Chapter 17 Section 17

Early the next morning, Prince Gong entered the palace, and sat in the south study room before arriving at the military plane.Still graceful and graceful, he chatted with Hanlin, Pan Boyin, and Xu Pengshou who were in the South Study Room about the current situation of those celebrities, and also asked about Zhang Zhidong, Li Duanfen, and Huang Tifang, who were about to "leave the library", but did not mention a word about the government. In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, after the Minister of Military Aircraft finished playing the match, Wen Xiang took a step before kneeling down, and Zhuang Rong said: "Prince Gong wants to thank God face to face, and is waiting for orders outside."

The empress dowagers of the two palaces glanced at each other, and then Empress Dowager Cixi asked: "How many more cases?" Summoning is generally called "calling up", a group or a person is called "together", and asking "several times" means asking how many other groups are scheduled to be summoned?You have to ask the imperial ministers to know this, but the military plan is right and the security is extremely strict, so the imperial ministers avoid it far away as usual.When I found it, I asked, and said that only Chonglun, the servant of the household department, was with me.

"Then withdraw!" "Withdrawing" Chong Lun's "Qi" is naturally called Gong Wang's Qi.The bodyguards and eunuchs had done their best to figure it out. Seeing this, they knew that there must be "grace" to Prince Gong that day—from red to purple, from purple to black, and now it was going to be red again, so they rushed to the place South Study came to report the news.In fact, they couldn't see Prince Gong's face, they just poked their heads outside the South Study Room, dealing with Prince Gong's attendants.Soon, King Chun's good friend newly transferred the right-wing striker commander, and Tuo Yunbao, who was sent to walk in front of the imperial court, came to notify him personally.

Entering the South Study Room, he greeted Prince Gong and said, "Your Majesty, please! Called from above. " "Oh!" Prince Gong stood up slowly, and immediately a servant took his hat, put it on, and looked in the hand mirror. Before going out, he turned to Pan Boyin and said, "I have newly acquired two good inkstones. When will I come?" Look, you might be able to prove something!" "Yes!" Pan Boyin replied: "I will congratulate the prince later on." Prince Gong walked out slowly as if he hadn't heard it.From the South Study Room to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, guards and eunuchs saluted him with smiles all the way.However, Prince Gong's footsteps became heavier and heavier as he walked. After chatting for a long time in the South Study Room, he still couldn't calm down the tone in his chest.He kept thinking, what would be the first thing the Empress Dowager of the Two Palaces would say when he met him?How should I answer?Or don't wait for the boss to speak, and say that he has nothing to do with his job?

The thought did not change, and he had already entered the courtyard of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.The eunuch opened the curtain and just saw the queen dowagers of the two palaces, so there was no time to think about it, so he staggered a few steps and entered the hall to salute. The slightly apprehensive mood, the act of fear of being inappropriate, was like a humble minister looking up at Tianyan for the first time. Prince Gong felt humiliated, and his nostrils were a little sore. When he stood up, the empress dowagers of the two palaces pitied him Looking at him winkingly, the unspeakable grievance became more and more aroused, and even the eye sockets became hot.

It was the Empress Dowager Ci'an who spoke first, and she said in a complaining tone: "Master Liu, don't be like this from now on! Why bother, make a mess of yourself? Do you think it's worth it?" This sentence went all the way to the bottom of Prince Gong's heart, the depression accumulated over the past few days must be vented.Then a trombone sounded, and he fell to the ground!This cry shook the palace, and it was even more sad than the cry when he kowtowed at the Zi Palace in Rehe.New grudges brought up old grievances, and even the pain of not being able to be the emperor was shed in these hot tears!

"Okay, okay, don't be sad!" Empress Dowager Cixi comforted him, and then shouted loudly to the eunuchs outside the palace: "What's the matter with you? Get Liu Ye up soon!" With this scolding, two eunuchs rushed into the hall, helping Prince Gong up one by one, Empress Dowager Ci'an ordered: "Give the stool to the sixth master!" The eunuch not only took the stool, but also wrung a hot towel for Prince Gong, He covered his face and sobbed for a long time before stopping the tears. After he sat down, the Empress Dowager Cixi said without changing her face: "Sixth Master, don't blame us sisters either. Family affairs are family affairs, and state affairs are state affairs. You should understand this?"

"Yes!" Prince Gong agreed, and wanted to stand up to answer. "Sit, sit!" Empress Dowager Ci'an hurriedly waved her hands. Prince Gong had learned his lesson, if he sat down and answered, he said he was "arrogant and arrogant", so he stood up and replied: "I admire the sincerity of the two empress dowagers, how dare you complain?" "It would be the best if you could be considerate." Empress Dowager Cixi said very pleased, "Everyone knows your talent, but don't be too soft on your ears." This is tantamount to teaching him that he can't be trusted with villains, Prince Gong still can only agree: "Yes!"

"You need to worry more about the Dingling project." The Empress Dowager Ci'an said, "The days of Feng'an are coming soon." "There is a leap month this year, and there is still half a year to go. Everything will be done properly. The two empress dowagers, please forgive me." "There is also the matter of the emperor's study. Although the Seventh Master has been sent to inspect, if you have time, you should go to the Hongde Hall." "Yes." Prince Gong replied, "King Chun's recent experience has made great progress. It is most appropriate to send him to the chief inspector of Hongde Hall."

"Alas!" Empress Dowager Cixi sighed suddenly, "Talking about the emperor's study is disturbing. After leaving the study, asking him about his homework, if he doesn't know what to do, it's simply a 'fudge'. Always have to find one or two good masters. " "In Hanlin, there are many talents, and I slowly look for them." "By the way, you should look for it carefully. You can't be too old, and your spirit of fear is limited." Empress Dowager Ci'an said. "But it can't be too light." Empress Dowager Cixi immediately said, "Young people are not prudent."

"Yes!" Prince Gong summed up the meaning of the two empress dowagers: "It is always necessary to find someone who is good at learning, young and strong, who can explain books thoroughly, and is stable and patient." "That's right." The queen dowagers of the two palaces answered in unison. The conversation came to an end here, as usual, this was the time for Prince Gong to kneel down and leave, but he had something to wait for, so there was a brief silence. "You go back first." Empress Dowager Cixi said, "We sisters will discuss it later." Prince Gong was not without displeasure, but he didn't dare to show his face.When I got out, I still went back to the South study to sit.At this time, the Longzong gate was full of people. On the surface, it seemed that each had a task and was waiting for orders. In fact, they all focused on Prince Gong. They wanted to know what he would do after he was summoned by the queen dowagers of the two palaces.King Gong understood what they meant, and felt unspeakably apologetic and ashamed, especially when he noticed that his eyes were still red and swollen, he felt even more uneasy, so he ordered "pass the sedan chair" to go back home. When he arrived at the mansion, he didn't see anyone, changed his clothes, closed the door of the small study with his own hands, and sat quietly by himself, feeling that his heart was even more chaotic than when he first heard Cixi's edict. When I came down, I felt that I had never been so concerned about gains and losses as I am at this moment. So he thought of Wo Ren, and Xu Tong and Chong Qi who had "learned from Cheng Zhu" together with him, the sons of the great scholar Sai Shang'a. A recipe for alleviating anxiety. Feeling ups and downs, wandering around the room, Prince Gong hated himself for not being gentle enough to thank guests from Dumen, so he opened the door again in a fit of anger, and there were five or six servants waiting silently outside the door, which slightly surprised him.After a while of pondering, he heard the sound of footsteps and voices outside the Chuihua door, followed by a guard in charge of notification, who appeared at brisk steps, saw Prince Gong, greeted him on the spot, and said loudly : "Master Wen and Master Bao are here!" Bao Jun was in front and Wen Xiang was behind. Prince Gong saw Bao Jun's face first. It was the kind of face that after a long journey, he finally arrived at the land safely. tone of voice.Although Wen Xiang still maintained his usual calmness, there was joy in his eyes that couldn't be concealed. Seeing this, Prince Gong heaved a sigh of relief, turned around and walked in, Bao Jun followed into the door, first took off the big hat and held it in his hand, and then went to unbutton his men's coat.Two servants came to wait on him, and after taking his hat, he could free his hands, took out a piece of paper and handed it to Prince Gong: "Master Liu, look at this!" It was Cao Yuying's handwriting, and Wen Xiang's handwriting sketched additions and deletions. Looking at the beginning, he knew that it was a draft of the imperial edict. He carefully read it word by word: "The imperial edict: The Empress Dowager Ci'an, Empress Cixi, etc. Empress Dowager Yizhi, Prince Gong fell to the ground and cried bitterly because of his thanks for being summoned today. He couldn't bear it. He should be admonished face to face. It has been several years since I have been in charge of discussing government affairs. I have been well-benefited and appointed specifically; Because of the high-speed slander, if you don't check yourself a little, you will be guilty.The king is expected to be very generous, and Si blames the king, so he has to be strict.Now that Prince Gong is able to comprehend this meaning, and reform his mistakes, the imperial court works internally and externally, and advances and retreats with homes. Changing from the beginning to the end, making him feel comfortable and comfortable?Prince Gong is still walking on the minister of military aircraft, and there is no need to review the name of the government to show restraint.Wang Qi did not Don't forget the heart of guilt and remorse on this day, and tried to repay the truth;This is it. " This edict exonerated and comforted Prince Gong, and finally ordered him to "still not feel complacent and fearful, but a little bit of evasion", which was indirectly declared to the internal and external ministers: Prince Gong returned to lead the military plane, although he did not reply to "discuss the political affairs of the king". "The title, but the power has not been compromised, and the court still fully supports it.The wording of the order is precise and appropriate, and what particularly satisfies King Gong is the words "slandering the position at high speed" and "the court treats each other, how can it be willing to change from beginning to end, so as to make him feel comfortable and comfortable", which is quite reserved for him. Everything was changed by Wenxiang, so Prince Gong was naturally grateful. A turmoil ended in such a way that the danger was finally saved, but looking back on the process, he felt bitterness. At this time, Prince Gong really felt remorse, and he bowed his hands to Wen Xiang and Bao Jun and said: "It's hard work, hard work! I don't know what to say." Thanks?" "Severe words!" Wen Xiang said seriously, "Master Liu, the overall situation is important!" "Yes!" Prince Gong also replied solemnly, "I'll be at the military plane tomorrow." "Alas!" At this moment, Bao Yun wiped off his sweat and sighed happily, "I've finally conquered the west!"