Seven days after the Ghost Festival, Xia Chu actually stayed at Prince Mo's Mansion without leaving the house. He stayed with Xiao Mubai every day. It wasn't until he left the house that he went to Wuma Huacai's courtyard to sit for a while and talk to Xiao Mubai. He chattered.
During this period, Mo Xiang came over and brought the Huocai Fang custom-made Huanhuan cloth shirt.
Originally, the dress was intended to be given to Xiao Mubai at the beginning of Xia and worn on Xiao Yanjun's wedding day. Now that the wedding day has been pushed to the end of the year, he is not in a hurry to give it away, so it is put on hold. In the room.
The day before Su Qian'an left, he went to Prince Mo's Mansion to say goodbye to Xia Chu. Xia Chu stayed with him for half the night and invited Zhao Xingwen and Bingwen to come to Prince Mo's Mansion for a drink. The banquet was just broken up when Luo Geng sounded.
After all, Su Qian'an had to get up early and rush on the road tomorrow.
Xia Chu didn't want him to smell of alcohol and miss the main business.
Seven days later at the morning court meeting, the emperor finally made the decree, and Princess Yirou's body was finally buried in the imperial mausoleum by him.
This decision indirectly confirmed that the emperor did not take into account Yirou's last wish, and finally chose the dignity of the royal family. Xie Jiming began to be busy with the burial. Xiao Zimu went to Yaohua Palace to discuss with Concubine Lian before going to the imperial study.
The emperor was not surprised when he saw him, and asked him directly: "But about Zheng Zhongguang?"
Xiao Zimu saluted and said: "Father is wise."
The emperor seemed to be in a good mood today, perhaps because he finally decided on Yirou's whereabouts. His face no longer had the gloom of the past few days, and seemed to be a little softer: "How do you want me to deal with it?"
Xiao Zimu was afraid that the emperor had already made plans in his mind, so he calmed down after listening to his tone, and said respectfully to him: "Zheng Zhongguang deserves to be punished for corruption and bribery, but after all, he was deceived and found his way back, and all the bribes were paid." Turn it over, and in addition, he saved his son regardless of his own life this time. He is kind to his son. If he follows his wishes, he wants to beg his father to be lenient, demote him, and give him a little punishment to show his kindness. How about punishment?"
The emperor had this intention in mind. Zheng Zhongguang had indeed taken bribes, but the dirty money had already been returned. The money was not small and filled a lot of the treasury. The emperor was very satisfied.
In addition, on his way back to Beijing, he blocked a fatal arrow for Xiao Zimu, and the secret guard had already reported the truth. It is also true that Zheng Zhongguang was dying after returning to Beijing. It is indeed not appropriate for the General Manager to punish him too harshly.
But after all, he had made a mistake. He could no longer hold the post of Guwan Prefecture Yin. He had not yet decided where he would be demoted. Now that Xiao Zimu came to speak, he must have made a plan. This time he He did a good job and was considered a reward, so he asked him: "Where do you want your father to demote him?"
Xiao Zimu heard the emperor's gentle and kind tone and knew that the emperor was also planning to give him a favor. He curved his lips and said with a smile: "Originally, I don't know where to demote me. I don't understand why I was promoted to the Minister of Rites." , the position of Minister of the Ministry of Industry happened to be vacant, so I thought, why not let Zheng Zhongguang stay in the capital to fill this position, what does the emperor think?"
The emperor thought for a while and readily agreed. He couldn't make any trouble under his nose. Although Cui Xuhong was not said to be incorruptible, he was still comfortable without relying on other powers.
Seeing that the emperor agreed, Xiao Zimu thanked him and left. As expected, he walked to the door and was stopped by the emperor as Concubine Lian expected.
Before he came to the imperial study, he had discussed with Concubine Lian the matter of Zheng Zhongguang and Pu Youren.
Concubine Lian persuaded him to mention the matter of Zheng Zhongguang, and the emperor agreed to accept it and leave immediately. The emperor would take the initiative to ask him to stay and ask, but if he spoke first, he would be at a disadvantage.
Xiao Zimu was stopped by the emperor. He sighed in his heart that his mother and concubine understood his father. He turned around but still pretended to be confused and asked: "Does the emperor have any other instructions?"
The emperor waved to him: "Zheng Zhongguang has left office. Someone has to be appointed as the governor of Guwan. The officials in Beijing are not familiar with the affairs there. Have you been there? Do you have any suitable officials to recommend?"
Although Xiao Zimu already had the answer in his mind, he still frowned and thought for a moment before replying with a look of surprise: "Father asked such a question, but one person was really remembered by my son."
The emperor pointed to the chair casually, motioning for him to sit down and replied: "Who is your favorite?"
After Xiao Zimu sat down, he said calmly: "That day at Du Hanfei's mansion, my son presented a letter to his father from Pu Youren, the prefect of Wuzhou. The letter was written when Zheng Zhongguang was falsely accused of escaping from prison. , I think that under such circumstances, Pu Youren can still speak out and his character is rare, so he can be promoted."
The emperor said 'hmm', then raised his eyebrows when Xiao Zimu looked like he had finished speaking and asked, "No more?"
Xiao Zimu looked embarrassed and pinched his eyebrows, looking embarrassed: "Father, the people in Guwan were actually the remnants of Du Hanfei in the past. It is extremely difficult for me to find one of them."
What Xiao Zimu said was the truth. Because it was the truth, the emperor knew in his heart that what he said was true, and he seriously considered his proposal.
Seeing that the emperor was deep in thought, Xiao Zimu quietly excused himself again. This time, the emperor did not stay with him and waved his hand in agreement.
Xiao Zimu left the imperial study and went straight back to Yongning Hall. He wrote a letter and sent it to Xia Chu. Xia Chu read the letter while leisurely eating grapes in Prince Mo's palace and handed it to Xiao Mubai.
"Will the emperor let Pu Youren succeed as the governor of Guwan?" Xia Chu asked Xiao Mubai while spitting out grape skins.
"I'm afraid it will take another two days before I agree." Xiao Mubai replied while burning Xiao Zimu's handwriting.
"Do you want to go into the palace and fan yourself?" Xia Chu raised his eyebrows. Xiao Mubai basically stayed at home these days. Every day that passed was one day closer to returning to Chongqing City.
Therefore, the two of them get along together all day long.
"No need. Tomorrow morning there will naturally be a lot of people recommending candidates for the position of Guwan. In comparison, the emperor will still feel that the candidate proposed by Zi Mu is safer." Xiao Mubai smiled and handed him another A bunch of large purple grapes.
As he expected, he went to court early the next day.
The emperor demoted Zheng Zhongguang by decree and appointed him as the minister of the Ministry of Industry. He was immediately reinstated.
As a result, the post of Guwanfu Yin became vacant, and the courtiers rolled their eyes and began to think about it, and recommended him to him one after another. You said something to me, which made the emperor's head hurt, so he asked them to present it in a list, and then he retired from the court after picking it up.
The courtiers did whatever they couldn't do and recommended the first person. Within an hour, the imperial study room was filled with everyone's recommendation memorials.
The emperor generally looked over, and everyone's recommendation was basically based on their own nepotism.
In comparison, Pu Youren recommended by Xiao Zimu was more suitable. His understanding of ancient Anhui alone was better than these candidates.
In addition, Xiao Zimu recommended it after his inquiry.
And these people do it out of their own selfishness.
After many comparisons, Pu Youren is more in line with the emperor's wishes...
(End of chapter)