Chapter 43: Taking advantage of opportunities and acting recklessly

Zhu Yijun walked out of the Cining Palace with a thoughtful look on his face.

This behavior just now finally appeased Empress Dowager Li - it could even be said that he took advantage of the opportunity and temporarily became Empress Dowager Li's support.

He also forced the answer out of her.

To his surprise, Empress Dowager Chen was banished to the cold palace, which actually had nothing to do with Empress Dowager Li.

In fact, according to Empress Dowager Li, she had never targeted her sister.

In that situation just now, based on my understanding of Empress Dowager Li, she would not lie.

It seems there is another reason...

Perhaps, we still have to dig something out from Chen Mingyan's mouth.

Yesterday he still didn't understand the reason behind Chen Mingyan's behavior.

Just now he recalled that it was clearly a statement made to himself.

I hope he knows something, otherwise he would be too passive if he doesn't know what Empress Dowager Chen is thinking.

After killing the people, he had to convince his stepmother. Otherwise, without the emperor and the two palaces issuing an edict together, Gao Gong might not be dismissed.

It is best to prescribe the right medicine and understand what is needed.

Even if we take a step back, we still have to know the root cause before we can decide whether to let him spend his old age in peace, or live in Changle Palace and become a quiet and kind immortal master, or let him become ill due to worry and die of depression after several years.

Zhu Yijun returned to the Qianqing Palace with all these random thoughts in his mind.

……

After dinner, Zhu Yijun flipped through the files kept by the Jinyiwei while patiently waiting for Chen Mingyan.

Zhu Xixiao sent over all the documents related to Empress Dowager Chen.

The volume is so voluminous that it would be impossible to finish reading it in a short period of time.

Zhang Hong was holding a lamp nearby when he suddenly heard the emperor's voice: "Zhang Daban, I heard that before and after my mother, Queen Chen, was banished to the cold palace, Chen Hong and Feng Bao had a fierce fight?"

Accustomed to the Emperor's multitasking, Zhang Hong is now ready to ask questions at any time.

He replied softly, "Your Majesty, that is true. I heard that the two of them almost had a fight in the guard room of the Imperial Household Department."

Zhu Yijun was stunned. The governor of the Eastern Depot and the chief of the Imperial Household Department were fighting each other. It was like a scene from a martial arts movie.

He asked curiously, "So disrespectful?"

Zhang Hong explained: "The resentment is too deep."

"There are old grudges from Prince Yu's Mansion, and new grudges from the palace."

"At that time, Chen Hong presented a beauty to the late emperor in order to please him. But before he could meet the late emperor, Feng Bao used the excuse that he was infected with an epidemic disease and took all the people from the East Factory to deal with him."

When Zhu Yijun heard this, he suddenly remembered that it was said that Chen Hong and Meng Chong used beauties to please the late emperor, so did Feng Bao do the same?
If he had any doubts, he would ask directly.

Zhang Hong considered it for a moment and spoke cautiously, "Feng Dayong relies on Empress Li, so why would he offer a beauty to share her grace?"

The meaning of this sentence is very clear. If you offer a beautiful woman, what will happen if she gives birth to a dragon son?
Originally, the late emperor had two sons, both born to Empress Dowager Li.

It's a sure thing. Feng Bao is Empress Dowager Li's man, so how could he cause trouble for no reason?

As for Chen Hong, Meng Chong and others...the wife they rely on is obviously infertile, so why would they have such concerns?

Zhu Yijun nodded and understood.

He then asked: "Is it just Chen Hong and Feng Bao who are fighting? Is there anyone behind the scenes..."

Out of respect for the respected person, he did not say it directly.

Zhang Hong pondered for a moment and chose his words for a long time: "Your Majesty, the struggle in the inner court always depends on the people behind you. Even if you don't personally participate in it, everyone is thinking about it."

The implicit meaning is that even if Empress Dowager Li did not die, Feng Bao was her man after all.

No matter how much fighting there is at the bottom, the people at the top will always be held accountable.

Zhu Yijun sighed. This was what he was worried about.

If it's for titles, power, or something like that, then anything can be discussed.

I’m afraid there might be some hatred or obsession involved.

Zhu Yijun was in deep thought when Jiang Keqian walked in from outside.

"Your Majesty, Chen Mingyan requests an audience."

Zhu Yijun came to his senses.

He nodded: "Let him in."

After saying that, he stood up and stretched.

He signaled Zhang Hong to collect the confidential files on the table.

Zhang Hong packed it up quickly, held it in his arms, and quietly retreated.

……

Chen Mingyan followed Jiang Keqian closely.

He tried to get close to this Jinyiwei colleague, but got only a silent response.

I was extremely frightened.

What happened inside and outside the palace today was tacitly not discussed openly.

But anyone with enough status would understand how big the impact of this matter is.

The emperor is now afraid that he has already offended the Chen family.

"Captain Chen, His Majesty is inside, you can go in directly."

Jiang Keqian's voice interrupted Chen Mingyan's thoughts.

Chen Mingyan thanked him and turned to walk inside.

Before entering the palace, he was touched clean all over and even given a pair of standard Jinyiwei shoes, which showed that they did not trust him to the extreme.

Walking in the slightly empty hall, Chen Mingyan felt extremely uneasy.

When I got closer, I saw a young emperor sitting on the imperial desk.

I took a quick glance and didn't dare to look any further.

Chen Mingyan stepped forward quickly and said, "Chen Mingyan, captain of the Imperial Guard, pays respect to Your Majesty!"

Zhu Yijun looked up at the captain.

He slowly put down the manuscript in his hand and asked in confusion: "Mr. Chen, your family is preparing to rebel, why are you still doing such a grand ceremony?"

Chen Mingyan's heart suddenly stopped beating.

He didn't care about his breath that was about to stop, and hurriedly cried out in protest: "Your Majesty! My Chen family has received great favor from the emperor, so we are very cautious and tread carefully, and we dare not overstep the mark even a little bit!"

"Your Majesty, why do you say that?"

Zhu Yijun shook his head, too lazy to look at him: "Oh... Captain Chen still wants to appease me and prepare a thunderous attack."

Chen Mingyan could no longer bear the pressure and finally opened the window to speak: "Your Majesty! The Chen family had no knowledge of the Queen Mother's actions. Please understand your majesty!"

Since there was no need to beat around the bush, Zhu Yijun stopped putting pressure on him.

He asked directly: "You, you are a family, we are all the same, we share the joys and sorrows, how can you just say one sentence and leave it alone?"

The Queen Mother has the upper hand now, why don't you curry favor with her, instead of flirting with me?

Chen Mingyan said in a hoarse voice: "The Queen Mother is unable to have children, but my Chen family is still prosperous."

This statement is extremely straightforward.

He also saw clearly that no matter how much honor Empress Dowager Chen enjoyed, the Chen family would eventually suffer.

The current statement is to save oneself.

Zhu Yijun agreed with this reason in his heart, but still sighed: "So it's split betting."

He waited for a while, but Chen Mingyan's voice sounded again.

I couldn't help but look at the person kneeling below with curiosity.

Suddenly, Chen Mingyan kowtowed three times on the ground.

He said firmly: "Your Majesty has reasons for thinking this way, and I have no reason to refute it."

"I am willing to cut out my heart and guts, and sacrifice my liver and brain for your majesty, to atone for my sins!"

"If Your Majesty is so gracious that he deems my humble merits sufficient to atone for his sins, I only hope that when Your Majesty executes the entire Chen family, you will spare the lives of several people in my family."

"If my humble contribution is not enough to atone for my sins, then my Chen family will be seeking its own demise!"

"I have no complaints, sir!"

Zhu Yijun remained silent.

I couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.

He was more or less pinning his hopes on the brother of Empress Dowager Chen, who came with a trump card.

Even if it is an exchange of interests, what about using it as a threat in negotiations?

Unfortunately, after the briefing, it turned out that he was penniless.

As for whether to split the bets or not, it is really not an important matter nowadays.

Zhu Yijun sighed: "Get up."

"First, tell me what happened when you expressed your feelings to me yesterday. If you noticed anything, why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Chen Mingyan still knelt on the ground and could not get up.

He said everything in detail: "I just noticed that Chen Hong repeatedly used the name of Empress Dowager Chen to do things outside."

"I just want this person to be more obedient and not bring disaster to my Chen family."

"I am expressing my stance to His Majesty only to draw a clear line between myself and Chen Hong and his ilk."

"As for the Queen Mother...I really didn't expect it."

Zhu Yijun frowned.

What's the use of you if you don't know anything? Do you need to be a captain of the Imperial Guard?
He pressed, "Didn't expect that? This doesn't seem like a family."

After all, we are family. Don’t you care about the life and death of you people?
Chen Mingyan stood up and explained with a complicated expression, "Your Majesty, do you know that Empress Dowager Chen was moved to another palace in the third year of Longqing?"

Zhu Yijun nodded.

Chen Mingyan showed an embarrassed look: "The late emperor once wanted to depose the queen!"

Zhu Yijun had a blank expression on his face.

He understood what Chen Mingyan meant.

Moving to another palace was the treatment for a deposed empress. King Sejong’s deposed Queen Jang was “deposed and moved to another palace.”

Three years after the late emperor ascended the throne, he banished Chen to another palace. Once the gossip died down and the time came, he would depose her - but the late emperor died soon.

This means that Empress Dowager Chen spent the past two and a half years living in fear of being deposed at any time.

Then, I am afraid that those maternal relatives who tried to exonerate the late emperor and calm the criticism of the censors would only be filled with resentment.

Zhu Yijun sighed slowly and asked, "So in your opinion, what does my mother, Queen Chen, want?"

The possibility of power and fame is not high, could it be that he is venting his anger?
But the late emperor is gone. We can’t hold a grudge against him and secretly kill his body to vent our anger, right?

Anyone with a normal mind wouldn't be so crazy.

Chen Mingyan paused and pondered for a long time, fearing that he would say something wrong: "Your Majesty, do you know that my wife is the daughter of Earl Deping?"

Zhu Yijun nodded.

Deping Bo was the father-in-law who had died a few days before he ascended the throne, and was also the father of the late emperor's first wife.

In other words, Chen Mingyan was the late emperor's brother-in-law.

Chen Mingyan continued, "So, I can occasionally hear some palace rumors, especially those about offspring."

After laying the groundwork, Chen Mingyan finally got to the point: "In the 41st year of Jiajing, both empress dowagers were pregnant. The following year, Empress Dowager Li gave birth to Your Majesty, but Empress Dowager Chen had not yet given birth."

Zhu Yijun stood up suddenly!
He stared at Chen Mingyan: "You mean..."

Chen Mingyan pleaded guilty, but refused to give in: "My sister is suspicious by nature, and she has become even more withdrawn after being infertile. It is inevitable..." "Enough!"

A cold sigh.

Zhu Yijun suddenly interrupted Chen Mingyan.

His face was cloudy and uncertain.

He finally realized why Empress Dowager Chen had such deep resentment and why she was willing to take such a great risk to collude with Gao Gong.

This mess, including infertility and moving to another palace, was most likely blamed on Empress Dowager Li!
This person, maybe he has some idea of ​​killing the mother and raising the child...

It's crazy.

He said stiffly, "Tell your mother to come to the palace tomorrow and spend more time with my mother, Queen Chen, in the next few days."

"Also, go and contact Chen Hong. When the time is right, I will let Jiang Keqian find you."

Chen Mingyan paused for a moment and responded softly.

Then, seeing that there was no more sound coming from above, he retreated respectfully.

There was no sound until everyone left the hall.

……

June 17th.

Gao Gong once again stood at the head of the court discussion.

The Minister of Justice Liu Ziqiang, who fainted yesterday due to exhaustion, did not attend the court meeting.

Although he claimed that he had recovered, Gao Gong considerately asked him to rest for a few more days.

The person attending the meeting was Cao Jin, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice, who was also Gao Gong's relative.

Similarly, the censor Tang Lian, who called Gao Gong a ruthless person yesterday, also said he was sick and stayed at home today.

He just said that he accidentally became insane and needed to recuperate for a few days.

Apart from these two people, everything else in the court was normal.

As if nothing had happened, they gathered under the high arch again.

After the court discussion began, Gao Gong once again submitted the "Five Urgent Matters for the New Policy".

It is said that His Majesty and his colleagues have checked for omissions and made some revisions - a few sentences have been changed and synonyms have been replaced.

Then he openly presented it to his colleagues for discussion in the court, and respectfully presented it to the emperor for his review.

Lu Diaoyang, Feng Bao and Wang Guoguang all remained silent.

The imperial steps were also quiet today.

Afterwards, Vice Minister of Justice Cao Jin, Chief Censor Ge Shouli and others came out to agree.

Seeing that more than half of the votes had been cast, Gao Gong drafted the proposal.

From beginning to end, Lu Diaoyang and others did not have the opportunity to speak.

Yesterday, the emperor rejected the memorial on the grounds that it was not accepted by half.

Today, Gao Gong proposed to pass this memorial on the grounds that half of the votes agreed.

In the blink of an eye, the east wind turned into the west wind.

The wavering court officials once again sang praises, saying that these five things would sweep away the decadent trend and mark the beginning of a new era.

Afterwards, Han Ji, the Minister of Public Administration, replied to Feng Bao that the Prime Minister Gao Gong's retirement memorial was kept by the two palaces and the emperor without being sent out.

Gao Gong sighed, saying that he was old and weak and could not bear the heavy responsibility, and resigned again in court.

The court officials all tried to keep him.

Han Ji, the Minister of Public Administration, then presented the memorial to governors-general of various places, such as Wang Daokun, the Governor of Huguang, Yin Zhengmao, the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, requesting them to retain Gao Gong.

In addition, 86 officials including Personnel Deputy Director Mu Wenxi, Cheng Wen, Personnel Director Xu Fuyuan, Censor Li Chunpu, Du Huazhong, Hu Jun, Desheng, Shixuan, Liu Yuerui, Zhang Ji, as well as Left and Right Secret Censors Tu Menggui, Yang Rong, Zhou Yun, Zhang Bo, etc., jointly requested that Gao Gong be retained.

He Yongqing and Han Ji, the right assistant ministers of the Ministry of Public Administration, Liu Siwen, the left assistant minister of the Dali Temple, Song Liangzuo, the right assistant minister of the Dali Temple, Liu Bo and Chen Xingqi, the assistant ministers of the Taichang Temple, Dong Yaofeng, Chen Lianfang and Li Youzi, the assistant ministers of the Taipu Temple, Liu Yaohui and others made suggestions that the young emperor was in doubt and the prime minister should not regret retiring.

In addition, 26 people including officials from Nanzhili, including Minister of Works Chen Shaoru, Minister of Rites Qin Minglei, and Chief Academician Wan Hao, responded from afar.

Loud.

The emperor answered personally, sincerely trying to retain Prime Minister Gao Gong.

Gao Gong had no choice but to stay in office.

Subsequently.

When an earthquake struck Ningxia, Prime Minister Gao Gong requested disaster relief, and the emperor agreed.

When Prince Heng Zaiqi died, the Ministry of Rites submitted a memorial to the emperor, requesting that he be posthumously named Zhuang, and the emperor agreed.

Prime Minister Gao Gong requested that Minister of Works Zhu Heng supervise river works and be in charge of mausoleum affairs, and the emperor agreed.

Prime Minister Gao Gong requested that Zhou Yude, the censor of Jiangxi Province, be sent to supervise the salt tax in Lianghuai and also manage the river routes, and the emperor agreed.

The eunuch Feng Bao stood quietly on the imperial steps, saying nothing, like a transparent person.

More than half of the court has voted.

Chen Hong entered the Wenhua Hall holding the memorial with Empress Dowager Chen's reply.

It turned out that he approved the title proposed by the Ministry of Rites.

Gao Gong did not ask the Imperial Household Department, but reported to the emperor in court and asked the emperor to answer personally.

The emperor gladly agreed.

Then he said:

The titles of the two palaces were based on old traditions. Only Emperor Xianzong honored his stepmother, the Empress, as Empress Dowager Ciyi, and his biological mother, the Imperial Noble Consort, as Empress Dowager.

Today's incident is exactly the same, therefore, the Empress Dowager, the Emperor's biological mother, is honored as the Benevolent and Holy Empress Dowager.

The emperor's biological mother, the Empress Dowager, was honored as the Empress Dowager.

A court meeting ended.

Gao Gong held the staff and bowed, shouting "holy emperor, wise ruler", and all the officials echoed the shouts.

The emperor encouraged him earnestly and gave loquats to his ministers, lecturers and officials of the third rank and above.

Then he adjourned the court.

……

The Ministry of Rites is on duty.

Lu Diaoyang sat behind the desk, lost in thought.

Sure enough, my cultivation level is still too shallow.

He could not compare with Zhang Juzheng's wisdom.

He couldn't guess the emperor's intentions.

He couldn't even begin to match Gao Gong's skill.

Now he has ruined everything in the New Party.

Not only did Gao Gong not retire peacefully, he even had the intention of taking control of the government.

If Zhang Juzheng came back, he wouldn't know how to face it.

"Minister Lu, the Prime Minister invites you to come over."

The sudden sound woke Lu Diaoyang up.

He suddenly raised his head: "Prime Minister?"

The officer nodded.

Lu Diaoyang slowly stood up, put on the Liang Guan on his head, and pushed the door open to walk out.

I thought I was going to the Cabinet lobby.

As soon as I went out, I saw Gao Gong standing by a pond not far away with his hands behind his back, looking up at the clear sky.

Lu Diaoyang slowed down his pace and walked to Gao Gong.

He also raised his head and looked in the direction Gao Gong was looking.

He said, "Even if Yuan Fu is looking far ahead, he should also look at his feet more carefully and be careful not to step into the pond."

Gao Gong knew that Lu Diaoyang had arrived.

He did not make any extra movements, but just said, "He Qing, as soon as I saw this wild goose, I was fascinated."

"Like a wild goose flying across the clear sky, it probably has no intention of lowering its head to take a look at the small pond below."

Lu Diaoyang shook his head: "I'm afraid that Yuanfu will fall into the pond and scare the fish in the pond."

Gao Gong smiled and said, "Come on, walk with me."

The two were originally walking one in front and one behind, but Lu Diaoyang quickened his pace by half a step and forced himself to be side by side.

Gao Gong didn't care and continued, "Yan Jidao once wrote, 'The wild geese are in the clouds, the fish are in the water.'"

"This wild goose and fish, one is in the sky, the other is on the ground, how can this pavilion see them all?"

Lü Diaoyang shook his head: "The wild geese fly so high that the light cannot see them, while the fish and dragons leap in the water and form words."

The two of them kept arguing with each other.

Seeing that Lu Diaoyang still refused to give in.

Gao Gong nodded appreciatively: "I know your intentions, and they cannot be shaken."

Gao Gong turned his head and looked at Lu Diaoyang: "He Qing, do you want to join the cabinet?"

Lu Diaoyang was shocked.

Zhang Juzheng thought it was expected that he would join the cabinet.

It was understandable that the emperor tried to win him over to join the cabinet yesterday.

Why did Gao Gong suddenly want him to join the cabinet?

They are clearly still preparing for a fight!
Lu Diaoyang subconsciously asked: "Can the Prime Minister still tolerate me?"

Gao Gong smiled and said, "I can tolerate the Jin Party, and Wang Chonggu will still be in the cabinet, let alone you?"

"For the new law, I took up the banner before Zhang Juzheng did."

Lu Diaoyang remained silent.

He was ready to retire, but he didn't expect... Gao Gong's broad-mindedness really impressed him.

He sighed without disguising himself: "I thought the Prime Minister was going to expel those who disobeyed him and take charge of the government."

Gao Gong shook his head: "I have done so much just to allow people like you and me to let go and use new methods."

Lu Diaoyang was even more speechless.

I was speechless for a moment and walked forward silently.

Gao Gong did not urge him, but just waited quietly.

The two walked for nearly two quarters of an hour, and the sun gradually set.

At this time, Gao Gong was looking around leisurely and suddenly saw Zhang Hong.

After thinking for a moment, he called out, "Where are you going, Zhang Dayang?"

Zhang Hong saw that it was Gao Gong and Lu Diaoyang, and he immediately bowed: "Prime Minister, Lu Shangshu."

"Your Majesty, the two palaces have given you an oral order."

"Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng and others returned from Tianshou Mountain and ordered the construction of the late emperor's mausoleum at Dayu Mountain. Zhang Juzheng and others were rewarded with 20 taels of silver."

Lu Diaoyang blurted out: "Master Zhang is back!?"

　Note 1: The officials who supported Gao Gong and appeared in the court discussion in this chapter were all those who were immediately dismissed after Gao Gong was dismissed.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)