My father is Jiajing

The news that Xu Jie had defeated Chen Hong in the cabinet spread like wildfire, and by the next day, it was known throughout the city.

When Zhu Zaigui heard the news, he couldn't help but shake his head and smile bitterly, lamenting that Chen Hong didn't have the ability to play in high-end games, but always liked to get involved in high-end games.

Xu Jie looked soft and weak, like a weak person who could be bullied.

But not everyone can bully this.

Obviously Chen Hong did not realize this. He thought that he could take advantage of the Emperor Jiajing's order to bully others.

In fact, this was his misjudgment of himself and Xu Jie.

You have to know that no matter how little Xu Jie was regarded, he was still a leader of the Qingliu, the chief minister of the cabinet, and the teacher of Zhang Juzheng and other students and former officials.

Emperor Jiajing could be cunning and treacherous with such a person, Zhu Zaigui could also say something bad about him, and when Yan Song was the Prime Minister, Yan Shifan could scold him without giving him any face.

But this does not mean that a servant like Chen Hong can ignore Xu Jie like these people.

Zhu Zaigui looked at Huang Jin, who was also standing in the Wenhua Hall, with a smile still on his face.

"Chen Hong was impulsive."

What Zhu Zaigui said was very interesting. It seemed that he was criticizing Chen Hong, but it also seemed that he was talking about Xu Jie's problems.

Huang Jin sighed awkwardly, "Your Highness is right. It is my fault that I did not discipline him well. I am sorry to have embarrassed you."

Zhu Zaigui laughed and said, "Why am I laughing? This is just human nature. Chen Hong is eager to show off in front of Your Majesty, which shows that he is an enterprising person. Such people are generally more loyal. I am relieved to have him help Your Majesty keep an eye on the progress of the Wanshou Palace."

Huang Jin also nodded in agreement, "Your Highness is right. Chen Hong is very concerned about this matter, but the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue are not very cooperative, so I thought of coming to find Your Highness to see if I can help him."

Huang Jin's words were very tactful. In fact, he came to Zhu Zaigui to speak for Chen Hong, but not for Chen Hong.

It was for the sake of Emperor Jiajing. He was worried that the progress of the Wanshou Palace project would affect Emperor Jiajing's physical recuperation.

Therefore, Huang Jin had to make an exception and take the initiative to find Zhu Zaigui, hoping that Zhu Zaigui would speak to the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue to speed up the progress of the Wanshou Palace and not let Emperor Jiajing worry about this matter.

Zhu Zaigui couldn't help but sigh in his heart when he saw Huang Jin like this. Although he didn't know how the Jiajing Emperor was doing, he knew that this year was the 44th year of the Jiajing Emperor, and there were only a few months left until the 45th year of the Jiajing Emperor.

Therefore, even if Zhu Zaigui was not clear about the current health condition of Emperor Jiajing, through the fact that Emperor Jiajing used Chen Hong to speed up the progress of Wanshou Palace, Zhu Zaigui understood that Emperor Jiajing might not have much time left.

Otherwise, why would he not think of it earlier or later, but suddenly mention the matter of Wanshou Palace at this time?

It can be seen that Emperor Jiajing really felt that he didn't have much time left. He didn't want to have any regrets, or he didn't want to spend the last stage of his life in the cramped and small palace of Yuxi Palace.

Zhu Zaigui said: "I will take care of this matter. There is another thing I would like to ask you for help, too."

Huang Jin bowed slightly and bowed to Zhu Zaigui again, saying, "I dare not. Your Majesty, please speak."

Zhu Zaigui looked at Huang Jin, hesitating for a while, and finally said: "I hope that you can find a reason or excuse to go to your majesty's Jiran to supervise the construction for a while, and don't stay in the vortex of the capital."

"Chen Hong is destined to be the last knife in His Majesty's hand, and if this knife is to exert its greatest power, the eunuch must give up his position. Otherwise, when His Majesty uses Chen Hong, he will never be able to truly use him with ease."

Huang Jin's heart trembled when he heard Zhu Zaigui's words.

Originally he thought he had disguised himself well enough and no one would be able to see the problem.

Unexpectedly, after a meeting today, Zhu Zaigui saw clearly what he was hiding.

Huang Jin was surprised and said, "It's Li."

Zhu Zaigui stretched out his hand to suppress it, and then continued, "It's not him. I guessed it myself. Your Majesty and I have been father and son for more than 30 years. Although we cannot meet, our hearts are always connected. Your Majesty's joys and sorrows are my joys and sorrows."

"Now that His Majesty wants to move to a bigger house, I, as a minister and a son, must show my filial piety. But the current court situation and people's hearts seem to be more available than when Yan Song was in power."

"But in fact, these are just appearances. Many people, whether out of instinct or for their own interests, want to limit and restrict your Majesty's power."

"I thought that this would bring peace to the world and realize the ideal political structure where the emperor ruled with ease and the scholars worked hard in the court. But people always want more."

"Moreover, the greed and desire of human hearts will never be filled. Take Xu Jie, the current leader of the literati, for example. He is morally perfect and has endured humiliation for decades."

"But then again, is his morality really perfect? ​​He endured humiliation for decades, but whose humiliation was he enduring? Whose burden was he bearing? Aren't all these comparisons attributed to Yan Song and his son Yan Shifan?"

"So, the people in the court right now are not as peaceful as they appear on the surface. Once your Majesty is in danger, these people will unite in an instant and blame all the problems on your Majesty, either explicitly or implicitly."

"If you are still by His Majesty's side at that time, can you be worthy of the responsibility of being the sharp knife in His Majesty's hand?"

After Zhu Zaigui finished speaking, Huang Jin was in a daze for a long time.

He really hadn't thought about these questions.

Huang Jin couldn't believe it and asked again: "Is it really like this? Are they really that bold?"

Zhu Zaigui said calmly: "It will only get worse. By then, even if I am alone in this turbulent tide of public sentiment, it will be almost impossible for me to remain unscathed."

"Moreover, I can't just stay out of it, because in the eyes of these people, I am their shield. I can help them shield themselves from the wrath of His Majesty."

"But, I have made this matter clear today. Anyone who dares to plot against me at this time and seek to gain a reputation for being upright will be punished by me one day!"

"Today I have said so much to you, but I actually have no other intention. I just want you to tell His Majesty that I will always be His Majesty's son and I will always treat His Majesty as my dearest."

Huang Jin couldn't help but shed tears. "I understand. I will report the prince's words to His Majesty verbatim."

Zhu Zaiqi sighed, "Thank you for your hard work, father-in-law."

Then Zhu Zaigui watched Huang Jin leave Wenhua Hall.

Looking at Huang Jin's disappearing back, Zhu Zaigui also let out a breath.

He didn't want this to happen in the first place, but Chen Hong's incident happened too suddenly.

Anyone who is smart enough and willing to calm down and think carefully about the key points of this matter can almost guess a shocking truth.

This stage is usually the most politically sensitive stage, and Zhu Zaigui had not met Emperor Jiajing for decades. He really didn't dare to bet on what Emperor Jiajing would come up with in this state.

Therefore, Zhu Zaigui simply took the opportunity when Huang Jin came to Wenhua Hall to find him to make all these things clear so that Emperor Jiajing could understand his thoughts directly and clearly.

In this way, Zhu Zaigui could ensure to the greatest extent possible the peaceful transfer of power during this politically extremely sensitive period, while also ensuring the dignity of Emperor Jiajing to the greatest extent possible.

Finally, he could fight for an opportunity to use the "last will" to clear up the accumulated problems he had always wanted to solve, and use the last will that Emperor Jiajing would issue after his death to first determine a rough political framework. When he began to govern in an all-round way, if he encountered some difficult-to-solve political resistance, he could use this "last will" as a legal basis to do things.

After all, filial piety is a very important word.

It can be used by others to oppress themselves, and it can also be used by Zhu Zaigui to oppress others.

So, in the end, what matters is who can seize this key initiative.

In Yuxi Palace.

At this moment, the lights in Yuxi Palace were swaying, and the hanging gauze curtains were gently blown up by the night wind outside.

Huang Jin walked into the abode quickly and saw that the doors and windows were open everywhere. He couldn't help but asked anxiously, "What are you doing? It's windy and you don't even know to close the doors and windows?"

Huang Jin hurriedly closed the doors and windows nearest to him, while scolding the palace servants who were serving outside.

After seeing Huang Jin's actions, the palace servants stood there at a loss as to what to do, because these doors and windows were the ones that Emperor Jiajing had just ordered them to open.

After Huang Jin closed a door and window, he saw that they didn't move, and he couldn't help but get angry again, "What? Do you all want to die?"

At this moment, the palace servants shuddered as if awakened from their dreams, and hurried to close the doors and windows.

But just as these people were moving, Emperor Jiajing, who was sitting in meditation in the center of the temple, opened his eyes and said, "Everyone, leave."

When Huang Jin heard the voice of Emperor Jiajing, he hurried over and said, "Emperor, I have a cold."

Huang Jin's voice sounded almost like a plea of ​​concern. He didn't want Emperor Jiajing to catch any more cold from outside at this time.

"I think this is good, refreshing."

Emperor Jiajing looked at Huang Jin again and asked, "Where have you been?"

Huang Jin replied: "I went to Prince Yu's place."

Emperor Jiajing was not surprised to hear this answer.

During this period, Huang Jin's frequency of traveling in and out of the palace was indeed quite frequent, but Emperor Jiajing did not care about it.

What Emperor Jiajing really cared about was whether Huang Jin was still as loyal as before.

Huang Jin raised his head slightly and looked at Emperor Jiajing. He hesitated for a moment, but finally bowed and said, "Your Highness said something to me."

Emperor Jiajing hummed calmly, "What did you say?"

Huang Jin didn't dare to hide it, but he didn't dare to tell it word for word either.

After all, the current Emperor Jiajing is indeed much more sensitive than before. If a word is said incorrectly, it may really arouse his suspicion and misunderstanding.

Therefore, when Huang Jin responded, he also chose his words carefully.

"The prince has guessed it."

Huang Jin said these words softly. Although he spoke them very softly, they sounded like a thunderclap in the ears of Emperor Jiajing.

Emperor Jiajing's eyes suddenly narrowed, and a fascinating gleam suddenly flashed, "What else did he say?"

Huang Jin continued to reply with a trembling heart: "The prince also said that Chen Hong is the sharp knife in the hands of the emperor. He can help the emperor solve the most difficult problems at the moment and deal with people who are difficult to deal with."

After hearing this, Emperor Jiajing showed no emotion on his face, as if he agreed with it.

"Anything else to say?"

Emperor Jiajing's question sounded again faintly, and still no emotion could be heard.

Huang Jin continued, "The prince said that I am now blocking Chen Hong's position and suggested that I go to the imperial mausoleum to supervise the progress of the construction of Jirang for the emperor."

After hearing this, Emperor Jiajing's expression finally changed, and he looked at Huang Jin with a complicated expression.

He did have this idea these past two days. He wanted to send Huang Jin away and give Chen Hong the opportunity to take over, making Chen Hong the sharp knife in his hand.

But he couldn't make up his mind.

Because deep down in his heart, he didn't want Huang Jin to leave him. After all, Huang Jin was now the only person around him with whom he could talk to.

After being silent for a long time, Emperor Jiajing finally couldn't help but ask, "Do you want to go?"

Huang Jin raised his head and looked at Emperor Jiajing, his eyes full of sincere affection and concern.

Huang Jin's eyes were red as she choked up and said, "As long as the Emperor needs me, I will do anything."

When Emperor Jiajing saw Huang Jin like this, the softest part of his heart was touched.

"Then you should go."

Emperor Jiajing finally made up his mind and asked Huang Jin to go to the imperial mausoleum to help him supervise the progress of Jirang.

Because he also understood that this result was the best now.

Otherwise, when he really loses control of everything, Huang Jin may be the first victim around him. At that time, even if Zhu Zaigui wants to protect him, he may not be able to keep him safe in the end.

Therefore, Emperor Jiajing still wanted to give Huang Jin a peaceful ending.

Huang Jin kowtowed heavily, and he cried and said, "If I go, what will the emperor do?"

Emperor Jiajing chuckled and said, "I can take care of myself. You just need to help me find a good auspicious land. After I become an immortal, my mortal body will still be buried there, so it can be said that this place will also be my future home. Since it is my home, I must entrust it to the person I trust most to take care of it."

Huang Jin whimpered, "That's not what I meant. I wanted to talk about Doctor Li's medicine."

Emperor Jiajing hesitated for a while, "Forget it, I won't take it. I'm finally going to become an immortal, and I can't let his medicine affect my immortality. San'er, tell me everything else you want to say. You just stay here with me tonight, and you don't have to go anywhere. I haven't talked with you all night for a long time."

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