I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 80: The Shen family is a noble family, a treasure of the Hanlin Academy

In the afternoon, in front of the Qianqing Palace.

The second-in-command of the cabinet, Lu Diaoyang, knelt at the door of the palace and requested an audience.

Feng Bao was worried that the young Wanli might be resentful of him because of his solitary life, so he immediately sent a young eunuch who was easy for the young Wanli to use and could speak to report to him.

Not long after.

Lu Diaoyang was summoned and entered the emperor's bedroom.

Zhang Juzheng and others who were sitting quietly in the Wenhua Hall waiting for news, and Empress Dowager Li in the Cining Palace all breathed a sigh of relief.

Being able to get in is already half the battle.

The always diligent and well-behaved little Wanli caused such a scene that caught them off guard and they were afraid that another accident would happen.

Although Empress Dowager Li often used the words "replace Prince Lu as emperor" to scare the young Wanli.

But the young Wanli was the heir chosen by the late emperor himself. Empress Dowager Li had no right to depose him just because he once sneaked onto the roof to sleep.

……

Outside the bedroom, Feng Bao stood with a nervous look on his face.

He was afraid that Lu Diaoyang might say something wrong, which would provoke the unstable little Wanli to do something else scary.

Just then, Feng Bao heard crying coming from inside.

Lu Diaoyang sobbed.

He began to tell little Wanli some past events that happened during the previous emperor's time.

Feng Bao couldn't help but curl his lips slightly.

Others always scold these eunuchs for being sycophantic and servile, but when it comes to crying and acting, these civil servants are the masters.

Even Zhang Juzheng, who looked righteous, had tears in his eyes in an instant, making people feel that he had the words "serve with all my heart and soul until my death" written on his face.

Suddenly, Feng Bao remembered the Minister of Revenue Yin Zhengmao who jumped into the Jinshui River.

He couldn't help but clench his fists and grit his teeth.

After being in charge of the inner court for several years, the only person who could make him suffer such a financial loss was Yin Zhengmao.

……

About half an hour later.

Lu Diaoyang came out with tears streaming down his face and tears and snot on his sleeves.

He wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, looked at Feng Bao and smiled.

"Don't worry, Eunuch Feng. His Majesty is fine. Tomorrow's court session can proceed normally. I will speak to Lord Zhang for a few words. Let him see His Majesty first. Then His Majesty will go to the Cining Palace to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager!"

Then, Lu Diaoyang whispered a few words to Feng Bao.

Feng Bao couldn't help but be overjoyed, and said with a cupped hand, "Thank you for your hard work, Elder Lu!"

After saying this, Feng Bao ordered someone to report to Empress Dowager Li as soon as possible.

A quarter of an hour later.

Zhang Juzheng walked into the Qianqing Palace with a smile on his face.

Half an hour later.

Little Wanli smiled as he personally saw Zhang Juzheng off, then said to Feng Bao, "My dear companion, prepare the dragon chariot. I need to go to the Cining Palace to apologize to my mother."

There was such a huge change in the little Wanli from morning to afternoon, it was obvious that the two sides had reached a certain reconciliation.

Lu Diaoyang played an important role in the process.

As for what these people said in the Qianqing Palace, only they know.

……

That evening, Shen Nian received the news.

Empress Dowager Li was about to move out of the Qianqing Palace, and Zhang Juzheng ordered all the lecturers to temporarily put aside the lecture notes for government affairs to reduce the burden on the young Wanli.

In this struggle, it was obvious that the young Wanli had the upper hand.

The officials tacitly pretended that the incident had never happened.

There were no memorials of advice.

No eunuchs, palace maids, or Jinyiwei in the inner court were severely punished; they were simply replaced by a new group of people.

Of course, the budget for the young Wanli's wedding was cut in half, and not a penny was added because of this accident.

...On May 23, the court was held as usual, and the young Wanli continued to respect Zhang Juzheng as before.

It was as if yesterday's accident had never happened.

Near noon.

Shen Nian walked out of Chengtian Gate and headed towards the Hanlin Academy along the Jinshui River.

All the way.

He heard a Jinyiwei leader scolding the soldiers below: "From now on, at these conspicuous locations along the Jinshui River, one person will be stationed every fifty steps. All of them must be people who are good at swimming."

"The factory manager said that if an official jumps into the Jinshui River from now on, he must be pulled out immediately. If any official tries to gain a good reputation by jumping into the water, we will kill you first!"

"We must be especially careful of Minister Yin of the Ministry of Revenue!" the leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guard said in a low voice.

Although the voice was small, Shen Nian still heard it.

A satisfied smile appeared on Shen Nian's face, and he murmured in his heart: Recommending Yin Zhengmao as the Minister of Revenue is really a wise decision.

Yin Zhengmao, who was known for his greed for fame, has now become a miser in the Ministry of Revenue.

If anyone dares to spend the Ministry of Revenue's money recklessly, he will fight to the death with that person.

The story of him jumping into the Jinshui River in anger has been written into a story by some writers and even performed in some theaters.

This made Yin Zhengmao very happy, and he felt that his official career had entered a second spring.

……

At night, in the Qianqing Palace, in the bedroom.

After washing up, the young Wanli looked at the bed in the middle, feeling very happy. He then waved his hand and said, "Everyone, please leave. I need to rest!"

Immediately, two young eunuchs and two palace maids in their thirties withdrew.

Little Wanli was the only one left in the bedroom.

Little Wanli pulled the corner of the quilt, then spread his arms and legs like a big letter and lay on the bed.

At this moment, he felt the breath of freedom for the first time.

At midnight.

He was finally no longer afraid of having eyes staring at him, finally he could go to the toilet without being so cautious, and finally he was no longer afraid of hearing a stern scolding if he moved: What time is it, why aren't you sleeping yet?
Tonight, little Wanli feels free and happy.

……

May 25th, afternoon.

Shen Nian was summoned to the cabinet.

To his surprise, the person who wanted to meet him this time was the cabinet's second-in-command, Lu Diaoyang.

Shen Nian was a little surprised. This was the first time Lu Diaoyang called him alone. He didn't know whether it was for official or personal matters.

"I am Shen Nian, the editor of the Hanlin Academy, and I am here to pay my respects to Lord Lu!" Shen Nian walked into Lu Diaoyang's duty room and bowed.

Lu Diaoyang stood up and said with a smile, "Ziheng, you are also my student. If there are no outsiders around, you can just call me teacher."

When Shen Nian entered the academy as a scholar, Lu Diaoyang was the chief instructor at that time.

It is only natural for Shen Nian to call him teacher.

"Teacher!" Shen Nian shouted respectfully.

Lu Diaoyang nodded with satisfaction, then said, "Ziheng, when you were a scholar-official, I misjudged you, earning you the bad name 'Shen Banshi'. It's my fault. I misjudged you!"

When Shen Nian entered the officialdom, his self-esteem was indeed hurt by Lu Diaoyang's words "Shen Nian's entry into the Hanlin Academy was half due to his father's contribution", and many people secretly called him Shen Banshi.

But at that time, he was only capable of half a scholar.

"Teacher, it's just a joke. It's okay! It's okay!" Shen Nian said with a smile.

Lu Diaoyang took out a framed scroll from the table, handed it to Shen Nian, and said, "Open it and take a look."

Shen Nian took the scroll with both hands, opened it and saw a line of words written on the scroll: The Shen family is a family of noble character and noble birthplaces, and a family of noble character and noble birthplaces.

"Teacher, this...this...I can't afford it!" Shen Nian refused verbally, but felt happy in his heart.

These two sentences can make his father happy for a whole year.

"You can afford it. If you have any problems in the future and it is inconvenient to find Lord Zhang, you can come to me!" Lu Diaoyang said with a warm face.

"As you say, student!" Shen Nian put the scroll away.

(End of this chapter)