Emperor Ming Dynasty

In the lobby, the two people had different thoughts.

Presenting beauty to the emperor was presided over by Wang He and operated by Shandong Governor Feng Houdun.

Whether it was occupying his house as a residence or making him an audience with the emperor, these basic tasks were all handled by Feng Houdun.

Only he, the governor of Shandong, has such great power.

The cause of the incident was instigated by Minister of the Interior Wang He.

The reason why Wang He wants to show beauty to the emperor is nothing more than two words: solid favor.

He is the emperor's retainer. Like eunuchs, promotion and demotion are all in the hands of the emperor. As long as the emperor is unhappy, he can be dismissed without reason.

In this case, it made him feel insecure all the time.

Making money for the emperor is second, the key is to be simple in the emperor's heart.

What's more, the minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is the fourth rank, and he can still be promoted if he goes up.

Wouldn't the future be brighter if the internal ministers were transferred to the foreign ministers?

It is inevitable to do what you like.

"Your Majesty has enjoyed the country for a long time. Although his ambition is still the same, he is still a little tired, so beauty is inevitable, just like Tang Minghuang's Yang Yuhuan!"

Wang He drank his tea with a blank expression, and his mind was full of thoughts: "In recent years, everyone has tasted it, including ladies, Mongols, Uighurs, and Western Yi, and there are even daughters from Korea, Japan, and Qin."

"But this is not the case for civilian women, especially married women, let alone chaste women?"

As a man, Wang He understood the emperor very well.

Emperor Shaowu never shied away from his lewd affairs and was extremely magnanimous. He had dozens of beauties in his harem, all rich and beautiful.

Naturally, a chaste woman, a widow, a commoner's daughter, a businesswoman, coupled with her extremely outstanding appearance, are enough to arouse the hearts of most men.

"If it is done well, I don't have high requirements. I can just be a magistrate of any place, and be an official close to the people."

Moreover, there are virtuous and direct ministers in the court, but few flattering ministers.

Although a courtier flatters the emperor, it does not prevent him from being a good official.

Thinking of this, the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

And Feng Houdun's thoughts are the same as those in general, they are all for the pursuit of official career.

If it is said that officials at the bottom only need to work hard and will be promoted sooner or later, then as a local official and governor of a province, Feng Houdun's promotion path is extremely narrow, no less than crossing a single-plank bridge.

At this time, although the recommendation of the cabinet is very important, the impression points of the emperor are even more important.

After all, the final decision is still in the hands of the emperor.

His status as a judge has always made him feel inferior, and it is also the biggest hurdle for him in officialdom.

He didn't ask for any promises from the emperor when it came to presenting his beauty, he just asked for a high nod when he was recommended by Yan Yingyuan.

And if you are appreciated by him and get into the cabinet, it doesn't matter even if you are the elder of Chengzhi Pavilion?

After so many years in the Ming Dynasty, how many pavilion elders were there?
After thinking about it, Feng Houdun couldn't help but said, "Is this really sure?"

"Seven out of ten!"

Wang He said casually: "The key thing is to keep it secret. No matter whether it is successful or not, we must keep it secret, otherwise our future will be ruined."

"Of course." Feng Houdun nodded, raised the cup and drank it down to relieve his tension.

At this time, he felt mixed with regret and excitement, like five colors of spices overturned, with all the tastes of sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, salty, and inexplicable.

At this time, outside the garden, there was also a family waiting anxiously.

That is the Qin family.

Qin's father and son.

As a father, Qin Xuemin is not willing to let his daughter remarry. After all, it is an insult to the family tradition.

Delicious food and drink, great power in your hands, control of Qi's family happily, without in-laws to serve, isn't this better than getting married?

But there is no way, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has given too much.

The eldest son, Qi Changfeng, was especially nervous. He was pacing left and right, his forehead was covered with fine sweat, and his lips kept moving, not knowing what he was saying.

The youngest son Qin Wanli was no exception, but he was much calmer. He drank four cups of tea and went to the toilet back and forth.

"Okay, what's the hurry!"

Qin Xuemin coughed and said with a worried expression.

"Father, if this happens, our family will become an imperial merchant."

Qin Changfeng sat down, his lips trembling: "Even the lowest-level imperial businessman can earn tens of thousands of yuan a year by contracting an iron ore or coal mine. Who dares to do those officials with their chins upturned?" Presumptuous again?"

"Our Qin family has been connected for generations!"

The youngest son Qin Wanli also moved over with a chair: "Yes, the key is to give him the official title!"

"The minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is the fourth rank, and the imperial merchants are the third, sixth and ninth ranks. The lowest rank is the ninth rank!"

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has 36 imperial merchants with an annual income of one million, 72 with an annual income of more than [-], and [-] with an annual income of less than [-].

They are respectively ninth-rank, eighth-rank, and seventh-rank.

This is the only way to be awarded an official position without merit.

These imperial merchants contracted minerals and monopolized trade. With the care of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, there was no hindrance to their business. Even bandits and tyrants would not dare to provoke them.

Which businessman is not envious?
"This is a ninth-grade official." Qin Wanli roared in a low voice: "A ninth-grade official who is almost hereditary."

In the Ming Dynasty, there was no such thing as selling an official, so the descendants of Mengyin were hereditary Jinyiwei, and this was also removed during the Jiajing period.

Therefore, fame is the only way for ordinary people to become officials.

This has thus shaped the huge foundation of the civil service system, with continuous talents.

"Yes, a hereditary official." Qin Xuemin murmured, "I just didn't know Qiu'er could do it..."

"It's definitely possible." Qin Changfeng gritted his teeth: "My sister is unparalleled in beauty, if it weren't for my sister..."

Seeing the discolored faces of his father and brother, he immediately said, "I thought it was a fairy from heaven descending to earth!"

"It's no worse than that concubine, and still has the upper hand."

……

"Sir, the scholars, students, filial sons, filial friends, Xiaolian and others from Lu Province who serve as imperial ministers are already at the gate of the garden. Can the slaves requesting the emperor's order be passed on to them?"

Liu Afu said respectfully.

"many people?"

"43 people."

"Pass it on."

"Yes."

Liu Afu turned around and went out. After a long delay, he brought everyone into the hall to salute. After prostrating, he bowed and waited for questions.

The so-called filial son and filial piety are nothing more than preaching the traditional ethics, so as to achieve the effect of brainwashing the people.

That is pua.

The social form of Confucianism is originally established at the grassroots level.

For the court, it is far more convenient and cost-effective to use moral restraint than legal restraint.

Because morality is the force of the crowd, and law is enforced by the government.

The cost of implementing the rule of law in ancient times was too high, so choosing the rule of virtue was a must. This was also the key to Confucianism's victory over Legalism:

How can there be so many judges spread across the country?

Even in later generations, the courts are overcrowded, and judges have almost no holidays.

Of course, things like foolishness and filial piety are not actually worth advocating. After all, walking with a big stick and receiving with a small stick all depend on the place and size.

But it is always impossible to veto the traditional moral system of benevolence and righteousness just because of a little foolishness and filial piety. This is unacceptable for the feudal dynasty.

Don't you see, the feudal order in the late Qing Dynasty collapsed thousands of miles from the collapse of morality.

The order of the parents and the words of the matchmaker have become free love, which means the collapse of the patriarchal system and the collapse of the filial piety system in the feudal society.

When children rebel and run away from marriage, the monarchy ceases to exist.

People even dare to ignore their own biological parents, let alone you, the emperor, why are you the emperor, president, and prime minister?

The emperor looked down and said after a while:

"This time I came to Shandong, I saw a lot and thought a lot."

"Shandong has been the hometown of Confucius and Mencius since ancient times. Good ministers have emerged in large numbers, and there are also people like you who have a king and father in their hearts, raise and teach people, and spread all the subtleties in the saint's writings to all people! As the saying goes, if a peach or plum is silent, it will make its own mistakes. , that’s the truth.”

"I build the country with filial piety, bow down to the small people, and take the filial piety passed down by the saints as the foundation of building the country, guarding the family, and maintaining the body. I will follow the great rule, and I can expect it!"

After a general explanation, Zhu Yixi has almost no obscurity.

As a monarch, speeches are also essential.

However, these people who watched were so excited that he felt it was worth it.

Seeing that the emperor's mouth was dry, Liu Afu felt that time was almost up, so he called these people to retreat.

"Concubine, do you have some time to spare?"

"Your Majesty, the imperial concubine still has some wives, and the chaste women are seeing you!" Liu Afu said with a smile:

"I heard that there is a female hero among them. She has managed a huge family business. The whole Jinan Prefecture gave her a thumbs up, and all the men said she is not as good as her!"

"Oh? That's strange."

"Then go and have a look!"

Zhu Yixi nodded, and came immediately: "Give some sugar, dates, and silk to the group of filial sons Xiaolian just now!"

"We can't meet in person, but just listen to what I say once, right? That wouldn't be interesting anymore."

"Your Majesty is benevolent."

Zhu Yixi has some experience in listening to other people's speeches.

There is only sound in the ears, but no sound, and the hands are bare, which is quite boring.

Giving something as a reward not only praises the person, but also demonstrates the emperor's benevolence.

After this trip, will the emperor's reputation still be bad in Shandong?
Spend a small amount of money to do big things.

At this time, Miaoxian saw the girls one by one, and because Qi Qinshi was among them, she couldn't help speeding up:

"It's over for today, everyone has worked hard, so let's leave..."

"Your Majesty is here—"

The concubines knelt on the ground: "The concubine kowtows to Your Majesty!"

Hearing the appellation from the imperial concubine, Qi Qinshi and the others did not dare to be negligent, and then got up and knelt down, shouting unevenly in their mouths, "Women kowtow to the emperor, long live long live long live!"

The emperor stepped into the palace, looked at the bright eyes and bright teeth, and suddenly regretted it.

The noble concubine is summoning a chaste and virginal woman who has received honor from the imperial court in the province. Although she herself is the master, it is not an elegant thing to meet rashly. If it spreads out, people will think that she has a good sex and come here to find beauty. !
It's hard to tell when the plums in the melon field have fallen.

I went south by myself, but in order to observe the people's sentiments, and to relax and relax.

But if he turned around and left at this time, it would be even more embarrassing, and he seemed to be at a loss.

He smiled unnaturally and waved his hand:

"I was being reckless, everyone, please get up..."

The women in the hall got up one by one, and a man appeared out of nowhere, he was still the emperor of Ming Dynasty, he didn't dare to look at him, lowered his pink neck, and let him look at him.

The emperor's eyes swept left and right and landed on Qi Qin's face. Among the girls, her appearance and temperament were the most outstanding.

She was not born the kind of woman who would immediately feel glamorous at first glance, but she was very charming.

She had an oval face, which was the emperor's favorite. The complexion was white and rosy, and the steeply rising mountains were particularly conspicuous.

Slender waist, long legs, big breasts, and excellent temperament.

In the harem, he is also a first-class existence.

Miaoxian watched coldly, seeing her husband staring at the woman in the crowd without blinking, a trace of sourness appeared in her heart: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty?"

It's hard for her, with such a calm mind, this matter is not peaceful anymore.

"Oh, I'm a little distracted!"

The emperor smiled to himself and sat down, "You... all sit down too. Sit down and talk."

Everyone sat down again, Miaoxian glanced at the emperor, and then chuckled:
"The concubine was talking with others when His Majesty came.

You probably don’t know yet, right?These are the chaste women in this province who have been honored by the emperor in the past ten years. This time, the concubines summoned them to me. Firstly, they wanted to share their labors with the emperor. Secondly, they also wanted to talk to the women of the people. "

"Oh, I know about it!"

"Not to mention you, I was in front just now, and I also summoned Xiaolian who was honored by the imperial court in the province."

The emperor seemed to have no intention of staying any longer. After saying a few words, he stood up and looked back at the chiming clock in the hall. It was already twelve o'clock.

"It's almost time for lunch. They all came from a long way. At noon... let them have lunch."

As he said that, he turned his head to Liu Afu and said, "Let those filial sons Xiaolian also stay, and let them eat too."

Although it was just a sentence of Liufan, but it was a reward when it came out of the royal mouth, the girls did not dare to neglect, they got up and knelt down again, and bumped their heads.

Returning to his palace, although the food was on the table, the emperor's eyes were still filled with the beautiful face just now, which was completely different from all the concubines in his palace.

For a while, he actually felt that these Shandong dishes were boring.

Liu Afu had served him for more than ten years, and his whole mind was focused on the emperor, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

At this time, he whispered: "My lord, the woman who was found out by the servant girl is named Qi Qinshi. She is [-] years old this year. Her husband died of illness before she got married. Now she is staying at home alone and raising a sister-in-law." .”

"The family's business has not declined, but has gained a reputation..."

"Why are you telling me this?"

Zhu Yixi said angrily: "I'm such a chaste woman, why are you asking around?"

"If this spreads out, will it be okay?"

"Slaves deserve to die, slaves should slap their lips!"

As he spoke, Liu Afu knelt down and slapped his mouth, but it was neither light nor heavy, and there was a crisp sound, nothing happened.

Zhu Yixi actually smiled: "Keep your mouth shut from now on!"

After that, Zhu Yixi ate hastily, feeling ready to move.

Widows, virgins, widows, businesswomen, good guys, this is a buff stack.

But don't say it, this layer of superimposition made him interested.

If I do it myself, I'm afraid it will have a bad impact, right?After all, she is a woman from a good family who has served the court well.

Suddenly, he changed his mind, why should he be so scruples?I am the Son of Heaven. In the Ming Dynasty, all the people are supreme. If I enjoy a woman, there must be no other opinions among the [-] million people.

(End of this chapter)