Chapter 12 The Eleventh Chapter: In the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, the Confidante Gets Angry
At the time of the card, the Longqing Emperor Zhu Zai, who was sleeping soundly in the palace of the Qianqing Palace with heavy curtains and deep curtains, woke up in a daze.
After eating the three amber-colored, soft persimmon-like pills that Wang Jiusi presented every day, Emperor Longqing felt that the night was too short for enough time.Before that, he had been taking the medicine of the imperial physician. Every time the imperial physician asked for his pulse, he would always gently warn that "the emperor must take the dragon body as the most important thing, and it is better to avoid intercourse affairs for the time being."In fact, there is no need for the imperial physician to persuade, Zhu Zai has already done so.It's not that he is willing, but that he doesn't have the ability at all.His legs seemed to be filled with cotton all day long, and he felt like he was being hollowed out.Wang Jiu Si's Yin Yang Dabu pills only two days, he felt strong legs, increased appetite, get a couple of happy that night.Wang Jiusi described the pills he prepared in an amazing and mysterious way.He took the urine of a pair of boys and girls every day, and added more than a dozen secret medicinal powders to make a paste, and then made three pills the size of candied dates, so that Emperor Longqing divided morning, noon and evening into a paste. Eat it three times.Wang Jiusi made a guarantee that Emperor Longqing would recover from his illness after taking Yinyang Dabu Pills for 100 days.If Emperor Longqing had doubts about Wang Jiusi's words at the beginning of taking the medicine, then now he is obedient and convinced.What pleased Emperor Longqing the most was that Wang Jiusi not only did not ask him to "forbid intercourse" like the imperial doctor, but taught him the method of "collecting yin and nourishing yang" in the house, and treated the matter of men and women loving Wushan Yunyu as a cure , What a joy it is to treat diseases in a happy and carefree way!
After taking a bath under the service of the personal eunuch, Emperor Longqing took off his apricot-yellow lake silk nightgown, changed into a five-clawed golden dragon leisurely auspicious suit with a lavender silk lining, and tied a pair of fat-white Like a crisp jade belt, she walked out of the bedroom and sat down in the sunny living room.Just as he was about to order to pass the meal, Meng Chong hurried in and knelt down.Seeing him, Emperor Longqing thought of taking medicine.Wang Jiusi's elixir was not refined at one time, but one day after another, three pills were refined before Yinshi every day, and Meng Chong personally sent them to the Qianqing Palace.
"Where's the medicine?" Emperor Longqing asked.
"Go back to Long Live, the little one should be damned, there is no medicine today."
Meng Chong cried and fell on the ground, not daring to look up.Emperor Longqing stared at him in astonishment, and asked, "Why is there no medicine?"
"Wang Jiusi was arrested by Zhang Juzheng's order."
"Ah?" Emperor Longqing was shocked and asked anxiously, "What's going on?"
Meng Chong gave a general account of what happened.However, the sentence of Wang Jiusi beating Fang Dalin to death was mentioned, and the emphasis was on how Zhang Juzheng was domineering and captured Wang Jiusi.
"It's reversed, it's simply reversed!"
After listening to Meng Chong's report, Emperor Longqing was furious. As soon as he stood up and left the couch, his swollen and dark cheeks suddenly turned liver-colored.Seeing this scene, Zhang Gui, who had been waiting outside the door, was afraid that Emperor Longqing would fall ill again, so he hurried in and knelt down and said:
"Please calm down, Lord Long Live."
Emperor Longqing was furious, how could he "rest" all of a sudden?He roared to himself:
"Where is Zhang Juzheng? Where is he?"
Meng Chong replied: "The other person is probably in the cabinet. Early in the morning, he personally went outside the gate of Huangji and handed the emperor a note."
"Where is the book?"
"Yes."
Meng Chong took out a memorial from his bosom, and presented it with both hands, but Emperor Longqing refused to take it, and sat back on the couch, saying gloomyly: "Read."
"Yes."
Meng Chong opened the memorial and began to read:
Looking up to His Majesty the Emperor, the minister Zhang Juzheng played with sincerity and trepidation:
Yesterday, when I was returning to my residence from work, I was passing by the entrance of Ertiao Hutong in Wangfujing. I saw thousands of onlookers blocking the road, and an old man named Fang Lide stopped his sedan chair and complained, saying that his son Fang Dalin was ordered by Wang Jiusi to use a random stick Killed and lay dead on the street.The minister then got out of the sedan chair to investigate, and saw that Wang Jiusi and his party were also besieged by resentful people.
The murder case was investigated because Wang Jiusi used the name of an imperial envoy to force the old man Fang's granddaughter Yunzhi...
"Stop reading this paragraph, read on."
Emperor Longqing ordered that he was half lying on the couch at the moment.A young eunuch came in earlier, moved a spring stool, let Emperor Longqing put his legs on it, and massaged and kneaded him.
Meng Chong is obese and has been kneeling for a long time. Although his knees are covered with a soft brown futon covered with brocade, his legs are still numb. He took the opportunity to twist his waist, move his kneeling position, and read every word up:
......Zha Wang Jiusi is not a Kongtong Taoist.As early as the last years of Jiajing, he had been in the capital, and he was collaborating with Tao Shizong, Wang Jin and others who confused the former emperor with evil words and sorcery.Tao Wang and his ilk were exiled beyond the Great Wall by the Holy Master for life without pardon. Wang Jiusi avoided disaster and disappeared for six years.But the dirty behavior does not change, still bluffing and deceiving.Returning to the capital last autumn, relying on Tao Wang's remnant party, handing over the generals, and then using Tao Wang's chaotic techniques to slander evil on the Holy One.Searching for boys and girls to use their urine and menstrual water to refine yin and yang tonic pills is absurd in pharmacology, and it is full of complaints among the people...
Your Majesty, please remember that when your Majesty practiced Zuo at the beginning, he hated Tao Wang's traitors and sycophants to confuse the former emperor, and personally issued a decree to capture them together.At the beginning of the questioning, an order was issued to Dali Temple that Xishi must be beheaded.Later, according to the high-arch plan of the cabinet's chief assistant, he followed the virtue of caring for life, and the sentence was changed to exile.It is known that six years later, Tao Wang's ghost returned, and evil smoke reappeared in the palace...
"No more."
Emperor Longqing waved his hand, and Meng Chong put down the notebook with relief. He put his hands on the ground, supported his numb knees, and looked up at Emperor Longqing, who was half-sitting and half-lying on the couch, with his eyes closed. , his complexion turned yellow and black, which was already very embarrassing.
"Where is Wang Jiusi now?" Emperor Longqing asked with his eyes still closed, licking his dry lips.
"Still locked in the prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice." Meng Chong stretched his neck and said anxiously, "Please send an order to let Wang Jiusi out of prison, go back and make alchemy quickly, and don't delay the medicine of Long Live Lord today."
Emperor Longqing did not answer.Taking advantage of this time, Zhang Gui played carefully: "Long Live Lord, breakfast is ready."
"Send it."
"Chuan Shan—"
Following Zhang Gui's yell, two small firemen from the imperial dining room brought in a table of food and set it up before the couch.Zhang Gui stepped forward to help Emperor Longqing up. Seeing the steaming food box in front of him, Emperor Longqing lost his appetite. He pointed to the porcelain bowl containing bird's nest and red date porridge. small bowl.
Drinking porridge, Emperor Longqing said to Meng Chong: "You go to preach the decree and see you in the Wenhua Palace with a high arch."
"Big Companion, which of these two emperor's characters do you think is better?"
In the east eaves of the Compassionate Palace, a child's crunchy questioning voice came out, this is the prince Zhu Yijun.According to the rules, the prince should live in the Zhongxiang Palace on the East Erchang Street on the left hand side of the Qianqing Palace, but because he was too young, he lived with his biological mother Li Guifei in the Cining Palace on the West Erchang Street on the right hand side of the Qianqing Palace.In order to take care of the prince's study convenience, the east eaves of the palace backyard were converted into a large study.In addition to going to the Wenhua Hall to listen to the lectures given by the academicians of the Hanlin Academy on the days when they set out to give lectures in the pavilion every month, they usually spend most of the time studying and practicing calligraphy in the prince's study with the east draped eaves.Today is another day for him to practice calligraphy with Feng Bao.Just after the hour passed, Feng Bao entered the Palace of Compassion and Ning, and came to Dongpiyan to instruct the prince on calligraphy.
In the middle study room of the Wenhua Palace, there are many famous postcards from the previous generation, and Zhu Yijun has watched and copied many of them.Today, Feng Bao borrowed two more quotes from Emperor Wu of Liang's "Strange Interesting Post" and Song Taizong's "Chicai Xing" from Zhongshufang, and asked Zhu Yijun to appreciate them.
Although Zhu Yijun is a ten-year-old child, he has practiced calligraphy with Feng Bao for five years, and with the guidance of several calligraphy masters from the cabinet office, his calligraphy skills are naturally extraordinary. Nothing childish.At this moment, he squinted his eyes like a grown-up, looked left and right at the two copybooks in front of him, and then, as if he had figured out something, he asked the question standing beside him. Feng Bao.
Feng Bao raised two sparse brows, although he had something on his mind, he said cheerfully on the surface: "The crown prince is going to test the slave, and the slave is going to test the prince."
"Are you testing me?" Zhu Yijun pursed his lips, and said confidently: "These two posts are a bit inferior to Wang Xizhi's and Huai Su's. Wang Xizhi's name is the sage of calligraphy. "Preface to Lanting Collection", the subtlety of its calligraphy can compete with the half of Kong Shengren's. Look at the character "Yong" written by him, using the strokes to the most concise and wonderful level. And he wrote A "goose" character, written in one stroke, the momentum, the ability to integrate, no one can match. There is also Huai Su, known as the sage of grass, who writes by hand, and every word has a magic power. His character madness, But it’s so crazy, so crazy, so I can’t get enough of it. Although the characters of these two emperors are both good-looking, they are not considered to be calligraphy masterpieces.”
"The prince has good eyesight." Feng Bao praised, and then changed the subject, "However, no matter how good the calligraphy of people like Wang Xizhi and Huai Su is, they are only the calligraphy of courtiers. The owners of these two paintings are former Long live the court."
Zhu Yijun raised his eyebrows and asked: "According to Daban's words, the person who can be the Lord of Longevity must be a master of calligraphy?"
"That's not necessarily the case," Feng Bao said with an embarrassed smile, pointing to the two copybooks in front of him, "However, these two copybooks are indeed remarkable."
"Long Live God was born with dragons, so these two characters must be drawn with iron and silver hooks."
Sun Hai, who was standing on the side serving paper and ink, came up to praise him.Because Zhu Yijun liked Sun Hai and the "big maid" white parrot very much, Empress Chen gave Sun Hai and the parrot to Zhu Yijun a few days ago.Sun Hai was originally a bird-player in the Compassionate Ning Palace. Once he was promoted to the prince's personal eunuch, his outfit changed immediately.The blouse in a Douqing sticker was replaced with a round-neck tunic, and the ebony plaque with a lotus leaf head hanging at the waist was also replaced with a dental plaque carved in seal script.
Feng Bao didn't know much about Sun Hai. Hearing him say this at this time, he thought that this little man was still a clever ghost, so he nodded and smiled, and then said: "What this little servant Sun Hai said is true, it's just a metaphor. Appropriately, the iron and silver hooks can only be the characters of the courtiers, and the characters of the Long Live Lord are dragons flying and phoenixes dancing."
"Flying dragon and phoenix dancing?"
Zhu Yijun repeated a sentence, and he looked again at the two posts in front of him and the stacks of rice paper that had been written on the desk, which were all left by his own handwriting practice.
"Big Companion," Zhu Yijun asked hesitantly, "Will you be able to be a good emperor if you write well?"
no one answered.Zhu Yijun raised his head and saw that Feng Baohun was peeping at the Abode of Compassionate Ning Palace.
"Big companion, what are you looking at?" Zhu Yijun asked dissatisfiedly.
"Ah? Didn't see anything," Feng Bao hurriedly turned around again, and asked with a smile on his face, "What did the prince just ask?"
Zhu Yijun repeated the question again.
"This is for sure," Feng Bao said firmly, "A good emperor is martial arts and martial arts, and he can do everything. In this martial arts, calligraphy is the first sign."
Zhu Yijun nodded, thought for a while, then shook his head and said: "I can't see it. Han Gaozu, Tang Taizong, and my emperor Taizu who founded the Ming Dynasty are all British lords. Why didn't I see their words?" stay?"
This question surprised Feng Bao. He did not expect that the ten-year-old prince would think so deeply. After turning his mind, he immediately replied: "The prince's question is reasonable. According to the slave, the king who founded the country , are mainly martial arts. Just now the crown prince pointed out that the emperors who founded the country are the emperors who founded the country, while the Taiping emperor mainly focuses on martial arts. Emperor Wu of Liang and Emperor Taizong of Song are both emperors of Taiping."
"What achievements did Emperor Wu of Liang have?"
"The servant read Tang poetry when he was a child, and there was a sentence like '480 temples in the Southern Dynasties, how many towers were in the mist and rain'. This is written about the achievements of Emperor Wu of Liang. He believed in Buddhism all his life and built many temples."
"What about Song Taizong?"
"When Taizong was in power, the Song Dynasty was peaceful, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. It was a good scene of singing and dancing. The most learned people in the country organized and compiled a big book "Taiping Yulan", which has a thousand volumes, after it was compiled, Taizong read it in only one year."
"How can he read so fast?"
"He reads three volumes a day, without intervals in a day."
Although Feng Bao replied calmly, he could still see that he was absent-minded.And Sun Hai, who was waiting on the pen and ink, was also scratching his head anxiously.It turned out that last night, he had told the prince that there was a bird's nest on the old cypress tree with its branches covering the sky near the imperial garden. When spring came, there must be bird eggs in that nest.The prince was interested in it at that time, and agreed that once the time passed today, they would go to the imperial garden to dig out bird eggs together.But now it's almost noon, the prince seems to have forgotten about it.In desperation, Sun Hai saw the white parrot "big maid" hanging on the veranda outside the window.He walked to the window lightly, and through the window, he made a face at the "big maid".The "big maid" who was dozing and squatting on the pure gold horizontal column with nothing to do suddenly became clever, flapped her wings, stretched her neck, and tactfully shouted into the room:
"Prince!"
Zhu Yijun looked around and saw that it was the "big girl" flapping her wings towards him, so Sun Hai took the opportunity to climb a tree towards him.He immediately remembered going to the Imperial Garden to climb trees and dig out bird eggs, so he said to Feng Bao: "Brother, that's all for today."
Feng Bao immediately felt relieved, and hurriedly bowed and bowed to thank him.Pass through the corridor and say to a female officer standing there: "Please inform Li Niangniang that Feng Bao has something urgent to see."
After the female officer went in, she came out and announced: "Ms. Li please meet Mrs. Feng at the flower hall."
Concubine Li Gui believed in Buddhism, she had just copied it, and now she was sitting in the flower hall to rest.After Grain Rain, the sun is shining brightly in the capital, and spring is as deep as the sea.People of all colors in the palace had already changed out of their heavy winter clothes. At this time, Concubine Li Gui was wearing a plain long skirt of jade white trimmed with scarlet silk, and a "sweet" "sweet" was inserted diagonally on her neatly coiled hair. "Trouble moth" is an ornament on the head of palace family members that has only emerged since the Jiajing period.The so-called "making moths" means catching butterflies.Sometimes the moth is also made of real grass insects, sandwiched in the shape of a gourd, the size of a pea, called "Cao Li Jin", and one piece is worth twenty or thirty gold.Li Guifei's attire made people feel both dignified and charming.When Feng Bao came in, he only had a quick glance, and felt that Concubine Li Gui was like a hibiscus coming out of water today, with all manners.He didn't dare to take another look, he bowed his head and knelt down to pay his respects. Concubine Li Gui ordered the maid to move a stool for a seat. She was sitting on the embroidered couch, fiddling with a string of rosary beads.Feng Bao took a look and saw that the string of rosary beads was exactly the "Bodhidharma beads" he had honored the day before yesterday.
"Eunuch Feng," Concubine Li Gui spoke slowly, and she could hear that she did not regard Feng Bao as a "slave", showing respect in her tone, "What did the prince learn today?"
Feng Bao replied respectfully: "Back to your mother, the servant let the prince read the copybooks of Emperor Wu of Liang and Emperor Taizong of Song."
"Emperor Liang Wu?" Concubine Li raised the rosary beads in her hand, "But this string of rosary beads is the first owner."
"Exactly."
"You said last time that Emperor Wu of Liang built hundreds of temples in his lifetime?"
"Yes."
"This is the supreme merit." Concubine Li Gui said with emotion, "The emperor cultivated all the people, and it happened with the help of my Buddha's mercy."
"Your Majesty's words are very true," Feng Bao wanted to see Concubine Li's expression at this time, but he did not dare to lift his eyes, "I believe that the merits of the current emperor and the crown prince will surpass Emperor Wu of Liang in the future. "
The flattery was both decent and pleasant. Concubine Li Gui was very happy, but when she thought of the emperor's illness, her face became gloomy again. She sighed and asked, "The emperor has been doing it for the past two days. something."
"Back to your mother, at this time, Lord Long Live is taking the elixir of Wang Zhenren."
"Which real king?"
"This person is called Wang Jiusi, and he calls himself Taoist Kongtong. It was Meng Chong who introduced this real Wang to Lord Long Live."
Concubine Li Gui frowned, and said angrily: "It's Meng Chong again, what kind of medicine did Wang Zhenren give the emperor?"
Feng Bao rubbed his hands, and said in a murmur, "I dare not hide the truth from my mother, but it's hard to tell."
"If you have anything to say, just say it."
Feng Bao briefly described how Wang Jiusi used Meng Chong to please the emperor to make alchemy and cure diseases.Concubine Li Gui lived in the Palace of Compassion, and apart from taking the crown prince to the Palace of Compassion to greet Empress Chen, she seldom went around, so she didn't know much about the big and small things that happened in the palace.Now hearing about Wang Jiusi's incident, he couldn't help being furious, and smashed the string of "Bodhidharma Buddha Beads" on the coffee table by his hand, cursing bitterly:
"This Wang Jiusi is obviously a demon who is not as good as a beast, the emperor's lord of ten thousand chariots, how could he get on his thief ship."
Feng Bao wanted to stir up Concubine Li Gui's anger, so he added oil and vinegar and said, "This yin and yang tonic pill refined by Wang Jiusi is very effective if Long Live Lord eats it."
"What is the effect?"
"Since the last time Long Live Lord fell ill, he went to the cabinet to find Nuer Huahua. He was alone in the Qianqing Palace for more than ten days, and never called his concubine to sleep. However, since he took Wang Jiusi's elixir, Long Live Lord unexpectedly I have developed a lot of energy, and not only recruited virgins at night, but sometimes even recruited virgins to attend the bed."
"Is there such a thing?"
"Every word of the slave is true."
Concubine Li Guifei's almond-shaped eyes were wide open, she gritted her silver teeth and remained silent for a while.In the courtyard outside the lattice window, flowers and trees are intertwined, and birds are singing and chirping.Concubine Li Gui walked to the window and stood still. She was not admiring the pleasant spring scenery outside the window, but borrowing the scented wind from the room to clear her mind and stabilize her emotions.When she spoke again, she regained her usual composure:
"Eunuch Feng, in your opinion, what kind of medicine is Wang Jiusi's Yin Yang Dabu Pill? Could it be that the urine menstrual water of virgin boys and girls can really cure diseases?"
"Taking the urine and menstrual water of boys and girls is just deception," Feng Bao replied angrily, "Actually, what really works are those medicinal powders that Wang Jiusi kept secret."
"Huh?"
Concubine Li Gui turned around and stared at Feng Bao, urging Feng Bao to continue with her melancholy and anxious eyes.As soon as Feng Bao entered the door, he was overwhelmed by Concubine Li Gui's beautiful appearance, and now he didn't dare to meet her staring gaze, so he lowered his head and replied hesitantly:
"According to the slave, Wang Jiusi's yin and yang supplement pill refined for Long Live Lord is probably an aphrodisiac."
"Aphrodisiac?" Li Guifei blushed suddenly, then calmed down, bit her lip and said, "Wang Jiusi really has such courage?"
"This kind of monster way, what can't be done?"
"It seems that the emperor is obsessed with ghosts. If this continues, his illness..."
Concubine Li Gui stopped talking at this point, her heart had already had an ominous sign.With a long sigh, tears welled up in his eyes.
Feng Bao, who had been squinting his eyes to observe the situation, felt that the time was ripe, so he left Muzi and knelt in front of Li Guifei, begging in a low voice: "Ms. Li, this old slave wants to see you, and I have one more thing to ask."
"What's the matter?"
"Ask Li Niangniang to rescue Zhang Juzheng."
"Zhang Juzheng, what happened to him?" Concubine Li Gui was surprised.
Feng Bao then told what happened at the entrance of Ertiao Hutong in Wangfujing yesterday.After hearing this, Concubine Li Gui couldn't help sighing and praising: "Mr. Zhang is the only one who upholds justice and treats the emperor with loyalty and loyalty."
"It's hard for my mother to make such an evaluation. If Mr. Zhang knows it, he must be very grateful," Feng Bao said and choked up, "It's just that good intentions may not be rewarded. Mr. Zhang's current situation is already very dangerous. .”
In fact, there is no need for Feng Bao to point it out, Concubine Li Gui also thought about this, after a little thought, she asked: "Do you know how the emperor plans to deal with this matter?"
Feng Bao replied: "I don't know the attitude of the emperor, but the servant came to the Supervisor of Ceremonies early in the morning, and heard that Mr. Zhang specially wrote a notebook for the emperor for this matter. Meng Chong was so anxious that the cat dropped his claws." , ran to the Qianqing Palace five or six times to meet the emperor, but when I came, the emperor had not yet woken up. The servant was thinking, Wang Jiusi was recommended to the emperor by Meng Chong, what good things can he say when he sees the emperor ?”
Concubine Li Gui nodded and said: "Go back now and see how the emperor will deal with it, and then come and sue."
"Thank you, ma'am."
Feng Bao kowtowed and came out.
In the west chamber of the Wenhua Palace, a dialogue between Emperor Longqing and Gao Gong was in progress.
Emperor Longqing had an urgent meeting with Gao Gong because of the Wang Jiusi incident, and wanted to ask his long-time teacher and chief assistant for advice on how to deal with this matter.In fact, not long after this happened yesterday, Gao Gong learned the news.At that time, he had not yet returned home, and was discussing with Wei Xuezeng the filling of a group of vacant officials in the Ministry of Officials.When he first heard that Zhang Juzheng had tied Wang Jiusi up in the street, his first feeling was that Zhang Juzheng had caused a catastrophe, so he couldn't help gloating and said: "We are trying our best to deal with this Zhang Juzheng, but we didn't expect him to cause trouble for himself. You have stabbed this hornet's nest." Wei Xuezeng was taken aback when he heard this, and asked in a sneering tone: "Old man, what do you think of Wang Jiusi?" It's a good thing." Wei Xuezeng said: "That's right, Zhang Juzheng arrested him, it's a very happy thing. If he steps down because of this incident, he will definitely be famous forever." Gao Gong stopped talking after hearing this.When I got home that night, I heard that many officials in the capital rushed to visit Zhang Juzheng's mansion after hearing the news.This morning, Yang Bo, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, and Ge Shouli, the imperial governor of Zuodu, two highly respected veterans of the court also came to the cabinet to visit Zhang Juzheng. They praised and comforted Zhang Juzheng. From what he saw, people's hearts can be seen from this.Gao Gong's mood at this time was both jealous and angry.He was always full of joy when he heard that the emperor had summoned him, but this time it was different. Although the few steps from the cabinet to the Wenhua Palace were under the warm sunshine of April, he felt cold and dizzy all over.
After Gao Gong read Zhang Juzheng's manuscript, Emperor Longqing asked, "How do you think this matter should be handled?"
Gao Gong saw the emperor's expression was hesitant.He guessed the emperor's mind, wanted to preserve Wang Jiusi and punish Zhang Juzheng, and was concerned about the remarks of the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, so he couldn't make up his mind.In fact, Gao Gong's whole mind is also on this difficult contradiction.The emperor asked him questions, but he couldn't answer for a moment, he just said vaguely: "According to the foolish minister's opinion, it is better to release Wang Jiusi from prison first."
Emperor Longqing was obviously dissatisfied with this answer. He stretched out his hand to rub his sallow and dry cheeks, and said darkly: "Let Wang Jiusi go, I will solve the problem with one decree. But Zhang Juzheng kept saying that Wang Jiusi is a demon, if I If there is no valid reason to let him go, wouldn't the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty call me a fool?"
Emperor Longqing's meaning could not be more clear, he wanted Gao Gong to find a reason for him to release him.Although Gao Gong has been in the officialdom for many years and his mind is full of ideas, he still has a feeling that he is at the end of his rope at this time.After thinking about it for a while, he said: "Your Majesty, this matter is not big or small, and the old minister can't think of any good ideas for a while. Can I invite Gao Yi, Yang Bo, Ge Shouli and other ministers to come to the court?" Discuss, discuss a strategy?"
"Such a trivial matter is worth mobilizing people?" Emperor Longqing saw Gao Gong's intention to shirk, so he reprimanded dissatisfiedly, "It's not about recommending ministers and discussing the affairs of the court. Why should the court discuss it? It's a private matter, you can make up your mind."
After being scolded a few times, Gao Gong felt a little annoyed in his heart, his temper became impatient, and his thinking became clear instead. He muttered: "Your Majesty, forgive me for speaking bluntly, the Son of Heaven has nothing personal to do!"
"Ah?" Emperor Longqing was slightly startled, and repeated, "The Son of Heaven has nothing personal to do. I'm sick, so finding someone to dispense medicine for me is not a private matter?"
"This is not a private matter, Your Majesty!" Gao Gong spoke eloquently, "Your Majesty, with the respect of ten thousand chariots, is an example for the world. The health of the Emperor's body is a great blessing for the common people. The people of the grassroots and the common people are all worried. How can it be said that the emperor's illness affects the hearts of hundreds of officials and the people, is a private matter?"
Emperor Longqing felt comfortable listening to these few words of Gao Gong, but he still felt that it was far from the point, so he said along the way: "What Aiqing said is very true. Once you have analyzed the matter clearly, let the matter be left to you." You do it. First, Wang Jiusi must be released immediately and continue to make alchemy for me. Second, Zhang Juzheng's actions are contemptuous of the imperial power and must be severely punished. How to punish, you will draw up a ticket."
Emperor Longqing said his will and refused to talk to Gao Gong anymore, so he ordered him to drive back to the palace.Gao Gong knelt on the ground and watched the emperor climb the sedan chair with the help of the eunuchs to look at the imperial road, then he got up from the ground in dismay, and returned to the cabinet to be on duty.At that time, Zhang Juzheng had returned to his mansion. According to the court's law, anyone who was impeached or involved in the case had to avoid the blame, and he didn't have to work on duty, but waited at home to deal with it.Gao Gong ordered the officials to call Gao Yi, who had just joined the cabinet.When I moved, I saw a short and thin old man walking in.This person is Gao Yi.He and Gao Gong were both Jinshi in the 20th year of Jiajing, and he was also about the same age as Gao Gong, but his face was haggard, and he looked much older than Gao Gong.
After Gao Yi sat down horizontally, Gao Gong conveyed to him the emperor's will when he received him in Wenhua Hall.Then he spread his hands and said in frustration: "Look, the emperor flicked his sleeves and asked me to handle such a thorny matter."
Gao Yi did not answer, just lowered his eyelids, staring at the steaming teacup in front of him in a daze.
Compared with Gao Gong, Gao Yi is another model of officialdom.Although his official career is prosperous, he is more like an elegant scholar.In the forty-fifth year of Jiajing, Gao Gong, who served as Minister of Rites, entered the cabinet. Gao Yi was promoted from a bachelor of the Nanjing Imperial Academy to Beijing, and served as Minister of Rites under Gao Gongkong.As soon as he took over, Gaoyi did a surprising thing: Emperor Jiajing advocated Taoism and got many alchemists into the palace.These alchemists all took posts in Taichang Temple to receive their salaries. This group of people relied on the emperor's favor and did whatever they wanted on weekdays, even insulting court officials.Gao Yi couldn't see it for a long time. After investigating and collecting evidence, he wrote a book to Emperor Jiajing, asking Taichang Temple to eliminate 48 redundant staff, and attached a list of those who should be eliminated.The "redundant staff" he pointed out were almost all alchemists around Emperor Jiajing.This is a hornet's nest that no one dares to poke, but it happened to be poked by this famous "good man".For a while, everyone looked at Gao Yi with admiration, and they all sweated for him.Seeing this memorial, Emperor Jiajing was indeed furious, but he only regarded Gao Yi as a nerd, so he didn't particularly embarrass him.Not long after, Emperor Jiajing passed away and Emperor Longqing ascended the throne. All the grand ceremonies and ceremonies were planned by Gao Yi in consideration of every detail, inheriting the ancestral system and obeying the Sacred Heart without any mistakes.The ministers all praised Gao Yi as the most competent minister of the Ministry of Rites.In the second year of Longqing, Emperor Longqing ordered to take 400,000 taels of silver from Guanglu Temple to purchase jewelry for the concubines in the palace.Gao Yi is the minister of the Ministry of Rites, and the treasury money is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Households, so it has nothing to do with him.But he felt that the state's finances were empty, so he went to Shuli to persuade Mu Zong to withdraw the edict.Mu Zong refused to listen, so Gao Yi went to Liushu and asked to resign from the post of Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites on the grounds of illness.Mu Zong had no choice but to agree to his appointment.After being sick for three years, Gao Gong never expected him to recommend him as a bachelor of Wenyuan Pavilion, and to work in the cabinet.Although he wanted to refuse, seeing Mu Zong's serious illness and loyalty to the emperor made him unable to speak.But less than a month after entering the cabinet, half of the time was spent recuperating at home.
Gaoyi has lived in Beijing for a long time, and has been in the list of Jiuqing for a long time.He has a good understanding of both Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng.Both of them have talents in managing the world, and both are strong figures who are good at winning people's hearts and are unwilling to share power with others.The difference is their personalities, Gao Gong is impatient and aggressive, and everything is written on his face; while Zhang Juzheng is deeply in the city, and his emotions and anger are invisible.In the early years of Longqing, Gao Gong was expelled from the pavilion by the chief assistant Xu Jie because of his narrow personality.In the fourth year of Longqing, he re-entered the cabinet and served as the chief assistant. In just two years, three bachelors in the cabinet successively resigned from their posts and went home to live idle because they were difficult to get along with him.However, Emperor Longqing's favor for him never faded.This is because Emperor Longqing didn't like to meddle in government affairs, and secondly, Gao Gong was indeed a minister in charge of food and clothing. During his administration, the country did not experience any turmoil, and the government did not have a single case.Because of this, Gao Gong became more and more domineering, and no one paid attention to him.He had always trusted Zhang Juzheng in the past, but since there were only the two of them left in the cabinet, Gao Gong discovered that Zhang Juzheng had become his biggest threat again.Since Gao Gong was more than ten years older than Zhang Juzheng and was a veteran, in his eyes, Zhang Juzheng was not a secondary assistant at all, but just a "assistant".Therefore, he never showed any face when speaking to Zhang Juzheng, and always made Zhang Juzheng embarrassed.The ministers of the various ministries have long seen this.They were not surprised by Gao Gong's demeanor, but they had to admire Zhang Juzheng's patience and concession.However, careful people can also see that Zhang Juzheng has hidden needles in the cotton, and on the surface he is submissive to Gao Gong and never fights.But he has his own views on many issues, and skillfully deals with Gao Gong, which often makes Gao Gong care about one thing and lose another, and is in a dilemma.Since Gaoyi entered the cabinet, both of them have been wooing him.Zhang Juzheng knew that he was recommended by Gao Gong to join the cabinet, but he still showed considerable respect and enthusiasm for him.He had to admire Zhang Juzheng's generosity in his heart, but in all fairness, he and Gao Gong had been friends for many years and had a deeper relationship.As soon as he entered the cabinet, he fell into the awkward position of "sitting on the mountain and watching the tiger fight".He was originally a well-known good man. He was indifferent to fame and wealth all his life and devoted himself to learning.Coupled with poor health, after applying for an official position from the official position of Minister of Rites, he has "keep his ears off the outside world and only read the books of sages and sages".Not wanting to be excavated by Gao Gong, he recommended the emperor to make up Wenyuange University Bachelor and join the cabinet as a counselor for maintenance.This is a dream for others, but it is a huge burden for him.He really didn't want to get involved in the fight between the two cabinet ministers, but he couldn't think of a way to get out, so he held the idea of "being a monk for a day and hitting the clock for a day", and he was perfunctory and refused to make any decisions.Gao Gong had already seen this kind of thinking about him, but Gao Gong recommended Gao Yi to join the cabinet for the sake of two votes to one vote, so he was not willing to let him be a "good man".So no matter how big or small it is, it is better to find him in advance and discuss countermeasures.
Seeing that Gao Yi was silent for a long time, Gao Gong shouted anxiously: "Brother Nan Yu, what time is it, you are still like a gourd!"
Gaoyi forced a smile as an apology, and then asked slowly: "Brother Xuan, if what happened yesterday in Donger Hutong was not Zhang Juzheng, but you happened to run into it, how would you deal with it?"
This question really stopped Gao Gong, thought for a while, and replied: "It seems that Zhang Juzheng did this."
"That's right, all court officials will do this," Gao Yi said angrily. To win the hearts of the people is to win the hearts of the officials. Brother Xuan, you don't need to explain it to me, you are clear about this."
"Meet a stubborn donkey again." Gao Gong secretly groaned in his heart, thinking about how to persuade Gao Yi to share his worries, only to hear Gao Yi continue to say:
"In the forty-five years of Jiajing, when I first took over as Minister of Rites, I wrote a letter to Emperor Sejong, who is the father of the current emperor, asking for the reduction of redundant staff in Taichang Temple. The purpose is to drive away the forty-five demons around Sejong Alchemist. What Zhang Juzheng did yesterday is more fierce and generous than what I did back then. Brother Yu admires his courage."
Everything Gao Yi said was true, but Gao Gong didn't want to listen to it, so he stretched his face and said angrily: "Brother Nan Yu, what Zhang Juzheng did yesterday is indeed not picky. The matter is very outrageous, Zhang Juzheng must be punished, how will you deal with this matter."
"I'm resigning because I'm not the chief assistant."
Gao Yi answered decisively, choked Gao Gong at once, and then replied angrily: "Isn't it a woman's act to give up a pickpocket for a mere trivial matter."
Gao Yi sighed and said: "Brother Xuan, I think you are determined to punish Zhang Juzheng."
"Brother Nanyu, don't fall on my head. Punishing Zhang Ju is exactly what the emperor wants."
"But the ministers of the Ministry know that you and Zhang Juzheng have been fighting for a long time. If this matter is not handled properly, you will be suspected of making trouble."
这场谈话又是不欢而散。