When Mei Xiaoren left from Yun County, the people from the Futai Yamen had not yet arrived, but it was rumored that the dead county magistrate was a good official, and he stopped a batch of contraband smuggled into Daning from Xia State half a month ago.

She guessed that it was most likely that the county magistrate had a feud with someone because of this, and was hired by the enemy to kill someone.

Mei Xiaoren caught up with Ye Zhi and them halfway through. Aunt Ye was not in good health, they hurried slowly, and it took an autumn from Xuanzhou to Shangjing.

The carriage drove to the outskirts of Shangjing, and it was extremely cold even if there was no snow outside.

Along the way, they passed by many state capitals and found that the closer they were to Shangjing, the more prosperous they became, but Shangjing was the symbol of the prosperity of Daning's national fortunes.

The streets in the city are very wide, and the carriages and horses are like dragons shuttling between them, and in places like Xuanzhou, only the rich and noble can afford to buy horses and sit in carriages.

There are many shops on both sides, and most of the pedestrians are dressed in silk and satin, so that people can see at a glance that their families are well-off.

Mei Xiaoren found an inn in Dongshi to settle down, she settled Aunt Ye, and they took Ye Zhi to visit Wei Guogong.

Lao Li reminded her that the first thing she should do when she arrived in the capital was to visit Wei Guogong, and the sooner she went, the more attentive she became, so as to live up to the fact that others helped her so much.

Wei Guogong is the brother of the Queen Mother, and His Majesty has great respect for the Queen Mother, so Wei Guogong's status in the emperor's relatives is self-evident, but he has not received any real positions since he stepped down as the secretary of the ministry.

When she was in Xuanzhou, she heard that Wei Guogong handed over the ministry in order to avoid the suspicion of foreign relatives interfering in politics, and some people said that Wei Guogong was a loyal and virtuous minister, and he did not want to serve the prime minister when the prime minister was in power, so he took the initiative to hand over his official position and only enjoyed the title, but His Majesty still allowed him to participate in the government.

During the reign of the first emperor, the status of the Duke of Wei was particularly noble, and the Duke of Wei and his descendants did not need to pay homage to any minister, but now they are subservient to the Prime Minister's Mansion, because the former Prime Minister Gu Zhan's autocratic power raised the status of the Prime Minister's Mansion and made it above the imperial family and nobles.

Although Gu Zhan's move was met with a lot of abuse, no one would have a hard time with their lives, so those who opposed it back then were afraid of power and finally had to shut up.

Mei Xiaoren and Ye Zhi inquired all the way and found the location of the Wei State Mansion.

In the past, the best mansion in her impression was her house and Lao Li's mansion, but now when she sees the Wei State Mansion, she knows what it means to be small.

The gate of the house is built in a wide and magnificent, and there are more than a dozen people guarding the door, in addition to the family, there are also soldiers with real knives and guns to guard the left and right.

After she handed over the post, the Guogong Mansion only opened a side door for her and Ye Zhi to pass, and the front door was naturally reserved for the entry and exit of valuable guests.

The two of them followed the guide for a long time, shuttling through the huge mansion.

Mei Xiaoren looked left and right from time to time, and found that there were many people coming and going in the Guogong Mansion, but they all walked with their heads buried and did not dare to say much, which shows that the rules here are very strict.

The housekeeper led them into a side hall and told them to wait inside.

Mei Xiaoren and Ye Zhigang sat down next to the hall, and immediately a maid came up with tea. She only smelled the fragrance of tea, and she could smell this tea, which the people couldn't drink at home, either as a national tribute, or as a royal tea.

About half a cup of tea, Wei Guogong entered the hall in his regular clothes, and while walking to the main seat in front of the hall, he asked them with a smile: "When will you arrive, why don't you say it in advance, I will send someone to pick you up outside the city." ”

Mei Xiaoren bowed his head, "How dare you bother Lord Guogong." ”

"Eh, how can this be called tired, I transferred you to Beijing without consulting you, and gave you the position of Fucheng on my own initiative, it's a good thing that you don't blame me."

"Where do you speak, your lords are so promoted, and you are grateful." Mei Xiaoren gave up.

Wei Guogong sat down and said: "There is nothing to thank, although it is difficult to be promoted from the sixth rank to the fourth grade, but fortunately, you have the merit of solving the case and can convince the public, otherwise even if Your Majesty agrees, the Prime Minister and the ministers under him will rebel against Your Majesty." ”

Mei Xiaoren asked softly, "Does the Prime Minister know about this?" ”

"Of course I know, the appointment order drawn up by the Ministry of Officials has to be handed over to Wenhua Hall for review, and the promotion of officials above the fourth rank has to be nodded by Gu Xiang himself." Wei Guogong sighed, "I was really worried that Gu Xiang would oppose it before, because this was my proposal, and this time it was a promotion by leapfrogging, but I can't think of any other vacant official positions suitable for you except for Shangjing Mansion Cheng." ”

Ye knew: "If the appointment and promotion of officials above the fourth rank have to be nodded by Gu Xiang, then it is not ......" He paused when he said this, looked up at Wei Guogong, and did not continue.

"You're right, if not, how would he be able to hold the power firmly in his hands." Wei Guogong's face showed a little helplessness, and said, "Since the implementation of this law, the newly appointed important ministers of the court are all his people, and those who were regarded by him as a thorn in his side in the past, and are planning to pull them out one by one, for example, the previous Ministry of Industry Shangshu is the most loyal to His Majesty, and there are many staff, which is a big trouble for the Prime Minister's Mansion, and the result is ...... Alas......"

Wei Guogong sighed when he said this, "Gu Xiang caught the Wenfu and didn't say anything, but also wiped out all his staff, and used this to replace all the officials of the Ministry of Industry with his own people. As far as I know, now that the Ministry of Ministers has also surrendered to him, there are very few ministers left around His Majesty and His Royal Highness who can be used, and if I had not taken the initiative to step down, I am afraid that it would be difficult for the Guogong Mansion to survive until now. ”

Mei Xiaoren has long known that the positions of Wei Guogong and the Prime Minister are different, but now that he hears Wei Guogong say this, it is not just a different position, this is clearly a political enemy who fights openly and secretly.

Mei Xiaoren's eyebrows added a little worry. It was Wei Guogong who recommended her to His Majesty, and in the eyes of the courtiers, she was undoubtedly classified as Wei Guogong's side. In addition, she has received the favor of Wei Guogong this time, and I am afraid that she will not be able to be alone in the future.

"Fortunately, now that Your Highness has more of you by your side, as long as you are wholeheartedly towards Your Highness, then what I have done will not be in vain." Wei Guogong said again, "You don't have to be afraid, Shangjing Mansion is just an adjutant, there is no threat to the Prime Minister's Mansion, and they will not attack you." ”

Mei Xiaoren listened silently and nodded.

It was dark early in the winter in Shangjing, and when Mei Xiaoren and Ye Zhi left the Guogong Mansion, the sky had already darkened, which made her mood sink even more.

"When Lord Guogong said this, he should want your Excellency to recognize his position before taking office, and he will only be loyal to His Highness in the future." Ye Zhiyan said, "Although it is worthy of the adult's intention to be in the company of a virtuous minister like Wei Guogong, but now that the prime minister is in power, he will do whatever it takes to eliminate dissidents, so adults should be more careful in the future." ”

Mei Xiaoren didn't say a word, she wasn't worried about her safety, but after listening to Wei Guogong's words, it would be difficult for her to be happy when she was promoted to Shangjing.

She would rather that he didn't nod his head at the beginning, and let her stay in Xuanzhou, even if she didn't see her, it was better than being an enemy.