In the court, a large-scale operation against the eunuchs such as Liu Jin had begun. Liu Jian and others made up their minds to put the eunuchs such as Liu Jin and Zhang Yuan who were inducing the new emperor to eat, drink and have fun.

In the Marquis of Shouning, Zhang Yanling arrived in a hurry, with a little tiredness in his eyes. Seeing Zhang Heling, Zhang Yanling yawned, then walked forward slowly and greeted, "Brother, are you asking me for trouble?"

Zhang Heling looked straight: "Looking at your appearance, you are listless all day long, you must be that you are not doing your job every night, and you have never thought about what happened since Your Majesty ascended the throne?"

Zhang Yanling sat down and smiled and said, "What do you think about? Isn't it just that the court officials are connecting and preparing to report together to kill Liu Jin and Zhang Yuan, a few internal prisoners from the East Palace?"

"If you want to kill, just kill it. Anyway, Zhang Yuan did not follow our arrangements and became the most beloved person in front of His Majesty. This is called the old ones not going to the new ones. If you pull this group of people down, there will always be new ones coming."

As he said that, Zhang Yanling picked up the teacup and leisurely leaned over to his mouth. Unexpectedly, he spitted the tea onto the ground as soon as he took a sip and shouted angrily: "I don't have any eyesight. I don't know how to change the new tea when I see this time... Why are all tea powders?"

When the servants of the Shouning Marquis' Mansion heard this, they quickly changed the tea. In order to avoid being angry, they specially used the best tribute tea, which made Zhang Yanling satisfied.

Seeing that his younger brother stopped making trouble, Zhang Heling said: "Abandoning Liu Jin and Zhang Yuan, the matter was small, and then His Majesty was ruthless. Shortly after His Majesty ascended the throne, all the affairs of the court were controlled by the civil servant group... Are you and I prospered because of the royal family? If Your Majesty really encounters trouble and loses its influence on the government affairs, can you still be as relaxed and free as you are now? You don't think about who will attack if the civil servants are in power!"

Zhang Yanling said: "Even if we do anything, it's not our turn, right? We can't affect the civil servants' power. The Five Army Governor's Office belongs to the executive yamen. If you don't violate the rivers with them..."

Zhang Heling sneered: "You and I have offended them in the past fewer things? If they were going to pull you and my brother off the horse, then His Majesty could not speak, and the Queen Mother could not do anything. Who in the world would pity you and my brothers?"

"Brother, you are too worried. Now there is only something wrong with Liu Jin and Zhang Yuan. Add Li Xing, who said that he was fed his own pockets when building the imperial tomb. He also selected a girl to place it in the private house in the capital to tempt His Majesty to leave the palace! All the matter has not been implemented now, and His Majesty may not even kill a few eunuchs. How could it be our turn to suffer?"

Zhang Yanling didn't believe that he would have such a situation, and his expression was full of disdain.

Zhang Heling said angrily: "You just lack the sense of crisis to be prepared for danger in times of peace. You and my brothers have been prosperous for many years, and some people have long disliked them. Haven't there been few civil officials we offended in the past? They repeatedly impeached the previous emperor, and some officials were even imprisoned for this... When Your Majesty loses power, do you see if they will retaliate! We should deal with this matter early."

Zhang Yanling was helpless: "How to deal with it? Both of my brothers work in the Governor's Office, and they can't affect the overall situation... Liu Jian and Li Dongyang's old men are arrogant. Now they kneel down to advise the Meridian Gate. If there is no result, how can they just give up? I think they shouldn't get involved!"

Zhang Heling said: "The matter is due to human affairs. The civil servants are already putting pressure on Your Majesty. If Your Majesty compromises, Liu Jin, Zhang Yuan and others will undoubtedly die. You and my brothers will also lose power... Now it is related to our interests. We must not let the civil servants in the court succeed. You and I will go to the governor's office later and find someone to speak for us."

"After that we enter the palace to meet the saint, and cheer for Your Majesty. As for the Empress Dowager's side, we must also go and meet. We must let the Empress Dowager stand on Your Majesty's side..."

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Since my elder brother has a complete plan, I will obey my elder brother's arrangements. I will temporarily watch what to do? As for Zhang Yuan's slave, I want to meet him and talk to him."

...

...

In the palace, Liu Jian and others were still kneeling at the Meridian Gate to advise.

In the Ming Dynasty, kneeling down to make a statement was a very common method for ministers to persuade the emperor. Liu Jian and others hoped to put pressure on Zhu Houzhao in this way, so that Zhu Houzhao would compromise on the issue of replacing the eunuch in charge of the seal of the Sili Supervisor.

Zhu Houzhao was restless in the Ganqing Palace and said to himself: "...What should I do now? Are Liu Shaofu and his elders of several dynasties or ministers who were dying on their father's death? If they offend them, a large number of officials will inevitably compete with me. If most of the court officials leave in anger, who will manage the country for me? Wouldn't the court be in chaos at that time? If someone takes the opportunity to rebel and rebellion, what should he take away my country?"

Just when Zhu Houzhao was like an ant on a hot pan, Liu Jin hurried in and saluted: "Your Majesty, although the number of ministers kneeling outside to advise the emperor has not increased, some people in the court have jointly written a letter to kill slaves."

Zhu Houzhao looked at Liu Jin, and suddenly felt disgust in his heart. He waved his hand and said, "Eunuch Liu, don't think too much, I will protect you... You did nothing wrong, will I make things difficult for you? Go back and rest first, I have to think about some questions. Before the matter is over, you are not suitable to see me again, so as not to say that you will take the opportunity to sow discord in front of me..."

Liu Jin knelt on the ground, kowtowed respectfully to Zhu Houzhao, and then stood up and left the hall.

Zhu Houzhao was still standing in the Ganqing Palace, feeling confused and didn't know how to deal with what was happening in front of him.

It took only a few days to become an emperor, and he had no experience in handling court affairs. Now he was pressured by ministers and was on the verge of collapse. He was very afraid that the ministers would unite to drive him off the throne of the emperor. To that extent, all his ambitions could not be realized, and even his life would be in danger... No emperor could tolerate someone threatening his throne, and it was conceivable that his fate would be miserable.

The more I thought about it, the more I became, the more I was afraid, the more I was helpless. I lived like the years and it was dark. Zhu Houzhao couldn't go out to the palace to send a depressed mood. At this time, the eunuch Dai Yi, the chief eunuch of the Silijian, came over with a memorial and said:

"Your Majesty, this is a memorial submitted by more than 80 court officials including the Minister of Revenue. Please kill Liu Jin, Zhang Yuan, Li Xing, and Wei Bin, and chase Ma Yongcheng, Qiu Ju, Luo Xiang and Gao Feng out of the palace. Please tell me!"

Dai Yi raised Han Wen's memorial high above his head, his hands trembling, obviously scared... Among the eunuchs in the palace who are closer to the emperor, he is not included in this list, but it is also very deterrent to him.

Zhu Houzhao stepped forward with a blank expression, took the memorial and opened it, took a few casual glances, and asked, "They want me to... cut off their left and right hands, right?"

Dai Yi knelt there, not daring to say a word.

Zhu Houzhao lowered his head and carefully read the memorial. His expression was filled with anger and fear, and finally he sighed: "Oh, my ministers actually put pressure on me to kill the people around me, and they were simply forcing the palace. There are only a few close friends around me, can I help me solve my problems... But now I must rely on those ministers... Is Young Master Liu still kneeling outside the Meridian Gate?"

Dai Yi replied tremblingly: "Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhu Houzhao looked confused. After returning to the desk with the memorial, she sat down and closed her eyes, and said helplessly: "Then let's do it for now. I want to be quiet, you go out first. If someone is by my side now, it would be great..."

Dai Yi had already stood up and was about to leave the hall. When he heard Zhu Houzhao's words, he was a little hesitant because he felt that he should stay and share the emperor's worries, but at the same time he was a little scared. He thought that he was powerless in this matter, and he was even pushed by the court officials to oppose the emperor. At this time, he spoke like adding fuel to the fire, and he could only salute and leave.

Only Zhu Houzhao and a few eunuchs and palace maids who served him were left in the Ganqing palace. Zhu Houzhao was under the faint candlelight, her face was full of helpless expressions, her eyes were full of confusion, and she seemed to have lost her direction in her life.

...

...

The night is deep, outside the Meridian Gate.

Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, Wang Hua and others were still kneeling down to make suggestions. Although the scene seemed extremely serious, Liu Jian and others were in a relaxed mood. They had experienced this kind of thing, and now they were just trying to persuade an emperor who was not strong enough. In the eyes of several people, it was not that complicated, and the emperor most likely had to compromise.

Wang Hua said: "Yu Qiao left early. It seems that he doesn't want to stay and persuade Your Majesty together. Maybe he has the intention to leave the court."

Li Dongyang did not comment on his old friend. He looked at Liu Jian and wanted to hear the opinions of the Prime Minister.

Liu Jian closed his eyes and said, "If you want Your Majesty to change your mind, it is enough to have a few people kneeling here. What's the use of many people? Have you heard the memorial of Guandao on Chengtian?"

Li Dongyang said: "The officials of Tongzhengsi have sent the memorial to the Silijian, saying that they want to kill Liu Jin, Zhang Yuan and others... Is this a bit of a big deal? Even if you want to eliminate Liu Jin and others around His Majesty, you just need to transfer them from the Silijian, exile them in another place, or drive them out of the palace gate. If you kill them directly, your Majesty will not agree."

Liu Jian shook his head: "Binzhi, you should not be as kind as a woman in doing things. Look at what Your Majesty has done recently? Every day, you only know how to be addicted to leisure and make the palace mess. Your Majesty is playful, but he is young and ignorant. Usually, those eunuchs should give more advice to Your Majesty, but they are helping him and trying every means to find fun for Your Majesty. This is their way to die... As for those inaction-related insults, you can be expelled from the palace. If you don't punish these people well, you will inevitably have the previous incident of your father being imprisoned."

When Liu Jian mentioned Yang Ziqi's incident, Li Dongyang's doubts were dispelled.

Because Yang Ziqi reported water seepage in Tailing Jinjing, he was framed and imprisoned by Li Xing and others, and almost died in the imperial prison. But in fact, Yang Ziqi was arranged by Liu Jian and Li Dongyang to investigate. Because of this, Liu Jian and Li Dongyang decided to eliminate Li Xing, so even if Li Xing was not in the palace, he was listed on the list of executions.

Wang Hua said: "If you kneel down for a long time, Your Majesty still cannot change your mind, what if you do?"

Liu Jian said sternly: "I will never give up until I achieve my goal. What we are doing now is arranged by the Emperor. If we cannot advise Your Majesty today and let him return to the right path, we will not listen to our advice in the future. We will kneel down here and persevere. Even if there is any mistake, we will be loyal to the Ming Dynasty!"

Liang Chu, who followed him to kneel down to advise, Yang Tinghe and others couldn't help but look at Liu Jian. These people did not want to oppose the emperor, but had to come because of the principle of the joint advance and retreat of the ministers of Hanyuan.

Li Dongyang glanced at the direction of the Ganqing Palace and said, "I hope everything is as Liu Shaofu said."
Chapter completed!