Chapter 144 Falling out
"My Lord, now that this matter has been made public, will His Majesty have any opinion on this?"
Hu Zongxian was somewhat puzzled and thought it would be better to plant Xiao Zhuo as a hidden chess piece and use him at the critical moment.
This is the front yard. Jiang Qingzhi has Duoduo lying on his shoulder. He is looking at the clear sky with his hands behind his back, feeling extremely happy.
"To fight the Yan Party, we cannot do it alone, so we must form a party. As for your majesty, I have mentioned this matter before."
Jiang Qingzhi looked at Hu Zongxian, "Your Majesty is aware of this and has no objection."
“Checks and balances!”
Hu Zongxian's overall view came into play and he reacted instantly.
Jiang Qingzhi nodded in appreciation. "Why did Your Majesty use Yan Song? The key is that Yan Song obeyed Your Majesty absolutely. If you change the Prime Minister, he would become Yang Ting and the second. Therefore, Your Majesty knew that Yan Song was forming a clique and was corrupt, but he did not care. It was not indulgence, but there was no one else to use."
Xu Jie was waiting silently, but Emperor Jiajing felt that Xu Jie still had some of the qualities of the literati in his bones, and he would be useless unless he was polished away.
Therefore, historically, Xu Jie followed Yan Song's path in his middle and late periods. He listened to the words of Emperor Jiajing and was submissive to him. That is why he took over as Prime Minister after Yan Song's downfall.
"My Lord's plan is indeed far-reaching." Hu Zongxian said.
"Old Hu, we are just getting started, stay calm." Jiang Qingzhi touched Duoduo on the shoulder, "Our career is bright."
"Meow!"
……
"You must know that your Majesty has enemies all over the world, and as his cousin, his enemies are also Long Wilbur's enemies. Facing such a powerful enemy that has never been seen in history, if Long Wilbur does not form a faction, how do you think he will die?"
At the back doors of the two houses, Hu Zongxian and Xu Wei's cocktail party started again.
While eating the snacks brought by Hu Zongxian, Xu Wei patted his bulging belly and said, "Why did your majesty allow Yan Song to form a clique? It was also out of this consideration. If they were not so numerous, those scholars and officials would have swallowed Yan Song and his son alive!"
Hu Zongxian suddenly became enlightened, raised his glass... no, he raised his wine gourd, "Wen Chang is so talented."
"Your uncle has known this plot for a long time. That's why he dared to slap Yan Dang's face in the Ministry of Rites without restraint. Just wait and see. If the minister dares to impeach Chang Wei Bo, he will definitely be slapped again."
……
Chen He's impeachment memorial reached Yan Song.
"Your Majesty, this is a check and balance!"
Yan Shifan's eyes were filled with an inexplicable annoyance. "This is because he is worried about my father and I holding power, and he wants to promote Jiang Qingzhi to check and balance the court."
Yan Song looked at the memorial and said, "This matter... let me try it out."
"Yes, let's see what your majesty is thinking."
Yan Song asked for an audience with Emperor Jiajing by submitting a memorial.
Emperor Jiajing looked at the memorial, saw Chen He's impeachment, and looked up at Yan Song.
"He impeached Qingzhi for forming a clique?"
"Yes."
This was a test from Yan Song.
If Emperor Jiajing reprimanded Jiang Qingzhi, then the Yan Party would take advantage of the situation and attack Jiang Qingzhi.
Emperor Jiajing took another look at the memorial.
Contemptuously:
"Melon skin!"
Yan Song's heart fell to the bottom.
When he returned to the Imperial Household, Yan Shifan looked at his expression and sighed, "But as I said, Your Majesty has allowed Jiang Qingzhi to form a clique?"
Yan Song nodded and sat down tiredly, "Father has been devoted to Your Majesty, but Your Majesty..."
Yan Shifan said calmly: "Checks and balances are the instinct of an emperor. Dad, Jiang Qingzhi's clique is actually not terrible."
"Why?"
"Think about it, when we form a clique, officials who get close to us can all get benefits, such as promotion or wealth. So everyone is enthusiastic. But when Jiang Qingzhi formed a clique, do you think those who followed him got any benefits?"
Yan Song nodded, "But I don't know why he is like this."
"If a man does not work for himself, he will be punished by heaven and earth! Jiang Qingzhi only thinks about his own good and does not seek benefits for the people below him. Who would want to follow him? Dad, you wait and see. This man will not last long!"
……
"Husband."
When Wang saw Xiao Zhuo return home, he went into the study and did not come out for a long time. So she went to visit him, only to see Xiao Zhuo writing with a rosy face.
"It's okay." Xiao Zhuo said with a smile.
"My husband, are you...supporting the Yan Party?" Wang's face changed, but she sighed, "This is the only way."
"No, my husband is following someone else now."
"Who?"
"next door."
Wang looked back and said, "Long Wilbur?"
"Exactly."
Wang was stunned. She was happy at first, then disappointed. "Chang Wei Bo is very talented, which is good, but he is alone!"
"I grew up in a poor family and knew that the only way to go was to take the imperial examination. After ten years of hard study, I became famous all over the world. I am full of confidence and want to serve the king. The ruthless officialdom cannot make me change my ways!"
Xiao Zhuo said in a deep voice: "I know what you are worried about, but you have forgotten that when Chang Weibo first came to Beijing, he dared to turn against the Yan Party alone. What did he rely on?"
"The emperor's favor!"
"Wrong!" Xiao Zhuo's eyes were gleaming. "The emperor would not show favor to an incompetent minister, even if he was his own brother."
"My husband is saying..."
"This Lord relied on his own abilities to fight his way back step by step to where he is today."
Xiao Zhuo sighed, "I have heard all this. To be honest, I really admire this uncle. I have decided to follow him today. Do you know what I think?"
Wang shook her head.
Xiao Zhuo said: "It should have been done long ago!"
……
The prince's life was actually not as glorious as the outside world speculated.
In the early morning, when most people in the capital were still asleep, Prince Yu was awakened.
Two palace maids helped him dress.
Prince Yu looked at the shy palace maid in front of him, his heart warmed, and he couldn't help but touch her cheek.
"Cough cough!"
Yang Xi coughed dryly, and Prince Yu frowned, "Get out!"
Early in the morning, the boy had some ideas.
Yang Xi did not go out, "Your Highness, Chang Wei Bo said that young men... should not make a commotion."
Young man, be careful about sex!
Prince Yu thought of the ruler, and the heat that had just risen up in him immediately cooled down.
The maid felt it, and later she went out and told her acquaintances, "Men are really able to bend and stretch."
Wash up, have breakfast, and then go to class.
Xia Yan gave him a rare lesson today, but it was just some classics and scriptures.
After class, Prince Yu prepared to leave the palace with Yang Xi and two eunuchs.
"I have met His Highness the Crown Prince!"
In front, the prince was walking towards them, surrounded by people.
"The third one!"
"Prince!"
Prince Yu saluted.
The prince stood still and said with a smile, "I heard that my cousin had a scene in the Ministry of Rites, and Xiao Zhuo, the doctor of the Ministry of Rites, followed him in public. Third brother, you are close to my cousin, so you should persuade him. This open party formation, where does it put our father?"
Prince Yu was startled and said subconsciously: "My father didn't say anything, why is the prince saying this?" - My father didn't say anything, aren't you meddling in other people's affairs?
Going a step further: Prince, you are not even the emperor yet, but are you so eager to exercise the imperial power?
I swear to God, Prince Yu didn't think that much.
But people in the palace always break apart and crush the words of the nobles to chew on them.
The prince smiled, but his eyes turned cold. Qin Li walked out from behind him and said, "Is Your Highness Prince Yu so rude to the prince?"
Things escalated.
Prince Yu's eyes narrowed and he looked at the Crown Prince, "I dare not."
He expressed his willingness to surrender and give in.
The prince hesitated, but Qin Li said, "Your Highness may be tolerant, but the East Palace must not be treated lightly!"
The prince’s dignity is inviolable!
This is an iron rule!
Unless the emperor expresses his dissatisfaction with the prince, anyone who violates the prince's dignity is violating the emperor's dignity.
……
“This is intentional.”
At the old place, King Jing leaned against a wooden pillar with his arms folded, and said sarcastically, "Ever since my father gave my cousin the ruler, I have been waiting for the crown prince to take action. I just didn't expect that he would use you as the scapegoat. But that's true, after all, you are the third child and I am the fourth."
Prince Yu held his chin with both hands, "I've already said I won't fight with him. I don't have the ability to do so. But the Crown Prince..."
"No crime has been committed by a common man." King Jing said, "The more prominent my cousin is, the more the prince will be wary of us."
Prince Yu smiled bitterly, "But my cousin has no intention of taking sides!"
"But the prince felt threatened."
"So what should we do?"
"We are not old enough to be enfeoffed yet, so it is only my uncle who has to give in."
"So the prince did this today to force my uncle to bow to him?"
"Correct."
Prince Jing sat down next to Prince Yu, "What do you think?"
Prince Yu held his chin with one hand and looked at him, "If I had known that he was forcing my uncle, I would not have retreated an inch."
"Aren't you afraid of being punished?"
"I'm afraid! But I'm more afraid that my uncle will be implicated because of me."
"Then..." King Jing suddenly lowered his voice.
"Hmm! Hmm..." Prince Yu nodded from time to time.
"Wow! You're so shady!"
“This is wisdom!”
……
The fasting and prayer ceremony was coming to an end, and Jiang Qingzhi was ready to leave.
Walking in the palace and looking at the gradually familiar scenery, Jiang Qingzhi recalled what Emperor Jiajing had said before.
——Qingzhi, being a father is not easy!
These inexplicable words left Jiang Qingzhi confused.
But it is indeed not easy to be a father to Emperor Jiajing.
For the sake of his son's safety, he suppressed his father's affection and did not see his son.
"I have met His Highness the Crown Prince!"
The prince is just ahead.
Jiang Qingzhi stopped.
Watching the prince and Qin Li beside him walking over.
……
"Father, please accept my vassalage!"
Prince Yu and Prince Jing knelt in front of Emperor Jiajing.
Prince Yu's eyes were red and swollen, and he was holding a piece of ginger tightly in his sleeve.
King Jing looked depressed and pale as paper, as if he had suffered a great blow. At this moment, two palace servants were whispering in his bedroom.
"Your Highness, why do you have diarrhea?"
"God knows."
"It's a great pull."
Emperor Jiajing hummed and said calmly, "Who taught you?"
The two princes looked at each other.
“No one taught me.”
Emperor Jiajing opened his eyes and said, "The Crown Prince is the Crown Prince, and you two are you two."
King Jing raised his head and said, "Father, my third brother and I respect the Crown Prince very much, but... the Crown Prince is wary of him."
"Ok?"
Emperor Jiajing looked at the two of them.
I do not know how long it has been.
He waved his hand.
The two resigned.
Emperor Jiajing watched his two sons leave and said quietly, "Being a father is difficult, and being a father in heaven is even more difficult."
……
"In fact, I have always been curious about my cousin's talents, and I want to ask for his advice."
The prince's smile was impeccable, with the purity of youth and a sense of respect for the wise and humble.
But Jiang Qingzhi didn't like such a reserved smile.
Qin Li was also laughing.
There was coldness in his eyes. !
Qin Li thought of many ways that Jiang Qingzhi could respond.
But I didn't expect him to be like this...
Jiang Qingzhi frowned and looked at the prince.
"Who taught you this?"
The prince was startled.
Jiang Qingzhi suddenly stretched out his hand, and the prince wanted to avoid it, but he held back at the last moment.
Jiang Qingzhi patted his shoulder naturally.
It's like patting your younger brother on the shoulder.
There is no respect for the prince at all.
Jiang Qingzhi sighed, "Don't think everything is so bad. Your two brothers are not as sinister and bad as you think. As for me, to be honest, what is Conglong..."
Jiang Qingzhi looked at Qin Li and said, "Don't be so idle all day and try to trick the prince into playing power games."
"Chang Wei Bo!" Qin Li was about to refute when Jiang Qingzhi patted the prince's shoulder again.
"If I want, I would rather be a rich man in Suzhou than jump into the rich circle of Beijing..."
Jiang Qingzhi pointed at Qin Li and said, "It makes me sick to breathe under the same sky with people like this!"
He strode away.
Qin Li turned around, his face livid, "Chang Wei Bo, how dare you be rude to the prince?"
Jiang Qingzhi raised his right hand without looking back.
A middle finger was standing upright, dangling.
(End of this chapter)
