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Mrs. Zhu is Tao Zheng's wife, Tao Zhan's sister-in-law. She is virtuous and open-minded and has a good relationship with Tao Zhan. The two often have contacts. After Tao Zhan and the others moved into the Weiyang Palace, she also came once.

Zhu's brother was Zhu Xun, the magistrate of Chaisang County. He was once the censor and appeared as the guard of Jiangxia. Tao Zhan also wanted to talk to Zhu about his brother's affairs. She came just in time and nodded, "Please invite her to the palace!"

Not long after, under the guidance of his maid, Zhu walked into Tao Zhan's living room. Zhu bowed and said, "See the princess!"

"Sister-in-law, don't be polite. They are all your own people. Please sit down quickly!"

Tao Zhan asked Zhu to sit down in front of the brazier. Seeing that her face was flushed with cold, she smiled and said, "It's such a cold day, I don't want to go out anymore. My sister-in-law and Yaxing come here."

Zhu sighed, "If it weren't for your elder brother's business, I wouldn't have run out in such a cold weather."

"What's wrong with brother?" Tao Zhan took a sip of hot tea and asked calmly.

Zhu was a little difficult to speak. She knew Tao Zhan's temper and never wanted the Tao family to benefit from her status as a princess. Although she was better to the Tao family in the past two years, it was also because the Tao family had paid a great price. However, she never gave up on the issue of principle.

Zhu was helpless, and her husband begged her for help, but she had to say that. Zhu had to bite the bullet and said, "Your elder brother is going to be transferred to Chang'an to serve as the Minister of Shaofu Temple. Do you know?"

"I heard of it, but it seems that it has been decided. Is there any accident?"

"Your brother said that this matter has not been finalized, but the Political Affairs Hall has been approved, and His Highness the King of Han has not approved it yet."

Tao Zhan asked in confusion: "What does the eldest brother mean? Don't he want to go to Beijing?"

"That's not...but...is not...is not appropriate."

"Inappropriate? What does this mean?"

Zhu sighed and said, "He was appointed as the Minister of Lingzhou, the same as the Xiongjun in Chengdu and Xiangyang. According to normal promotion, he should have been promoted to Shangshu or Shizhong, but now he is appointed as the Minister of Shaofu Temple. This is the position of the promotion of the Grand County Magistrate, so..."

"So he felt it was unfair. He felt that he should be promoted to another level and would be better off as prime minister, right?"

Tao Zhan could no longer contain his anger, and Yinya clenched: "Why must he be promoted? Is it impossible to transfer a job? Eight years ago, he was a small Wuchang county magistrate. He was neither a famous scholar nor an imperial examination. He became a Shaofu Temple Minister in eight years. Isn't he satisfied?"

Zhu felt Tao Zhan’s anger, her face flushed, but it was not because of the cold, but because of shame. After a while, she whispered: “Your elder brother is not so unreasonable, but the seven phases are still missing, and the Central Secretariat has been vacant. He felt that this was an opportunity, and it was really difficult to give up this temptation.”

Tao Zhan didn't know why the seven prime ministers were missing, nor did he understand why the Zhongshuling had been vacant. But after all, she was a princess and had a better understanding of the matter than ordinary people. She knew that the prime minister was a valuable weapon of the country and could not be held by someone with extraordinary talent. Her brother was mediocre in his qualifications, and her husband only had the word "diligence". People who were much higher than his brother's talent dared not expect it. But her brother was staring at it. How self-righteous!

Just then, Liu Zhi said at the door: "Mother, can the child come in?"

When the son came just in time, Tao Zhan nodded, "Come in!"

Liu Zhi walked in, but found that his aunt was there, so he knelt down and bowed, "See mother, see aunt!"

Zhu also liked this nephew very much. If she were normal, she would definitely pull Liu Zhi over, touch his head, ask him about his karma, body, etc., but today Zhu had something to do in his heart, and the atmosphere in the room was awkward, so she had to force a smile.

Tao Zhan pulled thee to sit down, and asked with a smile: "Have you finished your homework?"

Liu Zhi nodded, "It's done. The child wants to go to the ice to have fun, so I'll ask my mother for instructions."

"You can go!"

Liu Zhi was overjoyed and got up and was about to leave, but Tao Zhan called him and asked with a smile: "You can answer a question from your mother first, and then go play!"

"What are your mother asking?" Liu Zhi lowered his hands and said respectfully.

"Are you still going to the Political Affairs Hall every day now?"

“Every day basically.”

"Then I ask you, why are there only six prime ministers in the Political Affairs Hall? Why is the position of the Secretariat of the Central Secretariat always vacant?"

"What a coincidence. Uncle Xu is also talking about this issue with his father today."

"What did your father say?"

Liu Zhi was a little hesitant. He had been in the Political Affairs Hall for more than a year and had known that some things should be said and some things should not be said. He would never say them in front of his aunt when he was sensitive to phase.

Tao Zhan saw his hesitation and smiled and said, "You just say it! It doesn't matter, your aunt won't go out to talk nonsense."

Liu Zhi had no choice but to whisper: "The Seven Prime Ministers were expanded when they attacked Jiangdong. My father's original intention was that one person from Jiangdong became prime minister and one person from Jiaozhou became prime minister. In this way, the unification of the south can also balance regional power. As for the Zhongshu Ling, my father originally wanted Jia Ge Lao to take office, but Jia Ge was old and could no longer hold a real position. Xu Xiangguo suggested that Jia Ge Lao be appointed as a real position and leave it to Zhong Yao. His father also took a fancy to Zhong Yao. With his qualifications, he could serve as the Zhongshu Ling."

Tao Zhan nodded, "You go!"

"Goodbye, my child!"

Liu Zhi bowed to his mother and aunt and hurried away. Tao Zhan did not say anything, but slowly drank tea. Zhu sighed, "I understand, your elder brother is indeed a little confused, I'll tell him."

"Sister-in-law, I mean I hope my brother won't go to Beijing and continue to be an official in the local area. I hope he will be an official in one local area for at least five years before he can have the capital to accumulate wealth. Does my sister-in-law understand what I mean?"

"I understand what you mean, I'll go back and persuade him."

"Let him take the initiative to propose to continue to stay in Lingzhou. I will talk to the King of Han again, and this matter will be decided."

Tao Zhan showed the princess' anger and made a decision irreversibly. This was the first decision she had made about her brother's career, but she could not bear it anymore. Her brother was eager to get closer to the power circle, which was not a good thing. She had to suppress her brother's impetuousness and let him stay in Lingzhou for another year. Although Zhu was unwilling to accept it, he did not dare to force the princess. He had to agree and said goodbye and left in a hurry.

.........

At night, Liu Jing burned his feet on the bed, sat on the bed and carefully admired Zhong Yao's calligraphy, and praised him. Tao Zhan sat next to him. Seeing that her husband was in great interest, she said to him: "My sister-in-law is here to find me today."

Liu Jing was stunned and asked with a smile: "Come on such a cold day, is there anything important to her?"

"It's for my brother!"

Liu Jing understood what his wife meant. He put down his calligraphy and asked his wife with a smile: "What's wrong?"

"Does your husband want to transfer him to Chang'an to serve?"

"I have this plan. I want to transfer him to Beijing to serve as the Minister of Shaofu Temple. He is good at calculating and this position is more suitable for him. Don't he want to take up this position?"

"He said that the prime minister lacked one. He had this idea and asked his sister-in-law to come to me. As a result, I scolded them for being overestimated. They had just become officials for eight years and wanted to become prime minister."

Liu Jing knew his wife's character and was not hinting that she gave her brother the prestige. She was really scolding him. Liu Jing was not angry and laughed in silence: "He is not qualified to serve as prime minister yet, and he is not capable enough. This time I transferred him to Beijing to serve as the Minister of Shaofu Temple because the Tao family made great contributions to the quelling of Hexi rebellion, donating 100,000 hectares of fertile land, as well as countless grains and cloths, which made me feel bad about it. It was also a kind of compensation for the Tao family."

Tao Zhan stood up and bowed to Liu Jing deeply and said, "My husband treats the Tao family well, which makes me moved me. But taking care of my brother in this way will not only not make him motivated, but will harm him. In just eight years, my brother was promoted from a small county magistrate to an important official in the border area and a high-ranking official in the court. He held the power of his power. His mentality has begun to be impetuous and he actually peeked at his position that should not belong to him. This is because he has been successful. I beg Your Highness not to indulge him, and to temper his will, make him feel at ease, and be a good official and a famous minister. This is the reward for the Tao family."

Liu Jing nodded repeatedly, "You are right, it's because I'm not careful."

Tao Zhan said again: "I have asked my sister-in-law to go back and bring her messages, and asked him to apply to return to Lingzhou by himself and stay there for a few more years."

Liu Jing smiled and said, "Lingzhou may not be able to do anything. It has been appointed, but I just happened to transfer Ma Liang to Beijing and let him replace Ma Liang as the governor of Shangjun! I have been an official for five years. However, what you said to me just now must be said to my father-in-law again, otherwise he will misunderstand."

"I know, I will write a letter to my father."

...
Chapter completed!