Yu Shu moved into the Taixi Building.
This was the official residence of the previous Grand Supervisor. It was located in the north of the Celestial Commissioner's Nine Palaces. It was located in the east. The independent courtyard was surrounded by a bamboo forest. The environment was quiet and beautiful. There was a pool of running water in the garden. The building was located in the middle of the lake. Only a nine-turn bridge could reach the other side.
After Zhu Muzhao stepped down from his position, he moved all of his personal belongings out of the building. Yu Shudu walked into the slightly empty hall and looked around the place with a different mood than before. Her gaze fell on the treasured chair in the middle of the carved railings and jade steps. For the past fifteen years, Zhu Muzhao had sat in that position and issued orders, looking down on all the civil and military officials of the court. He was truly below one and above tens of thousands.
She had just received the imperial edict yesterday and the Secretariat was rushing to make her court clothes and official robes. At this time, she was still wearing the third-rank Right Commander's silver gauze gown with the Big Dipper Palace embroidered on her shoulder. Originally, the patch for female officials had another design. This third-rank Right Commander was supposed to be an orchid in an empty valley. However, the Secretariat was in a hurry and used the wrong design. She did not correct it because she already knew at that time that in the near future, she would sit in this position and wear the pattern that only stayed on Empress Ningzhen's shoulder for the past 300 years — — the Flower of the Other Shore.
The Flower of the Other Shore was also known as the Red Spider Lily. It came from Sanskrit and was not a spiritual plant that appeared in the Taoist classics. There was a saying, "The Flower of the Other Shore, blooms on the other shore. Only the flower and not the leaves can be seen." It meant that the Red Spider Lily bloomed on the banks of the River of Forgetfulness in the underworld. It implied reincarnation and rebirth. However, it was a symbol chosen by Empress Ningzhen herself. It represented the woman who stood at the highest position in the court.
Yu Shu walked around Taixi Tower and was very satisfied with her new territory. She tried the chair, but it was hard and uncomfortable to sit on. Just as she was thinking of bringing a soft cushion over tomorrow, the guard outside reported that someone from the Registrar's Office had arrived.
Xin Ya came in with a writing official. When she saw Yu Shu sitting on the throne, her eyes twinkled. She greeted her with a smile and explained the purpose of her visit.
"Grand Secretary, you will be staying here for a long time in the future. You must not feel uncomfortable living here. Take a look at what is lacking in this building and what needs to be added. Mention it so that this lowly official can remember it and redecorate it as soon as possible."
The Comptroller's Office was in charge of property. Just the amount of tax collected from the Great Exchange Hall across the country was already an astronomical figure. It could be said that they were extremely rich. Xin Ya was indeed a shrewd person and knew how to adapt to the circumstances. Yu Shu had just taken up the position and it was still unclear how capable he was. A group of people were watching quietly from below, but he was the first to take the initiative to please her.
Yu Shu smiled faintly and said, "This place is a little deserted, I don't like it, you clean it up." Finished speaking, she no longer cared about him and picked up the dossier that Zong Zheng Si had sent yesterday and flipped through it. She did not treat Xin Ya as an elder just because of her relationship with Xin Liu. Sitting here, she only needed to remember that Xin Ya was the Celestial Commissioner.
Xin Ya agreed readily. After asking for her permission, he wandered around the hall and went up to the second floor to have a look. From time to time, he stopped to let his attendants record, "The color of the curtain is too dark. Change it to eight pieces of lake blue brocade and eight pieces of purple silk."
"Change all the screens here as well and use glass shelves. Note it down."
"Add six more mahogany lanterns with cranes on a tortoise's back, two black beast-head incense burners, a pair of celestial glazed amphorae …"
"It's going to be winter soon. Four sets of bedding and pillows. Don't forget to write down the armrests of the chairs."
He ran back and forth, almost changing the furnishings inside and outside of Taixi Brothel from inside out. Only then did he leave with his entourage satisfied. Not long after he left, Junior Eunuch Ren brought a few officials from the Zong Zhengsi to pay a visit. Yu Shu was now the chief of the Zong Zhengsi, so Ren Qiming naturally became her assistant. He was a talent that Zhu Muzhao had personally trained. He was pragmatic, capable, and loyal. Originally, he was the most promising person to inherit Zhu Muzhao's mantle, but unfortunately, she appeared out of nowhere.
Not to mention that there was still some hostility between Ren Qiming and Yu Shu. Earlier, he had lynched her and broken her little finger. In addition, his wife, Madam Ren Rui, had talked about her behind her back. Although they were not enemies, they still had a grudge.
Yu Shu had long understood the power of the Zong Zhengsi. It could be said that the power of the Celestial Commissioner was concentrated in this department — the big ones included presiding over the royal sacrifice, writing the genealogy of the emperor, managing the register of the clan, and rewarding and punishing members of the royal family. The small ones included recording the children of the royal family, inheriting the title of nobility, drawing up titles, and so on.
Take Ning Wang for example. When he was the regent, it was his most glorious time. Kong Qi had accused him of murdering the Tenth Princess. At that time, the former emperor was recuperating in Huazhen Garden and did not care about court affairs. The Supreme Court did not dare to accept this case, so the Zong Zhengsi dared to take it. If they said that Ning Wang was guilty, then he was guilty. If they said that Ning Wang was imprisoned, then he was imprisoned. There was no ambiguity at all.
Ren Qiming brought people to report the recent affairs of the Zong Zhengsi to Yu Shu. He was very methodical and well-behaved. Yu Shu could see that he was not convinced that she was in this position. But because this was Zhu Muzhao's decision, he would obey. So after they finished discussing official matters, she asked him to stay and let the others leave.
"What other instructions does the Zong Zhengsi have?" Ren Qiming did not respectfully address her as "Taishu". In his eyes, she was not worthy of this title.
Yu Shu raised an eyebrow and smiled. She turned her body to change into a comfortable sitting position. One hand propped up her chin, the other rested on the white jade table. Her slender and long fingers nimbly tapped on the table. She examined him for a moment and asked unhurriedly,
"Junior Supervisor Ren, how long have you been in the Celestial Commissioner?"
Ren Qiming lowered his head and said: "This lowly official became an official in the third year of Zhaoqing."
"Twelve years," Yu Shu sighed. "Counting it, this seat is only a fraction of your time." She had become the Celestial Commissioner in July of the previous year. It had not even been a year and three months.
Ren Qiming said with a wooden face: "Then you really have a meteoric rise and your official career is prosperous."
This was not a compliment. Yu Shu chuckled and asked indifferently: "Then do you know why I am in this position?"
Ren Qiming heard this and raised his head to look at her. His mind turned quickly and he said: "This lowly official does not dare to criticize."
Yu Shu stopped smiling and looked at him coldly: "You do not dare to criticize, but it does not mean that there is no criticism. I think you are clear that because I am the person who broke Ming, Zhu Gongzi looked at me differently and let me take over as the Celestial Commissioner. It is precisely because I am the only one who can hope to find the Book of Mystery Maiden Liu Ren and protect the foundation of Da An. Since you are clear about this, you should also know that other than me, no one else can sit firmly in this position. I do not care what you think in your heart. I will only warn you once and give you this one chance. Either you win my trust, or I will find someone to replace you. "
The meaning behind her words was actually telling him: either submit to me or get lost.
Ren Qiming's body froze and he clenched his teeth. At first he felt ashamed and resentful, but when he met her overbearing eyes, he quickly calmed down. He was already middle-aged and had long passed the age of letting his emotions affect his decisions. If it was ten years ago and he heard someone speak to him like this, he would definitely turn around and leave. But now, he repeatedly chewed over her cold words and his back gradually became wet with sweat.
No one knew better than him how much power Yu Shu, this young woman, had in her hands. Not mentioning her reputation and ability, the previous generation's Great Advisor Zhu Muzhao had transferred the command of the Black Guards to her hands. She was also the only person in the world other than Zhu Muzhao who had learned the 'Supreme Bone Divine Lesson'. Emperor Chongzhen favored her greatly and the current Empress also had a close relationship with her. Just as she said, other than her, no one else could be qualified for the position of Great Advisor.
From this, it could be seen that her threat to find someone to replace him was not just empty words. However, he knew too many secrets of the court, each one enough to be fatal. If he left like this, the Celestial Commissioner would not let him go, and the Emperor would not let him go. In the end, it would be better than having an intact corpse.
Ren Qiming had been depressed and dissatisfied for several months. At this moment, he suddenly thought it through. He had no other choice. He could either live or seek death.
"So this lowly official was muddle-headed." He looked deeply at Yu Shu. His tightly clenched fists slowly loosened. Lifting the hem of his robe, he knelt on the ground and said in a respectful voice, "Grand Secretary, please forgive my crime of disrespect."
Yu Shu raised the corner of her mouth in satisfaction. She nodded and said, "A wise man submits to circumstances. Get up, Junior Supervisor. In the future, this seat will need to rely on you for many things. Don't be muddle-headed again."
She herself was a tough nut to crack. It was naturally easy for her to deal with this kind of person who was unmoved by force or persuasion. Everything about being courteous and approachable were all nonsense. Only by letting him see the reality would he obediently listen to her orders.
Ren Qiming finally gave in in front of her. Then he reported an 'interesting matter' to her.
"Last night, a few academicians from Taishi Library came to my fu to seek an audience. After meeting, they beat around the bush. Listening to their intentions, they were dissatisfied with you taking over the position of Celestial Commissioner. They deliberately stirred up trouble and urged me to fight for power with you."
When Yu Shu asked him who they were, he mentioned them one by one. When she heard Han Wenguang's name, she couldn't help but laugh mockingly. Her eyes flashed and she thought: When I first took office, it was inevitable that people's hearts were not stable. Just as I was about to punish the chicken to warn the monkey, there were people who were seeking their own deaths who came to the door.
Ren Qiming was also tactful. This stab in the back was very straightforward. He not only cut off his relationship but also surrendered to her.
Yu Shu then asked him, "How do you think this matter should be handled?"
Ren Qiming said sternly, "In this lowly official's view, the academicians' days are too leisurely. That's why they are impetuous and have ideas that they shouldn't have. If they are not punished, I'm afraid that they will be even more rampant in the future."
"Junior Supervisor is right," Yu Shu thought and sat up straight. She took a brush from the brush rack. Seeing this, Ren Qiming hesitated for a moment and then went forward to grind the ink for her.
Yu Shu shook the brush and muttered, "I studied at Taishi Library for several months and found many bad practices. For example, some academicians were too arrogant and rejected the students who were studying hard. There were also some academicians who took advantage of their position to seek personal gain and did not focus on teaching. All these things are because the eighteen academicians do things their own way. There is one less person to take charge of the overall situation, and the Celestial Commissioner is too indulgent. This has led to today. Why don't we choose a director from among them and send a supervisor from the Celestial Commissioner to supervise the Taishi Library to correct its conduct? "
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
