Sima Lan stood up to thank him. Although his goal was achieved, he did not delay and left.
When Sima Lan left, Long Tai sneered, and Qi Ning also frowned and said: "Your Majesty, this old fox took the initiative to request an order to reduce his rank. It turns out that he had already planned to get involved with the Qinhuai Army."
Longtai said: "Sima Changshen went back last night and naturally discussed with Sima Lan for half the night." He sneered: "But if I don't agree to Sima Changshen going to the Qinhuai Army, it will not be easy for you to get the position of Minister of the Ministry of Punishment."
Qi Ning knows very well that political games often involve compromise with each other, each taking advantage, and ultimately achieving their respective goals.
Longtai obviously knew that it would be very difficult to prevent Sima Changshen from going to the Qinhuai Army, so he simply followed the trend and took this opportunity to seize the position of Minister of the Ministry of Punishment.
At least the current situation is for Longtai, the position of the Minister of Punishment is very important. If the Sima family takes away the control of the Punishment Department, the Sima family will definitely use the Huainan King case to cause trouble and control the Punishment Department, at least for now. The situation in the court.
"Your Majesty, when Sima Changshen goes to the Qinhuai Army, he must be heading for the military power over there." Qi Ning looked solemn: "Sima Lan is backing us in the court, so we must be on guard."
"I made him a former general, do you understand the intention?" Long Tai sneered in a low voice: "Although Yue Huanshan leads the Qinhuai Army, he is only a general of the guard. The former general is only subordinate to the general of the guard. What do you think? Sima Changshen has arrived at the front line, is it a good thing or a bad thing?"
Qi Ning understood instantly, approached Longtai, and whispered: "The emperor wants to make Sima Changshen the target of public criticism?"
"I don't know whether it's right or wrong." Longtai sighed: "But I understand that courtiers pay more attention to seniority, and soldiers pay more attention to seniority. If you want to be promoted to the Jin Dynasty with a hundred thousand troops on the front line, you must make great contributions. All the soldiers fought with their heads high in exchange for honors. This time Sima Changshen was directly named a former general by me. When we get to the front line, will those arrogant and powerful generals be convinced?"
Qi Ning showed a smile and said: "There are so many powerful generals fighting on the front line, but they have never been promoted to former generals. Now that Sima Changshen comes here with the title of former general, the soldiers will naturally think that he is relying on his Sima family background. That’s all.”
"The Sima family has never had military power since the founding of the country." Longtai said: "Among the four hereditary queens, only the Sima family has the weakest prestige in the military. The Qinhuai Army has always been the commander-in-chief of your Qi family. To you, The Qi family still has feelings for the Sima family...!" After a pause, he said: "I am also taking a big gamble this time. Having said that, if Sima Changshen really gains a foothold in the army, it will be It’s a troublesome thing, so you have to hurry up and seize the punishment department as soon as possible. One day, I want you to inherit the mantle of the Jinyi Qi family and go to command the Qinhuai Army."
"Let me go?" Qi Ning was slightly surprised.
Although the two generations of commanders of the Qinhuai Army came from the Jinyi Qi family, and the Qinhuai Army and the Qi family are inextricably linked, this does not mean that the Qinhuai Army belongs to the Qi family.
When Qi Jing passed away, the Qi family's direct control over the Qinhuai Army was cut off.
The frontline general does not inherit his father's legacy like the throne. The Qinhuai Army was led by Jinyi Old Marquis. Qi Jing was able to take over the post of general later because Qi Jing had already followed the Qinhuai Army since his weak years. He fought on the battlefield and made numerous military exploits.
Qi Jing's ability to inherit his father's legacy has something to do with his background, but the most important reason is because Qi Jing has enough military exploits and qualifications to be able to sit in that position.
Qi Ning today is completely different from Qi Jing back then.
Until now, Qi Ning has not even stayed in the Qinhuai Army for a day, let alone fought with the soldiers on the battlefield. Now that Sima Changshen goes to the Qinhuai Army, he will certainly be rejected by the soldiers of the Qinhuai Army, but even if it is Qin Ning Going there, the soldiers of the Qinhuai Army may not embarrass Qin Ning because of the name of the Jinyi Qi family, but it is undoubtedly a fool's dream to ask Qin Ning to control the Qinhuai Army with his current qualifications and convince the soldiers of the Qinhuai Army.
For soldiers, their background is not important, but their military exploits are indispensable. Without military exploits, even ordinary soldiers will look down upon them.
Qi Ning naturally understood this, so he was surprised when Long Tai said that he would go to the Qinhuai Army in the future.
Longtai said: "It's not yet time, help me handle the affairs of the Ministry of Justice first." He said thoughtfully: "The person I trust the most is you. The Qinhuai Army is the main army of my great Chu. If it is left in the hands of others, I Of course we can’t rest assured.”
Qining knew Longtai's thoughts and thought that he still had a long way to go if he wanted to become the general commanding the Qinhuai Army.
"There are many people in the Criminal Department, so you should be careful after you pass there." Longtai said: "I never thought that you could solve the case like a god, but there are two things you have to do for me."
"Your Majesty, please give me your permission!"
"This matter is naturally the case of King Huainan." Longtai looked solemn: "This case naturally needs to be investigated, but you know how to control the scale. There is a mixed bag in the Criminal Department, and there must be King Huainan. People, maybe even people from the Sima family, you know what to do with these two groups of people."
Qi Ning knew that the most important reason why Longtai asked him to take over the Ministry of Justice was to prevent the Sima family from exploiting the situation, so he said softly: "Your Majesty, don't worry, I know what to do."
"Also, the Ministry of Punishment is in charge of the world's criminal names, which is unusual." Long Tai said softly: "When you are in charge of the Ministry of Punishment, thank me for your thoughtfulness and try your best to promote those who can be used. Don't let the Ministry of Punishment be a bunch of losers." Standing up, Said: "You come with me."
Qi Ning was startled and didn't understand where Longtai was taking him, but the emperor had orders, so he couldn't disobey them.
Qi Ning led Qi Ning out of the imperial study and walked through the palace. There were many palaces and palaces and corridors with jade columns. Longtai just led the way with his hands behind his back. Qi Ning followed behind, feeling suspicious in his heart. He walked for a long time. I couldn't help but ask: "Your Majesty, where are we going?"
"Follow me as I'm told, don't talk so much nonsense." Longtai didn't look back.
Qi Ning had no choice but to walk for a while, passed through a palace gate, walked along a long corridor, and arrived outside a palace. There were two palace maids guarding the door. When they saw Longtai coming, they all bowed and saluted. Ning glanced at it and found that the clothes of these two palace ladies were quite different from the other palace ladies in the palace. His heart suddenly moved, and he vaguely understood something.
"This is Fengyi Palace." Longtai led Qi Ning into the palace, then turned around and said with a smile: "Qining, you did a good thing yesterday."
Seeing Longtai's half-smiling look, Qi Ning couldn't figure out what Longtai meant. Qi Ning didn't explain much and led Qi Ning into a room. The decoration inside was luxurious but not extravagant, and it was full of brilliance. , at this time, several people had already come forward to greet him, bowing and saluting: "I have seen the emperor!"
Qi Ning saw that the person in front was wearing a golden dress, which was very luxurious. When he saw the face, which was beautiful and clear, he immediately recognized it. It was Princess Tianxiang of Dong Qi, the current Queen of Chu.
Qi Ning had met Princess Tianxiang when he was in Dong Qi, and he remembered her appearance very clearly. However, the Princess Tianxiang he had seen before was youthful and bright, but the Princess Tianxiang in front of him was extremely noble and generous. Because of her clothes or because she is a woman, her temperament has changed a lot.
However, Longtai quickly helped up Princess Tianxiang and said with a smile: "Queen, I have told you that if you don't have foreign ministers, you don't have to be so formal with me." Thinking of something, he looked back at Qining, but Qining had already stepped forward and saluted: "Your Majesty, Qining, pays homage to the Queen!"
Longtai smiled and said: "Queen, this is Jin Yihou. If he hadn't been sent as an envoy to Eastern Qi, the queen might not have been able to come to our country of Chu. There is no need to treat him as a foreign minister."
But Princess Tianxiang had already said softly: "Jinyi is waiting for you."
Qi Ning then stood up. He couldn't look directly at Princess Tianxiang, but he was suspicious in his heart. He secretly thought that this was the harem, why would Longtai bring him to the harem.
At this time, Longtai took Princess Tianxiang's hand and sat down. Qining looked at it and thought that the relationship between the young couple was very good. The emperor and the queen had a harmonious relationship. This was naturally not a bad thing for Da Chu. .
But as a result, the life of Concubine Sima would not be easy.
Longtai was originally dissatisfied with the Sima family for sending Sima Wanqiong to the palace, and now that he and the queen were in love, he would naturally ignore the Sima noble concubine even more.
"Give Jin Yi a seat!" Long Tai ordered, and a maid immediately brought a chair over. Qin Ning thanked her and sat down.
Princess Tianxiang winked at a maid next to her. The maid nodded slightly, turned around and left. After a moment, she came up with a tray with two exquisite small boxes on it, and delivered it to everyone. In front of Ning, Qi Ning felt really flattered now. He stood up and said anxiously: "Queen, this...?"
"This is Tianluo ointment." The queen said with a smile: "There is a kind of conch in the East China Sea, called Tianluo snail. Why is it called this? I don't know why. However, after the Tianluo snail is taken out, juice will spurt out. The technique is clever. My master refined the juice and it became Tianluo ointment."
"Tianluo ointment?" Qi Ning asked curiously, "Is it something edible?"
The queen covered her lips and said with a smile: "What good things have you not eaten in Jin Yi Hou? I have not brought any special gifts when I came here. Only this Tian Luo ointment is worth it. The Tian Luo ointment only needs Take out a small amount and apply it on your lips. It will not only make your lips moist and shiny, but also emit a strange fragrance. If there are women in the Jinyi Houfu, you can use this as a gift."
Qi Ning was startled, and then he realized that Tianluo ointment was something used by women.