prosperous age

When the sun disappeared in the western sky, only a gray earth remained.

On the streets of the capital, the number of pedestrians and cars and horses has decreased significantly at this time. Although there is still some time before the curfew, people are also on their way home quickly.

It was at this time that Wei Guangde's house welcomed a guest.

"Come uninvited, don't be offended by Shandai."

After Gao Gong entered the door, he looked at Wei Guangde who came out, and said.

"There, brother Suqing came to the door, and the plums were shining, please come inside."

Wei Guangde asked Gao Gong to enter with a smile on his face, but he still looked at the official uniform he was wearing with some surprise.

Except for official business, when you visit the door, you will usually change into regular clothes. No one will run around in official uniforms. First, official clothes are expensive and difficult to clean if they are dirty.

But seeing Gao Gong come here today without changing his clothes, Wei Guangde couldn't help but wonder where he came from.

After entering the room and sitting down, Gao Gong had already noticed Wei Guangde's curious gaze, and said directly: "I just came out of Xiyuan, so I didn't have time to change it."

Hearing Gao Gong's words, Wei Guangde understood, "Two days ago, the merchants from my hometown came over and brought a lot of local specialties. I already ordered the kitchen to set up a table of wine and vegetables, and chatted while eating."

"I'm definitely going to eat and drink at your place tonight, but let me ask you first, did you write the Qing Ci you handed in today?"

Gao Gong nodded and smiled first, then asked seriously.

When Gao Gong asked about Qingci, Wei Guangde felt guilty, maybe Gao Gong saw that he had put together Qingci.

Wei Guangde tried his best to keep the expression on his face unchanged, but he saw that Gao Gong's face was covered with sorrow.

"Is there something wrong with that green poem?"

Wei Guangde asked in a low voice.

"You didn't write Qing Ci before, and I didn't expect you to write a pair of Qing Ci today."

Gao Gong shook his head and said with a wry smile, "You should have read those Qing Ci poems before, they are all archived in the Imperial Academy."

Wei Guangde nodded when he heard the words, but immediately heard Gao Gong's cold voice.

"Whether it is old Yan Ge, old Xu Ge, or Yuan Wei, those Qing Cis before are all gods who wrote about His Majesty's experience in the world, but how do you write it in your Qing Ci? You still have to live, you have to live now .”

"what?"

Hearing what Gao Gong said, Wei Guangde instantly felt chills all over his body, how could he ignore such an important thing.

In Wei Guangde's consciousness, naturally there is no such thing as a god or a man, even if the government is the emperor of the folk myth, what is the real dragon emperor, but Wei Guangde's soul has traveled here after all, so he doesn't have much awe in his heart.

Of course, Wei Guangde was also in awe of Emperor Jiajing, but that was awe of power, not his identity.

What kind of prince will Xiangning?

There are not many remaining monarchies in later generations, and most of them have limited the power of the monarch, and they are more of a symbol of the country and a mascot role.

In Wei Guangde's impression, that is to say, tribes in the Middle East and Africa still have reservations, and the monarch still has real rights. Even if other countries retain the monarch, they still adopt a constitutional system.

...

Therefore, when Wei Guangde wrote the Qingci, he naturally wrote it according to this consciousness. He regarded Emperor Jiajing as an ordinary person. He was lucky to be born in the emperor's family. to make.

The writing background of that Qing Ci was actually very simple, but now after listening to Gao Gong, Wei Guangde felt that the trouble that that Qing Ci might cause him seemed to be more serious than a bad attitude.

Thinking of this, Wei Guangde looked anxiously at Gao Gong.

If that Qing Ci was used by someone with a heart to gossip about Emperor Jiajing, it would be troublesome.

Although he knew that the Qing Ci would not be able to reach Emperor Jiajing, it would be troublesome for others to see it and say it.

Do more and make more mistakes, but don't do it well.

Wei Guangde blamed himself a little at this moment, he might as well just pretend to be a fool and go there.

Seeing Wei Guangde's appearance, Gao Gong slowed down his tone and said: "I stopped your Qingci, but many people have seen it, Yan Shifan also saw it, and even challenged your Qingci. Come out and plan to contribute."

Having said this, Gao Gong looked at Wei Guangde with dissatisfaction.

Wei Guangde knew that he really didn't think carefully this time, and he couldn't say anything, but his heart was already turbulent.

Qing Ci would not be sent directly to the emperor, it seemed to be nothing, but Yan Shifan saw it, and it might be dug up someday, it seemed to become a time bomb, and it would blow up at some point.

Wei Guangde frowned and thought about it, then suddenly said: "Since Yan Shifan knows, Brother Suqing shouldn't stop him."

In Wei Guangde's view, if there is a mistake, it is better to let it go and deal with it directly. At least there are people who can help him make things right in front of the emperor. If Yan Song and Yan Shifan report it to the emperor in private
"What do you mean? What did I do wrong?"

Gao Gong was upset at first, but when he heard Wei Guangde say that, his mood became even worse.

But Wei Guangde cupped his hands at him, and then said: "Shan Loe thanked Brother Su Qing for his protection, but Shan Loe still thinks that since Yan Shifan saw Qing Ci, it is better to send it directly to His Majesty." If His Majesty wants to scold and punish, he will continue. It is better to make it clear in person than to be murdered by their backstabbing.

Anyway, isn't there still Brother Su Qing and Elder Xu Ge in Xiyuan? "

"Are you worried that Yan Shifan will report to His Majesty in private?"

After being reminded by Wei Guangde, Gao Gong also came to his senses.

Although Qing Ci was stopped, if the emperor took offense and wanted to punish him, as long as someone stabbed him in front of him, Wei Guangde still couldn't escape punishment. After all, those Qing Ci would be kept properly, regardless of the quality of Qing Ci.

Gao Gong couldn't sit still at this time, and started rubbing his hands together.

Wei Guangde can be regarded as a general in Prince Yu's Mansion. Although his official position is not high, he has good news in the palace and can sometimes offer valuable opinions.

It can be said that both King Yu and Gao Gong attach great importance to Wei Guangde.

Of course, the most important thing is that they are [-]% assured of Wei Guangde, think about what the state of Prince Yu's Mansion was like when Wei Guangde joined him.

At that time, King Yu was almost completely desperate. The finances of King Yu's mansion were on the verge of collapse, the building was about to collapse, and the hearts of the people in the mansion were floating.

...

For Wei Guangde, Prince Yu's Mansion must do its best to protect it, even if it angers Emperor Jiajing, it must be preserved. What's more, there is only a hidden worry now, and it is not time to despair.

Wei Guangde blinked at this moment, but tried his best to restrain his emotions, and was also quickly thinking about how to solve the hidden danger this time.

It is definitely better to take the initiative to solve it than to accept it passively. At least the initiative is in your own hands, not in the hands of Yan Shifan, who may be grasped at any time.

This was the first mistake Wei Guangde made when he crossed over. In the past, he was very cautious in what he said and did. He was afraid that he would show the opinions and habits of later generations, which would conflict with the current concepts, and be regarded as a different kind by others.

As for the shirt-like things he wears in his own home, most people who see them will look sideways. In fact, there are very few double-breasted clothes in this era.

Fortunately, the mandarin duck battle jacket and armor of the Ming army are all in this style, and he was born in a military family, so he is just a show, and it is easy to be accepted by others.

Those who are familiar with him even know that Wei Guangde's wardrobe even has mandarin duck battle jackets and a set of mountain armor, which was sent by Ma Fang from the Xuanfu.

The battle armor of the Ming army in this era is all handmade, which is expensive, let alone armor.

For scholars, what clothes to wear is still very sensitive. The main reason is of course the system established by the founding emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty.

With the idea of ​​taking the initiative to solve hidden dangers, Wei Guangde gradually had an idea, but he didn't know if it would work.

"Brother Suqing, tell me, if you find a chance, when you are summoned by His Majesty alone, you will say that I have little talent but want to make a living, and I can't write green words but I have to force them, and the words I write are messy. Unreadable."

At this moment, Wei Guangde didn't care whether it would tarnish his reputation as a biography, and directly said what came to his mind.

In the general examination and palace examination back then, Wei Guangde was originally ranked at the bottom, but he was picked up because of Emperor Jiajing's words. The outside world didn't know, so how could Gao Gong not know.

It is self-defilement, but it is just telling the truth. His Imperial Academy was also specially ordered by Emperor Jiajing, otherwise he would have been assigned to one of the six departments. wake.

When Gao Gong heard the solution proposed by Wei Guangde, he was stunned for a moment, then understood his meaning, took the initiative to defile himself in front of Emperor Jiajing, and then revealed the matter. Although it may still cause dissatisfaction with the emperor, if it is done properly, it will It is possible to control the crisis within an acceptable range.

However, Gao Gong soon thought of another question, and couldn't help but say: "But the number of times I have been summoned by His Majesty alone is very limited, and such opportunities are not many."

Seeing Wei Guangde's puzzled gaze, Gao Gong continued to explain: "Although I am often called to be in Xiyuan, most of the time I don't see the emperor. The officials in Xiyuan stay in the Wuyi Hall. Your Majesty I will be called only when there is something to do.

In fact, many times, it is to help the cabinet handle some official documents and memorials in their respective yamen, and His Majesty directly approves them, and rarely summons them. '

...

"Is that so?"

Wei Guangde suddenly realized, he thought that after entering Xiyuan, he would follow Emperor Jiajing and be present when the emperor dealt with the memorial, but he was just waiting in Xiyuan.

"Strictly speaking, in fact, I was only temporarily transferred to be on duty in Xiyuan. Those who really followed His Majesty into Xiyuan, besides the two elders in the cabinet, were Zhu Xizhong and Zhu Xixiao, as well as Minister of Rites Wu Shan and his relative Fang Chengyu. They are the ones who will truly accompany you into Xiyuan."

Gao Gong also explained that although Wei Guangde was a little favored, he actually spent very little time with the king's companion, and Emperor Jiajing was a famous emperor in history, so he rarely summoned foreign ministers except for necessity, so Gao Gong went to the court again. He gave Wei Guangde a detailed explanation of the real situation of the Xiyuan officials.

Emperor Jiajing began to move to Xiyuan in the 18th year of Jiajing, and his trusted ministers of civil and military affairs, eunuchs of the ceremonial supervision system, and Zhongshu officials followed the emperor to Zhixiyuan.

Civil and military can be divided into honored and military ministers, relatives, cabinet ministers and ministers, especially ministers of the Ministry of Rites, who belonged to the political core of this period.

"Zhu Xizhong and Zhu Xixiao are naturally the representatives of honored and military ministers, and Fang Chengyu is a close minister. After all, he is the brother of the former Queen Fang, and he is also one of the few people who are close to His Majesty. As for us, except for Wu Shangshu, we are only at the request of Your Majesty. They will only be temporarily called in when they are young."

After listening to Gao Gong's explanation, Wei Guangde understood a little bit. This entry into Xiyuan is not something that can be selected casually, only a few dignitaries in the dynasty can do it. It seems that it is just a reserve team trained by Emperor Jiajing.

"Are those two elders often summoned by His Majesty?"

Wei Guangde actually still doesn't understand what is the relationship between the value of Xiyuan and the cabinet.

After all, Xiyuan already belonged to the palace, so spying on the palace was still very taboo. Before that, he only knew that the people who entered Xiyuan seemed to be people who were valued by Emperor Jiajing, but he hadn't inquired about the details.

Now that Gao Gong is here, although he is not included in the value of Xiyuan, he has been often called in in recent years, so he naturally knows more than outsiders.

"There are times when the two elders are summoned, that is, some difficult matters, and His Majesty will call them."

Speaking of this, Gao Gong thought about it and said: "Two days ago, I heard people say that His Majesty intends to let the two cabinet elders go to Wuyi Hall to work every day, and the cabinet will be temporarily put aside."

"Your Majesty wants to abolish the cabinet?"

Wei Guangde said in surprise.

"Of course not. The cabinet ministers are in Xiyuan, but their office is still in the cabinet. Now it is just to let the Secretary of the General Administration and the various yamen hand over the documents originally sent to the cabinet to the Wuyi Hall for processing, so as to prevent the elders from running away.

In fact, many times before His Majesty wanted to summon someone, it was the little eunuch who went to the cabinet to find someone.

His Majesty used to have an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon each to deal with government affairs. Most of the two elders would go to Wuyi Hall at that time. However, if His Majesty was delayed or had a major event, they would be called in from the cabinet.

Joining the cabinet does not mean that he will be in Xiyuan. Elder Lu Ge has not been in Xiyuan. Of course, this has something to do with his poor health. "

Gao Gong continued to reveal to Wei Guangde the inside details he knew.

Some things, there were speculations circulating in the court before, but it was hard to tell whether it was true or false. Most of the officials who were in the Xiyuan were silent about it. Now that Gao Gong said this, Wei Guangde certainly seemed to know more.

"From the outside, we are often called into Xiyuan, so we think we are also in Xiyuan, but it is wrong.

Are you curious, what is the difference between joining the straight line and joining the cabinet? "

Gao Gong suddenly asked.

Wei Guangde nodded, he was indeed curious.

"There is nothing to worry about, nothing to do in the cabinet."

Gao Gong said: "This is what Elder Xu Ge told me. If there is any important matter, they will stay in the Wuyi Hall and wait to be summoned at any time. If there is nothing to do, they will return to the cabinet to handle official business."

"That is to say, Mr. Xu Ge has more chances to meet His Majesty alone?"

Wei Guangde spoke.

"I can only discuss this matter with Mr. Xu Ge and see how to deal with it. By the way, you can also inform the people in the palace. It would be good to help with a few words at that time."

Gao Gong glanced at Wei Guangde and said again.

The solution proposed by Wei Guangde, in Gao Gong's view, is also the best solution to this hidden danger, but it must be fully prepared.

prosperous age