The poorest member of the Imperial Guard, the Empress begged me to embezzle.

“Zhang Rulong and Jiang Tianyi were indeed from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and were also graduates of the imperial examinations.”

"He can be considered a true talent."

"However, I have already said that the selection of the pacification commissioners of the North and South Garrison Commands shall be decided by Minister Chu Xiu."

"This is something I have already promised Minister Chu."

"As the saying goes, a ruler's word is his bond!"

Empress Murong Si remained calm and composed, saying, "I can only make recommendations."

Jiang Wan'er!

"The maid is here."

Jiang Wan'er said with a respectful expression.

"You shall go to the headquarters of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and deliver the information on Zhang Rulong and Jiang Tianyi to Minister Chu."

"If Minister Chu is satisfied, then Zhang Rulong and Jiang Tianyi will serve as the commanders of the Northern and Southern Garrison Divisions of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Murong Si pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Jiang Wan'er said respectfully.

"Do my esteemed ministers have anything else to discuss?"

Murong Si looked at all the civil and military officials in the court and spoke in a steady and powerful voice.

"Your Majesty is holy."

The civil and military officials were silent for a moment, then shouted in unison.

What else could they say? Murong Si had already said that the selection of the garrison commanders of the North and South Garrison Commands was decided by Chu Xiu, and even she could only make recommendations.

Could they possibly force Zhang Rulong and Jiang Tianyi to serve as commanders of the Northern and Southern Garrison Divisions of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

More importantly, don't be fooled by the fact that nearly a third of the civil and military officials knelt down.

In fact, many of them were not behind Zhang Rulong and Jiang Tianyi.

They knelt down together simply to test Murong Si's attitude.

Let's see if there's really any hope of getting people into the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

If it were really possible, there would still be vacancies for the positions of Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Assistant Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Even if it's not possible to recommend a Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to directly seize power from Chu Xiu, recommending a Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard shouldn't be too difficult, right?

"Since all of you ministers are alright..."

"Then retreat."

Murong Si slowly rose and walked out of the Golden Palace.

Jiang Wan'er and Pei Guanyin quickly followed and walked out of the Golden Palace together.

"Your Majesty, I respectfully bid you farewell. Long live Your Majesty."

The civil and military officials shouted in unison.

After a cup of tea.

The headquarters of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, Lord Jiang has arrived."

Fang Heng moved swiftly and arrived outside the courtyard of the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, calling out respectfully.

squeak...

The voice just fell.

Chu Xiu pushed open the door and walked out of the study, raising an eyebrow as he asked, "Where is Lord Jiang now?"

"Your Excellency, Lord Jiang is waiting in the main hall."

Fang Heng said.

"Do you know what brings Lord Jiang here today?"

Chu Xiu nodded slightly and walked towards the main hall of the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters, speaking as he went.

"Your Excellency, I am unaware."

Fang Heng shook his head and said.

Chu Xiu nodded slightly and remained silent.

Not long after.

Chu Xiu walked into the main hall of the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters and immediately saw that only Jiang Wan'er was sitting in the guest seat in the entire hall. Even the Imperial Guards were only guarding outside the main hall of the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters. He smiled and said, "Lord Jiang, it is an honor to have you here. I apologize for not being able to welcome you properly."

"When did Lord Chu become so distant with me?"

Jiang Wan'er gracefully stood up, rolled her eyes at Chu Xiu, and said.

"Lord Jiang, may I ask what brings you here today?"

"Is it related to today's court assembly?"

Chu Xiu smiled gently and looked at Jiang Wan'er, asking her a question.

After all, there is still a short time before the morning assembly.

It's very likely that something happened during the court assembly.

If he wasn't mistaken, it was very likely related to Li Jingtian's appointment as the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"I have come here to deliver two documents to Lord Chu."

"These two are both talented individuals from our Great Zhou Dynasty."

"Both of them were hereditary members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but instead of following the path of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, they chose to take the imperial examination and passed with flying colors."

"Currently, Zhang Rulong serves as the Director of the Personnel Evaluation and Appointment Department of the Ministry of Personnel, and Jiang Tianyi serves as the Director of the Youzhou Personnel Evaluation Department of the Ministry of Justice."

"He is a renowned talent in the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Justice."

"It was Lu Shi, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, who recommended him to His Majesty in court to serve as the candidate for the Northern and Southern Garrison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Jiang Wan'er took out a list from her sleeve and handed it to Chu Xiu, saying meaningfully, "His Majesty said that you have agreed to decide on the selection of the garrison commanders of the North and South Garrison Commands. Even if it is her, she can only recommend to Lord Chu."

The one who truly makes the decision is Lord Chu.

"Lu Shi, Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices?"

"Zhang Rulong?"

"Jiang Tianyi?"

"Whose people are the three of them?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Xiu's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he said.

"Lu Shi is nobody's man; he's someone who can play both sides in the court."

Jiang Wan'er smiled gently, secretly praising him, and said, "Zhang Rulong is a man of Zhao Duo, the Minister of Personnel, while Jiang Tianyi is not a man of Dugu Tai, the Minister of Justice, but a man of Zheng Yun, the Minister of Works."

If others heard that Zhang Rulong and Jiang Tianyi came from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Works respectively, they would be surprised.

They would naturally assume that the two people were Zhao Duo and Dugu Tai.

Little did they know that while Zhang Rulong was indeed Zhao Duo's man, Jiang Tianyi was not Dugu Tai's man.

The six departments contain members from various powerful and influential families, forming a complex web of connections. It is not the case that if one family controls a department, there will be members from other powerful and influential families.

Even powerful families cannot completely and utterly control a single entity.

Even among the six departments, there are quite a few who firmly support Empress Murong Si.

Not all powerful and influential families harbor ulterior motives; some are also loyal and righteous.

"understood."

Chu Xiu's face showed a look of understanding.

Jiang Wan'er smiled and said, "Since Lord Chu understands, then Wan'er will take her leave."

"I'll see Lord Jiang off."

Chu Xiu smiled slightly and said to Jiang Wan'er.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Lord Chu."

Jiang Wan'er looked at Chu Xiu with clear, watery eyes and said something.

This time, unusually, she did not refuse.

"You're too kind, Lord Jiang."

Chu Xiu smiled and escorted Jiang Wan'er out of the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters. After watching her and her entourage of Imperial Guards disappear from sight, he said calmly, "Notify all officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard above the rank of 1,000 to come to the main hall to see me!"

"Yes!"

The centurion in charge of guarding the Jinyiwei headquarters became solemn and spoke in a firm and resounding voice.

After saying that, he slipped into the headquarters of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and went to find Lin Huaiyu in person.

Chu Xiu turned around and slowly walked into the headquarters of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

After a while.

One figure after another appeared in the hall.

It was Li Jingtian, Fang Heng, Lin Huaiyu, Pei Shiji, Luo Tianxi, and others.

Even Jiang Li, Shen Congyun, and Qin Changsheng were among them.

After all, the three of them were the top three in the martial arts examination of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and they were exceptionally talented.

Although he had just joined the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he had already been given important responsibilities and had become a commander in the Shocking Heaven Guard, Shocking God Guard, and Shocking Immortal Guard, which was equivalent to the position of a thousand-household commander.

"Greetings, my lord."

The crowd bowed to Chu Xiu with expressions of awe.