Chapter 221 Your Majesty's Second Opinion
Watching Xu Feng's departing figure, Gu Shuyan slowly stood up from the soft couch.
The fragrance of osmanthus blossoms wafted in from the window. Gu Shuyan closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes again, the corners of her lips were slightly upturned. From a distance, she looked like a beautiful woman in a painting.
The day before Gu Shuyan received the news, during the morning court session, the ministers were unable to decide on the selection of the inspector to be sent on the inspection.
Watching the crowd making excuses and passing the buck, Yun Yichen stood at the front without uttering a word.
When the emperor was really annoyed by the noise, an old minister stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to go."
The old minister was none other than the retired Grand Secretary Zhang, who was now in retirement. Grand Secretary Zhang was nearly sixty years old and had lived through the reigns of three emperors.
As soon as he opened his mouth, everyone fell silent.
“No, the journey to Ganzhou is long and arduous. How can Grand Secretary Zhang withstand the bumpy road? If he falls ill as a result, how can I face the late Emperor?”
Before anyone could react, the emperor was the first to voice his opposition.
It's not like his court is lacking in talent; sending such an old man on inspection tours would only make other countries laugh at the Great Zhou for having no one to rely on.
Since it concerns the dignity of the nation, the emperor would naturally not allow such a thing to happen.
Fortunately, with Grand Secretary Zhang taking the lead, many young officials stepped forward, including the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince.
"Father, why don't you let me go? I also want to take this opportunity to gain some experience."
The fifth prince was the emperor's youngest son, and given his lively nature, no one suspected him when he said this.
Lu Youming became anxious after hearing this. "Father, inspection is not a game. Fifth Brother can learn from the yamen. It would be better for me to choose a calm and experienced person."
Lu Youming spoke in a very proper and orderly manner, and the emperor, who was almost about to agree, immediately nodded upon hearing it.
"The third brother is right. This position of inspector is not something to be taken lightly. It is not appropriate for the fifth brother to go."
"Father is right. I did not consider this carefully."
As the Fifth Prince spoke, he turned and glanced at Lu Youming, his eyes carrying a somewhat obscure meaning.
If he remembered correctly, the inspector who went out to inspect last year because of the Crown Prince's recommendation was Lu Youming. His third brother said he was an experienced person, but wasn't he just someone who reminded people of him?
Sure enough, no sooner had they finished speaking than someone stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, I remember that the Inspector of Yuzhou last year was the Third Prince. In terms of experience, I am afraid that the Third Prince is the most suitable.”
"I second that proposal!"
"I second that opinion!"
Once one person started, those ministers who were originally unwilling to go began to recommend Lu Youming one by one.
Seeing this, the Crown Prince stepped forward, bowing and seemingly about to recommend Lu Youming, who belonged to his faction, when Yun Yichen, who had been silent all along, made a move.
"Although Your Highness has served as an inspector, the report submitted by Yuzhou last year is quite different from the harvest turned over to the national treasury. In other words, it is feared that some officials are outwardly compliant but inwardly disobeying Your Highness."
"If His Highness continues to serve as the Inspector this year, the local officials in Ganzhou will inevitably follow suit and continue to use the same methods as in Yuzhou to deceive His Highness. Therefore, I suggest that an additional Deputy Inspector be selected to accompany him this time, so as to prevent local officials from deceiving him."
Yun Yichen's words undoubtedly embarrassed Lu Youming, but the ministers all nodded in agreement.
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