Just as Lu Fang was dazed, Jiajing's ancient and unwavering voice rang in his ears, bringing Lu Fang back to reality.
"Lu Fang, what are you doing standing there? Do you have something to report to me?"
After hearing this, Lu Fang reacted and immediately took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Jiajing respectfully.
Seeing Jiajing's face full of doubts, Lu Fang then explained.
"Your Majesty, this is the letter sent to you by Hai Rui!"
"Oh, Hai Rui found out the matter so quickly. It seems that I was not wrong about the person at first!"
As Jiajing spoke, he opened the letter and began to read the contents.
The further he looked down, the tighter Jiajing's brows became.
When Jiajing saw what Hai Rui described in the letter, the miserable situation in which local officials in Henan used unscrupulous means to seize food from the people, he couldn't help but slam the table and cursed angrily: "These damn insects dare to ignore the imperial court." The ban forced the people to take food from their hands!"
"Not only that, but you actually dared to tamper with the grain stored in the granary. Lu Fang, do you know how much money Hai Rui confiscated from their home?"
When Jiajing said this, he paused for a moment and then said to himself.
"A total of 5,260,000 taels!"
"I'm going to kill these insects one by one!"
Lu Fang was shocked when she heard Jiajing's murderous words.
Afterwards, Jiajing's emotions gradually calmed down, and he turned his gaze to Lu Fang aside and asked: "Lü Fang, who do you think is better to take over as governor of Henan next?"
When Lu Fang heard this, she quickly lowered her head, her face full of humility.
"Your Majesty, I don't understand this. I think it's better to let Mr. Yan Ge and others discuss the suitable candidate."
Seeing this situation, Jiajing had no choice but to give up the idea and immediately gave the order.
"That's all, Lu Fang, go and call Yan Song and Xu Jie over and say that I have something to discuss with them!"
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
After Lu Fang responded, she turned around and left the Yangxin Hall.
…
In the capital, Xu Jie's house.
Ever since Jiajing officially proposed the policy that officials, regardless of their rank, would have one day of rest per week, Xu Jie suddenly felt that the burden on his shoulders had become much lighter.
Today happened to be Xu Jie's day to rest. After thinking about it, Xu Jie finally decided not to do anything!
Xu Jie was seen lying facelessly on a chair with his eyes closed and meditating. There was a pot of steaming tea on the table beside him. Just as Xu Jie was enjoying this rare leisure time, there was a knock on the door. .
When Xu Jie heard the movement, he couldn't help but frown, and then reluctantly opened his eyes with a stern look on his face.
"Come in!"
After Xu Jie finished speaking, the door to the room was pushed open, and a servant walked in and said tremblingly.
"Sir, Eunuch Lu is here."
When Xu Jie learned the news from his servant, he stood up from his seat suddenly, his face full of surprise.
"What, take me there quickly!"
Next, Xu Jie, led by his servant, came to the waiting room and saw Lu Fang, who was sitting on a chair and sipping tea leisurely.
When Lu Fang saw Xu Jie arriving, after taking a sip of tea, she stood up from her seat slowly and said slowly with a smile on her face.
"Mr. Xu Ge, Your Majesty asked you to come over. He said he had something important to discuss with you."
"Eunuch Lu, may I ask what your Majesty is talking about when you go to see me?"
After Xu Jie thought about it for a moment, he quickly organized his words and asked Lu Fang cautiously.
However, Lu Fang had no intention of answering Xu Jie's doubts. He just chuckled and said, "Mr. Xu Ge, you will know after you go there!"
…
When Xu Jie followed Lu Fang's footsteps and waited outside the Yangxin Hall, he suddenly discovered that Yan Song had actually arrived at the Yangxin Hall one step ahead of him.
Afterwards, Xu Jie came to stand next to Yan Song. Their eyes met, both trying to see something in the other's eyes.
Then, Lu Fang stepped forward and warned.
"You guys wait a moment, I'll go ask His Majesty for instructions right now!"
"Excuse me, Eunuch Lu!"
After Yan Song and Xu Jie heard this, they immediately bowed slightly to Lu Fang.
Lu Fang nodded, then walked up the steps and entered the Hall of Cultivation of the Heart.
After Lu Fang left, Yan Song looked at the ground casually and took the lead in provoking the topic.
"Does Mr. Xu Ge know why His Majesty is looking for us this time?"
When Xu Jie heard this, he shook his head and then responded.
"I don't know. I was very surprised when I learned the news from Eunuch Lu."
Next, the two tested each other again, and after confirming that the other party really didn't know why the emperor came to them, they felt relieved.
Then, a high-pitched voice was heard: "Xuan, the first assistant of the cabinet, Yan Song, and the second assistant of the cabinet, Xu Jie, have an audience!"
When Yan Song and Xu Jie heard this, they immediately looked at each other, and then Yan Song stepped up the steps step by step with Xu Jie's support.
As soon as the two of them entered the Yangxin Hall, they knelt on the ground, their faces full of respect.
"I bow to your majesty, long live my emperor!"
"Well, get up!"
Jiajing's rather plain voice sounded, making it impossible to hear any emotional fluctuations.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After receiving Jiajing's permission, Yan Song and Xu Jie got up from the ground one after another.
Then, Jiajing glanced at Lu Fang who was waiting beside him, and then gave instructions.
"Lu Fang, show this letter to the two of them!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Lu Fang took the envelope from Jiajing's hand, then quickly came to Yan Song and Xu Jie, and handed the letter to Yan Song.
Seeing this situation, Yan Song couldn't help but start to feel uneasy. Soon he saw Yan Song slowly opening the envelope. After seeing the contents clearly, he breathed a sigh of relief.
After Yan Song had read through the contents of the letter, he handed the letter to Xu Jie who was standing aside.
Seeing that the time was almost up, Jiajing's voice sounded in their ears again.
"After reading the letter, do you two have anything to say?"
As soon as Jiajing finished speaking, Yan Song put on an expression of self-blame and apologized to Jiajing.
"Your Majesty, this is all Wei Chen's fault. As the chief minister of the cabinet, Wei Chen is unworthy of your Majesty's trust. He has no..."
However, before Yan Song finished speaking, he was impatiently interrupted by Jiajing.
"Okay, okay, stop talking nonsense to me. If I want to deal with you, you won't even be able to see me!"
After Jiajing finished scolding Yan Song, he turned his attention to Xu Jie and asked him.
"Xu Jie, what do you have to say?"
After seeing Yan Song's fate, Xu Jie thought to himself: "It seems that His Majesty wants us to come up with corresponding solutions. Only in this way can we comply with His Majesty's wishes and avoid repeating the same mistakes."
Immediately afterwards, after Xu Jie sorted out the words in his mind, he gave his own suggestion: "Your Majesty, the top priority is to escort Pan Xian and other guilty officials to the capital for centralized interrogation, and strive to get them to account for themselves as soon as possible. In the backstage of the court, we can wipe out these insects in one fell swoop!"
"In addition, a centralized inventory of the existing grains in local granaries in Henan should be carried out, and a decision can be made after confirming the actual grains currently in the granaries!"
"For those people who have been forced to confiscate food by the government, vigorous efforts should be made to appease them..."
Jiajing did not comment on the measures proposed by Xu Jie, and then withdrew his eyes from Yan Song and Xu Jie, and said unhurriedly: "I came to you two this time for the purpose of Discuss the candidate for the new governor of Henan!"
(End of chapter)
