Chapter 187 Promoted to Imperial Envoy, Strictly Managing His Household
Ning Yuanzhi paused, realizing this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and then stepped forward, saying, "Your humble servant is here."
Throughout history, heroes have been made by the times; without opportunity, even the most brilliant pearl will never have a chance to shine.
But many of her subordinates have been working hard for years, just waiting for a chance to be promoted. Who should she hand it over to?
In the blink of an eye, Ning Yuanzhi thought about many things, about the past, the present, and the future.
She composed herself, bowed to the emperor, and said, "To pacify the people, quell the floods, and rebuild after the disaster, who else in the world could do it but her? This humble subject recommends Zhang Ting, the prefect of Zhangzhou." In her final moment, she thought of the Grand Chancellor, closed her eyes, and realized that the people were suffering terribly. If she only cared about the interests of factional struggles and ignored the fate of the nation, how could she face her deceased friend a hundred years later?
The opportunity to quell the floods should be entrusted to the most suitable and reliable person.
The officials from the Qingliu faction stared in astonishment. The Minister was actually favoring an outsider? Their gazes swept back and forth over Minister Liu's back, their eyes filled with sighs, completely unaware that his hand was clenched into a fist in his sleeve, making a cracking sound.
Two moments later, Vice Minister Liu stepped forward and echoed, "Zhang Ting's reputation for flood control is widespread. Firstly, he can easily appease the people, and secondly, he is experienced and his governance is swift. I second that proposal." His expression remained unchanged, showing no sign of anything amiss.
Gao Qiu glanced over coldly, "Lord Ning has spoken up for Zhang Ting time and time again. Could it be that he's colluding with her?"
Zhao Xi chuckled and sowed discord: "Lord Ning, what a great opportunity you're offering to someone outside your own people instead of someone you know? Zhang Ting isn't the son of one of your mistresses, is he? That's why you're going to such lengths to protect him, disregarding the interests of the upright officials."
Ning Yuanzhi retorted, “We are paid by the emperor and are obligated to serve him. We should only consider how to assist His Majesty in governing the country, recruiting virtuous and talented individuals, and devising strategies, not engaging in petty scheming, seeking power and status, and disregarding the lives of the people. I have merely done what I should for the court, yet you are only concerned with forming cliques and pursuing petty gains? May I ask, Lord Gao and Lord Zhao, what do you consider the laws of the court? Do you still have His Majesty and the people in your eyes? Can you live up to this official robe and the oath you swore before Confucius?!”
Gao Qiu snorted coldly and retorted, "Lord Ning, your tongue is indeed eloquent, I admire that, but the Imperial Palace is not a place for you to spout nonsense! If you..."
Before he could finish speaking, Han Bingyue scolded him, "Shut up."
She glanced at Gao Qiu, "Lord Gao, don't bring things up in front of His Majesty without evidence."
This was also in cahoots with Zhang Ting. Zhao Xi's molars were almost worn down. The position of Grand Secretary was given to his teacher, but who knew that Han Bingyue would suddenly appear and ruin their carefully laid plans.
She was furious and stood up to defend her teacher, but Gao Qiu stopped her.
"Thank you for your guidance, Prime Minister Han. I have learned a great deal." His cold gaze was fixed on the other person, like a venomous snake flicking its icy tongue, searching for the prey's weak point.
Han Bingyue was chosen by His Majesty to balance the relationship between the righteous and the corrupt, and at the very least, he had to give His Majesty face in the main hall.
Han Bingyue had always disliked the turbid current. She straightened up and said, "Your Majesty, I think what Lord Ning said is absolutely right. Zhang Ting is quick-witted and extremely good at governing the people. She should be in charge of the flood control in Yinzhou Prefecture."
Emperor Chengtai rubbed his forehead. "What do you, my other ministers, think?" The Dayong Dynasty is full of talented people. Apart from Zhang Ting, there is no one else who can be used?
The ministers looked at each other in bewilderment. Han Bingyue was personally promoted by His Majesty. How could her intentions be any different from His Majesty's?
The saying goes, "Those who understand the times are the heroes," and we agree.
Since that was the case, Emperor Chengtai had no choice but to give up despite his concerns. He appointed Zhang Ting as Imperial Commissioner in charge of river management, concurrently serving as Military Governor and Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of Yinzhou Prefecture. Ning Yuanzhi, you are to draft the imperial edict.
"Furthermore, the city was left undefended and its fortified villages fell. Tang Xiumin, the prefect of Yinzhou, executed him and barred his descendants from holding office for three generations."
"The court session is over."
As the sun gradually disappeared below the horizon, the sky was filled with the glow of sunset, and lanterns were lit to illuminate the Gao family mansion.
The house was dark inside, but no one dared to go in and light a lamp.
Zhao Xi slammed her fist on the table in anger, her eyes blazing with fury. "Zhang Ting has gotten back into power! And what was Tang Xiumin thinking? She deserted her post! How could she do such a thing!" She's a complete idiot who's good for nothing and good for making things worse. They finally got her into the position of prefect, but she's a complete mess and just wastes their resources.
After years of painstaking planning, it turns out I'm just doing all the work for someone else.
Gao Qiu had calmed down. "What's the rush? His Majesty only said that Zhang Ting should be sent to control the floods. Does that mean she'll be granted a title and appointed prime minister after she succeeds?"
She stared intently at the cup in her hand, her eyes narrowed, her expression as venomous as a snake's. "Zhao Xi, remember, there's always room for maneuver before things settle down. We can make use of everything."
"This time, I'm going to take her life."
After removing Zhang Ting as an obstacle, she then redeployed the overall strategy for the Fifth Prince.
"Furthermore, inform the Fifth Prince that, given the circumstances, he must ensure that she works together with us and does not give Zhang Ting another chance to turn things around."
At this moment, in the Azure Phoenix Palace.
The palace was resplendent with gold and jade, and its furnishings and decorations were extravagant, showcasing the owner's nobility and power.
Chen Liu took a jade needle from a palace maid and twirled the lamplight. "Second Sister has been deposed for eight years. I don't know what Mother Empress is thinking. Why hasn't she established an heir? Is she trying to outlive her daughter?"
She casually tossed the jade needle into the palace servant's arms. "Sigh, they won't even grant me a royal residence. Staying here in Qingluan Palace, stuck in this limbo, isn't a solution."
The palace attendant said, "Perhaps His Majesty is too busy with state affairs. If you spend more time with her, she will remember your good qualities. Among all the princesses, who can compare to you in terms of appearance, intelligence, influence, and popular support?"
"If wandering around were so useful, would I still be a little princess? In a few years, I could be a grandmother, yet those old ministers in the court still call me Fifth Prince. Sigh!" She lay on her back on the bed, thinking: Why isn't that old man dead yet?
"Your Highness—" a palace maid ran in cautiously, "Prime Minister Gao has secretly sent you a message."
Chen Liu sat up lazily, unfolded the letter and read that Gao Xiang intended to completely eliminate Zhang Ting during her flood control efforts.
"Well done!" she exclaimed.
This guy surnamed Zhang took her money last time and then disappeared like throwing a meat bun to a dog—what else could he be but a deliberate swindler? He even dared to cheat a princess out of her money; he's an utterly audacious villain!
Encountering such a rogue, the aggrieved Chen Liu had nowhere to seek justice. Firstly, bribing officials had angered her mother, the Empress Dowager; secondly, as a princess, she was too ashamed to speak of it to anyone!
During the time Chen Liugang realized she had been deceived, she tossed and turned all night, filled with remorse and wishing she could hang or tear him to pieces. Now that Prime Minister Gao was going to deal with Zhang Ting, she wholeheartedly supported him.
To this day, Chen Liu still can't understand why there are such shameless people in the world!
...
Zhang Ting knew about the affairs of Yinzhou Prefecture earlier.
The person who breached the dam was found, but she confessed without hesitation, insisting that the government paid her to do it.
However, this is not the most important thing.
The most pressing issue is what will become of the million people of Yinzhou Prefecture?
Although as the prefect of Zhangzhou Prefecture, she shouldn't be involved in the affairs of the people of Yinzhou Prefecture, Zhang Ting...
"Are you going to sleep or not, tossing and turning like this?" Zong Suyi frowned and gently pushed her.
"I can't sleep," Zhang Ting said, placing her hands on her chest and staring blankly at the ceiling. "Why can't I sleep?" she asked.
Zong Suyi curled her lip in disdain, thinking, "This idiot."
He tucked the blanket around the child, got up, picked up the money box, and lay down on the bed. "We have 37,000 taels of silver at our disposal." He took out 30,000 taels. "Yinzhou Prefecture is in danger. Use this to buy grain. Winter is coming soon, so you can also prepare some cotton quilts."
“Our family doesn’t have much money, but it’s enough to show our appreciation.” He poked her delicate nose. “The rest depends on how the court arranges it. Don’t get hung up on it.”
Zhang Ting rolled over and rested her head on his lap, saying, "No need for ours. I have an unexpected windfall of 100,000 taels of silver here. Take it and donate it." The windfall was a gift from a wealthy man out of kindness, how could she be so embarrassed? Of course, she accepted it all.
"We can find another way to get the money, but there are so many lives at stake in Yinzhou Prefecture." After saying that, she felt that she shouldn't have said those words, and covered her mouth in shock.
Zong Suyi pried her hands away and kissed her lips hard. "Fool." She can't even see her own heart.
Zhang Ting allowed him to dominate her in bed and do whatever he wanted, but she would never allow Zong Suyi to take advantage of her verbally.
A strong woman's authority is not to be underestimated.
"In my opinion, the real simpleton in the family is someone else, isn't he?" she said calmly, as if she had seen through everything.
Zong Suyi snorted and pinched her mouth shut with two fingers, preventing her from speaking.
Stubborn to the end, refusing to admit it.
Zhang Ting broke free from his hand and bit his pale finger. "Do you know how to be punished according to family rules for disrespecting your wife?" She rolled over and pressed him down on the bed. Since she couldn't sleep, she would do something that would keep her awake.
Zong Suyi's eyes darted around, and she tactically changed the subject, "Tuntun is still here, so don't do anything rash."
"Why don't I just go to the window and punish you? The moon is bright tonight, and the scenery is beautiful."
Two blushes rose on his face as he scolded, "You shameless scoundrel! Doing that kind of thing with the window open! What would it look like if the servants heard? How could he maintain his authority over the inner quarters after that?"
“These are the family rules that my husband personally established last time, and I am just following the law.” She lifted his chin and scratched it, as if teasing a small animal.
Zong Suyi still wanted to save face, so he nestled into her arms like a boneless man and pleaded coquettishly, "Lord Zhang, please have mercy. Please remember that I... I slept late last night and my body is still covered in bruises. Please close the window. I'll do whatever you want with me."
"It's too late." Lord Zhang was unyielding, unmoved by either persuasion or coercion.
He carried it to the window, where moonlight poured in, its radiance making it seem like dawn. The moonlight fell on its skin, making it appear even whiter, almost glowing.
Zhang Ting took out his little handkerchief and made him put it in his mouth, saying righteously, "Before the execution, I will carefully check whether the criminal is carrying any weapons. If any are found, the crime will be punished more severely!"
Zong Suyi sobbed with a handkerchief in her mouth, unconsciously straightening her chest as Lord Zhang searched her, his eyes filled with deep resentment as he stared at her.
His fingertips gripped the windowsill tightly, and he let out a low sob. The torture had utterly shattered the prisoner's will. He spat out the handkerchief, his eyes red and swollen, looking pitiful like a flower battered by rain, and mumbled, "Lord Zhang, I'll never dare to do it again..."
Lord Zhang shook his head. Although the criminal had submitted, the punishment had to continue. As the saying goes, strict discipline in the family is the foundation for strict governance in the country. If she were to yield to her husband's gentle words and sweet talk and fail to manage her household properly, how could she have the face to talk about governing the country in the future?
It took a long time, so long that Zong Suyi was almost unconscious, before it stopped.
He leaned against her, too weak to lift a single finger, tears welling in his eyes, weakly accusing her, "You...you're bad..."
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