Generally speaking, the Wenhua Hall discussion is when important officials from the outer court and the inner court gather to discuss important affairs of the government. In other words, the cabinet of the outer court, the six ministers, the governor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and if necessary, the six subjects will also be present. As for the inner court, it is the eunuch Bingbi, the eunuch who oversees rituals.
But this time, when the officials from the outer court arrived at the Wenhua Palace to wait, they discovered many anomalies. In fact, it can be said that when we entered the Forbidden City, we already felt that something was wrong.
There was no time before, so while waiting, they looked for their close friends and talked in low voices.
"As soon as the palace door opened, Eunuch Wang, the eunuch of Bingbi, led a large group of people out of the palace. Looking at the menacing one, it seemed that something had happened."
"Something must have happened! Those palace guards are all looking at me intently, and they don't have the lazy feeling before!"
"Yes, and it seems that the eunuchs patrolling the palace have also been replaced!"
"..."
While these civil servants were discussing, suddenly, they saw the eunuch Bingbi coming over.
At this sight, they were surprised again. Among them, Zhou Yanru, the chief assistant, asked one of them: "Where is the prince? How come only a few of your father-in-laws came here from the Chief Li Supervisor?"
The eunuch Bingbi heard this and wanted to answer, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he suddenly remembered something, so he immediately shut up and stood in his seat. Then, these eunuchs holding pens all had the same virtue. They looked at their noses with their eyes, and their hearts with their noses. They remained motionless, just like clay Bodhisattvas.
Their move immediately shocked Zhou Yanru and others. Needless to say, something big must have happened in the palace, otherwise, these eunuchs who are usually sociable and always say hello when they meet, would never behave like this!
As a result, a group of civil servants focused their attention on Zhou Yanru. The meaning is obvious. You are the chief assistant. Why don't you hurry up and find out what happened?
Zhou Yanru's brows knitted together. He really couldn't figure out what happened in the palace. The most recent major event should be the defeat of Matsuyama. However, this defeat of Matsuyama should not have much to do with the palace, right? Could it be that the emperor was so angry that he moved his anger into the palace, so a large number of people were unlucky?
Uncertain, Zhou Yanru felt a little panicked. I don’t understand the situation. What if something bad happens when I meet the emperor later? Therefore, after thinking about it for a while, he asked the eunuch Bingbi again: "Eunuch Gao, what's the matter? Can't you ventilate it first? As ministers, we don't all want to make His Majesty angry, right? "
While asking the question, I was thinking that it would be great if Wang Dehua, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, was here. Based on my friendship with him, I would definitely talk to him about anything in advance.
Hearing this, Eunuch Gao opened his eyes and glanced at him. Unexpectedly, he closed it again and still ignored it.
At this time, even Zhou Yanru was a little angry. After all, he was the chief minister of the cabinet, so he spoke so amiably and repeatedly, but he didn't even give him any face.
But really, there's no point in him being angry. Even if he is the chief minister of the cabinet, he cannot control the inner court. Therefore, for a while, it was a little difficult for him to step down. His beard was bristling, obviously trying to calm down his anger.
At this moment, there was a sudden shout that Emperor Chongzhen was coming.
As a result, all the civil servants in the Wenhua Hall took their places to welcome Emperor Chongzhen.
"Long live my emperor, long live, long live!"
After the ceremony, it was usually Emperor Chongzhen's "all the ministers coming to bed". However, this time, a crowd of people waiting heard Emperor Chongzhen say from above: "Come on, give me a seat for you, sir!"
"Give me a seat, sir?" The civil servants and eunuchs below were all surprised. Where did the gentleman come from? What kind of gentleman did he come from?
Thinking like this, they all took a peek to check the situation.
It was okay not to look at it, but when I looked at it, I was immediately surprised.
I saw under His Majesty Dan, a chamberlain was carrying a round stool over, and a stranger in a python suit sat down directly without thanking him, as if he was not used to it.
"..." Seeing this scene, the civil servants and eunuchs were all shocked, and their minds were filled with questions.
Who is this? Wearing a python suit! Why has it never been seen before?
The emperor seemed to be addressed as sir just now, but why is he so young? Is this Mr. He Dehe Neng who can actually become the emperor?
What surprised them the most was that this man seemed so arrogant that it was natural for the emperor to grant him a seat?
…………
In short, Zhang Mingwei immediately became the focus of the Wenhua Hall.
At this moment, Emperor Chongzhen's voice rang out: "Everyone, get up!"
Both the words and the tone were a bit rude. This suddenly woke up the civil servants and eunuchs, and they quickly stood up in obedience to the etiquette.
Emperor Chongzhen did not introduce Zhang Mingwei first, but said in a cold tone: "Let's do something!"
This change of attitude is not to blame on him. Last night, he saw Wang Dehua's account book, which included most of the so-called important ministers in front of him, even the chief minister Zhou Yanru. How could he not be annoyed!
You know, to be promoted to such a high position by him is of course someone he thinks is worthy of use and someone he trusts very much.
Hearing that Emperor Chongzhen was very unhappy, Zhou Yanru thought of the abnormality of the Chief of Ceremonies, and couldn't help but feel uneasy. After thinking about it, he was ready to say something nice first, then he coughed and went out to report: "This is what I have ordered to do." I sincerely invite your Majesty to read the memorial text I have written!"
Zhou Yanru's talent was indeed a powerful one among the officials in the late Ming Dynasty. At the age of 20, he was awarded the first place in the Central Committee and the number one scholar. At the age of 27, he was named the chief minister of the cabinet. He was one of the youngest chief ministers of the cabinet in the Ming Dynasty.
At this time, he himself felt that this memorial essay to commemorate Hong Chengchou was a wonderful pen, perfectly presenting the image of a man who served his country loyally and dedicated himself to death. Emperor Chongzhen will definitely appreciate it after seeing it. In this way, the unhappiness in his heart will be relieved a lot, and everyone will not have to be so panic.
But who would have thought that when Emperor Chongzhen heard what he said, he immediately remembered that Hong Chengchou, who he considered the leader of the country and a role model for the people of the world, was so spineless. Deal with Daming!
When he thought of this, he became very angry and slapped the imperial case with a loud "snap" sound.
Emperor Chongzhen suddenly became furious and frightened Zhou Yanru and others. They knelt down quickly, all of them lowering their heads and not daring to speak. At the same time, I was also puzzled. I didn't know what I said wrongly, which actually caused the emperor to be so angry?
Only Zhang Mingwei, who was sitting there, knew that. He looked at Zhou Yanru and couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "If you don't lift the pot, you deserve your misfortune!"
As a bystander, although Emperor Chongzhen's anger was not directed at him, he still felt that the majesty of imperial power was still very high in this era.
These civil servants could deceive the emperor, but they would never have the courage to deceive the emperor, even if Emperor Chongzhen was the last emperor.
At this time, after Emperor Chongzhen got angry, he suddenly felt that his anger seemed a bit too much. After all, Zhou Yanru was acting on orders when he wrote the memorial, and they didn't know that Hong Chengchou would surrender to the enemy.
As a result, the Wenhua Hall became strangely quiet.
