Empress: Your Majesty, please respect yourself, I don't want to be promoted

It can be seen that although Fu Yu usually doesn't talk much, he is quite a stubborn person.

No matter what Lu Chen said, her attitude did not change at all.

I recognized this heavy life-saving grace.

Lu Chen had no choice but to let her go.

Anyway, as the commander of Xuanjiwei, she can't follow behind him every day to protect him.

After a while, Fu Yu sat down again.

"correct."

Lu Chen suddenly thought of something, and asked, "Miss Chai, how is she doing now, is she still in Yuzhou? There are also other righteous men who came here to save us that night."

"There are no righteous men."

Before Lu Chen finished speaking, Fu Wei frowned, and then said in a deep voice:

"Lu Shilang, that night, in that grove, apart from us, there were only those thieves who wanted to put us to death. It was Lu Shilang, you and the Xuanji guards who fought desperately to smash the thieves' plot. If you never show up, you will be safe and sound."

Hearing this, Lu Chen couldn't help opening his eyes slightly.

"Commander Fu, what do you mean?"

Fu Ye shook her head, a look of helplessness flashed inexplicably in her eyes.

"This is what His Majesty and His Majesty the Holy King mean. Lu Shilang, you and I are both officials of the imperial court. There are some things that we should avoid. This is not only for our own sake, but also for His Majesty and His Highness the Holy King."

After these meaningful words fell, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became a little dull.

Lu Chen was silent for a moment, then raised his head, opened his mouth, and was about to say something.

But at this moment——

"master."

There was a clear and clear voice outside the door, but the newly recruited maid, Xiaohuan, was walking briskly towards this side.

"Master Xiao, please see me."

Hearing this, Fu Wei frowned inexplicably, while Lu Chen raised his eyes.

"Which Lord Xiao?"

"Master Xiao Yixiao."

"oh."

Lu Chen nodded, looked at the sky outside, and reckoned that he had just been on duty not long ago.

Come to look for him at this time, could it be that something big happened this morning?

"Ask him to come in."

"Yes, sir."

After Xiaohuan left, Fu Yu got up to say goodbye.

Lu Chen courteously asked to stay: "Commander Fu is rarely here, please sit down for a while."

Fu Yu shook her head: "Thank you, Minister Lu, for your kindness, but I still have important matters to attend to today, so I will trouble you later when I have time."

Hearing what she said, Lu Chen stopped trying to keep her and got up to see her off.

Fu Ye didn't refuse, and followed Lu Chen to the same position, and the two walked outside together.

When sending Fu Ye halfway, he ran into Xiao Yi and Xiaohuan who were walking towards him.

Seeing Fu Yan, Xiao Yi was startled, and then hurriedly bowed to salute.

"Xiao Yi, a doctor in the Ministry of Rites, has met Commander Fu."

At this moment, the etiquette of low-level officials when they face their superiors is vividly displayed.

Don't look at Fu Wei's humble and respectful appearance in front of Lu Chen, cold on the outside and hot on the inside, just think she is a good man and a faithful woman. In fact, as the empress' minion and eyes and ears, the boss of Xuanjiwei, she is a perfect woman in the eyes of all officials. evil star.

During the previous case of Xia Yan, Hu Yan was sent to Xuanjiwei Prison by the Empress on the day the case ended because of his unclean buttocks. As a result, many officials from the Ministry of Rites who took advantage of favors for profit were involved the next day.

The speed of efficiency is staggering.

Then there was another period of turmoil between the government and the public. The Minister of Rites Zuo Shilang who was involved in it was dismissed on the spot and thrown into prison.

As for Wang Licheng and other big families who extended their hands to the policy of favor and push, they naturally did not end well. They were basically exiled to Qiongnan Province to open up wasteland, and they would not even think about turning over within three generations.

This is the result of the empress restraining herself a little bit and controlling the scope of influence to the Ministry of Rites as much as possible.

No one knew what happened to Hu Yan in the imperial prison, and he revealed so many secrets so quickly, without giving others any time to react.

Everyone only knew that when he left the imperial prison, his whole body was almost inhuman, and he looked like a pile of walking dead.

Moreover, Xuanjiwei was born as a top master of Xuanwuwei who beat hundreds of thousands of forbidden troops to the ground. Backed by the empress and the holy king of Cangming, he represented the absolute power of the supreme imperial power and the Cangming realm, and his martial arts were outstanding. , such a frightening spy force, the deterrent effect of Fu Wei, the spy leader, on ordinary officials can be imagined.

Xiao Yi was not Lu Chen, facing Fu Hua, a malevolent female evil star, he couldn't be as calm as Lu Chen.

However, in the face of Xiao Yi's respectful salute, Fu Ye sideways avoided, and then said calmly:

"Xiao Bulang doesn't need to be too polite. I'm here just to chat with Lu Shilang. It's nothing important. This is not Ziji City. Xiao Bulang just treats me as an ordinary guest."

As she said that, she turned around, cupped her hands at Lu Chen, and said softly, "Let's send it here, Minister Lu, I'll go back first, we'll talk another day."

Lu Chen nodded: "Well, Commander Fu, walk slowly."

Fu Ye responded, and was about to turn around and leave.

However, as soon as the footsteps moved, Xiao Yi glanced at Xiao Yi from the corner of her eyes, and then she seemed to suddenly remember something, and her feet stopped in place inexplicably.

"correct."

She raised her head slightly and looked at Lu Chen.

"Lu Shilang, you and I have experienced life and death in Yuzhou, but it is a friendship that can entrust everything to each other."

Having said that, she suddenly took a deep breath.

"Since we are friends of life and death, from now on, there is no need to call each other by official titles, is there?"

Hearing this, Lu Chen hadn't said anything yet, but Xiao Yi's expression became a little weird for no reason.

He quietly glanced at Fu Wei, then at Lu Chen, a look of surprise suddenly flashed in his eyes.

However, Lu Chen said casually: "What Commander Fu said is that in an informal setting, being commensurate with an official position is indeed a bit pretentious, so let's do it, Commander Fu in the future."

"Liangyu."

Fu Ye suddenly spoke.

Lu Chen: "?"

Fu Yi pointed to herself: "My name is [Chiluan]."

"oh."

Lu Chen understood, then nodded, and said casually: "Then Liangyu, you can call it [Huaiyu] in the future."

As soon as the words fell, a gentle smile appeared on Fu Yan's face.

"good."

Seeing Fu Yu, who has been talking and laughing since she appeared in the eyes of the officials, seems to have an inhuman attitude towards everyone, and is as cold as a piece of ice that will not melt for thousands of years, Xiao Yi was instantly stunned to reveal such a gentle smile.

He blinked several times violently, as if seeing something unbelievable.

After a while, he had to accept this fact.

Then he turned his head and looked at Lu Chen in astonishment.

While he was in a daze, Fu Yu finally turned around, stepped forward, and walked towards the gate without haste.

And the moment she passed Xiao Yi, her vermilion lips suddenly moved slightly.

A voice that seemed to exist and not exist slowly entered Xiao Yi's ears.

In the next second, Xiao Yi's pupils shrank suddenly, and a thin layer of sweat suddenly appeared on his face.

Lu Chen quickly noticed the strangeness on his face.

"What's wrong? Brother Ruoyu."

"Forehead."

Xiao Yi came back to his senses in an instant, but subconsciously raised his hand and wiped the fine sweat off his face with his sleeve.

"It's nothing, I suddenly remembered a terrible thing."

"What terrible thing?"

"The male dog in my house gave birth."

"."

After Fu Yu left, Lu Chen led Xiao Yi, who had become a bit nervous for no reason, into the hall, and then asked straight to the point: "Brother Yu came all the way here as soon as he was on duty, but what happened in the court?"

Speaking of business, Xiao Yi immediately restrained his mind, and his expression gradually became serious.

"It's really a big deal."

Hearing this, Lu Chen's eyes moved slightly.

At the beginning of the empress's reign, even with the pressure of the holy king, the court was not so easy to calm down.

What's more, Great Xia has hundreds of thousands of miles of rivers and mountains, such a big country, someday nothing will happen, Xiao Yi and him became officials at the same time, and he also has some experience in government affairs, so he won't make a fuss whenever something happens.

What he can call a "big event" must be some terrible accident.

click

Lu Chen stood up and poured tea for Xiao Yi himself.

"Brother Ruoyu, drink a cup of tea first."

Seeing that even though Lu Chen ascended to the sky in one step and was in the high position of a third-rank official, he treated him as a sixth-rank official as before, and did not alienate him at all because of the difference in status, Xiao Yi's heart immediately warmed.

He was not polite to Lu Chen, took the teacup and took a sip.

After putting down the teacup, he brewed it for a while, and then said in a deep voice: "Huaiyu, what I want to say next involves the thousand-year-old ancestral system of the Great Xia court, and it is related to the future hundreds or even thousands of years of the country. The situation will inevitably involve princes, nobles, officials, wealthy gentry, and it is destined to be a big change that will be recorded in history. Don't be excited, let alone impulsive!"

Whoa! So much involved? !

Interesting

I really didn't expect that besides me, there would be someone else in the court who would dare to play such a big game.

It seems that after clearing out several waves of moths, the real pillars of the country have finally begun to emerge.

Lu Chen's mind trembled slightly, but on the surface he remained calm, but became more and more dignified.

He looked at Xiao Yi without any wavering in his eyes, and slowly said: "I am an official of the imperial court, and my face has not changed since Mount Tai collapsed in front of my eyes. Brother Ruoyu, please speak."

Xiao Yi nodded, then took a deep breath, and said solemnly: "During the early court, His Highness the Holy King proposed to change the system of clan support!"

? ? ?

The moment these words fell, Lu Chen's eyes suddenly widened.

It was as if he had heard something from the Arabian Nights.

After reacting, his breathing gradually became heavy, and he looked furious.

Seeing Lu Chen's reaction, Xiao Yi couldn't help shaking his head secretly in his heart.

Sure enough, it was impossible for Lu Chen to keep calm when such a big thing happened.

After all, this is a major event that a slight mistake will lead to turmoil in the country!

A loyal minister like Lu Chen who is dedicated to serving the public and regards the country of Great Xia as more important than himself, how could he be so calm when he sees the Holy King relying on the absolute power of the holy relics and the emperor's supreme authority to act so recklessly? down?

I'm afraid he is now thinking about how to stop this matter, and even wished to go to the palace immediately to persuade His Majesty.

You have to find a way to persuade him not to take this muddy water!

Otherwise, if the Holy King is offended, no matter how prosperous his holy family is, no matter how much the Empress favors him, he will not end well

Thinking of this, Xiao Yi couldn't help clenching his fists.

However, just when he was about to speak to persuade, Lu Chen suddenly exhaled heavily, and said in a deep voice, "How does His Royal Highness want to reform?"

Xiao Yi frowned slightly, then fell silent for a moment, and then said calmly:

"His Royal Highness is going to change the salary that was originally allocated to the clan to 10% of the annual income of the prefecture and county where their fiefdom is located, and this 10% has to be taxed."

After a pause, he slowly recounted the various new policies proposed by the Holy King in the early court amidst the increasingly ugly faces of the clan and officials.

Hearing all kinds of familiar measures from Xiao Yi's mouth, Lu Chen's heart gradually sank.

Performance system. Strengthen supervision to bind the interests of the clan with the people.

Isn't this fucking a suggestion I made to the empress during this period of time? Why did the memorial just handed in yesterday become the claim of the Holy King today?

Thinking of this, he felt an indescribable tingling pain in his back.

But after calming down a bit, he figured out the key to this matter in a flash.

Before, the Empress specifically told him to sort out his thoughts first, write the memorial and hand it directly to her, not to the cabinet.

Then after he handed in the memorial, immediately force him to rest for a day, so that he will not go to court today

In the end, the Sacred King Cangming, who was detached from the outside world and possessed absolute strength, made it difficult for people to resist. He put forward this proposition that touched the fundamental interests of all parties in the early dynasty.

In this way, all the resentment is concentrated on the Holy King Cangming, and has nothing to do with him.

Thoughts flashed through Lu Chen's mind quickly, and not long after, a complex look flashed in his eyes.

Empress, this is to protect him and let the Holy King Cangming come out to stand up to the thunder.

As soon as he thought of this, he instantly felt mixed feelings in his heart, and he didn't know what to say for a while.

Not long after, Xiao Yi told Lu Chen everything that happened in the morning, and then said earnestly: "Huaiyu, this time you have to listen to me as a brother, that Sacred King Cangming is extremely powerful and domineering. People can control, as long as it is what he wants to do, no one can stop him, he can only find ways to deal with him."

However, before he could finish speaking, Lu Chen shook his head and said calmly, "Don't worry, Brother Ruoyu, I won't stop His Royal Highness the Holy King."

Hearing this, Xiao Yi couldn't help being slightly startled, and then looked carefully as if he knew Lu Chen again.

That good friend, who was as smelly and hard as a stone in a latrine, followed his persuasion so easily, which made him feel very unreal.

"really?"

"Well, really."

Lu Chen replied without hesitation.

Immediately afterwards, without waiting for Xiao Yi to ask again, Lu Chen paused word by word under his surprised gaze: "After all, I planned to ask His Majesty about this matter at court tomorrow morning."

The moment the words fell, Xiao Yi's pupils shrank suddenly.

Just when Luo Jing was about to change.

Yuzhou City, in a luxurious mansion with five entrances.

Hundreds of wealthy gentry from all over the Yu and Sui prefectures sat together.

"Everyone, the situation is already clear."

An old man with white beard and hair and a stooped figure stood up, and said in a hoarse voice: "The Lu thief will not fall, all of us here, and even all the gentry in the two states will no longer have a peaceful life, let those dog officials continue to behave mischievously, our ancestors The family business that has been passed down for hundreds of years will be destroyed!"

As soon as the words fell, an old man with white hair and childlike face sitting beside him also stood up.

"Old Li is right. Although we have a big family and a great business, we have no way out."

As soon as the two opened their mouths, the others immediately echoed.

"That's right, that Fang Yu is so vile, he even colluded with outsiders to suppress good local businessmen and messed up our family's business. No matter how things go on, our Xiao family will be forced to ruin sooner or later by him!"

"It's the same with the new dog official from our Qinghe County. He actually beat the old man's child so that he couldn't get out of bed for half a month for a few untouchables."

"What is this? Do you know what the new dog official in our Ping County did? He even ordered the land to be cleared! This thief is so bold and does not abide by official rules at all. If this kind of dog thief is not eliminated as soon as possible, we still have Is there a way out?"

"."

They kept berating Fang Yu and others for their various "crimes" since they took office, as if they hated them to the bone.

"well."

Mr. Wu sighed, and said in a deep voice: "Everyone here, who is not hurt by these thieves and wished to tear their corpses into thousands of pieces to gather here, but the thieves surnamed Lu are deeply favored by His Majesty. , there are so many masters around, and he is far away in the capital, how can we get him?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone fell silent.

After a while, the old man spoke again.

"To be honest, this old man has a lot of connections with Mr. Zheng Zhong, the left servant of the Ministry of Justice. If you all have a clever plan to bring down that land thief, this old man will write a book, and ask Mr. Zheng to eradicate the traitors for us and shape the world."

Hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up immediately, but soon dimmed again.

A high-ranking official at the level of a minister may not be enough.

And just when they were thinking this way, in an inconspicuous corner, a man with an unremarkable appearance suddenly stood up.

"I have some personal friendship with Mr. Chen Cangchen, the censor of the right capital. If you have a good plan, I would like to do my best."

As soon as these words came out, everyone immediately showed joy.

Youdu Yushi, that's a second-rank official!

Moreover, he is still a senior official in charge of the censor who has the right to hear the wind and tell the story. If he is willing to take action, the matter will be mostly settled.

After the two expressed their views, some people stepped up to Ali one after another, saying that they had some relationship with the court, but it was not very reliable.

"So."

After everyone said what they were capable of, the old man with white hair and childlike face stroked his long beard and said softly: "Everything is ready, only Dongfeng owes it. What is missing now is the means to bring down that land thief."

"hehe."

As soon as the old man finished speaking, a chuckle suddenly sounded from the crowd.

"What a coincidence, in my hands, maybe there is just what you need."