In the early morning, the Forbidden City was in silence.

Zhu Houzhao couldn't get up, and the court officials were already preparing for the afternoon court that day.

This time it was not a grand dynasty meeting. The participants were basically the ones who participated in the kneeling advice or jointly submitted letters yesterday. These people were waiting in Wenhua Hall to attend court.

The status of ministers waiting for court in Wenyuan Pavilion is much higher. In addition to the cabinet's chief minister Liu Jian, there are also second assistants Li Dongyang, Hanlin Bachelor of Rites Wang Hua, and Han Wen, Minister of Revenue.

The matters discussed by several people in Wenyuan Pavilion were exactly who recommended to serve as the eunuch in charge of the seal of the Sili Supervisor.

In addition to retaining Xiao Jing's proposal, there is also the idea of ​​promoting Dai Yi, or the other eunuchs in the Sili Supervisor, or recruiting from other supervisors in the Twenty-Fourth Supervisors.

Han Wen seemed very angry: "As long as it is not the shameless villains Liu Jin and Zhang Yuan, I will not have any objection. It is not my turn to take care of these things."

Li Dongyang glanced at Han Wen, with a bit of cramped look in his eyes, as if he was saying, since it wasn't your turn to care, you were so active in writing a letter yesterday, and you insisted on putting Liu Jin, Zhang Yuan, Li Xing and Wei Bin to death?

Liu Jian said cautiously: "Your Majesty can start from the overall situation, kill treacherous eunuchs, and then promote talented people to come out to take charge of the affairs of the ritual supervisors. It is good to be able to keep Eunuch Xiao today, but otherwise, it would be better to be the chief eunuch Dai..."

Liu Jian was very "satisfied with Dai Yi's performance yesterday. On the one hand, it was Dai Yi's ability to pass messages, and on the other hand, it was Dai Yi's mediocre behavior.

Li Dongyang looked at Liu Jian and nodded slightly.

He discussed with Liu Jian last night, and the two had a basic judgment on this matter. They discussed who to recommend. In general, except Xiao Jing, others in the court have shortcomings in their abilities or reputation, so it is appropriate to count Dai Yi.

Dai Yi is easy to control, but if it were someone else, it would be impossible to say.

Han Wen smiled and said, "Since Young Master Liu thinks it is so suitable, then follow what Young Master Liu said. I will discuss with my colleagues first. Young Master Liu and Binzhi have a good rest. See you again in the Qianqing Palace later. Today I have to see those eunuchs and dogs being imprisoned and asked for punishment..."

...

...

Han Wen was busy giving face-to-face advice to the minister who wrote a letter with him, mainly to convey Liu Jian’s meaning.

In the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Houzhao had just woken up and seemed sleepy. At this moment, Dai Yi came over and reported that someone in the Hanlin Academy asked for a visit.

Zhu Houzhao said: "The people from the Hanlin Academy? Are they not Liu Jin and Zhang Yuan? Or are these people still unknown to the fact that Liu Shaofu and the others entered the palace last night?"

Dai Yi seemed very confused: "Your Majesty, I don't know."

Zhu Houzhao has never been satisfied with Dai Yi because this person is terriblely low in ability.

The naughty child who had a sleep was a little more energetic. He got up and tidyed up his clothes. He didn't bother to wash and said, "Who is here in Hanlin Academy?"

Dai Yidao: "It's Mr. Jiao and Mr. Li."

Zhu Houzhao recalled it and slapped his head: "I remembered that yesterday I asked Eunuch Liu to find Jiao Fang and Li Jie and asked them to help me draft the edict... They won't have already drafted it now, right? Alas! This matter changes so quickly. What's the use even if it's drafted it now? In the end, it won't be used..."

"Forget it, Xuan Jiaofang and Li Jie will meet. Since yesterday, no one has been on my side. I want to hear what they think."

Zhu Houzhao didn't care about eating, and accompanied by several eunuchs, he went to the main hall of the Ganqing Palace in front... The emperor had no health problems and had to meet with the ministers in such a majestic occasion as the main hall of the Ganqing Palace.

Jiao Fang and Li Jie were just right. Zhu Houzhao was short of help, and he needed to ask some things. Zhu Houzhao thought to himself on the way: "These two were found by Liu Jin, and they should not be in the same group as Liu Shaofu and Han Shangshu! If they can provide me with any suggestions, I can refer to them. Now I can only count on them."

When we arrived at the Ganqing Palace, Jiao Fang and Li Jie had been waiting for a long time.

Seeing Zhu Houzhao coming, the two bowed and greeted each other. Zhu Houzhao raised his hand slightly: "You two don't have to be too polite. I have some things for you to do yesterday, but now... it seems that it's not useful. Have Eunuch Liu explained to you yesterday?"

Jiao Fang and Li Jie looked at each other. They were ministers despised by Liu Jian and Li Dongyang and were never favored in the Hanlin system. However, both of them had experiences of serving as lecturers in the East Palace or giving lectures on Zhu Houzhao every day. They could be regarded as Zhu Houzhao's "Mr.", but they were not so close to Zhu Houzhao.

As for the incident of kneeling down in the palace yesterday, the two did not attend.

Jiao Fang bowed: "Your Majesty doesn't know how to deal with the change of seals and seals today?"

Although Zhu Houzhao asked a question, he didn't want to talk much because he felt that he wanted to kill Liu Jin and Zhang Yuan, his left and right hands around him, which was embarrassing. He said with a stern face: "The two Qing families don't need to ask too much about this matter, so I will naturally make a decision. I want to know your views now... If I want to save the lives of Eunuch Liu and Eunuch Zhang, what method should I use?"

Jiao Fang and Li Jie looked at each other.

Although Zhu Houzhao did not explain what the result of the civil servant kneeling for advice at the Wumen Gate yesterday, they guessed from Zhu Houzhao's words that Zhu Houzhao should have compromised in front of Liu Jian, Han Wen and others, and agreed to follow the contents of the memorial to kill Liu Jin, Zhang Yuan, Li Xing and Wei Bin, and drove the other four eunuchs who often followed Zhu Houzhao out of the palace or helped Zhu Houzhao establish a palace city out of the palace.

Jiao Fang said: "I think Eunuch Liu and others are wrong, but they may not be guilty, and they will not die!"

Until this time, when Zhu Houzhao heard someone plead for Liu Jin and others for the first time, he felt like he was finding a confidant. He immediately said: "I also know that Eunuch Liu will not die if he is guilty, but you always have to tell me the countermeasures. I have written the Zhu comments on the memorial before, and now I must do it according to the memorial... If I go back on my word, what is my prestige in the future?"

Although Jiao Fang and Li Jie also wanted to speak for Liu Jin and others, they found that it seemed too late to say something at this time.

The two of them were originally not appreciated by Liu Jian. They were basically a mess in the court. Now if they can be appreciated by the emperor, it will be their best chance to enter the cabinet, otherwise there will be no hope in their entire life.

As a minister from Hanyuan, it is very annoying to not have the opportunity to enter the cabinet. After all, Hanlin Academy, Zhanshi Mansion and the Ministry of Rites belong to the Qingshui Yamen, and they don’t have much real power. They just wait to enter the cabinet and become the prime minister of the Ming Dynasty. This is the purpose of staying in Hanyuan as an official.

Jiao Fang didn't know how to answer, and Li Jie was also embarrassed: "If Your Majesty has already been criticized, unless you can get the pleading and understanding from the minister,..."

Li Jie continued to say the rest.

Zhu Houzhao was very disappointed: "Otherwise they will be dead, right? I know what you said, but how can I get the understanding of the ministers? They have used any means to achieve their goals."

Jiao Fang and Li Jie lowered their heads and dared not speak.

Zhu Houzhao said angrily: "Okay, since you have no solution, I won't force me. This time you do things well, but unfortunately I can't commend and promote you, so let's talk about it later."

Because he could not save Liu Jin, Zhang Yuan and others, Zhu Houzhao seemed very upset and did not want to say anything to Li Xing and Jiao Fang.

...

...

Jiao Fang and Li Xing withdrew from the hall, and Zhu Houzhao sat in front of the Long Case, and had no clue about the two memorials he had read repeatedly yesterday.

The naughty child muttered: "Do I really want to kill Liu Jin and Zhang Yuan? If you want to make a mistake, these people are right. They are all asked to do that! It is simply unkind and unjust to kill them like this!"

Just when the naughty child was in a very bad mood, Dai Yi came in again and said, "Your Majesty, Eunuch Liu, Eunuch Zhang and Eunuch Wei, knelt outside the bedroom of the Ganqing Palace, saying that he wanted to say goodbye to Your Majesty."

Upon hearing the news, Zhu Houzhao closed her eyes helplessly and said, "They still know... What goodbye is it? I have harmed them, and I have no face to see them..."

Dai Yi said: "Your Majesty, have you not seen them?"

Zhu Houzhao nodded and said, "What else do I see them? It's meaningless. Let them kneel down. I guess they will hand them over to the Ministry of Justice during the Wu Dynasty. They will convict them under the terms listed in the previous memorial. I guess they will not be able to survive."

Dai Yi left the main hall of Ganqing Palace with a little fear.

At this time, Zhu Houzhao was nervous and worried, and he didn't know how to relieve his depression. At this moment, an eunuch came over and said, "Your Majesty, I have a letter here."

Zhu Houzhao was immediately annoyed and looked at this person. It was not someone else, but the former eunuch Xiao Tiaozi who had helped him a lot before, but was recently ignored by him.

Xiao Guozi is about the same age as Zhu Houzhao. When Zhu Houzhao left the palace, he asked Xiao Guozi to pretend to be him in the Xiefang Palace. Later, Zhu Houzhao knew that Xiao Guozi secretly informed Empress Zhang and Emperor Xiaozong, so he deliberately became alienated.

"Who gave you a letter? Who has the courage to let you pass it to me?" Zhu Houzhao said angrily.

Xiao Tiaozi knelt on the ground, held up the letter, and said, "It's Lord Shen."

"What Lord Shen? Ah... are you talking about Mr. Chen?" Zhu Houzhao immediately reacted. In the court, the minister named Chen was actually Chen Xi.

Xiao Twist replied: "That's right."

Zhu Houzhao was extremely surprised and took the letter, thinking that Chen Xi had written a long plan for him, but when he opened it, the few words inside disappointed him: "...... The throne was stable and memorialized..."

Zhu Houzhao stared at her eyes and looked carefully, then turned her head and asked Xiao Guozi: "You kid, won't you make fun of me, right? Is this Mr. Chen's handwriting? Also, he hasn't left the capital, how could he send you a letter?"

Xiao Tiaozi said, "It was Eunuch Zhang Yuan who handed the letter to the slave, and the slave didn't know."

"Zhang Yuan?"

Zhu Houzhao was even more confused. How could Zhang Yuan have Chen Xi’s letter?

Although it was written by Chen Xi, Zhu Houzhao felt extremely suspicious and began to think about the meaning behind these words.
Chapter completed!