novelhk Chapter 209 Pei Rujing Arrives at the Beijing News Office
Chapter 209 Pei Rujing Arrives at the Beijing News Office
The next day
After finishing her breakfast, Pei Rujing took a carriage to the Office of the Court of State Affairs.
The gatekeeper of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices was stunned when he saw Pei Rujing step down from the carriage: "Madam, you..."
Qinghe stepped forward and said, "This is Princess Anhe. She has come to the capital to report to the authorities today."
Upon hearing this, the gatekeeper's expression changed drastically, and he quickly bowed, saying, "Greetings, Princess Anhe."
Pei Rujing ignored them and walked straight into the Office of Transmission.
A quick-witted gatekeeper said, "This humble servant will lead the way for the county magistrate."
Pei Rujing glanced at him: "Reward me!"
The gatekeeper was overjoyed: "Thank you, Your Highness."
Pei Rujing had never been to the Office of Transmission before, so she definitely needed someone to guide her.
Originally, Pei Rujing planned to find anyone to guide her once she entered the government office, but now that someone had volunteered, she was too lazy to change the person.
As luck would have it, halfway there they ran into Tao Zihe, the Left Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review: "Whose family member is this... Princess Anhe?"
Tao Zihe felt that Pei Rujing looked familiar, but after thinking for a while, she remembered her identity. She was a little annoyed and thought it would have been better to pretend she didn't see her and walk away.
When Wen Zongji first reported to the Office of Transmission, he was received by Tao Zihe.
Because Wen Zongji was parachuted in to take charge of the Beijing Gazette Bureau, Tao Zihe didn't like him, but he didn't do anything about it; he wouldn't lower himself to such an extent.
Now that the Imperial Gazette Office has gained a reputation and is directly under the Crown Prince's Palace, no longer under the jurisdiction of the Office of Transmission, Tao Zihe has lost his position in charge of the Imperial Gazette Office, and his relationship with Wen Zongji has remained lukewarm.
Now that he has met Pei Rujing, Tao Zihe, out of respect for her status, still has to greet her: "This humble official greets Princess Anhe."
The gatekeeper said, "Your Highness, this is Tao Zihe, the Left Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review."
Pei Rujing: "Lord Tao, you may dispense with the formalities."
Tao Zihe asked, "Is the county princess here to see Lord Wen?"
Pei Rujing nodded.
Tao Zihe said, "Please do as you please, Your Highness. I will take my leave now."
The doorman then continued to guide Pei Rujing.
Tao Zihe turned to look at Pei Rujing's retreating figure and instructed, "Go and find out the purpose of Princess Anhe's visit to the Imperial Gazette Office."
Although occasionally officials' families would come to the yamen to look for someone, they usually came to deliver meals. Pei Rujing came so early, it was clear that she wasn't there to deliver meals.
Besides, would the dignified Princess Anhe personally deliver the meal?
No one would believe it if I told them.
This is the Office of Transmission, after all, and Pei Rujing's identity is special. Tao Zihe has to ensure that what Pei Rujing does will not affect the Office of Transmission.
Beijing News
"Your Highness, this is the Capital Gazette Office."
The people working diligently in the office, heads down, instinctively looked up and in the direction of the sound upon hearing it.
At the entrance, bathed in sunlight, stood a woman wearing a light green dress and a cloak, her hair styled in a bun. Her face was so exquisite that she seemed to have stepped out of a painting.
For a moment, everyone was stunned.
Pei Rujing frowned unhappily.
Qinghe immediately said, "You haven't even paid your respects to Princess Anhe!"
A single sentence broke everyone's reverie. Upon hearing Pei Rujing's identity, they all trembled inwardly and rose to their feet, bowing and saying, "Greetings, Princess Anhe."
Dongxiu gave the gatekeeper a tip and sent him away.
Pei Rujing walked into the office, looked around, and found rows of desks packed with people.
There were also many memorials and documents piled up on the table.
Yao Maofang realized Pei Rujing's identity and stepped forward, saying, "This humble official is Yao Maofang, County Princess. Lord Wen's office is on the other side. Shall I show you the way?"
Pei Rujing casually found a seat and said, "No need. I'm here today to apply for the publication of the People's Daily. Don't I need anything?"
Qinghe instructed the maid to put down all the documents and said, "Lord Yao, everything is here. Please see if you need anything else."
Yao Maofang was stunned.
Since the latest issue of the Beijing Daily allowed private newspapers to be published, countless applications have been sent to the Beijing Daily Bureau every day, and the staff of the Beijing Daily Bureau have been frequently visited. However, this is the first time that someone has come to the Beijing Daily Bureau directly to apply.
But considering Pei Rujing's identity, Yao Maofang wasn't surprised.
The entire Beijing Gazette Bureau was dominated by Wen Zongji's absolute authority.
For Wen Zongji, obtaining the qualification to run the Minbao newspaper was as easy as transferring money from one hand to the other.
However, the necessary procedures still need to be followed.
Yao Maofang said, "Please wait a moment, Your Highness, we will verify this immediately. Quickly serve Your Highness tea."
Pei Rujing waved her hand: "No need, you should verify it as soon as possible."
She's picky about tea, and the Beijing Daily could tell at a glance that they couldn't offer any good tea.
"Yes."
Yao Maofang beckoned two junior officials over to review the documents submitted by Pei Rujing.
With Wen Zongji having reviewed the materials beforehand, there were naturally no problems with them.
"Sir, there are no problems."
No sooner had he finished speaking than, whether the clerk's brain had been squeezed by a door or he simply hadn't quite grasped the situation, he added, "But Your Excellency requires that an application to establish a local gazette must be guaranteed by someone from the Capital Gazette Office, and the county magistrate's documents do not contain any information about a guarantor."
Upon hearing this, the Beijing News Office fell into a brief silence, and the others looked at this person as if he were a fool.
Yao Maofang wanted to kick him, and couldn't help but think about how this person got into the Beijing Gazette Bureau.
Pei Rujing laughed, and her smile added a touch of elegance to the room: "That's right, rules cannot be broken. Yao Maofang, is it? Send someone to summon your chief editor and have him vouch for me."
Yao Maofang forced a smile and said, "Please forgive us, Your Highness. Our subordinates are ignorant. Your approval has already been granted, so there's no need to trouble you any further."
Pei Rujing said, "This person is right. Since the rules have been set, they must be followed."
Yao Maofang glanced cautiously at Pei Rujing's expression and, seeing that she wasn't joking, could only send someone to summon Wen Zongji.
In his heart, however, he cursed the meddlesome clerk to the core.
What a clueless idiot!
A short while later, Wen Zongji walked in.
He had already learned the whole story on his way here.
"Maofang, I vouch for the county magistrate. If there are no problems with the other documents, please issue the county magistrate a permit for the People's Gazette."
Yao Maofang immediately replied, "No problem, absolutely no problem."
He then returned to his desk and issued a permit for the Minbao newspaper to Pei Rujing.
A license stamped with the seal of the Beijing Newspaper Administration is an essential document for opening a newspaper and publishing a civilian newspaper.
Wen Zongji sat down next to Pei Rujing: "You came to the Capital Gazette Bureau, why didn't you come to see me?"
Pei Rujing said, "I was planning to come find you after I finished my business, but I didn't expect to encounter such a meticulous person, so I had no choice but to call you here."
"Please don't blame him, my lady. He was just following the rules."
Pei Rujing scolded him, "I'm such a petty person."
Wen Zongji: "...Of course not."