Zhengde's face was pale, and his thin body suddenly trembled. He took a deep breath, stood up, and took a few steps back and forth. In my eyes, he was still a teenager, about the same age as me, but at this moment, I suddenly felt that he had grown up a lot. Zhengde stopped, smiled slightly, and said to Bahu who was kneeling on the ground: "You don't worry about me at all. You have caused so many troubles. Even if I want to favor you, I have no choice now! Mr. Ge today We have jointly submitted a letter to punish you. The evidence is conclusive and I have to agree! What’s more, the edict has been sent to the Supervisor of Ceremonies and will be sealed and announced tomorrow!" After the seven people heard this, they burst into tears. We were also extremely nervous. If this happens , our future can be imagined. I felt a chill arise spontaneously and subconsciously rubbed my hands. However, Liao Jianzhong beside me did not move. I quickly calmed down and watched quietly. "Are the courtiers telling the truth?" Zhengde asked with a smile on his face. The seven people immediately stopped crying and looked at Liu Jin. Liu Jin did not change his expression and said calmly: "Your Majesty, it is not a pity for the slave family to die. But where is the majesty of my majestic emperor? My servants are just servants around you, taking care of your daily routine. You have to take care of everything, and your body and bones are important. When the late emperor was still alive, he repeatedly told his servants to take good care of you, and they will provide you with some entertainment. What's wrong? You are said to be enjoying your life excessively. When did you neglect the government? What are the flaws in the Ming Dynasty? The world is big and the emperor is revered. When have the elders ever listened to your words? Do you use the little things around you to fight against you? , you are the emperor, open-minded, open to all rivers, slaves and others are the people around you, I can’t see you being wronged, I have been angry, I would like to say a few words for you, these people will make up all kinds of crimes and impose on slaves and others, gentlemen are not party members, A villain is a party but not a group. The eight slaves and the others came together to plead guilty to you when something happened, but they came one after another to attack you. There are many troublemakers, but there are only a few people who are the initiators. , I have been waiting by your old man’s side for more than ten years, with no children, what’s the purpose? I’m just looking for a way to accompany you, old man, so that you can be happy and watch the peaceful and prosperous Ming Dynasty together!”
Liu Jin was talking eloquently, but in the end, his voice suddenly choked up, and he covered his face and cried, saying: "I will leave the emperor and die when I hit the wall. Then I will chop it into meat paste and feed it to the dogs, so that those people will not use it to laugh at the emperor's unclear appointment of power." Huan, you broke the royal rules and ruined the Ming Dynasty!" As he said this, he burst into tears and fell to the ground, his body shaking violently.
Liu Jin's words moved my heart. Yes, there was a time when I was ordered to investigate the dynamics of hundreds of officials, including the situation in the hometowns of several pavilions. We monitored day and night, and indeed found that many officials secretly gathered together, and even several eunuchs in the palace secretly changed into casual clothes and came out with them. These people meet. We recorded these situations truthfully and handed them over to Ji Liaofan and then to Liao Jianzhong. Judging from the situation tonight, Ji Liaofan is a member of Father-in-law Ma's group, so our investigation may not necessarily lead to Liao Jianzhong.
Thinking of this, I felt nervous and felt that I had to tell Liao Jianzhong all this. I couldn't help but glance at Liao Jianzhong. He was looking inside intently. I mustered up the courage and whispered: "Master Liao!" Lin Sheng heard this and hurriedly After making a gesture to me, Liao Jianzhong turned to look at me, nodded with a smile, and turned his head again.
My face is hot. This is the main hall, and the emperor is in front. It is not good to speak rashly and cause trouble.
Fortunately, the eight father-in-laws were crying so loudly that they didn't pay attention. I saw Zhengde taking a few steps back and forth, and suddenly said with a smile: "Don't cry, it makes me upset. You said that officials colluded with each other, is there any evidence?" Liu Jin quickly wiped his tears and said, "I have a book in my hand. The secret files are letters between officials, and there are many disobedient words in the letters. Please ask the emperor to read them, and the head of the Household Department, Jiao Fang, and the commander of the Jinyiwei Commander, Liao Jianzhong, can come to testify!"
"Where are they? Come and see me!" Zhengde returned to his seat with a serious look on his face. Liu Jin quickly got up and clapped his hands. Liao Jianzhong quickly walked in. I hesitated to follow, but Lin Sheng held me back. I. And Jiao Fang ran in while running and bumping.
The threshold at the entrance to the palace was very high. Jiao Fang accidentally fell down. Zhengde smiled, but the guy rolled over and knelt in front of Zhengde and said, "Jiao Fang, the head of the household department, is here to see the emperor!" But the black gauze hat was in one place, and his face was a little red, making him look quite embarrassed.
Just as Liao Jianzhong was about to salute, Zhengde waved his hand and said, "It's all excused. You all get up and answer!".
"Jiao Fang, I read the brochure this afternoon, and it has your signature. It is a memorial for the courtiers to impeach the father-in-law. You stay here again tonight, presumably to speak for the father-in-law. You have both sides, and you are not a scholar. Your behavior is indeed bad!" Zhengde put down the booklet and knocked on the handle. Jiao Fang knelt down and said: "I am a minister of the Ming Dynasty, and I only have the Emperor of Ming Dynasty in my heart. The eight father-in-laws only have the Emperor in their hearts. They are dedicated to serving the country. It is inevitable to be decisive in doing things, which will hinder the eyes of some people." This caused dissatisfaction among these people. It is said that all the ministers are people who have read the Four Books and Five Classics, and are deeply favored by the emperor. They should understand the painstaking efforts of the eight father-in-laws, but they have other ideas and are unwilling to delegate power easily. WeChat ministers We have repeatedly dissuaded the officials not to impeach the eight father-in-laws, but the ministers, with their soft words, could not sway you sirs. The three ministers tried their best to do it, how could the officials dare not obey? The same was true for the ministers, who had to bite the bullet and sign. It’s just that I feel resentful and unjust, and feel unworthy of my Ming Dynasty's grace, so I risk my life to stay in the palace. I also ask the emperor to understand clearly. It is not a pity to die, but the loyalty of the eight father-in-laws must not be buried!" What he said was so flawless that I couldn't help but feel in my heart. I thought to myself, could those words that Liu Jin said just now have been taught by him?
Zhengde's face softened and he said with a smile: "If you say so, these eight people are still very loyal ministers. Haha, you said that the three elders knew it well, but they had other thoughts. How can you say this?"
Jiao Fang hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth. Liu Jin seemed to nod. Jiao Fang cupped her hands and said: "The late emperor passed away, leaving three elders to assist the government. The three elders have always despised the emperor and thought that he was too young to do anything. , many times, it is said in the cabinet that the emperor is a child who only knows how to play and does not know how to govern the country, so he is inferior to the late emperor." After hearing this, Zhengde chuckled and said: "This is the truth, I am indeed inferior to my father. "
We couldn't help but be dumbfounded, Jiao Fang's face turned red, and she still said: "So, the three cabinet elders control the government, and any new policies of the emperor that go against the three cabinet elders will be rejected. They also win over the chief minister Wang Gonggong, attack from inside and outside, and start from the emperor's palace. , Ma Zheng, went to Yanyin and Jingyan, and always opposed the emperor."
Zhengde's face changed greatly, and he suddenly stood up and said: "It's unreasonable. The three old guys bullied me too much! I thought they were the auxiliary ministers left by the late emperor, and they avoided him everywhere. How can my entertainment be as simple as a game? A group of people are trying to make fun of them. You're pedantic, I don't bother to explain, that's all. You don't want to laugh at me like this, do you really think I'm a three-year-old child? What do you have to say?"
Zhengde suddenly pointed at Liao Jianzhong and said, Liao Jianzhong said in a deep voice: "I have been ordered to investigate the whereabouts of the ministers and arranged for my subordinates to investigate everywhere. The content of the questions has been compiled into a book. Please read it!" After saying this, he took out a book from his arms. , knelt down, it seems that our efforts have not been in vain, Liao Jianzhong also has it. I couldn't help but feel extremely happy, and Zhengde took the book, turned through a few pages, and said, "These guys really colluded secretly, and Jin Yiwei did a good job!"
Then he walked a few steps and said, "How should I deal with these people? Eunuch Liu." Liu Jin hurriedly stepped forward and said, "I don't dare to talk nonsense. The emperor's golden words mean what he says!" Zhengde laughed and said: "It would be great if I were like this. How can I change my father's decree?" After saying that, he went back to lie on the soft couch, looked at the eight people and said, "I'm tired!" The eight people gathered around like a spring breeze. Go over there, rub your shoulders and back, and keep busy.
Liu Jin glanced at Gu Dayong, and Gu Dayong understood and said: "Your Majesty, you have saved the slaves, but the elders will not agree. Even if you are magnanimous and don't care about them, they will Getting angry!"
