"This...is this?"
Yan Song looked at the arithmetic textbook in Lu Fang's hand, hesitated for a moment, and asked subconsciously.
Seeing this situation, Lu Fang smiled and immediately explained.
"Mr. Yan Ge, this is an arithmetic textbook compiled by Tang Shunzhi of the Inspectorate!"
After listening to Lu Fang's explanation, Yan Song breathed a sigh of relief. He immediately took the arithmetic textbook from Lu Fang's hand and began to browse it with great attention.
After Yan Song put down the arithmetic textbook in his hand, Jiajing's calm voice sounded in Yan Song's ears.
"Yan Song, what do you think of the compilation of this textbook?"
After Yan Song heard this, he immediately responded without thinking: "Your Majesty, I think this textbook is very well compiled, but..."
When Jiajing heard this, a look of curiosity appeared on his face, and he raised his eyebrows, signaling Yan Song to continue.
"It's just that the content in it, it would be nice if it could be easier to understand!"
After Yan Song finished speaking, Jiajing added: "You don't have to worry about this, I have already asked Tang Shunzhi to go back and change it!"
Seeing this situation, Yan Song immediately flattered Jiajing: "Your Majesty is a saint, and I admire your Majesty so much, even if it is..."
How could Jiajing not see that Yan Song wanted to take the opportunity to change the subject and deliberately refused to answer his own question, then interrupted impatiently.
"Okay, don't change the subject, Yan Song. I plan to include arithmetic as a test subject. What do you think?"
Yan Song saw that there was no way to avoid it. Suddenly, a look of embarrassment appeared on his face, and he said hesitantly: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I feel that this move may cause opposition from scholars all over the world!"
"Those students who have studied hard for more than ten years in humble circumstances are just for..."
Before Yan Song finished speaking, he was coldly interrupted by Jiajing: "Yan Song, I want to ask you, are there more people in the world who want to be officials, or are there more people who don't want to be officials?"
When Yan Song heard this, he immediately responded without thinking: "Your Majesty, of course there are many people who want to be officials!"
After listening to Yan Song's answer, Jiajing nodded and continued to ask: "Then let me ask you again, compared with the integrated grain payment for officials and gentry that was implemented by the court not long ago, which thing has been implemented? More difficult?"
Hearing this, Yan Song hesitated for a moment, and had no choice but to bite the bullet and respond: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, of course it is more difficult to implement the integrated payment of grain by officials and gentry!"
When Jiajing saw this situation, he immediately looked at Yan Song and asked unhurriedly: "Oh, if that's the case, has the integrated grain payment between officials and gentry been successfully implemented?"
It was only then that Yan Song suddenly realized that the reason he had given earlier was so weak that it was refuted by His Majesty in just a few words.
At this moment, beads of sweat were already oozing out from Yan Song's forehead, and he responded feebly: "Your Majesty, not long ago, the integrated grain payment system for officials and gentry promoted by the imperial court was successfully implemented..."
After Jiajing got the answer he wanted from Yan Song, he deliberately put on a puzzled look and said to himself.
"It's really strange. Although the imperial court can carry out the policy of integrating grain payment for officials and gentry, it cannot include arithmetic as an examination subject. It's really strange, Yan Song, what do you think?"
Seeing that Jiajing had already said this, Yan Song knew that if he dared to make excuses again, the emperor's anger would be waiting for him.
Immediately, Yan Song seemed to have made up his mind, turned his gaze to Jiajing, and said in a deep voice.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to take the lead in implementing this matter!"
Seeing Yan Song's understanding, Jiajing also nodded slightly and spoke words of encouragement.
"Well, that's right. Mr. Yan Ge is indeed my minister of humerus!"
Although he received praise from the emperor, Yan Song did not feel happy at all, and the look on his face became more solemn.
Because since the last time, he, Yan Song, clearly supported the integrated grain payment system implemented by Jiajing between officials and gentry, he was regarded as a traitor by the entire scholarly community, and his own reputation also fell to the bottom.
Although later, due to various coincidences, his reputation improved somewhat, he was still not tolerated by the scholars of the Ming Dynasty!
"Well, I don't know how those people will evaluate me, Yan Song, a hundred years from now. I'm afraid they won't have many good words to say, right?"
Yan Song thought so, and then he boldly proposed to Jiajing.
"Your Majesty, otherwise, this year's imperial examination will remain as usual. From next year, arithmetic will be added to the exam subjects. What do you think?"
After Yan Song finished speaking, he was afraid that Jiajing would disagree, so he added: "Your Majesty, Wei Chen feels that no matter what, we must give students all over the world a buffer space, otherwise it will cause a lot of complaints, which will be bad. !”
After Jiajing listened to the advice given by Yan Song, he thought about it for a moment and then spoke.
"Well, that's right, I'm sure!"
Seeing that the emperor agreed to his suggestion, Yan Song couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief and said to himself: "No matter what, as long as it is not implemented now!"
Jiajing seemed to have seen what Yan Song was thinking, and then added: "Well, Yan Song, when you return to the cabinet later, you can officially announce this matter!"
Facing Jiajing's order, Yan Song did not dare to raise the slightest objection, so he had to bite the bullet and respond: "I obey, Your Majesty!"
Seeing that the matter had come to an end, Jiajing waved his hand quite casually and issued an order to expel the guests.
"Okay, I still have things to deal with next. You can go back and continue working!"
"As ordered, Your Majesty, I will retire now!"
After that, Yan Song did not dare to stay at the Qianqing Palace at all, and immediately turned around and left.
After Yan Song left, Jiajing turned to Lu Fang and ordered: "Lu Fang, you have to hurry up on the newspaper!"
When Lu Fang heard this, she immediately looked stern and said respectfully: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will definitely handle this matter well!"
When Yan Song returned to the cabinet from the Qianqing Palace, everyone saw that his face was full of sadness, and they immediately asked him about the specific reason.
And Yan Song had no intention of hiding it. He told him everything that Jiajing had told him not long ago in the Palace of Qianqing.
Hearing this, a look of surprise suddenly appeared on Xu Jie's face, and he lost his voice: "What, your Majesty actually wants to add a new subject of arithmetic, this, this, this..."
Gao Gong on the side heard this and immediately stepped forward to confirm with Yan Song: "Mr. Yan Ge, are you sure this is your Majesty's plan?"
Hearing this, Yan Song sighed helplessly and responded: "Oh, yes, Your Majesty asked me to officially announce this matter later!"
Zhang Juzheng, who was standing by, saw this. After hesitating for a moment, he immediately expressed his thoughts: "But this will definitely lead to opposition from scholars all over the world!"
As soon as Zhang Juzheng said this, everyone couldn't help but fall into silence, because the emperor never cared about what those people thought!
Take, for example, the petition that caused quite a stir in the capital not long ago. In order to oppose the imperial government's upcoming policy of integrating government and gentry tax payments, those people even did not hesitate to incite students from the Imperial College to write a joint letter to Jiajing to force the palace. Desire to take it back.
But as a result, not only Li Ding, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, who took the lead, was killed by thunder falling from the sky, but after that, the integrated grain payment system for officials and gentry was also smoothly implemented without any hindrance.
I don't know how much time passed, but Yan Song came back to his senses, looked at everyone helplessly, and said slowly: "It is better to make this matter public according to His Majesty's wishes!"
After everyone heard this, after a moment of silence, they all said in unison: "Yes."
…
Night fell, and at this moment, Feng Bao, the eunuch who was responsible for the rituals, was walking in a hurry on the road of the Forbidden City. Even the eunuchs and maids on both sides of the road who stopped to salute him had no time to pay attention.
Not long ago, Feng Bao accidentally caught a glimpse of Chen Hong sneaking out of the room of the Supervisor of Ceremonies and heading towards the direction of Qianqing Palace under the cover of night.
Seeing this situation, Feng Bao was keenly aware that something was wrong. While secretly sending a young eunuch to follow him, he himself was not idle either. He planned to report the news to Lu Fang himself.
Soon, Feng Bao arrived at Lu Fang's residence. After explaining his purpose, Feng Bao didn't wait too long and immediately met Lu Fang.
At this moment, Lu Fang was sipping tea leisurely. When she saw Feng Bao coming in person, she couldn't help but have a look of surprise on her face, and then she cordially asked Feng Bao to sit down.
"Feng Bao, you're here. It just so happens that godfather has a new batch of tea here. You should try it too!"
At this moment, Feng Bao had no such thoughts at all. After observing around for a while, he immediately lowered his voice and said: "Godfather, just now, that Chen Hong avoided everyone's sight and went to where His Majesty is. Qianqing Palace!"
"What did you say, say it again?"
As soon as Feng Bao finished speaking, there was a crisp sound of "bang", and the tea cup in Lu Fang's hand fell to the ground, turning into countless ceramic shards. The tea in the cup also spilled to the ground, and there were still Slightly steaming.
When Feng Bao saw this situation, he immediately knelt on the ground with a thump and said in a deep voice.
"Godfather, everything the child said just now is true!"
"If there is a lie in it, I would be willing to be struck to death by five thunderbolts!"
After that, Lu Fang looked Feng Bao up and down and then gave instructions.
"Well, get up!"
"Yes, godfather!"
After Feng Baozai got up from the ground, he immediately turned his eyes to Lu Fang, his face full of panic, and asked.
"Fuck...godfather, what should we do next? It's so late. Chen Hong suddenly went to His Majesty. He must have some agenda. We can't just sit back and wait for death!"
Hearing this, Lu Fang couldn't help but feel anxious, and immediately scolded: "Shut up and let me think carefully!"
After being scolded, Feng Bao immediately buried his head deeply, lowered his head and said nothing.
After a while, Lu Fang came back to her senses and said to herself: "It seems that this Chen Hong is really coveting my position as the eunuch and eunuch in charge of rituals all the time!"
"On weekdays, I just do some small tricks, but now you actually dare to go to His Majesty to complain. It seems that you are here to stay!"
As Lu Fang said this, his eyes were full of coldness. In his heart, Chen Hong's name had already been written on the list of those who must die.
"It's just that all of this has to wait until this incident is over before it can be implemented!"
Lu Fang warned herself like this, then came back to her senses and asked Feng Bao.
"By the way, when Chen Hong left, did he have anything in his hand?"
When Feng Bao heard this, he immediately began to recall the details in his mind. After a long time, he responded.
"By the way, godfather, I vaguely remember that this Chen Hong secretly stuffed a letter into his sleeve when he left the supervisor's room. Do you think..."
Before Feng Bao finished speaking, he was interrupted by Lu Fang: "Well, it seems that this Chen Hong does have some evidence, otherwise, he wouldn't be so anxious to show off!"
"Or is it that the evidence in Chen Hong's hands is enough to bring me down?"
"Yes, that must be the case. Otherwise, Chen Hong would not have taken such a big risk to complain to His Majesty so late at night!"
"But what exactly is the evidence Chen Hong has? Is it related to Yang Jinshui, or is it related to the smuggling families along the coast?"
As Lu Fang thought this, she became more and more uneasy. Seeing this, Feng Bao on the side couldn't help but retreat.
"Looking at the look on my godfather, that Chen Hong must have extremely important evidence in his hands. Otherwise, my godfather would never have lost his composure like this. If I had known earlier..."
Just as Feng Bao was stunned, Lu Fang's slightly trembling voice sounded in his ears: "Feng Bao, please send someone immediately to check who Chen Hong has been in contact with in the recent period. Quickly go!"
Seeing Lu Fang's eagerness, Feng Bao immediately looked stern and assured Lu Fang: "Don't worry, godfather, I'll check the child right away!"
After that, Feng Bao bowed respectfully to Lu Fang and then turned around and left.
After Feng Bao left, Lu Fang sat back on the chair slumped and said silently to herself: "Oh, I hope your majesty can remember the old relationship and let me go!"
After Feng Bao left Lu Fang's residence, he went straight back to the Supervisor of Ceremonies.
At this moment, Feng Bao was also in a dilemma. On the one hand, Chen Hong was coming fiercely and had a lot of evidence against Lu Fang. Moreover, the evidence in Chen Hong's hands was very likely to completely bring down Lu Fang. , and then replace it.
On the other hand, Lu Fang has been kind to him. For such a long time, if Lu Fang had not been protecting him as his godfather, I am afraid that he would have been plotted long ago, and it would be impossible for him to sit in the position of superior eunuch.
Time passed by slowly. I don’t know how long it had passed. I saw Feng Bao come back to his senses, called his godson, and gave instructions: "Xiao Lizi, go check it out right away. Chen Hong has been... Who have you come into contact with!"
"Yes, godfather, let's go check it out now!"
(End of chapter)
