The weather is getting colder and colder, and it is getting closer and closer to the end of the year.
Before the imperial officials took a rest, Cheng Wanwan went to Honglu Temple.
In the past two years, she has corresponded very frequently with Mr. Zhang. Basically she translates letters every month and two or three books every six months. At the same time, she also writes some Assab language learning materials and sends them to these hard-working people in the capital. A studious person.
The officials of Honglu Temple were all selected from the imperial examination. They were regarded as top academics in this era. Two years was enough for them to grow up.
Of course, language learning requires long-term accumulation and environmental infection. Although these officials have improved a lot, they are still far behind modern people like Cheng Wanwan.
As soon as she entered Honglu Temple, some junior officials of the sixth and seventh grades gathered around her with brochures containing difficult and doubtful points that they had written down in their daily lives.
Cheng Wanwan was very patient and answered each question one by one.
But she doesn't know everything. Some of the older usages need to be discussed with Master Zhang before she can come to a conclusion...
"I think back two years ago, that old guy from the Ministry of Civil Affairs said that we would reduce the number of officials in Honglu Temple." Mr. Zhang stroked his beard and snorted coldly, "Who would have thought that two years later, the number of officials in Honglu Temple would actually increase. There are more than ten people, and this is all the work of Suishu people."
Cheng Wanwan said modestly: "I am a sixth-grade minister, and I am far away in Huzhou. I cannot play such a big role in Honglu Temple."
"No, no." Mr. Zhang took out a stack of account books, "After the official exchanges between Daewoo and Assab, currency trade began. A large number of precious spices and livestock were transported to our country, and our country's silk, porcelain, salt and iron were shipped in large quantities. When we arrived in Assab, the tax revenue from external transactions of the Ministry of Revenue increased sharply, so Honglu Temple was taken seriously..."
Several small officials nearby also started talking about the past two years.
"Our Honglu Temple used to only be useful during state banquets. Now that the national treasury is getting fuller, and thanks to Honglu Temple's contribution, no one in the court dares to look down on our Lord Zhang anymore."
"And the ladies in the palace are very fond of Assab's rubies. In order to be the first to get the goods sent by Assab, those ladies are vying to win over Mrs. Zhang."
"When the list of newly promoted Jinshi comes out next year, our Honglu Temple can choose three or five people to come in. We would have never dared to think about it before."
"..."
Cheng Wanwan also sighed.
It is said that the economic base determines the superstructure, even in ancient times, this was true.
No matter how low the status of the merchants was, after the opening of trade between the two countries, the court did indeed make money and the treasury became increasingly full. Then, the status of Honglu Temple, which promoted this economic and trade, naturally increased.
Nowadays, Honglu Temple recruits new Jinshi. If someone from Dahe Academy is admitted to the Jinshi, even if he is the last one, there is a high chance of entering Honglu Temple.
Because Dahe Academy has foreign language classes, those students were interested in Assab and begged President Yu Shan to ask her to give several lectures. There are also many foreign language books in the Dahe Reading Pavilion. Some students who admire her inexplicably will praise her. She looked at those foreign books intoxicatedly, and when she saw something she didn’t understand, she would come and ask her for advice...
It is said that opportunities are reserved for those who are prepared. I hope that the children of Dahe Academy will have such opportunities.
After staying in Honglu Temple for most of the day, Cheng Wanwan stood up and said goodbye.
As soon as I walked outside, I met Eunuch Ming.
"I've met people from Sui Shu." Eunuch Ming said with a full smile, "The emperor heard that people from Sui Shu had entered the palace, so he ordered our family to come to Honglu Temple to wait."
Cheng Wanwan said hurriedly: "How long have you been waiting for me, father-in-law? Why don't you send someone in to say something?"
"People from Sui Shu must have important things to do when they come to Honglu Temple. It won't be too late after people from Sui Shu finish the big things." Eunuch Ming said with a smile, "The emperor wants to say a few words to people from Sui Shu, so just have a casual chat. I don't know. Suishu people, do you have time?"
The emperor summoned Cheng Wanwan and he had to make time even if he didn't have time.
She nodded and followed Eunuch Ming towards the imperial study.
The weather is getting colder, and the huge palace is even colder. However, after entering the imperial study room, it gradually warms up. After entering, the warmth is even more felt on the face, and the cloak outside can be taken off.
"My wife has met the Emperor. Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
Because it was the first time in two years to meet the saint, Cheng Wanwan knelt down and bowed down.
The emperor said no courtesy, and also gave a seat for Eunuch Ming to serve tea, and then dismissed everyone in the imperial study.
She knew that this was going to be a big deal.
With a little guessing, she could guess that it was related to the weapons in the secret room in Linxi West Mountain.
Sure enough, after the emperor asked about the current situation, he went straight to the point: "What do the people of Suishu think about the He family's private collection of weapons?"
"Your Majesty should know that the relationship between my wife and the He family is quite tense." Cheng Wanwan said truthfully, "Three years ago, the eldest young master of the He family went to Dahe Village. In order to protect the family and the villagers, my wife had a falling out with the eldest young master of the He family. Later, it was found out that the poisoning of Yangzhou crayfish was indeed related to the He family... The minister's wife avoided the He family. It might be unfair to raise any opinions on the He family, so she did not dare to take any risks. Self-commentary.”
"People from Suishu don't need to be so cautious." The emperor said, "I asked people from Suishu to come here just because I want to hear your truth. If you were sitting in my position, what would you do if you knew that the He family might rebel? ?”
Cheng Wanwan immediately knelt down on the ground: "Your Majesty, I know that I have never thought of sitting in your position. I am willing to die to make my determination clear..."
Could it be that she had made too many meritorious deeds and won too many people's hearts, which aroused the emperor's fear?
It was said that the emperor was very suspicious, but to even doubt her, a woman with no real power, was too suspicious.
The emperor immediately stood up from the dragon chair, walked down the steps, and helped Cheng Wanwan up: "You are from Suishu, whom I personally confer. If it weren't for the stubborn old men in the court who blocked you, you should be in the second rank by now. What do you think?" , will I be afraid of the imperial wife who I personally promoted? Although you were born in a farmer's family, you are smart, alert, and have a big heart. Everything seems to have a different look in your eyes, so I want to hear your opinion. "
Cheng Wanwan raised his head and met the emperor's eyes.
She saw sincerity in these eyes. The emperor was not testing her, but really wanted to know what she thought.
She only glanced at it, then withdrew her gaze, lowered her head and said, "When I saw the weapons for the first time, I felt that the He family was planning to rebel. However, the He family was only a second-grade civil servant. Although the He family was There is a daughter in the palace who is a concubine, but no prince or princess has been born, and the He family's rebellion was unknown... I thought that she might have overthought it."
"No, you didn't think too much about it." A sneer appeared on the emperor's face, "The person supported by the He family is the former prince."
Cheng Wanwan was extremely shocked: "Isn't the former prince dead long ago?"
She had heard many people mention the last battle for the heir, and had also checked the relevant historical facts. It was clearly recorded in the official history books that the former prince had died more than ten years ago.
"He is not dead." The emperor said one word at a time, "He has been planning in secret for more than ten years. Even if he cannot take away the throne, he will definitely severely damage the vitality of the Dayu Dynasty. Do you have any ideas?"
