The court robes worn by the officials were made by the Clothing Bureau. However, because Mingde's waist was too small, Qianwandi did not take the clothes from the Clothing Bureau. Instead, he asked the tailors in the palace to make a set for him.
The material used was also Su Satin from Jiangnan. It was tied with a white jade belt and a wide sky-blue robe. It gave off a romantic and unruly vibe from the South Jin Kingdom.
Early in the morning, the palace sent a small sedan chair to the Shangguan's house to pick him up.
The head eunuch of the imperial study went in personally to help Mingde change into the court robes. After a while, he only saw the noble staring at the robes without moving.
The head eunuch smiled apologetically and said, "Sir, do you have anything to teach me?"
Before they came here, Eunuch Zhang had mentioned to this chief eunuch of brushes and ink that De Gongzi was particularly picky about clothing and food. If he liked something, old clothes would be comfortable to wear. If he didn't like something, silk and satin would be like worn-out shoes.
However, the head eunuch thought that this court robe was already very well made. The tailor specially made clothes for the Emperor took three days and three nights to make clothes for the Emperor. The discarded material could be used to make clothes for the Emperor for half a year. What could he possibly find fault with this court robe that was made with such effort?
The head eunuch saw that Mingde did not move for a long time and could not help but become anxious, "If you don't do it now, you will be late for the morning court.
Do you need me to call the palace maids to serve you? "
"…" Mingde said, "There is something wrong with this robe."
The head eunuch felt his insides burning, "Sir, this is the best and most expensive Su Satin from Jiangnan. The tailor worked for three days and three nights …"
Mingde said, "… The color …"
He lifted the robe and squinted his eyes to examine it carefully, "… It seems to be a little darker, a little darker …"
The head eunuch fell to his knees, "Sir!
Don't be picky, just accept it!
When I go back, I will set up a longevity tablet for you in the ancestral hall! "
As a result, Ming De was exceptionally merciful. Wearing the slightly darker colored court robes, he went to the morning court.
It was early in the morning, and it was early spring. The road was still very cold, and the scattered sunlight reflected on the bluestone bricks, making them emit a faint greenish-white light.
The steward rubbed his hands together beside the sedan chair and exhaled white steam. He leaned over and asked, "Sir, do you want a handwarmer?"
A steady voice came from the palanquin, "No need."
The head eunuch hissed and drew his head back.
Although leading a newcomer to the imperial court on the first day wasn't a lucrative task, building a good relationship with an official who might be favored in the future might be useful in the future.
What's more, was there a need to doubt the saint's favor in the palanquin?
He was appointed to the imperial court when he was younger than 20 years old. The emperor's love for him was very obvious.
If he could gain face in front of such a master, would he still need to worry about not being able to take care of each other in the future?
After all, the chief eunuch had been in the palace for a long time. Seeing the impatience on the faces of the young eunuchs, he immediately turned around and scolded them in a low voice, "Why aren't you cheering up?
This was an imperial mission, an assignment given by the emperor!
How can you bunch of little hoofs be lazy! "
The young eunuchs obediently drew back. At this time, the palanquin suddenly stopped. The driver in front turned around and said in a low voice, "Eunuch, Sir Ding's palanquin is coming."
The chief eunuch hurriedly ran to the front to take a look.
He saw that they were at a fork in the road that led to the palace. The palanquin of the Minister of Revenue, Ding Huang, was coming from the other side. In front of him, there were eight servants clearing the way. They were holding weapons in their hands, and they were extraordinarily mighty. They carried the palanquin and squeezed through the crowd.
The Ding family had been officials in the imperial court for a long time, and they had produced two favored concubines. Even the servants were taller than the others. Seeing the palanquin in front of them, they didn't know how to avoid it. Instead, they stretched out their voice and called out, "Imperial edict to the imperial court. Idlers, get out of the way!"
Ming De moved slightly in the palanquin and poked his head out to ask, "What's wrong?"
The chief eunuch hurriedly went over and said, "Sir, you don't know. We met the palanquin of the Minister of Revenue, Sir Ding. He asked you to get out of the way."
Ming De's expression couldn't be seen clearly in the hazy morning fog. Only the dim light of the lanterns on the street reflected the smile on his lips. It passed quickly, and it was so beautiful that it was almost strange.
He said lightly, "Then get out of the way."
The chief eunuch was shocked. Just as he was about to open his mouth to argue, Ming De had already calmly sat back in the palanquin. His face was calm.
The chief eunuch was puzzled. He could only order the palanquin driver to get out of the way. He watched as Ding Huang's palanquin arrogantly passed first.
After such a delay, it was already quite late to the palace.
The officials first waited outside the imperial study. When the eunuch announced the imperial edict, they kowtowed and entered in a line.
Prime Minister Xia was surrounded and flattered by a group of officials because his daughter entered the palace as the Crown Princess. When he saw Ming De, he immediately left the crowd and walked over. He asked with a smile, "How are you?"
Ming De bowed respectfully and humbly. "Prime Minister, I'm honored.
Crown Princess entering the palace is a joyous occasion. I didn't send any gifts to visit you. It's my negligence. "
Prime Minister Xia reached out to help him up. Unexpectedly, Ming De stepped back slightly and bowed respectfully before standing up himself.
Outside the imperial study, some jealous officials saw this. They snickered and said to each other, "Look at him …"
"He's learned how to curry favor and flatter perfectly …"
"He wants to climb the big tree of the Xia family, right?
… "
The old man Xia Zheng didn't react for a moment. He just touched his nose awkwardly and smiled. "Why are you suddenly so polite? You called me …"
… After enjoying the feeling of the emperor's father-in-law and the Crown Princess kneeling to him, this guy was so sanctimonious and humble. It was as if he had suffered all the losses in the world …
Ming De said seriously, "At that time, I was not sensible. Prime Minister Xia, please forgive me."
Xia Zheng wanted to say something, but he saw Ming De straighten his sleeves and pat the non-existent dust. He walked with his head held high and walked into the crowd.
After a while, the eunuch came to announce the order. The officials from both sides lined up and slowly entered through the jade stairs of Zhengtai Hall.
Xia Zheng and Ding Huang led the civil and military officials on the left and right respectively. After entering, they were searched by the guards. Then they passed through the nine mysterious doors and finally stepped into the main hall.
Looking out from the nine doors that occupied almost the entire wall, the towering palace wall tiles looked like undulating mountains in the morning light. It gave people the illusion that the whole world was in the palm of their hand and sitting under their feet.
Ming De saw the century-old imperial city from this angle for the first time. He couldn't help but be stunned. He only reacted when he heard Zhang Kuo calling for the officials to submit a memorial. He immediately calmed down.
Ding Huang stood at the front. When Zhang Kuo finished speaking, he immediately stepped forward and said, "I have a memorial to submit."
Qianwandi sneered slightly. "My dear minister, are you here to plead with me about the flood in Jiangbei again?"
Ding Huang immediately knelt down. "Your Majesty!
The disaster is so serious that the lower officials have already opened the storehouses to save the people. However, there are too many victims and it's too late to save them … Although the national treasury has already allocated money, according to the officials' reports, it's just a drop in the bucket! "
"My dear minister, do you mean that I've allocated too little money?"
"Your Majesty, no matter how much money you've allocated for the relief of the victims, it won't hurt Your Majesty's reputation in the history books!"
Suddenly, a slow voice interrupted. "Lord Ding."
Ding Huang only felt that the voice was unfamiliar. He turned around and saw that it was Mingde, the son of a concubine of the Shangguan family who had just been promoted to the throne.
Ding Huang immediately became angry. "I'm submitting a memorial to Your Majesty. It's none of your business …"
Mingde interrupted again. "Lord Ding, the country's economy, the people's livelihood, the country, and the ancestors are important matters. All the officials should share the burden with Your Majesty.
You and I are paid by the emperor. It's natural for us to help each other and exchange opinions. Your Majesty, you don't have to be so polite to me. "
Ding Huang opened his mouth and said, "You little brat …"
"If I may be so bold as to ask, Your Majesty," Mingde said calmly. "Adding the 800,000 taels of silver allocated by the national treasury last month, the 500,000 taels of silver added at the beginning of this month, and the 1.8 million taels of silver you requested this time, the total is 3.1 million taels of silver. It's equivalent to one-fifth of the annual tax revenue of our dynasty. How could Your Majesty use it to buy the reputation of being 'virtuous and benevolent' in the history books?"
Ding Huang said angrily, "It was a slip of the tongue. The money was really spent on the relief of the victims!"
Mingde covered his mouth and laughed softly. "I don't believe it."
His laughter was very soft and gentle. However, in his meekness and humility, there was a feeling of icicles all over his body, making it difficult for others to deal with him.
Ding Huang was shocked. He instinctively felt that he shouldn't argue with him here. He hurriedly turned his head and said, "Your Majesty, regarding the use of the relief money, I can write memorials overnight and present them to Your Majesty. If you have any doubts about the honesty of me and my subordinates, Your Majesty can read the memorials and then decide whether to allocate the money …"
Qianwandi closed his eyes and rested. His expression didn't change at all.
Ding Huang knelt down and said sincerely, "Your Majesty!
The millions of victims can't wait! "
For a long time after he finished speaking, there was no sound in the majestic and glorious Zhengtai Hall. It was so quiet that it seemed like a century had passed in the blink of an eye.
Suddenly, there was the sound of clapping. Ding Huang turned his head and saw Shangguan Mingde clapping for him.
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"… You're really for the country and the people, and you're not afraid of strong remonstrances … Lord Ding."
For some reason, even though it was a compliment, when it came out from Ming De's thin and perfectly shaped lips, it gave off an inexplicable and uncomfortable feeling.
Ding Huang's hands were on the ground. He suddenly felt that the coldness of the ground penetrated through his muscles and seeped into his bones.
"You … What do you mean?"
Mingde reached out and gently wiped the corners of his eyes with his sleeves, as if he was moved to tears by Ding Huang's heroic actions.
His movements were very light, as if he knew that if he used a little more force, he would be damaged and broken.
"Lord Ding," Mingde asked softly, "If I may be so bold as to ask, which areas in Jiangbei are affected by the disaster?"
Ding Huang said in a deep voice, "North of the Yellow River and the Huaiyin area."
"Where is the most serious?"
"Both sides of the Yellow River."
"How many counties are affected?"
"… Ten, thirteen."
"How many fields are damaged?"
Ding Huang paused for a moment. Before he could answer, Mingde continued to ask, "… How many houses are destroyed?"
"How many people are injured or killed? How many livestock are lost?"
"How many households are reported lost?"
"How many paddy fields are damaged?
How many uninhabited areas are damaged?
Where are the affected areas? The residential counties or the mountainous and barren areas? "
Mingde stared at Ding Huang. From afar, one could see that there was a bit of a sympathetic smile on his face.
"How many areas really need to be rescued by the national treasury?
How many areas are not seriously affected by the disaster, and the local provincial governor can open the granary and solve the problem by himself? "
"…"
"Lord Ding," Mingde said softly, "… The national economy and the people's livelihood can't be careless.
If you're careless, you'll be cheated by the local officials who exaggerate the disaster … for money. "
Ding Huang froze on the spot for a long time. His back was hot and cold. It turned out that his sweat had soaked through his heavy clothes and stuck to his back.
"I … I don't know … I don't know the details, but I can report the detailed data to the Emperor tomorrow!"
"Lord Ding, you don't have to work so hard."
Mingde interrupted him, "… Lord Ding, you work hard day and night for the national affairs. I'll say it on your behalf.
There are thirteen counties affected by the disaster, and five counties are seriously affected. The number of households is 800, and the loss of livestock is negligible.
The total allocation of funds is one million and three hundred thousand taels. Three hundred thousand taels have arrived, and five hundred thousand taels are on the way. As for the one million taels … "
Mingde covered his mouth with his wide sleeve and coughed a few times.
"… For the one million taels, Lord Ding, you have to supervise the local officials and make a good account …"