Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 150 Laiji’s visit
In silence, Chen Qingsi moved out of Jiangnan Road Residence and moved into Chen Residence in Xuanyangfang.

Xiao Miaochen is very capable of being a mistress, and the repairs of Chen's residence are better than Chen Qingsi expected.

The most critical bedrooms, study rooms, and halls have been sorted out in advance, leaving only the courtyard, pond, etc., which will not affect occupancy.

Xiao Miaochen also specially found the magistrate of Wannian County, and through introduction, hired two maids and servants from innocent families to keep the house in good order.

Soon Chen Di welcomed his first guest, who was the official secretary of the imperial court.

"Come, sir!"

Chen Qingsi greeted him with a bow and was not surprised by Lai Ji's arrival.He fished him out by himself. If he didn't show any expression and didn't understand the world at all, he wouldn't be able to become the prime minister.

For a prime minister to command hundreds of officials, ability alone is not enough.

Faced with Lai Ji's warm return gift, Chen Qingsi invited Lai Ji into the hall.

The two guests and host took their seats.

Lai Ji explained his purpose: "I came here to congratulate my little friend on his move to a new house, and to thank him for his help in rescuing me. If I hadn't spoken out righteously, I might not have been able to escape this difficulty."

Lai Ji had already planned to set things off with Li Yifu, but he didn't expect that Li Yifu would force him to accuse him of treason, linking him with Han Yuan and Chu Suiliang, whom they couldn't get along with.

This kind of biting like a mad dog that has no basis is most effective against an upright official like Lai Ji.

Faced with the false accusation, Lai Ji could not provide evidence to prove that he was not a member of Han Yuan and Chu Suiliang, just as the other party could not provide evidence to prove that Lai Ji was committing rebellion. In the end, everything depended on Li Zhi's decision.

The authority of the emperor also arises from this.

Laiji initially thought that Li Zhi would make a fair judgment, but as time passed, the situation became more critical.

Lai Ji finally understood that he was far less important in the heart of the emperor Li Zhi than he imagined.

Just when I was resigning myself to fate, things suddenly became brighter.

Chen Qingsi, who had only been in Beijing for less than a month, was able to accomplish the things that the party members he had cultivated over the years could not accomplish despite all their efforts.

Gratitude, sadness, and some mixed emotions.

Chen Qingsi heard a bit of frustration in Lai Ji's words, and said: "This time, Li Yifu was too ruthless and bit him indiscriminately. My husband is an upright gentleman, and he was at a disadvantage just now. This kind of biting is indispensable. Face it openly and squarely. After all, just because Li Yifu is Lai Xianggong’s opponent.”

What he said sounded nice, but in his heart he didn't think highly of Hao Laiji.

Lai Ji's temperament was too upright, he would rather bend than bend, and he also had means. He had a group of cronies who followed him in the court.

If Lai Ji meets an emperor like Li Shimin, he can live a very comfortable life.

Li Shimin's mind is one of the best among all Chinese emperors, but the current emperor is Li Zhi.

As someone who has been through this, Chen Qingsi has the right to speak.

Li Zhi is indeed not bad, he is a much underestimated emperor.

But it also depends on who he is compared with. Among the nearly five hundred emperors in China, Li Zhi is ranked among the best and deserves the title of wise emperor and wise ruler.But comparing him to his father, Li Shimin, is not enough.

Lai Ji's temper will anger Li Zhi sooner or later, and it is only a matter of time before he is demoted.

At that time, no one can save Laiji.

But at that time, Chen Qingsi believed that she already had a certain status and strength and did not need Laiji's blessing.Maybe he can even attract his followers...

Chen Qingsi accidentally thought out what was in her mind and quickly straightened her expression.But Lai Ji was touched, and he said with a bit of frustration: "Not to mention these, I am not even half a century old, and I am a highly respected minister. I am satisfied with my life. Let the future take its course."

In Lai Ji's mind, Li Zhi was as wise as Li Shimin, and he himself was a famous minister like Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng.The legends of Li Shimin and Wei Zheng will continue to be written among the emperors and ministers, and they will be famous throughout the ages.

The reason why there are sycophants like Li Yifu is just because he is young and eager to remove Changsun Wuji's autocratic power.

After this incident, I woke up from the dream.

The blow to Laiji from this disaster was not that it seemed to be inferior to Li Yifu, but the collapse of faith.

Listening to Chen Qingsi's tone, she also knew that Lai Ji had a new understanding of Li Zhi because of this incident and changed the topic.

Lai Ji also cheered up and said: "My little friend interceded for me and once again offended Li Mao. This man knows how to watch people's emotions. Now my little friend is highly valued by your majesty. He will not dare to do anything to me in the short term. It's just that Chang'an is no better." Elsewhere, accidents can happen at any time. One more friend means more opportunities and less danger. I have some connections in Chang'an, and I can recommend them to you."

This is what Chen Qingsi lacks the most, and it is also the reason why he chose to rescue Laiji.

Only Laiji can compensate for his greatest weakness in a short period of time.

"Thank you for coming, Sir!"

Chen Qingsi accepted it readily.

When Lai Ji saw Chen Qingsi promised so easily, he regained some energy with a depressed expression.

After this incident, he no longer expected to have a good relationship with Li Zhi.But as the Prime Minister, you still have to do what you should do.I'm afraid that he will end up like Han Yuan and Chu Suiliang. At least he can feel clear of guilt.

To the best of one's ability, cultivating and supporting a few pillars of talent for the imperial court will be beneficial to both the country and oneself.

Lai Ji talked to Chen Qingsi about the power of the temple, involving many trivial things that were not recorded in history, which gave Chen Qingsi a new understanding of the situation he was in.

Chen Qingsi also has a new understanding of Li Zhi's methods.

Dali Temple, the Ministry of Punishment, and the Yushitai are now firmly in Li Zhi's hands, and he can really deal with whoever he wants.

Not to mention Han Yuan and Chu Suiliang, even Changsun Wuji can easily pull him down.

Sun Wuji is not allowed to move now just because Guan Longxungui is deeply entrenched, and uprooting him in one go will cause turmoil in the temple. He is also unwilling to let people say that he was ruthless and unjust and killed his own uncle.

Li Zhi's appointment was not issued immediately, and Chen Qingsi even doubted whether Li Zhi had changed his mind.

But he didn't think much about it, he just carried out routine reforms of the Imperial College as usual, and then, under Lai Ji's introduction, he got to know many important officials in the Chang'an temple.

Compared with the banquet when they first met, Lai Ji was much grander this time and introduced him as the number one person.

Chen Qingsi also formally met the six members of the temple, Liu Daoxiang, Dou Deyuan, Le Yanwei, Lu Dunxin, Dai Zhide, Shangguanyi and others, all of whom got to know each other through Laiji's introduction.

It was not until half a month later that Chen Qingsi received the latest appointment from the Ministry of Civil Affairs as a concurrent post of merit examiner Wai Lang after being introduced by Lai Ji and having established a network of contacts.

Then on the second day, Li Zhi issued an order that Chen Qingsi would be in charge of the imperial examination next year.

Chang'an was in an uproar for a moment.

Most of the examiners of the imperial examination are appointed one year before the examination. By this time, many people have begun to fawn over the current examiner Wai Lang.

No one could have imagined that such a huge burden would fall on the shoulders of Chen Qingsi, who had only been in Beijing for a few months.

(End of this chapter)