"Thank you, father-in-law, for clearing up my doubts. I am very grateful!"
After leaving these words, Tang Shunzhi immediately stepped onto the steps of Qianqing Palace without much hesitation.
The eunuch who was responsible for teaching etiquette quietly watched Tang Shunzhi's leaving figure and stopped talking. After a long time, he came back to his senses, sighed and said helplessly.
"Oh, I knew it..."
At this moment, Tang Shunzhi's heart was far less peaceful than he looked on the surface, because he really didn't know how to face the current emperor.
Earlier, because he was worried about the government, Tang Shunzhi took a great risk and wrote a "Donggong Chao He Shu" to Jiajing. In this memorial, he tried to advise Jiajing not to spend too much energy on mystical cultivation, but to You should pay more attention to state affairs and the hundreds of millions of people in the Ming Dynasty.
As expected, this memorial offended Jiajing. Those who had gone to the memorial with him were all expelled and returned to their hometowns, and their originally promising career was completely cut off!
But now, the emperor seems to have changed. Not only has he become diligent in state affairs, but he has also solved the financial deficit problem that has plagued the Ming Dynasty for many years.
It is said that the amount of silver stored in the treasury now should be counted in hundreds of millions!
"Hey, I don't know why your Majesty summoned me back to Beijing?"
Tang Shunzhi thought so as he looked at the Qianqing Palace so close in front of him.
Not long after, a high-pitched voice was heard: "Xuan, Tang Shunzhi is here to see you!"
Upon hearing this, Tang Shunzhi immediately put aside the chaotic thoughts in his mind. After taking a deep breath and adjusting his mood, he stepped into the Qianqing Palace.
As soon as he entered Qianqing Palace, Tang Shunzhi knelt on the ground respectfully and said in a deep voice.
"I bow to your majesty, long live my emperor!"
Jiajing, who was sitting on the dragon chair, saw Tang Shunzhi arriving. After looking him up and down, he gave instructions.
"Well, get up!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After getting Jiajing's permission, Tang Shunzhi slowly stood up from the ground.
When getting up, Tang Shunzhi accidentally caught a glimpse of Jiajing sitting on the dragon chair out of the corner of his eye, and he felt even more hesitant in his heart.
Just as Tang Shunzhi was stunned, Jiajing's rather indifferent voice sounded in his ears: "Tang Shunzhi, how does it feel to serve in the Inspectorate?"
When Tang Shunzhi heard this, he suddenly came back to his senses and immediately responded without thinking: "Your Majesty, I have learned a lot during my time in the Inspectorate!"
After listening to Tang Shunzhi's response, Jiajing couldn't help but become interested and immediately asked.
"Oh, then you might as well tell me what you learned from it?"
After Tang Shunzhi heard the words, he organized the words in his mind and then spoke slowly.
"Your Majesty, the Inspectorate is responsible for supervising all officials, and it has extremely heavy powers and responsibilities!"
"Wei Chen feels that in this process, the Supervisory Yuan should not only supervise all officials, but also supervise itself. If you can't be honest and self-responsible yourself, how can you supervise all officials?"
"In the end, it is just a tool to eliminate dissidents!"
After Tang Shunzhi expressed his inner thoughts, he lowered his head uneasily, waiting for Jiajing's evaluation.
"Well, yes, yes, I'm really lucky that you can think of coming here, but it's too early to talk about this now!"
After listening to Tang Shunzhi's words, Jiajing pondered for a long time and immediately gave this evaluation.
Seeing this, Tang Shunzhi's expression remained unchanged, but he couldn't help but feel secretly happy: "It seems that His Majesty also agrees with my idea, but the right time has not yet arrived!"
After that, Jiajing may have realized that the topic had gone a little sideways. After coughing twice, he turned his attention to Tang Shunzhi and asked.
"Tang Shunzhi, do you know why I called you here today?"
When Tang Shunzhi heard this, his expression became more respectful, he lowered his head and said this.
"This humble minister is stupid, please express it clearly, Your Majesty!"
Seeing this, Jiajing withdrew his gaze from Tang Shunzhi and immediately spoke.
"I heard that you are excellent at arithmetic, so I plan to put you in charge of compiling a book on arithmetic!"
After Tang Shunzhi heard this, he was stunned for a long time, then he mustered up the courage and cautiously confirmed to Jiajing.
"Your Majesty, are you saying that the minister should be responsible for compiling books?"
Jiajing glanced at Tang Shunzhi strangely, raised his eyebrows, and asked, "Why, you don't want to?"
When Tang Shunzhi heard this, he suddenly panicked. His face was full of eagerness, and he quickly explained to Jiajing: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, you... you have misunderstood Wei Chen. Wei Chen is very happy to compile books on arithmetic!"
Under the subtle influence of Confucianism, writing books and establishing theories has a fatal temptation for those scholars.
In the eyes of those scholars, writing books and establishing theories is the most important event in life, second only to what Confucianism advocates, besides cultivating one’s moral character, managing one’s family, governing the country, and bringing peace to the world!
Let me ask, who can resist the temptation of leaving a name in history?
After that, Tang Shunzhi cautiously confirmed to Jiajing as if he suddenly remembered something.
"Your Majesty, you asked Wei Chen to compile books on arithmetic. Are you planning to list it as a separate subject for examination?"
When Jiajing heard this, he couldn't help but have a look of surprise on his face, and asked immediately.
"Where did you get this information?"
When Tang Shunzhi saw Jiajing asking him the reason, he immediately hesitated and said: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, not long ago, there were rumors in the court that you planned to select talents from the newly established disciplines of the Imperial College!"
When Tang Shunzhi said this, his face was full of hesitation. After a long battle between heaven and man, he finally chose to tell what he knew.
"What's more... what's more, Your Majesty plans to abolish Confucianism..."
After listening to Tang Shunzhi's narration, Jiajing's face suddenly became filled with black lines. He immediately slammed the table and said in a deep voice.
"These guys, they don't do anything serious all day long, they only talk nonsense every day. In the blink of an eye, the matter has spread like this!"
Although Jiajing said this, he had already begun to secretly plan in his heart: "It seems that I have to seize the time. Only by popularizing newspapers can I regain the right to speak from the hands of this group of gentry!"
Tang Shunzhi, who was on the side, saw that Jiajing was angry, and he quickly knelt on the ground and comforted him: "Your Majesty, please calm down!"
After Jiajing heard this, he looked Tang Shunshang up and down, and then gave instructions.
"By the way, when you compile the book, you must pay attention to the difficulty of arithmetic from easy to difficult, step by step!"
When Jiajing said this, he added immediately.
"If you encounter any difficulties or need any help, just tell me. Do you understand?"
When Tang Shunzhi heard this, his expression immediately became serious and he said respectfully.
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
Seeing that things were almost done, Jiajing waved his hand and gave the order to expel guests.
"In that case, let's leave it like this for today. You can leave!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
After Tang Shunzhi heard this, he didn't stop too much. After bowing to Jiajing, he turned around and left Qianqing Palace.
…
After that, a few more days passed.
Yan Mansion, study room.
At this moment, Yan Shifan was standing respectfully in front of Yan Song, reporting to him the preparations for the auction.
"Father, I have prepared everything. In three days, the auction can be officially held!"
After Yan Song listened to Yan Shifan's report, the emotions on his face did not fluctuate much. He just looked away from the books in front of him and turned to Yan Shifan for confirmation.
"During this, you didn't collect money randomly, did you?"
Upon hearing this, Yan Shifan immediately assured Yan Song, "Don't worry, father, I know what I'm doing!"
Perhaps because he felt something was still wrong, Yan Shifan added: "My child knows what money can be collected and what money cannot be collected, but he doesn't even look at the money that cannot be collected!"
After hearing Yan Shifan's assurance, Yan Song felt relieved and immediately explained to Yan Shifan unhurriedly.
"Well, as long as you didn't collect money randomly, I'm afraid that Xu Jie will use this matter to make a fuss!"
After Yan Shifan listened to Yan Song's explanation, a look of surprise appeared on his face, and he subconsciously asked Yan Song.
"Father, are you saying that Xu Jie will send someone to keep an eye on the auction?"
When Yan Song heard this, he glanced at Yan Shifan as if he were looking at a fool, and then spoke.
"Based on what I know about him, he will never let go of such an opportunity!"
"Hmph, he wants to bring me down all the time now so that he can take the position of chief minister of the cabinet!"
When Yan Song said this, a look of joy appeared on his face, he looked away from Yan Shifan and said to himself.
"But fortunately, the officials appointed this time are all relatively honest officials who have just entered the official career. If this matter is left to Yan Maoqing and Luo Longwen, there may be a lot of trouble!"
After Yan Shifan heard this, he hesitated for a moment and then spoke.
"Father, my child thinks what you said..."
At this moment, there was a knock on the door, and Yan Shifan had no choice but to swallow the unsaid words back into his stomach.
Yan Song frowned slightly when he saw this situation, and then said in a deep voice.
"Come in!"
"yes!"
As soon as the words fell, the housekeeper stepped into the study. After entering the study, he came straight to Yan Song, handed out the letter in his hand, and said respectfully.
"Mr. Yan Ge, here is a letter sent to you by Hu Zongxian's entrustment!"
"What, the letter from Hu Zongxian, show it to me quickly!"
When Yan Song heard the butler's words, he immediately became energetic. He stood up from his seat and snatched the letter from the butler's hand.
After getting the letter, Yan Song waved his hand and gave instructions to the housekeeper.
"Okay, you can go down!"
"Yes, Mr. Yan Ge!"
Upon hearing this, the steward immediately bowed and responded.
Yan Shifan witnessed the whole scene, and at this moment, there was an indescribable bitterness in his heart.
After the housekeeper left the study and closed the door behind him, Yan Song didn't hesitate at all. He immediately opened the envelope and read the contents, only to see what was written on it.
"Teacher, student Hu Zongxian, now there is enough food in Zhejiang to support the conversion of rice into mulberry. You don't have to worry. Besides..."
After Yan Song read the contents of the letter from beginning to end, perhaps because he was too excited, Yan Song began to cough violently.
"Haha, okay...ok, cough!"
Seeing this, Yan Shifan quickly stepped forward, patted Yan Song's back gently, and asked with concern on his face.
"Father, are you okay?"
Hearing this, Yan Song waved his hand to indicate that he was fine, then put the letter in his hand into Yan Shifan's hand and said.
"It doesn't matter, I'm fine, you can see for yourself!"
After that, Yan Song took out a handkerchief, covered his mouth and nose, and coughed a few times.
When Yan Shifan saw this, he didn't doubt his presence. He immediately lowered his head and browsed the contents attentively.
Yan Song took advantage of this opportunity and secretly turned his attention to the handkerchief. At this moment, the bright red blood on the handkerchief was particularly eye-catching!
Yan Song just glanced briefly and then looked back.
Taking advantage of the gap when Yan Shifan's attention was attracted by the contents of the letter, Yan Song put away the handkerchief without leaving any trace.
After Yan Shifan finished browsing the contents of the letter, he immediately looked at Yan Song with excitement and said.
"Father, that's great. This way, with enough food to support it, we can continue to convert rice into mulberry."
"In another month or two, when the mulberry seedlings mature, Xu Jie's plans will all come to nothing!"
"At that time, we will be able to start a reckoning and make him pay the price he deserves!"
Yan Song did not make any comment on Yan Shifan's remarks.
At this moment, Yan Song's expression became depressed, and he turned to Yan Shifan.
"Okay, I'm a little tired, let's just get here today!"
Although he still had doubts about this, when Yan Shifan looked at Yan Song's slightly pale face, he chose to suppress the doubts in his heart temporarily. Yan Shifan bowed his hands to Yan Song and said respectfully.
"Yes, father, you have a good rest, my child, please leave now!"
"Um."
Yan Song only responded to Yan Shifan's greetings in a subtle way and stopped talking.
After that, Yan Song began to close his eyes and rest, looking extremely tired.
When Yan Shifan saw this, he did not dare to disturb him anymore and left the study on his own.
After leaving the study, the more Yan Shifan thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong, and said silently to himself: "That's not right. Didn't my father say before that he would recover soon? Why did it take so long?"
"No, I have to go to Dr. Li to find out how my father's condition is!"
Thinking of this, Yan Shifan immediately made up his mind and headed towards the Imperial Hospital.
(End of chapter)
