Chapter 4 The fourth round: the new emperor's heavenly prison releases the old minister's old enemy and listens to the prank

The national mourning on the 27th finally passed quietly amidst grief, uneasiness, and tension. On the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month, under the leadership of Yongzheng, the princes and grandchildren performed a kowtow ceremony in front of Emperor Kangxi’s Zigong. To the Shouhuang Palace to worship the coffin of Anting.Because it is not yet one month, the hairpin tassels on the hats of the kings, dukes, Baylor, Beizi, and civil and military officials cannot be worn yet, but the coffin shed in front of the Qianqing Palace has been removed, and the white gauze lanterns hanging in front of thousands of households in the palace have also been removed. Li Dequan, the eunuch of Liugongdu, together with officials from the Ritual and Funeral Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, took off the lanterns and replaced them with yellow gauze palace lanterns.The palace was re-arranged, and the original atmosphere of desolation, chilling, and mourning suddenly disappeared by more than half.Since Kangxi became seriously ill in mid-October, the twenty-two elder princes couldn't take off their clothes and served them day and night. First they went to the Changchun Garden and then to the Forbidden City. They "soaked" for more than a month. Even though they are strong and strong, they are all unkempt, their faces are blue, and they can't lift their spirits like frost-beaten grass.Everyone was preoccupied with their own concerns, and followed Yongzheng Luanyu's footsteps chaotically. They all heaved a sigh of relief when they watched Yongzheng Yu drive into the Rijing Gate. It's good to have a good sleep, but the emperor has no will, so he has to wait.The tenth elder brother Yun'e is restless for a moment, rubbing his hands and stomping his feet to keep warm, hey?Looking at the sky with his nose up, he chatted up with this elder brother for a while, and then ran to the group of eunuchs and asked: "Is there a hand stove?" General, is it colder in this place, or is it colder in West Datong?"

"It's cold." Yunyu looked at the palace gate and said wistfully, "The military tents in my camp are made of double-layer cowhide blankets, and there are fire dragons strung on the ground, so it's very warm. When it comes to the outside, it's far from here. If you spit before it hits the ground, it will freeze and be smashed to pieces—like you, wearing a lynx monkey fur robe and running around in the cold, don’t go west for the rest of your life.” "It's cold—not bad!" Yun'e said with a grin, "but there is a difference inside. For example, the emperor, the old Shisan, Longkodo, and Zhang Tingyu are all eating fragrant tea and drinking ginseng in the warm upper study. Soup. As for us, we have to obediently drink the northwest wind in this icy world. A father is born, and his life is different!" Yunyu tasted the meaning of his words, and said with a smile: "The separation between monarchs and ministers is so close. Of course." Yun'e snorted, and said: "That's natural, that's natural! In the past, Sun Hao surrendered to the Emperor of Jin, and during the banquet, he sang, 'I used to be your neighbor, but now I am your minister. Toast you a glass of wine and congratulate you Wannianchun!' You clear your throat, in another twenty days, it will be the first day of the Lunar New Year, and the emperor will receive a congratulatory banquet in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and you will be guaranteed to be a prince!" Yunyu replied, shrank his head and stomped his feet, and jumped to another place.Everyone chatted in threes or fives, or discussed privately, and they were waiting for nothing. Yun'e clapped his hands and said, "Yajing! The order of kindness has come! Let us go back to the house immediately, shave our heads and wash our feet, and sleep with Fujin and Meimei'er in our arms." Big head!" Yunhu, who was standing on the palace wall and groaning silently, looked up, but Xing Nian, the eunuch of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, came with a group of Su La eunuchs, and stood at the Rijing Sect.

"My lords," Xing Nian saw that everyone was about to kneel reluctantly, and hurriedly said: "Long live Lord ordered to excuse me. The master knows that you are tired, but you still have some important matters, and you want to have a heart-to-heart talk with you. Please come here The Hall of Mental Cultivation is waiting for you. The master is meeting someone, and he will be down in an hour, please be patient for a while, the master and the men will come in together for lunch." After a few words, everyone was discouraged, so they had to drag their feet like lead. , meandering out of Yongxiang, crossing Tianjie, and then passing through Yuehuamen from Xiyongxiang to the Hall of Mental Cultivation and waiting.

Xing Nian passed the decree and came back. He watched the elder brothers listlessly enter the Chuihua Gate of the Hall of Mental Cultivation from the Yuehua Gate, and then went to hand in the decree. I saw Long Kedo, Zhang Tingyu, Ma Qi, Wang Zhen and a dozen others. Officials all stand in front of the eaves.Xing Nian sighed in his heart: "It's true that the emperor and the courtiers. When the late emperor was here, he would never let these courtiers stand outside to suffer from the cold..." Thinking, he walked up to Ma Qi and Wang Jian, and beat them A thousand children said: "Greetings to the two lords! The two old lords have been imprisoned in the prison temple for a year, and they look good! This time, the new master said that he would follow the emperor's last order and let him go. The elders come out. The nobles are tortured, and the future blessings are endless, and the younger ones are also happy for the adults!" Looking at the next dozen or so people, although they are not familiar with each other, they know that they were all imprisoned by Kangxi, and Yongzheng had just pardoned them. Xing Nian also saluted in groups, and said with a smile: "The adults are blessed!"

"Is it Xingnian outside?" Yongzheng's voice came from the upper study, "Come in." Xing Nian hurriedly agreed, and lifted the thick cotton curtain to come in, and a warm current rushed towards his face immediately.When he looked intently, Yongzheng was sitting according to the case, wearing a red-colored red silk gown dyed with fox fur, a yellow mink coat, and a yellow crepe girdle around his waist, sipping tea and meditating.There were two people kneeling down, but they both recognized that they were Qian Yundou and Cai Huaixi from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who sent them to pick up Yunxi that day, and it was his own decree.Because he didn't know what Yongzheng called them to say, Xing Nian didn't dare to say a word, poured a cup of hot milk for Yongzheng, bowed and stepped aside.But I heard Cai Huaixi say: "The Fourteenth Master has been very peaceful all the way. The servants never expected that the Fourteenth Master would suddenly change his sex after entering Beijing and cause such a big trouble. These are all the slaves. If you don’t do your job well, please ask the Lord Long Live to punish you!”

Yongzheng stood up, took a few steps, took a sip of the milk, and said with a smile: "I just asked in vain, and there is no other meaning. If he is willing to obey the order and come to Beijing safely, your errands will be considered good." , Your fourteenth master is already high-tempered, but when you meet the emperor Amaron as a guest, you feel anxious, and your words and actions will inevitably go too far. I summoned you to tell you that whatever the fourteenth master said on the road, no matter whether it is good or bad, Don’t pass it on to the outside world.” He quickly withdrew his smile, with a faint light in his eyes, gritted his fine white teeth and said, “Speaking out is to instigate discord between my family and my family. Has anyone asked you about these things after Beijing?" Cai Huaixi hurriedly kowtowed and said: "The slave came back and was ordered by the constitution to go to the Ministry of Rites to help with this year's Enke. He was so busy that no one came to inquire about gossip. The slave is a person who knows the rules, and he doesn't dare to talk nonsense." Qian Yundou also said: "The slave doesn't dare to talk nonsense." Yongzheng smiled and said, "That's good. Xing Nian told the Ministry of Internal Affairs that the two will be increased by one level. Give money and food for one year." When Qian and Cai quit, Yong Zhengfang asked Xing Nian, "Have they all passed?"

"Yes!" Xing Nian hurriedly apologized with a smile, "The slave came to answer the master after watching the men enter the Hall of Mental Cultivation." Yongzheng nodded and said, "I can't keep them waiting, you just follow me!" Xing Nian hurriedly said: "The servant just came in, and there are many officials standing under the corridor! Master, don't see me before we go?" "Oh!" Yongzheng seemed a little surprised, stood up and looked out through the glass, and said to Xing Nian, "You ask Long Kedo to come in!" Longkodo came in. He was a strong man in his fifties, wearing a gown with nine pythons and five claws, a dark red face under the coral roof, and a short figure that seemed to have endless energy. Flicked the horseshoe sleeves, knelt down and kowtowed: "Slave Long Kedo kowtows to the Lord Long Live!"

"Uncle, don't be like this, get up, and I will avoid the word 'slave' when I see you later." "I dare not!" "Why don't you dare?" Yongzheng said with a smile, "Since I call you that, you deserve it." Seeing Long Ke standing up, Yongzheng said again: "I have to say a few words about uncle. Tingyu is a Han Chen, be careful in everything, it’s okay. You are now the head minister of the study room, and the admiral of the Nine Gates, my dear relatives and trustworthy ministers, you should think about everything for me and take care of me."

Long Keduo glanced at Yongzheng with piercing eyes, then hurriedly lowered his head and said, "Please expressly, the emperor, that I will obey the order!" Yongzheng pointed out the window and said, "Ma Qi is an old minister of the former emperor. It’s just a scene. Wang Jie is a well-known loyal minister and a master who taught me to read. Some of these dozen people were imprisoned unjustly, and some were just wronged in official business and were punished regularly. I rule the world with benevolence and filial piety, of course They should be pardoned to come out. How can you treat them as ordinary prisoners? On the side of the study room, I occupy the room to talk to people, and the other side approves the room. There is plenty of room in the copy room, so I can't make room for them to go in. Take a rest. Standing in the windy place under the eaves in such a cold day!" Long Kedo apologized and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, they just came out of prison, and they went to the upper study to report to the leader. The servant and Tingyu advised them to stay Yujia’s living room is waiting temporarily, they heard that the emperor is here, no one is going to keep warm, they are all waiting outside, wanting to see you..." Only then did Xing Nian understand that Yongzheng did not know that there were so many people waiting outside in the cold See, hurriedly came over to put on the big clothes for Yongzheng, and followed Yongzheng out of the upper study room with Longkodo. A dozen ministers standing in a row in the corridor saw Yongzheng come out, "suddenly" knelt down together, kowtowed and shouted :

"Long live!" Yongzheng seemed very moved, his pale face was flushed, he only nodded slightly to Zhang Tingyu who was kneeling in front, walked a few steps quickly, helped Ma Qi with one hand, and Wang Jian with the other, ordered everyone to get up without courtesy, and said: " Master Wang, why do you do this? Even if the Son of Heaven pays homage to his teacher, I should kneel twice and kowtow six times to you! You are all people who the late emperor relied heavily on. Not in Liubu, not in Jiuqing, but in Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment. I didn't understand it at the time, but after thinking about it, I was referring to you. I obeyed the last emperor's last order and pardoned you. I want to refresh politics, clarify the administration of officials, and rely on you more These old people—in this way, you should talk to Uncle Longkodo and Tingyu first, take a month off to take care of your private affairs, and there will be an order for you.”

Among the people present, Ma Qi was Kangxi's minister of the upper study and the minister of the guards. He was deposed because he had protected the eighth elder brother Yunyu as the prince of the East Palace. The officer went to jail.The rest, such as Zhang Tinglu, Xu Yuanmeng, Wang Hongxu, Ertai, etc., were ministers of the Ministry, or ministers of the hall, all of whom were capable officials of the Xi Dynasty. Everyone felt a grievance in their hearts and wanted to see the new emperor to complain .Hearing that the first emperor had such a will, everyone was so moved that they burst into tears and fell to the ground to meet each other loudly.Wang Jie was the first one who couldn't hold on, so he wailed loudly! "My lords," Ting Yu, a very scheming person, knew that Yongzheng still had important matters, and hurriedly said: "The emperor still has to go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to read the booklets and discuss matters. First, please enter the upper study room and let us chat, and then please order, I How about taking all of you to the Shouhuang Hall to meet the Holy Ancestor Zigong in front of the late emperor's spirit?" "There is no need to ask for an order anymore," Yongzheng nodded and sighed, "just do as Tingyu said. Long Ke will send the newly minted Yongzheng money to the Hall of Mental Cultivation in a short while, and the Ministry of Rites will invite Enke's notes. And hand it over to me." After saying that, he took De Lengtai, Zhang Wuge and a group of guards out of the Yuehua Gate, and saw that the thirteenth elder brother Yunxiang was already waiting in front of the Chuhua Gate, Yongzheng smiled and said, "Brothers are waiting urgently. Is that enough?" Yun Xiang frowned, his face was in a daze, when he first heard Yong Zheng's question, when he looked up, he was already in front of him, he knelt down in a panic, and said: "The emperor is busy day and night, working for his ministers Wait for a while, how can there be any reason to be in a hurry? The reason why my ministers are waiting for the emperor here is because Sun Jiagan, the head of the household department, and Shangshu Ge Dahun made a big fuss over the matter of casting coins. The Zongmen surrounded tens of hundreds of officials to watch the fun. It’s not a big deal, it’s too inappropriate, so I’m waiting here, this matter has to be reported to the Emperor Ming.” "Where is the person?" Yongzheng asked with an imperceptible twitch of his cheek muscles.Yun Xiang swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and said: "Chen, stop them. Ask Ge Dahun to write the papers and hand them over to the study room to join the surname Sun, and ask Sun Jiagan to be temporarily detained in the guard's room, waiting to be dealt with by the upper study room." Yongzheng smiled coldly, Lifting his feet, he entered the Hanging Flower Gate, and said, "It's ridiculous! A sixth-rank manager dares to make a fuss in the palace—take off his official uniform first, and listen to the investigation!" "Zha!" Yun Xiang hurriedly agreed to get up, told the guards in front of the door to deliver the decree, followed Yongzheng a few steps into the main hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Because of the glare of the snow outside the courtyard, Yongzheng only felt the darkness when he entered the hall, and it took him a while to see clearly. The third elder brother Yunzhi was headed by Yunqi, Yunzuo, Yunyou, Yunyu, Yunyu, Yune, Yunyu, Yunyu, Yunyu knelt in the front row, Yunyu, Yunlu, Yunli, and Yunmi's ten younger brothers knelt in the back row, all on the west side of Xumizuo, kowtowed their heads together, and shouted unevenly: "Long live... ..." "Get up, get up." Yongzheng took a breath in his heart, his tone became unusually kind, and he raised his hands with a smile on his face, "Third brother and younger brothers are exhausted these days. Tired to death. There is no outsider here today. We brothers talked heart-to-heart, and we held back all the words in our hearts when we were given the gift of the monarch and his ministers——Li Dequan, put wooden sticks for everyone to sit on, and put some on the tea table Dessert, bring the palace eunuchs to serve in the East Side Hall!" The eunuchs panicked for a while, set up the tea table, served tea and food, and quietly retreated out.The main hall of the huge Hall of Mental Cultivation fell silent, twenty-one elder brothers were sitting upright, staring intently at this former cold-faced king, today's Ninth Five-Year Lord, I don't know what he has to say; Listening to the monotonous and boring "click" sound of the golden chiming bell in the corner of the hall, it seems to be gathering and parting. "I have been the emperor for a month." Yongzheng looked at the cloudy and sunny sky outside, the snow that was more than a foot thick on the roof and the sparrows foraging in the courtyard, in a daze, as if he was confiding, but also like himself. Talking to himself, he breathed a sigh of relief, "In another twenty days, the yuan will be changed to 'Yongzheng'. Enke is already in preparation, and the edict of the amnesty document has also been drafted. The new money will be presented today. , it will be circulated in the world next year..." The "heart-to-heart talk" actually started here, and the brothers couldn't help but stare.Yun'e couldn't help turning his head to look at Yunhu, then turned around quickly.Yunyu is the leader of Yongzheng's political opponents, and his knowledge is naturally superior to the others. Although his face is calm, his heart sinks. Yongzheng's casual words are actually announcing that the political situation has stabilized, and he will fight for the throne again. , Not only is it treasonous, but it is also futile! "I have already seen the hardships of being an emperor." Yongzheng said without looking at the crowd, "I have been in the mansion for forty-five years, and I have personally witnessed the hardships of the Emperor Daxing in creating a great cause. At that time, I did it in private A poem—hmm..." While recalling, he smiled wryly and recited: Lazy to ask about the ups and downs, while entertaining the flowers and willows. Wu'er plays the phoenix song, and the Yue girl plays the Luanxiao. Daoxu Shanseng visited, and Acer recruited the old man from the wild. The lacquer garden is not what one admires, and one's ambition is at ease. After a short pause, I sighed: "So my ambition has never been about the throne. I never thought that the Emperor's Examination would entrust me with this thousand miles of land! I have been in the mansion for decades, thanks to the blessing of the late emperor, Wealth and glory are not diminished today, but the comfort and comfort are thousands of times less than then. Every time I think about this for a month, I can’t help crying! In this life, I will never think about being happy and happy again!" Said, I don’t know what to say Touching his heart, Yongzheng actually shed tears. All the people present, except Yun Yu, had witnessed the shocking scene on the day of Kangxi's death.One month ago today, the admiral of the Nine Gates, Longkodo, announced in public an edict ordering the fourth son of the last emperor, Yinzhen, to succeed him in the Datong. The Green Camp and Ruijian Camp of the Han Army must not move rashly. The thirteenth elder brother Yunxiang and the seventeenth elder brother went to the Fengtai Camp in person with the gold medal arrows, and brazenly killed the eighth elder brother's cronies. Changchang Chunyuan Bao Yongzheng ascended to the throne... These scenes are still vivid in my mind, but Yongzheng actually said eloquently, "If you want to be happy, don't be an emperor"!Listening to these hypocritical words, Yunyu is more tired than eating flies. Yunyu, who is next to him, glances at the fire, but at this time under the low eaves, he has no choice but to bear the nameless fire in his belly . "Some people don't believe my heartfelt words, even if they are evil. But God knows my heart!" Yongzheng frowned, and said slowly: "Brothers have been together for decades, what don't you know? I am far inferior to my ancestors in terms of morality, talent and knowledge. I can only be confident if I work seriously and live up to my heart. Since I am entrusted with a great task by God, I have to risk my life to do it. As the emperor, I am not as good as the previous generation. For example, after Yu and Tang came Jie and Zhou, and the future generations of the world should not cover up the merits of Yu and Tang because of the unkindness of their descendants-I am the ancestor, right and wrong, and they are actually one. If things are done well, then the entrustment of Huang Kao is right, and if I don’t do well, then Huang Kao is entrusted wrongly—a great man like Shengzu through the ages, entrusting his career to me, how dare I slack off, Are you willing to give up on yourself, so that the future generations will discuss the mistakes entrusted by the ancestor? Brothers... We are all the blood of the emperor. You have to look up to the heart of the old man. The people have no dual principles, and they are loyal and responsible, and I praise you!" With a pale face and agitated emotions, he glanced at the brothers one by one with expectant eyes and a little blankly.These elder brothers are all experienced in the sea, how can they be moved by these few words?Only the little princes Yunxiang, Yunli and Yunfen stared at Yongzheng, as if they were moved.Yunzhi and Yunhu looked at each other, and after a while they felt that it was inappropriate to sit and listen to the training, so they left the table one after another. The fifth elder brother Yunqi was the most honest and simple, and knelt down first, kowtowed and said: "The emperor clothed you!" Confidence, frankness, my brother is grateful! But the emperor has an order, and my brother will not hesitate to do so!" "Very good, brothers are of the same heart, and their benefits can cut through gold!" Yongzheng looked disappointedly at Yunyu who said nothing, and said with a sigh: "Fifth brother, I dare not take what I said. I didn't order it to instruct my brothers." I just thought, I can't compare to the old man Huang Kao, and I have to rely on my brothers to help me. If I can't, you can help me; if I make mistakes, you can remonstrate them; if I make mistakes, you can forgive them Hidden. Concentric Kuangzuo, let me say "yes", so that I can become a generation of lords, fulfilling the trust of the ancestors. You are both loyal ministers and filial sons, and of course you are my good brothers! "Yongzheng said, seeing Yun'e kneeling on the ground shaking his head and raising his eyebrows, kneeling with his legs crossed and twisting his body, he was restless, so he asked: "Yun'e, what's wrong with you?" With a strange face, he said with a mournful face: "Long live Lord is so earnest, if you don't listen to your heart, is he still a person? My brother is really forced to come up, and I feel uncomfortable twisting the rope. I ask the emperor for permission, and I will show respect!" As he spoke, he let out a string of farts.Yunyu couldn't help but burst out laughing "puchi", and coughed a few times to cover it up.Yongzheng talked non-stop for a long time, saying that even a stone man should be tempted, but it turned out to be such a result, and his hands and feet were suddenly cold with anger.He pondered for a long time with a livid face, and was about to explode. He gave the restless iron-headed hozen a blow, and suddenly looked up to see the banner given to him by Emperor Kangxi. There were four characters written in regular script: be patient Yongzheng smiled tolerantly, and said relaxedly: "The serious talk is over. Brothers kneel down—give a feast!"