Brocade clothing as the country

Chapter 596

After dark, where will Emperor Wanli be? The eunuchs and maids in the palace will give you an affirmative answer, it's with Concubine Zheng.

Since the case of the Yu family in Shanxi was settled, Emperor Wanli had almost no more contact with Empress Dowager Li except for going to the Palace of Compassion and Peace to greet him sooner or later. Although the case of Datong was investigated, Empress Li nodded. .

Except for the repair of Xiyuan in Jiajing and the reconstruction after several fires, the Forbidden City does not have any new buildings, and the place where Concubine Zheng lives is just the palace of a nobleman from the previous generation.

As for what the emperor and concubines were doing in the palace, there were no literati notes outside. The rumors in the market were so extravagant and lewd, and it was just like ordinary wealthy people, where the husband and wife sat and chatted.

Emperor Wanli used to stay in Concubine Zheng's study after dinner, read miscellaneous books, and joke with Concubine Zheng. For the emperor who was silent outside, this was a rare relaxation.

On the night of May [-]th, Emperor Wanli did not read those miscellaneous books, but read carefully with a booklet in his hand. The night in the capital in early summer was already a bit hot.

The windows on this side of the bedroom are all open, covered with light gauze, and incense is lit in the corner of the room. Although the fragrance is quiet, it has the effect of repelling mosquitoes, and it is something specially prepared by the imperial prison.

Emperor Wanli was reading the booklets there, and Concubine Zheng took a bowl of soup from outside, waved all the servants out of the room, then put the soup on the table, covered it with a gauze, and sat quietly on the side.

Concubine Zheng Gui could be called beautiful, but she couldn't be said to be the top among the imperial palace.

The reason why she was able to gain a foothold in this imperial palace and favor the crown of the harem was that she was smart, good at observing words and expressions, and knew how to advance and retreat. Unlike those concubines who liked to read poems and songs, Concubine Zheng liked to read miscellaneous books and like to know the affairs of the world, so In the harem, she is both the wife and partner of Emperor Wanli.

Emperor and concubine, these two titles are scary to say the least, but Wanli is not, and Concubine Zheng is only 16 years old, young men and women.

Wanli, who was reading the notebook, felt the silence in the room, turned his head to look over, and met Zheng Guifei's eyes, Zheng Guifei smiled sweetly, Emperor Wanli threw the notebook on the desk, and pinched the corners of his eyebrows with his hands, Zheng Guifei behaved obediently He came over and gently rubbed Emperor Wanli's forehead with his hands.

"Mr. Zhang is so sick at home, I feel that there is trouble in the world immediately. There is a mutiny in Hangzhou, and there is also a riot in Ningxia. Could it be that only Mr. Zhang can suppress it, and the widows can't."

"Your Majesty, Zhang Ge always took a leave of absence six days ago. It will take half a month to send letters from Zhejiang and Ningxia. The Emperor thinks too much."

Hearing Concubine Zheng's analysis, Emperor Wanli also laughed, shook his head and sighed, leaning on the back of his chair and whispering:
"In the past, the widow hoped that Mr. Zhang would not be here so that he could do something by himself, but Mr. Zhang is so sick, but the widow feels a little flustered. It's ridiculous."

Concubine Zheng Gui could not answer this question, but Concubine Zheng changed the subject and asked:
"Your Majesty, how is Elder Zhang Ge's condition? Does it matter?"

The worry on Emperor Wanli's face became heavier, he shook his head and said in a deep voice:
"The imperial doctor said that this disease is not good, I'm afraid..."

Having said that, he paused, straightened up from his seat, and said:
"The queen mother also sent someone to ask. Both Feng Daban and Zhang Banban said that the widow should visit the house, and the widow will come to ask in a few days."

"The emperor respects the teacher, and people in the world will definitely praise him..."

**************
"...Zhang Taiyue's body is very strong, why did he fall ill when he was ill?"

In Zhang Cheng's house, there were only Zhang Cheng and Zou Yi. Hearing Zhang Cheng's question, Zou Yi bowed and said:
"My son sent someone to Yu Yuanzheng this afternoon to inquire about the news, saying that Zhang Shoufu worked hard on government affairs, and he didn't know how to control himself when he returned to the inner house. I didn't care about it when I was sick for the first time, but it's a bit late now."

After hearing what Zou Yi said, Zhang Cheng nodded and said:
"Emperor Sejong was refining alchemy in Xiyuan, and the elixir was full of poison. Zhang Taiyue didn't know what he ate. Did the court say how many days are left?"

"It's only two months at most, this time it's too intense, I'm afraid I can't stand it..."

After Zou Yi finished speaking, Zhang Cheng was silent for a while, patted the small table on the kang a few times, and said in a deep voice:
"What are the ministers in the court doing? All the important things in Dongchang are reported to Feng Bao. Jin Yiwei is vague and doesn't tell the truth. Is there any news from the Department of Public Security?"

Zou Yi pondered for a while, and answered:
"Lang officials from various ministries and Qingliu scholars from all over the place are chattering, they have everything to say, and they can't get too much news. The cabinet officials and the six ministers and the like all stay behind closed doors, for fear of being caught. what people say."

"Li Youzi left quickly, the others really can stay in the mansion at ease, our family won't believe it."

"Master Yifu is very clever. Shen Shixing, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, sent someone to Tianjin Wei. Lord Yifu also knows that Yang Sichen, a Qing guest under his sect, has always been in correspondence with Wang Tongmu. By the way, he is about to enter the palace At that time, Lu Wancai sent a message saying that Zhang Siwei, Minister of the Ministry of War, might have gone to the residence of Marquis Wuqing yesterday."

Hearing the last sentence, Zhang Cheng's eyes froze, but he frowned and said:
"Go or not go, why do you still have a maybe..."

Zou Yi replied with a wry smile:

"My lord foster father, yesterday Zhang Siwei carried three sedan chairs from his home and went to three places inside and outside the city. After the three sedan chairs had left for half an hour, there were a few servants in green clothes and small caps carrying gifts over there. Wu Qinghou's side, there is no reason, this is also Lu Wancai's guess."

Zhang Cheng patted the table beside him lightly, and remained silent for a long time. Zou Yi stood beside him and waited quietly. Zhang Cheng stopped slapping the table, and said solemnly:

"From today onwards, every day, no matter what the Secretary of Public Security inquires about, make a copy and send it to Wang Tong in Tianjin."

"The part of Gong Nei and Xungui..."

"Send them all over. Wang Tong has an extraordinary eye. Maybe he can see things from it that you and I can't see. Now Zhang Juzheng is seriously ill, and the palace is unstable. You will leave the palace tomorrow morning to speak with Li Wenyuan and Lu Wancai. The company's people and eyeliners must be fully mobilized, and everyone inside and outside must keep an eye on it."

Zhang Cheng spoke solemnly, Zou Yi also solemnly agreed, and Zhang Cheng said again:
"You go and make arrangements. Our family wants to see Deng Pu, Hu Qi, and Xue Zhanye. Besides, the people who serve the Lord Long Live every day and the people around us have to see the list. We will pick up the list when we come down here." A post, after reading this post, the old Feng who knows the prison will arrange it for you."

Zou Yi memorized all the orders in a few sentences, and he knew that the supervisor was in charge of moving, guarding, and coordinating various places in the palace, and it was also the inner prison yamen that arranged for the nobles to move with the attendants and guide them. The movement of the people inside and out, serving the Emperor Wanli, and the eunuchs who followed in and out were all arranged by this inner prison yamen.

After finishing his orders, Zou Yi bowed to say goodbye and was about to leave, but before he opened the door, Zhang Cheng stopped him and said:

"In such a dangerous situation, you must take care of yourself."

Zou Yi saluted deeply, and retreated in silence.

**************
"The Empress Dowager, the maidservant asked to see me, and I had something to say to the Empress Dowager, but I was in a hurry, I don't know whether it is feasible or not. If there is something wrong, I hope the Empress Dowager will forgive me."

Lin Shulu said that although his movements were slow, he did it meticulously. Others only thought he was serious, but they didn't think there was anything wrong with his body.

In the morning, both Feng Bao and Zhang Cheng accompanied Emperor Wanli to the court meeting at Wenyuan Pavilion, and since Zhang Juzheng was seriously ill, Feng Bao spent much more time in the ceremonial supervisor's room, and the time spent traveling to and from noble palaces was much less. Lin Shulu was in the Palace of Compassion and Ning in the morning, and the eunuchs from the Supervisor of Rituals would not be there.

Empress Dowager Li's complexion was not very good. Hearing Lin Shulu's words, she frowned and said:
"You are also from Prince Yu's Mansion. You know that Ai's family doesn't like such twists and turns, so you just have to say something."

"My servant thanked the Empress Dowager for her kindness. Mr. Zhang, the chief assistant of the cabinet, is seriously ill, and he is panicking inside and outside. Although there are ancestors and ancestors protecting him inside and outside the palace, Zhang Ge is always a pillar of the Ming Dynasty. Now he is seriously ill, and it is inevitable that some young people will have trouble. Thinking about the role, the forbidden guards inside the palace and the forbidden army outside the palace are on duty everywhere, and each is led by a yamen army general. It’s too late to deal with.”

Lin Shulu spoke very slowly. When she heard that Zhang Juzheng was seriously ill, the Empress Dowager Li frowned with anger on her face, but at the end she was concentrating. Lin Shulu knelt there and continued:

"What I want to say is that the imperial guards, the imperial army, and all those with swords inside and outside the palace will be ruled by the empress dowager. After everything is stable, we will act according to the rules."

All the armed forces in the palace are controlled by a few people to prevent dominance. If anyone is qualified to rule by one person, then only Emperor Wanli, but in today's world, everyone knows that Empress Dowager Li is greater than the emperor. Also suitable.

Empress Dowager Li nodded slowly, and said approvingly:
"After all, he is a person from Prince Yu's Mansion. When he thinks about things, he only cares about the overall situation."

**********
In the Zhenxing Building on South Street outside the Imperial City, Zhang Cheng shared a room with Deng Pu, Hu Qi, and Xue Zhanye. Zhang Cheng said solemnly:

"Now the situation is unstable, so there is no need for our family to say more. You should keep your own duties and keep an eye on them. Besides, the three of you will make a list, and the most trustworthy and reliable ones will be made. The guards of Long Live Lord will have to be changed again. "

Both Deng Pu and Hu Qi took orders with awe, Zhang Cheng turned to Xue Zhanye and said:
"Our family doesn't care what Feng Bao's order is, or where Dongchang wants to look. You have to watch Xue Zhanye, Jingying and Wucheng Bingmasi. If there is any trouble, report it immediately!"

(End of this chapter)