Fortunate Young Gentleman

Shuxiu Palace.

Concubine Shu held a piece of paper in her hand and frowned.

There was a list of names written on this piece of paper, which were the candidate officials drafted by the Ministry of Rites this time. Shen Ye's name was written at the first one.

"No, big brother was reckless this time..."

A trace of anxiety appeared on Concubine Shu's face. She looked behind her and said, "You should leave the palace immediately and send a message to Fang Shangshu on my behalf, saying that the Ministry of Personnel must not recommend Shen Ye to be the Minister of Rites..."

The Shen family and the Fang family are close friends. She can understand her eldest brother's intention to increase the bargaining chip for King Run, but this is too obvious. Once His Majesty thinks of something based on this, their plan will be aborted just after it has begun. middle.

Right now, it is definitely not an opportunity for King Run to walk from the back to the front.

Zhao Yuan shook her head and walked in from the door, looked at Concubine Shu, and asked doubtfully: "Concubine, the Minister of Rites is Zhang Yan, who is Shen Ye?"

Concubine Fang Shu was stunned, looked at him suspiciously, and asked, "How do you know that the Minister of Rites is Zhang Yan?"

"I just came from my father's place. I heard what my father said." Zhao Yuan looked at Concubine Fang Shu and said in surprise: "Concubine, who is Zhang Yan? Why does it sound familiar?"

"Zhang Yan is the father of your Zhang family sister." Fang Shufei explained, picked up the paper in her hand, and looked at it again. Zhang Yan's name was listed last. According to common sense, the position of the Minister of Rites is so different. It's not his turn. Could it be that the order of the list submitted by the Ministry of Rites has been adjusted?

Zhao Yuan said happily: "Has your father-in-law been promoted?"

"Who is your father-in-law..." Fang Shufei glanced at him angrily and said, "At such a young age, from whom did I learn these words, and I am half-hearted about girls..."

"Mr. He." Zhao Yuan said confidently: "There are five mistresses in your family. I only have sisters from the Wang family, Zhang family, and Bai family. There are still two more to go..."

Concubine Fang Shu looked at him and asked, "Don't you have only four ladies in your family?"

Zhao Yuan's expression was stunned, and he knew that he had let slip just now and almost confessed the imperial sister. He rolled his eyes and said with a naive smile: "Sir, there are only four mistresses. I remembered it wrong..."

Fortunately, Concubine Fang Shu didn't argue with him about this. She looked at him and asked seriously: "Did you really hear my father say that the new Minister of Rites is the father of the Zhang family's sister?"

Zhao Yuan took out something from her arms, handed it to Concubine Fang Shu, and said, "Concubine, you will know by yourself."

Fang Shufei looked at a strange paper-like object in her hand and wondered, "What is this?"

"My teacher taught me how to fold this little frog." Zhao Yuan said, "Put it on the ground, press its butt, and it will jump forward. If you want to see it, I will let you see it."

Fang Shufei shook her head and asked, "What does this have to do with Sister Zhang's father?"

Zhao Yuan took apart the paper art and said, "This is the paper my father gave me when I folded the little frog for him just now. I saw my father-in-law's name on it."

Although Fang Shufei was amused that the father and son were actually playing with memorials, she was pleased with their lack of scruples. After taking it apart, she saw the list of candidates for the Minister of Rites submitted by the Ministry of Personnel. Zhang Yan's name was impressive. Listed first.

She looked at the paper in her hand and said in surprise: "Why has it changed..."

Zhao Yuan looked up at her and said, "Mother, I want to go out of the palace to play with the Zhang family sister."

Fang Shufei gave him a dissatisfied look and said, "What are you playing for? Have you finished your homework for today?"

Zhao Yuan looked at her and said innocently: "Sir, he said that there was a lot of fun at Zhang's sister's house, so he asked me to join in the fun..."

"Sir?" Fang Shufei murmured, and a bright light suddenly flashed in her mind.

She breathed a sigh of relief and murmured: "No wonder..."

Based on her understanding of her eldest brother, he would never have imagined this, but she forgot that besides Fang Hong, there was also Tang Ning in the staff department.

If he hadn't been here this time, maybe something good would have turned into something bad, and even their plan would have failed halfway...

She looked at Zhao Yuan, who was taking out a book to read, and asked, "What are you doing?"

Zhao Yuan said in surprise: "You asked me to study..."

Concubine Fang Shu took the book from his hand, threw it aside, and said: "Stop studying and go play with your Zhang sister. From now on, whatever your husband says will be whatever you say, just listen to him..."

…

Zhang family.

The Zhang family in the capital is famous for its poetry and calligraphy, and has countless disciples. Each generation has been appointed as a bachelor. It is a famous noble family in Beijing.

Although the position of Grand Scholar does not hold real power and does not participate in court affairs, its status is extremely respected. Everyone from the common people to the courtiers respects him very much.

It was the Zhang family's luncheon at this time. Everyone was eating slowly, no one was talking, and no one was making too much noise.

At a certain moment, a servant walked in from outside and whispered: "Sir, His Royal Highness Prince Run is here."

During the dinner, a pretty little girl put down her chopsticks, looked at an old man in front of her, and whispered: "Grandpa, I'm done eating."

Academician Zhang nodded and said, "Go."

Although the rules of the Zhang family are that the younger ones are not allowed to leave until the elders leave the table, but if the little girl does not go out, if King Run is invited in, all of them will have to stand up and salute, which will be troublesome.

King Run Zhao Yuan often comes to the Zhang family, and the Zhang family is not surprised by this.

After dinner, the servants cleaned up the leftovers of the bowls and chopsticks. The old man wiped his mouth, glanced at a middle-aged man below, and asked casually: "Your Majesty wants to appoint the Minister of Rites again. Who is the one recommended by the Secretariat?"

The middle-aged man said: "It's my son."

The Secretariat is responsible for drafting and issuing imperial edicts. The former has become the job of the Hanlin Academy many years ago. The Secretariat of Chen State is just an institution that issues decrees and imperial edicts. It does not participate in court affairs. Most of them are noble officials.

The Ministry of Rites is actually the same. After even the affairs of the imperial examination were transferred to the Ministry of Personnel, it completely became a noble place. However, the Ministry of Rites is still the head of the six ministries in name. The power of the Minister of Rites is not great, but his status in the hearts of scholars and even officials is half a level higher than that of the ministers of other ministries.

If the Zhang family can produce another Minister of Rites in addition to the Grand Secretary, then they will stand at the top of the Qingliu family.

However, there are still many officials in the court with more seniority and ability than Zhang Yan. No one can get this position. This time, it is just to fill the number.

The old man looked at him and said, "The Secretariat is not much worse than the Ministry of Rites. You are still young, so it is good to hone your skills more..."

The middle-aged man did not hold any hope in his heart, and nodded, "I understand..."

Zhang's family, in the back garden.

Zhao Yuan picked a flower casually, handed it to the little girl with both hands, and said, "For you."

The little girl was about to take it, but he suddenly said, "I will help you put it on your head. This flower must look good on your head."

The little girl blushed and said, "Okay then."

Zhao Yuan put the little flower on the little girl's head, stared at her, and smiled innocently, "It looks good."

The little girl squinted and said, "Not as pretty as the Wang family sister and the Bai family sister."

"They have their own beauty, you have yours, you are all beautiful..." Zhao Yuan saw that the little girl seemed to be about to speak again , hurriedly changed the subject and said: "I came here today to congratulate you, your father is going to be the Minister of Rites..."

"Liar..." The little girl pouted at him and said: "Dad said that he can't be the Minister..."

Zhao Yuan looked at her and asked: "Do you dare to bet?"

The little girl said: "What bet?"

Zhao Yuan thought for a while and said: "If your father becomes the Minister of Rites, you kiss me."

The little girl blushed and pouted: "What if not?"

Zhao Yuan smiled silly and said: "Then I will kiss you."

The little girl looked at him and nodded hesitantly.

"Don't cheat." Zhao Yuan looked at her, stretched out his little finger, and said: "Pink."

The little girl stretched out her little finger and hooked it with him, saying: "Pink..."