Qiu Yizi smiled and said, "I don't have any reason. You just need to go in and tell Marshal Dai that Qiu Yizi is here, and the Marshal will naturally receive you."
According to the rules of the Han Dynasty court, when seeking to see a court official, one must either present one's name card or report one's resume. At the very least, one must have the title of "classmate" or "fellow townsman".
However, Qiu Yizhi did not meet the above requirements. She had no business card to produce and no resume to report. She could not be considered a classmate or a fellow townsman of Dai Luanxiang.
Although if Dai Luanxiang heard the simple three words "Qiu Yizi", he would have to put down what he was doing and meet her in person, but this little gatekeeper didn't know the whole story and didn't buy his account.
The soldier raised his head and shouted, "What are you talking about? 'Catch one', 'Catch two'. Marshal Dai is busy with all kinds of things. He doesn't have the time to listen to your nonsense. Go away!"
Qiu Yizhi sipped his lips and continued, "Since Marshal Dai is busy with military affairs... By the way, it seems that the Third Prince Zheng Sen is also inspecting the Ministry of War today. Can you help inform him and tell him that I, Qiu Yizhi, am here?"
The soldier was shocked when he heard this: "What kind of person is the Third Prince? How can a small commoner like you know his movements so clearly? Who are you? Tell me quickly, or you will be rude to me."
Qiu Yizi was about to answer, but Princess Yiran on the side was already impatient and said first: "What's so great about Zheng Sen? I usually don't want to pay attention to him, otherwise he would have to be polite to me! Why don't you go and inform me, why are you talking so much here?"
The soldier heard Yi Ran's firm words, and seeing that she was dressed in gorgeous clothes and had an extraordinary appearance, he was really unsure of her background, and said with a bit of guilt: "Since you two want to see the Third Prince, I can't make the decision on this matter. I will go and inform the leader, and if he agrees, he will let you in."
"Why don't you go quickly? It's no use standing here." Yiran scolded.
The soldier ignored the strange-looking woman, said a few words to his companions, then turned around and went inside to report.
Cheng Yan, who was sitting on the ox cart, quietly called Qiu Yizi and said softly: "It seems that Marshal Dai is very busy today. If you want to help us, there is no need to rush. It is okay to come back another day."
Qiu Yizi smiled and consoled him, "It's okay, it's okay. I have a very good relationship with Marshal Dai. Besides, the sooner this matter is settled, the less suffering you two will suffer, right?"
As they were talking, the gatekeeper came out of the Ministry of War, followed by an officer wearing the uniform of a captain.
The officer was wearing a shining helmet and had a high spirit. One could tell at a glance that he was no ordinary person. When he saw Qiu Yizi and Yiran from afar, he ran forward with small steps very respectfully, then knelt on one knee and said, "It turned out that it was Yidian who came down. I am sorry for not welcoming you in person! Oh, Princess Yiran is here too!" After that, he saluted Yiran again.
It turned out that this person was a Youyan soldier who was arranged to join the Imperial Guards and serve as a grassroots officer - so he naturally recognized Princess Qiu Yizi and Princess Yiran.
Cheng Yan, Jin Deqiang, and even the soldier guarding the gate were all stunned when they saw this scene. They were even more unable to guess the identities and origins of "His Highness Yi" Qiu Yizi and "Princess" Yiran.
Qiu Yizi smiled and said, "No need to be polite. I just have some small matters and need to see Marshal Dai. If the Marshal is busy, it is the same to see the Third Prince. Can you lead me in?"
"Oh! What are you talking about, Your Highness Yi?" The captain scratched his head and said, "If you want to see him, then go ahead. By the way, there is an order from above saying that Prince Youyan and His Highness will also come to the Ministry of War for inspection today. It would be a good opportunity for Your Highness Yi to meet them together, and a big deal will be done."
Qiu Yizi was startled, and after some calculations in his mind, he turned around and said to Cheng Yan and Jin Deqiang, "What you two are talking about is nothing more than a nod or a word from Marshal Dai or the Third Prince. But today, as luck would have it, Prince Youyan and the First Prince are here to discuss matters. If I bring this up with them, it will inevitably cause more twists and turns. Why don't I arrange for you two to stay first, and come back tomorrow to handle this matter."
Cheng Yan and Jin Deqiang naturally had no objection and nodded and said repeatedly: "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter."
After hearing this, Qiu Yizhi was about to turn around and go back, but she heard a voice behind her saying, "Yizhi hasn't come to pay respects for a long time, why are you here today?"
Qiu Yizi turned around and looked in the direction of the voice. It was Youyan King Zheng Rong who was smiling and talking to him, followed by his elder brother Zheng Xin. Knowing that he could not avoid it anymore, he went forward and knelt on the ground, smiling and said, "Yizi was very tired a few days ago. I wanted to relax and take a break, so I didn't come to disturb you, and I also forgot to ask for leave. Please forgive me, father!"
Zheng Rong waved his hand nonchalantly and said, "I value your loyalty and filial piety. I don't mind the formalities. Stand up and talk."
Qiu Yizi kowtowed on the ground and said, "Yizi has noted it." Then he stood up.
Zheng Rong then asked, "I heard that you and Yiran have been traveling around these days, so why did you think of coming to the Ministry of War today? What do you want to do?"
Qiu Yizhi did not dare to hide it: "I was visiting Jiezhuang Temple with Yiran, and we ran into two acquaintances. They were originally from the Ministry of Persuasion, but because of me, they ended up begging on the streets." So Qiu Yizhi briefly told the two people their origins, and then said, "Yizhi thought that God has the virtue of loving life, so today I want to pray for a way out for them."
Zheng Rong listened to Qiu Yizhi's words without saying a word, then turned to Cheng Yan and Jin Deqiang sitting on the ox cart and said, "I am Youyan King Zheng Rong, and I know about your affairs."
The two men could no longer stay on the ox cart, so they stumbled down from the cart, lay on the ground and kowtowed countless times.
Jin Deqiang was even more distraught, muttering: "Long live His Highness the Prince!"
Jin Deqiang's incoherent flattery just suited Zheng Rong's taste. He smiled and said, "I have always been clear about rewards and punishments. I have already issued an order that the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue will treat and provide pensions to disabled soldiers, regardless of whether they are enemies or friends. However, the Ministry of Persuasion to Be Kind has committed many evil deeds, and its minions must be examined and sentenced by the Ministry of Justice before being punished. However, I have heard from Yizhi that the two of you are both members of the traitorous party of the false emperor Zheng Yao, and you have done many evil things, which are really hard to forgive!"
Cheng Yan and Jin Deqiang, who were crawling on the ground, were so frightened after hearing what was said that they were sweating all over. They knew that if the powerful King of Youyan, Zheng Rong, opened his mouth, they would be doomed, and they almost fainted.
Zheng Rong changed the subject and said, "But since you two have the good fortune to meet me, I will naturally do you a special favor. Let's put it this way. You two will come here again tomorrow. If you can ask for Marshal Dai's forgiveness, then report to the Ministry of Justice and say that I have a special decree to pardon you. I will give you two a clean slate and you can live on."
Cheng Yan and Jin Deqiang were still confused and lay on the ground, not knowing what to say.
Qiu Yizhi understood in his heart: with Dai Luanxiang's generosity and Zheng Rong's pardon, the rest of their lives were saved, so he smiled and said, "You two have already saved your lives, why don't you thank me quickly!"
Cheng Yan and Jin Deqiang finally reacted after hearing what was said. They kept shouting "Long live" and kowtowing heavily.
Zheng Rong was overjoyed by their constant shouts of "Long live" and said with a smile: "You two should get up and go back to think about how to talk to Marshal Dai. If the Marshal is unwilling to forgive you two, then I can't do anything to change the situation."
Cheng Yan and Jin Deqiang nodded drowsily in agreement, and even forgot to say goodbye to Qiu Yizi. They stood up, lowered their heads, and disappeared.
Qiu Yizhi watched the two of them leave, then turned and bowed to Zheng Rong, saying, "Foster father has such a broad mind and courage, no wonder the whole world is united in love with him!"
Zheng Rong did not respond, but said to Qiu Yizhi: "I have something to tell you, please follow me. As for Yiran, please go back to Siyi Pavilion for now. I will meet with your Bohai envoys in the near future."
Hearing Zheng Rong's stiff tone, Qiu Yizi didn't know how she had offended him again, so she hurriedly agreed and followed Zheng Rong to the lobby of the Ministry of Justice.
Inside the Ministry of Justice, Zheng Sen and Dai Luanxiang were jointly handling the reorganization of the military affairs of various regions. When they saw Zheng Rong and Zheng Xin coming, they quickly stood up and saluted, and then explained the urgent matters one by one.
Zheng Rong was very satisfied and said, "The military affairs of the Jiedu troops in various places have been lax for a long time. Some local officers have withheld military pay and reported empty quotas. Such corrupt officials who suck the blood of soldiers must be punished mercilessly and severely in order to boost morale. Do you know?"
Dai Luanxiang bowed and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty!"
Zheng Sen said, "Father, if you don't trust me, do you trust Marshal Dai? With the Marshal here, are you afraid that things won't go well?"
Zheng Rong smiled and said, "What I'm afraid of is that you're here, relying on your status as my son, and making decisions, delaying Marshal Dai's work!"
Everyone knew that Zheng Rong was joking, and they all laughed, and Zheng Sen also laughed.
After talking for a while, Zheng Rong turned around and said to Qiu Yizi, "I still have something to say to you. Please follow me to the back hall."
Qiu Yizi quickly agreed and followed Zheng Rong to the back hall of the Ministry of Justice.
Everyone in the hall of the Ministry of Justice, including Zheng Sen, was smart. Knowing that the father and son had confidential matters to discuss, they tactfully stopped in the middle hall and chatted with each other.
The back hall of the Ministry of Justice had no other decorations except for a sand table with the Han Dynasty territory in the middle, which looked very neat and tidy, just what Zheng Rong wanted when he led the army to fight. So he sat on the main seat in the back hall with great satisfaction, and asked Qiu Yizhi to sit down, smiling and asking, "Did Yizhi have a good time these days?"
Qiu Yizhi didn't know what Zheng Rong meant by this, so he thought for a moment and said, "Yizhi has been traveling too much these days, not helping my foster father with his work, and neglecting his studies. I hope my foster father will forgive me."
Zheng Rong waved his hand and said, "The way of civil and military affairs is to alternate between tension and relaxation. You have been through life and death and have put in a lot of effort in the past few days. It is time for you to have some fun and rest. I was also like you when I was ordered by the late emperor to lead the army and raise horses. I have been busy until now without a moment's rest. To be honest, I really envy you a little bit!"
Qiu Yizhi hurriedly said, "Yizhi has only made some minor contributions by chance, how dare you compare yourself to your adoptive father? Don't waste Yizhi's fodder."
Zheng Rong nodded and praised, "You can think this way, and you have lived up to my careful teaching over the years." He paused and said, "I want to talk to you again this time. Do you know what it is about?"
"Please give me some advice, godfather!" Qiu Yizi said.
Zheng Rong nodded again and said, "I have discussed this with you many times. Now everything is ready, and I am about to ascend the throne. It is a great success. I was just about to ask, what are your long-term plans for the future?" (To be continued)