Hu Zongxian saw Ma Ningyuan's hesitation and said calmly: "Come with me."
"is teacher!"
Ma Ning was overjoyed at the sight, and then followed Hu Zongxian's pace step by step.
When he arrived in the study, Hu Zongxian sat down on the chair and said, "Tell me, what's the matter?"
"Teacher, actually before this, the student wanted to come to the Governor's Mansion to congratulate you in person, but due to busy official duties and the previous incident, so..."
Ma Ning saw Hu Zongxian asking questions and quickly said respectfully.
"Okay, there's no need for congratulations or anything like that. Just don't cause any trouble for me!"
After hearing what Ma Ningyuan said, Hu Zongxian waved his hand and said impatiently.
"But teacher, the students have already prepared the gifts before this. If they don't give them, wouldn't it be a waste?"
"Okay, you can send someone here when you get back. I still have a lot of official business to deal with!"
"Teacher, I will go back to the government office right now and send someone to deliver it to you!"
Seeing that Hu Zongxian accepted his gift, Ma Ningyuan was extremely surprised. After saluting Hu Zongxian, he left in a hurry.
"Oh, officialdom is dangerous, you have to be more careful!"
Hu Zongxian looked at Ma Ningyuan's retreating figure, sighed, and said silently to himself.
After saying that, Hu Zongxian sat next to the desk and continued to deal with unfinished official duties.
…
Forbidden City, Hall of Nourishing Heart.
After finishing today's practice, Jiajing stood up from the futon.
The sun is shining brightly today and the sky is blue. Perhaps it is because of the arrival of spring that everything is gradually recovering. There are still a few chirping birds standing on the trees in the distance.
"Lu Fang? Lu Fang?"
Jiajing looked outside the Yangxin Hall and called softly.
"Does your Majesty have anything to do with your servant?"
Hearing Jiajing's call, Lu Fang quickly walked into the Yangxin Hall and said respectfully.
"The weather is nice today. Come walk around with me."
Jiajing glanced at Lu Fang and said calmly.
"Slave, you obey!"
After Lu Fang finished speaking, she followed Jiajing step by step, and behind the two masters and servants, there were also many eunuchs and maids responsible for serving.
The sun was warm, and it felt warm on people's bodies. Jiajing and Lu Fang came to a pavilion by the lake and sat down.
There are many unflowered lotus leaves floating on the lake, and under the lotus leaves, there are fish of different colors.
Jiajing took the fish food from the hand of the palace maid and fed it to the fish with its head exposed in the lake.
As soon as the fish food entered the lake, the fish started to grab it. Those near the water towers grabbed a lot of fish food! Those who are far away have to fight again with the other fish for the remaining scraps.
"Lu Fang, do you see any clues from this?"
Jiajing put down the fish food in his hand, then washed his hands in the gold basin, turned to Lu Fang and asked.
"Your Majesty, this servant is stupid and doesn't see any clues from it!"
Lu Fang saw Jiajing asking questions and quickly said respectfully.
"You, you, you are really good at pretending to be confused!"
Jiajing chuckled, and then added: "Sometimes this person is like a fish in this lake! If he occupies a favorable position, he will naturally get the greatest benefits. Why do you think so many officials are cut off every year?" Even if you have a sharp head, do you want to be transferred to the capital?"
"It's just that they are just like these fish in the lake! Whether they can eat them and how much they can eat are all under my control."
After Jiajing finished speaking, he immediately sat down on the stone bench covered with cushions. The eunuchs and maids on the side also placed various exquisite cakes on the stone table. There was still a little steam in the jade-like blue teapot.
"Come, have a cup of tea with me!"
After Jiajing finished speaking, he pointed to the position opposite him.
Hearing the emperor's words, Lu Fang felt uneasy and immediately sat down opposite Jiajing.
"Come, have a taste of this tea. This is Shifeng Longjing! I gave some to Mr. Yan Ge at the beginning, but now I only have a little left."
After Jiajing finished speaking, he pointed to the teapot on the table. Seeing this, the maid in charge of waiting on the side quickly poured a cup of tea for Lu Fang and Jiajing each.
"How's the tea?"
Jiajing put down the teacup in his hand and asked Lu Fang across from him.
"Your Majesty, this tea has endless aftertaste and excellent taste! It's..."
Lu Fang hesitated and did not dare to say any more.
"It just took a little too long, right?"
Jiajing saw what Lu Fang was thinking and said.
"Your Majesty, this is what I wanted to say just now."
Lu Fang couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Jiajing saying this for her.
"It is said that the newer the tea, the better, but I prefer old tea! For me, old tea has a different flavor when I drink it."
Lu Fang keenly captured the meaning of the emperor's words, put down the tea cup in her hand, knelt down solemnly on the ground, and said respectfully: "I will die as a dead head in life, and as a weed in death. I am willing to serve your majesty like a dog or a horse!"
"Well, get up, I happen to have something I need you to do!"
When Jiajing saw that Lu Fang understood what he meant, he couldn't help but feel good and said loudly.
"Your Majesty, please speak frankly."
After Lu Fang heard Jiajing's words, the respectful expression on her face did not change and she continued.
"Do you still remember the case that I sent Zhu Qi and others to Zhejiang to investigate the case of dikes and fields being destroyed?"
Jiajing's voice was not loud, but to Lu Fang, it was like a bolt from the blue!
"What? His Majesty would mention this matter! Could it be that His Majesty wants to deal with Mr. Yan Ge and Mr. Xu Ge?"
Thinking of this, Lu Fang felt uneasy, just when he was about to speak to dissuade her.
I only heard Jiajing continue: "Zhu Qi and the others mentioned in the report submitted to me earlier that it seems that the imperial court's tax reduction and exemption for the people has not been implemented in place! The local people still pay according to the original taxes."
"Therefore, I want you to send someone to Zhejiang to investigate the matter thoroughly! If you have any news, report it to me immediately."
After Jiajing finished speaking, he looked Lu Fang up and down and said in a deep voice.
Seeing that the emperor was not going to deal with Yan Song, Xu Jie and the others, Lu Fang breathed a sigh of relief and responded in a deep voice.
"Your Majesty, I obey your orders!"
"At that time, this matter may offend the ministers in the court. Even so, will you do it?"
Hearing Jiajing's question, Lu Fang responded with bright eyes: "Your Majesty, this slave is an eunuch and has no family members to worry about! Naturally, there is no need to be afraid of these ministers in the court. The only one I can rely on is your Majesty. .”
"As long as Your Majesty orders you, I will do it even if my body is about to be shattered!"
After hearing what Lu Fang said, Jiajing was silent for a long time, then he personally helped Lu Fang up from the ground and said loudly: "Don't worry, as long as I'm here, they can't do anything to you!"
"Slave, thank you for your grace."
Seeing that he had received the emperor's promise, Lu Fang bowed slightly.
"Come, continue drinking tea with me."
"Slave, you obey!"
…
Zhejiang, Zhejiang Governor's Mansion.
Just as Hu Zongxian was immersed in his desk and struggling to correct official documents, there was suddenly a knock on the door from outside the study.
"My Lord Governor, this is the letter sent to you by Tan Lun, the governor of Fujian!"
When Hu Zongxian heard the news, he couldn't help but put down the brush in his hand and wondered: "Tan Lun? Why did he write to me? Could it be that the Japanese pirates in Fujian have resurrected? It shouldn't be..."
With such doubts in mind, Hu Zongxian immediately let the visitor in.
"Sir Governor, this is a letter sent to you by Tan Lun, the governor of Fujian, saying that I must deliver it to you personally!"
The visitor said as he handed the letter in his hand to Hu Zongxian's hand.
"Well, I know, please go down!"
Hu Zongxian took the letter from the stranger, opened it, and began to read the contents carefully, only to see what was written above.
"Governor Hu, your subordinate, Tan Lun, recently received a letter from Mr. Xu Jie and Xu Ge. The content is as follows..."
After Hu Zongxian read the contents of the letter, he immediately understood Xu Jie's idea, to use outstanding political achievements to package Tan Lun, so as to gain His Majesty's favor, and then achieve the purpose of competing with the strict party.
Tan Lun obviously wanted to use himself to present this letter to His Majesty!
"It seems that he listened to what I told him before!"
After Hu Zongxian finished speaking, he couldn't help but feel doubly pleased. In his opinion, any strict party and clean stream were far less important than His Majesty and the people of Li.
After Hu Zongxian suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his heart and rearranged the letter, he called his subordinates: "Present this letter to Your Majesty, and no one else can get in the way of it. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Lord Governor! I understand!"
The subordinate said in a deep voice after taking the letter raft from Hu Zongxian's hand.
(End of chapter)
