When Concubine Rou heard this, her expression froze, and Pei Wenxuan smiled: "Niangniang, don't be nervous, it's just you and me here, you can speak bluntly."
"Master Pei asked this question, and he must have an answer in his heart."
Concubine Rou held up the teacup, and Sichen said: "Three generations of the Shangguan family, His Majesty has only two princes, one is from the Shangguan family, and the other is my son."
Concubine Rou raised her eyes to look at Pei Wenxuan: "My son is only eleven years old, and he is already a prince. Your Majesty has handed over the long-planned inspector to my son. Master Pei must know what your majesty means."
"Weichen naturally understands that His Majesty has already told Weichen about this."
When Concubine Rou got this, her eyes suddenly became a little happy, and just as she was about to speak, Pei Wenxuan said, "But, if Niangniang has this idea, Niangniang must not interfere in the matter of the imperial examination."
"Why is this?" Concubine Rou put down the teacup, a little anxious.
She had already agreed with those noble families and received the money, Pei Wenxuan smiled and explained: "Miss, the imperial examination is His Majesty's half-life effort, His Majesty has spent most of his life preparing for the military and reforming the tax system, all for the sake of the imperial examination. Foreshadowing, now that Your Majesty has made you the chief inspector, I will serve as the chief examiner, and ordered to limit the number of rejections from the aristocratic family, why?"
Pei Wenxuan said, and clicked on the table: "The purpose is to let more children from the poor family come in. These people are the people that His Royal Highness Prince Su can really use in the future. Those children of aristocratic families are just watching the empress's power and befriending the empress now, but In their bones, they value orthodoxy, origin, and the eldest son more than anything else, no matter how the niangniang pleases them, will they really help the niangniang when they are fighting for the throne?"
Concubine Rou didn't speak, but Pei Wenxuan continued to persuade: "The position above the imperial court is full of carrots and pits. If you let more people from the aristocratic family come in, then there will be fewer people from the real poor family. Which ones can be used by His Royal Highness King Su in the future? Yes, is your maiden still not clear?"
"Lord Pei is right," Concubine Rou was a little confused, "I'll think about it again."
"Niangniang think about it again," Pei Wenxuan said respectfully, "Then Wei Chen will retire first."
Pei Wenxuan got up, Concubine Tong Rou resigned, and when he left the door, Pei Wenxuan and the people next to him instructed: "Let me know with Cui Yulang, and let him persuade Concubine Rou not to interfere in the imperial examination."
After thinking about it for a few days, Concubine Rou began to refund the money to the family.
It's okay not to charge money, but it's even more annoying if you charge and return it like this. It's just that there is a precedent for Wang Houwen, and everyone dares not say much, and can only start in other places.
But with Pei Wenxuan staring at the imperial examination, for a while, the imperial examination was like an iron bucket, and half a copper plate could not be stuffed into it.
Li Rong was at home to cultivate herself every day, so she inquired about Pei Wenxuan's news. When she had time, she went to find him. Every day, he kept a straight face with her, and only joked with her when he was in the dark.
From the beginning of the registration of the candidates list to the completion of the grading, the candidates go to the palace examination in front of Li Ming, the whole process is down, and when the imperial examinations are released, it will be nearly July.
Pei Wenxuan was busy with the imperial examinations, and the official secretary of the Ministry of Personnel had not yet decided. As the right servant of the Ministry of Personnel, he and Xia Wensi, the left servant, began to decide where the candidates would go for official positions.
Li Rong asked people to listen to the news. It was heard that Pei Wenxuan and Xia Wensi had been quarreling in the official department for several days. Finally, the news reached Concubine Rou, and Concubine Rou found a reason to arrest Xia Wensi directly.
Xia Wensi was imprisoned, and Pei Wenxuan had the final say in the Ministry of Personnel. Pei Wenxuan quickly arranged the candidates one by one in their proper positions. After everything was done, the candidates became familiar with their positions. It was almost the end of August. thing.
Last year, Li Rong's supervisory department arrested a group of people, and this year, Concubine Rou arrested another group of people. The entire Huajing court itself has only more than 700 official positions, and many officials have long been forced to hold multiple positions.
Now that the imperial examination has brought in a new batch of officials, these people immediately became the "Suppressing King's Party". They gathered with the poor families who were in the imperial court before, and were deeply favored by the emperor. power.
Among them, Pei Wenxuan is naturally the most showy.
Li Rong heard that he was out now, and he was shouting and hugging, and he was very imposing. He is still like this, and Concubine Rou is even more imposing.
She imprisoned Wang Houwen and Xia Wensi successively, and then rejected the family's request to buy it. It was nothing serious, and Concubine Rou became more courageous. Directly detained in the Supervision Division for questioning.
So the ministers became more and more afraid of her, and they had to hide when they met.
At the end of August, Huajing was a little cold. Li Rong put on a cape and played leaf cards in the yard with Shangguanya, Su Ronghua, and Li Chuan. Since she left from the Supervision Division, Li Ming's surveillance of her has been much less, so the three of them come over when they have time, play leaf cards and chat, which can be regarded as a joy in Huajing's life.
Now Su Ronghua has absolutely nothing to do, Shangguanya can get by in the Superintendent Division, Li Chuan is busy, but he is at the age of play. I felt too tired, so I could hide at Li Rong's place and hide at Li Rong's place.
The three of them were rubbing the cards happily when they saw Jinglan hurried over and whispered, "His Royal Highness, a few adults outside are asking to see you."
When Li Rong heard this, she moved and looked at Shangguanya.
Li Chuan heard the word "adult", and without saying a word, stood up and ran to the backyard: "I'll go and hide first."
Hearing this, Su Ronghua also laughed and said, "Then let's go to the garden."
"I'm with Su Gongzi."
Shangguanya stood up and went out of the courtyard with Su Ronghua.
Li Rong took a sip of tea, took a fan from the side, stood up, and instructed Jinglan, "Let everyone go to the lobby."
Jing Lan responded and turned her head to let someone pass the message.
When Li Rong leisurely walked into the lobby, she glanced at it and found that there were more than a dozen people sitting in the lobby, led by Wang Houmin, Gu Zichun, and Zheng Qiu.
Su Wang Xie Cui, Gu Zheng Shangguan, among the top seven surnames in Da Xia, three surnames have already sat here.
Although these three are not the head of the family, they are also important figures in the clan, and the other eleven people are also people who can talk to each Huajing family.
Li Rong probably guessed their intentions, and entered the room with a fan, and said with a smile, "My lord, why are so many people coming here today, but what's the matter?"
As she said that, Li Rong raised her hand to have tea served to everyone, but everyone didn't speak. They looked at each other and Wang Houmin took the lead: "I'm waiting, I have a happy event to congratulate Your Highness."
"Oh?" Li Rong brought the tea with a smile, "Where does the joy come from?"
"I am congratulating Your Highness in advance, I have taken the supervisory division from the concubine Rou and will be the chief supervisor of the supervisory division."
Wang Houmin spoke with extreme caution, Li Rong blew out the tea leaves floating on the cup, but did not speak.
Everyone watched Li Rong's movements, and saw Li Rong slowly sip her tea, put the tea bowl in her hand, leaned on the chair, and said lazily, "Everyone is joking, the Inspector is here now. Concubine Rou is in good hands, what does it have to do with me?"
"His Royal Highness, I won't say polite words after waiting for so many people to come together." Gu Zichun put his hand on the cane and spoke slowly. He was the oldest, and the Gu family was the most polite. Li Rong couldn't help but listen to him. Straight up, out of respect.
"Concubine Rou is originally a harem woman, and her identity is different from that of His Highness's princess, and she should not participate in politics. It's okay for Your Majesty to force the concubine of the harem to participate in politics, but Concubine Rou comes from a humble background and does not know the etiquette. I am dissatisfied. I am waiting here today because I want to discuss with His Highness and see how to help His Highness to bring the Inspectorate back."
Li Rong listened to these people with a smile on her face: "Master Gu misunderstood, when the Inspector Division was established, this Palace was only acting on orders. This Palace is only a female class, and has no ambitions. The Inspector Division has Concubine Rou. I am very relieved to do things with King Su, and I don't want to get involved."
"But this is His Highness's hard work," Zheng Qiu said comfortingly, "I am also thinking of His Highness. Other than that, even if His Highness is not greedy for power, isn't it for His Highness? , but after all, he is His Highness's younger brother, one is prosperous and one is lost, so how can His Highness watch King Su cultivate his followers in the court without paying attention?"
"Pingle doesn't understand what Mr. Zheng said. His Royal Highness has the good fortune of His Royal Highness, why do I need to worry about it? You don't have to worry about my sister and brother."
Seeing that Li Rong didn't enter the oil and salt, everyone not only looked at each other, but Li Rong observed them and smiled without saying a word.
Gu Zichun hesitated for a moment, and finally said: "If your Highness has any request, you might as well say it clearly."
"Master Gu is sensible."
Li Rong nodded lightly, leaned back on the chair, looked around, and said slowly: "I also know why you adults have come recently. It's better to help yourself instead of helping me? Afterwards, the large number of officials that Concubine Rou has to deal with will have to wait until this time to ask for beheading. My lords are just trying to push me up to commute the sentence and save my family from the death penalty."
Everyone didn't speak, Li Rong smiled and continued: "And everyone should also see that Concubine Rou has a big heart and resentment against the noble family. If you don't stop it, it will be a disaster in the long run. If the imperial examination is changed, in the future, I am afraid that it will not be the imperial examination, but the soldiers, power, and food in your hands.”
"Your Highness can see clearly." Gu Zichun praised.
Li Rong tapped the palm of her hand with a folding fan.
"But Concubine Rou is guarded by the royal father, if you want to move her, it is like moving the royal father. You don't want to confront the royal father directly, so you want to push me out, use me as a puppet, and manipulate the fight against the father. "
"So, to be a puppet," Li Rong half-smiled, "Why should I rush to do it?"
"Your Highness misunderstood," Wang Houmin hurriedly said, "I am here to assist His Highness, not to manipulate His Highness..."
"Then do you listen to me?"
When Li Rong asked this, everyone was stunned. Li Rong shook her head: "If you don't listen to me, what else is there to say?"
With that said, Li Rong stood up: "Send off the guest."
"His Royal Highness!" Wang Houmin hurriedly stood up, "You created Inspector Si by yourself, are you really so willing to give in?"
"Compared to having a dispute with the emperor," Li Rong slightly lowered her chin, "I still have a good rest, no matter what, I'm also a princess, isn't it?"
"However, everyone should think about it carefully," Li Rong reminded, "I'm afraid Concubine Rou's ambitions will not end there."
After speaking, Li Rong walked in without looking back.
Everyone looked at each other, Jinglan stepped forward and said respectfully, "My lords, please."
Li Rong sent everyone away, and then turned back to the backyard. Being interrupted like this, several people lost some interest in playing cards. Shangguanya and Li Chuan had something to ask, but Su Ronghua was there and didn't say much. Su Ronghua also noticed a few Personally wanting him to get out of the way, he cupped his hands and said, "It's getting late, so I'll leave now."
Li Rong nodded slightly, as a salute: "No."
When Su Ronghua left, Shangguanya immediately said, "I heard that many elders from aristocratic families have come, what are those people doing?"
"He said he wanted to help me retake the Inspectorate Division," Li Rong glanced at Shangguanya with a smile, and Shangguanya laughed, "After all, I couldn't help it anymore, did His Highness agree?"
"They don't want to come forward, they want to charge me into battle, and if they don't show some sincerity, I naturally won't agree."
"What do you want, sister?" Li Chuan was a little curious, Li Rong gave him a sideways glance with a smile, and said with a cup of tea, "How has your schoolwork been recently?"
Li Chuan showed a headache when he heard it: "Don't talk about this."
Shangguanya looked at Li Rong and Li Chuan, then stood up and said, "His Royal Highness, I'm leaving first, you can talk to His Royal Highness."
"Recently, the Superintendent, go and see more," Li Rong instructed, "Don't let your family suffer there."
This time, Concubine Rou investigated and dealt with many people from the Shangguan family. Those who had been demoted and exiled had already been sent out, and the remaining ones were still in prison waiting for the queen to be executed.
Concubine Rou originally wanted to execute the sentence directly, but there were too many people involved, so she was dragged by the aristocratic family again and again for various reasons.
Shangguanya understood Li Rong's reminder that the people who really committed crimes in Shangguan's family had already been cleaned up by Shangguanya, and it was impossible to keep them for Concubine Rou to clean up. Now concubine Rou concubine, almost all wrongful cases made by forging evidence.
They were just making an appearance for Concubine Rou and putting on a show for her, how could they really make her hurt.
Shangguan Ya responded and stood up and walked out. After Shangguanya went out, Li Rong looked at Li Chuan and said with a smile, "When are you going to leave?"
"Sister chased me." Li Chuan climbed onto the table and blinked at Li Rong, "I'm not happy anymore."
"How old are you?" Li Rong raised her hand and stabbed him in the forehead, "A person who wants to marry a wife and have children is still coquettish?"
"I'm not young," Li Chuan said in a positive tone, "I'm only seventeen years old, and I haven't even been crowned. I'm still a child."
"Don't let people listen to what you said," Li Rong laughed. "If you want people to know that the prince is like this, I see who will assist you."
"I'm just like this in front of you," Li Chuan became a little depressed after hearing this, "What should the prince do, my ears are almost hearing calluses, I just do my best, and I can't allow me to be here with my sister for a little while. A little bit of presumptuousness," Li Chuan raised his hand and pinched a small part of his fingertips, "A little bit?"
Li Rong wanted to say a few more words to him, but she thought of her previous life again.
In the last life, she always scolded him, mentioned him, seldom praised him, and listened to what he said.
So he continued to teach him what he said, but Li Rong stopped again, Li Chuan was unaware of Li Rong's mood changes, just propped his chin and thought, "It was such a good opportunity just now, why didn't you agree to it? "
"It's easy to take down a Concubine Rou at the moment," Li Rong said softly after listening to Li Chuan's words, "But dealing with this group of people in the future will be troublesome again. Now they are fighting fiercely with Concubine Rou, in order to ask for my help, Naturally, you will be willing to sacrifice some things, and if you don’t talk about conditions now, when will you wait?”
"Then what conditions are you going to negotiate?"
"Chuan'er, the relationship between the aristocratic family and the emperor, either you are pressing him, or he is pressing you." Li Rong turned the leaf card in her hand, touched the pattern on it, and said, "So you have to remember, let's They will never beg the aristocratic family, they are all begging us. They will bow their heads when they beg us. Otherwise, they will be wild horses who will never be trained well.”
Li Chuan listened quietly, as if thinking about something. Li Rong turned her head to look at him, seeing him in a daze, she couldn't help but ask, "What are you thinking?"
Li Chuan came back to his senses and smiled: "It's nothing, I think you are right, sister."
"You seem to have something on your mind." Li Rong was familiar with Li Chuan. How could he stay in a daze for so long for no reason
Li Chuan was a little embarrassed, but still said: "I just thought of some impossible things."
"What?" Li Rong was a little curious, and Li Chuan hesitated for a while, and finally said, "I just thought about it, I really didn't think much about it."
"Tell me," Li Rong said directly after seeing Li Chuan's remarks over and over again, "I won't think too much about it."
After hearing this, Li Chuan breathed a sigh of relief: "Sister, I just thought, what if one day you and I become like father and queen?"
Li Rong was stunned for a while, and Li Chuan said in embarrassment, "Sister, if I become emperor, one day... you will belong to these noble families too."
Li Rong didn't speak, she quietly looked at Li Chuan.
In politics, Li Chuan sometimes appears naive, but sometimes he has an extraordinary acumen.
If she was really only nineteen years old and heard what Li Chuan said, she would feel that Li Chuan was stupid, how could such a day exist.
But she has gone through so many years of ups and downs, she has held power in her hands, and knowing the fatal attraction brought by holding power in her hands, she only feels that Li Chuan is too wise and foolish, and a little too wise.
"Sister?" Li Chuan was worried when Li Rong didn't answer. Li Rong smiled bitterly. She stood up and said a little tiredly: "At that time, it should be me who will ask what to do."
"After all," Li Rong raised her skirt and climbed the steps, "My father would not ask what to do."
People like Li Ming have too clear goals, abolishing the prince, abolishing the Shangguan family, and returning to power. He doesn't need to ask what to do, he just needs to have enough lifespan for him to continue to execute.
"Okay," Li Rong felt tired when she thought of her previous life, she waved her hand and said, "Go back, I'm going to take a lunch break."
Each family passed the news of Li Rong back and discussed it for a long time overnight.
Li Rong was not in a hurry. While watching the news from various places, she let Shangguan Ya secretly collect all kinds of evidence that Concubine Rou was in the supervision department.
At the beginning of September, Li Ming fainted on the spot in the main hall, and Concubine Rou personally sent Li Ming back to the bedroom and took good care of him.
When Li Ming got better, he didn't know whether it was Li Ming's intention or Concubine Rou's own intention. Concubine Rou actually proposed to do tax reform in public!
In the big summer, all the land and servants of the noble family do not have to pay taxes, and they will not be included in the conscription. This tax system is the foundation of the family's prosperity.
If you have money, you can support people.
In order to avoid conscription, many people even offered money to the family and attached themselves to the family.
In this way, the aristocratic family has a number of domestic servants that can be called the army, and also has the strength to occupy one side.
If the imperial examination system broke the way for the family to expand its strength through political plunder, then the tax reform proposed by Concubine Rou was breaking the roots of the family.
This news was given to Li Rong by Pei Wenxuan. Li Rong was playing chess with him, listening to what Pei Wenxuan said. After Pei Wenxuan finished speaking, Li Rong sighed: "It seems that the emperor's body is really dying."
"Now... it's the second year after all."
Pei Wenxuan's voice was very soft: "It will be almost the same after another year."
"So Concubine Rou is in a hurry." Li Rong twisted the chess pieces at her fingertips with a calm expression, "She must do something to gain more power and win the favor of the emperor. Before the emperor's death, he will take the king Su. The crown prince position has been settled. If it cannot be settled, if King Su wants to ascend the throne in the future, it will be a treason."
"The teacher is unknown, and no one responds. Even if there is Xiao Su's army, I am afraid that it will be planted."
"There are two ways for people in the court to overthrow Concubine Rou."
Pei Wenxuan raised his eyes and looked at Li Rong: "Or, just do it."
"But no one wants to be a standout," Li Rong smiled. "They don't want to carry the reputation of Ni Jun."
"Either, just hide in the dark and ask Your Highness to do it."
Pei Wenxuan looked at Li Rong: "But what His Highness wants, will they give it?"
Li Rong smiled without saying a word, the candle light flickered slightly, falling into Li Rong's beautiful eyes, Pei Wenxuan raised his eyes and watched for a moment, his eyes darkening.
He loves Li Rong like this.
With a bit of the cunning and agility of a fox, and with the elegance and elegance of a cat.
"Boil a frog in warm water," Li Rong said slowly, "If you want to tear down a house without realizing it, you have to start by pulling the nails."
"The reason why I didn't agree with Chuan'er's style of doing things back then was because it was too strong," Li Rong raised her hand and dropped the chess piece on the chessboard. in his hands."
"His Royal Highness is a long stream of water, and His Royal Highness is to give strong medicine first and then take care of it slowly. It is also a method."
Pei Wenxuan said softly, and Li Rong looked up at him: "Listen to what you said, you really admire him?"
Pei Wenxuan's words made his heart tighten, and he knew that his life was hanging by a thread.
But he pretended not to do anything, and said gently: "His Royal Highness's method is naturally the best."
Li Rong threw the chess piece into the chess box, raised her hand on the back of the chair, leaned against the back of the chair, and watched Pei Wenxuan rack his brains to flatter him: "It's just that you are as majestic as His Highness, who can see what ordinary people can't see, After all, there are too few people who think that ordinary people can't think of it. His Royal Highness has done a good job, but if His Highness is His Majesty, then it is a Holy Monarch."
Li Rong finally couldn't help laughing when she heard this, and was about to answer when she heard a call from outside: "Your Highness, many adults are here."
Li Rong turned to look at Pei Wenxuan, and the two looked at each other. Pei Wenxuan stood up, went to get a robe, and put it on Li Rong who stood up.
"The frog is here," Pei Wenxuan put his clothes on Li Rong's shoulder and said softly, "Go down and add water."