Qianqing Palace, side hall.
When Zhu Yijun led Lu Tiaoyang in, he saw several people in the hall.
In addition to Empress Dowager Li and Zhu Xizhong, there is also Empress Dowager Li's biological father, Li Wei.
The latter, of course, was the "drop-in" invitation when Zhu Xizhong entered the palace.
Seeing the emperor come in, everyone except Queen Mother Li stood up and saluted.
Even if he is the head of the state, he must obediently address himself as "His Majesty the Emperor".
Zhu Yijun slowed down his pace and waited for everyone to finish the salute, then strode forward and held their arms.
He scolded: "The father-in-law and the duke are my benevolent elders. Why should I perform such a great gift in private?"
Li Wei didn't dare to be helped, so he hurriedly avoided it and said another kind words.
He comes from a low background and has lived in Shanxi for half his life. He only entered the capital when he was forty years old and has a very strong accent.
Zhu Yijun could barely understand what he was saying.
Just keep smiling and nodding.
He looked at Zhu Xizhong again and asked curiously: "How come Duke Cheng Guo has no time to enter the palace? Is his health feeling better?"
When Duke Cheng Guo was still strong, he served as the official of the Wenhua Palace.
Later, he became seriously ill and was unable to perform his duties, so he rarely entered the palace.
I was asked to enter the palace by him today, so I had to ask him a question.
Zhu Xizhong suffered from old age diseases and seemed to speak very slowly: "It was the wife of the family who came to the palace to talk to the Queen Mother."
"But perhaps because His Majesty ascended the throne and the Queen Mother ascended the throne, I have been feeling better these past two days, so I went to the palace together to express my gratitude to Your Majesty and the Queen Mother."
Zhu Yijun nodded repeatedly.
No wonder the late emperor said that Duke Cheng was clever by nature.
Just talking makes people feel comfortable, so there is nothing to say.
Queen Mother Li saw her son coming with the Minister of Rites, and knew that something was probably going on.
She sighed and said to Li Wei: "Father, let's go back today and talk about it in two days when we have some free time."
Li Wei then bowed and left.
Zhu Yijun hurriedly said: "After I ascended the throne, I have not yet received any advice from the emperor. Today is the time to meet him, and it is a good time to express our close friendship."
"The emperor might as well go to the outer hall to taste the tribute tea first."
"I have a few words with my mother and then come to make tea for the king."
He asked Duke Cheng Guo to bring everyone into the palace. Naturally, something was wrong.
How can you let someone go so easily?
Li Wei was moved in his heart and quickly looked at Queen Mother Li.
Status is still based on status. Although he is a father, he regards women as noble, so he has to obey his daughter's words.
Seeing Empress Dowager Li nod her head in agreement, he quickly thanked her and said, "Your Majesty is kind, virtuous and filial. I will wait in the outer hall right away."
After that, he respectfully followed the eunuch to the front hall.
After Li Wei left, Zhu Yijun quietly asked, "Mother, the father-in-law seems unhappy?"
Empress Dowager Li said angrily: "Every time she sees me, she only wants to ask for rewards, and I scold her a lot."
Now that there are outsiders, it’s hard for her to say anything, so she’ll just stop talking.
After shaking his head helplessly, he looked at his son and Lu Tiaoyang who had led him: "Why did the emperor and Lu Shangshu abandon the court meeting and come together to find me?"
It's still early now, and logically speaking, it won't be long before the court meeting.
Zhu Yijun did not answer directly, but first signaled to the eunuch to give Lu Tiaoyang a seat.
Then he sighed and said, "Mother! What a disaster!"
Lu Tiaoyang carefully observed the emperor's behavior along the way, and now he curled his lips helplessly after hearing these words.
Empress Dowager Li didn't know, she looked slightly surprised: "What happened?"
Zhu Yijun said hurriedly: "Does mother know about the Zuo Shunmen case?"
"Today, I actually have the second best posture of Zuo Shunmen."
"Just now at the court meeting, dozens of famous officials impeached Feng Daban. I am worried about the turmoil in the country and am extremely worried."
After hearing this, Queen Mother Li naturally couldn't sit still.
Naturally, she had heard of the Zuo Shunmen case.
More than 200 courtiers were crying in front of the palace. In order to suppress them, Emperor Sejong had no choice but to send out the royal guards and kill more than ten people.
Her son has just ascended the throne, is he going to encounter this!?
Zhu Yijun continued: "As for the various reasons for the ancestral system of the officials, I don't know much about it, so I simply invited the Minister of Rites to discuss it with my mother."
After that, he motioned to Lu Tiaoyang.
Unlike Gao Gong's party members, Lu Tiaoyang had a positive impression with Empress Dowager Li.
In addition, Feng Bao often said good things about him in front of their mother and son, so Lu Tiaoyang was more or less a trustworthy person in the heart of Empress Dowager Li.
This is also the reason why he brought Lu Tiaoyang here.
In front of Empress Dowager Li, Lu Tiaoyang's advice was more effective than a hundred articles of impeachment by Gao Gong.
When Lu Tiaoyang was pointed out, he naturally expressed his position: "Your Majesty and the Queen Mother, if you have any questions, I will tell you everything I know."
Empress Dowager Li looked towards Lu Tiaoyang.
He asked anxiously: "Lv Shangshu, what happened?"
Zhu Yijun also echoed: "Lu Qing, talk to the Queen Mother."
Then he asked Empress Dowager Li for instructions: "Mother, Lu Qing has told me on the way that I will go to accompany the father-in-law first."
Queen Mother Li nodded.
Zhu Yijun stood up and went to the front hall.
When passing by, he winked at Zhu Xizhong and asked him to assist.
After the emperor left, Lu Tiaoyang sighed in his heart.
After bowing to Empress Dowager Li, she slowly spoke, and with an impartial look, she explained the incident in the court and the reasons for the law.
…
Li Wei was waiting in the front hall with some eagerness.
Drinking tea in one sip, although it is tribute tea, is like a cow chewing peonies.
He only looked forward to confronting the emperor later and getting an accurate letter regarding his knighthood.
My daughter is now in a position of power and scolds him at every turn, which is really difficult to communicate with.
Presumably, this ten-year-old grandson can talk better.
Just as I was thinking about it, a voice came from far away and came closer.
"Why do you know so little about etiquette that no one can pour tea for the head of state?"
Li Wei looked up and saw the little emperor walking in with an unhappy look on his face.
Seeing myself, I turned my anger into joy,
Without saying a word, he picked up the tea set and drank tea as a gift.
Li Wei felt comfortable in his heart, but he still had to refuse on his face and reached out to take the tea set: "Don't dare! I can just do it myself."
Zhu Yijun forcibly brought him the tea cup, added another cup, and then motioned for him to leave.
He picked up the teacup and handed it to Li Wei: "The emperor is used to doing everything by himself. Is he used to being poor?"
"I wanted to visit Dabao, but I almost forgot to repay my mother clan. It's really my fault."
The two exchanged polite words again.
Zhu Yijun said with concern: "The father-in-law of the country was just asking about my mother's ennoblement, right?"
Qianqing Palace belongs to him now. As long as he doesn't retreat, he can't hide it from him.
Li Wei quickly raised his buttocks from the seat: "Your Majesty, I am not asking for a title..."
Zhu Yijun reached out and pushed him back into his seat: "Zhang Guozhang, you and I are closely related by flesh and blood, so we don't need to be exposed to the outside world like this."
"Why is it so unpleasant to ask for help? It is my duty to come to Dabao and express my kindness to my mother clan."
With this attitude, Li Wei finally felt what it meant to be like a spring breeze.
He plucked up the courage and said, "Your Majesty, what's the current version of this matter?"
The knight has not run away.
But the titles were different, and the food and salary highlands were also different. This was why he was trying to find out what Queen Mother Li was saying.
Zhu Yijun poured himself a cup of tea and said leisurely: "Eight hundred dollars for food and salary..."
When Li Wei heard this number, a look of disappointment immediately appeared on his face.
Eight hundred dan is too small. A normal prince would only need 1,000 dan.
Zhu Yijun continued: "...it was proposed by the Ministry of Etiquette, but my mother rejected it and said it would cost a thousand dan no matter what!"
Li Wei's face brightened slightly.
Emperor Sejong's father-in-law Yu Tian Bo, and even Deok Pyong Bo who passed away a few days ago, all have one thousand dan.
But the emperor shook his head again: "I don't agree."
Li Wei was stunned.
Just listen to Zhu Yijun continue: "How can a thousand stones show my friendship?"
"Zhang Guozhang, once the site of our emperor's mausoleum is determined, I will ask you and Zhu Xixiao to take charge of the construction of Zhaoling. After the completion, we will give you another 200 stones!"
Li Wei immediately turned from surprise to joy, stood up and prostrated.
This time, Zhu Yijun didn't stop him.
…
In the side hall.
Lu Tiaoyang was still trying to answer Empress Dowager Li's questions.
The origin of the ancestral law.
Stories of hidden dangers, pros and cons.
The explanation and analysis are very profound and live up to his status as the Minister of Rites.
Queen Mother Li also listened very carefully.
At the beginning, he looked at Zhu Xizhong from time to time, probably because he was considering imitating Sejong.
But the more I listened, the more silent I became.
From time to time, he asked Zhu Xizhong for confirmation, but the answers he received only made his brows furrow more tightly.
Suddenly, Empress Dowager Li interrupted Lu Tiaoyang and asked doubtfully: "Lv Shangshu, isn't Duke Cheng Guo also the third prince and the commander of the Jinyi Guards?"
"How can it be consistent with the established rules?"
Lu Tiaoyang wanted to explain, but it involved nobles and nobles, so it was difficult to explain clearly.
Zhu Xizhong, on the other hand, said calmly: "Queen Mother, the three princes and three orphans in my dynasty are only in name but not in reality."
"If we want to equate it, I would probably let the minister lead the royal guards and work in the cabinet."
Lu Tiaoyang couldn't help but look at the Duke twice.
These words were extremely straightforward, which allowed Empress Dowager Li to understand the dangers involved, but... they were not in line with the way of being an official, and they were not quite like Zhu Xizhong's style.
After hearing this, Queen Mother Li was silent for a long time. After a long time, she said: "So, I should accept the request of the officials and remove Feng Daban as the admiral of Dongchang?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Xizhong immediately answered: "The humble minister can also be the queen mother, arresting and imprisoning all these dozens of famous officials!"
"Jinyiwei, please obey the Queen Mother's orders at any time!"
Lu Tiaoyang's heart skipped a beat!
What's going on with Zhu Xizhong!
He quickly advised: "Absolutely not!"
Queen Mother Li glanced at Lu Tiaoyang speechlessly, not thinking that she was so stupid.
Zhu Xizhong was admonishing him in a roundabout way, but she could still hear him.
only……
Queen Mother Li was still unconvinced, even uneasy.
The emperor had just ascended the throne, and she had only an orphan and a widowed mother. The courtiers did not want to help her, and they even organized a group to impeach the ministers she relied on.
How do you want her to think?
Not to mention, not only Gao Gong and his party members, but also Lu Tiaoyang, whom Feng Bao praised every day, did not speak for him.
Even Xungui didn't give a hand.
This is the lonely minister!
Now if she were to reduce Feng Bao's position, wouldn't it be like cutting off an arm?
Seeing Lu Tiaoyang's appearance, she suddenly became tempted: "Absolutely not?"
"Does Lu Shangshu think that I should remove Feng Bao from his position?"
"I wonder if Lu Shangshu has a suitable candidate to take over the post of Dongchang?"
Lu Tiaoyang felt a sense of sadness in his heart. These words were probably a bit suspicious.
This trip, I suffered too much.
He was about to answer the call.
Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly saw Zhu Xizhong slowly getting up: "Your Majesty, I have someone to recommend to me."
…
Outer hall.
Zhu Yijun was already having a lively chat with Li Wei.
With a smile on his face, he listened quietly to Li Wei's detailed account of Queen Mother Li's naughty things.
Li Wei was quite excited: "In the 29th year of Jiajing, in order to avoid the Gengxu Revolution, I took the Queen Mother to Beijing."
Zhu Yijun interrupted at the right time: "Then how did my mother get into Prince Yu's Mansion?"
This is just to bring up the topic.
Li Weiwei took a sip of tea and wiped his mouth and said: "Ha, I came to the capital to avoid trouble, so I naturally had a plan!"
"Your Majesty didn't know something. He chose to come to the capital at that time because someone was taking care of him."
"My nephew Li Jin was working as an errand in the palace at that time, and he was appointed as the eunuch of the royal horse supervisor."
"When the Queen Mother entered Prince Yu's Mansion, she followed his path."
The Yuma Jian is one of the twelve imperial eunuchs. Although he is thousands of miles away from the Li Jian, he is still in charge of the guard camp and has a corresponding status.
King Yu originally hoped to become emperor, so naturally not everyone could enter.
As the eunuch of the royal horse supervisor, Li Jin happened to have this weight.
Zhu Yijun looked shocked: "My mother has never told me about this benefactor, nor has she even promoted anyone named Li Jin."
He asked knowingly.
Li Wei said helplessly: "His Majesty has not yet ascended the throne, and the Queen Mother was also afraid of unforeseen twists and turns."
"How can a relative's reputation be promoted casually? The official's favorite is impeachment."
"If you harm the late emperor, you will lose more than you gain."
Even though Empress Dowager Li had previously treated her as a mother to the harem, she actually did not dare to overstep it at all.
The Empress Dowager Chen's family was ennobled in the first year of Longqing's reign, and as the head of the country, I could only watch helplessly.
This is seeking stability in the long term, just waiting for the new emperor to ascend the throne.
Of course, now that the time was finally ripe, he dared to run into the palace and ask Queen Mother Li for the title.
Zhu Yijun was displeased: "This is also the fault of the father-in-law. Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"Is this clan uncle still in the Royal Horse Prison?"
Although Li Wei was scolded, he felt as comfortable as if he had taken an elixir of elixir - only then did he appear close.
He even answered all questions: "Yes, he is still holding the pen in the Royal Horse Guards."
The same goes for the Royal Horse Supervisor, with Zhang Yin as the leader and several Bingbi as his deputies, so their status is not low.
Zhu Yijun shook his head: "How can I be ungrateful? Taking advantage of this kindness, I will also reward this clan uncle!"
Li Wei smiled brightly, and his uncles treated him so kindly, which further showed the emperor's close friendship.
As the head of the state, his good days are yet to come.
Li Wei asked casually: "Your Majesty wants to make that guy the Royal Horse Supervisor?"
After all, he is a eunuch and cannot be knighted.
The Royal Horse Inspector's pen is second only to his palm prints.
If the emperor promoted Li Jin, he could only promote him from pen-holding to palm-printing.
But...isn't the palm print Feng Bao now?
Zhu Yijun was stunned: "Prince Royal Horse Supervisor's palm seal?"
"Admiral Dongchang!"
…
"You mean, let Li take charge of the East Factory?" Empress Dowager Li looked at Zhu Xizhong in surprise.
Zhu Xizhong nodded.
Empress Dowager Li tasted it carefully and could feel the taste. She couldn't help but take a second look at Zhu Xizhong.
Otherwise, it can be said that Xungui is always a loyal dog.
The outer court impeached the eunuch in front of her regardless of his face. If she gave in like this, her inner face would be lost. The emperor was still young, so it was not easy to talk to him about this.
Now Zhu Xizhong's proposal perfectly solves this problem.
Even if you give in a little bit, you won't lose anything!
Dongchang passed from the hands of cronies to the hands of the tribe, wouldn't it mean that the left hand was the right hand?
Thinking of this, the rejection in my heart also dissipated.
She nodded slowly, but suddenly stopped and looked at Lu Tiaoyang: "Lv Shangshu, does this comply with the ancestral system?"
Lu Tiaoyang was stunned for a moment, and then started thinking about these words.
In fact, it is best not for Dongchang to be in the hands of relatives.
But the relationship could not be said to be close, and after all, Chen Hong was not a court official. As a domestic slave of Empress Dowager Chen, Chen Hong also served as the chief minister of etiquette.
If he takes this as an argument, the Empress Dowager will ask why Chen Hong can do it but Li Jin can't? He will be even more in a dilemma.
Thinking of this, Lu Tiaoyang could only affirm: "It's not against the rules."
Queen Mother Li nodded with satisfaction.
…
Queen Mother Li and Li Wei left together.
Before leaving, the two of them seemed to be in a better mood, feeling like they had solved a major problem.
Especially Li Wei, he only regretted not entering the palace earlier.
The emperor not only promised him a salary of 1,200 shi, but also promised him wealth and honor in the future. He hinted that he would send people to the southeast to investigate, and next year he would be able to form a chamber of commerce and participate in shipping.
What a great grandson.
Zhu Yijun personally sent Lu Tiaoyang outside the palace, grabbed his hand, and said enthusiastically: "Yuan Fu's matter is even more difficult for Lu Qing."
Lu Tiaoyang fled and it seemed that he had to leave.
Zhu Yijun looked at his back and chuckled.
Then he looked back at Zhu Xizhong and said sincerely: "The Duke of the country is the official of the clan."
Chapter completed!