgive his sins.

Li Ming just pointed at Fu Lai without saying anything. After a long while, he took a deep breath and said, "Go check it first. Find out the result. I'm waiting for the result!"