Chapter 474 What Your Majesty Doesn't Want

The emperor was about to arrive at the East China Sea Kingdom, but Qu Zixi, the censor on the right, announced that he would have a day's rest. Unless the imperial decree came, no one would be allowed to disturb his rest.

At this time, in the East China Sea Kingdom, the Youxun Censor was the highest official. No one dared to object to this, and they could only criticize him.

The emperor will stay in Donghai Kingdom for at least five days, and there is a lot of local preparation work. The front-runners arrived three days in advance and put forward many opinions, each of which made the officials of Donghai Kingdom busy from top to bottom for a while, and rested. Therefore, Qu Zixi is even more abrupt.

Wang Pingyang is from Linzi, not too far from Donghai Kingdom, and the Wang family was found by Donghai Kingdom. He is returning home in fine clothes, and the treatment he receives is different from others. Wherever he goes, there is always a large group of officials following him, and the Prime Minister Yan Kang never left.

"Your Majesty is practicing frugality. All these colorful sheds have been demolished, as well as these houses. Have they been re-washed? The store signs have also been replaced, right? Oh, you people, I really don't know what to say, you have made it like this Obviously, His Majesty can see the flaws at a glance. Replace everything back to its original appearance."

Someone whispered that there were less than three days left, so it might be too late.

"Brother, I know it's difficult, but what's the solution? Want to make it easier? It's easy. Let's do nothing. When His Majesty comes, Long Yan will be furious. Let's go home and farm together."

The officials immediately apologized in panic, and Yan Kang swore to the sky that the streets would be restored to their original appearance within two days.

After the inspection, Wang Pingyang went to the Prime Minister's Mansion to attend the banquet. He frowned as soon as he entered the hall, "What happened? After talking about frugality along the way, my mouth is dry, and you still do this?"

There were three tables in the hall, piled with delicacies from the mountains and seas. Several beautiful women stood around, holding wine bottles in their hands. When the adults came in, they immediately greeted the adults in unison.

Yan Kang said with a smile: "Master Wang said to be frugal, this is frugal."

Wang Pingyang was stunned, "Have I been away from home for too long? The frugality in Donghai Kingdom is different from other places."

Yan Kang invited Wang Pingyang to sit down. There were only three people at their table, and other officials crowded tightly around the other two tables.

Yan Kang picked up the wine glass first, and Wang Pingyang also picked it up. He could only smell a strange fragrance. The maid behind him came to pour the wine and smiled at him.

Wang Pingyang glanced at it and hurriedly blocked the mouth of the cup, "Mr. Yan, I don't dare to drink this wine unless I explain clearly."

Yan Kang said with a smile: "Master Wang doesn't know something. These wines and dishes are all local specialties of Donghai Kingdom. They were originally used to receive His Majesty. We thought simply, thinking that it didn't cost much and it was quite frugal. Today I heard what Master Wang said , I was enlightened and understood. But the things are already prepared, no matter how little money is spent, you can’t just throw them away. Wouldn’t that be even more wasteful?

Wang Pingyang pondered for a moment, "So are we cleaning the food that His Majesty won't eat?"

"That's right, Mr. Wang, you have to forgive us for not preparing a special table for you."

"It doesn't matter, this is better. To be frugal, you must practice frugality." Wang Pingyang moved his hand away, and the maid poured the wine again, almost touching the adult's body. Wang Pingyang was confused. He hadn't even taken a sip of the wine, and he was already drunk.

All the officials took turns to come forward to toast, chat with fellow villagers, and talk about friendship. They all felt like old friends at first sight. Two of them talked about coming and going, and they were actually distant relatives of Wang Pingyang.

Both the guest and the host were very happy. Yan Kang hinted that there were many things that he wanted to give to the emperor but had been withdrawn. If Mr. Wang doesn't dislike them, he can take them away.

Wang Pingyang didn't dislike it. He felt that along the way, the officials of Donghai Kingdom were the best at doing things. However, he was also a little worried. He glanced at the other person at the same table and whispered: "Is it okay?"

The assistant minister of the Ministry of War, named Zhang Qing, arrived earlier and had already become close friends with the local officials. Yan Kang laughed and said: "Don't worry, Mr. Wang, Lao Zhang is one of our own. If your Majesty doesn't want it, give it to Mr. Wang. If Mr. Wang doesn't want it, give it to Mr. Wang." Just give it to Lao Zhang.”

Wang Pingyang hurriedly raised his hands to Zhang Qing and said, "You don't dare to do that. Mr. Zhang is the Minister of the Ministry of War, and his rank is higher than mine. I am a junior official in the Ministry of Rites, and I came late. How can I take away his beauty? Mr. Zhang, you choose first."

Zhang Qing hurriedly put down his wine glass, "Mr. Wang is too polite. The people in our military department are all sincere. Mr. Wang wants to carry something, please come to me. I can provide one or two hundred people. Don't say who is higher and who is lower, who is first and who is last." If so, we are all friends. Mr. Wang came late, so you should choose first."

The three of them laughed at the same time, and the officials at other tables also laughed, making the atmosphere more lively and harmonious.

While drinking, Wang Pingyang suddenly frowned, put down the wine glass, and asked, "Why isn't Qu Yushi here?"

Everyone in Donghai Kingdom laughed, Zhang Qing said: "Qu Yushi has a rest today, and no outsiders are allowed to disturb him."

"Rest? His Majesty is coming soon. Everyone is busy, but Yu Shi Qu wants to rest?"

"Qu Yushi said that his duty is to supervise the investigation and not to participate in the pick-up affairs."

"W-what's this? Everyone has responsibilities. Is this why they ignore His Majesty?"

Yan Kang said in a low voice: "The new official is the first to take office. Qu Yushi is the first to get angry. Let's not mess with him."

"Hey, does he think he can show off after being a lecturer for His Majesty for a few days?"

Yan Kang smiled and said: "It's just one day. We should be able to leave the house tomorrow. We are all used to it. Mr. Wang must bear with it. Maybe Yushi Qu doesn't know Mr. Wang is coming."

Wang Pingyang was irritated. He waved to the door, called his entourage, and said loudly: "Go and send a greeting note to Mr. Right Patrol Censor, and tell him that I will pay him a visit before dark."

Yan Kang and Zhang Qing tried to dissuade him, but Wang Pingyang insisted and asked his followers to leave immediately. Then he said, "Look at you, what are you afraid of? I didn't do anything out of line. I just want to come and say hello in person. I don't think he is the Right Patrol Censor, but your Majesty's teacher. I am your Majesty's relative and I have arrived in advance on behalf of your Majesty. Of course I have to meet him. Don't worry, Censor Qu will definitely meet me. He has been outside for a long time and needs to know your Majesty's movements from me."

The officials agreed.

Not long after, the followers came back, walked to the master, and whispered a few words.

"What? Censor Qu doesn't accept visiting cards?" Wang Pingyang was furious, "Did you say who I am?"

The followers nodded, "Yes, but they said that they would not accept anything except the imperial edict and would not see anyone except your Majesty."

Wang Pingyang was furious and slammed the table, startling the maid behind him and spilling a lot of wine.

"He's really crazy. He hasn't even become the prime minister yet. How can he have such a temper?"

Yan Kang pulled Wang Pingyang to sit down and said with a smile: "The censor is a censor. It's reasonable for him not to like to contact other officials."

"Am I 'other officials'? In terms of official position, I won't go to see him either. Isn't it because we are all people around your majesty, so I give him some face?"

"Qu Yushi is...how to say it, he has read a lot of books but has seen little. He pays attention to 'Heaven, Earth, Emperor, Parents, and Teachers'. In his eyes, teachers are probably more important than relatives."

"'Relatives' are before 'teachers'!" Wang Pingyang became more and more angry.

The officials came forward to toast and comfort them. These people were old foxes. They said they were persuading, but secretly they were pouring wine on the fire. Wang Pingyang wanted to say a few words and let it go, but in the end he couldn't bear it anymore, so he stopped drinking, said goodbye to everyone, and had to meet Qu Zixi in person.

"Does he think he can definitely become the prime minister? I can make him lose his current position with just one word."

The officials stopped him and sent Wang Pingyang out of the Prime Minister's Mansion. No one followed him outside.

Qu Zixi's residence was very close to the Prime Minister's Mansion. It was getting dark. Wang Pingyang had drunk a lot and didn't ride a horse. Under the guidance of his followers, he quickly came to the front of the house and ordered people to knock on the door.

Not long after, the door opened and a young servant walked out. He looked at him and asked, "Who is it? What's the matter?"

The wind blew, and Wang Pingyang sobered up a little. He didn't dare to get angry immediately. He stepped forward and said, "I am Wang Pingyang, the counselor of the Ministry of Rites and the envoy of the tour. I came to see Mr. Qu, the right patrol censor."

The young man frowned slightly, "Didn't I tell your people? Mr. Qu will not see guests today. Come back tomorrow."

The young man retreated back to the door and was about to close it. Wang Pingyang stepped forward and stretched out his hand to block it, "Have you informed Mr. Qu?"

"Mr. Qu is resting, I can't disturb him, how can I inform him?"

"You'd better inform him, Mr. Qu will definitely not blame you, he knows me... he should recognize me."

The young man shook his head, "Mr. Qu's words are very clear, I can't go against them. Besides, Mr. Qu knows a lot of people, everyone is like you, you will never have a chance to rest."

Wang Pingyang was angry and felt that all the officials were watching from a distance. If he returned empty-handed, he would become a laughing stock. How could he have the face to accept "something that His Majesty doesn't want"?

"I'm not an ordinary person, my last name is Wang, and I'm His Majesty's cousin."

"Your Majesty has many relatives, Mr. Qu didn't say which one he can see, you still..."

Wang Pingyang rushed forward, knocked the young man away, and shouted: "It's not that difficult for me to see the emperor. Censor Qu! Mr. Qu! Qu Zixi!"

The young man wanted to stop him, but several of Wang Pingyang's followers rushed in to clear the way for their master, and the young man couldn't stop him at all.

Wang Pingyang strode in and headed straight for the main room. No one was inside. He searched a few more rooms, but no one was there. He turned around and asked his followers to grab the young man and asked sternly, "Where is Censor Qu? Where is he hiding? Tell me quickly, otherwise..."

There was a cough behind him. Wang Pingyang turned around and recognized Qu Zixi. He immediately smiled and bowed, "Censor Qu, I finally see you. I am Wang Pingyang, the forerunner of the tour. I just arrived today and came to pay my respects to you."

Qu Zixi nodded and turned to walk towards a room. Wang Pingyang followed him and turned around to glare at the young man. He would complain to him later.

This is a study room. Qu Zixi walked to the table, still without speaking. He ground the ink himself and picked up the pen to write. Wang Pingyang stood aside and smiled, "Is Censor Qu practicing silent meditation? Fortunately, His Majesty did not arrive early, otherwise you would be in trouble."

Qu Zixi wrote very quickly. After finishing, he put down the pen and turned to signal Wang Pingyang to come over.

Wang Pingyang walked to the table, took a few glances, and was so frightened that his whole body went limp. It was an impeachment, pointing directly at him, the forerunner of the tour, saying that he was drunk and promiscuous and did not know etiquette.

Wang Pingyang was seven parts sober, and he knelt down. Just as he was about to beg, Qu Zixi waved his hand. Wang Pingyang was stunned for a moment, then he understood, got up, grabbed the impeachment memorial on the table, turned around and ran away.

The young man came over and closed the door, and Qu Zixi stood in front of the table without moving.

Wang Pingyang did not notice that there was a piece of paper on the table with several names written on it, including Huang Pugong, Yan Kang, Lu Dapeng, Zhao Hao, Nan Zhijin and others.

Qu Zixi picked up the pen, added Wang Pingyang's name, thought for a moment, and drew a circle outside the three words "Nan Zhijin".

This day's silent thinking had some effect, and Qu Zixi felt that he had seen the flaw.