prosperous age

After knowing the secrets between Zhang Juzheng and Feng Bao, Wei Guangde suddenly became a little uninterested.

Because he has deduced from this that if the Prime Minister of the Cabinet wants to be stable, he really needs the support of the eunuch who holds the seal, otherwise he can't do anything.

People can easily obstruct the decision of the cabinet prime minister. There is no need to veto it, just delaying it is enough to embarrass the prime minister.

If he succeeds to conquer Zhang Juzheng in the future, will he have to do the same?

Thinking of this, the position of Prime Minister didn't seem so attractive anymore, because it was not as good as he had imagined.

"Feng Bao. Zhang Hong"

At this moment, the names of the eunuchs in the palace kept popping up in Wei Guangde's mind.

Yes, Wei Guangde already has some little ideas.

In the past, he thought it was nothing that Feng Bao was greedy for money, because he himself was also greedy for money. To use a popular saying in later generations, anything that could be solved with money was not a problem.

It sounds easy to say, but when it really happens to you, it seems like a completely different feeling.

It's normal to solve problems when they arise, but what kind of people are willing to spend money?

They are all people who value money more than their life.

You ask them to spend money to solve the problem. Maybe they say so, but their hearts are probably bleeding.

You may say that you should be more open-minded and spend less money to achieve big things, so that you can make more money in the future.

That was actually just because they didn't care about the matter. Wei Guangde didn't think those people would do that willingly.

Wei Guangde is not considering the feasibility of replacing Feng Bao for the time being, but if he changes the person, who can guarantee that he will not be the same as Feng Bao?
Headache.

Wei Guangde rubbed his forehead and could only sigh helplessly.

At this moment, even Chen Ju, with whom Wei Guangde had always had a good relationship, no longer seemed attractive to him.

Chen Ju was promoted to the next position. Although he was very principled in doing things, he was also greedy for money. The only difference was that he would not abandon his principles for those small amounts of money.

How did it come to this? Maybe if I had become a juren, stayed in Jiangxi, and made a rich man with my status, I wouldn't have so many worries.

As the days passed, since that day, the spies of the Wei Mansion began to observe the transactions between the Zhang Mansion and the Feng Mansion.

Although he was very reluctant and even felt a little disgusted, Wei Guangde still had to make some preparations in advance.

Most likely, Zhang Juzheng was taught this by Xu Jie. He had no one to teach him, so he could only learn it on his own.

Wei Guangde now actually has no control over his own affairs in many cases. Even if he wants to return to his hometown to retire, he cannot.

Not to mention his family, even his eldest brother-in-law, that group of nobles, and the Jiangxi officials and others standing behind him, they all just kept pushing him forward.

There is no choice at all.

Just like Zhang Siwei, maybe he is not very interested in getting into officialdom, but his family and the businessmen he cooperates with will push him to keep moving forward.

Because they all need someone on the surface to protect their interests.

In the cabinet duty room, Wei Guangde looked at the note in his hand and asked in confusion: "What is this, who wrote it?"

Wei Guangde looked at the reed cloth with curiosity on his face.

Just now, Lu Bu came in from outside and handed him a note, saying that it was sent in by Zhang Ji.

"White swallows fly, two by two, shining like jades. Shengshang conveys the emperor's order and sends joy to the Empress Dowager Ci. Sometimes red phoenixes pass by the steps, bringing their fragrance to the embroidered curtains."

Wei Guangde read it softly, but he was puzzled. This poem was not very good, but there seemed to be vague metaphors. Combined with the tune, it seemed that it could be used as an erotic poem in the Dream of the Red Chamber.

"Master, it is said that this is the "Ode to the White Swallow" written by the Prime Minister, and the following is the "Ode to the White Lotus", also written by the Prime Minister."

Lu Bu whispered that someone outside was spreading this news.

Wei Guangde opened his mouth in surprise when he heard this. Why did Zhang Juzheng go and recite some of Liu Yong's poems?

Zhang Juzheng didn't like that place. Although he had been there, I didn't hear that he had any good thoughts about it.

It is said that there are many beautiful women in Zhang's mansion, so there is no need for him to go out and look for girls.

"Lian Yi plays with colorful mandarin ducks, haha"

Wei Guangde glanced at "Ode to the White Lotus" and couldn't help but shook his head and laughed.

"Go check whether this was written by Uncle Zhang."

After a moment, Wei Guangde put away his smile and spoke to Lu Bu with a serious face.

If not, then it has nothing to do with him, and Zhang Juzheng can investigate it himself.

But if it was really written by Zhang Juzheng, then that would be a big deal. I even remember that it was said that when Emperor Wanli took power and began to criticize Zhang Juzheng, he almost opened his coffin and whipped his corpse.

For an emperor, it is understandable that ministers live a luxurious life while advising the emperor to be frugal, especially since the emperor is still young and learning.

Emperor Wanli should not have been so out of control as to impose such a harsh punishment.

"return."

Just when Lu Bu was about to leave, Wei Guangde suddenly called someone back and continued, "Let someone outside check where the news came from."

This is a special period. Maybe someone is deliberately trying to target Zhang Juzheng and stop his reforms.

Wei Guangde just thought that the timing of the emergence of this word was not simple, it was really a coincidence.

I didn’t want to check too much, but this time it’s clear someone was able to spread it, so I have to pay attention.

Forbidden City, Cining Palace.

Feng Bao hurried over holding up his hem. As soon as he reached the palace gate, he saw two sturdy eunuchs dragging a palace maid out. The person had been beaten beyond recognition and it seemed that there was no hope for her survival.

They are the palace guards. Every palace has such people. They are the thugs in the imperial palace.

This time, Empress Dowager Li asked them to take action. It seems that the matter is quite serious.

"My lady, I am here."

After entering the hall, Feng Bao knelt down directly.

"Clean up the palace for me, and don't let anyone gossip about it, or you'll be in trouble."

Empress Dowager Li was still angry at this time, and spoke to Feng Bao with a solemn expression.

"Also, there are too many people in the palace, clean it all up for me."

"Yes, empress, I will do it now."

Feng Bao kowtowed quickly and agreed.

"Go away. Don't come again next time."

Empress Dowager Li said maliciously, "Start cleaning from the Qianqing Palace."

"Yes Yes Yes."

Feng Bao kowtowed three times before leaving the hall. He then lifted up his robe and ran towards the palace gate.

Because of a rumor, the entire city was in chaos inside and outside the palace.

But these are not things that ordinary people can know.

The key content is too sensitive and I dare not discuss it casually.

"Brother Chen, I'll fill it up for you."

In the flower hall of the Wei Mansion, Wei Guangde picked up the wine jug and filled Chen Ju's glass.

In the huge flower hall, there was not a single servant or maid serving tea or wine. There were only Wei Guangde and Chen Ju in the room.

"Shan Dai, tell me honestly, is what's being said outside true or false?

It is definitely impossible after the Queen entered the palace, so it can only have happened before, when she was still in Yu Ji."

Chen Ju was also a little drunk, and actually asked directly in a low voice.

Chen Ju is now the chief eunuch of the Twenty-Four Eunuchs, and a well-known figure in the palace. Who says eunuchs don't understand the affairs of men and women? Without a penis, it seems that they are more interested in that aspect.

"Drink, drink, why are you talking about this?"

Wei Guangde laughed cheerfully, trying to change the subject.

Chen Ju suddenly came home today. Although Wei Guangde had some guesses, he was not completely sure.

Now that Chen Ju had asked the question, Wei Guangde avoided the question and just wanted to get the matter over with.

"We are so familiar with each other, just tell me, you were in Prince Yu's Mansion at that time, you must know a lot."

Who knew that Chen Ju came to Wei Mansion this time just to eat this melon.

Feng Bao acted quickly. As soon as he left the Cining Palace, he began to take action against the forces stationed in the palace. In just two days, more than a hundred people mysteriously disappeared from the palace.

No one knows the final whereabouts of these people, but considering the brutality of the people inside the factory, most of them did not survive.

When Chen Ju first heard the rumor, he just thought it was a joke. Someone outside wanted to deal with Zhang Juzheng, but the commotion in the palace made him really curious.

Just by thinking about it, we can tell that Empress Dowager Li and Zhang Juzheng would definitely not dare to ask, not even to mention it, so only Wei Guangde, the old man, might know something.

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

After all, it seems that the only people of Yu Ji left in the court are Zhang Juzheng and Wei Guangde.

"I know, I know shit."

Wei Guangde picked up the wine glass and drank it in one gulp before speaking.

"No sign at all?"

Chen Ju asked in a low voice.

"If everyone in Yuji knew about this, do you think they would be tolerated until now?"

Wei Guangde smiled bitterly and said, "Also, Brother Chen, don't forget who has the final say in Yuji."

"Uh, Li Fang, Eunuch Li."

Chen Ju sat up straight and said with a frown.

"Yes, at that time, Eunuch Li was in charge of everything in Prince Yu's Mansion. Do you think Prince Yu's Mansion would become a place where filth and dirt are hidden?"

In fact, Wei Guangde had thought about this matter carefully in the past two days. According to his understanding of Prince Yu's Mansion, such a scandal would not happen.

Even though the Cabinet and the six ministries are all located in the Imperial City, the Imperial City is divided into inner and outer areas.

The place where they are belongs to the Outer Imperial City. The Inner Imperial City is where the concubines live. You can try to let the officials or cabinet ministers go in without permission.

Don't even think about the consequences.

"What's the difference between Prince Yu's Mansion and the Imperial Palace?"

Wei Guangde whispered again: "The palace also has a front and back yard. Do you think we can come and go as we please? Or can people in the back yard come to the front yard as they please? I'm afraid we would have been dragged out and beaten to death by Eunuch Li's men."

Not only is there a strict division within Prince Yu's Mansion, but even the entrance and exit passages are different.

They, the officials of the palace, had their own special entrance and exit gate, that is, they entered and exited through the second gate of the palace, and there were two other small gates in the palace for people from the front yard and the back yard to enter and exit.

Wei Guangde had been to the backyard of Prince Yu's Mansion before, and had met Empress Dowager Chen and Empress Dowager Li in the mansion. At that time, Empress Dowager Chen was still the second concubine, and was later promoted to princess, while Empress Dowager Li was just a palace maid.

So what? To enter the backyard, they were either accompanied by Prince Yu or summoned by a eunuch. There were no female relatives to be seen along the way, as they had to avoid suspicion.

If anything goes wrong, Li Fang will be the first to suffer.

Zhang Juzheng and Empress Dowager Li couldn't possibly do anything in public.

Therefore, Wei Guangde thought about it for a long time and did not think that the rumors outside were true.

"Is there a lotus pond in Prince Yu's mansion?"

Chen Ju didn't give up and kept asking.

Of course, if he wasn’t in front of Wei Guangde and they had known each other for twenty years, he wouldn’t dare to ask this.

"Yes, in the backyard."

Wei Guangde said casually.

"That's right, Lian Yi plays with Cai Yuan."

Who knows Chen Ju gently clapped his hands and said.

"Haha, you really think that 'Cai' is Empress Dowager Li, haha."

Wei Guangde chuckled, "That's just far-fetched."

Although Wei Guangde said this, he was actually worried in his heart.

He didn't think Zhang Juzheng was so stupid as to do such a thing.

It’s not that you can’t hook up with palace maids. Well, at that time, Queen Mother Li was a palace maid, serving the princess in the backyard.

Through these people, we can understand the situation in the backyard of the palace.

But what is a little unclear is that when Zhang Juzheng came to the palace, Li Caifeng was already a beauty, that is, Prince Yu's concubine. How could Zhang Juzheng have an affair with her?

If we say two years earlier, Zhang Juzheng was still unemployed in the Hanlin Academy with him.

If he was really so far-sighted, then one would have to suspect that Zhang Juzheng was also a time traveler who knew history and knew that the little palace maid would become the emperor's mother and the empress dowager of the Ming Dynasty in the future.

If it was really in the lotus pond, the time seems wrong. It should have been more than 40 years after the reign of Emperor Jiajing. At that time, Zhang Juzheng also entered the Prince Yu's Mansion.
However, at that time Li Caifeng had already given birth to Zhu Yijun, and because the prince died young, Zhu Yijun was in fact the eldest son of the palace.

Does she still need external help?
Even if you want to, you should look for Chen Yiqin.

At that time, Gao Gong had already left Prince Yu's Palace and entered the imperial court, and the chief of the palace was Chen Yiqin.

After seeing Chen Ju off, Wei Guangde returned to his study and continued thinking along this clue.

Because he thought that there might be someone else who knew, and that was Feng Bao.

Yes, Li Fang was the chief eunuch in Prince Yu’s Mansion, and no one could compare to him before.

However, afterwards, Feng Bao was punished from the eunuch in charge of writing to work in Prince Yu's mansion, and became Li Fang's right-hand man.

Although the relationship between the two seemed just normal to Wei Guangde, the struggle in the inner courtyard was not something he, who was in the outer courtyard, could know.

It is possible if Feng Bao was the one who made the connection, but the same thing applies: Zhu Yijun's position at the time was solid, and as long as he could grow up, he would be Prince Yu's eldest son, unless Princess Chen could give birth to a son and let him grow up.

Wei Guangde could never figure out the purpose of doing this, so naturally he didn't believe it was true.

As I said, this matter is too sensitive. No matter whether it is true or someone deliberately framed it, the parties involved cannot come out to clarify.

What can I say?
This is what it means to be afraid of what people say.

"Zhang Ji, tell Zhang Ji to come to me."

Wei Guangde couldn't figure it out and shouted outside the study.

After a while, Zhang Ji hurried over.

"Have you found out about the rumor? Where did it come from?"

Wei Guangde asked as soon as he opened his mouth.

When he learned the news two days ago, he asked someone to investigate.

But two days have passed and Zhang Ji still hasn't given a reply.

Wei Guangde couldn't sit still anymore, so he asked someone to come over and ask.

"Master, we haven't found the source yet. The East Factory, the Imperial Guards, and the Zhang Mansion are also investigating this matter."

Zhang Ji whispered, "The news from the Jinyiwei seems to have made no progress. The source of the news is very mysterious."

"understood."

Wei Guangde said angrily, then smiled bitterly: "At this moment, Uncle Zhang has nothing better to do than write clichés and present them to the palace." (End of this chapter)