Ming Dynasty: At the beginning, the house was ransacked and the ancestral temple was burned down.

Chapter 120 Emperor Wanli’s temperament changed drastically! Shen Shixing ridiculed: Old cows eat young grass!
"Why, do you look down on me, Zhang Taiyue?"

Zhang Chonghui asked Shen Shixing with a smile, but his words were full of jokes.

Obviously, he doesn't want to 'pretend' anymore.

However, Shen Shixing still looked away uncomfortably. While not looking at Zhang Chonghui, he said angrily:

"They said you should stop pretending to be him. I know you are not him. Answer the serious questions quickly."

Seeing that Shen Shixing did not hear such an obvious 'overtone', Zhang Chonghui could not help but be speechless for a moment. He could only helplessly smile twice before replying seriously:
"It's not difficult to get out alive. What's difficult is how I will get out alive."

"Method?" Shen Shixing was also surprised and asked, "Do you still have a choice?"

"Of course." Zhang Chonghui nodded without any doubt and said, "I still have many ways."

Shen Shixing expressed disbelief and said: "Just brag, there are many ways? I think there is only one way for you to get out, and it's sideways!"

"Forget it, it's useless to talk more." Zhang Chonghui lay back again. While he was not preparing to explain, he also did not forget to say "sarcasm" to the other party and said:
"You are too old, but I am still very young. There is a generation gap between us, and I can't communicate with you.

Zhu Yijun scratched the chin of the big fat orange cat. The fat cat stretched its neck with great enjoyment and made a pleasant sound of "purring" in comfort.

But before leaving, Shen Shixing took out a folded piece of paper from his sleeve, threw it to Zhang Chonghui, and said rather strangely:

"Eighteen-year-old bride and eighty-year-old man, with pale hair and red makeup. Some people, tsk tsk tsk tsk, don't look old."

So, old man, let’s go. "

However, it refused to "meow" no matter what.

Shen Shixing, who was teased about his "old age" again, was a little speechless. He made sure that he had just showered before going out today, and then he felt a little more comfortable.

Zheng Mengjing persuaded in a gentle voice. She knew that Zhu Yijun was worried about the "three kings conferring a title". At present, the ministers outside were all threatening the hesitant emperor with "resignation". All she could do was to persuade him. The other party 'gives up' and seals the three kings.

Zhu Yijun looked at Zheng Mengjing expressionlessly, looking straight at this beloved woman for a long time.

Fanzi picked up the pen and was about to record this "strange" thing. However, the next moment, Zhang Chonghui in the cell next door suddenly and inexplicably said something to the "air"!

"Strange thing, why doesn't the raccoon slave bark?" Zhu Yijun asked in confusion:

Faced with such a big matter as the ministers collectively protesting to be dismissed from office, His Majesty the Emperor, who had just finished wrestling, was not as furious as before, but instead remained calm and calm.

After all, the more you talk, the more mistakes you make.

"The man next door, help me pass a message to the emperor, just say..."

Almost without hesitation, Zhang Chonghui crumpled the letter paper that smelled like rice into a ball, stuffed it directly into his mouth, and swallowed it without chewing much.

Zhang Chonghui opened his mouth, as if he wanted to explain something, but after thinking about it, he decided to forget it.

In the cell next door, Fan Zi, who was 'secretly observing', was stunned by this scene and couldn't help but think to himself:
"This kid is really mentally ill...he even eats paper..."

The matter of the ministers' dismissal from office soon reached the ears of Emperor Wanli Zhu Yijun.

The fat cat, who was still enjoying the 'massage' with his eyes closed, noticed the interruption of the massage, and gave an unpleasant "meow" to indicate something.

Zheng Mengjing's 'comfort' was obviously of no use. After all, the real purpose of 'three kings' was not to be crowned king, but to establish a crown prince.

……

Zheng Mengjing, who was accompanying the driver, replied casually: "Your Majesty, when the raccoon slave was still young, kittens naturally loved to bark and make noise. Now that the raccoon slave is an old cat, naturally he doesn't like to bark anymore."

In addition, your little confidant in the brothel, Du Yanyun, dragged me to bring you a lot of food, but the Jin Yiwei searched them before he came in. "

No, this is not a resignation, this is considered a 'dismissal'!

Zheng Mengjing also realized that she had said the wrong thing, and hurriedly asked someone to take the cat away, fearing that her emperor's husband, who had been unstable recently, would lose his temper later and "bring disaster" to her big fat cat.

"I remember it used to meow all day long, but now why doesn't it meow for half a day?"

Shen Shixing left just like that. He was reciting a poem by Su Shi, and he understood the next line, which is the very famous——

"Your Majesty, our Xun'er is only six years old. He is still young and is not in a hurry to be crowned king."

"This is a letter written by Zhao Shizhen's daughter to you. The little girl heard that you were going to die before you could pass the exam. She has not eaten or drank for several days.

Zhu Yijun was so calm that he was even in the mood to play with the yellow raccoon cat raised by the imperial concubine Zheng Mengjing.

Looking at it, I feel hungry.

"Meow, meow, little baby, call me twice."

The yellow raccoon cat was taken away. Zheng Mengjing also sent the palace attendants away, leaving him alone in the main hall to comfort this cat. Like the fat orange cat, he was almost too lazy to even 'call'. shouted the 'old' emperor.

As if leaving like this wasn't enough, Shen Shixing also recited an intriguing poem in a joking way while leaving, saying:

Qianqing Palace.

Zheng Mengjing was stared at all over, and just when she wanted to say something, the other party asked an unclear question that made her tremble all over!
"My beloved concubine, are you willing to let your son be a prince for the rest of his life?"

While wondering who Du Yanyun was, Zhang Chonghui opened the 'letter' written by his 'fiancée' and looked at it.

Yu Shenxing took the lead in opposing the "simultaneous sealing of three kings" and took the lead in resigning...

The old number one scholar, who felt quite 'young' about himself, was a little unhappy and pretended to get up to leave.

——The mandarin ducks sleep in pairs at night, and a pear tree presses the begonia.

After hearing the answer, Zhu Yijun seemed to have thought of something, and the hand that was scratching the fat orange cat's chin suddenly stopped.

However, Zhu Yijun stopped scratching. As his face gradually darkened, his emotions began to suppress.

Zheng Mengjing was really frightened by the emperor's husband's question. Although the answer in her heart was 'not willing', she could not answer like this!

Because the person who asked her this question was the emperor!

Even if this emperor is always confidant to her, even if this emperor is just an indecisive 'ordinary person' at heart, he is still an ordinary person who has been 'alienated' by power!

"Reply to Your Majesty." Zheng Mengjing knelt on the ground directly, holding on to her composure and replied:

"Your Majesty, you are the Son of Heaven, and you are the king and father of all people in the world. Xun'er is the son of my concubine, and he is also your son, Your Majesty!
As long as it is your Majesty's imperial order, I have nothing to be unwilling to do. Everything is subject to your Majesty's arrangement! "

Seeing Zheng Mengjing kneeling in panic, Zhu Yijun actually felt quite uncomfortable.

This indecisive emperor with a bit of "literary youth" once thought that Zheng Mengjing was the only confidant who "really" treated him as a "normal person" and could "exchange heart-to-hearts" with him.

Although he knew Zheng Mengjing's little thoughts, although he also knew that Zheng Mengjing didn't actually love him that much.

Zhu Yijun knew everything, but he didn't want to let himself know, because everyone in the world was 'forcing' him, the so-called emperor, and when he was the so-called 'sage', only Zheng Mengjing regarded him as a 'normal person' 'Let's look at it.

Only Zheng Mengjing regarded him as an ordinary normal person.

Zhu Yijun is the emperor, but he is also a human being first.

People can not escape from doing wrong. Regardless of his status as an emperor, Zhu Yijun has always known that he is ordinary.

Zhu Yijun also knew that his handwriting was not very good-looking.

The civil and military officials of the dynasty, the people of the world, even his biological mother, are all forcing this ordinary person to become the 'saint' that only exists in the 'legend'.

"Ordinary people cannot become saints."

Zhu Yijun has forgotten when he first knew this truth.

Maybe it started in the fifteenth year of Wanli, or maybe it was just now.

When this 'ordinary' emperor saw that the 'bosom friend' he once thought was so frightened that he knelt down and kowtowed because he was afraid of his status, and was talking nonsense like everyone else, which sounded high-sounding but was actually empty. .

Zhu Yijun hopes Zheng Mengjing can be honest and bold in saying to him:
"Your Majesty, I am not willing to give in! I want our son to be the crown prince!"

But Zheng Mengjing didn't. Like the ministers of the previous dynasty, she said on her face: "You are the emperor, and I will listen to you."

In fact, in my heart, I have other thoughts.

"My beloved, get up."

In the end, the emperor was not as furious as Zheng Mengjing had guessed, but instead called her out tepidly. Then he promised her as before that they would make their precious son the prince.

Zheng Mengjing felt relieved, but for some reason, she always felt that the emperor's husband's guarantee this time seemed a bit... superficial?

Feeling strange, Zheng Mengjing wanted to 'test' something, but there was no chance because Zhu Yijun issued an 'expulsion order'.

His Majesty the Emperor seemed to be busy. Although Zheng Mengjing didn't know what he had to do, he just walked to the Wenhua Palace on crutches to scold his ministers, and then came back angry with his ministers. .

……

Zheng Mengjing left. When she returned to her bedroom, her six-year-old fat son Zhu Changxun was playing with the fat orange cat.

The naughty boy Zhu Changxun's method of "cat-licking" is very "rude", it doesn't matter if it's neither light nor heavy, but it's still "un-hairy".

Although Zheng Mengjing felt sorry for the cat, she didn't feel so bad when she saw her son having so much fun.

The most important thing is that the cat didn't make any move to resist. It just closed its eyes and slumped its fat body, letting the naughty child's "magic claws" claw at it, not wanting to do anything. Any struggle.

Seeing this scene, Zheng Mengjing couldn't help but recall the question that the emperor's husband asked her not long ago about raccoon slaves.

Why doesn't the raccoon slave like to bark anymore?
Yes, Li Nu is old and is already an old cat.

Even if 'it' was very lively and active when it was a child, even if 'it' used to only use a piece of cat grass or a small ball, it could jump and flutter all day long.

Even if 'it' used to just "meow" in displeasure because it didn't want to be touched, it would even show its teeth and scratch people.

Although the current 'raccoon slave' still barks occasionally, it is very rare. He won't show his teeth and want to scratch someone just because he doesn't want to be touched.

Because 'it' isn't just old! 'It's' claws have actually been 'cut off' a long time ago! 'It's' fangs have already been 'pulled out'! Because 'it' is disobedient, because it dares to 'resist' its 'master'!
A cat cannot resist its owner, even if it is a 'cat' raised in the Forbidden City.

A cat is a cat, it cannot become a tiger.

People are just people, ordinary people cannot become saints.

……

Shortly after Zheng Mengjing left, Zhu Yijun summoned his current chief minister of the cabinet, Wang Xijue.

Wang Xijue has not seen His Majesty the Emperor for a long, long time. It seems that it has been since the fifteenth year of Wanli.

His Majesty the Emperor in front of him was so fat that Wang Xijue could hardly recognize him. It's not that the emperor is frighteningly fat now, it's mainly that there is a huge gap between him and the fair, slightly fat young man a few years ago.

Although His Majesty the Emperor's complexion is still rosy, Wang Xijue can see that this rosiness is not a healthy rosiness, but a supplementary rosiness.

"Your Majesty... I pay my respects to Your Majesty..."

Wang Xijue was so surprised that he almost forgot how to salute. Fortunately, the emperor on the dragon throne didn't say anything. After he finished saluting, he asked him to stand up as before.

"Old Wangge." Zhu Yijun didn't seem to intend to talk nonsense. The first thing he did at the beginning was to get straight to the point and said:

"I remember that you had strongly approved of the 'three kings' conferment' issue before, but now the officials have great opinions on this matter, and Yu Shenxing, who is the Minister of Rites, is so disrespectful that he leaves the official position without authorization.

In addition, many officials from the six ministries and nine ministers imitated Yu Shen in carrying out this disrespectful act. Such a big and chaotic thing happened. As the chief minister of the cabinet, what crime should you be responsible for? "

His Majesty the Emperor's words are obvious. He is raising an army to investigate.

Not long ago, there was a big commotion in the lobby of the Criminal Department during the trial of the demon book case. That time, His Majesty the Emperor was merciful and did not hold Wang Xijue accountable for his "dereliction of duty".

However, now that the "collective dismissal" of ministers has caused such a big fuss, Wang Xijue, the chief minister of the cabinet, who is the head of the hundred officials, will not be able to escape this time and will be held accountable by His Majesty the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, I have neglected my duty. I am guilty. Please punish me." Wang Xijue, who had just stood up, knelt down again.

This time, Emperor Wanli did not let him get up, but he did not blame him, but said:
"If you make a mistake, you should be punished, and you will definitely be punished. But now that the wrong thing has happened, focusing on the mistake will not solve any problem. Therefore, I want you to give up your merits.

I was originally not very interested in conferring the title of king on three princes. It was only after receiving your approval and praise from Mr. Wangge that I decided to confer the title of king on the three princes.

Nowadays, all the officials are so opposed to the conferment of the three kings, but my decree has already been issued. It is not easy to call me, the emperor, "change my orders every day", right?

Therefore, the simultaneous sealing of the three kings must be accomplished. Otherwise, it will be damaging to the majesty and sage of my emperor. So, Mr. Wangge, you should be able to make the three princes kings, right? "

Zhu Yijun's words were not so much 'asking' Wang Xijue as he was 'forcing' Wang Xijue.

After all, who made Wang Xijue agree so readily after hearing about the "three kings conferring a title"?
But if Wang Xijue had not agreed so readily, his position as the chief minister of the cabinet would have been just as Zhang Chonghui said at the beginning, and he would not be able to hold it for even a year...

"Your Majesty, I... will try my best." Wang Xijue gritted his teeth and replied.

Upon hearing such an 'uncertain' answer, Zhu Yijun just smiled softly, as if he no longer cared about the 'final result'.

In the end, Emperor Wanli only calmly said to Wang Xijue: "Wang Aiqing, I believe you can do it."

……

Although His Majesty the Emperor had a gentle attitude throughout the whole process, when Wang Xijue came out of the Qianqing Palace, his whole back was covered with sweat and his spirit was in a daze.

It was when the little flamer came to deliver the lanterns that Wang Xijue realized something belatedly - it was already dark.

Wang Xijue carried the lantern sent by His Majesty the Emperor all the way back to Wenyuan Pavilion and the Cabinet Office.

At this time, only Wang Xijue was left in the cabinet, and even Xu Guo had left.

Wang Xijue, who was physically and mentally exhausted, sat on the 'chair' that belonged to him, the chief minister of the cabinet. His tired body wanted to lean on the back of the Taishi's chair in order to seek some relaxation.

However, it was not until he actually sat in this 'seat' that Wang Xijue discovered that the 'chair' for the chief minister of the cabinet was really 'too long'.

It was so long that even though he was leaning on the back of the chair, he still had no intention of relaxing at all.

Not only did I have no intention of relaxing, I even felt very 'tired'...

Wang Xijue smiled, a wry smile, and he gently patted the 'chair' that belonged to him at the moment. He patted this chair that had existed since the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, when Cong Yansong was the chief minister of the cabinet.

Many people have already sat on this 'chair', including Cong Yansong, Xu Jie, Li Chunfang, Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, Zhang Siwei, Shen Shixing...

Until now, until now Wang Xijue.

Recalling the "lofty words and ambitions" of the past, Wang Xijue felt like crying for some reason.

It is said that men never shed tears easily. Wang Xijue is quite old, and he has always been arrogant and has a fiery personality.

For such a 'strong' person, in the eyes of outsiders, even if he is not as super 'tough guy' as 'Yang Jisheng', he should still be an extremely strong person.

However, often the more "strong" a person is, the more he cannot bear the blow caused by the "gap".

Wang Xijue was hit hard. The last time he suffered such a big blow was in the 41st year of Jiajing, when he was ranked second.

Wang Xijue was very unconvinced at the time. Why did he, who ranked first in the examination, lose to Shen Shixing, who placed second in the examination?
Just because Shen Shixing is handsomer than him? Pooh! He is also very handsome!
Wang Xijue always felt that it was a pity that he failed to win the "No. 1 Scholar" award. After all, he always felt that Shen Shixing's articles were not as good as his.

Similarly, during the ten years when Shen Shixing was the chief assistant, Wang Xijue always felt that the other party was not doing well.

Wang Xijue believed that if he could sit in the position of chief minister of the cabinet, he would be much better than Shen Shixing.

In the past ten years, Wang Xijue has always thought this way. He had repeatedly boasted in front of Shen Shixing like "Wang Po sells melons."

Every time, Shen Shixing just smiled and shook his head without explaining anything.

Once upon a time, Wang Xijue always thought that Shen Shixing's lack of explanation was because the other party was too 'cowardly' and wanted 'the best of both worlds' too much, so he was speechless.

Only now, only at this moment, did Wang Xijue truly know that the real reason why Shen Shixing didn't explain was actually far more than that.

'Cowardice' and 'the best of both worlds' are just 'appearances'. What Shen Shixing can't 'really' explain are those unspeakable difficulties.

It is the unwillingness that everyone has had, and it is also the ambition that 'they' have all had.

Wang Xijue didn't 'really' know this until he became the chief assistant himself.

After many years, the arrogant Chief Assistant Wang was hit again, because not only did he fail Shen Shixing in the imperial examination, but even the current position of Chief Assistant to the Cabinet was occupied by him, which was far inferior to what Shen Shixing had done back then. smooth'.

You know, when Shen Shixing took over the position of chief minister of the cabinet, Zhang Juzheng's house was ransacked.

As a person promoted by Zhang Juzheng, Shen Shixing was able to "stand firm" in the storm of "destroying Zhang" for ten years.

All of this is really, really awesome.

Thinking of this, Wang Xijue felt even more uncomfortable, and his unwillingness finally turned into tears.

Wang Xijue wiped his face with tears streaming down his face, stood up suddenly, and kicked the 'broken chair' that made his waist sore!
Almost at the moment of being kicked, Wang Xijue cheered up again!

He is Wang Xijue, he is Wang Yuanyu, he will not be forced to sit on this uncomfortable 'chair'!

Since the chair was uncomfortable, he would change the chair!
Get a 'new' chair that makes you feel 'comfortable'!

By then, Wang Yuanyu will split up this old 'old chair'! Burn it as firewood!
Wang Xijue, who had regained his composure, left Wenyuan Pavilion with great excitement. Unable to hide his troubles, he was ready to vent his bitterness to his 'old friend'!
As soon as he reached the door of Wenyuan Pavilion, the sudden autumn wind made him shiver.

Involuntarily, Wang Xijue stopped for a moment and was about to go back to the check-in room to get some clothes to put on. However, in a blink of an eye, he caught a glimpse of the full moon with a section missing in the sky.

"Almost fifteen."

Wang Xijue looked at the nearly 'full' moon and murmured with emotion.

Perhaps the full moon symbolizes 'completeness', and people who have always pursued 'completeness' will always feel joy for no reason when they see the full moon.

The same was true for Wang Xijue. He felt that he was in a much better mood and his body didn't seem to be so cold anymore. He even strode away without returning to the check-in room to get clothes.

At this time, Wang Xijue still didn't know that the position where he 'stopped' just now was where Shen Shixing also 'stopped' back then.

Back then, Shen Shixing, who was also the chief minister of the cabinet, also 'stopped' in that position, looking up at the same moon.

Once upon a time, Zhang Juzheng may have stopped there.

A few years ago, and a few years later.

Different people, looking at the same moon, in the square Forbidden City, under the sky of the Ming Dynasty, looking up at the only half of the 'moon' left in the Ming Dynasty, are all feeling something...

When Wang Xijue left, his eyes that were suddenly filled with vicissitudes of life lit up again.

Just like Shen Shixing back then, and just like Zhang Juzheng back then.

……

Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Wanli already knew that Zhang Chonghui refused to "die obediently".

In response to this, the emperor still didn't have much reaction and only nodded casually.

Chen Ju was the first to notice that something was wrong when His Majesty the Emperor suddenly became so 'calm' like a different person.

It is a good thing that His Majesty the Emperor has a 'stable character'. However, being too stable is not a good thing.

Chen Ju guessed that the emperor was hindered by the "three kings conferring the title" issue, and was so stimulated that he could not recover for a while.

As a result, Chen Ju, who originally didn't want to convey 'that little thing' to the emperor, hesitated.

Just when Chen Ju was debating whether to tell the emperor the words that Zhang Chonghui asked Dongchang Fanzi to play to His Majesty.

Emperor Wanli Zhu Yijun was the first to speak calmly, even more uncertain:
"What words does Zhang Chonghui want to bring to me?"

His Majesty the Emperor's "unpredictable prophet" was something Chen Ju never expected!
While shocked by this, Chen Ju did not hesitate anymore and directly translated Zhang Chonghui's words:
"Back to the emperor, Zhang Chonghui said that he has a better way than 'three kings conferring titles at the same time', and can help you establish the third son of the emperor as the crown prince!"

(End of this chapter)