Chapter 365 Who should take the blame?
After leaving the palace, he was on his way back to Yanfu Lane.

Yan Shaoting was thinking about a question.

It was obvious that he and the Yan family could not openly interfere in the affairs of the nine border towns. The Yan family could have a say in personnel matters, but there was really no need to get involved personally at the moment.

But the possibility of buying the town of Xuanfu for three hundred thousand taels of silver is indeed a very cost-effective deal.

Look, even the old Taoist priest is excited.

but.

But he couldn't take the blame for this, at least he couldn't let people think that he was the one who instigated the emperor to give the silver to Xuanfu Town.

And it is obviously impossible for the old Taoist priest to take the blame.

Then this pot...

Who should carry it?

Yan Shaoting narrowed his eyes and walked into his own door again.

lobby.

Lan Yongzhen watched Yan Shaoting leave the house. Although Xu Wei was always with him, he would be pulled aside from time to time to talk about the customs and habits of the border town.

But Lan Yongzhen was worried.

The three hundred thousand taels of silver were no ordinary matter; they were actually silver that had to be smuggled out of the imperial court.

Even though this young but powerful prince guest seems to be trusted by the emperor, it remains to be seen whether the court can agree to this matter.

That's why.

Ever since Yan Shaoting went out to the West Garden, Lan Yongzhen has been standing in the corridor of the front hall, staring at the screen wall behind the door of Yan's mansion.

Xu Wei was accompanying him. He looked at the sky outside and said with a smile, "General, don't worry. Judging from the time, it has been so long. The guest must have persuaded the emperor. Otherwise, I am afraid the guest would have returned long ago."

He had just said this.

Lan Yongzhen was shocked: "Guest Yan!"

He shouted loudly and looked with shining eyes at Yan Shaoting who had just bypassed the screen wall and appeared in front of him.

Xu Wei immediately looked over, still smiling.

"General, if my guess is correct, my dear has returned with good news."

Before Xu Wei could finish his words, Lan Yongzhen had already walked out of the corridor and took two steps at a time to reach Yan Shaoting who had just returned.

I saw him clasping his hands together with excitement.

"guests."

Yan Shaoting's face was calm. He held up Lan Yongzhen with his hands and said, "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, General."

Lan Yongzhen had an excited smile on his face, but his eyes were filled with worry. He hesitated and said, "I wonder if the guests have just entered the palace..."

The matter is of great importance. Without an accurate result, Lan Yongzhen will always be worried.

Yan Shaoting smiled slightly.

"General, please be patient."

Say it.

Yan Shaoting bowed his hands towards the West Garden, held his head high and said casually, "I am here on the orders of the Emperor to summon the general to the palace to meet him."

"Mian Sheng?"

Lan Yongzhen frowned and muttered something.

suddenly.

His shoulders trembled violently, and he looked at Yan Shaoting standing in front of him with wide eyes.

Lan Yongzhen couldn't believe it and said in a lost voice: "See the emperor!"

Although Yan Shaoting had not yet said whether the matter of the 300,000 taels of silver could be accomplished, the words of going to the palace to meet the emperor made Lan Yongzhen feel completely relaxed.

If the emperor had not relaxed his stance on this matter, why would he have summoned me?

Lan Yongzhen's face was full of excitement at this moment.

It’s really going to happen!
He couldn't help but look at Yan Shaoting with gratitude. Before this moment, he could not imagine that something that had been rejected by the cabinet could not be changed by the cabinet's opinion even if the Minister of War Yang Bo came forward in person.

Arrived at Yan Mansion.

There actually was a turning point!

Lan Yongzhen immediately clasped his hands together again and bowed deeply to Yan Shaoting.

"Lan Yongzhen will never forget your kindness, and the 100,000 soldiers in Xuanfu Town will never forget your help today!"

Yan Shaoting waved his hand.

He glanced at Xu Wei who was following behind him with a smile on his face.

"No need to be polite, General."

"Follow me into the palace quickly, don't keep His Majesty waiting for too long."

Lan Yongzhen nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, the guest is right. How dare I keep the emperor waiting for so long?"

After saying this, Lan Yongzhen looked outside with excitement on his face.

Yan Shaoting looked at Xu Wei and said, "I'll have to trouble Mr. Wenchang to wait at home. I will go into the palace with General Lan first."

Xu Wei naturally bowed in agreement.

This scene caught Lan Yongzhen's eyes again.

He kept his surprise in his heart.

There were so many things that surprised him today.

It was no big deal that Yan Shaoting could make a right assistant of the Zhanshi Mansion wait in Yan's mansion with just a few words.

He excitedly followed Yan Shaoting out of the Yan Mansion and rushed towards the Xi'an Gate of Xiyuan.

On the road.

Lan Yongzhen was so excited that he couldn't express it in words.

However, Yan Shaoting had been thinking about the problem when he left the palace.

Who should take the blame for this?

In front of us, we can already see the outline of Xi'an Gate.

Yan Shaoting looked at Lan Yongzhen, who was full of excitement, and asked slowly, "The general is in a hurry to go to the capital today. I wonder why the general would think of looking for me?"

Although I already have the answer in my heart, some things need to be said by the other party in person.

Lan Yongzhen blushed and laughed dryly, "I dare not hide it from the guest. The reason why I came to visit the guest today was because of the instructions of Minister Yang. The Minister came to the palace today because of the matter of Xuanfu Town, but failed to persuade the elders in the cabinet. When he left the palace, he told me that the guest has always been known as the God of Wealth in the capital, so..."

After mentioning the title of the God of Wealth, Lan Yongzhen felt a little embarrassed to continue.

Yan Shaoting just chuckled.

He smiled and said, "Is it Minister Yang of the Ministry of War?"

Lan Yongzhen nodded immediately: "It's Minister Yang."

Yan Shaoting said "oh" but stopped talking.

His appearance made Lan Yongzhen a little unsure for a moment.

Lan Yongzhen hesitated and whispered: "Guest...do you have any concerns..."

Although he had always been in the frontier army and didn't know much about the affairs of the court, Lan Yongzhen knew that there had always been disputes in the court.

What if Yang Bo had a grudge with Yan Shaoting in the past?
Maybe not.

No reason.

Lan Yongzhen felt nervous again, fearing that things might have changed.

Seeing that Lan Yongzhen had indeed taken the bait, Yan Shaoting frowned slightly, pretended to shake his head and wave his hands, and sighed: "It's not that I have any concerns, it's just that Minister Yang is in the Ministry of War..."

talking.

He stopped again.

Anyway, I just don't say a complete sentence.

But it was just this situation that made Lan Yongzhen even more worried.

He immediately reined in his horse and said, "If you have any concerns, please let me know. If I can help you, I will do it without hesitation!"

Yan Shaoting glanced at Lan Yongzhen, thinking that this kid from this border was really sincere. He coughed lightly and waved his hand.

"It's not a big deal, so why should I trouble you, General?"

Yan Shaoting hurriedly said, "General, don't worry. Since the emperor has asked me to summon you to the palace, I think we can still discuss the matter of Xuanfu Town today."

But when Lan Yongzhen saw Yan Shaoting's behavior at this moment, it was a completely different matter.

He immediately frowned, patted his chest and said: "Don't worry, guest, no matter what the trouble is, please tell me. Even if I can't help, the 100,000 brothers in the Xuanfu Town Army will definitely be able to help!"

Yan Shaoting raised his eyebrows.

Isn’t this exactly what I want?
Seeing that the young man really got the point, Yan Shaoting nodded.

He sighed softly before speaking: "It's not a big deal, it's just that the general is at the border and may not understand the rules of the court."

As soon as these words came out.

A magnificent court struggle immediately emerged in Lan Yongzhen's mind.

Yan Shaoting continued, "According to the rules, since the cabinet has already discussed this matter in front of the emperor, I should not show up again. But the general and I have a connection, and it was Minister Yang who pointed out the way for the general. In addition, the border is important, so I just went to the palace to ask for an audience with the emperor. In fact, summoning the general was just the emperor's intention. But the emperor's side, this news..."

Lan Yongzhen immediately said seriously: "Don't worry, my dear guest. I have no other choice but to ask you to speak to the palace on my behalf. Regardless of whether this matter can be accomplished or not, I will definitely bring your kindness back to Xuanfu Town and let the general and everyone in Xuanfu Town know that my dear guest is concerned about the border. If there is a chance in the future, my dear guest can be a guest in Xuanfu, and he will definitely be a guest of honor in Xuanfu!"

now.

In Lan Yongzhen's opinion, although Yan Shaoting said that it was okay, it must be because he came to him to ask for help, which made him bear enormous pressure and risks in the court.

This kindness.

Even if Xuanfu Town refused to recognize it in the future, Lan Yongzhen would have to acknowledge it.

Yan Shaoting smiled and shook his head: "If I can make the brothers at the border worry-free, it will not be in vain for me to serve as an official in the court."

Say it.

Yan Shaoting dismounted and handed the reins to the soldiers under Xi'an.

He is now a familiar face in Xiyuan, and the soldiers guarding the palace gates dare not delay this favorite of the emperor.

Lan Yongzhen gritted his teeth and secretly kept in mind everything that happened today.

If Yan Shaoting was seeking a reward after helping, I would accept it, but that would be a deal. But it was just this kind of thing, and in the end he said it was for the soldiers at the border.

This kind of favor is huge.

Just because others don't seek anything in return doesn't mean you can really ignore it.

Lan Yongzhen was preoccupied with things and had no mood to appreciate the scenery of the Western Garden on this first visit to the palace.

unconsciously.

He followed Yan Shaoting to the gate of the Wanshou Palace.

Yan Shaoting was quite calm. After all, there was no difference between coming to Xiyuan and staying in Yan Mansion.

However, Lan Yongzhen couldn't help but feel nervous.

The two didn't wait long.

Lu Fang had already walked out.

He looked at the two people outside the palace gate, smiled at Yan Shaoting, and then looked at Lan Yongzhen.

Yan Shaoting bowed and said, "Eunuch Lu, this is General Lan Yongzhen, the Lieutenant General of Xuanfu Town, whom the emperor wants to summon."

After finishing speaking.

He immediately turned his head and said, "General Lan, this is Eunuch Lu who is beside the emperor."

Although Lan Yongzhen didn't understand what was happening in the court.

But he knew very well who the emperor's close attendants were.

It turned out to be Lu Fang who came out in person.

Lan Yongzhen hurriedly bowed his head and said, "I pay my respects to Eunuch Lu."

Lu Fang smiled happily and waved his hand: "Forget the formalities. I'll let Guest Yan say a few words for me. I think you are a sincere person. Please follow me and Guest Yan in."

Lan Yongzhen lowered his head and followed carefully behind.

Yan Shaoting walked side by side with Lu Fang and whispered, "It's the beginning of spring again. My wife has been clamoring to bring people to make mugwort cakes. I'll bring some over for you when the time comes. There's also spring tea from Hangzhou and Huizhou. I asked someone I know to order a batch of it before the New Year. It's not worth much, it's all made by the tea farmers themselves."

Lu Fang was smiling happily, not even noticing that there was a stranger following him.

He just smiled and said, "That's great, but it will be hard for Lu Gaoming to personally make the mugwort cake for our family."

Yan Shaoting smiled: "It doesn't matter. After she gets pregnant, she will be the life of our Yan family. Even the old man doesn't dare to say a harsh word and lets her do whatever she wants."

Lu Fang was still smiling like Maitreya Buddha: "A few days ago, there was a temple in my hometown that seemed to be very effective, so I sent someone back there and used the gold that the master has rewarded me with over the years to make a peace plaque. I asked the abbot of the temple to consecrate it in front of the Buddha. I think it will be sent back in a few days. Then I will have someone send it to Changping, and give it to Lu Gaoming as a toy to pray for good luck."

Even Yan Shaoting did not know about this in advance.

Although the Yan family was not short of money, Lu Fang was not short of gold and silver.

But being able to get Lu Fang to personally send someone back to make the peace amulet and consecrate it is a rare favor.

He immediately said: "What should I do? This is such a great gift, but it is a trouble for you."

Lu Fang glared and said, "What kind of talk is that? At worst, I can ask Lu Gaoming to work harder and make more mugwort cakes. This year, we will also bring some to present to the master to have a taste."

Yan Shaoting then smiled and stopped talking.

But Lan Yongzhen, who was following behind the two of them, was completely dumbfounded.

What the hell does this have to do with anything!
When in the Ming Dynasty could an official of the previous dynasty use a mere piece of mugwort cake to exchange for a peace amulet that had been carefully consecrated before a Buddha from a eunuch in the inner court?

And it’s made of gold!

Are these the eunuchs who love money so much?
At this moment.

Yan Shaoting, who was walking in front, suddenly turned around.

"General Lan, we are already in the inner hall. Please remember to answer whatever the emperor asks you. Don't say too much."

Lan Yongzhen's heart was already numb with shock.

There was no time to think about other questions, I just nodded.

At this moment.

Another voice has been heard from above.

"Are you the lieutenant general who was sent to the capital from Xuanfu today?"

This sound.

I think it came from the emperor.

Lan Yongzhen didn't even dare to look up and just knelt on his knees.

"I, Lan Yongzhen, the Lieutenant General of Xuanfu Town, kowtow to the emperor!"

At this moment.

Lan Yongzhen did not hear the emperor's voice from above, but Yan Shaoting, who was standing next to him, spoke.

"Your Majesty, General Lan was very excited when he heard that Your Majesty had summoned him."

Wait until then.

Only then did Lan Yongzhen hear the emperor's voice from above again.

"Oh?"

"Are you lying to me again?"

I really asked the right person for help this time!
Hearing the emperor speak like this, Lan Yongzhen was extremely excited.

Even if one is a fool, listening to the conversation between the emperor and Yan Shaoting at this time, he should understand how high Yan Shaoting's status is in the emperor's heart.

Just when Lan Yongzhen was daydreaming.

On the platform.

Jiajing glanced at the general wearing purple flowered armor who was kneeling in the hall.

He chuckled.

"Lan Yongzhen."

"Look up and answer."

…………

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(End of this chapter)