12dz Chapter 516: Morning Court Meeting
Chapter 516: Morning Court Meeting
"Your Majesty! This is absolutely unacceptable. Although I am the eldest son, I am not the Crown Prince. The selection of pillars for the country should be led by the Crown Prince. This will firstly demonstrate our royal style, and secondly, it will show everyone how much Your Majesty values this matter." After Murong Feng finished speaking, he turned his head and looked deeply at Murong Cheng. "Your Majesty, I believe that with the Crown Prince's ability, he will surely select many outstanding talents for Canghe."
As soon as Murong Feng finished speaking, the hall was completely silent. Everyone held their breath and looked at Murong Shiling, especially the short and fat official who had asked for help on Murong Feng's behalf at the beginning. Beads of sweat had already appeared on his forehead.
Murong Yanhui stood on one side of the crowd with a playful look, the curve of his lips becoming more and more beautiful. Was his information wrong, or did Murong Feng have other ideas?
After the New Year, it was not known whether the emperor had a change of heart or had other plans, but he actually issued an imperial decree to allow Murong Yan to return to court. Although he still had no real power, Murong Yan's return made various forces in the court re-examine this King Yan who had always been obsessed with eating, drinking and having fun.
Sure enough, the battle before the New Year was still very impressive.
However, the disputes in the court have never had anything to do with Murong Yanhui. Even in the court, the King of Yan is still the King of Yan, unruly and unruly.
Murong Yanhui's gaze fell on Murong Cheng. Sure enough, this relatively taciturn nephew also knelt down. "Father, I think His Highness the Crown Prince is the most suitable person to take charge."
"Prince, there is no need to talk about this anymore. You are the only one who can be in charge of the imperial examination!" Murong Feng interrupted Murong Cheng again, with a serious and resolute look on his face, and he did seem to be sincere.
Brothers are friendly and respectful to each other. This scene really touched Murong Shiling's heart. His smile became even more intense. "Alright, alright, stand up. Kneeling like this is not a proper gesture."
Murong Feng immediately kowtowed again, then reached out and took Murong Cheng's hand to help him stand up, looking like a good brother.
Murong Cheng felt a little embarrassed and unnatural.
"Since you two brothers are so friendly, let the matter be handled by you two together." Murong Shiling spoke slowly, but the ministers could not help but start discussing again.
It's already hard enough to serve when one person is in charge, but if two people are in charge together, wouldn't it be a mess?
"Father, while it's good for these two to be in charge, more people means more ideas, and it will take some time to discuss things. Now that the imperial examination is approaching, I'm afraid it would be best for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to be in charge alone." Murong Feng spoke again, then smiled slightly and turned to Murong Cheng, "If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has any instructions, just give them your orders. I will do my utmost to assist His Royal Highness."
Murong Cheng was carried up alive by Murong Feng like this, and for a moment he didn't know how to retreat.
"That's good. Then let the prince take charge." Murong Shiling looked at Murong Feng with great satisfaction. He had become much more sensible in recent days.
"If you have something to report, come forward. If not, dismiss the court!" The eunuch waved his whisk again. The ministers were full of doubts and no longer wanted to report anything. They bowed and dismissed the court, going to discuss with their own people.
Murong Yanhui walked at the end. As a lazy prince, he had always been dispensable and had always been enjoying himself without caring about state affairs. At this time, the ministers were full of doubts, so no one paid any attention to him. This was exactly what Murong Yanhui wanted. He glanced sideways, and then his body moved, and he followed Murong Feng quietly like a ghost.
As the saying goes, it is difficult to change one's nature, so he didn't believe that Murong Feng would be so kind and wholeheartedly assist Murong Cheng.
Sure enough, just after turning a corner, Murong Feng's calm pace suddenly quickened. After taking a few steps, he seemed still not satisfied with this speed. Murong Feng lifted up his lapel and ran with big strides, while the short and fat minister followed closely behind him.
Soon they arrived at the only way from the main hall to the imperial study, and Murong Shileng's dragon chariot was slowly coming towards the imperial study.
Murong Yanhui curled the corners of her lips, turned over and hung in the shadow under the eaves.
"What's wrong with you? Why do you want to ask the court to let me be in charge of the imperial examinations for no reason?" Murong Feng's voice was neither too loud nor too soft with a hint of reproach, but it happened to be heard by Murong Shiling in the dragon chariot.
"What's going on?" Murong Shiling asked in a deep voice.
"Your Majesty, it's the eldest prince and Minister Wang."
"Minister Wang?" Murong Shiling lifted the corner of the curtain, only to see Murong Feng helping the short, fat Minister Wang to his feet as he was about to kneel. "I know you mean well, but think about it. For years, the crown prince has been in charge of the imperial examinations. Now, by saying this, aren't you framing me as unkind and unjust?"
"Crown Prince, you were the one who presided over the imperial examinations in previous years. I don't know how many talents you have selected for the court. This old minister recommended you wholeheartedly because he was thinking of your Highness the Crown Prince's ability." Minister Wang's fat face was covered in sweat, and he was still breathing hard after running just now. This sentence sounded breathless, but it was full of sincerity.
"Alright, get up quickly. It was a long time ago that I was in charge. Don't say that again. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is wise and virtuous, and his literary talent and character are deeply admired by the scholars. He should be the one in charge." Murong Feng waved his sleeve to brush the dust off Minister Wang's knees and comforted him, "Let's go. Don't worry about this anymore. The imperial examination is a matter of great importance to the country. You must assist His Royal Highness the Crown Prince with all your heart..."
Murong Feng supported Minister Wang as they walked away, step by step. Murong Yan looked back at the short, fat Minister Wang's dragging steps and sighed deeply. This fat man probably hasn't run like this in more than ten years. Now, for this official hat, he really gave it his all.
But... Murong Feng still doesn't know the principle that too much is as bad as too little.
Murong Yan turned his head to look at the dragon chariot. Murong Shiling watched the two people slowly leaving. He lowered the curtain and whispered, "When did Minister Wang become so close to the Crown Prince?"
The eunuch chief steward was very experienced and immediately bowed and said, "I will go and ask."
The dragon chariot slowly moved towards the imperial study again. Murong Yan thought for a moment, then turned and headed towards Yu Qingli's yard.
Murong Feng is very busy now and certainly has no time to accompany Lili. How can he let Lili stay alone in her empty room?
Murong Yanhui smiled and landed in Yu Qingli's yard in a few steps.
"This morning, I climbed over the east wall and broke a lotus on the way in. Now I'm climbing over the west wall and saw a fairy on the way in."
Murong Yanhui approached Yu Qingli with a playful smile, "Fairy, I will tell you everything I know."
Yu Qingli didn't answer, but stuffed a scallion pancake into Murong Yanhui's mouth. Xiluo laughed first, "Your Highness, this scallion pancake was made by the fairy herself. It was kept hot and not eaten. You got a bargain."
"Really?" Murong Yan happily sat back in her chair. "Xiluo, you don't understand, do you? The fairy goddess was very clever and naturally calculated that the prince would come at this time. As for this pancake, she also calculated that the prince could eat it as soon as he arrived."
"Yes, yes, yes, Xiluo was wrong." Xiluo added water considerately and retreated to the gate of the yard to guard it.
Yu Qingli poured tea for Murong Yanhui and then asked, "Did something unexpected happen?"
"Why do you ask that, Lili?"
"If nothing unexpected happened, right now, the young uncle would probably still be racking his brains trying to figure out how to help His Royal Highness the Crown Prince regain his position as the Imperial Examination Supervisor, right?"
"Lili, you're so smart, how could I not like you?" Murong Yan returned with a second scallion pancake. "I don't know what Murong Feng is up to now. He's actually trying to retreat in order to advance, directing and acting out a wonderful play of brotherly love and respect."
Yu Qingli paused as she poured the tea, "Your Majesty, do you believe it?"
"What did Lili guess again?"
"Murong Feng has always been eager for quick success and instant benefits and loves to show off. He never knows when to stop. I'm afraid that today's display of brotherly affection and respect has aroused Your Majesty's suspicion."
Murong Yanhui laughed out loud upon hearing this. "Lili, is it a blessing or a curse for Murong Feng that you know him so well?"
Yu Qingli did not answer, her eyes fixed on the floating tea leaves in the tea bowl. In her previous life, she was like the tea leaves, floating up and down without control. She was deceived again and again by Murong Feng, a hypocritical man. She was deceived into sacrificing everything for him to win the throne, but in the end she ended up with a miserable end.
Could she not understand Murong Feng? How could she not understand Murong Feng? Thinking of this, a sad, self-deprecating smile naturally appeared on Yu Qingli's lips.
Murong Yan looked back with a gloomy expression. This woman always made him fall in love with her but also worried. When she occasionally showed this expression, his heart seemed to break as well.
"Lili, how well do you know me? If you are wrong, how about I ask you to accompany me for a day today?" Murong Yanhui interrupted Yu Qingli's thoughts, his eyes full of smug teasing.
"The young emperor's uncle is a charming and handsome man. He loves beauty more than the throne. This is known to all of Canghe."
"Lili, you also said that these are things that everyone knows. I want you to tell me something that no one knows." Murong Yanhui looked at Yu Qingli seriously, his eyes rare and earnest.
Such a scorching gaze actually made Yu Qingli feel uncomfortable. She slightly averted her gaze and whispered, "The young uncle makes Qingli unable to see through him."
These words were Yu Qingli's true feelings. She had thought everything would be the same after her rebirth. However, ever since Murong Yanhui helped her the first time they met, everything seemed different again. Reliving in this seemingly false past, the only thing she could do was to protect her heart and her life.
Murong Yanhui's heart sank for a moment, but then he became cheerful again. "That's okay. I'll give you the chance to get to know me slowly."
Murong Yanhui finished his second scallion pancake and clapped his hands, saying, "Since Lili didn't guess correctly, you have to accompany me for the whole day. No cheating allowed."