Wei Yuan's operation is a bit tricky … The middleman is too much … However, this also means that as long as the chicken essence is produced in large quantities, it will definitely make a lot of money.
Does this count as me accidentally opening the path of a simple and unpretentious rich man with a large number of wives and concubines?
"Sure enough, there are specializations in different fields. If I knew this, I wouldn't have fooled around and guided the Celestial Commissioner's warlocks in the right direction. I just sat behind the scenes and enjoyed the commission … Unfortunately, it's too late …" Xu Qi'an sighed silently.
From the Tax Silver Case to the Sampo Case, he had offended too many big shots in the court and was now tightly tied to Wei Yuan.
Under such circumstances, what he needed to do was to cultivate and assist Wei Yuan. The more stable Wei Yuan's position and the more power he had, the more benefits Xu Qi'an would reap. He really didn't have much energy to tinker with alchemy.
Hmm, it's not like I don't have time. I'll think about it when I have free time in the future. The plan now is to enter the Spirit Refinement State.
Huaiqing took a sip of tea to moisturize her lips. She said in a very calm tone, "Recently, the fighting between the various parties in the court has suddenly stopped. The reason is that Duke Wei and Wang Shoufu have joined forces and are trying to clean up all the parties in the court. "
"That's a good thing." Xu Qi'an's eyes lit up.
Huaiqing shook her head. "Father has stopped them. The chaos in the court is beneficial to him. The more intense the fighting between the parties, the more he can cultivate in peace. If one party or two parties dominate, the court will be out of father's control. "
Huaiqing is treating me as one of her own since she told me this … Why does it feel like she trusts me too much … Although I'm good at licking your boots, I've only licked you a few times … Xu Qi'an nodded and echoed.
"Fighting between parties is a double-edged sword. It can protect His Majesty's position, but it can also disrupt the court. The more factions there are, the more intense the fight. In the long run, no one will pay attention to government affairs. Their minds will be filled with schemes and schemes to defeat their opponents. "
While they were talking, Xu Qi'an had been observing Princess Huaiqing's expression. If she showed any displeasure or disgust, Xu Qi'an would stop.
On the other hand, Xu Qi'an would use his knowledge as a pseudo-historian to have a good chat with the princess to improve their relationship and gain more attention from her.
Princess Huaiqing, who was well-versed in the history books, narrowed her eyes and deliberately set a trap. "Wouldn't it be better to just put an end to the factional strife?"
Xu Qi 'an shook his head. "There are no cliques in the imperial court. Strange things of every description."
There are all kinds of strange things in the imperial court … Princess Huaiqing repeated these words in her heart. Her eyes brightened, and the corners of her mouth lifted unconsciously.
Seeing this, Xu Qi 'an immediately said, "I have some shallow opinions. I wonder if Princess Royal is interested in hearing them."
Hearing this, Princess Huaiqing quietly straightened her sitting posture and nodded. "Go ahead."
Xu Qi 'an deliberated and said, "Actually, His Majesty's method of balancing the imperial court is not appropriate …"
He saw Princess Huaiqing narrow her eyes, but she did not stop him. She only stared at him. He then continued.
"If you want to balance the imperial court, you don't need so many parties. You only need three evenly matched parties. Because no matter in what field, the triangle is the most stable … Well, except for marriage. "
"Triangle?" Huaiqing heard an unfamiliar word.
Xu Qi 'an drew a triangle with his hand. She suddenly realized and said, "This structure often appears in the construction of palaces."
Princess Royal is really smart … Xu Qi 'an said, "If there are only two parties, they may form an alliance in private. On the surface, they are incompatible with each other, but behind the scenes, they are in cahoots. But if there are three parties, it will be difficult for them to reach a consensus of interests. The imperial court will be relatively stable and easy to balance. "
Princess Huaiqing pondered for a long time. She seemed to have figured something out. She chuckled, then quickly restrained herself and resumed her cold attitude.
"The great scholar of Yunlu Academy said that you are a scholar. I thought you were only good at poetry. I didn't expect you to have such a high opinion. There are only a few scholars in the world who can be like you. The great scholar of Yunlu Academy has a keen eye. I underestimated you. "
No, they only think that my poetry is good. You didn't underestimate me either … I am a keyboard warrior. I can point out the country and inspire words. I am invincible in the world.
Xu Qi 'an smiled reservedly.
"In fact, in addition to the many parties, the imperial court has a very fatal problem … Your Highness, please forgive me. I used the wrong words."
Princess Huaiqing smiled faintly and said, "Don't worry too much when we talk behind closed doors."
Her clear and bright eyes stared at him, expressing an urgent desire to listen, but she didn't say it out loud.
Xu Qi 'an immediately felt relieved and said, "His Majesty can easily manipulate the officials in the imperial court, demoting and removing officials, but he cannot control the low-level officials and petty officials, especially the latter, who are the main culprits of the destitution of the people."
This question seemed to hit Princess Huaiqing's soft spot. She suddenly became serious and interrupted, "I am also worried about this problem."
"In fact, there are two reasons for the accumulation of petty officials in Daibun. First, there are fierce disputes in the imperial court and negligence of management. To put it bluntly, they only fight and do nothing. Second, His Majesty has been practicing Taoism for twenty-one years. The imperial court's control over the low-level officials has seriously declined, which leads to the petty officials being lawless. "
Princess Huaiqing nodded. "You and I have the same opinion. I have thought about this problem more than once, but I can't find a solution."
"You are a princess, why are you thinking about this kind of thing …" Xu Qi 'an said, "As for the matter of petty officials, my suggestion is to centralize the power."
"Centralization of power?" Princess Huai Qing unconsciously asked with a tone of asking for advice, because this was another unfamiliar word.
"Although His Majesty has a firm grasp of the imperial court, he has to give corresponding power to maintain the situation of the parties fighting. His Majesty's power is really too scattered …" Xu Qi 'an didn't continue. He believed that with Princess Royal's wisdom, she would understand the meaning.
Similarly, how to change the current situation? Whoever started the trouble should untie it. Either the Yuanjing Emperor turned over a new leaf and worked hard on government affairs. Or he abdicated.
This was the reason why Xu Qi 'an stopped the topic. If he continued, it would be inevitable to talk about this taboo topic.
The two of them chatted for a long time. Princess Huai Qing was impressed by the copper gong, and so was Xu Qi 'an. The princess was not only smart, but also knowledgeable. She could quote classical sentences, and it was both pleasant and difficult to talk to her.
Seeing that it was about time, Xu Qi 'an said goodbye. He couldn't talk anymore. There was really nothing left. If he continued, he would have to talk about socialism with her.
Princess Huaiqing nodded, but there was a desire to continue.
…
After leaving Princess Huaiqing's palace, Xu Qi 'an turned around and went to find Lin' an. Soon he was informed and entered the mansion under the guidance of the guards.
It was now half past nine in the morning. Lin 'an, wearing a fiery red dress, was playing shuttlecock with the palace maids.
If one were to say that Xu Lingyin was talented in the field of eating, then Lin 'an was talented in playing. She was currently playing shuttlecock better than Xu Qi' an, who practiced martial arts.
The fiery red dress fluttered and her small waist swayed. Her slender legs seemed to have a GPS and could always catch the shuttlecock and kick it back up into the air.
So if this girl was born in his era, she would be a little queen of the night clubs who travelled every day.
The dress of this era was too conservative, and one would wear pants below … Xu Qi 'an who did not see anything cursed in his heart and cupped his fists, "Your Highness."
Seeing that Xu Qi 'an came to visit, she kicked the shuttlecock to the palace maid and put her hands on her waist, "Didn't you say that after the case is over, you will come over to pay your respects every day?"
"This Palace is not something that this official can enter whenever he wants to …" Xu Qi 'an walked towards the direction of the pavilion and Princess Lin' an followed.
She took the towel that the maid handed over and wiped her little face, messing up her originally delicate eyebrows.
"Recently BenGong wants to go out of the Palace to play. You accompany me." Lin 'an returned the towel to the maid and washed her hands.
Xu Qi 'an glanced at her, "No."
Lin 'an suddenly glared at him, "Dog slave."
The two began to play the trick of taming the eagle again. Lin 'an tried to use her charming and affectionate peach blossom eyes to subdue Xu Qi' an, and Xu Qi 'an used his dead fish eyes to resist.
Sure enough, she was the first to admit defeat. Her round goose face was slightly shy as she looked away and said angrily, "If it was Huaiqing, would you be obedient?"
Huaiqing would not let me do such a suicidal thing. Abducting the Princess out of the Palace was punishable by beheading … Xu Qi 'an took out a porcelain bottle from his bosom,
"I recently came across a little thing that can be added when cooking to enhance the taste. It is called chicken essence. "
In front of Lin 'an, he was more casual and never called himself lowly. Second Princess never cared about this.
"Chicken essence … What a strange name." Lin 'an said with a smile, "You have no money to spend again, right? BenGong will reward you with another painting. Well, there is an ivory brush from the treasury. It is said to be very valuable. I don't like to write, so I will give it to you."
Xu Qi 'an immediately said, "Your Highness misunderstood me. I did not come for the reward. I am willing to be a slave for the Princess."
Lin 'an was a person who liked to listen to sweet words. She immediately became very happy, "Then what do you want?"
"Please convert it into silver, Your Highness."
"Silver is fine …" Lin 'an held her cheeks with her hand and stared at him with a smile. Her misty peach blossom eyes seemed to be looking at her lover.
"I am bored and tired of playing with shuttlecock. Tell me a story. Tell me the story of the Journey to the West."
"Okay, Your Highness. This time I will tell you three times. Lend me the Palm-Leaf Fan." Xu Qi 'an drank the tea served by the palace maid to moisten his throat.
"One day, Xuanzang and his disciple came to the Flaming Mountain. The fire was raging and they could not fly over. The Land Proclamation told Great Sage Sun that if he wanted to extinguish the flames of the Flaming Mountain, he had to ask Princess Iron Fan for the Palm-Leaf Fan. Speaking of Princess Iron Fan, she was the wife of the Bull Demon King. "
"The Bull Demon King? He is Great Sage Sun's sworn brother. "Lin 'an had a good memory and shouted delicately.
"Yes, so Great Sage Sun and Madam Niu have an unknown relationship."
"What relationship?"
"Princess, please listen to me …" Xu Qi 'an looked at the palace maid, "Wait outside the pavilion."
The palace maid left obediently.
Xu Qi 'an immediately felt relieved and continued, "Great Sage Sun came to the Palm-Leaf Cave. Princess Iron Fan welcomed him warmly, but she was unwilling to lend him the Palm-Leaf Fan. So the two began an intense hand-to-hand fight.
"Great Sage Sun turned into a worm and burrowed into Princess Iron Fan's stomach. He said, 'Sister-in-law, I am already inside you.'
"Princess Iron Fan rolled on the ground in pain and gave in. As long as Great Sage Sun came out, she would offer him the Palm-Leaf Fan.
"Great Sage Sun said, 'Sister-in-law, open your mouth. I, Old Sun, am coming out.'
"And at this time, the Bull Demon King was outside the door and witnessed everything."
"Then who is he helping?" Lin 'an said in distress, "One is his sworn brother, the other is his wife. He was in a dilemma. "
"No, the Bull Demon King and Princess Iron Fan separated."
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