After I got into the drama, I led the plot astray

Zhao Zhenyuan walked in, bowed respectfully to Gongsun Wen, and said, "I didn't know that you, Lord Gongsun, were coming to visit me. I'm sorry for not welcoming you. Please forgive me, Lord Gongsun."

In front of Zhao Zhenyuan, Gongsun Wen did not dare to put on airs, and quickly returned the greeting, saying, "General Zhao, you are too polite. I suddenly remembered that I had something to ask Ah Man today, so I came here uninvited. I hope General Zhao will not be offended."

Gongsun Wen and Zhao Zhenyuan exchanged politeness before sitting down at the tea table, drinking tea and chatting about their daily lives.

Seeing how excited they were about to chat, I was a little bored and was about to sit back on the recliner to continue lying there, but then an urgent report came from outside the door: "General Zhao, the chief of the palace guards has arrived!"

Wei Yi is here?

Wei Yi had only one purpose in leaving the palace, and that was to announce the imperial decree.

Gongsun Wen and Zhao Zhenyuan stood up quickly, straightened their robes and were about to go out to greet them. Gongsun Wen saw that I didn't move, so he came over and pulled me up, saying, "Your Majesty has issued an order, and you are still lying there. Are you trying to disobey the order?"

I was only wearing a single piece of clothing, and Yingchun quickly brought me a cloak to put on.

When we went out to greet them, we saw people kneeling on the snow.

Gongsun Wen pulled me to Wei Yi and knelt down.

I was only wearing a single layer of cotton pants. After kneeling on the snow for a while, I felt pain in my knees as if they were pricked by needles. I twisted and turned on the snow, extremely restless like a worm. But Wei Yi seemed to see nothing. He glanced at everyone and said, "Your Majesty has ordered that Ah Man be punished for being too stubborn and daring to set fire to Jinxiu Palace, and that he be compensated with 3 million taels of money for repairs to Jinxiu Palace."

Three million taels?

Am I right?

What I burned was just a small courtyard. Even if that small courtyard was rebuilt, it would cost at most tens of thousands of taels. How could you ask me to pay three million taels?

How is this different from extortion or blackmail?

Before I could argue, Wei Yi continued, "Tomorrow is the last royal sacrifice. Your Majesty summons A'man to the palace to serve as the sacrificer. I decree this!"

Summon me to the palace to attend the sacrifice? What the hell is this? My last name is not Zheng? Why should I attend the royal sacrifice?

Before I could jump up and down, Wei Yi pulled out a scroll from his sleeve and said loudly, "Zhao Changguang, listen to my orders."

Zhao Zhenyuan looked up at Wei Yi in astonishment, but finally said loudly, "Your Majesty, accept the order."

Wei Yi opened the imperial edict and read: "The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims that Changyuan has guarded the border for many years, loyally and devotedly, and has worked hard for the country and the people without complaint. After much consideration, I now promote Changyuan to the rank of First-rank Grand Marshal of the Nation, with the title of Grand Marshal Weiyuan, commanding an army of 800,000, and granting him a tiger talisman. I decree this."

As Wei Yi finished speaking, everyone was stunned.

Especially Zhao Zhenyuan, he didn't understand why His Majesty never said he would promote him even though he had guarded the border for many years, experienced life and death, and was buried under the yellow sand countless times, just a line away from death. Now he was in the capital, and he had done nothing, but he was promoted to the first-rank marshal, and was given a tiger talisman that could command 800,000 troops.

Seeing Zhao Zhenyuan standing there in a daze, neither thanking the emperor nor accepting his orders, Wei Yi had to remind him quietly, "Marshal Zhao, thank the emperor and accept his orders."

Zhao Zhenyuan was awakened at this moment, and hurriedly said loudly: "Thank you for your grace, sir. I will obey your order!"

After Zhao Zhenyuan took the imperial edict with both hands, he was still dizzy.

Wei Yi said with a smile: "Congratulations to Marshal Zhao, congratulations to Marshal Zhao, if you are free in the future, come to your house and ask for a glass of congratulatory wine."

Zhao Zhenyuan had been on the march for so many years, what kind of conspiracy and tricks had he not seen? But he could only chuckle and say, "Thank you, Chief Steward Wei. Changguang will definitely prepare a banquet at home. Please be sure to come to your house for a drink."

Wei Yi smiled and nodded, then looked at Gongsun Wen who was kneeling beside me, and said slowly: "Master Gongsun is free. Instead of staying in the palace to assist the Crown Prince in handling state affairs, he actually came to the General's Mansion. Oh, now the General's Mansion has become the Marshal's Mansion. His Majesty said that if Master Gongsun is too free, he will be sent to the West Mountain to guard the imperial mausoleum and sort out the government affairs log. He can return to the capital after finishing it."

The government log is to sort out the revised memorials, extract them by category and bind them into books for easy reference later. This work has always been done by the editors of the Hanlin Academy. Gongsun Wen is the president of the Hanlin Academy. Asking him to do this is not a demotion in secret, right?

And they will send him to Xishan to guard the imperial tomb. What's the difference between that and exile?

Gongsun Wen's face changed slightly, but before he could say anything, I jumped up and shouted, "Why do you want me to pay three million taels of silver? I don't accept it."

Wei Yi glanced at me and said, "You have to obey even if you don't want to. His Majesty said that if you don't pay compensation, you will be sent to the Dali Temple and you will spend the rest of your life in a dark prison."

This is too cruel!

But I believe Zheng Xian will definitely do what he says. He is kind to anyone with a purpose. Once you cross his bottom line, his kindness will turn into a sharp sword that will kill you without a burial place.

At this time, Yingchun stuffed a bulging money bag into Wei Yi's hand. Wei Yi smiled, weighed the money bag, and said, "I have to go back to the palace to report. Oh, by the way, Ah Man, the sacrifice will start at the hour of Mao, and as a sacrificial attendant, you have to arrive before the hour of Yin, so His Majesty suggests that you come to the palace with me to avoid delaying the time."

I just came out of the palace not long ago, and now they want me to go back to the palace. This is clearly a trick on me.

But once the imperial decree is issued, there is absolutely no possibility of change.

I was so angry that I almost fainted. Not only did they cheat me out of three million taels of silver, but they also wanted me to serve as a sacrificial offering. As soon as I heard it, I knew it was not an easy job. Zheng Bang said that he would kneel for a whole day during the sacrifice. I was afraid that I would not only have to kneel, but also the hardest, dirtiest and most tiring job would definitely fall on me.

This is Zheng Xian's way of bullying me. He thinks I'm not obedient enough, so he wants to force me to be obedient.

My lips turned white from the cold. I shook the snow off my cloak and said, "I'll go back and change my clothes and then I'll follow you into the palace."

Wei Yi nodded with satisfaction and said, "Okay, I'll wait for you in the front yard."

Zhao Zhenyuan held the imperial edict and respectfully led Wei Yi to the front yard to drink tea.

After Wei Yi left, everyone dared to stand up. At this time, I found that Yi Ping was kneeling beside me. But at this time, her eyes were red, as if she had suffered a great injustice. When she saw me, she cried and said, "I told you not to cause trouble, now you have to pay three million taels of silver. Let's see what you can pay with."

It turns out that this is why the girl was crying.

The money collected from the two shops had to be handed back before it had even warmed up to her. As a typical money slave, she was naturally unwilling to do so.