The news that Lu Jian was defeated and fled, and Lu Xin took his place, soon spread throughout the capital, and even the Xiahou valve was alarmed. Pen ~ fun ~ Pavilion www.biquge.info early the next morning, Xiahou Ba sent someone over and asked Lu Xin to go to Zhongshu Province.

The Taishi had an order, Lu Xin didn't dare to slack off, quickly changed into his official uniform, and followed the official to Zhongshu Province. In order to prevent the monopoly of power by courtiers, Daxuan followed the example of the previous dynasty and adopted the three-province system, setting up Zhongshu Province, Menxia Province and Shangshu Province, which were respectively responsible for the decision-making, review and implementation of imperial edicts.

At the beginning of the establishment of the three-province system, it did play a positive role in preventing personal arbitrariness, but after the change of Bao'en Temple ten years ago, Zhongshu made Xiahou Ba's power infinitely expanded, and the imperial court made a single word of decision-making, Shangshu Province completely became the office of Zhongshu Province, and the Menxia Province responsible for auditing was even more useless. It is because now the authority of the imperial court is vested in the Taishi Xiahou Ba, and Zhongshu Province is also regarded as the actual prime minister's office.

In fact, even the prime minister of the Qin and Han dynasties did not have the authority of Xiahou Ba.

Lu Xin followed the official of Zhongshu Province, entered the Xuanhui Gate, and came to a magnificent palace courtyard in Ziwei City, on the east side of the Jianyuan Palace, which was where Zhongshu Province was located. On the west side of the Jianyuan Palace, across the square and Zhongshu Province is the Menxia Province, and the largest Shangshu Province is located outside Ziwei City, not in the palace.

It can be seen that the two provinces under the Zhongshu Gate have a special status in the Daxuan Imperial Court. It's just that since the resignation of Mei Yi, the owner of the Mei valve valve ten years ago, no one has been in charge, and now there is no voice, leaving only this Zhongshu Province alone.

In front of the high vermilion lacquer gate of Zhongshu Province, the heavily armed guards are lined up, and there is a chief who is responsible for the transmission of the announcement at the door.

The Zhongshu Provincial official said a word to the principal at the door, and showed a warrant, and the principal let people go. After leading the two of them into the door, the principal asked Lu Xin to be searched in the gatehouse, and then registered his name, official position, reason, and time of entry, which was even more cumbersome than going to Changle Hall to meet the emperor.

"Don't blame Lord Lu, our Zhongshu Province is in charge of important affairs, so we have to be extra careful." The Zhongshu Provincial official smiled and explained to Lu Xin.

"Understood." Lu Xin nodded, his expression very calm. In fact, eleven or twelve years ago, he used to go in and out of Chinese books frequently, but there were no such rules at that time. Today's Zhongshu Ling is still the same as it was back then, but obviously everything is different......

After completing a set of cumbersome procedures, the principal handed Lu Xin a temporary entry and exit waist card, and instructed him: "You must hang the waist card inside, so that no one will interrogate, and then hand it back to me when it comes out." ”

Lu Xin took the waist card and hung it up, and then followed the official into the courtyard, only to see a huge Zhongshu Province, two or three hundred officials were busy here, but the courtyard could not hear half of the noisy sound, quiet and solemn people were extremely depressed.

The official stopped talking, and led him all the way to the front of the main hall, and told him to wait in front of the hall while he went in and passed the ceremony. Lu Xin stood there solemnly, looking at this long-lost courtyard, the ground is still dusty, and there is not a single flower or tree in the courtyard, only the stone tablet engraved with 'forbidden leakage, forbidden delay, forbidden loss, forbidden forgetfulness' is still standing in the most conspicuous place, but the payment of Emperor Qianming has disappeared.

Lu Xin couldn't help but lose his mind a little, and it wasn't until the official went out to let him in that he quickly settled down, cleaned up his robe, and stepped into the main hall.

In the main hall, when the imperial master and Zhongshu Ling Xiahou Ba sat in front of a big red coral screen with a red sandalwood as the bottom, a faint smile appeared on his serious face, and after Lu Xin saluted respectfully, he smiled and said, "Lord Lu, don't come to harm?" ”

Lu Xin was stunned by this opening remark, and immediately understood that Xiahou Ba was referring to the last time he came here, which was eleven years ago. He smiled bitterly and ashamedly: "The style of the Taishi is still the same, but the lower officials have been in the trenches for many years. ”

"The first emperor has mistaken you for ten years." Xiahou Ba sighed and motioned for Lu Xin to sit down. "Back then, you spoke up for the righteousness of all families, but you were deposed tragically, and then the Phoenix View incident happened, and the old man thought that you were disheartened and refused to return to the court to serve."

"What Xiaguan Qianfu pointed out back then, I really didn't have the courage to return to the capital again." Lu Xin said gloomily.

"Hey, the eldest husband should ignore slander and forge ahead, so as to live up to this life!" Xiahou Ba shook his head and smiled: "If you want to be scolded, the old man is ten times or a hundred times that of you, and he still doesn't stick to it." Ten years later, if you look at it again, who in the world now dares to say that the old man is not a word? ”

"The old lady is very human, and the lower officials can't reach it." Lu Xin smiled bitterly.

"Okay, I won't talk about the past anymore, it's good if you can come back." Xiahou Ba Xu smiled and said: "The second brother of the old man, who is not a good person, went to Jiangnan to make a mess of things, but he was able to get you back to the capital, which is finally a contribution." ”

"It's too much of a teacher." Lu Xin hurriedly said: "Hou Ye raised his face to Xia Guan's ear and drank it as a stick, which made Xia Guan suddenly wake up, and he has always been grateful to Hou Ye, and he has been in Beijing for half a year, but he has never thanked him, which is really not a son of man." ”

"Hehe, you don't have to talk around the bush for him. If you mess up the errand, you will be punished, and when you have enough days, you will naturally release him. Xiahou Ba waved his hand and cut off the topic. With a meaningful smile on his face, he said, "I heard that you have been promoted to the deacon of the land valve?" ”

"It's just temporary." Lu Xin smiled bitterly.

"It doesn't make a difference, who else can replace you?" Xiahou Ba shook his head and smiled, and said slowly: "But Lord Lu, don't forget, you are still an important minister of the imperial court. I heard that you have been on leave for a month or two, shouldn't you? ”

"It's the fault of the lower officials." Lu Xin hurriedly bowed his head and said. In fact, among the yamen, the children of the scholar clan have always held important positions in the Qing Dynasty, and the specific errands are handled by officials from the Shu clan, that is, the so-called turbid officials. The officials of the scholar clan have nothing to do, and it is common for them to take leave for several months without going to the yamen.

But when Xiahou Ba pointed out this matter, Lu Xin had to obediently admit his mistake, and any explanation would only get darker and darker.

"It seems that for you, this Dali Temple Youcheng is too idle," Xiahou Ba changed his words, looked at Lu Xin and smiled: "The old man can't let your talented man be lazy, my Zhongshu waiter has been transferred to the Shangshu Provincial Stewardship Department, how about you take over his class?" ”

"This ......" Lu Xin couldn't help but be surprised, Zhongshu Shilang was a purple-robed member of the fourth grade, and he was a cardinal and counselor of state affairs, which can be described as a high authority. The lower official was wrongly loved by the Taishi, and was promoted from the county lieutenant of the sixth grade to the third level and promoted to the right of Dali Temple. ”

"The old man said that you are suitable, and you are suitable." Xiahou Ba said domineeringly, and then smiled: "It's true that you were still a county lieutenant half a year ago, but eleven years ago, you were already the secretary of the fifth rank of the counselor of the state government, and it took so many years to be promoted to the fourth grade, which is already slow and can't be slower." ”

"Xiaguan is ashamed......" Lu Xin wanted to say something more, but Xiahou Ba had already made a decision and said: "It's so decided, you will hand it over when you go back, and you will come to Zhongshu Province on an errand tomorrow!" ”

"Yes......" Xiahou Ba said yes, how could Lu Xin refuse? I had to thank him with sincere fear: "The old lady's grace of recreation, the lower officials have nothing to repay, only the liver and brain are smeared and the death is enough!" ”

"Hahaha!" Xiahou Ba laughed heartily and said: "The old man listens to his words and watches his deeds, Lord Lu will definitely not let me down!" ”

"Yes." Lu Xin hurriedly nodded.

"Let's go down." Xiahou Ba waved his hand, and Lu Xin saluted again and withdrew from the main hall.

When Lu Xin went out, Xiahou, who had a sickly face, came out of the side room, coughed twice, and said, "Uncle's move is really full of courage. ”