Chapter 541

Ye Xiaotian stayed in the Ministry of Rites for three days, learning the etiquette and honorifics to be used when meeting the Emperor. In fact, he didn't practice all day. He only had three hours a day to study, and the rest of his time was free.

Because of this, Ye Xiaotian did a lot of things in these three days. It was essential to visit relatives and friends, visit neighbors, and spend money everywhere. This was probably a habit of the people. If they lived in a foreign land for a year, most people would do this when they returned home.

They might be doing well, or they might just be pretending to be strong. But they all had the idea of "returning home in glory", and didn't want their relatives and friends to look down on them. Ye Xiaotian was really arrogant, so he was not stingy in this aspect. So Ye Xiaotian became the Boy of Wealth!

It was not easy to learn in the Ministry of Rites. The Ministry of Rites needed to teach him more than just the etiquette of meeting the Emperor. At the end of the year, the Emperor would hold a banquet with all the officials. For a newly promoted local chieftain like Ye Xiaotian, and his subordinates came from the deep mountains, it was necessary for him to attend the state banquet.

So when it came to accepting titles, attending state banquets, and meeting other important officials of the court, what etiquette should be, how to talk, and how to address them, Manager Tao carefully taught him everything. Fortunately, Ye Xiaotian was quick-witted and learned very quickly.

After three days, Ye Xiaotian wanted to build a network in the capital, and Manager Tao wanted to get close to him, so the two became very close friends.

Yan Shiwei didn't come to the Ye Family for two days. It was useless for him to come. As long as Ye Xiaotian was at home, he would visit relatives and friends with big and small packages. In the meantime, he went to visit the ancestral graves with his father and brother. He had no time to entertain him.

On the third day, Yan Shiwei finally came. Ye Xiao 'an hurriedly introduced him to Ye Xiaotian, "Second brother, this is big brother's good friend, Brother Yan Shiwei. In the capital, he has always taken care of me!"

Ye Xiaotian looked at Yan Shiwei, cupped his hands and said, "Brother Yan, what's your position?"

Ye Xiao 'an said hesitantly, "Ah! Brother Yan … Brother Yan is a merchant, but his business is very big! "

Ye Xiao 'an also knew that his brother was now a high-ranking official, and being a merchant was a lowly business. Although the wealth of the great Shang Dynasty was comparable to that of a country, and they could already enter the mansions of nobles and treat them like distinguished guests, and their real social status was not limited by the hierarchy set by Taizu, Yan Shiwei obviously had not reached that level yet. He was afraid that his second brother would despise him when he heard that he was a merchant, which would embarrass Yan Shiwei, so he hesitated to speak.

Naturally, Ye Xiaotian understood his elder brother's intentions. He knew what he was worried about as soon as he saw his elder brother's expression. He couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, It seems that Big Brother really thinks of this Mister Yan as a very good friend. Otherwise, he wouldn't be worried about me giving him the guts to see.

Ye Xiao 'an knew that. Ye Xiaotian knew that his brother didn't like Yan, and Yan's worried about Shiwei. Yan's Yan's too.

Yan Shiwei had heard about his brother's identity from Ye Xiao 'an, so he pretended to be a merchant. He said to Ye Xiaotian in fear and trepidation, "Lord Prime Minister … no, no, Chieftain Lord, you're too serious. You're exaggerating, you're exaggerating, Xiao An and I … Ah no! I … I and your Lord's temperament is congenial. No, no, I'm indebted to your Lord's love … "

Yan Shiwei not only pretended to be good, but also spoke incoherently. His forehead was full of sweat. Ye Xiaotian couldn't help but smile, "Don't panic. One poor and one lowly, they are friends. You are a big merchant, my brother is just a prison guard. You didn't turn your back on him. Now that our Ye Clan is prosperous, how can we turn our back on an old friend? "

Yan Shiwei's face was full of smiles, and he said, "Yes, yes, yes, you are right, Lord."

Ye Xiaotian said, "I'm going to the palace soon, so I can't entertain Brother Yan now. I'm sorry. When I come back from the palace, I'll host a banquet for Brother Yan! "

Yan Shiwei waved his hands, "Oh, I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it! Lord, please go ahead, go ahead! "

Ye Xiaotian said goodbye to his parents and greeted Yan Shiwei politely before leaving. The carriage was already waiting at the door. Ye Xiaotian boarded the carriage and went to the palace.

Ye Xiao 'an waited for his brother to leave before he pulled Yan Shiwei into the courtyard and complained in a low voice, "My brother wants to meet the emperor today. Didn't I tell you to come tomorrow? How can I introduce you to him in such a hurry?"

Yan Shiwei rubbed his hands and smiled, "I heard that your brother became a high-ranking official and was nervous. I'm afraid I calculated the date wrongly. Three days later or three days later, I'm really not sure. It's okay, I'll come again tomorrow. Oh right, since there's nothing to do, why don't we go out for a walk now? "

Ye Xiao 'an thought of Miss Chuyin and Miss Yuchen, whom he hadn't met yet. He heard that she also had a famous weapon, and his heart itched. He hurriedly said, "Okay, let's go out for a walk!"

He knew that his wife didn't have a good impression of this Brother Yan, so he didn't greet his family and pulled Yan Shiwei out. Yan Shiwei stole a glance at him and said, "Although I've heard about it from you, seeing your second brother with my own eyes, who looks exactly like you but is such a high-ranking official, I really can't believe it."

Ye Xiao 'an smiled and said, "Not to mention you, I'm the same. I'm scared every morning."

Yan Shiwei said, "What are you afraid of?"

Ye Xiao 'an said, "I'm afraid that when my second brother comes back, he'll think that the matter of the chieftain was just a dream!"

Yan Shiwei also laughed, "How can that be? Your Ye family has really become rich now! We'll have to rely on you in the future! "

Ye Xiao 'an said, "Of course, of course. Back then, I was just a small prison guard, and Brother Yan never despised me. Now that our Ye family has become rich, we naturally won't forget Brother Yan. Don't worry, I'll take care of your business in Tongren. With my second brother taking care of you, you'll definitely be able to stand your ground! "

Yan Shiwei repeatedly thanked him and pretended to joke, saying, "It's fine if your second brother isn't willing to help me, as long as I have you, it'll be fine. Anyway, this chieftain of yours looks exactly like you. If I really need your second brother's help, I just need you to change into his clothes and accompany me. Who would recognize you then? "

When Ye Xiao 'an was in the Heavenly Prison, there was once a criminal official was sent over. Because it was in a hurry, the official's robe was still on when he was sent over. He changed into the prisoner's uniform and was sent to the prison cell. Before handing over the official's uniform, the prison guards took turns wearing the official's uniform to satisfy their craving. Now that they heard Yan Shiwei's interesting words, they couldn't help but be eager to give it a try.

Yan Shiwei stopped there and didn't say anything further. There was still a long way to go, and now was not the time. Many seeds had to be quietly planted one by one, and then wait for them to sprout one by one …

…

Ye Xiaotian didn't panic when he went to the Imperial Palace. He knew very well that an empire was made up of all kinds of intertwined power relationships. If any one of them went wrong, it would lead to a series of problems. As the highest ruler, he would have to worry about it.

Thus, he was certain to return with a full load on this trip back to his hometown. Although the Emperor didn't publicly receive him in the Golden Palace, indicating that he still had the intention of inspecting him, there was at least a seventy percent chance that he would pass the inspection.

Also, on this return to the capital, he deliberately pretended to be a nouveau riche, ostentatiously showing off and appearing unbearably vulgar. If a court official acted like this, not only would the Emperor find him displeasing to the eye, but the imperial censors would have long sent in impeachment memorials.

But because he was a local official, a chieftain of a region, the entire court was collectively silent. This was because this kind of chieftain was a qualified chieftain in the eyes of the Emperor and the officials. A chieftain who could be inherited and could govern the people under his jurisdiction like the Emperor. If he was incorruptible, courteous, erudite, and wise, then the Emperor and the officials definitely wouldn't be happy to see him.

Thus, his uncouth and vulgar behavior added more points in the hearts of the Emperor and the cabinet members. Now, there was at least an eighty percent chance that he would be appointed. Even so, when he rushed to the front of the Imperial Palace and saw the majestic, heavenly palaces, Ye Xiaotian couldn't help but feel his heartbeat quicken and his breathing quicken.

He grew up in the capital, but this was the first time he saw what the Imperial Palace was like. Ye Xiaotian got off the carriage and continued to walk forward. There was a very wide square, where carriages and horses were no longer allowed to pass.

He looked back and saw that the few carriages behind him had stopped. On top of them were his gifts to the Emperor: exquisite glassware from Persia and Abbasid Caliphate, deer antler, musk, bezoar, dog treasures, spices from the Western Regions, mastiffs from Qinghai, and so on.

Ye Xiaotian tidied up his clothes and turned to look at Li Qiuchi. He saw that Li Qiuchi was in a worse state than him, standing there with a red face and staring blankly at the magnificent palaces.

Seeing the high and mighty Imperial Palace that he had seen and heard since he was young suddenly appear in front of him, the pressure that had been accumulated in his heart for a long time wasn't something that could be easily removed. Perhaps the officials who went in and out of the Imperial Palace every day were already used to it and didn't feel anything, but for those who saw it for the first time, who wouldn't be shocked?

Ye Xiaotian took a deep breath and lightly patted Li Qiuchi's shoulder. When Li Qiuchi gradually regained his composure, Ye Xiaotian took large strides forward …

The gifts were received by the eunuchs. Li Qiuchi and the guards were blocked outside the Imperial Palace. Only Ye Xiaotian was led by a young eunuch into the Imperial Palace. There were many palaces and doors. Ye Xiaotian's legs were already weak from walking. Only then did he see that the young eunuch stopped in front of a palace.

This was the Imperial Study, the place where the Emperor read through memorials. Ye Xiaotian had been waiting here for two hours, so much so that his heels hurt. From time to time, Ye Xiaotian shifted the center of gravity of his left and right feet to reduce the discomfort of his body. He stole a glance at the young eunuch and the guards at the door, only to see that they were standing respectfully like stone carvings. For two whole hours, they didn't move at all.

Seeing this, Ye Xiaotian couldn't help but sigh inwardly. All kinds of skills were trained. To be a servant in the Imperial Palace, one had to have skills that others couldn't.

Finally, after waiting for another fifteen minutes, a senior eunuch finally came out from inside. He swept his eyes down the stairs, waved his horsetail whisk, and loudly said: "Summon, the Prefect of Tongren Province, Ye Xiaotian, to see the Emperor!"

Ye Xiaotian suddenly became spirited. He had bowed twenty-four times. Whether or not he could earn a golden rice bowl for his descendants depended on this last shiver! Wanli, here I come!