Let the wind and waves rise and sit firmly on the fishing boat.
This sentence is a true portrayal of Qi Yu's current mood.
In short, I don't feel panic at all.
The vassal kings are currently uniting against themselves, but with their current rights and status, they are far from being able to compete with them. Since they cannot change the reality, it is better to relax and face it calmly.
Besides, with the emperor on top, what do I have to fear?
Eat what you need to eat and drink what you need to drink.
In a relaxed mood, Qi Yu faced the morning sun and stretched out his muscles in the yard.
The bone injury on my left arm is no longer so painful, but it will take a lot of time to heal, so I can only wait patiently.
Near noon, a young eunuch suddenly came to the house and told him that the emperor would invite Qi Yu to the palace for a banquet.
"Going to the banquet? May I ask my father-in-law, who are you hosting at the banquet?"
"Come back, sir, you are the only one."
Invite me alone?
Why? What's the matter?
Out of curiosity, Qi Yu quickly asked why, but the eunuch said he didn't know.
Forget it, let’s go and take a look before talking about it.
…
In the palace, Xiyuan, Yuxi Palace.
The emperor set up two tables of banquets here.
One of the tables is the emperor's seat, located at the top; the other table is the courtier's seat, located at the bottom.
The ruler and his ministers are different and must sit apart. This is the rule. To put it bluntly, no one can be equal to the emperor, not even when eating.
After a pause, Qi Yu glanced in at the door and couldn't help but tremble slightly in his heart.
But he saw that the emperor's face was clouded with sorrow, and he seemed to be a little depressed. At this time, he seemed very lonely, and he no longer had the high spirits of the past.
Seeing Qi Yu entering the door, the emperor took the lead and said: "My dear, there is no need to be polite. Please sit down."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The monarch and his ministers sat down and started the banquet immediately.
"My dear, please..."
"Your Majesty, please!"
Qi Yu saw that the emperor was hesitant to speak, so he asked: "I wonder what the purpose of your Majesty's banquet is for me?"
After hearing this, the emperor put down his wine glass and sighed softly: "I guess you have also heard that all the vassal kings are very worried about the death of King Yan, and they all come to me to punish the culprit."
The culprit, isn't that referring to yourself?
Qi Yu smiled calmly and said respectfully: "We have heard about this, but what do you think, Your Majesty?"
"Ordinarily, you will be rewarded for your meritorious service in protecting the emperor. Who would have thought that the vassal kings suddenly got into trouble, so your reward... Well, let's talk about it later." The emperor said slightly apologetically.
If the vassals wanted to punish, the emperor would naturally not be able to reward them. If that were the case, wouldn't it be the opposite?
Qi Yu showed an indifferent expression and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, you are serious. I am just doing my job as a minister, and I don't want any gold or silver rewards. Your Majesty is safe and sound, and there is no danger. This is the great blessing of the country." ."
The emperor nodded happily and praised: "I didn't expect Aiqing to know the general situation so well. You are really a good minister."
The monarch and his ministers laughed, and the atmosphere was obviously much more harmonious.
Qi Yu said again: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for speaking frankly. The vassal kings are so unscrupulously putting pressure on the temple. This move is really rude. Why doesn't Your Majesty refute it with Gang Chang's righteousness?"
"Haha, I will endure the calm for a while and take a step back to open up the sea. I am just patient for the time being. I will have good plans in the future." The emperor replied with deep meaning.
Good picture?
Could it be that it was really about cutting down the feudal clan?
It was obvious that the emperor wanted to settle accounts after his fall, and this kind of thinking was in line with his temperament.
At present, all the vassal kings are united, and it is really not appropriate to go head-to-head at this time. Don't forget, there is a Queen Mother behind her who seems to be pretending to sleep without saying a word!
Now, the attention of these forces is all focused on one point, which cannot be underestimated.
It is a wise choice for the emperor to avoid the sharp edges and to play it safe.
This point coincides with the leech theory that Meng Lanshan taught himself.
After a while, the emperor suddenly asked: "Qi Aiqing, are you willing to go to the local area to practice?"
Um?
Let me, a Beijing official, go to the local area to practice?
Isn't this the meaning of relegation?
Seeing Qi Yu frowning, the emperor hurriedly explained: "My dear, please don't think too much, I will never demote you. You are currently an official of the fourth rank, and you will still be the fourth rank when you go to the place. Even if the vassal king If they are dissatisfied with this, I will try to suppress them."
Oh, it turns out it’s an official level adjustment.
Even so, the delegation of Beijing officials to local governments was regarded by the world as a kind of relegation.
Such a gesture by the emperor could completely block the mouths of the feudal princes, and they should not say anything more.
If his rank remains unchanged, it means that his future will be a fourth-rank local official.
not bad!
Although Qi Yu seemed calm on the surface, his heart was already surging like a tide.
Going to the local government to govern is something I have been looking forward to for a long time.
Now, the opportunity is at hand.
Qi Yu said carelessly, seemingly unconcerned: "Whether we are in the capital or on the shepherd's side, we are all loyal to His Majesty, but in different ways. Therefore, I have no complaints about the place where I work."
The emperor was stunned when he heard this, and looked at him solemnly, but saw that his eyes were clear and his face was sincere, and there was indeed no displeasure at all.
Generally speaking, all ministers who are transferred from the capital to the local governments will feel uneasy because their future is worrying, but Qi Yu has an indifferent look on his face. Could it be that he really doesn't care?
So the emperor asked: "Does Aiqing really think so?"
"Everything I said was from the bottom of my heart. There is absolutely no falsehood. Your Majesty can rest assured." Qi Yu smiled and comforted the emperor.
"Haha, my dear, you are really an example of a loyal minister!" After praising him, the emperor added: "My dear, don't worry too much. After this storm passes, I will try to transfer you back to the capital. I think Reuse.”
Haha, these are just words to save face.
Who believes it?
Qi Yu pretended to be grateful, and asked tentatively: "I wonder which province or prefecture your Majesty would like to send your subordinates to?"
This is the focus of Qi Dalang's concern.
You must know that there is a huge difference between a rich land and a barren land, and the difficulty of governing is also very different.
Let's put it this way, if you want to do a good job, you must have good resources. This is indispensable. Only fools want to go to those poor places!
The emperor was about to answer Qi Yu's question, but he held it back in time. Then, he put on a friendly face and said with a smile: "Don't worry, my dear, I will ask someone to get the map first, and then I will tell you in detail."
"yes!"
Although Qi Yu said yes, he was thinking in his heart: Haha, listening to the meaning of the emperor's words, could it be that he wants to make a big cake for himself? Otherwise, what was he doing with the map?
If this conjecture is true, it is definitely not a wealthy place.
Not long after, a huge map was brought in.
When Qi Yu saw it, he couldn't help but laugh.
This picture is none other than the "Dafeng Territory Map" that I drew back then. Now that times have changed, when I look at it again, I can't help but feel a lot of emotion.
"Ai Qing, do you recognize this picture?"
"I understand, this is the humble work of a humble minister."
"That's right!" The emperor smiled and added: "To be honest with you, I love this picture very much. I often admire it alone to see the beautiful rivers and mountains of our nine states."
Qi Yu hurriedly said humbly: "Wei Chen's brushwork is crude and lacks craftsmanship. Especially in front of His Majesty, I don't dare to claim my painting skills at all."
"Don't be too modest, my dear. The value of this picture does not lie in its craftsmanship, but in its rigorous proportions and realistic topography." The emperor commented objectively and impartially.
"Your Majesty, you are so complimentary." Qi Yu bowed his hand, and then tried again, saying: "Your Majesty, where on this map do you want to focus my future?"
After hearing this, the emperor raised his hand, pointed to a certain place on the map and replied: "Look! This is it!"
Qi Yu looked at it and froze there.
Alas!
What's the difference between a place where chickens don't lay eggs and birds don't poop, and a place of exile?
well……
