Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 405 The more the merrier
"What does this have to do with Princess Chaohuang..." Lu Xingzhou said, "Can't I be an official who only cares about the public good?"

Pei Qingyan looked him up and down, his eyes saying, "Don't try that with me."

Lu Xingzhou himself found it amusing: "How strange, why does Prime Minister Pei think that I am not that kind of person... Well, although I really am not."

Pei Qingyan sipped his tea irritably: "Just as I never expected the Holy Maiden of the Joyful Union to become a chaste and virtuous woman after returning home, I also never expected the Judge of the Underworld to become a righteous official after taking office—I myself am not even that, so how could you be?"

Lu Xingzhou finally laughed out loud: "Why is Prime Minister Pei so... well, so honest today?"

“Some things don’t need to be hidden from those who understand. You could have become the prime minister in the Demon Realm if you wanted to, and I’m not of higher status than you,” Pei Qingyan said calmly. “And you gave up your position above ten thousand in the Demon Realm to return to the Great Qian Dynasty and become a lowly physician… Whatever your motivation, I still respect you. Times have changed. Back then, when you wanted revenge, I thought you were a good weapon, but now I know you’re not the kind of person to be a weapon.”

Lu Xingzhou said, "Prime Minister Pei is so clear about the affairs of the Demon Realm... then is His Majesty clear about them as well?"

Pei Qingyan said, "He probably doesn't know as much as I do. Even the Great Qian spies are completely clueless about your affairs in the Demon Realm. The news that comes here is also shrouded in mystery. Generally, no one dares to believe what role you played in the chaos in the Demon Realm. Instead, everyone is saying that the Dragon Emperor took a fancy to your male beauty and kept you in the harem for a month to extract your juices."

"...Why does Prime Minister Pei know this so clearly?"

Pei Qingyan put down his teacup and stared at him for a long time: "The Dragon Emperor is not a man who lusts after beautiful women... From the rumors of the Dragon Emperor and the Holy Lord fighting over men several times, to the fact that he only agreed to communicate with you after the war in the Northern Frontier, I dare to assert that what the Dragon Emperor wants is your ability. His Majesty is actually aware of this as well."

"Ah."

"Since what they wanted was ability, it was naturally to solve some of the problems she faced. As a result, when you went to the Demon Realm, something happened at the Holy Mountain... All the rebellious elements that had been hidden for so long came out, and afterwards you returned home safely. If you say that this has nothing to do with you, I don't believe it. Perhaps His Majesty also has suspicions... but His Majesty won't do what I did, going to each member of the delegation to ask about the details they knew, to verify some of his suspicions. But Lu Xingzhou, His Majesty doesn't need to know for sure; suspicion is enough for you to suffer."

Lu Xingzhou nodded slightly: "I know that."

"On the other hand, even if His Majesty knows you've rendered great service to the Demon Court, ultimately, you gave up high office and wealth to return to your country. This is something that can be used as a model for publicity, so he can't just punish you arbitrarily. As for whether he harbors any resentment..." Pei Qingyan smiled slightly: "Yesterday, Sheng Yuanyao beat Huo Qi in the street, and His Majesty was furious. This morning, he indefinitely postponed the substantive position that was originally going to be given to Sheng Yuanyao. Do you want to follow suit?"

Yesterday, Lu Xingzhou had no idea what Sheng Yuanyao was up to, but after the fight, he realized what was going on and thought to himself that this time, the girl was really not silly at all.

But I got a share of the spoils.

Gua Mei has a good father, so a real job isn't important to her for the time being. But Lu Xingzhou can't sit on the sidelines forever; he has to take the lead when there's a position available.

Even the lowest-ranking official has his own power base, not someone else's assistant. Yesterday's recruitment of Qi Tuizhi was the first time in his life he had recruited someone for himself... Thinking back to when he recruited Ji Wenchuan for someone else, the past is still fresh in his mind, it's truly lamentable.

Qi Tuizhi is not an individual; he is a force in himself, representing the demands of that force. As long as Qi Tuizhi knows that following him will get him what he wants, then Lingtian Pavilion will be his.

Leaving aside any talk of rapid advancement or gaining political status for Lingtian Pavilion, Qi Tuizhi's bottom line was simply a Super Grade Law... something he already possessed.

Of course, it's impossible to just throw it out like that.

"I won't learn it." Lu Xingzhou smiled. "This position may not be the best, but it suits me quite well."

Pei Qingyan said, "You've come here and immediately started interfering in the interests of the border market. What are you trying to do?"

"What do you mean I'm here right away... His Majesty put me in this position precisely so that I could do these things? Especially those related to the Demon Realm, I'm the most suitable person to do this kind of thing, looking across the court and the country."

"What I mean is, what do you want to interfere in this matter? Historically, there has never been a case of the imperial court running its own businesses; each family has always done it on its own. If the imperial court wants to intervene, are you going to designate imperial merchants?"

"Shouldn't we? Prime Minister, many things cannot be traded casually. First, we need to create a list of prohibited items, and second, we need to conduct strict reviews and investigations. What's the point of letting everyone do it their own way? No one was in charge of this before, but now someone is."

Pei Qingyan's old face twitched: "Things that are not suitable for the Great Qian to leak out, isn't that letting your Dragon Emperor benefit? And you're still interfering. I'll say it again, can you really be someone who only cares about the public good?"

Lu Xingzhou blinked: "Let's not beat around the bush. This is just an excuse for me to seize power. Without this reason, how can I take control of this whole mess and turn this lowly government office with only six people into a lucrative position that everyone wants me to take?"

Pei Qingyan leaned back in his chair and sipped his tea: "So, the Pei family really has no share?"

"If Miss Pei is in charge, then there is; if someone else is in charge, then there isn't."

Pei Qingyan spat out a mouthful of tea crumbs with a "pfft," and almost threw the teacup at him.

Lu Xingzhou sat upright, with an expression that said, "What's the worst that can happen?"

Pei Qingyan put down her cup, both amused and annoyed. Lu Xingzhou's words were not only a joke but also conveyed a very clear meaning: he was now qualified to submit a change of terms, and was no longer the ruthless person he had been when he first arrived in this place.

Give him a powerless, insignificant department, and he can turn it into a powerful one.

Seeing Pei Qingyan put down his teacup, Lu Xingzhou finally put on a smile: "Just kidding. Prime Minister Pei only needs to help with one thing, and the Pei family will naturally benefit from it."

"Ok?"

"Prime Minister Pei, just make sure that once your subordinates get things done, no one else takes my position and reaps the rewards," Lu Xingzhou said. "Prime Minister Pei knows that even if it were one of your own people, and you were to reap the rewards yourself, you might not be as capable as I am in handling this matter."

Pei Qingyan stared at him for a long time, but ultimately said nothing, only asking, "Besides that, will you designate other imperial merchants?"

"The Heavenly Sword Sect was originally a royal merchant." Lu Xingzhou smiled slightly: "It's just as it should be."

A hint of surprise finally appeared in Pei Qingyan's old eyes, and he slowly asked, "What brings you here?"

"I want to establish a new department specifically for foreign trade. I know that increasing staff is not an easy matter, and it's not something that a doctor can decide on his own. Of course, it would be much easier if Prime Minister Pei spoke up."

Pei Qingyan's heart stirred slightly: "Are there any candidates for the new head of the department? You are not familiar with the court officials, would you like me to recommend one or two?"

This thing would be much better if it were someone from the Pei family...

But then Lu Xingzhou said, "I've got it."

"Hmm? Who?" "Qi Tuizhi."

This time, the slight surprise in Pei Qingyan's eyes finally turned into a "Holy crap" emotion. She looked Lu Xingzhou up and down for a long time before sighing softly, "Okay. Add this position today."

This time it was Lu Xingzhou's turn to be surprised: "Adding staff is that easy?"

Pei Qingyan smiled slightly: "Nothing special, the Minister and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel are all my men."

Lu Xingzhou: “…”

Damn you.

The Minister of Personnel can directly slap the Prime Minister in the face; these are your people, and "all of them" at that.

So you're trying to flex your muscles at me?

Pei Qingyan said leisurely, "I think you may still be hiding a few steps from us. Why don't you say a few more words? With my help, some things don't necessarily have to be done step by step."

Lu Xingzhou was silent for a moment: "Now that a foreign trade department has been established, it will no longer be solely for the Demon Realm. Official foreign trade between Tianshuang Kingdom and other overseas countries should also begin."

Pei Qingyan paused for a moment: "This requires some time and careful discussion, right? Are you confident?"

“I am familiar with Si Han, and my husband is also familiar with overseas.”

Pei Qingyan: "...Tell me, how many people do you want to make this Bureau of Guests into?"

Lu Xingzhou grinned, revealing his teeth: "The more the merrier."

Pei Qingyan stared at him irritably for a while, then suddenly said, "Come to the Pei residence for dinner tonight?"

Lu Xingzhou was taken aback: "Isn't this a bit inappropriate? People will talk..."

"Couldn't you have hidden it a little? You were quite quick to sneak over the wall to my ancestral hall last time, weren't you?"

"...So does that mean I don't need to bring a gift?"

“The more the merrier.”

The newly appointed Director of the Bureau of Receptions chatted for an unusually long time in the Prime Minister's office, but left somewhat disheveled. The officials waiting outside, who were getting increasingly angry, watched him leave, all of them astonished.

I have a feeling that the Pei family's son-in-law is about to be born.

But when people think of the Zhou-Yao couple that everyone has been shipping for so long, many people's eyes light up with anticipation for a good show.

It would be quite a show if Sheng Qingfeng and Pei Qingyan were to fight.

"Sir, a man named Qi Tuizhi says you sent him to report for duty." Lu Xingzhou had just returned to the Guest House when an official came to report, his expression rather strange.

Qi Tuizhi has become quite famous.

Wasn't he the top rookie who got beaten up by the doctor and his rumored mistresses in turn...?

He's here to report for duty again... Our department is indeed understaffed. Several sections only have clerks and no deputy clerks. Speaking of which, Qi Tuizhi is qualified enough to be a deputy clerk... But in our insignificant department, is he content with that?

"They arrived quite quickly." Lu Xingzhou returned to his office: "Let him in."

A short while later, Qi Tuizhi entered the room with a slight smile: "The master asked me to report for duty yesterday."

Although he smiled, there was a hint of amusement in his eyes as he examined her.

With his status as the top graduate of the Imperial Academy, he would start his official career at the seventh rank. If Lu Xingzhou really only assigned him a minor deputy position, it would be simple, but it would be somewhat disappointing, as being someone's deputy is not very interesting.

I wonder if this newly arrived doctor dares to replace the head of a department and promote me. If he really does, then perhaps there's something to look forward to.

Lu Xingzhou just smiled and said, "Sit down first, wait a moment."

Qi Tuizhi then sat down in the chair opposite him, watching with some curiosity as Lu Xingzhou read a stack of documents.

"Sir, this is..."

"Oh, let me familiarize myself with our company's various work procedures. I'm a newbie too, haha."

Qi Tuizhi: "..."

This unreliable aura...

After waiting for a long time, Lu Xingzhou was still looking at the documents. Qi Tuizhi finally couldn't sit still any longer: "Sir, this..."

Before he could finish speaking, a clerk rushed in from outside: "Sir, the Ministry of Personnel says that the matter of adding new officials has been approved. The official document for Qi Tuizhi, a student of the Imperial Academy, has been prepared. There are still some formalities to be done, and we need to ask Lord Qi to go to the Ministry of Personnel."

Qi Tuizhi stood up in shock, almost tipping his chair over.

(End of this chapter)