My father is Jiajing

Chapter 563: Who is this son of a bitch?
The lights in the Wenhua Hall flickered. Zhu Zaigui sat in his seat, as if what was happening now was none of his business. He just waited leisurely.

The other cabinet members and the six ministers who came in with Xu Jie could not help but look at Xu Jie curiously. They were also wondering what kind of congratulatory message could make Lord Xu speechless after reading it, as if he was under a spell.

But even so, no one present was in a hurry. They were all waiting quietly.

After a while, Zhu Zaigui picked up an iron stick in front of him out of boredom and slightly adjusted the wick in the glass lamp next to him to make the light look a little brighter.

At this time, Zhu Zaiqi finally spoke again, "Does Lord Xu understand?"

After Xu Jie heard Zhu Zaigui's words, beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on his forehead involuntarily as if a faucet had been turned on.

Xu Jie knelt on the ground in fear, "Your Majesty, please understand! I have absolutely no such intention!"

Zhu Zaigui chuckled and looked at Xu Jie who suddenly knelt on the ground.

At the same time, the others were also frightened by Xu Jie's actions, and they watched this scene in fear.

Although they didn't know what Xu Jie saw, they all saw his current reaction.

Zhu Zaigui continued, "What's wrong with Lord Xu? Please stand up quickly. Otherwise, if this gets out, people will think that I don't know how to respect my senior officials and want to bully others with my power."

Xu Jie quickly got up again, "I definitely don't mean that!"

Zhu Zaigui looked at Xu Jie who was explaining nervously, and a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes. Seeing Xu Jie's reaction and actions, Zhu Zaigui couldn't help but hesitate.

Originally, Zhu Zaigui thought that Xu Jie was behind Li Ran, so he thought that if that was the case, he would directly summon him to his side in an overt way and force him to speak out, so as to come to a qualitative conclusion on the matter.

As a result, judging from Xu Jie's current reaction, Zhu Zaigui couldn't help but wonder if he was overthinking it?
But when he thought about how Xu Jie had been able to pretend to be a grandson and endure in front of Emperor Jiajing and Yan Song for so many years, Zhu Zaigui's heart hardened. At this time, he could not easily trust anyone!

Therefore, Zhu Zaigui said calmly: "I naturally understand what the elder is thinking. Since the elder cannot help me solve my doubts, then please pass the congratulatory letter in your hand to other senior ministers and ministers."

When Xu Jie heard this, a look of disbelief and astonishment appeared in his eyes.

He also never expected that Prince Yu would dare to so calmly show such a rebellious "congratulatory letter" to so many people. Isn't he afraid that the matter will no longer be kept confidential because too many people see it?
What made Xu Jie even more nervous was Zhu Zaigui's attitude towards this matter. He seemed to not care about it at all and even thought it was a fun thing.

Even Emperor Jiajing and former Prime Minister Yan Song, whom Xu Jie had served attentively for decades, had never experienced such a character and cunning.

But in front of this prince who was less than 30 years old, Xu Jie finally felt for the first time what it meant to be unfathomable and what it meant to be calm and composed!
At this time, Xu Jie felt in his heart that what Li Ran wrote seemed like a knife, seemingly able to stir up the world, but in fact it had been suppressed invisibly by Zhu Zaigui's attitude.

Thinking of this, Xu Jie felt a chill all over his body, because he could foresee that in the future there would definitely be a super purge that would be no less than the Hongwu case!

Once the cleansing has begun.
Xu Jie didn't dare to think about it anymore.

Li Chunfang and others on the side had been waiting impatiently, but Xu Jie seemed to have no reaction.

Therefore, Li Chunfang, the deputy minister, could not help but urge, "Sir, send a congratulatory letter."

Xu Jie suddenly woke up from his dream. The congratulatory letter in his hand seemed to be filled with lead. He handed it to Li Chunfang with trembling hands.

Li Chunfang took the congratulatory letter, but did not read it alone. Instead, he brought two cabinet members, Yuan Wei and Yan Ne, together, and the three of them read it under the light of a glass lamp.

After the three of them put their heads together, Li Chunfang unfolded the congratulatory letter in his hand.

The moment Li Chunfang unfolded the congratulatory letter, the words on it suddenly caught the eyes of all of them.

As court officials for many years, and as top figures who had once competed against thousands of others to become Jinshi, their ability to read things can be said to be that they are geniuses who can read ten lines at a glance and have a photographic memory.

But at this moment, they all wished they could poke their eyes out!

Oh shit!

What is this? !
Is this something we can watch?!
For a moment, Li Chunfang, Yuan Wei, Yan Ne and the others reacted the same way as Xu Jie. They all stood there in a daze, as if they were under a spell. Fear and panic emanated from them, which also infected the six ministers who had not yet seen the congratulatory message.

The six ministers of the six ministries also became curious and they also wanted to take a look.

However, due to their status and rules, they could only wait patiently for Li Chunfang and others to react, like Li Chunfang and others just did, or wait for Zhu Zaigui to urge them again before they could look.

Otherwise, what would it mean if these people ignored the authority of the cabinet and forced themselves to squeeze together with the cabinet ministers?

After all, when one reaches their level, unless they have special support, they must behave themselves. One thing is one thing at a time, and they must not overstep the boundaries.

Otherwise, how can they set an example and lead the officials under their respective departments and all the officials in the country?

Therefore, at their level, some unwritten rules are sometimes more important than written rules.

Just like the unspoken rule that “only Hanlin scholars can enter the cabinet.”

When all scholars tacitly allow such rules to exist, even when the emperor is selecting cabinet ministers, he has to consider the consequences of breaking this unspoken rule.
After all, isn't it for fame and fortune that everyone works hard to pass the imperial examinations?

If even the benefit of "fame" is gone, who will still regard studying, passing the imperial examinations and entering the Hanlin Academy as the highest pursuit for scholars?

If scholars all over the world do not regard studying, passing the imperial examinations and entering the Hanlin Academy as the highest pursuit of their life, then what means and fame and fortune should the emperor, as a ruler, use to win over the scholars all over the world and use them for his own benefit?
Therefore, the importance of rules is self-evident.

It is like the foundation of a pyramid and is indispensable!

Zhu Zaigui certainly knew that such rules were not good, and could easily block the advancement of some talented people.

However, in today's political system, the weight of such rules is too heavy and cannot be easily changed by his appointment.

If he ignored the current unspoken rule that "only Hanlin scholars can enter the cabinet" and forcibly absorbed a talented person into the cabinet, it would undoubtedly be a stab in the back to the scholars of the world.

Therefore, if Zhu Zaigui wanted to break the unspoken rule that "only Hanlin scholars can enter the cabinet", he must have a reasonable and convincing reason, as well as the support or acquiescence of some important people.

Otherwise, if Zhu Zaigui wanted to employ some non-Hanlin talents that he favored, he could only learn the political tactics of the later Qing Dynasty and set up a Grand Council apart from the Cabinet.

However, in order to establish such an organization, there must be sufficient reasons and opportunities.

Otherwise, it would cause a strong reaction from all officials, leading to failure.

Therefore, any political reform and handling of practical problems is not as simple as imagined, and it is not something that can be accomplished by just giving an order.

If it were really that simple, there wouldn't be so many complicated and difficult-to-solve problems in the world.

All reformers no longer have to risk ruining their reputations and destroying their families to reform. This shows that some rules that have formed a consensus of interests are really not easy to shake.

If you want to move them, you must have the determination and perseverance to sacrifice your life.

Otherwise, you might as well go to bed early.

Of course, it was too late for Zhu Zaigui to just go to bed.

Because someone has already fired at him, if he remains silent and cowardly, one can imagine how dire the consequences will be.

Therefore, at this time, Zhu Zaigui had to grit his teeth, withstand all the pressure and misunderstanding, and push forward what he was going to do with a strong attitude and method.

Otherwise, the best outcome that awaits him is the end of Emperor Shenzong of Song, and the worst outcome is the tragic end of Wang Mang!
But obviously without the last step, Zhu Zaigui would never believe that he was Wang Mang.

At this time, Zhu Zaigui also glanced at Li Chunfang and others out of the corner of his eye.

"Mr. Li, Mr. Yuan, Mr. Yan, what do you think? Can you help me solve my doubts?"

Zhu Zaigui's voice suddenly rang out, scaring Li Chunfang, Yuan Wei, and Yan Ne.

Especially Yuan Wei, he is not in good health and has been planning to resign recently.

So he was frightened and almost fell to the ground. If Li Chunfang beside him had not been quick-witted, he might have fallen on the spot.

Li Chunfang looked up at Zhu Zaigui in disbelief. When he saw Zhu Zaigui's calm expression, he seemed to understand Xu Jie's fear and embarrassment in an instant.

This is really scary!

Li Chunfang, Yuan Wei and Yan Ne all bowed to Zhu Zaigui, "We are terribly terrified. We have absolutely no such intention! Please understand, Your Majesty!"

Zhu Zaigui chuckled, then sighed and said, "Is this congratulatory letter really so difficult for me to interpret?"

Xu Jie, Li Chunfang, Yuan Wei, Yan Ne and the other four didn't know what to say anymore. They could only lower their heads and dare not speak.

Zhu Zaigui's gaze passed over the four of them and looked at the six ministers, and at Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng and others who came with them.

"You guys should take a look too."

At this time, the six ministers, who had been impatient for a long time, finally waited for Zhu Zaigui to say this. Their curiosity had already been aroused by the performance of Xu Jie and others.

Even if this congratulatory letter was written in heavenly books, they would have to take a look at it with their own eyes, otherwise they would not be able to sleep well tonight.

Gao Gong, who was already the Minister of Rites, naturally squeezed to the front and took the congratulatory letter from Li Chunfang.

Being an impatient person, he did not wait for others to come over and take a look like Li Chunfang did, but instead took a look first without waiting.

His actions were no stranger to the other six ministers.

After all, Gao Gong's personality is well-known, and he is also the earliest teacher to follow Prince Yu, and he is one of the super veterans.

Moreover, these people all clearly understood the arrangement for Gao Gong to be promoted to the Minister of Rites. They knew that this was a promotion arrangement to pave the way for Gao Gong to enter the cabinet.

Therefore, these ministers naturally would not think that Gao Gong looked down on them by doing this.

After all, Gao Gong really has someone to rely on and a powerful person.

It is understandable and acceptable for such people to ignore some rules.

Unexpectedly, just as everyone was waiting silently, Gao Gong suddenly shouted loudly, his eyes wide open with anger, like a King Kong.

"Which son of a bitch wrote this?! He is slandering! He is plotting a rebellion!!"

Gao Gong's voice was heard all at once, and it felt like the tiles on the Wenhua Hall were shaking three times at this moment!
The other six ministers who were waiting to see the congratulatory message were also shocked when they saw Gao Gong's reaction!
What's going on here?
Gao Gong didn't care about anyone's gaze at this moment. He looked at Zhu Zaigui with great excitement.

"Your Majesty, this man has spread such evil words to confuse the people, and even said something that would alienate the father-son relationship between you and Your Majesty. This is treason! I beg Your Majesty to immediately order the officials to arrest this beast and set the record straight!"

After saying this, Gao Gong knelt heavily on the ground and looked at Zhu Zaigui with fiery eyes. It was obvious that he was extremely angry.

He is different from Xu Jie and others. He is Zhu Zaigui's closest teacher, and he has no son in his life. In his eyes, Zhu Zaigui is not only his disciple, but also his all hope!
Now that some people are attacking and slandering his hopes, it is no different from digging up his ancestral grave.

It is destined to be a fight to the death.

Therefore, he had no intention of suppressing his emotions and directly expressed the most primitive anger and hatred in his heart.

Zhu Zaigui was actually quite moved when he saw Gao Gong who was so furious.

You should know that before Gao Gong, five people including Hai Rui, Xu Jie, Li Chunfang, Yuan Wei and Yan Ne had already seen this congratulatory letter.

In addition to Hai Rui who also showed anger and hatred, Xu Jie and others were extremely terrified, as if they were afraid that this matter would involve them.

Therefore, Zhu Zaigui could naturally feel the closeness or distance between them and them from their reactions.

Zhu Zaigui slightly pressed his hands, "Mr. Gao, calm down. What should we do about this matter? I can't just listen to your opinion. Elder Xu and the others haven't expressed their opinions yet."

Zhu Zaigui looked at Xu Jie and others beside him with a gloomy gaze. They were shocked by Zhu Zaigui's look, and were obviously frightened by his words.

At the same time, the other ministers of the six ministries who had not yet seen the content of the congratulatory message were even more at a loss and had no idea what was going on.

The only thing they were sure of now was that the content of this congratulatory letter was definitely extremely treasonous. As for the extent of its treasonous nature, they could not imagine it.

So, at this time, even though Xu Jie and others were as calm as a cicada, and Gao Gong was as furious as a fire, they were still extremely curious and wanted to see with their own eyes what kind of congratulatory message it was that could have such great power.

You know, after midnight tonight, it will be the auspicious day for His Majesty the Emperor to move into the new palace!

Such an exciting thing happened at this critical juncture. As important officials of the court, no matter they were there to watch the fun or were concerned about the reality, they would not want to be kept in the dark about the secret before their eyes, and to realize it too late, thus finding themselves at a loss when the storm comes.

Therefore, the Minister of Personnel and others who ranked after the Ministry of Rites also bowed at this moment, as if to say, "Your Highness, we haven't seen it yet?"

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Asking for a monthly ticket!
(End of this chapter)