Ci Jinzhi

Chapter 240: Self-recommendation

After hearing the report from the chamberlain, Emperor Xingyuan said to the eldest princess Zhaoyang: "The emperor's sister took Rui'er and Fu'er to the side hall to have a rest."

Princess Zhaoyang refused with a stern face: "I'm here so I can see what kind of person this Xiao Lengshi is."

 She understood what the emperor meant. If she had been present when Feng and Xiao were being questioned, it would have obviously been her complaint, and it was for her own good to avoid them.

 But this time, she decided to be willful.

In the past, her favor for Miss Kou was too reserved, which is why some people did not include her as the eldest princess when they hurt Miss Kou.

Emperor Xingyuan knew that his sister was angry. Seeing that she was unwilling to avoid it, he did not force her to do so, so he signaled to his chamberlain to let Feng and Xiao in.

 “I have seen your majesty and your highness the eldest princess.”

Jinlin Guard Commander Feng Nian and Xiao Lengshi came in one after the other and kowtowed respectfully.

The presence of Princess Zhaoyang made Xiao Lengshi's heart sink.

 The moment he saw Miss Kou fainting in public, he knew there might be trouble. I just didn't expect it to happen so soon, let alone that Princess Zhaoyang would stand up for Miss Kou to such an extent.

 As for regrets, Xiao Lengshi did not have any.

After entering the suspect of Jin Linwei, can you notrture the interrogation? It’s amazing that something can be found through examination!

 “Xiao Zhen Fu Envoy.” Emperor Xingyuan said calmly.

 “I am here.”

Emperor Xingyuan looked at him steadily: "Have you tortured Miss Kou?"

Feng Nian, who was kneeling aside, heard this and cursed Xiao Lengshi half to death in his heart.

 He was really tricked to death by this kid!

 In this case, Xiao Lengshi did not dare to lie: "Yes."

Emperor Xingyuan slapped the table: "What did I say? You are deceiving me."

As soon as the word "deceiving the emperor" came out, Xiao Lengshi's back was instantly soaked with cold sweat, and he hurriedly explained: "I treated Miss Kou very politely after receiving the oral order, but I whipped her before to urge her to tell the whereabouts of Mr. Songling." Two times…”

Princess Zhaoyang sneered and asked, "What evidence do you have that Miss Kou knows the whereabouts of Mr. Songling?"

Xiao Lengshi was silent.

If there was evidence, he would have tortured him to find out the whereabouts of Mr. Songling, and he would not kneel here and be scolded.

"There is no evidence, but you torture a little girl who has great love and a good reputation. You have really promoted the prestige of Jinlin Guard."

The sarcasm in Princess Zhaoyang's words made Emperor Xingyuan look even more ugly: "The Governor of Hezhen is not here, so I let you temporarily take charge of the Governor of Beizhen because I believe in your ability, and not to let you abuse torture and ruin the reputation of the court."

 “I am guilty.” Xiao Lengshi knew clearly that facing the angry emperor’s excuse would only add fuel to the fire, so it was better to plead guilty honestly.

"You really disappoint me." Emperor Xingyuan said coldly and punished Xiao Lengshi.

 Xiao Lengshi was removed from the post of governor of the town, and he was given a thirty-year imperial staff outside the Meridian Gate.

The pale-faced Xiao Lengshi was dragged out, and Emperor Xingyuan looked at Feng Nian, the commander of the Jinlin Guards.

Feng Nian's face looked good, but as soon as he caught Emperor Xingyuan's gaze, he hurriedly apologized: "I failed to recommend well, please punish me."

 He knelt on the ground and asked for forgiveness. What awaited him was silence.

The emperor's silence was extremely long, like a mountain weighing one down and making one breathless. Feng Nian thought of Gu Changbo, Pei Shilang, and Xiao Lengshi who had just been pushed out of the imperial staff.

 He didn’t have the confidence to think that it was just a weak recommendation and nothing would happen. There is an example of Gu Changbo entering the palace to accompany the emperor to drink, but was killed with a stick. The emperor's heart is unpredictable, and who knows what the consequences will be.

I don't know how long it took, but a majestic voice finally came from above: "The person Feng Qing recommended this time is indeed not very good. Now that the chief officer of Fusi in South Town is vacant, and there is no one in charge of Fusi in North Town, what suggestions does Feng Qing have?" "

 Hearing Emperor Xingyuan's question, Feng Nian's eyes darkened.

He has caused so much trouble by recommending a person to temporarily take charge of Fusi in Beizhen. Now he is asked to continue to recommend the person who is in charge of Fusi in Beizhen temporarily. Not only does he also recommend the person who is in charge of Fusi in Nanzhen, he also recommends him?

 Is this going to cost him his life?

After hesitating for a long time, Feng Nian had to speak: "Reporting to your majesty, Yan Chao, the deputy in charge of punishment, has been in Beizhen Fusi for many years and is familiar with both inside and outside. He is a capable officer of Hezhen Fusi. I feel that he should be in charge of Beizhen temporarily. Zhenfu Division is more suitable..."

 Feng Nian felt aggrieved when he recommended He Qingxiao's cronies to the emperor.

He is the commander of the Jinlin Guards, but he cannot be the head of Beizhen Fusi. The emperor's task of taking charge of Beizhen Fusi was kept secret from him. He had already had enough of this cowardice, so he took advantage of He Qingxiao's absence in the capital to recommend Xiao Lengshi, thinking that if Xiao Lengshi could gain a foothold in Beizhen Fusi, he might have to move when He Qingxiao came back.

However, Xiao Lengshi failed to live up to his expectations. If the person he recommended was not reliable, he was simply looking for trouble for himself. He could only recommend He Qingxiao with pinched noses.

If He Qingxiao's people don't do well, He Qingxiao will stand in front of the emperor's wrath.

Emperor Xingyuan nodded slightly, indicating that he approved Feng Nian's proposal.

 Seeing the emperor still looking at him expectantly, Feng Nian felt bitter in his heart.

The selection of Fusi in North Town is easy to solve. After all, it is only temporary management. Fusi in South Town is a headache. The chief officer of the North and South Town Fu Division under the Jinlin Guard is also a figure that attracts the attention of hundreds of officials.

                                                               ―

Just as Feng Nian was thinking of words to evade, Kong Rui suddenly spoke: "Uncle, Rui would like to nominate himself for the post of governor of Nanzhen Fusi Town."

Kong Rui’s words shocked everyone in the palace.

 “Rui’er!” Princess Zhaoyang looked in disbelief.

With a background like Kong Rui's, he could either be an idle prince or find an errand. Princess Zhaoyang once asked her son what he wanted to do, and Kong Rui said that he liked Jinlin Weinan Town Fusi very much.

 She thought her son said it casually!

"Mother, listen to me." Faced with the shocked looks of his mother and the emperor's uncle, Kong Rui was very calm, "The Nanzhen Fusi is in charge of Jinlinwei Army Craftsman, who is responsible for the development of weapons and equipment, and I happen to be interested in this. I I am confident that I can take this position, please uncle give Rui a chance."

In addition to being responsible for the military discipline and law of Jinlin Guards, Nanzhen Fusi also has one major responsibility: managing military craftsmen and developing weapons.

Emperor Xingyuan agreed to his nephew's request after some thought.

 “Brother Emperor!” Princess Zhaoyang was a little anxious.

Jin Linwei's reputation was not good, and she did not want her son to get involved in this muddy water.

But the more Emperor Xingyuan thought about it, the more he thought it was appropriate: "Rui'er has grown up, and it's time to find a job. There happens to be a vacancy for the governor of Nanzhen, and he likes it, so let him try it. Feng Qing, what do you think?"

 Feng Nian: “…” Do we have to put the recommender’s hat on his head?

 “The Marquis is intelligent and steady, and is indeed the best choice for the chief officer of Nanzhen Fusi.”

The Jinlin Guards belong to the emperor's private army, and they do not need to go through the official department for appointment, dismissal, and promotion. All officials soon learned about the two major actions of the Jinlin Guards: First, Xiao Lengshi, the chief officer of Nanzhen Fusi, was dismissed from office by the imperial staff; Jing'an Hou, the son of Princess Zhaoyang, was newly appointed as the envoy of Nanzhen.

Putting these two pieces of news together, it is inevitable that Baiguan will have a bizarre but reasonable guess: Princess Zhaoyang actually let her son become a Jinlin Guard in order to prevent Miss Kou from being troubled by Jinlin Guards again!