The second day Wen Ya entered the Yue Kingdom's mansion was a rare snow day.
Fang Zilan originally planned to sneak into the courtyard to enjoy the snow while no one was paying attention. However, before she could stand in the courtyard for a moment, Wen Ya and A Wan came after hearing the news.
Under the intense gazes of the master and apprentice, Fang Zilan argued hard, "Look at the thick cloak I wear, I will never catch the cold. And I am a patient, so I need more ventilation..."
"Breathe some air?" Awan interrupted Fang Zilan angrily, "Mr. Fang, it's New Year's Eve in a few days. If you want to go out and get some fresh air in the first month of the year, you'd better go back to your room to rest immediately. Otherwise, you'll have to spend the entire first month of the year to get some fresh air." Don’t even leave the room.”
Seeing that Awan had no room for negotiation, Fang Zilan looked at Wen Ya pitifully, "Mr. Wen, look..."
"I think Miss Awan is right." Wen Ya said firmly, and Fang Zilan was so angry that she stamped her feet, "Okay, I'll go back right away."
She turned around and left. She didn't take more than two steps when she saw the housekeeper coming in a hurry, "Mr. Fang, someone is coming from the government office and they must see you."
Fang Zilan stopped and frowned slightly, "Who is here, insisting on seeing me?"
The steward said: "The two adults here, one is named Yang and the other is Wu. Mr. Fang, do you want to invite them in?"
"Please come in." Fang Zilan nodded slightly, "I think there is something urgent and I can't delay."
The housekeeper went out to invite someone. Fang Zilan wrapped herself in a cloak, spread her hands and said, "As you can see, it's not that I don't want to rest."
After she finished speaking, she didn't wait for Wen Ya and A Wan's reaction, rubbed oil on her soles and walked quickly into the front hall. As soon as she sat down, she saw the housekeeper leading people in.
Among the two people who came, one of them Fang Zilan knew was Yang Zhiqing, the steward of the government office, and the other one was a stranger whom she had never seen before.
After the two of them bowed and sat down, before they could say anything, they saw Awan directing a few boys to bring in the brazier.
"My Lord Fang can't stand the cold. I hope you two won't take offense." A Wan stood next to Fang Zilan, as if counting the seconds for her.
In view of Fang Zilan's haggard appearance and his skinny appearance, the two of them couldn't say much and just laughed it off.
Fang Zilan didn't mean to be polite. She looked directly at the unfamiliar face and asked, "I have never seen this gentleman before. Who is he?"
Hearing this, Yang Zhiqing hurriedly introduced: "Master Fang, this is Wu Sheng, Director Wu, who just reported to our government office the day before yesterday."
"Report the day before yesterday." Fang Zilan repeated these four words softly, and said quietly: "Why didn't I know about this?"
"Master Fang has been reporting illness these past few days, and it's approaching New Year's Eve. I originally wanted to wait until the first month of the new year is over before reporting." Yang Zhiqing said sarcastically: "However, after Master Wu came to the government office, he wanted to see Master Fang. I... "
"Master Yang, I asked you to be in charge, but you can't even manage the chief clerk?" Fang Zilan's voice was a little colder. Yang Zhiqing lowered his head and said: "Master Fang taught you a lesson. I..."
"This matter has nothing to do with Mr. Yang." Wu Sheng interrupted Yang Zhiqing's words, bowed his hands and said, "I invited Mr. Fang myself, and please Mr. Fang not to blame Mr. Yang."
"Secretary Wu, did I ask you something?" Fang Zilan glanced sideways at Wu Sheng, "It's approaching New Year's Eve, and the officials are still trying to sneak you into our government office. Whose path are you following? So You have so much face, how dare you make a mistake in front of me?"
Wu Sheng was stunned on the spot, "What do you mean, Mr. Fang?"
Fang Zilan looked up and down at the young man in front of him. His clothes were neat and meticulous, and his eyebrows were still a bit green.
She averted her eyes and said: "Generally, when appointing new officials, they wait until the first month of the lunar calendar is over and His Majesty starts the court for approval. Only then can I take office with the letter. Doesn't Mr. Wu know these rules? Or is it to support Mr. Wu? Didn't you forget to inform me in advance?"
Wu Sheng's face was pale and he refused to accept it, "The rules Master Fang mentioned are just conventions and there is no explicit iron law. A new official can take office as long as he has a letter and an order. I have all the letters and orders, and I really can't bear the slander and humiliation of Master Fang."
Fang Zilan frowned slightly, thinking that this Wu Sheng was so arrogant, either he had a huge backer behind him, or he was a foolish Qing who didn't know the heights of the world. But if it was the former, how could he just be a small chief clerk in her government office?
Seeing the two sides facing each other, Yang Zhiqing hurriedly stood up to smooth things over and said: "Sir Fang, Mr. Wu is young and arrogant, his words and deeds are inappropriate. Please remember that he is new here and don't get along with him. However, this year the Ministry of Civil Affairs has launched a reform of the civil service. , not only our government office, but also other government departments and ministries have recently taken up their posts, which is indeed different from previous years."
Fang Zilan calmed her expression, "In this case, Chief Wu came to our office not just because of his bad words and deeds. Tell me, why do you want to see me so much?"
Wu Sheng said with a straight face: "Master Fang suddenly reported illness, causing chaos in the government office, which is inappropriate."
Fang Zilan immediately understood most of it. It was the ignorant Leng Tou Qing who came to accuse her. So she simply followed Wu Sheng's words and pretended to be curious: "What kind of chaos?"
Wu Shengyi said righteously: "Not to mention the heavy workload of all of you in the government office, even the Ministry of Household Affairs has sent people several times to ask about the current situation of the war-torn areas in the south, and they can't even ask for details of money expenditures. What else is it if it's not chaos?"
Every time he said something, Yang Zhiqing's face became uglier. By the time he finished speaking, Yang Zhiqing had already looked away.
However, Fang Zilan did not let go of Yang Zhiqing's intention and said in a cold voice: "Master Yang, did you bring Mr. Wu here today just to let him tell me this?"
Yang Zhiqing knelt down in fear, "Master Fang Mingjian, I really don't know. If I knew, I would not bring Master Wu here anyway."
Fang Zilan's face was as dark as water, "Yang Zhiqing, if you can't discipline your subordinates, I can find someone to discipline them for you. Or do you think that because I am seriously ill, you can just come in front of me and make your own remarks?"
"What does it mean to talk to oneself..." As soon as Wu Sheng opened his mouth, a melon seed hit his knee and he knelt down with a plop.
Fang Zilan was not angry and said proudly: "Wu Sheng, Mr. Zhuge Yu of the Ministry of Civil Affairs has some friendship with me. For his sake today, I will make it clear to you and will not argue with you, but there will be no next time. "
Although she looked sickly, the intimidating aura in her voice and eyes still made Wu Sheng afraid to speak casually.
"For one thing, although our government office has been established for more than a year, I was away most of the time, and most of the affairs were placed on a few principals. One of them was promoted to the Ministry of Personnel last month, and the affairs were redistributed. There was indeed a shortage of manpower, so It is reasonable for you adults to be busier, otherwise what use would a new official like you have?"
She paused as she spoke, "But I have made arrangements before, so that everyone can follow the steps and not be in a hurry. Otherwise, where would Mr. Yang have the time to bring you to my house and give you such an opportunity to talk nonsense?" "
