This while, facing Luo Pei Shan, that was the smile not reaching the eyes as he expressed his congratulation.
They’d once worked together before for a very long time after all, so how could Luo Pei Shan not know his personality and character. However, in contrast, Luo Pei Shan didn’t show his feelings on his face in the slightest, smiling elegantly, carrying a gentleman’s bearing, his words both elegant and beautiful, yet also sounded very sincere, not carrying the least bit of insincerity.
The Left Assistant Minister of Rites turned green and pale, all unable to contain himself.
“………Cough, what’s wrong, your complexion isn’t too good, are you feeling unwell? It’s best to take care of oneself. This official still needs to count on everyone from the Ministry of Rites for many things.” Luo Pei Shan’s concern was genuine and sincere, his words exceptionally earnest.
(T/N: Luo Pei Shan is such an old fox.)
Quite a few onlookers revealed a look of pity towards the Left Assistant Minister of Rites. When Luo Pei Shan was still the Head Minister of Rites, he truly can be considered the example of a gentleman, having bearing and grace. After getting promoted onto the position of Head Minister of Appointments, this bit also didn’t change much. Just, that mouth nevertheless displayed a formidable fighting power, not carrying a single dirty word, quoting the classics, yet able to have a bunch of people all left speechless by him, nearly vomiting blood. Even the imperial censor that was known to have an iron mouth all can only be the defeated one under his mouth. At this time, for you to be snarky towards him, if not looking for a whipping, then what?
The Left Assistant Minister of Rites also very much regretted. It’s not that he was looking to be whipped, but rather, he was just momentarily braindead, else while clearly knowing Luo Pei Shan’s formidability, yet still go looking, even in front of this many people, never mind damaging one’s own image, he even got retorted to the point of speechlessness. After taking a good while to compose himself, “Many thanks sir for the concern, this lower official isn’t unwell.”
“Then that’s good. This official was still thinking, if unwell, then the following matters will have to be assigned to someone else. After all, to be serving Qi Yuan, devoting one’s loyalty to his Majesty, if one’s condition were to worsen because of overworking, his Majesty afraid will all worry. However, as the subject, how can one let his Majesty also worry about our small matters after exhausting himself on big matters concerning the country. That would truly be a great offense, no?” Luo Pei Shan said with a smile.
The Left Assistant Minister shivered inside. Just now, he was still thinking of throwing down his load, but if he really were to do that, Luo Pei Shan will most likely have him directly fired. Bu that time, it truly would be not having any hope at all. “Sir is right. If there’s anything, do not hesitate to order. This lower official certainly will spare no effort, not daring to slight.”
Luo Pei Shan was satisfied, so next was naturally preparing to take care of official business.
Meanwhile, Le Cheng Emperor called in the four cabinet ministers. It was obvious, some things, still needed to be discussed.
As the Head of the Cabinet Ministers, Ruan Rui Zhong, on other things, all didn’t say anything, just commenting on the matter regarding He Zhen Wei, “Your Majesty, right now, the various countries, at a time unknown to us, have joined forces to send the letters, so no one knows whether or not there will be other unforeseen changes. Since General He has already requested to return to the borders, how about letting him set out earlier. With him keeping watch over the northeast borders, it will certainly make one feel even more reassured.”
Le Cheng Emperor repeatedly nodded, “Beloved Minister Ruan is right. Although the northeast has already been snowing for days on end, no one can guarantee that there definitely won’t be any problems.”
“Precisely so. Beyond the northeast borders, although not a powerful country, but rather several large tribes as well as the alliance of over a hundred small tribes, they are adapted to living among the ice and snow. It’s not that they have never tried to disturb my Qi Yuan’s borders during winter before. Moreover, if learning that General He is not present, it’s even more possible for there to be unusual movement. That’s why, we have no choice but to guard against.”
Le Cheng Emperor very much agreed, and increasingly couldn’t sit still, hastily calling the inner court attendant to leave the palace, letting He Zhen Wei immediately set out, not allowing a moment of delay.
It was also because He Zhen Wei was about to leave, he thus wasn’t notified of today’s court session.
When He Zhen Wei received the news, he was startled inside. Could it be that this was precisely the reason why Jin Qinwang let him quickly return to the borders? Something that the court just found out about, he really just long knew ahead of time? However, right now wasn’t the time to think about these things too much. In any case, he was already prepared, thus he just immediately gathered his people. When the inner court attendant left the He Manor, He Zhen Wei had already kowtowed to He Old Madam, and said a few words with Madam He, hastily exiting the He Manor gates.
Since the situation was urgent, they naturally overlooked the rule of not allowing to spur the horse in the city. However, for the sake of avoiding an accident, they still needed someone to open up a path in front.
Even the commoners should also know that this was a special circumstance, and recently, the capital has been peaceful, so there weren’t any ‘reckless driving’ and accidents.
By the time the inner court attendant returned to report to Le Cheng Emperor, He Zhen Wei had already led his people very far beyond the city gates.
“General He, as the general guarding the borders, certainly must be more keen towards this matter than us. Looks like this time, matters perhaps are worst than anticipated.”
Le Cheng Emperor was gratified to have such a general like He Zhen Wei, yet his expression was also even heavier, worrying that Ruan Rui Zhong’s words prove to be true.
Speaking of which, this matter, did Li Hong Yuan not know? Naturally he knew, but it didn’t come from his memories of his past life. During this year of his past life, the various countries also came for Le Cheng Emperor’s birthday celebration, but the national documents didn’t arrive together. The situation was the same as usual. Although it was also delivering the national documents after the diplomats have already set out. In essence, this was all very normal. And the situation now was actually nothing more than Li Hong Yuan’s handiwork. He’d let someone obstruct the national documents’ advancing speed en route.
And his goal was just one, creating pressure for Le Cheng Emperor and the court officials. Even if in the end, it was discovered that the relatively fast national documents just got held up en route, for the problem to just occur once or twice, it can still be considered a coincidence, but if all of them had met with this kind of situation, then no one would believe it was an accident.
In reality, for these big and small countries to join forces, that was simply impossible. It can be said that crossing over all the regions north of Qi Yuan, from east to west, as well as the ones to the west of Qi Yuan, from north to south, its total surface area was five six times Qi Yuan’s. No one has the capability to have it all joined together, even if just for one thing.
But, even if clearly knowing that it was impossible, having this kind of situation appear, it would still make one suspect. After all, this concerned the entire Qi Yuan’s safety, no one dared to treat it lightly.
The inherent purpose of creating this kind of pressure was just letting the imperial court increase the military rations and supplies for the northeast borders. Li Hong Yuan also didn’t count on, by increasing these, just be able to let the northeast border town thoroughly change its past life’s fate. Of course, if able to, naturally it can’t be better. But in the end, it was still just for covering up the things he secretly let someone send in the dark. After all, if not having the things from the imperial court, just having the things he sent in the dark, after the imperial court learns of the situation, the He family, as well as the entire Northeastern Army, will all suffer a calamity. As such, he can only use such a roundabout method to obscure the truth.
To have revealed a bit to He Zhen Wei early beforehand, it was also to let him, when accepting the things of ‘unknown origins, not think too much, being burdened with misgivings.
Li Hong Yuan stood in the study, staring at the world map on the wall, his line of sight moving back and forth around the northeast border town area. Right now, all the arrangements have more or less fallen into place. With things like this now, if the He family were to still all die off, and the Northeastern Army all still lose an overwhelming majority, then even Li Hong Yuan will all have to suspect the truthfulness of the He family’s military fame, suspecting whether or not the Northeastern army were all useless drunkards boasting their abilities. “This prince has gone through painstaking effort. If you don’t serve this prince for life, conquering an even vaster territory, this prince will just tear you apart alive.”
Li Hong Yuan softly muttered, even faintly carrying a bit of laughter, yet strangely gave others a kind of sinister feeling.
An Yi who was hidden in the dark observed a moment of silence for He Shi Hai. About that, to be able to be personally trained by master was an honor, but this kind of honor required one to pay an enormous price.
And He Shi Hai who was in his own home ruthlessly sneezed twice. For the usually sturdy like a cow He Shi Hai, letting out a sneeze was all able to attract quite a bit of attention.
