Chapter 143: Follow Uncle in This Life
"Ministry of Rites Xiao Zhuo is sincere in his work, and I am very pleased!"
The eunuch said loudly.
Normally, there should be a chorus of congratulations at this moment, congratulating Xiao Zhuo and congratulating him on receiving the award from Emperor Jiajing.
But the eunuch found that everyone was in a daze.
They all looked at the middle-aged man outside the duty room.
People in the palace must know how to read people's expressions, otherwise they will die without knowing how they died.
The eunuch could see countless complex emotions at just one glance.
But most of all I was shocked!
There is also envy, jealousy and hatred.
The middle-aged man outside the duty room stood there in a daze, his expression also full of disbelief.
It was as if the sun rose from the west.
"This is……"
The eunuch had never experienced such a strange scene and was stunned.
He saw the official in front of the middle-aged man's legs go weak and he knelt down.
"Doctor Xiao, your humble servant... your humble servant was confused for a moment, please forgive me, Doctor Xiao."
Zhang Yu knelt in front of Xiao Zhuo with tears streaming down his face.
He is Xiao Zhuo's direct subordinate. If Xiao Zhuo refuses to leave without any guilt, it will be too easy to deal with him. He will be able to make things difficult for himself.
Moreover, Chen He and others couldn't protect him.
There is no position to protect him.
This is officialdom.
There are some rules you can break, and there are some rules you can't even touch.
Xiao Zhuo's mind was confused at the moment, and only one voice was echoing.
--This is impossible!
He knows the Qingci he wrote clearly himself.
Although I put a lot of thought into it and tried my best, the level is just that.
But what about this award?
Is it for something else?
Xiao Zhuo thought carefully and realized that he had not done anything recently!
So, where does the reward come from?
He looked up.
Seeing Zhang Yu kneeling in front of him with his head raised, he gave him a flattering smile when he looked up.
It's disgusting!
Xiao Zhuo pushed away the face that made him feel disgusted and saw Zhao Fa in the crowd. What a shocked face!
Looking at him steadily.
Xiao Zhuo saw Chen He outside the duty room diagonally opposite.
Those triangular eyes twisted into a line, still filled with shock and disbelief.
"I planned everything carefully and I think there were no mistakes. Why?"
Chen He murmured, he could almost recite Xiao Zhuo's poem, and now it was flowing through his mind line by line...
"Mediocre!"
“Nothing exciting at all!”
"But why did he get the award?!"
"Congratulations, Doctor Xiao!"
"I have long said that Doctor Xiao would gain the trust of His Majesty sooner or later, and now it has come true."
"Congratulations, Doctor Xiao. I'll treat you to a meal!"
"Your Majesty's commendation today is cause for celebration. Doctor Xiao will rise to great heights in the future..."
The confused eunuch was taken for tea, and the official in charge of the matter gave him corresponding benefits from the special treasury of the Ministry of Rites.
Xiao Zhuo stood there and suddenly felt his eyes sore.
The most tormenting thing is never the sudden blow of fate, but the long wait.
Waiting for fate's decision.
It's like a person diagnosed with a terminal illness by a doctor.
What is painful is the process, never the result.
Death is not scary, what is scary is the process of waiting to die.
who is it?
Xiao Zhuo realized that there was no chance that his Qingci would be awarded, so someone must have helped him.
"who is it?"
Chen He finally understood the situation. When Zhao Fa came over to ask for instructions, he gritted his teeth and said, "Someone is behind this. Find this person! I swear I will make him pay the price!"
Zhao Fa also figured it out, "Someone must have helped Xiao Zhuo and exchanged the Qingci for him."
Chen He nodded, "Of course it is."
Zhao Fa turned around and glanced at Xiao Zhuo, "After we find this person..."
"I'm going to make him live or die!"
A clerk came in with a strange look on his face.
"Doctor Xiao."
Xiao Zhuo, who was surrounded by several officials, asked, "What's the matter?"
"Someone's looking for you outside."
"Who?"
Xiao Zhuo asked casually.
"Long Wilbur!"
The entire Ministry of Rites fell silent in an instant.
It was as if you could hear a pin drop.
The clerk had been guarding the gate and had no idea what was going on here.
He looked at everyone blankly.
"What's going on here?"
"It's him!" Zhao Fa blurted out.
"Yes, only Jiang Qingzhi has this ability!"
Thinking of sending back the bribes he received, Zhao Fa's eyes turned red. "Minister, Jiang Qingzhi has been accompanying His Majesty in the West Garden these days. Only he can change His Majesty's mind!"
Chen He closed his eyes in pain, "How should I explain this to Yuan Fu!"
Xiao Zhuo's body shook, "Is it him?"
But why did Jiang Qingzhi take action?
Xiao Zhuo knew without even thinking that this was a gesture.
Jiang Qingzhi is the mortal enemy of the Yan Party.
Xiao Zhuo was unwilling to support Yan's party and was about to be buried.
Jiang Qingzhi suddenly took action.
There is no free meal in the world.
So what does Jiang Qingzhi want?
"Long Wilbur!"
Following this voice, Jiang Qingzhi came in with his two generals Heng and Ha.
Menzi followed behind him with a swollen face. Just now he was proudly blocking Jiang Qingzhi, but he didn't expect to be slapped by Sun Chonglou. His eyes are still dizzy from the slap.
Jiang Qingzhi held a cigarette in his mouth and asked, "Are they all here?"
Chen He took a deep breath and asked, "Why is Chang Wei Bo here?"
Jiang Qingzhi said, "I heard that there is a big drama going on here, called the treacherous ministers framing the loyal ministers. It sounds quite interesting."
Chen He sneered, "This is a matter for my Ministry of Rites."
"I want to take care of it. Why don't you agree?" Jiang Qingzhi shook off the ashes from his cigarette.
Chen He glanced at Xiao Zhuo and asked, "Where are you going?" Jiang Qingzhi came to support Xiao Zhuo.
If Xiao Zhuo accepted his support, he would be labeled as such from then on.
——Jiang Qingzhi’s people!
Xiao Zhuo looked at Chen He.
Let’s look at Jiang Qingzhi again.
I remember when I visited Jiang Qing, this young man was gentle and elegant.
But at this moment, seeing how aggressive he was, Chen He didn't dare to look at him. That power...
But Xiao Zhuo still didn't see through Jiang Qingzhi's intention.
Jiang Qingzhi walked up the stairs and came in front of Chen He.
"You want to force him?"
"I……"
"You want to force Benber's neighbors in front of me?"
Only then did everyone realize that the two were neighbors.
Chen He's face turned pale. "Why? This is the Ministry of Rites. As the Minister of Rites, I have to supervise my subordinates. What can you do?"
At this moment, Chen He cannot retreat even a single step, otherwise it would be embarrassing.
The one who lost Yan Song!
So, instead of retreating, he advanced.
He looked straight at Jiang Qingzhi and said, "This is the Ministry of Rites! Jiang Qingzhi, if you have the guts, try to show off your power."
Jiang Qingzhi raised his hand, pulled open Chen He's collar with his left hand, and let go with his right hand.
The medicinal smoke fell in.
He patted the place where the smoke had fallen, then turned around and said, "It's windy today, and the clothes at home haven't been dried yet, so I'm going home."
From beginning to end, Jiang Qingzhi didn't even look at Xiao Zhuo.
It seemed as if he had come specifically to cause trouble for Chen He.
Behind him, Chen He lowered his head in a daze.
Green smoke came out of the chest and abdomen.
"what!"
Amid screams, Jiang Qingzhi strode out.
Sun Chonglou turned around and glanced at Xiao Zhuo.
"Let's go." Dou Jialan urged.
"Master is not..."
"If he doesn't come, that's our fate!" said Dou Jialan.
Jiang Qingzhi walked into the door and heard someone behind him calling, "Uncle."
It was Xiao Zhuo's voice.
The corners of Jiang Qingzhi's mouth curled up slightly.
He dealt with Chen He in public to send a signal to the outside world.
Anyone who dares to touch my, Jiang Qingzhi's, people must be careful of revenge.
This is a flag-raising and also a recruitment letter.
Everything is ready, just waiting for Xiao Zhuo to come and join us.
"What's the matter?"
Xiao Zhuo walked over quickly.
"It's a windy day. Fortunately, Lord Bo reminded me. I just remembered that my clothes and quilts at home haven't been dried yet. I'm going back now."
Jiang Qingzhi turned around and asked, "All the way?"
Xiao Zhuo bowed and said solemnly, "All the way!"
"quick!"
Chen He was in a state of disgrace, and Zhao Fa and several officials were helping him take off his clothes.
As a result of this, the smoke from the medicine burned more skin on the chest and abdomen.
"Jiang Qingzhi!"
Chen He shouted at Jiang Qingzhi: "I will definitely impeach you!"
Jiang Qingzhi took out a medicinal cigarette.
Sun Chonglou took out the matchmaker and handed it to Xiao Zhuo.
"Give!"
Xiao Zhuo was puzzled, "This is..."
Sun Chonglou raised his eyebrows, "Light a cigarette for the young master!"
When Xiao Zhuo saw Dou Jialan nod to him, he understood.
An organization must have a leader.
There is a ceremony to express submission.
For example, there was such a ceremony within the Yan Party: when an important official came to surrender, Yan Song and his son would hold a grand banquet, gather their close associates, and celebrate the newcomer's joining.
But Jiang Qingzhi's joining ceremony here is just lighting a cigarette.
Xiao Zhuo blew up the firewood and handed the flame over.
Jiang Qingzhi lowered his head and took a few puffs.
Looking at Xiao Zhuo, he smiled and said, "Do you regret it?"
Jiang Qingzhi's appearance at this moment was to force Xiao Zhuo to make a choice.
Either rely on me, or sink into depravity, or rely on the Yan Party.
Xiao Zhuo shook his head.
"Why?"
Jiang Qingzhi asked.
Xiao Zhuo said: "My uncle is young and talented like the rising sun."
"I like to hear the truth." In fact, Jiang also likes to be flattered, but this is forming a clique!
Be serious!
Xiao Zhuo smiled awkwardly, "My Lord, do you think that I am trying to curry favor with the powerful?"
Jiang Qingzhi did not comment, "Continue."
Xiao Zhuo said solemnly: "Before buying the house, I asked you what you did after you came to Beijing. You didn't care about the power of the Yan Party and you were the enemy. You didn't hesitate. This was for the country.
The Lord is rectifying the Huben Zuowei. If something goes wrong, the consequences will be unpredictable, but he still has no hesitation, because he is doing it for the country.
When Lord Bo led his army to fight in Datong, many people said they would lose, but he did not look back and won two battles... This is still for the country!"
"Here, Xiao." Xiao Zhuo pounded his chest, making a banging sound. "I am full of passion. Even if I want to support someone, I will only support those who are devoted to the country. I will die with no regrets!"
Jiang Qingzhi looked at him and nodded after a long time.
The fact that the Ming Dynasty could still hold out for so long under the setting sun of the empire was not just due to the opening of the Longqing Gate or the reforms of Zhang Juzheng.
Even more depends on people like Xiao Zhuo, who seem to be unknown but support the backbone of the Ming Dynasty!
Xiao Zhuo asked, "May I ask, Master, what is the purpose of this life?"
Since we are forming a party, I am willing to be your follower. So, boss, what is the purpose of our organization?
"Let the Ming dragon flag fly for five hundred years!"
Jiang Qing got on his horse and pointed to the north.
"Would you like to follow me and see the exotic customs?"
I expressed my ideals.
So are you willing to follow me?
Sun Chonglou whispered, "So serious."
"Shut up!" Dou Jialan shouted.
"Why?"
"Don't you feel like you're witnessing history?"
Xiao Zhuo cupped his hands and said loudly: "That is what I wish for, but I dare not ask for it!"
(End of this chapter)
