Ping'an said: "What kind of room money, we can't even eat tonight." After a pause, he explained: "This afternoon, I got a batch of small bits and pieces such as sweets and pastries from the west of the city, and sold them in the nearest market. Before a few were sold, a group of victims suddenly poured in outside the city gate, all of them were yellow and thin, in rags, as if they hadn't eaten for hundreds of years, and the guards at the city gate didn't hold on for a while, so they all rushed in and robbed the market of what they could eat. ”

Lu Wenyuan was stunned when he heard it, just because the word disaster victim touched the memory of the previous time in the court, and hurriedly asked: "Are these victims from Shanxi?"

Ping'an was stunned for a moment, and then replied: "Young master, how do you know? Although these victims robbed in broad daylight, the situation was really pitiful, and there were both old people and children, and they all said that they had walked all the way from Shanxi to the capital, but because Shanxi had suffered a drought this year, they really couldn't survive." Later, when I saw that they were sad, I exchanged all the money you gave me for doing business for food and distributed it to them, young master, you won't blame me, right?"

Lu Wenyuan naturally didn't blame him, but the doubts in his heart were deeper, it is said that the imperial court's disaster relief silver taels were sent down half a month ago, and now they should have arrived a long time ago, why are these disaster victims not waiting for relief in the same place, but brave the scorching sun to enter Beijing to rob? Could it be that they did not get the news in advance, and the two compartments went wrong? But it is also unlikely, the imperial court's disaster relief edict was issued earlier than the disaster relief silver taels, in order to prevent the disaster victims from fleeing and unable to receive relief in time.

Lu Wenyuan said to Ping An with the doubts in his heart, Ping An didn't know what was going on for a while, only said that those victims were still wandering in the west of the city, if you want to find out what was going on, I would take you to find it tomorrow.

Lu Wenyuan then agreed, tossing and turning all night, feeling that there was a false holy decree for a while, and a disaster victim for a while, always feeling that there was a connection in this series of things, but there was a lack of a line to connect them. It was easy to get to the next day, and he pushed Ping An up early in the morning and asked him to take him to the west of the city to look for the victims.

The morning in Beijing was still cool, but there was fog in the west of the city, and even the tall city gate was hidden in the fog, and the surroundings were faintly white.

Ping'an led Lu Wenyuan all the way to the city gate, and it didn't take much effort to find a few victims who were sleeping in one place. Lu Wenyuan looked at it, and saw that their clothes were shabby, their bodies were pickled, and the straw sandals they were wearing on their feet had already worn out the bottoms, which was obvious that they had finally arrived here after a long journey. Lu Wenyuan couldn't bear it, so he counted out a few dollars for Ping An to buy buns on the street and share them one by one.

When the victims saw that someone was giving alms, they couldn't be grateful for a while, and they devoured it one after another. Lu Wenyuan patiently waited for them to finish eating before opening his mouth to ask carefully.

It turned out that the disaster situation in Shanxi was not as urgent as Fan Zhefu said, but there was little rain in the spring and summer this year, and there were several locust plagues, and the harvest was lower than in previous years. These displaced people were those who had few fields at home and happened to have no harvest, so they couldn't survive anymore, so they made this decision and came to Beijing to become refugees. As for the disaster relief edict issued by the imperial court, they have all heard it, but they don't have much hope, just because Chen Jincheng, the prefect of Taiyuan, is a very corrupt official, and he has had two dozen relief silvers in his hands, all of which he has filled his pockets or used to bribe officials in the court, and only one-tenth is left. In the end, those who came to the victims of the disaster could not even have food and clothing, but what was the difference between being a homeless person?

Lu Wenyuan was shocked when he heard this, and he only said that a small local prefect was so bold as to lie about the disaster, which shows the mediocrity of today's government. Thinking of what he saw and heard in the court that day, Yan Yong kept saying that he was afraid that the silver for disaster relief would be greedy by people with ulterior motives, and he was afraid that he also meant something, but in front of the emperor, it was always difficult to break it lightly. But thinking about it, it's just an immature guess, and all that can be done at the moment is to carefully put away the holy decree and continue to watch the development of the situation.

Two days later, Chen Jincheng sued Yan Yong for falsely transmitting the holy decree, and the incident really happened, how could Fan Zhefu let go of this opportunity, which was very likely to bring down Yan Yong in one fell swoop, and reported the matter to the emperor on the same day, and someone arrested Yan Yong, and urgently summoned the three divisions of Dali Temple, the Criminal Department, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate to interrogate.

However, after a few days of interrogation, he still failed to get the gist of it, just because the evidence was there, but the false decree was only missing as physical evidence. The three divisions could not decide the case for a while, so they could only temporarily put Yan Yong in prison in the prison of the Criminal Department, and make plans another day.

Lu Wenyuan also spent a few days of frightening with him, and he was worried that the holy decree would be discovered in his sleep. On this day, Fan Zhefu suddenly sent someone to look for him in the lobby of the ministry, only saying that there was something wrong and asking him to enter the palace immediately to the cabinet for a discussion. Lu Wenyuan only thought that his private holy decree was discovered, and followed him all the way in horror, only to realize that it was unnecessary to worry. There was calm in the cabinet, Yan Yong was arrested, and it was only a matter of time before he was overthrown, so Fan Zhefu's mood was naturally better than ever. After laughing with Lu Wenyuan for a few words, he said the purpose of asking him to come this time, he originally wanted him to replace him for a few days and go to the palace to send a recital to the emperor.

It turned out that in the Ming Dynasty, although the cabinet had the right to assist the emperor in handling most of the government affairs, some of the chapters were only effective if the emperor personally approved them, and even if he covered the sky with one hand like Fan Zhefu, it would never be completely replaced. Therefore, every few days or even every day, Fan Zhefu would enter the palace once and present the recitals that had to be approved to the emperor.

How do you know that Lu Wenyuan was taken aback when he heard this: "The emperor has never liked me, and I am afraid that the adult's entrustment will ......."

Fan Zhefu smiled and said, "You also know that now that it has reached a critical moment to bring down Yan Yong, and he is only one step away from success, and this official is really distracted." Besides, if you are working under your own officials, you will have to meet the emperor in the future, so let him see you once and punish you once?"

Seeing Lu Wenyuan's hesitation, he mentioned him again: "The government and the opposition all know that today's saints prefer Longyang, so as to flatter, there are not a few people who do things in Israel, although Lord Lu always disagrees with the emperor, but in terms of posture, he is also first-class in the entire court." Didn't Lord Lu ever think about it here?"

Lu Wenyuan exclaimed: "My lord...... Adults mean to make me ......"

Fan Zhefu interrupted him and said, "No matter what you do, you have to win the emperor's favor in short." Otherwise, don't say it's the emperor, it's the official, I'm afraid I won't be able to tolerate you. ”

Lu Wenyuan didn't know how to answer for a while, his mind turned a few times, and Fang Zi reacted, Fan Zhefu wanted to accept himself as a fellow party, which was originally used to confront Yan Yong, but now that Yan Yong is about to fall, he naturally loses his use value, and he doesn't like today's saints, so he can only add trouble to him, and there is really no need to keep it. Lu Wenyuan knew the difficulty of his own situation, but he heard Fan Zhefu suddenly soften his voice and said: "This delivery of the chapter can be regarded as Lord Lu doing something for the official, and the house on the outskirts of Beijing will be famous in the future." As he spoke, he stroked his palms and laughed. Lu Wenyuan's heart became heavier and heavier, and he only said that this road of loyalty to the country was going to be more and more difficult.

After a few days, Lu Wenyuan went into the palace to send the chapter.

The weather was as hot as ever, and the fierce midsummer sun shone directly on the red tiles and green bricks, as if it was about to expose white smoke.

Zhu Shiyang got up from a nap, then came to the imperial study, reclining on the brocade couch in the warm pavilion to read, not long after, suddenly saw Gui Xi in a panic from the outside, whispered: "Your Majesty, Lord Fan sent someone to send today's recital." ”

Zhu Shiyang was lazy and didn't like to move, but he also knew that the daily recital still had to be approved, so he had to throw down the book in his hand casually and said in a rambling voice: "Let him come in." ”

Guixi didn't want to go, but only hesitated left and right in the same place, as if he still had something to say.

How could Zhu Shiyang not see his thoughts, frowning and scolding him: "If you have something to say, say it quickly." ”

Who knew that Guixi cried and lost a face, and snorted: "The slave said, don't be angry with the emperor." ”

Zhu Shiyang only felt inexplicable, okay, what was he angry about, he was curious, and he was even more busy urging him.

Gui Xi said cautiously: "Back to the emperor, the person who came to send the chapter is Lord Lu Wenyuan. ”

At this time, Zhu Shiyang couldn't hold his breath, only to feel a smouldering fire rushing to his heart, and a thin layer of sweat appeared all over his body, and he sat up from the couch with a bang.

Gui Xi saw that the emperor was really angry, so frightened that he knelt on the ground, and said in a loud voice: "The emperor is angry, this hot day, don't be angry." ”

Zhu Shiyang was angry by him, but he finally regained a little reason, and said in his heart that he was a dignified generation of heavenly sons, and that the joy and anger were invisible, and he had been learning since he was born, but now he was ruined by an insignificant courtier, and if it was spread out in the future, wouldn't it make people laugh? ”

Gui Xi took the order and went out. After a while, he turned back and said back to Zhu Shiyang: "Your Majesty, Lord Lu, he doesn't roll, he is lying in the flowers under the porch, and he refuses to come out." ”

Zhu Shiyang was angry and funny for a while, thinking that a third-grade courtier was forced to this by himself, which was really ridiculous. Another thought thought of the scorching heat outside, and there would be no shortage of summer insects such as bees, mosquitoes and flies in the flowers, so it was good for him to suffer a little. Then he instructed Gui Xi: "Then let him hide, don't worry about him." Lazily rolled over, picked up the book and read it again.

After a few days like this, Zhu Shiyang heard Gui Xi return once a day, "Your Majesty, Lord Lu came early in the morning and is waiting outside the palace, waiting for you to summon you." Other than that, it was quite smooth. That Lu Wenyuan may have Gui Xi staring, and he didn't make any excessive moves, but every day as soon as the palace door opened, he entered the palace to wait, and before the palace door was locked, he went back. Zhu Shiyang gradually adapted to his existence.

On this day, Zhu Shiyang was still lazy in the inner palace, and suddenly found that the books at hand had been read, and he wanted Guixi to go to the front imperial study to get a few more books, but after a few calls, it was the little eunuch Shuangxi.

Only then did Zhu Shiyang remember that Gui Xi had taken leave with him at noon today, and he should be handling affairs in the East Factory at this time. That Shuangxi is not yet fourteen years old this year, and not long after he came to serve in front of the palace, Zhu Shiyang thought he was too young, so he was not comfortable, and he stayed in the palace for a long time, and wanted to go out for a walk, so he got up to get it himself.

Out of the palace gate, Zhu Shiyang first looked left and right, and Lu Wenyuan was nowhere to be seen, and it was estimated that it was too hot to support it. Zhu Shiyang's mood was greatly relieved, and he said to fight with me, you are still tender, so he went out happily. The two guards at the door saw him go out and wanted to follow, but Zhu Shiyang waved them back, and walked towards the imperial study alone.

The weather was much cooler than the previous two days, the sky was overcast, and dark clouds obscured most of the scorching sun, but it didn't look like it was going to rain. A gentle breeze blew softly, stirring the hot air around it. Zhu Shiyang walked a few steps refreshed, although he was sweating slightly, his mood was unprecedentedly comfortable.

But as soon as he walked out of the gate of the inner palace, Zhu Shiyang's good mood came to an end, and Lu Wenyuan pounced out of nowhere, holding a large stack of concertos, knelt in front of him, blocked the way, and said loudly: "Please ask the emperor to approve the recitals." ”