The Emperor hadn't seen Vice Minister Jiang for two days.
Suddenly, he felt a bit dull.
Mainly because the eunuchs around him would occasionally chat about it.
The officials were competing to spend money to buy the key points.
This time, it felt like the Emperor had played a trick on those officials.
The Emperor found it very amusing.
Wasn't this more fun than the scheming and plotting in the court?
Observing the spectacle of humanity, the Emperor felt a thrill as if he were standing at a height of 999 floors.
So he had someone summon Vice Minister Jiang to the palace again.
Indeed, the newly appointed Imperial Secretary was truly favored by the Emperor.
The Emperor had called for him again.
There were also other Imperial Secretaries who could only enter the palace for specific matters, perhaps not even once or twice a year.
But this one was entering the palace every other day, even Minister Lu was somewhat jealous.
Isn't it just because he has a handsome face?
Sycophants never come to a good end.
Jiang Changtian had nothing to do in his office, just watching his colleague Chen Jiuju doing the accounting.
When the Emperor summoned him, Jiuju was even more excited than him.
He organized the account books, and was originally going to help by exchanging money, saving bit by bit, but Brother Jiang said it wasn't necessary and even asked him to exchange it for small change.
Jiang Changtian calculated that this was just for the past few days. Those who had gotten the hint and were willing to pay had already done so. In the following days, there probably wouldn't be any more.
Because those who didn't pay at the beginning wouldn't pay later either.
Just like Minister Dong, who hadn't bought the answers.
Today was about enough.
It was just right to go and submit the accounts.
The Emperor summoned him.
Jiang Changtian was in no hurry to go, but instead called for the royal palace guard to help with something.
He had his son-in-law Meng Shaoxia called over.
The palace guard wasn't just a simple guard, it was actually an official position, a rather prestigious one, suitable for the second and third generations of various families.
The Emperor had been waiting in the palace for quite a while and was getting impatient.
Someone actually dared to make him wait.
Didn't everyone usually come flying as soon as he summoned them?
This Jiang the Second seemed a bit unreliable.
Just as the Emperor's patience was about to run out, Jiang the Second arrived.
He didn't come alone, but brought several guards with him.
The guards were carrying large boxes.
When they opened them in front of the Emperor, wow.
It was all money.
Jiang Changtian supported small change payments, all kinds.
For the sake of appearance, he had even exchanged some of the whole bills for small change.
Although the Emperor spent money like water, it was just a matter of him saying the word, even more extreme than us swiping our phones to pay. He didn't even need to see what money looked like.
The Emperor had rarely seen so much money piled up together, piled up in front of him.
No conspicuous person would deliberately exchange whole bills for small change to give to the Emperor.
But Jiang "Conspicuous" "Hardworking" "Ambitious" Changtian did just that.
He even made a big show of calling the palace guards to carry the money.
If someone else had called, the guards wouldn't have come.
Although they were called guards, they didn't necessarily do this kind of work. There were so many subordinates that it wouldn't be their turn to do the work.
It's like computer science students in university aren't necessarily there to move computers.
But when Meng Shaoxia called, and it was to show face in front of the Emperor, everyone came enthusiastically.
Along the way, they chatted with Meng Shaoxia's father-in-law, Vice Minister Jiang, and found that Meng Shaoxia's father-in-law was very interesting. There was no sense of distance at all, he was very friendly.
No wonder Meng Shaoxia had been living at his father-in-law's house for so long and was reluctant to leave. With such a father-in-law, life must be very carefree and comfortable.
And Meng Shaoxia's father-in-law looked like this.
It seems that the saying that Meng Shaoxia's wife was more beautiful than Daji must be true. Brother Shaoxia was truly blessed.
Several strong young men were panting as they carried box after box.
All money.
The Emperor was so surprised his eyes widened.
Actually, it wasn't that much when you think about it.
When he got the account book in his hands and looked at the total, it was probably equivalent to the cost of building a courtyard that he might request.
But if he wanted to build a courtyard, he would be nagged by his ministers and receive several memorials criticizing him.
This Vice Minister Jiang, with just a casual mention, had brought him enough money to build a courtyard.
So much, so much.
This account book was not only clear but also detailed. Who gave money, every name was recorded. Goodness, half of the officials were in it.
The Emperor was greatly pleased.
His way of showing happiness was to bestow rewards.
He rewarded each young man who carried the money with a small gold medal. He didn't directly reward Vice Minister Jiang, but instead pulled him aside to talk.
The guards were all very happy.
Showing face in front of the Emperor and receiving a reward, their resumes would be different when they left. When they go on blind dates, they can say they received a reward from the Emperor, that they are palace guards favored by the Emperor, with unlimited prospects. They can add another line to their resumes. Otherwise, with so many second and third generations in the capital, they might not be able to compete in terms of family background.
The Emperor praised Vice Minister Jiang for the detailed account book.
Jiang Changtian didn't take credit, saying: "I'm ashamed, this account book wasn't done by me. Because earlier when I was waiting to take office, I saw a colleague who had been waiting for over a year, saying he didn't even have money to rent a house in the capital. He came to visit me, and I gave him some silver. But he took it with such humility. We're fellow officials, and I couldn't bear to see someone like that. So I took this opportunity to have him help record together, and gave him money at the same time. Although it wasn't much, he accepted it with his head held high, earning money fair and square."
Hearing this, the Emperor felt somewhat moved.
Firstly, he felt that this Jiang the Second was different from others. When others hear praise, they can't wait to take all the credit for themselves, but Jiang the Second said it wasn't his achievement.
Secondly, he felt that this Jiang the Second was very humane, not only giving silver but also considering the other person's dignity, helping others through such an opportunity.
Thirdly, he felt that this Jiang the Second was very honest, telling things as they were without the slightest concealment. That old Lu was also something, doing things like selecting officials, dragging it out for over a year, it's really not right. It must be that the subordinate didn't give enough money, greed knows no bounds.
Jiang the Second's ordinary speech resulted in:
Vice Minister Jiang's favorability +10.
Minister Lu's favorability -10.
"I was shocked when I collected the money later on. It was originally a small matter, and my in-law is a bit of a joker, it was somewhat of a prank, but I didn't expect to collect so much. My in-law said everyone thought Minister Lu wanted the money, so they rushed to buy. I am at fault, I explained on behalf of Minister Lu. I told everyone who bought the key points that it had nothing to do with Minister Lu, that I had drawn the key points, but it seems no one believed me." Vice Minister Jiang sincerely admitted his fault and apologized.
The Emperor listened, and in his mind: good, good, good, Minister Lu's favorability -20.
