Chapter 657 Cong Long
At the hour of Yin, the entire capital city seemed like a sleeping beast. Apart from the occasional soldiers from the military department, it looked empty.
The spring breeze blew in from the top of the city, brushing over the roofs and branches...
There are quite a few people on duty in Xiyuan at this moment.
In the duty room of Zhilu, Xu Jie was writing Qingci.
Unable to intervene in government affairs, he could either learn from Yan Song in the past, keep a low profile, secretly look for evidence against Xia Yan, look for potential allies, and wait for an opportunity to strike. Or he could just lie low and be a yes-man.
Xu Jie's response was to write Qingci.
Compared with the busy Yan Song and his son, Xu Jie, who focused on this, wrote better. His recent Qingci poems were praised by Dao Ye, who said that he was sincere.
"What does sincerity mean?" Xu Jie put down his brush and thought for a moment, "It means being strong without desire."
Many people understand the principle of "no desires lead to strength", but only a few can do it...
"Who in the world can be strong without desire?" Xu Jie shook his head, and the confidant serving beside him smiled and said, "It's the Lord."
"Old man?" Xu Jie was silent for a moment, picked up a pen, and wrote the word "忍" on the paper.
……
"Xu Jie is writing Qingci."
A clerk said with his head down.
"This person is good at forbearance. We must keep an eye on him and not slack off." Yan Shifan said.
"Yes." The clerk took his leave.
"Xu Jie has been very low-key recently, and can be said to be submissive. Last time he mentioned something... that there is a granddaughter in the family who is still unmarried..." Yan Song put down the memorial and stretched his neck.
"Dad." Yan Shifan handed over a memorial with suggestions for handling written on it. "There was once an old monk who adhered to the precepts and rules all his life. He remained unmoved by all kinds of humiliation. He was known as a high monk. Until one day someone spat on him, and the old monk couldn't help but wipe it with his hand..."
Yan Song sighed and said, "Bear with me."
"Yes." Yan Shifan said sarcastically, "So-called gentlemen are like this. What do you mean by a gentleman is like jade, or has a profound skill in cultivating his qi? In fact, it's just one word: endure. Until you can no longer endure."
"But there are also some who have truly attained enlightenment." Yan Song felt a little hungry, so he asked someone to prepare some food.
"Do those who have attained enlightenment dare to refine their minds in the worldly world?" Yan Shifan said.
"The world of mortals! So many temptations, so hard." Yan Song stood up and stretched his body. "The so-called great hermits in the city, that's what it means. Those who live alone often say they hate the world of mortals, but in fact they just can't resist the temptations. Let's eat!"
Yan Song still eats vegetarian food, but as soon as he put the food into his mouth today, he tasted the smell of meat.
It's lard!
After being a vegetarian for a long time, your sense of taste will become particularly sharp, and you will be able to taste the original flavor of food. You can also easily taste any spicy seasoning or meat.
Yan Song paused with his chopsticks for a moment, then ate with a smile on his face.
After dinner, Yan Song got up to change his clothes.
"vomit!"
After vomiting, Yan Song prepared to come out.
"Lord, the rules for the sacrifice the day after tomorrow will be different from the past. Can you tell that person?"
A man's voice was heard outside, and Yan Song recognized it as Xu Jie's confidant.
Then came Xu Jie's calm and slow voice, "The Prime Minister is busy, no need."
"Yes."
Yan Song stood in the room with a calm expression.
Emperor Jiajing attached great importance to sacrifices. If they made a mistake...
What a submissive Xu Huating!
"Chang Wei Bo has entered the palace." Someone outside said in surprise.
The footsteps outside faded away and Yan Song pushed open the door.
But he found Xu Jie standing on the side, squinting at the front... Hearing footsteps, he turned around.
Eyes facing each other.
Those words were heard by Yan Song!
No matter how patient Xu Jie was, he was still speechless in embarrassment at this moment.
All the goodwill and submission, all the forbearance were wasted at this moment.
Be cautious when alone!
Keep your mouth shut!
Talk less...
In an instant, countless self-admonitions came to my mind.
But it's too late to regret.
"Lord Xu." Yan Song smiled and nodded.
"Prime Minister!" Xu Jie nodded with a smile.
There seemed to be less estrangement between the two of them, but only the parties involved knew that there was no longer any gentleness in the other's eyes.
"Busy now!"
Jiang Qingzhi came over, "Old Zhu, Old Zhu!"
Zhu Xizhong opened the door of his duty room. "Qingzhi? Why are you here in the palace so late at night?"
"Hurry up and get me a cup of tea. I'm so thirsty!" Jiang Qingzhi didn't explain, but looked at Yan Song and Xu Jie curiously, "Why do the two ministers look like fighting cocks...are you having a falling out?"
The atmosphere between Yan Song and Xu Jie was not right. If it were someone else, they would certainly be unaware of it.
But Mr. Jiang kept bringing up things that were not related to the topic.
Yan Shifan came out upon hearing the noise, "Chang Wei Bo, has something happened so late at night?"
Jiang Qingzhi shook his head, "Private matter."
Yan Song and his son felt relieved...as long as it was not official business.
But then curiosity arose. What could be the private matter that could make Jiang Qingzhi enter the palace in the middle of the night?
Jiang Qingzhi drank the tea and left.
"Chang Wei Bo brought someone into the palace." someone reported.
"Can you see clearly who it is?" Yan Song asked.
"That person had a black bag covering his head. I don't know who he is."
Hey!
Everyone couldn't help but curse inwardly, thinking that Jiang Qingzhi was really too cunning.
Yan Song whispered to Yan Shifan what Xu Jie had said before, "…if this matter is not handled properly, it will cause dissatisfaction to His Majesty."
"Xu Jie!" Yan Shifan looked coldly at Xu Jie, who had a calm expression, "The Taichang Temple can also interfere in this matter. I will naturally look for Li Huan later." "Well!" Yan Song raised his eyes and looked at Xu Jie, and a fierce look suddenly burst out in his old eyes, "Lord Xu!"
"Prime Minister!" Xu Jie smiled.
Zhu Xizhong looked at the two of them curiously, wondering why old Yan Song got so angry?
"The Ministry of Rites has been slack recently, and I have received many complaints. If it continues like this, I will not be able to suppress it. I have nothing to do recently... so you can do more work in the Ministry of Rites!"
If you want to get promoted, you have to get close to the emperor. Being on duty in Zhilu is the best opportunity.
Xu Jie repeatedly used Qingci to demonstrate his value and presence, but Yan Song found an excuse to send him back to the Ministry of Rites.
Even if the Taoist priest asked about this matter, Yan Song could still reply with dignity... The Ministry of Rites is too nosy and fails to exercise effective supervision.
This will not only smear Xu Jie, but also allow them to continue to suppress him with a clear conscience.
Xu Jie should explode... Zhu Xizhong felt that Yan Song had gone too far, and even if Xu Jie was more tolerant than a turtle, he should explode at this moment.
Xu Jie took a deep breath and said, "Yes."
Those who are good at forbearance must be good at summarizing experiences and lessons.
Liao Chen was a man who was good at forbearance. He had been hiding at home for many years, suppressing his burning desire for fame and fortune, and watching the changes in the capital. It was not until Jiang Qingzhi and the Linqing Marquisate came into conflict that he reentered the arena.
But he didn't expect that this trip into the underworld would turn out to be a disaster.
Liao Chen, wearing a hood, was taken out of the hall. He heard someone come in, followed by Jiang Qingzhi's voice.
"His Majesty."
"Why are you not sleeping so late at night?" Emperor Jiajing asked energetically.
Jiang Qingzhi felt a little sleepy, "Tonight..."
Seeing him yawning and feeling sleepy, Emperor Jiajing frowned, "Go wash your face first, get something to eat, and come back later."
"Oh!" Jiang Qingzhi readily followed suit and handed the matter over to Yan San.
After Jiang Qingzhi left, Emperor Jiajing asked, "Did you capture Liao Chen?"
"Yes." Yan San said.
"Is the evidence conclusive? Don't give those people any handle at this time." Emperor Jiajing warned.
"Speaking of this, I am..." Yan San sighed, "When Lord Changwei brought Liao Chen into the palace earlier, I was also worried about this, but I saw the torture expert from the Dali Temple and a guard from the East Factory..."
"But witnesses?!" Emperor Jiajing's reaction made Yan San secretly smile bitterly, thinking that His Majesty is so sharp, no wonder I can't keep up with his thoughts, "Yes. Chang Wei Bo took them to the Liao family today, and there was a storyteller who was good at ventriloquism..."
Ventriloquism!
Storyteller...Emperor Jiajing was also stunned.
"The storyteller was outside Liao Chen's bedroom, playing multiple roles, including King Yama, Black and White Impermanence, and Han Jing."
"This is a threat!" There was a gleam in Emperor Jiajing's eyes.
"Yes, Liao Chen was terrified and immediately confessed the matter..."
"Who is it?" Emperor Jiajing clenched the jade cone.
For many years, he had been brooding over this matter, not because he had much affection for his cousin, but because the dignity of an emperor could not be violated.
What made him even more uneasy was that those daring thieves were still spying on him in the dark and trying to attack him again and again.
He couldn't sleep peacefully until he eradicated these people.
"Jiang Bin."
Emperor Jiajing relaxed and closed his eyes. "It turned out to be him."
Jiang Bin was born a military man. Later, he bribed Qian Ning, who was close to the late emperor, to become a close minister. He was trusted by the late emperor and led the army to guard a place. Later, he was in charge of the Jinyiwei and the Dongchang...
The Jinyiwei and the Dongchang have a check and balance relationship. The fact that Jiang Bin can be in charge of these two offices at the same time shows the late emperor's trust in him.
After the death of the previous emperor, Jiang Bin, who controlled the East Factory and the Imperial Guards, as well as the army, became the biggest threat. Empress Dowager Zhang and Yang Tinghe planned to capture Jiang Bin and had him executed by slow slicing.
"It was him?" Huang Jin was a little surprised. "Jiang Bin was deeply trusted by the late emperor, why would he plot a rebellion?"
Yes!
Everyone was silent.
Jiang Qingzhi is back and looks much more energetic.
"Torture!" Emperor Jiajing waved his hand. "By the way, Qingzhi, go and watch over it."
Emperor Jiajing looked at Jiang Qingzhi meaningfully.
"Yes." Jiang Qingzhi knew that if things went wrong, he would learn some royal secrets from Liao Chen. The fewer people who knew about this, the better.
Then Liao Chen was taken to Yanqi's area.
"Chang Wei Bo, are you going to do it or are we going to do it?" Yan San asked. He looked more confident at this moment.
Jiang Qingzhi sat down, leaning against the doorpost, "I'll take a nap."
Then, screams were heard one after another.
"...I say, I say..."
A patient person may not necessarily be able to endure torture... Jiang Qingzhi felt that this quote could be passed down from generation to generation.
"It was I who informed Jiang Bin of the news that His Majesty was going to cruise the lake, and then it was Jiang Bin who made the arrangements... His Majesty fell into the water. Afterwards, I met with Jiang Bin in private, and he was quite regretful, saying it was a pity that he was not able to drown the late emperor..."
"Why did you betray the late emperor?"
Jiang Qingzhi muttered in a daze: "Nonsense."
Everyone looked at him in astonishment.
Jiang Qingzhi didn't open his eyes. "It's nothing more than profit. Liao Chen is obsessed with fame and fortune, so he just wants to get promoted. What's the fastest way to get promoted?"
Everyone: "..."
"Follow the dragon!" Jiang Qingzhi glanced at them and closed his eyes again, "Continue!"
"Speak!" a eunuch shouted, holding a whip.
Liao Chen glanced at Jiang Qingzhi and said, "I made a mistake by giving birth to such a stupid daughter. What made it even worse was that I married my daughter to Zhao Fang... This is fate."
Liao Chen looked at Jiang Qingzhi and said with a wry smile: "This old man was bewitched by Jiang Bin... The reason is..."
This is the news that Emperor Jiajing has been waiting for for a long time!
"Follow the dragon!"
(End of this chapter)
