Ming Jiajing: Starting from Immortality

Chapter 245: The immortal touches your head and you will live forever!
In a blink of an eye, it is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month again.

Since moving to Xiyuan, Zhu Houcong would seclude himself in meditation from the first to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month every year.

After killing Zhou Yunyi, the director of the Imperial Observatory, in the 40th year of the reign of Emperor Jiajing, he secluded himself for half a month from the first to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, "praying" for the heavy snow.

This year, apart from the Luotian Grand Ceremony on the first day of the Lunar New Year, he started his retreat on the second day. It is time for him to come out at the time of Shen today.

After a period of meditation, Zhu Houcong felt that his lost energy was restored, and he made another step forward on the path to Huangdi's ascension.

With a "dang" sound, the bronze chime rang!

Lu Fang, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department who was on duty at Yuxi Palace today, slowly exhaled the breath he had taken in, and said in a loud voice: "Your servant respectfully wishes His Majesty long live His Majesty!"

After wishing, he gently pushed open the door and walked out.

Lu Fang has been serving for so many years, warming hands, cleaning face, taking off socks and washing feet, it has almost become an instinct for him.

However, as he was getting older, Lu Fang's breathing became heavier unconsciously as he ran back and forth.

Zhu Houcong soaked his feet in hot water and said, "It's hard for you to follow me for so many years."

"Your servant..." Lu Fang knelt down after hearing this. She choked up after saying just two words. It took her a long time to swallow her tears. "It's not hard for me to serve Your Majesty for more than forty years... I am satisfied..."

"You can always guess so many meanings in one sentence. I don't want to drive you away. Why are you acting like this?" Zhu Houcong also had a tender side and shook his head.

"I am old and weak, and I am unable to serve His Majesty. His Majesty is kind and does not drive me away. I feel ashamed and cannot stay in the palace any longer." Lu Fang kowtowed.

Zhu Houcong looked at him with complicated eyes and said, "Why, you don't want to serve me anymore and want to abandon me?"

"Being able to serve His Majesty is the blessing that I have accumulated through ten or a hundred lifetimes. His Majesty has a divine body and can live for ten thousand years. Naturally, I want to serve His Majesty for ten thousand years. However, I am a mortal and I am afraid I cannot do it." Lu Fang's voice gradually became choked with sobs.

Of the old people who came from Prince Xing's Palace, only Lu Fang and Lu Bing were left.

There are many people in Yuxi Palace, but they are all "children and grandchildren". Lu Fang can't help feeling lonely because he has no one to talk to about his true feelings.

This feeling grew deeper and deeper as His Majesty made progress in his cultivation and regained his youth.

Especially in the 41st year of the Jiajing reign, Lu Fang felt like a candle in the wind and a lamp in the rain, and he didn't know when it would go out.

Lu Fang understood that this was a sign of aging.

For this reason, Lu Fang ate the "magic pill" given by the Emperor that he had hidden before, even though he knew it was useless.

After taking the pills, you will feel more energetic at the time, but the effect will be gone in a day or two. What's more, your body will feel heavier and your energy will be even weaker.

"I will never forget you." Zhu Houcong stretched out his hand, stroked Lu Fang's white hair, and used his magical powers.

At a speed visible to the naked eye, Lu Fang's hair turned from white to blue, and then to black. His wrinkled face seemed to be smoothed out by a great force. Strength suddenly surged in his old body, and his physique seemed to have returned to that of forty years old.

"Stop kneeling, go get a mirror." Zhu Houcong withdrew his hand.

Lu Fang immediately stood up and took a mirror from the table. He half-knelt down and tried to look at Zhu Houcong, but heard Shengyin say, "Don't look at me, look at you."

The mirror tilted, and Lu Fang saw a strange self in the mirror, a self that seemed to be from another world but also from the past life.

Immortals caress my head, knotting my hair and receiving immortality.

at this moment.

All become reality.

Lu Fang knelt down again, placed the mirror at her feet, and kowtowed three times, saying: "I am a humble servant, but I have received this grace from heaven. Even if I die, I cannot repay it. I only wish to serve Your Majesty for all my lives, and be his slave."

"Three flowers gathering at the top is an illusion, and the clouds flying under your feet are not real either."

Zhu Houcong recited a poem and said with a smile: "I will not drive you away from now on. Don't say you are old and unable to do it. Get up."

"Yes." Lu Fang was in tears. She put the mirror away and turned her back to Zhu Houcong. It took her a long time to calm down.

The water was not too hot anymore, so Lu Fang dried Zhu Houcong's feet and put on his shoes and socks.

Zhu Houcong stood up from the cushion, walked to the imperial desk, opened the folded petition and began to read it.

It was a secret report from the Jinyiwei sent back from the grassland.

Under the instigation of General Zhaoyong Ba Hanaji, the Northern Barbarian Prince Sengge led his people to surrender, and the entire grassland returned to the Ming Dynasty.

Shunyi King Altan refused to submit to the king's rule, and fled far to the west with 3,000 of his own troops, taking with him many northern barbarian cavalry along the way.

The Death Squad was ordered to pursue, but encountered a blizzard and got lost in the ice and snow. Zhang Juyi, the younger brother of Zhang Juzheng, the chief minister of the cabinet, was among them and died of hunger and cold. The Northern Expedition Marshal Wang Chonggu submitted a memorial to request credit for him.

There was heavy snow and strong wind on the grassland. The victory report of the Northern Expedition and the request for merit will be sent to the capital soon.

The secret report of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

It can be reported to the court as a victory message.

However, there was something fishy about the death of Zhang Juzheng's brother Zhang Juyi, and the Jinyiwei were unwilling to cause trouble.

In front of the soldiers of the three armies, Wang Chonggu scolded the old lady of the Zhang family and threw Zhang Juyi into the death camp.

After achieving complete victory over the Northern Tartars, he sent Zhang Juyi's death squad to pursue Altan, who had disappeared long ago, in the wind and snow. This was clearly an attempt to send Zhang Juyi to his death.

The Prime Minister's Office was disgraced and his brother was killed. No matter whose idea it was, the Prime Minister would never let the "murderer" go.

After forty years of turmoil in the Jiajing period, the power of the prime minister was weakened, but he was not dead. Once he went crazy, it would hurt anyone he bit.

In order to avoid being affected, the Jinyiwei decided to let the military themselves handle the matters of victory reports and letters of commendation.

Although the memorial did not specify the reasons why the military, or Wang Chonggu, Qi Jiguang, and Yu Dayou did so, Zhu Houcong could still see that this was the military's way of cutting ties with the court and expressing their loyalty to him as the emperor.

The general and the minister are in harmony.

No emperor can sleep.

Zhu Houcong put down his proposal and asked Lü Fang, "Has anything major happened in the court in the past half month?"

"To answer your Majesty, nothing serious has happened, just some rumors."

"What rumors?"

"It's about the changes in the court last year. There are rumors that it was Lord Zhang who stabbed Xu Jie in the back and was able to take the position of Prime Minister of the Cabinet. Xu Jie's disappearance might be caused by Lord Zhang. There are also rumors that Lord Zhang and Xu Jie were master and apprentice with a deep affection. In order to save Xu Jie, Lord Zhang sent his mentor out of the city late at night in the snow, going against the will of the emperor." Lu Fang replied.

Blocked at both ends.

On the one hand, they scolded Zhang Juzheng for betraying his teacher and ancestors, on the other hand, they accused Zhang Juzheng of disobeying the emperor's will and attacked him from both the moral and Ming laws aspects. They were aiming to kill Zhang Juzheng.

Lu Fang paused and said, "Your Majesty, these days the Ministry of Public Administration has sent us many memorials impeaching Lord Zhang..."

Zhu Houcong's eyes flashed.

The fact that the impeachment memorial could be sent to the palace meant that Zhang Juzheng's position and power in the court had been shaken. "Are there any important officials in the court who are close to him?"

"In reply to your Majesty, Elder Gao has had frequent contacts with the Minister of Personnel Yang Bo and Yang Bu Tang, and has promoted a group of officials from Shanxi."

Zhu Houcong was silent for a while, then squinted his eyes and looked at Lu Fang: "We must let Zhang Juzheng know about the proposal. You should deliver it in person and advise him to mourn. To commend his sincerity, I will ask the Ministry of Personnel to confer a title on his brother."

"Yes!" Lu Fang's answer was very loud. Then he kowtowed, retreated to the door, turned around and strode out.

Zhu Houcong looked at his back as his energy faded, and the light in his eyes slowly dimmed.

……

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, snow lights up the lanterns; on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, clouds cover the moon.

This is a proverb in the capital city. Because there was too much snow in the twelfth month of the 40th year of the reign of Emperor Jiajing, there were two light snowfalls on the 7th and 8th day of the 41st year of the reign of Emperor Jiajing, and there was a rare no snowfall until the 15th day of the 1st month.

The clouds are thin and the moon is bright, which makes the lantern fairs in many places in the capital more prosperous than any other year.

Looking up, you can see the sky brightly lit up and colorful fireworks flying into the sky.

At the hour of Xu, most people went out to watch the lanterns. Only a few women, old people and children were left on the streets, lighting firecrackers and setting off "fires" in front of doors hung with big red lanterns.

The "fire" lit on the ground was emitting sparks, and not far away the sky was also dropping colorful fireworks, interspersed with bangs, and "firecrackers" whistling into the air above the street and making another bang. How could it be described in one word: joy!
Adults and children alike understand that after a crazy night, they will have to calm down tomorrow.

Yandaixie Street is one of the few sloping streets in Beijing. A few streets away is the most prosperous lantern market in Beijing, the Shichahai Lantern Market.

But this place is blocked by the bend and no lights can be seen. It is extremely quiet in this lively night.

Perhaps this is what it means to find peace in the midst of noise.

This is the residence of the Minister of Personnel, the imperial court official. Although the intention is good, it is destined that ordinary days will not be smooth, with guests coming and going in large numbers.

There are two vigorous and round large characters "Yang Mansion" in regular script. There are no other words on the plaque, but it is already enough to intimidate people.

Because these two words were written by the current emperor, the imperial plaque can be seen on the door lintel.

There is always a third force hidden in the court.

This force was present during the dispute between Xia Yan and Yan Song.

This force was present during the dispute between Yan Song and Xu Jie.

This force was present during the struggles between Yan Song, Xu Jie, Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong.

This force was still there when Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong were fighting.

This is the Jin Party.

Just like the Shanxi merchants of the past, they follow the route of "not showing off one's abilities, but listening for thunder in silence".

Yang Bo was the leader of the Jin Party, and the Yang Mansion became the base camp of the Jin Party.

When the Jin Party was destroyed, Yang Bo made the same choice as Wang Chonggu and "sold" all the officials supported by the Jin merchants in the court.

He saved himself, saved the Jin Party, and saved the majority of Jin officials.

At this time, Yang Bo was in the Yang Mansion, as was Yang Bo's second son Yang Junshi, and Zhang Siwei, the Tongzhengsi official who was in charge of various memorials.

There is no need to say much about Yang Bo and Yang Junshi.

Zhang Siwei.

This new nine ministers of the court.

He was a rising star in the Jin Party and was highly regarded by Yang Bo and also by the second prime minister Gao Gong. At the same time, Zhang Siwei was also the nephew of Wang Chonggu.

Zhang Siwei's ability, identity and status destined him to have an extraordinary future, and he will be the future leader of the Jin Party.

In the study.

Yang Bo was not surprised when he heard his second son and Zhang Siwei read out the results of Wang Yongji's investigation in Kaihua and Dexing counties. He lay motionless in the recliner, but it was obvious that he was lost in thought.

"According to the date, Wang Yongji has escorted the magistrates of Kaihua and Dexing counties back to Nanjing. Hai Rui has not yet set off for Beijing because his wife has given birth. Dad, nothing will happen, right?" Yang Junshi could not stand his father's silence, so he waved the news sent by his eldest brother Yang Junmin from Jiangnan in front of his father.

A person's name, the shadow of a tree.

Hai Rui, also known as Hai Qingtian, was extremely famous in the Jiangnan area. There was no one he dared not redress, and no one he dared not kill.

The Emperor's Sword was still in Hai Rui's hand. Hai Rui had used it to kill countless officials, including county magistrates, prefects, and governors.

Yang Junshi was really afraid that his elder brother would be chopped to death by Hai Rui holding the Emperor's Sword.

Zhang Siwei, the elegant-looking Tongzhengshi, said, "Hai Rui is a steady man. He won't kill anyone without solid evidence. Besides, the official document appointing Hai Rui as Minister of Rites has already been delivered to Hai Rui. The current Governor of Nanzhili is Zhao Zhenji. Even if he hasn't arrived in Nanjing yet, he will be there soon. He is a smart man and won't condone Hai Rui's recklessness."

"I actually want Hai Rui to chop that rebellious son to death."

Yang Bo's words were shocking, his body remained motionless, but his eyes moved to look at the two from a distance, "Before you became an official, I repeatedly warned you not to be greedy, not to take advantage, to be honest and live a peaceful life. If you can't be a good official, you can be a middle official, and you will enjoy endless wealth and glory in the future. Now I hate that I was soft-hearted and didn't beat that good-for-nothing to death directly."

Yang Junshi and Zhang Siwei thought that the old man loved his son so much that he would immediately take measures to save his eldest son, but they did not expect the old man to be so gnashing of teeth.

The eldest son's life was at stake, but the old man was not confused at all.

Yang Junmin went to Zhejiang and became the prefect of Quzhou Prefecture. The two had heard of his career as an official.

As soon as he took office, he colluded with local clerks and became a collusion between them. There were mines in two counties under the prefecture, and eunuchs from the Mining Bureau were stationed there. Yang Junmin was even on close terms with them.

Yang Junmin accepted all offers of money, power and beauty. In less than a year, Yang Junshi heard that he had more than ten "sisters-in-law", all of whom were top girls in Qinhuai River, and some of them were pregnant.

Although he was not a corrupt official, he was biased towards the powerful and wealthy when dealing with matters under his rule.

The owners of Kaihua Coal Mine and Dexing Copper Mine were both "rich" brought to Yang Junmin by the eunuchs of the Mining Department. There was compensation for the hundreds of miners who died, but it was divided between Yang Junmin and the eunuchs of the Mining Department.

I would rather donate 100,000 silver coins to the government than give a single penny to the people.

This led to the riots caused by the miners being arrested and reported to the county and prefectural governments.

Even without the account book of his elder brother Yang Junmin's embezzlement, we know that the embezzlement has exceeded one million, not to mention the fact that he has also committed violations of the law.

According to the laws of His Majesty, such corruption should at least result in the confiscation of property and the extermination of the entire family.

In order to save the family, the old father made a lot of efforts, but man proposes, God disposes, and things always go beyond the plan step by step.

Yang Bo seemed not to notice their reactions at this moment, and said slowly: "As long as Hai Rui intervenes in the Kaihua and Dexing mining disasters, we will kill him and sell the stolen goods."

Zhang Siwei was shocked and blurted out, "Who to kill?"

"Yang Junmin!"

(End of this chapter)