Work overtime

Chapter 643 Monk Daoyan 2
At the end of last month, the list of new candidates for the imperial examination was made very detailed by the Joint Supervisory Office of the Ministry of Rites. Among them was Jiang Bingcheng, a cousin of Jiang Yuebai's clan.

Li Beichen sent people to investigate and found that Jiang Bingcheng was from a poor family and had been supported by Jiang Jingxian.

He specially brought Jiang Bingcheng's examination paper, which has handsome handwriting, elegant writing and clear organization.

Asking again, I am also an extremely upright and diligent person. He arranged for him to go to the newly established Ningxia Mansion to serve as a seventh-grade official, to experience it first, and then make plans later.

In addition, two members of the Jiang family branch who were sponsored by Jiang Jingxian were admitted to Jinshi in the past few years and became local officials.

One of them, Jiang Bingqian, served as the county magistrate under Wujiang Prefecture. He made great achievements in controlling floods and organizing grain production. Li Beichen transferred him to the Ministry of Industry as a sixth-grade official.

The other one is Jiang Binglian, who is upright and dares to give advice. He writes good articles and is a filial son. Li Beichen transferred him to the Department of Punishment and Prosecution as the eighth grade governor, responsible for supervision work.

The stepmother, Mrs. Lu, was also the concubine of a wealthy family in Suzhou. She was docile and kind-hearted by nature. She raised Jiang Yuebai single-handedly and treated Jiang Yuebai very well.

However, the Lu family had ancestral precepts not to take the imperial examination and become an official. The descendants have been doing business for generations, and like Jiang Jingxian's family, they are as wealthy as anyone. It is rumored that the Lu family controls the production and sales of Suzhou Biluochun tea.

The largest and highest-grade "Jun to Gusu" teahouse in Suzhou is an property of the Lu family. The teahouse has eight entrances and 200 Eight Immortals tables. It can receive thousands of tea guests every day and supply three to four thousand pots of tea. Every day it is full and bustling with people.

The current actual controller is Lu Youzhi, Lu’s eldest brother and Jiang Jinxiu’s uncle. Li Beichen has ordered Lu Youzhi to come to Beijing with his eldest son to face the saint. Currently on the way to Beijing.

There are also second cousins ​​in the Lu clan who are of the same generation as Jiang Yuebai and join the army voluntarily. Li Beichen transferred the two brothers to the Fujian Navy to participate in navy training. In the army, only by gaining military merit can you build your reputation, and by being promoted can you convince the public.

Li Beichen was relatively loose on the promotion and transfer of civilian officials, but was very cautious about the military.

The army is the armor of a country. He hopes to establish a fair promotion mechanism based on military merit in the military to enhance the military's combat effectiveness and cohesion.

This requires him to lead by example, not to be nepotistic, and not to arrange official positions based on his preferences.

He previously learned that Jiang Yuebai's biological mother, Wang, died in childbirth when she was born. He arranged for someone to investigate the family background of his biological mother Wang. She is also the legitimate daughter of a wealthy family in Suzhou and a descendant of the Langya Wang family.

The Wang family monopolized the embroidery and dyeing workshops in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. In addition to silk dyeing and embroidery, the Wang family is also engaged in the long-term process of selecting and training embroiderers.

Most of the embroiderers in Jiangsu and Zhejiang come from the Wang family embroidery workshop. The highly skilled, young and beautiful embroiderer is worth as much as 200,000 taels, which is a sky-high price in the industry.

It can be said that when Jiang Jingxian married Wang, it was equivalent to a powerful alliance. Together, the two companies monopolized the silk industry in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, as well as the national silk market. Suzhou Prefecture has supplied silk products to the imperial court over the years. As long as they come from Jiangnan, the Jiang family and the Wang family are involved.

The high-end embroidery fabrics and Suzhou embroidery dresses are all produced by Wang's embroidery workshop.

Jiang Jingxian was a wealthy man at the beginning.

Several sets of clothes that Jiang Yuebai and Jiang Jinxiu wore during the draft were all designed by Wang's sister, Jiang Yuebai's aunt, and were made by the top embroiderers in the embroidery shop working day and night.

It is so vivid and vivid in nature, full of the romantic and fresh atmosphere of Jiangnan.

A few days ago, Jiang Yuebai learned the news that his father had passed away. He was depressed. Li Beichen ordered Jiang Yuebai's aunt to be summoned to the palace. On the first day of July, she went to the Shangfu Clothing Bureau to serve as a female official. He just wanted Jiang Yuebai to wear his beloved clothes. I will be happier after Su Embroidery.

A few days ago, Li Beichen issued an imperial edict to decide these matters.

The grades involved are not high, most of them are local officials, and the highest is no more than sixth grade.

From the perspective of the courtiers, compared to the brutal extermination of the family, this reward was nothing more than a small appeasement favor, so no one objected.

Li Beichen did not tell Jiang Yuebai this. He hoped that Jiang Yuebai would feel relieved after learning all this.

After all, whether it is an important official of the court or an ordinary person sending their daughter to the palace, doesn't it mean that they hope that their daughter can shadow the family?

Then give it to her quietly.

More importantly, he wanted Jiang Yuebai to know that he would be the one to protect her for the rest of her life. As long as he is here, the sky will not fall.

Prime Minister Murong Chi came to the Qinzheng Palace alone today, for his cousin Murong.

After Murong's brother heard about his sister's demotion and pregnancy, he hurriedly went to Murong Chi's father for help.

Murong Chi's father remembered that his younger brother had just passed away, and he was united with each other. He also watched his niece Murong grow up, becoming an innocent and lovely little girl. He asked his son to plead for his cousin in front of the emperor.

Murong Chi, who had always been modest and cautious, was stumbling over his words to plead for mercy. It's really hard for him.

Li Beichen nodded after listening, "I will let your cousins ​​meet me after the court tomorrow. You can persuade her well then. Bring your sister to see me tomorrow."

Allowing the concubine to meet her family is a great honor, as it gives the prime minister face.

Murong Chi quickly knelt down to thank him. But I felt uneasy in my heart. The emperor was telling him that there was no hope for his cousin and it was better to replace him.

He couldn't figure out what his cousin had done to make the emperor dislike her so much.

*
In the afternoon Concubine Tian came over to visit and said she had some durians and asked Jiang Yuebai to try them.

Because he lived next door and wanted to see what kind of medicine Tian Fei's Gourd sold, Jiang Yuebai did not refuse and welcomed her in.

Concubine Tian was dressed in pink decorations and wearing a red gold and gemstone necklace. She still had a sweet and youthful style, and she looked very much like a rich girl.

Concubine Tian smiled sweetly and ordered someone to bring the durian over, "Sister Jianing, I didn't disturb my sister's rest, right? I got a strange thing for my sister to try. I heard it smells terrible, but it's very delicious." ”

"This is good stuff. Thank you, sister Tian. Xia Zhi, make tea quickly."

After the two chatted for a while, Concubine Tian said, "Sister, I have some news that I want to tell you."

Jiang Yuebai knew that this was the main event.

"Didn't Meng Zhaoyi shut herself up and think about it for a month? I heard something from the maid in the imperial kitchen today, saying that she had a poor appetite recently, and she seemed to be paying extra attention to it." "Sister Tian, ​​is it possible that Meng Zhaoyi is pregnant?"

"It's possible." Concubine Tian smiled, "Meng Zhaoyi may be promoted to concubine once she becomes pregnant. Her father was the prime minister of the previous dynasty, and he is the humerus that the emperor relies on."

Jiang Yuebai smiled and said, "Sister Tian's family not only protects the family and the country, but also served as a dragon. How can the Meng family compare with this status? My sister, why don't you make plans early and talk to the Taiyuan Hospital to take care of things as soon as possible? To sleep with?”

Concubine Tian was here to provoke, but she didn't expect Jiang Yuebai to be so calm and calm. Her cheeks turned red and she was very embarrassed.

After Concubine Tian left, Jiang Yuebai smiled to herself, feeling that Concubine Tian was quite interesting, making people look at things in a fog, and making people confused.

*
After a busy day, while Li Beichen was relaxing while drinking Lotus Heart Tea, he remembered the monk Dao Yan he met yesterday and felt that this person was very interesting.

He then drove to the funeral palace again.

After paying homage to the Queen Mother, I went to see Monk Daoyan to play chess.

Dao Yan seemed to have expected that Li Beichen would come to see him again. He was very calm and showed no fear, as it should be.

The two sat down in front of the chessboard. The tea served today is Gongmei.

As the color of Gongmei in the tea cup becomes darker and darker, the aroma becomes stronger.

Li Beichen said with a smile, "Since the master said yesterday that he can pinch and calculate, then maybe the master can be regarded as the heir in the palace?"

Dao Yan held the black chess piece and responded calmly: "This is not difficult, it can be done naturally."

He raised his eyes to look at the emperor and asked with a smile, "In this situation, does the emperor still want to give up his son?"

"No."

Li Beichen's answer was decisive and candid, which made Dao Yan feel even more favorable.

An important quality of a hero is to be aware of current affairs, have an objective assessment of his own strength and that of his opponents, and be neither arrogant nor belittle oneself.

Obviously, the current Holy One is the one who knows the current affairs and can afford to take things up and let them go.

Li Beichen nodded slightly, "So every time I win a round, the master will give me some pointers."

Dao Yan raised his lips and smiled, "It depends on whether you ask the ghosts and gods or the common people. There is no need to ask the poor monks about ghosts and gods. It is better to ask the goddesses about such things."

Li Beichen was very interested, "So Master only cares about the common people in the world? Are you interested in fame and wealth?"

Dao Yan shook his head, "For me, fame, fortune and wealth are just things outside me. If the emperor believes that using me will benefit the people, I will serve. If you don't need me, I will settle down in the temple, body and mind, and focus on practice. If there is power, I will take it. Come to bring blessings; if not, you can still help the world and save people."

After hearing these words, Li Beichen was silent for a moment and then said, "If I offer you an official position, master, will you be willing to be an official?"

Dao Yan solemnly said: "As long as you follow the way of heaven, the poor monk will do his best regardless of life or death."

Li Beichen smiled, "Then answer the question I just asked. Count the heirs in this harem."

Dao Yan smiled lightly: "The emperor won, I will naturally say it."

Li Beichen sneered and said slowly, word by word, "Arrogant."

Drop a piece randomly.

Dao Yan smiled slightly and followed closely.

The two fought fiercely for three rounds, and Li Beichen lost in each round. Dao Yan has a weird and changeable chess style, using routines as a cover to hide his true intentions, and has caught Li Beichen off guard many times.

It is said that Go most tests one's IQ and strategy. It is equivalent to a war without smoke. It contains too much planning and adaptability.

Dao Yan rolled up his sleeves and smiled, "The night is deep. Your Majesty, take care of your dragon body and rest early."

"You!" Li Beichen held his breath in his stomach, stretched out a finger, and said with bright eyes, "I'll come back tomorrow."

He turned around and left with his hands behind his back. After walking a few steps and looking back, he saw Dao Yan standing in the shadow under the light, looking at each other from a distance without being humble or arrogant.

Li Beichen was reminded of a poem, "When I suddenly look back, that person is in a dimly lit place."

He snorted coldly. I don’t believe I can’t win against you tomorrow.

An idea suddenly flashed in his mind, and he wanted to tell Jiang Yuebai about the strange people and strange things about her fellow Suzhou monk Dao Yan.

But it was already getting late, so I gave up.

After Li Beichen returned, he was still in a state of excitement. Thinking back on today's chess game, he secretly sighed at Dao Yan's exquisite chess skills and couldn't sleep for a long time. I wish I could catch Dao Yan and play a few more rounds.

Since I can't sleep, I might as well get up and read.

The light in the imperial study room was always on. The moths all around saw the light and flew toward the imperial study, fluttering on the windows and making loud bangs when they hit them.

Li Beichen looked at the candlelight and suddenly laughed, "Everyone in the world is not immune to vulgarity. When they see the things they love, they are as crazy as crazy, like moths rushing to the flame. How stupid and ridiculous."

After saying that, I calmed down and blew out the candle. Sleep peacefully.

In the darkness, some palace servants hurried back to the palace to report to their master. The emperor did not summon anyone today and worked diligently until late at night.