Chapter 8 Chapter 7 Fighting Jixin, Court Officials Disagree, Believe in Black Arts, Emperor Rebukes Loyal Officials

Half a quarter before Chen Shi, Zhang Juzheng walked into the cabinet yard.Chen in, Shen out, this is the unshakeable office hours of the cabinet, and it has never been easier since Emperor Yongle moved the capital to Beijing.At the beginning of the cabinet's establishment, the site was very small, and three or four cabinet ministers crowded into one room to work.After repeated expansions, it formed the scale it is today.There are currently three small buildings in the cabinet courtyard. The middle one is spacious and magnificent with double eaves. It is the office of the cabinet ministers. Later, due to insufficient office space, during Yan Song's tenure as the chief assistant, three more roll sheds were built here, and all the assistants and subordinate officials in the cabinet moved here.

The office building of the cabinet ministers is a lobby when you enter the door. In the center of the hall is the wooden tablet of Confucius, the sage of Wenzong.The lobby is surrounded by verandas on all sides, and the doors of the four value rooms of the cabinet are all opened on the verandas.Some of the upstairs rooms are court rooms, and some are resting places for cabinet ministers.The value room of the first auxiliary high arch is on the south side of the hall, the window is facing the rolling shed, and Zhang Juzheng's value room is opposite it.Since the two cabinet ministers Zhao Zhenji and Yin Shidan left their posts one after another the year before last, the two guard rooms have been vacant and the doors are locked.The value room has one entrance and two levels, and there are six rooms in total, including a confidential room, a document room, and a reception room.Now, a set of doors next door to the high arch has been opened, and two handymen are tidying up the room.Zhang Juzheng knew that he was preparing for Gao Yi to join the cabinet.

Zhang Juzheng had just sat down in the duty room, and before the servants had made the tea, an official came in and reported that Gao Ge was always invited.Zhang Juzheng got up and went over, only to see Gao Gongduan sitting in front of the huge mahogany desk, it could be seen that he had been there for some time, there were several opened notebooks on the desk, obviously he had read them all.Gao Gong pointed to a chair on the side of the copywriter, signaling Zhang Juzheng to sit down. "Taiyue, did you sleep peacefully last night?" Gao Gong asked, turning his body sideways and putting on his official robe.

"On the first night when I went home, I actually suffered from insomnia." Zhang Juzheng replied. "It's not like the soul will die overnight." Gao Gong's eyes moved slightly, and teased, "You have always been stormy, and you also have insomnia?" Zhang Juzheng heard the sarcasm in Gao Gong's words, and wondered whether Gao Gong knew about Feng Bao's sneak visit to his mansion last night, so he immediately became more vigilant, pretending to be confused, and said: "A while ago, I was worried about the emperor's condition. , I was restless, and I haven't adjusted it for a while."

Gao Gong didn't know about Feng Baoqian's visit, so he said these few words just to find a way to start the conversation. In fact, he was still preoccupied with the residence newspaper sent by Zhang Jiayin.Now that he took a look at the mansion newspaper with a yellow silk cover on the desk, his face darkened, and his breath became uneven. "The affairs of the Ministry of War are usually handled by you, and I am very relieved." Gao Gong paused, then brought the conversation back to the point, "How to deal with the mutiny of the Anqing garrison?" In March, the Anqing garrison commanded Zhang Zhixue to besiege the official residence of the prefect Zha Zhilong, who had a grievance with him, and fought with the defenders of the official residence for several days.At that time, the mansion reported to Beijing, but because the emperor was seriously ill, the cabinet did not meet the matter.Zhang Juzheng wrote a letter to Zhang Jiayin, Yin of Yingtianfu, asking him to handle it with full authority.Tensions and even hostility between the government and the army are commonplace, and they happen every year in various places, which is not a big deal at all.Therefore, Zhang Juzheng never intervened after he wrote to Zhang Jiayin, but now seeing Gao Gong asked with an annoyed face, he guessed that something happened, so he said cautiously:

"After the incident, the servant ordered Zhang Jiayin to investigate the matter. How to deal with it has not yet been reported by the mansion." "Look." Gao Gong pushed the mansion newspaper on the table to Zhang Juzheng, and Zhang Juzheng read it at a glance: ... In this Anqing mutiny, the culprit was Zhang Zhixue, the commander of the garrison.In order to avenge personal vendettas, regardless of the court's rules and regulations, he even sent troops to besiege the mansion of Anqing Mansion, resulting in the death of nine soldiers and the injury of twenty-one people, and five innocent citizens were killed by the arrows...

Zha Zhilong, governor of Zha'anqing Mansion, also bears unshirkable responsibility for this mutiny. He usually bows to the generals of the garrison, but is not courteous, and bosses him around everywhere;The cause of the soldiers' mutiny this time was actually Zha Zhilong's allocation of military rations, using secondaries as good ones.The old rice in the Fucang was almost rotten, and the rat feces and gravel were scattered in it.This caused Zhang Zhixue to become furious and a bloody battle ensued.During the investigation by the lower officials, it was found that Zha Zhilong still had various corruption and bad deeds, so he decided to lock Zhang Zhixue and Zha Zhilong together, and sent him to the Ministry of Criminal Justice...

After reading the Dibao, Zhang Juzheng realized that Zhang Jiayin had caused a catastrophe.Zhang Jiayin was a Jinshi in the 29th year of Jiajing. He was clean and honest, and a well-known capable minister.Zhang Juzheng admired him very much. It was because of his strong recommendation that in the fifth year of Longqing, Zhang Jiayin was replaced by Fang Langzhong from the Ministry of War as the governor of Yingtianfu.Dealing with the Anqing mutiny was originally a matter within his authority.Judging from the facts listed in the Dibao, this kind of treatment is considered impartial and there is nothing wrong with it.But Zhang Jiayin didn't know that Zha Zhilong was Gao Gong's protégé, so he sent Zha Zhilong to prison without any prior notice. Isn't this a contempt for the authority of the Chief Assistant?

"What a Zhang Jiayin, such a big move, he didn't communicate with the cabinet in advance!" Seeing Zhang Juzheng put down the mansion newspaper, Gao Gong said sternly, "If this goes on, where is the government's authority?" Zhang Juzheng knew from the bottom of his heart that the cabinet Gao Gong was referring to was actually himself.He didn't want to argue either, he just calmed down and said: "I will write to Zhang Jiayin today to investigate this matter." "What are you checking? He's already locked up in the prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice in Nanjing." Gao Gong slapped the table, and his beard twitched. "I just want to ask you, did you ask for instructions on Zhang Jiayin's handling?"

This question really made it difficult for Zhang Juzheng: If he answered without asking for instructions, and with a high and narrow mind, Zhang Jiayin would be charged with the crime of "neglecting parental authority, believing in slander and aiding abuse", and he would be demoted from office if he was mild, or dismissed if he was serious; If it is said that Zhang Jiayin asked for instructions, it is obviously a fire.And judging from Gao Gong's words, he already suspected that he was involved in this matter. "Yuanfu," Zhang Juzheng called out in a calm and affectionate tone regardless of Gao Gong's burning chest, and continued, "Zhang Jiayin arrested Zhang Zhixue and Zha Zhilong and sent them to prison together. He didn't ask me for instructions, but I thought , Zhang Jiayin has the right to do so."

"The right? Who gave him such great power?" Gao Gong pressed. Zhang Juzheng still said unhurriedly: "The servant wrote to Zhang Jiayin last time, entrusting him with full authority to deal with it, which has actually been authorized to him." Gao Gong felt that Zhang Juzheng was obviously protecting Zhang Jiayin, so he was furious, and said angrily: "So, you agree with arresting Zha Zhilong?" Catching the tail of Gao Gong's words, Zhang Juzheng replied: "Zhang Jiayin handled the case with a fair heart, and he didn't even look at the monk's face and the Buddha's face, so he took Cha Zhilong down. I know that Cha Zhilong is a student of Yuanfu, but Zhang Jiayin may not know it. Those who don't know don't know." For the crime, I will write a letter to ask Zhang Jiayin to release Zha Zhilong, Yuanfu, what do you think?" Zhang Juzheng's expression of concern contained threats, but Gao Gong was not very helpful.As soon as Zhang Juzheng's words fell, he immediately retorted: "Zha Zhilong is indeed my sect, but Zhang Jiayin is your secret guest, and it is also a well-known fact among the government and the public. As the saying goes, Taiyue, who beats a dog to bully the master, I think you are deliberately trying to tear your face and fight against the old man." "Yuanfu, this is too serious..." Zhang Juzheng was still about to explain, but he caught a glimpse of Zhang Gui, the boss of Qianqing Palace, hurried in, so he stopped talking.Zhang Gui came to pass the decree, and asked Gao Gong to go to the Wenhua Palace to meet the emperor.After Zhang Gui withdrew, Gao Gong called to Zhang Juzheng who was about to leave, and said with lingering anger: "I want to report this matter to the emperor." After finishing speaking, he turned around and came to Wenhua Hall. The Wenhua Hall is to the east of the Zuoshun Gate, the closest to the cabinet, and only a few hundred steps along the brick road on the side of the Huiji Gate is the Wenhua Gate, the main entrance of the Wenhua Hall.The hall was built in Yongle, but it has been idle for a long time, and successive emperors have never visited it.At the beginning of Emperor Jiajing's practice of Zuo, he decreed that the Wenhua Palace should be rebuilt and replaced with yellow tiles.Since then, the Wenhua Palace has become the place where the emperor lived in the Sutra banquet and summoned the ministers. When Gao Gong walked into the Wenhua Gate, the eunuch on duty from the Wenhua Palace had already greeted him, and led Gao Gong into the Gongmo Room on the west side of the hall to wait for the emperor to summon him. Longjing said with a smile: "Gaoge Laokuan, sit down a bit, the Long Live God hasn't arrived yet." This silent room is a place for ministers to wait for their audience. It was originally a place where Gao Gong was used to sitting. The antiques in the room and the calligraphy and painting plaques on the wall are all familiar.At this time, it was three poles high, and the peonies in the outdoor flower garden, with bowl-sized flowers, all looked graceful and coquettish under the warm sunshine.Gao Gong had already drank two cups of tea, but the emperor hadn't come yet, so he walked out of the condescending room, stood in front of the flower garden, admiring the blooming purple smoke and vermillion powder, suddenly, he caught a glimpse of a person walking along the conciliatory room He walked hurriedly on the brick road in front of him. "Isn't this Yao Kuang? What is he doing here?" Gao Gong asked inwardly.Yao Kuang is an official in Zhang Juzheng's office, and Zhang Juzheng trusts him the most.When Yao Kuang came up to him, Gao Gong called him to stop.Yao Kuang walked with his head hooked. He never expected to meet Gao Gong here. He panicked and spoke unnaturally: "Ah, it's Mr. Shoufu. I don't know that Mr. Shoufu will be here." Gao Gong saw that Yao Kuang was holding a sealed letter about an inch thick in his hand, and asked, "What are you holding?" Yao Kuang smiled dryly and said, "Mr. Zhang Ge asked me to give it to the Supervisor of Ceremonies." "Ah? Send it to the Supervisor of Rituals? I'm afraid it's for Eunuch Feng!" Gao Gong snapped, "Yao Kuang, tell the truth." Yao Kuang stood on the spot without making a sound, his coy and uneasy expression was acquiesced. "What did you write?" Gao Gong asked. "Master Shoufu, the little one really doesn't know." Gao Gong waved his hand, and Yao Kuangfei seemed to leave as well.Looking at his back, Gao Gong was extremely annoyed and disturbed... Gao Gong has been in the political vortex of the capital since he passed the Jinshi examination in the 20th year of Jiajing and was selected as a good scholar.Almost all ministers in the cabinet of the Ming Dynasty were served by bachelors, and the bachelors must be from the Imperial Academy.Every time the Jinshi is released on the list in the capital examination, only a very small number of excellent talents who are favored by the chief examiner are likely to enter the Imperial Academy as a scholar.Although Shu Jishi can be regarded as a ninth-rank official, he has no real job. He just stays in the hospital to study the classics and allusions of the past dynasties, and the art of governing the country and employing people, in order to prepare for promotion to be a servant and lecturer in the future, as a reserve talent for the emperor's adviser.Therefore, once selected as a concubine, it is usually said that he is ordered to the Imperial Academy, and his future is limitless.Not all those who are selected by the Shuji will join the cabinet, but in the more than one hundred years from Emperor Yongle to Emperor Longqing, most of the 81 ministers who entered the cabinet were from Shuji.Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, and Gao Yi, who is about to enter the cabinet, are all from auspicious family backgrounds.At the beginning of the founding of the country, Zhu Yuanzhang inherited the government system of the Yuan Dynasty and set up the post of Zhongshusheng and the prime minister. Later, because of the rebellion of the prime minister Hu Weiyong, Zhu Yuanzhang took the opportunity to kill nearly 70,000 "Hu Party" and decided to abolish Zhongshusheng and the post of prime minister forever .At the same time, it was decreed that "in the future, whoever dares to say that he will set up a prime minister will be killed without mercy."With the withdrawal of the Ministry of Education, someone must do things for the emperor, so the cabinet came into being.The cabinet originally existed only as an advisory body to the emperor.The rank of a bachelor who joins the cabinet shall not exceed the fifth rank.After the Renzong Dynasty, because the cabinet ministers Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong, and Yang Pu were favored by the emperor and became more and more favored, Renzong let them handle major affairs in the court.It was a precedent for cabinet ministers to exercise power.Since then, the chief assistant of the cabinet has become a minister of the country, no different from the prime minister, only in a different name.As the center of power, the cabinet has become a place where power is scrambled for power.Although the cabinet ministers are all from noble families, they do not hesitate to fall into the same family and the same species to die for the sake of monopoly.Not to mention, more than 20 years ago, the second assistant Yan Song planned to kill the first assistant Xia Yan was an example.At that time, Gao Gong was still working in the Imperial Academy, and he saw clearly from the beginning to the end of the unjust case that shocked the government and the public, and expressed deep sympathy for Xia Yan who was cut in half.From this, he saw the cruelty of political struggle, but he did not retreat because of it. On the contrary, he strengthened his determination to join the cabinet.A dignified man of seven feet, if he is in an official career, not in the cabinet, or as the chief assistant, how can he use his full wealth to serve the emperor and the country?After several ups and downs and ups and downs, I finally got my wish.Beginning in the fourth year of Longqing, Gao Gong served as the chief assistant of the cabinet and concurrently the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, as well as the power of government and personnel.In addition, Emperor Longqing hated government affairs and relied heavily on him for everything, so he let him do it freely, which provided him with an excellent opportunity to display his talents.In the past two years, he has traveled the world and affirmed his ambitions; to blame Chen Shan is really a dictatorship.The civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty, whether advancing or retreating, all looked at Yuan Fu's color.But when the spring breeze is proud, it is also a day when hidden worries are brewing.When Gao Gong first became the chief assistant, besides Zhang Juzheng, there were three cabinet ministers Chen Yiqin, Zhao Zhenji and Yin Shidan in the cabinet.The qualifications of these three people are all higher than Zhang Juzheng, similar to Gao Gong.Apart from Chen Yiqin's elder style of being tolerant, both Zhao Zhenji and Yin Shidan are as proud of their talents as Gao Gong, and they don't let others be justified.As the saying goes, two mules cannot be tethered in a circle, let alone three.The cabinet has since become a place for quarrels and even hand-to-hand combat.The hot-tempered Yin Shidan confronted Gao Gong's old fist several times for trivial matters.Although Zhao Zhenji abided by the ancient motto of "a gentleman does not move his hands but speaks", he was born with a good voice, and often challenged the chief assistant, scolding so much that spit and stars flew around, and his voice resounded through the cabinet compound.How important is the mechanism!Gao Gong gritted his teeth with hatred.After all, he has experienced more than 30 years in the officialdom in the capital, and he is very familiar with the whole set of knowledge of "fighting in the nest", and he is proficient in applying it.First of all, he united Zhang Juzheng-the two had been friends for many years, and at the critical moment, Zhang Juzheng helped Gao Gong speak.The position is stable, and then look at the right time to defeat them one by one, secretly collect the bad deeds of Zhao Zhenji and Yin Shidan, and mobilize the six departments and thirteen departments to impeach them.On the other hand, the emperor listened to Gao Gong's words.Therefore, within two years, three cabinet ministers, Chen Yiqin, Zhao Zhenji, and Yin Shidan, successively retired.Except for Chen Yiqin who asked to go back to his hometown because he looked bored, the other two were kicked out of the cabinet by Gao Gong.Therefore, in the sixth year of Longqing, there were only Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng left in the cabinet.The cabinet has been quiet for a few months, but since Emperor Longqing fell ill, the situation in the palace has suddenly become confusing again.Gao Gong, who sleeps with one eye open, suddenly finds that his real opponents are not Yin Shidan and Zhao Zhenji, but Zhang Juzheng, his former best friend and now the second assistant!In all fairness, Gao Gong felt that Zhang Juzheng's talent was not only far superior to that of Zhao Zhenji and Yin Shidan, even among all the cabinet ministers since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, there were not many people whose talents surpassed him.Once he realized this, Gao Gong felt that the tiger was on his side and the threat was huge, so he paid special attention to Zhang Juzheng's words and deeds.That day, in the East Nuan Pavilion of Qianqing Palace, he had a quarrel with Feng Bao.Zhang Juzheng came forward to persuade, seemingly fair, but in fact he was partial to Feng Bao.Almost at that moment, Gao Gong made a decision in his mind that Zhang Juzheng must be kicked out of the cabinet, and the sooner the better. Gao Gong is worthy of being a strongman. In the more than 20 days he has been in the cabinet, he has completed all the matters of adding Gao Yi to the cabinet.Gao Yi is his old colleague. This person is pure-hearted and indifferent to the world. He neither seeks fame nor profit, so he is not a suitable candidate for the cabinet.But Gao Gong was in a hurry and couldn't find a suitable person, so he had to use him.Forget about him, it's always good to get an ally in first, and it's always good to have more constraints on Zhang Juzheng.At the same time, he repeated his old tricks, arranging his disciples and officials to collect materials about Zhang Juzheng and waiting for an opportunity to impeach him.This move of his also aroused the worry of some old disciples. They all knew that Zhang Juzheng was not an ordinary person. Once he found out, the cabinet would be full of flames. Even if Gao Gong could win, his vitality would be seriously injured.But Gao Gong had made up his mind and refused to listen to advice.Now, after Zha Zhilong was arrested and imprisoned, he believed in his own judgment more and more. Zhang Juzheng coveted the position of chief assistant, and he had already started secretly... Gao Gong was thinking wildly in the silent room, unknowingly, almost an hour passed, and the emperor still didn't come, this kind of thing never happened before.The emperor issued an order to wait and see, and at most he could not wait for half an hour.Gao Gong was suspicious, and saw that Zhang Gui ran into the Gongmo room with sweat on his face again, bowed to Gao Gong, and said: "The emperor asked the servants to inform Elder Gao Ge that today's summons has been cancelled." "Why was it cancelled?" Gao Gong was startled, and asked in a daze without regard for politeness. Zhang Gui looked distressed, but he couldn't stand Gao Gong's repeated questioning, so he said in a low voice: "You are the elder of the pavilion, so it's okay to tell you. Long live Lord was fine just now, and I was chatting and laughing with my servant. But I didn't know why I hit him After a sneeze, his expression changed immediately, and he threw the cup and the stool again, making a fuss." Gao Gong felt bad all of a sudden, knowing that the emperor's condition was repeated again.So he ordered Zhang Gui: "Go back to the palace to take care of the emperor, and I will go back to the cabinet to greet the emperor's son." After finishing speaking, the two left Gongmo's room, Zhang Gui ran back to Qianqing Palace, and Gao Gong walked back to the cabinet quickly.After passing the Huiji gate, just about to step into the gate of the cabinet, suddenly saw a person rushing out from the shade of the tree, shouting: "Master, master!" Gao Gong stopped and looked, and it was his family member Gao Fu who was shouting.He asked in surprise, "What are you doing here?" Gao Fu's expression was extremely secretive. He looked around and saw no one, so he lowered his voice and said, "Here comes the hero Shao." "Hero Shao?" Gao Gong's heart tightened, and he asked, "What is he doing in Beijing?" "He wants me to tell the master as soon as possible, he has an urgent matter to discuss with the master." "Where does he live now?" "Suzhou Guild Hall on Qipan Street." Gao Gong pondered for a while, and then ordered: "Go to the Suzhou Inn to accompany him first, and I will go to see him after the unitary hour." "yes." Gao Fu walked away, Gao Gong called him back again, and whispered: "Tell Shao Daxia, there are many people in the capital, so be careful in everything, especially don't reveal your identity." Gao Gong had just returned to the duty room, and was about to write a note to the eunuch Meng Chong, asking him to find out what kind of note Yao Kuang sent to the eunuch today.As soon as I picked up my pen, I suddenly heard someone in the lobby shout loudly: "The Emperor is here—" Hearing that the emperor is coming, both Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng rushed out of the duty room to greet him, just as they stepped out of the corridor, they saw Emperor Longqing standing in the hallway.The two hurried forward and knelt down in the lobby.A group of officials and subordinates also rushed out from each room in the small building, and black crows knelt down behind the two elders. "Your Majesty, minister Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng are here to pick you up." Gao Gong fell to the ground and shouted, but Emperor Longqing didn't agree.The hall was surprisingly quiet, only the emperor's dragon boots made a "squeaky" sound on the brick floor. The emperor did not speak, and the kneeling people did not dare to get up.Gao Gong wondered in his heart: "Didn't the emperor get sick and cancel the meeting in the Wenhua Palace? Why didn't he issue an order beforehand and suddenly came to the cabinet?" He looked up at the emperor and saw that Emperor Longqing was wearing a suit. She wore a black silk straight gown, a purple gown over her coat, and the boneless gauze cap on her head, which was also casually put on.At first glance, it looks like the casual clothes of the big house, and it is forbidden to meet foreign ministers in this kind of clothes. While Gao Gong was thinking to himself, Zhang Juzheng also glanced at the emperor.In addition to the strange attire, he could also clearly see the erratic blue color on the slightly swollen face of the emperor, which was a characteristic of long-term illness and injury. Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng had been kneeling for some time, but Emperor Longqing didn't say anything.At this time, Zhang Gui ran in from outside panting, and he came to find the emperor.When he parted ways with Gao Gong from the Gongmo Room and returned to Qianqing Palace, the emperor's inexplicable anger calmed down a little, and he moved to Yangzhengxuan in Xinuan Pavilion, where the eunuch Bingbi on duty, the supervisor of ceremonies, read two memorials. He waved his hand and said, "I'm not going to read anymore, prepare the sedan chair, I'm going to see the prince in the Palace of Compassion and Ning." Immediately, the apricot-yellow four-person warm sedan chair was carried over, and Emperor Longqing lifted the sedan chair. He opened the curtain of the sedan chair and shouted sharply: "Quick, catch up to her!" The four servants carrying the sedan chair were confused by the shout and stopped in their tracks for a while. "Bold slave, this way!" Emperor Longqing pointed in the direction of Zuo Chonglou, stomping his feet anxiously in the warm sedan chair.The inner waiter saw that there was no one on the imperial road in front of Zuo Chonglou, but he didn't dare to tell the difference, so he could only lift the warm sedan chair and run along the imperial road to the direction of Wenzhao Pavilion. "Quick! Quick!" Emperor Longqing slapped the sedan chair and shouted.The servants were all out of breath and tired.After passing the Huiji gate, Emperor Longqing pointed to the gate of the cabinet and shouted "Go in!" The warm sedan chair was carried into the cabinet. Before the sedan chair came to a complete stop, Emperor Longqing jumped out of the sedan chair, shouted "Nuer Huahua", and ran into the small cabinet building. "Slave Huahua?" When the servants heard the name, they stuck out their tongues in fright, and understood half of it in their hearts. However, after Emperor Longqing ascended the throne, he became the Ninth Five-Year Supreme, indulged in wine and sex, and became even more confident.The beauties in the harem are as beautiful as clouds.In the first two years, he also turned upside down, never tired of it.But after a long time, he felt that the old face was not fresh, and going to bed was like chewing wax.Last year, the eunuch Meng Chong, who was well versed in the emperor's hobbies, secretly sent someone to send a letter to Al Da, the leader of the Tatars who was named King of Shunyi by Emperor Longqing, asking him to pay tribute to some beauties from other races outside the Great Wall.I replied that this matter would be done very quickly, and ten of them would be sent up at once.Meng Chong mysteriously brought them into the Forbidden City. After Emperor Longqing saw them, he was overjoyed and accepted them all.Among them is a Persian beauty named Nuer Huahua.Deep pupils and blue eyes, skin like creamy fat, from body to face, there is no part that does not make people love, and there is no part that does not make people ecstasy.When Emperor Longqing saw her, he couldn't move.However, this slave Hua Huasheng is generous, frivolous, frivolous and angry, which is completely in line with people's wishes.Singing Hu Qu, dancing Hu dance, hearty and refreshing.Emperor Longqing then ordered the meal to be delivered in the Youyizhai in the north corridor behind the Qianqing Palace, and only Nuer Huahua would drink with him alone.The imperial dining room cooked a table of exquisite dishes, and the imperial wine room sent home-brewed bamboo leaf green wine that had been cellared for many years.The cups and chopsticks are all set up, the chopsticks are silver chopsticks, and the cups are extremely exquisite dragon and phoenix cups forged from pure gold by the Silver Work Bureau in the Palace.In order to receive Persian beauties, Emperor Longqing made an exception. When the wine was poured, Emperor Longqing was about to raise his glass to invite him. Nuer Huahua smiled sweetly and said in a coquettish voice, "Long Live Lord, this is not good!" "What's wrong?" Emperor Longqing asked. Nuer Huahua's shiny black eyes flashed, and she pointed to the wine glass and said, "This wine glass is not good." "This is the dragon and phoenix cup. I chose it myself. It means playing with the dragon and the phoenix." "Not good," Nuer Huahua shook her head, "You should use a cherry cup." "Cherry cup?" Emperor Longqing thought for a moment, shook his head and said, "I haven't seen it before." "Where is it?" Nu'er Huahua pointed to her scarlet lips, and after that, there was only a gurgle in her throat, and a burst of delicate laughter filled the room. "Mouth?" Emperor Longqing didn't understand for a while. "Long live, don't the Han people have the phrase 'cherry mouth'?" "Oh, what a cherry cup." Emperor Longqing suddenly realized, and also laughed. "Long live, I will feed you with my mouth." "Okay, okay, use your cherry cup." Emperor Longqing lewdly stretched out two fingers, and gently pinched Nuer Huahua's scarlet lips. So, Nuer Huahua fed him a mouthful, and Emperor Longqing took a mouthful.On the contrary, if Emperor Longqing fed him a mouthful, Nuer Huahua would also take a mouthful.Emperor Longqing drank a lot, and when feeding wine, he always took a big mouthful, and Nuer Huahua swallowed it all without hesitation.It's just that after swallowing it, he always gave Emperor Longqing a coquettish look, and pretended to be angry and said: "The Long Live Lord used a big cauldron instead of a cherry cup." Emperor Longqing was trembling with joy.During that meal, everything he ate tasted delicious. That night, the two of them were like glue, sowing clouds and raining. Needless to say, Emperor Longqing, who wanted to sleep as soon as the work was over, unexpectedly fell asleep all night.The next day, he issued a decree to let Meng Chong enter the palace, praised Meng Chong greatly, and couldn't help saying in front of Meng Chong: "This slave, Huahua, is really a masterpiece!" From then on, Nuerhuahua, a Persian beauty, almost filled the entire living space of Emperor Longqing.Drinking and tuning the piano, making jokes, spending time together, refusing to leave even for a moment, I really don't know what time it will be.Under such circumstances, although the harem was calm on the surface, it was already on the verge of saber-rattling and murderous intent in the dark.Emperor Longqing was the lord of a country, and no one dared to do anything to him.But Nuer Huahua is different. A foreign woman came to Da Nei alone from thousands of miles away. Although she was favored by the emperor, she offended all the three thousand beauties in the harem.Poor these beautiful people, every night, one by one, they are more bulging and suffering from loneliness.The first person who hated her deeply was naturally Prince Zhu Yijun's biological mother Li Guifei.She is a dignified and virtuous woman, how could such a flirtatious and dissolute fox make the emperor fascinated, day and night.One day she came to Feng Bao, and she raised her eyebrows angrily and said, "I think the emperor has been haunted by this vixen, forgetting that he is the king of a country. If this continues, after thousands of years, how can the emperor's reputation be preserved?" "Because of Nuer Huahua, Meng Chong was even more favored in front of the emperor.Feng Bao had been harboring anger in his heart, now that he found his bosom friend, the two secretly plotted.A few days later, Emperor Longqing returned from receiving his ministers in the Wenhua Palace, and found Nuer Huahua dead in the inspection well of the imperial garden.He immediately roared like thunder, declaring that he would investigate severely, but after many investigations, he couldn't find Mingtang.Except for the emperor and Meng Chong, everyone inside and outside the court was greatly relieved by Nuer Huahua's death.Although Emperor Longqing had a romantic nature, he was a cowardly person. After the death of "Supreme Wonderful Product", although he said a few harsh words in anger, after a while, he no longer mentioned Nuer Huahua.It's just that he's become more reticent than he used to be.Sometimes a person even ran to that inspection well and stood there for a while, shedding a few tears.After the Lantern Festival, due to long-term excessive drinking and sex, coupled with the trauma caused to his soul by Nuer Huahua, he finally fell ill.Wrist sores, where a stream of yellow water flows, sores will grow.There was a secret discussion in the palace that the emperor had "Yangmei sore".There are different opinions about how the sore developed on his upper body: one said that the sore was brought to him by Nuer Huahua, and the other said that it was caused by the emperor's private visit to Lianzi Hutong accompanied by Meng Chong.But in any case, the emperor became moody because of this sore, sober for a while, and confused for a while.Just now, he had said well that he was going to the Palace of Compassion and Ning, but as soon as he came out of the Qing Palace, he clearly heard Nuer Huahua call "Long Live Lord" delicately, and when he lifted the sedan chair curtain, he saw Nuer Huahua gracefully The figure ran towards Wenzhao Pavilion on the royal road.So he stomped on the sedan chair with both feet, and ordered the waiter who carried the sedan chair to follow Nuer Huahua's back with all his strength, and went straight into the cabinet yard. Someone with a small fire early reported to Zhang Gui that the warm sedan chair left the Qianqing Gate, instead of going right to the Cining Palace, it turned left and went along the line of Zuochonglou Wenzhao Pavilion.Zhang Gui's shock was no small matter, and he immediately chased after him like a hawk. "Long Live!" Zhang Gui didn't care to wipe off the sweat from his head, and knelt down at the emperor's feet with a "plop". "What are you doing here?" The emperor yelled at Zhang Gui, which was the first sentence he said after entering the cabinet. Zhang Gui knew in his heart that the emperor had fallen ill again, so he mumbled, "The servant is here to take the emperor back to the palace." "I won't go back! I saw Nuer Huahua running in tomorrow, why did she disappear, I must find her." The emperor stomped his feet repeatedly, walked up to Gao Gong, and shouted loudly: "Gao Gong!" "The minister is here!" Gao Gong replied, lying on the ground. "Zhang Juzheng!" The emperor shouted again. "The minister is here!" Zhang Juzheng replied in the same way. "All of you, go find Nuer Huahua together with me." "Thank you, Your Majesty." The two elders got up from the ground, Gao Gong waved to the kneeling officials and ordered: "You all step back." The officials thanked each other and retreated to their respective rooms.Only Emperor Longqing, Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, and Zhang Gui were left in the hall.Zhang Guichao secretly made a gesture to the two court elders, which meant that the emperor was ill.He made no gestures, and the two ministers knew it in their hearts.In front of a group of officials, the emperor asked them to find Nuer Huahua, which made them quite embarrassed.Gao Gong thought in his heart: The most important thing now is to free the emperor from the dazed state.Seeing the emperor's eyes wandering, as if he was looking around from the sky and the earth, Gao Gong suddenly shouted sharply: "emperor!" The sound was like thunder, and the emperor trembled in fright, and staggered a few steps back.Zhang Gui hurried forward to support him.This trick really worked, the emperor suddenly woke up. "Where am I?" the emperor asked. "My Majesty, this is the cabinet, and my ministers Gao Gong and Zhang Ju are waiting here." After finishing speaking, the two cabinet ministers knelt down again. "Pingshen." The emperor said weakly. The lobby was empty, and there was not a single stool. Gao Gong asked Emperor Longqing to go upstairs to the court room to rest for a while.So Zhang Gui stayed downstairs and waited, and the two cabinet ministers followed the emperor to the court room upstairs. The emperor's mood had obviously not settled down, he was restless sitting on the chair, moving back and forth.At this time, a young eunuch had brewed a bowl of ginseng soup, and the emperor took a sip, then sighed again and again, Gao Gong observed the emperor's every move, and asked in a low voice, "Excuse me, the emperor, do you want to get up and drive back to the palace?" The emperor shook his head and said: "It's much better now." He got up and took two steps, sighed, sat down again, and reluctantly asked, "You two cabinet ministers, what's the matter?" Gao Gong had many things to tell the emperor, but because Zhang Ju was by his side, he didn't know where to start. After thinking about it, he asked: "Yin Zhengmao's Xie En Zhezi was sent to the palace yesterday. Did you see it?" Emperor Longqing replied: "Yesterday, Meng Chong picked out a few papers for me to read. There is no Yin Zhengmao, so why should he thank you?" Seeing that Emperor Longqing had completely forgotten about this matter, Gao Gong said: "The last time the emperor asked his ministers to issue a proposal to appoint Yin Zhengmao to replace Li Yan as governor of Guangdong and Guangxi. It has been more than a month since the imperial edict was issued. After Yin Zhengmao took over in Qingyuan, he sent the Come to thank En Zhezi." "Ah," Emperor Longqing nodded and asked, "Where's Li Yan?" "I have already retired and returned home." Gao Gong replied. Emperor Longqing rolled his eyeballs a few times feebly, and said, "This Li Yan doesn't have the emperor I in his eyes at all, he should have been dismissed a long time ago." Emperor Longqing's sudden remark surprised the two cabinet ministers.Gao Gong glanced at Zhang Juzheng vigilantly, he wondered if Zhang Juzheng had said something bad about Li Yan in front of the emperor behind his back. "Your Majesty," Gao Gong said cautiously, "Li Yan is dull and incompetent, and can't bear the heavy responsibility, but he never dares to have second thoughts about the Emperor." "Have you ever eaten the preserved fruit that Li Yan sent?" Emperor Longqing asked. "Preserved fruit, what kind of preserved fruit? I have never eaten it." "What about you?" Emperor Longqing asked Zhang Juzheng again. "Reporting to the emperor, the minister has not eaten." Zhang Juzheng replied respectfully. Emperor Longqing smiled dryly, and said: "In this way, this Li Yan not only has no emperor in his eyes, but also no cabinet." Gao Gong said: "The ministers really don't understand what the emperor said, and I hope the emperor will make it clear." "Li Yan's secret preserved fruit has special effects in nourishing yin and strengthening yang. He makes dozens of jars every year to give away to others. Check it out, who did you give it to? I can't eat it, the first assistant can't eat it, and the second assistant can't eat it. What are they? People ate it, eh?" Emperor Longqing became angry as he spoke.Gao Gong was afraid that he would be "delusional" again, so he hurriedly said: "Li Yan's candied fruit is really a trivial matter, the emperor's holy body is important, so there is no need to get angry about it." "I'm sick, but I'm not terminally ill." Emperor Longqing became angrier when he heard Gao Gong say that he was sick.After losing his temper, he said sadly, "You two are both former ministers of Zhen Yu Mansion, you should know the cause of my illness." The two cabinet ministers thought of Nuer Huahua almost at the same time, but neither of them dared to say it clearly.While he was in a daze, Emperor Longqing said again: "Yesterday Meng Chong led an old Taoist into the palace. This old Taoist is well versed in Yin-Yang Dafa. He is an expert in the world. After seeing my illness, he offered a prescription. I think this The prescription is better than the imperial physician's prescription." "Excuse me, what Fangzi is it?" Gao Gong asked. "The old Taoist said that I am not seriously ill, it is just that the alternation of seasons has caused the imbalance of yin and yang in the body. He said that he can treat me with a secret elixir called yin and yang harmony powder. Take the urine of a twelve-year-old boy and the twelve The menstrual water of a 10-year-old girl must be taken from noon, and then mixed with traditional Chinese medicine to make it. Because the dosage is large, each boy and girl need 100. I think this is not difficult. There are not many boys and girls in a hundred, maybe they can be found in the capital. I will let Meng Chong handle this matter." Emperor Longqing said it lightly, but Zhang Juzheng's heart became heavier as he listened to it. He thought: Emperor Longqing's father, Emperor Jiajing, devoted all his life to Taoist alchemy.现在眼前这位九五之尊又要步其父亲的后尘，听信妖道之言，再行让大臣嗤鼻让百姓詈骂的虚妄之举……想到这里，张居正忘记了个人安危，脱口说道： “皇上，臣以为此事要三思而行。” “为何？”隆庆皇帝问。 张居正肃颜奏道：“陛下乃天下至尊，万民垂范，决不可妄听妖道之言。” “高拱，你说呢？” 高拱内心赞同张居正的看法，但出于政治需要，却违心答道：“臣认为老道言之有理，试试但也无妨。” 隆庆皇帝长出一口气，对高拱投以信任的一瞥，然后恼着脸怒斥张居正： “张居正哪张居正，你虽是朕裕邸旧臣，却全然没有爱朕之心！”