It was the 26th of the twelfth lunar month when Shen Yi returned to Jiankang. By the time he had finished dealing with the emperor and deceiving two local officials, it was already the afternoon of the 27th of the twelfth lunar month. Shen Yi did not go out for the entire afternoon, but just stayed I stayed with my family at home and helped my dad prepare some New Year's goods.
The father and son had a tacit understanding and did not mention the matter of Zhou Yishan who came to visit him again.
Shen Zhang was too embarrassed to mention it, but Shen Yi was afraid of embarrassing his father, so he didn't mention it again.
In the evening, after eating at home, Shen Yi changed into thick clothes in his room. While Lu Qingque helped him organize his clothes, he asked: "It's dark outside, why do you go out to do it so late?" What?"
"Go and see Uncle Zhao."
Shen Yi stretched out his hand to straighten his uncomfortable collar, and said with a smile: "Uncle Zhao has a close relationship with his father-in-law, and he has helped our family a lot over the years. When I come back from an outing, I should come and see him, otherwise I will I’m a bit ignorant.”
In addition to the friendship between the two families, there is actually some political binding between Shen Yi and Zhao Changping. After all, Zhao Shangshu is now the political leader of the Ganquan sect, and Shen Yi is from a serious Ganquan academy. .
Although the political alliance of the "Ganquan Faction" is a relatively loose alliance without any mandatory binding force, all civil servants know in their hearts that the tighter the civil servants embrace, the stronger they will be, so that they will not be harassed by others in the court. Group bullying.
Therefore, Zhao Shangshu’s political appeal is very powerful.
Besides, the two families do have a good relationship. If Shen Yi doesn't go today, people will say behind his back that he has been promoted and disowned.
The more important point is...
Although the emperor hinted that he wanted him to be a lonely minister, Mr. Shen himself did not want to be a bullshit lonely minister.
The so-called lonely minister means that he does not seek for himself, but only for the king.
Mr. Shen not only wants to plan for himself, but also for his family!
"It's already dark, how about we go tomorrow?"
She said while helping Shen Yi tidy up his clothes.
Shen Yi shook his head: "I'm going today."
He smiled and said: "As for whether it will be dark or not, the end of the year is when the Ministry of Finance is busy. Seeing that the court will be closed for bathing in a few days, it is not certain whether Master Zhao will be home now."
Lu Ruoxi also smiled and said: "I have also heard people say that the household department is busy every year, one month at the beginning of the year and one month at the end of the year."
Shen Yi shook his head slightly: "When the spring and autumn crops are harvested, the household department will be busy."
Because of the cold weather, after putting on thick clothes, Lu Ruoxi covered him with a cloak outside, and then sent Shen Yi to the door of his house.
Before getting on the carriage, she whispered: "Bring it to Uncle Zhao for me, and tell him that I will go to his house to pay him New Year greetings after the New Year."
Lu Ruoxi is naturally very familiar with the Zhao family. She would occasionally go to the Zhao family on weekdays and hang out with Mrs. Zhao of the Zhao family and Mrs. Zhao's two daughters-in-law.
It's just that her temperament is a bit introverted, and she spends most of her time at home planting flowers and grass.
The distance between the two families was not too far. Master Shen's carriage quickly stopped at the door of Zhao's house. He did not ask his entourage to knock on the door. Instead, he carried the gift he brought to the main door of Zhao's house and knocked on the left side. small door.
After all, the Zhao family has been an official family for many years, so it naturally has a concierge. Someone soon came to answer the door. After hearing that Shen Yi was coming, the concierge hurriedly opened the side door and bowed to Shen Yi: "Master Shen is here. ."
Shen Yi smiled, nodded, and asked, "Is Master Zhao at home?"
"No."
The concierge shook his head and said, "Master has been coming back late lately. He didn't come back until midnight a few days ago."
He lowered his head and said: "Master Shen, please go inside and drink tea. I will go to the household department to run for you and ask when the master will be back."
Shen Yi thought for a while, handed over the things in his hand, and said with a smile: "It's the end of the year, and the Ministry of Revenue is probably very busy. Just tell Uncle Zhao that I have been here. I will come to visit again in two days when the court is closed. He is an old man."
The porter shook his head repeatedly and said in fear: "Master Shen, you are here and you leave without even having a cup of tea. Madam knows about it and has to beat the villain to death..."
When the two people were talking, there was a sudden burst of footsteps behind them. Shen Yi looked back and saw a sedan stopped at the door of Zhao's house. After the sedan landed, the bearer pressed it down and a man dressed in crimson stepped out. A middle-aged man in official uniform...
It was Zhao Zhi and Zhao Changping.
Well, to be precise, he should be considered an elderly person in this era.
However, Zhao Shangshu is tall and handsome. Although he has gray hair, it is not too much. He is also in good spirits and does not look old at all.
Shen Yi greeted him with a smile, cupped his hands to Zhao Changping and said, "Uncle Zhao is back."
Zhao Changping glanced at the carriage parked in front of his house, then looked back at Shen Yi, and said with a smile: "When I saw this carriage, I knew that Zi Heng was here. This official in Jiankang City, even a seven-year-old Pinguan, most of the time you have to hire a sedan when you go out, but you, Shen Ziheng, ride in a carriage every day."
"I can't get used to sitting in a sedan chair."
Shen Yi smiled and said: "I always feel uncomfortable being carried around."
Zhao Shangshu pulled Shen Yi's sleeve and walked towards his home while smiling: "This bearer also has the knowledge of a bearer. Some bearers can lift the chair quickly and steadily. They are more agile and more comfortable than a carriage."
"Change this quirk of yours as soon as possible."
Shen Yi smiled and did not answer any more words, but said: "Uncle came back early today. I asked the concierge just now. The concierge said that uncle sometimes didn't come back until midnight a few days ago, so I thought he would come back in two days. Come to the door and make trouble."
"The account department has cleared the accounts today."
Zhao Changping glanced at Shen Yi and smiled heartily: "And I heard that Zi Hengqian returned to Jiankang yesterday. I thought you would probably come home today, so I came back early."
"I was supposed to come yesterday..."
Shen Yi shook his head slightly and sighed: "Unfortunately, I was called to the palace yesterday. I didn't get home until late at night, so I didn't bother my uncle."
While the two were talking, they had already entered the main hall of the Zhao family. Zhao Shangshu ordered the family to serve tea, and then asked his servants to call the family out to see others.
Shen Yi shook his head quickly: "It's already very late, so don't disturb my aunt and two brothers from resting."
Zhao Changping frowned, then gave up and said with a smile: "Forget it, after two days of rest, when my uncle has nothing to do, come home again, call Zhang Jian, and let's have a good drink ."
Shen Yi lowered his head and said yes.
The two chatted for a while, and Zhao Changping asked: "How has Ziheng been doing his errands in the southeast these past six months? Is there anything I need help from my uncle?"
As the Minister of Household Affairs and a big boss in the court, he is usually asked to do things by others, and he would never take the initiative to ask if he needs help.
It can be seen that Shen Yi still plays a very important role in Zhao Shangshu.
In other words, Zhao Changping is very optimistic about Shen Yi's future.
Mr. Shen smiled and said: "The errand went smoothly. If nothing goes wrong next year, my nephew will be able to return to Jiankang to deliver orders by the end of the year."
"As for helping..."
Shen Yi lowered his head slightly and said: "As long as my uncle is still serving as minister, the greatest help to my nephew is to make those villains in the court afraid and not dare to harm my nephew..."
"next year…"
Zhao Shangshu did not pick up Shen Yi's last sentence, but picked up his last sentence. The Dajiu Qing lowered his head and thought for a while, and then said slowly: "Next year is too short..."
"The fifth rank you have just been promoted to will be less than two years old by the end of next year. It will be impossible for you, a lieutenant in the Ministry of War, to be promoted to the position of minister..."
"And if you continue to work in the Ministry of War, you, a doctor in the Ministry of War, will do it step by step, and you will have to do it for at least ten years..."
Zhao Shangshu stroked the beard on his chin and said: "Zi Heng, you have made great contributions in the southeast. After returning to Beijing next year, His Majesty will probably reward you with something. At that time, you cannot ask for an official position from His Majesty, but to ask for an official position." Your Majesty will transfer you to another position..."
He looked up at Shen Yi, then reached out and knocked on the table.
"Transferred to the Ministry of Civil Service as a doctor or..."