Pick a character
The next morning
Fu Huaiying handed over the annotated memorial. Emperor Huanyu looked at her sideways, "You're back so soon? Chu Yan hasn't come back yet."
Fu Huaiying opened the memorial and handed it to him on the desk. "My brother and my eldest sister have a good relationship, so naturally you will be sad for a few more days."
"You and your elder sister have a bad relationship?"
Fu Huaiying was very honest, "Of course, Your Majesty has vented your anger on my behalf before."
Emperor Huanyu uttered an "oh" and sighed again, "Alas, as one gets older, it's natural to forget things."
"Your Majesty is still in his prime, not old, and has many affairs to attend to. It's not a big deal if you forget these little things."
"You are quite good at talking. Your clever mouth is nothing like your grandfather's."
Fu Huaiying didn't respond. She remembered that her grandfather was also very successful in officialdom. Wasn't he a smooth and tactful person? Moreover, he had said before that he was very similar to her grandfather.
"These past few days, piles of memorials have been submitted, and you're not here. It's a lot of nonsense, and I'm having a headache reading it."
"The courtiers are also concerned about Your Majesty."
Huanyu's face suddenly darkened. "Care? Are they concerned about who will succeed the throne? They're forming cliques for personal gain, disrespecting the emperor's authority, and even dare to criticize the emperor in public! I think these people have had enough."
Fu Huaiying knew he was talking about the crown prince, but she didn't express her opinion. She just handed him a cup of chrysanthemum tea at the right time and said, "Your Majesty, calm down and take care of your health."
Emperor Huanyu took the tea, took a sip, and lowered his eyes, "Are you adding chrysanthemums?"
"It's hot in summer, and chrysanthemums can help relieve heat. I dared to ask you to put some chrysanthemums in there."
"It seems that you and Ji Yuan are the only ones who hope that I will live."
"Your Majesty, how can you say such a thing? Your Majesty is the father of all people, and the people of the world hope that Your Majesty will live a hundred years."
"I'm afraid some people are waiting impatiently."
Emperor Huanyu was silent for a long moment, then looked off into the distance. "I've heard all the rumors in the streets and alleys. They say I came to power illegally, that I was the mastermind behind the fire at Fuyao Pavilion, and that I'm the one behind it. Do you believe it?"
Fu Huaiying's face was a little stiff. The emperor's tone sounded helpless. People who didn't know him would really think he was innocent.
"I have seldom been out since I was young, so I don't quite understand what Your Majesty is talking about. However, what's out there is just gossip, so don't take it seriously."
After hearing this, Emperor Huanyu's expression did not improve. He stared at Fu Huaiying for a long time and sighed.
"Xiao Si doesn't have a formal name or title yet. Please come up with two and let him choose one."
How old is Huanli? And already has a title? Wouldn't this be seen as a thorn in the side of the Crown Prince and King Huan?
"Isn't it too early for the Fourth Prince to bestow a title at this time?"
Emperor Huanyu laughed, "He is my favorite son. It is never too early to make him king."
Fu Huaiying had no choice but to nod in agreement.
"A boy should have a courtesy name by the age of ten," Emperor Huanyu looked at Fu Huaiying and thought for a moment. "You are his teacher, so it is natural for you to choose his courtesy name."
"minister……"
Before she could refuse, the emperor interrupted her, "Don't be so hasty to refuse. You are his teacher, and it is only natural for you to choose a name for him. Besides, I trust you."
Fu Huaiying could only agree, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I will do my best."
She came out of the hall and happened to see Ji Yuan walking out, so she immediately followed him.
"Commander Ji."
Ji Yuan stopped and waited for her to come over. "Fu Zhibi, why are you here?"
"I'm delivering today's memorial to His Majesty. Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be on patrol today?"
Ji Yuan shook his head, "Not necessary today."
Fu Huaiying nodded, thinking to herself, "We had just been attacked a few days ago, so security should have been at its highest these days. Why weren't there any patrols?" And who was that person who died last night? What had they done?
"Ji Yuan, do you know the courtesy names and given names of the three princes?"
Ji Yuan lowered his eyes and narrowed them, "Why do you suddenly ask this?"
It seems that what happened last night was indeed related to the prince.
"His Majesty asked me to give the Fourth Prince a courtesy name and a few names."
"The Crown Prince's name is Xiaoze, styled Shengxi; the Second Prince's name is Youxiang, styled Yian; the Third Prince's name is Wenqian, styled Yiwen."
Fu Huaiying lowered her eyes. Yi and Xiang seemed to be assisting her. "An" meant peace or contentment?
The names and surnames of several princes are very intriguing, especially King Huan.
"However, you are well-read, so you can naturally choose a suitable character for the Third Prince."
"Suitable?" Fu Huaiying glanced at him. "What does it mean to be suitable? Does it also require the character Yi?"
Ji Yuan raised his hand and removed the leaves from her hair. "You always overthink things. His Majesty has no other instructions. You can choose the calligraphy for the Third Prince yourself. I was just praising you, not giving you any advice."
Ji Yuan was also a little helpless. He spoke more clearly to others because he was afraid that they wouldn't understand him, and he spoke clearly to Fu Huaiying because he was afraid that she would think too deeply about it.
Fu Huaiying smiled and said, "Sorry, I'm used to it. By the way, have you found out about the firearm incident?"
Ji Yuan paused, "...well...we found out. One was lost in the military camp over in Yunxia. The soldier who lost it has been executed."
Fu Huaiying noticed the pause in his words. His words might be enough to fool others, but it would not be enough to fool her.
"I heard that the Minister of Works was dismissed from office?"
“…”
Ji Yuan smiled awkwardly and patted his head. How could he have forgotten about this?
"Sorry, my bad."
"Since you know I'm overthinking it, why do you resort to such lame lies? If it was lost in the barracks, it wouldn't have much to do with the Ministry of Works. Given Your Majesty's character, you'd just dismiss him from his post and wait for action. Besides, you came back to the capital with me a few days ago to investigate this matter, right?"
She had initially thought that Ji Yuan had suddenly lost the emperor's favor, but later she thought that for such an important matter, His Majesty had no better candidate than him.
The Ministry of Works is now under the control of the Crown Prince. The Emperor suppressed the matter of the musket and dismissed the Minister of Works. In addition, Da Hu had said before that the sound of the musket was not right, so he thought that the blueprints had been leaked.
How could the Emperor cover up even such a thing for the Crown Prince? But why did he hand over the Ministry of Revenue to Prince Huan instead of the Crown Prince?
The prince made frequent mistakes, and the emperor was always furious, but he still covered up for him, making big things small and small things nothing. How could a man like the emperor tolerate such a fool?
If the world is really handed over to him, it will be truly ruined.
"My question is, this matter is not to be spread outside. I just said that Lord Li happened to run into it. The matter of the fire guns, including the distribution, was handled by the Ministry of Works. After such an incident, it is normal to dismiss him from office."
It's not good for the outside world to spread? The previous incident of slandering the emperor was suppressed, and the leak of the musket blueprints was suppressed as well?
"That's true. Never mind. His Majesty has his reasons. I'm going to the training ground to see the Fourth Prince."
Ji Yuan nodded, "Okay, I have to go to the prince."
Crown Prince? Fu Huaiying looked at his hands and waist calmly. There was nothing else there, nor was there an imperial edict. So, was it to convey an oral instruction? Was it to warn the Crown Prince?
The position of Minister of Works is vacant, so it is impossible for the Prince's party to take it up. Her Majesty wants to rely on Prince Huan to train the Prince, but it is impossible for him to have too much power. Therefore, it will not be Prince Huan's party. She has to arrange her own people.
If we want someone to take over, it can only be someone from the Hanlin Academy.
Fu Huaiying saw him walking away and changed direction. She didn't go to the martial arts training ground anymore, but to find Lin Yan'an.
When I entered the yard, I only saw He Feng sitting alone in the yard eating ice cream.
Seeing her, He Feng immediately stood up and said, "Husband...Miss Fu..."
"Where is your master?"
"The young marquis has gone to the training ground. General Wen has returned. He just arrived at the training ground. The master said he wanted to have a sparring match with General Wen."
Fu Huaiying nodded, turned around and walked back.
When she arrived, the two were fighting fiercely. Wen Chuyan seemed to have the upper hand, and his sword was fierce.
"Teacher!" Chen Huanli ran over happily when he saw her, "Why are you here?"
"Come to see you."
Chen Huanli was naturally happy to see her. He was no longer afraid of the heat and did not even wipe the sweat from his forehead. He just stood quietly beside her.
Fu Huaiying turned her gaze from the stage to his face. Seeing that his face was covered in sweat, she took out a handkerchief from her sleeve and handed it to him, "Wipe it off."
Chen Huanli took it, wiped his face lightly, and put the handkerchief into his sleeve.
In just a moment, Wen Chuyan's sword was already on Lin Yan'an's neck.
"An' hello, brother."
After hearing her voice, Wen Chuyan finally reacted and his eyes darkened. He had accidentally cut Lin Yan'an's neck.
Seeing him like this, Lin Yan'an curled the corners of his lips, jumped off the stage and ran towards her.
"Why are you here?"
"I came to see you," she said, taking out a small bottle of medicine from the pouch at her waist, touching her finger and gently applying the medicine to him, "Why are you so careless?"
Wen Chuyan came over, knowing that this question was directed at him, and he couldn't help but feel even more uncomfortable, "Sorry, I couldn't control myself."
It's not that he couldn't control the sword, it's that he couldn't control himself.
"It's okay, it's just a sparring match. Naturally there are some scratches, but it's nothing serious."
Lin Yan pretended to be tolerant and generous. Fu Huaiying saw through it but was too lazy to say anything to him.
Fu Huaiying patted Chen Huanli's shoulder gently and said, "Go ahead and learn horse riding and archery from General Wen."
She turned her head and looked at Wen Chuyan, "Brother, thank you for your hard work."
"good."
Wen Chuyan forced a smile, knowing that Fu Huaiying had something to say to Lin Yan'an alone, so he took Chen Huanli's hand and walked forward.
"What's wrong?"
Fu Huaiying got straight to the point, "Are there any of your people in the Hanlin Academy?"
"Yes, there is one, but he is not mine. He is the cousin of my master's apprentice. His surname is Chen and his given name is Ming."
"Is it reliable?"
Lin Yan'an nodded. "He's reliable, but a bit stubborn. He's been in the Imperial Academy for six years and has been a lecturer. Are you aiming for the position of Minister of Works?"
Fu Huaiying nodded and lowered her voice, "The Crown Prince has made such a mistake. The Ministry of Works will not be in his hands for the time being. The Minister of Works can no longer be his man, nor can he be a member of the Huan Wang Party. It would be better to replace him with one of our men."
"I thought you were waiting for the position in the Ministry of Revenue."
"The Ministry of Revenue, I can't get involved, and the accounts are a mess right now. The winter clothing bill for the border hasn't been settled yet, and the military pay in various places is also a mess. Yunxia said they allocated three million taels, but only one and a half million was found. Although there's plenty of money, it's a mess for us now."
Lin Yanan walked beside her, his eyes falling on her thin red lips, "What did you eat today?"
"Um?"
Fu Huaiying looked up at him and found that he was not listening at all, so she raised her hand and patted him.
"What are you thinking about?"
Lin Yan'an subconsciously looked away, his ears reddening, "...It's nothing... The position of Minister of Works must be discussed with the cabinet ministers. Didn't His Majesty mention it to you?"
Fu Huaiying shook her head, "Not yet."
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