Qi Ning was a little surprised, but he was very happy. When he saw the seal under the golden seal, he vaguely recognized the characters "Order from heaven, longevity and longevity", which was the emperor's jade seal.
Printed with a jade seal, this piece of paper is a genuine escape talisman. It is not as simple as being worth a thousand gold. He stood up and thanked: "Your Majesty, your kindness is so great, my lord...!"
Longtai had already interrupted: "No need."
Yang Ning then put away the immunity charm with a smile, and Long Tai said: "You said this is a good opportunity for me, so what do you say?"
"Your Majesty, if Marquis Zhongyi accepts the dukeship, King Huainan will definitely be jealous, and Marquis Zhongyi will have more confidence to play against King Huainan." Qi Ning put away the immunity charm and said with a smile: "When they are not happy with the fight, The emperor can take the opportunity to promote his cronies."
"oh?"
"Your Majesty, just like this time, I heard from the Queen Mother that not only Marquis Zhongyi but also many ministers will be rewarded this time?" Qi Ning asked: "Does the Emperor know which ministers will be rewarded?"
Longtai sneered and said: "Of course I know it well. After all, it is the subordinates who follow Sima Lan. Many of these people are under Sima Lan's sect."
"It's not impossible to let Sima Lan fight that old guy from King Huainan and reward some of his subordinates." Qi Ning said softly.
"Ma Zai?" Longtai asked curiously: "What does Ma Zai mean?"
Qi Ning was startled and hurriedly explained: "It means being a follower."
"Ma Zai? Follower?" Longtai smiled and said, "That's an interesting title."
"Your Majesty, if Sima Lan really wants to award rewards and give promotions to his subordinates, your Majesty does not have to object, but he cannot agree to them all." Qi Ning blinked and asked, "Does your Majesty understand what I mean? ?”
Longtai is a very smart person, he understands everything at once, and smiles: "You mean, I... I can make a deal with Sima Lan?"
"Sima Lan is now assisting the emperor in managing politics. If I guess correctly, if the emperor promotes officials, Sima Lan will definitely find various reasons to oppose it." Qi Ning said softly.
Longtai frowned and said: "I have a few companions in the palace. They have been serving me since I was a child. After I ascend the throne, I plan to promote them to be chief eunuchs in the palace, but...!" He snorted coldly, "But the Queen Mother opposed it for various reasons, and even transferred those people away from me, saying that I couldn't reuse eunuchs, otherwise there would be trouble."
Qi Ning nodded and said: "So this time if Sima Lan wants the emperor to reward the officials he likes, the emperor can propose a few candidates himself, and Sima Lan will never object."
Qining sees one thing very clearly. Sometimes political struggle is actually an art of compromise. In the compromise, both parties obtain the benefits they need and achieve the goal of everyone being happy.
Longtai thought for a moment, but frowned and said: "I also think that if he wants to give rewards to others and I promote a few people myself, he won't object. It's just... I don't know many people, even if I want to promote people , who can be used in a short while?"
Qi Ning smiled and said: "Your Majesty, there is no need to rush. Just say that someone has recommended a few useful people. The Emperor is inspecting them, so there is no need to rush to decide who to use."
Longtai nodded slightly and said, "You are right. However, the ministers and officials in the court are either from King Huainan, or they are very close to Marquis Zhongyi. Naturally, I cannot easily believe their people."
"Your Majesty, there must be officials who stay out of things." Qi Ning said: "Your Majesty is wise and wise. As long as you observe a little, you will be able to see some clues. When the Emperor hires people, the first thing is to win over those officials who stay out of things. The second is It is best to promote some people who have been excluded and suppressed before. If these people are promoted by the emperor, they will definitely be grateful to the emperor."
Longtai laughed and said: "Qining, what I talked to you today really made me enlightened." After looking at Qining for a few times, he asked: "Now I am wondering, where did you get these frivolous intestines?"
"Your Majesty, I am sincere to Your Majesty." Qining said, "If Your Majesty thinks what I said is wrong, I will not say anything in the future."
"Nonsense." Longtai said: "I told you that you were wrong?" He sighed: "I summoned you to the palace today, but I never thought I would tell you this. Now it seems that I summoned you to the palace today. That's right." Then he pointed to the dishes on the table and said, "Let's eat first."
After the two had dinner, Fan Dehai brought someone in to clean up. Seeing that the sky had completely darkened, Long Taicai said: "You are a foreign minister and cannot stay in the palace overnight. I will send you back first. I’ll talk to you later.” After thinking for a while, he said, “You can also help me look around and see if there are some people I can use.”
"According to the order." Qi Ning said with a smile: "If the emperor feels bored, you can summon me to the palace to talk at any time." After a pause, he kindly reminded: "Is there anything else, the emperor?"
"No, I'll talk to you next time."
Qi Ning said awkwardly: "Then...does the Emperor still remember...Hey, I'm afraid the Emperor doesn't remember."
Long Tai was startled, then a smile appeared in his eyes, and he said softly: "What do you mean I don't remember?"
"It's nothing." Qi Ning shook his head and said helplessly: "The emperor is busy with everything, so it doesn't matter if he doesn't remember some small things."
Longtai raised his foot, kicked Qining's butt, and said, "Do you think I don't know what you mean? Are you still thinking about the five hundred taels of gold that I owe you?"
Qi Ning smiled awkwardly and said: "Then... That was promised by Xiao Guang, not the emperor, so...!"
"My name is Xiao Shaoyun, Xiao Guang is my pseudonym, and that's also me." Long Tai said: "I will not go back on what I promised. I said I owe you five hundred taels of gold, so naturally I won't lie."
Qi Ning originally thought that Xiao Guang had become the emperor, and the five hundred taels of gold debt would have been wasted. When he heard that Longtai actually kept his promise, he was very happy.
Only then did he know that the little emperor's real name was Xiao Shaoyun. Thinking that the prince of Huainan was called Xiao Shaozong, he secretly thought that since they were both descendants of Shao, they were also cousins.
Qining originally thought that Longtai would ask someone to take a note of five hundred taels of gold before sending him out of the palace, but Longtai had no intention of cashing it in immediately. He just asked: "Can you keep the things I gave you last time?"
Qi Ning was stunned for a moment, but soon thought that Fan Dehai went to the Marquis Mansion that day to announce that he would inherit the title of Marquis of Jinyi, and also gave him two things, one was a jade sword, and the other was a piece of white paper. , that jade sword could figure out the emperor's meaning, but Qining couldn't figure out the meaning of that blank paper no matter what.
Today he found out that the little emperor was Xiao Guang, and he vaguely understood the meaning.
"I gave you a sword made of white jade. You should have understood the meaning." Longtai said: "Jade means pure white and flawless. The sword is used to suppress demons and eliminate demons. Jinyihou is loyal to the court and has been since Taizong. From the beginning of the emperor's reign, he has devoted all his energy to quelling the bandit rebellion for the Chu Dynasty, which has shocked the world. I hope that you, like the previous two generations of Jinyihou, will not only be undistracted and loyal to the court, but also become a sword for the court."
Qi Ning thought that he had already guessed this meaning.
"Of course you have read the piece of white paper I gave you." Longtai chuckled and said, "I want to tell you that I keep my word. Since I promised you five hundred taels of gold, I will keep my word. That piece of white paper, even if it is Xiao Guang's debt note for you, but I am the emperor, the emperor is rich everywhere, everything in the world belongs to me, of course I will not owe anyone anything, and there is no need to owe anyone anything. Submit an IOU." He blinked and said with a smile, "Do you understand what I mean?"
Qining originally understood very well that Xiao Guang was the emperor, and the emperor was Xiao Guang. Xiao Guang owed him five hundred taels of gold, just like if the emperor owed him a debt. The emperor also admitted this just now, but the little emperor now explained it like this, He was a little confused and couldn't figure it out for a while, so he could only ask for advice cautiously: "Your Majesty, I am stupid, please, Your Majesty, who should I go to for those five hundred taels of gold? Should I...... should I go to the Emperor, or should I go to Xiao?" Light?"
"Of course it's Xiao Guang." Long Tai said: "Xiao Guang is me, and I keep my word, so it's impossible for Xiao Guang to go back on his word. It's natural and natural for you to ask Xiao Guang for debts. But you have to remember. , I am the emperor, and the emperor will not owe anyone any debt."
Qi Ning cursed in his heart, you have been talking over and over again for a long time, who am I asking for this debt? Xiao Guang owes me five hundred taels of gold. You are Xiao Guang, but damn you said that the emperor will not owe debts. How can I argue with you
He just felt that this debt might be lost like this.
Longtai sent Fan Dehai to personally escort Qining out of the palace. Fan Dehai's tone was even more affectionate during the journey: "Master Marquis, it seems that the Emperor fell in love with you at first sight. The Emperor also appreciates the Marquis very much. I will rely on the Marquis to take care of you in the future."
Qi Ning smiled and said: "Eunuch Fan, you're welcome. I am a junior, and I will have many things to take care of in the future. If Eunuch Fan is free, please visit my house more often and let us all drink tea together."
Fan Dehai was even more beaming, feeling that although Jin Yihou was not very old, he was quiet, had no airs, and was very approachable.
Qi Ning was still thinking in his heart. The little emperor had given the two gifts to the prince that day. Naturally, he knew at that time that he was the fake Marquis of Jinyi, otherwise he would not have sent a blank piece of paper without writing anything on it as a debt. according to.
Xiang Tianbei followed Fan Dehai on the day of Qi Jing's funeral. He might have been ordered by Long Tai to investigate the situation, but Xiang Tianbei happened to see him that day. Xiang Tianbei's eyes were venomous. He should have noticed that he, the prince in brocade, was It was very suspicious, and he even told Longtai.
Longtai and Xiang Tianbei were not completely sure, so at the flower market that day, Xiang Tianbei was most likely secretly following him to further confirm his authenticity. Only when he was sure, Longtai called him into the palace.