The abrupt change of topic was quite unexpected, shifting from the joint trial of the three departments to the far - away Shanshui City.
Cui Shifan's eyebrows twitched, and a glint of light flashed across his eyes.
"I've heard that the person in charge there has good management skills. The new policies have been implemented smoothly and show great promise," Shangguan Yuan said, seemingly oblivious to Cui Shifan's reaction. His tone was filled with a bit of admiration.
"The Chief Minister has a lot of state affairs to handle every day. In his spare time, he might as well take a look at the reports from there to learn about the achievements."
Cui Shifan's expression remained unchanged on the surface, but countless thoughts raced through his mind in an instant.
Shanshui City.
It was the pilot area for the two new national policies of the Second Prince.
When Shangguan Yuan mentioned Shanshui City at this moment, his meaning couldn't be clearer.
The Crown Prince's faction was going to set a trap for the Prince's faction this time.
Having figured this out, the boulder that had been hanging in Cui Shifan's heart for a long time finally crashed to the ground.
As long as it wasn't aimed at him, the Chief Minister of the Cabinet, everything would be fine.
Moreover, Shangguan Yuan didn't beat around the bush. It was almost as if he had directly stated his intention.
A genuine smile appeared on Cui Shifan's face, reaching his eyes and dispelling the previous gloom and vigilance.
He nodded and said, "Indeed, I've also heard a bit about Shanshui City."
"The two new policies of the Second Prince are beneficial to the country and the people. They are good policies that bring blessings to all living beings."
"The Cabinet should fully support those who are working whole - heartedly for the country and the people to relieve the country's worries and plead for the people."
"We mustn't let these dedicated people be wronged and have their hearts chilled."
These words were high - sounding, but they were a way of reciprocating and showing his stance.
Since they were going to set a trap for the Prince's faction, well, the Cui family was willing to cooperate.
Hearing this, a smile also appeared on Shangguan Yuan's face, and he nodded in agreement.
"The Chief Minister is right. The Second Prince has the country at heart. He is truly a rare talent. However..."
He lengthened his tone. As soon as the words "however" came out, Cui Shifan's eyes sharpened.
Here it comes.
Shangguan Yuan was going to put forward his conditions.
After all, Gu Chengyin had leaked some insider information to him in advance in order to win him over.
This allowed the Cui family to gain an advantage in the industrial layout in Shanshui City and insert many of their people.
Now that the Crown Prince's faction was going to deal with the Prince's faction, what would happen to those Cui family members inserted in Shanshui City?
Would they be cleared along with the forces of the Prince's faction, or could they be retained as their own people?
Even whether they could participate in the distribution of the spoils would depend entirely on whether he, Cui Shifan, could accept the following conditions.
If he could accept, the Cui family would be one of their own in the Crown Prince's faction. When it came time to reap the benefits, they would be good brothers fighting side by side.
If he couldn't accept, well, the Crown Prince's faction wouldn't mind pulling out the Cui family's arrangements in Shanshui City along the way. It would be like killing two birds with one stone.
Shangguan Yuan didn't play games and didn't use those convoluted official jargons to beat around the bush.
Under the premise that they had already reached an understanding, beating around the bush would be a waste of each other's time and an insult to both of their intelligence.
He picked up the teacup, moistened his throat, and said simply and clearly, "Well, this time, the Ministry of Rites was ordered to inspect the sects. Everyone worked hard, and the results were remarkable."
"It not only spread the Emperor's might across the world but also showed the court's grace and style to the people."
"I think since there are achievements, there should be rewards. Otherwise, how can we encourage those who come after?"
Cui Shifan listened quietly, his expression unchanged.
Shangguan Yuan continued, "For example, the Right Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Rites, who led the inspection this time, has made great contributions. He handled all kinds of relationships very well, and his sense of proportion was just right."
"I have a high opinion of him. Such an outstanding young man should be given more responsibilities so that he can relieve the court of more worries."
"Coincidentally, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites is getting old, and his energy is inevitably a bit lacking."
"Occupying the position without doing anything is not good for the operation of the court."
"We must give some opportunities to the young people so that the court can have successors."
After saying this, Shangguan Yuan stopped and slowly sipped his tea.
After hearing these high - sounding official words, Cui Shifan blinked.
The Right Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Rites...
Wasn't that Gu Chengyin?
Giving more responsibilities, occupying the position, giving opportunities to the young people...
Translated, these words had only one meaning.
Remove Cui Zhenji from the position of the Minister of the Ministry of Rites and let Gu Chengyin take over.
This meant that...
Gu Chengyin's condition was the position of the Minister of the Ministry of Rites!
Cui Shifan lowered his eyelids to hide the surging thoughts in his eyes.
This condition was no small matter.
The Ministry of Rites was in charge of the country's ceremonies, sacrifices, banquets, and imperial examinations. It was an important department, second only to the Ministry of Personnel among the six ministries.
Back then, the Cui family was able to compete with the Xiao family and firmly hold the position of the Second Chief Minister.
To a large extent, it was because they held the Ministry of Rites. Their protégés and old acquaintances were all over the country.
If Gu Chengyin took the position of the Minister of the Ministry of Rites...
The situation in the court would change.
And the most crucial thing was that once Gu Chengyin became the Minister of the Ministry of Rites.
He would be qualified to enter the Cabinet.
If there were any changes in the Cabinet in the future and one or more positions of Cabinet Elders became available.
With Gu Chengyin's ability and means, his status in the Crown Prince's faction, and his relationship with Luo Zhao.
It was not impossible for him to enter the Cabinet.
No, under no circumstances could Gu Chengyin be allowed to enter the Cabinet.
Cui Shifan looked up and met Shangguan Yuan's calm gaze. Just as he was about to speak,
Shangguan Yuan interrupted him first, "Chief Minister, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."
Cui Shifan was taken aback and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Go ahead."
Shangguan Yuan smiled slightly and said, "I've heard that Luodu has been very lively recently."
"Those who don't know might think that the Qinghe Cui family is on the side of the Second Prince."
Hearing this, Cui Shifan's face darkened.
There was no doubt that only Gu Chengyin would say such a thing.
After staring at Shangguan Yuan for a moment, Cui Shifan suddenly smiled.
He slowly opened his mouth, his tone filled with a bit of emotion, "Brother Shangguan is quite right."
"Zhenji has worked hard for the Great Luo for many years. He really deserves a rest and to enjoy the happiness of having grandchildren around him."
"As for that Right Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Rites..."
Cui Shifan paused, as if recalling something, then nodded and said with admiration in his tone, "He is indeed a promising young man. I'll keep this matter in mind."
"After the joint trial of the three departments is over, let the Ministry of Personnel come up with a plan and discuss it first."
These words meant that he had agreed.
Hearing this, the smile on Shangguan Yuan's face became even broader.
He put down the teacup and bowed, saying, "The Chief Minister is loyal to the country and promotes the younger generation. It is truly a blessing for the court and a fortune for all the officials."
"Ah, Brother Shangguan, you're overestimating me," Cui Shifan waved his hand and said, "We're all working for the court. Why should we distinguish between each other?"
The two looked at each other and smiled. The atmosphere was so harmonious that it seemed as if those hidden barbs had never existed.
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
y came from. The chests contained supplies, currency, class-change scrolls, skills, talents… and even godhood! The laws of the world were completely rewritten. This became a world where everyone gambled with their fate! Some people, despite having nothing, opened a divine artifact and rose to the top, eventually ruling the world. Others went bankrupt, opened nothing but worthless junk, and leaped from skyscrapers in despair. Lin Ye arrived in this world from another reality, utterly bewildered. “What is going on? Why is everyone a gambling addict?!” “Opening chests? No way. I refuse to gamble. I’ll start with myself!” Until— On his first chest, he obtained a Mythic Talent: Void Incarnation! He could become completely intangible, pass through all things, and reduce everything to nothingness! … On his fiftieth chest, he obtained a Mythic Weapon: Blade of Karma! With a single slash, karma shattered, twisting the universe and overturning the myriad phenomena of creation! … On his ninety-ninth chest, he obtained a Mythic Divine Treasure: Primordial Purple Energy! It could split open the heavens and earth, create all things, and evolve countless worlds with a single thought! Lin Ye: “Now that I think about it… shouldn’t someone have told me that every chest is guaranteed to contain something Mythic?!”
s + Rent Collection Wealth】 At the start, he inherited a rundown house in the urban village from his grandfather. The house had no tenants, but the moment he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, a self-proclaimed empress from the Tianxuan Continent arrived as his first tenant. Ye Chuan soon discovered that with every new tenant moving in, not only did he receive massive daily payments, but he also obtained unique items related to their backgrounds. 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Tiger Strength Pill—dramatically enhances physical power!】 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Deer Blood Pill—significantly boosts vitality!】 …… From that day on, all sorts of bizarre tenants began appearing in the house: the empress from Tianxuan Continent, an apocalyptic sorceress from the Magic Realm, a mysterious scientific girl who fell through a spacetime rift… Every single day, he received strange, powerful items and endless money. Then one day, he suddenly realized—he had become invincible. Enough, enough! Stop giving me more!
nd fell into a coma while saving his younger sister from an out-of-control car. He became a vegetable. No one knew that his consciousness had crossed into a world of cultivation. Over the course of sixty years, he began as the lowest kind of mine slave, struggling to survive amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood. By sheer chance, he eventually obtained the complete memories of a fallen Immortal King. Alchemy, medicine, formations, feng shui, physiognomy, artifact forging… Every great inheritance of the cultivation world was now his. But when he opened his eyes again, he discovered that ten full years had passed in the modern world. To pay for his treatment, his father had sold the family’s shop and house, leaving himself covered in lasting injuries and illness. His mother had cared for him day and night, and more than half of her hair had already turned white. His younger sister, who had been only fifteen back then, was now twenty-five. To help repay the family’s debts, she had been forced to lower her head and put on a smiling face in places of glittering lights and endless revelry. Only then did Chen Xuan understand that what he had lost was not merely ten years. He had lost the life his entire family was meant to have. The good news was that he had brought back the memories of an Immortal King’s entire lifetime. The bad news was that his soul had returned alone—his cultivation had not come with him. Spiritual energy was scarce, resources were depleted, and the modern world still had firearms, surveillance, capital, and laws. If he wanted to protect his family, break free from everyone’s control, and become truly invincible beneath the heavens, he would have to start all over again.
