Forbidden City, outside the cabinet.
Today is the day for the cabinet meeting, so the ministers have to arrive earlier than usual.
Soon, five sedans of different colors stopped outside the cabinet. With the support of his servants, Yan Song tremblingly got down from the sedan.
"Mr. Yan Ge, good morning!"
As soon as Yan Song got off the sedan, he heard Xu Jie's greeting coming from not far away.
"Oh, it's Mr. Xu Ge."
Yan Song looked towards the source of the sound, but only saw an unusually blurry figure.
I saw Xu Jie stepping forward quickly and holding Yan Song's hand. The two of them seemed to have been old friends for many years, walking straight ahead and chatting.
"Alas, as I get older, my eyes are no longer good!"
Yan Song sighed and spoke first.
"What the hell, Mr. Yan Ge, your body is still strong."
After hearing this, Xu Jie laughed loudly, then supported Yan Song and walked up the steps.
"By the way, Mr. Xu Ge, you have been stealing the show recently! The civil and military officials of the whole court are talking about how you, a dignified minister in the cabinet, can actually supervise the project?"
"I heard that this matter has been reported to His Majesty, and His Majesty is also full of praise for you!"
Yan Song did not rush up the steps, but turned around and spoke to Xu Jie.
"No, no, since the plan to expand the treasury was proposed by me, I have the obligation to completely improve it! This will also prevent others from gossiping about it."
After Xu Jie listened to Yan Song's words, he chuckled and then explained.
"Mr. Xu Ge, you have set an excellent example in front of all officials this time. I, the chief minister of the cabinet, am ashamed of myself!"
"Perhaps Your Majesty will reward you specifically for this matter later!"
Xu Jie did not choose to answer Yan Song's words. Instead, he turned his attention to the steps at his feet and changed the topic: "Let's go in quickly. Maybe we can take advantage of the time when His Majesty is not here to deal with it first." Some memorials."
"Well, that's true. Let's go in quickly."
Yan Song nodded, agreeing to Xu Jie's proposal.
…
Forbidden City, Hall of Nourishing Heart.
Early in the morning, Jiajing put on his robe under the clothes of a personal eunuch.
"Your Majesty, it's almost time, we should set off!"
Just when Jiajing was stunned, Lu Fang's figure appeared in front of him and reminded him softly.
"Yes, I understand."
Jiajing nodded and then motioned for Lu Fang to lead the way.
"By the way, Lu Fang, tell me, what should I reward Xu Jie?"
"Your Majesty, I feel that as long as it is a gift from you, Mr. Xu Ge will be very happy and treat it as a treasure!"
When Lu Fang heard Jiajing's question, she immediately stopped and answered respectfully.
"Aren't you talking nonsense? Send someone to pick out a vase from my internal funds at random!"
Jiajing glanced at Lu Fang angrily and then ordered.
"Yes, Your Majesty! I obey your orders."
Lu Fang quickly gave the order, and a moment later, a young eunuch hurried to the Yangxin Hall holding a brocade box.
"Your Majesty, look!"
Lu Fang took the brocade box from the little eunuch's hand, opened it, and held it in front of Jiajing with great respect.
I saw a pair of jade-like cyan porcelain vases lying quietly in the brocade box.
"Well, that's it! I already thought it took up space."
Jiajing was quite satisfied with the gift chosen by Lu Fang and nodded.
"Your Majesty, we have to hurry up, we are almost running out of time."
"Well, bring the vase to me. If it's broken, I'll take it from you."
Jiajing turned around and ordered Lu Fang beside him.
"Your Majesty, don't worry! I will never let anything happen to this vase."
"Well, that's good if you know."
…
"It's strange. It's obviously time for the cabinet meeting, why hasn't His Majesty come yet?"
Xu Jie put down the memorial that he had reviewed in his hand and said doubtfully.
"Wait a little longer. Your Majesty may have encountered something on the way and was delayed."
Yan Song drank all the tea in the cup slowly and said.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty has never missed a cabinet meeting in these days."
Gao Gong on the side saw this and also comforted him.
"Yes, yes! Now His Majesty is diligent in government affairs, and it is impossible for him to miss cabinet meetings without excuse."
Yan Shifan glanced at Gao Gong calmly, and then said.
Just as everyone was speculating, a high-pitched voice came from outside, which made them feel at ease instantly.
"Your Majesty is here!"
"I see your Majesty, long live my emperor!"
After seeing that familiar figure, everyone couldn't help but feel respectful. Then, under the leadership of Yan Song, the chief minister of the cabinet, they all knelt on the ground and said in unison.
"Well, everyone, get up."
Jiajing glanced at the ministers kneeling on the ground and said loudly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Just as the ministers stood up, they suddenly discovered that Lu Fang, who had been following Jiajing, had something different today. He was holding a brocade box in his arms!
"What's in this brocade box?"
While everyone present was thinking, Jiajing, who was sitting behind the bead curtain, seemed to understand what they were thinking and took the initiative to explain.
"This brocade box in Lu Fang's hand is the reason why I am late today."
After hearing what Jiajing said, everyone at the scene became even more curious about the contents of the brocade box! What on earth could delay the mighty Ming Emperor for so long?
"Actually, the things in the brocade box are related to someone among you here. You might as well take a guess."
After Jiajing finished speaking, he looked around, picked up the teapot on the table, and poured himself a cup of hot tea.
After hearing what Jiajing said, the remaining people in the cabinet also thought of what Yan Song had said before, and they all focused their attention on Xu Jie.
When Xu Jie saw that everyone's eyes were focused on him, he was confused at first.
After a moment, he suddenly remembered what Yan Song had said to him before, and those words were constantly emerging in his mind. Xu Jie's body began to tremble slightly due to being too excited.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me for being bold. Are the things in the brocade box related to me?"
Seeing that Jiajing had no intention of directly revealing the answer to the mystery, Xu Jie plucked up the courage and asked Jiajing.
"That's right, Mr. Xu Ge is really smart! The things in this brocade box are what I prepared for you."
"And it's precisely because of this that I'm late!"
Jiajing seemed very surprised that Xu Jie could guess the answer to the riddle so quickly, and then raised his eyebrows and answered.
"It is because of Wei Chen that Your Majesty was delayed. Therefore, I beg Your Majesty to punish Wei Chen. Otherwise, Wei Chen will be tossing and turning in the days to come and will have trouble sleeping and eating!"
After Xu Jie heard what Jiajing said, he knelt on the ground with a plop and asked Jiajing for forgiveness.
"Mr. Xu Ge misunderstood me. I don't want to blame you! On the contrary, I want to reward you well."
"Lu Fang, show everyone the contents of the brocade box."
"Slave, I obey."
After hearing Jiajing's instructions, Lu Fang carefully placed the brocade box on the table and opened it.
And in the brocade box, there lay quietly a pair of jade-like cyan porcelain vases.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, this... this is!"
After Xu Jie saw clearly what was contained in the brocade box, perhaps because he was too surprised, he couldn't even speak clearly.
"Well, Mr. Xu Ge, I am deeply gratified that you can put aside your pretense of being the second minister in the cabinet and set such an example in front of all officials. This is what I reward you for."
Jiajing took in the expression on Xu Jie's face, nodded, and said softly.
"Your Majesty, this is just your duty as a minister! This gift is too precious..."
"Hmph, there's no reason to take back what I sent out? I asked you to hold it, so hold it for me!"
Jiajing, who was sitting behind the bead curtain, was a little impatient. With one sentence, everything Xu Jie wanted to say was stuck in his throat.
(End of chapter)
