After Chen Kan walked out of the palace, he couldn't help but stretch.
He found that he felt much more relaxed now that he no longer had to worry about anything.
"Let's go, go back!"
After greeting Xie Zhong and other personal guards, Chen Kan took the lead in getting on his horse and galloping away.
After returning to Fang Mansion, the sky had darkened.
Chen Kan walked straight into the mourning hall. The incense table in front of Zheng's coffin had been rearranged. Fang Xiaoru, Fang's brother, two sisters and brother-in-law were all guarding the mourning hall.
Seeing Chen Kan coming back, Fang Zhongyue was about to speak, but Fang Xiaoru beat him to it.
"Yuansheng, have everything been taken care of?"
Chen Kan nodded, walked to Fang Xiaoru, knelt down towards Zheng's coffin, and said, "What I said to the teacher has been taken care of. The student will resign. Without an official position, he will feel lighter."
Hearing this, Fang Xiaoru nodded slightly and said, "That's fine. You and I, master and disciple, have fallen too deeply into the quagmire of officialdom. I can't escape unscathed now. You should get out as soon as possible. When I'm gone, you can still take care of your family." "
Hearing the dejection in Fang Xiaoru's words, Chen Kan couldn't help but sigh secretly.
Fang Xiaoru was telling the truth. He really couldn't retreat from the current.
Whether it is the Yongle New Deal or the Ming Dynasty Shilin, he is needed to take care of the court.
After thinking for a while, Chen Kan asked in a low voice: "Does the teacher have a suitable successor?"
"There are two of them. It's a pity that I'm old and don't know if I can survive until the day they grow up."
When talking about life and death, Fang Xiaoru was very calm, as if he was chatting about family matters.
Chen Kan was silent for a moment and asked, "Who is the person the teacher has chosen?"
Fang Xiaoru stroked his beard and sighed: "You know these two people, Yang Shiqi and Yang Bo in the cabinet. To be honest, I originally wanted to train Xie Jin at the beginning. Xie Jin has a great reputation among the scholars. , It’s a pity that Xie Jin’s temperament is too innocent and naive, and he cannot take up the responsibility of the Ming Dynasty.”
Chen Kan was not too surprised to hear the candidate selected by Fang Xiaoru.
Although Yang Shiqi and Yang Rong do not yet have much real power in the court, their reputations have been established.
Moreover, he was agile in handling affairs in the cabinet and was highly valued by Zhu Di.
However, Chen Kan remembered that in history, three Yangs assisted the government. Now that Yang Shiqi and Yang Bo have entered Fang Xiaoru's field of vision, Yang Rong is the only one missing.
Chen Kan asked curiously: "Teacher, as far as the students know, Yang Rong is as talented as Yang Bo and Yang Shiqi in Wenyuan Pavilion. Why doesn't the teacher consider training Yang Rong together? There is a saying that eggs cannot be placed together." In the basket, is there something wrong with Yang Rong?"
Fang Xiaoru was obviously a little surprised when Chen Kan suddenly mentioned Yang Bo.
After a moment of surprise, Fang Xiaoru suddenly asked: "Is this Yang Rong yours?"
"No, the students are just out of curiosity. Nowadays, the scholars are spreading the word that Sanyangtai's poems are not inferior to the few vile poems written by the disciples. The little reputation that the students finally accumulated among the scholars has now been overturned by them. It’s passed, so students are curious why the teacher didn’t choose all of them, but two of the three?”
Seeing Chen Kan shaking his head in denial, the surprise on Fang Xiaoru's face subsided slightly.
He knew that Chen Kan would not hide such a thing from him.
Since Chen Kan said Yang Rong was not his, Yang Rong must have nothing to do with Chen Kan.
Although he was curious why Chen Kan asked about this Yang Rong, Fang Xiaoru still explained: "Yang Rong is quite talented. Among the officials of the middle and young generations of the Ming Dynasty, in terms of talents for assisting the country, Yang Rong is only slightly inferior. Yang Shiqi is a little bit stronger, even stronger than Yang Bo."
Chen Kan nodded in agreement. Fang Xiaoru's words basically matched his understanding of Sanyang.
Historically, Yang Rong was called Dong Yang, while Yang Bo and Yang Shiqi belonged to South and West Er Yang, collectively known as San Yang.
But in terms of talent alone, Yang Rong is indeed better than Yang Bo.
After all, in history, it was Yang Shiqi and Yang Rong who entered the cabinet first, and Yang Bo did not enter the cabinet until the Zhengtong period.
Fang Xiaoru paused and continued: "Yang Rong is a smart police officer and good at observing people. He manages affairs in Wenyuan Pavilion. He is able to plan and make decisions. He is mature and prudent. He is especially good at planning border defense affairs. This person has many plans for Annan, Liaodong and the Japanese country. , can be regarded as a rare talent."
"But this man's shortcomings are also obvious. He is proud of his talent and cannot tolerate the mistakes of others. Since he entered the court as a third-ranked Jinshi in the second year of Jianwen, he has been in charge of Wenyuan Pavilion for many years, but he has never been accepted by his colleagues.
Moreover, this person had frequent contacts with the generals and accepted gifts from the generals wantonly. For this matter, Your Majesty and the Metropolitan Procuratorate reprimanded him several times, but he still did not repent. With such a temperament, it is acceptable to be a solitary minister. If you are a minister of Zhushi, you may cause trouble for your own illegitimate child. "
After Fang Xiaoru evaluated Yang Bo, he couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "It's a pity that Brother Zining has always refused to become an official in the court. Otherwise, how could I, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, have such a hard job."
"Everyone has his or her own ambitions, teachers don't have to worry about them."
Chen Kan comforted Fang Xiaoru softly, but couldn't find anything else to say.
Although Zhu Di pardoned Lian Zining and Tie Xuan and allowed them to return to their hometowns to farm, the two of them had great opinions on Zhu Di. It would be no less difficult for them to become officials again than to train Lian Zining again.
"Yes, everyone has his own ambitions."
Fang Xiaoru replied to Chen Kan, then shook his head and said no more.
He also knew that it was impossible for Lian Zining to return to work for Zhu Di. Now, mentioning Lian Zining's name in front of Chen Kan was nothing more than a sigh.
The master and apprentice fell silent, and Fang Zhongyu finally found a chance to interrupt. He leaned into Chen Kan's ear and whispered, "Yuan Sheng, Your Majesty didn't embarrass you, did you?"
"No, how could your Majesty make things difficult for me?"
Chen Kan responded to Fang Zhongyu, saying that what he said was true. Zhu Di did not embarrass him, it was just that he embarrassed Zhu Di.
Fang Zhongyu breathed a sigh of relief and said thankfully: "It's good if it doesn't happen. It's good if it doesn't happen. Ever since you entered the palace, my brother has been in a state of anxiety."
Chen Kan smiled slightly and said: "It's okay, everything has been resolved. Li Jinglong and Xu Jingchang will not come to cause trouble in the future. If they dare to come, just beat them up."
Fang Zhongyu nodded in agreement.
Today, Chen Kan taught him a truth, that is, if you are brave, you are afraid of being stunned, and if you are stunned, you are afraid of losing your life.
For some people, the more they give in, the more they will slap their noses in their faces.
They are good dukes, but their own family is not bad either. How can an official with real power be afraid of a duke with little real power?
Hearing the exchange between the two junior brothers, Fang Xiaoru couldn't help but laugh.
His two sons were too honest and looked forward and backward in everything they did, but they had gained a bit of backbone today.
But when he thought that these few points of strength were obtained at the expense of his deceased wife's death, he felt a little angry.
Fang Zhongyu chatted with Chen Kan for a few words and didn't ask any more questions.
He believed in Chen Kan. The Chen Kan he knew was never a foolhardy person.
Seeing that the sky was getting dark and there were not many guests coming to the door, Fang Xiaoru said a little tiredly: "You guys just stay tuned, I'm going to take a rest."
Chen Kan nodded, and Fang Zhongxian and his two sisters hurriedly stood up and helped Fang Xiaoru, preparing to send him back to his room to rest.
But before he could step out of the door, a sharp sound came from outside the door.
"The imperial edict has arrived~"
Fang Xiaoru paused, and Chen Kan and the Fang brothers looked stunned.
Chen Kan stood up and walked quickly behind Fang Xiaoru, frowning and said: "Imperial decree, it's already at this time, what imperial decree is it?"
Fang Xiaoru took a deep breath and said calmly: "Since it is an imperial edict, just accept it."
Hearing this, the Fang brothers hurriedly got up and prepared the incense table.
No matter what, the imperial edict must be accepted.
It doesn't matter if it's dark, the imperial edict is the imperial edict.
The Fang brothers prepared the incense table, and the elders of the Fang and Zheng clans, who were sitting in the yard to watch the vigil, knelt down under the leadership of Fang Xiaoru.
"My lord, Fang Xiaoru has accepted the order."
The young eunuch who delivered the order hurriedly entered the door with a group of guards in royal robes. Seeing Fang Xiaoru kneeling on the ground, he hurriedly said: "Long live the Lord has a decree, Mr. Fang, the Minister of Personnel, is not required to kneel."
As soon as these words came out, everyone in the courtyard was stunned. Fang Xiaoru sighed, stood up slowly, raised his hands to the little eunuch and said, "Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty."
Fang Xiaoru was exempted from kneeling and could stand to receive orders, but others still had to kneel.
Seeing the crowd of people kneeling on the ground in the courtyard, the little eunuch who delivered the edict no longer delayed, immediately took out the imperial edict, slowly unfolded it and read: "The emperor is destined to be carried by heaven. The edict says that Fang Xiaoru, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, died of his wife Zheng. He was diligent and self-disciplined during his lifetime, and had a gentle and gentle nature... He was specially admitted to the Ningguo Mansion, given a gold book, and ordered the Ministry of Rites to prepare for the funeral. On August 16th, he accompanied Mrs. Ningguo's coffin back to her hometown for burial, in order to mourn and honor her. Oh!"
After reading the content of the imperial edict, everyone in the courtyard was immediately stunned.
Chen Kan and the Fang brothers looked at each other, and a group of guests also started whispering in an instant.
Yesterday, an imperial edict came, just ordering that Mrs. Zheng be buried according to the specifications of the second grade imperial edict.
Today another imperial edict came, but it was a canonization edict.
Mrs. Yipin Ningguo is quite worthy of Zheng's status.
It is this change before and after that always makes people feel a little bit playful.
Fang Xiaoru was very calm. He stretched out his hand to take the imperial edict from the little eunuch's hand, bent down and saluted: "Your Majesty, Fang Xiaoru, accept the edict."
The young eunuch shook off the dust and said, "Master Fang, the adults from the Ministry of Etiquette will come over tomorrow to prepare for the funeral. Please make preparations in advance."
Fang Xiaoru nodded slightly, saluted again and said, "Please remind me, please."
The young eunuch avoided Fang Xiaoru's etiquette, bowed his waist and said: "Our family will return to the palace to renew the order."
Fang Xiaoru understood the idea, closed the imperial edict, and said calmly: "Yuan Sheng, send this young father-in-law off for me."
Chen Kan stood up, walked to the little eunuch, and said expressionlessly: "Father-in-law, please."
The little eunuch nodded, faced the Jin Yiwei behind him, and took the lead in exiting the courtyard.
After Chen Kan sent him out of the courtyard, the young eunuch's expression suddenly became flattering.
"Master Hou, Master Daoyan has told your servant to bring this thing to you. As for whether to accept it or not, Master Daoyan said that you can make your own decision."
As the little eunuch spoke, he reached out and took out a wooden box from his arms.
