Capítulo 1307: Chapter 1302: Eminent Minister
“This matter has been handed over to the Court of Judicial Review. If it proves to be true, then those who should be arrested will be arrested, those who should be detained will be detained, and those who should be executed will be executed! Everything shall be dealt with according to the laws of the Zhou.” Bai Qingyan said to Mrs. Dong, “We must ensure justice for the people and let those noble families know that today’s Zhou is not the sa as the Jin Dynasty… It’s not a place where power and silver allow one to act with impunity.”
“I feel that precisely because they are mbers of the imperial family, they should be severely punished!” said the Second Lady Liu.
“We should follow the law. Being too harsh would make people think our Bai family is rely putting on a show for the people, no need for that…” the Fifth Lady Qi said with a smile.
“I think so too, and… the clan leader has already gone back to start preparations for revising the clan laws and rules. Externally, we should still use the laws of the Zhou, while making the clan laws stricter.”
Amid Bai Qingyan’s conversation with her mother and a few aunties, Wei Zhong received a report from a junior eunuch saying that Shen Tianzhi, the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Works, had already arrived.
Wei Zhong stepped in with small strides, stood outside the landscape screen, and softly said, “Your Highness… Master Shen of the Ministry of Works has arrived.”
Just as Bai Qingyan put a spoonful of milk jelly to her lips, she responded, quickly finished the jelly, placed the silver cup down, kissed her two children, and rose to head to the study.
On the way, Bai Qingyan thought for a mont and then asked Wei Zhong to send soone to summon Dong Changyuan and Li Mingrui together.
When Bai Qingyan arrived at the study, she saw Shen Tianzhi in official garb waiting at the door under the scorching sun, using a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe sweat. She quickened her steps and said with a smile to Shen Tianzhi, “Master Shen has arrived so swiftly!”
“Your servant greets Your Highness!” Shen Tianzhi put away the handkerchief in his hand, smiled, and saluted Bai Qingyan, “Your Highness summoned , fearing there might be sothing urgent, so I hurried all the way here.”
“Co inside, Master!” Bai Qingyan took the lead into the study’s main entrance.
Shen Tianzhi entered and knelt at the table behind Bai Qingyan’s seat, and listened as Bai Qingyan ntioned wanting Shen Tianzhi’s eldest son, Shen Yanan, to return to Shuoyang to replace Bai Qingping. Shen Tianzhi was quite agreeable to the idea.
“Thank you, Your Highness, for thinking of my son…”
“Master Shen really knows how to educate children. Even though the children are young, they are all very capable!” Bai Qingyan raised the teacup, “Shen Yanzong in Hancheng perford exceedingly well. Whether it was the previous Lord of Gaoyi or now Qin Lang, Lu Yuanqing, and Chen Zhaolu in Hancheng, they have all ntioned Shen Yanzong in their morials, saying he was greatly helpful in ensuring the smooth implentation of new policies.”
Shen Tianzhi’s brows were filled with smiles, and he hurriedly said, “In our vast Zhou Kingdom, talent is abundant, but it’s because Your Highness promoted Yanzong that he had the opportunity to shine. Your servant thanks Your Highness here!”
Bai Qingyan was amused by Shen Tianzhi: “Master Shen, my father regarded you as a close friend. Even when you were in Shuoyang, you weren’t so polite. Why is Master Shen now speaking in the sa tone as Magistrate Zhou?”
Since Shen Tianzhi was reassigned, Shuoyang’s governor has been changed to Master Zhou, now should be called Governor Zhou, but Bai Qingyan was still used to calling him Magistrate Zhou, as Magistrate Zhou had left a deep impression on her at that ti.
Shen Tianzhi couldn’t help but laugh, confird Bai Qingyan was still as she was before, and then lost the pretense of emulating Master Zhou’s stance, smiling, “I originally thought that since Your Highness has ascended the throne, naturally you would be different from when you were Princess of Zhen. But Your Highness is still of this nature, as for Master Zhou…”
Bai Qingyan beca interested, raised her head to look at Shen Tianzhi, as if waiting for more.
“This Master Zhou is very inford and perceptive. After the palace examination results were posted and the papers were displayed, just a few days later, this Master Zhou ca to your servant and asked if future promotions and demotions of officials would be considered according to the ‘Zhou Official Assessnt Guidelines’ written by Tingzhen, the top scholar.” Shen Tianzhi said with a smile.
After Bai Qingyan had her cousin Dong Tingzhen appointed as the top scholar through Mrs. Dong’s hand, Shen Tianzhi had this feeling, and later when the Empress Dowager had the palace examination scholars’ papers displayed, Shen Tianzhi suddenly realized what Bai Qingyan’s next steps would be.
He also understood that there might be significant changes in the next assessnt in the royal court.
Previously, Master Zhou, while in Shuoyang, liked to consult his superior, Shen Tianzhi, whenever sothing occurred. This ti, upon receiving those papers, he felt a sense of foreboding and quietly rushed to Dadu City to see Shen Tianzhi.
Shen Tianzhi didn’t directly answer, rely spoke ambiguously and ntioned Master Zhou, besides liking to seek connections, wasn’t really a father official who regarded the people as re grass, so he advised Master Zhou to act uprightly.
He further advised that if previously in Shuoyang, Master Zhou liked to conform to the thoughts of Princess of Zhen, now he must conform to the ideas and strategies of Your Highness, and must not oppose her, otherwise he would be the next to suffer.
Master Zhou suddenly understood, and after saluting Shen Tianzhi, hurried back to Shuoyang, intending to achieve so outstanding political performance there, and must not have the sa idle attitude in the position of governor as before, otherwise, he might not even keep the governor’s position.
Bai Qingyan, hearing Shen Tianzhi say this, gently rubbed the teacup with her hand, then looked up at Shen Tianzhi and asked, “Master Shen, what do you think of Master Zhou as a person?”
“Master Zhou is actually quite competent, adept at seeking opportunities and likes to do so, and is very aware of the current situation. It depends on how the person above uses him. If the person above uses him well, he can be useful! If the person above is crooked… then Master Zhou, this subordinate beam will surely be crooked too.” Shen Tianzhi spoke very impartially.
“Then Master Shen, please keep an eye on this Master Zhou. When the year’s end assessnt cos, if he can be useful… he can be promoted.”
Upon hearing this from Bai Qingyan, Shen Tianzhi smiled and spoke frankly, “Your Highness, rest assured, considering the old friendship when Master Zhou and this servant greeted Your Highness outside Shuoyang City, if he can be promoted, your servant will certainly promote him!”
With Shen Tianzhi’s words, Bai Qingyan seed to return to the days when she was Princess of Zhen. Back then, every ti she returned to Shuoyang or left, Master Shen and Master Zhou would co to greet and send her off…
But back then, Master Zhou did so for his own career, while Master Shen mostly ca to observe her, to see what kind of person the eldest daughter of Bai Qishan was, and whether she was worth him becoming the Bai family’s fallback!
Shen Tianzhi was soone chosen by her father, his capabilities are naturally beyond question, and now having Shen Tianzhi in the position of Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Works is already an extraordinary promotion, but soday in the future, Shen Tianzhi will surely be a key official in the Zhou Dynasty’s royal court.
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