The Prosperous Era of Longwan

For three consecutive days, just like playing house, Yan Ne's memorials were continuously sent to Xiyuan, and then they were rejected, then submitted again, and then rejected again.

The nobles and well-informed officials in the capital had roughly guessed what was going on, but most people still didn't understand. In a daze, the cabinet ministers and the emperor completed the process of three requests and three resignations.

Wei Guangde came over to visit Yan Ne when he was writing the second memorial, so he neither seemed intimate nor alienated.

Although he knew that Yan Na was not sick, he still acted like he was very concerned about his condition. He asked for help before leaving.

When leaving, he inadvertently took a look at the packages that had been packed in the mansion. He wanted to get a batch of red goods from Emperor Jiajing, and Yan Ne would leave the capital immediately.

Why bother?

As soon as he entered the cabinet, he wanted to replace Xu Jie even before his buttocks were warm.

A cabinet minister for more than ten years, who can defeat Yan Song, there is nothing wrong with him.

Think about it, Zhang Juzheng, who followed Xu Jie, also held the position of chief minister for more than ten years. Even in the face of opposition from officials all over the world, he forced reforms to extend the life of the Ming Dynasty. He was more courageous than Xu Jie.

Suddenly, Wei Guangde felt chilled all over.

It wasn't the weather. Although the temperature in the capital had begun to drop at this time, it was not to the point where he felt cold.

Wei Guangde had to seriously consider how he should treat Zhang Juzheng as a minister or cabinet minister during his reign.

The reformists will be shattered into pieces if they are not careful.

After walking out of Yan Ne's mansion, Wei Guangde couldn't help but look back at the open door.

Xu Jie is pretty good, he has the ambition of a chief minister, and he didn't kill everyone, but I don't know what happened to Zhang Juzheng.

Zhu Yijun is already two years old. Naturally, he has not yet arranged for study and enlightenment. After all, the child is still too young.

Although King Yu had already agreed with him that he would be the teacher of the little prince, Wei Guangde vaguely remembered that Zhang Juzheng was also his teacher and had a heavy pressure on him.

Thinking about Prince Yu, Wei Guangde also found it interesting. He played in the background every day, but he never saw any maids give birth to a prince for him.

Zhu Yijun will most likely be the emperor after King Yu, as long as Princess Chen has nothing to do.

Emperor Jiajing finally approved Yan Ne's fourth memorial.

Now that he has decided to return home, it is useless to leave people behind.

When Yan Ne left Beijing, Wei Guangde did not see him off. The loser of the political struggle was not worth Wei Guangde's time.

As long as Zhang Juzheng does not fall, Yan Ne will have no chance to return to the capital.

But thinking about what Zhang Juzheng was like at that time, and looking at Yan Ne's age, there is a high probability that he will not be able to wait for that day.

However, on the afternoon of Yan Ne's departure from Beijing, Wei Guangde received another note from the servant of Prince Yu's palace.

There are only two words on the note, "Shangji".

After getting a note from Prince Yu's Mansion, indicating that Emperor Jiajing's condition seemed serious this time, Wei Guangde packed up the books on his desk and hurried to Prince Yu's Mansion without getting the official office.

At this time, there is no faster place to receive news from the palace than here.

In fact, since the death of King Jing, the eunuchs around Emperor Jiajing have used various methods to show their favor to Prince Yu's palace, and their intentions are clear at a glance.

Therefore, no matter what Emperor Jiajing was thinking, he could no longer control his men's thoughts of entering the camp.

However, neither Zhu Xizhong of the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion nor Zhu Xixiao, who was in charge of the Imperial Guards, had any intimate behavior with Prince Yu's Mansion, nor did they have any secret communication.

"How is your Majesty's health?"

Wei Guangde's thoughts at this time were extremely complicated. He not only hoped that King Yu would come to power as soon as possible, but he also hoped that Emperor Jiajing could live a few more days. Year after year, he might be able to give himself a little more money every year like he did when he first entered the officialdom. class.

He didn't expect Gao Gong to promote him, so he focused on Chen Yiqin. If there was another one, it would naturally be Emperor Jiajing.

No one worked hard to proofread the book, so the purpose was to show it to Emperor Jiajing.

Although he can't write brilliant Qingci, Wei Guangde is diligent and conscientious in doing what the emperor wants to do.

"His Majesty suddenly fainted while sitting in meditation in the afternoon. Xu Wei from Tai Hospital has been summoned to the palace for diagnosis and treatment."

Yin Shizhen next to him answered.

"Has Your Majesty woke up?"

When Wei Guangde heard that Emperor Jiajing had fainted, he naturally wondered whether he could wake up.

Emperor Jiajing's body was, in doctors' terms, erysipelas, which was difficult to cure with ordinary medicines and stones.

Before Yin Shizhen could speak, King Yu had already gently shook his head.

Today's King Yu looks very dull. From the moment Wei Guangde entered the room, his face was expressionless.

At this moment, there were footsteps outside the door from far to near. Wei Guangde thought it was Zhang Juzheng coming, but unexpectedly he saw Li Fang walking quickly.

Looking back, the person who came was just a chamberlain. He handed Li Fang a note and left quickly.

Li Fang didn't look at it and sent it directly to King Yu.

King Yu opened it and took a look and said, "Mr. Xu Ge and Mr. Li Ge went to Wuyi Hall."

"Your Majesty is awake?"

Wei Guangde asked immediately.

"I don't know, it's not on the note."

King Yu replied, and then handed the note to Li Fang, who then showed it to Yin Shizhen and Wei Guangde.

Sure enough, there were imperial guards who led Xu Jie and Li Chunfang into Xiyuan, and also took away memorials and other items left behind by the cabinet.

"Nothing, Your Majesty has already made arrangements."

Seeing that it was the Royal Horse Supervisor who was sent out this time, Wei Guangde knew that Emperor Jiajing should have made arrangements to prevent this situation. When he was unable to serve as director, he temporarily used the cabinet to continue running the court without stagnating. .

The role of the royal charioteer is actually to control the cabinet ministers to prevent anyone from having inappropriate thoughts.

Although Wei Guangde said this, the atmosphere in the room was not lively at all, and everyone was very dull.

Everyone knew that as long as Emperor Jiajing didn't wake up or there were no eunuchs from the palace coming to Prince Yu's Mansion, everything would be full of variables.

"Shandai, do you think that this time when Mr. Yan Ge returns to his hometown to recuperate, will my father increase the number of people in the cabinet?"

At this time, King Yu suddenly asked.

Wei Guangde noticed that after King Yu asked this question, both Yin Shizhen and Li Fang looked at him.

After Yan Na left, Wei Guangde had never thought about whether Emperor Jiajing would add more people to the cabinet.

I think when Yan Song left, Xu Jie and Yuan Wei had been in charge of the cabinet for a long time.

If it weren't for the thought that Yuan Wei was ill and unable to govern, Yan Ne and Li Chunfang would have continued to wait and would not have been able to join the cabinet at all.

In response to King Yu's question, Wei Guangde lowered his head and thought for a while before speaking: "This time there is a gap between Mr. Xu Ge and Mr. Yan Ge. With Li Ge's character, I think your Majesty will add more people to the cabinet, and he should Not one."

Xu Jie is now the undisputed boss in the cabinet, not only because of his high status and being the first assistant, but also because he has been working hard in the cabinet for many years and has already become a climate.

At this time, the newcomer's entry into the cabinet would have little impact on him, or in other words, disperse Xu Jie's authority.

Thinking about Yan Ne and Li Chunfang entering the cabinet, Emperor Jiajing's plan at that time should be to use Yan Ne to fight Xu Jie and use Li Chunfang to mediate the conflicts among the cabinet ministers.

Now that Yan Na is defeated, Emperor Jiajing will most likely increase his manpower, and may arrange for two more people to join the cabinet, bringing the number of cabinet ministers to four, which will take away at least half of Xu Jie's power.

"Guo Pu, Gao Gong?"

Yin Shizhen said in surprise.

Guo Pu is the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Gao Gong is the Minister of the Ministry of Rites. All the conditions have met the requirements for joining the cabinet.

"Master Guo should be the candidate for cabinet ministers that His Majesty has long decided, but Brother Su Qing may not be the case. He still lacks experience in the civil service department."

In response to Yin Shizhen's interruption, Wei Guangde just said leisurely, "Your Majesty should limit the power of Mr. Xu Ge. Lord Shan Guo is afraid that he is not strong enough to fight him, so although Brother Su Qing is almost experienced, Your Majesty will still bring him into the cabinet." Go and help Mr. Guo fight against Mr. Xu Ge."

"Why did Master Gao help Guo Shangshu?"

King Yu frowned and asked.

"They are fellow villagers from Henan."

Wei Guangde answered simply and simply, this answer alone is enough.

After leaving the yamen, both Chen Yiqin and Zhang Juzheng came to Prince Yu's Mansion, but Gao Gong did not come to avoid suspicion.

"Master Gao said before I came that he was going to Xiyuan to check the situation."

Although Prince Yu's Mansion now has people in the palace, these people were actually on the fence before, so Prince Yu is naturally worried.

And the people he was relieved about had not yet reached that level and could stay in the palace during this critical moment and know the emperor's physical condition at any time.

Although Gao Gong has not officially received the decree from Emperor Jiajing to be summoned to Zhilu, according to convention, the Minister of Rites must be admitted to Zhilu.

This may be the reason why Gong was originally promoted to be the Minister of Rites instead of making up for his lack of qualifications to serve as the Ministry of Officials.

Of course, this is Wei Guangde's guess.

It's just that I don't know whether Emperor Jiajing forgot about this or why. Gao Gong never received the order from Zhizhi after he was promoted to Minister of Rites.

Thinking so, Wei Guangde didn't know if Gao Gong or anyone else had the same idea, but he wouldn't say it anyway.

In fact, just as he thought, Emperor Jiajing did have this plan.

He knows his body well, so he has to leave a backup plan.

However, he never realized that his body could not hold on for long. Although he was prepared, he was still hesitant.

This is especially true when he has not yet determined that his end is approaching.

After being the emperor for decades, he could not bear the consequences of losing power.

Handing over power will have to wait until the day when he is completely incapacitated.

Dinner, of course, is at Prince Yu’s Mansion.

In the middle of Haishi, news finally came from the palace. Half an hour ago, Emperor Jiajing finally woke up.

Your Majesty is fine, so Wei Guangde and others naturally bid farewell to King Yu.

This point is equivalent to around ten o'clock in the evening in later generations, which is already very late.

It would be fine if Emperor Jiajing just didn't wake up. If it were really pursued, it would be troublesome to explain that so many people gathered in Prince Yu's mansion at this time.

The next day, Xu Jie and Li Chunfang moved back to the cabinet for business, which also showed that Emperor Jiajing was in good health.

"Your Majesty should be angry."

In the study room of Wei Guangde's home, Chen Ju, who had not been here for a long time, suddenly came to the door again and said when Wei Guangde asked about yesterday's events.

"Angry? Who?"

Wei Guangde wondered.

"Cum Sheng."

Chen Ju named a person, but Wei Guangde naturally didn't recognize it.

"He was in charge of the supply warehouse. Two days ago, he reported that there was a fire in the supply warehouse, and more than 188,000 kilograms of incense were burnt. Mr. Huang sent He Jin, the young eunuch of the ceremonial supervisor, to check, and it was found that the keeper committed theft."

Chen Ju continued, "I set off a small fire and burned so many spices. I'm really crazy about money."

Chen Ju was a decent man, so he naturally looked down on these frivolous things, so he sounded very disdainful.

"How did the palace handle it?"

Wei Guangde asked curiously.

"Issuing the imperial edict, Ji Sheng and his associates Lu Tianbao, Chaoyong and others were imprisoned, and some of them were handed over to Zhang Yue and Yushi Dong Yao who were involved in the incident to strictly check the actual number."

Chen Ju replied, "Actually, in the past, there was less warehousing or stealing of spices. I guess this time the number is too big to handle, so I falsely reported a fire and wanted to settle the account."

"How is your Majesty's health?"

This matter did not spread to the outside world. It must be that the palace blocked the news. After all, it would not sound good if it spread.

As for chasing stolen goods, Wei Guangde is not worried.

How can a eunuch resell more than 100,000 kilograms of spices? The merchants who cooperated with him this time must be in bad luck. Those who participated must have been eaten up, and even those who did not participate will probably be scraped off. A layer of skin.

There is no other reason, just because you and Ji Sheng are close and are old merchants.

In fact, these businessmen who cooperate with the inner treasury have more or less privacy, and they can only admit that they are unlucky if the ship capsizes.

When Chen Ju heard Wei Guangde's question, he did not answer immediately. Instead, he stood up and walked to the door. He opened the door and looked around before returning to the house. He lowered his voice and said to Wei Guangde: "There shouldn't be any serious problems in one or two years. The main thing is to pay attention to his recovery." If you don’t get angry, you won’t be like yesterday.”

"After His Majesty fainted, was it Eunuch Huang who made the decision in the palace?"

Wei Guangde asked again.

"Yes, Eunuch Huang directly summoned the Royal Horse Supervisor to pick up Mr. Xu Ge and the others, and also dispatched Jin Yiwei to ambush each gate in Xiyuan."

When Chen Ju said this, he suddenly approached Wei Guangde and whispered: "Actually, at that time, I was detained in Yongshou Palace. I stayed in the room all the time. I was not allowed to go anywhere."

"Why? Eunuch Huang doubts you?"

Wei Guangde asked in surprise.

"It's hard to say. Maybe they are asking me to go to Prince Yu's Mansion to deliver a message. After all, His Majesty's affairs have nothing to do with me."

Having said this, Chen Ju chuckled again and said: "I came here today because I haven't visited my brother for a long time."

Now Prince Yu is the backbone of everyone. If my guess is correct, in a situation like yesterday, Eunuch Huang would probably send me to Prince Yu's Mansion to welcome Prince Yu into the palace. ’

After saying this, Chen Ju rolled his eyes again and continued: "I may also be asked to mobilize the capital camp to enter the city. After all, those who were left in the house by Eunuch Huang at that time were all like me who stayed in the Yongshou Palace for a long time. old man."

Last time something happened, Chen Ju was assigned to go to the capital camp, so this time he was not sure what he would be sent by Eunuch Huang.

Welcoming King Yu into the palace was naturally something that all the eunuchs were scrambling to do.

But at least nothing happened, it was just a false alarm.

"hehe."

Wei Guangde just smiled when he heard this. He knew that it seemed that the relationship between him and Chen Ju had changed. In the past, he respected Chen Ju. Even though Gao Zhong was gone, he still had Gao Zhong's group of old buddies.

But now, the two of them are relatively equal and each has his or her own desires.

"Also, I have some news here. Shandai will definitely be interested."

At this time, Chen Ju suddenly said.

"Um?"

Wei Guangde was suspicious and looked at Chen Ju in confusion.

"Hu Zongxian may rise again."