At the end of Shen Shi.
Li Qing woke up quietly, the dappled sunlight was no longer dazzling and became softer, and the wind blowing on his cheeks was no longer so hot.
"Yeah~"
Li Qing stretched his limbs and felt comfortable all over. He was hysterical for a moment and sat up slowly.
"I've slept for so long." Li Qing muttered to himself, twisted his waist, and started preparing dinner.
Fetching water, washing vegetables, chopping vegetables... I was very busy when there was a knock on the door.
"Is Li Dugui Shizhong at home?"
Li Qing stopped washing vegetables, wiped his wet hands on his apron, walked to the door and opened the door.
Seeing that it was the cabinet members headed by Cao Nai, I couldn't help but be slightly startled.
Cao Nai and others were also a little surprised. The gentleman was far away from the kitchen, and they had not expected Li Qing's appearance.
After all, Li Qing was also an orthodox official of the imperial court, and he actually cooked the food himself?
"Uh-huh... Li Du is so... hard-working!" Cao Nai thought for a long time, but couldn't come up with the opening words and said something that was not in line with his rank.
Li Qing said in surprise: "A few academicians came to Xiaguan's house, but there is something wrong?"
"There is indeed something going on." Miao Zhong said half-jokingly, "Li Du, why don't you ask me to come in and sit down with you?"
Li Qing smiled and said, "Please come in."
Several people entered the courtyard, and Gao Yi turned around and closed the door at the end.
When Li Qing saw this scene, he knew that these guys came to him, the matter was serious, and they would also give gifts.
"There are relatives and elders at home, and they are taking a rest." Li Qing said with a smile, "It's not hot at this time, so how about we just chat in the yard?"
"The guest is welcome to the host." Cao Nai said politely, and then asked, "I wonder if Li Du gave it to the relative involved in the matter...?"
"Oh, he is an old man who has nothing to do with officialdom." Li Qing said, "Let's keep our voices down so we won't disturb him."
Hearing this, Cao Nai and the others no longer struggled.
Li Qing treated prospective customers very attentively. He went to the living room and moved some chairs for a few people to sit down and talk.
Several people sat down around the stone table and looked at the poor little courtyard. They were even more surprised. The salary of officials in the Ming Dynasty was not much, and the official position of the seventh rank was not high, but Li Qing was not so shabby.
You know, Li Qing is a famous person in the imperial court.
Oh, yes, this guy is fishing for fame.
Several people have made up their mind and have more confidence in the negotiation.
After a few simple greetings, Cao Nai got down to the topic: "Li Du is in trouble, what do you think of Wang Zhen?"
Li Qing muttered: "The eunuch in charge of the ceremonial department has great authority. It is not an exaggeration to say that he is the internal minister."
A flash of surprise flashed in the eyes of several people, and Cao Nai took the opportunity to say: "Li Du has been running around in Shizhong, and he doesn't know much about the affairs of the court. Wang Zhen is so evil that no one can match it. I can't even finish it in three days and three nights!" "
"Then let's make a long story short." Li Qing was too lazy to write ink. If possible, he would like to fast forward to the part of counting money.
Miao Zhong said angrily: "Since the establishment of the Supervisor of Ceremonies, the eunuch group has become more and more unruly. They have even forgotten their identity as slaves. Especially that Wang Zhen, he is simply lawless."
"Yes, according to the Hongwu ancestral system, eunuchs are not allowed to interfere in politics." Gao Yi continued, "This alone will give him a way to die!"
Chen Xun said in a deep voice: "The major affairs of the country are governed by the monarch and his ministers. Wang Zhen is an eunuch, but he still dares to dictate the affairs of the country. It is simply arrogant."
It's so obvious that Li Qing can't make sense anymore if he pretends to be stupid.
"The lower officials have also heard about Wang Zhen's matter, but the truth is..."
"The truth is far worse than what you heard." Cao Nai said.
Li Qing sighed and said, "But I'm just a seventh-level guy who got caught in the trouble. Even if I have the will, I can't do anything!"
"Why do you need to belittle yourself in Li Dugui's matter?" Cao Nai said with a smile, "The emperor has great trust in you. If you are willing to help me and others, your reputation will be spread all over the world in the future.
In the future, wouldn't it be wonderful if a high-ranking official would receive a salary and be granted the title of wife to protect his children and his children and grandchildren? "
Chen Xun praised: "Well, that's wonderful!"
Li Qing: "..."
Seeing that Li Qing was silent, Chen Xun asked, "What difficulties does Li Du have in doing?"
"I'm only a seventh-rank official. I can't take care of myself. How can I take care of those things." Li Qing laughed at himself, "Look what my life is like now?"
Chen Xun was startled, looked at each other with Cao Nai and others, and then smiled.
"We are aware of the difficulties involved in Li Du's matter. Being officials in the same dynasty is like riding on the same boat. We should help each other in the same boat." As he said this, he took out a stack of banknotes from his arms and said, "Li Du's matter is Life is tight, and as a senior official, I should be my helper. Please be careful, brother Li, so you don’t have to be polite."
Then, Cao Nai and three others took out the banknotes one after another and pushed them in front of Li Qing with smiles.
Li Qing took a glance and saw that they were all in denominations of one hundred taels. The sum of these several piles amounted to at least five thousand taels.
It's really a lot, far more than what Zhu Qi has rewarded since he entered the court and now.
"Well..." Li Qing said hesitantly, "I'm only at level 17, I'm afraid... I can't afford it!"
"Brother Li is out of town now." Cao Nai pretended not to be happy, "We are all from the same family, what do we mean by two families?"
"That's right, if Brother Li refuses again, he will look down on me." Miao Zhong said with a smile.
The change in title from official position to brother also means that both parties have reached an agreement.
Several people were accustomed to Li Qing being both responsible and upright.
Literati are all like this, and so are they themselves.
Is this called bribery? No, literati don’t call this, they call it humaneness and sophistication!
If Li Qing didn't act like this, they wouldn't be used to it.
Since it's free, I'll be polite... Li Qing smiled and hugged them all, and said with hatred:
"Wang Zhen is so lawless. As a member of the public officials, I naturally want to impeach him."
"Aiya~" Cao Nai and others stood in awe, stood up and held their hands, saying: "Brother Li is not afraid of power and takes action with justice. I admire you."
"Oh haha……"
"Ha ha……"
~
After seeing off the Gods of Wealth, Li Qing returned to the East Kitchen and continued to work, humming a little tune and in a good mood.
A few moments.
Zhang Slutty came over with a yawn and said gloomily: "Who came just now and made a lot of noise."
"A few officials are stupid and have too much money." Li Qing smiled, "Master, go wash your face first. The food will be ready soon."
"You're giving me money!" Zhang Slutty muttered, and his depressed mood eased a lot.
…
After dinner, the master and apprentice sat under the eaves and had a heart-to-heart talk.
"Qingzi, does this count as corruption?"
"Forget it, but I never do anything with money." Li Qing said proudly, "So strictly speaking, I am still an upright official."
Zhang Sloppy: "..."
"Then when they realize they have been cheated, will they give up?"
"Don't be afraid." Li Qing said with a smile, "Bribery is also a serious crime. They can't afford to die with me for such a small amount of money. At most, they will just curse and curse behind their backs, and they won't lose a piece of meat."
He looked indifferent. If cursing people had any effect, he would have died in the Hongwu Dynasty.
Zhang sloppily asked: "You won't scold someone for being related to someone else, right?" gōΠb.ōγg
"Then they must be related to each other!" Li Qing said with a smile, "Otherwise, is that called swearing?"
"...Qingzi."
"ah?"
"Give me half of the money."
"..."
~
night.
The master and the apprentice packed their bags and set off again. It was another fruitful night...
After coming back, Li Qing made breakfast, went shopping, came back to have breakfast, prepared lunch... and repeated yesterday's daily routine.
As for the heroic words of eradicating traitors, he has long forgotten them.
After lunch, Li Qing thought about it and decided to go to the palace.
The nave of the palace.
Zhu Qizhen said: "They came to find you and gave you money?"
"That's true, but your Majesty can rest assured." Li Qingyi said righteously, "Although I accepted their money, I still support you, Your Majesty."
"How could you do this?" Zhu Qizhen was a little hard to accept. This feeling...how should I put it?
It's like the person you love goes on a date with someone else, and when he comes back, he tells you that he still loves you.
Just... very scumbag!
"Sir, do you love money that much?" Zhu Qizhen asked.
"It's for free, don't you want it?" Li Qing said with a smile.
"Then you can't...what about your ethics?"
Li Qing rolled his eyes, "It's all fake, there's no need to worry about it."
"But..." Zhu Qizhen was extremely angry, "Isn't the money I gave you enough?"
"It's indeed not enough." Li Qing spread his hands, "Your Majesty, I can't even afford a maid now."
"You, you, you...!" Zhu Qizhen was trembling with anger, "Where is the stolen money?"
"I'm going to keep it and spend it slowly," Li Qing said.
Zhu Qizhen laughed angrily, "How can you be so embarrassed to say this?"
"No, what else?"
"Turn it over, it must be turned over!"
Why should I hand over the money I earned based on my skills... Li Qing was really convinced. If he hadn't considered that the little emperor was suspicious, he wouldn't have said anything.
But I didn't want to, to be honest, it was still wrong.
"Your Majesty, you must be kind. If you behave like this, which of your ministers will be able to confide in you?" Li Qing said sternly, "You will lose me if you behave like this."
"...turn over half." Zhu Qizhen took a step back.
Li Qing shook his head wildly, joking, the little old man just took away half of it, and if you take another half, won't my work be in vain?
