Judge of the Lamp

Chapter 28 The Poet Zhong Can
Sui Zhi expressed the judge's true heart.

The judge's way is extremely secretive, and he can say these words, which proves that he is likely to be the judge.

He is like-minded?

He might even be a disciple of the Taoist priest just like himself.

But even if it is, so what?

Regardless of whether he is a judge or not, Xu Zhiqiong has no intention of revealing his identity.

If it were someone else, they might want to take advantage of this relationship to gain the backing of the Minister of the Ministry of War, but Xu Zhiqiong had no such plan.

It was impossible for Sui Zhi to be his backer, saying that he didn't want him to go to the battlefield, so why couldn't he find an errand for him in the Ministry of War?Is the Ministry of War's errands unseemly?

Lin Tianzheng opened his mouth to beg, but Sui Zhi didn't agree, could it be possible that he could give himself a helping hand for the sake of his colleagues?
Do colleagues have such a big face?
Isn't peers used to hurt each other?

Xu Zhiqiong looked straight at Sui Zhi, expressing that he didn't understand what he meant.

Sui Zhi laughed and said, "You don't know what a life-and-death decision is? You silly boy, but you still pretend to be confused with me!"

Xu Zhiqiong scratched his head and said, "The verdict of life and death...does it mean that I will go to the Imperial City Department and kill it, so that killing people will not break the law?"

Sui Zhi smiled and said: "Forget it, my Taoist sect cannot reveal my identity to outsiders, and I won't make things difficult for you if you don't tell me."

Xu Zhiqiong scratched his head again and again, staring at the table full of wine and dishes, the corners of his mouth drooling again.

"Eat, good boy, just eat!" Sui Zhi began to flirt again.

Xu Zhiqiong picked up the chopsticks and continued to eat. Not long after, Lin Tianzheng came back, the two sides exchanged some polite words, and Lin Tianzheng took Xu Zhiqiong up to leave.

Sui Zhi got up to see them off, walked to the stairs, and heard a familiar voice from a private room.

"Everyone has worked hard these days, and Zhong respects you all."

This voice is Zhong Shen, the commander of the Imperial City Division.

Sui Zhi looked at Lin Tianzheng, Lin Tianzheng looked dull, and took Xu Zhiqiong downstairs.

The relationship between Dean Lin and Zhong Shen is not very good, mainly because he doesn't like these hawks and dogs.

Tonight, Zhong Shen called three of his subordinates to have dinner in Fengle Building. These three subordinates were Shi Xun, General of Wuwei Battalion, Shi Jiang Feili, Young Master of Tsing Yi Pavilion, and Wu Xu, who was in charge of the yamen Qianhu.

These three people are the managers of the three major organizations of the Imperial City Division. Although their rank is only fifth rank, they are the three most powerful people in the Imperial City Division except for Zhong Shen.

The four of them drank several cups together, Zhong Shen took out the roster and started talking about business.

"Three days later, His Majesty will select candidates. I have already drawn up the roster. Please take a look first."

The so-called selection of scholars means that the emperor personally arranges jobs for the students of the major royal academies.

Of course, the emperor would not do this kind of thing himself, it was just a formality. Before the selection of scholars, each government office had already selected the talents they wanted from among the students, and the results would be announced on the day of the selection.

The reason why Zhong Shen invited them to the restaurant was to tell them the result in advance so that no one would make trouble.

Zhong Shen recruited a total of thirty-three students, including eleven female students.

"You don't need to read these eleven female students, they must be following Jiang Shaoshi."

It's only natural for a female official to go to Tsing Yi Pavilion.

Jiang Feili looked at the roster and said, "It's really rare to have Confucian students this year."

In Daxuan, if you want to be a female military officer, you can only go to Qingyi Pavilion. If you want to be a female civil servant, the road is much wider. Confucian female students with good character and learning can enter the three provinces and six ministries, and even have the opportunity to enter the palace to become a palace official. It can be promoted to the second product.

It is not easy to attract Confucian female students to the Imperial City Division. Zhong Shen said with a smile: "I have spent a lot of thought in order to recruit a Confucian student for you. I think that subordinates like you, who wield swords and swords all day long, are also It's time to learn the kung fu of dancing and writing."

Wu Xu nodded and said: "I am in charge of the yamen and I lack the fragrance of books, why don't you give that female student to me."

When the troublemaker came, Zhong Shen was on guard against him.

Wu Xu, courtesy name Bofeng, was in charge of thousands of households in the Dengyamen of the Imperial City. This person usually had two hobbies, one was to do things for Zhong Shen in the Imperial City Department, and the other was to do things for Zhong Shen outside the Imperial City Department.

"Bofeng, don't be joking, we are talking about female students."

Wu Xu nodded and said, "My yamen happens to be short of female students."

Zhong Shen said angrily, "When did the Lantern Yamen set up female officials?"

"It's not too late to set up one now!"

"I'm too lazy to talk to you!" Zhong Shen couldn't help being angry when talking to Wu Xu.

Wu Xu flipped through the roster and asked, "What's so special about this person named Xu Zhiqiong?"

Zhong Shen pursed his lips: "Nothing special, he is a loyal and honest person."

There is a brief introduction next to the name, Wu Xu looked at Xu Zhiqiong's brief introduction, and said with a sneer, "This is a child from a poor family, and both parents have died, so can he enter the Wuwei camp just because of his family background?"

Zhong Shen explained: "Xu Zhiqiong is very talented, he has the great talent to fuel his power with anger, I want to send him to the Wuwei Camp to hone his skills."

"Why don't you send me to the Yamen where I hold the lamp to practice?"

Zhong Shen pondered for a moment and said: "You yamen..."

Wu Xu's expression changed: "What happened to my yamen?"

Zhong Shen quickly explained: "I didn't mean to underestimate you. Xu Zhiqiong's family is poor, he is a loyal queen, and his father is the servant of the Sui Dynasty. I want to find a good future for him!"

Wu Xu said: "Is the future of the Yamen in charge of the lantern not good?"

Zhong Shen lowered his face and remained silent.

Wu Xu then flipped through the roster: "Yu Shan? Is this the son of Yu Shangshu?"

General Shi Xun of Wuwei Camp said: "Yu Shangshu told me earlier that he wanted his son to go to Wuwei Camp."

Wu Xu frowned and said, "He can go whenever he wants, but this is not considered as favoritism?"

"It's not like that..." Shi Xun laughed dryly, and looked at Zhong Shen, who remained silent.

Wu Xu saw Chu He's name again, and there was a brief introduction next to the name: "This man has a nine-foot figure? Is he taller than me?"

Wu Xu is eight feet eight feet tall, which converts to one meter ninety-eight meters.

Chu He was a little over two meters tall, so he was really taller than Wu Xu.

Zhong Shen said impatiently, "So what if I'm taller than you?"

Wu Xu said: "Why did this person go to Wuwei Camp?"

Zhong Shendao: "Wuwei Camp is the face of the imperial court, I choose some top students..."

"What's this called?" Wu Xu interrupted Zhong Shen, "Wuwei Camp is the face of the imperial court, so is it possible that I, who is in charge of the yamen, are the imperial court's foot-wiping cloth?"

"Wu Bofeng!" Zhong Shen couldn't bear it anymore, "You have read the roster, think about it tonight, what's the matter, we will discuss it tomorrow!"

The meaning of this sentence is: You should reflect on yourself tonight, and don't make trouble for me tomorrow!

That night they broke up unhappy, Zhong Shen, Shi Xun, and Jiang Feili went back to their respective homes, and their day was over.

Wu Xu rode a black horse to head the Lantern Yamen, his day had just begun.

Jiang Feili rode a red horse to catch up with Wu Xu, and tapped Wu Xu's saddle lightly with the whip: "You are really, you must lose face of the commander at the wine table."

Wu Xu smiled: "Otherwise, why? Wait until tomorrow to go to the Sizheng Hall of the Imperial City to save him?"

"Do you care about that boy named Xu Zhiqiong?"

Wu Xu shook his head and said, "I don't really care about it, I just hate Zhong Shen's injustice."

"Listen to my advice, this matter is over, tomorrow morning meeting, don't argue with the commander again."

Wu Xu smiled, but did not respond.

The two horses walked together for a long time, Jiang Feili whispered: "It's still early, let me have a drink."

Wu Xu was taken aback: "Haven't you had enough in Fengle Building at Shicai?"

Jiang Feili said angrily: "Just listening to the two of you arguing, how can you even think about drinking? The commander was really angry, and his face was scary when he got in the car."

"Get in the carriage?" Wu Xu frowned, "He came here in a carriage today?"

In Daxuan, military officers usually ride horses.

Jiang Feili said: "The commander said that it will be cold tonight, and he is afraid of catching the wind and cold, so he came here by car."

"Nonsense, during the Northern Expedition, he once stood firm on the city tower in the heavy snow for a whole month, and many of his comrades died of illness, and I didn't see him catch any cold."

Jiang Feili smiled and said, "Why bother about this? Let's have a bowl of fish soup together at the Lu's fish soup shop."

"You go, I have other things to do."

Wu Xu urged the horse to leave, causing Jiang Feili to leave with a face full of resentment.

When he came to the Wang'an River, Wu Xu got off his horse in front of a small shop, and the waiter came out to greet the customers: "Guest officer, what do you want to eat?"

Wu Xu took out a handful of copper coins: "You help me take care of the horses, I will come when I go."

The man waved his hands again and again and said, "It won't cost so much money."

"Just take it."

Walking to Qilang Tea House, Wu Xu jumped into the backyard from the wall without going through the door.

Qilang Tea House is the largest scented tea house in the capital, and the backyard is where Shuli serves guests.

Wu Xu walked along the eaves to a red building, and climbed up to the second floor like a gecko against the smooth wall.

Looking in through the crack of the window, Zhong Shen was really inside the pavilion.

No wonder he has to take the car today.

Come on horseback, go back empty, for fear of being gossip.

He came in a car and went back with an empty car, thinking that others would not be able to see him.

Zhong Shen, you are still being careless.

Commander Zhong changed into a white shirt, held a folding fan, and was dressed as a scholar.

The spring water on the tea stove has just boiled, and Pan Shuihan, the first lady of Qilang Tea House, has also ground the tea foam.

After making a cup of tea soup, Zhong Shen took a sip, and Pan Shuihan also took a sip.

With four eyes facing each other, full of affection, Zhong Shen stroked his scarf and wrote a poem:
beauty sitting in the house

smiling cheeks

tears in eyes

Lips are bright red.

Hearing this, Pan Shuihan's cheeks were flushed, and he let out a coquettish voice, and fell into Zhong Shen's arms: "My lord, good poems, really good poems!"

Wu Xu almost slipped off the wall.

Speak with conscience!
What kind of good poem is this?
"A grown-up is talented, and the concubine admires him day and night. If you don't dislike it, let's eat this cup of tea." After finishing speaking, Pan Shuihan brought the remaining half cup of tea to Zhong Shen's lips.

Zhong Shen stroked his turban again, drank the tea in one gulp, picked up Pan Shuihan, and entered the bed curtain...

At dawn the next day, at the morning meeting in the imperial city, Wu Xu yawned and entered the main hall.

The Lantern Yamen is responsible for law enforcement at night. When others start get off work in the morning, it is time for him to get off work.

Seeing Wu Xu, Zhong Shen felt uncomfortable, and said patiently: "Wu Qianhu, if you are tired, go back and rest earlier, as I said before, you don't need to attend the morning meeting if you are in charge of the lamp."

Wu Xu shook his head repeatedly and said: "Today is unusual, I have something important to report, I thought about the command mission last night, I thought about it, and drew up a new list, please have the commander look over it."

Wu Xu handed a list to Zhong Shen, Zhong Shen didn't even look at it, just threw it aside, and said to Wu Xu, "What exactly do you want?"

Wu Xu said: "I would like to recruit two talented young students for the Lantern Yamen."

"So what if the talented learners go to you? Over the years, has anyone in your yamen become talented?"

Wu Xu said: "You sent all those who can become talents to Wuwei Camp, and left the rest to the Yamen in charge of the lamp, but who can be expected to become talents?"

Zhong Shen said angrily: "I'm just dividing people up like this, and the matter is settled like this. After all, I am the boss of the Imperial City Secretary. What can you do if you don't accept it?"

The two sides were at war, Shi Xun was watching the excitement, Jiang Feili was sweating from anxiety, and frequently gave Wu Xu winks.

Wu Xu took a step back and touched his waist.

Zhong Shen was shocked, thinking that Wu Xu was going to use force.

Jiang Feili whispered: "Why are you crazy? Don't stop!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly saw Wu Xu take out a folding fan from his waist.

Everyone was puzzled, Zhong Shen's face was pale.

But Wu Xu stroked his kerchief, held his head high and said, "The beauty is sitting in the room, her cheeks are full of smiles, and her eyes are full of tears..."

Snapped!
Zhong Shen stood up against the case and glared at Wu Xu.

"Wu Qianhu! Let's take a step to talk."

(End of this chapter)