"Yes." Zhuge Yu nodded, "Your Majesty means that Sister Lan does not need to enter the court, but opens a government office in Beijing. Officials of all sizes stationed in Beijing in the southeast area will report to Sister Lan's government office, and all affairs will be handled by Sister Lan will handle it. If it involves other matters involving the Secretary, it will be left to His Majesty to deal with it before entering the court again."
Fang Zilan sighed after hearing this and said, "It sounds like a really tedious job."
"Sister Lan cannot be in a high position while performing her duties." Zhuge Yu still just smiled, "It turns out that the head of the Xiahou family is not in the capital, so the Pei family is temporarily acting as the agent for southeastern affairs. A few days later After sister Rilan opens a mansion and establishes a government office, she must remember to hand over the affairs to Mr. Pei Xiaoze."
"Lord Pei Xiaoze?" Fang Zilan repeated the name, and Zhuge Yu patiently explained: "Sir Pei Xiaoze is the younger brother of Lord Pei Jueqing, one of the nine princes. He serves as the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs and has been assisting in southeastern affairs. Now that Sister Lan is about to take office, His Majesty sent him back to the Ministry of Finance."
Fang Zilan thought for a while and said: "The Lord Pei Juqing that A Yu mentioned is the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, right?"
"That happened in the early years when Emperor Ningshun was in power." Zhuge Yu shook his head, "Your Excellency Pei Juiqing is now the Imperial Attendant, and your official title is Duke Jui."
"Really?" Fang Zilan calmed her expression, and suddenly changed her voice and said, "I won't say anything else about my joy of moving to my mansion today."
With the new house in front of him, Zhuge Yu also smiled slightly, "Congratulations to Sister Lan."
Li Qiyou, who was standing in front of the mansion not far away, saw them coming from a distance and stepped forward to greet them.
After the ceremony, everyone exchanged a few pleasantries, while Awan and Deputy General Cao directed the servants in the house to move all the luggage inside.
Amidst the sound of festive firecrackers, Fang Zilan scattered golden beans to the onlookers in accordance with Beijing customs, asked his subordinates to distribute sugar cakes and rice cakes, and then put the koi carps that Li Qiyou had helped prepare early in the morning into the lotus pond in Fuzhong. It means having plenty of food, clothing and good luck.
After a lot of fun, it was time to officially move into the new house.
Fang Zilan looked at the word "Fang Mansion" on the plaque in front of her door and felt filled with emotion. Who would have thought that she was actually a Gongqing who lived alone in the capital.
"Master Fang." Li Qiyou's voice came from the mansion. Fang Zilan retracted her thoughts and walked into the mansion door to look at him, "Your Majesty, I have a lot to do with moving the mansion today."
"It's just a trivial matter, not considered work." Li Qiyou walked up to her and explained: "I have sent people to interrogate the servants in the house one by one. They are all clean and usable people. You can rest assured, Mr. Fang. In addition, I have sent people to question the servants. I have also sent people to replenish all the furniture and utensils in the house. Mr. Fang, let’s see if there is anything else you need?”
"Your Majesty is very attentive and has prepared everything for me. I don't need anything else." Fang Zilan politely bowed her fists and said gratefully, "Fang Zilan is here to thank you, Your Majesty."
"Why should Master Fang be so polite?" Li Qiyou waved his hand quickly, "But if Master Fang really wants to thank me, why don't you do me a favor?"
Fang Zilan stood up straight, thinking that Li Qiyou must have come prepared, but she didn't know if it was the Queen Mother's intention or if he really had something to ask for.
However, her thoughts turned over and over again but she could not reach a conclusion, so she simply listened to what he said.
"My lord, if you have anything to do, just ask. As long as I can do it, I will not refuse."
"It's not that difficult." Li Qiyou took out a red paper with gold sprinkled from his sleeve and asked, "As the New Year approaches, according to Beijing customs, we need to rehearse a social drama. I wonder if Mr. Fang would be willing to participate?"
"Social opera?" Fang Zilan was stunned on the spot, but Zhuge Yu's voice intervened, "Social opera has always been arranged by the sons of high-ranking officials in the capital, and no powerful person in the dynasty has ever participated in it. The prince invites Mr. Fang to come. , I’m afraid it’s inappropriate.”
Li Qiyou's expression showed obvious disapproval, "Master Zhuge, this is wrong. The purpose of the New Year's social drama is to show off the new rich in the capital. Mr. Fang has just entered the capital, so why can't he participate in it?"
Fang Zilan watched the two of them going back and forth without giving in to each other, and hurriedly said: "Can you two please explain to me first what the New Year's social drama is? It won't be too late to argue."
Li Qiyou was stunned and asked curiously: "Master Fang doesn't know about the New Year's social opera?"
"I don't know." There was an obvious look of confusion on Fang Zilan's face.
Seeing this, Li Qiyou patiently explained: "New Year's social opera is a custom in Beijing, and it can be regarded as a grand event on New Year's Eve. Every year, social operas are performed by upstarts from Beijing, and the participants are recommended by various aristocratic families. It is appointed by His Majesty. After the selection and arrangement, the performance will be performed on the high platform on Zhuque Street in front of the Imperial City on New Year's Eve. His Majesty will personally lead hundreds of officials to sit down, and thousands of people will watch. It is a wonderful scene.
Fang Zilan frowned slightly, "So the prince wants to recommend me?"
"It's not a recommendation." The person who answered her was Zhuge Yu. "The list of actors for the New Year's social drama was finalized a month ago. It's just that the prime minister's son, Fang Lixing, suddenly fell ill the day before yesterday, and one person was missing. Naturally, someone needs to be a substitute. The prince wants Master Fang to replace Fang Lixing, am I right?"
Li Qiyou nodded silently.
Zhuge Yu looked indifferent and asked: "The prince wants to find someone to replace Fang Lixing, why don't you go yourself?"
"I'm not qualified enough and my grandmother won't let me." Li Qiyou's voice was a little lower, showing his obvious lack of confidence.
Zhuge Yu's expression became colder, and his tone had a touch of imperceptible ridicule, "Not qualified enough? Prince Yuming is younger and less qualified than the prince, so why can he participate in it? I don't think the prince is not qualified enough, but the Queen Mother I don’t want the prince to lower his status.”
Degrading yourself? Fang Zilan keenly caught these four words and made a calculation in her heart.
Since the New Year's social drama is the appearance of the so-called new rich, it should be the children of high-ranking officials who have just entered the official career.
As a high-ranking prince, Li Qiyou has no real power, but he hastily appeared on the stage. I am afraid he has lost his dignity, and the Queen Mother will definitely not agree.
However, if she were to replace Fang Lixing, it would be a humiliation for her.
Looking at Li Qiyou's reticent expression, I guess he knew the benefits of this, but he could still deceive her into the game with such righteous words, which must be a bit of a motive.
Thinking of this, Fang Zilan smiled slightly and said, "My lord, is there any reason why you must do it to me?"
"I..." Li Qiyou opened his mouth hesitantly, and a trace of disdain flashed in Zhuge Yu's eyes, and he said coldly: "The prince certainly has a reason why he must do it to you, but he can't say it out loud."
"Oh?" Fang Zilan looked at Zhuge Yu curiously, and saw that his expression was rare and cold, "Fang Lixing pretended to be an evil spirit in the social drama, and he wanted to fall from the high platform after being beheaded. If he were an ordinary person, he would not I lost half my life and had to break a leg. Mr. Fang, now you know why it’s you who has to do it?”
