Cabinet.
Feng Xifeng entered the duty room of Elder Liang and stated his purpose.
Elder Liang stroked his beard and said, "Qiu Yuan, as the saying goes, inviting soone three days in advance is a request, two days is a call, and one day is a reminder. Xu Gongming asking you to invite to a banquet today is not according to etiquette."
Indeed, as the Minister of Rites, he is ticulous about matters of etiquette.
Feng Xifeng, rembering Xu Qing’s instructions, explained, "The lad said, if Elder wishes to let outsiders know that you and he are very close, he would be most delighted."
Elder Liang’s face froze.
Who would willingly be known to be closely associated with that little plague in public?
He then feigned anger, scolded Feng Xifeng thoroughly, and muttered under his breath about planning to inspect the nightlife in the Capital tonight...
Feng Xifeng got the hint and promptly apologized before taking his leave.
...
...
Songzhu Hall.
"Elder Liang, a chance encounter is better than a formal invitation, why not co in for a drink?" Yan Shan said sowhat nervously.
Elder Liang looked around and stroked his beard, "Ah, it turns out to be Compiler Yan from the Hanlin Academy, we’re both fellows from South Zhili. Since we’ve encountered each other..."
After a round of pleasantries, he asked his entourage to wait outside and entered the first-class private room marked ’Heaven’.
Upon entering, he saw Xu Qing, that monkey, really waiting there.
When out and about, being fellows from South Zhili, one has to stick together.
One couldn’t afford not to, as the Liang family has privately received a considerable share of benefits from Xu Qing’s trade system in the Southeast.
If Old Liang opposed Xu Qing, he probably wouldn’t be admitted to the Liang family ancestral grave after death.
That kid is very cunning!
Elder Liang said with a pleasant face, "I was just saying that when I went out today, I heard bird calls and it turned out to be a phoenix singing, predicting that I’d et a phoenix like you, Xu Gongming."
Xu Qing smiled, they exchanged pleasantries and greetings, and host and guest took their seats.
"What business has Gongming with ? If it’s about that Court Lady, I’m ashad that I wasn’t much help," Elder Liang said with a slightly red face; having accepted money but not having accomplished the task, and it was his Ministry of Rites’ issue.
It was well known that Elder Liang valued his reputation most in his life; this matter indeed constituted a professional blemish for him.
Xu Qing was unconcerned and said, "If not for Elder’s arrangents, that lady would have suffered much. As for not being able to withdraw, that’s also Heaven’s will. This ti, I’ve co to inquire about sothing: Elder, do you fancy the position of Grand Secretary?"
At these words, it was as though a bomb had dropped.
Elder Liang had just picked up his cup when he dropped it on the floor.
It was fortunate he hadn’t arranged a signal with his attendants like smashing a cup, or it would have been a big joke.
Old Liang didn’t speak for a long ti.
Mainly because the scare was too great, if he spoke, his voice would surely tremble. What a disaster, could it be that Zhang Tai’a sent this kid to test him?
How vexing!
Elder Liang took a while to recover, then laughed heartily, "Gongming, you always have such a sense of humor with ."
Xu Qing said, "He, Zhang Tai’a, is from the Chu region, and naturally, in the court, the Chu faction is now in power. Now three-tenths of the world’s wealth is in the hands of us, Wu people. I speak for Elder’s rights, so please don’t take offense."
Elder Liang thought to himself: this scoundrel is playing the regional faction card.
But indeed, factions such as Wu and Chu do exist in the court.
Even within these regional factions, many sub-factions had erged.
Stepping out into the world, it is natural to stick together.
If you don’t, others will push you out.
Yan Shan, now leveraging Xu Qing’s influence and wealth, had considerable prestige among the new generation of Wu people in the Capital, and the local branch of the Recovery Society was thriving.
After Old Liang beca a Scholar, it took him more than a decade before he gained the awareness of Yan Shan and made so many faction connections.
Looking at another’s start and comparing it to his own.
It goes without saying; the world changes too fast. The younger generation awakens too early, adding much pressure to these older Daoists.
Elder Liang had a thought, "Gongming, we’re fellows, you’re not being sent by Grandpa Taia to test , right?"
Xu Qing imdiately swore an oath, saying that if he were lying, he wouldn’t beco the top scorer in the examination.
Elder Liang waved his hand, "That’s too serious, I believe in you."
What a load of nonsense oaths, so full of "sincerity"!
Elder Liang sneered to himself and continued, "Gongming is set on being the top scorer of this term’s examination?"
He is the Minister of Rites, and most likely the chief examiner of the examination.
Thinking of this, Elder Liang thought, if soone discovered his private eting with Xu Qing and created so rumors, couldn’t he be accused even if he jumped into the Yellow River to clear his na?
Xu Qing, fixing his gaze on Elder Liang, said with a smile, "Elder need not worry, I’d like to see who dares to spread rumors about ."
Elder Liang imdiately understood; this was Xu Qing setting a trap. "This kid is used to calling the shots in the Southeast, but here in the Capital, what makes him so arrogant? Where does his confidence co from?"
Elder Liang, an old fox at heart, figured it out in no ti. This confidence was given by the Pri Minister.
He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, wondering which poor fool would get caught in this trap.
No, that’s not right.
He thought of sothing else and asked, "If soone uses this issue to criticize , as the chief examiner of this term’s examination, I must voluntarily step down. Does the Pri Minister not plan to let be the chief examiner?"
Being the chief examiner of the examination was a great opportunity to gain capital in officialdom. Elder Liang wasn’t the chief examiner of the last term, so by seniority and standing, it was very likely his turn.
If he lost the chief examiner position due to Xu Qing, it would be a huge loss for Elder Liang.
Could it be...
His thoughts racing about Xu Qing’s inquiry about the Grand Secretary position, Elder Liang was greatly tempted; could this be the compensation?
That would be massive.
Xu Qing ntioned, "Minister Wang of the Ministry of Revenue is also one of our South Zhili people, and he has been getting very close to Prince Yu lately."
Elder Liang, ever the wily old man, remarked, "Ah, Prince Yu is in too much of a hurry."
He knew clearly: if Prince Yu were interested, the chief examiner of this term’s examination would inevitably not fall on him, the only difference would be the pretext given.
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