Between the vast sea of ​​clouds

It was already late at night when Qingping returned to the mansion, the steward prepared hot tea, and ordered his servants to prepare hot water towels and handkerchiefs, and even chose several types of incense, so as to satisfy the adults.

The steward was a little nervous. She had already privately warned the servants not to talk too much about the return of the lord at the enthronement ceremony today, but these servants rewarded by the palace are like logs, and they are all very dull. I don’t know if they listened or not. .The steward felt a little uncomfortable and felt a little strange, but she couldn't say what was strange for a while.

So she told Qingping about the doubts in her heart. Qingping heard the words and said lightly: "It is a great honor to be rewarded by Your Majesty. How can there be doubts? These people must have stayed in the palace for a long time, and the rules are clear. You don’t need to bother to teach, just a little bit.”

She wiped her hands, leaned back on the chair tiredly, and watched the servants methodically remove the water basin and serve the tea set, without any order from the steward. This group of people seemed to have done it thousands of times, standing in a very natural way. In an inconspicuous place, keep your head down and don't look randomly.The steward may not understand the origins of these people, but watching their words and deeds, they behave calmly, speak little and keep silent; their eyes and ears are sensitive, and they can know the meaning of the owner's slightest movement.To train|train this kind of servant, ordinary people can't do it at all, the prince's family may be able to do it, but it's still not enough, only the palace can achieve this effect.

As for why these people are here, they used to serve some noble person in the palace, the answer is self-evident.

Seeing that her expression was not good, the steward swallowed the rest of the words, and retreated tactfully.Qing Ping walked to the desk with a lamp in hand, wrote a few greeting cards in person, and planned to ask the steward to prepare some gifts tomorrow morning and send them along.

Living in this Bailiu Lane are Bian Yunfei, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and several prestigious veterans in Qingliu, most of whom worked in the Imperial Academy; The Ministry chose here to build the residence of King Xin, precisely because the location of Bailiu Lane is relatively remote, so there is room for the construction of the residence, but I did not expect that when King Xin ascended the throne and became emperor, the residence had other meanings. People are also deeply honored.Qingping knew that the officials who were granted this residence in Bailiu Lane this time were Zhongyuan Sui, the Minister of Criminal Affairs, Xu Haicheng, the Sikong of Yushitai, and Fan Zhongshu, the commander who made great achievements in Yunzhou. He died on the way, and the imperial court commended him for his loyalty and bravery, and rewarded his mansion with his descendants as a reward.

As for Zhong Yuansui, the servant of the criminal department who took office together with Qingping, he is a big exception among the officials in the court. He has studied criminal science and is well versed in interrogation.Looking at his resume, he should have achieved this position long ago, but he seems to have offended someone, and has been secretly suppressed and cannot be reused.After entering Dali Temple, she became the temple minister, and almost found out several old affairs of the previous dynasty and the royal secrets. The ministers in the court were so frightened that they didn't know where to put her. Hezhou went to go to patrol, and the officialdom in Hezhou was as strong as iron plates, and no outsiders could be allowed in at all. Yuan Sui could not judge the case, and stayed in Hezhou for two years without incident. It is puzzling that this person was transferred back from Hezhou.

Qingping carefully looked at these greeting cards, and after confirming that they were correct, he put them away and went to rest. Although there is no need to go to the morning court tomorrow, but before the rest, the Six Departments still cannot rest. Documents to prove the innocence of the resume, and only after being stamped and recorded can they return to the headquarters.

The next day Qingping got up early in the morning and called the steward, gave her all the invitations and gave her instructions before getting into the sedan chair and leaving the mansion.In the twilight of the morning, when he arrived at the entrance of the official department, Qingping got off the sedan chair, but saw a sedan chair slowly coming from the road he had just come, and the servant who opened the way held two lanterns in his hand, and wrote "Yuan" on it.

When the sedan stopped, a woman in blue robe lifted the curtain and came out. She had a tender face. At first glance, she seemed to be about the same age as Qingping, but with a serious expression and a calm demeanor. She must be the servant of the Ministry of Justice, Zhong Yuansu.

Qing Ping took the initiative to go up to greet her, and said: "I didn't know that Mr. Yuan arrived at the Ministry of Officials so early."

Yuan Suidao: "Master Li is also very early."

After finishing speaking, he was speechless, and he was as reticent as the rumors said.

Qingping noticed that the knuckles of her exposed fingers were very thick, and they were not a pair of pampered hands. Yuan Sui noticed her gaze, stretched out his sleeves, and offered to show her, saying: "I used to practice martial arts with my master in the past. I have practiced the hard work of carrying water and chopping firewood for several years."

Qingping didn't expect her to be so direct, and suddenly felt that his actions just now were a little rude, and just about to apologize, Yuan Sui said seriously: "Master Li has a shoulder injury, you still need to cultivate more, the weather is cold, it's better to stay indoors .”

Qing Ping looked at her face, Yuan Sui looked back blankly, for some reason, Qing Ping felt that he had found a strange tacit understanding in this Master Yuan.

The officials of the Ministry of Officials hurriedly came out to lead the two servants in, saying that the Lord Shangshu had not arrived yet, so please go to the side hall for some tea.The official looked at Yuan Sui very strangely, thinking that Yuan Sui was well-known in his early years, and he had been an official in Hengzhou, and was later transferred to Beijing.According to the regulations of this dynasty, officials need to check their family history for promotion. Officials who change quickly mean that they are promoted quickly.But like Yuan Sui, who was transferred up and down at the same level and couldn't get any flowers, how could it not be remembered by the officials of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Qing Ping smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty Yuan, invite you first."

Yuan Sui was not polite to her, and stepped into the official gate with a slight nod.

Zhao Lingping, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, then arrived, surrounded by several officials of the Ministry of Officials, came down to the main hall, and said politely: "The two servants were promoted by His Majesty, so there must be no problem, Mr. Yuan is from the headquarters. I am a regular visitor, and this is the first time Mr. Li has come here. It is just that some time ago, there was water in the official office's office, and a cabinet for storing files was burned. It is necessary for the two of you to stay in the Ministry of Officials for a while, so that you can complete this document before leaving."

After saying that, she asked Shuling to guide the two to complete their resumes. Qingping felt that there was something wrong with it. A few days ago, she was worried that the falsified resumes might be difficult for the officials to review, but now the files of the officials have been burned. The false will naturally come true, such a coincidence, she had to wonder if it was Chu Jun who pushed her behind.

That being the case, why should the files of Yuan Sui be burned together?Is it on purpose, or on purpose.

Qingping and Yuan Sui went together to register their respective files, and the Ministry of Officials recorded their names in the register. From then on, she bid farewell to the identity in the Chenliu Palace and became Li Qingping, a branch of the Li family in Hexi County, Qiongzhou. The little official left while saluting respectfully, and she really felt the change in this official uniform.

In the hall of the Ministry of Officials, there is a bronze mirror of the same height as a person, which means that "using copper as a mirror can straighten the clothes, and using people as a mirror can make people clear". Hiding filth, taking self-portraits of colleagues, and reflecting on oneself at all times. Newly appointed officials will take a photo in front of this mirror after reporting to the Ministry of Officials. This mirror has existed since the founding of the country. Officials rise and fall, and people take a photo in front of this mirror, hoping that they can be as vigorous as their predecessors.

Qingping only took one look, the person in the bronze mirror was actually a bit distorted, he couldn't see her face clearly, the only thing that could feel her change was that she had changed into a new official uniform, and she became more majestic as an official.Emotions and anger can only be controlled for a long time if they are not visible. When she was shocked, she had actually changed a little completely. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but smile bitterly.Yuan Sui didn't even look at it, and hurried back to the Ministry of Criminal Justice to report. When he parted, he said to Qing Ping, "Your Majesty, let me go first. Mr. Li will come to my residence as a guest when he is free."

Qingping responded with a smile.

When she returned to the Ministry of Rites, she first went to meet Wen Tianfu. As usual, Wen Tianfu said some polite words, looked her over again, and said with a smile, "Master Li is really a talented person, like a crape myrtle flower."

Qingping modestly refused, and Wen Tianfu said again: "Master Li is from Hexi County? Coincidentally, I remember that a group of Jinshi just entered last year, and one of them was also from Hexi County, also surnamed Li, probably from your Do things with your subordinates."

Qingping's heart suddenly jumped, Wen Tianfu smiled meaningfully, and said: "It's just talking casually, Mr. Li doesn't have to take it seriously."

Having said that, Qingping still had other meanings. She bears the name of a branch of the Li family, but she has never met anyone from the Li family. If they really match up this time, how will they get along with each other.

That's all, let's talk when we meet.

Thinking this way, Qingping went to report to the clerk of the Ministry of Rites. The clerk saw that it was the lord servant who came in person, and was flattered. Sit down, Li Yan is going to the Ministry of Criminal Justice to deliver some things, and he will be right back."

Qingping stopped serving tea, raised his eyebrows and said, "Li Yan? Isn't this your job?"

The clerk said: "Returning to my lord, Li Yan is on duty today, and I'm just helping her here temporarily for a while, please forgive me."

Seeing that Qingping was not unhappy, she boldly said: "Why don't you go down to get the roster?"

Qingping actually wanted to meet this person named Li Yan, to see if she recognized him, but from what the clerk said, it seemed like he would have to wait a long time before Li Yan came back.She still needs to meet with Chen Kaiyi, since the new official takes office, she has to walk around a lot, not to mention that Wen Tianfu and Chen Kaiyi don't seem to get along well, and it's not good to stay here for a long time.Just as she was about to nod, she heard a person outside the door saying: "My next official, Li Yan, pays my respects to Sir Sizhong."

The man stood by the door, his cheeks were flushed, his chest heaved and heaved, obviously he came back from a quick run.The clerk smiled and said: "Ah, Li Yan, you are back, so I will leave it to you, my lord."

Qingping slightly raised his eyes, flipped through the books on the table, Li Yan went into the room to get the roster, checked the documents of the Ministry of Officials to be enthroned, and said after finishing the matter: "My lord, it's done."

Qingping saw that her handwriting was flowing like clouds and flowing water, and she was unrestrained without losing her style, and said lightly: "Okay."

She got up and left without saying much to Li Yan, but judging by Li Yan's performance, she must know herself, but she is not the 'Li Qingping' from the Li family branch in Hexi County.