Zhong Likuang, who was meeting guests in the main hall of the Prime Minister's Mansion, was also shocked when he heard this announcement, and thought: "Isn't this Qiu Yizhi sent out to be a county official?" Why did you return to the capital after less than three months? And before returning to Beijing, I didn't say anything to myself, and I was too bold. ”

Zhongli Kuang was so preoccupied that he forgot that there were two waiters and a scholar from the Ministry of Industry sitting in front of him, and he forgot that they were discussing a major matter about dredging Caoyun, so he only held tea and was stunned in his seat.

In a hurry, the Ministry of Industry Shangshu Lujia kept calling: "Xiangye, Xiangye!" ”

Only then did Zhong Likuang come to his senses from his contemplation and said: "I know your affairs, you go back and make a budget, and after I discuss it with His Highness, I will hand it over to the Holy Lord, and ask the Holy Lord to decide." You must know that the emperor is benevolent, and it is not easy to take turns to depose the world's money and grain, and it is not easy to get money from the household department, and your budget must be set more carefully and closely, so that people can not find faults. Got it? ”

Zhong Likuang had been presiding over the affairs of the central court for several months, and the ministers of the court and the central government had accumulated a lot of fear in their hearts for this prime minister, who was usually unsmiling and spoke very harshly. Therefore, although Lu Jia was also an old minister, when he heard Zhong Likuang's question, he only dared to promise to come down and agree.

But he changed his words and said: "The old minister is over the age of sixteen this year, and the trivial affairs of the Ministry of Industry are really unable to deal with them, so I want to go home and enjoy the joy of family." If the prime minister is free, can he report to the saint for the old minister, saying that the old minister is old and frail, and he can't drive away, so please ask the saint to allow the old minister to go home. ”

Before Lu Jia finished speaking, Zheng Xin stepped into the hall with one foot and said with a smile: "Is Lord Lu clamoring to retire again?" In my opinion, adults are indeed old, and it is also appropriate to go home and hug their grandson, and I will find an opportunity to talk to my father about this matter. ”

When Lu Jia heard this, he saw that the main hall had come down, so he hurriedly got up and was about to bow down, but he was held by Zheng Xin and said: "Lord Lu is an old minister of the Three Dynasties, how can I stand your worship?" If my father knows about it, can't I be scolded for not knowing the depths? ”

Lu Jia was moved when he heard this, and hurriedly said: "Your Highness is still considerate of the old minister's heart!" The old minister's return to his hometown is all up to His Royal Highness. ”

Zhong Likuang on the side disagreed: "I have told the emperor many times about this matter. The emperor said: The imperial brother was unwell in his later years, neglected government affairs, and was able to maintain the operation of various passes and passages in the Han Dynasty, which is the credit of Lu Jia; Although Lu Jia is old, he is deaf and clear-sighted, and his spirit is strong, and the detailed affairs of the Ministry of Engineering can be handed over to his subordinates, and Lu Jia will not tire him out if he is in the middle of the department. The above are the original words of the Holy One, please pay attention to them. ”

Since it was Emperor Zheng Rong's holy will, Lu Jia had no choice but to dispel the idea of retirement, and bowed to Zhongli Kuang, which was regarded as a promise.

Zheng Xin smiled and said: "It seems that my father is still the master of the extreme heavy Lu!" Recently, someone gave me a few wild ginseng, I see the quality is excellent, I will go back and choose three high-grade ones to send to Lord Lu's mansion to make up for the adult! ”

Although Lu Jia failed to retire, he received such a reward, and his face also felt bright, and he hurriedly thanked Zheng Xin repeatedly.

Zheng Xin turned his head and said to the two waiters of the Ministry of Works: "After all, Lord Lu is over the age of sixteen, and you need to spend more time on trivial matters in the ministry, so I will also take this opportunity to learn more skills from the boss." Maybe in two years, the emperor will be gracious and allow your lord to retire, and then the vacancy of the Ministry of Industry may be selected from the two of you! ”

When the two waiters heard this, they were naturally happy, and they hurriedly got up and saluted.

Zhong Likuang on the side saw Zheng Xin buying people's hearts like this, so he naturally felt that something was wrong, but it was inconvenient to stop it on the spot in front of the public, and seeing that he was also following Qiu Yi's thoughts behind him, there must be something important to discuss with him.

So Zhong Likuang had a gloomy face and said to several senior officials of the Ministry of Industry: "Have you all written down what I just said?" I still have something to discuss with Your Highness, so you can retreat first!" ”

He said this very coldly, and there was no room for maneuver, a Shangshu and two waiters were all stunned when they heard it, and they didn't dare to say more than half a word, so they hurriedly resigned.

When Zhongli Kuang saw them leaving, he was just about to open his mouth to persuade Zheng Xin to say a few words of advice, persuading him not to give favors lightly, thus messing up the order of the dynasty. But he thought that this time was different from the past, he was no longer a teacher in the little Youyan Palace, and Zheng Xin in front of him was not the little prince who saw him respectfully, so he had to swallow the words in his stomach and only glanced at Zheng Xin coldly.

However, at this glance, Zheng Xin was stunned and uncomfortable, and quickly changed the topic and said, "Master, who do you see coming?" With that, he grabbed Qiu Yizhi and blocked him in front of him.

Qiu Yizhi was caught by him like this, and suddenly remembered the dignity of the teacher, so he immediately knelt down and kowtowed a few times, and said: "Yizhi is polite." ”

Zhongli Kuang said expressionlessly, "You get up." Let me ask you, why did you come back to Beijing again if you didn't do the Shanyin County Order? ”

Qiu Yizhi got up, patted the dust on his knees, and said, "The student is here for the affairs of Sanyin County. I have only been in the county for less than a month, and there is a big case, how to handle it, and I want to ask my husband. ”

Zhong Likuang nodded and said, "Your mind is good. However, the Han Dynasty has a million dollars in the world, and Li people are hundreds of millions of trillions, how many cases can be issued in a day. If there is no county order like you, and you go to Beijing to complain about a case, won't the capital be filled with officials from all over the world? ”

Qiu Yizhi hurriedly said: "The master taught a lesson. However, the twists and turns of this case are strange, and the attitudes of the two bosses above me are also extremely ambiguous. ”

As he spoke, Qiu Yizhi handed the document he had written to Zhong Likuang, and briefly explained the reasons for the "Thirteen Lives Strange Case", and explained in detail the attitudes of Zhizhou Cai Min and Assassin Shi Yin Chengliang towards this case.

The more Zhongli Kuang listened, the more serious he became, and a layer of gloom gradually shrouded his face.

He patiently listened to Qiu Yizhi's words, and was about to speak, but heard Zheng Xin say: "I know this Yin Chengliang, he has always called himself elegant, and he is quite clear as an official. How can you start a case and be so confused? ”

Qiu Yizhi frowned and said, "I'm afraid this is not a foolish thing...... I'm afraid it's ......."

As soon as Qiu Yizhi spoke, Zhong Likuang had already guessed what he wanted to say next, so he interrupted: "Then what are your plans for next?" ”

Qiu Yizhi glanced at Zhong Likuang, and said carefully: "According to the students, if this case is handled seriously, it will inevitably stir up the Jiangnan officialdom; If you cover up the past, I am afraid that Jiangnan will be polluted like this, and it will be difficult to calm the hearts of the people! ”

Zhong Li Kuang listened to Qiu Yizhi's words word by word, and then said, "It's good that you can think like this!" In my opinion, although this case is not large, it involves a wide range of cases. There is also an official scandal involved, which is indeed not something that can be arbitrarily handled. You were able to go to Beijing to inquire about this case in person, and you did the right thing, and it was in vain the experience of the past few years. ”

Zhongli Kuang has always been mean and cunning, and he rarely praises his students, and today he can say this, Qiu Yizhi is already very moved.

Zheng Xin, who hadn't spoken for a long time, was a little jealous, and hurriedly said: "I don't think this matter can be taken lightly, or my brother will go back to write the seal, and I will personally bring it to my father's side, so that his old man can decide?" ”

Qiu Yizhi also meant this, nodded, and was just about to agree.

But I heard Zhong Li Kuang say categorically: "Yizhi doesn't need to go back, I will meet the Holy Lord with your eldest brother." In my opinion, your matter is the most important thing in the world, and without further ado, you should follow us to meet the emperor. ”

Qiu Yizhi didn't expect Zhong Likuang to be so anxious, but he didn't dare to disobey, and hurriedly agreed in unison: "It's just that I'm not wearing an official uniform, so I'm going to see the emperor, isn't it a little out of order?" ”

Zheng Xin smiled and said: "You, a seven-grade sesame official, even if you wear an official uniform, what can you do?" You Qiu Yizhi has been the magistrate of the county for three days, and you have become so verbose, hurry up and follow us into the palace. With that, he took Qiu Yizhi and walked out the door.

Zhongli Kuang's Prime Minister's Mansion was on the edge of the imperial city, and the three of them did not bother to ride a sedan chair and horseback, and they walked together without a single tea kung fu, and then arrived at the main gate of the imperial city.

The Imperial Forest Army guarding the Imperial City saw that His Royal Highness and Prime Minister Zhongli were coming, and they circled around them to verify their identity, so they let them in very respectfully.

When it was Qiu Yi's turn, the janitor stopped him and asked, "Who are you?" ”

Seeing this, Zheng Xin, who had already entered the imperial city, turned back and said to the soldier: "This is what I want to take to see the emperor, so you can be accommodating and let him in." ”

The soldier was also serious and responsible, so he said: "Early this morning, our leader also said that we must carefully guard against it, and no matter who it is, we must verify his identity before he can be let in." If you violate the rules, the little one will inevitably be scolded, and if something happens, it will be difficult to save your life. Please forgive me for the small difficulties! ”

When Zheng Xin heard him say such a long time, he was already impatient, and said: "You are a little soldier, and you still have so many rules. Who is your leader, let him come out and speak! ”

Qiu Yizhi hurriedly stopped Zheng Xin and said, "Why does the eldest brother have to be angry with him? ”

After that, he took out a small box from his bosom, took out an object from it, handed it to the soldier and said: "This is given to me by the emperor, saying that with this thing, you can enter the palace at will, you can show me!" ”

Zheng Xin fixed his eyes on this thing, which was the name card used by his father when he was still the king of Youyan, but he didn't expect to give it to Qiu Yizhi when he didn't know when, and his heart was sour, and he finally fixed his mind, and scolded the soldier like a vent: "You can see clearly, with such a treasure, can't you pass this level?" ”

Although the soldier knew a few words, he didn't know the origin of this thing, so he hurriedly called out to his boss to come and check. Before he could finish speaking, a general dressed in the uniform of an inspector walked briskly to check on the situation.

This inspector turned out to be the guard of Youyan Palace, not only knew the origin of this famous post, but was also familiar with Qiu Yizhizhi, and hurriedly said: "I didn't expect that the Yi Palace came down, why didn't you report it in advance, so that the last general could come out to greet you?" As he spoke, he returned the name card in his hand to Qiu Yizhi and invited him into the palace.

The soldier was a straight gut, and he didn't forget to remind: "General, this person hasn't been verified yet, so don't just put him in the palace!" ”

Zheng Xin sneered at the inspector and said, "Look at the good soldiers you brought out!" It's really oil and salt don't enter, water and fire don't invade! ”

When the inspector heard His Royal Highness the Grand Prince's sarcastic remarks, he immediately panicked and taught the subordinate: "You kid is not finished yet? I see that you are quite clever on weekdays, why did you drill the horns today? I don't think you should come here on an errand tomorrow, I'll transfer you to go outside to do chores!" ”

Qiu Yizhi made a round and said: "He is also loyal to his duties, quite like our old Youyan army." You can't embarrass him. ”

With that, Qiu Yizhi took a step forward and strode towards the imperial city, never to bother with the inspectors and soldiers who guarded the door.