It was already hot in the capital in June, and the imperial court had decided to officially build the city that never sleeps in June. But no one expected that in May, the salt class scandal suddenly broke out, and the young man ordered Gu Zuo to be arrested.
Even if measures are taken to reduce the impact, the opening of the city that never sleeps will still be delayed.
Two months ago, the court was a little quiet, and there were still people who were thinking about sending away Mr. Li Ge and Mr. Xie Ge from the Hongzhi period. Liu Jian did a pretty good job, right?
Reports from Shandong all said that Duke Xixian bowed his head to farm mulberry trees, took the river engineering silver given by the court to overhaul water conservancy, and everything was renewed.
But now, who still has the ability to stir up the storm he wants under the huge waves? Let’s survive this storm first.
It was also at this time that Mr. Li Ge and Mr. Xie Ge, who had been sent by the emperor to check the grain stores in various places, returned to the capital.
As the elders, they naturally have the power to remove several local officials. Even the third envoy is just a matter of reporting to the emperor. Therefore, the inventory was somewhat successful. At least a few moths were caught. They also reported these to Zhu Houzhao in the memorial.
However, when Li Gelao and Xie Gelao returned to the capital after a long journey, they found that the emperor's condition was worse than them.
Because the emperor suddenly fell ill.
Zhu Houzhao himself felt that he was probably a little tired. He did devote himself wholeheartedly to government affairs. Sometimes he would summon officials at night, and he would have to attend court early the next day.
Because I always felt that I was in good health, I didn’t pay much attention to it.
This time, I was probably mentally exhausted first, so I relaxed and fell ill.
Li Dongyang and Xie Qian did not expect that the emperor would still agree to their request and meet them at this time.
Beside the dragon bed, Dr. Tan gave Zhu Houzhao a set of inspections. He caught sight of the two pavilion elders from the corner of his eye and said intentionally or unintentionally: "Your Majesty fell ill this time. It's so hot in the summer that there is no need to talk about the wind and cold, and there is no need to talk about moderation in life." Wudu, so when it comes to the cause of the disease, there are still eight words. He is the most respected person in the world. Your Majesty has a cough, and I will prescribe some prescriptions for clearing away heat and relieving the cough. But the cough can be stopped, but fatigue can't stop it. .”
When it came to the emperor's illness, Tan Yunxian had the support of Empress Dowager Zhang.
If he doesn't follow the doctor's advice, Tan Yunxian may sue the Queen Mother Zhang.
So Zhu Houzhao couldn't do anything about her stern face. It was just a coincidence that the two pavilion elders came in. As a doctor, how could he be happy to see the two of them.
"I remember what Doctor Tan said. However, the two elders have just returned from Beijing for many days. I still want to meet him once, and then we will wait until we are better."
"well."
The patient is the emperor, and Tan Yunxian has nothing to do but sigh.
In fact, don’t look at the peacefulness of Qianqing Palace now.
In fact, a lot of heads fell to the ground in the entire Forbidden City in one day and night. Those who were found by the Li Supervisor, whether they were Shang Bao Supervisor or Bank Supervisor, were all arrested and beheaded.
All ministers can move,
What do a few eunuchs mean?
Therefore, the queue to carry the corpse out of the palace was very long.
Doctor Tan had some speculations in his mind. At this time, seeing the emperor's appearance of dealing with government affairs even though he was ill, he felt really reluctant to bear it. "Your Majesty is a benevolent king. In fact, a benevolent king does not want to kill people. But he has to kill people. This is also the heart. magic."
"Yes, I am going to kill a lot of people this time. After killing a lot of people, can I still be called Renjun?" Zhu Houzhao was in a daze.
"No matter what others say. In my heart, Your Majesty is a sage, wise and benevolent king."
This sentence is not false, it can be seen just by looking at the fact that he is still sick and has to meet his ministers.
And Zhu Houzhao is not a god without vanity, so he felt a little comforted when he heard what she said.
However, Mr. Li Ge and Mr. Xie Ge felt a little guilty. They didn't know that the emperor's lips were pale due to illness.
So they all said with worried faces: "Your Majesty is a member of the country, and I hope that your Majesty can take care of the dragon body!
It was difficult for Tan Yunxian, a doctor, to get involved in government matters, so she also stepped aside, but looked at the emperor with a look of regret and helplessness.
Her character is not one to flatter, she really respects the emperor.
The doctor was kind-hearted. As a pure doctor, how could she not know the significance of such an emperor to the people of the world? Therefore, she has unlimited recognition of Zhu Houzhao.
Speaking of which, when an emperor like Zhu Houzhao met some ministers, they would not betray them no matter what.
The so-called benevolent people are invincible, and this is probably the case.
"Ahem..." Zhu Houzhao thought that he must have caught a cold. In his concept, a cold was a trivial matter. Later, he realized that the wind and cold in ancient times were also severe, so he took medicine seriously. "The two pavilion elders are doing the salt class. Are you coming here?"
"Your Majesty has a wonderful plan. We are here just for the salt lesson."
Half leaning on the head of the bed, Zhu Houzhao looked straight ahead, not looking at them, but he was a little weak when he spoke, "If it is to intercede, then there is no need. This matter does not distinguish between those inside and outside the palace. "Shi Shi Biao" is not There is a saying: The palace and the palace are all integrated. If the people in the palace are beheaded or exiled, I have ordered the Supervisor of Ceremonies to deal with it. How can people outside the palace not be treated equally?"
Li Dongyang said: "Your Majesty, the shortcomings of the salt class have become serious. Killing people like this, I don't know how many heads will fall to the ground. I fear that I will harm my saintliness."
"Mr. Li Ge."
The emperor turned his head, his young face was immature, but also a little firm,
"Looking forward, this is not the first day I have been in charge of the court. If you include the past years of supervising the country, I have been in charge of the country for many years. You know what kind of emperor I am, the courtiers know it, and the people all over the world also know it. Looking back, I will not be the emperor for just a few years, it will be a long time, so what if my saintliness is damaged? After many years, people in the world will know what kind of emperor I am. Ahem."
After talking for a long time, he finally couldn't help but clenched his fists and coughed twice.
Although he was sick, he thought about some things clearly.
Whether one is cruel or not does not depend on whether he kills too many people, but on who he kills and whether he kills them correctly.
Just like these eunuchs in the palace, indeed, these are all lives, but shouldn't we kill such people?
Maybe it was an illusion. After Li Dongyang and Xie moved out of the Qianqing Palace, they always felt that there was a smell of blood in the Forbidden City. There were even eunuchs who kept coming out to spray water to clean it.
Liu Jin has never been with the emperor. He is very busy now. He continues to follow the people Wan Shenyuan told him and continues to follow the clues. Sometimes he can bring out several people at a time.
He also asked the emperor for instructions on how to deal with so many people.
The results will not change.
The palace must first deal with it.
"Next, Your Majesty must rest for two days. The illness itself comes and goes like a mountain, and the illness goes away like a thread. Your Majesty can no longer be so worried about the government."
"Ahem. Ahem." Zhu Houzhao's face was a little red because of the violent cough, but he was in a good mood. "I understand. I have been in the palace for the past two days and have not gone anywhere else."
"...I'll be honest. Sexual intercourse...is not allowed."
"I understand."
Tan Yunxian is an old woman, and Zhu Houzhao is actually only a teenager, so it doesn't matter what he says.
On the other hand, the face of the female disciple she brought with her turned bright red.
The last time she entered the palace, it was because Xiao Guiren had a miscarriage. At that time, her master said that the emperor was a man of temperament, but she didn't quite understand it. Now I roughly understand.
The emperor was actually a very gentle man. After Xiao Guiren had a miscarriage, the Empress Dowager Zhang was very dissatisfied with her, but the emperor did not. Instead, he cared for her even more and even went to Princess Yongkang to comfort her.
For girls, the most important thing is to trust someone.
There are not many good men like the emperor in the world.
At first, she was okay thinking about this, but suddenly she heard her master say, sexual intercourse... She didn't know what she thought of, and she blushed inexplicably.
"Kui'er, follow me and prepare the medicine."
The emperor's illness is different from other people's illness. He is the 'supreme customer', so he has to stay here to listen to the call at any time.
"I remember that Doctor Tan's disciple was named Si."
Qiuyun helped him lie down, nodding his head as he moved, "My name is Si Kui."
"The names are reversed. I am familiar with them. They are somewhat similar, but they are a little thinner."
"What did your Majesty say? What is the name reversed?" Qiu Yun couldn't understand, and because the emperor was ill, she was so busy that she didn't even bother to drink water at the end of the day, so her mind was actually confused.
"It's nothing, cough." Zhu Houzhao shook his head gently, "It feels... the weather is a little cooler."
"Yes, it looks like it's going to rain outside."
The summer rain comes quickly,
It didn't take long for there to be some thunder, followed by torrential rain.
Zhu Houzhao listened to the sound of rain, and the irritability in his heart slowly disappeared. In addition, he was caused by fatigue. As soon as his body and mind relaxed, he fell asleep quickly.
Qiuyun put down the curtains, blew out the lamps, and sent everyone else out of Qianqing Palace. He also asked them to move quietly and not make any noise.
As for herself, she moved a stool and sat beside the dragon bed, resting her chin on her right hand and swaying.
Tan Yunxian probably knew what was going on in the palace, so it was not surprising that someone was waiting at the place where they were boiling the medicine.
She didn't care about government affairs, or she had no other thoughts except to cure the good emperor Zhu Houzhao in her heart.
Even the rush of footsteps outside would not affect him at all.
The quiet surrounding the Qianqing Palace makes it difficult to imagine the intensity outside the Meridian Gate.
The guards braved the rain and forced groups of eunuchs out of the Meridian Gate. Liu Jin watched from the tower, watching the heads of these people being chopped off one by one.
The emperor was seriously ill and asleep at this time, but he had been given authority before that. Anyone involved in joining forces with people outside the palace and selling private salt would be put to death.
But with so many people, where can I ask?
During the actual execution, basically everyone who had anything to do with salt merchants and salt officials was killed on the charge of selling illegal salt. Later, even those who did not belong to his father-in-law Liu were caught and killed.
The sky is still rumbling.
I don’t know which batch of eunuchs were under the Meridian Gate. They lowered their heads and cried. Some shouted that they were wronged, and some just cried.
You Zhi realized that something was wrong. He ran to Liu Jin and said, "Eunuch Liu, hundreds of people have been killed in the palace. How can so many people benefit from the salt merchants and salt officials? How can your majesty explain to you that your father-in-law kills people like this?" ?!”
Liu Jin ignored him at all and said quietly: "Your Majesty's decree is to arrest all those involved in illegal salt and completely purify the palace. Eunuch You, our family is acting in accordance with your Majesty's decree. Please don't obstruct it."
You Zhi stopped him not really because of the bodhisattva's heart and compassion. But he also has his own selfish interests.
Because Liu Jin kills people like this, basically from tomorrow onwards, no one in the palace will dare to offend him.
Fame sometimes comes from stepping on corpses.
By that time, Liu Jin's power will become stronger. What good will it do to him?
But You Zhi couldn't find the emperor at this time, so even if he was impatient, there was nothing he could do.
The rain became heavier, and there was even a flash of lightning across the sky.
Liu Jin is essentially a power-hungry person. It's a pity that he has been suppressed by such an emperor. Today he got a chance.
"cut!"
A shrill cry penetrated the rain curtain.
Then the accumulated water was splashed with bang bang bang, and then turned into blood...
