Professional Ethics of a Concubine

The next day, Xie Wenyuan really went to the prince to ask for an official position.

"You decide what to give, but don't give it too low. If you give me a ninth-rank official, I won't be able to accept it. After all, he is my uncle."

Xie Wenyuan also spoke frankly,

"He doesn't dare to commit any crime now, and he has the ability. According to your standards, he can't be wasted, right?"

Xie Jin smiled and said, "That's true. Now the economic and financial systems of the old Chu need to be rebuilt, and the currency needs to be recast to be unified with ours.

The work is complicated and requires overall planning, and we just need someone with rich experience and leadership skills.

Since you mentioned it, why not let him go to Old Chu and let him be responsible for the reconstruction of this area to ensure that the economy and finances of Old Chu are not in trouble. "

When Xie Wenyuan heard the prince's words, he was still shocked and couldn't help but said,

"You are so brave! You let him take charge of this. This power is too much. He should be made a third-rank official, right?! After being exiled, his rank didn't decrease, but his power increased?!"

"Appointing him as a second-rank provincial governor, don't just look at the power, the responsibility is also heavy. If he doesn't do well, I will not let him off!" Xie Jin said.

"I have never touched the economy of Old Chu because I have already searched the court and have not found anyone who can take the lead. Your uncle's experience and ability are definitely the best, so he is the most suitable person."

"I know he can work, but aren't you afraid that he will take advantage of the situation to form a clique and place his people there, turning Old Chu into his Chen family's private domain?"

Xie Wenyuan spoke.

"This is to use the system to constrain and supervise." Xie Jin said.

"After I take office, I will gradually improve the methods of selecting and appointing officials, especially establishing severe punishment measures for forming cliques and engaging in self-interest.

In addition, an avoidance system must be implemented, including job avoidance, regional avoidance, three-year adjustment, etc.

There are also various supervision systems, which I will not go into detail one by one. As for what you are worried about, it takes years of accumulation to build up power.

As for Chen Xiao, firstly, he is old, and he doesn't have the time to build up his network of connections like before; secondly, once the finances of the old Chu are in order, I will transfer him away.

Moreover, I would give him various progress requirements during this period, and he couldn't even finish the work, so how could he have the time and opportunity to think about other things."

Xie Wenyuan,...

When it comes to exploiting people, he is just a younger brother compared to the prince!

"Okay, okay. OK, you are still the best!" Xie Wenyuan expressed his admiration.

"Then I will go and inform Lao Chen right now, and admire him crying bitterly with gratitude after being sold."

Xie Wenyuan left after he finished speaking. He didn't want to talk to the prince any more. If he continued talking, he felt that he was just like Lao Chen, willing to be used by the prince.

"Wait, ask him to report to the Ministry of Personnel tomorrow." Xie Jin said.

"...Tomorrow?" Xie Wenyuan shook his head speechlessly, "You really can't let people idle."

Xie Jin nodded as a matter of course.

There are so many things to do, how can I have free time? I am so busy every day that I don’t even have time to talk about love.

Go work for him!

-

After hearing what Xie Wenyuan said, Chen Xiao trembled with shock, excitement, disbelief, and emotion.

"I, I..." Chen Xiao was so excited that he was a little incoherent. Finally, he knelt down and said,

"I thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I will swear to be loyal to you till death and complete the task you have assigned me."

"I'm not the prince. You can go and show your loyalty to him later." Xie Wenyuan said to him with some concern.

"The prince trusts your ability so much and gives you this opportunity, so don't be stupid, do your job well, and never form a clique for personal gain again.

Your political achievements are directly related to the resources that your descendants in the Chen family can obtain, and also to how long your Chen family can prosper and prosper.

Even if you have any inappropriate thoughts, the Crown Prince will not be as merciful as my father. The Chen family can go down together to reunite with my mother."

"..." Chen Xiao repeatedly said he didn't dare.

He doesn't want to reunite with his girl so early as he has a big career waiting for him.

"Okay, I've said everything I need to say. You just need to report to the Ministry of Personnel tomorrow. After reporting, you can go to the Crown Prince to discuss business." Xie Wenyuan said, "Anyway, just listen to the Crown Prince."

"...I understand." Chen Xiao responded in a daze.

This is too fast!

He didn't sleep all night last night, but all his thoughts were in vain!

He thought that the prince might reward him with a ninth-rank official position, so he prepared himself mentally and planned what to do if he met his former subordinates and was humiliated...

But who would have thought that after having his property confiscated and being exiled, he would actually be promoted to an official of the second rank, and the actual power in his hands would be even greater than before!

A long time after Xie Wenyuan left, he was still unable to recover from the excitement and shock, and just sat there alone from afternoon to dusk.

"Master, it's time for dinner." Mrs. Chen was worried about him, so she pushed open the study door and came to call him for dinner.

When I got closer, I found that the master's eyes were red, obviously he had been crying, and I was immediately worried and started to persuade him,

"Master, why did the prince come here? Did he arrange an insignificant official position for you? Master, if you are really embarrassed, you might as well refuse it. There is no need to endure the humiliation.

Our daughter is the Princess of Chu. With this relationship, we can make the children study hard and pass the imperial examinations, and the Chen family will be able to gain a foothold slowly."

Chen Xiao didn't hear what she was saying at all. He came back to his senses after being pushed by her and said to her,

"Just now the prince came and said that the crown prince wanted to appoint me as a second-rank governor and put me in charge of the finances and economy of the old Chu. After the crown prince ascends the throne, I will go to the capital to take up the post. Will you come with me or stay in the capital?"

Mrs. Chen, "???"

Is there something wrong with her ears?!

"Master, what official position are you talking about? A second-rank governor?" Mrs. Chen asked with her eyes wide open.

"Yes!" Chen Xiao nodded vigorously and said with emotion,

"Madam, I have figured out why the King of Chu was conquered by the Crown Prince. This is the first time I have admired someone so much in my fifty years of age, and that person is the current Crown Prince."

Mrs. Chen said she didn't understand.

However, she didn't need to understand why the prince valued the master so much. She only knew that their Chen family had turned things around!

"Master, you must seize this opportunity and listen to the prince. We should not do things that we should not do!" Mrs. Chen was moved and grabbed Chen Xiao's arm tightly.

When Chen Xiao heard his wife say this, he couldn't help but sigh and want to laugh.

The prince's broad mind, as well as his control over people's hearts and timing, made him admire and respect him.

Working under such a wise ruler, it is better to just work hard and make a career. If you do well, you can leave your name in history, which is better than being infamous for eternity.

-

As soon as Chen Xiao's appointment was made public, it caused a stir in the court and the country, and many people even submitted memorials to oppose the matter, hoping that the prince would reconsider.

How could a criminal like Chen Xiao be appointed as a second-rank governor and be in charge of such important affairs? How could he convince the people!

The prince had anticipated this situation. He did not step forward to suppress the matter, but instead waited to see how Chen Xiao would handle it. This was also a test for Chen Xiao.

Chen Xiao immediately signed a military order in the court, stating that if he could not complete the task assigned by the prince within three years, he would die as a token of apology.

He stated that he was still guilty, and that he took on this important task in order to atone for his sins and make his own contribution to the integration of Great Zhao and Old Chu.

As for those who questioned his ability, Chen Xiao used his solid knowledge to make those people shut up unwillingly.

After the morning court session ended, Chen Xiao's appointment as the second-rank governor was officially confirmed.

At this time, there are still ten days left until the prince's coronation ceremony.

-

In the blink of an eye, another four days passed, the morning court was suspended, and everyone in the court was busy preparing for the coronation ceremony.

A large amount of time must be spent every day rehearsing to ensure that the coronation ceremony in a few days can be held smoothly.

Various auspicious signs began to emerge, of course they were all man-made, and this was also a traditional program when emperors of all dynasties ascended the throne.

The purpose of creating all kinds of auspicious signs is to prove to the people of the world that the king's power is granted by God. The gods above also agree with the prince's enthronement, so it is just right for mortals to support him.

When the prince saw the various reports about auspicious signs in the memorials, he just smiled and did not take them seriously at all.

However, when Prince Duan saw the Crown Prince after returning to the capital, he said that he had encountered an auspicious sign on his way back, which delayed his journey.

"Oh? What auspicious sign did you encounter?" The prince asked with a smile, "A white deer? Or auspicious clouds? Or the appearance of the river god?"

"Neither. It's a group of strange rocks, all kinds of black boulders, very strange and shocking. There are also many plants and flowers of strange colors around. When we passed by there, the compass also failed. The compass was useless and we almost got lost and couldn't get out."

Prince Duan shook his head and spoke with a sigh.

Upon hearing this, Crown Prince Xie Jin couldn't help but wonder, "Is this a good omen? Is this bad luck?"

"Brother Crown Prince, listen to me. Later, someone in our team speculated that there must be a large iron mine nearby, which caused the compass to malfunction and become useless..."

Prince Duan smiled and said,

"As long as it's not a ghost, we won't be afraid. Let's stop and look for a way out while digging to see if there is any iron ore.

Hehe, it is indeed iron ore, and it is ore on the surface, which is easy to mine. The preliminary estimate of the quantity is very large.

Last time I heard Xiaoliu yelling that a lot of iron and stone were needed to make steel, so I asked people to keep an eye out for him during this trip, but no one found him. I was very frustrated about it.

After learning the news that my brother the crown prince was going to ascend the throne, I hurried back and stopped looking for the place. Unexpectedly, I accidentally entered a forest and discovered a large open-pit iron mine.

It is really a case of searching for something without any effort, but it is finally found. This is a good omen!"

Upon hearing this, Crown Prince Xie Jin also smiled, nodded and praised, "Indeed, this is a good omen, and the others are just a sham. The more good omen like this, the better!"

Prince Duan also grinned.

After being away for two years, exposed to the wind and sun, his originally fair complexion had turned wheat-colored, but he also had a bit of heroic spirit that he didn't have before.

"Rest in the capital for a few months after you come back this time. There is no need to rush out. I have another important task for you."

The prince patted his shoulder, which had become much stronger, and said with a smile.

"What important task?" Prince Duan asked with interest.