Chapter 64 Enough
Prefect Shen's pupils contracted slightly.
He stared at Su Qing in disbelief.
His family's situation wasn't a secret; many people in official circles knew about it.
Many of his colleagues even wanted to arrange marriages with his family.
These old foxes might say something like, "A woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent," at a banquet.
But in reality, no family wants a daughter-in-law who is both talented and beautiful.
Talent is even more important than beauty.
Most people know the regret in his heart.
Su Qing was the first to realize that he felt not only regret, but also hatred.
He resented that his daughter wasn't a son, and that she couldn't participate in the imperial examinations.
This hatred was not directed at the daughter herself.
It was a strange emotion, which is why he was even more amiable when facing his daughter.
He was almost the most envied father figure among the younger generation in the clan.
This hatred, which could not be shown to her daughter, was instead directed at Zhu Fangjie and Su Qing.
Su Qing is now asking whether it's hatred or jealousy.
With his intelligence, Prefect Shen naturally understood what he was thinking.
He was indeed jealous.
Jealous of Su Qing and Zhu Fangjie.
In his eyes, his daughter was no less than those two women.
Why should they have the opportunity to become officials and ministers?
After Su Qing finished speaking, the carriage arrived. She sat down directly and didn't look at Prefect Shen again.
Instead, Prefect Shen calmed down from his earlier rage.
Back at his temporary lodgings, he began writing letters to his daughter.
He bought the book his daughter mentioned and had someone take it back so she could spend the New Year with her mother. He will go back after the New Year.
Finally, the author paused, adding that if you like, you can have your mother accompany you to Nanjiang County to see how the girls take the imperial examinations there, and you can also ask them for a copy of the exam questions to try it yourself.
Being proficient in the Four Books and Five Classics is completely different from taking the imperial examinations.
He had only taught his daughter to read before.
Now, this man, who was a 24-year-old Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) back then, is going to teach his daughter how to take exams.
With my daughter's intelligence, it won't be difficult for her to learn.
After the letter was sent out, Prefect Shen began to feel embarrassed.
How can he ease the tension between him and Su Qing after their previous falling out?
The only hope is that I can meet with Prefect Su more often at the banquets in the near future.
Prefect Shen hosted quite a few banquets.
Su Qing also invited him to two or three events every day.
But the two just couldn't meet.
Which of those colleagues who were hosting would dare to put the two of them at the same banquet?
Isn't this just asking for trouble?
Who would invite such trouble upon themselves?
Let alone Prefect Shen of Shanyang Prefecture.
Even Su Qing was a little annoyed.
My colleagues are so perceptive!
Doesn't anyone want to watch the cricket fighting?
Ugh, this is boring.
Perhaps even the heavens knew what they were thinking, because an official actually invited both of them to come at the same time.
The idea was to get the two to shake hands and make peace.
I actually wanted to see the two of them argue.
It's not hard to guess who this person is.
Zhao Jiazhi, the prefect of Huizhou.
It was reasonable for Prefect Shen to receive his invitation.
Su Qing felt uneasy after receiving it.
There's no need to go into the details of their feud; everyone knows they don't get along.
Even the messenger shrank back, afraid of being beaten out by Su Qing's people.
When Officer Wu and his eldest son saw the invitation handed to them by the gatekeeper, they immediately went to find Lord Su.
"This is clearly intentional, a trap."
Gu Congsi, who comes every day, along with Hua Jingming and Qi Anshou, were prominently displayed in the study.
The three of them come here whenever they have free time to help with official business.
At some banquets, they would accompany the guests and help them avoid drinking.
Therefore, it was not unexpected that Officer Wu was involved.
The three men shared the same idea as Constable Wu.
Zhao Jiazhi definitely has ill intentions.
Soon, Gu Congsi's men also sent a message.
"Zhao Jiazhi not only invited Su Qing, but also Prefect Shen."
What else is there to say?
It would be strange if Prefect Zhao had good intentions.
“I’ll go with you,” Gu Congsi said.
He holds an official position in the Hanlin Academy and will focus on preparing for the exam after the New Year.
As a government official from the capital, Prefect Zhao and his men will be more restrained.
Chief Qi knew he couldn't get involved in this matter, but he was also anxious.
Hua Jingming then said, "I'll go too. It's always better with more people."
The Hua family's status in Guangyue Prefecture goes without saying; with their wealth, they have considerable influence in the capital.
Su Qing saw that they were all very anxious, and guessed that they were afraid that Prefect Shen and Prefect Zhao would gang up on her.
It's really not that bad.
Zhao Jiazhi is no good.
However, it's not necessarily the case for Prefect Shen.
It's just a banquet, no need to panic.
The 26th day of the twelfth lunar month.
Heavy snow had already fallen in the capital.
Su Qing wore a plain-colored fur coat with a dark fur coat over it, and the boots that Hua Jingming was sure to buy for her.
She looked neat and warm.
However, she doesn't like wearing accessories, so she doesn't look like a rich girl or an ordinary woman.
Looking at the two handsome men beside her, each with their own unique charm, and the clerks and servants following carefully behind them.
"Prefect Su was the first female prefect of Shunchang Kingdom."
When Su Qing arrived at the house Zhao Jiazhi had invited her to, she was stopped and greeted by her colleagues before she even entered the house.
Some people were watching the spectacle, while others were quite worried.
Su Qing glanced at the passing carriages and horses.
Today's banquet is quite large in scale.
Gu Congsi and Hua Jingming had serious expressions, while Hua Jingming wore a gentle smile.
If you look closely, you'll see that their attention is all on Su Qing, and they're not letting anyone get close.
The head constable behind him was just as alert as the eldest son of the Wu family.
At the entrance of the mansion, a huge incense burner was lit, its exquisite design drawing admiration from the guests.
Zhao Jiazhi, as the host, was standing to the side welcoming the guests.
Upon seeing Su Qing approach, Prefect Zhao deliberately said, "It's been a long time, Lord Su."
"It has been two or three years since we parted ways at Guangyuefu."
As he spoke, he deliberately sized up Su Qing: "You're a grown woman now."
They were all colleagues, and Su Qing even held a higher official position than Prefect Zhao, yet he acted this way, which was truly displeasing.
The last sentence had a slightly teasing tone.
Su Qing smiled and said, "Yes, it's been two or three years since we parted ways at Guangyuefu. If there's a chance, I would like to invite Prefect Zhao to visit Guangyuefu and see if it has changed a lot."
"By the way, how is the situation in Huizhou? I heard that since the lord went there, there has been both drought and flood."
Zhao Jiazhi's face instantly turned ugly.
Guangyuefu has undergone a major transformation.
Huizhou has also undergone a great transformation.
One got better, the other got worse.
Su Qing seemed to have just realized what was happening and couldn't help but say, "Why don't you, Lord Zhao, find a fortune teller to do some divination?"
"Where do we go? What's going on?"
The other officials looked at each other in bewilderment.
That makes sense, doesn't it?
Less than a year after Zhao Jiazhi went to Guangyuefu, war broke out there.
I spent a year in Huizhou, where the floods were severe.
What kind of jinx is this?
Su Qing looked at Hua Jingming, who had studied astrology and physiognomy, and actually commented: "Lord Zhao has horizontal lines on the bridge of his nose, which means he is unlucky, things are not going smoothly, and he is willing but unable to do it. You really should consult a fortune teller."
Most people in officialdom are superstitious.
These words made many colleagues uneasy.
If he's experiencing a run of bad luck, it's best to stay away from him.
Everyone's having a tough time, so we really can't get too close.
Prefect Zhao had intended to give Su Qing a hard time, but unexpectedly, he was outmaneuvered.
Fortunately, Prefect Shen has already arrived.
These two could even get into an argument at a banquet hosted by Prefect Chen of Tongmin Prefecture.
Today, with me supporting Prefect Shen, let's see how Su Qing makes a fool of himself.
Zhao Jiazhi instructed his son and nephew to greet the guests, while he led them into the warm pavilion.
Su Qing arrived rather late; there were already quite a few guests inside.
When the owner came over, many people stood up to greet him.
Seeing Su Qing, they showed an extra touch of enthusiasm.
When introduced to Prefect Shen, Zhao Jiazhi specifically said, "Since you are both prefects, you should naturally sit together."
Those around gasped in shock.
What is Lord Zhao doing?
Aren't you afraid they'll start fighting?!
Wait a minute, they were arranged to be together so that they would fight.
These guys are really mortal enemies.
Many people felt sorry for Su Qing.
In a two-on-one situation, she would definitely be at a disadvantage.
Zhao Jiazhi was waiting to see what would happen.
Unexpectedly, Prefect Shen stood up and said with a smile, "Please sit down, Lord Su."
Su Qing politely cupped his hands in greeting and sat down to the side.
Prefect Shen continued, "I heard that His Majesty has already met with most of the prefects and governors, and he will probably summon Prefect Su in the next day or two. Once he has met His Majesty, everyone will be relieved."
These words, seemingly casual conversation, were actually meant to reveal information to Su Qing, so that she could prepare herself.
The change of colleagues served as a reminder.
But between the two of them, it was clearly a signal of seeking reconciliation.
It was Prefect Shen of Shanyang Prefecture who took the initiative to seek peace.
Why?
What happened in between?!
Su Qing was even more polite: "Thank you, Prefect Shen. It seems I should head back from this banquet early today. If the Emperor summons me tomorrow, I'll be in a real bind."
Is Su Qing being this polite?
Didn't you two have a fight last time?
Everyone couldn't help but look at Zhao Jiazhi.
Even Gu Congsi and Hua Jingming looked over.
You call the two people over, wanting them to argue.
Now it's not noisy at all.
They even made up?
Su Qing certainly wouldn't give this good title to Prefect Zhao, so he directly said to his colleague, "Last time, Prefect Chen of Tongmin Prefecture invited us to a banquet and advised colleagues to get along well."
"I wholeheartedly agree with Commander Shen."
ah?
It was Prefect Chen who brokered the peace?!
You all agreed?
When Prefect Chen, who was at home, heard this, he was probably completely baffled.
When did he try to persuade me?
Even I don't know
In any case, Prefect Zhao's face was extremely ugly.
He came here specifically to see Su Qing embarrass herself, but unexpectedly, he was the one who ended up losing face.
What happened to Prefect Shen?
Weren't they arguing about it just a couple of days ago?
Now they've suddenly changed their minds.
Looking at the other two, Prefect Shen even took the initiative to have the wine in front of Su Qing replaced with tea: "She doesn't drink alcohol, so tea will suffice."
Just as Zhao Jiazhi was about to speak, he noticed two young men behind Su Qing staring at him.
Gu Congsi was a confidant of the emperor and held considerable prestige among the young people in the Hanlin Academy.
Hua Jingming, the youngest son of the wealthy Hua family.
Both of them will be taking the imperial examination next year and are expected to pass.
Since they dared to force Su Qing to drink, these two would definitely help stop her.
Offending one person means offending a whole group of people.
How did Su Qing, this young woman, manage to gather so much influence?
The young men around him were all extremely good-looking.
Zhao Jiazhi was indignant.
If he had stayed in Guangyuefu for a longer period of time, would he have ended up like her?
Moreover, since he is a man, he will certainly be more favored by the emperor.
The Zhao family banquet passed in this manner.
Although Su Qing and Prefect Shen did not explicitly say it, they already knew each other's thoughts.
Back at my lodgings.
Gu Congsi and Hua Jingming stared intently at her, waiting for Su Qing to explain.
As Su Qing took off her outer fur coat, she said, "I said a few more words at the banquet last time at Prefect Chen's, but I didn't know what he was thinking. Now that I've met him, I know that he has come to his senses."
Then, Su Qing explained the situation of the Shen family.
He would be overjoyed if Prefect Shen's daughter could become an official.
I had never thought of it this way before; there was no precedent for it.
But with examples like Su Qing and Zhu Fangjie, it's not necessarily impossible.
Even if he were just a county magistrate, he could still keep his family at peace.
Gu Congsi nodded, and Hua Jingming leaned over and said, "As expected of Su Hehe, she's really amazing."
Su Hehe.
Gu Congsi subconsciously stared at his friend Hua Jingming, his expression gradually turning cold.
The atmosphere was fine a moment ago, but it has now plummeted to freezing point.
When Hua Jingming realized what was happening, he felt guilty but still looked over: "It's the nickname Su Qing uses for me. It's to praise her for being different from others."
Their eyes met, and they both knew the answer from each other's expressions.
Gu Congsi couldn't believe it, yet he felt it was only natural.
Yes, who wouldn't like Su Qing?
You'll fall in love with her as soon as you're with her.
Once I realized this, many of my previous questions were answered.
She asked Hua Jingming to take good care of Qingqing.
But that's not how they take care of me.
Gu Congsi was already somewhat angry.
The strange atmosphere was broken when he was summoned to the palace.
The information from Prefect Shen is correct.
By imperial decree, Su Qing, the prefect of Guangyue Prefecture, shall be summoned to the Qinzheng Hall for an audience tomorrow.
Other prefects and governors are not mentioned.
From the 21st day of the twelfth lunar month to the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month.
The emperor received more than two hundred local officials in one go.
It's estimated that tomorrow will be the last batch.
Finally, I'm going to meet the Emperor.
Su Qing was curious about what the Emperor looked like, and whether he was completely different from his brother Yan Zhengzhou.
Speaking of which, even the Emperor was about to meet him, but Yan Zhengzhou seemed to have vanished without a trace.
She only saw Lian Feiyang on her first day in the capital.
Su Qing went to prepare the official attire for her audience with the emperor.
Gu Congsi and Hua Jingming walked out of the house.
Hua Jingming didn't linger, but Gu Congsi wasn't about to let it go so easily. He asked directly, "When did it start?"
When does it begin.
Hua Jingming thought about it for a moment, shook his head, and asked in return, "You are quite perceptive."
He saw through the clue with just one word, "Su Hehe".
Gu Congsi bluntly stated, "Qingqing may not know what this means, but how could others not know?"
Only when the couple gets engaged can the fiancé give his fiancée a nickname.
This is a privilege reserved for engaged fiancés.
Upon hearing this, Hua Jingming instantly realized something.
When I named her this, I didn't already have this in mind, did I?
Seeing his expression, Gu Congsi became even angrier, but he suppressed his anger and said, "She is my fiancée, and you are my friend."
Hua Jingming's eyes flashed, and he simply said, "You two broke off your engagement two years ago, didn't you?"
As for friends.
Both of them knew.
They are no longer friends.
It was the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, at the exact hour of Yin (3-5 AM).
It was late December, in the dead of winter, at four o'clock in the morning, outside the palace gates.
It was still snowing heavily outside. Su Qing got up at three o'clock, changed into his official robes, and put on a thick, dark fur coat, wishing he could wrap himself up like a ball.
Upon arriving at the palace gate, there were already many vehicles parked there.
Su Qing waited with Constable Wu for a while, and then other colleagues got off the car.
It was still early before dawn, and a group of officials were waiting at the palace gate. They would walk into the palace after everyone had arrived.
These local officials rarely went to the palace; they were usually led by an eunuch who would explain the arrangements for meeting the emperor.
Especially for Su Qing, it was her first time entering the palace, and she had even more to learn.
Fortunately, she remained composed and dignified, unfazed by the imposing palace, appearing calm and collected.
We finally entered the side hall, but the charcoal fire inside wasn't burning very well, so we could only move around as much as we could.
After quite a while, someone brought hot tea to warm us up.
When asked when the Emperor would summon them, they were only told to wait.
We'll talk about it after the morning assembly.
Since the court session will end before the audience, why make them come so early?
No one dared to ask aloud.
However, this group of officials were the last to arrive in Beijing, and some even arrived on the 21st due to the long distance.
Even by the time stipulated by the imperial court, it was too late.
Is this a punishment for them?
That can't be right.
The emperor is so petty.
They waited until the tea soup had turned a pale color and it was already broad daylight before they were invited to the outer room of the Hall of Diligent Governance.
This group of officials consisted of thirty people.
People entered in batches.
Su Qing's group was naturally the last one.
Ten people entered the hall.
First, state which region you are an official from, how much tax revenue your region has this year, how many people live there, and how much arable land you have.
Furthermore, there's the local provincial examination, and how many candidates will participate in the metropolitan examination next April.
The eunuchs repeatedly urged the officials to make sure they explained things clearly.
The elderly official next to him kept repeating it dozens of times.
His post was located in a very remote area, and he was one of the "latecomers," reportedly even falling ill on the way.
Su Qing, who was the last to arrive, sighed slightly.
It was already 10:00 AM.
Everyone got up at three o'clock, arrived at the palace gate at four o'clock, and still hadn't seen their superior by ten o'clock.
In modern times, she would probably just turn around and leave, letting whoever wants to serve this boss do so.
Now we can only wait for a message to come from inside.
Su Qing lowered her eyes, making her expression unreadable.
When the last five of them entered the inner hall of the Hall of Diligent Governance, the old man next to them was almost fainting.
Even so, the situation in each place was described very clearly.
It's a small southern prefecture that also suffered from floods this year. Its population is only 600,000, and its tax revenue is only a little over ten thousand.
"This year's floods were severe, and many fields yielded no harvest."
The Emperor did not ask any further questions and nodded slightly.
Standing to the side, Eunuch Liang said, "Next, Guangyuefu."
The old official sighed deeply.
Reporting before the Guangyuefu was really not a good idea.
A prefecture is generally inferior to a county, but Guangyue Prefecture is particularly different.
Su Qing had no choice but to answer truthfully.
"Guangyue Prefecture consists of one city and sixteen counties. This year, it has a tax revenue of 1.19 million, a population of 2.39 million, and 120,000 hectares of cultivated land."
In addition, there are the results of the local provincial examinations, as well as the 399 candidates who will participate in next year's metropolitan examinations, including local talents such as Gu Congsi, Qi Anping, Hua Jingming, and Hui Rong.
The disaster situation in several other counties will be explained one by one.
Su Qing was the only woman among the more than 200 officials from other places, and her political achievements were also among the best.
Not only were his colleagues who entered the Hall of Diligent Governance curious.
The three Hanlin Academy Grand Secretaries, as well as the Minister of Personnel and the Minister of Revenue, all raised their heads slightly.
Officials from various regions travel to Beijing to report on their work.
The Emperor sat on the throne, with other cabinet ministers, officials from the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue, and others sitting beside him. They were no younger than the old man beside him, and all had a full head of white hair.
After the five officials finished their reports, it was time for the emperor and other ministers to ask questions.
I asked the first four questions hastily.
When Su Qing arrived, the atmosphere suddenly changed.
There is no other reason.
Su Qing is too special.
It's so unusual that even if you wanted to remove her from her post, you wouldn't know where to begin.
When the Guangyuefu incident occurred, she rose to power through a power struggle among several parties.
I never expected her to be able to hold onto her position, and even more unexpectedly, she gained such a reputation after securing it.
For a time, no one dared to touch her.
A woman should just be a county magistrate.
She still wants to hold onto her position as prefect; how can she be expected to have the opportunity to become prime minister?
The higher you go, the fewer spots there are.
The competition among the men is fierce enough.
If women are involved, wouldn't that just create more people who would benefit?
The so-called female identity is merely a tool for their suppression.
It's just that Su Qing did too well.
They weren't even given the chance to be dismissed.
Now remove Su Qing from his position.
The people of Guangyuefu would not agree if they did not speak out.
The people of Huizhou, who had benefited from her kindness, were also unhappy.
Even if we disregard what the people think.
For officials in the court who are dedicated to their work, it is inevitable to feel a sense of shared sorrow.
Today, we can replace her with Su Qing's female identity.
They can be replaced later using other reasons.
Aside from ordinary citizens and officials.
Another characteristic of Su Qing also made the Emperor feel troubled.
Everyone knows that they don't like her and don't think she's a good candidate for an official position.
In this case, replace her.
Wouldn't that make it seem like the emperor has a particular fondness for her, deliberately targeting her, thus affecting his imperial dignity?
Various speculations from the outside world.
Instead, it caused Su Qing to grow thorns all over her body.
It's something you can't touch or budge on.
The Emperor stared at Su Qing and said, "Prefect Su, raise your head."
These words made Su Qing feel uneasy. As she raised her head slightly, she heard the Emperor say, "She is a woman of exceptional beauty. How old is she this year?"
Su Qing sneered inwardly, only replying, "This humble subject is twenty years old this year, and I succeeded my father in his position the year he passed away. I was sixteen that year."
Mentioning Su Qing's father, Magistrate Su.
The atmosphere finally changed a bit.
This man died for his country, preferring death to surrender.
To say anything else under these circumstances would be utterly absurd.
When Su Qing looked at the Emperor, she saw that his face was pale, slightly swollen, and had dark circles under his eyes, indicating that he was not in good health.
His eyes were filled with understanding.
In this respect, he is somewhat similar to Yan Zhengzhou.
The face doesn't look quite right.
If I had to say, he's a lower-budget version of Yan Zhengzhou.
Facing Su Qing, this "porcupine".
The emperor was unsure how to handle the situation.
After a moment, we finally got to the point.
The death of Prince Wuyong.
The Minister of Justice spoke up: "How could we allow Tian Xian to get close to Prince Wuyong, knowing that he has a blood feud with the prince's entire family?"
"With such actions, shouldn't the local officials, and even you, the prefect, be alert?"
Su Qing replied, "Reporting to Your Excellency, Minister."
"Tian Xian does indeed have a blood feud with the prince, but in the Nanjiang County area, almost every household is like that. It's really too difficult to find an official who has no grudge against him."
The Minister of Justice paused.
What Su Qing said was true.
Who hasn't been bullied by rebels?
Who hasn't lost a few people in their family?
It wasn't that she and Zhu Fangjie deliberately hired their enemies to guard Prince Wuyong.
Instead, that place was full of enemies.
“That’s because you weren’t careful enough,” the Minister of Rites said. “I think it’s the local officials’ fault. If you had been more vigilant, this wouldn’t have happened.”
"I heard that Prefect Su is still trying to get a new position for this erring official?" The Minister of Rites looked at the Minister of Personnel.
"Is this really true?" the Emperor asked slowly, his voice slightly hoarse, yet carrying an awkward gentleness.
This is a symptom of prolonged coughing and poor health.
Su Qing replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, I am requesting an official position for Zhu Fangjie. She has been in Nanjiang County for a long time, and the pharmaceutical workshop in Nanjiang County was established by her."
Regarding the pharmaceutical workshop, Su Qing gave a brief introduction, adding, "Because there is a Medicine Valley Village in the county that produces a lot of precious medicinal herbs, if they are not processed in time after harvesting, they can easily lose their medicinal effects."
Su Qing then named two more precious medicinal herbs, both used for maintaining health and prolonging life.
Let alone the emperor.
The three Hanlin Academy members and the six ministers were all somewhat tempted.
At this point, Eunuch Liang spoke up: "Prefect Su seems to be extremely familiar with health-preserving soups and medicines. The popular 'Strengthening the Body and Nourishing the Vitality Soup' in the capital today was made by Prefect Su."
This was the medicine that was given away as a donation in Nanjiang County back then.
This is the same medicine that was given away in the Huizhou area this year.
Without exception, everyone said this recipe was excellent.
Su Qing cupped her hands in greeting: "It was just a prescription I obtained by chance, but thankfully it has some effect."
But as everyone knows, Yaogu Village was also created by Su Qing.
That place happens to produce precious medicinal herbs that are good for maintaining health.
It seems she was being modest when she said that.
The atmosphere finally eased a bit.
However, the officials of the Ministry of Rites did not breathe a sigh of relief regarding Zhu Fangjie's appointment as county magistrate, and seemed to absolutely disagree.
The Minister of Rites raised another matter: "Is it true that women will be allowed to participate in the county examination in Nanjiang County next year?"
Finally, I told them both things.
It was pretty much what Su Qing and the others had guessed.
The matter of Prince Wuyong is not important.
Zhu Fangjie and the girls' examination are the focus of today's event.
Su Qing said directly, "Guangyue Prefecture is short of officials in many places, and one person is doing the work of five. I am doing this simply to ensure that the government offices are adequately staffed so that the areas can be governed well."
“Take the cultivated land in Guangyue Prefecture as an example. In the past two years, the cultivated land has increased, and the existing officials are too busy to handle it all, so they have to hire more people.”
"And the border cities."
At this point, Su Qing deliberately paused: "The city is severely damaged and must be repaired within the next two years."
“There are also foreign tribes eyeing Gaoqing Prefecture with covetous intent.”
"I'm afraid they'll take advantage of the weakened border defenses and break in directly."
When it comes to war...
Mentioning breaking in.
The emperor and his entourage reacted as if to a sudden shock.
We can't fight any more wars.
When the rebel army stormed into the capital, it caused heavy losses to the city.
It still leaves a psychological scar on the emperor and others to this day.
Especially the Minister of Rites, who had reacted most strongly just now, had experienced the rebel army's invasion of the capital, fled to Nanjing, and was now returning.
I really can't go through that again.
Instead, it was the Minister of Personnel who spoke up: "Su Qing, don't talk nonsense and mislead the public."
Su Qing did not speak, but said, "I have heard that pirates are taking advantage of the situation along the coast. It is hard to say that they know that the court is short of manpower."
Coastal area, pirates.
The so-called pirates were actually a group of rebels from back then.
The twelve rebel groups that fled to the area of Gaoqingzhou in Guangyue Prefecture were basically all wiped out.
Some even headed towards Yunnan's coastal region.
They are all border areas.
Many rebel groups have established themselves on the border through force.
These are the biggest threats.
Compared to them.
Su Qing, the female prefect.
Even Zhu Fangjie, a girl who took the imperial examination, was not worth mentioning at all.
No matter how much they deny it, what Su Qing said is the truth.
More than two hundred officials went to Beijing to report on their work, but that did not bring peace.
The situation in various places is not good.
Of course, not everyone, like her and the old man, told the truth.
For example, Zhao Jiazhi of Huizhou only briefly mentioned the floods in Huizhou, saying only that the emperor governed well and that if it weren't for the emperor, the disaster victims would have starved to death.
I heard that on that day, the emperor was extremely pleased with the praise, and even kept Zhao Jiazhi behind for a private conversation.
What Su Qing said was almost exactly the opposite.
Therefore, she was not kept behind for a private talk, but was escorted out of the Hall of Diligent Governance along with the old man.
As for Zhu Fangjie's official position, the matter of the girls' preliminary examination still needs to be discussed.
But today is already the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month.
In two days, the imperial court will no longer hold morning court sessions and will begin its winter break.
When will we discuss this again?
Su Qing wasn't in a hurry.
She's not in a hurry to get a title.
Nanjiang County was under the jurisdiction of Zhu Fangjie, and everyone called her Magistrate.
As long as I am alive, this will not change.
There has indeed been discussion about this matter within the government.
Over the next two days.
The Emperor even ordered Prefect Shen of Shanyang Prefecture to say more.
Prefect Shen's words silenced the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites.
Previously, he was most opposed to girls taking the imperial examinations.
Now they've actually spoken up, saying that Shanyang Prefecture also wants to give it a try, that their people are simple and honest, and that everyone is eager to learn.
Perhaps some talented people will emerge from there.
At first, no one understood why he said that.
A small incident also occurred during this time.
The old man who met the emperor with Su Qing took the pills Su Qing gave him, and his health improved considerably.
They said the pills were produced in a pharmaceutical workshop in Nanjiang County, and that they used medicinal herbs from Yaogu Village.
It wasn't until the palace banquet on New Year's Eve that someone mentioned that if there were any girls taking the imperial examinations in Shanyang Prefecture, his daughter could participate.
Prefect Shen was known for his genius.
His daughter is also renowned and highly educated.
The imperial palace banquet was naturally attended by the emperor, empress dowager, and imperial concubines.
Prince Zheng, members of the royal family, and others also participated.
Unlike the others, who were all reunited with their families, Prince Zheng was all alone.
As for the previously mentioned arranged marriage, the emperor made no further mention of it.
Everyone understood.
Before the Emperor has any children of his own, Prince Zheng is absolutely not allowed to have any children of his own.
Given Yan Zhengzhou's physical condition, let alone marrying a wife, even taking a concubine would result in a child being born before him.
Yan Zhengzhou, true to his nature, neither mentioned marrying a wife nor taking a concubine.
He always seemed to listen to his mother and brother.
After all, his birth almost caused the death of his mother and brother.
At this moment, in the small courtyard in the capital.
Su Qing instructed the cooks and others several days in advance to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner thoroughly.
Slaughtering pigs and sheep, let Constable Wu and his constables have a good New Year.
It's said that once you're full, you won't miss home. For many people spending the Lunar New Year away from home for the first time, they still need to make careful preparations.
Besides those from Guangyuefu who came on official business, they also invited Wu Butou's eldest son, Gu Congsi, Hua Jingming, and other fellow townsmen.
During the New Year's Eve dinner, everyone disregards their official positions, closes the door, and enjoys drinking and eating meat in a lively atmosphere.
Before long, Eunuch Qi quietly knocked on the door and came in, carrying New Year's gifts.
He hadn't expected that Su Qingzhen wouldn't take Yunxi and Lülan with her; this move was obviously to protect them.
So he'll definitely come over to visit before the end of the year.
"Eunuch Liang wants you to go see him tomorrow morning; there should be some new information."
Once the palace banquet is over, we'll know the Emperor's attitude.
Upon receiving this news, Su Qing nodded slightly and personally saw Eunuch Qi out.
Back at the table, the atmosphere felt extremely somber.
Hua Jingming and Gu Congsi remained silent.
The remaining Qi Anping and Hui Rong kept watching them, seemingly equally puzzled.
"What's wrong?" Su Qing couldn't help but ask.
Since we're all on the same side, she'll definitely ask directly.
Unexpectedly, the two men looked at her at the same time, and then at the two glasses of honey water in front of her.
"Let's eat."
Would you like some water?
The previous sentence was said by Gu Congsi.
The next sentence was spoken by Hua Jingming.
Su Qing pushed all the honey water away: "I want to wait to eat roast lamb leg."
She bought it especially for the New Year's Eve dinner!
Who needs to eat or drink?
After saying this, Qi Anping and Hui Rong both breathed a sigh of relief.
Especially the latter, who was already married with children, how could he not know what had just happened?
Qi Anping, for some reason, came over quickly after Gu Hua and the other man went to look at the roasted lamb leg and said, "Sir, the two of them poured you a glass of water at the same time, without saying a word."
"That's fine, but recently they've been quite confrontational."
"Please persuade him. The imperial examination is in April. He can't take it with a bad feeling in his heart."
Su Qing felt the same way, and she said, "I most want all of you to pass the imperial examination and become Jinshi."
That way she would have even more connections in the court.
Many things will then become simpler.
Gu Congsi and Hua Jingming, who had just entered, both heard these words.
Gu Congsi spoke first: "I will."
It's not just about those who passed the imperial examinations.
Hua Jingming lagged behind by a step, but smiled confidently.
What he could bring, besides the title of Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), was the Hua family's status in Guangyue Prefecture.
Compared to him, he is still more useful.
However, he felt guilty in front of Gu Congsi and couldn't say it directly.
Gu Congsi added, "I saw Ye Shanming's men nearby today. Did he come to deliver a message?"
Su Qing thought of Ye Shanming's previous words and felt it was somewhat inappropriate to bring them up in front of her ex-fiancé, so she only vaguely said, "It's the New Year."
Actually, I didn't write anything in my mind.
The main focus was on the treasures; there were a total of thirty-one boxes, and they had all been sold.
Another five hundred taels of silver were delivered to Magistrate Zhu of Nanjiang County.
Finally, they still invited Su Qing to be the young mistress of the Ye family.
Hua Jingming knew that this was said intentionally for him to hear.
He had met Ye Shanming and knew that the Ye family's business had grown tremendously in recent years.
He was involved in the trade of medicinal herbs in Nanjiang County, the trade of grain in the Guanglefu area, and even engaged in maritime transport.
Shops can be opened in the capital.
Many people say that with Ye Shanming's abilities, it's only a matter of time before he becomes incredibly wealthy.
Gu Congsi mentioned this to tell him that others don't lack money.
If you try to use money to influence Su Qing's opinion, she will have better options.
To put it bluntly, if you want knowledge and a future, you have to be better than me.
If you're looking for wealth and resources, Ye Shanming is better than you.
Neither up nor down.
Stop thinking about it.
Su Qing had already started eating the meat, pretending not to notice the two people's gazes.
There must be a reason why friends argue, right?
Then, who should we ask?
Alarm bells rang in Su Qing's mind.
It's best not to ask anyone; that's just my gut feeling.
Towards the end of the New Year's Eve dinner, Su Qing still drank a glass of wine.
The last day of Yong Sheng's fifth year.
Having a glass of wine is no big deal.
Su Qing raised his wine glass and said to his subordinates, "You've all worked hard following me around. Today, I toast to you all."
The constables and others following Su Qing were somewhat dumbfounded.
You have to understand that Prefect Su had never drunk alcohol at so many banquets with his colleagues, yet he was toasting them now. This feeling was truly indescribable.
"Respectfully, Prefect."
"Lord Jingsu!"
"If it weren't for you, how could our Guangyuefu have such a good life? We are willing to come out for our families."
"Yes, my daughter also became a clerk, all thanks to you."
The conversation grew increasingly lively, and they drank their last cup of wine in five years at Yongsheng.
Gu Congsi, Hua Jingming, and others accompanied him.
Sure enough, her alcohol tolerance is still quite low.
When Su Qing returned to the main courtyard, she felt a little dizzy and her mouth was dry.
Since it was the New Year, the maids in the courtyard had already been sent home to reunite with their families, so there should only be cold tea on the table.
But the scalding heat as soon as she touched the teapot instantly sobered her up.
"Very perceptive."
Yan Zhengzhou's voice came through, and he was holding some tea leaves in his hand, indicating whether he could make tea.
Su Qing breathed a sigh of relief, pointed to the stool, and sat on the edge of the bed waiting for him to make tea.
When I tasted the tea, I realized it was jasmine honey water, and it was very sweet.
Yan Zhengzhou got down to business.
"At this year's palace banquet, the Emperor expressed his dissatisfaction with Prefect Shen."
They probably felt that Prefect Shen's change of stance was driven by personal motives, hence their dissatisfaction.
They also believed that she shouldn't have tried to win over other officials in this way.
After finishing his tea, Su Qing was not discouraged, but asked, "What does the Empress Dowager think?"
Yan Zhengzhou's eyes flashed with admiration: "The Empress Dowager not only approved of Zhu Fangjie becoming a female official, but also approved of the opening of the girls' examination in Shanyang Prefecture, where Prefect Shen is located."
"I agree more with the idea that girls' examinations were also held in my uncle's hometown."
Yan Zhengzhou's maternal uncle, and a member of the Empress Dowager's maternal family.
It seems there are educated women in her family.
Su Qing smiled: "And in the end, who won?"
"It's hard to say."
"Prepare some health-preserving pills; the Emperor will summon you back to the palace."
Yan Zhengzhou tried to keep things strictly official and got up to leave immediately.
Su Qing spoke up: "I heard that when you were born, you almost caused harm to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor."
Is that true?
Even though Su Qing hadn't done anything, Yan Zhengzhou stopped and turned to look at her.
There was only one candle in the room, which made the two men's eyes bright, each trying to see something in the other's eyes.
Yan Zhengzhou hummed in agreement.
"Why?" Su Qing pressed.
Yan Zhengzhou was reluctant to answer, but Su Qing said, "I'll go see Eunuch Liang tomorrow, and he'll definitely know too."
Hearing this, Yan Zhengzhou had no choice but to sit down and speak slowly.
It's better to hear it from him than from someone else.
Actually, there's nothing special about it.
The Empress Dowager was a favored concubine back then, and she also had a ten-year-old prince by her side.
While pregnant with Yan Zhengzhou, a young and beautiful concubine took advantage of his vulnerability.
The beautiful concubine became pregnant during this time.
The child is good-looking and intelligent.
After it learned to speak, it became even more endearing.
The Empress Dowager and the Emperor were neglected.
Many people say that the position of crown prince will fall into the wrong hands.
Two children of similar age grew up together.
The children of young concubines are more favored.
The emperor at the time disliked Yan Zhengzhou the most, saying that he had a cold face even at a young age.
As a result, neither the Empress Dowager nor the current Emperor like it.
This even delayed the time when the eldest prince would take over the reins of government.
As a prince of this dynasty, he should have been involved in government affairs at the age of fifteen.
It wasn't until the eighteenth prince that the late emperor finally agreed to allow the eldest prince to attend court.
"You were only five or eight years old then?"
"You're going to take such a huge blame?!"
She's so young, she really shouldn't be carrying such a heavy burden!
Because she was pregnant with her youngest son, the emperor's favor was divided among the young and beautiful concubines, and yet this could be blamed on Yan Zhengzhou.
But Yan Zhengzhou was only five years old at the time.
The late emperor said, "Because of you, I won't let your fifteen-year-old brother participate in government affairs."
They've been using this excuse for three whole years?
Isn't it because this emperor is power-hungry and doesn't trust his favorite concubine and the eldest prince?!
The reason is obvious even with your eyes closed.
Su Qing couldn't even imagine what Yan Zhengzhou must have felt at that time.
They were not well taken care of from birth.
Until when?
Yan Zhengzhou did not answer Su Qing's question, but only said, "The situation has improved since the Emperor ascended the throne."
The Emperor ascended the throne on the 29th.
That is, from before I was born until I was nineteen years old.
Are they all in this state?
He is only twenty-three years old this year.
Su Qing couldn't help but stand in front of Yan Zhengzhou and look down at him.
Su Qing, still somewhat drunk, had disbelief in her eyes and her usual smile was gone.
"Even after all this, you still want to help them?"
Yan Zhengzhou didn't know what to say.
When he was a child, he did believe it was his fault.
After reading the book, this thought gradually dissipated. He was actually right; he never was.
But he had indeed witnessed the suffering his elder brother and mother had endured.
It seems that because of his birth, he lost both his position as a favored concubine and his position as the crown prince.
The emperor was subtly criticizing a favored concubine who was too clever and also wanted to seize power.
However, the two couldn't start arguing directly, so they used him as a pretext.
It's even more inappropriate to criticize the eldest prince, who is so considerate in everything, and to use him as an excuse.
However, the real punishment did indeed fall on their heads.
He was imprisoned, demoted, publicly reprimanded, and forced to kneel in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
Some were punishments, some were public humiliation.
With the emergence of more and more favored concubines, the harem and the court became a battlefield.
The hatred in their eyes grew stronger.
It was directed at both his father and him.
When dealing with him, I knew in my heart that this was misplaced anger, so I restrained myself and turned my original rebuke into indifference.
It seems that this has already done right by Yan Zhengzhou.
Su Qing listened and shook her head helplessly: "Someone once said that the opposite of love is not hate, but indifference."
This is what hurt Yan Zhengzhou the most.
If she lived that kind of life.
She was treated this way by her maternal grandmother and Mei Niang.
She'll go crazy.
I did not have parents when I was a child.
But her grandmother treated her with all her heart, thinking of everything for her, loving and protecting her, and scolding her for not knowing the danger.
Mei Niang was the same; sometimes Mei Niang didn't understand her, but she still protected her.
She was very satisfied with Gu Congsi, her future son-in-law, back then; he was even a candidate that her husband was satisfied with.
But realizing the attitude of Gu's parents, she decided to break off the engagement.
For this love, for this protection.
No matter what happens, she wants to be like her grandmother, someone who holds fast to her beliefs.
She wants to protect Mei Niang in this world.
She will do her best.
Su Qing's fingers were a little cool as she touched Yan Zhengzhou's cheek: "That's not love, nor is it something you should protect."
"You should protect people like me who follow you."
Su Qing's icy fingers traveled down his collar and touched his burning hot skin.
Yan Zhengzhou instinctively tried to stop her, but Su Qing pushed his hand away and touched the scars on Yan Zhengzhou's shoulder, back, and chest.
"You paid it all back a long time ago."
"Isn't this enough?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
