Chapter 69: Cannot Refuse Reward

“Minister Ji, you are the pillar of the court. How could I do without you?” Emperor Kang Cheng said, refusing his resignation.

“Your Majesty, if you continue to address Minister Ji Yongqing as ‘Minister Ji’ instead of ‘Minister Ji Ai Qing’, your words would be more believable.”

“Your Majesty, this body of mine is truly exhausted.” Ji Yongqing resigned again.

Emperor Kang Cheng refused once more, “Minister Ji, do not worry. After the court session, I will have the imperial physician visit your residence to treat you. Focus on your work.”

The emperor and his minister engaged in a play of three refusals and three resignations.

“Your Majesty, please grant this old minister’s request. My body truly cannot go on.” Ji Yongqing bowed for the last time.

Emperor Kang Cheng quickly responded this time, “If Minister Ji insists, then I will grant your request.”

With this, the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review became vacant, causing the ministers to speculate.

At this moment, Xie Mingtang spoke up, “Your Majesty, I recommend that Minister Lu Desheng be promoted to the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.”

Emperor Kang Cheng was taken aback. He had not expected things to develop in this way. He pondered why the Xie family would relinquish their hold on the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Furthermore, who would be the next to take up the position?

“Why do you say this, Minister?” Emperor Kang Cheng at the head of the table narrowed his eyes at Xie Mingtang, wondering about the intentions of the Xie family.

In recent days, Minister Lu had accompanied the emperor on his outings and had informed him of the incident where his daughter had reprimanded Zhao Bin. He recounted the ambush and scheming by Zhao Bin, as well as the retaliation by his youngest daughter.

Although the retaliation was a bit excessive, that was Minister Lu’s exact words at the time.

Seeing that Lu Desheng’s expression was not quite right and his attitude was hesitant, Emperor Kang Cheng asked a question, only to learn the specifics of his daughter’s retaliation.

After hearing it, he couldn’t help but twitch his lips.

Minister Lu quickly apologized on behalf of his daughter. What could he do? Of course, he forgave her. Emperor Kang Cheng liked the feeling of honesty and closeness that Lu Desheng conveyed by not hiding things from him.

However, what was Xie Mingtang doing now? Second Miss Lu had hit Fourth Zhao, and the Zhao family and Xie family were in-laws. Instead of helping the Zhao family regain face, the Xie family was actually planning to promote Lu Desheng?

Xie Mingtang held the tablet in his hands, slightly bowed, and respectfully said, “Minister Lu has the ability to judge people, with keen insight and a discerning eye. In the court, when there are problems with the ministers that we have not noticed, he has already discovered them and brought charges against them. Is this not a form of ability? Therefore, I believe Minister Lu is suitable to oversee the duties of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.”

The officials looked at him with complex expressions, thinking he was speaking nonsense with a serious face! You seem quite capable of distorting facts!

At this moment, Lu Desheng was also shocked.

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was a third-rank official in charge of judicial matters.

To target him, both the Xie family and the Zhao family were willing to offer such a big opportunity? They were overestimating him! Jumping from fifth rank to third rank, did they think he would impulsively go for it?

But they were underestimating him. Did they think he would lose his mind just because they threw out the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review? Who wants to be the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review? Damn, they must be trying to exhaust him!

After Xie Mingtang expressed his gratitude, the officials on both sides echoed, “Your Majesty, we second the motion.”

“I second the motion.”

…

Lu Desheng glared at them, “Good for you! You guys are all ganging up on me, aren’t you? Every single one of you, I’ve got my eye on you! Don’t even think about running!” Lu Desheng’s gaze fell on the faces of those who had just recommended him.

Some of the ministers who were glared at were confused, some were apprehensive, mainly because Lu Desheng was too strong. If they were to face him individually, they would not be his match. Hopefully, the Xie family would put in some effort and get rid of him. Otherwise, this feeling wouldn’t be good.

Prince Gong stood beside him, unable to help but whisper, “Minister Lu, don’t be like this, they have good intentions.”

Lu Desheng rolled his eyes, “Do you really think I’m stupid, unable to tell good from bad?”

Prince Gong was taken aback. Was it not a good thing to be recommended for promotion?

“You, you don’t know anything.” Lu Desheng kindly advised him, “Quickly find a place to stand, keep quiet, you can’t handle this situation.”

Listen to the advice of others and eat your fill. Prince Gong was a good-natured man, not very courageous. Hearing Lu Desheng’s words, he also felt that the situation in the court was not right, so he quickly found a place where others wouldn’t notice him and stood there.

Most of the other unrelated ministers felt that the Xie family was generous. They came up with a reason for Xie Mingtang’s actions. The position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was the Xie family’s compensation to the Lu family. The marriage contract could not continue, but Lu Songli had saved Xie Zhan, and the Xie family compensated the Lu family with the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, which made sense.

The reason they thought this way was because the Xie family and the Lu family had returned the marriage bond and the betrothal gifts, and the Xie family had given the Lu family a large sum of compensation. This matter was not concealed by the two families, but it was not widely publicized either. The Lu couple did not want to mention it, and the Xie family, with their sense of superiority, did not take the initiative to spread the word. However, if anyone asked, they would mention it. The other two witnesses were not talkative people. As a result, not many people knew that the Xie family had given compensation.

This was a misunderstanding caused by a lack of information.

These ministers, who were not well-informed or who did not understand the situation, couldn’t help but admire the Xie family’s generosity. Then, they turned their eyes to Zhao Wenkuan and thought, “Your future in-laws are so kind to your former in-laws. What do you think?”

Zhao Wenkuan remained expressionless, giving no indication of his thoughts. However, this made it easy for people to assume he was unhappy. Such a reaction was normal. If they were Zhao Wenkuan, they wouldn’t be happy either.

These ministers were not deep enough. Some of the deeper ones had already noticed something.

Emperor Kang Cheng, seeing so many ministers standing up to second Xie Mingtang’s motion, asked Lu Desheng, “Minister Lu, what do you say?”

Lu Desheng quickly expressed his loyalty, “Your Majesty, I decline! I dare not dream of such a position, nor am I capable of it. I know that I am lacking in talent and shallow in character. Being a fifth-rank minister is already a stroke of luck and a great favor from Your Majesty. I am actually incapable and incompetent to hold the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.”

What a flatterer!

Xie Mingtang immediately said, “Minister Lu, you do not need to be humble. Your Majesty, Minister Lu has been in the position of fifth-rank minister for too long. He may not have merit, but he has certainly endured hardship. Your Majesty cannot fail to reward him.”

As he said these words, Xie Mingtang felt tired. He hadn’t expected that simply promoting him would cause such resistance. If their plan had not been known to only a few, and if he could guarantee that they would never leak the secret, he would have suspected that Lu Desheng had learned of their plan in advance!

“Yes, Your Majesty, we cannot let the meritorious officials feel cold.”

“Minister Lu has done a lot for Your Majesty over the years.”

…