Chapter 335 Praise Me or Scold Me
Zuo Shiwen, who was unable to chew, was currently sitting in his office chewing on a steamed bun, while his other hand was quickly writing something down. Suddenly he heard someone calling him and he looked up from the pile of paperwork.
"Doctor Zuo, your servant wants to talk to you about something."
Zuo Shiwen swallowed what he had in his mouth, thanked the visitor, stood up and walked out.
I was stunned when I saw a fair-skinned young man standing at the entrance of the Ministry of Rites.
How could this be his servant?
"What do you want from me by pretending to be my servant?"
The servant clasped his fists towards Zuo Shiwen and said, "Master Zuo, please calm down. I am following the orders of my master. Please go to the teahouse next door to chat about the past."
"Who is your master?" Zuo Shiwen asked with a frown.
"The Eighth Prince."
Zuo Shiwen: “…”
Could he refuse?
Since Chu Jinyan wanted to meet Zuo Shiwen, he naturally had to come quietly, so the teahouse he chose was also a very ordinary one.
The wing was very simple, and he had also booked the rooms on the left and right of the one he was in. The soundproofing was poor, and he was afraid that the walls would have ears.
Sheng Xian stood guard at the door to prevent anyone from eavesdropping.
Zuo Shiwen stood at the door of the wing room, still feeling a sense of unreality.
"Master Zuo, please." Sheng Xian made a gesture of invitation and opened the door for him.
Zuo Shiwen took a deep breath and walked into the side room.
After he went in, Sheng Xian closed the door again.
Chu Jinyan sat casually in front of an ordinary round table with a cup of tea in front of him and a few plates of snacks on the table.
"Your humble servant greets His Highness the Eighth Prince."
Zuo Shiwen bowed and saluted towards Chu Jinyan.
"Sir Zuo, there is no need to be so polite. Please take a seat." Chu Jinyan raised his hand falsely and said.
The purple robe was embroidered with gold, and this rich and luxurious color could not suppress the man's natural and boundless nobility. A dark purple waist belt was inlaid with various gems, which sparkled gorgeously in the sun.
He had an extremely handsome face, with sharp edges and a cold look on his smooth and fair face. Under his dark sword-like eyebrows were a pair of eyes as bright as stars, clear and elegant.
Zuo Shiwen couldn't help but sigh in his heart that he was blessed.
"Thank you, Your Highness. I wonder what you want to talk to me about?"
He is not familiar with the Eighth Prince at all, and it can be said that he is not familiar with any of the princes.
Zuo Shiwen had never thought that he would be able to catch the eye of any prince one day. After all, his stubborn character was really unpleasant. He had been an official in the court for so many years that he couldn't even count how many people he had offended. Even his wife, with whom he had a deep relationship, sometimes hated him with a vengeance.
As for the fact that he is still able to serve as an official in the court, Zuo Shiwen thinks it is because of his ability.
No rebuttal accepted.
In fact, to put it bluntly, he, a doctor of the Ministry of Rites, is dispensable to others. He can't make a big mistake and there is no reputation to bring him down, so it's better not to have anything to do with him.
Otherwise, how come more than ten years have passed and those who entered the court later than him have been promoted, but he is still standing still?
"Have you heard about what happened in the Ministry of Justice?" Chu Jinyan poured a cup of tea and handed it to Zuo Shiwen.
Zuo Shiwen was so shocked that he almost fell off the stool. He stood up and took it, flattered.
"I have heard of it."
Although the poisoning in the Ministry of Justice prison was not known to everyone in the capital, all the officials in the court had heard about it.
He was not qualified to attend court, so he didn't know how the emperor dealt with the matter in the end.
"Do you want the position of Minister of Justice?" Chu Jinyan asked directly.
When Zuo Shiwen heard this, he was completely stunned.
He stared at Chu Jinyan blankly, forgetting to come back to his senses for a moment.
After a long while, he finally found his voice and looked at Chu Jinyan with horror: "Your Highness, I don't understand what you are saying."
"Isn't it said that you have a straightforward character, like a stone in a toilet, smelly and hard? Why are you pretending to be confused with me now?"
Zuo Shiwen: “…”
So, Your Highness, are you praising me or scolding me?
Zuo Shiwen took a sip of tea and suppressed the shock in his heart.
It wasn't that he wanted to pretend to be confused, but the Eighth Prince's words were too shocking.
It was as casual as asking him if he wanted to buy some cabbage.
That’s the Ministry of Justice.
"Your Highness, although Lord Cui made a mistake, the emperor has not yet issued his punishment." Zuo Shiwen said with trembling lips.
Chu Jinyan laughed nonchalantly: "As long as he makes a mistake, the Ministry of Justice will never fall into his hands again. Lord Zuo, I heard that you have a lot of experience in law and prison. Don't you want to go to the next level?"
Zuo Shiwen looked at Chu Jinyan in shock.
The Eighth Prince was not speaking casually.
But why choose him?
"Your Highness, I have no power or influence in the court. I'm afraid you made a wrong move by choosing me."
Zuo Shiwen bowed his head and said.
Of course he wanted to join the Ministry of Justice.
But once he accepted this offer, he joined the Eighth Prince's camp, and from then on he had no choice but to be the one to succeed or fail because of the Eighth Prince.
Chu Jinyan sighed: "Alas, who said it wasn't true? But who asked someone to recommend you? Even if it was a wrong move, I will admit it."
Zuo Shiwen: “…”
Why doesn't His Highness play by the rules?
Without waiting for Zuo Shiwen to speak, Chu Jinyan suddenly said seriously: "Lord Zuo, I have handed over the memorial recommending you to be the Minister of Justice to my father. I believe that an official document will be issued soon. I don't ask you to surrender to me immediately. How about this? Before I become the crown prince, you will continue to be a loyal minister. Once I am appointed as the crown prince, you will have no choice. I will sit on the throne safely, and you will be an important minister. If I am to be pulled down... then you can take care of yourself."
"ah?"
Zuo Shiwen was stunned by Chu Jinyan's series of actions.
The Eighth Prince let him sit in the position of the Ministry of Justice but did not ask him to do anything. Instead, he waited until the Eighth Prince became the Crown Prince and then took over. This was tantamount to taking advantage of a ready-made advantage.
"This... I am taking advantage of Your Highness, which is not good."
"How about you show your loyalty to me now?" Chu Jinyan said expressionlessly.
Zuo Shiwen looked conflicted: "Your Highness, this humble servant..."
As soon as he opened his mouth, Chu Jinyan stretched out his hand to interrupt him: "I, the one who was taken advantage of, have no objection. What's wrong with you taking advantage? I just want to ask you one question, Ministry of Justice, do you want to do it?"
Do you want it?
Yes!
He is stubborn, but not stupid.
This is clearly an opportunity that is in his favor and can help him make further progress. He would be a fool not to seize it.
Zuo Shiwen stood up and bowed deeply to Chu Jinyan: "Thank you, Your Highness, for giving me this opportunity."
Although after taking over the Ministry of Justice, he might not be able to be a loyal minister before the Eighth Prince became the Crown Prince, but the Eighth Prince said that it was up to him. This respect was even more precious to Zuo Shiwen.
But what surprised Zuo Shiwen even more was Chu Jinyan's style of doing things.
He said that if he were made the Minister of Justice, he would be sure that the emperor would approve of the memorials he submitted.
I know that the emperor dotes on the Eighth Prince, but I don't know that he dotes on him to this extent. The emperor will agree to use whoever the Eighth Prince wants to use.
With this favor, if he couldn't sit on the throne of the crown prince, it would be unless he was too stupid and a hopeless person. But at present, it seems that the eighth prince is not that person.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
