What was being sung on the stage at this time was "The Romance of the West Chamber", which was a revised version by Zhu Hao. The effect was very good, because the play itself had a certain foundation among the people, and now there are new interpretations. This old play has been released quickly.
It boosted the theater's box office revenue and made Zhu Hao's wallet slightly bulging again.
But this small amount of money is really not worth it to Zhu Hao. The person who went to the theater with Zhu Hao was the big businessman Su Xigui. He was called by Zhu Hao to watch the theater early that morning. According to Zhu Hao, there will be people in the court today.
Something big happened, and the two of them were waiting for the news together.
Su Xigui asked several times but did not get a direct answer from Zhu Hao. He speculated that Huang Zan might be joining the cabinet, or that Zhu Hao asked him to come and asked him to pay him money to thank him after getting the exact information.
But based on his understanding of Zhu Hao, he also felt that Zhu Hao didn't care much about the three melons and two dates. Su Xigui considered himself not a key figure, so why would Zhu Hao invite him to the show? "Okay!"
When he reached the wonderful part of the song, the whole audience burst into applause again. Zhu Hao also clapped his hands and turned his head to look at Su Xigui, only to find that Su Xigui was sitting there listlessly, peeking at him from time to time, not paying attention to what was going on on the stage.
, it seems that the scene that Zhu Hao invited him here today is ten thousand times more exciting than the performance on the stage.
"My young master, please stop being so pretentious. I don't have much ability, I just have some money. Do you think the imperial court needs my help again in road construction and shipbuilding? Or are there new rules for mining? Just tell me, I can bear it.
.”
Su Xigui felt uneasy in his heart.
Zhu Hao smiled and said: "Why do you have to regard our interaction as a business? Today there is no transaction. I just want to watch a show with you and talk about what is going to happen in the DPRK."
"What's the matter?" Su Xigui asked.
Zhu Hao did not answer, but pointed to the lively scene on the stage outside the window: "Keep waiting. We will talk about it when there is news. Now, what if everything doesn't work out?"
"this……"
Su Xigui could only continue to wait awkwardly.
No matter what happens in the court, it is impossible to transmit it to the outside immediately. It is possible that you will not know what happened inside the palace for several hours.
Su Xigui had other things to do, but was too embarrassed to tell Zhu Hao, so he could only wait.
It was almost noon, and the performance of "The Romance of the West Chamber" was almost over. The news still hadn't come, and Zhu Hao still hadn't talked to Su Xigui about business.
Su Xigui and Zhu Hao ate fruits and snacks together, and drank some tea from time to time. Their stomachs were a little full. Jin Yiwei's spies finally entered the room and said respectfully: "Sir, there is news from the palace, saying that Mr. Mao Ge is here to invite you."
The Ci Memorial has been approved."
"Yeah." Zhu Hao nodded.
Su Xigui asked in surprise: "Mao Ge has retired? Then... there will be changes in the court." Mao Ji officially became an official.
This is the second step in the change of blood at Zhongdao. The first step is for Wang Jun and Sun Jiao to withdraw from the court.
The Jin Yiwei secret agent continued to report: "Also, the new Minister of Rites, Xi Shangshu, met in the court today and decided on the policy regarding etiquette. However, the debate about etiquette is still going on at the court meeting."
Su Xigui's face was full of disbelief: "The Minister of Rites, Minister of Rites, has arrived so soon?"
Xi Shu rushed to the capital so quickly, which meant that the discussion of rites was only interrupted for a few days before it was about to start again. Moreover, this time with the support of the Minister of Rites of the sect of rites, the emperor had an advantage in discussing rites.
Explained why Mao Jihui resigned that day and was approved.
Anyway, civil servants can only put pressure on the emperor on the matter of becoming an official, but now Zhu Si has no worries about his actions. Even if you all resign together, the decision-making power is in the hands of the emperor, and I can approve each one.
Jin Yiwei said: "The matter of Huang Xueshi entering the cabinet was mentioned again in the court today. The debate is still very big. It is said that the discussion will continue after noon. I will retire first because of my humble position." "Yes."
Zhu Hao nodded and watched the Jin Yiwei secret agent who came to report the news come out of the theater private room.
Su Xigui asked curiously: "Continuing the discussion in the afternoon? That means...the meeting is not over yet today?"
Zhu Hao said: "If the court meeting is over in just one or two hours, then what do I ask Dongzhu Su to witness? You have also seen it, even Mao Ge
Lao has retired. There are still many disputes between the DPRK and the Central Government regarding Huang Xueshi's entry into the cabinet. That's why I said, I can't tell you anything until there is an official result. We will just wait and see whether it succeeds or not. There is nothing more like this.
suspense?"
"suspense?"
Su Xigui couldn't help shaking his head and smiling bitterly after hearing this.
I am a businessman and I am looking for results. If you tell me that the results are in doubt, doesn’t that mean that the business may not be successful at any time?
It’s so torturous!
"Just like singing on the stage, if it is a play that you don't understand at all, you never know what will happen in the next scene. Isn't this the attractive part of drama?
"Now the Ming Dynasty is also acting in a play, but the protagonist of this play needs to be fought for by ourselves, and as theater watchers... or theater listeners, we cannot participate in it and can only watch it quietly.
Make changes and see if the progress is in line with your expectations."
Zhu Hao's tone was leisurely.
Su Xigui smiled and said: "Even if a big play is being staged in the Ming Dynasty, the outcome is unknown, but I will only be confused... This play was choreographed by you, and the direction is exactly according to your plan, although there are some details.
Deviation, I think the ending is also under your control, everything depends on how the actor performs on the spot."
Zhu Hao pointed at Su Xigui: "Dongzhu Su, you are wrong to say that. You seem to be saying that the emperors and ministers of the Ming Dynasty are all my puppets? This is a crime of great disrespect!" "No, no.
, I have absolutely no intention of doing so.”
Su Xigui knew that Zhu Hao was not really blaming him, so he quickly denied it. "But what you said is somewhat reasonable. We can plan things in court in advance, but the results are often not as satisfactory as expected. The grand ceremony is what His Majesty is most concerned about.
But when it comes to Dongzhu Su, what he wants to know most is the progress of Huang Xueshi's entry into the cabinet, and the ministers in the court, haha... everyone has their own demands, but I think most people want to end this as soon as possible.
After the turmoil over the ceremony, we lived a stable life and restored tranquility to the court. "
Zhu Hao, as the planner, was talking a few miles away from the palace.
When Su Xigui heard this, he nodded in agreement regardless of whether he agreed or not. This was his habit as a businessman.
Zhu Hao and Su Xigui had dinner at the theater at noon and continued watching the theater in the afternoon.
Su Xigui was in much better spirits this time, because he knew that some major events had indeed happened in the court that could change the times, and that there were people he cared about who were competing in the court for the qualifications to join the cabinet. Su Xigui had a little more expectation in his heart.
At this time, in the Fengtian Palace, a tug-of-war between the emperor and his ministers was still going on. In the harem, Renshou Palace, where Queen Mother Zhang lived, Dai Yi, an old eunuch who had experienced the five dynasties of the Ming Dynasty, was talking to Queen Mother Zhang as the emperor's lobbyist.
.
Because Dai Yi was an old man in the palace, he had served several times as the Priest of Ceremonies and the eunuch of Bingbi. His status was so respected that when he came to speak to Empress Dowager Zhang, he would be given a seat. Empress Dowager Zhang was also polite to Dai Yi.
And what Dai Yi brought to Queen Mother Zhang was relatively "good news."
"Your Majesty said that he would ask Shouning Hou and Jianchang Hou to return to the capital early, and give them the errand of admiral in charge of the capital camp. He only hopes that they can abide by their duties as ministers, and will also give them some money. The Renshou Palace will be repaired every year.
, In addition, the cost of one thousand taels will be increased every year..."
To put it bluntly, Dai Yi came to "negotiate" with the Empress Dowager Zhang on behalf of the emperor. It was better to say that it was a negotiation, but it was better to say that he promised to give the Empress Dowager Zhang some benefits, so that the Empress Dowager Zhang would be more balanced and would not feel sad about losing her son Zhu Si.
Frustrated.
But can Queen Mother Zhang not be depressed?
Even if my husband and son are dead, I, the Queen Mother, am still here. When I chose the new emperor, I was the one who made the final decision. It was agreed that I would find an adoptive son to be the emperor. If I had known earlier that the new emperor would be the emperor.
The emperor is a white-eyed wolf, what else should I do with him? Just replace him with someone else’s child, isn’t it better to control him?
Besides, my husband's brother is not the only one who belongs to Prince Xing's family. Children from other families are also coveting the throne of Ming Dynasty.
"In the future, the regulations in the palace will remain unchanged. Queen Mother, you will still be the Queen Mother. Your Majesty will still come to pay greetings every time. You will still be in Renshou Palace. The Lord of the Sixth Palace will still listen to you..."
Dai Yi spoke very plainly and easily, but he was also afraid that Empress Dowager Zhang would listen.
don't know.
Empress Dowager Zhang said: "So, the emperor is determined to return to the inheritance of his Xingfu and does not want to stay on the orthodox side of the Ming Dynasty?"
"This..." Dai Yi was very embarrassed.
Serving as a lobbyist for the Queen Mother on behalf of the emperor is not something that everyone can do. When Zhang Zuo personally invited him to be a lobbyist, he expected that he might be convicted or even lose his reputation.
.
Empress Dowager Zhang said coldly: "Not long after the two late emperors passed away, the legacy of orthodoxy in the Ming Dynasty was about to end, and the Ai family became the sinners of the Ming Dynasty. Perhaps the late emperor should have been allowed to marry more concubines and give birth to more emperors.
Son, the situation today would not have happened."
Dai Yi thought to himself, why didn't you think so?
As an old man in the palace, Dai Yi knew very well how powerful the Empress Dowager Zhang was during Xiaozong's reign. As an emperor, Xiaozong was also the only one in Chinese history to be a "hep-controller".
After Empress Dowager Zhang gave birth to the emperor's second son and died, there was no movement in Empress Dowager Zhang's belly. If Xiaozong had been allowed to have more concubines at that time, the history of the Ming Dynasty would definitely have gone another way, and it would not have been possible.
There is such a big etiquette dispute over the inheritance of the throne.
"This old slave is just passing the message on behalf of Your Majesty. If you, Queen Mother, have any ideas, you can tell me and I will tell you when I get back." Dai Yi had no decision-making power, and he did not even dare to make any concessions or promises on behalf of the emperor.
Empress Dowager Zhang said: "If the two younger brothers of the Ai family are allowed to return to Beijing, no one will make things difficult for them anymore, right?" "This..."
Dai Yidao said, "The Queen Mother, in the final analysis, we still want the two princes to abide by the laws of the court."
Empress Dowager Zhang replied coldly: "The Ai family doesn't know this? But are they people who abide by the law? The Ai family just wants a word from the emperor now, and no one will make things difficult for them in the future!"
Since it was a negotiation, Queen Mother Zhang thought about it. Her only relatives were her two younger brothers and their families. If she didn't fight for them, who could she fight for?
Anyway, it is unrealistic to oust Zhu Si now. In this case, we should pursue something practical.