Back then, when Liang Zhirui was still the first assistant, Xia Qing was the second assistant.
The first assistant has the most power, presiding over the major affairs of the cabinet, especially the power of voting, and the second assistant does not dare to compete with it. The power of voting is to formulate major political policies, and then the emperor can approve them with a red pen.
If you don't join the Hanlin, you won't join the cabinet. The cabinet is the place that every civil servant aspires to, and it is the center of power.
"Teacher, what's going on between you and Xia Shoufu now? Tell me so that the students can understand."
Of course, Gu Chengyu had to understand the details clearly. If someone really came to deal with him, he would be able to find a way to deal with it.
Liang Zhirui pondered for a while before saying: "It doesn't just refer to one thing. Political disagreements are common. However, what makes me most intolerable is that the Holy Dragon's body has always been in poor condition, but it has never been a serious problem."
He looked at the green hills in the distance outside the window, sighed leisurely, and continued: "The traitor and traitor introduced an alchemist to the Holy One, saying that if he sincerely makes elixirs, he can live forever by taking the elixirs."
Speaking of this, his tone was urgent and heavy.
Gu Chengyu was surprised when he heard this. He had always thought that the emperor's poor health was caused by being busy with many things all year round and being in his sixties. It turned out that there were many things that ordinary people didn't know.
"The Holy One is so addicted to alchemy that he takes it himself? Where did the alchemist come from?"
Liang Zhirui nodded, "I didn't know this, and my origin is very mysterious. According to Xia Qing, he was a hermit master, and he is over a hundred years old this year. I saw him once outside the imperial study room. He was wearing a Taoist robe, with white hair and a childish face, and a beautiful body
Healthy."
Gu Chengyu found it very ridiculous. Not to mention whether immortality was true or false, the emperor was willing to believe that the origin of the alchemist was unknown.
Speaking of immortality, Gu Chengyu thought of Qin Shi Huang, who was obsessed with the elixir of life in his previous life.
After becoming an emperor with supreme power, he may not be able to part with the throne until his death. Pursuing immortality and continuing to enjoy glory and wealth should be the dream of every emperor.
This seems easy to understand. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, they will not give up.
"The emperor wants to make elixirs, so who will handle the affairs of the court on weekdays?" Gu Chengyu didn't think that the emperor had so much free time.
If the ancient emperors worked hard to govern, they would definitely spend a lot of energy. Refining elixirs is not something that happens overnight. Refining elixirs all year round consumes a lot of energy and time. After all, there is still research, right?
"When I was here, it was handled by the cabinet ministers. I reviewed it and then submitted it to the emperor. Now, it should be Prime Minister Xia Qing. When the emperor is not making elixirs, he will review the memorials submitted. After I became official, the situation in the DPRK has changed a lot. Officials
There are frequent transfers. There are various factions, which are complicated."
Gu Chengyu frowned. Does that mean that when the emperor was refining elixirs, Xia Shou was the prime minister? He had also heard about some affairs in the court in the capital. He heard that there were many officials from the south. So when the emperor was away, the court became
What he said?
"Are there any officials in the court who can compete with Xia Qing?"
Gu Chengyu thought for a moment and still felt that as an emperor, it was impossible to hand over power to one person with such confidence. There should be multiple checks and balances so that he could make elixirs with confidence.
Liang Zhirui nodded, feeling a little relieved. As a disciple, he was always very keen on matters in the court.
"Of course that's impossible. Shen Shikang, the Minister of Household Affairs, will not buy his account. Xia Qingnai was a famous talent in the Jiangnan area at that time. He became famous at a young age and his family was wealthy. His ancestors once held the rank of second-rank official. Although his descendants were not high-ranking officials, they were also
Of course there are many officials and officials in Jiangnan who cannot deal with him, but who wants him to be favored?"
"Then which faction does Xia Qing support?"
Gu Chengyu first temporarily excluded the second prince's faction because Shen Shikang was the second prince's maternal wife and the two were at odds. However, these should not be taken at face value. Some people are born politicians and hide their secrets deeply!
Liang Zhirui shook his head, "On the surface, he doesn't seem to be close to any faction, and it seems that everyone has some issues with him. He is narrow-minded and extremely greedy for money. In recent years, he has been making money in Jiangnan and other places. He made a lot of money, especially water transportation. I heard that the younger members of the clan were working for local tigers, and they were very arrogant."
Gu Chengyu lowered his head in thought, and then said: "Since he behaves erratically, why has no one collected evidence of his crime and taken a copy of it?"
According to the teacher, Xia Qing acted in such a high-profile manner. There must be someone in the court who couldn't stand it. Will those high-profile officials let this go? They must interfere with him, right?
"In the past few years, I was quite cautious in doing things and did not leave any clues. Even if someone intervened, the emperor was half-convinced about the matter and mostly kept it in silence. When he became the chief assistant, the memorial passed through his hands. He can deal with it. He presented it unfavorably? Even if he was taken advantage of and presented it, he always has a way to make the emperor eliminate his doubts about him."
Gu Chengyu finally understood how favored Xia Qing was. Xia Qing was now so powerful that he could almost cover the sky with one hand. However, the emperor was not a fool. This was only on the surface. The rest required him to enter the court. Only then can we explore slowly.
"Does he want to be a pure minister? Based on his past style, it should be impossible."
The emperor's health is deteriorating. How could Xia Qing not make plans for the future? Once the emperor and his courtiers, maybe the new emperor ascends the throne, they will operate on him first, and will he sit back and wait for death?
"There may be something going on in the dark. This person has a deep scheming mind. I didn't catch anything back then, so I can't tell what's going on."
"How can the teacher know about this secret business? Xia Qing is so high-profile, maybe it is his protective color? If he has no shortcomings, then the emperor will not dare to use him!"
For Gu Chengyu, these are still far away! Even if he enters the officialdom, he is still a small official in the Hanlin Academy, and those first and second grade officials will not take him seriously.
"Oh?" Liang Zhirui glanced at Gu Chengyu in surprise, then nodded, "It's possible!"
Liang Zhirui had never thought about this before, but now he felt that what Gu Chengyu said made sense.
"This is just a student's random speculation. Before contacting this person, it is better not to make a conclusion."
In fact, Gu Chengyu still had doubts. If Xia Qing wanted so much money, wouldn't it just prove which faction he had joined? No, maybe he didn't rely on any faction and wanted to fight for something bigger?
Gu Chengyu chatted with Liang Zhirui for a few more words, and Liang Zhirui was about to go to school. Gu Chengyu then went to the backyard and had to pay his respects to his master's wife.
"I came early today, can I have breakfast?" Ning asked with a smile.
"It's already been used. Master, haven't you eaten yet?" Gu Chengyu saluted and sat down on the armchair next to her.
Yao Mengxian arrived outside the main room, and the girl who lifted the curtain immediately stepped forward to salute.
"I've met my cousin!"
Yao Mengxian was a little surprised. Was there a guest in the house? Otherwise, this girl must have bowed at the door and then informed the house.
"Grandma, are you up yet?"
"The old lady has already gotten up, but there are guests inside."
The girl is also in a dilemma. Logically speaking, as a female dependent, she should avoid the foreign man coming. But she is just a girl and has to wait for her master's orders.