"Hey, you guys are heartless! Think about what I, Feng Bao, did to you before."
Feng Baozheng, who had just received twenty lashes from the imperial army, was lying on the bed, cursing incessantly. There was a wooden basin next to the bed, and the hot water in it had long been stained red with blood. There was no one inside or outside the house.
According to common sense, most people would have been dead if they endured twenty lashes from the imperial army. However, Feng Bao's adoptive father was Lu Fang, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony. The soldiers who attacked did not dare to do too much, so they secretly kept their hands. Otherwise, he would be half disabled even if he didn't die.
"Eunuch Feng? Eunuch Feng?"
While Feng Bao kept yelling and cursing, a tiptoeing little eunuch looked around and only dared to show his face when he saw no one around.
"It's Xiao Lizi. Why, are you here to see my joke too?"
Feng Bao said with a sneer, his face full of disdain.
"No...no, I'm here to give my father-in-law some medicine. I had a drink with an apprentice from the Imperial Hospital earlier, and he gave it to me when he was happy."
The eunuch whom Feng Bao called Xiao Lizi hurriedly explained, not forgetting to take out a small white porcelain vase from his arms.
"This is golden sore medicine, specially used to treat wounds caused by sticks and whips. Come here, Eunuch Feng, and I will apply the medicine for you. Please bear with it."
The powder of the golden sore medicine was sprinkled on the wound, and a burning feeling came. Feng Bao gritted his teeth to prevent himself from making a sound. After a while, the burning feeling gradually subsided, and a cool feeling came from the wound.
When the pain from the wound had almost subsided, Feng Bao reluctantly turned his head and looked at the thin little plum up and down.
Being looked at by Feng Bao's eyes, Xiao Lizi lowered his head and did not dare to look at him.
"Remember how majestic I, Feng Bao, was back then. You should call me Xiao Lizi. Okay, very good! Come here."
Xiao Lizi hesitated for a moment, then walked quickly to Feng Bao's bed and leaned down.
"Although my power is no longer there, I can still protect you as a little eunuch. I wonder if you would like to recognize me as your adoptive father?"
"Eunuch Feng, Xiao Li is willing!"
There was almost no hesitation, and Xiao Lizi nodded repeatedly like pounding garlic.
"You still call me father-in-law?"
"Fuck...godfather!"
…
In the capital, inside the Yan Mansion.
Yan Song finished his duty in the cabinet and went straight to the study as soon as he got home.
"Father, I have something important to discuss!" On the way to the study, Yan Song was stopped by his son Yan Shifan.
"Let's go to the study and talk."
The father and son entered the study, but did not close the door. The charcoal fire was blazing in the room, and a wave of warmth came, dispelling the coldness on Yan Song's body.
"Tell me what's going on." Yan Song stretched his hand to the stove and toasted it.
"Qingliu sent Tan Lun to Zhejiang." Yan Shifan lowered his voice and said.
"Oh? The war is going on over there in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Why did Qingliu send Tan Lun there? To create trouble for Hu Ruzhen?"
"Yes, Hu Ruzhen is your student after all. The child is afraid..."
Before Yan Shifan could finish his sentence, he was angrily interrupted by Yan Song.
"Hmph, the overall situation of the southeastern Japanese suppression must not be messed up. Even if Qingliu wants to fight, he should not dare to make a fuss about this matter. If the emperor is angered, everyone will not be able to live with it!"
"Father, the imperial meeting will be held in a few days. There are still many errors and omissions in the account books of the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Work."
"It's okay. I've already discussed the vote with Mr. Xu Ge and the others in the cabinet before this. As long as the Chief of Ceremonies doesn't make things difficult, it should be over. Besides, their butts are not waiting for us to help wipe them. .”
Yan Song was warming himself by the fire. The temperature in the room made him a little drowsy. Regardless of his appearance, he lay down directly on the bed.
Seeing that his father was already a little sleepy, Yan Shifan was about to leave, but as soon as he reached the door, he was stopped by Yan Song: "How is the inspection in Zhejiang?"
"Back to my father, according to reports from the officials sent by the boy earlier, if the plan goes smoothly, Zhejiang and Zhejiang will pay at least eight million more taxes to the imperial court."
"true?"
"My child has checked it many times and it is true!"
"Okay, then I will try to mention it to the emperor at the next imperial meeting."
Yan Song's mouth went dry as he spoke, so he stood up, picked up the teapot on the table, and poured himself a cup.
"The kid resigned."
After Yan Shifan finished speaking, he bowed and left.
"Also, take care of the officials under you, Zheng Michang and He Maocai! Humph, the reports have all come to me."
Yan Song's voice sounded from behind, and Yan Shifan's face was gloomy. Zheng Michang and He Maocai, one was Zhejiang Chief Envoy and the other was Zhejiang Inspector, were all promoted by themselves.
"Close the door by the way."
"Yes, father."
…
In the middle of the night, Lu Fang, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, dismissed the surrounding eunuchs and came alone to where Feng Bao currently lived.
Feng Bao was lying on his stomach. Half asleep and half awake, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a dark figure standing beside his bed. When he was about to call out for help, his mouth was covered by the dark figure.
"Shut up and keep your voice down!"
The shadow covered his mouth and tried to lower his voice as much as possible.
"Godfather! I knew you never gave up on me."
Feng Bao also heard the voice of the shadow and looked delighted. This was his adoptive father, the most powerful person in the Ming Dynasty besides the emperor.
"Father, you have to make the decision for me! Seeing that I have lost power, these white-eyed wolves are avoiding me like the god of plague." When Feng Bao got excited, he wanted to turn over, but his movements were too big and affected his wounds. He grimaced in pain.
"You, you are in luck this time!" Lu Fang looked at the wounds on Feng Bao's body with a smile that couldn't be hidden on his face.
"Get lucky?" Feng Bao looked at Lu Fang with confusion in his eyes.
"For today's matter, you have left your name with the emperor. Do you still need me to tell you what will happen in the future?"
"But didn't the Emperor just let the imperial army give me twenty lashes?" Feng Bao was still puzzled after hearing Lu Fang's explanation.
"You kid, how could you be so stupid..." Lu Fang shook her head and then explained patiently.
"Mr. Xu Ge said that at the time. If you don't find someone to take the blame, this matter won't be over. Besides, the emperor also needs to give an explanation to Mr. Xu Ge. If the emperor doesn't ask someone to give you twenty lashes, but instead What if you leave it to those Qingliu gangs to be punished?"
Feng Bao couldn't help but shudder when he thought about the possible consequences of being arrested and punished by Qingliu.
"So, the emperor is protecting you! These twenty lashes are really worth it!"
Seeing that Feng Bao had understood what he said, Lu Fang looked out the window with a smile on her face and couldn't help but sigh: "Maybe in the future, my father will still be able to rely on you!"
"Don't dare, don't dare, I will serve my adoptive father well!" Feng Bao heard Lu Fang's words and quickly comforted him.
"I am happy today, so I will give you a few more words. You must listen carefully!" Lu Fang said, his eyes gradually becoming deeper.
"Those who are officials often say that when you are an official, you need to think twice. What is this third thought? It is nothing more than thinking about danger, thinking about retreat, and thinking about change!"
"Think of danger, think of retreat, think of change." Feng Bao whispered Lu Fang's words in a low voice, and then fell into deep thought.
"If you know the danger, you can avoid it. This is called thinking about danger. Hiding in a place where no one pays attention to you is called thinking about retreating. When you retreat, you will have a chance. Then slowly look at it and think about where you have been before. If you make a mistake, what should you do in the future? This is called thinking about change."
"Father, the child understands!"
After clearing up the depression in his heart, Feng Bao felt that his thoughts were clear, his mind and body were relaxed, and even the wounds on his back no longer hurt that much.
