After the old King Min finished speaking, Zhu Yinqi, who was standing behind him, moved to the table next to him and respectfully held up a round sandalwood staff.
This staff is about three feet long and two inches wide. It is made entirely of sandalwood. The handle is engraved with dragons and auspicious cloud patterns, and a piece of jadeite is dropped from it. It looks simple and majestic.
This is the family law that King Min used to discipline his descendants. Today, it was taken out again in the teaching hall of this sect.
"granduncle?!"
Seeing this situation, Zhu Zhanzhen was also shocked, and regardless of the so-called etiquette, he raised his head and asked.
"What do you mean?"
Although Old Min King looked like he was about to collapse if the wind blew, his hand holding the sandalwood stick at the moment was steady.
After hearing this, Zhu Zhen snorted coldly and said.
"Of course the ancestors punished you. Why, do you think I am unworthy?"
After the initial shock, Zhu Zhanzhen finally regained his composure, cupped his hands and said.
"My great-nephew doesn't dare, but even if he has to be punished, I would like to ask my great-uncle to explain clearly. What mistake did my great-nephew make that made my great-uncle so angry?"
Seeing Zhu Zhanzhen's appearance, King Lao Min was silent for a moment. He did not swing the sandalwood stick in his hand. He handed the sandalwood stick back to Zhu Yincheng, then sat back on the chair and said.
"That's fine, I will make it clear to you, lest you feel dissatisfied and say that I will punish you for not teaching you."
With that said, Zhu Zhen took out a memorial from his sleeve, threw it in front of Zhu Zhanzhen, and asked in a cold voice.
"Did you write this memorial and then submit it to the chief minister of the imperial palace?"
Zhu Zhanzhen had expected it, so he was not too surprised. He calmed down, picked up the memorial on the ground, turned it over, folded it up again, and said.
"Reporting to my uncle, it was indeed written by my great-nephew. I don't know, but what's wrong with it?"
King Lao Min narrowed his eyes, seemed to be angry again, coughed twice violently, slapped his right hand heavily on the table, which made the teacups make a crisp clanking sound, and spoke harshly.
"You still dare to ask what's wrong? Tell me, who asked you to write this memorial? What is your intention in writing this memorial?"
Seeing this situation, Zhu Zhanzhen's expression changed, and then he gritted his teeth and said.
"My uncle misunderstood. This memorial was originally what my nephew had in mind. How could anyone instigate it? What's more, the reason why my nephew submitted the memorial was because I, Zhu Jialun, had a proper preface and a close relationship between elder and young. I don't know why my uncle was moved.
So angry?"
"Snapped!"
After the words fell, there was a muffled sound in the hall. Then, Zhu Zhanchen felt a sharp pain in his left arm. When he raised his eyes, the old King Min had already picked up the sandalwood staff again and struck it hard.
It hit him.
It should be said that since Zhu Zhanzhen came out of the capital and became a vassal, he has not been beaten for a long time. Even when he was the prince, such cases were rare.
Zhu Zhanchen, who had been pampered for a long time, was suddenly beaten so suddenly that he couldn't bear it. He immediately covered his right arm and fell to the ground.
"My lord, are you okay..."
At this time, Liu Changshi on the side did not care about his own injury, and quickly got up and came over to help Zhu Zhanchen up.
During the whole process, Zhu Chu just watched with cold eyes, without speaking, and without putting down the sandalwood stick in his hand.
When Liu Changshi helped Zhu Zhanchen up and was about to sit down, he said in a cold voice.
"Who told you to get up? Kneel down!"
At this time, Zhu Zhanzhen finally couldn't bear it anymore.
He was naturally pampered, and although he was not unruly in the capital, no one dared to offend him given his seniority and status.
As a result, today, first, my long history was stopped, and then when I arrived at the training hall, before I could figure out what was going on, I was slapped with a stick for nothing.
At this moment, when I moved a little bit, I felt a throbbing pain in my left arm.
Under this situation, no matter how good-tempered he was, he couldn't help but feel angry. He pushed Liu Changshi away, endured the pain in his left arm, cupped his hand, and said.
"Uncle, if you have any dissatisfaction, feel free to tell me. How come you are so responsible for your grandnephew? Your grandnephew respects you as an elder and treats each other with courtesy. But in the final analysis, your grandnephew and you are both vassals of the imperial court.
King, do you think you are bringing disgrace to the clan by repeatedly humiliating your grandnephew like this?"
Although these words were spoken with great force, Zhu Zhanzhen glanced at the sandalwood stick which was not too thin, and the wound was touched again. He couldn't help but take a breath of cold air and quietly took two steps back to the side.
This small gesture naturally caught Zhu's eyes, but in his opinion, it was not enough!
He didn't say much, he just waved his hand gently.
As a result, four tall warriors suddenly emerged from the entourage standing on both sides of the hall.
"Put this unworthy young man down for me!"
Zhu Ming ordered coldly.
After receiving the order, the four warriors did not hesitate at all, let alone Zhu Zhanyi's identity. They swarmed forward and separated Liu Changshi and Zhu Zhanyi first. Then they quickly moved out several benches and suppressed Zhu Zhanyi.
Slap on the bench.
Of course, Zhu Zhanzhen was very angry about this behavior and struggled hard.
However...it's of no use!
He was a pampered vassal king who usually only liked to play the harp and have fun. He didn't even go hunting. How could he break away from the specially prepared warriors?
Almost effortlessly, the two strong men pinned him down on the bench.
Then, King Lao Min held the sandalwood staff and walked step by step to Zhu Zhanyi's left side. He raised his right hand high and with another muffled sound, the sandalwood staff hit Zhu Zhanyi's back heavily.
For a moment, Zhu Zhanchen felt a sharp pain in his back and almost fainted.
He groaned, feeling a sweet taste in his throat, and a faint trace of blood oozed from the corner of his mouth.
Holding himself together to prevent himself from fainting, Zhu Zhanzhen's face was livid, but he said no more.
He had already recognized that these warriors were not religious people. Although they did not wear the iconic robes, the soap boots on the soles of their feet revealed their identities as Dongchang.
It's hard to say that this great-uncle was invited by the emperor to deal with him. The other party clearly didn't want to reason with him, so it would be useless to talk more.
Suddenly, Zhu Zhanyi also felt a surge of energy.
He wanted to see how far the emperor dared to make trouble.
Even with the shield of the uncle of King Min, do you still dare to beat him, King Xiang, to death?
However, he stopped talking, and Old Min King didn't seem so angry anymore.
He placed the wooden stick on the tray beside him, then looked at Zhu Zhanzhen and said.
"The first stick just now struck you for being disrespectful and full of lies. The second stick just now struck you for being arrogant and unrepentant."
Hearing this, Zhu Zhanzhen frowned, but remained silent.
So, King Lao Min continued to ask.
"You just said that I and you are both vassals of the imperial court. You said that I humiliated you in this way and it was detrimental to the face of the imperial court. Then I ask you, can you forget why you and I were left here?
Isn’t this Jingzhong back to Fengguo?”
"Of course this is because..."
Zhu Zhanzhen subconsciously opened his mouth to answer. However, halfway through his words, he was interrupted by Zhu Zhen, saying:
"Because of Zongxue and in order to be in charge of Zongxue, His Majesty appointed you as Zuo Zongzheng and me as Da Zongzheng. Having said that, do you still think that my punishment of you would be detrimental to the court's face?"
This time, Zhu Zhancheng remained silent.
If Zhu Chu was just the King of Min, no matter how senior he was, it would still be inappropriate to punish a vassal king like Zhu Zhanzhen like this.
After all, he is just his uncle.
As far as the family is concerned, he is not the father and grandfather, as far as the clan is concerned, he is not the patriarch, and as far as the country is concerned, he is not the king.
In this relationship, if it is just reprimand, even scolding, it is normal, but such a beating is a bit excessive.
After all, although Zhu Zhanzhen is a junior, he is also a dignified vassal king. Such a beating is tantamount to humiliation.
Therefore, Zhu Zhanchen was holding his breath from the beginning.
However, Zhu Chu's words just now reminded him of something.
That is, King Min is not only King Min, he is not only the highest-ranking elder in the clan today, but also the great Zong Zheng in charge of the clan mansion!
Although the Zongren Mansion this time was due to the reopening of Zongxue, the management has not changed.
The head of the clan's mansion reports the clan's requests, hears them, is capable, records the crimes, and is fully responsible for all the affairs of the clan. As the head of the clan, it is his duty to punish clan members who make mistakes.
Of course, Zhu Zhanzhen cannot be blamed for this.
It's really because the Zongren Mansion has not been established for many years. Although it has been re-appointed, the old King Min has been lingering on his sick bed without any sense of existence.
Therefore, even he subconsciously ignored that it was not he who made the decision in the Zongren Mansion, but the great uncle of King Min.
Seeing that Zhu Zhanzhen finally lost his strange dissatisfaction, Zhu Zhen's face looked a little better, he snorted and said.
"Do you really think that in this capital, everyone respects you everywhere and respects you from the bottom of their hearts? Wrong! There are countless people in this capital who are secretly watching you all the time.
Looking after you!"
"The Supreme Emperor returned to the capital and summoned so many ministers, but they all kowtowed and saluted outside the Nangong Palace without entering. How come you dare to enter the Nangong Palace to see them openly?"
"Now, when you hand me this memorandum, you still dare to say that no one gave it your permission? Do you think anyone will believe it if it goes to the court?"
Hearing this, Zhu Zhanzhen frowned subconsciously, immediately twitched his wound, and couldn't help but take a breath of cold air, but even so, he still endured the pain and spoke.
"My uncle's words are a bit exaggerated!"
"The Supreme Emperor is the father of the world. He is the eldest son of the late emperor. He is now the emperor's brother and has a respected position. Now he has returned to the capital safely. As his grandnephew, he is a member of the clan and has come to meet him. This is a courtesy. What can anyone say about it outside?"
"As for the memorial, my grandnephew admitted that it was indeed related to the Supreme Emperor, but it was just that the grandnephew entered the Nangong Palace and saw that although the Supreme Emperor's residence was luxurious, it still had a deserted atmosphere. That's why there was such a discussion. How could he instigate it?"
Zhu Zhen almost picked up the sandalwood staff again, but in the end, looking at the blood-stained blood mark on Zhu Zhanchen's back, he still held back and just nodded repeatedly and said.
"Okay, since you are so stubborn, I will have a good discussion with you!"
With that said, Zhu Zhen took the memorial, spread it out in front of Zhu Zhanzhen, and said.
"Now that the Supreme Emperor has returned to the capital, he has already said in front of all the ministers that all important matters will be left to the emperor's disposal without warning."
"But you, a clan vassal king, now actually come to this book and say that the emperor, as the younger brother of the emperor, should lead his ministers to the Nangong every day to check the provinces in the morning and dusk. You have repeatedly emphasized that you should be respectful and not go beyond the etiquette."
"What do you want to do?"
"Announce to the world that the imperial court still has the final say?"
"You keep saying that this is for the sake of the moral order of the heavenly family and for the sake of family friendship, but have you never considered how the emperor will deal with himself once the memorial is handed over?"
King Lao Min's expression was calm, but his tone was stern.
Zhu Zhanzhen finally lowered his head this time, but his mouth was still tough and he said.
"Uncle, how can I have such eyes? My grandnephew is just thinking that distinction should be made between superiority and inferiority, and etiquette cannot be neglected. Since the emperor respects the Supreme Emperor as the Supreme Emperor, he should naturally act in accordance with the etiquette. In the former Tang Dynasty, Suzong welcomed Xuanzong
, that is to say, be careful in the morning and dusk every day.”
"Now, my great-nephew is just following the old tradition. What he is doing is to let the world see that the emperor and his brother, the emperor, are in harmony and have no other intentions."
Seeing Zhu Zhanzhen's obviously guilty attitude, but still refusing to admit his mistakes, or even tell the truth, a trace of disappointment flashed in Zhu Zhan's eyes, and his interest waned for a moment.
He waved his hand, signaling Zhu Yinqi to take down the sandalwood staff, and then ordered someone to let go of Zhu Zhanzhen. He sat back on the chair, his eyes slightly closed, and he didn't know what he was thinking.
After a while, he opened his eyes again, and his tone had calmed down, but inexplicably, Zhu Zhanchen felt a little cold.
King Lao Min said: "What you said makes sense, but I would like to remind you of two points."
"First of all, Your Majesty is the younger brother of the Supreme Emperor, not the son of the Supreme Emperor. You know that I am just an elder, not a father. If you don't bear the name of Da Zongzheng, I have no right to punish you. Then why do you want the emperor to treat the Supreme Emperor as a servant?
A gift from my father?”
At this point, Zhu Zhen paused, his tone became stern again, and said.
"Secondly, I am not afraid to make it clear. Your Majesty, the Supreme Emperor, abdicated the throne to sin for himself and for the sake of the people in the world. He did not abdicate by himself to enjoy Nangong after his achievements. Therefore, there are some things, some
If etiquette should not be used, then do not use it and cannot use it."
"You should remember this!"
The first point was fine, but as soon as he said the next two sentences, Zhu Zhanchen suddenly raised his head and his face looked a little ugly.
Obviously, he did not expect that this great uncle of King Min would dare to say such taboo words.
You know, currently in the court, it is still believed that it was the Supreme Emperor who took the initiative to give the throne to Jin in order to preserve the country.
No one has dared to say so openly that the Supreme Emperor had to retire to Nangong because of his huge faults in the Civil War.
If this word gets out, even with the status of King Min, it will definitely be discussed by many people. Maybe, he will be labeled as a false critic of the Supreme Emperor.
So, what on earth is this great-uncle thinking?
Zhu Zhanzhen's face was gloomy and uncertain. His eyes fell on the old face of King Min for a while, and for a while he fell on the soap boots on the feet of the strong men who had just supported him...
At this time, Zhu Zhen also finished speaking, stretched out his hand and pointed, and Zhu Yinxi took Zhu Zhanzhen's memorial from the ground.
Zhu Ming put the memorial away, and then said calmly.
"The head of the clan's clan has submitted an invitation and heard it from me. Therefore, according to the rules, your memorial must be delivered to the emperor by this king."
"Whether you want to say that I am arbitrary or arbitrary, or that I use my power to bully others, in short, if I am alive for a day, your memorial will not pass the test of the clan mansion."
"If you are dissatisfied, you can go to the palace and ask His Majesty to make the decision to remove this great master."
"Of course, the premise is that you can meet His Majesty."
"Otherwise, if you want to submit your memorandum to the top, just wait until I am dead."
As he spoke, Zhu Zhen laughed at himself and said.
"However, I guess you won't have to wait too long..."
After saying this, without waiting for Zhu Zhanzhen to react, Prince Min stood up again, and with Zhu Yincheng's support, slowly left Zongxue...