He Jin secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that he had made the right bet, and continued:
"Wen Gui, the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, issued a decree that anyone in Beijing, as well as in Beizhili, Shandong, Shanxi, Henan, Shaanxi, Liaodong, Xuanfu, Datong, and Yansui, who wishes to pay silver to be granted a military post, shall be granted the following positions: 150 taels for a centurion, 200 taels for a deputy centurion, 250 taels for a chief centurion, 400 taels for a deputy commander, 450 taels for a deputy commander, 500 taels for a commander, and 600 taels for a deputy commander."
Su Wanwan gasped, her gaze sharp as she looked at He Jin.
A Vice Commander-in-Chief is a third-rank military officer, and you can buy that position for six hundred taels of silver?!
That's so worthless!
"Do you receive a salary?" she asked.
"He will only hold the title, but will not receive a salary for life. The original manager will continue to be in charge." He Jin smiled so much that the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes bloomed like chrysanthemums.
Su Wanwan paused for a moment, then shook her head and smiled gently.
This Wen Gui is truly a master at accumulating wealth.
Selling an official title that provides no salary and no real authority satisfies the vanity of some people, while the imperial court can raise money and profit from it.
This is similar to the matter of "paying silver to fill official positions" mentioned by Qian Fu, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War.
He Jin added, "There's more good news. The Ministry of Rites has increased the number of places available for students to enter the Imperial Academy. Those who wish to enter will receive 150 taels of silver for subsidized students, 200 taels for supplementary students, and 230 taels for supplementary students."
The Imperial Academy (廪膳生) were students whose meals were provided by the imperial court. In the past, the requirements were extremely strict, and they had to take exams. Only those with real talent and learning had the opportunity to study at the Imperial Academy.
Each year, each prefectural school had about forty students receiving stipends, the state school had thirty, and the county school had twenty, with each student receiving six dou of rice per month.
The status of Zengguangsheng was lower than that of Linshansheng, and they did not receive stipends from the imperial court. Many of them completed their studies at home.
The status of the students in the attached school was even lower than that of the students in the expanded school, and they had almost no opportunity to study at the Imperial College.
Of course, it is much easier to get a spot as an additional student or a student affiliated with the university.
The imperial court's sudden decision to expand the Imperial Academy's enrollment scope was clearly also aimed at raising funds.
I'm afraid these spots for students will be fiercely contested.
Especially in the Jiangnan region, where the number of candidates for the imperial examinations was reduced, there were many wealthy families who could afford to spend money.
With the imperial examinations becoming increasingly difficult to pass, spending money to study at the Imperial Academy was undoubtedly the best option.
Su Wanwan glanced at He Ying.
He Ying nodded knowingly at her.
Previously, Su Wanwan had asked Su Wanwan to help her younger brother, Su Chengsi, get a place at the Imperial Academy.
Su Wanwan has not taken any action.
She didn't want to be seen as someone who supported her own family.
The Su family is no ordinary family.
My grandfather, Su Jian, served as an examiner for the imperial examinations five times, and his students were numerous and successful.
Furthermore, because of his reputation for integrity and uprightness, he wielded considerable influence among officials of all ranks, both inside and outside the court.
Even if Lu Xingjian continues to suppress the Su family, he cannot possibly dismiss all these officials.
If people believe that the Empress is supporting her own family's power, it could trigger a major upheaval in the court.
Putting aside everything else, those powerful eunuchs who were at odds with his grandfather would never let him go.
Nowadays, there's no need to ask Lu Xingjian at all; you can simply pay money to the Imperial Academy to gain admission.
It's perfect—it gives my stepmother, Yang, an explanation without arousing unnecessary suspicion or fear from others.
He Jin noticed the Empress's little gesture and said happily:
"The Ministry of Revenue issued 20,000 monk certificates and 2,000 Taoist certificates, requiring each person to pay 10 or 8 taels of silver. Those who could not afford it were ordered to return to secular life."
In recent days, Gong Zhengsi has visited He Jin many times.
He Jin had served in the palace for many years, using connections to give gifts and engaging in embezzlement and bribery. What hadn't he done? How could he not be implicated?
He was even nearly tortured.
He escaped disaster only because he mentioned the Empress several times at crucial moments.
Even if he were a fool, at this moment, he would know to cling tightly to the Empress's leg.
They had nothing else to offer, but every day they had plenty of opportunities to deliver baskets of charcoal to various departments and palaces.
If the eunuchs delivering charcoal simply listen carefully, they can gather a lot of useful information.
After much deliberation, He Jin realized that this was the only value he could offer the Empress.
really.
Su Wanwan nodded approvingly and simply said one word: "Reward".
He Ying grabbed a handful of golden melon seeds and gave them to He Jin.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty! This servant will repay you with my life!"
He Jin, deeply grateful, bowed and scraped as he carried the golden melon seeds away.
He thought to himself that he should come to Kunning Palace more often to pay his respects to the Empress and chat with her.
Whether it's a golden melon seed or not is secondary; the key is having a powerful backer who can save your life in an emergency.
...
Maggie was so angry that she smashed a lot of things.
It's infuriating.
She had put so much effort into preparing the Whirlwind Dance, and even after being poisoned and not fully recovered, she still dared not relax her practice, all in order to seduce him.
Unexpectedly, when a palace servant mentioned that the Empress had gone to Renshou Palace, he immediately left.
It made her happy for nothing.
She specially prepared a wine to warm the heart.
Once he drinks the aphrodisiac and watches her dance, how can he resist?
Maggie has absolute confidence.
Once he'd tasted her flavor, he would never forget her.
She could give him all the charm that Su Wanwan couldn't.
Not long ago, her brother sent her a message asking her to say a few good words for him to the Emperor so that he would give her more money.
She had to seduce the emperor no matter what.
The palace maid, fearing that Ma Ji would scold or beat her, quickly advised:
“Don’t worry, young lady. We’ll go and invite the Emperor over. We’ll tell him that you’re drunk and insist on seeing him.”
Maggie had a sudden inspiration and drank most of the warming wine on the table.
"Go quickly and invite the Emperor. Tell him I was drunk and drugged with aphrodisiacs. If he doesn't come, I will die! He can't just stand by and watch me die."
Maggie changed into a sexy, semi-transparent red gauze dress, her slender hands supporting her increasingly flushed face as she struck a charming and alluring pose on the couch.
The palace maid left in a hurry.
Maggie grew impatient, and the aphrodisiac she had drunk began to take effect.
Her bright, watery eyes were almost dripping with water, and her whole body was burning with unbearable heat.
She couldn't help but caress herself, longing for a man's affection.
Okay... I want it.
Why hasn't the Emperor arrived yet?
He wouldn't really just stand by and watch someone die, would he?
How could he do this?
The fact that he came to Yongshou Palace already shows that he has feelings for me.
He didn't come because that bitch Su Wanwan used some tricks to stop him.
No, I have to go find him.
I refuse to believe that he can control himself in this state.
This aphrodisiac wine contains a secret medicine from the Western Regions, which is extremely potent and has no antidote.
If you drink it and don't relieve the pain through sexual intercourse, it will cause great harm to your body.
Moreover, the effects of the medicine are long-lasting, taking three to five days to dissipate.
If she weren't determined to have the Emperor, she wouldn't have used such a potent aphrodisiac.
Maggie struggled to sit up, and a maid rushed in excitedly to report:
"The Emperor has arrived!"
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