After giving Concubine Zheng a good look and beating her up, the emperor only came to Yikun Palace again last night, and today he is here again.
Because of the news she heard from Princess Yongning, Concubine Zheng began to pay careful attention to the emperor's expression from the moment he came into her sight.
After several years of companionship, Concubine Zheng could tell at a glance that the emperor was in a bad mood, and there was always an indescribable sadness between his brows. Looking more closely, she seemed to feel that the emperor's sadness was half anger and half worry.
.
"Are you tired, Your Majesty? I originally wanted to see the lotus flowers, but they will disappear if the season passes." Like a little girl who is inexperienced in the world, Concubine Zheng took the Emperor's hand and pressed him down.
He sat down on the pineapple flower wood chair, gently squeezed his shoulders, and said with some resentment.
The action of "pressing" itself is a bit transcendent. In the harem, only Concubine Zheng is probably the only one who can do it, but Zhu Yijun doesn't mind and even likes it.
"In a few days." Zhu Yijun sighed, leaned his head back, and closed his eyes gently.
"Is someone making the emperor unhappy again?" Concubine Zheng complained: "Why are there always these annoying things bothering the emperor?"
Zhu Yijun didn't open his eyes or think about it, but he just replied casually: "Qiu Zhen said before that the greater the power a person has, the greater the responsibility. I am the emperor, the supreme one in the world, so of course I have the greatest responsibility, and the responsibility is
When you get older, you will naturally have more troubles."
"Gao Situ is a literary star, so what he said naturally makes sense." Concubine Zheng squeezed the emperor's shoulders while observing his expression. Seeing the corner of the emperor's mouth curling up slightly, she couldn't help but said: Sure enough, I can only say good things about Gao pragmatism, the emperor.
will be happy.
But Concubine Zheng continued: "Since the Emperor has something troublesome, why don't you talk to Gao Situ about it? Although I don't know about the affairs of the outer court, I heard that Gao Situ has always been effective in doing things and has never disappointed the Emperor.
."
"It's different this time. The trouble lies with him." Zhu Yijun finally opened his eyes, but stared straight at the roof and sighed: "He was impeached a few days ago..."
"Ah?" Concubine Zheng was "shocked" and opened her eyes wide: "Which official is so ignorant that he even impeaches Gao Situ? What can Gao Situ do to impeach him?"
Zhu Yijun said angrily: "When I talk about this, I get angry. A group of... hmph, they are making crazy lies and saying that Qiuzhen's last "Qi Yong Shu" slandered you."
"Gao Situ slandered you?" Concubine Zheng looked even more surprised: "How... is this possible?"
Zhu Yijun said bitterly: "Of course it's impossible. These people just want to collect their business taxes because they seek truth, so they bite randomly without even knowing the severity. I think they just need to be dealt with!"
"Pfft!" Concubine Zheng couldn't help but smile and said with a smile: "Looking at the emperor's appearance, I think he has already taken care of it?"
"That's natural, why don't I get used to them?" Zhu Yijun snorted: "Two of them were sent to the Zhenfu Division, one was dismissed and repatriated, and the other was demoted and transferred to a foreign post."
Concubine Zheng pursed her lips and said with a smile: "The emperor helped Gao Situ to express such a tone. I think Gao Situ should come out and take matters into his own hands. Then it will be done, right?"
"That's the problem." Zhu Yijun sighed: "Qiu Zhen is a good person, but he attaches too much importance to reputation. He went to the bookstore and begged me to forgive him, but I refused to agree, so he continued to stay at home and refused to go out.
…Do you think I’m annoyed or not?”
"Oh, is the emperor sulking because of this?" Concubine Zheng shook her head and said: "It's nothing. Gao Situ is also afraid that outsiders will gossip about him, so why don't you just give him some gentle words to comfort him?
It’s not like you’re not following your superior’s will. If you can’t do one thing, you can do two things, and if you can’t do two things, you can do three things. It’s just that the secretaries are busy for a while, and Gao Situ will have to come out sooner or later?”
"Of course I know this truth. The problem is that time will be delayed. If he doesn't come out, something big will happen!" Zhu Yijun became more and more troubled as he talked and put his hand on his forehead.
Concubine Zheng asked knowingly: "Now that everything has been settled, what big thing can happen?"
Zhu Yijun sighed: "Mr. Wang has entered Beijing."
"Which Mr. Wang?" Concubine Zheng asked again.
"Wang Xijue." Zhu Yijun thought that Concubine Zheng didn't know him, so he explained: "He is the new assistant minister who has just been promoted to the cabinet. He is the Sandingjia of the same year as Mr. Shen. He has been my lecturer in the past."
"He just went to Beijing. How come something big happened?"
Zhu Yijun was speechless for a moment: "He..."
Concubine Zheng pursed her lips slightly and said, "Oh, it's government affairs again, so I won't ask you about it."
"Well, it's not entirely government affairs..." Zhu Yijun was a little confused. Seeing that Concubine Zheng really didn't ask questions, he felt a little sorry for her. He hesitated and sighed: "He advised me to rectify the country as soon as possible."
As soon as these words were spoken, Zhu Yijun noticed that Concubine Zheng's hand suddenly stopped. He glanced at her and found that she was a little absent-minded.
Zhu Yijun couldn't bear it, so he grabbed one of her hands with his backhand and patted it gently: "Don't worry, don't have fetal force."
It turned out that Concubine Zheng was still pregnant at this time.
"What are you so anxious about, my concubine?" Concubine Zheng's eyes were filled with mist, and she looked away: "It is not my concubine who can decide on these matters."
After hearing this, Zhu Yijun felt a little blushed - the implication of these words was too obvious. "Concubine" cannot be the master, so why can't the emperor be the master?
In theory, of course the emperor can make the decision, but the reality is that the emperor really cannot make the decision completely. Before that, the third son of the emperor Chang Xun (the second son was also born to Concubine Zheng, but died that day) was born in the first month, Zhu Yijun quickly sent Zheng Xun to the throne.
The promotion of the concubine from a noble concubine to an imperial concubine has caused dissatisfaction among the courtiers and set off the first wave of national disputes.
Fortunately, Chang Xun was just one month old at that time, and after Gao Pragmatic's advice, Zhu Yijun suppressed it on the grounds that "the East Palace is empty to wait for the legitimate son", so there was no big fuss.
But this time it was a little different. Chang Xun was already over a year old. He was fair and fat, and had a strong body. He had never been sick. He also had Zhu Yijun's charm between his eyebrows and was very favored by the emperor.
As a result, the courtiers' worries about the emperor deposing elders and establishing younger ones grew day by day. From time to time, there would be one or two memorials asking the emperor to establish a prince. Although the emperor either ignored it or demoted the person who had been appointed to a foreign post, this situation did not change.
improve.
At this moment, Wang Xijue returned to Beijing with his reputation as a scholar. As soon as he came, he sent a memorial asking the emperor to rectify the country's origins as soon as possible. Even if Zhu Yijun didn't care about the situation in the outer court, he could fully guess that there must be many people in the outer court gearing up.
I want to perform well in this matter.
To put it simply, as soon as Wang Xijue did this, "Zheng Guoben" suddenly became the most important event in the government and the public, and everyone's eyes were focused on it. No matter what Zhu Yijun thought, he had to give an explanation.
What happened more than a year ago was actually Gao Pragmatic's cooperation with the emperor to suppress it. But now Gao Pragmatic happens to be "retreating", doesn't that mean something big is going to happen?
It's a big deal that I can't give an explanation that satisfies the courtiers.
Zhu Yijun blushed for a while, and said a little discouraged: "I hate you. Wang Xijue also made a fatal suggestion, saying that Chang Luo can be worshiped as his aunt and asked to raise him. In this way, the 'Xudong Palace' that Qiu Zhen suggested last year will be waiting for him.
The plan of the legitimate son was bypassed, alas!"
Concubine Zheng didn't say anything herself, but her tears suddenly fell down. She was sobbing but refused to say anything, which made Zhu Yijun feel even more embarrassed.
He simply stood up, held Concubine Zheng in his arms, gently stroked her black hair with his hand, and comforted: "Don't worry, I don't think Qiu Zhen will agree to this method..."
"He's still at home!" Concubine Zheng finally said with sobs.
"Yes, yes, I know. I will give a speech tomorrow and ask him to come out and take charge of the matter." Zhu Yijun stopped talking about me when he was anxious.
"But what about Wang Xijue's suggestion?" Concubine Zheng sighed: "I know what the outer court said about me. It's nothing more than a way of charming and beguiling the Lord. She is just afraid that the Emperor will take advantage of the Queen... Maybe Gao Situ also has this kind of thing.
Worry."
Zhu Yijun was about to speak immediately, but Concubine Zheng looked up into his eyes, shook her head, and said: "Your Majesty, you don't have to say anything. I can always guess what the outer court thinks of me. It's not surprising that Gao Situ is worried like this."
.I think, maybe the emperor will grant their wishes..."
"Nonsense!" Zhu Yijun said with some annoyance: "Why? Am I the emperor or are they the emperor? As for my son, they have the final say who I want to make?"
Concubine Zheng smiled bitterly and said: "Why would the emperor say such angry words? Of course they don't have the final say, but... this is the ancestral system."
"I..." The emperor obviously wanted to say something "angry", but in the end he suppressed his words. After a long pause, he gritted his teeth and said, "I think it's better to seek the truth!"
Concubine Zheng was confused: "What?" After saying this, her heart tightened.
Fortunately, Zhu Yijun immediately said: "Qiuzhen once said back then, 'I want to follow the original intention of my ancestors, but I may not follow the old methods of our ancestors'. This is so right!"
This kind of thing is not something that the harem should do. Concubine Zheng could not turn around and thought to herself: What is the original intention of the ancestors? After the death of Prince Yiwen, Taizu would rather train the emperor's grandson than let other princes become princes.
, isn’t this... the original intention is to insist on establishing direct descendants?
Zhu Yijun saw the strange expression on Concubine Zheng's face and knew that she did not understand what he meant, so he explained: "The original intention of our ancestors, if we look into it deeply, is not simply to establish a direct descendant. In fact, in the final analysis, it is for the stability of the world. Establishing a direct descendant is a name.
To be honest and follow the rules; to establish a leader is to be the leader of the country. This is all for the sake of the stability of the world, and we cannot just think that our ancestors cannot violate the rules and blindly follow everything."
Concubine Zheng said in astonishment: "The last words..."
"Well, this... is naturally speaking for the sake of truth." Zhu Yijun said, and immediately emphasized: "But he is right, I can't just act based on the original words of my ancestors, but I should delve into the original intention of my ancestors. Only in this way can I act accordingly."
Truly abide by the ancestral system.”
"What about now?"
"Now? Now that the ministers are forcing me, can the world be stable?" Zhu Yijun snorted coldly: "I have said before that unless the queen has a legitimate son, the country will be in vain for the time being, and we will deal with it later!"
Concubine Zheng was unsure and thought to herself: Isn't this coming back again? Although there was no movement from the Queen's side, and there seemed to be no need to worry for the time being, the important ministers were pressing the palace with great momentum, and all the ministers followed suit. Can the Emperor really withstand it?
After much thought, Concubine Zheng still felt that it was not safe, but she had no good solution, so she had to use the old method: "If the world is in trouble because of this, it is the fault of the ministers and concubines, or else the emperor still followed their wishes..."
Zhu Yijun said angrily: "I don't! I don't believe it yet. If I don't give this decree, can they still push Chang Luo to be the prince?"
Concubine Zheng sighed: "But it is not an option to continue like this."
"Don't worry, wait three or four years at most, and I will definitely be able to solve this matter." Zhu Yijun suddenly said proudly.
"Oh?" It was also the first time that Concubine Zheng heard the emperor speak so decisively about this matter, and she couldn't help but wonder: "Why is it that the emperor is sure that he can convince the ministers in the outer court in these three years?"
"Persuade? Why do I want to convince them?" Zhu Yijun snorted coldly and said proudly: "I want to convince them!"
Concubine Zheng obviously didn't believe it, but she couldn't say it bluntly, so she could only say: "Your Majesty... are you sure?"
Zhu Yijun took a deep breath and said: "As long as you use truthfulness carefully, you will be sure of this matter. Uh... at least 90% sure."
After all, it was about personal interests, and it was the greatest interests. Concubine Zheng finally couldn't help it, and asked cautiously: "Why is the emperor so confident that he can convince the foreign court in just three or four years?" She specifically used "to convince" here.
The two words emphasize the tone.
Zhu Yijun was indeed very confident. He raised his chin slightly and said, "It has been 219 years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. Do you know what troubles have always accompanied me?"
Concubine Zheng thought for a while and asked: "Mongolia?"
"Of course!" Zhu Yijun showed a smile: "Mongolia has always been the great enemy of the Ming Dynasty. Even though Emperor Chengzu made several expeditions to Mobei, he could not wipe them all out. Nowadays, they are still dead and not dead. This is a problem that has plagued the Ming Dynasty for two hundred years.
also."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Concubine Zheng understood a little bit, and asked tentatively: "The emperor wants to destroy Mongolia, fulfill the unfulfilled wishes of his second ancestors, and then become powerful in the world and start the country.
After the Jingnan, the two ancestors were so majestic that no one in the world dared to fight with each other, and then..."
"Yes, that's it." Zhu Yijun took her hand, sat down on the brocade couch for a break together, and comforted: "I shouldn't tell you about this, but I don't want to hide this from you today.
I and Qiuzhen have been planning this for many years. It can even be said that we started planning it when Mr. Gao was in power in the past. At that time, the late emperor was still in power...
In short, the general trend is now clear. I, the Ming Dynasty, only need to accumulate some more money and food so that I will have no worries, and then I can wipe out the northern barbarians and conquer the world. By then, I will naturally not have to say anything to some people in the outer court. The only thing I can worry about is
What’s more, because of the reduction of military pay this year, the rebellion in the northwest broke out, so I can no longer think of ways to reduce expenditures in the future, and that’s why I use truth-seeking as my chief minister..."
Concubine Zheng nodded and said: "Gao Situ has a great way to make money, so it is right to leave this matter to him."
Zhu Yijun smiled and said: "I think so too, but this matter is not that easy to handle. After all, the Household Department is not like his own business. The Household Department is not doing business, it is looking for people to pay taxes... Think about it.
If the tax payer is happy, the tax payer must be unhappy, right?”
"That's true." Concubine Zheng nodded.
"And what's even more difficult is that Qiu Zhen feels that he can no longer collect land tax, but can only collect business tax, and this business tax... Hehe, the officials in Nampang naturally refused, so that's what I just told you."
The case of slandering the king."
Upon hearing the reason, Concubine Zheng said sincerely: "Your Majesty punished those officials well!" Then she said: "It seems that we should persuade Gao Situ to come out earlier.
Take it seriously!"
Zhu Yijun nodded vigorously, patted Concubine Zheng's hand, and said: "Don't worry, this matter will be settled tomorrow. If he doesn't come out, I will invite him out personally even if he doesn't come out!"
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Thanks to book friends "Cao Mianzi" and "Xiao Yezi" for their support, thank you!
PS: In response to the Queen Mother's decree, I was ordered to rush to Xiangtan tonight and go to Shaoshan tomorrow, so this chapter was posted in advance. Tomorrow's chapter will be updated normally, but it may be late.
