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At the same time, among the yamen of the household department.

Li Chengru sat in his office room, but he didn't have the heart to deal with the mountains of household affairs in front of him, his expression was full of entanglement and contradictions, as if he was thinking about something crucial.

Emperor Deqing today convened all the elders of the cabinet and Shangshu to discuss the lawsuit of mutual impeachment between the crown prince Zhu Heyu and the vassal kings.

Li Chengru, as the only die-hard supporter of Zhu Heyu among the high-ranking members of the imperial court, was naturally full of tension and worry at this time.

At least, in theory, Li Chengru should be in such a state.

However, out of a strange psychology, Li Chengru's nervousness and worry were only superficial, but a kind of emotion of gaining and losing occupied his heart.

Moreover, the gains and losses in Li Chengru's heart are not aimed at the future prospects of Zhu Heyu, but at the future relationship between Zhao Junchen and himself.

If Zhu Heyu is deposed as the prince next, then ...... The alliance between Zhao Junchen and Zhu Heyu is naturally impossible to talk about!

In this way, as a supporter of Zhu Heyu, how should Li Chengru continue to cooperate with Zhao Junchen in the future? In what capacity should I continue to get along with Zhao Junchen?

It is precisely because of this strange psychology that after seeing Emperor Deqing leave Zhao Junchen alone in the imperial study to talk, Li Chengru did not stay outside the imperial study to wait for Zhao Junchen and eagerly inquire about Zhao Junchen's news, but returned directly to the household yamen, as if hiding from something.

After returning to the household yamen, Li Chengru couldn't help but think a lot, and began to look back on his career over the years.

In the past, Li Chengru, as a Qingliu official, was inevitably a little unsociable and high-minded in personality, so his career has always been stumbling and not smooth, and he has never served as the highest official of any yamen, nor has he ever served as a feudal official in any place, and he has always worked under others, which makes Li Chengru's personality a little soft, and he has never been tough and decisive enough.

When he finally got enough qualifications and saved up enough reputation, he was appointed by Emperor Deqing as the head of the household department, and was about to let go of it, but he was soon vacated by Zhao Junchen, who was still the head of the household department at the time.

Li Chengru later looked back on that experience, but found that Emperor Deqing may have never paid attention to him, and the reason why he was appointed as the head of the household department at that time was actually because of his weak character and inability to control Zhao Junchen, in the eyes of Emperor Deqing, he was just a stepping stone for Zhao Junchen!

Therefore, with the rapid rise of Zhao Junchen, Li Chengru soon withdrew from officialdom.

But since Li Chengru returned to the temple with the support of Zhao Junchen to serve as the head of the household department again, the career experience during this period can be described as completely different, and it is not an exaggeration to say that it is smooth sailing and everything goes well!

Zhao Junchen has already standardized the operation of the household yamen and the turnover of money and grain in the imperial court, and Li Chengru only needs Xiao Gui Cao to follow after serving as the secretary of the household department, and he can continue to harvest political achievements without spending much effort!

And Zhao Junchen also respects Li Chengru very much this time, although he still firmly controls the financial power of the imperial court in secret, but he is not completely empty, so Li Chengru still has a certain amount of real power in the household yamen, and no one dares to underestimate him.

Not long ago, under the instructions of Zhao Junchen, Li Chengru successfully overthrew Shen Changmao, the first assistant of the current dynasty, with the help of a "boat smuggling case", which can be said to be in the limelight for a while, and maybe he can leave his name in history with this incident in the future - as a Qingliu official, this is simply the pinnacle of life! Whenever he thinks about it, Li Chengru will have an indescribable strong pleasure.

Fame, political achievements, and real profits...... This is something that the vast majority of officials can't ask for, but for Li Chengru during this time, all this is at his fingertips!

In short, the period after Li Chengru returned to the temple can be said to be the most comfortable and comfortable day since he entered his career for 30 years.

Li Chengru naturally understands that his happiness during this period of time is all due to Zhao Junchen's support! If there is no Zhao Junchen, he is just an idle and clear stream who is useless except for his own reputation!

Thinking of this, Li Chengru's eyes couldn't help but turn to a letter in his hand.

This is a letter from home, which was just sent to Li Chengru from his hometown of Jiangxi earlier today.

The content of the family letter is very simple, in addition to simply reporting safety, he also deliberately said one thing, that is, Li Chengru's eldest son Li Zili, who has not been successful, has now been recruited by the "United Shipping Company" as the second shopkeeper in Jiangxi, with an annual salary of up to 600 taels of silver, and will be responsible for all public relations affairs of the "United Shipping Company" in Jiangxi in the future.

Prior to this, Li Chengru's biggest heart disease was that his eldest son Li Zili, who was idle all day long, calling friends and friends, just not doing his job, Li Chengru also arranged Li Zili to study in Guozijian, but Li Zili was soon kicked out by Guozijian because of cheating in the examination room, and Li Chengru's reputation was damaged, and since then Li Chengru has completely given up Li Zili, sent him back to his hometown in Jiangxi, and began to concentrate on cultivating his second son Li Zide.

But after Li Zili returned to his hometown in Jiangxi, he was still uneasy, and he was messing around with a group of second ancestors who were also born in the family of eunuchs, and wrote to Li Chengru at every turn to ask for silver.

But he didn't expect that his eldest son, who did not learn and did not know how to learn, would become the second shopkeeper of the "United Boat Company" in Jiangxi, which was making money every day and was becoming more and more influential, and from now on he would have a good business, and the annual salary of six hundred taels of silver was enough for him to squander, and from now on, Li Chengru would not have to worry about him squandering the loser, but he would also have one less heart disease.

Li Chengru naturally understands that the reason why "United Ship Company" hired Li Zili is entirely because of Zhao Junchen!

At the beginning, Li Chengru was worried that Li Zili, who had always been unprofessional, would be held back after entering the "United Boat Company", but when he saw that Li Zili's task in the "United Boat Company" was "public relations", he was much more relieved - Li Zili made a large number of fox friends and dog friends in Jiangxi, all of whom were officials at all levels and sons of wealthy families in various places, and his popularity was not bad. It's a good thing to do.

Li Chengru's gaze lingered for a moment on the letter in his hand, and he quickly remembered a conversation he had overheard.

The conversation took place before the end of the year, and the two sides of the conversation were Huo Zhengyuan, a university scholar, and Liu Changan, a household attendant, and the content of the conversation between the two was quite cheesy, that is, to discuss the dividends they received from Zhao Junchen this year.

The various industries founded by Zhao Junchen, whether it is "United Shipping Company", "Jubao Commercial Bank", or "Yuerong Fang", will pull all the "Zhao Party" officials to participate in the shares, and will also pay dividends to all the participating officials at the end of the year.

Perhaps because the cooperation between Li Chengru and the "Zhao Party" during this period was quite pleasant, Huo Zhengyuan did not deliberately avoid him in this conversation with Liu Changan.

Of course, Huo Zhengyuan, as the chief think tank of the "Zhao Party", has always been far-sighted and good at layout, so Li Chengru heard this conversation, which may also be his deliberate.

All in all, even if Li Chengru has always boasted that he doesn't like money, when he heard the dividend figures of the two, he still couldn't help but be dumbfounded.

Then, Li Chengru couldn't help but fantasize about it, if he completely defected to Zhao Junchen and became a member of the "Zhao Party", how much would he be able to participate in and receive dividends with his status...... It was a number that made Li Chengru can't help but be excited.

*

Between the turns of his thoughts, Li Chengru became more and more troubled by gains and losses, and couldn't help but pray secretly in his heart: "I hope that God will bless His Royal Highness the Prince, and he must be allowed to successfully overcome this difficulty, and he must not lose the position of the prince...... Otherwise, how should I cooperate with Zhao Ge Lao in the future? ”

While secretly praying, Li Chengru couldn't help but have another thought-since he and Zhao Junchen still got along well during this time, if Zhu Heyu's deposition was inevitable, wouldn't it be better for him to take the opportunity to change his court and completely devote himself to Zhao Junchen's disciples, not only to keep all the benefits now, but also to get the welfare dividends of "Zhao Party" officials in the future?

As soon as this thought came out, he was forcibly suppressed by Li Chengru, and he was ashamed that he would have such a thought.

"No matter what, I can't lose my ambition and bottom line! I have read the books of sages since I was a child, and I have always taken righteousness as my responsibility and pride in my status as a clear stream, how can I be corrupted by fame and fortune?

Even though Zhao Junchen has tens of millions of benefits, he can be regarded as a respectful attitude and generous treatment to me, and his literary and martial arts achievements are enough to record in the annals of history, and he was also given a gold medal to avoid death on His Majesty's birthday...... But I must not betray His Royal Highness the Crown Prince......

Even though His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is very bad, his personality is a little stubborn, and he is also a little unsympathetic, the current situation in the temple is also extremely unfavorable to him...... However, he has an excellent nature, as long as he successfully ascends to the throne, he will definitely be a generation of holy masters! I have always had noble aspirations, so naturally I want to be loyal to the prince's ......,"

In addition to blaming himself, Li Chengru began to list various reasons to strengthen his position, but found that his position became more and more shaken!

"Human nature is degraded, even I am addicted to this kind of corrupt means......" After his expression changed for a long time, Li Chengru shook his head with a wry smile, and muttered softly: "In any case, I have already agreed with Zhao Junchen at the beginning, I am only loyal to His Royal Highness the Prince, and I only cooperated with him during this period because he reached an alliance with His Royal Highness the Prince!" This position must not change! If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is deposed, then say otherwise, but now that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has not lost his position as the prince, not only can I not change the court, but I also have to try to urge Zhao Junchen to do his best to assist His Royal Highness the Crown Prince......"

Just as Li Chengru was muttering to himself, someone suddenly knocked on the door, and then reported outside the door: "Lord Shangshu, Zhao Ge sent someone to send a famous post, inviting you to go to Zhao Mansion as soon as possible to meet, saying that there is something important to discuss." ”

After hearing the report, Li Chengru subconsciously stood up immediately and responded quickly: "Elder Zhao Ge invited me to meet? Tell Zhao Ge Lao's messenger that I will go right away! ”

Li Chengru, who was still repeatedly firming up his inner position just now, did not find at this moment that when he mentioned Zhao Junchen, his attitude was much more respectful than when he thought of the crown prince Zhu Heyu.

*

There are many kinds of temptations in the world, due to human nature, famous, advantageous, and colorful, and everyone has different weaknesses...... The terrible thing about them is that the pleasure of easy harvest, the comfort of smooth wind, and the strong contrast between ease and heaviness, as long as they taste it once, people will unconsciously fall into it, and they can't stop eating the marrow...... Zhao Junchen has always been well versed in this.

In fact, from the time Li Chengru decided to cooperate with Zhao Junchen to do things, many things had already decided the ending.

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