After Xing'an explained the information in detail, Queen Mother Sun was completely panicked.
Not anger, not resentment, but fear.
'Destroying his wife with his concubine' is Sun's Achilles' heel.
During the Xuande and Zhengtong dynasties, no one dared to touch this fatal point.
But in the Jingtai Dynasty, the dignified emperor actually went into battle in person.
Through the emperor's banquet list, it is easy to see the emperor's strategy: the highly respected civil servant Wei Ji wrote a letter, and the most important relatives of the emperor expressed support. This suppressed the opposition and established Sanyang's charges as a solid case in one fell swoop.
After that, all the focus of the struggle will be on officially restoring the status of 'concubine' for the Queen Mother.
Then, Emperor Gongrang will naturally become Xuanzong's concubine.
The crown prince Zhu Jianshen became the concubine of Xuanzong's concubine, and legal rationality disappeared.
After Sun's panic subsided and she was about to go to Nangong to discuss countermeasures with Zhu Qizhen, she realized that the emperor paid too much attention to details.
Zhu Qiyu deliberately blocked the time. By the time the news of the banquet for important ministers and the conviction of San Yang reached Nangong, it was almost dark.
The news spread from Nangong to Yinghua Palace. By the time Queen Mother Sun was about to react, it was already completely dark.
Queen Mother Sun wanted to go to Nangong at this time, but she would be in trouble.
Although the Nangong is right next to the southeast corner of the Forbidden City, it is still out of the palace. Empress Dowager Sun needs to pass through the Cabinet and Wenhua Hall areas and take the Donghua Gate to get to the Nangong.
There are still ministers on duty in the cabinet, so the Chief of Ceremonies needs to coordinate with the relevant supervision bureaus of the inner court and the imperial guards to set up security guards to prevent collisions.
Let's talk about a queen mother. It's really indecent to spread the news about leaving the palace at night.
details make a difference.
Xing'an also realized at this time that if he used the excuse that Emperor Gongrang's condition suddenly worsened when he came, the Queen Mother would have sufficient reason to leave the palace to visit.
It's a pity that it's too late to regret now. They are already in the Queen Mother's Palace. Xing'an can't just announce that Emperor Gongrang is seriously ill out of thin air.
Therefore, it would definitely not be possible for the Queen Mother to go to Nangong in person and communicate with Emperor Gongrang face to face.
The Empress Dowager Sun thought for a long time, but could not think of a suitable way to stop the emperor's conspiracy. In the end, she only gave Xing'an a solution that was not a solution: sending people overnight to persuade Wei Ji, Zhao Hui and Wei Guogong Xu Chengzong, they could only place their hopes on Someone among the three rebelled.
Xing'an got the instruction and hurried back to Nangong.
Entering Emperor Gongrang's chamber, Jin Ying, Chen Xiang, and Cao Jixiang had already gathered around Zhu Qizhen.
Xing'an told Sun's idea again, and Zhu Qizhen frowned when he heard it.
To temporarily win over Wei Ji, Zhao Hui and Xu Chengzong? This is a really bad idea.
As for why Empress Dowager Sun didn't mention King Min and King Soochow, it was because these two people would definitely not be able to win over each other without asking.
Zhu Qizhen sighed heavily, wondering why the situation suddenly took a turn for the worse and turned into this horrible situation again. The most annoying thing is that he has no important ministers at all:
Wang Ji, the Minister of War, and Chen Mao, the Marquis of Ningyang, had already hurried to Datong to reorganize the army. They were going to go south to Yunnan again with the elite troops from the Beijing camp temporarily stationed in Datong.
Among the others, Hu Hui died, Wang Zhi became an official, and a large group of important officials died in Tumubao.
The remaining Yu Shiyue, Zou Qian and Shi Pu belong to the three or two big cats and kittens. Not to mention fighting in the ring with the emperor, once the emperor unleashes his thunderous wrath, whether these three people can speak fluently under the pressure of God's power is a big problem.
Nowadays, we can’t even find a single important minister. It’s really pitiful and deplorable!
However, Zhu Qiyu did not leave his eldest brother much time to respond. If he did not take action, the palace door would be locked.
Zhu Qizhen had no choice but to treat a dead horse as a living doctor. He sent Jin Ying to lobby Wei Ji, Xing'an to lobby Zhao Hui, and Cao Jixiang to lobby Xu Chengzong.
Therefore, Wei Ji, Zhao Hui, and Xu Chengzong could not live in peace. In the afternoon, someone from the emperor came to visit. At night, when they were about to go to bed, another person from the emperor came to visit.
Xu Chengzong had already bathed and changed clothes and was ready to have a rest, but he was forced to wake up and meet Cao Jixiang in the main hall.
Nowadays, when big things happen in Duke Ding's mansion, it is Duke Xu Chengzong of Wei who makes the decision.
The Duke of Ding, Xu Yongning, was drinking from the northwest wind thousands of miles away in Liaodong.
Facing Cao Jixiang, Xu Chengzong chose to respond to the story. His attitude was very humble and friendly, but he did not express his position clearly.
Finally, Cao Jixiang, who was forced to panic, chose to pull out his trump card: "My lord, your majesty has said that as long as the Duke of Wei and Duke Ding support your majesty and the prince, your majesty is willing to marry the Duke of Wei and hire a noble family." The third young lady is the crown prince’s main concubine.
If the prince can ascend the throne in the future, the position of queen will belong to the third lady. I wonder what the will of the country is like? "
This time Cao Jixiang got a positive response, and Xu Xianzong shook his head decisively: "Your Majesty is wrongly loved, and I am very frightened. But the Xu family has already had a queen, and there is also a family of two princes, and they are extremely wealthy.
As the saying goes, everything that flourishes must eventually decline. What the Xu family needs now is to be humble and low-key. I really don't dare to have any more evil thoughts. Please forgive me, Your Majesty. "
After that, no matter how much Cao Jixiang said, Xu Chengzong refused to let go.
Cao Jixiang finally had no choice but to resign.
Xu Chengzong personally walked outside the gate and watched Cao Jixiang get on the carriage before going back to sleep.
At this time, the palace door was locked, and Cao Jixiang had no choice but to go back to his outer house to rest.
A night of silence.
Early the next morning, when the palace door opened, Jin Ying, Xing'an and Cao Jixiang immediately returned to Nangong to resume their duties.
Almost at the same time, the personal guards sent by Zhu Qiyu also arrived at the door of the four important ministers.
Zhu Qiyu also used some careful thinking and sent He Yi to lead his personal guards to pick up Wei Ji, Wang Yue to pick up King Min, and Gao Yao to pick up King Dongwu.
The task of taking over Wei Guogong Xu Chengzong fell on Wang Xian.
Although Xu Chengzong didn't know Wang Xian, he could tell at a glance that something was wrong: This man didn't even look twenty years old, but he was wearing an official uniform of the sixth grade. Who was this?
Fortunately, Wang Xian reported his family status directly: "I am a lecturer at the Hanlin Academy, and I am a member of Zhongshushe. I have met the Duke of the country."
"Oh, I know, you are the new Jinshi, first in the second class."
"It's the official who made the Duke laugh."
Xu Chengzong looked Wang Xian up and down, and then nodded and praised: "Sure enough, a hero comes from a young age. He is really a formidable person."
The two exchanged some more pleasantries before boarding the carriage together and heading to Prince Qi's Mansion.
…
Zhu Qiyu estimated that the time was almost up, so he took his four beloved concubines to the south hall to wait.
The three beloved concubines were responsible for preparing meals, while Lin Xiangyu was responsible for chatting with Zhu Qiyu.
Duke Guo of Wei was the first to arrive and entered the south hall. Everyone greeted each other and took their seats respectively.
The three of them chatted for a while, and then Lin Xiangyu asked: "Uncle, what do you think of Wang Xian, the new scholar sent to pick you up today?"
Xu Xianzong said with a smile: "This boy has a cool temperament and is talented. It is the rarest young man in high school to be gentle and modest, not arrogant or impetuous. His calm nature is very rare among his peers. Your Majesty really has a good eye."
Lin Xiangyu laughed when she heard this and said, "Wang Xian and my second sister are similar in age. I wonder if my uncle is interested?"
"Ah? Oh, how can you not be happy about that? A group of Jinshi will be produced every three years, only 200 people.
Among them, there may not be even one talented young man in his twenties who has not yet married or engaged.
Among the last generation of Jinshi, those who were not married when they were around 20 years old got into trouble and were snatched away by An Guogong.
This year's class has Wang Xian, who is only seventeen years old. Everyone had to break his head in order to rob him. Will this be my turn? "
Lin Xiangyu immediately vowed: "If there is such a good thing, we must first take care of our own family. As long as my uncle agrees, everything will be taken care of by my niece-in-law."
When Xu Chengzong heard this, he became energetic and looked at Zhu Qiyu.
Zhu Qiyu nodded affirmatively.
After confirming with his eyes, it was really pie in the sky and he didn't run away. Xu Chengzong stood up quickly and was about to kneel down to thank him.
Zhu Qiyu quickly supported him: "Uncle, don't do this. Today is a family banquet. Let's just talk about family ties and not talk about these false etiquette."
Xu Chengzong sat back on the chair safely, and the remaining swaying mentality had long since disappeared without a trace.
Such a happy event is hard to come by, and even the most distinguished nobles are rarely able to recruit a Jinshi son-in-law.
This is not only a matter of face, but also the power and wealth of the Duke of Wei will be more secure from now on.
The benefits should not be taken in vain. Xu Chengzong, who was satisfied, would naturally stand firmly on the emperor's side during the following banquet.
Not long after, King Min also came to the hall, and everyone was chatting in harmony.
But Wei Ji said that after the eunuch Jin Ying's lobbying last night, he already knew the emperor's intention.
Now that we know it, we can discuss it.
Wei Ji sat in the carriage and asked He Yi who was standing aside: "Xingyi, what position do you think I should take?"
(End of chapter)
