The destiny of all heavens begins in the Red Chamber

Having said that, Jia Huan continued, "If that's the case, are you confident?"

Master Zheng's face was full of shock, and the way he looked at Jia Huan changed.

If he weren't concerned about saving face, he would have cursed out loud: So you're just trying to scam your relatives!

"No, no, if I do that, how will I ever face anyone again?"

Master Zheng shook his head repeatedly, displeased, and said, "Let's leave it at that. Huan-ge, don't mention it again!"

"If you, sir, were to achieve merit and be able to attain the position of Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies (a fourth-rank official), or even the position of Commissioner of the Court of State Affairs (a third-rank official official), would you be tempted?"

Of course I'm tempted! Only a fool wouldn't be!

Although the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies was only a fourth-rank official, he was one of the six ministries and nine ministers, definitely a high-ranking official in the court, and more importantly, he was quite suitable for the temperament of the Second Master Zheng.

As for the Commissioner of the Court of State Affairs, who held the rank of third grade, that was even more remarkable.

The rank alone was enough to make Master Zheng envious and tempted.

Crucially, as a key institution for transmitting local military and political affairs to the imperial court, it not only ensured smooth information flow but also allowed frequent, private encounters with the current emperor.

Moreover, due to various factors, both the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies and the Commissioner of the Court of State Affairs were relatively leisurely government offices.

Although the Great Qian Dynasty was the legitimate successor of the Central Plains, its martial virtue was not abundant, which led to the near collapse of the tributary system of the Celestial Empire.

The consequence was that the Court of State Ceremonies, which was responsible for receiving delegations from tributary states, became a completely idle government office.

As for the Office of General Affairs, not only did its business conflict with the Cabinet, but it was also initially the royal secret service agency, so it was naturally unpopular and constantly suppressed. In the end, it simply became a department dedicated to relaying information from top to bottom, with little real power.

Chapter 114 Head-to-Head (Please Subscribe)

Jia Huan went to great lengths to ensure the smooth progress of Master Zheng's official career.

Putting aside other matters, he conducted a fairly in-depth understanding and study of the official system of the Great Qian Dynasty.

There's no other reason than to find out which official positions in the imperial court of the capital are suitable for the Second Master Zheng.

Given the nature of the Second Master Zheng, he was completely incapable of handling practical matters; he was an official who focused solely on empty talk!

To put it bluntly, they're the kind of people who have no real skills but occupy a position without doing anything.

However, one thing must be admitted: the second master of the government's character is still commendable.

At the very least, he would never embezzle or take money improperly; Jia Huan could guarantee that with his own hands.

To be honest, if the imperial court had appointed the Second Master Zheng as an imperial censor or an education supervisor, he would definitely have performed well; his personality is well-suited for such a role.

Unfortunately, since he wasn't a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), his dream of becoming an imperial censor in the Censorate was just that—a dream.

If you can't do practical work, then you can only play with empty talk.

On a side note, those so-called prestigious positions were actually quite suitable for the Second Master Zheng.

Of the six ministries, the Ministry of Rites had the fewest affairs, and it was responsible for supervising education and conducting the imperial examinations. Unfortunately, the entry requirements were the same as those of the Censorate.

Among the five temples, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices was responsible for sacrificial ceremonies, and it was also an extremely leisurely government office.

The problem is that the sacrificial ceremonies held during the Lunar New Year and the beginning of the new year cannot afford to have the slightest mistake; a single mistake could result in imprisonment.

The Court of Imperial Sacrifices was responsible for arranging and setting up banquets in the palace. This office could be considered leisurely, but it could also be quite busy, making it unsuitable for the Second Master Zheng.

In the end, Jia Huan could only choose the Honglu Temple and the Tongzheng Si, which were both incredibly boring.

Jia Huan had offered suggestions before.

Taking advantage of the time when Ma Yuan fled with his family and the Ministry of Revenue was undergoing a major purge, he tried to transfer there.

Whether out of fear of the Ministry of Revenue's numerous and complicated affairs, or because he genuinely didn't want to take advantage of the situation, Master Zheng Er resolutely rejected the idea, and Jia Huan did not continue to persuade him.

But this time, he won't give up easily.

Just thinking about the luck points one could gain if they could change Lin Daiyu's fate fills one with indescribable motivation.

Seeing that the Second Master Zheng was interested, Jia Huan finally spoke up: "Master, how can you get promoted quickly without taking some risks?"

"Besides, we're just asking for the money we can get from those who borrowed some from the Ministry of Revenue. It's not a difficult thing!"

The Second Master Zheng remained hesitant. Jia Huan's words sounded nice, but if things went wrong, he would offend all the powerful figures in the capital. The pressure was simply too great.

Seeing this, Jia Huan knew that no matter what he said, it would have little effect.

At this point, it was natural to call for help. With just a glance, several scholars straightened up, their eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

Just kidding. How could Jia Huan not have made private connections with the second master of the Zheng family?

He was decisive, using money to pave the way instead of empty promises, and naturally, he easily became close to several of his male companions.

At this point, he immediately stopped trying to make friends with other scholars and gentlemen.

There are some things that you must understand the importance of knowing when to stop!

Master Zheng is just a bit pedantic, not really a fool. If all the scholars and gentlemen around him were on good terms with Jia Huan, he would have to consider replacing them.

"Master Dong, I think Huan-ge'er's idea is quite good and worth a try!"

"Yes, this is a rare opportunity, it would be a shame not to give it a try!"

"Master Dong, as long as I get promoted, who cares what others think?"

"When there was an opportunity before, I never saw anyone lend a hand!"

"Besides, the Master is working for the Emperor. As long as he doesn't push too far, other officials will at most complain and be unhappy. Do they really want to go against the Rong family?"

"Master, I wonder if the Rong family has any outstanding debts? If so, the four great families of Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue probably all have some debts as well. Let's start with our own family; what right do others have to interfere?"

"Indeed, as long as we get off to a good start, no matter what happens next, the current leader will look at you with more respect, and a promotion will be a given!"

The words of these scholars and gentlemen were actually not very substantial.

But seeing the relaxed expression on the Second Master Zheng's face, he not only listened attentively but was also quite moved.

What could Jia Huan say?

I can only blame myself for being young and being an illegitimate son!

Forget about ability or lack thereof. What the Second Master Zheng values ​​is the orthodox path of the imperial examination. Nothing else can catch his eye.

Besides, Jia Huan's talk is mostly about his own interests, so Master Zheng will naturally listen to him, but he might not listen to anything else.

"This is a big deal. Let me discuss it with the old lady before making a decision!"

Although the Second Master Zheng did not express his opinion directly, his words already showed that he was quite tempted.

Otherwise, there would be no way to take it to Rongqing Hall and discuss it with the old lady.

Jia Huan wasn't in a hurry; the fire had been lit reasonably well, and he was basically satisfied.

As long as Master Zheng Er still has ambition, he probably won't give up on this adventure.

That very night, before Jia Huan could even fall asleep, he was summoned directly to Rongqing Hall by Boli, the head maid who had come from there.

At night, Rongqing Hall is brightly lit, illuminating the surrounding buildings and making them appear magnificent.

The old lady liked this kind of vulgar style, and no one dared to say anything bad about it.

Upon entering, one should still greet the old lady, and also pay respects to Master Zheng and Master She.

Although the old lady didn't look well, he remained composed and showed no fear.

Master She couldn't help but chuckle, breaking the somewhat oppressive silence in the room: "Well done, Huan-ge'er, you've given the second son a great idea!"

"You flatter me, sir!"

Jia Huan chuckled and said loudly, "As the saying goes, fortune favors the bold. How can one rise to a high position in the imperial court without taking some risks? Moreover, such opportunities are extremely rare!"

He then chuckled and said, "If you, sir, can help the current emperor and the court resolve their financial crisis, I estimate that the current emperor will think more highly of you, and who knows, good things might come your way!"

"You kid..."

Lord She pointed at Jia Huan with amusement on his face, but his eyes kept flickering, clearly indicating that he was not as calm as he appeared on the surface.

Perhaps Jia Huan's suggestion touched a nerve or struck a nerve with him?

It's just silver, right? As the richest man in the Rong family, he has plenty. But if he could remove the restrictions he's under by paying silver, that would be perfect.

"Such eloquence at such a young age! I never imagined that Huan-ge'er would have such abilities at such a young age!"

The old lady finally spoke, her expression unchanged, but instead growing increasingly gloomy.

Her tone was undisguised sarcasm as she coldly said, "Your master was so agitated by your instigation that he rushed here to discuss it with his old woman!"

"Of course, this old woman won't agree. The Rong family has never intended to isolate you, so you should just give up on that idea!"

If it weren't for the sake of Master Zheng's reputation, she would have really wanted to drag Jia Huan away and give him a good beating.

"Mother……"

Master Zheng suddenly looked up at the old lady at the head of the table, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

"Grandma, you're joking. Your grandson doesn't have that kind of ability!"

Jia Huan feigned fear and waved his hands repeatedly before changing the subject, saying, "It seems that the old lady has already made plans and arranged everything for the master's future career!"

Turning around, he smiled at the Second Master Zheng and said, "Congratulations, Master! It seems you'll be promoted soon!"

Master Zheng looked at his mother with a questioning expression, his eyes full of inquiry.