Chapter 78 Prince Rumors

Because Ma Shiying did not agree to Ruan Dacheng's large-scale revenge plan, he finally asked for an order to behead the monk named "Dabei"; even the two ministers Qian Qianyi and Shen Shaofang who were implicated in the case only let them go Sparse from Chen, explained the reason, and did not go into it further; therefore, in the first month and February of the first year of Hongguang, the political situation in Nanjing was generally calm.During this period, Ruan Dacheng's official position was changed from the right minister of the Ministry of War to the Minister of the Ministry of War. At the same time, the so-called revision of the "Three Dynasties Essential Code", which is actually tantamount to overturning the eunuch party's verdict, is intensified.A large number of old people who were listed in the anti-case are also reinstated and promoted. It's really a celebration, so lively!On the contrary, the Donglin faction who had been beaten to pieces in this contest and suffered a crushing defeat had no ability to fight back, so they could only pretend to be deaf and dumb and let it go.

Although the situation in Nanjing was relatively stable, a major change occurred on the front line in Jiangbei—Xingping Bogaojie, the only one who firmly supported Shi Kefa in the military, was killed by his relatives on January 11. Xu Dingguo, who has been waiting for revenge, lures Xu Dingguo into Suizhou City and attacks and kills him in one fell swoop, resulting in a great chaos.Almost all the people inside and outside the city of Suizhou became victims of this mutiny.Xu Dingguo himself fled to the north and surrendered to the Qing Dynasty.When Shi Kefa heard the bad news in Baiyanghe, he was so distressed that he rushed to Xuzhou to deal with it, and managed to appease Gao Jie's rest.Unexpectedly, Jingnan Marquis Huang Degong, who had always been at odds with Gao Jie, left the defense area without authorization and went back to the south in an attempt to occupy Yangzhou, Gao Jie's original residence.Shi Kefa had no choice but to rush back to Yangzhou again, and repeated the righteousness, only then quelled another possible internal massacre.However, in this way, the defense line that the Ming Dynasty had just established on the north bank of the Yellow River was disintegrated.The strategy of attacking and defending that Shi Kefa painstakingly worked out has actually completely failed...

As usual, Emperor Hongguang and Ma Shiying did not take this matter that mattered to the overall situation.Ma Shiying even selfishly rejoiced that Shi Kefa lost Gao Jie as his pillar.Since even the two people with the highest status are at ease, those subjects in Nanjing who don't know the truth naturally have no reason to worry. Perhaps because of this, on the fifth day of March, when Chen Zhenhui went to Changyin Pavilion next to Taoyedu to visit a famous storyteller named Liu Jingting at the invitation of fellow members, what did he hear? Just another street talk. "Hey, brother, I just heard an important piece of news that the crown prince of Emperor Daxing has arrived in Liudu!"

"It turns out that brother only knew about it, and my brother heard it yesterday. I also heard that the prince is now living in Xingshan Temple inside the Shicheng Gate. All civil and military officials lined up to see him. The gate of the temple was filled with sedan horses and guards of honor. There are quite a few people who go to see it.” "So that's it! I just don't know why the crown prince came here until now? Could it be a fake again like the Great Compassionate Monk last time!" "Where are there so many fakes! Didn't you see that all the civil and military officials have gone to pay a visit? The crown prince has only come here now. There are always wars everywhere in the north, and the roads are impassable, so it must be because of the delay!"

"Alright, alright, the crown prince has finally escaped from his troubles and came to the south. Finally, God has a spirit to save this holy vein for Emperor Daxing!" "Longxin is very happy to hear that today's reward has been reported. Now the whole city is saying that today's prince will recognize the crown prince as his own son, and maybe he will give way to him!" "Ah, there is such a happy event! Why don't I go and see it, if I look up to the sky, it is also a good fortune in this life!" ... Listening to these discussions, Chen Zhenhui was not surprised.Because following the Great Compassionate Monk two months ago, another rumor about the descendants of Emperor Chongzhen coming from the south was no longer news to him.What he learned was more and more accurate than the street talk just now.For example, this "Prince" did not just come from the north and the south, but had already arrived in Hangzhou, and was recently sent by the emperor to pick him up in Nanjing.Another example, the prince is no longer in Xingshan Temple, but was taken into the palace the next night.Therefore, those who still want to visit Shicheng Gate must be in vain.Of course, Chen Zhenhui had no intention of correcting them. On the contrary, it was these premature and too enthusiastic discussions that made him a little uneasy and secretly worried.Because it is clear: the current situation at court is chaotic and complicated enough.Last time, when the Great Compassionate Monk appeared, everyone spread rumors that it was the third son of Emperor Chongzhen, King Ding. They were very excited for a while, but in the end, the court declared it to be a fake.Dabei himself lost his head because of this, and it almost turned into a big prison.Regardless of the truth of the case, one thing is clear: the remnants of the eunuchs are planning to seek revenge.Not only will they not tolerate any situation that is unfavorable to them, but they will also take the opportunity to counterattack and beat them back.What's more, this time it is said that it is the "Prince", who has legal qualifications that Emperor Hongguang cannot compete with in the succession to the throne, and the "reverse case" back then was decided by his father, Emperor Chongzhen. If it is not good, the situation will become more chaotic, and the battle between the opposing parties may become more intense.Originally, Chen Zhenhui also longed for a major change in the court situation, but today, she still has to think about the situation facing the entire south of the Yangtze River and the serious threat from the Qing army in the north.It is not difficult to see from the continuous news that an unprecedentedly huge, tragic, and life-and-death struggle is imminent.In this case, if internal chaos arises, what will be the consequences? Is it a good thing or a bad thing?It was this kind of hidden worry that made Chen Zhenhui fall into repeated and uneasy thoughts for two days in a row. Even up to this moment, she was still not sure how to deal with it.

Now, Chen Zhenhui has come to Changyin Pavilion.Counting it, since Liu Jingting left Nanjing two years ago, Chen Zhenhui has never been to this famous storytelling venue.Moreover, not only him, probably many listeners who were fascinated by this place in the past, no longer come.It's strange to say, don't look at Liu Jingting as a black and ugly ugly old man with a pockmarked face, looks rustic and unattractive, but as long as he sits on the podium, the gavel slaps , that kind of vigor, that poor narrative ability, and that sensational witticism made him seem like a completely different person.Almost everyone who has heard Liu Jingting's storytelling has not been conquered by his miraculously changing three-inch tongue and a pair of small but energetic eyes that are always shining with sly and lively light.As a result, not only ordinary citizens are crazy about it, but even those high-ranking officials, beauties and celebrities do not hesitate to lower their dignity, visit their door again and again, or pay a lot of money to treat them as guests.For this reason, Liu Jingting became famous a long time ago and became a leader in the Jiangnan art scene.However, what is even more surprising is that two years ago, Liu Jingting suddenly arrived in Wuchang, and for some reason, he became an aide of Zuo Liangyu, who had been promoted to "Ningnanhou".Right now, when the situation in the imperial court was quite delicate, he suddenly returned to Nanjing.This cannot but arouse the great interest of Fushe community members.In fact, in May last year, when Emperor Hongguang's imperial edict arrived in Wuchang, it is said that Zuo Liangyu refused to accept it for a while, and was reluctantly accepted after repeated persuasion by Yuan Jixian, the governor of Jianghu.Therefore, in private, the community members have always regarded Zuo Liangyu as the reliable military support of the Donglin faction; and the appearance of Liu Jingting is naturally regarded as another person to connect feelings and deliver news after Huang Shu. special character.

When Chen Zhenhui stepped into the gate of Changyin Pavilion, and under the guidance of the servants, walked through the front room with a circle of benches and a pulpit, and came to the courtyard, she found Gu Gao and Mei Lang Zhong, Yu Huai, Zuo Guofen, Shen Shizhu and other community members, as well as Huang Zongxi's younger brother Huang Zonghui, were sitting around a stone table under an old mulberry tree, talking with Liu Jingting.Seeing Chen Zhenhui walking in, they stopped talking, stood up together, and greeted him. Since she hadn't seen Liu Jingting for several years, Chen Zhenhui couldn't help but take a few extra glances at this strange man while exchanging greetings.He found that Liu Jingting hadn't changed much compared to the past, he still had a smiling expression neither overbearing nor humble, and was still dressed in half-literate half-wild clothes, as if he had never left Liudu at all, nor had he experienced anything unusual Like an adventure. "I heard that when he came back this time, even Ma Shiying and his like did not dare to neglect him. They specially sent someone to invite him and called him 'General Liu' over and over again. I didn't expect that he still had such an air of flattery, but it was rare. " Chen Zhenhui couldn't help admiring secretly, and when she heard Yu Huai urging him to sit down, she sat down on an empty stone pier.

"Hey, Dad Liu," Yu Huai turned his face away, and looked at the master with a smile, "You haven't answered just now—I just heard that Dad, you became Zuo Ningnan's 'guest of the show', but I don't know whether it's the 'outside story' or the 'inside story'?" Liu Jingting's eyes flickered between his eyelids, and then he smiled more happily than Yu Huai: "To tell you the truth, since the little old man has entered the scene, he also has the intention to ignore his 'outside' and 'inside' , It's all wrapped up in one brain. But the host just thinks my big black pockmarked face is not pleasing to the eye, and refuses to invite me into the "inside scene" that is so fragrant and ecstasy, so I have to do it in the "outside scene" !"

"Ah," Yu Huai exclaimed in a fuss, "for such a stunning beauty that everyone loves like Dad, the old Zuo actually only cares about the 'outside', it can be said that he has no eyes!" Liu Jingting nodded, and said solemnly: "That's right, that's right, if my old Liu arrives in the Raksha Kingdom, he will indeed be a stunning beauty, and not only a stunning beauty, he must also be a rich man!" "Ah, why must he be a millionaire?" Mei Langzhong asked in bewilderment. "Aha, when the time comes, this old face will be worth a fortune! I'm afraid you will have to desperately beg me to betray you. For old friendship, Lao Liu will be cheaper. A black pockmark?" No more, no less, just sell it for ten taels of silver! The thing on my face, at least a thousand, is ten thousand taels of income, and I can’t escape it! Rich man?"

It has become a habit for everyone to mess around with him every time they come, and Liu Jingting always has new ideas emerging in his belly, and he will never disappoint everyone.This time was no exception. Before he finished speaking, some people couldn't help laughing, and when he finished speaking, everyone burst into laughter. Chen Zhenhui didn't smile.He still remembers, just over two months ago, in the warm pavilion of Dingjiahe House, how dejected the commune members were to drink away their sorrows.In fact, just three days ago, the situation had not changed.However, the atmosphere right now was completely different. Everyone showed a relaxed and cheerful look that they hadn't seen for a long time, as if the day's gloom had dissipated.Needless to say, this was due to knowing that the prince had arrived in Nanjing, and had a premonition that the court situation might turn around.However, will there really be a turning point?At least Chen Zhenhui herself is not optimistic about this. "Hmph, you must know that it's not like the time when Yili Xinjun was established, and Ma Yaocao is not Shi Daolin! If you think that once the prince arrives, they will obediently submit, and Jiangnan will not be in the situation it is today!" He thought with a wry smile.In order not to let this kind of emotion bother him too much, he looked at Liu Jingting when the laughter of the friends in the company stopped, and asked:

"I heard that my father has traveled westward to Wuchang in recent years and entered the curtain for Zuo Ningnan. I wonder if there is such a thing?" Hearing his question, the members of the club were slightly taken aback for a while, and then they couldn't help laughing again. Mei Langzhong tugged at his sleeve and said, "Dingsheng, what's wrong with you? Isn't everyone talking about this?" Liu Jingting was also smiling at first, but when he saw Chen Zhenhui looking at him solemnly, he suppressed his smile, nodded and said, "It's true that Xiao Lao has arrived in Wuchang, but it's not true that he's in the curtain, it's just that the host has taken a fancy to the pockmarked two pieces Literally, let him relieve his boredom when he is free!" "Then, according to my father's giant eyes, what kind of person is Zuo Ningnan? Is it true that he is an extraordinary person who knows loyalty?" "This——Xiao Lao has lived there for nearly three years, so he naturally knows something about the situation. However, he can't describe it in one word..." Liu Jingting narrowed his eyes and stroked his chin slowly as he replied. The few white beards under his head seem to be recalling the experience of the past few years, "Well, if it is said that the old man was ordered by his late General Du to meet with Zuo Ningnan to talk about things and resolve the disputes between the two, that would be absolutely amazing. It's a good passage to close eyes, and you can get a glimpse of Ningnanhou's personality..." "Oh, then..." Liu Jingting nodded: "Speaking of which, it was the summer of the year before last..." Before he could finish the second sentence, Yu Huai who had been rolling his eyes suddenly jumped up, "Hey, wait a minute!" He stopped excitedly and said, "Dad said just now, this is an excellent passage." Shut up, why don't you just invite him to come on stage and give a lecture, so that I can have a good time waiting for my ears?" When everyone heard it, they all applauded.Liu Jingting blinked his eyes, as if he was also tickled by this suggestion.He smiled slightly: "Forget it, then I will make a fool of myself. Please!" As he spoke, he stood up, and the overjoyed members of the club hurriedly followed him.Only Chen Zhenhui was a little dazed by the sudden booing, and felt that it was quite different from her original intention to have a serious conversation.But when he saw the friends talking and laughing, he knew it would be useless to stop him, so he stood up silently, followed everyone, and walked to the front hall together.