I, Jiajing, successfully cultivated immortality

Chapter 512 The tacit understanding between the honorable clan and the emperor
When Shen heard the words, her face was full of joy. Just as she was going to show Jiajing the embroidery results in recent days, she accidentally discovered that Jiajing's thoughts seemed to have drifted far away.

After realizing this, Shen immediately stepped forward, came to Jiajing's side, and asked softly.

"Your Majesty, have you encountered any troubles recently? If you don't mind, you can talk to your concubine."

Hearing this, Jiajing suddenly came back to his senses, and immediately replied subconsciously.

"Uh, no."

Obviously, Shen was not very convinced by Jiajing's rhetoric. She didn't speak, but just stared at Jiajing with a pair of big watery eyes, her face full of suspicion.

Seeing this situation, Jiajing knew he couldn't hide it from Shen, so he sighed helplessly, and immediately pointed to the empty seat beside him: "Come, sit!"

When Shen heard this, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and without thinking, she sat on the empty seat next to Jiajing.

As soon as Mrs. Shen sat down, Jiajing smelled a faint fragrance similar to mint, which was refreshing.

After that, Jiajing restrained his mind, turned his gaze to Shen, and said slowly.

"Just now, the British official Zhang Rong came to intercede with me, saying that it was the price for reducing the clan's expenses earlier, hoping to give some compensation to the clan and the nobles!"

"Let me, apart from the imperial examinations, hold separate examinations for clans and nobles, and select suitable talents from them!"

After patiently listening to Jiajing's narration, Shen couldn't help frowning, and turned to speak.

"Your Majesty, to be honest, before this, there were people from the clan who wanted to let the concubine come forward and say something nice in front of your majesty, but the concubine refused on the pretext of being unwell."

"Now it seems that it should be referring to this matter!"

After listening to Shen's narration, Jiajing's inner vigilance was also raised to the highest level, he sneered, and immediately said to himself: "Hmph, these guys are really calculating, and they all have their ideas on me. Concubine Ai is here!"

Shen Shi keenly sensed that Jiajing was showing signs of getting angry, and quickly explained.

"Your Majesty, the people from the clan only came to look for my concubine once, and after the concubine rejected them, they never came to look for my concubine again!"

After Jiajing listened to Shen's explanation, the expression on his face became much better, and he immediately said, "Hmph, they are acquainted!"

Seeing that Jiajing cared so much about her, Shen's heart suddenly felt warm.

Immediately, just nestled in Jiajing's arms, raised his head, and asked.

"So, Your Majesty, are you worrying about the fact that apart from the imperial examinations, the examinations for the clan and nobles are held?"

Jiajing looked at Shen's slightly flushed face, nodded imperceptibly, and immediately spoke.

"Well, that's right, that's what I'm worried about!"

When Jiajing said this, he changed the subject and continued to add.

"It stands to reason that there is no need to doubt the loyalty of the clan and nobles to my Daming!"

"Besides, I also want to make good use of this power to deal with those civil servants!"

When Jiajing said this, he couldn't help but think of the virtues of the children of the Eight Banners in the later generations of the Qing Dynasty, and couldn't help feeling a chill.

The suggestion put forward by the British Duke Zhang Rong is to open the door of convenience for the clan and nobles blatantly.

Jiajing knew very well in his heart that if he could not deal with the disadvantages, he would not only be unable to make good use of the power of the clan and nobles, but would also hinder himself.

"I have to think of a way so that they can be used by me!"

Jiajing said so, and immediately fell into deep thought.

Among other things, at present, there are millions of nobles in the imperial family of Ming Dynasty. This force cannot be ignored by Jiajing. No one wants Daming to continue to exist more than them.

After all, when Ming Dynasty is here, their privileges are there. Once Ming Dynasty falls, there are only two endings waiting for them. Either they will be hanged on the city tower by the angry peasant uprising army, or they will be hanged on the city tower by foreign enemies to disintegrate the common people. heart of resistance.

In short, once the Ming Dynasty falls, these clans and nobles who used to be aloof will not be able to escape the liquidation no matter what!

It is also because of this that even though Jiajing drastically cut the expenses of the clan last time, those clans whose interests were damaged only dared to complain a few words and play tricks behind their backs, but did not dare to take any practical actions .

On the one hand, it was because they did not have the strength to fight against the emperor, and on the other hand, it was because those discerning people in the clan could see that the emperor's move was to continue Ming's life.

If the national treasury is allowed to continue to be empty like this, once some natural disasters and man-made disasters occur and the people's lives are not settled, they will rise up and make trouble. In order to suppress the peasant uprising, the imperial court had to send a large number of troops to encircle and suppress it.

And in this process, the already empty treasury of the imperial court will become even more empty in the process of suppressing the rebellion, and in order to maintain daily expenses and military expenses required to suppress the rebellion, the imperial court will also have to levy more tax.

And this will create an unsolvable endless cycle, suppressing rebellion - emptying the treasury - raising taxes - more people's uprisings - suppressing rebellion.

In this cycle, no matter how powerful a country is, it can't last long. If at this time, foreign enemies invade, the imperial court is simply unable to organize forces to resist, and there can only be one ending in the end, that is, the country's subjugation.

In order to avoid this ending, those clans collectively acquiesced to Jiajing's previous behavior. Whether Jiajing sent troops to raid the homes of King Hui, King Gui, King Zhao, etc., they just pretended not to see it.

After all, as long as the butcher's knife has not fallen on him, it is acceptable!
After Jiajing's series of drastic reforms, those clans and nobles were amazed to find that the already old Ming Dynasty began to rejuvenate, and its national power began to rise steadily, even surpassing the period of Ming Chengzu Zhu Di.

They feel that they also have their own credit for this, and it is time to seek compensation from the emperor, and this is also the case of the British prince Zhang Rong who came to Jiajing to intercede.

After thinking about it for a long time, Jiajing came back to his senses and said silently to himself.

"Well, on the one hand, we must make good use of the power of these clans and nobles, and on the other hand, we must not allow them to grow up and threaten our power. The speed in the middle is not easy to control!"

At this moment, as if Shen suddenly thought of something, she turned her gaze to Jiajing, with an inexplicable look in her eyes.

"Your Majesty, my concubine suddenly thought of a solution, I don't know if I should say it or not?"

When Jiajing heard this, he immediately became extremely excited. After that, he only heard a 'paji', and Jiajing kissed Shen's egg white face, and urged him.

"If Aifei has any thoughts, just say it!"

Facing Jiajing's encouraging eyes, Shen organized her words in her mind before speaking out her thoughts.

"Your Majesty, this is what the concubine thinks. Since the Duke of England has proposed to you that an examination for the imperial family and nobles should be held separately from the imperial examination, you might as well agree to his request!"

Facing Jiajing's slightly puzzled expression, Shen paused for a moment, then continued to add.

"Through this way, you can limit the official positions they can hold to the clan and nobles who have entered the official career."

When Shen said this, Jiajing had already fully understood what Shen meant, and added excitedly.

"I understand. What Aifei means is that as long as the clan and nobles who do not enter the official career through the imperial examination, I have to set up an insurmountable barrier on their heads. If you are a high-ranking official or a military attache, you can reach the point where you are a general."

"Well, Your Majesty is right, that's what the concubine means."

When Shen said this, panic appeared on his face again, and he immediately added to Jiajing.

"Your Majesty, the concubine's idea may still have many shortcomings. Your Majesty should just listen to it, and don't take it seriously!"

Seeing this situation, Jiajing immediately took Shen's hand and said quite seriously.

"Aifei don't need to be humble, you really helped a lot this time!"

When Shen heard Jiajing's words, she lowered her head in embarrassment and said timidly.

"Chen...Chenqie, I just...just hope that I can help His Majesty!"

Immediately afterwards, perhaps to ease the embarrassment, Shen proposed to Jiajing.

"By the way, Your Majesty, do you want to see the recent embroidery by my concubine?"

"Well, if that's the case, then take it out and show me!"

When Jiajing heard this, he nodded slightly, and immediately gave instructions.

"Your Majesty, please wait a moment, the concubine will go and bring it to His Majesty!"

After Shen finished speaking, she got up slowly from the seat, went to the place where the embroidery was placed earlier, and began to search.

Jiajing looked at Shen's rummaging for things, a smile appeared on his face, and then he turned his gaze to the night scene outside the window, and said silently to himself.

"It's really good!"

That night, Jiajing did not choose to go back to the Qianqing Palace, but chose to stay in the Ganlu Palace overnight. The couple spent a long time together, chatting gossip for most of the night before falling into a deep sleep.

In the morning, Jiajing was the first to wake up, looking at Shen's peaceful sleeping face, Jiajing couldn't help feeling a little pity in his heart.

Afterwards, without disturbing Mrs. Shen, Jiajing tiptoed up from the bed, put on her robes under the service of the maid, and immediately walked out of the room.

Not long after Jiajing walked out of the room, Lu Fang greeted him and said respectfully.

"His Majesty!"

When Jiajing heard the words, he responded in a subtle way, and immediately sent someone to call for Shen's personal maid, and exhorted her.

"We must take good care of the daily life of the imperial concubine, especially food, incense and candles, etc., and absolutely cannot pass other people's hands. If there is any need, just ask it. Do you understand?"

When Shen's personal maid heard the words, she knelt down on the ground in fear and fear, and assured Jiajing.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty, slave... I know that I will do my best to take good care of the imperial concubine!"

Seeing this, Jiajing nodded, and immediately turned his eyes away from the maid, and said slowly.

"Well, good, get up!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Majesty!"

After receiving Jiajing's consent, Shen's personal maid just got up from the ground tremblingly and responded repeatedly.

After that, Jiajing turned his gaze to Lu Fang who was still in a daze, and gave instructions.

"Lu Fang, what are you still doing in a daze, why don't you hurry up and follow?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After Jiajing's words fell, Lu Fang came back to her senses, and followed Jiajing's steps step by step, walking towards the outside of Ganlu Palace.

Along the way, Lu Fang looked at Jiajing who was walking in front, and couldn't help thinking, and began to calculate.

"Your Majesty is paying more and more attention to the imperial concubine. If this trend continues, if the imperial concubine gives birth to a son for your majesty, then the mother will be more expensive according to the child. The imperial concubine will not only become the new empress of the Ming Dynasty, but her belly The child in the family will also become a veritable crown prince!"

Thinking of this, Lu Fang couldn't help praying in her heart.

"Your Majesty, even if it's just for your own sake, you must let the child in your womb be born smoothly!"

……

After leaving the Ganlu Palace, Jiajing did not choose to take the Longzhu, but chose to walk back to the Qianqing Palace.

And Lu Fang, following Jiajing's footsteps, returned to Qianqing Palace.

After resting for a while, Jiajing turned his gaze to Lu Fang and gave instructions.

"Lu Fang, go to the imperial dining room and bring me some food, I'm a little hungry!"

When Lu Fang heard this, his expression immediately turned serious, and he said respectfully.

"Of order, Your Majesty, this servant will send someone to inform the Imperial Dining Room!"

Just as Lu Fang was about to step away, Jiajing's voice sounded from behind him again.

"By the way, stop by the cabinet later, call Yan Song and Xu Jie over, and say that I have something important to discuss with them!"

When Lu Fang heard this, she suddenly stopped in her tracks, then turned around, and said respectfully.

"Obey, Your Majesty, the servant must bring the words!"

Seeing this situation, Jiajing nodded slightly to Lu Fang, and spoke unhurriedly.

"Well, it's not too late, let's go!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Seeing that Jiajing had nothing to order, Lu Fang nodded, and immediately walked out of Qianqing Palace with steady steps.

As soon as Lu Fang walked out of Qianqing Palace, she called an eunuch casually and gave him instructions.

"Tell my father-in-law to the imperial dining room, and bring some food to His Majesty!"

The eunuch who was summoned by Lu Fang at random, after listening to Lu Fang's order, his face was full of respect, and immediately responded with tears of gratitude.

"Yes, Eunuch Lu, I will definitely handle this matter well!"

After that, Lu Fang flicked his sleeves and walked towards the cabinet.

(End of this chapter)