Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 155 Good intentions lead to bad things

Cheng Minzheng was looking at Chen Ce's courtyard, and said to Chen Ce with a smile: "The courtyard is quite unique. Did you decorate it yourself?"

"I am Cheng Minzheng, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites."

Chen Ce was stunned for a moment. Before Fu Yuan left the capital, he told him that he would give him another big gift, Cheng Minzheng.

Originally, Chen Ce had forgotten about this matter. After all, it had been some time since Fu Yuan left Beijing.

He really didn't expect Cheng Minzheng to come to his door at this time, so he bowed and said, "I am here to see Master Cheng. Master Cheng, please come in."

Cheng Minzheng, with his hands behind his back, followed Chen Ce to the central hall.

After taking his seat, Cheng Minzheng said, "It took me half a month to thoroughly investigate the whole story of this examination fraud case."

"Without you, the consequences for me would be even more serious. Thank you."

Chen Ce shook his head and said, "I didn't intend to save you, sir. I just wanted to save Tang Yin."

Cheng Minzheng hummed without commenting, and said, "I have thought about it for so long, but I still don't understand it."

"Originally I thought it was a high-ranking official from the imperial court who entered the venue, but after a closer look I discovered that this was not the case."

"Why did you let so many people go down together to protect me?"

"I have also checked you. You don't have much contact with officials. At most, you know a factory guard. They can't change the situation."

"I am very curious, how did you do it? Can you explain it to me?"

Chen Ce thought about it and asked Cheng Minzheng: "Master Cheng, is this important? Isn't it enough if the result is good?"

Cheng Minzheng was very generous. Since the other party didn't want to talk, he didn't force him. After all, he was his savior.

No matter whether it was an accidental success or a real result, as the other party said, the result is good.

"I don't like to owe favors to others. I will return this favor to you."

"Whatever you want, I will do my best to help you within my ability."

If you have this ability, when a fraud case breaks out, there will be no one left to speak for you, and not everyone will choose to protect themselves.

To a certain extent, Cheng Minzheng was an isolated minister and not very important to Chen Ce, so it didn't matter whether he made friends with him or not.

Chen Ce smiled bitterly and said, "Master Cheng, I don't need anything. Please don't worry about it. I really don't plan to save you. We don't owe each other anything."

Cheng Minzheng smiled and said, "Don't you believe that I have this ability? Do you think I have no one in the court?"

"Yes, I have no one, but the emperor is my student. Is this friendship enough?"

"In fact, whether you come forward or not, the worst outcome for me is that I will be demoted, but I will be branded as a fraudster, which is a result I don't want to see."

He wanted to prove to Chen Ce that he had the ability.

Chen Ce still shook his head and said, "It's really not necessary. Thank you very much for your kindness, Lord Cheng. I am unworthy of it."

Cheng Minzheng hummed and said, "I've said before, I don't like to owe favors to others. I will repay this favor. You have to take it. I will also repay it to you whether you want it or not!"

Chen Ce was speechless. Is the world of you scholars like this?
Cheng Minzheng stood up and looked around Chen Ce's living room. Finally, his eyes fell on the embroidered spring knife on the desk in the middle hall. He kindly reminded Chen Ce: "The Jinyiwei may be able to punish ordinary people, but it may not be a good thing for you to be involved with the Jinyiwei."

"Put away that knife. It's too conspicuous."

After he finished speaking, he left with his hands behind his back.

Cheng Minzheng left Huaihua Hutong, got on the sedan chair, and went straight to the Ministry of Rites in the Forbidden City.

On duty in the hut.

Cheng Minzheng sat at his desk, concentrating on writing a letter of recommendation, which he handed to the clerk and asked him to deliver to the Ministry of Personnel.

Fu Han, the left doctor of the Ministry of Rites, resigned, and a vacancy for a fifth-rank official became vacant. Cheng Minzheng had the right to recommend a new official.

In the letter of recommendation he had just handed over to the Ministry of Personnel, the person recommended was Ning Cheng, the sixth-rank judge of Shuntian Prefecture.

Cheng Minzheng had the power to recommend officials of his own department. He had checked Chen Ce's background and knew that Chen Ce was engaged to the daughter of Ning Cheng, the magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture.

I just went to Chen Ce's house and took a quick look. Chen Ce's house has all kinds of antiques and calligraphy and paintings that are very valuable. This is a typical control in a civil servant's home. In Cheng Minzheng's opinion, this should be the work of Ning Cheng.

But for some unknown reason, Chen Ce and Ning Cheng's daughter have not yet married.

He said he wanted to repay Chen Ce's favor, so he would repay it in this way.

What Cheng Minzheng didn't know was that Chen Ce had already secretly torn up the engagement with Ning Cheng's daughter.

……

On the first day of March, the sun was shining brightly and the weather was beautiful.

Chen Ce was holding a book and reading quietly in the courtyard. It was noon and Chen Ce was reading so much that he forgot to eat and sleep.

A fly nearby grumbled, "I'm so hungry. I really want you to give me some meat to eat."

Zhu Houzhao was greedy.

It's been a long time since I've had Chen Ce's cooking properly.

Liu Jin's saliva was also flowing. He didn't want Chen Ce to give him the meat, he could do it himself.

Chen Ce was helpless and said to Zhu Houzhao: "Let's go buy some vegetables. Do you want to go?"

Chen Ce brought a small basket from the kitchen, and Liu Jin hurriedly said, "I'll carry it!"

As the three of them went out, they saw Madam Wu also coming out with a basket. Chen Ce smiled and nodded at her, saying, "Together?"

Zhu Houzhao said, "Yes, yes, sister-in-law, please give the basket to Liu Jin."

Madam Wu blushed slightly, and hesitated to speak. Finally, she whispered, "You misunderstood."

But obviously Zhu Houzhao didn't hear it.

Chengqingfang Street was crowded with people coming and going.

The newspaper office was crowded with people. Madam Wu said to Chen Ce and Zhu Houzhao, "Wait a moment. I'll go buy a newspaper."

Just as Chen Ce was about to wave, Madam Wu said, "I'll be back soon. Although there are many people here, I have a way to buy it quickly."

Zhu Houzhao: “No…”

Before he could say anything, Madam Wu had already walked over and said pitifully, "My dear gentlemen and ladies, if I don't buy some newspapers, my mistress will beat me..."

Chen Ce and Zhu Houzhao were stunned. Zhu Houzhao said with emotion: "My dear brother, your wife doesn't look so honest. She is quite extraordinary."

Although Mrs. Wu is usually taciturn, she is very knowledgeable about the ways of the world.

But... is it really necessary to go to so much trouble? If you want to see something, just tell your little brother.

"no……"

Zhu Houzhao suddenly thought of something and said to Chen Ce, "Little brother, are you planning to hide your private money? You haven't even told your sister-in-law about the newspaper business?"

Chen Ce corrected Zhu Houzhao, "Stop talking nonsense! You misunderstood!"

Zhu Houzhao groaned and said, "So you haven't had time to tell your sister-in-law yet, and you don't want to hide your private money?"

Am I talking about this?

Chen Ce was almost pissed off to death by Zhu Houzhao.

"Girl, if I can't buy a newspaper, I'll die today. If I don't read it for a day, I'll feel like ants crawling all over my body!"

"Yes."

"So! Get in line! Don't think you can cut in line just because you're pretty! No way!"

Madam Wu: “…”

(End of this chapter)