At night, outside Qianqing Palace.
…
Zhang Hong stood outside the Qianqing Palace, adjusting his clothes nervously.
Godson Zhang Jing held a lantern beside him: "Godfather, you have been grooming me for almost a quarter of an hour. Don't worry, my son is watching, and he is dressed appropriately!"
Zhang Hong ignored him and just nodded his chin.
The godson stretched out his hand and caught the clove spit out by Zhang Hong.
This is used to add flavor and deodorize the mouth and tongue.
Zhang Hong didn't dare to make any mistakes at this time.
After the late emperor ascended the throne, as a former member of Qiandi, although he did not have the blessings of Meng Chong, he could still be regarded as a chicken or a dog.
The fat piece of needlework bureau is almost his private territory.
But the good days did not last long, and the late emperor passed away!
It’s only been six years since he ascended the throne!
This news is truly devastating.
As the emperor and his ministers, wouldn't it be seen that as soon as the late emperor passed away, Meng Chong, Chen Hong, and the old were replaced by the old?
Zhang Hong knew that he could not be an exception and had already made preparations.
For this reason, he even handed over the needlework bureau to Feng Bao's godsons, and took the initiative to become a eunuch in the palace supervisor, taking care of such simple tasks as the Ancestral Temple.
Does he want to retreat? Is he willing to retreat? It's just forced by the situation.
During these days and nights, he would recall the days when the needlework bureau responded to every call and was flattered by everyone.
When I woke up, I looked at the numerous incense lanterns and spiritual tablets in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, feeling desolate and cold.
I thought the rest of my life would pass like this.
Unexpectedly, just a few days later, Li Guifei issued a sudden order, asking him to enter the ceremonial department and have to listen to it in front of the crown prince!
Opportunity! Big opportunity!
How dare he be careless about such an opportunity falling from the sky!
After finally packing up, Zhang Hong stopped, turned sideways and said to his godson: "Okay, you go back, I'll go see the prince."
After sending his godson away, he took another deep breath and then walked to the entrance of the palace.
"Excuse me, please report to the Crown Prince, the minister Zhang Hong..."
Before he finished speaking, the young eunuch smiled and said: "Of course I recognize Zhang Dajue. The Crown Prince has given orders. You can just go in when you come. There is no need to report any more."
As he said that, he turned sideways and made a gesture of invitation.
Zhang Hong thanked him quickly, but felt even more nervous.
He didn't know how Concubine Li chose him, but he would definitely seize this opportunity.
Didn’t Feng Bao gain the trust of Concubine Li in order to achieve success? Feng Bao could do it, why couldn’t he Zhang Hong?
As long as you complete the task assigned by Concubine Li and leave a mark in Concubine Li's heart, you might as well replace Feng Bao!
After all, he is just a ten-year-old baby. It won't be too difficult for him to be coaxed and served, but he can still show his face to Concubine Li.
It's not like he hasn't served the Crown Prince before. He hugged and hugged him countless times when he was in Prince Yu's Mansion. He has a sense of affection, and now that he knows what's going on and can figure out what's going on, there shouldn't be much of a problem.
What's more, this prince is notoriously easy to trick.
Last year, Feng Bao accused her of going to Concubine Li because she was addicted to the toys given by the young eunuch.
As long as I coax her a little and then use force on Concubine Li, why should I be angry with juniors like Feng Bao?
Zhang Hong was thinking as he hunched over and walked into the Qianqing Palace with small steps.
Qianqing Palace was the emperor's palace, but now that the old and new have replaced it, many items have been evacuated and are ready to be buried with Emperor Daxing.
When the Daxing Emperor transfers his soul, it will be time for a new monarch to take over.
So now the palace seems a bit empty.
In addition, since the spirit was suspended, in order not to disturb anything, the lanterns and candles were dimly lit, and half of the hall was dark.
Zhang Hong was not qualified to hold a lantern, so he could only walk carefully in the hall, walking very slowly, but there was still an echo.
There are some Brahma rituals, talismans and other objects arranged around.
The sound of chimes occasionally came from the hall, faint and far away.
The late emperor treated them and his ministers very kindly, but he passed away in the early years of his reign. As an old slave, Zhang Hong felt somewhat sad.
It's a pity that he is already close to fifty. He originally planned to borrow the late emperor's prestige and spend the rest of his life happily, but he didn't know that the black-haired man would leave first.
If he had been ten years younger, he could have expected to serve the new king well and soar into the sky after the new king came to power.
It's a pity that he can't afford to wait. The new king is only ten years old now. By then, half of his body will be buried in the ground.
I just hope that I can take this opportunity to show off in front of Concubine Li.
With his qualifications, he was only a glance away from the nobles before reaching a high position in the inner court.
Thinking of this, he remembered that the imperial concubine clearly said that she would kneel down in the morning, but the new emperor asked him to come and pay homage to the late emperor at this time.
Should I secretly report to Concubine Li?
While thinking wildly, he suddenly realized that the scene in front of him had changed, and an unclosed coffin came into view.
Astonishingly, he has already reached the palace!
From the corner of his eye, he saw a figure kneeling beside the coffin. The darkness of the hall made it difficult for him to see clearly. Is this the ten-year-old new king?
Thinking in his heart, Zhang Hong quickly knelt down and bowed his head to say hello: "Chairman Zhang Hong, on the order of Concubine Li, came to say hello to the Crown Prince."
Just as he was guessing that the crown prince was going to ask him to get up, his knees were already straining in advance, but he didn't wait for the expected answer.
His body almost swayed, but Zhang Hong quickly stabilized himself and knelt down again.
The Crown Prince remained silent, and the palace became quiet for a moment, making Zhang Hong feel awkward for no reason.
Fortunately it didn't last long.
From the corner of his eye, he saw the figure beside the coffin slowly stand up.
Just when Zhang Hong thought he was being asked to get up.
A voice, with a sneer, came into my ears: "You big Diao Yan, all of you call me ancestors, but here in this palace, I call you Chengye."
"What, you want to be my ancestor?"
The heart-wrenching words immediately made Zhang Hong’s heart skip a beat!
Zhang Hong was immediately stunned by this sentence.
The two are completely different. Why did the crown prince suddenly act seductive?
These words were so serious that he didn’t even dare to think about what would happen to him if these words were spread outside!
He almost fell to the ground and kowtowed heavily: "The ministers don't dare! The ministers don't dare!"
Zhu Yijun looked at it coldly.
The first impression is extremely important. If you don't make a good impression, there may not be a second Feng Bao.
He knelt in honor of the late emperor, and no monks or Taoist guards were allowed to enter. This place was chosen so that he no longer had to be secretive and pretend to be a child.
The late emperor's majesty in front of his soul did not allow him to be arrogant, and the dark background obscured his childish figure.
Just to get a handle on this person.
"Zhang Hong, raise your head."
Zhang Hong was still trying to figure out what the crown prince was thinking, and he subconsciously raised his head after hearing this.
There was only darkness in the palace. The new monarch was facing him sideways, with half of his body hidden in the darkness, his face uncertain. He pressed the coffin with one hand and stood slightly away from Zhang Hong. His shadow happened to be reflected on Zhang Hong.
body, making his young body look infinitely larger.
This is a ten-year-old child!?
He only felt that the pressure was unpredictable, even more so than the late emperor!
It almost feels like facing Emperor Sejong Jiajing!
A voice came: "This is my imperial examination, please pay your respects."
Zhang Hong was confused and didn't know what was going on, so he just kowtowed randomly.
His head touched the ground and his posture was in place.
Zhu Yijun's voice became dignified and obscure: "Zhang Hong was born in the first year of Jiajing. He is a farmer's son. In the eleventh year of Jiajing, he was sold into the palace by his parents at a low price."
"In the thirty-sixth year of Jiajing's reign, he entered Prince Yu's Mansion and served our emperor in front of the imperial examination."
"After the first year of Longqing, he successively served as the weaving bureau, the eunuch of the Beijing camp, the needlework bureau, and four days ago he was in charge of the palace supervisor."
"Did I remember it wrong?"
Listening to the crown prince recounting his resume word by word, Zhang Hong became increasingly uneasy.
"His Highness has great knowledge of people and has a great mind. He actually included this slave's despicable background among them. This slave is terrified!"
This is all common news, and everyone in the palace knows it.
But now that it was spoken by the Crown Prince, the feeling was different.
Wasn't it Concubine Li's order that he be asked to take care of the Crown Prince? Why does the Crown Prince now know everything about his background? Could it be that the Crown Prince chose him?
Zhu Yijun knocked on the coffin gently, and the sound echoed in the empty hall.
"A good needlework bureau doesn't want to wait to get rich and go to clean the Ancestral Temple. What, you want to retire?"
Zhang Hong didn't know how to explain it for a while: "Slave... I'm getting older, and my mental strength..."
Zhu Yijun suddenly interrupted him: "You are intimidated by Meng Chong and shy away from Feng Bao."
"Now that I'm here, I dare to deceive you."
"Zhang Hong, do you think you are Gao Gong or Feng Bao? How dare you deceive me when I am young?"
Zhang Hong felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar and was shocked!
These words suddenly woke him up!
He woke up suddenly, and suddenly understood the violation just now!
Where is the rumor in the palace from the ignorant Meng Tong?
What ignorant Meng Tong dares to be hostile to the internal minister and despise the chief minister!?
In the words of the crown prince, it was clear that the political situation and palace matters were clearly understood in his heart. He clearly had a gap in his chest and his wisdom had already opened up!
The rumors about this person are probably just dormant and gathering momentum!
The position of admiral eunuch that was vacated this morning was even selected by Concubine Li. The prince in front of him was determined to be involved!
As soon as it dawned on him, the figure of the prince once again stood tall in front of him!
Ten years old! A new king who has opened his mind at the age of ten is hard to find in history.
The First Emperor, Ying Zheng, ascended the throne at the age of thirteen, sweeping away Liuhe and sweeping through the eight wastelands.
Song Zhezong Zhao Xu ascended the throne at the age of nine, restarted the new law, and defeated Xixia twice.
Who is not a divine, civilized, or martial artist with a great talent?
If the Crown Prince Zhu Yijun is like this, why should he please Concubine Li? How can there be a saint who does not fight for power?
Yingzong ascended the throne at the age of nine. Even if he was lying dormant, he only had to wait eight months for Wang Zhen to be promoted to the position of Supervisor of Ceremonies!
With the Holy King in front of you, An Bu Zheng will be a loyal dog!?
Duan continued to suffer the consequences! He had a plan in his mind and replied tremblingly: "Master has a keen eye! It is true that this slave has to give up the needle work to avoid Feng Bao's sharpness."
Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Hong quietly.
He understood what Zhang Hong was thinking.
Although he is only ten years old now, as long as he shows his ability to govern and seize power, there will always be a group of people tightly united around him.
Why? Political prospects and political commitments are his guarantee and the greatest advantage of being a king!
With this foundation and having held a high position for many years, it was not difficult to deliberately control Zhang Hong's aura and convince him.
"Oh? Since you are afraid of offending Feng Bao, you'd better not listen to me in front of me."
Zhang Hong heard the meaning and his heart almost jumped into his throat.
He immediately knelt down at the feet of the prince and said, "I am appreciated and promoted by the prince! I will go through fire and water, even to the death!"
Zhu Yijun shook his head: "It is my mother and concubine who appreciates and promotes you."
Zhang Hong kowtows repeatedly: "Since you are in front of your master, you have received the favor of your master, and there is no one else in your eyes!"
Zhu Yijun finally smiled.
He chuckled softly, then suddenly remembered that there was no one else in the hall, so he laughed wildly.
Zhang Hong's forehead was dripping with cold sweat and he didn't dare to wipe it off.
"Zhang Hong, I, Huang Kao, once praised you in front of me. Do you know what he said?"
Without waiting for Zhang Hong to answer, Zhu Yijun's smile did not diminish and he continued: "He praised you for being a loyal and good slave."
"Are you?"
The voice really came from the clouds, causing Zhang Hong's soul to leave his body.
He kowtowed repeatedly without hesitation: "Master, I am a slave of the Zhang Hongtian family, and I dare not be disloyal!"
Zhang Hong fell to the ground and confessed sincerely, but did not wait for Prince Deyin to come.
Only out of the corner of his eye when he touched the ground did he see a pair of boots passing by him.
The voice behind him gradually faded away: "I want to confirm the list of all the eunuchs who went to Huguang for tax inspection during the Longqing period."
After saying this, no other words came.
Only the sound of pacing away was left, echoing in the hall, and the lingering sound was faint.
Zhang Hong almost collapsed to the ground.
He pulled at the hem of his clothes, and his back was already soaked, as if he had walked through mountains of swords and seas of fire.
Even if wisdom is developed, the majesty is too heavy!
What is a ten-year-old new emperor? If someone says that this is an emperor who has been in a high position and wields great power for decades, he will believe it!
Especially the four words in the last sentence made his heart tremble.
Pick your tone, get used to your movements, and almost kill him!
After taking a few deep breaths, he suddenly remembered something and quickly stood up.
Facing the direction where the prince left, he kowtowed again, and in the empty palace, he sang: "I send you off to my master respectfully!"
…
Gao Yi looked at the fence he had just built, nodded with satisfaction, and stretched.
The chickens and ducks raised in this corner of the yard kept sneaking out, and finally the problem was solved.
He originally wanted to build a stone wall, but he rented the entire courtyard. Although the landlord did not dare to refuse him, he was obviously reluctant to let him build a wall, so he had no choice but to give up.
Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year. At least half of the salary owed by the court was paid out before he was allowed to build a fence.
While he was admiring it, an old servant came over and said, "Sir, someone has come to Zhangge's house."
Gao Yi was shocked.
Why did Zhang Juzheng send people here?
It is essential for cabinet ministers to interact with each other on official business, but it is still somewhat taboo to interact too much in private.
Especially the sensitive period of new mourning for the country.
He looked at the old servant: "Where is the man? Why don't you invite him in?"
The old servant held a book in both hands: "He asked the old servant to pass this book to the master. He said that he had a merciless request, and he was waiting for the master's words outside."
Gao Yi took it and took a look. It was a copy of "Shang Shu".
Why did Zhang Juzheng give him this book?
"What's the unkind invitation?"
The old servant replied: "He said, can you tell me this article tomorrow?"
Tomorrow? Are you going to talk about it on Prince's Day? Gao Yi opened the book in confusion, and sure enough one of the pages was folded.
He turned to this page and was suddenly stunned.
Then he remained silent.
After waiting for a while, he sighed: "Tell Mr. Zhang Ge that I will accept this matter and won't do it again."
The old servant responded and left.
…
"Master, Gao Ge said that he should do this, and he will not do it again."
The boy opened the carriage curtain and whispered something.
Zhang Juzheng said nothing and just nodded.
He raised his eyes and looked at the gate of Gaoyi's courtyard, lowered the car curtain: "Let's go back home."
He stroked his temples gently. He seemed to have been thinking too much today, and he had two more gray hairs.
I just don’t know if he thinks too much or too little.
The late emperor appeared... supervised the eunuchs... questioned him before the court... Zhang Hong...
How sexy is the Crown Prince?
Let him take a good look at it tomorrow.
——
In order to catch up on Tuesday's reading, Wednesday's chapters are posted early in the morning. From now on, the normal update time is 4.30. Every Wednesday is early in the morning.
Note 1: He has a simple and quiet manner, few sexual desires, and no concubines or concubines in his house. The old house was destroyed by fire, and he stayed in the house for the rest of his life. When he died, there was almost no way to bury him. - "History of the Ming Dynasty·Biographies·Volume 81"
Chapter completed!