cabinet first lady

Chapter 52 Xie Zhao Enters Beijing
Zhang Anyi and Yin Ji's eyes met, and they each had some experience in their hearts.

Yin Ji withdrew his gaze, feeling a sense of pressure, smiled and said: "I heard that Mr. Zhang was assassinated, and I came to visit him specially. When I first entered the Imperial Academy three years ago, it was thanks to Mr. Zhang's teaching." I just entered the Imperial Academy Yin Ji worked as an editor at the Hanlin Academy when he was young, followed Zhang Anyi to compile "Guanghua Shengdian", and now also participates in the compilation of "Pingle Dadian".

It can be said that many people in the two sessions of Jinshi have worked under Zhang Anyi.

Even though he was recuperating on the bed after being injured, Zhang Anyi still looked like a high-ranking person with a profound and elegant appearance, and his momentum was not at all inferior.He smiled politely and said: "Lord Yin is a caring person. In the past two years, Lord Yin has devoted himself to studying knowledge in the Imperial Academy and earnestly taught the prince in the East Palace. I have also heard many people say."

Yin Ji immediately said: "The lower officials are less talented and less educated. Naturally, we have to work harder, but the two years of study may not be enough. This time, the lower officials came to visit Mr. Zhang, not only on behalf of the lower officials themselves, but also on behalf of the lower officials. His Royal Highness came to visit Mr. Zhang. His Highness was very worried when he heard that Mr. Zhang was assassinated."

The deep meaning in his words is as wise as Zhang Anyi, how could he not hear it?
He declined his promotion and wanted to continue in the Hanlin Academy and the Eastern Palace.This is not only a polite rejection of his promotion, but also a quiet rejection of his solicitation.

Zhang Anyi still had a gentle look on his face, looked at Yin Ji with scrutiny in his eyes and said: "Master Yin, please tell His Royal Highness that my injury is not serious, thank you His Highness for your concern."

Yin Ji said respectfully: "Master Zhang's words must be brought with you. The crown prince and the lower officials are relieved to see that Mr. Zhang is not hindered. I will not disturb Mr. Zhang's rest, and I will leave." He really came here just for Greetings for the prince.

"Don't see off Mr. Yin."

Watching Yin Ji leave, Zhang Anyi looked a little far away, looking at Yin Ji seemed to see himself back then.

When Luo Jie and Xu Hou fought fiercely back then, he had a good relationship with both of them, but he didn't accept any of them to win him over, and he entered the cabinet step by step by himself.

The current Yin Ji is still neutral when he and Luo Jie are in conflict. Unlike him who has risen step by step, Yin Ji has always been dormant.But none of the people who participated in the imperial examination didn't want to be an official or to make a career in the sky. What kind of character did Yin Jineng have to stay dormant for so long?
Back then, Zhang Anyi kept neutral to watch Luo Jie fight Xu Hou, and at the same time he had a greater wildness.Although there are some differences in how Yin Ji is now and what he was back then, it is indeed very different from the overall view. How similar is it?
Therefore, his purpose may be the same as that of Zhang Anyi back then!
The news that Lingdi vomited blood was not hidden for a few days at all, but it is unknown how it got to Xizhou.

Xie Zhao wrote a memorial, expressing his great worry and feeling for the brotherhood of the past, and then expressed his uneasy heart and decided to go to the capital to visit Lingdi immediately, and asked Lingdi for permission to pardon him first and then play, The crime of leaving the fief.

It would take more than half a month for Xizhou to come over, even if it was rushed.When this memorial arrived in the capital, Xie Zhao had already been on the road for half a month.

Up and down, there was an uproar.

It is a felony for a vassal king to enter Beijing without authorization.

Was King Yong'an's visit to the capital just to visit his doctor, or did he have other thoughts after hearing that Emperor Ling vomited blood?
Most people have the same answer in mind.

"Your Majesty, I am afraid that King Yong'an entered the capital without authorization to plot. I implore the emperor to send troops to arrest King Yong'an immediately." said the censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

Emperor Ling looked at the memorial and remained silent.

Seeing that Emperor Ling seemed to have other ideas, the censors spoke to each other and severely criticized Yong'an Wang Xie Zhao's rebellious behavior.

When the censors really wanted to scold someone together, even Luo Jie was afraid.

Emperor Ling frowned at the quarrel of the censors.

"Okay, you guys shut up, it's giving me a headache." Lingdi rubbed his head, feeling very irritable, he only felt that the voices of the censors made his mind buzzing, and he would be out of breath if he didn't calm down coming.

This group of censors always gave memorials saying that he was obsessed with alchemy and didn't care about state affairs. He wanted to kill these people, but the Guanghua Emperor Taizu set an ancestral precept not to kill the censor.

After calming down, Emperor Ling carefully looked at the memorial presented by Xie Zhao, thinking of the brotherhood, he felt a little emotional. "Since it's been half a month since we left, let him come."

When the first emperor was alive, he always said that he was still the prince's Lingdi Zhai with a benevolent heart, but in a few words, such a benevolent heart is the benevolence of a woman, indecisive, and difficult to achieve great things.If it were the late emperor, he would never let the tiger go back to the mountain and let Xie Zhao go to the fiefdom of Xizhou.

"Your Majesty can't, King Yong'an is probably using the name of visiting a sick person to plot something wrong." Luo Jie finally said, "I implore the emperor to send troops immediately to capture King Yong'an to the capital and imprison him."

Others didn't listen, but Lingdi always listened to Luo Jie's words.

After thinking for a while, Emperor Ling said: "Haven't all the soldiers in King Yong'an's hands been transferred to other places? The remaining few thousand soldiers can't cause any trouble."

After all, Emperor Ling wasn't too stupid.

Luo Jie's eyebrows furrowed deeply.

At this time, Shen Wei came out and said: "Your Majesty, I have a plan to get the best of both worlds."

Luo Jie glanced at Shen Wei.

"Shen Aiqing, tell me."

Shen Wei's voice was softer than other men's.But as a woman, she was full of confidence, without any timidity and coyness, and she was very used to it when she talked in front of the court full of men and under the eyes of the emperor.Her voice was clear and clear: "Your Majesty, why don't you send someone to secretly monitor the movements of King Yong'an and his party to see if he has any other purpose in coming to Beijing this time, and keep his personal soldiers outside Shandong, and let him alone Going to Beijing. Shandong is guarded by General Sun of Shandong, and the soldiers of King Yong'an will not dare to make mistakes. In this way, King Yong'an will go to the meeting alone and dare not have any other plans. If he makes any moves along the way, it will be even more difficult for him to enter Beijing. It’s tantamount to throwing yourself into a trap.”

Emperor Ling listened carefully to Shen Wei's opinion, after thinking for a while, he nodded with satisfaction and said, "Shen Aiqing's method is very safe, so let's do it this way."

No matter how many people oppose it, it can't stop Emperor Ling from going his own way.

That night, Zhang Anyi knew the news that Xie Zhao left Xizhou to visit his doctor in Beijing.There was no surprise or worry on his face, and his usual gentleness gave people the illusion that he understood everything.

Ruan Muyang's heart sank when he heard the news.She did not expect to see Xie Zhao in the capital so soon.

"It's a taboo for a vassal to leave the fiefdom and enter the capital without permission. Why didn't the emperor punish him and let him enter the capital?" She didn't believe that the wolfish and ambitious Xie Zhao would change his ways.

Zhang Anyi looked at the lamp at the end of the bed, and said: "Xie Zhao's purpose in coming to Beijing this time must be impure. He dared to kill first and play later because he is sure that the Holy One has a generous personality and moved him with emotion."

At this time, Ruan Muyang didn't know that what made her heart sink even more was yet to come.

More than 20 days later, King Yong'an, who had been away from Beijing for more than three years, finally set foot on the land of the capital again.

Along the way, Xie Zhao's movements were monitored.But to everyone's surprise, he seemed to be a different person. He didn't make any movements along the way, and when he entered the Shandong border, he left behind a pair of guards who accompanied him, and he was very straightforward without any complaints.

After more than 20 days of recuperation, Zhang Anyi's injury has almost healed, and he returned to the cabinet under the urging and care of Emperor Ling several times.

As for the person who assassinated him, the Ministry of Criminal Justice searched for more than a month but failed to find any clues, so it could only let it go.

In fact, the people in the Ministry of Punishment may not know who it is, but they don't have the guts to arrest him if they know it.

Although Emperor Ling let Xie Zhao enter the capital, he was still on guard, his face was flushed after recuperation, and he looked in good spirits as if he had never vomited blood.

After Xie Zhao saw it, he was emotional again.He also brought two Taoist priests on this trip, saying they were specially invited from Mount Zhongnan.

Zhongnan Mountain is a sacred place of Taoism, Emperor Ling was obsessed with cultivating Taoism and alchemy, Xie Zhao's approach was exactly what he liked.Immediately, Lingdi showed a sincere smile on his face, and decided to hold a banquet in honor of King Yongan and his party the next day.

Because the queen will also participate, officials of the fifth rank and above were invited to accompany her, and Ruan Muyang was among those invited.

She didn't expect that she would have the opportunity to meet Xie Zhao this time.

On the day Xie Zhao left the capital, he had told her carriage outside the capital—fourth sister, don't worry, the king will come back.

Is this back now?
But she wouldn't give him the chance to make a comeback.

After bringing back from the palace the matter of attending the banquet, Zhang Anyi began to deal with the unfinished business during the day.During the more than a month of recuperating at home, he gradually got used to dealing with some things in the room, and occasionally raised his head to see Ruan Muyang sitting quietly at the side reading miscellaneous books.

After reading a letter, he raised his head and saw that Ruan Muyang was still thinking in the same posture just now, so he called out: "Ma'am."

Ruan Muyang looked up at him.Raising her head suddenly, the seriousness in her eyes that hadn't been hidden and hadn't faded away completely disappeared when it bumped into his gentle and tolerant eyes.

"I'm afraid I will have Madam Lao for my drinks tomorrow. If there is no Madam, I will inevitably spend a lot of effort to avoid the drinks of my colleagues tomorrow." Zhang Anyi's tone is a little helpless, and this kind of helpless smile makes people feel it A kind of pampering and tolerance.

Who would have thought that the dignified cabinet secretary and the great scholar of the Jianji Temple would be afraid of drinking?It was rare to see him showing weakness, Ruan Muyang wanted to laugh, and his heavy heart became lighter.

He couldn't drink alcohol in the first place, and his injury hadn't healed yet, so he wasn't suitable for drinking.

Ruan Muyang smiled, and said teasingly: "Since the second master begs so much, I will naturally not refuse."

"Thank you ma'am."

On the second day, Ruan Muyang and Zhang Anyi entered the palace in a carriage.

This palace banquet is more like a royal family banquet.In the harem, only the Queen and Concubine Luo accompanied Emperor Ling.Prince Xie Shen, who rarely appeared on such occasions, also showed up, accompanied by Yin Ji.

Ruan Muyang took a look, and there were many familiar people present.After smiling at Han Ruo from a distance, she looked at Luo Yu, whom she hadn't seen for a long time.Ever since Zhang Anyi and Luo Jie had confronted each other, they had tacitly cut off their private contacts.

Luo Jie is Luo Yu's grandfather, Luo Yu is definitely on Luo Jie's side no matter what, and Ruan Muyang is undoubtedly for Zhang Anyi, especially Luo Jie even sent someone to assassinate, she will definitely not let go over him.

Because I haven't seen him for a long time, it's especially easy to see a person's change at a glance.She felt that Luo Yu seemed to be much more haggard than before, and her eyes no longer had the brilliance, and she was no longer as savage and cute as she was before she got married.

At this time, Luo Yu also looked at Ruan Muyang.

The eyes of the two met, Luo Yu froze, as if she wanted to move away but tried her best to hold back, and forced a smile at Ruan Muyang.

Ruan Muyang smiled back, feeling emotional in his heart.She knew that Luo Yu was having a bad time now.She still remembered the shy and expectant expression on Luo Yu's face when she secretly saw Jiang Hanyun, and she also remembered the touching smile on her face when she got married, but who knew that Jiang Hanyun was so proud that he pretended to join Luo Jie just to collect Luo Jie's work. Evidence of some shady activities, in fact, he is Zhang Anyi's ally.

Luo Yu was caught in the middle, and it was conceivable that he was in a dilemma.

This time Xie Zhao came to the capital and brought a son with him, it was Cai's son that Ruan Muyang asked Han Shi to send people to Lishui County to find.Xie Zhao named him Xie Tu.

"Xie Tu has grown so big." As an uncle, Emperor Ling gave many rewards.

Xie Tu is also eight years old this year, looks very similar to Xie Zhao, behaves very well, is very quiet, less childish than his peers, and looks a little gloomy.

Xie Zhao smiled and said, "This child has been in Xizhou all day long. He has no playmates, and no Confucian masters to guide him. I am afraid that he will become dull, so please keep him in the capital this time."

"Xie Zhao, is he going to keep Xie Tu in the capital as a hostage?" Ruan Muyang asked Zhang Anyi in a low voice.He can even invite Taoist priests in Zhongnan Mountain, how could he fail to invite a gentleman who can teach Xie Tu to read?Just an excuse.

Zhang Anyi leaned towards her slightly, and said in a low voice, "It should be."

Because there were so many present, they could not whisper openly.There is a sense of intimacy in such deceptive conversations.

Xie Zhao now has only Xie Tu under his knees, leaving Xie Tu in the capital, it can be seen how obvious his intention of showing favor is.

Sure enough, Emperor Ling showed a very gratified smile on his face and said: "The top students in the whole world are in the Hanlin Academy. The emperor can rest assured that Tu'er will stay in the palace. I will definitely let someone teach him well."

"Brother Xie."

Ruan Muyang looked at Xie Zhao, who was more mature than before and knew how to restrain his edge, and sneered in his heart.

Even if everyone fell for his tricks, she wouldn't.How could a person like him have feelings for Xie Tu as his wife?If it is necessary at that time, he will definitely treat Xie Tu as an abandoned child without even blinking his eyes, regardless of his life or death.

Because of King Yong'an's gesture of favor, Emperor Ling was in a good mood, and the atmosphere of the palace banquet was extremely lively.

Emperor Ling's face turned red from choking after drinking a glass of wine, coughing and panting, and his weakness after vomiting blood also appeared, so the queen had to preside over the overall situation and drink with the ministers on her behalf.

Naturally, Ruan Muyang drank Zhang Anyi's wine on his behalf.

He seemed particularly happy to show his weakness, watching Ruan Muyang drink with a smile on his face.

Sensing his gaze, Ruan Muyang put down his wine glass, and said with feigned dissatisfaction in his tone: "How can a man be so happy watching his wife drink?"

After the atmosphere became lively, there were singing and dancing again, and few people noticed them here.

Because she drank wine, her lips were rosy, her cheeks were slightly pink, and her eyes were shining and charming.

Zhang Anyi held one of her hands underneath.

With so many people present, Ruan Muyang's face immediately became redder than drinking, and he pulled his hand but didn't pull it out, so he could only give him a hard look to let him go.If people see it, they won't be laughed at in the future?

Zhang Anyi didn't move at all, his face was still extremely serious and gentle, but his deep eyes fell on Ruan Muyang's face, and he said in a low voice: "I don't know what my wife will look like when she's drunk."

It must be winking like silk, with better charm.

Ruan Muyang was extremely nervous about this kind of sneaking and charming in public, and said accusingly: "You are a majestic old man—"

Before she finished speaking, she heard the voice of Emperor Ling: "Mrs. Zhang is next to Zhang Aiqing. I can see it clearly tonight. Zhang Aiqing drank the wine on behalf of Mrs. Zhang."

Everyone followed Lingdi's voice to look at them.Luo Jie, Xie Zhao, Shen Wei, Yin Ji, Luo Yu and other acquaintances each have their own emotions.

If he hadn't been used to keeping calm when things happen, Ruan Muyang would probably find a hole in the ground to get in at this moment.

Hearing Zhang Anyi's calm expression, he replied seriously: "Back to the emperor, the minister's injury is still unhealed, and it's not suitable for drinking. Madam can only do it for me."

Ruan Muyang lowered his head.

"I finally met Mrs. Zhang today, and she is indeed a perfect match for Zhang Aiqing. She is talented and beautiful. No wonder I was rejected when I wanted to give you a beautiful concubine."

The ministers echoed Lingdi and laughed.

The thin-skinned Ruan Muyang still looked calm and dignified, but he scolded Zhang Anyi several times in his heart.

"Master Zhang is injured?" Xie Zhao looked at Zhang Anyi and asked.

He sat above Zhang Anyi and Ruan Muyang, only they could see the deep meaning in his eyes.

Zhang Anyi smiled gently, and replied: "Going back to the lord, it was just an accident, and it's almost healed."

Xie Zhao said regretfully, "At first I wanted to toast Mr. Zhang with a glass of wine, but I didn't expect Mr. Zhang to be injured."

Emperor Ling smiled and said: "Isn't there Mrs. Zhang? Just be respectful, brother."

What happened to Zhang Anyi, Ruan Muyang, and Xie Zhao back then was almost known to everyone in the capital.Everyone knew that Ruan Muyang was engaged to Xie Zhao first, and then married Zhang Anyi.

Sure enough, watching the excitement is not a big deal.

"Then I implore Mrs. Zhang to show her face." Xie Zhao raised his wine glass to Ruan Muyang.

Seeing the provocation in Xie Zhao's eyes, Ruan Muyang sneered in his heart, but when he was about to pick up the wine glass, a hand picked it up before her.

All the most beautiful lights in the palace were reflected in Zhang Anyi's eyes and became stars.His eyes were like the twilight in midsummer, the sparks were bright and bottomless.Meeting Xie Zhao's gaze, he smiled gently, giving an indescribable strength in his humility, and said, "Of course I want to drink the prince's wine."

Xie Zhao smiled even more.

Ruan Muyang looked at Zhang Anyi from the side, and felt that the perfect line of his side face made her unable to move her eyes away, and her emotions were surging. Apart from accidents, there was also an unspeakable satisfaction of vanity.

It's just that his injury hasn't fully healed yet, how can he drink?
By the time she tried to stop it, it was too late.

Zhang Anyi drank the wine in the glass in one gulp.

"Okay!" Lingdi watched with great interest.

Then, the atmosphere became more lively.Many ministers began to toast each other.

"You're still hurt, how can you drink?" Although Ruan Muyang was happy in his heart, his tone was full of complaints.

A sophisticated person like Zhang Anyi can drink lightly. After drinking a glass of wine, his face slowly turns red.The smell of alcohol made his eyes soften: "As a man, seeing my wife drink like this must be heartbreaking, besides, I'm still a dignified elder."

He returned what she had just said.

Is this person still so vengeful?Ruan Muyang had nothing to say for a while.

Just as they were talking, a voice interrupted them.

"Master Zhang, I'm here to toast, and I would like to ask Mr. Zhang to honor me."

Ruan Muyang raised his head and saw that the person frowned slightly.Why is Yin Ji here to join in the fun?
"Master Yin or three cups?" Ruan Muyang's attitude towards Yin Ji just couldn't get better.

Thinking of the nine cups he drank with Ruan Muyang when he was just admitted to Tanhua three years ago, Yin Ji raised his eyebrows and said, "Naturally."

He looked at Zhang Anyi again and said, "I didn't expect Mrs. Zhang to hold the wine for Mrs. Shen on weekdays. Now that Mrs. Zhang is here, she needs Mrs. Zhang to hold the wine."

This time it was Ruan Muyang who raised his eyebrows.Mention that Shen Weicun deliberately disliked her?

Feeling that Yin Ji's words had some deep meaning, Zhang Anyi looked at Yin Ji carefully.

Yin Ji was unmoved.

He really came to respond to Ruan Muyang.Husband and wife want to be gentle and flirt, can't they go back?People in the public don't think about others.He looked at it not far away and laughed angrily. He drank several glasses of wine unknowingly, and the more he drank, the angrier he became.

"Master Yin, I'll drink three cups." Ruan Muyang said.

Nine more cups to drink.

Yin Ji hooked his lips: "Okay."

Zhang Anyi watched from the side and didn't stop him.

After seeing Ruan Muyang drink three cups, he asked with concern and affection: "Is Madam okay?"

"It's okay."

Sensing that Yin Ji was looking over, Ruan Muyang gave him a "drink quickly" look, watching Yin Ji drink cup by cup with a smile in his eyes.

These nine cups of wine were drank in a hurry, Yin Ji had already drank a lot, and the hasty drinking of these nine cups made him dizzy, who has a good capacity for alcohol.

After drinking like this with a woman, he felt that he had never been so cowardly.

"Master Yin can go back after drinking." Ruan Muyang's dignified tone was tinged with alienation.

Yin Ji laughed angrily in his heart: "Mrs. Zhang is a good drinker. Mr. Zhang, I will resign."

Just when he was a little top-heavy and wanted to leave, a sudden commotion broke the lively atmosphere of the palace banquet.

"There are assassins! Protect the emperor!"

With a scream, the scene immediately became chaotic.I saw a dozen people dressed like eunuchs appearing from nowhere, rushing straight to the place where Emperor Ling was.

(End of this chapter)