In just a few words, his subordinates who were originally respectful and obedient suddenly forgot about him. This made Fang Lu feel like everyone was betrayed and separated from his family. In addition to his heartache, he also felt resentful towards Zhao Mengqi, who had caused all this. glare!
In this sharp look full of questions and accusations, Zhao Mengqi seemed very indifferent and said leisurely, "Do you think they betrayed you? In fact, you are wrong. They and you are just a simple superior-subordinate relationship. They have never Not loyal to you, but loyal to the imperial court, loyal to the imperial power, and loyal to the person who can truly determine their fate and future!"
After hearing this, Fang Lu was stunned and looked thoughtful.
Huang Gou brought a rose chair, and Zhao Mengqi sat down with a relaxed look on his face. "Without loyalty, how can we talk about betrayal? Obviously, in their hearts, I represent the court and the imperial power, and can decide them at will, including Including you, the destiny and future of many, many people.”
"What about your fate? Who will decide it?" Fang Lu asked this question out of nowhere.
"Me?" Zhao Mengqi raised his eyebrows and chuckled, "No one can decide my fate. To be arrogant, my fate is up to me!"
That's arrogant enough. Let's not mention that you are not the emperor yet. Even your position may not be secure.
Fang Lu sneered in his heart, feeling that the loyal king was not only frivolous, but also a little unclear, and had no awareness of being in trouble. Maybe in a few days, he would no longer be proud.
Zhao Mengqi didn't know what he was thinking, so he continued, "You are a bit interesting. Instead of worrying about me, you should think about your future."
"What else can I think about? I am a slave to you and I am a fish and a piece of meat. I can just let you do whatever you want. Your Highness can't kill me."
Fang Lu complained, and seemed to have little real fear of Zhao Mengqi, who held the power of his life and death.
"Haha, looking at your age, you should have passed the exam soon." Zhao Mengqi looked like he was chatting about everyday things.
"A humble minister is not talented, but Baoyou passed the exam by luck in the first year of his career."
Fang Lu couldn't help but look proud as he answered. He was only twenty-three years old when he became a Jinshi in the middle of the year before last. With this achievement alone, he surpassed many scholars.
Zhao Mengqi was a little strange, "Looking at your character, you seem to be unafraid of the powerful. Why don't you go to the Yushitai?"
The imperial examinations in this era were not so easy to pass. Most of the people who passed the Jinshi were quite old. It was normal for them to be in their thirties or forties, and there were also some in their fifties and sixties. Just like Ding Daquan, he was only at the age of forty-seven. Passed the exam.
The censor holds the power of supervision, has a low but powerful position, and does the job of offending people. Therefore, the imperial court often likes to choose young and energetic new scholars to serve.
The new scholars are full of ambitions and are eager to realize their ambitions immediately. It is the best choice to start as a censor when entering the officialdom.
A trace of gloom flashed across Fang Lu's face, "It's not that Wei Chen doesn't want to go, it's just... Although Wei Chen passed the exam, he only stayed with the last one and ranked last, so..."
"It turns out that your grades are too poor, and the Yushitai doesn't want you." Zhao Mengqi said straightforwardly, without caring about Fang Lu's mood at all, "Oh, I see, you must really want to go to the Yushitai, so you Those who are willing to serve in the Military Inspectorate."
Although the appointment of new Jinshi was assigned by the imperial court, the Song Dynasty was still more humane and respected the wishes of the parties concerned to a certain extent.
"So what!"
Having guessed his thoughts, Fang Lu did not hide it and admitted it frankly.
Someone told him at the beginning that the Military Patrol Court needed to deal with Yushitai frequently, so he should get familiar with it first, so that it would be easier for him to get in when he had the opportunity.
A few words revealed the reason why Fang Lu was sitting crookedly, and Zhao Mengqi asked again, "You disobeyed me today, but what did Ding Daquan promise you?"
"No!" Fang Lu reacted fiercely as if he had been humiliated, "Wei Chen only acts based on fairness and has no selfish motives. What His Highness wants to do is unreasonable, and Wei Chen cannot blindly follow it!"
"Haha, who has no selfish motives?" Zhao Mengqi disagreed, "Besides, why do you think you can represent justice? I guess you have a lot of contacts with the censors under Ding Daquan. Could it be that what they say is justice? Already?"
Fang Lu said in conclusion, "We have never had any contact with Ding Shiyu, so we dare not make any comments. However, all of you in the Yushitai are all gentlemen, and their thoughts and plans are all for the sake of the country..."
"Okay! Needless to say, I think you are just a nerd." Zhao Mengqi raised his hand to interrupt Fang Lu, "Don't you just want to be the censor? I will give you a chance now. If you are willing to be loyal to me, , how about helping you achieve this wish?"
"Although Wei Chen is not talented, he spent ten years in the cold window just to serve the imperial court. However, Wei Chen is a minister of the Song Dynasty, and there is absolutely no reason to be a personal servant!" Fang Lu decisively refused.
"Serving the imperial court means serving your Majesty, isn't it? How does this conflict with your loyalty to me? Am I not the Crown Prince?" Zhao Mengqi laughed angrily at him.
Fang Lu flicked his sleeves, with a hint of disdain in his tone, "Let's wait until His Highness really becomes the King of the Song Dynasty!"
Zhao Mengqi was really speechless. Suddenly he felt like a villain, coercing an upright and loyal minister.
The villain should be a villain, so just be simple and crude, "Haha, it's not up to you, Hou Tao. Send this guy to the farm and build a school in the future. We just need an overseer."
By this time, Mo Chun had already escorted all the diners away, and Zhang Zelin and Hou Tao also led the team away at Zhao Mengqi's signal.
Looking at the empty lobby on the second floor, Zhao Mengqi felt a little melancholy and murmured softly, "Don't I have the spirit of a king? I can't even subdue a sesame official... What a failure."
"Giggle..."
A few sweet laughs came from behind, a bit harsh and sounded like ridicule. Zhao Mengqi turned his head and looked in annoyance, only to realize that he was too sensitive.
Qian Duo and Wanwan were chatting happily and didn't care what happened to Zhao Mengqi.
