In the Yang Mansion, Yang Shen sat beside him, but several officials who came to visit were restless.
"Did Mr. Ge really go visit Mao Xianqing?"
Yang Shen nodded.
Today, he saw with his own eyes how his father, the chief minister of the cabinet, lost control of the rhythm of the court meeting, and how his majesty collapsed under the new monarch's unreasonable pressure.
He was also asked for advice by the emperor in a strange way, which led to his explicit explanation of etiquette.
The situation is clear now.
Yang Tinghe not only couldn't drive away Wang Qiong even if he went into battle in person, but he couldn't even protect Mao Cheng.
If you are not dead, you are not protected.
Now some courtiers who had been close to him came to pay a visit, but they heard that Yang Tinghe had gone to Mao Mansion, and they felt a little complicated for a while.
"Why bother, Mr. Ge..." Some people were worried that Yang Tinghe would be more jealous of the emperor because of this, but they couldn't find the words to show their callousness.
Is it really okay for Yang Tinghe to visit Mao Cheng, who has been deemed "disloyal" by the emperor?
In Mao's Mansion, Mao Cheng, who was only one step away from entering the cabinet a few days ago, is now lying there looking defeated, dying, filled with grief and anger. His children and nephews are all wiping tears aside. Mao Cheng's son-in-law will soon Wang Shifang, who was about to take part in the palace examination, looked pale.
After coming back angrily and receiving the three-year stipend, which was all good rice and had no color, Mao Cheng vomited blood.
Is my family short of rice?
Even though the Mao Mansion, which was so shunned by people as it was cold tea, received a personal visit from the chief minister, the whole family was not happy at all.
A minister demoted an official to the people for being disloyal and disrespectful.
A half-day tour of Tianlao, no harm done, but extremely humiliating.
But some consequences are even more difficult for Mao Cheng to accept than death.
"Xianqing endured the emperor's thunderous power on my behalf." Yang Tinghe held his hand in tears, "It's all my fault. Don't worry about Xianqing. As long as I am here, I will never let Xianqing suffer." Human trap!"
Mao Cheng's eyes were blank: Does that make sense? What if it wasn't a frame-up?
After so many years as an official, who is clean?
You can't keep my position, you're not ruthless enough to let the emperor kill me, but you only rely on saving my life to regain the morale of the army that is about to collapse. What's the use of that?
At this moment, how many people want to show their loyalty to the emperor?
Suddenly, Mao Cheng was fed up with Yang Tinghe: I always feel like I have the Ming Dynasty on my shoulders. Are you so worried that the Ming Dynasty will die without you and some of its officials?
Before taking the throne, if Yang Tinghe had been more resolute, how could there have been so many things?
The fifteen-year-old emperor probably not only grasped the situation that made it impossible for him to be deposed, but also grasped Yang Tinghe's stubborn character.
Want everything, worry about nothing!
The paper maker... Mao Cheng suddenly showed a sarcastic smile: The emperor was right.
…
Yuan Zonggao has not yet moved to the new residence given by Zhu Houcong. He still lives in the place arranged by his predecessor Mao Cheng: Dongyue Temple, one of the nine temples in the capital.
The arrangements made by the Ministry of Etiquette are flawless: although most officials are not short of money, their official salaries are only so much, hotels are expensive and crowded, and guild halls are suspected of forming cliques. It is best for foreign officials to live in temples in Beijing.
It is now that the Minister of Rites has become Yuan Zonggao himself. At this moment, Yuan Zonggao lives in a place in the west veranda of Dongyue Temple. Many people waiting outside the door feel this sigh.
They are all waiting there.
The greeting card had been sent to the door, but they were told that Uncle Zong was waiting for guests.
If you have to wait, you can only stand in the courtyard. There is not even a concierge to sit and drink tea.
As soon as Yan Song arrived, he immediately became the center of attention.
In response to their polite inquiries, Yan Song just said in a low-key and humble manner: "I am an official who talks about daily life, and I came here to ask the great uncle what classics your majesty has studied before."
Others praised me one by one, thinking in their hearts: What an excuse.
What Yuan Zonggao is seeing now is Xie Changjie and other officials of the palace.
"Now that you all have positions, from now on, your Majesty can no longer let you personally bully your subordinates!"
Yuan Zonggao looked serious. With the qualifications of the royal palace, the experience of a local official, and the high position of the Minister of Rites, everyone has to bow down and listen to instructions.
"Don't trouble Mao Cheng and the others!" Yuan Zonggao warned, "If the ministers are really timid, it will be a sign of neglect of government. If the old ministers in Qiandi refuse to give up, it will damage your majesty's reputation. Today, your majesty has really spent a lot of money. Too much hard work has led to this situation!”
He said with tears in his eyes.
How difficult it is to show ability and prestige in the best opportunity of the first court meeting, and to convince many courtiers who have many interests already tied together without any foundation. I must have experienced every court meeting today. All the officials were amazed.
It was true that he was the emperor, but after the end of the dynasty, Yuan Zonggao felt ashamed when he heard some people hinting at Yuan Zonggao's ability and skill.
Yuan Zonggao won everything just by standing there and just showing off.
Xie Changjie waited for Yuan Zonggao to confirm many things again: "So, in the case of Qian Ning Jiang Bin, the subordinates only listened and did not ask questions?"
Yuan Zonggao stared at him and was silent for a while before saying: "The Criminal Department is in charge of the trial. Just remember who Qian Ning, Jiang Bin and others confessed and what they confessed to."
"I understand." Xie Changjie knew the current situation. He suppressed his desires and ambitions. "I must listen to your majesty and the uncle's teachings and act loyally!"
…
At this time, Zhang Zuogang, who was full of sense of mission, reported the news to Zhu Houcong who returned to Qianqing Palace, and then asked: "Mao Cheng is unfaithful and disrespectful, and Mr. Yang Ge went to visit him overnight. Master, how should this matter be handled?"
Zhu Houcong opened his arms, and a little palace maid was helping him unbutton his clothes - this was something Zhu Houcong finally started to get used to in order to avoid the endless anxiety of the palace ladies these days.
"This is normal. What treatment is needed?" Zhu Houcong casually told Huang Jin, "Just rinse it off today."
"Your Majesty, Mao Cheng is a disloyal minister! ... No, your Majesty has already demoted him to the rank and file." Zhang Zuo followed Zhu Houcong to the bathhouse, "Doesn't the chief minister of the cabinet really need to deal with the disloyal minister when he visits him? "
Zhu Houcong frowned and stopped, turning to stare at him: "Zhang Zuo, what's wrong with you? It's your duty to report it to me. If I say I won't deal with it, you have to listen twice? You just became the Supervisor of Ceremonies, Bingbi, Do you also want to learn from me and establish authority over foreign ministers?"
Yang Shen is right, this is establishing prestige. However, no matter what the nature of some things is, there is another set of arguments on the surface that no one can deny.
Now, Zhu Houcong also felt that Zhang Zuo should be beaten.
Zhang Zuo knelt down quickly: "I don't dare... I just saw that Your Majesty was not happy after leaving the court today, and I was worried that they would think of new ways to humiliate Your Majesty!"
"Come on, be honest, am I easily bullied?" Zhu Houcong glanced at him condescendingly, "Why don't you spend more energy on helping me clean the palace first. Do you think I have protected Wei Bin and the others? With me protecting you, can you sit back and relax?"
Zhang Zuo broke out in a cold sweat: "I think it was not enough to deal with Mao Cheng and save Liang Ge Lao and Wang Shangshu. Later, Yang Ge Lao and the others fought over everything. Although Your Majesty did not mention it, they actually pretended to renovate the house. I haven’t heard anything about Ning Gong..."
"Do your duty first!" Zhu Houcong's tone became stern, "Do you think you are already more capable than Zhang Jin when you are making a show in the Chief of Ceremonies?"
Zhang Zuozhan kowtowed tremblingly: "I don't dare to be so arrogant. I know my sin..."
The emperor didn't speak. Zhang Zuo knew it was quiet now, but his ears were buzzing.
After a long time, the emperor said indifferently: "Do you think I have to use you in the inner palace?"
"I don't dare!" Zhang Zuo was heartbroken and kept kowtowing.
"Instead of taking this opportunity to learn more from Wei Bin, Gu Dayong, Zhang Jin and the others, you are relying on your status as an old minister of Qiandi to put on airs and gain power!" Zhu Houcong sneered, "You have only been in the palace for a few days, and you are already the great ancestor. Why, you are already so highly respected and respected by everyone?"
