Winter is about to begin, and the temperature is dropping very quickly. Especially when the sun is about to set, the coolness in the air is obvious.
Zhu Houzhao was not from Beijing in his previous life.
He had never seen the Forbidden City in the evening.
The sun dyed red late in the day and swayed freely on the cloth of the sky. Looking over, there were dead branches forming a scene.
The dense buildings block the horizon, as if trapping people in the city.
There were four or five palace maids passing by carrying wooden boxes in front of him. Some people dared to peek in front of the prince. It seemed that his previous reputation for kindness had spread.
Women always like the cuteness of children, but now in this palace, there is no shortage of old people, but there are very few children.
This is probably one of the few joys the trapped palace maids have in their boring days.
Thinking of this section,
Zhu Houzhao envied Yang Tinghe who was able to leave the capital.
The reason why he made this request to the emperor was because he did not agree with the Ming Dynasty's model of cultivating important ministers.
Although these people have stayed in the Hanlin Academy to study hard since they were Jinshi in high school, after many years, these people who are already among the best have also gained rich administrative experience.
But in Zhu Houzhao's inherent concept, he felt that it was not good to lack experience as a local official.
This official has always been idealistic in the capital, and it is easy to despise the behavior of flattering people and asking for favors, and then he will "sacrifice his life for righteousness" as soon as he stretches his neck, because he is in the capital, in the innermost circle of power, and there are always people around him. They are some rising political stars with great potential.
But it's different for those who come up step by step from below. You want to be promoted but the emperor doesn't even know there is a person like you. What should you do?
So it’s a big melting pot down here. No matter how high your moral character is, go down there and do some things.
Of course, the specific effect and whether it is suitable for this era need to be tried.
Anyway, it’s better than letting him remember to eat and poop in the East Palace every day, right?
However, you can't do this kind of thing too much, because the East Palace is really a good place, and you can get familiar with the prince.
Being distracted is a sign of not being taken seriously.
Doing too much will attract criticism.
When Zhu Houzhao returned to Xiefang Hall, he found that the direction where Liu Jin was kneeling had shifted, and he could face him when he entered.
The other people in the garden in front of the palace acted lightly because Liu Jin was punished, and were careful to avoid getting into trouble.
Liu Jin must have discovered him, so he knelt down again.
"Have you thought about it?" Zhu Houzhao stood still.
"I understand your Highness's teachings. Your Highness wants me to be an orphan."
Finally got some brains.
In addition, it seems that Li Guang knew that his attitude towards him had changed, so he should have paid more attention to the East Palace. I must have known about the changes such as Liu Jin being punished. That's almost it.
"Get in here."
With a bang, the door closed.
Zhu Houzhao wanted to explain something to him, "I made you an orphan...do you feel aggrieved? Maybe. However, look at Yang Tinghe and Zhang Tianrui. Which one has not studied hard for ten years, and which one has not passed the test? However, how many years have they endured? In ten years, have you been as good as Eunuch Liu in the East Palace? No, because you are the Crown Prince's personal attendant, but why are you?"
Liu Jin kowtowed, not daring to say anything.
"Including the eunuchs and eunuchs in the palace, how can they have such a status? Of course it is the trust of my father. But why should my father trust them? Liu Jin, it is not that I want you to be an orphan, but this position. The palace is only for orphans. You don't have to do it, go to another position, or send a supervisor outside, but I won't kill you."
Liu Jin didn't know whether he was really moved by the prince's heartfelt words or whether he was just acting. He could no longer suppress his crying.
"Your Highness, I would rather be an orphan than leave Your Highness! Please give me another chance!"
Zhu Houzhao originally didn't intend to speak so clearly.
But Zhang Yong reminded him that Liu Jin should not move for the time being, otherwise he would end up being known as mean and unkind, so he still gave Liu Jin a chance.
Moreover, there are too many historical conspiracy theories about the Ming Dynasty. For example, Emperor Zhengde was in very good health and could go outside the Great Wall to kill people, but he failed to save any seeds and died easily when he fell into the water.
Originally, conspiracy theories were just enough to be discussed after dinner. But now it's about your own head, and if you mess it up it could kill someone, so the nature is different.
A great eunuch like Liu Jin might play some role later.
"I believe what you said. You guys have been with me for so many years, and I trust you. In the past few days, you probably know that I have deep thoughts, but I am so close to you. I don’t want to do this. Just say one thing, you act faithfully, and I will keep you safe and prosperous."
When Liu Jin heard this, he knew that he had finally passed the critical point.
These past few days my heart has been in a state of ups and downs, and my courage has been frightened.
I guess I need to be more honest in the near future. If I serve such a prince, if something happens and is discovered, it will be over.
The key point is that His Royal Highness is very difficult to fool now.
"Your Highness's words today must be engraved in my mind, and I will not dare to forget a single word. From now on, I will examine myself and regard His Highness's happiness and anger as my own happiness and anger, and regard Your Highness's sorrow as my own sorrow."
These words can be regarded as correcting one's position. Although Zhu Houzhao didn't want him to reach this point.
"What about Zhang Tianrui? What's going on?"
Liu Jin had nothing else to think about at this time. He secretly glanced at the Crown Prince's face and said honestly: "What happened with Zhang Zhongyun... is that slave lard has deceived his heart and made him narrow-minded. At first, it was because he and Yang Tinghe were talking behind his back. "Slave, I happened to hear it. Later, I had a disagreement with them, so I... I used some methods..."
"explain!"
"Yes!" Liu Jin was so frightened that she trembled, "Zhang Tianrui has an incompetent son named Zhang Chengtian who is good at gambling. When my slave found out about this, he sent Ping An out of the palace... and set a trap for him. Zhang Chengtian owes him a debt. A lot of silver, and then...servant, slave, and slave sent someone to send...send silver to Zhang Zhongyun."
Zhu Houzhao understood that this was a deliberate gift of money and evidence that he had accepted bribes.
Wouldn't this combo of punches kill Zhang Tianrui?
but……
"What does this have to do with him being sick? You didn't directly poison anyone?"
Liu Jin knelt down and begged for mercy again, "Your Highness, poisoning an official of the imperial court is a capital crime! This has nothing to do with slaves! It's because Zhang Tianrui is timid and he knew that slaves were dealing with him, so he got sick from fear! Your Highness, every word of slaves is true, and I would never dare to do it. Half concealed."
There is such a thing, which is really unexpected.
"You just said that from now on you will regard my happiness and anger as happiness and anger. There is another one, that you will regard my honor and disgrace as honor and disgrace. The prince's servants are arrogant, domineering and narrow-minded. In the end, they will fall on me. After all, it is the prince's subordinates. There is no way to let you use your power indiscriminately."
"Yes, Your Highness is wise. From now on, this servant will also regard His Highness's honor and disgrace as honor and disgrace."
"Go and get twenty sticks. Don't do this again in the future, and don't ask for any gambling debts."
Compared to the original ending where he would have lost his life, it was only a matter of twenty blows, which was already considered a great blessing.
Liu Jin naturally burst into tears of gratitude, "I thank you, Your Highness!"
"Somebody come!"
The door was opened, and two young eunuchs of the same height came in.
"Hel Eunuch Liu down."
The silence of Jie Fang Hall can help Zhu Houzhao think. The candle as big as a bean has been lit, and it shines up and down, illuminating his face.
Liu Jin did such a thing to Zhang Tianrui, and he could not escape the death penalty. Otherwise, as mentioned before, he would be lawless in the East Palace.
As for the civil servants, considering the close relationship between Liu Jin and the prince, they should be satisfied with being able to do this for Zhang Tianrui.
"Your Highness, over there is peace..."
Zhang Yongyong didn't know when he would fall behind the prince,
"Keep it, don't kill it, I'm useful."
"yes."
