met free Chapter 258 Liu Shi Gives Birth
Chapter 258 Liu Shi Gives Birth
cabinet
After lunch, the Crown Prince went to Linhua Hall to handle memorials, where only a few Grand Secretaries were reviewing them.
In the silence, Grand Secretary You spoke first: "Grand Secretary, it seems that the establishment of the new Intelligence Section within the Capital Gazette Bureau has not been approved by the Cabinet. Although the Capital Gazette Bureau is directly under the Crown Prince, it is still a government office, and it seems against the rules to make a decision directly without going through the Cabinet."
Wu Yangeng raised his eyes: "This matter is an order from the Emperor."
Upon hearing this, Grand Secretary You was speechless, unable to utter a single word.
Han Shize said, "His Majesty was furious about the Tongzhou incident. The Provincial Surveillance Commission was seriously derelict in its duties. His Majesty's choice to set up an intelligence department in the Capital Gazette Office means that Father no longer trusts the Provincial Surveillance Commission. Gentlemen, instead of investigating the intelligence department, we should think about how to rectify the Provincial Surveillance Commission. His Majesty is lenient and has not punished the Cabinet, but we all bear responsibility for the Provincial Surveillance Commission's dereliction of duty."
The cabinet possesses supreme power, and naturally, it must also bear corresponding responsibilities.
"Ever since the Tongzhou incident, Wei Zhengsong has requested to return to his residence to reflect on his actions. Reflection won't solve anything. Shize, after you finish your shift today, go to Wei's residence and tell Wei Zhengsong not to hide in his residence like a coward. He should quickly draw up a plan on how to reorganize the Provincial Surveillance Commission."
Wu Yangeng looked at Han Shize and said.
The Provincial Surveillance Commission was subordinate to the Censorate. Wei Zhengsong, the current Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, and Han Shize were born in the same year.
Han Shize nodded: "Okay."
Zuo Weifeng said, "Wei Zhengsong is upright and incorruptible. Even if he has made mistakes, we still believe in his character. Now is not the time to punish him. The Provincial Surveillance Commission in Tongzhou is so rotten that there are probably many other Provincial Surveillance Commissions in other places with problems as well. The most important thing is to seize the time to dig out the rotten roots and throw them away."
Since Emperor Shun'an ascended the throne, the Great Chu has enjoyed peace and prosperity for a long time. When good times last too long, people can easily become complacent.
That's human nature!
The cabinet is in agreement on this point.
Thus, the topic naturally shifted to the reorganization of the Provincial Surveillance Commission, and no one mentioned the matter of setting up an intelligence section in the Beijing Gazette Office anymore.
Since Wu Yangeng has already stated that this matter was directly ordered by Emperor Shun'an, there is no need for further discussion.
Normally, the cabinet could influence the emperor's decisions, but Emperor Shun'an had been on the throne for many years and his imperial authority was very strong. These Grand Secretaries were all appointed by Emperor Shun'an and had no prestige or ability to influence his decisions.
Perhaps it would be possible after the Crown Prince ascends the throne, but as for now? Naturally, whatever Emperor Shun'an says goes.
……
The improvement of the intelligence department was not something that could be achieved overnight. After the intelligence department in the capital was established, it was only a headquarters. Local branches also had to set up their own intelligence departments. Only in this way could intelligence from various places be collected and sent to the capital in the future.
However, it takes time to perfect an intelligence department, but it doesn't take that long to establish one.
With the imperial order issued, the intelligence department took shape that very day.
Yao Maofang, the newly appointed head of the Intelligence Section, selected several trusted confidants to accompany him to the Intelligence Section and take over all the informants of the Beijing Gazette Bureau in the capital region.
Even the local branches had spies, so naturally there were some in the capital. In fact, because of the rising fame of the Beijing Gazette, the Beijing Gazette Bureau planted a large number of spies in the capital region to monitor public opinion.
Before the establishment of the intelligence department, the task of these informants was simple: to monitor public opinion and ensure that no remarks detrimental to the court and the Beijing Gazette Bureau spread.
Now that there is an intelligence section, the informants have more to do. They need to pay attention to the big and small things around them, and record anything worth noting and submit it to the intelligence section for archiving.
But what counts as something worth recording?
How can one both hide in the streets and gather intelligence?
These half-baked informants can't grasp the nuances and need to be taught.
Although Wen Zongji had watched many spy dramas, he still didn't understand this genre.
Moreover, he doesn't need to know it, because the Crown Prince will send people to teach them.
In the future, the Beijing Gazette Bureau will become a sharp blade in the hands of the royal family, and the sharpest blade at that. Wen Zongji was very cautious and did not participate in any matters of the intelligence department.
Wen Zongji would leave the Beijing Gazette Office sooner or later, so he naturally wanted to keep his distance from such a sensitive matter.
As time went by, the intelligence department was systematically established and began to operate.
As July progressed, the weather became increasingly hot. Just standing under the eaves for a short while would leave one drenched in sweat, making one wish to stay indoors.
Liu gave birth in such hot weather.
Before Wen Zongji went to work, there was no news of Liu's pregnancy. When he returned from his shift, he heard that Liu had given birth to Wen Zongjing's eldest son. Jiang was very happy and rewarded the entire household with a month's allowance.
Although Wen Zongji was a son born out of wedlock, the birth of his eldest legitimate son was a joyous occasion for the Marquis's family.
Pei Rujing was also not in the manor, but she returned earlier than Wen Zongji and went to Guhua Courtyard to visit Liu Shi and also to see the newborn baby.
When Wen Zongji returned, Pei Rujing told him, "Second sister-in-law took two hours to give birth. I heard she was in so much pain that she had no strength left."
She spoke with lingering fear.
"I went to see the baby," Pei Rujing paused, her face contorted with worry, "so wrinkled and ugly. My mother-in-law said all newborns look like this. Husband, will our child be like this too?"
Suddenly I don't want to have children anymore!
Both she and Wen Zongji are good-looking; if they were to have an ugly child, Pei Rujing would cry.
Wen Zongji laughed and said, "I haven't seen the child who just went out either. But my mother has experience, so what she said should be correct."
In his previous life, he had heard that newborn babies looked like hairless monkeys and were particularly ugly, but he had never seen them with his own eyes and had no right to comment on it.
"Is your sister-in-law about to give birth?"
Wen Zongji remembered that at the palace banquet, Lady Wei was found to be two months pregnant, exactly one month later than Lady Liu.
Pei Rujing said, "It should be after Second Brother's wedding. My sister-in-law had a miscarriage scare before, which really frightened my brother."
Why?
Wen Zongji really didn't know about this.
Pei Rujing looked at him: "You exposed the Tongzhou incident before. The Jiangnan Provincial Surveillance Commission was seriously derelict in its duties. After learning about this, my sister-in-law's father, who is the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, wrote a letter to plead guilty and asked to return to the mansion to report the matter. My uncle agreed. My sister-in-law was worried about Censor Wei and was so anxious that she had a miscarriage."
"Fortunately, the doctor arrived in time, and there was nothing seriously wrong. But Mother still went to the palace to ask Uncle about his plans for Imperial Censor Wei. Only after confirming that Imperial Censor Wei would be alright did my sister-in-law feel relieved."
Wen Zongji had no idea that this had happened.
Thinking that it was indirectly related to him, Wen Zongji touched his nose: "Why didn't my wife tell me? Come to think of it, I seem to bear some responsibility."
"No, that's not it."
Pei Rujing disagreed: "The Jiangnan Provincial Surveillance Commission's dereliction of duty is their business, what does it have to do with my husband? My sister-in-law won't blame him."
Pei Rujing has never been one to engage in internal strife!
I will never take responsibility for something that is not my own.