Chapter 166.4: For Better or Worse, Punis.h.i.+ng, Leaving the Capital
Le Cheng Emperor pondered for a moment, and just settled it like so, completely all people recommended by Luo Pei Shan, not changing a single one.
“Your Majesty, this subject has one more thing to say.” Luo Pei Shan said.
“Speak.”
“This trip, perhaps can include the three top scorers of this year’s imperial exam. They are all Qi Yuan’s future pillars of talent, so why not use this opportunity to to properly grind them. Someday, they’ll certainly be able to better serve your Majesty and Qi Yuan. In addition, they are similarly just youngster, so along the way, w.a.n.gye won’t likely be lonely either, and perhaps can also mutually learn from one another.”
“Beloved minister’s words are reasonable, granted.”
“Your Majesty, how about also adding the inner court’s Scribe Sun?”
“Very well.” Le Cheng Emperor immediately agreed without even thinking.
Thus, the key personnels for the trip to the western borders this time was finalized just like that during this pair of ruler and subject’s back and forth.
Regarding these people, the rest really weren’t that easy to nitpick. After all, Luo Pei Shan really was considering for the general situation, completely impartial to any one side. If one wants to have a certain person crammed out in exchange for one’s own person, one will inevitably get caught, getting denounced and criticized by others.
But, with ninth w.a.n.gye as the lead………..
Ninth w.a.n.gye’s birth mother, in the inner palace, relied on the Empress. In other words, he was equivalent to Kang Qinw.a.n.g’s little follower. Le Cheng Emperor had just punished Kang Qinw.a.n.g, yet now chose his person to handle this important task. Then, did this mean that Le Cheng Emperor hasn’t completely lost all hope towards him, and that Kang Qinw.a.n.g soon or later will rise again one day?
For matters that were already decided, it naturally wasn’t good to refute, but…………
“Imperial father, in light of what Sir Luo has said, how about letting tenth brother also accompany along. He joined the imperial court much later than ninth brother, and currently also need experience. Not saying to let him do anything, but even if just going to watch and listen, this son thinks, for tenth brother, it’ll all have great benefits, what do you think?” Rui Qinw.a.n.g said.
Tenth w.a.n.gye was his follower, so where his intentions lie, everyone was all well aware inside.
Le Cheng Emperor irresolutely muttered to himself for a moment. In his original plan, it was precisely to let old nine and old ten both be the imperial envoy, but because of that previous incident, for the sake of balance, while suppressing the eldest one, in order to make his att.i.tude clear, he naturally also needed to appease, that’s why he chose old nine alone. But, letting old ten follow, and not partic.i.p.ate in the management, wasn’t necessarily undoable. “Granted.”
“Many thanks imperial father.” Rui Qinw.a.n.g kowtowed in thanks.
As for the tenth w.a.n.gye who was feeling disgruntled inside, at this time, he too happily kowtowed in thanks. However, his happiness more or less carried a bit of exaggeration. Just think about it, the elder brother that was not much older than oneself was in charge, yet one was just blankly following along. In this kind of weather, that was just going through living h.e.l.l. As such, it was better off to just stay in the capital, and then head to Chengde Imperial Residence to flee the summer heat, comfortable and delightful.
Rui Qinw.a.n.g shot him a glance, more or less sensing his discontent, and faintly furrowed his brows without being detected.
The other four, all still didn’t have the qualifications to appear in the imperial court. After hearing about this matter, towards Luo Pei Shan, they all harbored grat.i.tude. Not all had this kind of opportunity when first entering officialdom. One has to know, perhaps this experience this time will just let one’s starting step be a cut higher than others’. Furthermore, there were also that many officials present during this trip, and along the way, there was nothing else to do. Believe if one asks them for guidance, majority of them all won’t refuse.
After morning court, “Sir Luo really is generous in supporting the younger generation.” Ruan Rui Zhong said without a ripple in his expression. Even if others don’t dare to point fingers at him, but the rumors and slanders that has made his entire family all not dare go out still made him very angry. Luo Pei Shan still didn’t get along with him. Even saints have anger, let alone him, who wasn’t a saint. Since Luo Pei Shan wants to go against him, why should he politely accommodate. And in that moment, when he made this kind of decision, it meant that Ruan Rui Zhong has lost his usual bearing. Therefore, when conducting his affairs in the future, bias will inevitably appear. As such, the scales will certainly tilt, and he’ll no longer be able to maintain absolute neutrality.
Luo Pei Shan let out a ‘heheh’, putting on a fake smile, “As the Head Minister of Appointments, isn’t that what one’s supposed to do?”
Ruan Rui Zhong nodded his head, turning to leave.
Luo Pei Shan watched him from behind, yet carried three part pity. When such a person as yourself learn one day that you were kept in the dark and played around with by the people you trust, love, and as well as cherish, like an idiot, don’t know what kind of reaction that’ll be? Perhaps, when you are wholeheartedly considering for them, in their hearts, they’re actually laughing at you, having you treated as a dancing clown. How sorrowful will that be?
After Li Hong Yuan saw the list of names for the trip to the west this time, although the majority of the people were all different from his past life, it still didn’t exceed his expectations. However, when he saw Sun Yi Lin and Chen Zheng Min’s names, he coldly sneered. To say it pleasantly it was supporting the younger generation, but in the end, it was still because he felt guilty towards these two. The other two were just included in pa.s.sing. This old fox wasn’t really that selfless and impartial. This favor has rather let him pick up a huge benefit.
The imperial envoy this time was just one. Without old ten fighting to oppose him, old nine should be able to take in suggestions, having this matter taken care of appropriately. Li Hong Yi may have committed stupidity, but he can be considered to have done a good thing, no need for him(LHY) to waste energy and effort to deal with the aftermath later.
After he finished looking at the list, he just threw it to one side, no longer asking about it. In any case, it’s not like he was completely letting go, not caring about it at all. If an emergency situation really were to occur, the people on that side will certainly deliver news.
What he should be thinking about right now is when they arrive at the imperial summer residence, how to have Wan Wan pulled into his embrace. That is the most important right now.
When at the imperial summer residence, they’ll be living relatively close by, but because of everyone crowding together, it also meant that there will be numerous eyes. However, when time comes, afraid it’s having all kinds of big and small banquets every day, poetry banquets, flower banquets, and even wine banquets. To want to ‘fish in muddy waters’[1] will also be rather easy.
“Mu An, how’s preparations over on the imperial summer residence side?”
“Replying to master, this servant personally watched them arrange everything one by one, so please rest a.s.sured, there won’t be any mishaps.” That was master’s pleasure nest, and this year, the future female master will most likely also enter, so naturally, they didn’t dare to have the slightest neglect.
Eunuch Mu had his head lowered for quite some time, not hearing a response from his master. Slightly lifting his head, he took a glance. On the beauty recliner, his master had his eyes closed, seemingly having fallen asleep. Master, when his eyes were closed, was always much more harmless than when his eyes were open. However, even so, Eunuch Mu still didn’t dare give an extra glance. This kind of weather didn’t call for blankets, and thinking for a moment, he personally took out a fan and moved a little closer. Lightly, carrying a neither quick nor slow rhythm, he fanned again and again.
Two days after the party heading west set out, the list for those that will be heading to the imperial summer residence for the summer also came down.
As for the one that’ll be staying behind in the capital to supervise the state, the choice of person was truly surprising. It was the ‘not having any presence’ seventh w.a.n.gye. He was two years younger than Li Hong Yuan, and wasn’t a try-hard in handling matters. The tasks handed to him were all able to be completed every time. As for the things that required him to subjectively partic.i.p.ate in, for the most part, all were just pa.s.sable, and the verdict just mediocre. His birth mother was just a palace maid, and had died early. However, at the time, he was already six, so Le Cheng Emperor didn’t have him given to another imperial concubine to raise either, just letting him be raised by the palace servants. Perhaps it was precisely because he didn’t have anyone to rely on, he didn’t get bullied or troubled either. However, this time, he was asked to stay behind and supervise the state for two months. Can only say, disaster and happiness are interdependent.
After all, Rui Qinw.a.n.g thought that with Li Hong Yi gone, having him supervise the state was something that was already expected.
And for Gong Qinw.a.n.g, when Kang Qinw.a.n.g was getting dragged off, he(Kang) had been shouting that it was old three that framed him. Regardless whether it was true or not, imperial father most likely won’t leave old three to supervise the state. Then, the possibility of it being him was very big…………..
Li Hong Yuan and fifth w.a.n.gye, that invalid, naturally weren’t even in line to be considered, and as for seventh w.a.n.gye, simply no one thought of him either. It was most likely choosing one between third w.a.n.gye (Rui Qinw.a.n.g) and fourth w.a.n.gye (Gong Qinw.a.n.g), or perhaps leaving behind both, but, heh, who knew that it was neither of them.
In Li Hong Yuan’s past life, there wasn’t that incident with Luo Rong Ping, and Li Hong Yi didn’t get locked in confinement, but it was still seventh w.a.n.gye that stayed behind to supervise the state. Furthermore, the four cabinet ministers, aside from the Head Cabinet Minister accompanying along, the other three were all left behind to a.s.sist seventh w.a.n.gye. This bit was also the same.
In his past life, these two months in the capital went by rather peacefully, but this time, this may not necessarily be the case. After all, in the capital, there was still a Li Hong Yi. Even if he’s locked in confinement, unable to set foot outside his manor, but don’t forget, the Empress also stayed behind in the palace. If she wants to do a bit of something, it’s extremely possible that it won’t be discovered.
Really makes one quite look forward to it. Of course, Li Hong Yuan was also waiting for this opportunity to thoroughly get rid of Ruan Fang Fei. Hanging onto the t.i.tle of his soon-to-be side consort really was incomparably irksome.
On the last two days of the fifth month, with Le Cheng Emperor procession as the lead, the endless line of carriages majestically left the capital.
[1] Taking advantage of a messy situation for personal gain.