Happy Little Scholar

"With Lord Dong's ability and talent, it would be a bit of a waste to be just a Jingzhao Yin."

Li Mingzhu put down a letter, stood up and said: "I have talked with my father and plan to transfer him to the Secretariat after the New Year. According to my father's intention, it seems that he wants Lord Dong to take over the position of Prime Minister Shen in the future."

Li Yi knew Jingzhao Yin Dong Wenyun when he was in Qing'an Prefecture. Of course, he didn't know that he was the son-in-law of Prime Minister Shen at that time... It sounds normal for a son-in-law to take over his father-in-law's job, but the Shen family has another senior official in the court. I don't know if the brother-in-law and brother-in-law will fight for the position of prime minister...

Of course, this is the Shen family's family affair, so he doesn't care about it.

Speaking of this matter, Li Yi looked at her and asked, "The position of Jingzhao Yin is very important. Who do you plan to let take over after Lord Dong is transferred?"

Li Mingzhu casually took a letter from the table and said, "This is the candidate submitted by the Shangshu Province."

"In fact, the most suitable person for this position is Liu Dayou, the governor of the capital. He is suitable for being a parent official, and he can only be a parent official. If he reaches the position of Jingzhao Yin, there is no need to move up, and it would be a waste of talent to move down..." Li Mingzhu said, then shook her head and said, "But he has little experience. If he is forced to promote, it will inevitably cause criticism. We can only consider it later."

"Cui family, Qin family, Han family..." Li Yi looked at the letter and said, "They are really good at picking people. It seems that they are determined to get this position."

I once heard Chen Chong mention that day that the Cui family was determined to get the position of Jingzhao Yin. Among these nominees, almost all of them were officials from the Shu King's line. No matter how they were selected, they could not avoid it.

Li Mingzhu came over and said slowly: "Zeng Shichun, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, is extremely capable. If we really have to choose from these people, only he can take on this important task."

Not to mention that she is only acting as the acting minister temporarily, even if she is a real emperor, when appointing some important officials in the court, the candidates must be proposed by the lower level, and then one of them must be chosen. If she ignores the opinions of the ministers and insists on her own way, the court will be in chaos.

Of course, she is different from her father. Her father can do things that are out of the ordinary, but she is a little unreasonable.

Although Zeng Shichun's name is ranked very late, after careful consideration, she still thinks that if she has to choose one from these people, only Zeng Shichun is the most suitable.

"It's unreasonable to be promoted from the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue to the Jingzhao Yin..." Li Yi shook his head. In order to make up the numbers, the Shu King's family really reported everyone. Zeng Shichun is in the Ministry of Revenue. In the future, he may take over the position of the Minister of Revenue. Isn't it much better than a Jingzhao Yin?

Although Qin Shangshu is in his prime, the chances of being outlasted by Zeng Shichun or making major political mistakes are pitifully small, but there is always a glimmer of hope, right?

Li Yi continued, "Besides, although Zeng Shichun is capable, he is too lazy. He leaves the court before the end of the day every day. How can he be a qualified Jingzhao Yin?"

After all, Old Zeng is different from those people from the Qin and Cui families. This is a muddy water. In order to prevent any trouble in the future, let him do his job as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

Li Mingzhu looked at him in surprise, "Do you really have any prejudice against the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue Zeng Shichun?"

"Just talking about the facts." Li Yi shook his head and said, "Even if Zeng Shichun was here, I would dare to say this to his face."

"Your Highness, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue Zeng has entered the palace to report on his work and is now waiting outside the palace." An eunuch walked in and bowed.

Li Mingzhu glanced at Li Yi and said, "Let him in."

Zeng Shichun must have just returned to Beijing and had not yet gone home to change clothes. He looked dusty and handed over a memorial with both hands, saying, "I have been ordered to supervise the taxation of money and grain in the Beijing-Hebei region. Now it has been completed. This is a detailed report. Please take a look, Your Highness."

After the eunuch took the memorial and handed it over, he raised his head, glanced at Li Yi very obscurely, and stood still.

Li Mingzhu flipped through the list in detail before nodding and saying, "Very good, Lord Zeng has worked hard."

"This is my duty." Zeng Shichun bowed again, "If Your Highness has nothing else to do, I will take my leave."

After Zeng Shichun left, Li Mingzhu took the list and walked over and asked, "Who do you think should take this position?"

Li Yi looked around, thought for a moment, and then said, "Just do as you say."

Among these people, Zeng Shichun has a special status. Those people from the Shu King's family would definitely not have thought that the princess would push the current Minister of the Ministry of Revenue to the position of Jingzhao Yin, so he was just here to make up the numbers and take up the position.

In this way, their arrangements and plans can be disrupted, which is also good for future actions. After all, Lord Zeng is a good opponent that can only be encountered by chance.

Thinking of the things Chen Chong said, he casually asked, "By the way, there is one more thing. There is a great scholar named Chu. Are you familiar with him?"

Li Mingzhu suddenly looked up at him and said in surprise, "Grandmaster Chu?"

Li Yi shook his head, "What Grandmaster? I don't know. Chen Chong said he was some "Jingguo Wenxin"..."

Li Mingzhu looked at him nervously and asked, "Grandmaster Chu just returned to Beijing. What's wrong? You met him. There was no conflict, right?"

"I just heard someone say it. I haven't even met him. How can there be a conflict?" Li Yi looked at her in surprise and said, "Do I look like someone who is so easy to conflict with others?"

"Teacher Chu was once my father's teacher. Including Prime Minister Qin and Prime Minister Shen, they were all taught by him. He once presided over the Imperial College and the Hongwen Academy. The current princes and nobles in Kyoto and almost half of the officials in the court can be regarded as his students. Teacher Chu is the object of admiration of all scholars in the world..." Li Mingzhu looked at him and said seriously: "If you meet him, you'd better respect him. If something really happens, even my father can't protect you."

"Don't worry, why would I provoke him? I'm still worried that he will blackmail me..." Li Yi shook his head and waved goodbye: "You continue to be busy, I'm leaving."

"Remember, the Chu family cannot be provoked." Li Mingzhu reminded him worriedly.

Li Yi waved his hand casually, "I know, I won't provoke them for no reason."

When he walked out, he was still a little confused and depressed.

How come I have never heard of this Master Chu before? According to Her Royal Highness, this old man has extremely high prestige and influence in both the court and the officialdom, which Her Royal Highness may not be able to match.

If such a person is recruited by the King of Shu, wouldn't their previous efforts be in vain?

When Li Yi walked out of the palace gate, Zeng Shichun's figure was still walking slowly in front of him.

Hearing the voice behind him, Zeng Shichun turned around and bowed: "Zeng has to thank Li Xianhou."

Li Yi was surprised and said: "Why thank me?"

Zeng Shichun looked at him and said: "If it weren't for Li Xianhou, Zeng might not have to run around these days and would have an easier life."

"You're welcome, it's my duty."

Li Yi waved his hand and said: "A pillar of the country like Lord Zeng should serve the country more. Her Royal Highness just said that Lord Zeng has outstanding abilities and does a good job. It is also appropriate for him to work harder."

Zeng Shichun raised his eyebrows: "I'm afraid that Li Xianhou has said a lot of good things about Zeng in front of Her Royal Highness, right?"

"Of course." Li Yi nodded , then waved his hand and said: "It's agreed, it should be, Lord Zeng, you don't need to thank me."

The two walked side by side, and after walking out of the palace gate, Li Yi turned back and asked: "Last time in the teahouse, I heard Lord Zeng talking about the East Palace, but I haven't heard Lord Zeng's opinion yet."

Zeng Shichun looked at him, his eyes fixed, and then smiled: "Zeng thinks that Lord Li is right. This is a royal affair. Your Majesty should make the decision alone. We, the outsiders, should not worry about it."

Li Yi nodded, looked at him, and said solemnly: "Lord Zeng is probably more prepared to take on important responsibilities..."

Zeng Shichun was stunned, and a trace of doubt appeared on his face, "What does Li County Marquis mean?"

Li Yi waved his hand and turned away.

"You will know in the future."