The next day, Kunning Palace.
Empress Zhang and Liu Xiaoyan were sitting and chatting like sisters, discussing parenting techniques.
Empress Zhang had a worried look on her face: "Zhao'er has been shivering a lot these past few days when she's sleeping. Sometimes she's shivering more than a dozen times an hour."
"My mother told me when she entered the palace that she might have been possessed by something and lost her soul. She had to find a goddess to summon her soul."
"But the emperor strictly prohibits such supernatural things in the palace."
Liu Xiaoyan said quickly: "Oh! Zhuangzhuang was like this when he was more than one year old! He didn't lose his soul, he just got frightened! He was cured in five days with this method!"
Empress Zhang grabbed Liu Xiaoyan's hand and asked eagerly: "Sister, what can I do?"
Liu Xiaoyan replied: "This method is simple. Use pork leg bones to make soup without adding salt or seasonings. Feed the baby three spoons of bone soup every day. It will be cured in a few days."
The so-called "fright", to put it bluntly, is calcium deficiency in infants and young children. In ancient times, bone soup was a good way to supplement calcium for children. This is the parenting experience passed down from our ancestors for many years.
Queen Zhang was surprised: "Is it that simple?"
Liu Xiaoyan nodded: "It's that simple. Take care of it and cure it! This is the method used by common people when their babies get frightened at night."
"It's medicine with three parts poison, but bone soup is not medicine. The queen can feed it to the prince boldly."
Empress Zhang quickly ordered Li Guang: "Did you hear what Chang Gongren said? Go and give instructions to the imperial kitchen."
Then Empress Zhang wondered: "With such a simple method, why didn't the imperial doctor at the Imperial Hospital and the female officials from the Sixth Bureau and the First Division tell me about it?"
Liu Xiaoyan said: "The prince's safety is related to the country. How dare they talk too much. If they do, I'm afraid the whole family will lose their heads."
Empress Zhang said: "I am not the concubine Wan Guifei of the previous dynasty. I kill people at every turn. These people."
Liu Xiaoyan poured a cup of tea for Empress Zhang: "The empress needs to calm down. The imperial doctors and female officials also have their own difficulties."
Empress Zhang held Liu Xiaoyan's hand: "Sister, you are the only one who dares to tell me the truth."
Empress Zhang suddenly remembered something: "Come here, bring up the tangerines from Sichuan and entertain Chang Gong."
Not long after, several eunuchs placed two plates of tangerines.
Empress Zhang smiled and said: "This was sent by the Sichuan Chief Envoy. It is said that more than a dozen horses were killed."
Emperor Hongzhi was diligent and thrifty. Only Queen Zhang doesn't count.
In order to make Queen Zhang happy, he often did things like "riding the red dust concubine to laugh".
This is the slight flaw in Emperor Hongzhi’s white jade.
Empress Zhang actually peeled an orange for Liu Xiaoyan and handed it to her as the mother of the country.
Liu Xiaoyan took the orange and said, "Thank you, Queen, for the gift. Wow, it's so sweet."
Queen Zhang said: "Before you leave, take half the basket back and give it to Tangtang and Zhuangzhuang."
No matter what precious tribute Queen Zhang gets, she first thinks of her two younger brothers, and then the Chang family.
No wonder people in the official circles say that the Chang family has a close relationship with the inner palace.
Liu Xiaoyan said: "Empress, there is something that involves the affairs of the inner palace, and it is difficult for me to talk about it."
Empress Zhang smiled and said, "We are half-sisters. Is there anything we can't say?"
Liu Xiaoyan began to intercede on behalf of Liu Jin: "Ambassador Liu Jin of the Bell and Drum Division is willing to demote himself from his official position and come to Kunning Palace to serve as the prince's attendant."
Recently, Empress Dowager Zhou had taught Empress Zhang a lot about the need to be cautious when the prince's safety was in danger.
Concubine Wan Gui wanted to kill the crown prince Zhu Youtang with open and covert means for three days. It was Empress Dowager Zhou who was very cautious and protected Zhu Youtang when he grew up.
Therefore, when it came to Zhu Houzhao, Empress Zhang was very cautious and did not agree immediately. Instead, she asked: "Sister, what is the relationship between Liu Jin and the Chang family? Is it reliable?"
Liu Xiaoyan replied: "Liu Jin is the great-great-grandson of the old cabinet minister. Based on the marriage relationship with the old cabinet minister, Liu Jin has to call me 'little aunt'."
"Liu Jin is a fairly reliable person. In the last years of Chenghua, he and Chang Feng protected the reserve."
Empress Zhang smiled and said: "I see. Since he is the best friend of the Chang family, then this man can't be wrong. He is willing to demote himself and come to Kunning Palace, which is extremely rare."
"Come on, go to the Bell and Drum Division and call Ambassador Liu Jin over."
Two moments later, Liu Jin came to Queen Zhang.
Empress Zhang said: "Liu Jin, Chang Gong recommended you in front of me. From now on, you will be responsible for the prince's courtesy."
Empress Zhang was selling favors to Liu Xiaoyan.
Liu Jin kowtowed quickly: "Old slave, I would like to thank the Queen for trusting her. I would like to thank Chang Gong for his kind words."
Since then, Liu Jin has become Zhu Houzhao's close friend.
At least for the moment, Liu Jin was grateful for the support of the Chang family.
Let's say that Chang Feng received another errand assigned by Emperor Hongzhi to investigate the private files of Qiu Jun, the Minister of Rites.
Qiu Jun was a famous Neo-Confucian minister and scholar leader who was well-known in the court.
After he became an official in the Jingtai Dynasty, he successively served as editor of the Hanlin Academy, bachelor of ministers, bachelor of Hanlin Academy, and minister of wine in the Imperial Academy. He has always been an academic officer.
Until last year, he was promoted to Minister of Rites.
Today, the cabinet only consists of the first assistant, Xu Pu, and the second assistant, Liu Jian.
Xu Pu advised Emperor Hongzhi and transferred Qiu Jun to the cabinet.
If there is a famous Neo-Confucian official or scholar leader in the cabinet. The decrees issued by the cabinet have more weight in front of the scholars all over the world.
To put it bluntly, it means taking the initiative to put a scholar’s interest spokesperson in the cabinet.
Chang Feng finished checking Qiu Jun's private files and came to Qianqing Palace.
Emperor Hongzhi asked: "How is Qiu Jun?"
Chang Feng replied: "A great master of Neo-Confucianism and a great Confucian of his time. He never made any serious mistakes during his tenure as an official. In the previous dynasty, he never clung to any treacherous officials or mediocre ministers."
"only."
Emperor Hongzhi asked quickly: "Just what?"
Chang Feng responded truthfully: "I'm just a little stubborn. And I'm not very broad-minded."
Emperor Hongzhi didn't care about this. Which rotten scholar in the court is not a fool? Letting him join the cabinet was just to appease the scholars in the world and express the emperor's attitude of respecting the learning of saints.
On that day, Emperor Hongzhi issued an edict. Shengqiu Jun entered the pavilion.
Emperor Hongzhi wanted to use Qiu Junpei as a banner in the cabinet, but did not expect him to do anything.
Unexpectedly, the old scholar Qiu Jun fell in love with him. As soon as he entered the cabinet, he accomplished a lot of things.
When a new official takes office, Xu Pu and Liu Jian can't stop him.
In the fifth year of Hongzhi, at the end of autumn.
Wang Shu, who had been ill for a long time, angrily entered the cabinet duty room.
Xu Pu quickly greeted: "Wang Laobu Tang!"
Wang Shu's qualifications are there. Although he was not a cabinet member, Xu Pu respected him very much.
Wang Shu ignored Xu Pu and walked directly to Qiu Jun's desk: "Mr. Qiu Ge. This summer, during the Beijing inspection, I demoted more than 200 officials in the capital who were sitting on a plain diet."
"But while I was on leave, you actually transferred more than 90 of them back to Beijing as cabinet ministers!"
"Do you want to compete with our officials?"
Qiu Jun glanced at Wang Shu and said, "The emperor made a decree half a month ago that the cabinet bachelors have the right to choose the best officials. I am just doing my job."
In the first six years of his reign, Emperor Hongzhi gave most of his power to the six ministries.
After Liu Ji became official, Emperor Hongzhi gradually let the cabinet take away part of the power of the six ministries.
Personnel rights are one of them.
Wang Shu said angrily: "You already said, it's about selecting the best officials! Why did you transfer those mediocre and confused officials back to the capital?"
Qiu Jun responded tit for tat: "Those more than ninety officials are all the top twenty in the first or second class of the imperial examination! The ranking in the imperial examination is equal to the good or bad!"
Wang Shu yelled: "Those who rank high in the imperial examination may not necessarily have the ability to do things!"
Qiu Jun took a sip of tea and asked with a proud look on his face: "May I ask Wang Butang, how did you rank in the imperial examination?"
Wang Shu replied: "I am the 30th placer in the top three in the orthodox palace examination in the 13th year, and I was born with the same Jinshi background. What's wrong?"
Qiu Jun began to show his qualifications to Wang Shu: "Then do you know what my rank is? I am the ninth-year orthodox Guangdong rural examination Jieyuan. The fifth-year Jingtai palace examination is the second-level passer!"
There are only three people in the first class, and the first place in the second class is equivalent to fourth in the country.
And when Qiu Jun took the palace examination, he was originally scheduled to be ranked second in the first class. Because of his slightly inferior looks, he was demoted to the top of the second class.
Qiu Jun asked Wang Shu: "You ranked low in the palace examination, and you deliberately discarded the people who ranked high. What's the truth?"
Wang Shu has a bad temper. When he got ruthless, he even dared to hang up the guarding eunuch and beat him up, and even dared to beat up the royal guard in front of the emperor's eyes.
As soon as these words came out, Wang Shu immediately became angry: "Qiu Jun, you fart! Go and see for yourself the performance of their Beijing Examination Bureau. The test papers are all inferior! No matter how good these mediocre official examination essays are, they cannot be used!" "
Qiu Jun pointed his finger at Maimang: "I think it's you, Wang Budang, who came to me to fight in the ring!"
"It is the Emperor who gives me the right to choose top officials! If Wang Butang has any objections to me, he can write to the Emperor!"
Wang Shu said: "Submit a letter, just submit a letter! I'm afraid you won't succeed!"
After speaking, Wang Shu turned around and left angrily. Before leaving, he didn't forget to leave a message to Chief Assistant Xu Pu: "I haven't been to the cabinet room for a month, Chief Assistant Xu, why does the room smell sour?"
Obviously Wang Shu was insinuating that Qiu Jun was pedantic.
The lawsuit between Lao Wang and Lao Qiu came before Emperor Hongzhi.
Emperor Hongzhi did not support Wang Shu this time. As an emperor, he has his own considerations.
Qiu Jun, a master of Neo-Confucianism, had just entered the cabinet and transferred back a group of civil servants who had been demoted and ranked high in the imperial examination.
If Emperor Hongzhi had approved Wang Shu's memorial and demoted these imperial examination darlings, he would have disgraced the Neo-Confucian masters. Don't you want to offend scholars all over the world?
There was no other way, so Emperor Hongzhi had no choice but to reject Wang Shu's suggestion and support Qiu Jun.
The envoy of Jinyiwei North Town is on duty.
Chang Feng is drinking tea and reading the scriptures to prepare for next spring.
Qian Neng walked in angrily.
Chang Feng stood up and held his hands in his hands: "I have met the Governor."
Qian Neng said angrily: "Rebellion, rebellion!"
Chang Feng poured a cup of tea for Qian Neng and said, "Duke, please calm down. Who has rebelled?"
Qian Neng slapped the table: "Qiu Jun rebelled against me! After joining the cabinet, I don't know how high the sky is!"
"Old Wang is busy inspecting and eliminating mediocre officials, and he is sick from exhaustion."
"Qiu Jun is a good guy. As soon as he joined the cabinet, he transferred more than 90 mediocre officials who were eliminated by Wang Laobu Tang back to the capital!"
"Compared with Wang Laobutang, a capable official who is loyal to the country, how can he, Qiu Jun, be nothing? Just a rotten scholar who only knows how to do this!"
"He knows nothing about employing people?"
Qian Neng is Wang Shu's little fanboy. After hearing about this, he was even more angry than Wang Shu himself.
Qian Neng changed the subject: "Has Beizhen Fusi sent his agents to Qiu Jun's residence?"
Chang Feng replied: "According to the rules, sending eyes and ears to the cabinet members' residences requires the emperor's secret order. Since the emperor did not give permission, we did not send them."
Qian Neng said: "Immediately dispatch your capable ears and eyes to lurk in Qiu Jun's mansion. If Qiu Jun does anything illegal, report it to me immediately!"
"I have to give Mr. Wang a bad breath!"
Qian Neng is now the governor of Dongchang, supervising Jinyiwei. He is Chang Feng’s immediate boss.
Chang Feng has to listen to his words.
So Chang Feng raised his hand and said, "Yes. I will send my eyes and ears to Qiu Mansion to monitor Qiu Jun."
Five days later, night falls.
Liu Wentai, the judge of Taiyuan Hospital, entered Qiu Jun's mansion holding a box.
The court judged that he was in the sixth grade. This official position is very special. Those who hold office must not only have meritorious service, but also must know medical skills.
In Qiu Jun's study, Liu Wentai saluted Qiu Jun.
Qiu Jun saw the box in Liu Wentai's hand and thought he was here to give a gift. He snorted coldly: "I value honor first and foremost."
"Please take the gift back!"
Liu Wentai quickly explained: "Mr. Ge is a great scholar of the world! In terms of knowledge, you are a scholar who is hard to find in the world. In terms of character, you are noble and noble, and you are simply a model for scholars in the world."
"I dare not use gold and silver to damage your reputation. The gift I brought is a set of the Song Dynasty edition of "Collected Works of Wang Wengong"."
The high hat thrown by Liu Wentai has finally reached Qiu Jun's heart!
Besides, it is an elegant thing for literati to give books as gifts. It does not count as giving or receiving bribes.
I have to say that Liu Wentai is very good at giving gifts and has thoroughly figured out Qiu Jun's preferences.
Qiu Jun quickly asked: "Is it the Song version of "Wang Wengong Collection" that is said to not exist in the world?"
Liu Wentai put the box on Qiu Jun's desk and opened it: "Exactly. This is a unique and unique book."
Qiu Jun turned over the pages enthusiastically and praised repeatedly: "Good! Good!"
In fact, this "Wang Wen Gong Collection" is very precious. It can be sold for a thousand taels in the market.
But gifting books is an elegant thing, so Qiu Jun did not refuse: "Thank you very much, Liu Yuanpian."
After the gift was given, Liu Wentai naturally asked for help.
Liu Wentai said: "Sir, I am here tonight. I have something to ask of you."
Qiu Jun stroked his beard: "Oh? What's the matter?"
Liu Wentai smiled and said: "Xiaguan has been serving as a judge in Taiyuan Hospital for three years. Although Xiaguan is a medical officer, he is not without fame."
"Xiaguan is the 15th among the top two in the palace examination in the 14th year of Chenghua."
"Xiaguan has always had a long-cherished wish to benefit the people throughout his life. I hope to use the knowledge I learned from saints to benefit the people."
"I heard that there is a vacancy for the Sichuan Salt and Tea Transport Envoy. I came here today to ask Mr. Ge."
When Qiu Jun heard that Liu Wentai was the fifteenth in the second class, he immediately gave him a high look: "The ranking is very high! It's not like someone in the imperial court who was ranked dozens of the top three in the imperial examination. He still yelled all day long. Three drinks and four drinks!”
"If you can't take the exam well, how can you be an official?"
The "someone" Qiu Jun mentioned obviously refers to Wang Shu.
Liu Wentai echoed: "What Mr. Ge said is so right! The imperial examination is the promotion level for scholars. If the promotion level is low, it shows lack of ability."
"If I remember correctly, Mr. Ge, you are the number one successor of the Jingtai Dynasty! Only someone like you is worthy of being in charge of the office!"
"Also, if you do well in learning, you will do well as an official! When it comes to learning, who among the officials in the dynasty can be as good as you?"
Liu Wentai praised Qiu Jun to the sky with his rainbow fart. Qiu Jun was quite useful.
Qiu Jun said: "The ancients said that superior medicine heals the country, Chinese medicine heals people, and inferior medicine heals diseases. You have been working in Taiyuan Hospital for three years. I think you are a talented doctor!"
"You just said Sichuan Salt Tea Transfer Envoy? This is an official position starting from the fifth rank. It is in line with the promotion rules to be promoted from the sixth rank to the fifth rank."
"Tomorrow I will order the staff to put up a sign for you to get your official certificate!"
Don't look at the fact that these two positions are only checked at one level. The amount of power varies greatly!
Being a judge at Taiyuan Hospital is a thankless job. The emperor, concubines, and princes are sick, and if the hospital can cure them, that is your duty.
If the condition worsens, it will be a crime of beheading!
Moreover, the only additional income the court judged was the silver granted by the emperor. There is no gray income.
Sichuan Salt Tea Transshipment is different. It's a first-class job. In charge of salt and tea trafficking throughout Sichuan.
Even if there is no corruption or bribery. If you collect bad money, you can get tens of thousands of silver in a three-year term.
When Liu Wentai saw Qiu Jun agreeing, his heart beat wildly: maybe he could leave the shabby yamen of Qingshui Hospital and get a good job! This Song version of the book is really worth it!
Liu Wentai chatted with Qiu Jun again, during which he flattered him in various ways.
Two moments later, he walked out of the study.
Liu Wentai hummed Kunqu Opera proudly: "I stood on the tower and watched the mountain scenery, but I heard the chaos outside the city."
However, what Liu Wentai didn't know was that his private meeting with Qiu Jun and giving him gifts had been recorded by a servant of Qiu Mansion.
This servant is Changfeng's eyes and ears sent into Qiu Mansion.
The next day, the matter of Liu Wentai's gift was placed on Chang Feng's desk.
Chang Feng didn't take it seriously. It is nothing new for officials below to give gifts to senior ministers. Besides, the gifts are not gold and silver, but books.
Chang Feng only asked his ears and eyes to keep a closer eye on the Qiu Mansion and that was all.
The staff hall.
Liu Wentai took the official documents issued by Qiu Jun and came to Wang Shu to put up a sign and receive his official certificate.
Wang Shu read the official document carefully and frowned: "You come from a medical family. You have been working in Taiyuan Hospital since you were named on the gold list."
"Looking at my resume, I have never held any local actual position."
Liu Wentai cupped his hands and said: "Wang Butang's words are wrong. The next official is the second-level official in the imperial examination in the 14th year of Chenghua."
Wang Shu is not Qiu Jun, so he will not accept this trick. He waved his hand impatiently and interrupted Liu Wentai: "In Mr. Qiu Ge's documents, you are asked to move to the left as the Sichuan Salt Tea Transfer Envoy."
"Do you know what this officer does?"
Liu Wentai replied: "Of course I am responsible for salt and tea."
Wang Shu asked: "How to control it?"
Liu Wentai replied: "Just give the salt to the salt merchants and the tea to the tea merchants."
Wang Shu had a look of disdain on his face: "That's it? You don't even know how to be an official. How can I give you a sign to get an official certificate?"
"I would like to advise you, you should go back to Taiyuan Hospital honestly and do your job well! Don't look at the height of this mountain!"
"Don't even think about making a fortune in Sichuan just because the Yancha Department is a good job!"
The Tianguan of the Ministry of Personnel refused to use Liu Wentai, even if there were recommendation documents from cabinet members, it would be useless.
Liu Wentai hated Wang Shu so much that his teeth itched with hatred!
He walked out of the official office dejectedly. Then he turned back and glared at the official office.
He cursed secretly in his heart: Wang Shu, let's wait and see! If you don’t let me be the Salt Tea Transporter, I can’t let you, the Minister of Civil Affairs, do it either!
Liu Wentai is a typical villain.
A gentleman is magnanimous, while a villain is always concerned. This hatred of Liu Wentai has been remembered!
Soon after, a conspiracy against Wang Shu began.
(End of chapter)
