It should be said that Hu Hui, a veteran in officialdom, quickly figured out Zhu Qiyu's intention to suppress the clan.
After all, for Zhu Qiyu, he had seen the heavy burden that the huge number of clans brought to the court in the late dynasty.
Therefore, it is imperative to reduce the clan's treatment and further control the influence of the clan on the local area.
Indeed, Zhu Qiyu was moved for a moment when he first heard Hu Hui's method.
However, after thinking about it calmly, he gave up the idea.
One cannot be a lone husband!
At the beginning, Emperor Jianwen lost his throne because he treated the clan too harshly and tortured the vassal kings. Although it is different from the past, even if he wants to reduce the vassal, he must do it slowly and not be too impatient.
Besides, most of the current clan princes are his elders. They forced them to go to Fengyang to cry in the mausoleum, which cost the Tian family's face and the court's authority.
Of course, the problem of the clan must be solved, but we cannot follow the old path of the past. Moreover, if we have to gradually tighten the constraints on the clan, it is just a way to treat the symptoms rather than the root cause.
To put it bluntly, we should not just suppress their treatment, but slowly improve the living conditions of the entire clan. This was also the biggest reason why he promoted Zongxue at that time.
Although the time is still short and there is no big effect, for the increasingly large clan system, giving them the ability to survive without the support of the court is the solution to the clan problem.
However, to solve this problem, we will inevitably face heavy resistance. This resistance not only comes from the kings and ordinary clans, but also from the government and the public, and even the ancestral system of etiquette and law. If it is to be changed, we must be fully prepared.
Especially under the current circumstances, the imperial court is about to reorganize the army and the border is already in danger of turmoil. If the kings are provoked to rebel and start a fire at both ends, they will only be seeking death.
Therefore, for the clan, the main focus at this stage is to appease the clan.
but……
After taking a look at Hu Xi below, and then scanning the pile of impeachment memorials on the case, Zhu Qiyu had another headache.
This matter is indeed troublesome to deal with. It is said that it is difficult for an upright official to deal with household affairs, not to mention that the people involved are all members of the clan, and they are all royal elders.
To be honest, what Hu Xi said is actually to make peace with the mud. Since no one on either side can do anything to the other, and it is not clear whether it is right or wrong to argue, they will simply drive them all back to the fiefdom. The two sides will never see each other, so naturally nothing will happen to them. there is none left.
This is also the most common way to deal with conflicts between clans.
However, at present, Zhu Qiyu obviously does not want King Zhennan to leave the capital. You must know that when he asked King Min to stay in Beijing, he not only valued the seniority of the old King Min, but more importantly, he liked the all-roundedness of King Zhennan. He Ji changed, otherwise, he would not have let Fan Guang's daughter marry Zhu Yinxi.
If King Zhennan left at this time, Zhu Yinqi would have no reason to stay in the capital, and the previous arrangements would be meaningless.
Thinking like this, Zhu Qiyu sighed and made a decision in his heart.
If it really doesn't work, then he can only really end up going astray.
As the emperor holding Dagui in hand, Zhu Qiyu is both the king and the head of the Zhu family. It is most appropriate for him to decide this matter.
Again, this kind of "household matter" is not clear to begin with. How to punish it depends on the specific situation.
If Zhu Qiyu was determined to indulge King Zhennan, King Xiang could only watch. After all, the emperor usually indulged the clan a lot.
If the trouble really gets bigger, and the emperor will not talk about "love of relatives" in everything from now on, but only talk about "laws and regulations," then the other clans will not be able to scold him to death.
However, just when Zhu Qiyu was about to speak, Wynn took two steps forward and whispered.
"Your Majesty, we just received a report that the King of Zhennan and his son are outside seeking an audience!"
There is nothing unexpected about this. If such a big thing happened, as long as King Zhennan had some discernment, he would at least go to the palace to apologize.
Swallowing back the words that came to his lips, Zhu Qiyu waved his hand and said.
"Xuan come in!"
Although Zhu Qiyu was ready to clean up this mess for King Zhennan, he still had to listen to what he had to say first.
What's more, Zhu Qiyu has always thought highly of his uncle. Maybe he can find a way to escape?
However, what surprised him was that Wynn, who had always been obedient, did not take the order and go out to call someone this time. Instead, he stood there with a look of embarrassment on his face. He obviously had something to say, but he He didn't dare to say anything.
Seeing this situation, Zhu Qiyu couldn't help but frown and asked.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing that the emperor was displeased, Wynn immediately knelt down and said.
"Your Majesty, forgive me. King Zhennan and the Crown Prince did not wait outside the palace to wait for the order. Instead, they knelt directly outside the palace gate. They said that their clans were fighting each other. They acted daringly. They have made a big mistake and committed a big crime. I have no face to see His Majesty, so I am willing to surrender to the throne and take my son to the high wall of Fengyang to atone for his sins."
"What?"
The words were not deliberately lowered, so even Hu Hui heard clearly. For a moment, even Mr. Hu, who had been in officialdom for a long time, couldn't help showing a look of surprise.
Zhu Qiyu immediately frowned, his expression darkened, and he said.
"Nonsense!"
As he spoke, Zhu Qiyu couldn't help but stand up from the throne, but he quickly sat down again, thought for a while, and continued.
"Uncle Zong, what King Zhennan is doing is really outrageous. Since Huaien can't summon him, I'll ask you to go and bring them in for me!"
Hu Hui looked at the emperor's dark face, blinked his eyes, was stunned for a moment, and then hesitated for a moment, but didn't say anything, just cupped his hands.
"Old minister accepts the order."
So, Huaien walked down the imperial steps and led Hu Hui outside the palace. After the two of them left the palace, Zhu Qiyu's originally slightly angry expression suddenly calmed down and he looked up in the direction outside the palace. , not only was there no trace of anger on his face, but there was an inexplicable hint of a playful smile.
"King Zhennan..."
…………
Outside the palace gate, the scorching sun was in the sky.
In the square where the courtiers usually wait before going to court, people gathered in a circle from a distance, wearing official robes of various colors, ranging from the third-rank officials in Fei Pao to the seventh-rank Qingpao Censor, and more and more people gathered together.
In the middle of the square, near the palace gate, Zhennan King Zhu Huixuan and Crown Prince Zhu Yincheng, wearing heavy court clothes and no mourning clothes, only tied a circle of white cloth around their arms, were kneeling upright outside the palace gate.
What they did made all the guards guarding the palace gate complain incessantly, and they involuntarily leaned towards the palace gate.
You must know that the man in front of you is a dignified prince. In the whole court, except the emperor, who dares to kneel to him?
More and more people gathered outside the palace gate. Not only the officials, but also the servants sent by various noble houses in the capital to inquire about the news, and the new scholars to observe the government, all rushed over and gathered in the distance to discuss in low voices. .
Not long after, a group of people hurriedly walked out of Zuoshunmen. The leader was the man in scarlet robes and white hair. He was Hu Hui, the Minister of Rites.
Uncle Hu Dazong followed Huaien out of the palace gate. As soon as he raised his eyes, he saw a group of people in the distance. Looking into the distance, he even saw a few familiar figures walking this way, and his face suddenly changed. A wry smile appeared.
After scanning the field, he quickly found the rather conspicuous Prince Zhennan and his son. He strode towards the field, came to stand beside the two of them, Hu Xi cupped his hands and said sincerely.
"My lord, what are you doing?"
"His Majesty has not punished you for what happened outside Prince Min's palace. Besides, I have seen what happened at that time, and I will try my best to rectify the situation for you in front of His Majesty. Why do you need to do this?"
"Now that your Majesty is furious, he has ordered me to come in person to declare your presence in the palace. Get up quickly and follow me into the palace."
Now that the day is warm and it is noon, the fat King Zhennan, wrapped in thick court clothes, has faint beads of sweat on his forehead.
However, in the face of Hu Hui's persuasion, the fat prince did not have any special reaction. He still knelt on the ground motionless and said.
"Uncle Da Zong came here in person. I am rude. However, what happened outside Prince Min's palace was indeed caused by me being impulsive and beating the vassal king. This is a serious crime. I deeply feel that I have betrayed His Majesty's holy grace, so I bring unfaithful Ziyin with me today. Come and apologize."
"I sincerely ask the eldest uncle to tell your majesty that I have beaten my relatives, ignored my family ties, and committed a serious crime. I really have no face to see your majesty. I ask your majesty to punish you in accordance with the law. I am willing to deprive myself of the king's title and imprison him in the high wall of Fengyang." Within, please grant your Majesty’s permission.”
These words were not lowered, and there were only a few of them in the square. Therefore, the officials who were relatively close heard these words clearly.
As for those who were further away, although it was unclear what was said, it seemed that there was a conflict between King Zhennan and the eldest uncle of the Ministry of Rites.
Especially at this moment, after King Zhennan raised his hand and took off the beam crown on his head, the crowd in the distance was even more uproar.
They are all people who hang out in the court. Who wouldn't know what this action means?
It's just that, usually, we see ministers doing this kind of thing, and the dignified prince actually took off his crown. This was really the first time in the history of the Ming Dynasty.
At this time, several important civil and military ministers finally rushed over, not only the cabinet ministers, the six ministers, the censor of Zuodu, but also the relatives of Zhennan King, Jing'an Bo Fan Guang, Feng Guo Gong Li Xian, and several distinguished nobles also arrived.
Although this matter essentially has nothing to do with them, who wouldn't want to join in the excitement?
Unlike the ordinary officials who only dared to stand around in the distance, these big bosses walked up to King Zhennan without much hesitation when they arrived at the scene.
As soon as they came over, they saw Hu Bi with a helpless look on his face, and they had no choice but to ask.
"Uncle Zong, what...is going on?"
So, Hu Hui had no choice but to retell the conversation between himself and King Zhennan exactly as it was. After listening to it, everyone present couldn't help but look at each other in shock, wondering why King Zhennan was so crazy.
Although it was the fault of King Zhennan to take action in this matter, if we really talk about it, King Xiang was not without fault. After all, there was nothing wrong with what he said outside the palace. However, Everyone can understand the meaning behind the words.
Therefore, they all felt that when this matter came to an end, there was a high probability that each of them would fight fifty times, but who would have thought that King Zhennan would actually cause such a fuss.
"Well, I won't tell you anymore. His Majesty ordered me to come to summon King Zhennan to see him. It's my fault that he failed to fulfill his decree. I have to go to the palace to repeat the decree to your Majesty."
As he spoke, Mr. Hu sighed, but without giving others a chance to speak, he turned around and entered the palace gate again.
As a result, all the elders outside the palace looked at each other, and they all felt troubled.
In full view of everyone, the King of Zhennan didn't even listen to the emperor's edict. It seemed that he was determined to make the matter bigger. But the question is, what good would it do to him if the matter made a big fuss? No, does he really want to go to Fengyang Gaoqiang?
Glancing at the chattering crowd in the distance, the elders subconsciously felt something was wrong, so they all began to persuade King Zhennan not to continue kneeling here.
However, even in the face of so many important ministers present, this fat prince who has always been "kind to others" did not even raise his eyelids. He knelt on the spot and said nothing, as if the people around him were not important civil and military ministers. But like a swarm of buzzing bees.
In desperation, these ministers tried to persuade them for a while, but seeing that it had no effect, they could only retreat to a distance and wait and see what happened.
At the same time, Hu Hui and Huaien returned to the palace and described the situation outside the palace. After Zhu Qiyu heard this, he suddenly became "thunderingly furious" and snorted coldly.
"He's so presumptuous that he doesn't even listen to what I say. Is there anything else that he doesn't dare to do?"
"Since he wants to kneel, let him kneel. If I tell you, let the two of them kneel outside the palace gate. No one can come near without my will. I want to see if they can kneel. Until when!"
Ah this...
Huaien trembled, obviously not expecting that the emperor would be so angry. For a moment, he looked at Hu Hui hesitantly, thinking that the eldest uncle could give the emperor some advice.
However, unexpectedly, Mr. Hu seemed to have heard nothing this time and stood silently without saying a word.
In the current scene, Wynn naturally did not dare to delay for too long. After waiting for a while, he saw that Hu Hui still had no response, so he had to hold his hand in front of him and hurried out to deliver the order.
After leading the people out of the palace gate and passing on the message bravely, Wynn thought about it and persuaded him.
"Your Majesty, we shouldn't say anything. At this moment, please don't make His Majesty unhappy anymore. This matter wasn't originally so serious. If you make such a fuss, alas... Just give in to His Majesty. It won't be a big deal." , it’s better than kneeling here all the time..."
The sweat on King Zhennan's forehead had begun to drip to the ground at this moment, slowly forming a small puddle of water on his chest. It was obvious that he had consumed a lot of energy.
However, even so, after hearing Wynn's words, he still raised his head, cupped his hands and said.
"Thank you very much, Eunuch Huai'en. However, it will be whatever it is. Today's matter is my own choice. Please rest assured, Eunuch, I... have my own sense of proportion."
For some reason, after listening to these words, Wynn always felt that the Zhennan King's emotions were a bit complicated at the moment.
However, he couldn't understand what it meant. In the end, he had no choice but to stop thinking about it. He cupped his hands and ordered a few people to watch carefully on both sides and report any situation at any time. Then Wynn sighed. , turned around and returned to serve in front of the emperor...
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