First, cut off Kou Li's hope of further promotion, so that others cannot take advantage of Kou Li through official means, and then look for other things.
Grandparents and grandson have made a plan.
Look at each other and smile.
Kou Zhun didn't feel any guilt after cheating on him.
Kou Ji also didn't feel any remorse for cheating on his father.
It seems...everything is as it should be.
Poor Kou Li had no idea that he was tricked by his father and his son.
At this moment, he was hiding in the room, covering his face with his sleeves, not knowing how to face Kou Ji again.
He finally found an opportunity to show off his ability as a father in front of Kou Ji, but unexpectedly, he was slapped in the face at the speed of light.
And being watched by so many people.
How can he have the face to meet everyone in the Kou family?
Kou Li hid in his room until evening, and with Mrs. Qiao's comfort, he left the room and went to the main hall.
In the main hall.
The cook of Kou Mansion prepared a sumptuous table of dishes.
Kou Zhun sat at the top.
Kou Ji sat on his right side, and Xiang Yan sat under Kou Ji.
Kou Li entered the main hall with an embarrassed expression. He smiled dryly at Kou Ji and Xiang Yan, but did not dare to look directly into their eyes.
After the salute, Kou Li smiled dryly and took Mrs. Qiao to sit on the left side of Kou Zhun.
Qiao's heart suddenly rose, and her face was a little panicked.
Kou Li didn't see the expressions on the two of them. He was preoccupied with sizing up Kou Ji and Xiang Yan's expressions secretly.
I was afraid that there would be some mocking look on their faces.
Then he really can't survive.
He will die of shame.
Kou Ji watched Kou Li sit down with Mrs. Qiao, and a playful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Qiao was obviously smarter than Kou Li. Many things that Kou Li didn't care about or could not see were clearly seen by Qiao.
If Mrs. Qiao hadn't wasted her youth when she was young, she might not have been able to like Kou Li.
When Kou Ji's eyes fell on the maid behind Mrs. Qiao, who was holding a little baby in her arms, the playfulness at the corner of his mouth disappeared, replaced by a look of helplessness.
Anyone approaching their twenties will be helpless if they have a slightly older brother.
Koji's eyes noticed the little doll.
Kou Zhun naturally noticed it too.
Kou Zhun glanced at the baby's swaddling clothes twice, and said calmly: "Eat..."
When Mrs. Qiao heard this, she let out a sigh of relief.
She knew that she had passed Kou Zhun's test.
Kou Zhun saw that she was bringing a child to the Kou family, so he did not embarrass her and accepted her status as Kou Li's wife.
But this does not mean that she is qualified to serve as the mistress of the Kou Mansion.
But she doesn't care either.
She clearly knew her position and never thought of fighting for the power of the mistress of the Kou Mansion.
Having an identity makes her very satisfied.
If her son grows up in the future, with the protection of his grandfather and the care of his brother, he will definitely live a prosperous and peaceful life.
The family gathered around the table and ate in silence.
After finishing the meal, the table was cleared and tea was served before we started talking.
Kou Zhun held the tea cup, stared at Kou Li, and said in a neutral tone: "After next spring, you can go to Zhileizhou..."
"Leizhou?"
Kou Li's eyes widened in shock.
What kind of place is Leizhou? It was the place where officials from the DPRK and the Central Government made mistakes and were demoted.
Sparsely populated.
The land is barren.
There aren't many political achievements to be had.
Generally, officials who are demoted to Leizhou will probably die of old age in Leizhou throughout their lives.
"Dad... I am staying well in Jingzhao Mansion, why should I go to Leizhou? That is the place where criminal officers are assigned?"
Kou Li said hurriedly.
Kou Zhun glanced at him and said coldly: "If you don't want to go to Leizhou, then go to Salmon Island..."
Kou Li panicked a little when he heard this.
Leizhou is sparsely populated and the land is barren. There is no political success, no good food, no good clothing. It is really not good.
But compared to Salmon Island, Leizhou is a paradise on earth.
Salmon Island is where prisoners are distributed.
What kind of place could a group of criminals piled up on an isolated island be?
There are rumors that on Salmon Island, it is very common for people to eat people.
Kou Li naturally didn't dare to go.
Kou Li didn't care that Kou Ji was standing aside, and wailed: "Dad, what mistake did the child make? Do you want to deal with the child like this?"
Mrs. Qiao opened her mouth and wanted to speak.
But I didn't dare to say it out loud.
Kou Zhun snorted coldly and shouted: "Because you are stupid!"
With a dark face, Kou Zhun waved his hand and asked the servants, maids, Kou Li, concubines and others who were waiting in the main hall to go out first.
Then he continued to the confused Kou Li: "I was tricked by someone, and I didn't even know it. You ran to me smugly to show off your little sixth-grade official position.
Based on your reputation and your political achievements, what qualifications do you think you have to be promoted to a sixth-grade official in just over half a year?
Like Ji'er, have you ever done anything earth-shattering or earth-shattering for the country and the people?"
When Kou Li heard this, his face looked a little ugly. He opened his mouth but stopped talking.
Kou Zhun continued: "No! Not at all! I sent someone to check all your political records since you became an official, and they found nothing. You are obviously worthless, but you have been promoted repeatedly. Can't you use your brain and think about it?
See if there is something fishy behind this?
Or write a letter and ask me or Ji'er if we helped you get promoted?
You did nothing and thought nothing.
You are just holding on to your sixth-grade official seal and are complacent.
Then he took bribes profusely."
"Bang!"
The more Kou Zhun talked, the angrier he became. He slapped the table and stood up, shouting: "If I hadn't been intimidated by my husband and Ji'er, you would have been swallowed up by others long ago. Not even the bones and dregs will be left."
Kou Li's face turned red after listening to Kou Zhun's words, and he whispered with embarrassment and annoyance: "My child... My child is not as miserable as you said."
Kou Zhun stared at his eyes, blew his beard angrily, and gritted his teeth and said: "You are just stupid, but you don't even have any self-awareness. If Ji'er hadn't helped you, I would have expelled you as early as the third year of Tianxi.
The door is open."
Kou Li stared in shock and looked at Kou Ji.
Kou Ji pursed his lips and said nothing.
What Kou Zhun said now is similar to what Kou Ji planned to talk to Kou Li in private.
Now that Kou Zhun has spoken for him, he doesn't need to speak anymore.
"Brothers Wu Ming and Wu Xian are like snakes and rats. They plotted against you and played tricks on you. In the end, you still didn't know that you were tricked and regarded people as close friends. If Ji'er hadn't appeared in time and took back the
A rhinoceros belt.
I will inevitably be impeached, and you will inevitably be expelled from the house."
Kou Zhun shouted angrily.
Kou Li said blankly: "That's just an ordinary imperial gift..."
"Shut up!"
Kou Zhun shouted angrily, "An ordinary gift from the emperor? An ordinary gift from the emperor, even if you sell it, can I punish you by kneeling in the ancestral hall for a month?"
Kou Ji groaned and said, "That rhinoceros belt was made by Taizong when he received the Tongtian rhinoceros horn as a tribute from other countries. There are two in total. One has followed Taizong into the mausoleum, and the other is in his grandfather's palace."
in hand.
The inner government has been thinking about it and taking care of some things.
This is not an ordinary gift from the emperor."
Kou Li opened his mouth wide and couldn't say a word.
Kou Zhun rolled his sleeves angrily and continued to scold: "As for the stupid things you did one after another when you were serving in Huazhou and Xinping, I don't even bother to talk about them."
Kou Li still had his mouth open and didn't say a word.
He didn't know what to say, and his mind was dizzy, as if there were thunderbolts and lightning flashing continuously in his mind.
Kou Zhun's words had a great impact on him.
In an instant, most of the knowledge he had built up over the years was destroyed.
It's hard for him to adapt.
Seeing Kou Li acting like this, Kou Zhun seemed to realize that his words were serious, so he stopped scolding him and snorted coldly and said: "I asked you to go to Leizhou to protect you and the Kou Mansion.
Lest one day, because of your involvement, the Kou Mansion will be plunged into disaster."
Finish this sentence.
Kou Zhun shook his sleeves and left the main hall.
After Kou Zhun left, Kou Ji stood up slowly, bowed his hands to Kou Li and Qiao, and exited the main hall.
Kou Li was stunned in the main hall for a long time. When night fell, there was some expression in his eyes.
He looked at Mr. Qiao with dull eyes and said, "Am I... really stupid?"
Mr. Qiao looked hesitant.
In her heart, Kou Li was the hero who saved her from danger.
But it doesn't mean that she doesn't know about all the stupid things Kou Li did in Bianjing City before.
The stupid things Kou Li did in Bianjing City were known to the whole city.
As early as the first time she arrived in Bianjing City, she had already learned everything that Kou Li had done in Bianjing City from the servants of the Kou Mansion.
It was at that time that she realized that Kou Li was actually not suitable to be an official.
But she didn't tell Kou Li.
Because Kou Li has a high-ranking father and a capable son.
Even if he is a mediocre official, he can still sit down in the official position through Kou Zhun's shadow and Kou Ji's contribution.
Even the higher the official position is, the higher one gets.
Now facing Kou Li's questioning, she didn't know whether to tell the truth or a lie.
Kou Li, who told the truth and was afraid of being hit, couldn't get up.
He told lies and was afraid that Kou Li would find out, which would make him suffer a greater blow.
Mr. Qiao was hesitant.
Kou Li knew the answer through her reaction.
His stupidity is just because he is not good at scheming and is too naive.
It doesn't mean he is a fool.
"I see……"
Kou Li murmured something, stood up slowly, and walked out of the main hall like a zombie.
"Ms. sir..."
Mrs. Qiao quickly stood up and called out anxiously.
But Kou Li didn't seem to hear her voice.
After leaving the main hall, he walked all the way to the door of his bedroom, closed the door, and stayed alone in the room.
Qiao followed Kou Li's footsteps to the bedroom door. She called several times but did not open the door.
In the end I could only walk away in frustration.
She felt that Kou Li might need to be quiet at this time.
The other side.
In Kou Zhun's study.
Kou Ji stood in front of Kou Zhun and sighed: "Grandpa, actually what you just said could be said more tactfully."
Kou Zhun was half lying on the back of the chair and snorted coldly: "To beat the drum, you need to use a heavy hammer. If you don't use a heavy hammer, there will be no sound. I not only want to wake him up, but also make him remember it."
Let him think twice before doing anything in the future."
At this point, Kou Zhun glanced at Kou Ji and said angrily: "I'm not doing this just for you? How dare you blame me? At my current age, I'm afraid I won't be an official for a few more years.
Even if your father was plotted against me, it only affected me once or twice.
You are different. Although your official position is not low, your foundation is still shallow.
In a hundred years, your father will become a big trouble for you.
I also saw this, so I didn't hesitate to reprimand him severely."
Kou Ji was slightly startled when he heard Kou Zhun's words.
He bowed deeply to Kou Zhun and said, "Thank you, grandpa, for planning for me."
Kou Zhun's good intentions were so obvious, how could he not feel it?
Kou Zhun rolled his eyes and said, "I only have a grandson of yours. If I don't plan for you, who will I plan for?"
Kou Ji grinned.
Kou Zhun waved his hand and said: "Come here and tell me what you plan to do when you use the Tiger-Character Army to enter the capital. I will help you with the details."
Kou Ji chuckled, "You really want to know?"
Kou Zhun also grinned, pointed at Kou Ji and said, "I know that you have bad ideas in your belly."
Kou Ji stepped forward and shared with Kou Zhun his purpose of dispatching the Tiger Character Army to Beijing.
Kou Ji's plan is far-reaching and cannot be explained clearly in just one or two sentences.
By the time Kou Ji finished telling Kou Zhun his plan, it was already late at night.
…
The next few days.
Until New Year's Eve, Kou Li hid in his room and did not come out.
Mrs. Qiao went to Kou Li several times, but failed to persuade Kou Li to leave the room. As a last resort, she invited Kou Ji to persuade him, but it was still the same.
It wasn't until Kou Zhun appeared that Kou Li obediently walked out of the room.
It’s just that there are fewer words and people have become much more silent.
When Kou Ji saw Kou Li coming out of the room, he stopped paying attention to him.
New Year's Eve is here, and he has a lot to do.
Take care of the servants in the house, give them rewards, and let them return home.
Prepare New Year goods and gifts.
Collect and count the income of Wanxiang House and Wanxiang Pawn Shop.
Visit colleagues, close friends, and old friends everywhere, or replace Kou Zhun and visit Kou Zhun's close friends, old friends.
Extremely busy.
I was busy until New Year's Eve before I took a break.
New Year's Eve.
After having a simple meal with my family and giving out the New Year's money.
Kou Zhun, Kou Ji's ancestors and grandson put on their court clothes and rushed to the palace for the banquet.
The corresponding etiquette and procedures for entering the palace to have an audience are the same as last year.
The difference is that the tableware used for the palace night banquet has changed from gold and silver to porcelain fired in Jingdezhen.
The Xixia envoys were ranked behind Dali in the palace...
The envoy from Qingtang was seated one seat forward...
The same is true for the seats of Ganzhou Uighurs...
The Liao people seemed to have forgotten the previous scene where Kou Ji was bleeding in the palace, and they jumped out as usual and started to provoke...
It seems that provoking the Song Dynasty has become a way of communication and meeting etiquette for them.
He just didn't come out to challenge.
It was not that the Song Dynasty had no one, nor was it that the Song Dynasty was afraid of the Liao people, but when the Liao people jumped out to provoke them.
The sound of galloping horse hooves sounded slowly from far to near.