Chapter 356 Scientific Expeditions
Grandpa Hong stared at the empty bowl in his hand and remained silent for a moment.
At that moment, he realized a profound problem.
He's been set up.
Grandpa Hong plopped down at Qin Jinzhi's feet and hugged her thigh.
"My ancestors, please spare this servant! If His Majesty finds out, this old servant will lose his life."
Qin Jinzhi curled her lips into a smile: "Eunuch Hong, I was just joking with you. Get up now."
Grandpa Hong wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.
If those words, which were not spoken by His Majesty, had come out of his mouth, he would not have survived.
As soon as Eunuch Hong straightened up, he heard Qin Jinzhi say, "I am also very gratified that Eunuch Hong is so loyal to the Emperor."
At this moment, the door to the Imperial Study was opened, and the ministers inside came out one after another.
They all bowed respectfully to Qin Jinzhi.
One of the faces was particularly obsequious.
While everyone was still trying to avoid suspicion in the palace.
Leng Wendong was already jogging towards Qin Jinzhi.
"Your humble servant greets the Princess!"
Completely disregarding the opinions of those behind him.
Qin Jinzhi looked at Leng Wendong's bright smile and smiled back.
"Oh, Lord Leng, you've been promoted."
Leng Wendong's smile widened even more, "It's all thanks to the princess's appreciation!"
He has now been promoted to Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, reaching the rank of fourth grade.
He had previously striven diligently but only achieved the rank of fifth grade.
Qin Jinzhi looked at Leng Wendong and asked, "Are you taking over the government affairs that Du Zhong is currently in charge of?"
The Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was an official who assisted the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel in handling government affairs.
Now that the Du family has fallen and Du Zhong has been beheaded, the position of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat is temporarily vacant.
These positions should then be taken over by Leng Wendong.
Leng Wendong immediately replied, "Yes."
Qin Jinzhi patted him on the shoulder, "Lord Leng, do a good job."
As Leng Wendong watched the figure walk away towards the Imperial Study, he said, "Your Majesty and the Princess will certainly not fail to live up to their appreciation."
After saying that, he straightened up and swaggered away.
Recently, some rumors have been circulating in the capital that the princess has been poisoned and is nearing the end of her life.
This has caused some people who have already pledged allegiance to the princess or are considering doing so to waver.
He originally intended to pay money to suppress the news in the capital.
But the lady said that the situation was unclear and that taking rash action might ruin the princess's plans.
At this point, all you need to do is firmly pledge allegiance to the princess.
If the princess has any instructions, she will seek him out.
So when everyone else was trying to avoid suspicion, Leng Wendong very openly showed that he was part of Qin Jinzhi's faction.
If something really happens to the princess, the Qin family is a royalist party, and His Majesty will still give him an important position.
If the princess is unharmed, who will ever be able to surpass him in front of her again!
As for danger, if you want to reach a high position, you have to go through fire and water.
The Leng family only paid the least amount of money, yet they have already taken a significant step forward.
This does not mean that the Leng family has already joined the right side.
After leaving the palace, Leng Wendong made a detour to Meihuazhai to buy pastries for his wife, daughter, and son.
The servant said, "Master, the young master is losing his baby teeth, and the madam won't let him eat pastries."
Leng Wendong chuckled immediately, "Then that brat won't get his hands on a good meal."
He opened the pastries he had bought for his son and ate them all, leaving not a single bite.
Back at the Leng residence, Leng Wendong's wife, Wei Lishu, and daughter, Leng Qingqiu, were waiting for him to have a late-night snack.
Leng Wendong handed the pastries to his wife and daughter.
As the three of them ate a late-night snack in the courtyard, Leng Wendong said, "I met the princess in the palace today. Following the madam's instructions, I made it very clear which side I was on. Now everyone in the court knows that I am the princess's person."
Wei Lishu nodded, "Since our Leng family has benefited from the princess's favor, we are all in the same boat. If the boat has problems, we will fix it. If we think about jumping ship halfway, we will only perish in the belly of the fish."
Leng Wendong took a sip of tea and nodded, "What Madam says is true."
After finishing the pastries, Leng Qingqiu said, "Father, the princess's birthday is in three days. His Majesty is going to hold a grand celebration for the princess's birthday today. All the officials in the court will attend the princess's birthday ceremony. Is it inappropriate for our family to give money?"
Leng Wendong stroked his chin in agreement, then looked at Wei Lishu, "What does Madam think?"
Wei Lishu calmly sipped his sake. "Don't worry, I've already prepared the birthday gift."
Leng Wendong immediately said, "Thank you for your trouble, Madam."
Wei Lishu handed over a list, saying, "These are the people who have come to propose marriage recently. Master, give them a try."
Leng Wendong looked at the people on the list and chuckled, "They've really climbed the ladder to success, with beautiful women from all over seeking them out."
Even the families that previously looked down on the Leng family for being too small and refused to form a marriage alliance were now included.
The couple looked at Leng Qingqiu, "Qiu'er, what's your opinion?"
Leng Qingqiu looked at the two of them, "Father, Mother, if your daughter never marries, will you feel ashamed?"
Leng Wendong smiled and looked at her, "Qiu'er, our Leng family has plenty of money. Even if you don't get married, your family can still support you. Just follow your heart."
Leng Qingqiu stood up and said to the two of them with a smile, "Then Father and Mother don't need to arrange a marriage for their daughter. I have more important things to do."
Wei Lishu looked at Leng Qingqiu, "These past few days, you've locked yourself in your study as soon as you get home. Is it related to this matter?"
Leng Qingqiu nodded, looked at the two of them, and said with a firm look in her eyes, "I want to participate in the scientific expedition!"
The couple were both taken aback. Leng Wendong said with some difficulty, "There is currently no rule in the court that allows women to participate in the imperial examinations. Does that mean Qiu'er is going to disguise herself as a man? That would be a crime of deceiving the emperor. If it gets discovered..."
Wei Lishu heard Leng Qingqiu's words but did not express her opinion until Leng Wendong quietly patted her leg under the table.
She looked at her daughter, "Why do you have this idea?"
Leng Qingqiu stared intently at the two of them.
"During my time at Baihe Academy, I have truly gained a new perspective."
When I was a child, I always wondered why only men could take the imperial examinations to become officials. It was because the world bound women, and no one could break this status quo.
But things are different now!
The Empress holds the Phoenix Seal and can rule the court alongside His Majesty.
The princess not only founded the Thousand Birds Division, but will also take command of the Northern Garrison in the near future.
Cui Ying, once the most noble lady in the capital, is now a department head.
Princess Zhaorong became a royal merchant through her own abilities.
The first female imperial physician in the Imperial Medical Academy is now the vice president.
Mr. Lang founded the White Crane Academy.
I've heard that the leader of the Cangzhou Canal Gang was also a heroine.
There are many more women I don't know about, women I've never seen, who have quietly stepped onto the stage of the State of Jin.
Father, Mother, do you understand what I mean?
Wei Lishu smiled as he looked at his daughter, whose eyes were shining.
Perhaps the world remains the same, but the state of Jin today...
A large number of women have already emerged among those in power.
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