The sun has set.
The red and white Forbidden City gradually disappeared behind the scenes, and lanterns began to appear in rows around the white marble railings.
Sudden.
The sound of whips started.
As if the lanterns connected by a line suddenly became shorter, the eunuchs immediately knelt down and buried their heads.
The Jin Yiwei on duty also knelt on the ground tremblingly, not daring to be disrespectful.
Although today is the Winter Solstice, these inner court officials had just finished watching the execution in the Western Market during the day and saw with their own eyes what would happen to those who betrayed the emperor. Therefore, they did not dare to have the slightest sense of joy at the Winter Solstice. They only felt sorry for the Ming Dynasty today. The fear of a new master.
And now, the emperor has returned from Xiyuan.
Naturally, their hearts became even more nervous, and they were deeply afraid that they would make any mistakes again.
Ancient people attached great importance to the Winter Solstice Festival.
Zhu Youxiao knew this.
Therefore, when Zhu Youxiao felt that the atmosphere in the entire inner court was particularly serious and depressing on the winter solstice, he also found that his actions of severely punishing those who committed crimes in the inner court had indeed achieved results.
But Zhu Youxiao would not let the heartstrings of the inner court staff remain tense.
In that case, these people will collapse.
If Zhu Youxiao wants to use these people, he must naturally be strong and soft, and relaxed.
For this reason, Zhu Youxiao had already made preparations for Wei Zhongxian and Liu Ruoyu, the two most powerful eunuchs in the inner court.
At this time, Zhu Youxiao asked them: "Let's pass on the message. In addition to the necessary duties, all the people in the inner court are summoned to Qianqing Palace to kowtow to me. I will invite them to eat dumplings for the Winter Solstice Festival!"
"I obey the order, I will do it now!"
Wei Zhongxian and Liu Ruoyu replied at the same time and started to take care of things.
Suddenly, a large number of eunuchs and royal guards were kneeling outside Qianqing Palace.
Some people with higher status were even allowed to stand in the hall.
Zhu Youxiao was sitting in the Nuan Pavilion and said to Wei Zhongxian through the curtain: "Wei Zhongxian, go and ask if the dumplings are ready?"
Before that, Zhu Youxiao had asked Wei Zhongxian to inform the people in the imperial kitchen to prepare the dumplings and put them in the icehouse for today's use.
Therefore, even though there were many people, it was still possible for Zhu Youxiao to suddenly give an order to treat all the inner court staff to eat dumplings.
"Go back to your Majesty! It's ready and will be served soon."
Wei Zhongxian replied with a smile.
"good!"
Zhu Youxiao said something.
The other members of the inner court gradually let go of their nervousness and began to smile, and the atmosphere of the festival and home gradually became stronger.
Sure enough, after a while, eunuchs in robes appeared outside the palace one after another, holding food boxes in their hands.
Wei Zhongxian saw this and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, the dumplings have arrived."
Zhu Youxiao nodded: "Let them come and kowtow in front of me, and then they will take the dumplings and eat them standing down below, listening to me while eating."
"According to the order!"
Wei Zhongxian hurriedly followed the instructions.
Suddenly, the inner court staff came forward row by row to kowtow to Zhu Youxiao.
Although Zhu Youxiao was not very accustomed to this method, he had to accept it because it was a family etiquette of this era. He had to use this etiquette to let these inner court personnel know that he was the emperor's domestic slave.
After all the members of the inner court received a bowl of dumplings, Zhu Youxiao said loudly: "I know that many of you have become rootless people and have no home since you entered the palace, but the palace is your home!"
When Zhu Youxiao said this, many eunuchs' hearts were suddenly tightened.
Because most eunuchs who have been physically disabled since childhood and have never experienced family life have character flaws, and are especially sensitive to "home".
Therefore, the eunuchs in the inner court like to use family-like titles such as "son" and "ancestor".
Now when Zhu Youxiao, the head of the inner court family, took the initiative to use the concept of "home" to appease them, he naturally directly hit their weakness.
"I also know that many of you have been loyal to the king since your ancestors and have always regarded the Ming Emperor as your master!"
When Zhu Youxiao said this, the Jinyi guards also looked solemn.
Seeing this, Zhu Youxiao continued: "Although I am the head of your family, I am also your family member. What happened today is not the result I want to see, but since it is a family, we must have family laws, and we must have family laws." Those who are alive are all loyal people, at least for now, so I will not treat you badly now, and I will still regard you as my own!
"Today is the Winter Solstice Festival, so I will treat you to a meal of dumplings. Let us, like ordinary people, experience the feeling of home. There is no need to be afraid. As long as you have me in your heart, regard the palace as your home and Ming Dynasty as your home." In your country, I will only be kind to you! I will not be ruthless to you! Because like me, only the Forbidden City is your home, and only the Ming Dynasty is your country, instead of being like the courtiers of foreign dynasties, even if you are a foreigner. Even if they become emperor, they can still achieve high status, have a family and a career!"
The next few words Zhu Youxiao said have made many inner court personnel with rich emotions and sensitive personalities sob and cry.
For example, Wang Chengen began to shed tears into the hot bowl of dumplings.
And this is what Zhu Youxiao wants.
He wanted to strengthen the sense of belonging of everyone in the inner court to the Ming royal family.
Zhu Youxiao added: "No matter what position you hold now, as long as you work faithfully, I will use you in the future. I will not mistreat anyone who is loyal, just like I will not forgive a person who betrays his family and country!"
"My slave, please remember the Holy Instructions of Your Majesty!"
Everyone replied immediately.
"Let's talk about something happy. It's been nearly a year now. Many traitorous officials and traitors' homes have been ransacked recently, as you all know. Therefore, a lot of money has been brought into the inner treasury. Naturally, all of you will be rewarded with silver this year, at least a reward. Half a year's salary, if the internal treasury income next year is more than this, the silver reward will naturally be even more!"
When Zhu Youxiao said this, everyone in the inner court suddenly became happy, and everyone began to smile.
And Zhu Youxiao continued: "In addition, I will give you an explanation. The good days that you had in the temple in the past will still come in the future."
The good days of the Temple Dynasty mentioned by Zhu Youxiao refer to the days during the Wanli period when eunuchs were allowed to collect mining taxes and negotiate taxes. At that time, the eunuchs were responsible for collecting mining taxes and negotiating taxes for the emperor, so they had a lot of money to make. , and the days were very comfortable.
Therefore, the eunuchs naturally miss him very much.
Now that Zhu Youxiao said this, these eunuchs naturally became excited, and they all looked up at Zhu Youxiao who was talking to them through the curtain in Nuan Pavilion.
But Zhu Youxiao said at this time: "However, the conditions are not yet mature at present. First, because there are few people who know how to collect taxes, some people are looking for trouble, saying that you have harmed the people, saying that you have done something bad and are still working for the people. I am slandering you in front of me, saying that you are ruining my country and making it difficult for the people. Secondly, there are still many people who are against us outside. You also know that as long as I use you a little more, I will be scolded as a coward and tyrant! "
Zhu Youxiao said this, because it was related to his own personal interests, so these eunuchs all became enemies of the same enemy, and they all began to resent the civil servants outside.
