After a night of fermentation, the news that the emperor agreed to reduce the royal family's expenses and that the favor order was about to be implemented spread throughout the capital. Along with it, there was news that the imperial concubine Shen was pregnant.
Early morning, Yan Mansion.
After sending away everyone who came to report the news, Yan Shifan was in a good mood. In order to ensure the smooth implementation of the plan, he stayed up all night. Now that the burden that had been accumulated in his heart for a long time finally fell, Yan Shifan couldn't help but feel relieved physically and mentally. Waiting for this excitement In the past, irresistible tiredness followed, and Yan Shifan fell asleep on the chair.
I don't know how long I slept. When Yan Shifan woke up, he was wearing a piece of clothing to keep out the cold. Yan Song sat aside, took the ginseng soup handed over by the maid, and rinsed his mouth.
"Father!" Yan Shifan was startled and prepared to stand up and salute.
Yan Song just waved his hand and said: "No need, you didn't sleep all night last night, you'd better sleep a little longer."
"Father, His Majesty has adopted your suggestion last night and will reduce the clan's expenses and implement the grace order!" Although Yan Song said this, Yan Shifan still got up from his chair and told him what happened last night.
"I know all this. The news has been spreading in the capital for a long time. I heard that King Yu rushed to the palace early in the morning and wanted to meet the Holy Emperor." Yan Song said, taking the hot water from the maid's hand. Soaked handkerchief, wiped hands.
"Why did King Yu suddenly rush to the palace? Could it be that he was going to speak for those clans?" Yan Shifan frowned and asked in confusion.
"I think so, but Prince Yu's trip is doomed to be fruitless. His Majesty has opened his mouth and it is impossible to take it back! Besides, His Majesty has been pushing for this matter." After Yan Song finished speaking, he turned his attention to the courtyard. The green plants planted in it can’t help but make you feel good.
Perhaps because he was tired of watching, Yan Song turned his gaze back and continued: "By the way, do you know the news that came from the palace last night?"
"Father, are you referring to the pregnancy of Imperial Concubine Shen?" Yan Shifan heard what Yan Song said, recalled it for a moment, and responded.
"Yes, this matter is not trivial. It is related to the future survival of our Yan family! Your Majesty has not established a crown prince at present, but at this time, news of the pregnancy of Imperial Concubine Shen has spread in the palace..."
"Father, do you mean that if the child in the imperial concubine's belly is a boy, he may become the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty in the future? Your Majesty also has two sons, one is King Yu and the other is King Jing, and His Highness Prince Yu also has a child , this is useless..."
"Okay, no need to say any more, go down and get ready, we have to go to court later!" Just when Yan Shifan was about to say the next words, Yan Song suddenly spoke and interrupted him.
"Yes, father."
Seeing that his father had no desire to talk anymore, Yan Shifan had no choice but to bow and leave.
…
Forbidden City, Hall of Nourishing Heart.
Jiajing looked at his son who was kneeling in front of him. After listening to his story, he sighed helplessly, helped him up from the ground, and said lightly: "So, you are here to be their lobbyist?"
Zhu Zaijing heard what Jiajing said and hurriedly replied: "Father, my son has indeed been entrusted by some clans and came to persuade your majesty. Please take back your orders!"
"What nonsense, I am the emperor! How can I take back the promise I made just as I say?"
Hearing Jiajing's angry rebuke, Zhu Zaijing became even more frightened and uneasy. Then he knelt down on the ground, kowtowed heavily to the ground several times, and cried: "If my father rashly cuts down the clan's expenses, many lower-level clans will not be able to survive." Yes! They are originally side branches, relying on the salary and lumi distributed by the court to survive. Now if the clan expenses are reduced, the vast majority of them will have to sell their sons and daughters. "
After Jiajing listened, he stood in silence for a long time and said calmly: "I know everything you said, so I plan to operate on those big clans first!"
After Jiajing finished speaking, he turned around and took out the memorial that Yan Song had handed to him before and handed it to Zhu Zaijing.
"Take a look for yourself, this is the coupon that Yan Song handed over earlier."
Zhu Zaijing was speechless after reading the contents of the memorial. The memorial recorded in detail many crimes committed by the vassal king and his clan.
"Father, son and minister..."
"Okay, you can go down! I have to go to the cabinet meeting later. As for what you said before, I will carefully consider it."
"Okay, I'll take my leave!"
After King Yu Zhu Zaijing finished speaking, he bowed respectfully to Jiajing and then left the Yangxin Hall.
After King Yu Zhu Zaijing left, Lu Fang stepped in and whispered: "Your Majesty, someone found my slave last night and wanted to ask her to help me say a few good words."
"Hmph, their hands are quite stretched out. First it's my son, and then you. Next, are they planning to target my concubine and my unborn child?"
Seeing that the emperor was angry, Lu Fang quickly knelt on the ground and then begged: "Your Majesty, please calm down! Otherwise, let me send someone to check..."
Jiajing shook his head and refused: "No need, it will be a matter of time anyway."
…
Outside the cabinet, Yan Song and Xu Jie were chatting with each other, and the rest of them followed silently behind them.
"The matters proposed by Mr. Yan Ge at the court meeting have been approved by His Majesty and will be discussed at the cabinet meeting today."
"Thanks to His Majesty's wrongful love, I just did what I, the chief minister of the cabinet, should do."
"Speaking of which, last night, officials from the four ministries of Li, Gong, Punishment, and Rites took the people of the capital to petition His Majesty. Does Mr. Yan Ge know?"
"I really don't know. I went to bed very early last night."
"Hahaha, that's great!"
Entering the cabinet, the charcoal fire in the furnace was burning brightly, dispelling the chill that enveloped everyone. Before the emperor came, Yan Song put on his reading glasses and processed the memorial together with Xu Jie.
"By the way, has Wang Jien, the governor of Gansu, been recruited?" Yan Song put the corrected memorial aside and asked aloud.
"We have recruited them a long time ago. We originally planned to send them to the Jinyiwei side, but unexpectedly they were all recruited halfway! And according to his confession, a large number of people were arrested in Gansu, and the national treasury received a total of 390 One hundred and twenty thousand taels of silver." Xu Jie glanced at Yan Song in surprise and responded.
"It would be great if there were more people like this. In this case, the court would not have to worry about money!"
"yes!"
Xu Jie also sighed with emotion.
"Your Majesty is here!"
The two stopped reviewing the memorial after hearing the sound. Then Yan Song took off his reading glasses and knelt on the ground with other cabinet ministers, waiting for the emperor's arrival.
Jiajing looked at the many cabinet ministers kneeling on the ground and said loudly: "Everyone, get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After Jiajing sat down in his seat, he just listened to "Ding!" With a sound, Jiajing behind the bead curtain knocked on the jade pan.
Lu Fang, who was on the side, immediately said: "Today the cabinet is discussing the reduction of clan expenses and the implementation of the grace order! If there is no objection, let's get started."
"Your Majesty, I have something to say." Yan Song took the lead and spoke to Jiajing behind the bead curtain.
"Speak." Jiajing heard this and motioned for Yan Song to speak.
"I propose that when reducing the clan's expenses, the clan should be divided into the main sect and its branches, and cannot be generalized!"
"The main clan is rich, but the side branches are poor! Most of the salary and lumi distributed by the imperial court to the clan every year are occupied by the main clan, and the other side branches can only get a very small part to barely make ends meet."
