Chapter 508 Wu Wenguang Falls into the River
Chidori Tsukasa is a tough nut to crack.
However, this did not prevent many princes from placing their people in other official positions.
However, the effect was minimal.
Nowadays, many court officials are secretly taking sides and banding together to suppress Qin Jinzhi's faction.
Leng Qingqiu brought the ginseng soup to Leng Wendong's study.
"Father, I've made you some soup."
Leng Wendong smiled immediately upon hearing his daughter's voice.
"Then Father is in for a treat."
Leng Qingqiu smiled and placed the soup bowl in front of Leng Wendong.
"Father, are you troubled by matters of state?"
After the Crown Princess passed away, Leng Wendong faced considerable suppression in the court.
Leng Wendong comforted her, saying, "My daughter is not worried; it's unavoidable for someone who serves in the court."
Leng Qingqiu said with righteous indignation, "These princes don't think about doing anything practical, but instead think about fighting for power and profit. They even try to change the new order that the Crown Princess has won for the people. Now they are banding together to suppress court officials and eliminate dissidents. It's really absurd."
While drinking his soup, Leng Wendong said, "It's not like they're the only ones who have people to stick with."
Leng Qingqiu looked at Leng Wendong, and after a while she suddenly understood what Leng Wendong meant.
"The Crown Princess is truly prescient."
Leng Wendong smiled and shook his head.
"It's not that she was prescient, but rather that the Crown Princess analyzed the situation in the capital too thoroughly."
The development and course of events in the capital are proceeding in the direction she set before leaving the capital. Even after her death, these things will continue as planned.
The court appears chaotic, but the foundation laid by the Crown Princess remains unshakable.
Leng Qingqiu stood up with a determined look in her eyes, "Then I will be the one to build this foundation."
Leng Wendong said with a smile, "As expected of my daughter, she has ambition. How is her preparation for the imperial examination going?"
Leng Qingqiu shrugged. "Xie Yanqing from the Xie family, Luo Chengzhi from the Imperial Academy, and that prodigy from the Wei family are all exceptionally learned. The competition is fierce. But no matter what my ranking is, as long as I've done my best in all these years of hard work, that's enough. What do you think, Father?"
Leng Wendong laughed loudly, "Those pedantic people should really see how open-minded my daughter is."
With the imperial examinations approaching, students are all preparing for them.
However, Wu Wenguang, the Minister of Personnel who was in charge of the imperial examination, dared not go home.
His wife and daughters could only secretly come to see him in the small courtyard that Wu Wenguang had rented elsewhere.
The reason is simple: far too many people try to get in through connections.
Since the establishment of the Inspection Department.
The performance evaluation system for officials has been revised.
A large number of officials who violated regulations were dismissed.
Besides important positions, there are many vacant official posts.
They were just waiting for this imperial examination to bring in new talent.
Sons of noble families could not enter the court as officials through introductions.
One had to pass the imperial examination to enter the imperial court.
This also means that powerful and influential people cannot arbitrarily place their own people in positions of authority.
The Inspection Department investigates, the Birds Department captures.
The three judicial departments cooperate.
They managed to turn the imperial examination system into an unshakeable monolith.
Wu Wenguang became the breakthrough point.
Wu Wenguang had a shallow foundation and was supported by Qin Jinzhi.
Now that his patron is dead, he naturally has to keep a low profile.
Wu Wenguang ate the food his wife and daughter had brought him and let out a sigh of relief.
"My lady, you don't know, but today I was almost cornered by the Third Prince. In that critical moment, I immediately turned around and climbed over the wall behind the Ministry of Personnel's outhouse. Otherwise, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to eat today."
Madam Wu took out a handkerchief to wipe Wu Wenguang's sweat. "Husband, this can't go on forever. You can't keep hiding like this."
Wu Wenguang put down his bowl. “Madam, don’t panic. Just wait a few more days and everything will be resolved. Until then, I’ll have to trouble you to help me out.”
Mrs. Wu looked at her husband with heartache.
The Minister of Personnel, a man of great stature, was forced to the point that he could not return home.
After court that day, Wu Wenguang immediately turned and ran away.
But the Third Prince was one step ahead of him.
"Minister Wu, what's the rush? Is something urgent?"
Wu Wenguang quickly said, "Greetings, Your Highness. I have some urgent matters at home and apologize for offending you."
Upon hearing this, the Third Prince smiled and said, "In that case, my carriage is right outside the palace gate. I will escort Minister Wu back to his residence."
Wu Wenguang said somewhat awkwardly, "How could I trouble Your Highness? The carriage is already waiting outside. I apologize for my rudeness today. After I have dealt with my family affairs, I will arrange a banquet to apologize to Your Highness later."
A look of satisfaction flashed in the Third Prince's eyes. "In that case, I will wait for Minister Wu."
Wu Wenguang's hurried figure was seen not only by the Third Prince.
This Uwen is as smooth as a mudfish; everyone knows what the Third Prince's intentions are.
Wu Wenguang accepted the Third Prince's invitation.
If you refuse someone, you're clearly offending them.
Invitations poured in to Wufu.
With no other option, Wu Wenguang accepted everyone's invitations.
However, before the group could keep their appointment, they received news that Wu Wenguang had fallen into the river from Yong'an Tower.
Wu Wenguang opened his eyes to the sound of Madam Wu crying.
"My lady, I'm alright."
Madam Wu asked anxiously, "How did you fall into the river?"
Wu Wenguang smiled and said, "With this fall into the river, our Wu family's troubles are over."
At this moment, Wu Wenguang looked at the woman standing to the side and said, "Thank you for saving me, young lady."
Wei Xueqi cupped her hands in greeting.
"Lord Wu, you're too kind. Everything was arranged by the Crown Princess."
My job is simply to ensure your safety in the water.
After this, Lord Wu can rest easy.
Since Lord Wu is alright, I will take my leave.
Although Madam Wu was unclear about what was going on, she heard the Crown Princess hurriedly get up to see Wei Xueqi off.
Heaven knows how she felt when Wu Wenguang asked her to meet him at the back gate today, only to see a frail woman carrying her husband, soaking wet, at the back gate of the Wu family home.
It's very strange.
When night fell, the family gathered together.
Wu Lianyang asked curiously, "Father, what exactly is going on?"
Wu Wenguang stroked his beard. "When the Crown Princess left the capital, she instructed me that if I encountered any difficulties with the imperial examinations, she would leave me a brocade pouch and tell me to go to the Thousand Birds Bureau to find this Miss Wei. It was also Miss Wei's idea for me to hide in the small courtyard."
Wu Lianyang was completely confused.
Wu Wenguang continued, “Many people want to interfere in the imperial examinations, and I am powerless to resist them, so it is reasonable for me to hide. The closer the examinations get, the more anxious these people become, so I pretended that I had no choice but to meet with the Third Prince. But once I met the Third Prince, I could not refuse the invitations of others.”
Wu Lianyang frowned. "But what does this have to do with you falling into the river, Father?"
Wu Wenguang said, “Everyone who came to the appointment received the same time, place and private room. If something happens to me in front of everyone, they will be held responsible. As the Minister of Personnel, His Majesty will definitely ask about it if something happens to me. Although the matter of meeting with me is not a secret, it will be a different story if it is brought to the attention of His Majesty and the Empress.”
Wu Lianyang looked at Wu Wenguang in shock, "The Crown Princess foresaw this would happen two years ago, and even came up with a solution for Father?"
Wu Wenguang's eyes also became somewhat relaxed. "Yes, even Father didn't expect this."
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