West Garden, Wanshou Palace, curling sandalwood permeates every corner.

Many issues that seem urgent are not so important here in Jiajing. Like the cabinet ministers in the past, Yuan Wei went to work for a period of time, and Jiajing decided to fill the cabinet ministers.

As usual, Jiajing went to the newly established Honglei Altar tonight to hold a Jiao Festival, burned a few exquisite green words, and expressed his desire for eternal life to the heavens.

He did not hesitate to pour out a country's financial resources, and worked tirelessly for more than 30 years, for this dream of immortality. It's just that next year I will live 60 years old, and I still don't see the longevity fruit.

Jiajing, who was wearing a Taoist robe, returned in the imperial chariot, and it was already early in the morning. For the people of this era, they have already fallen asleep at this moment, but Jiajing is a norm.

Huang Jin brought a copper basin to wash Jiajing's face, and Jiajing did not intend to go to bed, but came to his Taoist room. These are all treasures in his collection, but they are mainly ancient books, and the ancient books of Pan Maoming presented by Lin Ping are in the most conspicuous position.

He came to the desk and saw the "Wanshou Golden Book" and the "Dashun Sanshen Pill" pills placed on the table, but he couldn't help frowning slightly.

"Master, don't be too tired, let's rest early, right?" Seeing this, Huang Jin persuaded in a low voice.

Jiajing glared at him angrily, but he came to the desk to write.

Feng Bao has been accompanying him tonight, and he is the first to come forward to sharpen the ink.

Jiajing wrote a line on a blank secret fold, and handed it directly to Feng Bao.

Feng Bao respectfully accepted the secret fold with both hands, turned around and left with a look of understanding, and sent it directly from the Wanshou Palace to the mansion where Xu Jie, the first assistant of the cabinet, lived.

With Yuan Wei's resignation, Xu Jie has gained more trust, and Jiajing always chooses to ask Xu Jie about some things. The current status of Xu Jie, which is rising, has faintly moved closer to Yan Song.

Xu Jie lives in Xiyuan almost every day, and every night is no exception. He had just returned from Jiajing Zhaijiao, and he had already untied his clothes and was ready to sleep, but when he learned that Feng Bao was coming, he hurriedly opened the door and welcomed people in.

"Pavilion Elder, please take a look!" After Feng Bao came in, he respectfully handed over the secret fold.

Xu Jie took the secret edict from Feng Bao's hand, and when he opened it, he saw that it was written: "The Golden Book of Longevity, the Great Shun Three Divine Pill Pills, are there any ancient books?" ”

Since everyone in the world knows that the saints are addicted to pills today, Taoist priests all over the country aspire to become royal alchemists, so that they can rise to the top.

In particular, the two generations of heavenly masters Shao Yuanjie and Tao Zhongwen have been greatly favored, and as long as the Taoist priests of the Ming Dynasty have some ability, they all want to try their luck in the capital, so the competition in the alchemy industry is not small.

Even though Tao Shien, Liu Wenbin and the other five have formed a strong alchemy team, they have been threatened by alchemy Taoists all over the country.

Among the alchemists enshrined in the current palace, there are two alchemists, Lantian Yu and Luo Wanxiang. Warlock Hu Dashun passed through the door of Lantian Yu, and recently presented the golden book of longevity and the elixir of "Dashun Sanshen Pill" to the emperor, already hoping to be reused by Jiajing.

Jiajing has never believed in the warlocks of the rivers and lakes, especially for the scriptures that have been handed down, and he likes to trace the origins, and a knowledgeable courtier like Xu Jie is naturally the best advisor.

In the same way, he had certain scruples about this scripture and the elixir, and he also asked Xu Jie about the authenticity of the scripture and the elixir through a secret message.

Xu Jie already knew about this matter, so he wrote in handwriting: "As far as the minister knows, Hu Dashun is Hu Tian, this person used to deceive the saint with a fake Ganoderma lucidum, and he was sent back to his hometown and not allowed to enter Beijing. It is an illegal person to change his name and return to Beijing today, and his scriptures are not enough to believe! ”

After writing the secret of this reply, he solemnly handed it over to Feng Bao, who was waiting outside, and sent Feng Bao away cordially.

Xu Jie returned to the room, but carefully put away the secret edict written by Jiajing. It's not that he's worried about being seen, but he has a habit of always feeling that these secret messages will come in handy in the future.

The next day, Hu Dashun was summoned to the Wanshou Palace, but the thick curtain was never opened, and this obese Taoist priest could not see Jiajing's dragon face.

Jiajing asked why he returned to the capital, and then asked Hu Dashun how he got the scriptures and pills.

Hu Dashun is also a person with some courage, although his body trembled a little, but he also answered fluently, explaining that he came to Beijing because Lantian Yu falsely transmitted the holy will, and put the responsibility on Lantian Yu.

This is the truth, Lantian Yu was very happy to see that Jiajing got the Golden Book of Longevity and the Dashun Sanshen Pill, so he wrote a letter to call Hu Dashun to the capital, saying that he would be appointed by the emperor to be the worship of the palace.

Not only in the officialdom, but even in the field of palace alchemists, there is also competition, Lantian Yu and Luo Wanxiang are not opponents of Tao Shien's gang at all.

Jiajing sent Hu Dashun away, and then wrote to Xu Jiedao: "I asked Hu Dashun, because Lantian Yu and Luo Wanxiang called him, I don't know if he is appointed?" ”

The scriptures and pills are all things he desires, and he has already believed in it at the moment, and he has even moved the idea of leaving Hu Dashun for his alchemy.

"These monks are scum! Lantian Yu, Hu Dashun and others are not afraid of the law, and it can be inferred from this unauthorized summoning people into Beijing that these warlocks do not concentrate on alchemy, but with the intention of deceiving the emperor, and they cannot be punished and cannot be warned by the latecomers! Xu Jie not only did not agree to the appointment of Hu Dashun, but took the opportunity to point the finger at the other two alchemists.

In addition to this, Xu Jie has already studied the Book of Longevity, which is to point out several suspicious points in the scriptures, thus proving that Hu Dashun is a liar, and Lantian Yu and Luo Wanxiang are accomplices.

Although Jiajing was obsessed with cultivating Xuan, and he had unprecedented favor for Tao Zhongwen and Shao Yuanfang, he did not have much affection for the Taoist priests who tried to deceive him.

After thinking about it for a while, he wrote again: "What should I do?" ”

"Lantian Yu, Luo Wanxiang, and Hu Dashun immediately beheaded in the West Market to set an example!" Xu Jie responded murderously to Lantian Yu's group of warlocks as if they were enemies who had killed their father.

Jiajing has been cultivating Xuan for so many years, and there are actually not many liars he has encountered. It's just that he has always been tolerant, and usually doesn't kill warlocks, like he did to Hu Dashun before, just repatriating to his original place.

Jiajing carefully looked at several suspicious points listed by Xu Jie, and saw that Xu Jie's efforts had indeed taken a lot of effort, and he also wanted to have fewer such liars in the future, so he was allowed to play Xu Jie's play.

When the outside world was still waiting for the three Shangshu to belong, few people noticed that the three warlocks of Lantian Yu, Luo Wanxiang, and Hu Dashun were beheaded in the West City.

In this regard, many people gave Xu Jie's thumbs up, Xu Jie's not only opposed the emperor's cultivation of Xuan Alchemy, but also pushed the warlock directly to the guillotine, which was really the savior of the Ming Dynasty.

April is a rainy season, and a heavy rain quietly falls on the city of Beijing in the evening, and it washes the houses and streets of the capital fiercely.

Jiajing originally planned to go to Hongleitan to continue fasting, but this rain made him have to stop, but he dealt with the music that had been piling up for several days in the Wanshou Palace.

Jiajing really doesn't want to waste too much energy on government affairs, he sees that he will be sixty years old by the end of next year, which makes him cherish the present even more and wants to race against time to gain immortality.

Feng Bao and Chen Hong worked diligently every day, and they had already dealt with the music in different categories, and they were just waiting for Jiajing to deal with the piled up.

The candles in the hall were bright, and the rain outside took away the stuffiness, and the air was filled with a faint sandalwood incense, which made the people here very comfortable.

At the forefront, Wei Yinbao, an anti-thief in Guangxi, was escorted to the Criminal Department for trial, and Huang Guangsheng, the secretary of the Criminal Department, submitted the sentencing opinion of Ling Chiwei Yinbao of the Criminal Department.

"Accurate!"

Jiajing did not have the slightest good impression of this kind of anti-thief who endangered the Ming Dynasty, especially since this person sneaked into the Guizhou Mansion to steal the silver treasury and kill the officials last year, so he waved his hand.

Just thinking that this thief was captured, it turned out to be completely the credit of a little girl, but his heart was mixed. When it comes to merit, the most dazzling in these years is the brother and sister.

This was followed by a cabinet meeting, which drafted the candidates for three Shangshu and one Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Officials.

The Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Officials is not a candidate he values too much, but the Secretary of the Ministry of Officials, the Book of Households and the Book of Rites have to be cautious, but it is related to the stability of the court situation.

Ministry of Rites Shangshu Yintai?

When Jiajing saw this candidate, he couldn't help frowning slightly, searching hard for this person in his mind, and slowly had some impressions, but that's all.

Except for Yan Song's time, the Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites has always been selected from the officials in the capital, usually from the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Rites and the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Officials, but this time it has directly excluded Lin Haoran, the left Shilang of the Ministry of Rites.

He still admires Lin Haoran very much. Needless to say, just from the opening of the sea and the rectification of the salt administration, it is an indelible achievement, but the problems of its own are also obvious, Lin Haoran is indeed too young.

Huang Jin, who was standing on the side, noticed that Jiajing had turned out the recital of the cabinet ministers' meeting, and secretly observed Jiajing's reaction.

Jiajing suddenly spoke: "Yin Tai, the secretary of the Nanjing Ministry of Rites, was appointed as the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, who recommended this?" ”

"Back to the master, this is recommended by Li Gelao!" Huang Jin was stunned for a moment, and then responded honestly.

Jiajing raised his head in surprise, and asked again: "Qian Bangyan, the left waiter of the Criminal Department, fills the Hubu Shangshu, who recommended this?" ”

"This is recommended by Yan Gelao, he said that the financial management and arithmetic of Ma Sen, the left attendant of the household department, are not enough to serve as the secretary of the household department!" Huang Jin swallowed and foamed, and responded honestly.

Jiajing's eyes fell on Huang Jin, and he asked with a smile: "It is indeed very suitable to recommend the candidate by the original Shangshu, but Hu Song, the left attendant of the Ministry of War, will not be recommended by Wu Shan to serve as the secretary of the Ministry of Officials, right?" ”

For the friends of the court, he already knew it. Hu Song and Xu Jie are fellow villagers, and they have a friendship with Yang Bo in the same year, but they have nothing to do with Wu Shan.

"Wu Ge Lao recommended Zhu Heng, the right attendant of the ministry, but Zhu Heng is suspected of rescuing Yan Shifan, and the emperor has agreed to promote him to the secretary of the Nanjing Criminal Department earlier!" Huang Jin replied cautiously.

Jiajing remembered this matter, and said as if he knew it: "So this time, Hu Song, the left attendant of the Ministry of War, was recommended by Xu Ge Lao!" ”

"Exactly!" Huang Jin observed Jiajing's face and responded cautiously.

Jiajing put the song down and asked curiously, "Didn't Wu Shan have any violent reactions at that time?" ”

"Nope! He only said that Lord Yuanfu, Li Ge Lao, and Yan Ge Lao had the same opinion, and he didn't have any opinions! Huang Jin shook his head slightly, appearing cautious in response.

Jiajing seemed to see Wu Shan's situation of one enemy and three enemies, but he shook his head helplessly.

It's just that he doesn't plan to interfere too much, now that the time is pressing, he needs to focus more on cultivating the Xuan, and he can't waste energy on dividing the courtiers.

Huang Jin has been paying attention to Jiajing's reaction, watching Jiajing put down the recital and continue to look at the next recital, so he couldn't help but secretly exhale.

Based on his understanding of the emperor, these candidates have already entered the scope of his consideration, and in a few days, these candidates will not be appointed with much change.

Jiajing had already opened the next note, his face suddenly became more and more solemn, but he suddenly asked Huang Jin next to him, "Who is on duty tonight?" ”

When Huang Jin heard this indifferent voice, his body couldn't help but shudder, but he responded honestly: "Back to the master's words, it's Xu Ge Lao and Wu Ge Lao tonight!" ”

With the departure of Yuan Wei and Dong Fen one after another, there are now only four pavilion elders left in the rotating Xiyuan, and they are already in turn more frequent.

Jiajing's face was slightly straight, and he indifferently ordered directly: "Call the two of them over!" ”

Huang Jin knew that something had happened that made the emperor very angry, so even if he answered, he hurriedly sent two little eunuchs to the Wuyi Hall to summon people over.

Tonight's rain came with great intensity, but as time went on, the rain slowly became lighter.

Although the rain outside had not stopped, Xu Jie and Wu Shan did not dare to slack off, and soon came to the outside of the Wuyi Hall with an umbrella and entered the main hall of this large university.

Regarding the emperor's sudden summoning of the two of them, they also had no bottom in their hearts, and they didn't know what was going on.

Jiajing still sat in front of the desk and reviewed the most important notes of the day, and when he saw these two people appear and shouted long live, he didn't call them up, and even dropped the notes and said, "You guys take a look first!" ”

Song Shu just landed in front of Xu Jie, and Xu Jie's eyes were not good. Although the light in the hall is bright, it is still difficult to read in this environment, and it is only by squinting that you can see the content clearly.

Wu Shan was quite curious, and he also stretched his neck slightly to take a look, also wanting to know the content of this note. It's just that his eyes are on par with Xu Jie, and he sees a blurry handwriting on it.