The black-clothed guard's ears and eyes were so sharp that he sent the news to Ying Zheng's desk almost at the same time.
At that time, the three prime ministers Dong Changshi, Li Chun, and Wang Yue, as well as several other important ministers, were discussing matters in the imperial study room. Ying Zheng had no intention of hiding anything and immediately ordered Lu Chong to be summoned to the palace to see him.
Lu Chong was about twenty-six or seven years old, with a straight nose, a square mouth, and a straight waist. After meeting the emperor in accordance with the etiquette of Professor Langguan of the Ministry of Rites, he stood still like a long silent sword.
The prime ministers watched with their eyes, nose and heart, and no one took the initiative to make a sound.
When Ying Zheng saw the real person and compared it with the image in his memory, he smiled: "It's been a long time since we last seen each other. How are you doing, old friend?"
Lu Chongdao: "Where God's grace is, everything goes well."
Ying Zheng asked again: "Do you know what I want to do when I summon you to return to Beijing?"
Lu Chong was not a man of words. He had a tough and arrogant temperament. It was precisely because of this that he dared to do such ruthless things as holding down the prime minister's nephew and the clan members for execution when he was just a low-ranking official. .
If someone who is well-informed and familiar with the affairs of the court comes here, he will definitely know that the emperor intends to buy horse bones for a large sum of money, and he will chime in and compliment him with a few words, "Hello, I am good, everyone," but he is not such a person.
Just as he was about to say a firm "I don't know", Li Chun, the waiter over there, looked solemn and interrupted in a deep voice: "You idiot, why don't you kowtow to thank Tianen? Who do you think it was?" Did you move to Longyou Road?"
He raised his hand to the Emperor who was looking up to him and said, "It's not because the Emperor cares about talents. He moved you out of the capital because of the relationship. How can that dandy from the Dong family let you go so easily?!"
Lu Chong's heart was secretly moved. Although he didn't know who the speaker was, he could still hear the protective meaning in his words. He immediately got off the donkey along the slope and bowed down again, saying long live him.
Ying Zheng glanced at Li Chun, but did not deny it. He ordered Lu Chong to stand up and said: "This dynasty's Cavalry Army Counselor has a term of three years. You are still two years short. You can make up for it this time when you return to Beijing. "
Lu Chongdao: "Yes!"
Ying Zheng asked again: "If the Qing family encounters the clan again, or if the noble children resist the law, will they still dare to deal with it justly as before?"
Lu Chong's eyes were piercing, and he said forcefully: "If that's not the case, why would you treat the people of Chang'an?!"
"Very good," Ying Zheng praised: "Remember what you said today, don't let me down!"
He also ordered those around him: "The counselors of the Qilu Army have performed their duties faithfully and lived up to the country's favor. I will be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver, fifty pieces of silk, and a goldfish talisman!"
When these words came to light, not to mention Lu Chong, even several prime ministers couldn't help but express a bit of surprise.
The goldfish talisman...only officials of third rank or above are qualified to wear it!
Now it was given to a low-ranking official.
Isn't this a clear hint that as long as you do well, you will be guaranteed to reach the third rank in the future?
A thousand taels of silver are worthless, and fifty pieces of silk are worthless. This goldfish talisman is truly priceless!
Lu Chong never thought that the emperor would give such an unusual gift. He was really surprised and immediately refused: "I am just a small official in Chang'an. I have acted in advance and only fulfilled my duties. I really cannot afford such a generous gift." , I feel ashamed to receive it, and please take back what you have given me!"
Wang Yue felt a little regretful when he heard that - that was the goldfish talisman, the third-grade admission ticket given by the emperor!
It's really rare for this person to refuse without thinking.
Ying Zheng was even more pleased with his character, but he still said: "I have given it to you, so how can you take it back? If you really feel that you deserve it, then go back and think about it carefully. What should you do?" What can I do to wear it with a clear conscience?"
Lu Chong wanted to say more, but Ying Zheng waved his hand: "Okay, no need to say more, just step back!"
Dong Changshi, because his nephew was unworthy and competed with the emperor for actors, caused this turmoil. At this time, he just thought that he was a transparent person, lowered his eyes and said nothing. Li Chun felt that he had just said what he said. Enough , but also remained silent at this time.
Only Wang Yue waggled his tail and began to lick skillfully: "A wise king and an upright minister are the blessings of the country and the happiness of the people!"
He also praised Lu Chong: "For such a loyal and loyal minister, it's no wonder that His Majesty valued him so much that he specially gave him a goldfish talisman!"
Ying Zheng nodded reservedly.
Only the emperors in space have seen everything.
Wucao, who is drawing the cake?
So dazzling!
…
After leaving the imperial study room, Wang Yue threw away Dong Changshi and Li Chun, and returned to Zhongshu Province arrogantly.
Li Chunze walked with Dong Changshi and said in a low voice: "Don't blame me for deducting your merits from your majesty. Lu Chong returned to Beijing this time. It is obvious that he intends to buy horse bones with a lot of money now, and he will definitely do so in the future. He has been entrusted with an important role. He has a background in martial arts, and he will most likely rely on military campaigns to get ahead in the future. As the prime minister, you should not get too involved with him."
Dong Changshi smiled freely: "Am I a small-minded person? Don't underestimate me!"
Li Chun also laughed.
When his duty ended that day and he left the palace to return home, Li Chun met Lu Chong on the only way.
He was wearing a regular round-collared robe with tightened sleeves and was full of heroic spirit. When he saw Li Chun, he hurriedly dismounted from his horse and said, "Today in the imperial study room, I would like to thank you so much for your kindness. Lu Chong would like to thank you here!"
Li Chun hurriedly asked him to get up: "It's just a little mouthpiece, how can it be worth it? You are a good servant and have done your duty faithfully, so you can repay me."
Lu Chong responded, "That's the way it should be." He then said, "I know in my heart that Mr. Dong secretly helped me with what happened that day. I'm very grateful. However, if the current situation is like this, if I come to visit without permission, I'm afraid I'll call Mr. Dong a disciple." I am troubled, but please let me convey my humble gratitude!"
When Li Chun heard this, he was really surprised. Then he came back to his senses and said, "Since you know this, let's forget about it. Just don't mention it outside. What happened that day, sir?" I was also very remorseful, saying that if it weren’t for the unethical descendants of the Dong family, how could such a scandal have happened? You just enforce the law impartially, so why are you guilty? But after that, you, a blameless person, have to leave the capital for refuge, and even more It’s a huge irony…”
He also felt deeply about this old incident, so he inevitably said a few more words, but Lu Chong just stood aside and listened silently.
Li Chun saw that he was tall and upright, with a fierce aura unique to the military, which was very different from the dejection of the Chang'an children who had been drinking and drinking for a long time. He really liked him, and then said seriously: "The waves behind the Yangtze River push back. In the past, each generation is stronger than the next. No matter where you are in the future, don’t forget that you dared to enforce the law impartially when facing the clan and the prime minister’s nephew!”
Lu Chong bowed solemnly and said, "I would like to be taught."
…
After bidding farewell to Li Chun, Lu Chong returned to the two-entry mansion he had recently rented.
When he was about to enter, he saw the maid next to his wife waiting anxiously at the door. Seeing him coming back, she hurried forward: "Master, a guest is coming!"
The maid clasped her hands together and put them to her mouth, and whispered: "He's from the palace!"
Lu Chong paused, then suddenly accelerated his pace.
When they arrived at the slightly shabby main hall, they saw a young chamberlain greeting his wife Zhang. Seeing him come back, he stood up with a smile and said, "The army is back?"
Lu Chong responded politely and asked again: "What is the purpose of the Zhongguan coming here?"
The chamberlain said: "This servant is here on behalf of the emperor to deliver things to the army."
Lu Chong felt more and more strange: "When I left the palace, I had already brought back all the things given by the emperor."
The chamberlain said: "What the army officer brought back was a gift from the emperor, and what I gave you as a slave was a personal gift from the emperor."
Mrs. Zhang was standing by and said softly: "Husband, this lieutenant has sent over a famous invitation from Duke Xing and General Su Zhansu, the general of Zuo Xiaowei."
Lu Chong had naturally heard of the famous Northern War God and had longed for it for a long time. When he heard the words, he was immediately shocked and his head roared: "This..."
When the chamberlain saw this, he politely said: "Your Majesty said that money and silk are all external possessions, and the army officer is probably not a person who covets official salary. It happened that Duke Xing was in the capital, so he asked him to visit and ask for advice. One or two, if good talents and beautiful ladies meet, maybe both of them will gain something."
Lu Chong said subconsciously: "Your Majesty, you have disgraced me. How dare I compare myself to Duke Xing, a mere soldier..."
The chamberlain said: "There is no need to belittle oneself about the army. No one knows it from birth."
Then he straightened his expression and said, "Your Majesty has a few more words for you."
Lu Chong hurriedly bowed and said: "Yes!"
Then he saw the chamberlain saying with a straight face: "The person who moved you out of the capital to the right that day was Yang Ji, the minister of the Ministry of official affairs, and the one who gave Yang Ji a blow was Shangshu. When the left servant shot Dong Chang, these two people moved you back to the right to protect you. Long Youdao's behavior was very righteous. When he knew the law and broke the law, when he was scolded by me, he knelt on the ground to plead guilty. He was very embarrassed!"
Lu Chong: "..."
Then I heard the chamberlain continue: "What the servant Li Chun said today is all lies. I just wanted to avenge an arrow that day and had no intention of protecting me. You are full of gratitude and just send it to me." Go with Dong Chang!"
Lu Chong: "..."
The muscles on Lu Chong's cheeks twitched, and he felt that he was in a very embarrassed state now.
His eyebrows moved, and he coughed and replied: "Yes."
The chamberlain glanced at him and said: "When the servant left the palace, His Majesty gave special instructions. After arriving at the Lu family, if the military minister is at home, there is no need to say the last part. If he is not, then he must be at the palace. Li Chun returns to the mansion." Waiting on the road that must pass by, I will tell him the last part."
Lu Chong: "..."
The servant said: "Your Majesty said that when Dong Chang and Yang Ji moved you out of the capital, you underestimated the emperor's heart. Today you are in front of the emperor and pretended not to know the truth of the past in order to protect Dong Chang. You made up for it privately afterwards. It is the same." ! Such a heinous crime of disrespect cannot be offset by being loyal to the country and caring for the people for decades to come. What do the Lu Qing family think?"
Lu Chong's heart was agitated and he was sincerely convinced. He immediately worshiped: "The Holy Emperor is in charge, how dare I disobey?!"
…
Extra number, extra number!
The counselor of the cavalry army who once defeated the emperor and the nephew of the prime minister has returned to Beijing!
Not only did the emperor not hold any grudge against him for his past actions, but he praised him for his impartiality in enforcing the law, reinstated him to his original post, and gave him a goldfish bag in court as an encouragement!
As soon as this incident came out, the previous incident of the Feng family was quickly suppressed. Lu Chong, the counselor of the Cavalry Cao Army who was still in the eighth rank and got the ticket to the third rank, instantly became famous!
No matter how many ministers the Feng family has had, it doesn't matter if there is a queen mother. It's all gone by the eyes, but this person who has not yet reached the age of 30 can have a glimpse of the future of the army, which is a very hot career!
Lu Chong's simple and dilapidated second-entry house in the eyes of Chang'an's powerful people soon became bustling with people.
Colleagues who came to build relationships with Long Youdao, rich businessmen who wanted to bet on him and gave him lavish mansions and beauties, and even famous families who were willing to marry him or marry a daughter...
It would be a lie to say that I have never been moved at all.
It's just that Lu Chong is Lu Chong after all. When he was only in the eighth rank, he dared to enforce the law impartially, Lu Chong, the son of the clan clan and the nephew of the prime minister!
He wrote down what he was thinking and posted it in front of his door: "The wren nests in the deep forest, but it is just a branch; the rats drink from the river, but it is full. I am a vulgar person, and I need very few things. I am rich in gold and jade. , where can a person like me enjoy it? My wife, Mrs. Zhang, was married when she was humble, and now she is valued by the emperor, but I abandoned my wife who has shared our joys and sorrows. This is not what a person should do."
Then he thanked the guests behind closed doors and did not accept the olive branch offered by any noble family or high-ranking family.
Li Chun admired his self-control and integrity in not being deceived by wealth. When meeting Dong Chang in private, he lamented: "My family, country, and world are all in the same generation!"
Dong Changshi couldn't help but praise: "He is indeed a clear-headed junior."
No matter whether it was a noble man from Chang'an or a wealthy businessman in the world, what was the reason for pursuing Lu Chong?
It's just for the goldfish talisman that represents the third-grade ticket.
But don't forget - before Lu Chong ascended to the third level, the goldfish talisman was just a piece of gold!
What is truly worth a thousand pieces of gold is the emperor's regard and appreciation - and this comes from Lu Chong's own courage and integrity!
If Lu Chong now gains power and starts to make friends with courtiers and connect with powerful people, that goldfish talisman will probably never be of use.
Li Chun could see through this because he was on the outside, and it was really rare for Lu Chong, an insider, to abandon fame, fortune, and wealth.
What, you think it’s so difficult to see through this?
As a married person, you are a social worker, renting a house in the imperial capital with your family, and living a miserable life with a modest salary, haha...
One day when you went home, your mother told you that someone was handing out welfare lottery tickets on the street. She randomly received one and won 200 million. It was completely legal!
Your dad came back excitedly and told you that he went to the supermarket to buy groceries. If you spend ten yuan or more, you can win a lottery. He won a Ferrari, which is completely legal!
