The days when I ransacked the house in Jinyiwei

On April 22, the 16th year of the Zhengde reign, at the hour of Yin.

The Ministry of Rites has proposed the posthumous title of "Emperor Chengtian Dadao Yingsu Ruizhe Zhaode Xiangong Hongwen Sixiaoyi" for the late emperor, the temple name "Wuzong", and he will be buried in Kangling.

Today is the day when the new emperor selected by the cabinet will enter Beijing.

Prison Department of Punishment.

Chang Feng, 57, already had a head of white hair. More than a month in prison had made him look very old.

Since he entered the Jinyiwei in the 19th year of Chenghua, he has experienced three dynasties and witnessed the rise and fall of the Ming Dynasty for nearly forty years.

Wang Shu, Liu Daxia, Li Dongyang, Liu Jin, Wang Yangming, Yang Tinghe, Yang Yiqing. Famous officials and treacherous eunuchs appeared on the stage of history and then quietly left.

Chenghua Preservation of the Crown Prince, Hongzhi Restoration, Enlightenment at Longchang, Zhengde Rebellion, Battle of Yingzhou... Chang Feng is hidden behind the curtain of history.

Having lived through the reigns of Chenghua, Hongzhi and Zhengde, Chang Feng pursued only eight words throughout his life: "When evil prevails over good, the world will be at peace."

He had seen so many powerful officials building tall buildings and entertaining guests, but this time the building collapsed and it was he himself who had it collapsed.

Whether it is the political situation or history, they are all like a great river. The wind is too small to be a leaf drifting along the river, witnessing the endless flow of this great river.

He was too tired. What he hoped most now was that Yang Tinghe would show mercy and kill only him, leaving his son and grandson alive - because of their life-and-death friendship when they fought side by side in Yongningwei and beat the Japanese pirates thirty years ago.

Chang Feng picked up a broken bowl, drank some water, and said to himself: "Power will change, things will change, enemies will become friends, and friends will become enemies. Things in the world are really unpredictable."

Old Huang, the jailer of the Ministry of Justice, came over and emptied the toilet for Chang Feng.

Yang Tinghe wanted to kill Chang Feng, but he did not want to deprive Chang Feng of his dignity. He once ordered the Ministry of Justice: "Do not abuse Chang Feng, the rebellious criminal."

Chang Feng said, "Morning, Old Huang."

Old Huang didn't say much. He just picked up the toilet and left.

Yang Tinghe also issued an order: "The three generations of the Chang family will be imprisoned separately. No one in the prison is allowed to talk to Chang Feng."

In other words, Chang Feng hasn't talked to anyone for more than a month.

After Lao Huang left, another jailer came to bring breakfast to Chang Feng. This jailer wore a military hat that covered most of his face.

The jailer opened the food box. Inside were two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, a soup, and a pot of wine.

Chang Feng smiled and said, "It's still the same as before, four dishes, one soup and a pot of wine. Yang Tinghe treats me well."

The jailer actually said: "My Lord Chang, you miss me so much."

Chang Feng was stunned: "Young national player?"

The person who came was Chang Feng's old brother, Wang Miaoxin, a young national expert in the Jinyiwei who had been specializing in foreign enemy intelligence for decades.

Wang Miaoxin took off her soldier's hat and said, "Master Chang, I haven't seen you for a month. How come your hair has turned completely white?"

Chang Feng asked, "How dare you sneak into the prison of the Ministry of Justice to see me? Aren't you afraid of Yang Tinghe?"

Wang Miaoxin replied: "Yang Shoufu is now the sole prime minister. He holds all the power. Naturally, I am afraid of him. But today, I am not afraid anymore! The new emperor will enter the capital today. The day the new emperor enters the capital will be the day when your Master Chang will escape death and make a comeback!"

Chang Feng asked quickly: "What do you mean?"

Wang Miaoxin asked, "Do you know who the new emperor is?"

Chang Feng asked: "How would I know? I have been isolated from the outside world for more than a month."

Wang Miaoxin replied sternly, "Son of Prince Xingxian, grandson of Emperor Xianzong, cousin of Emperor Xiaozong, cousin of the late emperor, and crown prince Zhu Houzhao of Prince Xing!"

After hearing this, Chang Feng stood there in a daze. After a moment, he looked up to the sky and laughed wildly: "Hahahaha! I, Chang Feng, should not die!"

At the exact time of Mao, at Dong'anmen.

The huge procession to welcome the emperor stopped in front of Dong'an Gate.

The fifteen-year-old Zhu Houcong lifted the curtain of the sedan chair and asked: "Where are we?"

The deputy assistant Liang Chu replied: "We have arrived at Dong'an Gate."

At this moment, a voice rang out in front of the Dong'an Gate: "Your Highness, I am the Grand Secretary of the Huagai Palace, the Minister of Personnel, and the Left Pillar State Yang Tinghe, and I respectfully welcome Your Highness! Your Highness is invited to enter the Imperial City! After entering the Imperial City, please live in the Wenhua Palace!"

Zhu Houcong thought for a moment behind the curtain of the sedan chair and replied, "It is against etiquette to live in Wenhua Palace when entering the imperial city through Dong'an Gate."

Yang Tinghe asked: "May I ask Your Highness, how is this not in accordance with etiquette?"

Zhu Houcong said: "Even the eunuchs who serve me know how to violate the etiquette. How could Yang Qing, as the Prime Minister, not know? Lu Fang, tell him!"

The eunuch Lu Fang said loudly: "The Crown Prince enters the Imperial City through Dong'an Gate and enters Wenhua Hall. The Emperor enters the Imperial City through Daming Gate and enters Fengtian Hall!"

"Your Highness is entering the Imperial City this time not to be the Crown Prince, but to succeed the throne as the Emperor of Ming Dynasty! You should pass through the Ming Gate and enter the Fengtian Palace!"

Yang Tinghe was stunned!
He knew very well that the fifteen-year-old boy in front of him was telling him an attitude: I am not going to be your puppet when I come to Beijing this time! I want to be the real emperor of the Ming Dynasty!

Zhu Houcong said, "The late emperor's will allowed me to enter the capital and become the emperor. It was not to be the crown prince of the late emperor. Isn't that right?"

Yang Tinghe knew that he had to show his tough attitude as the Prime Minister. Yang Tinghe said loudly: "Your Highness, please enter the Imperial City from Dong'an Gate!"

As soon as these words came out, all the officials echoed in unison: "Your Highness, please come from the Dong'an Gate Imperial City!"

Did you see that? All the officials in the court listen to me, Yang Tinghe, and not to a 15-year-old boy like you! You want to show off your power to me? No way!
Yang Tinghe shouted again: "Your Highness, please enter the Imperial City from Dong'an Gate!"

All the officials continued to echo in unison.

The overwhelming shouts cannot defeat the tender voice of a young boy like you?
Who would have thought that the voice on the other side of the sedan chair, though childish, was so powerful: "Well, I won't go to the imperial city. I'll go back to Anlu!"

Earth-shattering!
The emperor is quitting his job? Going back to Anlu?

This young man is either out of his mind or he is very bold and resourceful!

Yang Tinghe's head was covered with beads of sweat. The late emperor's will had already been announced to the world. Could it be that he wanted to change the successor? Wouldn't I be like Huo Guang, who easily deposed and enthroned someone else?
Even if you want to depose him, you have to wait until he succeeds to the throne, and then after a while you can accuse him of something like Liu He, who "did more than a thousand wrong things in twenty-seven days", right?

Yang Tinghe had no choice but to compromise in front of the tough young man: "Your Highness, Yang Tinghe, respectfully invites you to move to the Daming Gate. Enter the Imperial City from the Daming Gate and stay at the Fengtian Palace." I, Old Yang, will give you a favor today. Don't be ungrateful, hurry into the Imperial City!
Unexpectedly, Zhu Houcong spoke again: "I need Jinyiwei's Chang Feng to lead the Han generals to escort me to the capital."

Yang Tinghe was dumbfounded again. Didn't your Xingwang family have a grudge against Chang Feng? Why didn't you say to settle accounts with him, but instead wanted to use him?

Yang Tinghe said, "Your Highness, Chang Feng and Jiang Bin are in collusion with each other and are plotting a rebellion. They forged an imperial decree to disband the 12th regiment. He has now been taken to the prison of the Ministry of Justice. He is a criminal waiting to be convicted. And his crime is unforgivable."

Zhu Houcong said, "I know. There is injustice in Chang Feng's case. There is evidence that he falsely passed on the imperial edict to disband the 12th regiment. But there is no evidence that he conspired with Jiang Bin to rebel. I have decided to strip him of his title of marquis and temporarily take charge of the Jinyiwei to make amends for his crime; his son will be demoted to the prefect of Laizhou Prefecture in Shandong as a punishment."

Yang Tinghe was dumbfounded. He hurriedly said, "Your Highness, Chang Feng..."

Zhu Houcong said: "If Changfeng doesn't protect me, I will go back to Anlu!"

"I will go back to Anlu" became Zhu Houcong's magic weapon for invincibility today.

You asked me to be the emperor, but you didn't listen to me. Then I can give up being the emperor.

Yang Tinghe felt his scalp tingling. If the tough young emperor got involved with the old fox Chang Feng, what would happen to the court in the future?
Zhu Houcong was a little impatient: "Mai Fu, ask the sedan bearers to lift the sedan. Leave Beijing and return to Anlu."

Yang Tinghe hurriedly said, "Your Highness, wait a minute. I will order someone to go to the Ministry of Justice to release Chang Feng."

The Ministry of Justice Prison was not far from Dong'anmen. After a few incense sticks, Chang Feng was brought to Zhu Houcong's sedan chair.

Chang Feng kowtowed: "I, the guilty minister Chang Feng, pay my respects to Your Highness."

Zhu Houcong lifted the curtain of the sedan chair and saw a fifty-seven-year-old man with gray hair: "Are you Chang Feng? My mother often mentioned you to me. Why is he still wearing prison clothes? Give him a Qilin suit!"

The Ministry of Rites prepared three sets of Qilin costumes, which were intended to be given as rewards to the emperor's relatives and nobles who came to welcome the emperor after Zhu Houcong entered the imperial city.

Unexpectedly, the first set was given to Chang Feng.

Three young eunuchs, Mai Fu, Lu Fang, and Huang Jin, stepped forward and helped Chang Feng put on the Qilin suit. A captain of the Jinyiwei took off his embroidered spring sword and gave it to his old boss, Master Chang, to wear around his waist.

The old hero wears a Qilin robe and an embroidered spring belt around his waist, and his heroic spirit is still there.

Zhu Houcong said: "Chang Feng, bring the Han generals and escort me to Daming Gate!"

Chang Feng, with his majestic appearance, led the Han generals to escort Zhu Houcong all the way into the Fengtian Palace.

Late that night, Zhu Houcong summoned Chang Feng in the Fengtian Hall.

Zhu Houcong asked the first question: "I heard that there is a hidden reason behind Emperor Wuzong's death?"

This was a test! Zhu Houcong was testing whether Chang Feng was a smart person and whether he could be used.

If it were a fool, he would definitely say: Wuzong was murdered. We need to investigate thoroughly.

Then the legitimacy of Zhu Houcong's succession to the throne would be questioned. Zhu Houcong would definitely not use such a fool.

Chang Feng replied, "Your Highness, the late emperor fell into the water accidentally and died of lung disease. It is a pity that he died at such a young age. But the claim that there is a hidden story is just a rumor."

Zhu Houcong nodded in satisfaction and asked a second question: "What do you think of Yang Tinghe?"

This was the second temptation.

If you are a fool, you will definitely answer: Yang Tinghe is a turtle bastard. You must not use him.

Yang Tinghe is a turtle bastard, so am I not the emperor chosen by the turtle bastard? Am I also a member of the turtle family?

Chang Feng's answer was very clever: "Your Majesty. Yang Tinghe should be a wise minister who assists the wise emperor."

When talking about the word "assistant", Chang Feng emphasized his tone. He flattered Zhu Houcong and made clear the priorities. Yang Tinghe is just an assistant minister, and you are the one who really has the final say in the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Houcong's face was uncertain. He clapped his hands.

Four people walked into the Fengtian Hall, namely the young eunuch Mai Fu, Lu Fang, Huang Jin, and a fair-faced young man.

Zhu Houcong said, "You should know Mai Fu, Lu Fang, and Huang Jin. They said a lot of good things about you in front of me. You should appreciate it. You have been in charge of the factory guards for a long time, so you should help them take over the East Factory."

Chang Feng kowtowed: "I obey your order!"

Zhu Houcong said: "I have not yet become emperor. My words cannot be regarded as an imperial decree."

Zhu Houcong then pointed at the fair-faced young man and said, "This man is Lu Bing, the son of Lu Song. From now on, you should keep him by your side and train him well."

Chang Feng kowtowed again: "I obey your order."

This time Zhu Houcong did not correct Chang Feng. The words "obey the order" sounded very useful to the young man.

Zhu Houcong winked at Mai Fu and the others, who tactfully withdrew.

Zhu Houcong said again: "I have already told Yang Tinghe that you will be stripped of your title of marquis and ordered to make meritorious contributions while serving your sentence and temporarily take charge of the Jinyiwei. Please don't let me down."

Chang Feng kowtowed: "I will definitely tie a grass knot and hold a ring in my hand to repay your kindness."

Zhu Houcong coughed and said, "I am truly alone when I come to the capital this time. The officials are like tigers and wolves. I need help. I heard from Liang Chu that Yang Tinghe intends to let me recognize Emperor Xianzong as my father. My real father will only be posthumously named as the Emperor's Uncle, and my biological mother will only be honored as the Emperor's Aunt. You have to help me with this matter!"

Zhu Houcong let it slip that he actually called himself "I" before ascending the throne.

Chang Feng immediately expressed his position: "Heaven and earth are our parents, and human ethics must not be disrupted! The civil officials are disrupting the royal ethics. I will fight them to the end!"

Zhu Houcong nodded: "Forget it. I am lonely. You can go down."

Chang Feng walked out of Fengtian Hall. A breeze blew, and the hem of his Qilin costume fluttered in the wind.

The moonlight shone on the stone slabs in the courtyard in front of the Fengtian Hall. Originally, dark clouds covered the moon, but the spring breeze blew and the clouds cleared to reveal a bright moon.

Who knows whether Chang Feng’s tomorrow or Daming’s tomorrow will be sunny or stormy?

Chang Feng tried to straighten his old, hunched body, and walked towards the palace gate with firm steps. He seemed to see his young self thirty-five years ago when he first came to the courtyard in front of the Fengtian Palace.

The hero has grown old, but the tide of history continues to roll forward. (The End) (End of this Chapter)