Chapter 387: Vacant Post at the Ministry of Appointments
Translator: Draqon Boat Translation Editor: Draqon Boat Translation
“I really don’t want to be separated from you.” Before they parted, Qin Xiaoyao held Song Rui’s hand; unwilling ro let go for a long time.
Song Rui also looked at Qin Xiaoyao with a face full of longing.
He then reached our to touch his wife’s face and sighed.
“I don’t want ro be separated from you either.
“But bear with it a little longer… Ir shouldn’t be too long now7.”
The Emperor’s health was getting worse.
Empress Jia’s condition was not much better.
And Prince Huaiyin couldn’t hold ir in anymore.
The undercurrents of various factions in the Imperial Court had been surging during this period of rime. Something big should happen soon.
Qin Xiaoyao looked at Song Rui resentfully and then leaned into his arms.
Then, she asked with some dejection, “How much longer do we have to endure?”
They were clearly a legally married couple, but every time they met, they could only do it sneakily, as if they were having an illicit affair.
Now, one of them had just canceled one engagement, but a new7 match had been forced upon him.
The other was rumored to be entangled with a male prostitute from a brothel.
That was right. When Liu Ling helped her manage rhe business, he was recognized by the past customers of Cloud Scent Court.
Those people knew that Qin Xiaoyao had redeemed Liu Ling, and she had even ended up being ar loggerheads with Empress Jia’s brother over this. Thus, they began speculating about her relationship with Liu Ling.
She didn’t really think much of it.
However, if there were too many rumors, it would inevitably spread to her family in the Marquis’s residence and her husband.
This was definitely not a good consequence.
“Half a year at most.” Song Rui’s eyes flickered as he spoke.
As long as the old fox trusted him a little more and gave him another leg up, the time could be shortened even more.
Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Song Rui.
When she saw7 the confidence in his eyes, she felt more at ease.
It was only half a year. It wasn’t that long, so she would wait a little longer…
In the blink of an eye, another ten days passed.
Just as Song Rui had predicted, even though Shen Rongs funeral had already passed for several days, Shen Lian still could not enter the Prime Minister’s residence.
Of course, it wasn’t that Minister Shen didn’t want to bring Shen Lian into the residence. The reason was that Mrs. Shen, who had originally agreed to Minister Shen’s conditions, had delayed the time for Shen Lian ro enter the Prime Minister’s residence.
Although Minister Shen was somewhat annoyed by this matter, he did not force Mrs. Shen to accept his arrangement.
Due to Shen Rong s passing, the Empress and Jia family were more sympathetic toward Mrs. Shen.
And now, because of Shen Rong s matter, the Empress and the Jia family had a lot of opinions about him.
If he were to brave the storm to bring Shen Lian into the residence and re-assign Shen Rong’s fiance to Shen Lian, it would only make the rift between him and the Empress and the Jia family grow wider and wider.
In the Prime Minister’s study.
“Did you hear the news about Official Wang of the Ministry of Appointments wanting to retire?” Minister Shen put down the document in his hand and raised his head to look at Song Rui.
Song Rui raised his head and glanced at Minister Shen.
Then he bowed.
“My lord, 1 know a little.
“Official Wang has already passed 6o years of age. This time, his elderly mother passed away and he was preparing to return to his hometown to mourn.
“He has been an official in the Ministry of Appointments for several years, but he has not made any progress. It’s understandable for him to retire now.”
According to the Great Jin State’s regulations, the age of forced retirement for officials was 70 years old.
In fact, as long as the officials did not take the initiative to resign, the Imperial Court rarely urged people to retire.
Official Wang knew that there was no hope for his promotion. In addition, his mother had passed away and he had to return ro his hometown to mourn for three years. That was why he decided to retire in advance.
With his departure, there was now a vacancy.
It was difficult to enter the Ministry of Appointments, and an official of the Ministry of Appointments was a fifth-grade official position. There were many people who coveted it.
Naturally, Song Rui was also eyeing it.
Moreover, even if the old fox did not look for him this time to broach this subject, he was prepared to ask the old fox for help.
His qualifications were far from enough, but with a sufficiently powerful backer behind him, qualifications were not important.
If the old fox could help him become an official in the Ministry of Appointments, he would have some authority to recommend and appoint or remove officials. It could be considered that he officially held some power at that point.
In this way, he would be able to better help Prince Huaiyin carry out his plan.
Minister Shen looked at Song Rui and nodded with a smile. There was a look of admiration in his eyes.
“The position of an official in the Ministry of Appointments is very important. It has to be one of our people.
“But currently, 1 don’t have anyone suitable to send there.
“As for you, if you are promoted to become an official in the Ministry of Appointments, it will be a good thing for you and the overall situation,” Minister Shen said.
Song Rui was delighted.
“Thank you, my lord! ” he hurriedly expressed his thanks.
However, Minister Shen raised his hand.
“Don’t thank me yet.”
The joy on Song Rui’s face immediately disappeared and he looked at Minister Shen again.
Minister Shen smiled and suddenly asked, “Mistress has been looking for you recently?”
Song Rui’s face turned pale at once.
“My lord…” He hurriedly bowed to Minister Shen.
Before he could finish, Minister Shen extended his hand to stop him.
“There’s no need to explain.
“Because of Rong’er’s matter, Mistress has some misunderstandings about me. 1… don’t blame her.
“After all, she is my wife and the daughter of the legal wife of the Jia family. Sooner or later, she will understand and know what to do.”
He could understand that the Jia family and the Empress were dissatisfied with him at the moment.
He could also allow his wife to be temperamental for a while, but sooner or later, she would have to accept him bringing Lian’er into the residence.
As long as the Jia family and the Empress tacitly agreed to this matter, his wife could no longer continue to throw a tantrum.
As Minister Shen said this, he looked at Song Rui.
“Mistress is just a woman. Although she is a true blue direct descendant of the Jia family, she does not represent the Jia family.
“Do you understand what I mean?”
He really thought highly of Song Rui and had high hopes for him.
He honestly didn’t want him to misjudge the situation and think that by relying on his wife, he would be able to rely on the Jia family and the Empress.
Song Rui quickly bowed to Minister Shen.
“My lord is indeed perceptive. Song Rui is only loyal to you!
“I definitely won t dare to contact Mistress again.”
Minister Shen nodded with a satisfied expression on his face. “There’s no need for that.
“If rhe Mistress asks you to carry out tasks, you still have to do them if they are reasonable.
“However, there are some things that you better know what to do.” As he spoke, Minister Shen looked at Song Rui meaningfully.
Song Rui’s eyes flickered as he quickly bowed again.
“Yes, Sir! If there are any unusual movements on Mistress’s side, 1 will definitely report it to you in time! ” he said.
Minister Shen’s eyes revealed a satisfied expression once again. Talking to a smart person was really effortless.
As he looked at Song Rui again, Minister Shen felt somewhat encouraged.
“When Lian’er enters the residence, I will put your marriage on the agenda.
“After becoming my excellent son-in-law, in the future, the Imperial Court will be our world, father-in-law and son-in-law worIcing hand in hand.”
He really regarded Song Rui very highly and had high hopes for him.
At this critical moment, he only hoped that this kid would not stand on the wrong side and waste his good intentions.
“Thank you, Sir!” Song Rui answered.
However, he couldn’t help but curse Minister Shen in his heart.
First, he was threatened with a big stick, then he was lured with a carrot.
The old fox was afraid that he would get close to Mrs. Shen and then rely on the Jia family to go against him.
And he was quite good at painting rosy pictures, talking about turning the Imperial Court into their world…
Well, fine. He was interested in ruling over the Imperial Court, but he was not interested in doing it with him…
And as for that Shen Lian, he was not interested at all.
“Mm-hmm.” Minister Shen nodded..