Daqian Night Emperor

Chapter 194 Oolong
Promotion?

Zhao Qi'an looked at Ji Liyuan, but Ji Liyuan, his immediate superior, seemed confused.

Ji Haoyu smiled and said, "You were involved in both the Huangtian case and the Zhou family case. No one else will claim the credit for you, but I will... Didn't the people from the Ministry of Personnel go to the Zongzheng Temple during this period?"

The Hyena official is involved in many things, and his sensitive identity makes it easy for people to overlook that he is actually just a "clerk" under Zhao Qi'an.

Because of this, all the contributions made by Gou Xiangxi were attributed to Zhao Qi'an.

Ji Haoyu put a lot of effort into Zhao Qi'an's promotion this time.

If he kept it secret, wouldn't his efforts be in vain? Naturally, he had to find a reason to tell Zhao Qi'an so that Zhao Qi'an would accept his kindness.

But after hearing this, Zhao Qi'an looked at the old Duke beside him with a strange expression.

The Duke of England, Ji Liyuan, coughed a few times out of embarrassment, then turned his head to drink, pretending not to notice Zhao Qi'an's gaze.

This is just... so embarrassing.

He just gave a thorough analysis and even mentioned the conflict between Prime Minister Wu and the Second Prince.

But the result turned out to be a misunderstanding?
How can he save his face?
It was also because of his old eyesight that he thought the people coming to the Zongzheng Temple were from Prime Minister Wu because they were wearing the official uniforms of the six ministries. He never thought that they were actually from the Ministry of Personnel.

Although Prime Minister Wu is the head of the civil servants in the court today and the Wu Party is the only dominant party, the civil official faction in the court is not limited to the Wu Party.

At least the Ministry of Personnel is still Qin Tianguan's territory.

Even though Qin Tianguan has been defeated repeatedly in his battles with Prime Minister Wu over the years and has been acting in a very timid manner, Prime Minister Wu cannot, for the time being, interfere in the Ministry of Personnel.

The promotion and transfer of this official still have to go through the Ministry of Personnel.

Zhao Qi'an felt that from now on, he could only trust three-tenths of what the old Duke said.

The remaining ninety-seven points...are yet to be studied.

He came back to his senses and bowed to Ji Haoyu to thank him: "Thank you, Your Highness."

"Reward those who have made contributions, punish those who have made mistakes..." Ji Haoyu patted his shoulder and said meaningfully, "I never treat my own people unfairly."

Then, without waiting for Zhao Qi'an to react, he left with a smile.

……

After attending the Second Prince's banquet, it was already late at night.

Ji Haoyu sent Zhao Qi'an out the door.

Before leaving, he asked, "Have you seen your uncle recently?"

Zhao Qi'an knew he was talking about the Fourth Prince Ji Qingkong, and shook his head, "That's not the case."

Ji Haoyu sighed and said, "When you have time, go to the palace to visit him. I heard that the fourth brother has been addicted to the 'Erosion Gold Powder' these days. He has been living a life of drunkenness and debauchery in the palace all day long. He even refused to come to the banquet I invited him to today. If you see him, please persuade him for me."

In the present Daqian Dynasty, Taoism is flourishing and there are many wandering Taoists.

This "Erosion Gold Powder" is a secret medicine made by a Taoist priest. Taking it can make people feel like they are floating in the air and experience the joy of immortality.

Zhao Qi'an frowned slightly and asked, "I have heard of this 'Erosion Gold Powder'. It is popular in Yangzhou and Jingzhou. When did it flow into Kyoto?"

If it flowed into Kyoto City, how come Xiao Wei didn't find out any information at all?
Ji Haoyu mentioned this with a helpless look on his face. "When General Ling was clearing out the Salvation Church in Jingzhou, he accidentally seized a batch of goods and sent someone to deliver them to Kyoto City to present to the emperor. I don't know how the fourth child got some from the emperor. The emperor has always doted on him and his sister."

It's rare to hear anything about Jingzhou.

However, Ling Fang did not destroy the harmful "Gold-Eroding Powder" on the spot, but sent it to Kyoto City to present it to His Majesty. What was his meaning?

Zhao Qi'an was puzzled and bowed to Ji Haoyu, saying, "If I have a chance, I will go to the palace to persuade the Fourth Prince, but I cannot guarantee whether the Fourth Prince will listen to me."

Ji Haoyu sighed: "Persuading him a little... is the most I can do."

...Zhao Qi'an left the Qin Mansion and took a carriage back to the Princess's Mansion.

The Qin Mansion and the Princess Mansion are both in the inner city. The distance between them is not far, and it only takes an incense stick of time to travel there by carriage.

When he returned home, Luan Nu was already waiting for him at the door.

"Master, have a cup of sobering tea."

She welcomed Zhao Qi'an into the hall, then helped him take off his coat and brought him a cup of sobering tea from the tray held by the maid beside him.

Zhao Qi'an sipped his tea, thinking about today's dinner.

When he thought of Ji Qingkong, he suddenly remembered another thing and looked up to ask Luan Nu: "Has there been any news from Fuyan Palace these days?"

Luan Nu stood behind him and answered softly, "No letter has come, but Concubine Zhen has sent people to invite you to the palace for a banquet several times. I declined the invitation on the grounds that my master is busy with official duties and cannot spare time."

Zhao Qi'an laughed when he heard this reason.

In the entire city of Kyoto, there is no official more idle than him.

He suggested: "Change the reason next time, otherwise people will think it's too perfunctory."

"Yes." Luan Nu nodded in agreement, paused for a moment, and asked curiously, "But why did the master suddenly ask about Fuyan Palace?"

Zhao Qi'an put down the tea bowl and replied calmly, "I just think I should take the time to go there once in a while, otherwise people will think I'm cold and indifferent."

Luan Nu frowned slightly, with some confusion in her eyes.

In her opinion, now that Princess Yuzhen has been sent away from the Princess Mansion, is it still necessary to maintain relations with Fuyan Palace?
When she thought of Fuyan Palace, all that came to her mind were not-so-good memories.

With Yu Zhen's personality, how good could her life be if Luan Nu had served her since she was young?

However, Luan Nu believed that her master had her own considerations, so she did not ask any more questions, but only asked: "When does the master plan to go to the palace to see Concubine Zhen?"

Zhao Qi'an smiled slightly: "No hurry, wait a few days, and take back all the royal farms in the palace first."

Luan Nu quickly understood what he meant, and couldn't help but smile just thinking about it.

The imperial fields and farms belonging to the princess's mansion were naturally Yuzhen's dowry.

When Yuzhen got married, the current emperor gave her thousands of hectares of imperial land as a dowry, which was once a beautiful story in Kyoto.

However, although it is said to be thousands of hectares, in reality there are only about six or seven hundred hectares of arable land, and most of the rest are rotten land that cannot grow any crops.

Most of the income from these imperial fields and farms was sent to Fuyan Palace and enjoyed by Concubine Zhen and the Fourth Prince.

But now it is different. The person in charge of the princess's mansion has replaced Zhao Qian'an. Originally, the chief steward of the mansion was an old eunuch from Fuyan Palace, who was killed cleanly by Gou Xiangxi with a single knife. Now Luan Nu has become the chief steward of the mansion.

Those properties that originally belonged to the princess's mansion should also be taken back.

Now that the summer harvest has begun, not a penny of this year’s rent will go into Fuyan Palace.

By then, the ones who will be anxious will be Concubine Zhen and the Fourth Prince.

The reason why Zhao Qi'an thought of this was because of Ji Qingkong.

Although this "uncle" of his was a bad guy who was avoided by everyone in Kyoto.

But if used well, it may not be a bad move.

Zhao Qi'an planned to use Ji Qingkong to deal with Ruan Gongsheng, who came from the East China Sea family.

But before that, he had another urgent matter to attend to!

That is... the enlightenment tea tree in Ruan Yu's hand!

(End of this chapter)