allonlinenovel Chapter 118 Planning
Chapter 118 Planning
"Mingwei".
His voice was as cold as ice. "Make her kneel."
Mingwei couldn't help but give Wang Wanshu a disdainful look.
The prince is indeed good-tempered, but what he hates most is being taken advantage of for favors.
The princess is deliberately provoking the prince's sensitive areas. If she weren't a princess, the punishment would probably be much more severe than just kneeling.
This time, Mingwei showed no mercy, restraining Wang Wanshu's arm and saying coldly, "Princess, you should kneel down yourself. If I act recklessly, I may injure you."
Wang Wanshu vaguely felt that she had said something she shouldn't have.
But a burning desire still surged within her, giving her a yearning to reveal the deepest secrets of her heart.
She bit her lower lip hard and looked at Yun Shang through teary eyes.
Yun Shang's expression was indifferent, and his gaze did not fall on her at all.
She tasted the blood on her lips, gritted her teeth, and knelt down.
But she kept staring at Prince Chen, hoping to make him feel guilty and regretful.
However, this time Prince Chen did not show the slightest sign of distress. He turned to Yun Shang and said, "Let's go inside and continue our conversation."
Wang Wanshu watched helplessly as Prince Chen left without hesitation.
Overwhelmed with grief and indignation, she shouted, "Cousin, are you really going to do this to me?!"
The only response she received was from the unseen figure of Prince Chen.
Mingwei stood aside watching her and couldn't help but advise, "The prince is really angry this time. Princess, you should save your energy and reflect on your actions."
At this moment, Wang Wanshu desperately needed to vent her emotions; she was like flammable gunpowder, ready to explode at any moment.
"Who do you think you are? Do I, a princess, need you to teach me how to do things?!"
Mingwei had been by Prince Chen's side since childhood, and the two were like brothers. Prince Chen rarely treated him as a servant.
Moreover, Mingwei himself was not a servant, but an adopted son of Consort Duan.
Within the city of Shengjing, no one treated him as a servant.
Given Wang Wanshu's attitude, Mingwei's pent-up emotions finally erupted.
He curled his lips into a slight sneer and said, "The princess naturally doesn't need her subordinates to teach her how to do things. You are so decisive, and everything you do is truly admirable."
Wang Wanshu's pupils contracted slightly; how could she not hear the sarcasm in his words?
"You dare to mock me?"
Mingwei said, "The princess has already done it, why should she care what others say?"
"you--!"
Mingwei had never liked Wang Wanshu, a woman who was as delicate as a willow in the wind and prone to getting angry. Now, her series of actions made him even more disgusted with her.
He secretly rolled his eyes and took a few steps to distance himself further from Wang Wanshu.
Wang Wanshu's eyes turned red with anger.
Inside the room, Prince Chen and Yun Shang were unaware of what was happening outside.
Prince Chen said, "You don't need to worry about the underground mine anymore. I will send others to investigate. This time it was my oversight. I didn't expect that the other party was hiding gunpowder."
Yun Shang did not insist on taking on the task, and nodded, saying, "Your Highness, the Wushaoling mine is most likely backed by a prince from Shengjing. Noble families would dare to go so far."
Prince Chen nodded in agreement, "I have also considered this, but Father has so many sons, and none of them are exactly well-behaved, so investigating them will not be easy."
Yun Shang hummed in agreement. “Your Highness need not rush this matter. Send someone to investigate secretly first. If used properly, this can eliminate a threat for Your Highness at a crucial moment.”
Although Emperor Wenjing neglected state affairs, he would not let the people behind the silver mine off lightly once the matter was exposed.
Prince Chen agreed, "I will do as you say."
After discussing the matter at Wushaoling, Prince Chen brought up another matter, "Yun Shang, if I were to allow you to participate in next month's imperial examination, would you be willing?"
The entrance exam for the imperial examinations?
The special examinations were held outside of the spring examinations to fill vacancies in the Six Ministries. Passing the examinations granted one an official position.
Yun Shang raised his eyes, "Where in the Six Ministries are people missing?"
Prince Chen smiled and said, "Not long ago, my two elder brothers were secretly fighting each other, but Prince Qi intervened and they both suffered heavy losses."
"Many people on both sides have been dragged into this mess, and there are currently vacancies in all six ministries. However, I would like to send you to the Ministry of Personnel."
Yun Shang's eyebrows twitched slightly. "The Ministry of Personnel is indeed a good place to go."
He looked at Prince Chen and said calmly, "But this is not the right time."
Prince Chen frowned slightly. "Why do you say that?"
“The Ministry of Personnel is indeed important,” Yun Shang said thoughtfully. “The Ministry of Personnel is in charge of the transfer of all officials in the court. If I were to join the Ministry of Personnel, it would be more convenient for Your Highness to arrange your own people in the Six Ministries.”
"Because of the importance of the Ministry of Personnel, other princes will definitely keep a close eye on it. Once there is any disturbance in the Ministry of Personnel, hundreds or thousands of eyes will be watching, and it will be easy for people to notice that something is wrong."
Prince Chen lowered his eyes. "What you said makes sense."
"Then which of the six ministries do you think would be suitable?"
Yun Shang picked up the teacup in front of him, took a sip, and uttered two words indifferently, "Ministry of Rites."
Compared to the Ministries of Personnel and Revenue, the Ministry of Rites was not as prominent.
The Ministry of Rites of the Great Zhao Dynasty was primarily responsible for organizing the imperial examinations to select talent for the court. It also oversaw the Five Rites and handled relations with various vassal states and other countries.
The Ministry of Rites was not very conspicuous, but it allowed access to candidates for the imperial examinations and provided an opportunity to gain exposure in front of Emperor Wenjing, the Empress Dowager, and other imperial concubines.
It is by far the most suitable place for a banquet.
Prince Chen pondered for a moment, then smiled and nodded, "Indeed, indeed."
"The Ministry of Rites selects officials not only based on their talent, but also on their character and appearance. With your character, appearance, and learning, Yun Shang, the vacant position of Vice Minister of Rites this time is perfect for you!"
The difference between the Da Zhao Special Examination and the regular examination is that once you pass the Special Examination, you don't have to start as a minor official of the seventh or eighth rank; you can directly fill a vacancy.
This is an advantage of the imperial examination system.
However, the shortcomings of the imperial examination system are also quite obvious.
Once the imperial examinations conclude, the emperor and the Ministry of Personnel will select more suitable candidates for the positions, and the officials who were temporarily filling vacancies will be dismissed.
Unless the official can retain his position based on his own merit.
However, to date, very few people have been able to remain in their positions based on their own abilities.
Prince Chen made the final decision, "It's settled then. I will be leaving Huicheng County in a few days, and I will have someone escort you to the capital before the imperial examination begins."
"After you enter the capital, it will be inconvenient for me to meet with you frequently. I will only wait for your good news."
Yun Shang rose and bowed to Prince Chen, saying, "I will certainly not fail Your Highness's trust."
Prince Chen nodded in satisfaction.
He glanced out the window, somewhat shocked.
"Before we knew it, we had been chatting for two or three hours."
It was already dark outside.
After sighing, Prince Chen clearly thought of Wang Wanshu, who had previously punished him by making him kneel, and a trace of worry appeared between his brows.
Tianyin is weak; she's been kneeling for so long, I hope nothing bad will happen to her.
He instructed Mingwei to stand guard outside, so that if anything happened, Mingwei would come in and report.
Since Mingwei hasn't come inside, he must be alright.
Prince Chen felt relieved and stood up to say to Yun Shang, "I still have some matters to attend to, so I won't keep you for dinner. Come, I'll see you out of the mansion."
Yun Shang did not refuse his kindness.
The two of them walked out together.
Just as I reached the door, I heard an angry shout from outside.