The cold dew season is just around the corner, and winter is not far away.
Forbidden City, Qianqing Palace.
Cao Huachun accompanied Zheng Haizhu and stood outside Xinuan Pavilion, waiting to meet the saint.
Zheng Haizhu breathed hot air into the palm of her hand, looked up at the auspicious clouds carved on the railing of the "Immortal Tower" on the second floor, and said, "Eunuch Cao, in two months, the reign name will be changed to Taichang, right?"
Cao Huachun nodded, smiled with a Maitreya smile, and echoed: "This year's name is so auspicious."
Zheng Haizhu's eyes fell on the lintel of Xinuang Pavilion reflecting the sun.
Zhu Changluo, who was supposed to die before the Double Ninth Festival because of the Hongwan case, is now meeting with the courtier Ye Xianggao who has returned to Beijing.
Just like Yan Siqi's early entry into Taiwan and the Ming army's victory in the Battle of Fushun, the history of this time and space has been changed again: Zhu Changluo is still the emperor, and Zhu Youxiao is still the eldest son of the emperor.
On the day when Wang Gongchang was in danger, Li Kezhuo, the Prime Minister of Honglu Temple, and Cui Wenjing, the admiral of the patrol camp who was intercepted by Qin Liangyu, both explained the whole story of assisting Zhu Qianyu.
But at the same time, in order to avoid being tortured by Lingchi, the two of them wanted to bite someone for merit, so they both confessed without hesitation. Although Concubine Zheng had no connection with the descendants of Jianwen, Concubine Zheng's close confidant Cui Wensheng not only intended to expand the number of people in Beijing who obeyed the concubine He also ordered Li Kezhuo to present a folk elixir to destroy the emperor's dragon body, intending to control the emperor's eldest son and serve as regent behind the curtain after the emperor's death, in order to benefit the king and ascend to the throne.
After hearing the news, Concubine Zheng, who had moved from Yikun Palace to Renshou Palace, hurriedly put on the Zhai clothes that weighed dozens of kilograms. She didn't even have time to wear the ceremonial crown carefully, so she rushed to Qianqing Palace, wept and defended herself, and She repeatedly emphasized that she did not seek the position of Queen Mother, but only wanted to follow Master Wanli's coffin to Dingling and guard the mausoleum for the rest of her life. Her nephew Zheng Yangxing could even remove his title of Governor Zuo, and the nephews of the Zheng family could also No longer hereditary.
On that day, Zhu Changluo did not express his position immediately and only asked her to return to the palace first.
Fast forward more than half a month. During this period, Zheng Haizhu went to the palace to receive a reward, went to Wenhua Hall and Ciqing Palace for several lessons, and learned that Concubine Zheng was still under house arrest in Renshou Palace.
Wang An's close confidant Cao Huachun, who was announced to the West Nuan Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace today to accompany and lead the way, revealed to Zheng Haizhu as soon as they met: The reason why Long Live Lord's treatment of Nanzhu and Zheng Guifei took so long is because he was waiting Ye Xianggao went to Beijing to discuss.
Zheng Haizhu immediately expressed his intention.
Nowadays, whether it is the foreign court or the ceremonial supervisor, the male civil servants with and without positions in the empire have regarded her as a solid pro-East Lin school and a pro-Western school. She knows the importance of Ye Xianggao. , does not arouse suspicion.
In her heart, regarding the fact that Zhu Changluo did not die on time, the follow-up she was most looking forward to was Ye Xianggao, Zhu Changluo's staunch supporter, this veteran minister who was not counted as Donglin, who had disciples all over the world, However, the leader of Shilin who did not like to form cliques and who dared to weaken the power of the eunuchs in the inner court was on the stage of Emperor Taichang in 1621 AD, not the stage of Emperor Tianqi.
While Zheng Haizhu was deep in thought, the door of Xinuan Pavilion opened, and Wang An and Ye Xianggao came out.
Ye Xianggao has passed his sixtieth birthday this year, and his snow-white hair is exposed under his gauze hat. His cheeks are also covered with age spots. His demeanor is less gentle, and he looks much kinder than the younger but stern and cold Donglin officials such as Yang Lian and Huang Zunsu.
"Mr. Fu Qing."
Zheng Haizhu stepped forward to salute, and based on the information obtained from Wang Wenyan, the "Donglin Tong", called him by the name Ye Xianggao liked.
Ye Xianggao stopped, and Wang An introduced him in time: "The masters of the emperor's eldest son and the emperor's fifth son also went to Ciqing Palace to give lectures to the princess."
After Ye Xianggao nodded in greeting, he lowered his sleeves to his side, with a slight smile showing kindness towards the younger generation, but he spoke frankly: "He is not only the teacher of the prince, but also the hero of this time. Master Zheng, can you?" Character?"
"My father passed away without giving the younger generation a name."
"Oh, then I still call you by the imperial decree. Mrs. Zheng's hometown is also from Fujian?"
"The younger generation grew up by the seaside of Zhangzhou."
"Well, it's not too far from Fuqing. We are half the same town," Ye Xianggao said slowly, but did not show any interest in continuing the conversation, "I will leave the palace to visit Xu Hanlin now. You can go in with the prince. .”
…
Behind the imperial desk in Xinuang Pavilion, Emperor Zhu Changluo was drinking red dates, cinnamon and licorice soup. When he saw Zheng Haizhu come in, he gave her a seat and ordered the maid to bring her a cup of hot soup.
Zheng Haizhu thanked her and took two sips, put it on the table and warmed her hands.
Zhu Changluo glanced at the scene of falling leaves blown by the wind outside the window, and sighed: "It will still be a few days before winter begins. The Forbidden City is already as cold as an ice cellar, and the border officers will have to endure hardship again."
Zheng Haizhu respectfully answered: "Long live my lord, in order to investigate the case, the three thousand taels of silver that I defrauded from the criminals were of ninety-two percent fine. I added the one thousand taels that I gained from the opening of my Jingzhong business, half a month ago. I sent it to Dengzhou, bought four thousand sets of thickened cotton clothes and trousers, and sent it to Shenyang. There have been many soldiers there this year. I am afraid they are not used to the severe cold. Shandong cotton is good, and our Chongming cotton is also good. Well, before the Liaohai Road is frozen, I will have three thousand sets of cotton-padded clothes and trousers to be distributed to General Mao’s troops in Dongjiang.”
Zhu Changluo pursed his lips and put down the soup bowl.
This middle-aged emperor, who has been on the throne for almost three months, has become accustomed to interpreting the meaning behind their words while interacting with many internal and external courtiers.
The same goes for the woman in front of her. She is not asking for credit. She doesn't need it. The focus of her words is the "Southern soldiers" in "Southern soldiers are afraid of the cold."
Zhu Changluo then refused to succumb to the savior of himself and the people in the west of the city. He said bluntly: "Master Zheng, the favor you asked for Liu Shimin was something I promised before. I will execute him tomorrow and give him his whole body. I will not change my mind." . If you want to say goodbye to him, bring a pot of wine to the prison today. General Ma is different. As you said, his treatment is not about how to die, but how to live. Naturally, it is difficult for me to give you an accurate answer right away. letter."
When Zheng Haizhu saw the emperor stopped, he still acted like the saint before him and insisted: "Long live my lord, General Ma is not a traitor. Zhang Mingshi has been in prison for many years, which is the loss of the Ming Dynasty, not to mention General Ma? Those censors who speak with swords and swords, they They have never been to Fushun, and they have never seen how capable the Sichuan army's cavalry is in fighting, and they don't know the dangers of the Tatars, even more so than the Northern Barbarians! Long live your Majesty, precious swords must not be sealed in iron boxes, and strong generals must not be trapped in prison. In a cage!
"I understand." Zhu Changluo made a gesture to comfort him.
He just wanted to test this woman's character one last time.
Just recently, there have been many voices in the court, mentioning that since the Zheng family is a descendant of Zheng Cha, and alone in this turmoil, Ma Xianglin, the most powerful man, escaped death penalty, who knows that the two of them will not be killed in the future? Joining forces with Jianwen's orphan overseas, after all, this time, the Zheng family directly killed the criminal, causing the court to lose the opportunity to trace the whereabouts of the imperial seal. Not only was it unwise, but it even made the emperor not take it seriously.
Zhu Changluo believed that Zheng Haizhu would not be unaware of these sounds.
But obviously, she still had no intention of avoiding suspicion, and was still trying her best to persuade her, the emperor, not to imprison Ma Xianglin.
Zhu Changluo then took another sip of the hot soup and said decisively: "Xueshi Ye also agrees with you. General Ma will go to the side, instead of being imprisoned in the imperial prison like Zhang Mingshi. However, it is not to go to Liaodong, but to go to the north where the barbarians are rampant. place."
(End of chapter)
