BSI Chapter 6 Qin Huai, dumbfounded
Chapter 6 Qin Huai, dumbfounded
Although he had frequented many brothels and bathhouses in his previous life, Li Jinglong didn't know how to navigate the rules of this Ming Dynasty brothel, so he could only observe Chang Sheng out of the corner of his eye for the time being.
Chang Sheng hasn't started yet, so I won't start either!
Qingfeng and Tingxue were both top performers, so they naturally knew how to create an atmosphere. Tingxue took her pipa, sat opposite them, and began to play and sing. Qingfeng was not idle either; he began to pour wine for Li Jinglong and Chang Sheng.
As Li Jinglong listened to the tunes and sipped his wine, glancing occasionally at the pleasure boats passing by on the Qinhuai River, he couldn't help but sigh: When it comes to enjoyment, the ancients were just as good!
Putting everything else aside, just this talent alone—how many girls in a modern club could do that!
"How do you feel about Jiujiang?" Chang Sheng asked Li Jinglong with a smile.
"Enjoying oneself amidst flowers and forgetting worries in wine, the ancients were truly right!" Li Jinglong exclaimed, savoring this pleasant moment.
"As expected of Jiujiang, your literary talent is truly remarkable!" Chang Sheng praised with a smile.
Hearing Li Jinglong's words, Qingfeng's eyes lit up. This young master was not only handsome and elegant, but also quite talented!
"Jiujiang, I have something I need your help with!" Chang Sheng rubbed his fingers, looking somewhat troubled.
Li Jinglong gestured, "Brother Chang, please speak. If it's within my power, I will certainly not refuse!"
Chang Sheng hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Jiujiang, you know the rules for military officers, so I wanted to discuss with you whether you could take me with you if you were to lead troops into battle in the future!"
After saying that, Chang Sheng immediately added, "Don't worry, I will follow your lead."
Li Jinglong immediately understood Chang Sheng's thoughts. As the second son, the title of Duke of the State was irrelevant to him, and there was also an unspoken rule that military officers had to abide by.
That is, once they leave the capital to guard the city, the legitimate son and his family must stay in the capital. Even if they bring offspring, they can only bring one illegitimate son to take care of their daily life.
Chang Mao was ennobled because of his father's merits and had no children, so Chang Sheng and his brothers had to stay in the capital and could not possibly go on the expedition with Chang Mao.
However, Li Jinglong didn't care who he brought along, but he still had to say a few things beforehand.
Li Jinglong said, "Second Brother Chang, I have just inherited the title of Duke, and it seems that the chances of leaving the capital are slim! Even if I do leave, I can only train troops, which is a bit unfair to you, Second Brother Chang!"
Chang Sheng shook his head and said with a wry smile, "Jiujiang, what grievance is there? You know I'm the second son, and I'll have to rely on myself from now on. So, I'm begging you!"
"Brother Chang, please don't do this. I agree!" Seeing Chang Sheng's humble attitude, Li Jinglong nodded in agreement. Even if Chang Sheng wanted to follow him in the future, the Crown Prince's approval would still be required.
Hearing Li Jinglong's words, Chang Sheng finally felt relieved. He raised his wine cup and looked at Li Jinglong: "Jiujiang, I toast you, brother!"
After finishing their business, the two frequently raised their glasses and chatted happily.
After the first piece was played, the music changed to "a gentle breeze blowing the flute, listening to the snow and pouring wine."
Qingfeng took a flute, sat opposite the group, and began to play "Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank".
Li Jinglong swayed his head and enjoyed the sound of the flute, while Chang Sheng on the other side had completely let go and half-embraced Tingxue!
Upon seeing this, Li Jinglong sighed inwardly at his poor choice of friends, wondering how someone could be so vulgar.
After the song ended, Li Jinglong clapped his hands and praised with a smile:
"The sound is like flowing water, the melody like a gentle breeze, the lingering notes are delicate and persistent; Miss Qingfeng is indeed skilled at playing the flute!"
"You flatter me, sir!" Qingfeng smiled and sat down next to Li Jinglong.
Li Jinglong didn't hesitate either, and took the opportunity to half-embrace him, with laughter rising and falling!
The next morning, Li Jinglong felt refreshed!
When Li Jinglong arrived at Wenhua Hall, he found that Zhu Biao had already arrived, and there were several young people dressed in purple and scarlet official robes standing inside the hall.
Li Jinglong glanced at them a few times with a puzzled look, and couldn't help but complain in his heart, "Why are they all officials of the fifth or sixth rank?"
"Your subject Li Jinglong pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince!" Li Jinglong suppressed his doubts, walked into the hall, and bowed.
"No need for formalities, Jiujiang!" Zhu Biao said with a smile, then addressed the officials, "Gentlemen, greetings to Duke Cao!"
Several officials bowed to Li Jinglong and greeted him: "Greetings, Duke Cao!"
Li Jinglong returned the greeting, saying, "Greetings, everyone!"
"Alright, everyone's here, let's begin!" Zhu Biao was already getting impatient.
If efficiency can be improved as Li Jinglong said, then Zhu Biao will definitely have an easier time.
"Jiujiang, you tell everyone!" Zhu Biao called out.
"Your subject obeys!" Li Jinglong bowed, then turned to the officials: "Gentlemen, His Highness will divide the memorials into several parts later. You will work in pairs."
Based on the contents of the memorial, solutions were proposed, with one person presenting the main points and another supplementing and refining them. Finally, the proposals were submitted to His Highness for His Majesty's decision!
Li Jinglong paused for a moment: "Did everyone hear me clearly?"
Little did they know that after Li Jinglong finished speaking, the officials were all greatly shocked. Although they had no power to make decisions on the memorials, he was practically half a prime minister!
"Your Highness, isn't this inappropriate? Does His Majesty know about this, perhaps...?" An official dressed in purple robes stepped forward, looking worried.
"Minister Ding, you only need to present your case; there is nothing wrong with it! This matter is my decision, and has nothing to do with you all!" Zhu Biao smiled, reassuring everyone.
With Zhu Biao's order, everyone began their work. Li Jinglong walked to Zhu Biao's side and muttered a complaint in a low voice, "Your Highness, why didn't you find some higher-ranking officials from the Six Ministries? I don't think they have much experience in governing!"
Li Jinglong couldn't help but worry that if everyone was inexperienced, doing it this way would only add more trouble.
Zhu Biao sighed softly, "In Jiujiang, the Six Ministries are currently without Ministers, and the work is being handled by Vice Ministers. There's a shortage of manpower, and I can't rely solely on this place!"
Upon hearing this, Li Jinglong suddenly realized that he had forgotten about this matter. Last year, when the Guo Huan case occurred, many people in the court were beheaded, and there were very few ministers and vice ministers left.
"Your Highness, I fear these people lack experience and may instead hinder you!" Li Jinglong said in a low voice.
Zhu Biao waved his hand with a smile, saying confidently, "It's alright. These people are all Jinshi graduates from last year's Yichou imperial examination. They are now in the Six Ministries and the Hanlin Academy. They are all exceptionally talented individuals. With some experience, they may not be inferior to the high-ranking officials in the Six Ministries!"
Since Zhu Biao said so, Li Jinglong had no choice but to give up the idea and prepare to see what level these Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) were at. If they really ruined his plans, he would have to remonstrate with them again.
"Jiujiang, let me introduce you. That's last year's top scholar, Ding Xian," Zhu Biao pointed to Li Jinglong.
Then they changed their focus again, "That's the second-place finisher, Lian Zining."
That's Hua Lun, the top scholar from Zhejiang, a second-class Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination).
That's Qi De, the principal officer of the Ministry of Rites, who also passed the imperial examination last year;
The one in the back is last year's third overall pick, Huang Zicheng.
"Um?"
Huang Zicheng?
Li Jinglong's eyes widened instantly. Following the direction Zhu Biao pointed, he saw a thin middle-aged man looking at memorials and drafting proposals with the person next to him.
Qi De? Isn't that Qi Tai?
Li Jinglong realized what was happening and felt a chill run down his spine. Good heavens, two of the "Three Idiots of Jianwen" have emerged from my entire Eastern Palace cabinet.
Li Jinglong was dumbfounded. So I was the one raising the Gu here?