Jinyi Town Mountains and Rivers

Chapter 809 The Shrewd and Faint Emperor

The apse of Yongshou Palace.

Wei Zhongxian is laying a dragon couch for Emperor Wanli.The eunuch in charge of the respect room used a mahogany lacquer plate, holding the name plate of the concubine in the harem, and knelt down in front of Emperor Wanli.

Emperor Wanli looked at the signs and ordered, "I won't call my concubines to bed tonight."

Unlike Emperor Longqing, Emperor Wanli was not keen on pampering his concubines.Compared with women, he is more interested in silver.

The eunuch in charge of the respect room said: "Your servant obeys the order." After speaking, he left the apse.

Emperor Wanli lay down on the dragon couch, with his head resting on his hands, and asked Wei Zhongxian casually, "Why haven't I seen Zhang Jing's shadow all day?"

Wei Zhongxian made a slip of the tongue on purpose: "Your Majesty, Eunuch Zhang celebrated his birthday today. A large number of officials went to his outer house to celebrate his birthday. He was too late to deal with the guests, so naturally he didn't have time to go to the palace to do errands. Oh, look at this humble servant girl Mouth, what are you talking about! Eunuch Zhang can’t do anything about it, the world is the most important thing in officialdom. When officials come to celebrate their birthdays, Eunuch Zhang can’t shut them down.”

Emperor Wanli closed his eyes and sneered: "Oh, if I remember correctly, Zhang Jing was born in February. In the spring and February of the eighth year of Wanli, Zhang Jing celebrated his birthday, and Feng Bao even begged me for Zhang Jing's reward. What kind of life is he living in this late autumn? It’s nothing more than having seventy or so children in his hands, and using the pretext of celebrating his birthday, he sells his official titles!”

Wei Zhongxian knelt down on the ground, and slapped himself three times in a row: "Your servant is cheap. You made the emperor misunderstand Eunuch Zhang, you should hit me."

Emperor Wanli got up suddenly, sat on the side of the dragon bed, stared at Wei Zhongxian: "I see, you said this to me on purpose. Wei Zhongxian, raise your head."

Wei Zhongxian raised his head.

Emperor Wanli stared into Wei Zhongxian's eyes: "If I guessed correctly, you were ordered to testify for Zhao Min from the Metropolitan Procuratorate that day in the court hall."

Wei Zhongxian was stunned.However, he is very adaptable: "In front of the emperor, slaves dare not tell lies. Eunuch Wang and Eunuch Chen did something they shouldn't do. I don't want to hide the truth from the emperor for them."

Emperor Wanli said: "Oh, your clever mouth is watertight. Come on, stop pretending! It was He Liu who ordered you to participate in the impeachment of Wang An and Chen Ju, right? You are in Zhangying now, with your heart in your heart." He. Right? Zhang Jing is such a fool. I thought you betrayed Wang An and Chen Ju. In fact, you betrayed Wang An and Chen. It is fake. Wait for the opportunity, and it is true to betray Zhang Jing. Right?"

Wei Zhongxian was completely dumbfounded!Then came the bone-chilling fear!He didn't expect that the emperor in front of him, who was obsessed with calculating money all day long, could see everything clearly.

Wei Zhongxian knew that now whether he said it was right or not, there would be accidents.He resorted to a trick tried and tested by officials of all dynasties: only kowtow, not speaking.

"Bang bang bang!" Wei Zhongxian knelt under the dragon couch, kowtowing his head without saying a word.

Emperor Wanli smiled and said: "Everything in the world is in my belly. Wei Zhongxian, today I will send you a word. If you remember, you will have endless glory and wealth in the future. If you ignore it, sooner or later you will be decapitated." This sentence is: As a rootless servant, you have only one master. This master is neither Zhang nor He!"

Wei Zhongxian knew that it was time for him to express his opinion: "Yes, there is only one master for slaves, and that is the emperor."

Emperor Wanli said: "If you can figure this out, you are not a fool. You remind me of someone. My companion Feng. Feng Bao has been my companion since he was born. It can be said that I It was Feng Bao who watched him grow up. He and I had a master-slave relationship for nearly 20 years. But why did I make up my mind to punish Feng Bao 14 years ago? Because Feng Bao made a mistake. The queen mother of hers has become her master, and I have become her child. Don't be the second big companion of Feng."

Wei Zhongxian said: "Yes! This servant respects the teachings of the emperor and will never be the second companion of Feng."

Emperor Wanli lay down on the dragon couch again: "Humph, that old guy He Liu is really shrewd. He doesn't make enemies of the officials himself, but he pushes his enemy Zhang Jing to the front stage and cleans up the officials. As expected It's an old fox who's been around for three dynasties..."

When Emperor Wanli said the word "old fox", his eyelids closed heavily and he fell into a coma.

Wei Zhongxian crept out of the apse tremblingly.

The moment he stepped out of the palace gate, a bone-piercing autumn wind blew, causing Wei Zhongxian to shiver.He whispered to himself: "I can't be the second Feng Bao."

In the following decades, Wei Zhongxian did not become the second Feng Bao, but became the only "nine thousand years old" in China for 5000 years.

In the evening of the second day, He Mansion.

Zhu Xiang, a non-staff spy of Jinyiwei, was wrapped in a huge fur waistcoat, and moved clumsily towards the hall.

Scientists of later generations have a "law of conservation of energy".Zhu Xiang was addicted to meat when she was a child.In the end, the meat eaten is conserved and becomes the meat that grows on the body.With a fat body and a huge fur waistcoat on top, Zhu Xiang had the illusion that she was too fat to walk.

Zhu Xiang entered the hall.He Liu asked: "Did you finish the horse hanging with Huang Shilang's second wife?"

Zhu Xiang took a sip of tea and wiped her mouth: "Well, I lost 200 taels."

He Liu filled a cup of tea for his daughter: "If you can buy useful news for 200 taels, it's worth it."

Zhu Xiangdao: "Father, Huang Shilang told his second wife yesterday that Zhang Jing recommended more than 70 officials at one go, to replace those officials who were investigated and prosecuted for vacancies."

He Liudao: "Oh? Zhang Jing's hands and feet are deft in promoting talents for the country."

Zhu Xiang shook her head: "Promoting virtuous men for the country? It's about the same as raising money for the country! Madam Huang said that it was spread all over the capital, and Zhang Jing made a lot of money for the more than 70 vacancies! Master, everyone is jealous of Zhang Jing."

He Liu smiled: "Purchasing an official? This is a good start."

Zhu Xiang asked, "Father, what's the beginning?"

He Liu replied: "The beginning of Zhang Jing's death!"

Zhu Xiang asked: "Father, should I contact Ru Bai's subordinates and old friends now?"

He Liu asked: "In the past two days, have you been followed by tails when you go in and out?"

Zhu Xiang said: "It's very strange, the tail is gone."

This is another mistake Zhang Jing made.Two days ago, one of Zhang Jing's confidantes asked him if he wanted to send a few more people to keep an eye on Zhu Xiang for a while.

Zhang Jing, who had just acquired the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Sixth Division Gallery, proudly said to his confidant: "He Liu is a dead tiger now. He is no threat to me. Keep an eye on Zhu Xiang's sow's tip. What are you doing? She is the emperor's sister. Let her find out, and you will inevitably have to make a big fuss in front of the emperor. One more thing is worse than one less thing. From today, remove all eyes and ears that are staring at Zhu Xiang."

After hearing what his daughter said, He Liu smiled slightly: "It's good if the tail is gone. Tomorrow, you go there..."

(End of this chapter)