At noon, Zhu Yijun had lunch with Emperor Jiajing.
After dinner, they walked around Renshou Palace three times together and practiced a set of Five Animal Exercises in the hall.
Then sit down and meditate for 25 minutes.
Zhu Yijun stood up, said goodbye to Emperor Jiajing who was still meditating, and went to the training ground south of the Western Garden, where he was taught archery and horse riding by the military officers of the imperial guards to exercise his body.
At dusk, he returned to have dinner with Emperor Jiajing, and then began the evening religious classes.
Zhu Yijun's life was uneventful, but outside the palace there were undercurrents.
In the study of Prince Yu's Mansion.
Prince Yu Zhu Zaigui, Zhu Yijun's father, sat at the top, with Prince Yu's palace lecturers Gao Gong, Chen Yiqin, Yin Shidan and Zhang Juzheng sitting on his left and right.
After listening to Zhang Juzheng's parting words from Zhu Yijun, Gao Gong, a man with a big beard, was the first to say, "No! Hu Zongxian's great victory in suppressing the Japanese in Zhejiang has boosted the morale of the Yan Party, and their ferocity has become even more intense. We must find someone to impeach him!"
Chen Yiqin was prudent and argued, "The Japanese invasion has plagued the southeast for more than ten years. Hu Ruzhen has worked hard to eliminate the Japanese invasion in Zhejiang, benefiting tens of millions of people and making great contributions to the country. It is unreasonable to impeach him!"
Gao Gong glared at this colleague who often disagreed with him, and said angrily: "A little impatience will ruin a big plan. The Japanese threat in the southeast is just a minor problem, and the Yan Party is the real threat.
Only by getting rid of the major threat, the minor problems can be easily solved. Why can't Yifu distinguish the serious from the minor? Hu Zongxian must be impeached, otherwise it will be more difficult to control the Yan Party if the imperial edict is issued. "
Yin Shidan couldn't help but ponder, "What's the purpose of what the prince said?"
Gao Gong waved his hands impatiently: "An eight-year-old child, what else can he think about except acting like a spoiled child in front of the emperor? Zhengfu is worrying too much. The Crown Prince and His Royal Highness Prince Yu are of the same mind, and they also know that the Yan Party is the enemy of Prince Yu. If they know some news about the Yan Party, they will naturally pass it back."
Zhu Zaigui stroked his beard and nodded with satisfaction.
He was very satisfied with Zhu Yijun, his lost son who was finally found.
In the past, my father hesitated between me and his brother, Prince Jing Zhu Zaizhen, and didn't know who to make the crown prince.
Although he was the eldest son, he and Zhu Zaizhen were both illegitimate sons. If his father really wanted to make the fourth son the empress, he could issue an imperial edict to make his mother, Concubine Lu, the empress. The fourth son would then become the legitimate son and the crown prince in full legitimacy, and he would have no chance at all.
The emperor hesitated for several years, but fortunately Jun'er escaped death, and a miracle happened. The emperor loved him and kept him by his side, and gradually his attitude became clear.
At the court meeting on New Year's Day last year, my father pointed at Jun'er and praised him as a great grandson in front of all the ministers.
Within two months, the emperor issued an edict, ordering the fourth son to go to De'an to establish his fiefdom, thus securing his position as crown prince.
Chen Yiqin continued to object to Gao Gong's opinion: "Not being able to distinguish between good and evil is not what a gentleman does!"
Gao Gong shouted: "A gentleman has his share of things to do and his share of things not to do!"
Seeing that the two were about to quarrel, Zhu Zaigui quickly stepped out to smooth things over, "Gentlemen, please stop quarreling. It will make a fool of yourself if others know about it."
After suppressing Gao and Chen, Zhu Zaigui continued to smooth things over, "Mr. Chen, why not let Mr. Gao give it a try? Hu Zongxian has been through several impeachment memorials before, so it won't hurt him.
As Mr. Gao said, it is good to strike a blow to the Yan Party. Mr. Gao, just stop at the right time and don't stir up a big storm. Last year, when the rice-to-mulberry project was being replaced, we were almost dragged down and killed by Yan Shifan. This is unacceptable, unacceptable!"
Gao Gong saw that Zhu Zaigui was secretly supporting him, and felt that he had the upper hand, so he didn't think too much of it. He cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, I understand. I will discuss the matter and find solid evidence to impeach Hu Zongxian. This guy has a criminal record, so he can't be clean!"
Zhang Juzheng watched all this silently without saying a word.
It was only at the end of last year that he was recommended by his mentor Xu Jie to serve as a lecturer in Prince Yu's Palace.
His qualifications and Prince Yu's trust are far less than the previous three, so it is better for him to keep silent than to say a thousand words.
Looking back now, he found that it was quite meaningful that the prince suddenly told him this when the class ended and they were about to say goodbye.
He had been the prince's teacher of scriptures for nearly a year, and had gained some understanding of the temperament of this good and holy grandson.
He is truly the emperor's good grandson, with a very deep mind.
But can an eight-year-old child have such deep thoughts?
Prince Yu didn't believe it, Gao Gong didn't believe it, Chen Yiqin and Yin Shidan didn't believe it, and he himself didn't believe it at first, but now he is half-believing and half-doubting.
After coming out of Prince Yu's Mansion, Zhang Juzheng thought for a while and went to Xu's Mansion to find his mentor Xu Jie.
Xu Jie, the Prince's Grand Tutor, the Grand Secretary of the Wuying Palace, and the Second Assistant of the Cabinet, was selected by Zhang Juzheng to be his tutor in the Hanlin Academy, and received his careful instruction.
Xu Jie listened to Zhang Juzheng's retelling and felt confused.
"Teacher, I think the prince specifically told me this story, which is quite meaningful."
Xu Jie nodded. "To be able to stay by the emperor's side for so long, even a bird would have three minds. The prince's move must have a deep meaning."
"But I am puzzled. What is the prince's intention?"
Xu Jie gently tapped the armrest of the chair with his left hand, "Everyone in the palace says that the prince has inherited the emperor's true teachings, and his words and actions are mysterious and unpredictable.
The Emperor wants Lord Yan to propose a proposal to reward Hu Zongxian, but I am in the cabinet and have not received this order. "
"Will it be sent directly to Yan's mansion?" Zhang Juzheng asked.
Xu Jie shook his head. "This is a cabinet draft. It must be distributed to the whole country after approval. There is no need to send it to the Yan residence privately."
The teacher and the student fell into deep thought.
Suddenly, Xu Jie raised his head, his eyes shining, "I know."
"Teacher, what do you know?"
Xu Jie answered word by word: "The prince wants to tell us that the emperor has the intention to overthrow Yan."
Zhang Juzheng looked surprised. These two things are not related at all. Teacher, how did you think of them together?
Xu Jie said slowly: "We have to think from the root, from the emperor's style of doing things. The thing he cares about most is money. Only with money can the emperor concentrate on practicing Taoism.
The emperor actually didn't take the Japanese invasion in the southeast seriously. I was a little surprised that Hu Zongxian was summoned by the emperor when he came to Beijing to report on his work. Now that I think about it, it must be that the emperor wanted to overthrow Yan, so he wanted to appease Hu Zongxian."
Zhang Juzheng understood some of it, but still didn't realize it completely, so he continued to listen to the teacher's explanation quietly.
"The foundation of the Yan Party lies in the control of taxes in the world, first in Lianghuai and second in the southeast. Therefore, they can collect money for the emperor and suppress the Japanese in the southeast.
The accumulation of wealth and the suppression of Japanese pirates are also the foundations for the Yan Party to remain standing. The emperor has the intention to overthrow Yan, but the Japanese threat must continue to be suppressed, so he personally summoned Hu Zongxian to appease him. "
Zhang Juzheng understood everything, but a new doubt arose in his mind.
"Teacher, you said that the Yan Party relied on two things, one was to amass wealth, and the other was to suppress the Japanese invaders. Amassing wealth was more important than suppressing the Japanese invaders. Teacher said that the emperor had the intention to overthrow Yan, and still entrusted the suppression of the Japanese invaders to Hu Zongxian. What about amassing wealth?"
"I am not sure either. Let's wait and see. Sooner or later, this big fish will surface."
Zhang Juzheng nodded and continued to ask: "Teacher, what should we do then?"
"The prince has conveyed this message, which means to impeach Hu Zongxian. So let's find a few people, follow Gao Gong and the others, and impeach him.
Since the emperor has such thoughts, no matter how many impeachment memorials are filed, they will not be able to do anything to Hu Zongxian, so we should just go and join in the fun."
Zhang Juzheng finally felt relieved and sighed, "Teacher, the prince is only eight years old, eight years old!"
Xu Jie sighed, "Yes, he is only eight years old. When the emperor was fifteen, he fought back and forth with the former cabinet chief Yang Gong (Yang Tinghe), and finally Yang Gong retired in disgrace. Now the prince is eight years old and has shown his talent.
Is this a great blessing or misfortune for the Ming Dynasty? "
Zhang Juzheng was also confused.
Hu Zongxian sat quietly in the inn, reading a book by candlelight.
A servant brought a cup of hot tea quietly and stood by, motionless.
Hu Zongxian raised his head and looked at him with eyes full of might and murderous intent.
"Don't misunderstand, Mr. Hu. I have been ordered to pass on a message."
Hu Zongxian thought for a moment and said softly, "Please speak."
"In two days, there will be strong winds and heavy rain in the court, all directed at you. I'll leave you with a message: 'An old man in a straw hat and raincoat is fishing alone in the cold river in the snow.'"
After saying that, the servant bowed, turned around and left, leaving Hu Zongxian with a confused look on his face.
What does it mean?
Why didn't anyone explain it to me?
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