Chapter 267

This scene made many people stunned on the spot.

Fortunately, Xue Tingxiang had quick eyesight and quick hands, and hugged Mao Wenhao just before he hit the pillar.

Seeing that the situation was so dangerous, even the new emperor on the dragon chair couldn't help wiping off a cold sweat.

He hurriedly stood up and asked the eunuch beside him to see how Mao Wenhao was doing, and said angrily: "Speak well, you say you bumped into a pillar, you can't talk about what you said, and you have to make some deadly remonstrance."

The so-called civil and military remonstrance and military death battle have always been the highest honor for civil and military officials.

Civil officials like dead remonstrance, and the new emperor has known this for a long time.

It was supposed to express the fearlessness of daring to speak out directly, even at the risk of committing death, but it gradually evolved into a method used by courtiers to deal with the emperor. It means that if His Majesty does not listen to the old minister's persuasion, the old minister will kowtow to death on the pillar.

If you think that people are just threatening and won't be serious, then you are wrong. Don't look at those civil servants who have no power to restrain chickens, they seem to be quite cowardly.

Because of such a death, his name will definitely be left in history.

The minister who died admonishing him will be famous in history, and the emperor will also leave the name of a faint and tyrant in the history books. Not only can the emperor not retaliate against the descendants of his ministers, but he has to treat them kindly. Maybe in the future, he will cultivate a courtier who likes to control everything, and will kowtow to death as a threat at every turn.

When this happened to others, such as my own father, Emperor Jiacheng, the third prince who was born as a prince at that time would at most scold him as pedantic.

But if it was him himself, Xindi could truly experience this helpless and disgusting feeling.

"Your Majesty can't listen to advice, the old minister can only go down and talk to the first emperor." Mao Wenhao cried and struggled while crying: "Master Xue, don't drag me, I will be crushed to death here today."

"Stop it, I'll ask them to go back to Beijing to ask about the situation. If there is really something corrupt and perverted, I will not forgive you lightly." In desperation, the new emperor said.

"Is what His Majesty said true?"

Seeing Yang Chonghua and others glaring at him angrily, the new emperor finally understood what he said.

But at this moment, he backtracked, so what face did he have?

I can only bite the bullet and say: "Of course it is true, Mr. Mao should not make trouble anymore. I planned it this way, but I didn't expect you to bump into the pillar without explaining it. You are really, really too impatient..."

The new emperor left in a hurry.

With the sound of "Retreat", Mao Wenhao patted the ashes on his body and got up, gave Xue Tingxiang a disdainful look, and left triumphantly.

However, all the officials around Xue Tingxiang were enraged, and they all scolded this person for being shameless.

Xue Tingxiang couldn't help shaking his head helplessly, but couldn't say anything.

Yang Chonghua glanced at him and left in a hurry.

*

At the back door of Duke Dingguo's mansion, several carriages were parked.

Several plainly dressed but beautiful women turned their heads and cried, but they couldn't stop them at all. They had no choice but to let the maids help them into the carriage, and the carriage left here quickly.

Zhong Qingyang, the son of Duke Dingguo and the commander-in-chief of the Fifth Army Battalion, was fined for half a year and ordered to release his concubine who violated the system. This was something that was unimaginable before, but today it really happened.

Dingguo's mansion was full of gloom, and the atmosphere was extremely gloomy.

Seemingly a small matter, it just proved that the new emperor had the intention of attacking them.

In fact, he should have expected it long ago, and even had precautions, but when it really happened, he was still somewhat incapable of accepting it.

In Dingguogong's study, Dingguogong, who is over seventy years old, sits behind the desk.

His beard and hair are all white, and his face is majestic. It can be seen that he was also a hero when he was young.

In fact, this was indeed the case. As a lieutenant general in the uprising in the past, he also made countless contributions in exchange for the position of duke.

It's a pity that the hero is late, and he is about to enter the coffin, but because of his grandson, he has fallen into such a situation.

Because of the impeachment of a small censor, his family was swept away by the new emperor!

This is the embarrassment of losing power, so Ding Guogong does not regret planning for his grandson at the beginning. If the Zhong family can produce a queen mother and their grandson becomes the emperor, at least the Zhong family will be able to keep their wealth and honor for another hundred years.

Prosperity and wealth are based on a gamble, if it happens again, Ding Guogong will still choose this way. But he will definitely not underestimate that group of civil servants, those civil servants who only rely on a mouth, a pen, and a head, and are powerless.

It's not that Duke Ding didn't pay attention to these civil servants, he just didn't expect them to dare to set up such a big picture.

Scholars are so cunning, the ancients did not deceive him.

The current situation is that the new emperor is supported by those civil servants to ascend the throne, the second prince and Concubine Zhong are in a dilemma, and the Zhong family's fate is only in the near future.

Don't complain about anything, only blame yourself for missing a move.

"Father, we can't sit still and wait for death, or the next time someone finds a reason for my Zhong family, seizes the military power, and the whole family will be wiped out." Zhong Qingyang said solemnly.

If there is one, there are two, and sooner or later the butcher's knife will come to your door.

In the world, apart from the missing Emperor Jiacheng, only the second prince and his family knew the secret of the new emperor, so he would definitely not let the Zhong family off, even the second prince and even Concubine Zhong, now changed to Concubine Zhong Taigui.

It was supposed to be evenly matched, but since the new emperor ascended the throne, the Zhong family can clearly feel that the balance is tilting a little bit as time goes by.

This is the natural advantage of being an emperor, and he is famous for his teaching. So even those who followed the Zhong family and even the second prince began to hesitate, these are not good omens.

"Then what do you think?"

"We can cooperate with Xue Tingxiang!" Zhong Qingyang gritted his teeth.

Duke Ding looked over.

"Xue Tingxiang was the late emperor's confidant and loyal. From what he has done since he returned to Beijing, it can be seen that he has suspicions, but there is no evidence. Regardless of whether this is the case, at least Ye Ju, Lin Miao and others are The late emperor's confidantes, the return of these people will give him more help. If these people know that the late emperor is not dead, and the third prince is trying to usurp the throne, what do you think will happen to them?"

"But our end will not be good. Don't forget what the Zhong family and even the second prince did in it. Even if the former emperor returns to the court, he will not let the Zhong family go." Dingguo said.

"Both left and right are dead, so it's better to bet that the first emperor didn't dare to show up because he was single and weak. And father, you forgot that you had been scruples about the love of the dead and kept the Zhong family from showing up, and the second prince made a move. I feel ashamed of such disobedience, and I have never come forward.

"We can definitely say that they are using the name of the second prince. We were actually framed and framed. Even if the first emperor knew it well, even if he was concerned about the outside world, he would not do anything to the Zhong family. As long as we are honest and peaceful, Zhong The lives of hundreds of people in the clan can be saved."

"But your sister." The bowl of medicine mixed with something was brought to Emperor Jiacheng by Concubine Zhong herself.

"If my younger sister knows that this is beneficial to the Zhong family and the second prince, she will definitely understand. And my son has always felt that Xue Tingxiang seems to know something. He is just waiting. Maybe the first emperor will return soon. It's time-"

The study fell into a suffocating silence, and suddenly there was a beeping sound from the lamp wick.

Duke Ding suddenly became sluggish, and said a little tiredly: "Let me think about it again."

Think about it again, but Ding Guogong's appearance is obviously moving his mind, it's just that he was sad about the hurdle in his heart for a while, and he didn't make a decision for the time being.

Another day, Xue Tingxiang returned to the mansion in an official sedan chair.

When walking halfway, suddenly the road ahead was blocked.

It's the Zhong family's carriage.

The guards on both sides mediated separately, and soon a road was vacated, and the Zhong family's carriage gave way to one side, letting Xue Tingxiang's sedan chair go first.

Just as Xue Tingxiang opened the car curtain to look out, a face appeared in the carriage diagonally opposite, it was Zhong Qingyang.

Between the interlaced eyes, they understand each other.

Not long after, a car and a sedan headed in the same direction.

*

Tan Shoufu has been seriously ill all the time, and even the late Emperor Longyu was unable to stay in the couch after his death.

The new emperor was sympathetic and spared him from entering the palace to cry. It is said that Tan Shoufu was so sad that he fainted on the sick bed several times, so that his body became weaker, and he almost went with the first emperor several times.

Although he now occupies the position of chief assistant, the current cabinet is headed by Yang Chonghua. We all know that Tan Shoufu has recently resigned from office, so although Yang Chonghua does not have the name of Shoufu, some people have secretly called him Shoufu.

It was another early morning, and all the officials stood in line according to their ranks, with civil officials on the left and military officials on the right.

These are the usual old rules, where everyone stands, everyone knows it well.

Yang Chonghua led the team and stood at the top on the left. The daughter-in-law for many years became a mother-in-law, Xu Shoufu was gone, Wu Ge was gone, and now it is finally his turn to lead.

It was time to wait for the new emperor to come to court, so the surroundings were very quiet.

At this moment, there was a commotion in the rear. Yang Chonghua only thought that some officials were late, and didn't take it seriously.

But gradually the commotion came behind him, he subconsciously turned around, and saw Tan Shoufu walking slowly towards him in a senile manner.

In his slightly widened eyes, the other party passed him at an extremely slow speed, and stood in front of him.

Therefore, he had to retreat three steps, and Feng Chengbao behind him also retreated, followed by a group of officials retreating one after another, and the group gradually calmed down.

As if sensing Yang Chonghua's surprise, Tan Shoufu smiled and nodded at him, but when he turned to the back, he was faintly apologetic.

The surroundings are still quiet, but because of this, there are so many thoughts floating in the dark.

The new emperor arrived soon, and after shouting long live, he sat down on the dragon chair.

He seemed to be very surprised by Tan Shoufu's appearance.

Then the eunuch in charge of the court shouted: "If you have something to do, you will leave the court if you have nothing to do." The new emperor looked at Tan Shoufu with a smile and said, "Is Tan Aiqing in good health? You are unwell, and I have always been very concerned."

Tan Shoufu knelt down tremblingly, and made a prostration.

The new emperor paled in surprise, and hurriedly asked the eunuch beside him to help him up. Before the eunuch got down the steps, Tan Shoufu stood up tremblingly by himself, saying that he should not behave like this to His Majesty.

"The old minister is ashamed. The corpse is a vegetarian meal. I asked the late emperor to resign several times. The late emperor was kind and loving, so he forced him to stay. So I can only have the audacity to stay in his position but not seek his own government. I am really ashamed, ashamed."

In such a situation, the new emperor would naturally have to say some face-saving words: "Tan Aiqing is an old minister, and my father misses the past and respects him very much. With so many officials in my Dachang, there is no shortage of one or two ministers to handle affairs, but as long as my father sees that you are always there Chao, my heart is safe."

This is not what the new emperor said, but a paraphrase of what Emperor Jiacheng once said.

Emperor Jiacheng said words like this countless times, many times to Xu Shoufu, and many times to Tan Liang, which was really touching.

Sure enough, when Tan Shoufu heard this, he wiped away his old tears, first crying about the benevolence and righteousness of the former emperor, and then saying that the new emperor will have the style of the first emperor, and that in the future he must be a generation of benevolent emperors.

People like to hear good things, and Xindi especially likes to hear them. In fact, he often heard these words, but if they came from the mouth of the first emperor's minister, it made him feel refreshed.

"But the kindness between the former emperor and His Majesty is not the reason why the old minister can rely on his power. Today, the old minister came here with his sick body to ask his majesty to resign. The old minister has not returned to his hometown for many years, and now he may follow the late emperor someday." I have gone, I want to go back to my hometown to have a look, choose a place to bury the bones, wait for the deadline to come, and go down to serve the late emperor."

This is a bit serious. In fact, whether you want to retire or not, you can still tell the difference through words. Tan Shoufu's words clearly indicated that he had made up his mind to go.

The new emperor was both surprised and embarrassed, but it was undoubtedly a good thing for Tan Shoufu to give up his position.

He said some words of consolation and persuasion, seeing Tan Shoufu's firm attitude, he could only reward him before deciding on the matter.

"On this occasion, the old minister has another matter that needs to be reported to His Majesty. In fact, the old minister is mainly here for this purpose, and he has a heavy responsibility. Several times, the old minister was dying, so he came back with force."

"Oh, I still don't know what it is?"

Tan Shoufu's words not only aroused the curiosity of the new emperor, but also aroused the curiosity of many ministers. Some ministers standing behind looked at each other, wondering what was going on.

"Actually, it's an edict from the first emperor." Tan Shoufu quickly revealed the answer, but he didn't take out anything, but began to lament the late emperor at length, and then revealed the origin of the edict.

He is getting old, maybe he has been seriously ill several times in a row, and his speech is much slower than before.

The key point is that he is not only slow, but also long-winded, and he always forgets the front after talking, and occasionally repeats what has been said before.

If it was before, that's all. Hun Dang will talk about him this morning.

But now and then, everyone has never heard of any edict issued by the former emperor, and now a edict suddenly appeared, not to mention some ordinary ministers, even the new emperor Yang Chonghua and others are eager to know what the content is.

"...On the day when Lord Xue went to Jiangnan, the old minister had an interview with the saint. His Majesty said that if the new policy can be carried out in the Jiangnan area, Master Xue's merits are in the contemporary era. Afterwards, Lord Xue held a meeting to debate the new policy at the Suzhou Tribute Court. Scholars from all over the world gathered. The beneficiaries gathered. The scene of that day was sent to the capital through the mouths of the world and by express delivery. His Majesty was overjoyed and excited. Without going into details, he once called the old minister into the palace to talk. At this time, His Majesty I gave the old minister a handbook."

After these words, the officials finally knew the general content of the former emperor's edict.

Is this related to Xue Shilang?

For a moment, countless eyes swept over Xue Tingxiang who was standing in the rank of civil servants.

"I still don't know where the handwriting is, and what's on it?" The new emperor finally asked what everyone wanted to know, and the breath that was pent up in his heart finally came out.

It was still trembling as usual, making people want to rush up to pick it up for him.

Tan Shoufu finally took out a roll from his sleeve.

The roll seemed to be very important, and it was wrapped in a cloth towel. Untie one layer of the cloth towel, there is another layer inside, and it has been opened five or six layers before revealing what is underneath.

All the officials and even the new emperor really suspected that Tan Shoufu did this on purpose, and he made them very upset anyway.

"This handbook was originally created by His Majesty, but after writing it, His Majesty couldn't bear to destroy it, and gave it to the old minister, saying that when the old man retires and returns to his hometown, this handbook will be published. Your Majesty is really a king of benevolence and righteousness." , the old minister really..."

Tan Shoufu started crying again, which made people feel anxious and wanted to beat him up.

After crying, Tan Shoufu casually handed the handbook to Yang Chonghua, saying: "Mr. Yang Ge, please help me read it. I can't calm down at this time, and I really can't bear to read this handbook."

After Yang Chonghua opened the handbook, his eyes were focused on it.

Surprise, embarrassment, and disbelief flashed in his eyes, and the old hand holding the handbook showed bruises.

"Your Majesty said that with Master Xue's achievements, he is worthy of this position, and there is no need to be restricted by his age and qualifications. Originally, when Master Xue came back from Guangdong, His Majesty had planned to let him join the cabinet. He just thought that he was young and wanted to suppress him. He can also take on greater responsibilities in the future... Hey, Master Yang, why don't you read it?"

Tan Shoufu opened his old and dim eyes and looked at Yang Chonghua behind him.

"My official, my official..." Yang Chonghua smiled stiffly, and said, "I'm here to read it now. Young Fu Xue Tingxiang is amazingly talented. He became famous at a young age. He was ranked six yuan. Since he entered the court as an official, he has repeatedly made meritorious deeds..."

In fact, this is a hand-picked order for Xue Tingxiang to join the cabinet. It is probably true as Tan Shoufu said, it was caused by the rise of Emperor Jiacheng, and it even said that he could be the head and assistant of the cabinet.

Therefore, even if Xue Tingxiang was made the chief assistant without clearly pointing it out, Tan Shoufu took it seriously and made such a move.

After the mantra was read, the hall was extremely quiet, and everyone's eyes were on the neither humble nor overbearing young official standing there.

In fact, if it is calculated according to merit, Xue Tingxiang is worthy of being the first assistant.

Over the years he has been an official in the court, he has shown calmness, composure and sophistication, no less than some veteran officials who have been in the court for decades.

But one must know that he is only in his thirties, and he has not even joined the cabinet, so how could he become the chief minister in one fell swoop. How should Yang Chonghua and Feng Chengbao, the veteran ministers who have been in the cabinet for many years, deal with themselves?

But this is the imperial edict!

Because of the implication represented by the word "first emperor", it even surpasses the new emperor.

We must know that the rulers of heaven and earth are relatives and teachers, and Dachang governs the world with filial piety. How dare the new emperor refute the previous emperor's handwriting?

Since the new emperor came to the throne, the four ministers who were ordered by the first emperor's edict seemed to be different from ordinary ministers. It stands to reason that the new emperor has come of age, and it seems that he is throwing away the basics and chasing after the end with a minister of Gu Ming. It can be understood that the previous emperor did not establish a prince, and the princes had never been trained and taught by the prince. It seems that they can understand this approach.

But from the beginning to the end, everyone ignored one thing, that is Xue Tingxiang, Ye Ju and others.

No one in the court knew that these people were the late emperor's confidantes, who appointed Minister Gu Ming, but none of them were among them. Could it be that several people are not qualified enough, or they are not as familiar with the operation of government affairs as Yang Chonghua and others, it seems that this is not inexplicable.

However, the appearance of this handwritten edict somewhat refuted the late emperor's last edict.

The first emperor obviously intended to let Xue Tingxiang take the position of chief assistant, if not now, it would be in the future.

There was Xu Shoufu in the front, and Tan Shoufu in the back. Both of them were old and unrelenting. It was obvious that the former emperor deliberately kept people in order to balance.

Because this phenomenon has been going on for a long time, the word Shoufu seems to be a noun for all officials, and not only one person has even guessed what kind of person is worthy of the position of Shoufu in Emperor Jiacheng's mind.

Now that the results are out, the first emperor downgraded talents in an eclectic manner. But the problem is that the minister who is so important, why is there no mention of it in the will?

So, the so-called will, is it really the will that the late emperor himself said? Or did the minister in charge of drafting the will deliberately omit it?

If everyone remembers correctly, the minister responsible for drafting the will was Yang Chonghua, and the ministers who were present that day were also the four Gu Ming ministers on the will.

It is not that there are no other important ministers in the court, but only four of them were called, which is really intriguing.

Mao Wenhao, who was standing behind, suddenly jumped out and said loudly: "That day when the edict was promulgated to the world, I was a little confused. Although I somewhat looked down on the character of Xue Shilang and his cabinet teacher Lin Miao, but With its merits, it is impossible not to mention the last sentence in the will.

"Lord Yang, you drafted this posthumous edict. Can you explain to everyone why the content of the posthumous edict is contradicted by His Majesty's earlier written edict? Could it be that you suppressed the newcomers and deliberately omitted Lord Xue?"

Mao Wenhao's words immediately caused a buzz of discussion in the hall.

Yang Chonghua, who had always been prudent and low-key, turned red for the first time, and scolded: "You really don't know what to say! That day, not only the old man was present, but also three other adults, and Mr. Zheng, the supervisor of etiquette, was there. You Do you mean that the old man can’t make a lie?”

Mao Wenhao squinted his eyes, took out the posture of hob meat, and said impassionedly: "Then who knows, that's why I asked you adults to explain to me. We were not present, but everyone in the world knows that the will is as important as Mount Tai, and it is related to the stability of our Dachang Jiangshan, and there is no room for loss.

"Others don't care, I, Mao Wenhao, have been deeply favored by the late emperor. If this edict is not what the late emperor intended, I, Mao Wenhao, will absolutely deny it!"

At this moment, the new emperor on the dragon chair suddenly supported his forehead with a painful look on his face.

The eunuch on the side quickly moved closer and shouted: "Your Majesty, what's wrong with you, Your Majesty?"

The new emperor leaned weakly on the dragon chair and said, "I have a headache."

"Your Majesty is tired. Since the death of the late emperor, His Majesty has stayed in front of the coffin for a few days and was busy with government affairs. This servant helped His Majesty to rest and passed on the imperial physician."

Following the eunuch's voice and emotion, the new emperor was escorted away, and the eunuch in charge of the court ceremony hastily shouted 'Back the court', and then followed him away.