Forbidden City, Hall of Nourishing Heart.
After Jiajing finished teaching, he took the dragon chariot and returned to Yangxin Hall from the Imperial College.
"Your Majesty, we have arrived."
Just as Jiajing closed his eyes to rest, Lu Fang's soft call came from his ears.
"Yes, I understand."
Hearing this, Jiajing nodded, and then got off the dragon chariot with Lu Fang's help.
"Your Majesty, please slow down."
When Jiajing stepped onto the steps, Lu Fang did not forget to remind him.
"Lu Fang, what do you think of my speech today?"
Jiajing turned his gaze to Lu Fang and asked with a smile.
"Your Majesty, I think you can speak better than those Hanlin bachelors who are rich in knowledge!"
"At that time, everyone present was fascinated."
When Lu Fang heard what Jiajing said, she immediately stopped and responded respectfully.
"Hahaha, you, you, let me tell you what you want."
After listening to Lu Fang's evaluation of his teaching, Jiajing couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth.
"By the way, how is Eunuch Shi's current physical condition?"
As Jiajing walked up the steps, he suddenly asked this question in a cold voice.
"Your Majesty, Eunuch Shi's current physical condition is not very good. He will be able to survive for another month or two at most before he must leave the palace."
When Lu Fang heard what Jiajing said, her body tensed up instantly. She didn't dare to hide anything and responded cautiously.
"Well, let Eunuch Shi go out of the palace in one month!"
"When the time comes, your godson Feng Bao will take over Eunuch Shi's position and serve as eunuch Bingbi, the eunuch in charge of etiquette."
"Lu Fang, I hope you won't disappoint me!"
After Jiajing finished speaking, he looked away from Lu Fang and said with a faint smile.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will definitely live up to Your Majesty's trust!"
Seeing this, Lu Fang suppressed the excitement in her heart and responded in a deep voice.
"Well, Lu Fang, I still trust you very much! Instruct the imperial kitchen to bring me some food."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
…
Soon, the emperor's teaching at the Imperial College spread throughout the capital, and became a topic of conversation for a new generation of dignitaries, as well as the common people before and after tea.
"Have you heard that His Majesty taught at the Imperial Academy and overturned the theory of a round sky and a square earth!"
"I've heard about it a long time ago. Not only that, it's said that His Majesty also plans to personally send a fleet to verify this theory."
"What is this? A friend of mine was at the scene. According to him, His Majesty even drew a map of the world himself! He also told everyone present about the customs and customs of each place."
"I heard that there were many high officials present at the time, and they were all fascinated!"
"He even ordered someone to make a copy of the map drawn by His Majesty himself on the spot."
"Ah, really?"
"Of course it's true, I'm telling you..."
…
At this moment, the cabinet was quite quiet.
The five people were all sitting in their seats, reviewing their respective memorials, and no one spoke.
It's just that today's cabinet has a few more things than before.
I saw a world map hanging in the small room of the cabinet!
And this world map is exactly the one that Yan Song ordered his subordinates to copy before. This map is hung in an extremely conspicuous position and can be seen with just a glance.
Xu Jie put down the brush in his hand, turned his gaze to Yan Song, and said slowly.
"His Majesty ordered us to send a special fleet starting from our country, Ming Dynasty, heading in one direction, and finally returning to Ming Dynasty. I wonder if Mr. Yan Ge has a suitable candidate in mind?"
"You know, His Majesty takes this matter very seriously!"
After Xu Jie finished speaking, he added another sentence.
Yan Song on the side heard this and stopped reviewing the memorial. He took off his reading glasses and said slowly.
"Speaking of suitable candidates, I have one here."
"Oh, please give Mr. Yan Ge a clear explanation."
Seeing that Yan Song already had his favorite candidate, Xu Jie couldn't help but secretly increase his vigilance.
Yan Song glanced at Xu Jie before continuing.
"Mr. Xu Ge, I would like to recommend Gu Yan to Your Majesty."
"Gu Yan?"
After Xu Jie heard about the candidates proposed by Yan Song, he immediately fell into deep thought.
He did have some impressions of the person Yan Song proposed, but he couldn't remember it for a while.
Zhang Juzheng on the side saw this and reminded him in a low voice.
"Mr. Xu Ge, this Gu Yan is a subordinate of the lower official. He is currently serving in the navy of the imperial court. He is quite smart and capable!"
After hearing Zhang Juzheng's reminder, Xu Jie came back to his senses, then looked away from Yan Song and said.
"In that case, Mr. Yan Ge, why don't we go to His Majesty and inform His Majesty of this matter face to face!"
"We might as well give His Majesty an explanation, right?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I meant."
Faced with Xu Jie's proposal, Yan Song did not refuse, but nodded and agreed.
"Well, in that case, let's go to His Majesty's side now!"
Xu Jie said with a smile on his face.
"Um."
After Yan Song responded, he followed Xu Jie's footsteps and rushed to the Yangxin Hall.
…
In the Yangxin Hall, Jiajing and Lu Fang were playing Go.
Hearing a 'click' sound, Jiajing dropped the black chess piece in his hand, then turned his eyes to Lu Fang and said.
"it's your turn."
"Um."
After Lu Fang responded, he immediately dropped the white piece in his hand onto the chessboard, with a frown on his face.
At this moment, a eunuch came forward and said respectfully.
"Your Majesty, Mr. Yan Ge and Mr. Xu Ge are outside asking to see you!"
"Oh, what are they here for?"
After hearing the eunuch's report, Jiajing said with confusion on his face.
"Oh, forget it, let's just come here today and let them in."
I saw Jiajing throwing the black chess piece in his hand into the chess basket and giving instructions to the eunuch.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The eunuch immediately left the Yangxin Hall after responding.
Then, the other eunuchs came forward and put the Go chess away for the next use.
Lu Fang on the side couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief, because he really didn't know how to let the emperor win this game of chess. Even if Lu Fang tried his best, it was of no avail.
"Huh, Mr. Yan Ge, Mr. Xu Ge, you two came at the right time!"
After sighing in his heart, Lu Fang stood beside Jiajing as usual.
"Xuan Yansong and Xu Jie come to see you!"
As a high-pitched voice sounded, a moment later, with Xu Jie's support, Yan Song stepped onto the steps and entered the Hall of Cultivation of the Heart.
As soon as they entered the Yangxin Hall, the two of them knelt on the ground and said respectfully.
"Your Majesty, Yan Song (Xu Jie), wishes you, my emperor, long live, long live, long live!"
"Well, everyone, get up."
Jiajing rubbed the dragon head carved on the dragon chair, looked away from the two of them, and said slowly.
"Come here and offer seats to the two pavilion elders!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
As soon as Jiajing finished speaking, eunuchs immediately prepared seats for Yan Song and Xu Jie.
"Sit, everyone, sit down."
Jiajing pointed to the seat behind the two of them and ordered.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After Yan Song and Xu Jie looked at each other, they immediately sat down on the seats assigned to them by Jiajing.
"Tell me, what do you two want from me?"
Jiajing turned his eyes to the two of them and said casually.
"Your Majesty, Wei Chen and Mr. Xu Ge are here this time to recommend suitable candidates to you!"
"Oh, who is it?"
When Jiajing heard this, he immediately became interested and asked.
"Your Majesty, I would like to recommend Gu Yan to you as the best candidate to command this fleet."
(End of chapter)
