The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 311 Please?Can't help!
"Mr. Lin offering wine... the minister, Eunuch Xiao, the supervisor of ceremonies, and Bachelor Cheng are visiting."

Just when Lin Han was about to teach his daughter a lively lesson on housekeeping, someone came by the door to deliver a message.

Lin Han looked at his daughter with a tense expression, and said, "Since it was sent by your future husband's family, I will accept it and treat it as a replacement dowry gift. I don't have to stay in the house alone if I give it to you. I can't give it to you as a father." Too many additions."

"Yes."

Lin Yi was overjoyed, and with her father's consent, these things really belonged to her.

Lin Han said: "For some time to come, your family members in Fujian, your younger brothers and sisters will all come here together. The capital has enough places for them to live in. Unlike before, you can only find a place to rent..."

When Lin Han was promoted, the emperor also took care of most of his family members, especially the concubines and children who were in their hometown, so he sent people to bring Lin Han's family members to the capital.

Although the official residence given was not a given house and the property rights did not belong to Lin Han, it could be regarded as Lin Han's residence in the capital for a period of time to come, and the place was naturally spacious and bright.

This reflected the emperor's regard for Lin Han.

"Finally the family is reunited." Ruan said.

Ruan has no children all her life, but her husband has always been able to flourish. It's just that in recent years, due to the pressure of life, the Lin family has returned to their hometown one after another... Ruan will not fight for anything at this age.

……

……

Lin Han explained the matter of moving.

Then he came out to meet Xiao Jing and Cheng Minzheng, seeing their serious appearance, Lin Han couldn't think of anything related to it with his political thinking.

Xiao Jing said with a smile: "That's right. Although Cheng Xueshi has returned to his original post and is going to Nanjing to take charge of the Southern Imperial Academy, there may be a delay of half a month before he leaves... There is a matter related to the succession of Zong's etiquette. Your Majesty thinks Let the two respected old gentlemen take the lead."

Lin Han's complexion also darkened.

Although Zong Zhen did not necessarily refer to the royal family, but the eunuch who was in charge of ceremonies came out to say Zong Zhen, what is it if it is not royal affairs?
The emperor has already established a crown prince... What do you mean by that?

"I don't quite understand." Lin Han could only wait for Xiao Jing to explain to him in detail.

Xiao Jing smiled and said: "Don't misunderstand, it has nothing to do with the royal family, but involves the inheritance of nobles and princes in the court. What your majesty means is to form a custom, that is, brothers will end up with brothers."

Lin Han was puzzled, and took a look at Cheng Minzheng. He could see that Cheng Minzheng should have known what was going on from Xiao Jing before he came to the Imperial College.

But at this time, Cheng Minzheng lowered his head and did not look at Lin Han.

"Father and son inherit each other, and if there is no son, brother will end up with younger brother. Is there any doubt about this?" Lin Han felt that Xiao Jing's words seemed superfluous.

Xiao Jingdao: "There is no doubt, it's just that if the elder brother loses his title due to a crime, he will have no heirs after his brother's death, and there is no need to pass it back to the eldest line."

"Ok?"

When Lin Han heard this, he immediately felt that the emperor was referring to someone in particular.

Among the nobles of the dynasty, apart from Kong Hongxu, who was from the lineage of Yan Shenggong, who was deprived of his title because of a crime, Zhang Yuanji, the No. 40 sixth-generation celestial master, received the title of "Great Master".

Zhang Yuanji and Kong Hongxu's case occurred in the same year, but Zhang Yuanji was even more vicious. He killed more than 40 people, and even killed a family of three. In the end, he was only demoted to a commoner, and his cousin Zhang Yuanqing succeeded him as a celestial master. No.40 Seven generations of heavenly masters.

Now that Zhang Yuanji has passed away, Zhang Yuanqing's position as a celestial master is very stable. He once married the daughter of Cheng Guogong Zhu Yi, who is Zhu Feng's aunt.

But later this woman died early and left no heirs. Zhang Yuanqing's eldest son, Zhang Yanyi, was born in the third year of Hongzhi, and did not enter the court for the first time until the 14th year of Hongzhi.

If the emperor wasn't talking about Zhang Yuanqing, he could only be talking about Kong Hongxu.

Lin Han was quite straightforward, and asked, "Isn't there a definite number for the lineage of Yan Shenggong to inherit, and the eldest son of the current eldest son will inherit it?"

"Old Lin, don't be so direct." Xiao Jing was a little speechless after hearing this.

Sure enough, Weng and his son-in-law have similar personalities, and they don't even talk around circles.

Lin Han asked, "Is there another family?"

When I looked at Cheng Minzheng again, Cheng Minzheng was also smiling at him, as if saying, I already guessed that it was the old Kong family after hearing this, but I am embarrassed to point it out, you are still awesome.

Xiao Jing said with a smile: "It's this family, His Majesty's intention, I also want to ask the two of you to set the rules for the succession of the title of this family, so that no one will follow suit, thinking that wearing a sinful body can make your body or your body The heir inherits the title of the family, breaking the rules."

"Ah."

Lin Han nodded.

It still sounds reasonable.

If a person commits a crime, even a capital crime, he doesn't need to die, and his heirs still have the opportunity to re-inherit the title. This in itself is a disrespect for the Daming title inheritance system.

But because the Kong family is still too special, it seems that when Kong Hongxu committed a crime, he was not escorted to the capital, and the shackles were not on his body, which is enough to show that the royal family is afraid of the Kong family.

The current emperor's father, Emperor Chenghua, was so jealous of the Confucian family. How could it be that Emperor Hongzhi, who established the country with benevolence and filial piety, seems to be so strong towards the Confucian family?
Xiao Jing asked: "Mr. Lin agrees?"

Lin Han knew that Cheng Minzheng had no right to refuse on this matter, and now he was the only one who could raise objections. He said, "Using Confucianism as an example for scholars and literati, if the imperial examinations are used to establish a country, if it is easily changed, will it... "

Xiao Jing said with a smile: "Lin always feels that times have changed, and now it's too late to pursue and make changes, right?"

"Yeah." Lin Han still didn't hide it, nodded and said, "This is exactly what the old man is worried about."

If Kong Hongxu's crimes of the past were used to change the inheritance of the title, it would be a bit of an old score.

Because in recent years, both the Kong family and the imperial court have regarded Kong Hongxu’s son, Kong Wenshao, as the next generation successor of Duke Yansheng. Otherwise, why would Kong Hongtai bring this nephew with him every time he entered Beijing?Why do you still have the cheek to marry Li Dongyang, a bachelor?
Xiao Jing said: "What if this former Yan Shenggong might have an unforgivable crime in the future?"

"what?"

Even though Lin Han was in a good mood, he couldn't help but turn pale with shock after hearing this.

What is this called?

Will there be unpardonable sins in the future?Then just kill him!Also used to ask about title inheritance?
Xiao Jingdao: "You two, don't hide anything. There is a person in the northwest who is proficient in astronomy and calendar, and is also good at asking secrets. He predicted that in the next two days there will be a big event in Xuansheng Temple in Queli, which may affect the succession of Duke Yansheng. ?”

"Zhang... Bingkuan?" Lin Han stood up from his seat.

Is Zhang Zhou crazy?
It's fine to confront the civil servants of the Manchu Dynasty, but now you have to take the Kong family into surgery?

Is he trying to be at odds with the entire literati force?

Xiao Jing nodded and said: "It is Mr. Zhang. It is difficult for His Majesty to ask for countermeasures when the incident happened so suddenly. He only asked Mr. Li Ge for advice. Seeing that these two days will happen, His Majesty can only ask for the safety of the country. Well-known and respected Confucian scholars came out to set the rules for the succession of the titles of Duke Yansheng and even Daming. That’s why we invited two of you.”

Lin Han frowned and said, "Such a mysterious statement may not be credible."

Cheng Minzheng asked weakly, "What will happen to the Xuansheng Temple in Queli?"

Xiao Jing smiled and said: "Only these two days, you two can just wait. But this matter must involve Qianyan Shenggong, so that... His Majesty has to be prepared in advance for the public opinion brought about by this."

Now Lin Han and Cheng Minzheng seemed to be standing together. They looked at each other, thinking, hasn't Kong Hongxu, who once committed crimes, reformed himself?What the hell is he going to do?It was actually calculated by Zhang Zhou?
This is amazing!
Lin Han said, "The matter hasn't happened yet, so His Majesty just...informed us?"

Just to say, are you afraid that we will tell the Kong family members, and let the Kong family members notify Kong Hongxu in time, so that nothing can happen?

But when Lin Han asked, he seemed to understand.

When the incident is only a day or two away from happening, and then it is made public, it seems that even if it is leaked now, it is too late to notify Kong Hongxu, what should happen will still happen...

The emperor is cheating on his family!

Xiao Jing sighed: "You two, the matter has not happened, Your Majesty does not want to cause disturbances in advance, if the event fails in the end, is it because Mr. Zhang did not predict it? Or is it because someone reined in the precipice in time?"

Cheng Minzheng sighed and said: "If such a thing really happens, it's not wrong to play it like this... From the point of view of the next person."

After Cheng Minzheng experienced the previous turmoil in the examination room, he learned to be smart.

I stand on the side of the civil servants, just waiting to be cheated. Now I can only stand on the side of the emperor and Zhang Zhou. I can do whatever the emperor asks me to do. I am not like Lin Han. Want to put on airs.

Xiao Jingdao: "So let the two of you make preparations in your heart, and play together after two days of drafting. There are still people in our family who want to see each other, so we won't bother you much."

"For this too?"

Lin Han got up to see off the guests. Hearing that Xiao Jing was going to see someone else, he naturally wanted to ask.

He also didn't understand, what does it mean that the emperor asked Xiao Jing to come out to publicize in advance, instead of looking for them after the event?
Xiao Jing smiled and shook his head, meaning that this matter should not be told to others.

……

……

After Cheng Minzheng and Lin Han learned that something might happen in Qufu, it seemed that everyone in the capital knew about it that day.

The news spread so fast that even Xiao Jing, who was in charge of delivering the news, was a little surprised.

That day, Li Dongyang had a day off and was going to the palace to stay overnight at sunset, but it was Kong Hongtai who came to visit in a hurry. Although Li Dongyang felt ashamed at this time and didn't want to meet Kong Hongtai, he seemed to know that avoiding him was not the way to go. Before going to watch the night, meet Kong Hongtai.

"... Mr. Li Ge, the big thing is not good. It is said that Mr. Zhang, who knows about ghosts and gods, prophesied that his brother will commit adultery in Xuansheng Temple. This matter is very important. Can you You must come up with a countermeasure!"

When Kong Hongtai said the words, Li Dongyang was in a daze.

What?
Even Kong Hongtai knew about the incident before it happened?Could it be that the four supervisors of ceremonies leaked out, someone wants to blame me for leaking the news, right?

Li Dongyang pretended to be calm and said: "Dongzhuang, you don't have to worry, how can the prophecy be accurate?"

Dongzhuang is just Kong Hongtai's name, but because Kong Hongtai usually calls himself Dongzhuang, the whole capital is also used to not addressing him with his title or Biaozi. Call him "Mr. Dongzhuang" to show his closeness.

Li Dongyang neither said yes nor no, only that it was not credible.

Kong Hongtai said: "The government and the public are spreading the news. It is said that it is the news released by the palace."

After Li Dongyang listened, he was terrified.

I took a nap during the day, why is the sky turned upside down outside?The palace took the initiative to release the news?This... this is too vicious!
After all, Li Dongyang is resourceful, and he immediately figured out the trick.

Aren't you, Li Dongyang, worried that you will be blamed by Kong's family after the incident, saying that you knew about it in advance and did not report it?Will the Kong family also blame the emperor and Zhang Zhou for hiding the matter and waiting to see a joke?
Then wait until an event that has not happened before, but the news spreads and it is too late to pass it back to Qufu, and then leak the matter, so that everyone in the capital knows that Zhang Zhou predicted that Kong Hongxu would commit crimes... and then Almost all the people in the capital and even the whole world are witnesses together...

We all know that you, Kong Hongxu, are going to commit a crime, but you, Kong Hongxu, don't know, and then you, Kong Hongxu, will really commit a crime!
Then ask.

Whose responsibility is this?

Blame the emperor for not notifying your Kong family in advance?Or do you blame yourselves?
The whole world watched the jokes of the Kong family together, and you Kong family still want to beat them up?
"Old Li Ge, are you...are you listening?"

Kong Hongtai didn't expect that Li Dongyang was stunned there.

Li Dongyang forced himself to calm down and said, "I'm thinking."

Are you thinking of countermeasures?
of course not.

Li Dongyang was thinking, before I was worried that it would be difficult to explain to Dongzhuang and the Kong family afterwards, but now I don’t have to worry, because the emperor has explained everything clearly in advance.

Not only did Li Dongyang know about this in advance, but you Kong Hongtai also knew about it in advance?Even people in the capital are aware of it.

Everyone is a prophet and a witness, so there is no question of who is responsible.

Blame Zhang Zhou?
Zhang Zhou knew, didn't he inform him in advance?

If Zhang Zhou was holding back bad thoughts, he didn't have to say anything, just waited to see the excitement afterward and make trouble.

If it is true, then all the responsibility lies with the perpetrator alone, how much does it mean to blame others?
"Dongzhuang, if you are really worried that this may happen, is it still too late to send someone back?" Li Dongyang tentatively gave an idea.

He said so, but in fact Li Dongyang already knew it, and it was too late.

Because Zhang Zhou predicted that the time when the incident happened was that night, no matter how fast a horse was, it was impossible to run more than 1000 miles in six or seven hours, and this was based on the fact that the incident happened before dawn.

Which is to say... things look irreparable.

Unless Kong Hongxu doesn't do it.

If you do what you say, you will be laughed at by the whole world.

Kong Hongtai said with a mournful face: "After I learned the news, I sent someone to notify me to go back, but it would take at least two days...without sleep and rest for a long journey before the news could be conveyed. This...how is this possible?"

Li Dongyang said: "It's not a solution to be anxious, but I don't think your brother will do anything that endangers the court, right?"

At this time, Li Dongyang seemed very calm.

He was looking forward and backward before, but now he is still speaking comforting words like the think tank of the Kong family.

"Zhang Bingkuan has a lot to say about God's will, but this time it involves human affairs, how could brother Ling follow what he said and follow what he predicted?" Li Dongyang continued to talk.

Kong Hongtai said: "Old Li Ge, is there no way...to tell His Majesty in advance?"

Li Dongyang took a breath and said, "What did you say?"

"This……"

Li Dongyang thought to himself, why are you still obsessed with Dongzhuang?Your brother's crime seems to be a blow to your Kong family, but it is helpful to you.

This will establish your position in the Kong family.

Who doesn't know that you are now the head of the family in name, but you are suppressed by your brother everywhere?The so-called benevolence and filial piety have tied you down. You have no children for so many years. Is it because you really can't give birth, or is it because of other things that you don't know?

Li Dongyang said: "The matter has come to this point, and I have nothing to say. If the matter is really confirmed by Zhang Bingkuan, it is also Brother Ling's responsibility. You don't have to blame yourself at that time."

"I……"

Kong Hongtai looked eagerly at Li Dongyang.

It seems to be saying, I knew about this in advance, I witnessed it with the whole world, and watched my brother's jokes together, how can the family members not regard me as a sinner of the family?
Or they might think that in order not to return the title, I intentionally tripped up my brother, or even acted as an accomplice!
But Li Dongyang could see that this was probably the purpose of the emperor and Zhang Zhou.

It is necessary to keep Kong Hongtai’s title, cheat your brother and nephew, and suppress the reputation of your Kong family to maintain the authority of the emperor. At the same time, you, the current Yan Shenggong, should have a estrangement from the family and completely stand on the side of the emperor.

At the same time, he bought me, Li,...

This is killing several birds with one stone, I can't count it myself.

"You go back with peace of mind, when I enter the palace, I will ask for you." Li Dongyang said.

"Then...then please."

Kong Hongtai's expression of begging made Li Dongyang see that this Kong Hongtai really regarded him as a friend, and at this time he still thought that Li Dongyang would help Kong Hongxu and his son?
Don't say that Zhang Zhou predicted that Kong Hongxu would set fire today, even if it didn't happen, only Kong Hongxu's bad deeds, I, Li, don't want to get involved with your Kong family!

……

……

Li Dongyang entered the palace gate and went to the cabinet to be on duty, but neither Liu Jian nor Xie Qian left.

The outside news spread wildly, and Liu Jian and Xie Qian were not people who closed their eyes and listened. Liu Jian had felt before that the matter might be related to the Kong family, but now it was tantamount to rumors confirming his guess.

"Binzhi, aren't you going to tell us clearly?" Xie Qian said with a smile.

Xie Qian didn't feel much about this, but Liu Jian looked serious.

Perhaps only Liu Jian's identity and status would consider what kind of impact it would have on the imperial power and the prestige of the Kong family if it really happened.

As the chief minister, I don't want to see him fall into such a situation.

Li Dongyang said: "You all already know, what else do I need to say?"

"What crime is that?" Xie Qian asked with a smile.

"Set fire." Li Dongyang said.

Liu Jian frowned and said, "Burn the Xuansheng Temple?"

"Yes." Li Dongyang nodded.

Liu Jian took a deep breath, sighed and said, "If you had made it clear in advance, it would definitely not have happened... But I also understand your situation, if it wasn't for the news from the palace, let alone you... Even if it was you I can't even open my mouth."

(End of this chapter)