People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 1852 I Need Another Eye

Under the cover of night, Huangfu Zhong hurried towards Yanfufang.

As soon as he arrived at the gate of a mansion, he saw the Minister of Zongzheng Temple, Prince Zheng Li Jing, the Minister of Taichang Temple Yuan Jiazuo, the Prince's attendant Yin Zhongrong, and the Prince's Chongwenguan scholar Yan Zhaofu walking out of the mansion together.

Huangfu Zhong immediately stood aside and bowed.

Li Jing saw Huangfu Zhong, nodded with satisfaction, and said: "Huangfu Changshi is handsome and capable, do a good job."

"Thank you for the praise, Your Highness." Huangfu Zhong immediately bowed.

Li Jing smiled, turned around and said, "Okay, that's it. We still have to go back to the palace to report to His Majesty."

"Yes!" Under the palace gate, the Censor Huangfu Rixiu, the Doctor of Works Huangfu Xi, the Junior Minister of Rites Huangfu Gongyi and others came out together.

After seeing off Li Jing and the others, everyone from An Ding Huangfu family returned to the back hall together.

Huangfu Zhong, who had just returned, was a little confused. He looked at Huangfu Rixiu and asked, "Cousin, what happened?"

"Some time ago, the prince's servant Yin Zhongrong came to propose marriage for Qi Niang." Huangfu Rixiu sighed and said, "Since her uncle passed away, Qi Niang has been in mourning for three years according to the ancient rituals. Because of this, her marriage was delayed. A few days ago, the mourning period was over, and several families came to propose marriage, but Qi Niang was not very satisfied. Unexpectedly..."

"The Prince's attendant Yin Zhongrong, the Prince, no, the Prince is still young, no, it's Your Majesty." Huangfu Zhong immediately came to his senses. Prince Zheng Li Jing and the Minister of Taichang Temple Yuan Jiazuo were here to propose marriage for the Emperor.

Thinking of Huangfu Zhong, he couldn't help but curse: "His Yin family and Yan family are also Shandong big families, why would they do such a thing?"

Yin Zhongrong's father was Yin Lingming, the Changping of Chen County and the Minister of Guanglu Temple during the Zhenguan period. Yan Zhaofu was the nephew of Yan Shigu, a famous official in the early Tang Dynasty, and was from Linyi, Shandong.

Moreover, they are still a family, and even behind them stands the same giant, the Guanzhong Liu family.

"Let's not talk about other things. The clan agrees with this marriage. After all, Qi Niang's matter is there. As for Your Majesty." Huangfu Rixiu smiled and said, "Now that we are already in-laws, there is not much to say."

After a short pause, Huangfu Rixiu said, "Although your majesty has a large number of concubines in the palace, you and I both know that compared with Emperor Taizong and Emperor Gaozu, your majesty's harem is already very small. Even Chongyuan, one of the nine concubines, is still vacant."

"So, after Qi Niang enters the palace, she will be named Chongyuan. Isn't my Huangfu family's family background enough?" Huangfu Zhong asked subconsciously.

"Your Majesty thinks highly of us." Huangfu Rixiu bowed slightly towards the direction of the palace and said, "You and I, brothers, are the top scholars in both civil and military examinations in the fifth year of Kaiyuan. This has never happened since the founding of the country. Not to mention, your two uncles are also highly regarded by your Majesty."

"My uncle has just been appointed by Your Majesty as Junior Architect of the Imperial Court." Huangfu Xi bowed with a wry smile.

"Then the Minister of Works?" Huangfu Zhong couldn't help but ask.

"It's impossible." Although Huangfu Xi smiled bitterly, he still nodded and said, "The Junior Architect is not bad. The Senior Architect Pei Feishu is not young anymore. In a few years, I may be able to take over and be promoted to Senior Architect."

The Chief Architect was a third-rank official position, which might be better than the Vice Minister of Works.

And to be honest, throughout this dynasty, the number of people who have been promoted from Chief Architect to Minister of Works has been the largest.

The same was true of Yan Liben and Yan Lide during the Zhenguan period.

Even the Minister of Works of this dynasty, Huang Rensu, was promoted from the Chief Architect.

"Of course, the prerequisite is that you can be promoted to Chief Architect." Huangfu Gongyi, with gray hair on the temples, finally spoke.

Huangfu Gongyi didn't care much about the affairs of the court. After all, he was Li Xian's prince secretary and rarely took care of the affairs since he returned to the court. But firstly, he was not young anymore and was on the verge of retirement. He needed to consider the descendants of his family. Secondly, Li Xuan was in Luoyang this year and adopted a son of the royal family for Li Xian, who was raised by Dai Wangfei Pei.

Li Xian was an unlucky crown prince. He was deposed for treason and finally lived a peaceful life for a few years in Bazhou. Unexpectedly, Empress Wu suddenly usurped the throne and killed Li Xian and Li Dan. She did not let Li Xian go. Even Li Xian, his wife Fang, and his children were all killed by Empress Wu.

It's almost extinct.

This year, Li Xuan adopted a royal family member for Li Xian in Luoyang and conferred him the title of Prince of Changsha.

Of course, this is because Li Xian was not posthumously named emperor.

Unlike Li Hong, he was posthumously named emperor, so his son could be named the successor king.

"Then what about Qi Niang? What is Qi Niang's attitude?" Huangfu Zhong couldn't help but look at Huangfu Rixiu. After all, Huangfu Rixiu was Qi Niang's cousin.

"You know that Qi Niang has a distant personality. She has no objection to this matter." Huangfu Rixiu shrugged helplessly.

"This is not a bad thing." Huangfu Zhong sighed lightly.

Huangfu Gongyi smiled and said, "You have heard that your majesty's harem is harmonious and the queen is considerate and loving to the concubines. She is almost comparable to Empress Wende. Compared with the reign of Emperor Gaozong, it is much better."

"Bah! Look at what I am saying." Huangfu Gongyi raised his head and said, "Come on, let's go in and discuss the marriage. This is no small matter!"

……

In the Liangyi Palace, Li Xuan looked at Li Jing calmly: "Did the Huangfu family agree?"

"Yes!" Li Jing bowed earnestly, and then asked curiously: "Why did your majesty agree to this marriage? Isn't the Huangfu family's status enough to be one of the nine concubines, Chongyuan?"

"I need an extra eye." Li Xuan put down the thin bamboo gold pen in his hand and said, "Tens of thousands of elite cavalrymen have fought their way into Silla. I need an extra eye to watch them. Otherwise, if something goes wrong, it will be very painful."

"Yes!" Li Jing bowed solemnly.

Not knowing what he was thinking of, Li Jing cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, a few days ago, I have been hearing people discussing the issue of the chief examiner of the imperial examination. There are many rumors in Chang'an that the chief examiner of the next imperial examination will be the left prime minister?"

"No." Li Xuan smiled and said, "It's the Minister of Personnel Yun Hongyin. He will be the chief examiner of the imperial examination next year. I have suppressed him for several years. Next year it is time to let go of that pressure."

"So..." Li Jing immediately understood.

Li Xuan shook his head slightly and said, "I can't say for sure. It depends on the situation. If necessary, Yun Qing will become the prime minister as the Minister of Personnel and the third rank of the Secretariat."

"Yes!"

……

Outside the Liangyi Palace, Li Jing raised his head and looked at the sky. He finally understood that a big change was about to come.

A snowflake slowly fell from the sky and landed on the tip of Li Jing's nose.

A chill penetrates my heart.

(End of this chapter)