In this spring season, Hanlin officials especially like to gather in Keting, the backyard, for work and academic exchanges.
When the mood strikes, it becomes a temporary gathering, where we often drink some wine and recite poems and compose poems.
Today, Chen Yubi, Tian Yijun, Huang Fengxiang, Feng Qi and other top-notch Hanlin officials, including Chen Yubi, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites and the Hanlin bachelor in charge, are gathering in Keting to discuss the issue of compiling the emperor's scripture banquet lectures.
The so-called top Hanlin refers to senior Hanlin who can be called "bachelor".
Although every Sutra banquet was stopped by the emperor, and the Sutra banquet was essentially suspended, the Hanlin Academy still had to continue to compile and submit lecture notes.
This kind of formalism may be the last stubbornness of the Hanlin people.
While all the scholars were talking happily, suddenly the eunuch Chen Ju, the eunuch Chen Ju, the eunuch who was responsible for the etiquette, came.
Eunuch Chen glanced at the scholars sitting in Keting and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
If I had the opportunity to study without entering the palace when I was young, I might be sitting here.
The scholars were a little surprised when they saw Chen Ju.
When a eunuch comes to the Hanlin Academy, he must usually be here to convey an order. The higher the rank of the eunuch, the bigger the matter will be.
This time, a eunuch named Bingbi, the Superintendent of Ceremonies, came unexpectedly. I don’t know what happened. Could it be that the emperor had gone astray and repented of his past mistakes, and planned to reopen the Sutra feast?
Eunuch Chen nodded to Chen Yubi, the scholar in charge of the college, and said calmly: "Password! Is Lin Tailai, editor of the Hanlin Academy, here? I didn't see anyone in the Number One Scholar Hall just now."
All the scholars were in an uproar. The emperor actually sent Eunuch Bingbi, the eunuch who was equivalent to a bachelor, to deliver the order to Lin Tailai?
Isn't this specification a bit too high? Even if Lin Tailai is directly allowed to join the cabinet, the specification is no more than this!
Bachelor Tian Yijun stood up and answered: "After Lin Xiuzhuan finished training the newcomers in the morning, he seemed to have gone to the Ministry of War."
Chen Ju was speechless, what kind of Hanlin was this? He was running around all day long.
Then Eunuch Chen said: "Call Lin Tailai back to receive the order!"
Seeing that the matter had nothing to do with them, the scholars watched Eunuch Chen from a distance and whispered.
It seems strange that someone with the dignity of a eunuch, eunuch Bingbi, is responsible for eunuchs, and is delivering orders to a "middle-level" bureaucrat like Lin Tailai.
Eunuch Chen knew that he had condescended and might have aroused the suspicion of the Hanlin Academy, but he could not explain it clearly for a while.
The emperor's decree was to "summon the four great scholars and Lin Tailai." The "four great scholars" had a respected status, so Chen Ju, the eunuch with a pen, accepted the task of running errands and delivering the decree to show respect.
As for the accompanying "with Lin Tailai", Eunuch Chen, who was responsible for delivering the order, could only run errands together.
In the front yard of the Ministry of War, people coming to do business came and went, and the business looked very busy.
Of course, there are also yamen like Lin Tailai who are not doing their job properly, squatting under the eaves with a few servants, as if waiting for something.
I don't know how long it took, but I saw Zheng Guotai, the younger brother of Concubine Zheng, the most beloved concubine in the harem, who was respectfully called Uncle Guoye, coming out of the inner courtyard of the Ministry of War unhappy. Apparently something was not going well.
A few months ago, Uncle Guo's father, Zheng Chengxian, passed away. Uncle Zheng Guo was thinking about inheriting his father's position as a first-grade governor.
But unfortunately, today I was rejected by the Military Selection Department of the Ministry of War, and they even refused to submit a petition for instructions.
When Lin Tailai saw Zheng Guojiu, he stood up quickly as if he had seen prey.
This morning, a tip came from the Ministry of War that Uncle Zheng Guotai had come to the Ministry of War again, so he was here just to provoke Uncle Zheng Guotai!
He, Lin Tailai, wants to tell the whole capital that my personal feud with the Zheng family is irresolvable, so it is impossible for me to support Concubine Zheng’s third son!
In the great calamity of our country, whoever dares to attack me, Lin Tailai, is a scumbag of civil servants who supports the Zheng family!
Soon after, a figure suddenly jumped out before Lin Tai came.
It turned out that this was a young official. He pointed at Uncle Zheng and rebuked him loudly, almost even cursing him.
"Zheng Guotai! Your family is deeply blessed by the country and has contributed immeasurably to the country. You should be content with your salary and salary. How dare you go to Longwang Shu for lack of support!"
Lin Tailai looked at all this in surprise. Could it be that someone had the same idea as him and was squatting here to "brush" Uncle Zheng?
The young official turned his head and glanced at Lin Tailai with a slightly proud look.
Now Lin Tailai recognized him. This person turned out to be Xue Fujiao!
One of the Eight Gentlemen of Donglin in history, the grandson of his mentor Gu Xiancheng, and the same Jinshi candidate as him last year!
Lin Tailai immediately understood that he had "spawned" hatred on the Zheng family too many times, and his routine was seen and predicted!
Therefore, Xue Fujiao from the opponent's camp also came over to guard Uncle Zheng Guo, confronting him and weakening the effect of using the hatred of the Zheng family as a talisman!
What's even worse is that I was beaten ahead by someone else, deliberately or unintentionally! If I try to play Zheng Guotai now, the effect will be greatly reduced.
Thinking of this, without any time to think about it, Lin Tailai had no choice but to rush out and shouted to Uncle Zheng Guo:
"According to the imperial concubine's family, one should not be granted the title of Governor and Tongzhi. Your father's being granted the title is indeed a special favor from the Emperor!
What's more, your father, Zheng Chengxian, is harboring evil intentions and coveting Chu Er. He has frequent contacts with eunuchs, and has many friends with mountain men, magicians, and Huang people with ulterior motives!
So it’s a blessing that your father died a good death as both the governor and the governor, but you still want to inherit it, which is even more wishful thinking!”
Xue Fujiao, who had gained the first-mover advantage, was secretly proud. At this moment, he couldn't help but be shocked. Lin Tailai didn't even spare the dead!
I just criticized Zheng Guotai himself, but you, Lin Tailai, started scolding Zheng Guotai's father directly!
Although Lin Tailai fell behind in the competition to ridicule the Zheng family, he still had the upper hand with his strength!
As soon as he walked out of the lobby of the Ministry of War, Uncle Zheng Guo, who was being turned over again and again, looked confused.
Is he, the elder brother who favors the emperor’s concubine, a fake? Does anyone dare to step on him?
Back then, there was a man named Gu Yuncheng, the younger brother of the star official Gu Xiancheng. During his imperial examination, his article offended Concubine Zheng, and he was eventually stripped of his clothes and expelled back to his hometown!
Uncle Zheng's followers had no choice but to rush forward when they saw their master being humiliated because of their duties!
Xue Fujiao was unable to defeat several opponents with his fists, and he received a punch and kick in an instant, making him miserable.
Lin Tailai, on the other hand, punched one after another, knocking down four or five people in a row, and even distractedly yelled: "The hatred between you and the Zheng family is as deep as the ocean, and we are incompatible with each other!"
Such a farce occurred in the front yard of the Ministry of War. Immediately, a large number of guards from the Ministry of War rushed out and surrounded Lin Tailai.
Shi Xing, the left minister of the Ministry of War, personally came forward to suppress the situation. At a glance, as long as Lin Tailai was present, he knew who the culprit was, so he shouted sharply:
"Lin Tailai! You dare to disturb the important place of the Ministry of War! I can't let you go easily today. It's useless for anyone to intercede. I, Shi Xing, said so!"
Lin Tailai had already made a plan, and was about to say something cruel like "Does your Ministry of War want to protect the Zheng family?"
At this time, someone suddenly stood inside the gate and shouted: "Lin Xiuzhuan! Eunuch Bingbi Chen calls you back to receive the order!"
Shi Xing: ""
Oops! What I just said was too full, what should I do now?
??????????.??????
Lin Tailai did not argue with Shi Lang. As he walked out, he said to the guards of the Ministry of War: "Make way! I will go back to receive the order first!"
Lin Tailai's escape from the Ministry of War was smoother than expected. Lin Tailai was in a good mood and returned to the Hanlin Academy happily.
Under the suspicious eyes of all the officials, Eunuch Chen finally revealed the answer to the mystery. He said to Lin Tai: "The emperor has issued a decree telling you to come to the palace to see you tomorrow!"
What? Lin Tailai was shocked. He was completely unprepared. He never expected to be summoned.
In his memory, there were records of Emperor Wanli summoning his cabinet ministers two or three times after his death, each time for special reasons.
One of them was indeed this year, but the record did not say that there would be another Xiao Hanlin.
When other Hanlin officials heard the content of this decree, they were even more shocked than before!
The emperor was hiding in the palace. The ministers had not seen the emperor for another year. Even the ministers in Hanyuan could not see Tianyan!
It can be said that the sky is high and the curtain is far away, and the king's gate is thousands of miles away!
However, this time the emperor took the initiative to summon Lin Tailai, how could others not be shocked.
After eunuch Chen conveyed the order, he was about to turn around and leave, but Academician Chen from the Imperial Academy took a few steps forward and asked, "Did the emperor only summon Lin Tailai?"
Eunuch Chen replied: "There are four more bachelors!"
Four bachelors and Lin Tailai? This combination made all the Hanlins feel unwilling and confused. Everyone was thinking, why is it Lin Tailai?
This combination can be four great bachelors and the minister of official affairs, four great bachelors and the minister of rites, four great bachelors and the chief bachelor of the Hanlin Academy
No matter which combination is used, it looks more reasonable than the four bachelors and Lin Tailai.
Lin Tailai fell into deep thought and did not even go to the Ministry of Etiquette. He sat in the Imperial Academy's Zhuangyuan Hall until after get off work.
He was only thinking about one question, what was the emperor's intention?
Combining historical data with the current situation, it is relatively easy to guess the emperor's intention of summoning the four academicians.
First, new public opinion questioned the emperor's harsh treatment of the eldest son, and it was difficult for the emperor to refute it in his memorial.
So I thought of summoning all the cabinet ministers to "explain", hoping to influence public opinion through the mouths of the cabinet ministers and eliminate this public opinion in a relatively soft way.
Second, in the past year, the emperor was very annoyed by being harassed because of the repeated mention of national issues.
So I wanted to personally observe the attitude of the cabinet ministers and see if they were willing to act as a firewall and help me suppress or guide the country's public opinion. It would be better if they were willing to directly support the third prince.
Then the more critical question comes, what is the emperor's intention in summoning Lin Tailai?
There is no such thing in historical materials, and there is too little contact with the emperor and lack of sample analysis, which makes people really blind.
After thinking about it again and again, Lin Tailai could only guess that the emperor might want to "win over" him.
Just like when the emperor wanted to liquidate Zhang Juzheng, he deliberately promoted Li Zhi, Yang Keli, and Jiang Dongzhi, three powerful anti-Zhang Juzheng demons.
And his current characteristics are also super strong mobility and huge lethality.
Other than that, it's hard to guess anything else. You can only take it one step at a time.
The next day, before it was dark, there were four eye-catching figures standing outside the right gate of Chang'an, the imperial city. They were four great bachelors.
Since you have been summoned by the emperor, you must enter the palace as early as possible to wait for the meeting. You can't let the emperor wait for the ministers, right?
After a while, when it was getting dark, another tall and majestic young figure appeared outside the doorway.
"Teachers and seniors, it's so early!" Lin Tailai, editor and chief guest officer of the Imperial Academy's Etiquette Department, greeted the bachelors enthusiastically.
The term "teacher" refers to the person who assists Xu Guo, and the term "senior" refers to the rules of CI ministers. Ci ministers get along with their predecessors and juniors.
The eyes of the bachelors looking at Lin Tailai were strangely different.
Shen Shixing was not sure. He, the first assistant, must be the one with the greatest responsibility for the memorial, and what he said would definitely appear in the records in the future.
At this time, Shen Shoufu subconsciously wanted to talk to Lin Tai, maybe to get some reference, maybe to relieve his mood.
But when he looked up, he saw Lin Tailai holding his sleeves with his hands, standing respectfully behind Xu Guo, the second assistant.
"What are you doing there?" Shen Shoufu asked.
Lin Tailai replied: "If there is a teacher present, then you must serve the teacher with disciple etiquette."
Xu Cifu: ""
When you were riding your horse, did you think of the Disciple's Rites? When you were in Yangzhou, tigers and whales devoured you, why couldn't you think of the Disciple's Rites?
When you branded Wang Daokun as a rebel in the literary world, why couldn't you think of disciple Li?
Seeing Lin Tailai standing next to Xu Guo, Shen Shoufu felt uncomfortable, so he waved and said: "Lin Jiuyuan, come here! I have a few words to ask you!"
Lin Tailai seemed to think so, and asked Xu Guo for instructions: "I dare not leave without the teacher's instructions. Please allow the teacher to allow the disciples to go."
Xu Cifu was absolutely disgusted, but he said calmly: "No."
Come and make each other feel disgusted, who is afraid of whom?
"As ordered." Lin Tailai did not resist, and then stood still with his eyes, nose, and heart in mind.
When it gets dark, the city gates open.
The four bachelors and Lin Tailai walked into the right gate of Chang'an, and then continued through Chengtian Gate, Duanmen, and Meridian Gate.
We arrived at Huangji Gate outside the three main halls and continued waiting at the east corner gate of Huangji Gate.
This is a default node. Many times, edicts, waiting orders, and memorials are handed over at the East Point Gate.
If there are no special tasks or etiquette, ministers will generally not go past the East Point Gate and enter the three main halls area under normal circumstances.
After waiting for a while, Chen Ju, the eunuch and eunuch Bingbi, the Superintendent of Ceremonies, came out and said to everyone: "Your Majesty is visiting the Yude Palace. Everyone, come with me."
Then Chen Ju led four bachelors and Lin Tailai through the three main halls and arrived at Qianqing Gate.
After the Qianqing Gate, there is the real inner palace. Without special orders, ministers with handles are absolutely prohibited from entering.
Throughout the Ming Dynasty, it was rare for ministers to enter the Qianqing Palace. Generally, it was when the emperor died and the ministers went to the Qianqing Palace to hold funerals.
Qianqing Gate is guarded by the imperial guards affiliated with the Royal Horse Guards. Even if ministers have permission to enter, they must be searched here to ensure the absolute safety of the inner palace.
This search revealed the situation. Someone was actually wearing armor under his spacious official robe.
It's just that because that person is already big, and the official robe that covers the outer layer is also very wide, it's hard to tell if you just look at the appearance.
The guard guarding the gate was speechless. This was simply outrageous.
"The armor is not offensive in any way and is not dangerous at all." Lin Tailai tried his best to explain to Chen Ju: "Besides, this is armor given by the emperor. It has a special meaning and is equivalent to a formal dress."
