Cheng Guogongfu.
Zhu Yi saw her father-in-law's insistence. Although she felt that the old man was a bit stubborn, she still followed his words and said it again.
"...When my son-in-law was leaving the palace, His Majesty said that my father-in-law had been an official for five dynasties, and his early experiences were similar to my son-in-law. He gave my son-in-law some time to talk to his father-in-law, and then..."
"stop!"
Hu Hui finally discovered something strange, frowning, as if he was asking Zhu Yi, and also seemed to be asking himself.
"What are the similarities between my experience and yours?"
Zhu Yi was stunned and speechless for a moment.
Yes, what are the similarities between him, a young prince from the Chengguo Palace, and Hu Hu, who was born as a pure civil servant?
After hesitating for a moment, Zhu Yi asked.
"Father-in-law, you are the elder. Logically speaking, my son-in-law should not inquire about your past affairs. However, since His Majesty has said this, my son-in-law dares to ask if it was true that you were in your early years..."
Zhu Yi knew something about Hu Hui's early life.
However, it was limited to the superficial experience. On a deeper level, Zhu Yi was a junior after all, so he didn't ask too much.
But based on what he knew, his father-in-law's career path seemed very strange.
He was a Jinshi in the second year of Jianwen's reign, and was awarded the rank of military officer at that time.
After Emperor Taizong was in jail, he was promoted to Hu Kedu, and then... Hu Hui stayed in this position for seventeen years!
Then, he was suddenly promoted from a seventh-rank Hu Kedu to Shizhong to a third-rank Minister of Rites.
This is the first strange thing. There is a gap of eight steps from the seventh rank to the third rank. This is the only one in the entire Ming Dynasty that has such an extraordinary promotion.
But this was not the end. A few years later, after Renzong succeeded to the throne, the old man was stuffed into the East Palace and served as a guest of the third-grade prince and a supervisor of the prince.
You know, Emperor Xuanzong was established as the grandson early on. He had his own team, but Hu Hui was forced into it.
There is also the Imperial College, which has always been the clearest among the clearest streams. Among scholars, its gold content is second only to the Hanlin Academy.
Later, Renzong suddenly collapsed and Xuanzong succeeded to the throne, and he was immediately promoted to Minister of Rites, where he remains today.
In other words, since he was admitted to Jinshi, Hu Hui has been a little transparent for nearly 20 years in the position of seventh grade.
Then he was suddenly promoted to a third-rank official. He then spent seven years accumulating Conglong Gong and Qingliu qualifications, and was promoted to Qingqing, crossing a threshold that many officials could not cross in their lifetime.
No, to be more precise, he did not spend seven years on this latter step, but less than three years.
Zhu Yi suddenly remembered that shortly after Hu Hui was awarded the title of Hu Ke Du Ge Shizhong, he went out of the capital to "visit immortals" for Emperor Taizong.
In the 17th year of Yongle's reign, Hu Hui's mother died of illness. He requested to return home to observe filial piety, but Emperor Taizong refused. He was promoted from Qipindu to Shizhong and promoted to Minister of Rites.
In the next four years, although Hu Hui was promoted in official position, he still went out to "visit immortals". It was not until the 21st year of Yongle that he was recalled.
In the first year of Xuande, in just three years, he became the seventh minister.
Normally, because it was an old story, he didn't ask too much and never thought about it in detail, but now, he suddenly remembered a rumor he overheard his uncles talking about when he was a child.
The seventeen plus four years that Hu Hui was away was called "Visiting Immortals", but in fact, many people speculated that what he was really looking for was Emperor Jianwen who disappeared in the fire of Nanjing during the Jingnan period.
Otherwise, there is no way to explain why he was so highly promoted and favored by three successive emperors.
What's more, Emperor Taizong had never been interested in seeking immortality, but he sent Hu Hui to "visit immortals" for more than twenty years. How strange it seemed.
When he first heard this rumor, Zhu Yi was still young and forgot about it. Moreover, as time passed, he never heard similar rumors again.
But today, when Hu Hui's "early experience" was mentioned, Zhu Yi suddenly thought of it.
After hearing Zhu Yi's question, Hu Xi rarely thought for a long time and said nothing.
After a long silence, Hu Bi nodded slightly and said.
"Back then, I did go out to look for immortals for His Majesty Taizong, and finally found traces of the immortals. However, since I am an immortal, I will not mess with the mortal world. I should go to the immortal world and feel at ease. Therefore, I reported back to His Majesty Taizong. Heaven and humans are different. On the way, don’t be greedy for vain things.”
After all, Hu Hui still didn't admit it, but such a vague explanation was enough for Zhu Yi to understand.
Even though he had already suspected such secret news, he still couldn't help but feel a little shocked when he actually heard it.
In the end, Hu Hui was the first to reveal the matter and said calmly.
"Old past events have come out of my mouth and into your ears. There is no need to mention them again. Your Majesty thinks clearly about my early experiences. In this case, the achievements your Majesty talks about may not necessarily refer to military achievements."
Zhu Yi also realized that whether Hu Hui had visited Emperor Jianwen was already in the past, and what he wanted to focus on was the present.
"But, my father-in-law, you are the Minister of Rites, and you should know the most about the ceremony. Our dynasty has an ancestral system, and all titles and titles cannot be awarded unless they have military merit. This..."
Hu Xi's expression was a little complicated, and he opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he sighed long and said nothing.
After a long while, Fang said: "Anyway, you don't have to worry. His Majesty said that you and I are similar. I'm afraid there is another purpose."
Zhu Yi thought about it for a while, but couldn't figure it out, so she had to say obediently: "Please give me some advice from my father-in-law."
Hu Xi said calmly: "Wait!"
Seeing that Zhu Yi was still confused, Hu Xi explained.
"Your Majesty specifically mentioned my early experience, just to tell you not to be anxious. Back then, I visited immortals for twenty years. His Majesty said that you are still young and there will be opportunities in the future. He just wants you to be patient and wait for the opportunity."
"He asked you to bury your father with the rites of a duke. From the outside, this seems to be deliberately belittling your father, but on the other hand, doesn't this preserve your father's position as a duke?"
"Your Majesty did not cut off the title of Duke Chengguo, and by saying these words to you, he is telling you that the lintel of Duke Chengguo's Palace will not be lost, but if you want to truly inherit it, you will have to wait a long time. It’s been a while.”
As he said that, Hu Xi sighed and felt a headache. He was getting older and it was a bit unbearable to use his brain like this.
As soon as he thought about this, his resentment towards a certain Feng Guogong deepened.
If this guy hadn't been so meddlesome and mentioned the existence of the Chengguo Palace in front of the emperor, there would have been so much trouble.
After hearing these words, Zhu Yi didn't know whether to be happy or worried.
Fortunately, things have turned around, and there is still hope for the Chengguo Palace to be saved, but what worries me is Hu Hui's words.
After hesitating for a moment, Zhu Yi still couldn't hold it back and asked: "Zhang Yue, you spent twenty years visiting immortals for His Majesty Taizong. Your Majesty, he doesn't know how to..."
I won't let myself survive for twenty years.
Hu Xi shook his head, but this time he didn't hesitate much, and said: "I'm afraid it won't happen. Back then... the situation was special, but it shouldn't happen now. I guess it could be as short as three to five years, or as long as seven or eight years. This matter will definitely happen." The dust will settle, as for how long it will take..."
Looking at the expression on his old father-in-law's face, Zhu Yi always had a feeling that the old man had guessed something, but he refused to tell himself.
Just as he was about to ask a question, Hu Yan spoke again and choked him back.
"I remember that you just said that His Majesty gave you three days to prepare?"
Zhu Yi nodded, then Hu Xi said.
"In that case, let's set off again in three days. After three days, there will be Chang Chao, so I won't see you off. You should be low-key when you leave. It's best to set off during Chang Chao. Don't do it on the way. Be anxious, especially when you’re just out of town, so walk slowly, understand?”
Uh, I actually don’t quite understand…
But it was not a difficult matter, so Zhu Yi nodded as he was told. Then, he saw Hu Hui rubbing his forehead and said.
"Okay, let's get down to it. I'm still saying the same thing. Every time there is a big event, calmness is a blessing in disguise. After this incident, maybe Chengguo Duke's Mansion can reach a higher level?"
"It's so late. I'm tired from all the tossing and tossing. I'm going back home now. You should go back and see your old lady and Yueniang. They've been worried about you most of the night. Go back and comfort her."
After saying that, Hu Xi shook his sleeves, stood up and left.
Zhu Yi was scolded and did not dare to ask any more questions, so she obediently sent Hu Hui to the door.
However, when he was about to go out, he saw that he was hesitant to speak. Hu Hui finally sighed and said calmly.
"There is no need to ask me any more questions. Our Majesty is always thorough in his work and will not keep you waiting in confusion. Someone will tell you the answer you want to know before long."
After that, without further words, he got on the sedan chair and left the Duke Cheng's Mansion, leaving Zhu Yi alone in a daze, wondering what he was thinking...
