It was late March, the season of late spring.
Although it was approaching evening and the sky was gradually turning from deep blue to a pure white, the view was still lush and green as far as the eye could see.
Bai Zheng was sitting in the carriage on her way to the palace. She lifted the curtain and looked out. Seeing the colorful flowers and the weeping willows on both sides of the road, she couldn't help but feel in high spirits.
She took a deep breath. The air was filled with the unique fragrance of spring. Only then did she contentedly put down the curtain and turned her attention back to the inside of the carriage. With a smile on her face, she listened to Zhuling chattering away.
"Miss, what on earth did you ask Qingshao to do the other day? She didn't come back until dawn, and there was even a scratch on her arm!"
"What scratch?" Bai Zheng asked with concern.
"Well..." Seeing Bai Zheng's concerned look, Zhuling became coy. After a long while, she said embarrassedly, "It looks like a blood scratch made by someone's fingernails..."
"A scratch from a fingernail? Hahaha..." Bai Zheng couldn't help bursting into laughter. "She's really made a complete fool of herself!"
For someone like Qingshao who had been practicing martial arts since childhood, she could endure injuries from swords and knives, but she couldn't bear a scratch from a fingernail.
After all - it was just too undignified.
Seeing Bai Zheng gloating, Zhuling quickly changed the subject and said, "Not only that, there are also a lot of bumps on Qingshao's body. I interrogated her for a long time before I found out that she was bitten by mosquitoes!
I asked her where she had been, but she just refused to say.
Miss, I'm really confused. Although the sun is getting hotter, it's not the season for mosquitoes yet. Where on earth did she go to get bitten by mosquitoes like that?"
As Zhuling spoke, her face showed a mixture of pity and amusement.
"She got bitten by mosquitoes too? How could she be so careless." A feeling of guilt welled up in Bai Zheng's heart, and she said sheepishly.
Zhuling also sighed, "Well, that's not all. Yesterday, not long after Qingshao came back and hadn't even rested, that young man surnamed Lan somehow found his way here."
"The one surnamed Lan... Lan Xun?" Bai Zheng asked guiltily.
"Yes!" As Zhuling spoke, she recalled the scene at that time, still looking a little scared.
"It's the first time I've seen him so angry! His cheeks were puffed out like a pufferfish. He chased after Qingshao all the way, scolding her for being heartless. He said that he had given her so much meat to eat for nothing before, and that he had even been beaten black and blue by Big Brother Mo for stealing meat for her..."
"Hahaha..." Bai Zheng laughed so hard that she leaned forward and backward.
She almost forgot that Qingshao was sent by Feng Linyuan. Just like Lan Xun, they were both Feng Linyuan's people.
They had grown up practicing martial arts together since childhood, so their friendship must be deep.
Now seeing his former friend turn against him for an outsider, it was easy to imagine how furious Lan Xun was.
However, thinking of Liu Zhang, Zhang Kui and that person she had seen in the market the day before, Bai Zheng still thought that just letting Qingshao release mosquitoes to bite Lan Xun for one night was too light a punishment.
Thinking of this, Bai Zheng said sinisterly, "Zhuling, you remember. Next time you see Lan Xun, tell him that if he dares to speak ill of others behind their backs again, he might not know what will bite him at night!"
Hearing this, Zhuling was slightly stunned. She tried to recall the scene that day again, and finally couldn't help asking curiously, "Miss, what on earth happened between you and the one surnamed Lan?
That day he also shouted at me, saying that you just had a cup of tea in the teahouse and watched the excitement of the second young master of the Duke of Chen's mansion running over people with his horse.
Then you promoted Zhang Kui to be the director of the Revenue Department of the Ministry of Revenue, and also promoted Wang Lin to be the general of the Right Thousand - Ox Guards.
These two official positions were so important that even the Marquis had hesitated for a long time and hadn't decided on the candidates. How could you just make such a decision on your own? You'll surely regret it in the future."
The Revenue Department of the Ministry of Revenue was in charge of planning the revenue and expenditure of the military and national expenses of the Great Zhou Dynasty, allocating financial resources and ensuring that the supplies were in line with the income. It was the most important department in the entire Ministry of Revenue.
The Right Thousand - Ox Guards, together with the Left Thousand - Ox Guards, were known as the leaders of the imperial guards. They were in charge of the inner - circle personal guards of the current emperor, Feng Linche.
These two positions were both extremely important. If they were not people who were highly trusted, no one would dare to appoint them casually.
But Bai Zheng had just seen them from a distance and then made the decision.
No wonder Lan Xun was so angry that he wanted to beat someone up.
Even Zhuling, who didn't understand the affairs of the court, was extremely shocked when she heard this. Today, finally having the chance to see Bai Zheng, she, who could never hide her thoughts, simply asked the question.
"Miss, if what that Lan fellow said is true, and you made such a decision just by seeing them from a distance, isn't it..."
A bit too hasty?
Bai Zheng shrugged and asked nonchalantly, "Do you know what those three people did that day?"
Zhuling recalled what Lan Xun had said at that time and nodded, "I heard that Lan fellow say that Liu Zhang was glib and obsequious. He flattered the second young master of the Chen family so much that the young master was very happy. But what can such a person do besides flattering? How could you let him be the assistant minister of the Ministry of War as he wished?
As for Wang Lin, he didn't say a word. He quietly helped the person up when no one was paying attention, and finally sent the mother and son to the medical clinic.
In this incident, he didn't dare to confront the second young master of the Chen family, and he didn't have the ability to flatter either. Why should he be promoted to be the general of the Right Thousand - Ox Guards?
On the contrary, Lord Zhang Kui was outspoken and criticized that dissolute second young master of the Chen family. But Lord Zhang Kui is also inflexible. Is it appropriate for him to be the director of the Revenue Department..."
Bai Zheng nodded and didn't refute a single word. Instead, she agreed and continued,
"Yes, Zhang Kui is a person with a straightforward character. He can clearly distinguish right from wrong and is willing to speak up for the unjust. Such a person won't be easily tempted by profit. Putting him in the position of the director of the Revenue Department of the Ministry of Revenue, which is in charge of the military and financial affairs of the court, is the most reassuring.
As for Liu Zhang, he is glib. He could dispel the anger of the second young master of the Chen family in just a few words, which shows that he has a flexible mind, is good at gauging people's hearts, and can bend and stretch. He was obsequious just to save Zhang Kui and the mother - son pair. Such a person will surely achieve great things in the Ministry of War.
As for Wang Lin, he is even more intelligent. He didn't show up on the spot, but cooperated with Liu Zhang from within and without to resolve the matter of the second young master of the Chen family together.
It can be seen that his mind was still clear in a critical moment, and he knew very well how to make use of the existing resources. After all, since there was already Liu Zhang to deal with the second young master of the Chen family, why should he go and court trouble?
In addition, from the fact that he carefully escorted the mother and son all the way to the medical clinic, it can be seen that this person has a kind heart and is also sincere.
In that case, putting him beside Feng Linche to pass on some information for the Marquis shouldn't be a difficult thing.
After all, these three people are really worthy of being the ones first selected by the Marquis. They are all loyal, kind and trustworthy people."
Bai Zheng said with a smile.
Zhuling listened with wide - eyed surprise. Suddenly, she had an epiphany.
"Miss is right! Judging from small things, although it was just the time it took to drink a cup of tea, it was enough to glimpse the characters and personalities of those three people."