Chapter 98: Following Nature is Following the Will of God
Yuxi Palace, side hall.
"How is my imperial teacher doing lately?" Jiajing asked casually with his eyes closed, leaning back in the bathtub.
"The Luotian Grand Ceremony has failed before it even started. The world is still discussing our great master, who is comparable to Gan Luo's national master. His reputation as a sorcerer who seduces kings remains unchanged." Lu Fang chuckled.
"I heard from Huang Jin that the Imperial Master is quite open-minded," Lu Fang continued slowly, seeing Jiajing's expression slightly relaxed:
"The Imperial Master said, 'Things have their own way, and things have their own way. Nothing is not so, and nothing is not possible.'"
"Heh." Upon hearing this, Jiajing chuckled, put his hands on the edge of the bathtub, and tapped them lightly with his fingers, seeming to be very comfortable.
"She is a person who is truly easy-going and sees things clearly. She is worthy of the title of Qingfeng Xuanling Shouzhen Huiwu Zhenren that I have bestowed upon her."
"Master is right," seeing that his master was in a relaxed mood, Lu Fang smiled slightly and was happy to say something lighthearted: "The Taoist name is Qingfeng, and it is said that the state master has a fresh and refined appearance, as pure as the natural breeze."
"The national teacher is blessed and has great expectations placed on him."
"The master gave her the word Xuanling because he saw how profound and smart she was in her discussion of the Dao. She has both profound wisdom and unconventional spirituality. Well, the national teacher is indeed spiritual."
"The word 'keeping the truth' refers to her pure heart that adheres to the true meaning of Taoism. Even though her words may break the convention, her understanding of the essence of 'Tao' remains unchanged."
“The two words ‘wisdom and enlightenment’ indicate that the national teacher possesses profound insight and unique views. Even those ideas that are considered heretical come from her deep understanding and wisdom of the world.”
"And the trip to the southeast also proved her adherence to the truth and wisdom," Lv Fang said with a slight smile, "In cultivation, the one who has achieved enlightenment is the teacher. The way is not in form, but in enlightenment."
"She deserves the title of 'real person'."
"Qingfeng Xuanling Shouzhen Huiwu Zhenren, the master's expectations for that girl have not been disappointed."
"You see things very clearly. Have you been reading recently?" Jiajing raised his hand and said with a smile.
"Look at what the master said," Lu Fang replied flatteringly, "I am blessed by the master's divine light, so I have naturally gained enlightenment."
Jiajing nodded, his mouth twitching slightly, "You come from the truthful way, revealing the truth, you are not bound by one person's opinion."
"I am the master's servant, representing the royal family. The master governs all laws, so he is tolerant of all laws and does not need to be rigid."
"But you said something wrong," Jiajing nodded slightly and said, "She was my imperial teacher first, and then she became an accomplished person."
"Hua La," Jiajing stood up and took the wide white Taoist robe handed to him by Lu Fang and put it on, then stepped into the temple barefoot, "I will have to trouble my imperial teacher again this time..."
"Later, you can go to Xuanpu Palace."
"Yes." Hearing his master's words, Lu Fang smiled slightly. He knew that his master already had plans for the affairs of the northern border.
The 40th year of Jiajing’s reign, the fourth day of the eighth month, was cloudy.
Outside the West Garden, Xu Jie, Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, Zhao Zhenji and other Qingliu faction leaders were always the first to arrive.
After a while, the sedan chairs of Yan Song and Yan Shifan also landed.
"You all came early," Yan Song came out of the sedan chair with the help of Yan Shifan and bowed to Xu Jie and others, "It's already the beginning of autumn, and the weather is getting colder."
Although they had completely torn their faces apart in public and were fighting in private to the point of wanting to get rid of each other as soon as possible, they still cared about their dignity in the court.
As the chief minister of the cabinet, Yan Song was the first to greet them. Xu Jie and others naturally could not completely ignore them and could only slightly bow their hands in greeting.
Afterwards, after hearing Yan Song's words, Gao Gong stood with his hands hanging down, Zhang Juzheng had a calm expression, and Zhao Zhenji lowered his eyebrows.
Xu Jie, on the other hand, forced a smile on his face and said gently, "The weather is getting colder, so please take care of yourself, Lord."
"It doesn't matter whether I take good care of my old bones or not," Yan Song hunched his back, shook his head and sighed, "I just hope that the national policy can be implemented smoothly."
"I just hope that the national policy can be implemented soon and the border can be peaceful soon..."
"What the elder said is true," Xu Jie nodded slightly in agreement, saying, "It is hard to predict what will happen in this world. Who could have thought that Altan would make a move?"
"I'm afraid that someone is selling out the country for profit!" Yan Shifan said in a sarcastic tone at this time.
"Young Lord is right," Yan Shifan said. Gao Gong did not tolerate him and opened fire on the spot, sneering:
"Just like in the 29th year of Jiajing, Qiu Luan, the then commander-in-chief of Xuanda, actually bribed Altan with a large sum of money, hoping that he would not invade Datong. The result is obvious to all!"
Gao Gong took a step forward, staring at Yan Shifan with eyes as sharp as knives, and said, "How did an incompetent like Qiu Luan get the position of the general of Xuanda? The young minister knows it best!"
Xu Jie and Yan Song remained silent during the quarrel between Yan Shifan and Gao Gong, as if they did not hear it.
"Gao Gong, stop making insinuations here. Qiu Luan's appointments were all in compliance with regulations, and the emperor approved of them at the time!" Yan Shifan was the first to complain, and angrily said, "Are you blaming the emperor by digging up the past?"
"Gao Gong, you are so brave!"
"Yan Shifan, stop making trouble here. I..." Gao Gong was about to speak out a rebuttal after being accused of something, but was interrupted by Xu Jie in a deep voice, "Mr. Su, be careful with your words!"
"Shifan, let's not talk about things that have already been determined." After Xu Jie spoke, Yan Song also followed suit.
"Hmph!" Yan Shifan and Gao Gong snorted at each other, waved their sleeves and turned away.
However, resentment emerged in Yan Shifan's eyes. He decided that he would take revenge when he attended the imperial meeting!
The atmosphere became cold as the tension between Yan Shifan and Gao Gong increased, but fortunately, two sedan chairs arrived soon.
Everyone knew that Prince Yu and Prince Jing had arrived, and they all came forward to greet them.
"I will see you, Your Highness."
Prince Yu, who was wearing a black gilded python robe, smiled on his serious face and looked at Prince Jing, who was wearing a red gilded python robe and came out of the sedan chair. The two brothers nodded and said at the same time: "Everyone, please stand up. No need to be polite."
"It's getting late, let's go in too...Fourth brother?" Prince Yu looked at Prince Jing.
"Please come in, third brother." King Jing raised his hand, and the two brothers smiled at each other. They took the lead and led the cabinet members into the West Garden.
Outside Yuxi Palace, Lu Fang was already waiting with the people from the Imperial Household Department.
Today's political meeting is rather special and requires him to cooperate with his master. Neither Chen Hong nor Huang Jin can do it.
Inside the main hall of Yuxi Palace.
At the top was still the emperor's exclusive throne, but what everyone did not expect was that there were four seats.
There is a small stool next to the right side of the throne.
The left and right below are for Prince Yu and Prince Jing, and the small stool for Yan Song is at the bottom of the incense burner.
Everyone looked at the small seat next to the throne and began to speculate in their hearts.
"Everyone," after everyone had found their seats, Lu Fang took a step forward, first bowed to Prince Yu and Prince Jing, and then said slowly:
"Not long ago, the national master observed the stars at night and saw something unusual happening in the north sky. It seemed like there was a sign of war between the stars. The north is associated with military affairs. Recently, there have been many abnormalities between the stars, which may be a sign of war."
"After talking with the emperor all night, with the emperor's permission, the imperial teacher will also discuss the affairs of the northern border with you."
Imperial Master, that Qingfeng Xuanling Shouzhen Huiwu Zhenren? Hearing Lu Fang's words, everyone in the cabinet had different expressions.
The Qingliu faction frowned, thinking that the cabinet should be presided over by two princes, but they wanted a sixteen-year-old girl to mess around? Isn't this child's play?
But no matter how dissatisfied they were, they could only bear it. Thinking that the emperor's time was approaching, all his actions might be a test and observation for Prince Yu and Prince Jing, they could only suppress their thoughts.
The emperor is about to die, and any tiny action he makes at this moment may hide some deeper meaning.
They must be cautious!
Yan Shifan, who was standing by, was delighted when he heard this, especially when he heard the words "talk all night long". He was even more delighted and couldn't help thinking:
"Qingfeng girl really climbed onto the dragon bed?" But soon, his brows furrowed again, and he muttered in his heart, "No, the emperor's time is up, is it still possible?"
For a moment, Yan Shifan's heart shuddered, and he thought that the emperor's action might have some deeper meaning.
If he had heard this before, he would have been happy, but now that he thought about the emperor's approaching death and the fact that he had to rely on drugs to maintain his dignity, how could he still think about that?
Yan Shifan's thoughts were also the thoughts of everyone present.
No one would take Qingfeng's participation in political affairs as a joke, as they all realized that this would be a signal sent by the emperor.
In the side hall, as Lu Fang finished speaking, Qingfeng looked back every few steps at Jiajing who was meditating in the temple.
"Alas." Qingfeng, knowing that he had to take part in the survival struggle of the people down the mountain, opened his mouth slightly, sighed softly, and a pretty dimple appeared on one side of his slightly chubby face, and then he walked towards the main hall.
"The Tao is always inaction, yet nothing is undone..."
She naturally understood that in the Ming Dynasty, to follow nature was to follow the will of heaven, and to follow the will of heaven was to follow the will of the emperor.
"..."
(End of this chapter)
