Author: Potato Sweet Potato Pie

"Do you want to withdraw?"

Hearing this question, Xia Yuan just wanted to speak, but when he met Emperor Hongzhi's eyes, he felt that this question seemed not that simple.

The next moment, Emperor Hongzhi smiled and said, "I don't blame you if you want to withdraw. You have only participated in two court meetings so far, but you have stood in front of me twice in a row and offended everyone in this court."

Minister.

I sometimes wonder whether you do this because you and I are our husband-in-law and a member of our own family, or because you are inherently loyal and upright. Then I thought about it and realized that it is probably both, and my son-in-law is a loyal and upright person."

"Since ancient times, emperors have been fond of solitary ministers. Do you know why?"

"I don't know."

"I don't know?"

"Oh, I know that."

"Well, it's inconvenient for you to answer this question. I'll answer it for you, because I can rest assured. But you are even more lonely than I am. With you at the court, I even feel at ease, but I don't know what to do.

You should not be allowed to be such a lonely minister."

A look of hesitation appeared on Zhu Youtang's face, and he immediately leaned back on the chair and said slowly: "I sometimes suffer setbacks in government affairs, and I always think about what the government would be like if you were here. But I don't want to let it happen.

You are participating in this court meeting, and I don’t want you to repeatedly confront the ministers, so I want to leave you to the prince."

"Although the prince is smart, he lacks intelligence and acts impulsively. He has more than enough strength but not enough slowness. If he ascends the throne as emperor in the future, it will be difficult to control these officials. In the end, he may have to rely on internal officials. He can use internal officials to control him.

My minister, this is by no means a long-term path, let alone a noble and righteous path. It has an unstable foundation and is easily subject to backlash. A hundred years from now, people will definitely criticize you."

A look of astonishment flashed across Xia Yuan's eyes. As the saying goes, no one knows more about his son than his father, but Emperor Hongzhi, a father, could see his son so clearly.

He even made clear arrangements for him.

Zhu Houzhao relied heavily on eunuchs to control his subordinates, but was eventually suppressed and died a few months after falling into the water. His evaluation in the history books was only two words: "faint emperor".

Zhu Youtang looked up at the caisson of Nuange and said: "The late emperor of Chenghua, my imperial examination was like this at the beginning. He used factory guards heavily, built big prisons many times, and then died of a decoction."

"Ah"

At this point, Emperor Hongzhi smiled, a gloomy smile, a bit tragic, "The emperor's examinations were conducted on a large scale to elect ministers, sell them and get titles. As long as they gave money, they could be awarded official positions, so as to make money and enrich their internal funds. But this

Generally speaking, who can find out where these ministers come from?"

"The origins of the people in the palace are unknown. How can Liu Wentai, a person who was lucky enough to get promoted by relying on the official position, be the chief of the imperial hospital?"

"After the death of Emperor Kao, when I ascended the throne, I originally wanted to put Liu Wentai to death on trial. At that time, all the officials in the court were even more angry and impeached one after another. They wished they could cut Liu Wentai into pieces with a thousand knives! What do you think?

Is there anything fishy in this?"

Xia Yuan wanted to leave. The more we talked today, the more dangerous it became, but he couldn't leave, so he had no choice but to say: "I don't know."

"Of course there is something fishy. The emperor used the factory guards to subdue the ministers in the court. He has great power and is arbitrary. There is even a situation in the court where three pavilions are made of paper and six ministers are made of clay.

These ministers should have disliked him as the emperor. Even when Emperor Kao Longyu passed away, I don’t know how many people celebrated in private, and I don’t know how many people wanted to thank Liu Wentai in their hearts.

Now, they are asking me to put Liu Wentai to death. If they are showing their loyalty, it is reasonable, but I always feel that is not the case, so I personally interrogate Liu Wentai at night. Guess what I found out? What?"

Xia Yuan was already restless. He didn't know what was wrong with Emperor Hongzhi and insisted on talking to him about these secrets in the palace.

Talk about these things that should have been hidden in the dust of history.

Can you step on the horse and let me go?

"Liu Wentai has a close relationship with many ministers in the DPRK, and he even comes from Qiu Jun's family!"

Emperor Hongzhi's half-closed eyes suddenly opened, and fierce murderous intent burst out from them. The murderous intent seemed to be real, and the temperature in the Nuang Pavilion dropped a few points. Xia Yuan couldn't help but feel a sudden feeling in his heart.

Qiu Jun.

He knew who Qiu Jun was. He was so famous that it was difficult not to know.

In terms of titles alone, so-called famous and powerful officials such as Yu Qian, San Yang, Yan Song, and Zhang Juzheng were not even worthy of holding shoes in front of him.

Qiu Jun's title: A descendant of the civil servants of the Ming Dynasty.

Just by looking at this title, you can imagine how much influence this person has in the world and how extensive his influence is in the DPRK and China.

"I have tried my best to defy all opinions and keep Liu Wentai and demote him. As long as Liu Wentai is still there, all the virtuous ministers in this dynasty will never feel at ease, and Qiu Jun will be obedient to me. .”

At this time, the murderous intention in Zhu Youtang finally gradually dissipated, but he was not proud of having the power when he ascended the throne. Instead, he felt a sense of panic.

"But I am actually afraid in my heart. Although the Forbidden City is strictly forbidden and seems airtight, in fact it is open to all directions! People are frightened everywhere, and murders are planned at every step! I have dismissed all the ministers, and I no longer act like Huang Kao. I put factory guards in such high regard, I suppressed them, I treated these ministers with utmost courtesy, and I tolerated them just as I tolerated that woman when I was a child."

Seeing the fear in Emperor Hongzhi's eyes, Xia Yuan felt pity in his heart. This emperor was less than twenty years old when he ascended the throne. As a young man, he thought he was sitting on the supreme position in the world, the most noble and the most noble in the world. Safe seat.

But after Liu Wentai was interrogated that night, the result of the interrogation gave him a head-on blow. His dictatorial father died at the hands of his officials.

This cruel reality horrified him.

This group of ministers were so courageous that they even dared to murder the emperor who was ninety-five years old even though they talked about the Constitution of Heaven.

For a person who has just ascended the throne as emperor, this is simply the most terrifying and absurd thing.

This emperor was accustomed to forbearance. He grew up in Anletang and lived a shady life since he was a child. What he learned first was not how to speak and walk, but how to be forbearing.

So he has been holding back, always looking calm. The so-called anger will only wait until he returns to Qianqing Palace, and his calm and gentle face will become gloomy, and then he will vent it by holding up his writing brush.

"But now I'm scared again. My health is deteriorating now. How many more years can I help the prince to protect him from the wind and rain? If the prince ascends the throne, what will happen to him in the future? He has such a child's mind, if he wants to be in power in the future , must use internal officials to control the ministers, will he be like my emperor Kao, his grandfather in the future?"

Zhu Youtang's voice was very soft when he said this. It didn't sound like he was asking others, but rather like he was asking about himself.

Xia Yuan remained silent and just said in his mind that not only Zhu Hou's note, but also all the emperors of the Ming Dynasty who used factory guards to suppress their ministers after the Tumubao Incident would die inexplicably.

Zhu Jianshen, the Emperor Xianzong of the Ming Dynasty, created many prisons; Zhu Houzhao, the Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty who created the Eight Tigers and seized military power; Zhu Youxiao, the Emperor Xizong of the Ming Dynasty, who reused Wei Zhongxian.

Even the emperor in front of him died in an unknown manner. He also died from the medicine prescribed by Liu Wentai. Is this an accident or a replica of Xianzong's murder case?

"I want to teach him, but I don't know where to start. He is different from me. With his temperament, he will never learn to be forbearing, and he will never know what forbearance is."

Emperor Hongzhi looked at him with his eyes, filled with sadness and confusion, "What do you think I should do?"
Chapter completed!