Kebaba was very unhappy when she heard that Empress Zhang was coming, "How many times a day does this woman come to His Majesty, what do you want to do?" Tell her that Your Majesty is busy and not available! ”

Mao Xiuyong, Kebaba's personal eunuch, said softly: "I heard just now that Tai Kangbo entered the palace and met Empress Zhang, I'm afraid there is something!" ”

Ke Baba immediately thought of the emperor's decree to promote Wei Bao, although her activities were mainly concentrated in the palace, but Wei Zhongxian would tell Ke Baba many important things.

For example, this time, Wei Bao asked for the experience of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the matter of the Zuo Sicheng of Dali Temple, and Kebaba was clear.

"Let her wait a minute!" Kebaba Road.

"Yes." Mao Xiuyong bowed down and agreed, the eunuchs' unique voices were treacherous and delicate, coupled with a flattering tone in front of the master.

Kebaba knew that it was not good to disturb the emperor while the emperor was doing carpenter's work, but she was sure that Empress Zhang was willing to see the emperor, and it was very difficult to stop her, so she could only interrupt the emperor first.

"Your Majesty." Kebaba said softly.

Zhu Youzheng was holding a piece of wood parts in the middle of his thoughts, and was suddenly interrupted by Ke Baba, and his mouth snorted impatiently, "What's the matter?" Don't you see I'm busy? ”

"It's the queen who came, and she had to see Your Majesty, I told her that Your Majesty was busy, but she relied on herself as the queen, so she refused to leave." Kebaba said softly, looking very aggrieved.

Zhu Youxiao said angrily: "She comes once a day in the morning and evening, isn't that enough?" Why did you come here at noon? Do I not have to do anything in the future, just wait to see her all day long? ”

Seeing that the emperor was angry, Kebaba was secretly proud, and what he wanted was the emperor's mood.

"Nope! Let her go, what can she do? Isn't it just to persuade me to worry more about national affairs? The state politics is in charge of the Duke of Wei, and everything is fine! Zhu Youxiao said.

"Your Majesty, let's meet for a while, don't you know Empress Zhang's temperament? If she is not allowed to see His Majesty now, she will always refuse to leave. Kebaba is telling the truth, but it adds fuel to the fire. Ke Baba and Wei Zhongxian didn't say a lot of bad things about Empress Zhang, so they wished that the emperor would depose the empress as soon as possible and make a distant niece of Wei Zhongxian the empress.

The selection and establishment of the queen has gone through strict procedures, it is very difficult, it is difficult to get on the throne, it is difficult to come down, and Daming really rarely heard that the queen was abolished.

Zhu Youxiao was really provoked by Kebaba to be even more upset and irritable: "What is the matter with her, do you know?" ”

"It seems that it is for His Majesty to promote Wei Bao to be in charge of the cabinet scholars, plus the royal front walking, plus the five-grade service." Kebaba Road.

"What does this have to do with her? What does she want to do? Want to get involved in politics? I'm a rare gift, is she going to stop it? Hearing Kebaba say this, Zhu Youxiao became even more impatient.

"Yes, this tube is too wide, I don't know, I thought she was not the queen but the emperor. Where is the reason for the palace people to restrain His Majesty? Her father is not a fuel-efficient lamp, and he inquires about the affairs of the court and tells the queen all day long! I guess the queen must have heard that the cabinet was going to draw up a vote, and through the gift of His Majesty, she came to stop it! Ke Baba said: "Lord Shoufu saw that His Majesty valued Wei Bao, and that Wei Bao was a new science and technology detective, both in character and talent are outstanding, so I wanted to take this opportunity to promote Wei Bao to serve as the official position of the Metropolitan Procuratorate Experience Division and Dali Temple Zuo Sicheng, one of these two official positions is five grades, and the other is six grades, which is just right with the gift of His Majesty plus five grades. I really can't think of it, what's there to stop it? ”

Kebaba knew that the emperor didn't care about government affairs, so he went around in a circle to say that he promoted Wei Bao to serve as the experience of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the official position of the Zuo Si Cheng of Dali Temple, and it was after the emperor promoted Wei Bao to be the secretary in charge of the cabinet, plus the imperial front walk, and after adding the five-grade service, in this way, it is logical, as if the promotion is the emperor's meaning.

Zhu Youxiao really didn't distinguish what the impact of giving Wei Bao more official positions in the two Metropolitan Inspectorates and Dali Temple, and the low-level official positions of the fifth and sixth grades, said impatiently: "Okay, you let her in!" I told her myself. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty." After the Kebaba salute, he said to the personal palace maid: "Go and invite the queen over, Your Majesty will summon you." ”

"Yes, ma'am." The palace maid agreed, and after giving the salute, she hurriedly went out to call Queen Zhang.

Empress Zhang listened to His Majesty's announcement and glanced at Mao Xiuyong, "Isn't Your Majesty willing to see me?" ”

Mao Xiuyong smiled slightly and didn't answer.

Empress Zhang tidied up her appearance a little and walked in quickly: "The concubine has seen Your Majesty." ”

"The queen is here, let's get even." Zhu Youxiao sat on a chair, leaning back, still holding a wooden part in his hand, "I'm busy now!" If you have anything to do, just make a long story short. ”

"Your Majesty, you should care more about national affairs, you can't do everything by the eunuchs, they will make the government a miasma, recently several ministers of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and Dali Temple have been driven out of the yamen, the cabinet has ignored it, and now it is necessary to promote a seven-pin Guan Zheng who has only been in the office for more than a month, and concurrently serves as the official position of the Metropolitan Procuratorate Experience Division and the Dali Temple Zuo Sicheng! As soon as this example is opened, how many people will be chilled? Many officials with ability and good conduct have worked hard for more than ten years, or even decades, and they are only seventh-grade officials. Empress Zhang said: "The imperial court still has to be gradual in rewarding talents, there are rules to follow, and a fair and impartial approach can convince people, otherwise something big will happen." ”

"Is it as serious as you say?" Zhu Youxiao said unhappily: 'Who told you these things? Your father came to the palace and told you again, right? How can this be true, what qualifications do you have to interfere in politics? ’

"The concubine doesn't want to interfere in politics, Your Majesty, the concubine can't afford such a big crime! The concubine just wanted to remind His Majesty to pay more attention to government affairs. "Zhang Yan said: 'If this goes on for a long time, something big will happen.'"

"Something big, something big, can you say anything else besides this sentence? Now that the country is safe and the people are living and working in peace and contentment, what is the big deal? Zhu Youxiao said angrily: "You are not allowed to ask about things outside the palace in the future!" Also, your father only enters the palace once a month at most! Don't run to the palace if you have nothing to do, it's all a mess and chewing your tongue! In this matter, I will personally summon a few ministers tomorrow to ask, you can step down! ”

Although Empress Zhang was angry that Her Majesty let her father only enter the palace once a month, she heard that the emperor promised to summon the cabinet ministers tomorrow to inquire about rewarding Wei Bao, and finally achieved her goal, and she was a little relieved, knowing that although the emperor had no intention of political affairs, if he had promised, most of them would do it, "The concubine retired." ”

Zhu Youxiao snorted coldly, which was a reply, his eyes looked at his wooden parts, and he didn't even look at the queen.

Empress Zhang returned to her palace and told her father that the emperor would summon the ministers tomorrow to inquire about the matter.

Tai Kangbo Zhang Guoji nodded and said: "That's good, in this case, I can also give an explanation to Lord Jifu." ”

Zhang Yan hesitated for a moment and told the emperor that the emperor let his father enter the palace only once a month.

Zhang Guoji suddenly became angry when he heard this, "This must be provoked by the Hakka family and Wei Zhongxian again, I am your father, my father sees his daughter, why can I only do it once a month?" It's not a prison visit! ”

"Dad, please dissipate your anger, Your Majesty doesn't care about the affairs of the court and politics, every time I go to him, he is very impatient." Empress Zhang sighed.

"Okay, dad knows, if this is always the case, sooner or later the Ming Dynasty will become Wei Zhongxian's world, and it will cause a big disaster!" Zhang Guoji said: "Dad is also worried about you and Your Majesty, otherwise he wouldn't want to care about these idle things." ”

"My daughter knows her father's thoughts." Empress Zhang sighed and said: "Your Majesty has just been on the throne for the first year, and he has been more or less personally in charge of the government, but the past few years have passed, and the government affairs have almost been completely handed over to Wei Zhongxian, but what can we do?" ”

"Don't be too anxious, girl, you must pay attention to protect yourself." Zhang Guoji said uneasily.

"Daddy, don't worry, Wei Zhongxian and the Hakka family want to abolish their daughter, they can't do it, if they can do it, their daughter will have been sent to the cold palace a long time ago! For the sake of Your Majesty, for the sake of the Ming Dynasty, my daughter will not be afraid, and the things that are unfavorable to the court and Your Majesty are known to my daughter, and I should remind Your Majesty, or remind Your Majesty. Empress Zhang said softly to her father: "Dad, you go back first." ”

Zhang Guoji nodded and said goodbye and walked out of the queen's bedroom.

Zhang Guoji left the palace, and immediately rushed directly to Zhu Yanxi's mansion and told the matter.

"It's so hard work!" Zhu Yanxi said: "Fortunately, Tai Kangbo and the queen mother understand the righteousness, otherwise Wei Zhongxian and the Hakka family would have to cover the sky with one hand!" You see, what are we going to do tomorrow? ”

"I look at this, Lord Jifu won't stand up to Your Majesty anymore, right? Since it is an official position given by His Majesty, I can't hold it if I want to. Tai Kangbo Zhang Guoji said: "Stay in the green mountains and don't be afraid of no firewood." As long as you and a few Donglin ministers are there, and then contact other Donglin ministers in Beijing, everyone is of one mind and protects each other, Wei Zhongxian wants to kill the Donglin ministers, and it is impossible. ”

Zhu Yanxi paced a few steps: "What is the origin of this Wei Bao?" Why did His Majesty suddenly fall in love with him? He is just Li Chengnei's sworn brother, then Li Chengnei is the younger brother of Dong Li Niangniang! Wei Bao has nothing to do with Dongli Niangniang! His Majesty has no additional reward for Li Chengne, why does he use Wei Bao so much? If it is just a reward of five grades of service, it is nothing, the key is to promote Wei Bao to serve as the experience of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the official position of the Zuo Si Cheng of Dali Temple, this matter, I don't know if it is His Majesty's intention! ”

"The queen said, listening to Your Majesty's tone, it seems that Your Majesty has given it together! Because His Majesty seems to have a good impression of this Wei Bao! Zhang Guoji said.

"That's going to be hard!" Zhang Guoji personally served Zhang Guoji a cup of tea, "I don't know if Wei Bao has anything to do with Wei Zhongxian and the Hakka family!" If these people get together, it will be even more troublesome! If this Wei Bao can see His Majesty often in the future, if Wei Zhongxian and the Hakka clan have already gotten together with him, the combination of them will be even more powerful! ”

"Wei Bao is young after all, Lord Jifu can get closer to him, take a closer look, I don't think the problem is very big, the key is Wei Zhongxian and the Hakka family, they are the real bane!" Zhang Guoji took the tea handed over by Zhu Yanxi himself, and nodded as a thank you.

"Tai Kangbo, then I will follow Gu Bingqian's wishes in the afternoon and agree with Wei Bao's promotion on the ticket draft?" Zhu Yanxi asked.

"Didn't Lord Jifu want to know if Wei Bao was Wei Zhongxian's person? After Wei Bao was promoted, he could win over Wei Bao, I think he is a young man, and he is new to his career, even if he has contact with Wei Zhongxian, the time must be very short! Why can Wei Zhongxian win over, but you can't? Tai Kangbo Zhang Guoji suggested.

"What Tai Comber said makes sense! I know what to do. Originally, Zhu Yanxi had similar thoughts, but now through Zhang Guoji's inquiry, he has deepened this idea even more. Since Wei Bao has been favored by His Majesty, Wei Zhongxian will definitely win him over whether he has a relationship with Wei Bao or not, why can Wei Zhongxian win him over?

The two chatted for a while, and Zhu Yanxi personally sent Taikang Bo Zhang Guoji out of the house, and then he himself rushed to the cabinet.

Zhu Yanxi first met with Zhou Rupan and Ding Shaoshi, told the news from Taikang Bo Zhang Guoji, and then said what he meant.

"It seems that Your Majesty should really reward Wei Bao out of gratitude to Dongli Niangniang! That day, Wei Bao beat a group of ministers in front of Dongli Niangniang's spirit, and it seems that he has won the joy of Longyan! It touched His Majesty's heart. Ding Shaoshi said.

"Then pull it in! Tai Kangbo is right, even if Wei Zhongxian has been in contact with Wei Bao, the time must be very short, he can win over, why can't we? I think that most of the official positions of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Zuosi Cheng of Dali Temple are not directly thought of by His Majesty, but after being reminded by Wei Zhongxian or the Hakka family, His Majesty is not very clear about the official positions of various ministries and yamen! Zhou Rupan also said.

"How else can you win over? Can't we give money to Wei Bao's newcomer, right? Besides, I heard that the Heaven and Earth business was opened by Wei Bao, and that kid will not be short of silver. And the officials of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and Dali Temple, they have already given everything they can give, and they can't get the official position for Wei Bao. Zhu Yanxi was embarrassed.

"There is no place for the Ducha Yuan and Dali Temple, and there is still a place in the Hanlin Academy, and the second assistant is in charge of the Ministry of Rites, so you can ask for Wei Bao to be a bachelor in the Hanlin Academy! From the fifth grade, although it is not as good as the fifth grade and the sixth grade, but the bachelor of the Hanlin Academy is a great honor, as long as Wei Bao does not offend the Son of Heaven in the future, with his current age and the background of the gold list title Tanhualang, it is a sure thing to be among the ministers! Only those who have been a bachelor or a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy are qualified to become the officials of the feudal territory, and even the servants of various ministries, Shangshu, our official position, if we look at it in the long run, will not lose to the official position of the experience of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the left temple of Dali Temple. Ding Shaoshi said.

When Zhou Rupan heard this, he nodded in agreement, "This is a good location!" ”

"But that's not in order! He is a new science detective, a person who has only been in the office for more than a month, why does he hold such a glorious official position as a bachelor in the Hanlin Academy? What should the old people who have been in the Hanlin Academy for more than ten years and decades think? Zhu Yanxi objected: "As soon as this case is opened, I will have to make a fuss here!" The officials of the Ministry of Rites will not be convinced! Besides, Wei Bao just beat a group of high-ranking Donglin officials in the palace, if I do this, won't so many Donglin officials who hate Wei Bao also have to be chilled? ”

"It's because this matter can only be done by you, and Wei Bao is not stupid, so he will naturally thank Lord Jifu for his kindness! In that case, even if Wei Zhongxian wanted to win over Wei Bao, it would be difficult to win over! Also, as for the Donglin officials, can we explain separately that Wei Bao is a person admired by the emperor, can he be brought down casually? Since we can't move it, why not use it for me, in this way, we will also add a lot of chips to deal with Wei Zhongxian and the Hakka family! Ding Shaoshi said.

Zhou Rupan agreed, "Lord Cifu, don't hesitate, you think, the future is still far away, Wei Bao is only 15 years old, if you want to be a cabinet minister, at least thirty years away, 15 years later, in another fifteen years, we old guys are still alive and not sure, it's not interesting to worry about things so far away now." Wei Bao has the official position of a bachelor in the Hanlin Academy, not only is it difficult for Wei Zhongxian to win over Wei Bao, because Wei Bao's foundation is becoming more and more stable, and Wei Bao does not have to be Wei Zhongxian's minion! ”

"I know what you say, but how can I convince the people?" Zhu Yanxi waved his hand and said: "Forget it, the old man has never done anything against his will in his life, and it is too impolite to reward a new official who has only been in the office for more than a month." ’

"Then they made an exception to reward Wei Bao for serving as the experience of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the official position of the Zuo Si Cheng of Dali Temple, is it in line with the etiquette system? We just do things too much to take into account the overall situation, are timid, and do not make good use of power by the eunuch party, so we often encounter constraints in doing things, if we continue to be so passive, we are waiting to be driven out of Beijing by Wei Zhongxian. Zhou Rupan said.

"Yes, I believe that as long as we make it clear to the Donglin officials, they can understand! Besides, Wei Bao was born in Tanhualang, and he was given by His Majesty with a five-grade service, so his bachelor's degree in Hanlin Academy and his normally promoted bachelor in Hanlin Academy cannot be regarded in the same way. This is a special case! It's a special thing. Ding Shaoshi also echoed.

Zhou Rupan and Ding Shaoshi are both quite upright, and they rarely come up with such outrageous ideas, although Zhu Yanxi is decent and stubborn, he was also moved by the two of them, "Okay, then later, I will propose it to Shoufu and add this piece of invitation to the ticket!" ”

Zhou Rupan and Ding Shaoshi both laughed, and the two nodded together, as if in this way, Wei Bao would become their Donglin person.

Although the bachelor of the Hanlin Academy is only from the fifth grade, the official rank cannot catch up with the official position of the experience of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the left temple of Dali Temple, the experience of the experience of the Metropolitan Procuratorate is the sixth grade, and the left temple of Dali Temple is the fifth grade.

However, the glory of being a bachelor in the Hanlin Academy is not trivial!