When the quiet room was empty, Jiajing reopened his eyes, raised his head to look at the statue of Sanqing Dao Jun in front of him, and said leisurely: "I, when will I find the opportunity for immortality?" ”

Many people in later generations mistakenly thought that Jiajing only had four sons, and King Jing was the youngest, but what was quite surprising was that Jiajing actually gave birth to eight sons, and King Jing had four younger brothers behind him.

But I don't know if it was the retribution suffered by the tyrannical emperor, or whether Jiajing's genes were congenitally deficient, except for the fifth son full moon, the sixth to eighth sons died in less than a month.

Jiajing gave birth to a total of eight sons and five daughters, and now he is nearly sixty years old, leaving only the third son, Yuwang Zhu Zaiyuan, and the third daughter, Princess Zhu Luyuan of Ning'an, who married to Hebei.

Speaking of which, I have to mention that "the two dragons don't meet".

In fact, this is not that Jiajing completely listened to Tao Zhongwen's fallacy of burying family affection, but after the death of his six sons one after another, he had to believe this seemingly absurd words.

is also the same, Jiajing completely broke off the idea of seeing his two sons again, and even faintly learned that King Yu gave birth to a son and had a grandson, but he also didn't ask.

It's also miraculous to say that when he no longer easily meets the remaining two sons, King Yu and King Jing have been living well all these years. Even if King Jing is dead now, he is directly blamed in his heart for King Jing's desire to seize the heir.

Now, when Jiajing learned of King Jing's death, he didn't feel too sad in his heart.

After all, this son hasn't seen him for several years, and he has been living in Xiyuan, and he has always lived separately from the third son Yuwang and the fourth son King Jing, so there is indeed not much father-son friendship.

Sandalwood wafts up, and the scent fills this quiet place.

When Jiajing learned the news of his son's death, he was only sad for a moment, and then immediately devoted himself to his great cause of cultivating the mysteries, struggling to find the legendary immortality.

The 44th year of Jiajing has just kicked off, and it is such a major event.

The untimely death of King Jing, who was only thirty-two years old, is regrettable, but for the entire pattern of the Ming Dynasty, it undoubtedly puts an end to the worry of seizing the heir, which is essentially conducive to the stability of the Ming Dynasty.

Although King Yu stayed in the capital and King Jing went to Anlu to take up the domain, the situation of the battle for the heir was already extremely clear. It's just that with the "urine" of the ministers of the dynasty, the emperor insists on canonizing King Jing as the crown prince, and I am afraid that he will not encounter too much opposition.

Xu Jie has actually been wavering, and it was not until last year that he bet on Yuwang's body, and recommended his protégé Zhang Jusheng to enter Yuwang's mansion to give lectures and became Yuwang's teacher.

Now that King Jing has died, Xu Jie and other officials are undoubtedly completely relieved. As long as they continue to serve the emperor and curry favor with King Yu, their careers will not suddenly suffer a catastrophe.

Xu Jie walked out of the palace gate of Wanshou Palace, saw Huang Jin still walking with him, first walked to the edge of the palace road next to him, and then turned to the latter and asked, "Huang Gonggong, I don't know what's going on?" ”

"Elder Xu Ge, the emperor's vomiting doesn't seem to be caused by King Jing's matter!" Huang Jin had just been paying attention to the conversation between Xu Jie and the emperor, and said what he was guessing in his heart at this moment.

"Grandpa Huang, you ...... Forgive the offense, you ...... If you don't have children, I'm afraid you won't be able to experience the pain of losing a child, how can there be a father in the world who doesn't feel sad when his son dies? Don't look at the emperor saying that it's okay, but it's actually uncomfortable in his heart! Xu Jie first stopped talking, and then said bitterly.

Huang Jin was castrated and sent to the palace since he was a child, although he has a group of godsons, but after all, he is not a close relative, hearing Xu Jie's explanation, most of the doubts in his heart were dispelled and he nodded: "The miscellaneous family knows!" ”

"Father-in-law Huang, the emperor is now experiencing the pain of losing his son, you must not go against the emperor's will!" Xu Jie earnestly admonished, paused, and continued quietly: "Now that the emperor is focused on cultivating the Xuan, this is actually a good thing, which will divert the emperor's pain!" As for the matter of the pill, even if the level of the little Tao Immortal Master is not up to the level of the Tao Immortal Master for the time being, it is not too much, and the pills are all tested pills, and the old man often takes them, so we can't question the little Tao Immortal Master because of his young age! When the old man recommended Lan Daoxing to enter the palace, Yan Shifan also accused Lan Daoxing of not being good, but it turned out that Lan Daoxing was a person with real skills, and even the emperor called him a blue immortal. ”

The reason why Huang Jin likes Xu Jie, in addition to Xu Jie's generosity, is the respect for these eunuchs, and he salutes respectfully: "The miscellaneous family knows how to do it, please go slowly!" ”

Xu Jie nodded lightly, returned the salute to Huang Jin, and turned to leave.

He walked all the way back to his residence, where Li Chunfang and the three of them waited, and when they learned that the plan just submitted had been approved by the emperor, they couldn't help but exhale lightly.

Due to the death of King Jing, the Ministry of Rites is naturally going to be busy in advance. However, King Jing's corpse is still in Huguang Anlu, but the corpse must be transported back first, so it can give the Ministry of Rites enough time.

The Ministry of Rites and the Yamen had a clear division of labor, with Li Chunfang leading the overall situation, Lin Haoran mainly responsible for imperial examinations and diplomatic affairs, and Gao Gong being responsible for sacrifices and funerals.

It is precisely like this, King Jing's funeral is coordinated by the Ancestral Sacrifice and Qing Officials Division, and Gao Gong, the right attendant of the Rite Department who is in charge of the Ancestral Sacrifice and Qing Officials Division, is responsible.

Xu Jie and Li Chunfang were not worried about Gao Gong's manipulation at King Jing's funeral, no matter how Gao Gong hated King Jing before, if he had a very bad performance in King Jing's funeral, then his career would be over.

Officials not only need people from above, but also need people from below. Once an official's reputation collapses, even if he is as graceful as Zhang Xuan back then, he will have to leave the court in disgrace.

"Okay, I'll take care of this matter!" Gao Gong's mood seemed to be very good, and the whole person was full of ambition to take over this job.

He has been suffering for so many years, and his personal future is tied to King Yu's body early. Now that King Jing is dead, King Yu has become the only living prince of the Holy Heaven, so that he can see the dawn of victory.

Even if the emperor still refuses to give King Yu the title of crown prince, the status of King Yu is indisputable, and his identity as the future emperor is even more certain.

Especially the current saint is already a fifty-nine-year-old emperor this year, I am afraid that it is not far from the limit. As the news of King Jing's death spreads, more and more officials will inevitably follow him, and his right attendant in this Ministry of Rites will have a greater say in this court.

The matter was agreed, Li Chunfang discussed other things with Xu Jie, but he chose to stay here, and Lin Haoran took the initiative to stand up and leave.

Gao Gong originally wanted to stay here, but he thought that staying here actually had nowhere to show off, so he suddenly said to Lin Haoran, who walked to the door: "Ruoyu, wait a minute, I'll go with you!" ”

Lin Haoran's brows furrowed slightly, just thinking of this person who was on the rise, but he was standing at the door with a smile on his face, and turned to look at Gao Gong.

In the officialdom, only the same level will be ranked, like Li Chunfang and Yan Ne have to be respectful to their father-in-law at the same level, but he is above Gao Gong, and Gao Gong's words seem very rude.

Xu Jie and Li Chunfang both saw this matter in their eyes, but they couldn't help but secretly exchange glances, but they were both old fritters in the officialdom and didn't say anything more.

Gao Gong took all this for granted, and took the initiative to say goodbye to Xu Jie, I don't know if it was intentional or other factors, but he directly missed Li Chunfang.

Li Chunfang is a well-known good man in officialdom, so naturally he will not worry about Gao Gong.

Lin Haoran watched Gao Gong come over, and gave a salute to the two of them, and then left with Gao Gong.

In fact, there are different ways of being an official in officialdom, even the first assistant has four styles: Zhang Xuan, Xia Yan, Yan Song and Xu Jie, and this type of official is actually more common.

In particular, Gao Gong is now in the prominent position of the right attendant of the Ministry of Rites, and he is already destined to be the most senior emperor in the future, but he has an arrogant capital.

Gao Gong's whole person looked very excited, and together with the thick black beard, he was not completely carried away, and asked Lin Haoran seriously: "Uncle Zuo, do you say that it is inappropriate for me to go to Yuwang Mansion now?" ”

Lin Haoran glanced at him and gave an affirmative answer: "King Jing's aftermath is mainly your responsibility, and you should naturally return to the Ministry of Rites now to summon officials back for deployment!" ”

"Yes, that's exactly what happened!" When Gao Gong first learned of this "good news", he wanted to grow wings and fly to tell King Yu, but now that he has calmed down, he nodded heavily.

The two of them walked towards the palace gate together, and happened to meet the oncoming Hube Shangshu Yan Ne in front of the palace gate.

Yan Ne's figure is similar to Xu Jie, although he is kind and kind-eyed, but he has a pockmarked face, and he is wearing a first-class official uniform because he is hanging a fictitious prince Taibao.

Yan Ne didn't have to take turns in Xiyuan today, but he learned that Li Chunfang hurriedly entered the palace with Lin Haoran and Gao Gong, and after sending the guests to the door, he also came to check the situation.

"Xiaguan has seen Da Situ!" Lin Haoran faced the strict face of the head of the household, and looked respectful and respectful.

"Uncle Zuo is polite, foreign officials have come to Beijing this year, but the door is like a city?" Yan Ne followed Xu Jie's humility and responded gently to Lin Haoran.

Because this year is the year of external inspection, Lin Haoran is not only the left attendant of the Ministry of Rites, but also a father-in-law of the Ministry of Officials, so he has become the target of many local officials.

Lin Haoran did not veto, but responded modestly: "It is indeed a lot of harassment, but the lower officials are not as high as the high moral expectations of Da Situ, but they dare not turn away all the foreign officials!" ”

It was originally an enviable thing, but Lin Haoran said it bitterly, which made Yan Ne also smile, but found that Gao Gong looked at him, and asked suspiciously: "Su Qing, is there something on my face?" ”

Yan Ne and Gao Gong were in the same year, both were Jinshi in Jiajing for 20 years, and they also entered the Hanlin Academy as a Shujishi. Yan Ne benefited from Xu Jie's support, and now he is now a quasi-pavilion old man and a secretary of the household department, while Gao Gong is now only the right attendant of the Ministry of Rites, and there is a big gap in status.

"The beans are on the noodles!" Gao Gong responded with a smile on his face in the face of Yan Ne's inquiry.

When Yan Ne heard this, he subconsciously reached out and wanted to wipe the beans off his face, but looking at Gao Gong's playful expression, he immediately knew that he was being teased, which was obviously making fun of his pockmarked face. “”

Lin Haoran also thought that Yan Ne's face was stained with beans at first, but he saw that Yan Ne's face was very clean, and there was only a rather vivid pockmarked bean face.

At this moment, he found that he still underestimated the arrogance of this colleague. There is a problem with other people's pockmarked faces, but you are teasing them in front of you like this, you are clearly going to make enemies!

Yan Ne's bearing is not small, but he didn't react when he was teased by Gao Gong in front of him, but looked at Gao Gong's stomach and said in a voiceover: "The male grass is in the belly!" ”

Gao Gong naturally didn't think that his stomach was really grassy, but he responded heartily and with a smile: "Haha...... Su Qing, you're right this time! ”

Yan Ne watched the other party react like this, there was still cultivation for cultivation, and there was a smile on his face, which could be regarded as the end of the matter.

Lin Haoran glanced at Gao Gong, seriously doubting that this product was really grassy, and knew that Yan Nading was very unhappy, so he stood up and played a round and said: "According to the opinion of the lower officials, the public mind can tolerate the world!" ”

In the face of a subordinate official making such a fuss about the shortcomings of his body in person, Yan Ne can still "talk very happily" with Gao Gong so much, this mind is absolutely incomparable.

But then again, a few of the people who were able to climb to this position were ordinary people.

Yan Ne heard Lin Haoran's flattering words, and his heart seemed a lot more comfortable.

"Uncle Zuo, you don't say these flattering words! Minqing, I'm going to be busy these days, and I'll visit you in a little while! Gao Gong said, just to pull Lin Haoran away.

Lin Haoran gave a respectful salute to Yan Ne, and then walked towards the palace gate with Gao Gong.

Yan Ne walked a few steps, but suddenly stopped, looking at Lin Haoran and Gao Gong in the distance, his face looked quite puzzled. When he arrived at Xu Jie's house and learned of King Jing's death, it suddenly dawned on him that it was no wonder that Gao Gong was a little more arrogant than usual.

If you talk about the current status, he, the head of the household department and one of the quasi-pavilion elders who rotates in Xiyuan, is naturally far more than Gao Gong, who has been in office for half a year. It's just that when it comes to the future, he is indeed no match for Gao Gong now.

Because of this pockmarked face, he was destined to be unable to sit on the throne of Shousuke. On the other hand, Gao Gong has the support of King Yu, and he is two years younger than himself, but he can compete for the throne of the first assistant.

just thought of Gao Gong's ridicule just now, and then recalled all the ridicule brought by this pockmarked face in the past, but his heart felt like a thorn in his heart.

Since he became an official, especially after being valued by today's saints, no one has dared to talk about his pockmarked face for many years, but he didn't expect to be teased by Gao Gong like this today.

After the Lantern Festival, the smell of the New Year in the capital slowly dissipated.

On the twentieth day of the first lunar month, which was also the last day of his holiday, Lin Haoran was leisurely drinking tea in the back garden.

Although it is still far from the spring flowers, it is already possible to look forward to it. The ice on the lake in the pavilion is melting away little by little, and it seems that everything is slowly getting better.

But at this time, Lin Jinyuan sent a greeting from a fellow township official in Guangdong, and when he opened this greeting, Lin Haoran's eyes immediately widened.

The rank and official position of the person who sent him to pay homage are not worth mentioning at all, and he is not even qualified to meet him, the left attendant of the Ministry of Rites, but the name of the other party is like thunder - Hai Rui.