I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 646 The Emperor is Watching You

Luan Feng'er's hands moved again. Her jade-like hands were holding hot water and gently pouring it on Feng Bao's wrinkled feet.

"Resentment, what can I complain about? Resent God for being unfair, for making my family fall apart? Resent the world for being unfair, for making me homeless? There are so many people dying every day in the world, with their bodies left exposed in the wild. Who can they complain to?"

Luan Feng'er said softly.

"I entered the Feng Mansion to serve the master. I now have a place to stay, no worries about food and clothing, and no need to be looked down upon and bullied by others.

My long-lost brother has been found, freed from his crime, and entered the Imperial Academy. He has settled down and established a family, and is carrying on the family line and carrying on the incense for the Luan family. What should I complain about?"

Feng Bao lay down on the recliner, as if completely entrusting his feet to Luan Feng'er.

"You are a good woman who knows how to be content. I didn't choose the wrong person. There is no such thing as justice or success in this world.

Only when you have no resentment in your heart can you live a peaceful life. I am very pleased that you have married into my Feng family and are willing to be a wife of my Feng family peacefully.

Living a peaceful and stable life is much better than having wild thoughts and blaming others.

Originally, I was thinking that when your brother got married and had children, I would bring one over and name him Feng, and you could raise him well, and then our family would be complete.

What a pity."

The sound of water was still there, but it was slower.

"Your brother is ashamed to let his son call a eunuch his father. No problem, go to the nursery one day and pick out two smart and cute children. When they grow up, they will be our children, and our family will be complete."

Luan Yongfang raised his head and pleaded, "Master, Silang is inexperienced, please be more understanding."

Feng Bao smiled and said, "He is still so young. If he were in the palace, the grass on his grave would be ten feet high. It doesn't matter whether he recognizes me as your husband or not. As long as you recognize me as your husband and this family doesn't break up, everything will be fine.

Feng'er, you are better than me. At least you still have a younger brother. I don't have any relatives in this world anymore."

Luan Feng'er couldn't help but look at Feng Bao who was sitting on the recliner.

Looking up at the roof, his eyes were filled with loss and melancholy.

At this time, he was no longer the powerful eunuch who held sway over the government and was known as the Prime Minister, but just an old man in his fifties who longed for family affection and family.

Luan Feng'er looked a little dazed, her hands couldn't help but freeze. Feng Bao suddenly lowered his head, and his sharp eyes flew over like a sword, scaring Luan Feng'er so much that her heart started pounding.

"My dear concubine, the water is a little cold."

Feng Bao turned into an amiable housekeeper again, squinting his eyes and replied, "Then add hot water."

"Yes, sir."

Luan Feng'er added a bucket of hot water and continued to wash Feng Bao's feet.

Feng Bao, who lay down again, said quietly, "It's easy to deal with cold water, but it's hard to deal with a cold heart."

Luan Feng'er lowered her head even more, revealing a small part of her back except for the back of her neck, which looked even whiter and more delicate.

In the study room in the central courtyard of Zhang's mansion in Renshoufang, Zhang Juzheng sat on a chair. After listening to You Qi's report, he stroked his beard with his right hand, his eyes deep.

"Tongzhengsi, the emperor handed the Tongzhengsi to Lord Feng, what does that mean?"

"Master, the Tongzhengsi is a well-known idle government office. The emperor gave it to Mr. Feng. I guess it is a waste of resources."

"That's right, it's a good use of waste. After Lord Feng's changes and the emperor's adjustments, the Tongzhengsi has become a key department connecting the inside and the outside. The candidate for Tongzhengshi really needs to be carefully considered."

Zhang Juzheng thought for a while and shook his head, "I can't think of a suitable person for the time being."

You Qi, who had been observing his expression, interrupted in time: "Master, I would like to recommend someone."

Zhang Juzheng glanced at his younger brother and asked calmly, "Who do you recommend?"

"Mr. Zhang Siwei, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites and President of the Hanlin Academy, Mr. Feng Pan."

"Zhang Fengpan?" Zhang Juzheng's eyes flickered. He didn't say yes or no.

You Qi quickly added: "Master, Zhang Siwei is a man of outstanding learning, a famous scholar in the world, and a very good person."

"Be good at dealing with people?" Zhang Juzheng smiled. "In your opinion, the first priority of being a Tongzhengshi is to be good at dealing with people?"

You Qi asked in confusion, "Master, the Tongzhengsi connects the inside and the outside, and the Tongzhengshi has to deal with the three central governments and one court, as well as the two local governments and provinces. Don't they need to be good at dealing with all parties?"

"Do you understand what Mr. Feng said?"

"Mr. Feng asked the master to find a suitable candidate for the Tongzhengshi, so that he can seize the initiative when the emperor asks about it."

"You only heard about seizing the initiative, but you didn't hear the emperor asking about it."

"Master, what's the secret here?"

"There is a lot of mystery here! Lord Feng wants me to find a suitable candidate, someone who can get the emperor's approval and stand on our side."

You Qi suddenly realized.

"Master, are you saying that the first priority of the Tongzhengshi is to please the emperor?"

"Yes. If the emperor thinks it's suitable, then it must be suitable. If the emperor thinks it's not suitable, it's useless even if we think it's suitable."

You Qi was a little discouraged. "Master, you are the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, the Prime Minister of the Ming Dynasty. Can't you even decide on a Tongzhengshi?"

There was a sense of indignation on behalf of Zhang Juzheng in his tone, but You Qi also expressed his own private complaints.

Zhang Siwei was good at changing his rudder according to the situation. Before Gao Gong, Wang Lin and others fell, he had already secretly joined Zhang Juzheng's camp. He also gave You Qi a lot of benefits.

You have to be honest and do your job when you get paid.

You Qi often spoke well of Zhang Siwei in front of Zhang Juzheng.

A few days ago, Zhang Siwei went to have a drink with You Qi, and there were some complaints in his words, saying that his position as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites was in name only, and was idle in the Hanlin Academy. He had been idle for too long, and his heart, which always wanted to repay the emperor's kindness and devote himself to the Ming Dynasty, was almost cooled down.

I hope You Qi can help speak to Prime Minister Zhang and give him a chance to serve the court and Prime Minister Zhang.

Just now, after You Qi heard Feng Qi's retelling, he suddenly had an idea and started to make a small calculation. Isn't this Tongzhengshi specially appointed for Zhang Siwei?

Zhang Siwei's ability to get things done may not be very strong, but his way of dealing with people is obvious to everyone in the court.

After the reform, the Tongzhengsi was no longer a low-paying government office, and mostly handled paperwork.

The Tongzhengshi also became a close minister to the emperor and often served in his presence.

This is the job that Zhang Siwei has always dreamed of. If I get it for him, wouldn't he have to present me with a thick stack of bills of exchange?
Now he was told that his master had no say and that he had to get the emperor's approval.

There must be resentment in his heart!

Zhang Juzheng looked at You Qi and did not take it as an offense.

He treated You Qi like a family member or brother. You Qi helped him with many private matters. He trusted him very much and they could talk directly about anything.

"You Qi, I am a very cowardly Prime Minister, am I not?"

You Qi chuckled and said nothing, taking it as his agreement.

Zhang Juzheng said quietly, "My mentor, Shao Hu Gong, once said that I was very aggressive in front of the ministers, but I was only submissive in front of the emperor."

You Qi smiled, "Master, what Shao Hu said is right. Just because of your performance evaluation system, many officials are silent and trembling, calling you Zhang Yanwang behind your back.

But in front of the emperor, you obey him in everything and dare not disobey him in the slightest."

"You Qi, you are also an educated person. Let me ask you, how many prime ministers were there during the Hongwu Dynasty?" "There were two, Li Shanchang and Hu Weiyong."

"So what happened to them?"

You Qi's face changed, and he smiled bitterly: "Master, we can't compare like this, you are the emperor's teacher after all."

Zhang Juzheng glared at him. "If not this comparison, then how? Your power is not comparable to that of Emperor Taizu? During the Hongwu period, wasn't Liu Bowen also the teacher of Emperor Taizu?"

You Qi was stunned for a moment, thinking about it, and suddenly white sweat broke out on his back.

Emperor Taizu liked to launch large-scale purges, and the number of people killed was always counted in the tens of thousands.

The emperor was even more ruthless. He killed so many people before he ascended the throne and was still the crown prince. No, from the time he was the crown prince, through the hands of Emperor Sejong, he almost wiped out all the Jin party and merchants.

Soon after he ascended the throne, three major cases broke out in Jiangnan, killing almost all the prominent aristocratic families and gentry in Jiangnan. Most of the famous scholars and great Confucian scholars were also massacred.

Emperor Taizu was not so cruel!

"Master, when you say that, my back is all sweaty."

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.

"That's good to know. You go down first, and let the master think about it carefully."

"Yes."

Just as You Qi walked to the door of the study, Zhang Juzheng's voice came faintly from behind.

"You Qi, remember to return Zhang Fengpan's money."

You Qi was so frightened that his legs went limp and he almost fell to his knees. He held onto the door frame and turned around, his face full of embarrassment and awkwardness.

"Master, I"

“When water is too clear, there are no fish.

But some people's money is not so easy to get. Zhang Fengpan escaped smoothly when the Gengxu Incident was investigated in the 43rd year of Jiajing, and he could escape smoothly again when Gao Gong and Wang Lin stepped down.

Do you think it's easy to take money from a person like this?"

You Qi's forehead was covered with sweat, "Master, I really didn't think of this."

"The old lady is ill. She has consulted many famous doctors but her condition has not improved. I have begged the emperor to invite the divine doctor Wanquan to go on a mission. You go with him."

You Qi knelt down and said, "Master is busy with state affairs, so I will go back to Jiangling on your behalf to fulfill my filial duty. The old lady is my godmother and has treated me as her own child since I was young. It is my duty to serve her."

"Okay, go to the Imperial Hospital tomorrow and ask for the perfect doctor. Leave as soon as possible."

"Yes!"

It was late at night and a clock rang, indicating that it was ten o'clock in the evening.

Some guests gradually left the major restaurants, most of them were officials from various government offices in Beijing.

Although one does not have to get up at midnight to attend court, it is an iron rule to arrive at the government offices on time at eight o'clock every morning.

The inspection team of the Central Steering Committee of the Performance Evaluation System, which is composed of personnel drawn from the Ministry of Personnel, the Central Military Commissioner's Office and the Censorate, will be like a group of wild dogs and wolves, appearing out of nowhere. No one knows when they will appear in some government office and count the heads according to the roster.

Once caught being late or absent from work, their names would be published in the Shuntian Gazette and the Ministry of Personnel's Quanzheng Gazette. They would be required to make a public self-criticism in front of all their colleagues in the yamen, and their allowance for one month and half of their salary would be deducted.

This was the second time he was caught within a year. His name was published in the cabinet’s “China Political News” and he was required to continue to make public self-criticisms and attend a one-month study class. He had his three-month allowance and half of his salary deducted.

You’ve been caught for the third time. Congratulations, you’ve been featured in the "Quan Zheng Bao" again, but this time it’s on the list of dismissed officials.

You can go home happily and eat your old rice without having to worry about being caught for being late or absent from work.

The performance evaluation system was like a knife hanging over the heads of officials in Beijing. All the government offices in the three prefectures and one court dared not slack off.

The Imperial Household Department issued an edict authorizing a joint inspection team to check the official style and discipline of all civil and military offices in the capital. Once all offices were inspected, regardless of the rank of the officials, they would be treated equally and dealt with in the same manner.

Seven vice ministers and six junior ministers of the six ministries and temples, three deputy governors of the Five Military Governors' Office were successively listed on the honor roll and made public self-criticisms. There were hundreds or even thousands of other officials of all ranks.

Who dares to be late or absent?
If you don't want to be late or absent from work tomorrow, go home early and rest tonight.

In a carriage, Shen Yi Guan briefly told Zhang Siwei about his encounter with Luan Yongfang tonight.

"He said he was waiting for Pan Yinglong?"

"Yes, Lord Feng Pan. He said so himself."

"He is an ignorant boy with no scheming at all. He is simply bringing disaster to Mr. Feng and Pan Fengwu."

Shen Yi Guan echoed, "Mr. Feng Pan is right. Who is Pan Yinglong? He is a staff member that Hu Xuancheng values. He is closely related to Xu Wenchang and has a close relationship with Eunuch Yang, the Supervisor of the Imperial Household.

Eunuch Yang and Eunuch Feng were not on good terms with each other, and there were even rumors that they had fallen out over a dispute over the position of the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department.

Therefore, Hu Ruzhen, Tan Zili, Wang Zijian, Xu Wenchang and other people from the southeastern lineage had a very distant relationship with Mr. Feng, and it was even possible that they had some conflicts in secret.

Luan Yongfang is the brother of Madam Feng, but he secretly met with Pan Yinglong. If this matter is spread by someone with ulterior motives, wouldn't it be a slap in the face of Madam Feng? How can Pan Fengwu be independent? "

Zhang Siwei smiled faintly, "Pan Fengwu has done a really good job in the capital. Although I am not close to him, I have to admire him. He is a man who can accomplish great things."

Shen Yiguan's eyes turned, "Lord Fengpan, will he be a threat to Lord Taiyue?"

Zhang Siwei glanced at him.

Haha, you want to attack Pan Yinglong and please Zhang Juzheng in order to advance your career?

The response is quite fast, which is promising!
"Pan Fengwu is only in his thirties. No matter how well he does as the Shao Yin of Shuntian Prefecture, there are still the Shuntian Prefecture Yin, the Shao Qing of the Six Ministries, and the Shang Shu Zheng Qing above him. After climbing these steps, he can become the Counselor and the Prime Minister.

How many years do you think it will take to climb so many steps?

Ten years, fifteen years?

The Emperor is not Emperor Sejong.

Emperor Shizong could let Yan Song sit in power for ten or twenty years, but how many years did Xu Jie and Li Chunfang sit in power? The emperor couldn't wait to drive them out to prevent them from abusing their power.

How long do you think the Emperor will let Zhang Shuda stay as Prime Minister? Ten years or fifteen years?

Shen Yiguan's eyes sparkled, "Taiyue Gong would not regard Pan Fengwu as a threat, he is more worried about the one in Huguang."

"Yes, he is in his early 40s and has been the governor and minister for several years. How many people in the imperial court have this title? The Minister of War is the governor of Huguang's military and political affairs. What position is above that?
You can count it on your fingers.”

Shen Yi Guan's eyes rolled around. "This Osprey just uncovered the case of boycotting the examination and the case of private mining to amass wealth and treason. It's another great political achievement."

Zhang Siwei glanced at him and said, "Don't try to plot against me. Uncle Zhang is so afraid of him that he doesn't even dare to plot against me in his own Huguang. Do you know why?"

"The Emperor is watching?"

Zhang Siwei sneered, gently lifted the curtain of the boat, looked at the dark night outside, and said softly: "Buyi, I'll give you a piece of advice. No matter what you do in the future, you must remember this sentence."

"Mr. Feng Pan, what did you say? Please enlighten me."

Zhang Siwei pulled open the car curtain with a bang.

"The Emperor is watching you!"

The pitch-black night outside is like the eyes of an ancient ferocious beast, staring at you as if it will devour you in the next moment.

(End of this chapter)