lcionline Chapter 1055: A Gentleman Judges His Deeds, Not His Heart (92 Reward Value Plus)
Chapter 1055: A Gentleman Judges His Deeds, Not His Heart (92 Reward Value Plus)
It's a pity... that romantic and passionate scholar had bad luck and was robbed and killed by bandits on his way to his new post...
Bai Mufeng won the third place in the imperial examination at a young age and had a promising future. However, because of this incident, not only his future was ruined, but also his life was lost.
In his previous life, Shen Zhinian had only heard about it casually and had not paid much attention to it. Now, it seemed that no one knew whether Bai Mufeng had really died from a robbery by mountain bandits or whether the Yuanning Marquisate did not tolerate him...
At that time, the imperial court was in need of personnel.
A sudden flood in Huainan caused a total loss of crops and people's livelihood. Marquis Yuanning was in charge of this mission and went to Huainan to control the flood, achieving remarkable results.
Naturally, the emperor could not touch the Marquis of Yuanning's Mansion at this time, so he just reprimanded the Marquis of Yuanning's son and ordered him to serve Princess Wenshu well in the future.
However, no one expected that after hearing the news of Bai Mufeng's death, Princess Wenshu would hang herself on the beam with a white silk...
Although she committed suicide, it is an indisputable fact that Princess Wenshu died in the Yuanning Marquis's mansion. Even though the Yuanning Marquis had made great contributions to flood control, he still angered the emperor and the entire Yuanning Marquis's mansion collapsed.
Shen Zhinian thought about it carefully at this time, and tasted a little deeper meaning from it...
According to the trajectory of the previous life, the Marquis of Yuanning would be promoted for his meritorious service in flood control. The status of the entire Marquis of Yuanning Mansion in the capital would also rise.
In the eyes of the world, Princess Wenshu and the Prince of Yuanning were just having some conflicts as a couple, and it was impossible for the emperor to punish the Yuanning Marquisate for such a small matter.
But it was different when the eldest princess died in the Marquis of Yuanning's mansion...
In the previous life, Princess Wenshu committed suicide. Was it for love or for revenge for Bai Mufeng?
Shen Zhinian didn't know.
After the incident, this matter was talked about in the capital for a long time.
But no one knows when Princess Wenshu became acquainted with the Tanhua scholar?
Shen Zhinian had no way of knowing either.
Now it seems that it was because of what happened today?
Shen Zhinian's fingers tapped on the table intermittently, and a hint of contemplation flashed in his eyes.
Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Rites, Ministry of War, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Works.
It goes without saying that Shen Maoxue is the Minister of Personnel.
Although the Minister of Rites is Concubine Zhuang's uncle, Shen Zhinian is confident that he can win over the Vice Minister Gu Jinxiao.
Ministry of Works, Shen Zhinian has already had someone secretly recommend Yu Yanzhi to join the Capital Water Conservancy Bureau. With his abilities, it is only a matter of time before he makes some political achievements.
Finally, only the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Justice were left, and Shen Zhinian had no one for the time being.
It was a common path for Hanlin to serve as an official in one of the six ministries.
For example, Gu Jinxiao, who won the top spot in the previous imperial examination, was first appointed as an editor in the Hanlin Academy, then served as a lecturer, and was later promoted to the position of vice minister in the Ministry of Rites.
Although Bai Mufeng's talent is inferior to Gu Jinxiao's, he is already among the best young people in the court. He will surely achieve great things in the future and is a promising talent.
Nangong Xuanyu values talent, and so does Shen Zhinian.
In this life, if she could change Bai Mufeng's fate and make him work for her, then she would have another helper in the court.
But first, Shen Zhinian had to figure out what was going on between Bai Mufeng and Princess Wenshu.
She looked at Fuqiu and ordered, "Let our people keep a close eye on Bai Hanlin and Princess Wenshu. If there is anything unusual, report it to me immediately."
Although Fuqiu didn't know why the queen was paying attention to the two of them, she still said, "Yes."
……
Time slowly came to September.
This month, the palace and the court were also very busy.
Because the seventh day of September is the birthday of Concubine Chen.
Everyone knows how favored Concubine Chen is. Even His Majesty takes this matter very seriously and has instructed the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Household Department more than once to make a big deal about it!
How dare they not do their best?
In the end, Shen Zhinian firmly advised the emperor that the Great Zhou was now at war with the Huns and money was needed urgently, and that it should not be wasted because of her alone, and requested that everything be kept simple on the birthday.
The emperor then agreed, but when he looked at Shen Zhinian, there was a little more tenderness and pity: "...Niannian, I'm sorry for wronging you."
Shen Zhinian smiled and shook her head: "The good men of the Great Zhou are sacrificing their lives and shedding their blood on the battlefield. I am just a woman who has lived in the palace for a long time and cannot serve in the war. How can you waste people's money and resources just because of me?"
After these words spread, people from all walks of life, whether in the court or among the people, all praised Concubine Chen for her virtue!
Even those old-fashioned people in the court who were dissatisfied with the fact that Shen Zhinian had been promoted to the position of noble concubine and was granted an extraordinary title just two years after entering the palace, changed their views on her because of this incident.
For a time, everyone in the Great Zhou Dynasty praised Concubine Chen for her virtue and compassion for the people.
Shen Zhinian is unrivaled.
No matter what the people in the harem thought in their hearts, they all expressed praise on the surface.
Even because of Shen Zhinian's leadership, a frugal spirit became prevalent in the harem, and the money saved was used to support the border.
If the Imperial Concubine Chen only asked others to do this, it would definitely cause complaints from the harem. After all, which woman doesn't love beauty and a luxurious life?
Didn’t they enter the palace just for the wealth and splendor?
But Shen Zhinian set an example by keeping even his own birthday simple.
Even the dignified Concubine Chen has adopted a frugal lifestyle because of the war, so how could others dare to complain?
At first, Handan didn't quite understand.
After all, she and Fuqiu are the people who know the Empress best, and the Empress also loves a rich and luxurious life, so why is she acting out of character?
But after being in the palace for so long, Handan has understood many things that she didn't understand before.
The position of Queen is vacant, which high-ranking concubine would not be tempted by that position?
The position of Empress is also the ultimate ideal of Her Majesty!
It is the most cost-effective thing to give up temporary luxury and gain a reputation for virtue in the court and among the people.
No matter what, what the Queen did was beneficial to the people, the war, and the soldiers, and that was enough.
Shen Zhinian asked himself that he was just an ordinary person and could not learn the selfless spirit of the saints. But there is an old saying in the Great Zhou Dynasty that a gentleman is judged by deeds, not by heart.
She admitted that she did have some selfish motives in this matter, wanting to gain a good reputation so that she would not face so many obstacles when she ascended to the position of Imperial Noble Consort in the future.
But Shen Zhinian also truly hoped that the war between the Great Zhou and the Huns would be won as soon as possible.
After all, war is costly and exhausting, and since she wants to be the queen, she naturally doesn't want the country to become devastated.
Although both Concubine Chen and His Majesty said that everything should be kept simple, the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Household Department did not dare to make Concubine Chen's birthday too shabby, and still made careful arrangements.
In addition, another important thing in September is autumn hunting.
The autumn hunt has many meanings for the royal family. Last year, due to the busy political affairs, the autumn hunt was not held, and naturally it cannot be cancelled this year.