The Fengtian Gate was wide open, but the officials who had left the morning court did not go to their respective government offices as usual. Instead, they gathered in groups in front of the Fengtian Hall gate to discuss.
"Everyone, Li Shangshu, Chen Jiejiu, Zhao Shilang and several others have been thrown into the prison of the Ministry of Punishment to await their fate. Their wealth and life are at stake. How can we just sit idly by and watch?"
"It is our duty as ministers to rectify the evils of the times and to remonstrate with the king. Scholars all over the world are watching us. Is it difficult for us to retreat just to protect ourselves due to punishment?"
"What Li Shangshu Chen Jijiu said today was for the country and the people, and he did not violate the imperial court. How can he be punished without teaching! Why was he thrown into prison and awaiting retribution? We want justice from the Holy Emperor!"
"His Royal Highness, as the crown prince of the country, was deprived of the right to participate in political affairs by the Holy Emperor without any reason. Where is the dignity of the crown prince? Where is the majesty of our Ming Dynasty?"
"Yes, we are going to meet His Majesty. If His Majesty doesn't see you, we will kneel and die in front of the Fengtian Temple!"
After saying this, many important officials from the imperial court and low-ranking officials who had heard the news knelt down in front of Fengtian Hall. Seeing this posture, the eunuch in charge of guarding Fengtian Hall hurriedly tried to persuade him with a smile on his face.
"My lords, please don't make things difficult for me. Go back to the Yamen and run your errands. Even if you have any objections, you can write a memorial and send it to heaven for listening. It's not nice to kneel here."
Hu Weiyong had been silent just now, but now he opened his mouth and said: "I would like to ask my father-in-law to report to the Holy One. I have something important to report."
The eunuch looked bitter and begged: "Master Prime Minister, isn't this my slave's life? I beg you, Prime Minister, please don't make things difficult for me..."
The censor behind Hu Weiyong shouted coldly: "Go if you are told to go. The Holy One will make his own judgment whether he sees it or not, so you don't have to talk too much here!"
The martial artists who had been watching the show for a long time also made some noise. King Xu Da of Zhongshan led a large group of generals in Beijing to kneel down on the other side, causing all the civil servants to look sideways.
Tu Jie reacted quickly and immediately said loudly: "Xu Shuai is loyal to the military and the country. He deserves to be the pillar of the country and the minister of the country. I am the one who wins the imperial examination..."
Xu Da spoke before he could finish his sentence: "Don't misunderstand me. Civil and military officials each have their own duties. It is not our responsibility to select scholars through the imperial examination or the case of Wei Guan."
"We are here to intercede for His Highness the Crown Prince's mercy, to ask His Majesty to withdraw the punishment imposed on His Highness, and to allow His Highness to return to the court and participate in politics."
Tu Jie's expression remained unchanged: "That's what we mean too."
Naturally, such news spread throughout the palace quickly, but the emperor did not take any action. Zhu Biao had already returned to Wenhua Hall. After hearing the news from Fugui, he first ordered him to ask the imperial doctor to treat the illness. Yan Dong came to check his pulse.
Yan Dong has always done a good job as the Minister of Dali Temple, the most important position, and Zhu Biao also counts him as a confidant, so he is still worried about what went wrong.
Then Fuduo was sent to persuade Xu Da and others to go back. It didn't matter how much trouble the civil servants made. Once Wu Xun was involved, the nature of the problem changed. In any case, it smelled of forcing the palace by using public opinion.
Fortunately, they were father and son, otherwise it would be an exaggeration to cause a huge commotion just because of this. There is no shortage of such precedents in the history books. After all, the prince and the emperor have natural conflicts.
After giving the order, Zhu Biao looked through the letters sent by Zhang Fan, Li Jin and others. He did not care about the so-called temporary suspension of the right to participate in politics for three months, because his father had already said that he was preparing to go on a northern tour.
Neither the Wei Guan case nor the imperial examination will delay this matter. As the emperor leaves Beijing, the overall situation of the court cannot be left unattended. It is natural for the prince to be ordered to supervise the country. Naturally, there is no so-called suspension of the court. He is not participating in politics but wants to Supervise the country's governance.
However, he was not worried that others would not know. A sound of hurried footsteps spread, and the princess in gorgeous clothes entered the palace. It seemed that she had just come back from outside.
"I pay my respects to Your Highness."
Zhu Biao stood up and walked down the steps to pick up the princess: "Did you just come back from your mother's place?"
The two of them walked to the desk and sat down hand in hand. Zhu Biao's seat in the main hall of Wenhua Hall was very spacious. After all, Wenhua Hall was built for the emperor to receive civil servants and foreign envoys. It was far away from Wuying Hall, but Zhu Biao had a special status. , Wenhua Palace became his exclusive use.
"The Queen Mother asked me to come back first, while Feng Chu headed towards Jinshen Hall."
Chang Luohua looked at her husband with some worry. Zhu Biao shook her white and tender hand clearly and said with a smile: "It's nothing serious, don't worry."
Calmness and confidence can be passed on to others. Chang Luohua also breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good, that's what the Queen Mother said just now."
Zhu Biao remembered Yan Dong's arrival and said, "By the way, you will send some precious medicinal materials to Yan's house in your name later."
Chang Luohua responded: "I understand, Madam Yan came to visit me half a month ago. At that time, when she mentioned that Yan Siqing's illness was somewhat recurring, it would be better to send the imperial doctor to have a look."
"I have already made arrangements for the imperial doctor. I will consider it as your reward for the year after next."
Husband and wife are one body, there are some things where it is more appropriate for Chang Luohua to come forward. Zhu Biaoen's reward is too generous and it is not in line with the emperor's rule. It is better for the master to be more majestic. Only the kindness of the mistress can win people's hearts.
Chang Luohua followed Queen Ma all day long, and naturally learned a lot. He was very dignified in his dealings with others, and was already quite prestigious among the wives of the imperial court.
After saying a few words about the relationship between husband and wife, Chang Luohua went out to appease the East Palace and went down. Zhu Baole spent his leisure time reading miscellaneous books that he had always wanted to read but had no time to read.
"Sir, Master Chen, Zhao Shilang of the Ministry of Rites, passed out due to lack of physical strength."
Zhu Biao turned the page and asked: "What's the number?"
"To tell you the truth, a total of eight adults have passed out since this morning."
Zhu Biao raised his eyebrows and said: "If you try to persuade me again, what will you do if you delay going to the court on errands like this?"
"When the servant came back, he saw that Prime Minister Hu was also urging the officials of the six yamen to go back and perform their duties, but they were unwilling."
At this time, another eunuch hurriedly walked in: "Sir, the Holy One ordered the Imperial Guard's Mansion to take down those officials who were unwilling to leave, saying that they wanted eighty sticks."
Zhu Biao raised his eyes and counted the time. It was indeed almost the same. Civil servants were all scholars. For quite a few of them, reputation was more important than anything else. If the imperial examination was stopped for such a big event, if they didn't make any reaction, they would still be dismissed by the world's scholars. He is scolded as a sycophant who flatters the villain.
Only by acting like this and being beaten by the imperial staff can we benefit from this matter. Of course, Zhu Biao also believed that some of the officials were truly serving the country and the people.
The Eighty-Ting Staff, not to mention a group of civil servants, even the hard-hitting soldiers can't stand it. If they are all beaten down, few can survive. Not everyone values reputation more than their wealth and life. It can be seen that China has never lacked loyal and patriotic people.
Zhu Biao stood up and turned around a few times with his hands behind his back. If he dared to go now, he could gain a wave of fame, but it would only increase their arrogance. What kind of deterrent would there be to the Immortal with the Imperial Staff?
That's all, after thinking that his father had his own arrangements, he wouldn't kill so many important officials. Just after Zhu Biao sat down again, a eunuch came to deliver a message.
Zhu Biao stood up to receive the order. The eunuch turned sideways and clasped his hands and said, "I order the prince to review his lessons in the East Palace. He will not leave the East Palace even half a step without an order!"
"My son, I will obey my father's will."
Zhu Biao patted his butt and sat down. The eunuch hurriedly knelt down and saluted: "I pay my respects to His Royal Highness, Lord Qianqiu."
"Hu Xiang was also taken down?"
"As for me, all the officials of second rank and above were summoned to the Jinshen Hall by the Holy Emperor, and the other officials below second rank were escorted outside the Meridian Gate by the pro-military Duwei Mansion."
"The Queen has returned to Kunning Palace?"
"Empress Fengjia is still in the Jinshen Hall."
"Okay, let's get down."
"Slave, please leave."
It's easy to talk about the fact that my mother is here, and it's reasonable both emotionally and rationally. I guess it's almost settled. Officials of the second rank and above also represent the face of the court, and it's really not easy to humiliate.
Zhu Biao read a book more relaxedly. It was good now that he couldn't get out of the East Palace. He felt more at ease and could relax.
In the evening, the matter came to an end. Due to the empress's kindness, no one was killed with the imperial staff. However, more than ten officials were dismissed from office, and more than thirty officials were demoted and sent away. Today, all officials involved were fined for one year. Anyone who does this in the future will have their whole family thrown into the prison of the Ministry of Punishment and dealt with severely.
It seems to be solved, but in fact it is just the appetizer. If the purge of officialdom is aimed at corrupt officials in office, then this case is targeted at all literati who are in the opposition.
Today, only a few dozen people were beaten and punished, but tens of thousands of people were sentenced to death and exiled in the future. It was never Emperor Zhu's style to start before the end but ended at the end.
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