There are some things that Zhu Hao cannot say to Tang Yinming.
But with Zhu Wanhong, an old fox, he can throw out questions by making insinuations, just like playing charades. In many aspects, the uncle and nephew have similar interests, and it can be revealed in just one point.
Both Zhu Hao and Zhu Wanhong need the relationship with Prince Xing's Palace to ensure that the Zhu family will not be liquidated in the future, and it must also be in the interests of those in power. They cannot give up their family's task of monitoring Prince Xing's Palace in order to cater to Prince Xing's Palace.
Now Zhu Hao has come up with a very good idea.
He tried every means to have Zhu Si enter the capital as a hostage after the death of King Xing, but he could only reach a very small number of people around him... He, Zhu Wanhong, had once served as a hostage in the capital, so he knew very well how targeted this strategy was.
If Zhu Si could only rely on Zhu Hao, then the Zhu family represented by Zhu Hao would be able to benefit from it, and the court would also think that Zhu Wanhong was ruthless and ruthless in his actions against Prince Xing's palace, and he would make money on both sides.
certainly.
Zhu Hao just wanted to make Zhu Wanhong think so.
What the facts are is another matter.
…
…
Zhu Wanhong was a smart man after all. He got hints from Zhu Hao and started planning after returning.
In the past two years, Zhu Hao has helped Prince Xing's Mansion do a lot to win the hearts and minds of the people. The nobles, civil servants and generals in the court have all praised Prince Xing's Mansion. In the past two years, he has not even mentioned the matter of establishing a clan son as his heir.
It seems that the imperial court has intended to pass the throne to the Xingwangfu lineage when the emperor dies.
Mid April.
Capital, Forbidden City, Qingning Palace.
Empress Dowager Zhang is meeting with eunuch Zhang Yong who came to the inner palace to report matters.
Zhang Yong has been very prosperous in the past few years. He first cooperated with Yang Yiqing to get rid of Liu Jin, and successively served as the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, the eunuch holding the pen, etc., and then lived in leisurely life with his salary. Soon he became the eunuch of the imperial eunuch, and also supervised the Beijing camp.
This identity assisted Zhu Houzhao in completing his escape from Juyongguan, winning the great victory in Yingzhou, etc...
But it's a pity that he belongs to the kind of capable but always tepid ministers. There are too many treacherous and sycophants around the emperor, and they are all people who are good at catering.
Zhang Yong did hard work beside Emperor Zhengde.
Empress Dowager Zhang always trusted him and felt that he was a capable minister left by her husband, so she always entrusted him with important tasks.
"...His Majesty insisted on going to the south of the Yangtze River for inspection, and had already asked the feudal officials from various places to arrange the boats to welcome him. However, the princes in the court tried their best to obstruct it. In March, people were beaten with sticks one after another, and more than ten people died after being beaten with sticks...
"
Zhang Yong's visit this time was mainly entrusted by important ministers in the DPRK to request the Queen Mother to stop the emperor's "atrocities".
Many ministers are old and frail. They say they are loyal to the country, but they do not care about life and death when they really want to step forward. But many times they are forced by the situation. Others insist on doing so for the sake of their country and their country. Can they choose to stand by and watch?
But once you get involved, your life will be in danger... This emperor is really a tiger!
It's good to leave a name in Qingshi, but if you can't hold on to it, your life will be lost. What do you want those who are behind you to do? So you quickly try to find a way to persuade the Empress Dowager Zhang, who can control the devil in the world, to come forward and persuade him.
This is also the reason why it has been difficult for Zhang Yong to become the emperor's absolute confidant.
Because he has such a good relationship with the ministers of the DPRK, you can't think about building a good relationship with the civil servants while also trying to gain the emperor's absolute trust, right? At most, the emperor will use you as a chamber pot and pick you up when he needs you. No need
I'll hide you under the bed.
After hearing this, Queen Mother Zhang felt a little regretful: "The persuasion of the ministers of the DPRK is not unreasonable. Your Majesty is on a tour and has no heirs. It is easy for someone to take advantage of you!"
Empress Dowager Zhang sympathized with those ministers.
But she couldn't control her son either.
She is a typical example of a loving mother who loses her son. She raised a devil in the world. Apart from nagging her occasionally, there is no better way.
Zhang Yong heard the words and said again: "Empress Dowager, there is another news that King Ning wants to send his son to the palace and raise him as a crown prince. Please ask the people close to Your Majesty to make arrangements for it... King Ning has always had a disobedient heart.
You must be on guard against it!”
"What?"
Empress Dowager Zhang's face became extremely ugly, "Isn't it that Prince Ning who often sends people to the capital to deliver money, organize things up and down, and occasionally sends some rare items to the Ai family?"
"Yes." Zhang Yongdao.
Empress Dowager Zhang sneered: "A branch of the royal family, whose bloodline has been separated for generations, still dares to covet the throne? If the imperial court fails, will he still rebel?"
Zhang Yongdao: "In the past few years, reports about Prince Ning's rebellion have often reached the capital. However, His Majesty has never been trusted. It seems that someone close to His Majesty has been bribed by him."
In order to win the throne, King Ning did everything possible. First, he wanted his son to be raised in the palace as a prince in the capital. When that failed, he thought of treason and becoming the emperor...
In order to achieve his goal, Prince Ning was extremely generous. Not to mention Jiang Bin, Qian Ning and other close ministers around the emperor, even Zhang Yong also received a lot of benefits.
But the most taboo thing about giving gifts is not to worry about the scarcity but the inequality. Why should you give less to me and more to others?
Seeing that the signs of Prince Ning's rebellion were becoming more and more obvious, those who were paid less but had the qualifications to submit a message would of course find a way to remove themselves. This was the case for Zhang Yong. He took the initiative to report it, making it appear that he had nothing to do with Prince Ning's rebellion.
nothing.
Empress Dowager Zhang said: "Let someone draw up an edict to inform His Majesty of this matter, so that he can make preparations in advance."
"yes."
Zhang Yong felt very happy that his goal was achieved.
As long as the Queen Mother issues this decree, it can prove to me that I warned you in advance that I have nothing to do with Prince Ning's rebellion.
"Also, there is one more thing..."
Zhang Yong suddenly hesitated and stopped talking.
Queen Mother Zhang shouted: "Say!"
Zhang Yongdao: "The day before yesterday, a minister reported that he wanted to establish an heir in the palace with the son of King Xing..."
"Snapped!"
Empress Dowager Zhang angrily slapped her chair and bowed her head. The bodies of the female officials around her were all agitated.
Before Zhang Yong could continue speaking, Empress Dowager Zhang stood up and angrily said: "King Xing is already a side branch of the royal family and has nothing to do with the throne. Your Majesty is still in good health. It is only a matter of time before you have heirs. If anyone mentions the establishment of a crown prince again for no reason, don't say anything."
If Your Majesty doesn't blame him, Aijia will have his head removed!"
Zhang Yong heard some signs.
Empress Dowager Zhang was just annoyed that Prince Ning was coveting the throne, but she was furious when a minister suggested that Prince Xing's son should establish an heir.
This just shows that the Queen Mother cares about public opinion, especially when she knows that Prince Xing's Mansion, which has never been mentioned by ministers in the past, is now being elected to establish his son as the crown prince in the palace. Of course, she, the mother of the emperor, is very angry.
Zhang Yong understood in his heart that precisely because from the perspective of succession, a real dragon might have appeared in Prince Xing's palace, the Empress Dowager was even more unwilling to hear this.
"There has been public discussion in the court secretly. Please see, Queen Mother..."
Zhang Yong also wanted to add some fire.
As an old man in the palace who was cultivated by Emperor Xiaozong, Zhang Yong could be said to be very loyal to Zhu Houzhao, which is why he killed him directly after Zhu Houzhao ascended the throne.
You have done meritorious service to the Ming Dynasty, not just once or twice, but you are too loyal to Wuzong. I cannot keep such a person around me.
"Ai Jiayi's edict was issued. From now on, the government and the public are strictly prohibited from discussing the matter of establishing a crown prince. However, those who violate the prohibition will be searched and arrested by Dongchang and Jinyiwei to see if there are any accomplices behind them. Regardless of whether there are people in Ning Mansion or Xing Mansion who take the opportunity to speak out, they will be arrested together. On crime.”
Empress Dowager Zhang's attitude was firm.
Her son doesn't seem to be in a hurry about setting up a heir, but as a mother, she needs to be careful. It's best to let her son have a heir as soon as possible.
"yes."
Zhang Yong hurriedly accepted the order.
…
…
The royal palace issued an edict that strictly prohibited discussion of the issue of heir creation, and it was quickly issued.
Anlu got the news in early May.
At the same time, news came that in late April, the emperor once again killed several ministers of the imperial court. He found that the ministers discouraged him from going on a southern tour and continued to do so. He was not afraid of death, so he finally had no choice but to issue an order to cancel the southern tour plan.
On this day, Zhu Youqi dragged his tired body to meet with several key members of the palace.
Zhu Hao had the honor to participate in this internal meeting, and he also benefited from Zhu Si, because Zhu Si was standing next to his father at the moment, and it was obvious that Zhu Youqi had the intention of taking care of him.
Zhu Youqi's face was dark and yellow, and his arms were pale perhaps because he had not seen the sun for a long time. He sat there, hunched into a ball, and his body looked extremely uncoordinated. He coughed violently without saying a few words. Zhu Si quickly handed over a handkerchief. Soon the handkerchief was stained red with blood.
However, neither Zhu Si nor the staff and officials were surprised and did not suspend the meeting because Zhu Youqi coughed up blood.
Yuan Zonggao concluded: "...now there are voices in the court, saying that they want to establish the crown prince as their heir. At this time, the court has ordered that the people are not allowed to talk about this matter. Although the palace has won the hearts of the people, it has aroused suspicion, which is not a good thing."
Tang Yin, Zhang Zuo and others couldn't help but look at Yuan Zonggao.
You old guy, can't you say a few nice words?
You know clearly that King Xing doesn't want to hear this, but you still insist on being alarmist?
After Zhu Youqi calmed down his breath, he said: "My wish is enough to allow the Crown Prince to be recognized by the world. Crown Prince, you have to walk your own way..."
Zhu Si hurriedly said: "Father, I don't allow you to say such things, I still need your guidance."
Zhu Youqiao stroked his son's head lovingly, and suddenly seemed to have discovered something, and said with a smile: "It seems that he has grown taller again, he is almost as tall as me."
The deep love between father and son.
It's just that the people nearby felt a little awkward when they saw this scene.
King Xing, how long has it been since you paid attention to your son?
Did you just find out now that your son has grown taller?
Zhu Hao originally thought that King Xing would say a few more words to the people present. After all, Zhu Youqi had not been as energetic as he was today to meet with his subordinates for a long time.
But then King Xing canceled further talks, citing physical discomfort.
…
…
Zhu Hao walked out of the study.
Zhang Zuo wiped away his tears and said to Tang Yin: "Mr. Tang, the prince has been having trouble sleeping every night recently. His body is in severe pain. He really suffers..."
Tang Yin could only shake his head when he heard this.
"If our family could bear this suffering, we would be willing to bear it," Zhang Zuo cried.
Tang Yin thought to himself, why are you telling me this?
I can't see King Xing often, so I can't express my loyalty to you.
Zhu Hao looked over with a strange look, and the meaning was very obvious... I think he said this to everyone, for fear that the news would not reach King Xing's ears.