In the East Pavilion. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

Zhang Siwei asked Dong Zhongshu: "What does the Queen Mother have to say to Ben Fu when she sends someone?" ”

Dong Zhongshu said: "The Queen Mother said that recently, there has been a lot of public opinion in the government and the opposition, and there is a tendency to use King Lu's wedding to accuse Your Majesty. The Queen Mother is worried that there will be a change in the court situation, and the ministers want to take the opportunity to make trouble? ”

When Zhang Siwei heard this, he thought about it and said: "When I told the Queen Mother, I said that Benfu did not handle it well, so as to alarm the Queen Mother, which is really a dereliction of duty on the part of Benfu." However, it is inevitable that the government and the opposition will talk about it, but it will not hurt the Queen Mother and His Majesty's sage, and such untruths will do its best to appease and repay the Queen Mother's kindness. But at present, the situation is still under the control of Benfu, please rest assured that the Queen Mother. ”

Dong Zhongshu said that it was a voice, and was about to go out, Zhang Siwei replied: "Slow, this assistant is still a handwritten letter, explain clearly." ”

After Zhang Siwei finished writing the letter, he asked Dong Zhongshu to take it and hand it to the internal officials.

Dong Zhongshu soon returned to the East Pavilion and said, "Yuanfu, the letter has been sent and stuffed with five hundred taels. The internal official said that he would do his best to say good things about Yuanfu in front of the Queen Mother. ”

Zhang Siwei nodded slowly.

Dong Zhongshu sneered: "Queen Mother, Your Majesty finally understands that you have to use the cabinet to suppress hundreds of officials, instead of using the cabinet to contain the cabinet as you did at the beginning." But now I realize that it's not too late to understand. ”

In Dong Zhongshu's words, there was a sense of evil.

Hearing this, Zhang Siwei looked at the empty Huangji Gate Square by the window, as well as the Guiji Gate in the distance: "Zhang Xueyan has a sentence that speaks to the bottom of Benfu's heart. ”

"What did Xiangye say?"

"He said, "When officials are in our position, they have no power in their hands, and they are no different from death."

Dong Zhongshu heard the words and said: "This is even reasonable. Therefore if I do not kill, they will kill me. ”

Zhang Siwei nodded slowly and asked, "Is there a letter from home?" ”

Dong Zhongshu said: "Zhang Shun came back from his hometown just now, and he said that the second master had invited a famous doctor to treat the old lady, and it cost tens of thousands of taels of silver just for the precious medicinal materials. However, the second master said that there is no incurable disease in the world, and please prepare as soon as possible. ”

Zhang Siwei said: "It is also necessary to take precautions, and the auxiliary system must be kept for twenty-seven months, and the affairs of the court cannot be released." ”

Dong Zhongshu suggested: "If the prime minister abides by the system, the court will definitely promote the cabinet ministers, and the cabinet ministers should not be neglected." There are also 27 months that the prime minister has been absent from the court, and the big and small things must be taken care of by Shen Shixing. ”

At this time, the outside said: "Xiangye, Li Zhi, Jiangdongzhi and Kedao officials are asking to see outside." ”

Hearing these names, Zhang Siwei also didn't want to pay attention to them.

Dong Zhongshu said: "Xiangye, they are your protégés, it's better to see them." ”

Gyeongin Palace.

Jingren Palace is one of the six palaces in the east, and it has always been lived by harem concubines. However, because Hu Shanxiang, the first queen of Ming Xuanzong, was abolished, she lived in this palace, so the concubines in the palace always thought that this palace was unlucky and did not like to live in this palace.

Therefore, Jingren Palace was given to Concubine Wang Gong, who had just given birth to the emperor's eldest son.

At present, the Son of Heaven is visiting the eldest son of the emperor in Jingren Palace, and Concubine Wang Gong and the people in the palace are all respectfully serving the marquis.

The Son of Heaven glanced at Concubine Gong beside him, frowned, he only had lust for Concubine Gong at the beginning, but he had no affection. After Lin Xing, Concubine Gong was conceived as the emperor's heir, so the Son of Heaven was forced by the Queen Mother and hundreds of officials to recognize Concubine Gong's identity.

This is of course a big loss of face for the emperor, Concubine Gong is still his mother's maidservant, and it is inevitable that she will be said to be a lewd (Xiehe) messy mother and maid by rappers.

But now that the emperor's eldest son was born and the whole country celebrated, he also had to accept the identity of Concubine Gong. Even as an emperor, he had to 'deign' and try to re-admit Concubine Gong.

But the Son of Heaven hugged the eldest son of the emperor, and when he glanced at Concubine Gong beside him, he was bored in his heart.

This is annoying, firstly, because of Concubine Gong's low status, she has nothing to say to her on weekdays.

The second is because Concubine Gong and the concubines in the harem are always like this, and they are all obedient to him on the face, but because of his identity as the son of heaven in his heart, he is finally distancing, alienated, and even vigilant in his heart.

Every word they said to the Son of Heaven was thought about several times, and they were careful for fear of offending, and they lacked a lot of sincerity. In the harem, only the sincere and straightforward Concubine Zheng gave the Son of Heaven a different feeling.

In fact, the Son of Heaven is also self-deprecating, not to mention the concubines, and the ministers are not the same.

The Son of Heaven handed over the emperor's eldest son to the palace maid on the side, but he thought of the affairs of the court in his heart, and the ministers who could really consider the Jiangshan Sheji and not take my joy and anger as the migration, I am afraid that the only ones who have passed away are Zhang Juzheng, Yan Qing, Hai Rui, and Lin Yanchao.

There may be other ministers, but I'm not sure. Be that as it may, such a minister is really ...... Sometimes it's too faceless.

The Son of Heaven sighed when he thought of this, and suddenly felt that he was not interested, and got up immediately.

Concubine Gong saw that the Son of Heaven wanted to leave, so she hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, don't you stay here to eat with the concubine?" ”

The Son of Heaven waved his hand and said, "No, I still have to go to Concubine Zheng to sit down." ”

Concubine Gong had a disappointed look on her face, and then hugged the eldest son from the palace maid's hand and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, Luo'er still hasn't said goodbye to your father yet." ”

The Son of Heaven can see clearly, and when he is on the throne, he is easier to see through people's hearts than others, but he is also easier to be deceived by others. However, Concubine Gong's little caution escaped his eyes, but after all, he still had a family affection for the emperor's eldest son.

The Son of Heaven smiled at the emperor's eldest son and said, "I will come to see your mother and son in a few days." ”

At this moment, Zhang Whale asked to see him.

As soon as the Son of Heaven saw Zhang Whale, he asked, "How?" Did Lin Yanchao write a defense? ”

Zhang Whale immediately knelt in front of the Son of Heaven, offering a book and silk with both hands, but his head was lowered: "Your Majesty, the slave is incompetent." ”

"This Lin Yanchao has failed my kindness again and again? Does he really want to learn from Hai Jui? The Son of Heaven was full of anger, took the book from Zhang Whale's hand, glanced at it, and then said on the spot: "This is a blood admonition? ”

Zhang Whale kept kowtowing and repeatedly, the slave is incompetent, and the slave should die.

The Son of Heaven unfolded the blood book, read it word by word, and was about to speak after reading it, but found that his voice was hoarse, like something swallowed in his throat, so that he could not say a word.

It took a while for the Son of Heaven to recover, and then he said, "Let him go." I won't give him another chance in the future. ”

Zhang Whale said: "Yes." ”

At this time, Concubine Wang Gong patted the eldest son of the emperor. The eldest son of the emperor suddenly began to cry.

The Son of Heaven heard the emperor's eldest son crying, and suddenly remembered that Lin Yanchao had made great contributions in supporting Concubine Gong and the emperor's eldest son, and he was a little hesitant in his heart.

"Swing! Zhang Whale came with me. The Son of Heaven said.

Concubine Wang Gong and the palace maids hurriedly bowed and said, "The concubines send your majesty." ”

The Son of Heaven Feiyun walked on the royal road, and when the palace maids and eunuchs saw the Son of Heaven's royal car, they immediately knelt down beside the road.

The Son of Heaven sat on the Feiyun chariot and closed his eyes and pondered for a while, and then instructed Zhang Whale, who was accompanying him: "Let the Beizhen Fusi not have to interrogate Lin Yanchao again, and dismiss Lin Yanchao on the charge of betraying Jun'en and despising the Queen Mother." However, the previous edict to the Lin Mansion and the seal of the shadow will not be taken. ”

"In the past few days, there have been too many discussions in the government and the opposition because of Lin Yanchao's neglect, and the case should be closed as soon as possible, and the most important thing is not to disturb the mood of the Queen Mother's birthday."

Zhang Whale said yes, thinking about the Son of Heaven's treatment of Lin Yanchao in his heart.

Not to mention dismissal, cutting off the status of an official is to cut off the identity of an official and become a common person. This is a heavier punishment than degrading officials and being idle. But the Lin Mansion's gifts are all retained, which shows that the Son of Heaven is still kind to Lin Yanchao, which is not the best result, but it is not bad.

Striving for this result, it can be regarded as Zhang Whale worthy of the 10,000 taels of silver sent by Lin Yanchao.

Zhang Whale hurriedly followed the Son of Heaven's Feiyun Yuan and said, "Your Majesty, but judging from the situation of Dongchang's spying in the past few days, the dismissal of Lin Yanchao's official position may not be enough to calm down public opinion in the government and the opposition." ”

The Son of Heaven frowned and said, "How can I forgive Lin Yanchao's capital crime not enough to calm the discussion of the government and the opposition?" Could it be that he wanted to learn from the first emperor to deal with Hai Rui, and keep Lin Yanchao in the edict until the day I died. ”

When the Son of Heaven said this, Zhang Whale was so frightened that his steps were chaotic and he fell to the ground with a pop.

The Son of Heaven couldn't help laughing when he saw it, patted Feiyun's armrest and said, "Look at you so scared, go to the warm pavilion of the Qianqing Palace to talk to me." ”

After going to the warm pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, Zhang Whale served the Son of Heaven to change his clothes and put on swallow clothes.

Zhang Whale carefully combed the sideburns for the Son of Heaven, and the Son of Heaven said with satisfaction: "There are so many eunuchs in the palace, but you still know the most about it." ”

Zhang Jing said with a smile: "The slave has nothing to do, he only knows how to serve the Lord Banzai wholeheartedly." ”

The Son of Heaven smiled and said, "Don't say those beautiful words, what did you tell me that the East Factory has been spying on in the past few days?" ”

Zhang Whale pondered the words and said: "Your Majesty, according to the eyeliner report of Dongchang in various yamen, at present, hundreds of officials in the court are unhappy about Lin Yanchao's affairs, and they continue to put pressure on Yantai and the cabinet, which means to release Lin Yanchao, and secretly wants Your Majesty, the Queen Mother will reduce the fee for King Lu's wedding, and stop liquidation...... Traitorous party. ”

Zhang Whale glanced at the face of the Son of Heaven.

Now Zhang Juzheng's matter has now become a reverse scale in the heart of the Son of Heaven.

The Son of Heaven has all kinds of feelings about Zhang Juzheng, which is very complicated and difficult to describe in words. The respect and fear of the Son of Heaven when he was young, the jealousy and hatred in the later years, and now the guilt and pity.

Such complex feelings, even the Son of Heaven doesn't understand, sometimes the expression is joy, sometimes the expression is anger.

The moodiness of Zhang Juzheng's matter made the people beside the Son of Heaven afraid that they would accidentally touch the scales in the heart of the Son of Heaven and lead to death.

Therefore, Zhang Juzheng's name, as well as his affairs, must not be mentioned in front of the Son of Heaven.

This is different from Lin Yanchao, Zhang Whale understands that although the Son of Heaven is very angry with Lin Yanchao now, he still admires Lin Yanchao's backbone of being a Confucian minister and loyal in his heart.

Otherwise, he would not have been silent for a long time after seeing Lin Yanchao's blood book.

On the contrary, if Lin Yanchao really wrote a defense, although the Son of Heaven can dissipate his anger at Lin Yanchao, he cannot really regard such a minister who cannot hold his position as an equal status.

The Son of Heaven said in a deep voice: "I remember that Lin Yanchao played the music at the beginning, sent the concert to the General Affairs Department, copied it to the Huijimen Clerk's Office, and then let the Yanjing Times publish it in full. With his reputation as the third and first generation, the reputation of the current Wenzong, as well as the running of students and colleagues, he wanted to coerce public opinion to make me comply. ”

"The so-called pen can beat a million soldiers, and this is not the case. Now that the officials and the hearts of the people are on Lin Yanchao's side, what should I do? ”

Zhang Jing said on the side: "Your Majesty, Lin Yanchao can have a few catties and a few taels, Your Majesty is the Supreme of the Ninety-Five, and the hearts of the people will always be on Your Majesty's side." ”

The Son of Heaven asked rhetorically, "What about the Queen Mother?" ”

Zhang Whale was speechless for a while, and then hurriedly remedied: "The Queen Mother is the Virgin, standing on Her Majesty's side and the Queen Mother's side." ”

The Son of Heaven ignored Zhang Jing's words and asked rhetorically: "Since the hundred officials oppose me and the Queen Mother in this matter, do Zhang Siwei and Shen Shixing also oppose me and the Queen Mother?" ”

Zhang Whale said: "As far as the minions know, the first assistant and the second assistant are trying their best to appease the hundred officials for His Majesty. ”

The Son of Heaven was suspicious: "Really? Zhang Siwei was forced to resign at the beginning, because I indulged in the suppression of the cabinet power, will he still be dissatisfied with me? And although Shen Shixing is my teacher, he is...... He should also hope that I will end the liquidation of the old party early. ”

Zhang Whale said: "It is precisely because of this that they dare not be dissatisfied with Your Majesty." ”

"Don't talk about it, tell me the truth."

Zhang Whale lowered his head and said: "Your Majesty, the slave thinks that Zhang Puzhou's current position as the first assistant is unstable, if he doesn't try his best to appease the hundred officials for His Majesty, then Your Majesty can let Shen Ge Lao replace him as the first assistant at any time." ”

"On the other hand, the old Shen Pavilion is a minister of the old party, and now the wind of suppressing Zhang Dang in the court has not passed, he will never dare to act rashly at this time, otherwise Zhang Puzhou will use this to kick him out of the cabinet at any time."

"It is precisely because of the discord between the two that he can only gain a foothold in the cabinet with the support of His Majesty."

To control with mutual checks and balances, this is the emperor's mental technique. The discord between the first assistant and the second assistant is what the Son of Heaven likes to see, and if the two of them are of the same heart, the Son of Heaven will have a headache.

The Son of Heaven nodded, but hesitated: "But what if the two of them secretly ventilate in advance?" ”

Zhang Whale smiled and said: "That's not it, it was Zhang Siwei who presided over the liquidation of Feng Bao at the beginning, and now he won't turn around and look for the old party." What's more, Zhang Puzhou is the queen mother, a fellow villager of Wuqing Marquis, at least he will not oppose the queen mother in the matter of King Lu's wedding. ”

As soon as Zhang Whale finished speaking, he immediately regretted it, he peeked at the face of the Son of Heaven, and he was really unhappy.

Cold sweat fell on Zhang Whale's forehead, and his body trembled slightly, but the Son of Heaven said with a smile: "The cabinet has the responsibility of ruling hundreds of officials, Zhang Siwei, Shen Shixing has done a very good job in this matter, and the will of the three auxiliary ministers will be rewarded with gold, silver and silk to thank them for their hard work." ”

Zhang Whale's vest was soaked, and he immediately said yes.

The Son of Heaven said: "But it's not enough to rely on the three auxiliary ministers to appease the hundred officials, you Jinyiwei and Dongchang are also keeping an eye on me, don't let the ministers make trouble." The last time a scholar knocked at the Donghua Gate, it must not be repeated. In addition, let the Beizhen Fusi close the case as soon as possible on Lin Yanchao's advice, so that public opinion will naturally calm down. ”