Fifth Prince's Mansion.
Sandalwood lingered in the hall, behind the plain black screen, a man and a woman sat opposite each other, and the two of them played half a chess game.
In the hall, the two high-ranking adults bowed their heads and bowed their waists, not daring to speak.
The man behind the screen held a black chess piece and played it for a long time without falling: "This chess game is a wrong move."
The woman opposite sat slenderly on her knees, and she heard the words and asked, "Is your Highness talking about the Ji family?"
The fifth prince closed his eyes: "Yes, everything is under control. If the third girl from the Ji family entered the palace, the palace would not be in the current situation. The Feng family girl is not enough to watch."
As soon as he finished speaking, he lost the chess piece. The chess pieces smashed back into the chess tank, making a crisp sound.
The power behind the prince looks huge, but the only ones he really rely on are the Li family and the Ji family. Behind the Li family, there is a queen who supports them, and they have accumulated so deeply that they cannot move first. The only way is to pull the Ji family down first and then move the Li family. As for the previous arrangement, it was the best policy to set up a bureau to let Ji Yunxi enter the palace, causing a dispute between the Li Ji family and making them fight within each other.
After all, the concubines and concubines of the harem, even if they are close sisters, are bound to stand on the opposite side.
Unfortunately, this chess game was lost from the very beginning.
lost in-
Their new Tanhua Lang, Wu Weian of the Wu family.
And lost twice.
One time it was Yang Weitian, and the other time it was the palace exam.
"I originally thought that Ji Mingxi would be able to dismount in the palace test, but I never thought that it would make the Ji family even more beautiful." The fifth prince did not know whether he was speaking to the woman on the opposite side, or to the adults in the hall.
His Excellency the Hall hurriedly said: "Your Highness, Feng Qishi has been in contact with ministers in the past few days, and it seems that he wants to take refuge with His Highness."
The fifth prince laughed when he heard this: "The Feng family is also worthy?"
The lord in the hall respectfully said: "This minister also thinks the same way. The Feng family has been able to get to this day, and it is only through some cleverness and the love of the saint. Now that Feng Guiren has made the saint unhappy, the Feng family is afraid that it will not last long. Feng Qishi is circling, coaxing him to find some trouble for the Ji family."
The fifth prince hummed: "As for the imperial examination, let Feng Qishi speak to his father and transfer from the Ministry of Officials to your Ministry of Rites."
The Minister of Rites was slightly puzzled: "His Royal Highness, Shu Chen is incompetent, will the sage agree to this?"
The fifth prince turned his head, revealing a face similar to the emperor: "Father and the emperor will agree."
There are various indications that his father emperor has long been afraid of the Ji family.
The Ji family may have noticed it, and they have become more low-key and cautious in doing things over the years. That Ji Mingxi said less and did less work. It seemed that everything was a coincidence, but in fact it was not leaking.
Missing this palace exam and trying to find loopholes in Ji Mingxi, I'm afraid it will be difficult. It is better to divide some of the functions and powers of the Ministry of Personnel into the Ministry of Rites.
The imperial examination was a matter of great importance, and it was closely related to the capable people in the world, so he had to hold it in his hands.
The two adults took the order away, and the woman on the side remembered something and reminded: "Your Highness, on the eighteenth of next month, the third girl is going to get married."
The fifth prince looked at the chess game ahead: "I was wrong."
The woman's face was puzzled: "Why did Your Highness say this?"
The fifth prince said: "That Ji Yunxi is not an ordinary woman. Back then, Yang Weitan was not favored by everyone, but Yang Weitan was very thoughtful and his future would not be bad. So, how could Wu Weian be bad?" He lost two chess games. On the piece of Wu Weian.
The fifth prince called the dark guard: "Go, check Wu Weian carefully."
…
At the early morning meeting the next day, the officials of the imperial court were arguing about whether the imperial examination should be managed by the Ministry of Officials or the Ministry of Rites.
Feng Qishi felt very cold about the prince's attitude about the casino. He thought about it carefully, thinking that even if the prince succeeded in the future, his Feng family would only be subordinated to the Ji family. Even if the Ji family wanted to harm his Feng family due to recent events, his Feng family would be powerless to resist.
After all, the prince's heart is all toward the Ji family. Even the Li family, the prince's mother's family, has a very good relationship with the Ji family.
Feng Qishi took refuge with the Fifth Prince. Although the fifth prince has not let go, but the meaning is also obvious. As long as this is done, he will be able to become the fifth prince's person and be sheltered by the fifth prince.
Therefore, Feng Qishi argued vigorously in the court hall: "The imperial examination here is really not properly done, and it almost caused dissatisfaction among the scholars all over the world. It was the emperor Shengming who took the time to hold the palace examination and invited Jiang Gong to come, and then blocked the mouths of the scholars all over the world. This is not the case, the consequences are unimaginable, and Master Ji is afraid that he will suffer! So this matter has to be handed over to the Ministry of Rites. The Ministry of Rites understands etiquette and law, and can better handle the imperial examination, Your Majesty!"
Ji Mingxi, as the minister of officials, stood by and listened, and nodded subconsciously when he heard the words.
Master Li on the side glared at him fiercely.
Ji Mingxi covered his face and coughed lightly, not daring to nod his head again.
Master Li stood up and said: "Master Feng's words are wrong, the Ministry of Personnel is in charge of the selection and promotion of officials, and this imperial election is a capable person of my Dayu Dynasty, so naturally it should be placed in the Ministry of Personnel, how can it be placed in the Ministry of Rites reason?"
Lord Feng refuted it: "Although the imperial examination is used to select hundreds of officials, what part of the process does not need to understand etiquette, law and abide by the etiquette system? This matter is undertaken by the Ministry of Rites. The Ministry is responsible for dispatching. Wouldn't it be more appropriate and better to avoid leaks and frauds?"
Lord Li still wanted to argue, but the emperor interrupted: "Feng Aiqing is right, I also think it would be more appropriate to leave the Ministry of Rites. Ji Aiqing, what do you think?"
Ji Mingxi then stood up, and he bowed to the hall: "I listen to the saint."
The emperor nodded: "Then this is the case, retreat."
…
From the sudden advance of the palace test, the personnel department was left on the side, and the personnel department has been panicking in the past few days, and today it has reached its peak.
When Ji Mingxi returned from the imperial court to the official department, Shi Lang, Lang Zhong, Yuan Wai Lang, and the heads of the various divisions all surrounded him.
"My lord, how can this be good?" The minister of the Ministry of Personnel was full of sadness, "The imperial examination is such an important matter, but the sage has handed it over to the Ministry of Rites. This is dissatisfaction with my Ministry of Personnel!"
"Don't worry, don't worry." Ji Mingxi said a few words of relief and sat down in the main seat.
The servants all knew his habit, and they quickly served the tea cups. He took a sip and said, "Don't scare yourselves, isn't that a good thing to say?"
Ladies and gentlemen, look at me, I look at you: "???"
They really didn't see it as a good thing. The powers of their bureaucracy have all been taken away! The saints don't want to see them anymore!
Ji Mingxi took another sip of tea: "A few months ago, didn't you tell me that you were too busy? Now we should be just fine for the errands in the Ministry of Personnel, and we will be able to go home for dinner on time in the future. Salary, why not do it?"
As if, indeed, it makes some sense
All the adults continue to look at me, I will look at you, and bow to Ji Ming happily: "Thank you for your suggestion."
Ji Ming smiled kindly: "In the past few days, you have taken care of the affairs of the imperial examination, and then handed it over to the Ministry of Rites. The weather is good today, so you don't have to come here in the afternoon, just rest at home."
When all the adults heard the words, they left happily.
The Ministry of Personnel is in charge of the appointment and removal, promotion and promotion of officials, and honors and awards, and is respected by the officials.
Officials serving in the Ministry of Personnel are supposed to have high fighting spirit, and this was true before.
However, since Ji Mingxi became a minister, the atmosphere of the Ministry of Personnel has changed a lot in the past few years.
All the things that should be done are being done well, but there is a lot less bureaucracy, and these adults who are left are also very satisfied with the status quo.
They also know that it is not so easy to go up the official position. Either someone with outstanding talent, such a person, would not be able to stay under Ji Mingxi for long before jumping to another department. Either someone behind them, such a person, would not come to their official department.
Therefore, the adults who have stayed in the official department for a long time just want to work in peace and get a salary, and when they are old, they will go home and enjoy their old age in peace.
They are so worried recently because they are afraid that there will be a big change in the personnel department, and the black gauze hat on their heads will not be guaranteed. It can be seen that Lord Shang Shu is so indifferent and looks quite happy, so they are relieved.
And things are a lot less, suddenly there is a lot of free time to read books, tease the birds and drink tea.
Beautiful beautiful.
…
Not long after, Ji Yunxi woke up from a nap, and as soon as he arrived in the study to draw up the guest list, Ji Mingxi returned to Ji Mansion.
Early this morning, both Ji Mingshuang and Wu Weian went to the Hanlin Academy to report.
Ji Mingshuang is the champion, and from today onwards, he has been compiling from the sixth-rank Hanlin Academy.
And Ji Mingyan, went to Dali Temple to follow the investigation.
Ji Yunxi was surprised: "Why did your brother come back at this point today?"
Ji Mingxi unconsciously brought a smile to the corner of his mouth. He sat down, took the tea cup that Baofu handed over, and let out a long sigh of relief: "There aren't many things to do now, so I'll be back sooner."
The Palace Exam is not under the control of the Ministry of Personnel. Currently, the Ministry of Personnel only needs to assign positions to those jinshi who have passed the Palace Exam.
But over the years, how to arrange, how to arrange, there is actually a set of procedures. Just follow the process arrangement, and it is very simple.
Ji Yunxi nodded and asked, "Brother, but what happened?"
Ji Mingxi took a sip of tea and told Sanmei what happened in the early morning today.
Ji Yunxi raised his eyebrows.
According to the plot in the book, the imperial examination was transformed from the Ministry of Personnel to the Ministry of Rites, and it was an innovation made by the male protagonist in his first year as Emperor.
I didn't think about it, it's so much earlier now.
But it's normal. According to the original plot, it was her eldest brother who harmed the imperial examination this time. Now that the eldest brother is safe and sound, and the official department is still in the hands of the eldest brother, the five princes and one party will naturally find a way to take away some of the power.
only-
Ji Yunxi tilted her head and looked at her eldest brother's happy appearance, thinking that the Ministry of Rites wanted to know her eldest brother's thoughts, and he was afraid that he would be mad.
After all, the officials of the Ministry of Rites, their salaries have not increased, and they have lived a lot.
And the imperial examination is not easy to handle.
Done, it should be. Whenever something goes wrong, the brain is in danger.
-
In the afternoon of the second day, Wu Weian took a half-day leave from the Hanlin Academy on the grounds of preparing for the marriage.
Ji Yunxi's carriage drove directly to the gate of the palace to wait for him.
Wu Weian lifted the curtain, put the cloth bag in his hand to the side, sat opposite Ji Yunxi, and the first sentence he said was: "I really did not expect that the Hanlin Academy's salaries are so low!"
There are a lot of things to prepare for the wedding, Ji Yunxi took the pen and wrote, without raising her head when she heard the words, she answered casually, "How much?"
Wu Weian poured himself a cup of tea: "The annual salary is 45 taels of silver, and the Lumi is 45 dan."
In those few days of winter hunting, his daily salary to accompany Ji Mingyan was much more than this!
The Hanlin Academy has always been the Qingshui Yamen, so Ji Yunxi was not surprised.
She handed over the prepared guest list: "Look at it, you can add what you missed. After adding it, give it to Baofu, and Baofu will send wedding invitations from family to family."
Wu Weian opened it, glanced at it, and closed it: "No problem, that's all."
Ji Yunxi: "??"
She was speechless: "Are you finished with this?"
Wu Weian looked at her with deep affection: "Actually, you don't need to look at it. I believe you and listen to you."
Ji Yunxi's mouth twitched: "...I only wrote about a few people in your family, your other friends..."
Wu Weian interrupted him: "Oh, I have no friends."
Ji Yunxi pursed her lips: "Okay."
Wu Weian drank the tea in one gulp and said with emotion, "The tea from the Hanlin Academy is so bad that it has no taste."
Ji Yunxi glanced at him: "Oh."
Wu Weian hinted: "Yunniang, your tea is good. After drinking it, you will feel refreshed."
Ji Yunxi just didn't answer him: "Well."
Wu Weian sighed and poured himself another cup of tea.
He held a fine porcelain cup with his jade-like knuckles, shook the tea lightly, and suddenly lowered his eyes and said, "Someone is asking me."
Ji Yunxi raised her head: "Who?"
Wu Weian shook his head: "I don't know who is behind it for the time being." He looked at her, "But I think you might be able to guess."
Ji Yunxi met his gaze, her eyelashes trembling slightly.
She lowered her head and slowly put away the pen, ink, paper and inkstone under her hand.
Ji Yunxi did know who it was, and she didn't hide it from him: "It should be the fifth prince."
"Oh?" Wu Weian took a sip of his tea.
These five princes, he knows.
The fifth prince came from the deceased Concubine Zhen, and Concubine Zhen came from the commoners. It is said that it was brought back from a trip when the current sage was still a prince.
It was only not long after the Sage ascended the throne, when the Fifth Prince was six years old, Concubine Zhen lost his fragrance.
And these five princes, without the support of their mother's family, seem not to be loved by the emperor, and have always been ignored.
The words 'not taken seriously' can often hide a lot of things.
He, Wu Weian, was not valued by the Wu family, so when he knew about this, Wu Weian felt that the fifth prince might be the same as him.
After all, without the support of a mother's family, the prince who can grow up safely in the harem is not easy to think about.
Ji Yunxi looked at Wu Weian.
The other party's expression was quite unpredictable, as if he was no stranger to these five princes, and there were still some strange emotions.
Ji Yunxi lowered her eyelashes, picked up the tea cup and sipped, and asked, "What?"
"It's nothing." Wu Weian chuckled, "Just before I came to the capital, I probably knew it. I'm quite optimistic about these five princes."
Ji Yunxi understood what he meant: "Did you intend to rely on him?"
Wu Weian didn't say yes or no: "I just wanted to come to Shangjing to understand and make plans in person. But I just arrived in Shangjing for a few days, didn't you come to me?"
Now, he has been firmly tied to the Ji family's boat, that is, a member of the prince's party.
Those five princes are destined to be only mortal enemies.
Ji Yunxi reminded him: "The fifth prince is not easy. Since he has checked you, he must be suspicious of you. Do you have any countermeasures?"
Wu Weian looked at Ji Yunxi with a solemn expression: "To be honest, it's a bit difficult. You may need your help with this matter."
Ji Yunxi frowned: "Speak."
Wu Weian: "I just entered the Hanlin Academy, and I need help everywhere, but I'm in a hurry."
Ji Yunxi: "..."
Ji Yunxi closed his eyes.
Just now, she really thought that Wu Weian was in trouble, and she really wanted to share her strength.
In the end, he actually just wanted to ask her for money?
Ji Yunxi is not stingy, on the contrary, as a customer, she is very generous.
If Wu Weian is normal, don't act foolishly in front of her all day long, it's okay for her to give him tens of thousands of taels. After all, we are all family.
But now, Ji Yunxi didn't want to give him too much anyway. I don't even want to give it a bit.
Her face was cold, and her tone was even colder: "In this way, you make a list, who you want to pay, what to pay, and about how much money you need. After you list it, give it to me, and I'll give you the money."
Wu Weian: "??"
His face was hurt and incredible: "Between you and me, do you need this?"
Ji Yunxi showed no mercy: "If necessary, brothers and sisters have to settle accounts clearly. So does husband and wife."
Wu Weian looked at his fiancée, sighed, and sighed again.
But what can he do
What can't he do.
He has no money, and having no money is the original sin.
In the end, Wu Weian could only take the pen, ink, paper, and inkstone that Ji Yunxi had just used, and began to make a list carefully one by one.
When the carriage stopped at Xuanrenfang, Wu Weian also finished writing, he checked it again, and then handed it over to Ji Yunxi.
Ji Yunxi took it and glanced at it a few times. When he got out of the car, he explained to Baofu and asked Baofu to give Wu Weian three hundred taels of silver.
Baofu couldn't get used to this future uncle, because the uncle looked so poor, he even took the young lady's mirror.
But the lady likes it, and she can't help it. So she still took out three hundred taels of silver and gave it to Wu Weian, but she didn't have a good face, her chin was raised high, and her eyes turned white.
Wu Weian didn't mind at all, took three hundred taels from Shanruliu, and took Ji Yunxi to see the new house.
The round-faced steward picks and chooses, and finally leaves three places.
All three are quite close to Jifu, all within one kilometer.
The Ji family is in Xuanrenfang, which is not far from the palace, and most of the people living nearby are dignitaries, so the price is not cheap.
And most of the time, even if you have money, you may not be able to buy it.
After all, this is Xuanrenfang's house. Most of the owners of the house are not short of money, and even if they are empty, they may not sell it.
And the owner sells the house, but also depends on who buys it.
The reason why the round-faced steward was able to pick three places was because the owner of the house sold it for the sake of the Ji family.
The three houses were farther and nearer from Jifu, and the prices were also rising step by step.
The first house, just about a kilometer away from Jifu, was asking for 6,000 taels of gold. The house is quite big, and there are two courtyards in it, but one occupies most of the area, and the other is a bit small.
Wu Weian wanted the two yards to be about the same size, or to have room for renovation. So he didn't look at it.
Ji Yunxi naturally didn't like it either.
The second house, between one and two li from the Ji Mansion, was asking for 7,000 taels of gold. The house is about the same size as the first one, with three courtyards, each of which looks smaller when spread out, and the lighting is not very good, and the layout makes people feel uncomfortable.
Wu Weian is still not satisfied, this one is not as good as the first one.
Naturally, Ji Yunxi still didn't like it.
The third house is very close to Jifu, on the front and back streets. From the backyard of Ji Mansion, walk a dozen steps to the left and you will find the main entrance of the house.
Ji Yunxi and his party followed the steward sent by the owner of the house and walked in.
As soon as he entered, Wu Weian was somewhat satisfied.
Because this house is really good, the layout makes people feel comfortable when they enter.
And just to meet Wu Weian's needs, there are two yards, each of which is about the same size. The two courtyards are still separated by a small man-made lake. In the center of the lake is a lotus-appreciating pavilion.
Although the house is now empty, it looks a bit desolate and overgrown with weeds.
But if you take good care of it, in the future, pavilions, rockeries, waterside pavilions, and beautiful flowers will definitely be very good.
Wu Weian was very fond of him, and he asked the other party, "How much does this house sell for?"
The old man said, "Master Hui, 102,000 taels of gold."
Wu Weian frowned: "It's a bit expensive."
The old man said, "Sir, the layout of this house is very good, and the price is already cheap."
Ji Yunxi listened to Wu Weian negotiating with the other party, but said nothing.
Like a visit, she walked around casually.
This house is really good. At first, the owner was short of money and changed hands in a hurry. She won it for 6,000 taels of gold.
Because Ji Yunxi had too many houses in his hands, there was nothing to say after he won it, and the brothers in the family didn't even know about it.
And the original owner took the money and left Shangjing, and no one knew about it.
Wu Weian walked towards her: "Mother Yun."
Ji Yunxi turned her head: "Why, the price didn't come together?"
Wu Weian nodded: "This owner is really stingy. No matter what I say, the other party is not willing to be cheaper."
The more Wu Weian said, the more heartache he felt. The most expensive of the two houses he saw before was only 7,000 taels of gold. After buying it, he still had 3,000 taels of gold left. But here, the price was actually 102,000 taels of gold, a full 5,000 taels of gold! He wants to buy it, but he has no money to buy it.
As for asking Ji Yunxi to help buy it, Wu Weian really has no such face.
After all, as a man, he doesn't need to prepare anything else, he only needs to prepare the house. If the house still asks his fiancee to pay some of the money, where would he put his face
And in this house, the father and the second brother will also come to live, so Wu Weian can't let Ji Yunxi pay.
Of course, the most important thing is that Wu Weian felt that Ji Yunxi would not pay.
Ji Yunxi does have a lot of money, but her money is not easy to get. She is shrewd.
Wu Weian looked a little tired: "Otherwise, it's the first one."
Ji Yunxi looked at him: "But I like it here."
Wu Weian sighed lightly.
who does not like? He likes it too.
Of course, the more expensive the better, he understands this truth.
Ji Yunxi stretched out her hand and gently touched the petals of the rose with her fingertips. After thinking for a moment, she said, "The two thousand taels I will go out, and the ten thousand taels you go out."
Wu Weian didn't hesitate and said with a straight face, "Okay."
-
Time passed day by day, and soon it was April.
On this day, Ji Mingxi's letter to Ji Mingyuan also arrived.
Ji Mingyuan was in retreat, and when his senior brother from the same division was delivering food to him, he also stuffed the letter through the small hole.
The author has something to say: Male protagonist: I took advantage of 2,000 taels of gold from the lady! [Yeah]
The hostess smiled without saying a word.
*
*Thanks to the little angel who voted for me or irrigated nutrient solution during 2021-10-1118:57:52~2021-10-1217:43:02~
Thanks to the little angel who irrigated the nutrient solution: 30 bottles of Yaoshi Wuyi; 10 bottles of Feiyun and Sanzuo Manhexing; 8 bottles of Fleeting Years End; 7 bottles of a Hibiscus; 3 bottles of Buting; 2 bottles of Suiyi; 1 bottle of Sleepy Worm, Roronoa, Deer, Cauchy, Open Your Mouth, Sugar Fairy, zzwdxgz;
Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard