Fortunate Young Gentleman

The 491th chapter of the main text of Ruyi Xiaolangjun: Everything goes up and down. A gift list leaked from the residence of Minister Liu of the Ministry of Rites, allowing the people of Kyoto to watch an extra free excitement before the New Year.

More than ten officials were investigated, specifically involving the Ministry of Works, the Imperial College, the Sinology Temple, the Censorate, etc. The Ministry of Rites was the hardest hit. Counting the doctor of the Ministry of Rites who was imprisoned for fraud, there are only the Minister of Rites Tang Huai and the doctor of the Ministry of Shrines Liu Jin left among the six senior officials of the Ministry of Rites.

Although the details were not published in the newspaper of Tangrenzhai, the countless undercurrents between the lines in the few short sentences could be felt even by ordinary people.

Tang Ning got the news last night and arranged for the people of the Propaganda Department to typeset and print overnight. They had not left work until this morning.

Emperor Chen dealt with many people this time. The Ministry of Rites was almost left with only Tang Huai as the commander. The doctor of the Ministry of Food and the doctor of the Ministry of Rites were imprisoned. The assistant minister Liu Feng was demoted two levels and demoted to another state, becoming a deputy governor of a state. It is difficult for him to come back in this life.

Emperor Chen's treatment of other people was as Tang Ning expected. The seventh-rank officials, whose annual salary was only a hundred taels of silver, could easily take out thousands of taels as gifts. The wealthy families like the Tang family had strong capital and relatives running family businesses outside. Those officials who should have been clean officials could not explain where the money came from. Those who should have been demoted were demoted and those who should have been dismissed were dismissed. It was not surprising.

But Liu Feng was the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, at least a fourth-rank official. He just accepted some gifts and did not embezzle or accept bribes like others. Such a punishment was abnormal.

Although Liu Feng is annoying, perhaps because he is in a high position, he is very vigilant and has no major stains. Even Su Mei didn't find out, otherwise Tang Ning would have brought it out last time. Just because he accepted a gift, Emperor Chen banished him from the capital and confiscated most of his property. Even Tang Ning felt that it was a bit heavy.

In addition, Emperor Chen also promulgated a law by the way. In order to rectify the unhealthy trends in the officialdom, all court officials should not be extravagant or accept gifts in the name of birthday celebrations and weddings.

If it weren't for the 700,000 taels of silver confiscated from the Liu family, Tang Ning almost believed that Emperor Chen really wanted to rectify officials and strictly investigate officials' behavior of accepting gifts.

After this wave of official investigations, the court did not make any major moves. If there were no accidents, from now on, before New Year's Eve, the capital should be more peaceful.

After all, the court still needs to maintain stability. If there are a few more such twists and turns, I am afraid that the system that Chen State has built up with great difficulty over decades will also collapse.

Emperor Chen always did things cleanly and neatly, without dragging his feet. When one group of officials left, another group of officials would soon come up.

The Minister of Rites was temporarily held concurrently by the Hanlin scholar. Liu Jin, the doctor of the Ministry of Shrines, was the only one who escaped among the four doctors. He was recognized by many people for his untainted behavior and his refusal to be involved in corruption with other corrupt officials. He took over the position of the doctor of Rites.

Although the doctor of Rites and the doctor of Shrines were of the same level, their status was very different. The Ministry of Rites was the head of the four departments of the Ministry of Rites. The position of the doctor of Rites was always a preparation for the position of the Minister of Rites.

In a mansion somewhere in the capital, Liu Jin, who had just been promoted to the position of Doctor of Rites, returned home. A woman came up to him and asked happily, "Master, they said you were promoted to Doctor of Rites. Is that true?"

"I'm a woman." Liu Jin glanced at her and said, "I said last time that Minister Liu is doomed this time. If you get close to him, you'll die. Look at the fate of the Doctor of Food and the Doctor of Hosts. If I had listened to you, you would be a living widow now."

"It's all my fault, it's all my fault..." The woman said apologetically, "I'm a woman. From now on, whatever the master says is what I will say. I will never say anything..., whatever the master wants to eat, I will make it for you..."

Liu Jin looked at her with satisfaction, enjoying the majesty of the head of the family, straightened his chest, and said, "First, two pork elbows. I've been busy for so many days and have lost weight..."

...

Tang Family

As the year draws to a close, while other places in the capital are celebrating, the Tang family is in a state of sorrow. The officials who come to visit are all worried and haggard.

These days, countless officials in the line of Prince Duan are worried and dare not let go.

Some of the Minister of Rites, Liu, have been demoted and some have been imprisoned. No one knows whether they will be the next.

In the court meetings of the past few days, Prince Kang has been pursuing this matter relentlessly, and is determined to take this opportunity to wipe out Prince Duan's wings. No one dares to guarantee that they can walk out safely after entering the court.

"King Kang is already preparing a joint impeachment. I'm afraid he will bring it up at the court tomorrow. He really wants to kill us all!"

"It's all Minister Liu's fault. How could such an important thing be stolen by a thief!"

"What's the use of blaming him? Who could have known that His Majesty would get so angry because of a gift list?"

"Lord Tang, what can we do..."

...

Everyone surrounded Tang Qi and kept talking. In addition to complaining about Liu Feng, they were looking for a solution to the problem.

If this matter is not resolved, they will be unable to sleep and eat.

Tang Qi sent everyone away, walked out of the room, came to a wing room, looked at the middle-aged man, and asked, "Mr. Xu, have you thought it through?"

Mr. Xu stood up and said, "He who knows the times is a hero. Since I am in the Tang family, Xu has no other choice."

Tang Qi's expression eased a little, and he said, "Mr. Xu, you know what happened recently, right?"

Mr. Xu nodded and said, "I've read the newspaper."

Tang Qi said, "King Kang is taking this opportunity to pursue us relentlessly and refuses to give up. If we don't do anything and let him do this, it won't be long before he can step into the East Palace. By then, it won't be a good thing for you and me. I wonder if Mr. Xu has any countermeasures for this?"

Mr. Xu shook his head and said, "It's too early."

Tang Qi looked at him and asked, "What's too early?"

"Lord Tang just said that King Kang will soon step into the East Palace, but it's too early." Mr. Xu said, "Whether it's King Kang or Prince Duan, it's impossible for them to step into the East Palace for a long time. This time may be one or two years, or it may be ten or twenty years, but it's definitely not now."

"What do you mean?" Tang Qi frowned and said, "Mr. Xu, don't beat around the bush, just tell me what we should do."

"Do nothing." Mr. Xu took a sip of tea and said, "Just watch King Kang do it."

Tang Qi looked at him, his eyes slightly cold, and said: "Do nothing, wait for King Kang to catch us all in one fell swoop, Mr. Xu, are you kidding?"

"Lord Tang doesn't understand King Kang." Mr. Xu looked at him and said: "King Kang is a brainless person, and he is stubborn. It's okay if he doesn't do anything, but if he does, he will make mistakes... What's more, you don't have to do anything in the first place. It's not time to decide the winner between King Kang and Prince Duan. Lord Tang only sees King Kang chasing you relentlessly, doesn't he see that His Majesty did not adopt his advice? ? "

"Everything that rises to the top must decline, and everything that reaches its extreme must reverse. A person can be proud, but not too proud. "Mr. Xu put down his teacup and continued, "Your Majesty does not want to see the dispute between Prince Kang and Prince Duan come to an end too early. Before that, no matter what you do, it will be in vain. Otherwise, after the last time the Minister of Revenue helped Prince Duan embezzle tax silver, Prince Duan would have already lost. Lord Tang has been in the court for a long time, and he doesn't know the principle of checks and balances. "

After listening to his words, Tang Qi was silent for a long time, his eyes flickered, and I don't know what he was thinking.

He glanced at Mr. Xu and said, "Mr. Xu's words, I will consider it. Mr. Xu, rest well here these few days. If you need anything, just tell the servants to do it. "

He walked out of the room and soon came to another hall.

Tang Huai sat on a chair, and there was a figure standing in the hall.

Tang Qi walked in, looked at the young man, and asked, "Are you undercover sent by Prince Kang?"