The next day, Wang Qiang moved into the original Lin Zhe's house in the palace, and as the chief manager, he was the director of the promotion hall. At ten o'clock in the morning, the chief eunuchs of the thirteen rooms of the inner palace gathered in Wang Qiang's mansion to discuss matters, and everyone sat in the hall, each holding a box in his hand. Everyone did not have a deep friendship with Wang Qiang, knowing that Wang Qiang was shrewd and capable, and he was favored by the emperor and the queen mother, and they were afraid of him in their hearts, so they sat in danger, and the phlegm in the hall was not heard.

When everyone arrived, Wang Qiang went from the backyard to the lobby and sat in the center. Wang Qiang is a new official, and everyone doesn't know what the charter of this new chief manager is, and they all look at him with blank eyes.

Wang Qiang glanced at everyone, coughed on his feet, and then said, "I've been waiting for a long time." He pointed to the box in the eunuch's hand and asked, "What is the purpose of each of you taking a box?" Let's talk about it first, please come to the meeting, and the general manager doesn't care about lunch. ”

The crowd burst into laughter when he said a word, and the atmosphere suddenly relaxed. Zhang Yi, the eunuch in charge of Shangshan, raised the box in his hand and said: "Back to the chief manager, your new official takes office, and it costs a lot, this is the money made up by my subordinates in Shangshan, and I entrust me to honor the chief manager, and I hope you will accept it with a smile." "The palace has appointed a new chief administrator, and it is the rule of the palace for the eunuchs in each room to give gifts.

Wang Qiang pointed to everyone and asked, "So these boxes in your hands are filled with silver for me?" ”

Everyone smiled and nodded.

Wang Qiang laughed and said: "Oh, I said everyone, when I was outside, I was in charge of the money village and the trade market, and the silver that passed through my hand was like water, and the most important thing was silver." But I have received a piece of your heart. ”

He took the box in Zhang Yi's hand, opened it and counted the silver taels inside, and picked up the list of gift givers, which recorded the amount of each person's share.

"In this way, I will accept your silver, but I will double it as it is and give it back to you, come on, take your father-in-law's box, count the number inside, double it and put it in, and you will each take it after the meeting." Wang Qiang commanded.

"Huh? I can't help it, the king's steward. "The chief steward is really benevolent and kind." "Thank you, Boss." When everyone saw that Wang Qiang was not greedy for money, they first had a good impression.

"Uh-huh" Wang Qiang coughed, and everyone immediately quieted down. I only heard Wang Qiang say: "I am young here, so it stands to reason that I should not be the chief manager." But the emperor wants to transfer me back, saying that it is not good to reward me for my meritorious service, and use this method to promote me, transition and transition, and by the way, help rectify the palace. I also told the emperor at the time, this Gonggong Lin is old, and he will retire, there are so many fathers-in-law in the thirteen rooms of the inner palace, which one is not more capable than me, and it is not enough to choose a reliable and capable successor from among them. But guess what the emperor said? ”

Wang Qiang's words reached everyone's hearts, and they all looked at Wang Qiang and waited to hear what was going on.

Wang Qiang deliberately learned Chongzhen's tone and said: "The emperor said: 'It stands to reason that it is not bad to pick a successor, but there are quite a lot of seniorities in the middle, and there are also a lot of gangs, and it is probably inappropriate to be suddenly promoted. This time, after you enter the palace, you must be well organized, especially pay attention to finding a few diligent, loyal and reliable people, focus on training, after a year and a half, I will release you as a foreign official, and you must pick out the right person for me to take over. ’”

Wang Qiangxue's realistic image is reasonable, and everyone is chaotic when they care about themselves, so they naturally believe it to be true, and secretly say in their hearts: "So that's the case!" This Lord Wang just went to the palace for a transition, and it seems that he is still expected to take over. However, if you want to take over, you have to rely on Wang Qiang's recommendation, the emperor decides, and the queen doesn't count, it seems that this Wang Daguan must not be offended. ”

Wang Qiang has the intelligence of Xiaoshanzi, and he knows the details of the old eunuchs in front of him, and knows that the relationship between them is complicated, so he uses the emperor's mouth to knock and beat everyone.

"So, you don't have to think about beating me Wang Qiang, take care of your own duties, and don't bother me with ordinary trivial things. Whoever did it well, the general manager of this university naturally saw it in his eyes, and after a year and a half, the emperor asked, and our family naturally had a rhetoric. Wang Qiang hung a piece of fat high, and he couldn't help but be dissatisfied with these old eunuchs.

Wang Qiang was originally a lazy and naughty person, and he re-entered the palace this time and held the purpose of "hiding in the palace", so after becoming the chief manager, he still didn't care about anything, authorized the subordinates to focus on small things, and asked them to ask the queen for big things. Wang Qiang has always been generous to people, and if there is any fault of the people below, he always turns a blind eye, and he helps cover up those who can cover up, and if he can't cover up, he will be punished lightly. He only went to the queen mother, the queen, and the concubine palace every day to walk around, and then listened to the reports of the big eunuchs in the palaces and rooms, and made high statements.

said that Emperor Chongzhen was attracted by Chen Yuanyuan's beauty since he first saw her in Kunning Palace, and he wanted to take her in. But the queen was very deceitful, she hooked the emperor's heart with Chen Yuanyuan on the one hand, and let him run to his palace every day, and on the other hand, she was afraid that Chen Yuanyuan would rob the emperor of her favor, and tried her best not to let Chongzhen touch Chen Yuanyuan's body, Chongzhen hindered the queen's face, and it was not good to directly mention the matter of storing Chen Yuanyuan, so she could only watch Yuanyuan's performance every day, and then quench her thirst on the queen, and completely fall into the hub designed by the queen, the queen is beautiful.

As the saying goes, what you don't get is the best. The more Chongzhen can't get to Chen Yuanyuan's side, the more itchy he is, he can't help himself, Chen Yuanyuan's figure often flashes in his mind when he goes to the court during the day, and he often wanders when he talks with the minister, and he hurries to Kunning Palace as soon as he gets off the court, and waits to see Yuanyuan's performance, and even the habit of staying up late to deal with government affairs has changed, and he is like a teenager in love who can't give up all day long, making the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty inexplicable.

In the evening of this day, Chongzhen went down to the court and drove to Kunning Palace as usual, he made up his mind to have a showdown with the queen today, and he wanted to accept this Chen Yuanyuan. The queen welcomed Chongzhen into the palace, and the husband and wife dined together. Chongzhen said: "Queen, what program has been arranged for me today." ”

The queen smiled: "I said the emperor, counting today, it's been eighteen days, isn't the emperor tired of watching them perform every day?" ”

Chongzhen smiled and said, "Hehe, how can you get tired?" Since watching their performances, my mood is getting better day by day, and my spirit is much better, this is all your credit, it is really a blessing for me to have such a virtuous queen as you. In order to achieve the purpose of possessing Chen Yuanyuan, this Chongzhen actually patted the queen's sycophants.

The queen was flattered and said: "The emperor praises him like this, the concubine doesn't dare to be, as long as you are happy, even if the concubine is satisfied." ”

Chongzhen continued: "It's really not easy to say that these women are not simple, for more than ten days, there are fresh content in the performances every day, not the same, especially the one named Chen Yuanyuan, who is naturally beautiful, has good color and art, and it is really rare to have this stunner in the dust." ”

Chongzhen's words have implicitly pointed out that he has taken a fancy to this Chen Yuanyuan, if the queen is an acquaintance, she should go down the slope and get off the donkey, and suggest that the emperor accept this woman. But the queen is an unknown person, hearing Chongzhen praise Chen Yuanyuan, she immediately became alert, deliberately interrupted and said: "Your Majesty, how about you taste this lotus seed soft-shelled turtle soup, this is specially cooked for you by the concubine, does it taste good?" ”

Chongzhen tasted a bite of soft-shelled turtle soup, nodded and praised: "Well, it's really good, compared to the imperial chefs, the queen really put a lot of thought into it." He perfunctorily said to the queen, then turned the topic back and said: "It's a pity that beauties like Chen Yuanyuan are in the dust." ”

When the queen heard that Chongzhen was still thinking of Chen Yuanyuan, she was jealous in her heart, and said with a sour smile: "Isn't it, these women have been through the dust for a long time, and they have been circling in the men's pile all day long, I don't know how much they have learned to hook people, and they are loved by everyone, which is like us who grew up in the boudoir, we don't know Fengyue at all, and we can't tie the hearts of men." ”

Chongzhen was unhappy in his heart, and said with a reluctant smile: "Hehe, the queen, you are too careful, how can these dusty women be compared with noble and respectful people like you, they are just epiphany, puppet shows, and they can't be really." ”

The queen said in a non-yin and non-yang manner: "That's not necessarily, these women are all from lewd backgrounds, and their bodies have been provoked by many men, and their methods on the bed must be clever, so that men can't let go of their hands as soon as they get wet." However, the emperor is the king of a country, and there are many concubines and beauties in this palace, so you won't be confused by these broken flowers! She deliberately made Chen Yuanyuan's words ugly, and wanted to use this to extinguish Chongzhen's mind of accepting Chen Yuanyuan.

That Chongzhen is a good face, seeing that the queen deliberately used these words to squeeze herself, he couldn't open his mouth to ask for Chen Yuanyuan anymore, he was angry, got up angrily and walked out, the queen got up in a panic, grabbed Chongzhen's sleeve and asked, "Your Majesty, where are you going?" ”

Chongzhen shook off the queen's hand and shouted loudly at the accompanying eunuchs: "Go, go to Concubine Yi!" Then he walked away without looking back.

When the queen saw that she was angry and left the emperor, she was annoyed in her heart, picked up the pot of soft-shelled turtle soup on the table and slammed it on the ground.

The next morning, Chongzhen returned to the south study after the morning dynasty, remembering the events of last night and still being angry, thinking that he was the king of a dignified country, and he couldn't get started with a beautiful woman, this queen didn't know anything, and she used words to block herself again and again, ignoring her own dignity, which was very hateful. He said to himself angrily: "I am the king of a country, I can get what I want, I will find someone to do it myself, do I still have to listen to your noise?" He looked at the eunuchs who were waiting by his side, all of them were old-fashioned and submissive, and they couldn't help but think of Wang Qiang, this kid has been the chief manager for many days, why can't he even see a figure? He asked the chief eunuch beside him, "Has Wang Qiang been here?" ”

The chief eunuch replied: "Back to the emperor, the chief steward has not been here today, according to his rules, he is usually in the room at this time to listen to the father-in-law in charge of each room." ”

"Oh? He also made rules? Chongzhen said. When Lin Zhe was the chief manager, he always came to Chongzhen's side to serve, and he saw him whenever he looked, but now Wang Qiang is deliberately obscure, and he tries not to see Chongzhen's face. Chongzhen said: "Go, ask Wang Qiang to come to see me immediately." ”

"Obey the order," the chief eunuch turned and went out. After a cup of tea, Wang Qiang went to the south study and saluted Chongzhen. Chongzhen looked at Wang Qiang and asked, "Wang Qiang, you have been the chief manager for more than ten days, what are you busy with?" Why can't I see you all the time? ”

Wang Qiang replied: "Back to the emperor, the affairs in this palace are complicated, and there are many tricky and difficult things to reconcile, and the slave and maid are really a little unable to cope with it when they take over at once." ”

"Oh? Is there anything else in this palace that you Wang Qiang feels tricky? Let's hear it. Chongzhen asked curiously.

"Yes, let's just say that yesterday, two handymen in the outer palace who collected dung buckets fought, accusing each other of being lazy in their work, and the chief eunuch in charge of the house asked me to judge, and what happened between the two of them, where can I judge!" Wang Qiang said.

Chongzhen dealt with military affairs all day long, and when he heard these small things, he felt fresh, and asked with a smile: "Hehe, then how did you deal with it?" ”

"Hehe, I'll give each of them twenty slaps, and then stipulate that one person is responsible for pulling the cart and one person is responsible for loading the manure bucket, and they will change shifts every day." Wang Qiang said.

"Hehe, that's a way to do it." Chongzhen said with a smile.

Wang Qiang continued: "No, there was another incident just now, the two little eunuchs in the inner palace fought for a palace maid to be a vegetable household, and they broke their heads and bled and reported to me. I asked the maid, but I could only cry, I couldn't say anything, and I couldn't tell whose hand was the first. ”

"Oh? So how did you deal with it? Chongzhen asked with interest.

"Hehe, I asked people to beat the boards of two people in front of the palace maid, to see who the palace maid is pleading for, I don't want this palace maid to be a conscienceless, and no one is distressed, so I sent the palace maid to the Huanyi Bureau to do miscellaneous labor. The two were convinced. Wang Qiang said nonchalantly.

"Hahahaha." Chongzhen smiled happily.

In fact, Wang Qiang also talked about these details when he listened to the report of the eunuch below, and did not deal with it personally, but only listened to Chongzhen's question, so he moved out to deal with it. Chongzhen listened, but he was deeply touched, and said in his heart: "It is really wronged to let Wang Qiang, such a capable minister, take care of such trivial things every day." He deliberately encircled Wang Qiang, so he asked: "I heard that your family is still in Tongzhou and has not moved back, is there any difficulty?" ”

Wang Qiang replied: "Back to the emperor, I only have a small mansion in the capital, my mother-in-law is a vain goods, I think the yard is too small, dilapidated, can't let go of her belongings, and refuses to move back, anyway, I also have a place to live in the palace, so it's up to her." ”

"Huh! Now that you have a family, you should take your family with you, and now that you are the chief manager, you should also live in a larger house. Chongzhen said, and then he turned his head to Lin Shan, the chief eunuch of the south study, and said: "You go and send a decree to the household department, asking them to choose a nearby mansion on the edge of the palace, repair it, and allocate it to Wang Qiang to live." ”

"Yes," said the chief eunuch.

"Slave and maid, thank the emperor." Wang Qiang knelt down to thank him.

"Well, get up." Chongzhen waved his hand to make the other eunuchs and guards in the palace all step down, and he was about to talk to Wang Qiang about "business".

Chongzhen was silent for a moment, then coughed and said, "Wang Qiang, I know that it is a bit condescending to let you be the chief manager. But apart from you, I really can't find anyone in the inner palace who can do things and trust, so there's no way. ”

Wang Qiang didn't know what Chongzhen was going to say mysteriously, so he said carefully: "The emperor has won the award, does the emperor have anything to hand over to the slave maid?" ”

Chongzhen hesitated for a moment and said, "There is a group of Kabuki in this queen's palace, you know, right?" ”

"The slave knows." Wang Qiang said.

"I watched their performances for a few days, and they were really good, although these dancers were born in the dust, but all of them were talented, and one of them named Chen Yuanyuan was even more beautiful and fragrant, with good colors and arts, which is deeply in line with my heart, but it's a pity that she is by the queen's side, but it is difficult to do." Chongzhen poured out his thoughts, he clicked to the end, knowing that with Wang Qiang's cleverness, he must have understood what he meant.

"I see!" Wang Qiang immediately understood Chongzhen's purpose for finding himself. He has always been concerned about Chen Yuanyuan, so he often indirectly inquired about Chen Yuanyuan's news, and learned that the queen is favored, and Chongzhen has not been able to possess Chen Yuanyuan as he wishes, and he thinks it is very good, including the awkward things that Chongzhen and the queen had for Chen Yuanyuan yesterday, and he also knows it clearly. Now listening to Chongzhen's meaning, he actually wanted to bypass the queen and let himself help him get Chen Yuanyuan, he was very indignant for a while, and said in his heart: "You want to take advantage of Lao Tzu's sweetheart, and you want Lao Tzu to match you, is there still heavenly reason!" He pretended not to understand Chongzhen's words, and said: "Yes, I didn't expect these dancers to be able to get into the eyes of the emperor, I don't know what is difficult to do next to the queen?" ”

"This ------" Chongzhen saw that Wang Qiang didn't understand, and his heart was anxious, so he simply said bluntly: "Hmph! I like that Chen Yuanyuan very much, and I want to keep it by my side, but the queen relies on her being the lord of the six palaces, so she actually pushes back and refuses to agree, I am the king of a country, and I can't get anything I want! Could it be that she could stop it if she wanted to! ”

"Oh, the slave understands, the emperor wants to take Chen Yuanyuan as a concubine, but the queen doesn't allow it, which is a bit embarrassing." Wang Qiang said.

Chongzhen hoped that Wang Qiang could happily handle this matter for himself, so he simply said: "Wang Qiang, I order you to properly handle Chen Yuanyuan's affairs, no matter what method you use." As for the queen, you don't have to worry, you are doing things for me, and I will take care of everything. ”

Wang Qiang saw that Chongzhen had already made his words clear, and then shirked it was to resist the decree, so he could only use the strategy of delaying the army, delay it for a few days and then find a way, so he said: "The slave and maid understand, but the slave and maid have just taken over the affairs of the palace, and all kinds of matters are not so easy to handle, and this matter is in the way of the queen, and it must be carried out in secret, so please let the emperor allow the slave and maid for some time." ”

"Alright, alright, you just do it with all your heart, and when you need it, I will make the decision for you." Chongzhen said impatiently.

Wang Qiang resigned Chongzhen and came out, worrying while walking, he thought that with the protection of the queen, he could help Chen Yuanyuan avoid this difficulty, and he didn't want the emperor to stare at it, the most appropriate way for this occasion is to try to send Yuanyuan out of the palace, so that the emperor can't run out of the palace to find someone, but this thing can't be done by himself, what should I think of?

Wang Qiang thought all the way and unconsciously walked to the outside of Kunning Palace, and through the small gate was the courtyard where Chen Yuanyuan lived, in the past, he hindered the queen from coming to Chen Yuanyuan quietly every time, but now he thought that since the emperor asked me to do this for him, then he would have a reason to run here, but there was no need to be sneaky, so he simply swaggered in from the main gate and went directly to find Chen Yuanyuan.

When Wang Qiang arrived in Chen Yuanyuan's room, Yuanyuan was thinking about his thoughts while playing the piano, and the sound of the piano was also low and melancholy.

Chen Yuanyuan has been in a bad mood lately. She was deceived into the palace by Zhou Kui, she originally had extravagant hopes for the future, she had been in the dust for a long time, and she was already tired of this kind of obscene life, and she was bent on finding someone who cherished and loved herself, and both hid in the clear spring valley and lived an indifferent and quiet life. It wasn't until a few days ago that she was arranged to perform a song and dance for the emperor in the womb, and she realized that she was no different from other kabuki. When she went to perform every night, she saw that the emperor's eyes full of desire were always staring at her, and she already faintly felt that something was wrong, but she was helpless. Thinking that he was lonely in the palace, the only one who could speak was Wang Qiang.

"Yuanyuan." Wang Qiang interrupted Chen Yuanyuan's thoughts with a light call, Chen Yuanyuan just remembered Wang Qiang, looked up and saw Wang Qiang standing in front of him, his face couldn't help but redden, he got up and saluted and said, "Yuanyuan has seen Wang Gongzi." ”

"Round girl doesn't have to be polite." Wang Qiang said.

"I heard that Wang Gongzi was promoted to be the head of the Inner Palace, and Yuanyuan is here to say hello to Gongzi." Chen Yuanyuan said.

Wang Qiang had something in his heart, and sighed and said: "There is nothing to be happy about, the official body is not as good as before." ”

Chen Yuanyuan was also full of worries, the two of them were speechless for a while, and sat for a while, Wang Qiang asked knowingly: "I was very depressed when I heard your piano sound when I came, I don't know that the girl has encountered something difficult, it is better to say it." ”

Chen Yuanyuan sighed slightly, shook his head and said helplessly: "The slave family left Jiangnan, originally thought of the wind and dust, and had a clean place, but I didn't want to come here, but now the slave family is involuntarily, I don't know how to deal with myself, and it is useless to say it." Yuan Yuan thought that he had been in the dust since he was a child, and he was still a plaything bought by those rich people, and he didn't feel sad in his heart, and tears flowed down again.

Wang Qiang only felt a pain in his heart, stepped forward and gently held Yuanyuan's shoulder, wiped away her tears, and secretly decided in his heart: Even if you don't want to give up this little life, you must protect this woman's thoughtfulness!

Wang Qiang said goodbye to Chen Yuanyuan, and thought all the way back to his house, but saw Xiaoshanzi waiting for him. Wang Qiang introduced Xiao Shanzi into the inner room, and Xiao Shanzi forcibly saluted Wang and said, "Lord Wang, you have to pay attention to the queen recently. ”

"Oh? How do you say that? Wang Qiang asked.

"The queen was annoyed by the incident in Shangqing Palace a few days ago, and after listening to the news from the inside of Kunning Palace, the queen knew that you would always go to meet the dancer named Chen Yuanyuan, so she instructed Liu Hai to send someone to keep an eye on you, afraid that she would rectify you in this matter. Be careful. ”

Wang Qiang listened to Xiao Shanzi's words, but felt that there might be something he could use here. Seeing that the emperor meant to set Chen Yuanyuan, he couldn't stop him if he wanted to, this queen was Chen Yuanyuan's protector, and Chongzhen couldn't stand Yuanyuan's body several times. Wang Qiang sat back in the chair, his eyes were straight, motionless, his mind was turning over and over pondering the relationship between the emperor, the queen, and Chen Yuanyuan, and after a while, he stood up with his palms lightly together, and said: ", that's it, you are unkind, don't blame Lao Tzu for being unjust!" ”

Wang Qiang discussed his thoughts with Xiao Shanzi for a while, and the two went separately to prepare.