half life slave

Chapter 29

The Beijing-Hangzhou Canal winds thousands of miles south, and when Rong and his party arrived at Guazhou Ferry, it was already early winter.

Duan Xun, the magistrate of Yangzhou, received the news that the lucky boat had docked, and he had already led the crowd to wait on the shore.

When it was time to disembark, Wang Yunwen, the head servant of the household department, insisted on letting him go first.Rong Yu knew that he couldn't resist him, and also knew that the other party treated You Rong extra politely because he was an imperial envoy, so he could only signal Lin Sheng to help Wang Yunwen, and they faced Duan Xun side by side.

Duan Xun stood up and watched, and saw a tall and elegant young man from a distance, wearing a net scarf and wearing a sash, with clear and smooth eyes, and the corners of his mouth slightly raised, but he didn't smile, but he seemed to have a half-smile, so he knew that this was him. Today's celebrity in front of the imperial court—the palm print eunuch Lin Rongyu, quickly stepped forward, smiled and cupped his hands, "Your Excellency has been waiting for a long journey, and I have been waiting here for a long time."

These words were spoken by Shan Chongrongyu, after he finished speaking, he suddenly swayed and made a gesture of bowing down.Rong Yu quickly supported him with his eyes, and only then stopped the group of people behind him from kowtowing like transplanting rice seedlings.After exchanging pleasantries, everyone boarded the car and went to the government office.

Along the way, Rong Yu was still slandering Duan Xun's gesture of saluting him, unexpectedly, it was nothing at all, when he entered the gate of Yangzhou government office, he couldn't help being surprised, all the officials of Yangzhou government kneeled in the courtyard to greet him.

He tried his best to hide his surprise on his face, but he was really shocked in his heart. The literati of this era, like all the literati he knew in the past, can be said to be reserved and noble. They have always only seen the king, relative and teacher of heaven and earth. Why have they ever paid homage to a servant?

Wang Yunwen saw that he was a little dazed, pulled his sleeve, and whispered with a smile, "This is the imperial envoy who worships you, and the lower officials don't dare to accept this gift." I left the government office.

He is a smart man who knows how to avoid disasters!

Rong Yu calmed down, stood in the courtyard and said loudly, "Everyone, please stand up, Lin does not dare to accept this great gift."

However, although the words were loud and loud, everyone listened, but they still held their breath and no one was willing to stand up.

Seeing this, Duan Xun took two steps closer to greet him with a smile on his face, "Your Excellency is the emperor's personal inspector. According to the law, he should belong to the first rank. It is also right for these people to kneel down. Hurry up, it's cold outside, please come inside first. It's warm inside, so we can talk."

Rong Yu squinted his eyes and glanced around, his mind spinning rapidly.It's really a big blow, I'm afraid that the people of Yangzhou Mansion have discussed it a long time ago, if he accepts this gift calmly, if he doesn't like him in the future, find a chance to read a book, and don't need to mention anything else, just be arrogant It is enough for him to despise the court officials.

But what if he just doesn't accept it... I'm afraid they can't think of a reason why he doesn't accept it. How can a eunuch who was spoiled by the emperor at a young age still have self-knowledge? !

He couldn't be persuaded anyway, Rong Yu stepped into the main hall first, and sat down in the first place, only giving way to Duan Xun and Wang Yunwen.The two had no choice but to sit down.Wang Yunwen took out the investment promotion list of the Ministry of Households, and explained the rules of the compromise method to everyone.

After hearing this, Duan Xun expressed his opinion, "This is a good idea. I have been looking forward to it for a long time in Yangzhou. I will invite the two adults to meet the salt merchants of Lianghuai here at the next day, and Lord Wang will talk to these merchants again. As a rule, see if they have any other ideas. If not, let them receive the amount of food and grass they can donate according to the list, and it will be implemented from now on. The next official sits in the Yangzhou government, and must be responsible for the salt administration entrusted by the emperor. Supervise it well, please rest assured, Long Live Lord, and please rest assured the two adults."

Wang Yunwen has nothing to say.Rong Yu said, "Lord Duan, there are quite a few salt merchants in Lianghuai and Huaihe Rivers, and their operating capabilities are also quite different. You should have some rosters and historical records here. Can you show them to us for reference."

Duan Xun pondered for a moment, then smiled, "This is easy to handle. I will send someone to deliver the roster files to the posthouse where my lord is staying tomorrow. My lord is tired from driving and horses today, so I should go back to rest early. In the evening, my official will bring the Yangzhou government Colleagues, welcome your lord to the best restaurant in the local area, Huixian Pavilion, please come and visit me."

These words were directed at Rong Yu alone, and he didn't look at Wang Yunwen next to him.

Although Wang Yunwen is the official Zuo Shilang, he is neither clean nor a follower, and he has no family background to speak of, and he has always been a loner in Beijing.

Seeing that Duan Xun had no intention of flattering him at this moment, he simply smiled, "What a coincidence, Wang's aunt lives in Yangzhou now, and we haven't seen each other for many years since she came here, and Wang is planning to visit her tonight. Her old man, I have no choice but to ask for my resignation and leave for Mrs. Duan's welcome banquet." As he said this, he bowed his hands to everyone in the hall, "Please don't blame Mrs. Duan and my colleagues, and just treat Mrs. Lin well."

Duan Xun had nothing to do with him, so he said something casually, his eyes were only on Rong Yu, and Rong Yu didn't refuse, and nodded with a smile in response to the reception banquet in the evening.

Then he glanced at the hall, and saw that there were only Tongzhi, Tongju and other officials above rank six sitting in the hall, but they all had a share, so he knelt down in the courtyard to meet him.

Then Rong Yu got up, "My colleagues from the Yangzhou government just paid homage in the courtyard. It must be because the imperial decree stated that Lin's trip is to inspect the salt government on behalf of the emperor. Then, everyone should worship the emperor, not Lin. But even so, I don’t dare to accept the big gift. I will definitely bring the respect you have to the emperor. I don’t dare to go beyond the rules at this moment, so please accept Lin’s worship to finish the gift.” The hem of the clothes, bowed down to the crowd in place.

Everyone in the hall was stunned for a moment, and immediately there were a few quick-reacting ones who saw that he was about to bend down, and rushed up to help him, Rong Yu raised his hand to stop them, "If you don't want to return the gift, then Mrs. Lin I have no choice but to kneel here for a long time."

Seeing that the young servant refused to make Qiao Zhang's gestures, Duan Xun rolled his eyes, caught up with him a few steps, supported him with both hands, and smiled awkwardly, "Lord Lin really deserves the seal of the supervisor of ceremonies, the most respected in terms of etiquette." It is comprehensive, and the subordinate officials will not argue with adults about this."

Only then did the crowd regain their composure, they looked at each other and smiled, they couldn't help but let out a long breath, then they pretended to talk and laugh lightly for a while, so as to cover up the matter, they dispersed separately.

Back at the post house, Lin Sheng asked angrily, "Why do you kneel down to them, my lord? You are a first-rank imperial envoy, and they are only fourth-rank and fifth-rank sesame officials. So what if we are worshiped by them? We are treated by those scholars in Beijing." Is there still a lot of rowing, I finally have a chance to feel proud."

It was rare for him to complain so bluntly, and Rong Yu understood it very well, and said with a smile, "I am an imperial envoy only for a while, even if a first-rank official is here, how can I accept the kneeling of officials below the fifth rank at will. You also said that they are scholars, Literati should know that there is gold under their knees."

Smiling, he said slowly again, "Even if they are afraid of this imperial envoy's status, they will definitely feel resentful when they think about it in the future, even paying homage to an internal servant. I am here to pay for the imperial court, and I also have the title of imperial envoy , I don’t know how many people are envious and hold grudges, if they don’t reflect on themselves, they will cause trouble for the emperor.”

Hearing what he said clearly, Lin Sheng had no choice but to swallow the words of grievance, and said for a while, "Although that's the case, the emperor favors you so much..."

Rong Yu waved his hand and interrupted him, "Because of this, I can't act recklessly, it's a betrayal of the emperor's trust. I can't do anything wrong to him."

This time Lin Sheng seemed to understand, nodded, and asked worriedly, "Then what about tonight? The so-called reception banquet, shouldn't it be a Hongmen banquet?"

Rong Yu couldn't help but smile, maybe, anyway, it will never be a relaxing banquet.

"It can't be that bad, at least no one wants our lives. When things come to an end, Ah Sheng, we have no choice but to move."