Jian Yi was disgraced and had lost a lot of weight. He had been in Zhao Prison for almost a year.
This master who was a Jinshi in the eighteenth year of Hongwu and has experienced the Hongwu, Jianwen and Yongle dynasties and has been as stable as an old dog and a muddy master for decades has suffered such a big loss for the first time.
In the past year, Jian Yi has suffered a lot. He is just sixty, but he looks like he is almost eighty, not to mention how embarrassed he is.
"Crash——!"
The chain was opened, and Jian Yi, who was leaning against the wall and was drowsy, shook and slowly opened his eyes.
"Oh my, Lord Jian, are you okay?" Li Qing looked concerned and quickly stepped forward to hold his arm and help him up.
In the dark cell, while his big sleeves were swinging, no one noticed that a small silver needle pricked Jian Yi. Li Qing, without respecting martial ethics, sneaked up on a sixty-year-old comrade.
The slight tingling sensation was so weak that it didn't arouse Jian Yi's alertness at all.
"Is the emperor going to let me out?" Jian Yi was full of expectations. He had really had enough of Zhao Prison. He now wanted to be free, free, or fucking free!
This dark prison made him suffer a lot.
Li Qing nodded: "The emperor ordered Jian Shangshu to continue to serve as the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and serve the country."
"Your Majesty, the Holy Ming!" Jian Yi paid homage with his face facing south and north, almost weeping with joy.
~
Outside Zhao Prison.
Jian Yi breathed the fresh air of freedom, felt physically and mentally happy and intoxicated.
Li Qing suppressed his laughter and said, "Your Majesty shows sympathy to Minister Jian and allows you to rest at home for two days before going to court."
"The emperor's kindness is so great that I am deeply moved by it." Jian Yi clasped his fists at the same level as his eyebrows and saluted from afar.
Li Qing smiled and said: "Go back and take a bath to get rid of the bad luck and serve the country well."
"That's natural." Jian Yi nodded heavily, but he was thinking in his heart: This time he must make the mud evener, but he can't get burned again.
Hearing that he was taking a bath, Jian Yi felt more and more tingling all over his body. He cupped his hands and said, "Li Shangshu, this official's outfit is really unseemly. I'll take my leave now. We'll talk about it another day."
Li Qing returned the courtesy with a smile, "Jian Shangshu, walk slowly."
After watching Jian Yi leave, Li Qing turned around and returned to Zhao Prison.
"Xia Shangshu, the emperor will let you go and continue to serve as Shangshu of the Ministry of Revenue." Li Qing helped Xia Yuanji up and politely greeted him for a while.
Xia Yuanji was also quite happy to regain his freedom, but this guy had a problem with Li Qing: "I still insist that it is not appropriate to send troops. The Ming Dynasty has a lot of expenses now, and the benefits of the people from the south to the north have not yet been realized, but the cost...
"
"Xia Shangshu, you might as well tell the emperor what you said." Li Qing interrupted with a smile.
Xia Yuanji was stunned and said in surprise: "I don't agree, will the emperor let me out?"
"Your Majesty has a kind heart." Li Qing nodded.
Xia Yuanji was startled for a moment, and his eyes were a little moist. He was deeply moved by the emperor's kindness.
However, if you are moved, you should persist if you should persist... Xia Yuan Jixin said.
…
Next, in order are the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Punishment, the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the Cabinet...
Finally, two ministers from the Ministry of War were released.
"Go back and have a good rest for two days." Li Qing said, "The Emperor is going to make the Northern Expedition, and he will be very busy by then."
"Master Shangshu, a soldier's most deadly weapon is..."
"I am not discussing with you. This is an order. Do you understand?" Li Qing was unreasonable. "I am a very reasonable person. You make it easier for me, and I make it easier for you. If you don't make it easier for me,
No one can have a good time."
The expressions of the ministers on the left and right suddenly became ugly, but they did not dare to talk back. Subordinate officials obey their superiors. This is the most basic ethics and the rules and regulations of the officialdom.
Li Qing continued: "There are many people watching the position of Minister. If you find it difficult to handle it, I won't force you to do it. Just let someone else do it."
"It's not difficult to do, it's not difficult to do." The two of them shook their heads quickly.
Many people may not be able to achieve an official position like the Minister of Justice in their lifetime. Moreover, Li Qing is already very old, so both of them want to get rid of him and take a further step.
As for ethics... screw ethics, I want to be promoted.
The reason why they joined forces with the official and gentry groups was also for profit, but compared to the black gauze hat on their heads, those interests were not worth mentioning.
…
Qianqing Palace.
Zhu Di was leaning on the couch, supporting his chin with one hand. The ravine on his face was squeezed deeper, "Is the Ministry of War done?"
"It's done." Li Qing nodded, "If nothing unexpected happens, other officials will be able to finish it in a few days."
After a pause, "Your Majesty, would you like me to take a look at it for you?"
Zhu Di's condition looked so bad that Li Qing was worried about whether he could still fight in person.
"Yes." Zhu Di lay down and stretched out his right hand, exposing his wrist.
Li Qing felt his pulse with three fingers, frowning in thought.
This time, Zhu Di was surprisingly calm. He had calmly accepted the fact that he was old.
After a long time, Li Qing withdrew his hand and said with relief: "Your Majesty is fine, just a little bit damaged. I will give you a prescription. Your Majesty will take your medicine on time and your body will be stronger."
Zhu Di laughed at himself, but did not refuse, "I am getting old after all, and I am no longer able to do many things."
"Long live the Emperor." Li Qing chuckled, "You are in good health, don't worry about it."
Zhu Di smiled and waved his hands, "It's okay for others to say this, so don't say it. I still like to hear the truth."
"Uh-huh..." Li Qing scratched his head and laughed.
After being silent for a while, Li Qing probed: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten something?"
"What?"
"What a reward!"
"You guy..." Zhu Di looked disgusted, but he was not really angry. "You are so old, what else do you want to do with so much money? Let's make you a prince."
"Forget it, there's no one to inherit it, so what's the use of it?" Li Qing said with a smile, "I still like gold."
Zhu Di glanced sideways at him and hummed: "Have you made less money in these years?
Not to mention that you are receiving two stipends, but the gifts from those people, plus my rewards, are enough for you to live a luxurious life until your death. You have no sons. By the way, you don’t even have a daughter. The Duke of the country wants to It’s useless if you get it, but it’s useful if you get the gold?”
"Uh..." Li Qing could not argue, so he could only say: "The emperor's golden words are true to his words..."
Barabara...
"Okay, okay." Zhu Di was so noisy that his head hurt, "The reward will naturally be given to you, but you have to go with me on this expedition."
"No problem." Li Qing agreed decisively.
Originally, he didn't want to go, but now Zhu Di's health is no longer what it used to be, and he doesn't feel at ease if he doesn't follow.
"You said the problem should be solved within five days, can you do it?"
"Not to say it's foolproof, but it's still a sure thing." Li Qing nodded.
"That's good." Zhu Di looked much better, "By the way, how about going to the south this time to do things in the East Factory?"
Li Qing said truthfully: "Very good, the eunuch is not that unbearable."
After a pause, he added: "Compared to civil servants, eunuchs are more loyal to the emperor."
This is true.
It's not that eunuchs have higher moral character than officials, but that their power comes from the emperor.
As long as the emperor is here, they are here.
The only way to retain power is to be loyal to the emperor.
Zhu Di deeply believed that the Three Treasures were a good example.
Ability is somewhat related to reading, but there is no absolute relationship. Moreover, the eunuch's duty is not to manage politics, but to assist the emperor in better managing his ministers.
Just being obedient and loyal is enough.
This incident of ministers' opposition to sending troops made Zhu Di deeply aware of the crisis of imperial power.
The system of nobles and nobles checking and balancing civil servants will inevitably fail in the future, because the interests of nobles and nobles will gradually become consistent with those of the officials and gentry, or in other words, they will gradually become official and gentry.
By then, the imperial power will be severely damaged.
If there is no absolutely trustworthy force to unite the front with the emperor, future generations of kings will surely find it difficult.
Zhu Di breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "What do you think about letting Dongchang supervise Jinyiwei?"
Factory guards were supposed to supervise each other and check and balance each other, but now Zhu Di only said that he would let Dongchang supervise Jinyiwei, which obviously broke the balance.
In this way, Dongchang is bound to be superior to Jinyiwei, and Jinyiwei becomes Dongchang's minions.
Li Qing understood that Zhu Di's question was unnecessary. In fact, he had already made a decision in his heart. No matter what he said, he could not change the result.
"Your Majesty is wise." Li Qing bowed his hand. He also felt that it was necessary to strengthen the imperial power.
——
When Jian Yi returned home, he first said many comforting words to his family, and then went to take a shower with a smile on his face.
After staying in Zhao Prison for nearly a year, he was covered in lice. He had to change the bath water three times in a row before the dirt was completely washed away.
Putting on clean clothes, Jian Yi was in high spirits, and the heavenly official from the past was back.
From now on, I must make peace with Xini and not make the same mistake as last time... Jian Yi secretly made up his mind.
The spring breeze was proud for a while, and he suddenly felt some tingling on his body.
He scratched it, but the itching was still there, and it was getting worse.
Jian Yi frowned and said in a loud voice: "Come here, prepare the bath water."
Half an hour later, Jian Yi put on his clothes again and went out. This time, he made sure to wash them clean.
However...it's still itchy, and it's even more itchy.
"Is it because I'm used to being sloppy and my body can't bear to be clean all of a sudden?" Jian Yi was a little puzzled, but the itching feeling was too uncomfortable.
then……
He took another bath.
And then...it's still itchy.
It's getting more itchy!
Jian Yi started scratching, and the more he scratched, the more itchy he became, and his skin turned red, but to no avail.
"Oh……"
Jian Yi was about to collapse. If he had known this earlier, he would have preferred to stay in Zhao Prison.
The other side.
Xia Yuanji is going through the same experience as Jian Yi.
It's itchy, it's so itchy.
Xia Yuanji was smarter than Jian Yi, so he immediately hired a doctor. The doctor took it easy and patted his chest to ensure that the medicine would cure the disease.
However... after taking the medicine, it cannot be said that there is an immediate effect, it can only be said that it is useless.
At the same time, the officials who came out of Zhao Prison sympathized with the two men.
Unable to bear it anymore... Jian Yi hurriedly entered the palace and asked Zhu Di to send an imperial doctor to look at him.
Zhu Di was very talkative and summoned the imperial doctor immediately.
The imperial doctor came over, looked, smelled, asked, and performed incisions; he stroked his beard, frowned, shook his head, and sighed.
Although he didn't say it clearly, the meaning he wanted to express was very clear: prepare for the funeral!
Jian Yi is stupid, he is only sixty years old, he has not lived enough yet.
Then, Xia Yuanji and several other ministers, as well as officials from the Imperial Academy, the Hanlin Academy, and the cabinet, rushed to seek medical treatment.
The imperial doctor looked around, went through the same process again, and finally said: There is nothing he can do to help!
Everyone was in despair. If the itch continued like this, it would be better to die happily.
At this moment, Jian Yi suddenly thought of Li Qing, and a look of hope suddenly came into his eyes, "Li Shangshu has great medical skills, maybe he can find a way."