Orthodox tenth year, May 16th.
Outside Yingtian Palace, cars and sedans arrived one after another. The people who came were all Jinling officials, almost a hundred people in total.
This is not an exaggeration. According to the Chief Secretary's command, there are at least four to five hundred officials of seventh rank and above, and they are still coming in a steady stream.
Most of them are middle- and lower-level officials wearing blue robes, with a few purple-robed officials interspersed among them.
Nowadays, in the Ming Dynasty, official uniforms are not only judged by their merits, but also have special regulations on the color of their uniforms.
The first and second rank officials use red, the third and fourth rank officials use purple, the fifth, sixth and seventh rank officials use blue, and the seventh and lower ranks use cyan.
Officials of different ranks were chatting in different circles, waiting for the palace gate to open.
Zhu Jingyuan informed Chen that there would be a meeting at the second quarter of the day, which was 7:30 in the morning, and the group came at 7:00.
I usually push back and forth about things, but I am very positive when I come to see him. It is contradictory and funny at the same time.
Outside the palace gate, while everyone was talking about it, a blue sedan slowly approached the palace gate.
The sedan stopped, and an official wearing a fourth-grade patchwork uniform and a black gauze hat walked out of it.
This man has an elegant and easy-going appearance, but is thin and pale, obviously not in good health.
"I've met Mr. Lin..."
"Master Lin, please take care of yourself..."
The person who came was none other than Lin Ruhai, the censor of the Salt Patrol. He was in charge of the salt affairs together with the transfer envoy of Jinling City. He was the God of Wealth in Jinling.
Of course, the main reason for Lin Ruhai's popularity is his bright and smooth career.
Born in Houmen, he was selected as the top student in high school when he was young. He first served as editor of Hanlin Academy for four years, then was transferred to the cabinet as Zhongshusheren for three years, and was transferred to the Metropolitan Procuratorate as salt inspector until now.
Such a resume can be regarded as a template for joining the cabinet and becoming a prime minister, and is unparalleled by most officials present.
Although the Xunyan Censor is only of the sixth rank, Lin Ruhai has been promoted to Zhongxian Dafu, which is the rank of the fourth rank.
In other words, if Lin Ruhai wants to be promoted in the next step, the worst he can do is end up in a feudal dynasty. If he's lucky, it's not impossible to get into the Sixth Ministry and serve as a minister.
"Brother Ruhai, you've got it right!"
The person who greeted Lin Ruhai was an official who was about fifty years old. Judging from the color and patchwork of his official uniform, he was the same as Lin Ruhai. He was also a senior official of the fourth rank.
"Brother Shunxing, you're welcome!" Lin Ruhai stopped and saluted.
"I eat well and sleep well, and everything is fine...Brother Lin, please take more care of yourself. Our Yanyun Yamen relies entirely on your control to keep it running smoothly!"
The person who answered the conversation with Lin Ruhai was Zhang Shunxing, the transfer envoy of Jinling. The two of them could be called partners.
In the current era, the salt industry and other products are owned by the state. The transshipment envoy's office is responsible for coordinating the production of salt, and the salt patrol censor is responsible for contacting salt merchants for sales.
The two gods of wealth were chatting, but they didn't know that someone was chatting with them at the palace gate not far away.
"Old Zheng, in my opinion, they should find a way to spend military funds..."
"If you don't say anything else, just let the salt merchants contribute some blood, and things will be easier to handle!"
"The prince is chasing us every day to raise money to clean up the treasury. He is forcing us to death, and he is afraid that things will not get done!"
The person who spoke was He Gujin, the envoy to Jinling, who was in charge of the criminal and prison affairs in Jinling Province and had a high status in the officialdom of Jinling.
He Gujin, who was probably in his forties, stroked his beard after saying these words and kept staring at his partner beside him.
The person who can be called a partner by He Gujin is naturally Jinling Chief Envoy Zheng Xianlin, but the latter has a sad face at the moment.
The chief envoy was in charge of saving money and food, but now the accounts of most prefectures and counties in Jinling were somewhat unclear, and he, Zheng Xianlin, was the first person responsible.
Immediately after entering the palace, the prince wanted to ask about money and food again, which made Zheng Xianlin not worried.
"Old Zheng, please say something...everyone is pointing at you!"
"Okay, can you let me be quiet for a while? If you talk again, please stay away from me!"
"Okay, okay, I won't talk anymore, just think of a solution for yourself!" He Gujin shook his sleeves, and he didn't say much after that.
As time passed, more and more officials arrived, making the outside of the palace more and more lively.
Those who make friends, discuss political affairs, sigh, curse in a low voice... It can be said that officials are performing various aspects of life.
In the palace on the other side, Zhu Jinghong was wearing his unique crown and hat, served by several eunuchs.
Put on black soap boots, first underwear, then put on a lining robe, and then put on a round-neck robe with four dragon red moiré patterns.
In today's Ming Dynasty, not only officials and nobles are demoted to higher ranks, but also members of the royal family.
This has led to the current strict distinction between levels. For example, a prince can only wear a four-tuple dragon robe, while a county prince can only wear a double-tuple dragon robe.
The emperor's son was awarded the title of prince, which was a thing of the previous dynasty. Since the ancestors of the emperor, it has been changed to the title of prince for the legitimate son, and the concubine is granted the title of county prince unless he is favored.
Now that you have put on your clothes and shoes, it’s finally time to do your hair. This is also the most troublesome step and takes more time.
Of course, the eunuchs were busy with all this, and Zhu Jinghong only had to sit down.
"Tea……"
Sitting in front of the round mirror, the eunuch was arranging his hair. Zhu Jinghong gave a casual order, and the eunuch immediately served him warm tea.
When he took a sip of tea, before he could taste it carefully, he heard the eunuch's voice coming from outside.
"Thirteenth Master, the prince sent his servant to ask, how long do you have until you arrive?"
The visitor's name is Zhang Xin, he is the eunuch in charge of the East Palace and a confidant of Prince Zhu Jingyuan.
This was the second time he came to ask questions, which basically allowed Zhu Jinghong to conclude that it was not him who agreed to Gao Shuyan's request, but the prince who asked Gao Shuyan to ask him for help.
Otherwise, how could this fourth brother have urged him so many times? He was obviously worried that he would be late!
"I know, tell Fourth Brother...I'll be there soon!"
In fact, at this moment, his bun has been arranged, and Yu Hai is putting a net scarf on him to fix it. Finally, Deng An presented him with the Wusha Yi Shan Crown.
Putting on his crown and hat, Zhu Jinghong looked at himself in the mirror, looking dignified and noble. Against the backdrop of the low eyebrows of the eunuchs around him, Zhu Jinghong felt a little lost for a while.
This is no more handsome or noble than that "Weng Huang"... Due to objective conditions, Zhu Jinghong couldn't help but sigh.
Thinking that he was going to teach those high-ranking officials in Jinling a lesson, Zhu Jinghong only felt that life was infinitely beautiful.
Following the look in his memory, Zhu Jinghong slowly turned around, held his hand on his leather belt and said in a deep voice: "Go to Yong'an Hall!"
Yong'an Hall is the main hall of Jinling Palace, where the prince will receive ministers today.
Surrounded by a group of eunuchs and guards, Zhu Jinghong slowly walked towards Yong'an Hall.
At this moment, the palace door has been opened, and the nearly a hundred officials present have been lined up according to their grades and are walking towards the depths of the palace.
The people who had just been chatting now put on uniform serious faces, perfectly integrating into this majestic palace.
On both sides of the royal road, there are elites from the Beijing camp with bright armor. Their eyes are like sharp swords, sweeping back and forth on the officials.
Soon, the officials arrived outside Yong'an Gate, where they were replaced by dragon guards with more sophisticated armor and more gorgeous lining.
After entering the palace gate, crossing the courtyard, and walking along the steps on the left and right sides, the officials walked up to Taiji, the main hall, and filed into the main hall under the guidance of the etiquette officer.
Everyone stood in separate groups, quite like a regular court in Beijing.
At this moment, in the side hall, Zhu Jinghong was listening to Zhu Jingyuan's instructions. At this moment, he felt that his ears were about to get calluses.
Now that it has come to this point, his fourth brother also warned him to exercise caution and not to overwhelm the officials.
"Your Highness, the officials have arrived, please ascend to the palace!"
Gao Shuyan's reminder made Zhu Jingyuan stop warning and also freed Zhu Jinghong.
"Master Thirteen, it's all up to you later!"
"Don't worry, I'm measured!" Zhu Jinghong replied helplessly.
Fortunately, Gao Shuyan was not nagging. After receiving a positive reply, he stopped talking and followed Zhu Jingyuan to the main hall.
