Chapter 536: Give Him a Push

Cheng Yaojin stormed back home, sat on a chair, and as he thought, he was annoyed.

It wouldn't be long before he figured he'd be taken to receive a board beating.

Who could feel at ease about this?

He sat for a while, then shouted, "Cheng Chuliang? Cheng Chuliang! Come over and pour me a glass of water!"

"What are you shouting about?"

Lady Cui frowned slightly as she walked in, "Just now I saw you rush in like a bull; what's the matter? Who upset you again?"

"Who else could it be? It's my dear big nephew I've known since childhood!"

Cheng Yaojin wore a sour expression, especially after being scolded by Empress Changsun.

However, upon hearing that, Lady Cui's brows instantly relaxed, and the worry in her heart vanished in an instant.

She wore a calm face, having become accustomed to it.

She slowly sat down, called a servant to pour two glasses of water, then asked, "Tell me, why are you holding a grudge against a child?"

Cheng Yaojin: "......"

"No, what does it mean to hold a grudge against a child?"

"It was one thing before, but now they're married and have come of age; can they still be called a child?"

He grew even more upset, "Today that youngster's first day at court, he made a complaint against me, and His Majesty suspended my post, fined me a year's salary, and even demoted my title!"

"Do you see that what he's doing is a matter of human affairs?"

"It's my fault..."

"Ah, fine, fine!" Lady Cui, tired of listening, said, "In the past, you went looking for trouble everywhere, hoping to make mistakes and be punished? Now Zi An has helped you, and you complain again."

"He's such a grown man, how can he not tell right from wrong?"

"Let the suspension be a suspension; it's a good time for Chu Mo to look for a good girl. As for the salary fine and demotion... we don't lack those things; after you fight a battle, the loot you bring back will be more than ten years' salary."

"Didn't you say a war is coming next year? These things will return."

"Look how Zi An keeps thinking of you; the first time at court he helped you, and you still complain here. You're really no good."

Cheng Yaojin: "......"

His words left him silent.

Cheng Yaojin was fuming; he wanted to explain a couple of sentences, but thought it would be embarrassing, and seeing his wife not understanding him, he simply gave up.

"If it were only this, I would of course remember the youngster's kindness, but that kid doesn't behave properly; he even got His Majesty to give me Twenty Great Boards!"

"Tell me, how could he utter such cold words?"

"......"

In Cheng Yaojin's words there were three parts anger, three parts confusion, three parts complaint, and the final part grievance.

Lady Cui, after hearing that, was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh.

"You... hahaha, what good can I say about you? I told you not to tease people when they were kids, and now as an adult you keep tormenting them. Is that it? Got your comeuppance, right?"

"Don't make that face here; if I may say, you just deserve it!"

"I..." Cheng Yaojin was at a loss, unable to retort.

That kid... really holds a grudge, damn it!

"Twenty Great Boards are just Twenty Great Boards," Lady Cui cleared her throat, "Anyway, you're such a big fellow; pad your backside a bit, endure it and it'll pass."

"Moreover, people from the Ministry of Justice or Dali Temple might not even dare to beat you; what's there to be angry about?"

"Finding a good girl for Chu Mo right away is the real business!"

"I..." Cheng Yaojin wanted to say, is this about the Twenty Great Boards?

Clearly it's a matter of face!

"Ah, forget it, I don't feel like talking to you."

"As for Chu Mo's wife... let me think."

"......"

"Er Lang, today's Zi An matter, if spread poorly, could have a considerable impact."

Empress Changsun kept her word; after Chen Yan left, she went to find Li Shimin.

He pondered, "Is Guanyin Maid referring to Chen Yan impeaching Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong?"

"Yes," Empress Changsun said gently, "All of Chang'an knows that Zi An's parents died early; Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Gong, and Qin Qiong among others have been protecting him."

"Now Zi An's first court appearance challenges the two; if the story spreads well, people will think Zi An is incorruptibly upright, a good official, but if it spreads poorly, Zi An will be seen as ungrateful..."

Li Shimin chuckled, "Does Guanyin Maid think, with that kid's mind, he couldn't foresee this problem?"

"I also asked," Empress Changsun giggled lightly, "But Zi An says what others think is what he wants to see; I think Zi An is still young, his considerations are too one-sided."

"Reputation can sometimes be lethal!"

"Especially in this critical period, one should not gamble with reputation!"

"No, no, no!" Li Shimin held up his hand, refuted Empress Changsun's words, and explained seriously, "Guanyin Maid, you cause chaos when you care; this time, the one with a one-sided view is you!"

Empress Changsun was startled, "Er Lang, what does this mean?"

"Hahaha!"

Li Shimin suddenly burst out laughing, "Guanyin Maid, the question that puzzles you, I truly rarely encounter."

"Er Lang joked, I am not some supremely wise person; there are far too many questions in the world I don't understand. Otherwise, couldn't I help Er Lang better, instead of now only offering trivial advice?"

Li Shimin gave no direct answer, curled his lips, evidently pleased with Empress Changsun's words, and said proudly, "Since you don't understand, today I will explain it to you."

"Guanyin Maid, I ask you, what are you doing?"

That single sentence instantly enlightened Empress Changsun.

Indeed!

What is she doing?

She is thinking about Chen Yan's reputation!

Having thought this through, she was both amused and exasperated, "So, this kid even considered me?"

"No, no, no, that's not his clever point!"

Li Shimin continued, "What you say makes sense; reputation can sometimes kill a person. But have you ever thought about who controls public opinion?"

Empress Changsun suddenly saw the light and instantly cleared all her doubts.

Who controls public opinion?

Does this question still need to be asked?

Now the world's public opinion is firmly held by a single paper, the Great Tang Daily.

The events that occurred on the Court today only need slight embellishment; told from another perspective, isn't Chen Yan regarded as utterly selfless among the people?

As for the reputation on the Court.

Does Chen Yan care?

He doesn't care at all.

Because most of the current Court are people who want to curry favor with him.

And those who want to deal with him cannot control public opinion; what can they do about it?

After a long silence, Empress Changsun clicked her tongue, "I suddenly feel that you plan to have Zi An assume the post of Minister of Revenue at the start of the year, instead of supporting a puppet, which is a correct choice."

"It's my mistake, Er Lang, you're right!"

"Right!"

Li Shimin, confident, said, "Regarding Zi An, can't you be a bit stricter? If you don't push him, he'll only... hmm... what's that word again?"

"Oh, slacking off!"

"......"