Clouds and Waters

The Hall of Supreme Harmony, also known as the Hall of Golden Luan, is the hall where the emperor received his ministers in the early court.Throughout the dynasties, the emperors sitting on the dragon chair facing south changed one after another, and the ministers and workers of His Highness left one after another. Only the carved dragons and phoenixes of the Hall of Supreme Harmony were left behind, and passed down one by one. official position.

The king sits high in the temple, controls the common people in the world, and controls the people in the world.However, there are only a few cabinet ministers who discuss politics with him.Under the assistant ministers, there are six ministers, the minister of imperial history, the minister of Dali Temple, the envoy of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, Da Honglu, and the great Sima. Outside the staff, in charge.This is just the capital officials. If you want to go to the local area, there are governors, governors, magistrates, county magistrates and other county guards.However, in view of the Anshi Rebellion in the Tang Dynasty, the imperial court set up supervisors, inspectors, restraints, and general judges to divide their duties and powers in order to prevent the county guards from rebelling.It is also true, there are nine states in the world, hundreds of millions of people, in a huge country, but only one emperor monopolizes the power, how can you allow others to sleep peacefully on the side of the couch?It's no wonder that he always wants to divide the power of the prime minister, the power of the assistant ministers, and even the power of the magistrate.Dividing their power will naturally concentrate their own power.

So, there is no leader for the ministers?No!Since ancient times, the head of the powerful ministers, the prime minister is also.The prime minister set up official positions for Qin Shihuang, drafted memorials, and ordered the officials to be under one person and above ten thousand.However, the power of the prime minister is strong and the power of the monarchy is weak, so Li Si, the prime minister of the Qin Dynasty, ended up in a car crash, which can not be called miserable.Therefore, the emperors of all dynasties later divided the prime minister into two, and divided the two into four.There is also the so-called "three gongs and nine qings" system. The three gongs are Taifu, Taishi, and Taibao.

Since the founding of the country, Emperor Xue Wenbin of Great Yan has made many contributions.Xue Wenbin abolished the position of prime minister and set up a cabinet to assist the government. The cabinets were formed by five scholars, including Wenyuange University, Zhongjidian University, and Jixianyuan University, and had the responsibility to endorse and draft the policy.The person who presides over the affairs of the cabinet is the first assistant of Ge Kui, and the next assistant and group assistant.The chief assistant has always been an official "San Gong" or concurrently served as a minister.Whoever can be an official to achieve this position is already a super high-ranking official who wears a python robe and is an extremely human minister.

Since the founding of Dayan, although there were five assistant ministers in the cabinet in the first period, those five people are also equal, and the official positions are indistinguishable. Naturally, there are not so many grand masters and grand masters to entrust them. titles, or conferred titles.But how many marquises are there in the world?And the title is hereditary, even if your descendant is a generation of rich and poor, with the merits of my father, he can still play like a marquis to have fun and show off his prestige.But the Grand Master is different, it is a kind of glory, a kind of brilliance.Obtaining this title shows that the emperor values ​​you, trusts you, and treats you differently.Just because things are rare.In the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty, there was only one grand master.The more prestigious the position, the more it is a decoration.Just like the bright moon and stars in the sky, they look bright and dazzling, but they just can't get them.Therefore, the position of Grand Master has always been vacant.But it is different now. Great Yan Kingdom has finally ushered in its first Grand Master—and also the first female Grand Master in the hundred years since its founding.

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"Your Majesty has a decree. If you have a book, you will play it early, and you will leave the court without incident!"

Standing in the hall was an old man with a white face and beardless. He flicked the whisk in his hand, and a sharp voice came out, which echoed for a long time in the resplendent and resplendent Hall of Supreme Harmony.No need to ask, this old man is naturally Director Sun.This Grand Chief Sun entered the palace at the age of six, served the emperors of the three dynasties, and managed to get into the position of a chief eunuch. He is already in his sixties.When the chief executive first entered the palace, he was bullied everywhere, just because of the "Sun" surname, everyone who saw him would yell "little grandson, little grandson", but it was hard for chief executive Sun, he was low everywhere he went There are two generations of people.But there is no way, let's boil it.At that time, Emperor Renzong was young, and the empress dowager listened to the government behind the curtain, so she naturally relied heavily on her relatives.The empress dowager's natal family, such as the father of the country and uncles, are flying all over the sky, monopolizing the power in the court, it can be said to be domineering and arrogant.The little grandson thought, when our emperor grows up and takes charge, it's time for us palace eunuchs to raise their heads.It's a good idea, but it's a pity that it's a step too late.When the eunuchs were monopolizing power, the youngest grandson was still a young grandson, a young eunuch in charge of the imperial dining room, without even a rank.Years are rushing, 30 years have passed, Renzong passed away, Suzong came to the throne, and the little grandson also became the grandson, and finally got a fifth-rank official title.Well, let's continue to boil.When it's time for the husband to survive, he will be even more airy than those husbands who ordered his wife. Twenty years later, Suzong let go and entrusted the Great Yan Kingdom to his 20-year-old eldest son Xue Jing.So the gods of heaven and earth were proclaimed, and Xue Jing ascended the throne and changed his reign name to Xuanhe. Xue Jing was the young emperor of Dayan Kingdom, Emperor Xuanzong.

In the tenth year of Xuanhe, Eunuch Sun survived the death of the only remaining senior eunuch, and finally climbed to the position of chief eunuch. He thought that Emperor Xuanzong would finally use eunuchs and servants, so that he could turn himself over.However, Emperor Xuanzong was ingenious. He neither reused his relatives nor favored eunuchs. He reorganized the cabinet and relied heavily on powerful ministers.

Since ancient times, Ming emperors must have good ministers to assist them.Tang of Shang had Yi Yin, King Wen of Zhou had Jiang Shang, King Wu of Zhou had Duke Zhou, Duke Huan of Qi had Guan Zhong, and King Goujian of Yue had Fan Li.Emperor Xuanzong had little ambition. He knew that in order to clean up the universe and stabilize all directions, he needed not only a wise ruler, but also capable ministers.Therefore, in his imperial decree, Shui Xinyou, the first powerful minister of the Great Yan Kingdom, was granted the title of Grand Master for the first time.

Manager Sun's voice fell silent for a long time, but the Hall of Supreme Harmony was still silent.The officials bowed humbly, holding the jade wat, no one spoke and handed over the book, they only raised their eyelids slightly, and looked at the person standing in front, as if waiting for her to speak.Everyone has a common thought in their hearts, as long as the Grand Master does not speak, we are dumb, and the Grand Master plays the book, we are followers.In a word, everything is on par with the grand master, and nothing will go wrong.

The grand master standing in front of the officials was so conspicuous that people had to look at her, even the emperor in the hall was no exception.The officials of the early dynasty, with the special exception of those who came to Beijing to report their duties, were all high-ranking officials above the third rank. They all wore crimson patched official robes and black black gauze hats. The only difference was the patchwork pattern on the chest.Civil officials embroidered birds to show civilization, and military officials embroidered animals to show might.From the first rank to the third rank, the civil officials are cranes, golden pheasants, and peacocks.But only this Grand Master, she never wears official uniform when she goes to court, she always wears white clothes better than snow, standing proudly in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, like the bright moon hanging high in the sky, only with the stars, only belongs to the curling Yao World, do not enter the world of vulgar.

It is said that those who live in the grand master should wear eight pythons and four claws python robes.Python is a small dragon.Since ancient times, the nine-five-year-old is respected, and the emperor's dragon robe has nine dragons and five claws. The Taishi's python robe is only one less claw than the embroidered dragon on the emperor's dragon robe, and you can't see it unless you look carefully.Wearing this clothes can be said to be honorable and honorable.However, Master Taishi is not uncommon. He still wears white robes that reach the ground every day.This pure and flawless white is even more dazzling than the emperor's bright yellow dragon robe.She went her own way almost to the point of presumptuousness, played by the Ministry of Rites, impeached by the censor, and angered by Emperor Xuanzong, but the Grand Master has always had only one sentence: "If the Holy Majesty doesn't like it, I can resign and go home. Reinstate."

Emperor Xuanzong is a person who loves talents and cherishes talents, and he is even more gracious to the Grand Master. Gradually, he gets used to His Highness's distinctive bright color, so it is so conspicuous that Xuanzong can see it at a glance. to her.Shui Aiqing, Xuanzong likes to call Master Grand Master that.It is said that the word "Aiqing" was originally a nickname given to him by Wang Rong's wife, one of the "Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove" in the Western Jin Dynasty. Who will be Qingqing?" It means, I kiss you and love you, that's why I call you Qing, if I don't call you Qing, who should call you Qing?Later, somehow, "Aiqing" became the emperor's name for his ministers, and it has been used to this day.However, Emperor Xuanzong was very stingy. His "Aiqing" has always been "Shui Aiqing", and nothing else.Qing Zeqing already, but not worthy of the word "love".

"The minister has this book."

Countless eyes in the hall looked at the person who made the voice.Emperor Xuanzong on the dragon chair bent his lips subconsciously and said, "Present."

General Manager Sun turned over and went down the hall with a gold plate in his hand, and the grand master presented the memorial with both hands.Manager Sun looked at the Grand Master with a smile, but she didn't look at him directly.

Manager Sun was bored, so he swallowed his mouthful of foam, and presented the memorial respectfully.

"The minister has the book..."

"The minister has the book..."

"The minister also has his own..."

"..."

The voices resounded through the hall one after another, and all the officials of the court had their own roots.Xuan Zongben was flipping through the grand master's memorial, and when he heard the uproar below, he said in displeasure: "Why, once Shui Aiqing has the book, you all have it?"

Now it's quiet down here again.Emperor Xuanzong threw the grand master's memorial in his hand aside and said: "Retire!" He got up and left.

"Long live my emperor! Long live!"

All the ministers shouted long live to the empty Dragon Chair Mountain, and saw that the Hall of Supreme Harmony was kneeling inside and outside, all of the same height and color, the scene was really spectacular.

At this time, Manager Sun felt a little proud, as if he was the one kneeling down by the officials.He dismissed all the ministers according to the scriptures, and then slowly drove out from the small side door, just in time to reach the courtiers who had retreated one after another, gathered in groups of three or four, bustling, presumably guessing what the grand master had done .

"Lord Murong, you are acquainted with Shui Shoufu, so you must know the inside story?"

"Yes, yes, Master Murong, please disclose it, so that the subordinates can be mentally prepared!"

A dozen or so ministers gathered around that "Lord Murong", chattering non-stop.Master Murong said with a blank expression: "Master Shui has always been a maverick, it's not that you don't know. Why bother to make things difficult for me?"

All the ministers couldn't agree after hearing this, they were arguing loudly when they heard a person behind him cough lightly and sneered, "Master Uncle Murong, are you back? My nephew hasn't had time to pay a visit yet."

Lord Murong raised his eyes and saw that the visitor was tall and handsome, he was dressed in a straight official uniform, with a short beard around his lips, he looked very dignified and dignified, it was Huo Hengyang, Minister of the Ministry of War, who had arrived.Before he could agree in the future, all the ministers swarmed up and said: "Huo Shangshu, you are here! Tell me, what is Shui Shoufu's book?"

Huo Hengyang laughed and said: "Huo is a mere Minister of the Ministry of War, who has not entered the cabinet yet, why do you ask me? Hey, look, who is it?"

The officials looked at Huo Hengyang's fingers, and saw a fat and bloated man, the folded fat under the official uniform was swaying up and down, and he was walking slowly towards this side.When everyone saw this fat man, they gathered together like a mad dog rushing to eat, and said: "Master Jin! My great savior! Shui Shou assists her, she..." At the end of the sentence, there was a little crying , Thinking about it, I was really scared by the memorial to Lord Shoufu.

The person who came was Jin Lian, a senior scholar of Zhongjidian and Minister of Industry.This person is not as indifferent and arrogant as Murong Guang, nor as straightforward and forthright as Huo Hengyang, he just smiled slightly and said: "You don't need to talk too much, just want to know the content of Shui Shoufu's excerpt? Hehe, it's hard to say, Just come to my house and have a cup of tea."

When the ministers heard this, their expressions changed slightly and they looked at each other.This Jin Lian Jin university student loves money all his life, and the word "eating tea" has a lot to say, I am afraid that if all the ministers go, a cup of tea will cost a thousand dollars, and a year's salary will be in vain again.Even so, there are still many who are willing to bleed and grit their teeth and follow them. If they stay in Qingshan, they will not worry about having no firewood. If they offend Shui Shoufu, how can they hang around in the officialdom in the future?

After Jin Lian left, all the ministers had almost left.Murong Guang and Huo Hengyang, because of Bao'ergen's purity, also sneaked away while everyone was leaving.At this moment, the woman in white clothed who was floating in the dust came out of the hall slowly, with a confident face and a calm expression between her brows.The stranded people didn't dare to talk too much, they bowed their heads and stood still, like sculptures.

"Master Shui stay, stay!"

As soon as the woman in white stopped walking, Director Sun had already caught up with her and said, "Master Shui, the emperor told you to go over."

Lord Shui nodded and said, "Understood. Eunuch, please go ahead."

Director Sun sang a song and walked in front, but he couldn't help muttering in his heart: I have been the chief inspector for two years, but in the past two years, I have not spoken ten words to Mr. Shoufu, and it is impossible for him to curry favor .Mr. Sun is over sixty years old, and grew up in the palace since he was a child. He has been exposed to countless people, and he has seen many high-ranking officials, dignitaries, and relatives of the emperor.There are those who love money, those who are lustful, those who seize power, those who are arty, and those who collect antiques, of all kinds, but there is always a hobby, and with a hobby, there will be a weakness, as long as you grasp that person's weakness, do what you want Well, this person must be controlled.But this Shui Shoufu didn't seem to have any hobbies. He was always so calm and calm, not close to the emperor, not far from the courtiers, making it difficult for people to see clearly.There is no desire and no desire, so there is nothing to rely on and no fear. Such a person is a person who will never fail.

Manager Sun sighed, unknowingly he had arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.When the little eunuch outside the hall saw the person coming, he immediately turned around and told him that this Chief Assistant had always been a "regular guest" of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"Oh? Aiqing is here? Come in quickly." Emperor Xuanzong's voice came from the hall.

Shui Shoufu tucked up the corner of his clothes, stepped into the hall, and bowed to salute.Emperor Xuanzong was reviewing the memorial, and when he saw someone coming, he raised his head and smiled and said, "Why do you need to be so polite, Aiqing? Come and read the memorial for me."

Shui Shoufu stood with her head held high, and Emperor Xuanzong beckoned her to come over.Shui Shoufu stepped forward and said, "What memorial does Your Majesty want me to read?"

Xuanzong ordered the little eunuch to move the chair over and put it on his side.Shui Shoufu didn't shy away from it, and sat upright in his lap.Xuanzong took out a memorial from the bottom of the table and said: "It is this "On Jinghuai Memorial"."

When Shui Shoufu heard this, he was surprised at first, then he couldn't help but smiled and said: "Your Majesty, do you want me to read my scriptures?"

"Why, can't it?" Xuanzong seldom saw Lord Shoufu laugh, and he also felt joyful: "Aiqing wants to disobey the holy order? That will be beheaded!"

Shui Shoufu didn't accept the memorial, and said: "Don't read it, this memorial is in my heart, the emperor wants to listen, I just recite it."

The smile on Xuanzong's face did not diminish, but he was not in a hurry to listen to the performance, but changed his mouth and said: "Aiqing, your last memorial is a small matter, but it is hard for all the ministers. Come, come and see, they all played What's up?"

Thinking it was Shui Shoufu, he was also curious, so he got up and went over, stood beside Xuanzong, looked down, and saw several memorials spread out on the table, including "On the Appreciation of Hundred Officials" by the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, "Begging Kai Enke Memorial", "On the Military System Matters" written by the Ministry of War, and so on, are too numerous to mention. General chaos.Shui Shoufu was dazzled and found it interesting, so he took a closer look at them one by one, and saw that one of them was written by Lu Bo'an, the right servant of the Ministry of Industry, and it was called "Zhizi for Repairing the Imperial Tomb".

Shui Shoufu laughed in his heart and said: "Ah, even Uncle Lu played? It's rare, it seems that I have caused a lot of trouble." This is the first time for a memorial.How could Shui Shoufu let go of such a good opportunity, so he reached out to pick up the memorial and read it, only saw half of it, and couldn't help laughing and said: "Oh, this is not good... There are wild dogs haunting the imperial tomb ? Still settling down there? Your Majesty, is this true? That should be taken seriously!"

Emperor Xuanzong was staring at Shui Aiqing in a trance, when he suddenly saw her smiling sweetly, he couldn't help shaking his mind, and said in a hoarse voice: "That's right, we must pay attention to it."

Shui Shoufu was slightly surprised, and then he raised his eyes to look, and saw that the two of them were very close, almost touching each other.Today's Lord Long Live, who is an example for all people, is meeting his eyebrows and eyes, and he can smell his breath, and the burning heat shining in his eyes is so intense.Shui Shoufu was startled, and hurriedly took a step back and said: "The emperor forgives the crime, the minister is tyrannical!"

Xuanzong didn't realize it for a while, and subconsciously stretched out his hand to grab it, but felt that his hand was empty, and the beautiful woman beside him had already passed out.He let out a sigh of disappointment, sat back on the dragon chair, closed his eyes, and said softly: "Aiqing, come and recite your scriptures. I want to hear your voice."

Shui Shoufu looked at the emperor in his seat, feeling mixed emotions in his heart.Thinking about entering the imperial court for ten years and getting to the position of chief assistant grand master step by step, didn't you all rely on this emperor?But if you ask yourself, Shui Shoufu is really not a qualified courtier.She is unfaithful, unfilial, unloving, disrespectful, and unruly. She only works for herself, and this emperor is just a pawn in her hands.In her eyes, the emperor is just Xue Jing, he does not wear a dragon robe, has no power, is just an ordinary man, or a man who is trapped by love.Since ancient times, heroes have been saddened by beauty. Although Xue Jing is the emperor, he is not exempt from vulgarity.

"Shui Aiqing, what's the matter? What's the problem?" Xue Jing, who was wearing a dragon robe, spoke, with such a gentle tone, how could the emperor speak to his subjects?

Shui Shoufu raised his mind and said: "No, then the minister will recite it?"

Xuanzong nodded, pointed to the chair beside him and said, "Sit down, don't get tired."

Shui Shoufu sat down according to the words, lightly opened his lips and recited: "I heard that if there is no Xiang, there will be no Huai, and if there is no Huai, Jiangnan will be at your fingertips. The division between the north and the south is from the upper stream to the lower river, and things will happen. Therefore, the upper stream of Xiangjing is The powerhouse in the southeast is an inevitable trend.

"Emperor Fuwei is clever and powerful, and has far-sighted plans. From the south of Xiangyang to the west of Jiangzhou, the land of water and land and fertile soil belongs to Jingzhou. Living in it, the counties will be of the same heart, and the Jinghuai will be integrated, so that the country will be solid for thousands of miles, and it will be a blessing for the world.

"Now the Marquis of Zhongwu, rehabilitated the great governor, conscripted the grand marshal, and also the commander-in-chief of the eight provinces of Jingjing, in charge of the Huguang Road military mansion, the head of Yun Gongzhengting, a virtuous and virtuous man, who uses soldiers like a god. With Duke Yun stationed in the important place of the upper class in Xiangjing, with heavy troops in his hands, and powerful in the universe, there will be no barbarians in the north who dare to invade, and the barbarians in the south will be hard to invade, and the world will be safe.

"Gong Wei, the first emperor was benevolent, filial and gentle, and named King Ning in the lower and rich lands. King Ning was always up and sleeping at night, and devoted himself to governing the south of the Yangtze River. He first pacified the bandits and then reduced taxes. Forty-five out of ten people who come out of the south of the Yangtze River, the old man said, "Suhu is familiar, the world is full", it is not a lie. The people of the South pay tribute to the thousand-year-old, and the only one who favors King Ning is also the broadcast of His Majesty's far-reaching virtues.

"Your Majesty has these two good ministers to assist him, so why worry about the country's unrest? The people are fortunate, and the country is fortunate! The ministers occasionally have opinions and small words, but Your Majesty listens to them. Take it forward and stop."

After Shui Shoufu finished reciting the memorial, he lowered his head and waited for the emperor's instructions.Emperor Xuanzong just got up at this time and said: "What a satirical "On Jinghuai Zoushu". I understand what Aiqing means. You want me to use the hands of Yun Zhengting to cut down the feudal clan!"

Shui Shoufu only said indifferently: "The emperor is wise. I only praise the two heroes and have no other intentions."

Xuanzong laughed and scolded: "Aiqing, your ability to be an official is getting better and better. I'm tired, so you can kneel down too."

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As the saying goes, "No one in the court should be an official", and it is also said that "accompanying a king is like accompanying a tiger", but Shui Xinyou disagrees.Seeing how she is not angry but mighty in front of the officials, and she is able to do a job with ease in front of the emperor, she is really an anomaly.

"Senior sister, are you back?"

Junior sister Shui Zhihuan saw her senior sister returning to the mansion, went up to meet her and smiled and said, "Why do people come back so early and you come back so late?"

Shui Xinyou patted Shui Zhihuan's head and said, "Who told you, senior sister, that I am the 'Shoufu'? It can't compare to their leisure!"

Shui Zhihuan pouted and said: "Shoufu, Shoufu, it's not as good as being the richest man!"

Shui Xin smiled happily, changed the subject and said, "Are the masters and uncles here?"

"They're all waiting, one of them is not bad. Senior sister, you are also very good at predicting things, how do you know they will come?" Shui Zhihuan blinked his eyes and asked in confusion.

Shui Xinyou pretended to be arrogant and said: "If I didn't have some immortal energy, I would have died long ago. That's enough, Ah Huan, don't worry about these things. Hurry up and feed Xiao Hei, what time is it?" , it should be hungry too. Oh?" ​​Saying that, he pushed Shui Zhihuan out of the garden, closed the door casually, and locked her in the front hall.

It wasn't once or twice that Shui Zhihuan was pushed out by his senior sister, and he turned around resentfully, only to see that "Yun Xiaohei" was at his feet, wagging his tail and licking his slender feet, with an obsessed look on his face.

Shui Zhihuan kicked Yun Xiaohei angrily and said, "Smelly puppy, your wife bullied me again. You will be punished today not to eat bones! Go drink porridge with me!" Dudu go away.That Yun Xiaohei didn't understand human language, and didn't know why the little master was angry, so he hummed haha ​​to himself, just slipped into Shui Zhihuan's arms, stretched himself and fell asleep.