Cheng Wanli's house.
"Father, where did you get such a big yard?"
Cheng Wan'er gave Cheng Wanli a tea tray and asked in confusion. They used to live in a small building on the street. After all, her father was just the doorkeeper of Tong Guan's house.
"Given it to Prime Minister Tong, he said it was close to the Prime Minister's Mansion so he could be at his beck and call at any time."
Cheng Wanli said while drinking tea.
"Tong Xiang! Father, people say that Tong Xiang is a traitor!"
Cheng Wan'er looked at Cheng Wanli and whispered. She didn't understand this before when she was a child. She only thought that her father worked as an errand in a high-ranking official's family and was paid well.
But as Cheng Wanli became an official, she grew older and saw a lot. Among the people, Tong Guan had a very bad reputation. If he wasn't afraid of power, everyone would probably beat him up.
"Don't talk nonsense. Tong Xiang has his own reasons. The Western Army's war is all presided over by Tong Xiang!"
Cheng Wanli hurriedly said that he also knew who Tong Guan was, but he came from Tong Guan's sect and had to protect Tong Guan. Moreover, Tong Guan was the privy envoy, in charge of the Western Army and had great power. If these words were known, then There is a risk of death.
"My daughter is not a child, so she doesn't know whether she is good or bad?"
Cheng Wan'er didn't care, it was just her and her father in the study, there was no third person, and she wasn't afraid of being heard.
"You were so well-behaved and sensible when you were young, why have you become rebellious now? Why do you, a girl's family, care about these things? This is Tokyo, and it is no better than in Dongping Mansion. You must know that trouble comes from your mouth."
Cheng Wanli warned his daughter that he really had a headache now. He thought that it would be fine if he took his daughter back to Tokyo and stayed away from Sun Lei. Who knew that his daughter would say such things again now.
"Master, someone is coming from the Prime Minister's Mansion!"
The butler's voice sounded outside the door.
"Look, do you dare to talk nonsense again?"
Cheng Wanli was startled, stood up and looked at his daughter and said.
"I'll come right away!"
Without waiting for Cheng Wan'er to answer, Cheng Wanli shouted to the door.
"Cheng Wanli has met Lao Duguan!"
As soon as Cheng Wanli arrived at the front hall, he saw the old man in charge of the Prime Minister's Mansion. This old man had been with Tong Guan for more than ten years. Although he did not have an official position, he relied on Tong Guan's influence to be one level higher in officialdom.
"Prefect Cheng, why didn't you visit the prime minister's house when you returned to Tokyo? Are you used to being free outside?"
The old governor looked at Cheng Wanli and said rudely.
"The old governor misunderstood. It was already late when we arrived in Tokyo today. I'm afraid I'll disturb Tong Xiang, so I'm going to go greet him early tomorrow morning!"
Cheng Wanli said quickly.
"There's no need for tomorrow. The Tong Xiang has summoned me. Follow me and go to the Xiang's Mansion now!"
The old governor stood up and looked at Cheng Wanli.
"Tong Xiang summons!"
Cheng Wanli was shocked. Tong Guan summoned him so late, and he felt a little anxious.
Cheng Wanli didn't dare to say anything, so he followed the old governor to Tong Guan's mansion. It was already the time when the lanterns were on, and the streets were full of people playing.
Tong Guan's mansion is still heavily guarded. Even after dark, there are still eight guards with knives at the door.
Entering the mansion, walking through the front garden, and arriving at the front hall, Cheng Wanli saw Tong Guanzheng and an official laughing and exchanging something.
"Greetings to the Tong Xiang!"
Cheng Wanli bowed to Tong Guan.
"Haha, why didn't Cheng Wanli come to see me when he came back? Could it be that the threshold of the prime minister's house is low?"
Tong Guan smiled and looked at Cheng Wanli.
"Xiaoguan didn't dare. It was just that it was getting late when we arrived in Tokyo. Tong Xiang was busy with military affairs and had many things to attend to. I was worried about disturbing Tong Xiang and was planning to come back tomorrow."
Cheng Wanli quickly explained.
"That's it. You come from my house. You don't have to be like an outsider. You can come when you want. You can teach the kids in my house more when you have time. After you left, you changed a few teachers and couldn't control them."
Tong Guan looked at Cheng Wanli and said.
"Yes, Tong Xiang!"
Cheng Wanli quickly bowed and saluted.
"Sit down, let me introduce you, this is Dr. Zhao Liangsi of Zhongsan!"
Tong Guan pointed at Zhao Liangsi and introduced Cheng Wanli.
"I've met Mr. Zhao!"
Cheng Wanli saluted Zhao Liangsi and said, he is now only a seventh-rank official of the privy council and deputy minister, while Dr. Zhao Liangsi Zhongsan is a fifth-rank literary and prose official, which is not a few levels higher.
"Prefect Cheng is so polite!"
Zhao Liangsi smiled and clasped his fists in a very polite manner. This move made him even more uneasy. There must be a reason why the fifth-rank official was so polite to him, a seventh-rank official.
"I heard that Magistrate Cheng is not having a good time in Dongping Mansion!"
Zhao Liangsi asked with a smile.
"The lower officials are incompetent. The thieves in Liangshanbo are very cruel. It is really shameful that the lower officials are unable to suppress the bandits."
Cheng Wanli smiled bitterly and said that he was originally a fourth-grade prefect, but because of these reasons, he failed the examination and was transferred back to Tokyo to become a seventh-grade idle official.
"I've also heard that these thieves are so audacious that they broke Gaotang Prefecture, killed the prefect Gao Lian, and occupied Cangzhou."
Zhao Liangsi sneered and said, although he said it very seriously, he was still very contemptuous in his heart. After all, his backer was Privy Councilor Tong Guan, and what others saw as a vicious thief was just a petty thief in Tong Guan's eyes.
"Cheng Wanli, I thought you had some ability and promoted you to be a prefect, but who would have thought that you would become like this."
Tong Guan looked at Cheng Wanli with a smile.
"Tong Xiang forgives the sin, but the subordinate officials are incompetent and let Tong Xiang down."
Cheng Wanli quickly confessed.
"Tong Xiang, Master Cheng cannot be entirely blamed for this matter. The bandits in Liangshan are so powerful that the officers and soldiers failed after several encirclement and suppression campaigns. This is not a crime of war!"
Zhao Liangsi smiled again and tried to smooth things over, helping Cheng Wanli speak.
"Cheng Wanli, I will give you another chance to promote you to the rank of Privy Councilor, are you willing?"
Tong Guan looked at Cheng Wanli and said.
"Thank you, Tong Xiang! I'm so scared!"
Cheng Wanli saluted in fear, the privy ministers all agreed that he was an official of the fifth rank.
"Get up!"
Tong Guan looked at Cheng Wanli and raised his hand.
"Didn't that girl Wan'er come with you?"
Tong Guan asked again.
"Wan'er is tired from the journey and feels a little uncomfortable. She has already gone to bed. I will bring Wan'er to pay my respects to Mr. Tong tomorrow!"
Cheng Wanli asked in confusion, why did Tong Guan suddenly ask Cheng Wan'er.
"If you think about it, that girl is almost eighteen, and she is of marriageable age! That girl is a beauty."
Tong Guan said.
"She will be eighteen after the New Year, and the official is preparing to choose a marriage for her after the interview."
Cheng Wanli said.
"I'm going to accept her as my adopted daughter and help her choose a marriage. Are you willing?"
Tong Guan looked at Cheng Wanli and asked.
"this……"
Cheng Wanli's mind was spinning rapidly. It was naturally a good thing for Tong Guan to accept his daughter as his adopted daughter, but it was questionable to help his daughter choose a marriage. Marriage between wealthy and wealthy women often involved an exchange of benefits. He remembered that Tong Guan's decision to accept his daughter as a adopted daughter was questionable. Guan's adopted daughter, Tong Jiaoxiu, was betrothed to Cai Jing's grandson.
"Governor Cheng, Tong Xiang has found a great marriage for your daughter. From now on, Magistrate Cheng will definitely be talking about the Minister of Honglu Temple!"
Zhao Liangsi said with a smile.
"Qing Honglu Temple? Where do you start talking about this!"
Cheng Wanli's heart tightened, and an unknown premonition arose spontaneously. Everything has a price. The minister of Honglu Temple is one of the nine ministers of the fourth rank. Tong Guan must have wanted to take advantage of his daughter's marriage by promoting him like this. What to do in exchange.
(End of chapter)
