My life is like walking on thin ice

Chapter 43 The Prime Minister loses power
As the only aristocratic settlement of the Han family, the 'chain of contempt' within Shangguanli is almost visible to the naked eye.

——In the deepest part of Shangguan Lane, there are two palaces with different styles, but equally vast and majestic. They are owned by the only two ten thousand households of the Han Dynasty: Fouhou and Pingyanghou.

From the Fenghou Mansion and the Pingyang Marquis Mansion, one after another stands next to each other. The farther away you go, the smaller the palaces are and the more "shabby" they appear.

From the Tiaohou Mansion with 8,100 households in the city, to the Wuyanghou Mansion with 5,400 households, to the Marquis House of Enfeng: Zhihou Mansion, Zhangwuhou Mansion, Nanpihou Mansion, and then to the Yihou Mansion with 5,400 households. Zhongshuihou Mansion with more than a thousand households, etc...

Until you get close to the entrance and exit of Shangguanli, and walk a few dozen steps until you reach Zhangtai Street, you will find the former Anhou Mansion of the Prime Minister Shen Tujia.

Compared with those top nobles who often have seven or eight thousand or even tens of thousands of households in the food court, Shen Tujia's only five hundred households in the food court is indeed a bit unsatisfactory.

In particular, Shentujia was not originally a Marquis of Che. In order to maintain the unspoken political rule that "no one who is not a Marquis of Che shall be the prime minister", the late emperor temporarily promoted Shentujia's title from Guannei Marquis to Chehou on the morning of the day when Shentu Jia was made Prime Minister.

Without the status of prime minister, most of the "pseudo Chehous" like Shen Tujia, who lived in an urban area with 500 households, would not have the shame to live in Shang Guanli.

On weekdays, the meritorious nobles in Shangguanli actually criticized Shentujia, a Marquis of 500 households, for living in Shangguanli and lowering his aristocratic status.

However, due to Shen Tujia's status as the founding father of the country and his position as the prime minister, he did not dare to say anything. He could only complain in secret, and at most he could only make some weird remarks.

But now, Shen Tujia has hated the emperor because of "Cutting the Vassal Policy", and has been ordered to retreat behind closed doors by the Emperor Qi. He is about to "lose power". Those meritorious second generations who feel that Shen Tujia has lowered their qualifications have gradually begun to Break free...

"Is Prime Minister Shentu okay?"

Outside the Hou's Mansion, a Chehou, who was richly dressed, had a big belly, and had sloppy steps, was shouting at the closed door of the Hou's Mansion.

Seeing that his actions did not lead to any terrible consequences, but instead attracted many people to stop and watch, the Chehou's face became even more proud.

"I have heard for a long time that Marquis An's Qingfeng has two sleeves. All the salary of the prime minister and the taxes of the prince's country are used to support the old friends in the army."

"Now that I think about it, I'm afraid there won't be anything left to cook, right?"

"——Prime Minister Shentu, there is no need to be so arrogant!"

"They are all honorable members of my Han family, and they were officials in the same dynasty. I just want to send my servants to have a chance, and I will be willing to give them to the Marquis of Gu'an for three or five stone millet?"

"Oh……"

"It's just that I have a poor memory and forgot;"

"So there are no servants in Anhou's family to serve? Huh?"

As soon as these words came out, the crowd burst into laughter, seemingly not caring at all that Shen Tujia, the prime minister who had "harassed the emperor", had not yet been dismissed.

As for Shen Tujia’s title of Marquis Che?

——At this moment, who dares to stop outside the Hou Mansion to watch Shen Tujia’s jokes, who doesn’t have a household of a thousand or hundreds, or even thousands of households?
It would be difficult to find another Marquis like Shen Tujia who lived in a town with 500 households, let alone Shangguanli in Chang'an, even if you look at the whole world.

But on weekdays, Shen Tujia was "selfless" and "breezy with two sleeves", and the entire Prime Minister's Office always acted in a business-like manner, with no human feelings at all.

There are so many people to offend, especially the nobles who have been offended. Now that he "loses power", it is inevitable that everyone will push him down.

For now, this is just a test.

As time goes by, Shen Tujia's survival in Shang Guanli will only become more and more difficult...

"Is the body of Marquis Zhongmou getting stronger and stronger?"

"——But three or five days ago, the Lord came to my door to check my pulse and said he wanted to check for obesity."

"How come you have the strength to go to the palace of the then Prime Minister and brag about it in person?"

Amid the commotion of the crowd, a gentle, calm, and penetrating greeting made everyone look at him. When they saw the person clearly, they all turned away in unison, and even worse, they walked away directly. .

The others were able to escape, but Zhongmou Hou: Shan's father Zhonggen, who was called out, had to bite the bullet and step forward.

"It's actually Ru Fenhou..."

After greeting him slightly awkwardly, Shan's father finally looked around again, and finally said stiffly: "Why is it that Marquis Ru Fen has no time to serve His Majesty today?"

Seeing Shan's father's embarrassment, Rufenhou Zhouren didn't say much. He just turned around and looked up at the simple plaque of Gu'anhou Mansion.

"According to His Majesty's decree, I came to visit the Prime Minister."

Sensing the alienation in Zhou Ren's tone, Shan's father, who was unwilling to stay any longer, finally exchanged a few more pleasantries before walking dejectedly towards the depths of Shang Guanli.

——Shan's father, Zhonggen, was the third generation Zhongmuhou of the Han family, with a settlement of 2,300 households. The Hou's mansion was located in the middle of Shangguanli, just outside.

He once held a position in the imperial court, but he really didn't achieve much, so he just stayed at home, eating, drinking, and having fun all day long, just like an idler.

Looking at Shan's father's leaving figure, Zhou Ren just stared deeply for a long time, and finally let out a long sigh leisurely.

"Think about those days, how gentle and respectful was the father-sage of the first generation Zhong Mouhou Shan?"

"How could I not expect that the third generation..."

"Ugh……"

After sighing for the "misfortune" of Zhongmuhou's family, Zhou Ren finally shook his head and knocked on the door of Gu'anhou Mansion.

After being welcomed into the house, Zhou Ren's cold expression of "Do not let strangers in" also quietly showed a hint of sincere respect.

"Meet the Prime Minister."

It's still the small courtyard, still the same pavilion with ventilation on all sides, falsely called a 'study';

Shen Tujia, who was kneeling in front of the case, saw Zhou Ren's figure appearing outside the pavilion and stood up with a smile.

Seeing Zhou Ren bowing again, he immediately stepped forward to greet him: "We haven't seen each other for a few days, and I miss my doctor..."

If outsiders saw this scene, their jaws would drop in shock.

——Old stubborn cow Shen Tujia can actually smile at others?

——Zhou Ren, who has a paralyzed face, actually greets people on his own initiative?
But what these people don't know is: how sympathetic they are to the current prime minister who is so cool and elegant, and the current doctor Zhongling who is serious, solemn, and frugal in style.

We can’t blame these two for asking too little;

It is true that in the Han Dynasty today, there are too few people who can meet the three conditions of "holding a high position," holding a distinguished title, and "being indifferent to fame and fortune" at the same time.

Even if there is only one "not corrupt or accepting bribes", if we look at the entire world of Han officials, we can only find single digits...

"How about you, Prime Minister?"

Under the guidance of Shen Tujia, Zhou Ren sat down and greeted, and put his hand on Shen Tujia's wrist.

Shen Tujia obviously had no objection to this, and just smiled and shook his head: "At this age, what can I do?"

"I just relied on the foundation I gained in the army when I was young to hold on, and for the sake of the late emperor and your majesty, I will take more care of the ancestral temple and the country..."

(End of this chapter)