What everyone doesn't know is that Wei Ji prefers today's emperor in his heart.
Wei Ji's stance was not based on his own interests.
Because with Wei Ji's qualifications and status, this is what he is at this age. He can't move up or down. There is nothing to argue about in terms of personal honor and disgrace.
The most important thing is that Wei Ji really can't stand the recent attacks on the emperor by the government and the public.
There is no evidence that the emperor wanted to assassinate Emperor Gongrang, the crown prince, the second prince, and the third prince.
And from a motivation perspective, it doesn’t make sense at all. Even if the emperor wanted to assassinate Emperor Gongrang, he would have to do it one by one. He came up and killed all four of them in one go. How heartless would it be to do this?
With such an obvious frame-up, I don’t know what the civil and military officials in the dynasty were doing.
As for the emperor wanting to depose the prince, that is even more outrageous. Did the emperor express any desire to depose the prince?
Everyone in the government and the public are slandering the emperor. They are all heart-wrenching remarks without any evidence. Is this what a minister should do?
As the saying goes, eating the emperor's salary is the most important thing.
After the emperor ascended the throne, he stopped using treasure banknotes, greatly increased the salaries of civil and military officials, and paid them in full.
The emperor was sincere and considerate towards his ministers. As a result, the ministers picked up the bowl to eat and then cursed when they put the bowl down. Such a sycophant, can you not despise you?
And the most important point, Wei Ji saw very clearly that in terms of ability, the emperor today was far stronger than the emperor Gongrang. For the sake of the people of the world and the country, respecting the fait accompli is the best choice.
However, Wei Ji was too lazy to explain these words to Zou Qian. Zou Qian was already obsessed with asking for his name. No matter how earnest his words were, this kind of person would not listen.
Wei Ji was also speechless about the emperor's little tricks. Lao Tzu said: If you want to take something, you must give it to you.
Zou Qian took the lead in remonstrating, but the emperor promoted him from the Minister of Rites to the Minister of Rites. Wasn't this deliberately encouraging his arrogance.
If you want to cause people to perish, you must first make them crazy.
Zou Qian was already confused by the authorities, but the group of important ministers who were still awake, such as Jiang Yuan, He Wenyuan, and Xu Youzhen, did not remind him at all, but waited to see the joke.
Wei Ji sighed. Although everyone has read "Laozi", it cannot be concluded that the emperor's little tricks will not work. Emperor Gongrang was not familiar with "Laozi" at that time, so he fell into the same trick and was completely killed in Tumubao.
If you want to take something, you must give it to you. This sentence is also suitable for Emperor Gongrang. Before Emperor Gongrang's personal expedition, everything was going so smoothly. Almost all his wishes came true and he got everything. That's why he was so arrogant and rash, leading to a catastrophe like the Tumu Fortress Incident, and one mistake that turned into eternal hatred.
Just when the atmosphere was very awkward, the servant came in and reported: "Sir, there is a bachelor of Zuo Chunfang outside who has been invited to see you by the emperor's order."
"On the emperor's order? Why don't you come in quickly?"
There is a big difference between following the emperor's orders and coming to the door privately. Wei Ji quickly got up and greeted him personally.
He Yi hurriedly saluted and smiled at Wei Ji: "Old Minister, there is no edict. I am just here to deliver invitations to His Majesty."
Wei Ji nodded, accepted the invitation respectfully, and let He Yi into the hall to serve tea.
Everyone sat down again. Wei Ji read the invitation carefully, then raised his head and looked at He Yi seriously.
After a long time, Wei Ji just nodded.
This is the legendary face.
Whether in the court or among the people, the art of fortune telling is very popular.
Nowadays, Shi Heng's disciple Tongyin is famous among the people, and he is very proficient in fortune telling. As for the art of fortune-telling, since Tongyin is blind, it is difficult to say whether he is proficient in it or not.
Among everyone present, Xu Youzhen is the most proficient in the art of fortune-telling.
Wei Ji had just taught Chen Xun the day before yesterday: As an assistant minister, you should be a talented person in the world.
Therefore, Wei Ji could not slap himself in the face. He Yi was a talented person personally selected by the emperor. Wei Ji had to show his respect and support to the talented person no matter what.
Although He Yi was the least qualified among the people present, Wei Ji still had a cordial and friendly discussion about Neo-Confucian justice with He Yi. Then he asked: "With His Majesty's blessing, I would like to ask how the old minister should behave in advance and retreat on the day of the banquet?"
Wei Ji paid great attention to etiquette and did not dare to ask the emperor's thoughts privately, nor did he ask about the purpose of the emperor's summons. He only asked about the process and etiquette of the banquet.
He Yi smiled and replied: "Your Majesty said, it is just a family banquet. The old minister does not need to be formal, just treat it like a banquet with the younger members of the family.
His Majesty also invited King Min, Prince Dongwu, Princess Baoqing's consort, and Duke Wei.
It can be tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, depending on Lao Shangshu's convenience. "
As soon as these words came out, everyone present took a breath. This is a big battle. King Min is Taizu's only living son, and Princess Baoqing's consort Zhao Hui is Taizu's only living son-in-law.
The Duke of Dongwu was the legitimate son of Emperor Jianwen, and Duke Wei was not only the top nobleman guarding Nanjing, but also an in-law of the royal family.
These four are not very powerful, but their origins and qualifications are more intimidating than the last.
Even Wei Ji was under great psychological pressure if he had to eat at the same table with the emperor and the four emperors' relatives at the same time.
Wei Ji was stunned for a moment before replying: "Please reply to Your Majesty, Bachelor He. I will summon you tomorrow."
"Then early tomorrow morning, the palace will send a car to pick up the old minister. Wansheng has to go to four other houses to deliver invitations, so I will leave first."
Wei Ji nodded, He Yi bowed and left.
As soon as he walked into the courtyard, Chen Xun chased him out, grabbed He Yi, and asked softly: "Xingyi, what is your Majesty planning to discuss by launching such a battle?
Recently, I have repeatedly disobeyed the Holy Will. If this continues, I may lose the favor of the Holy Heart. Xingyi, you must save me. "
He Yi glanced towards the main hall, with a tangled look on his face.
Chen Xun quickly begged: "Xingyi, I owe you a big favor. You can give me a hint."
He Yi replied in a low voice: "Sanyang colluded with the inner court and deceived the Xuan Temple. In the end, the direct descendant was deposed and died unjustly. Your Majesty's banquet this time will confirm Sanyang's crime."
After saying that, He Yi bowed his hands and left in a hurry.
Chen Xun was stunned on the spot.
At this point, Chen Xuncai believed the assertion of his master Wei Ji: Take the affairs of the court as your own business, and you will have a happy ending.
Sanyang implemented various short-sighted policies with endless consequences for his own personal interests. Now, it's okay. Those who conspired to abolish the establishment and kill the direct descendants will be slapped on their heads, and they will wait for the whole family to take the road.
Chen Xun thought that he was now also in the position of prime minister and assistant, and he was about to have a good death.
Why bother? Otherwise, we should retreat as soon as possible while the situation is not too deep.
Chen Xun returned to the hall with worries and wanted to report to Wei Ji.
Unexpectedly, Wei Ji waved his hand and stopped resolutely: "If you don't keep secrets, you will lose your ministers, and if your ministers don't keep secrets, you will lose your virginity. I know you went to inquire, but I don't want to pry into the emperor's privacy.
You all go, I want to burn incense and take a bath in preparation for the holy meeting tomorrow. "
Chen Xun and others had to retire.
Jiang Yuan, He Wenyuan, and Xu Youzhen went home directly.
Chen Xun, Yu Shiyue, Zou Qian, and Shi Pu returned to the cabinet.
Chen Xun still told the three people about the emperor's intentions.
The three of them were equally shocked. They didn't expect that the emperor could play like this.
In other words, no matter how the rumors of deposing the prince spread in Beijing, the emperor always ignored them. He bit the Empress Dowager's advice of "killing his wife with a concubine" and refused to let go.
The emperor's conclusion was that Sanyang and the Empress Dowager jointly plotted to depose Empress Hu, and successfully deceived Xuanmiao, causing Xuanmiao to depose Empress Hu without any reason. After the death of Empress Dowager Zhang, Empress Hu, who lost her protection, was harmed by treacherous ministers and died young.
If this crime is proven true, not only will the Sanyang family be brought to an end, but even the status of Queen Mother Sun will be completely shaken.
Once the legitimacy of Empress Dowager Sun was overturned, Emperor Gongrang's status as the legitimate son would become a rootless tree.
When the time comes, the prince will naturally no longer stand. Does the emperor still need to depose him?
If you can ask for abdication, keep the title of prince, and spend your life in peace, it will be a good thing.
Everyone brainstormed and quickly analyzed and understood: the emperor was going to take a two-step approach. First, he would convict Sanyang of colluding with the inner court and deposing his direct descendant.
Then when the time is right, it will be confirmed that the so-called "inner court" that San Yang colluded with is Empress Dowager Sun herself.
This step must be done step by step.
Cutting the flesh with a dull knife, slowly torturing it with one stab after another.
Everyone did not discuss a countermeasure and had to disperse.
In less than an hour, Zou Qian passed the news to Nangong through Ma Liang, and Ma Liang passed Cao Jixiang.
When Zhu Qizhen received the news, he became completely uneasy: Public opinion in the capital was originally developing in a direction favorable to him. It happened that my brother suddenly made such a fierce move. If he did it, wouldn't it be fatal?
Zhu Qizhen had no choice but to send Xing'an to quickly report the news to the Queen Mother for countermeasures.
(End of chapter)
