Early in the morning, Zhang Fan went into the palace to accompany Zhu Yijun to study. At this time, a different kind of drama was being staged in the court.

"Your Majesty, this year's taxes have been counted." Hubu Shangshu Ge Shouli said to Long Qing.

"I see that I am about to enter the wax moon." Long Qing sighed and said, "What are the details?" ”

"Since the opening of His Majesty, the imperial court's taxes have risen sharply, and this year alone has increased by sixty percent compared with the past, which is more than 12 million taels." Ge Shouli said.

"This tax is too much, and some people are too careful, and they order the supervisors everywhere to keep an eye on me, and I will also let the town guards and eunuchs everywhere cooperate." Long Qing said.

"Your Majesty, seeing that this year's winter is coming, the troubles in northern Xinjiang must be prevented." Someone put forward an opinion to Longqing.

Last year's battle is still fresh in my memory, and everyone takes it seriously.

"Where is Tan Lun, the left attendant of the military department?" Long Qing said.

"Chen Tan Lun is here." Tan Lun said. Now that Zhao Bingran, the secretary of the Ministry of War, went home to recuperate, Longqing did not send someone else to lead the title of secretary of the Ministry of War, but let Tan Lun manage it on his behalf.

"What is the situation at the border now?" Long Qing asked.

"Back to Your Majesty, there has been no movement in the Tartars this year, and the border is very calm." Tan Lun said.

"Well, the Tartars don't know what they're planning, although there is nothing to do at the border, but they must be guarded against in case something changes." Long Qing finally heard a good news.

"The defense of the border has already been prepared, please rest assured, Your Majesty." Tan Lun said.

"So, who else has something to do?" Longqing intends to end this early dynasty.

But there are people who are looking for trouble.

"Chen Xu Jie, I have something to play."

"It's coming!" Long Qing frowned slightly when he saw him stand up.

"Elder Ge, please say something." After all, Xu Jie was an important minister of the two dynasties, and Longqing still had to sell some face.

"Today, I received 32 pieces of impeachment from the Supervision Yuan, the prince's attendant, Zhang Fan, and His Royal Highness Prince Cong Yong left the palace without permission." Xu Jie's voice was not loud, but the words he said were not small, "Zhang Fan has not been in the office for a long time, he is pampered and arrogant, and he does not concentrate on serving the prince, but acts like this, and please punish Your Majesty." ”

Long Qing himself knew about this matter, but he couldn't say, "I know about this matter, and I deliberately let them out of the palace." "I'm afraid that it will soon attract the verbal and written criticism of the Manchu Dynasty's civil and military forces. However, before Long Qing could open his mouth about this matter, the ministers below began to discuss it.

Some people feel that Zhang Fan should be severely punished; And some people think it's nothing, after all, the prince is only seven years old, and it is normal to want to leave the palace, where can Zhang Fan be stopped by a small attendant, as for Zhang Fan Congyong, I don't know, but these people can't say what they think in their hearts. But some discerning people can see it clearly, even if Zhang Fan is wrong in this matter, but why are there so many folds to impeach him, Zhang Fan will never take the prince out of the palace and publicize it all over the world. And Xu Jie, the first assistant, said that he was highly respected, but since the Yan Song incident, he has been vaguely arrogant, and many people have seen it in their hearts. How did Gao Gong step down? Isn't it the same as today's? But Gao Gong is also a court member of the same status as Xu Jie, can he deal with Zhang Fan, a person who has just entered the ranks, to make such a big battle! It seems that this champion must have offended this pavilion elder somewhere!

The ministers just whispered, and Long Qing was also very headache, since this matter was raised, there had to be an explanation, not to mention that Xu Jie was still staring there, and even Long Qing, as the emperor, had no way for a while.

"The minister thinks that Zhang Fan is not such a person of Meng Lang, there must be a reason for this at this time, and I also ask Your Majesty to find out the matter before making a decision." At the critical moment, Zhang Juzheng came out to speak for Zhang Fan.

"The prince is aware of the fact that he left the palace without permission, and Zhang Fan is also following the prince, this matter has been very clear, and please ask Your Majesty to severely punish Zhang Fan." Xu Jie pressed unyieldingly.

"After all, the prince is young, and it is normal for him to want to go out of the palace to play, but Zhang Fan is just a little attendant, but what can he do." Chen Yiqin, a scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion University, stood up and said.

"Zhang Fan, as the prince's attendant, should be persuaded to serve the prince, even if the prince wants to leave the palace, not only did he not report the matter to His Majesty, but together, this is not what Cong Yong is!" Xu Jie said sharply.

This sentence can be regarded as hitting Longqing's weakness, Zhang Fan did call the little eunuch next to Zhu Yijun to inform him at that time, but he did agree to Zhu Yijun's departure from the palace. Now Longqing himself is also very embarrassed, and he can't help but blame Zhang Fan for going to Dongcheng somewhere, but he wants to go to Dongcheng!

"Your Majesty, please also ask Xuan Zhang Fan to go to the palace and face the face, isn't this all clear!" Someone gave Long Qing an idea.

"It's because Zhang Fan knows that he can't let him come to the palace!" Long Qing thought to himself.

This statement has been recognized by many officials, after all, this matter is not a big deal, it can be said that it is just the prince's playfulness for a while; said that it is not small, in case the prince goes out without permission and there is no guard, if there is something good, it will not be good.

Longqing is difficult to do now, seeing that the ministers all agree with this opinion, and if he wants to use the emperor's majesty to suppress this matter, it will immediately cause speculation, and there is no way, so he has to call the eunuchs around him to the East Palace to call Zhang Fan.

Zhang Fan was with the prince at this time, and he was very surprised when he heard that Longqing was going to announce that he was going to the palace. He didn't know what was going on to go to the main hall by himself. Zhu Yijun was also very dissatisfied, he was interrupted when he was happy with Zhang Fan, but when he heard that his father wanted to announce Zhang Fan, he had to give up. However, Zhu Yijun was a big ghost, so he asked another eunuch to lead Zhang Fan to the main hall, but he left the eunuch who came to pass the word and asked what was going on.

"Wechen Zhang Fan knocks long live my emperor." Zhang Fan came to the main hall and gave Longqing a salute.

"Zhang Fan, you get up first." Long Qing said, "I have something to ask you. ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhang Fan stood up and said, "I don't know what happened to Your Majesty Xuan Weichen?" In between speaking, Zhang Fan looked around, okay, almost everyone was looking at him, and he felt very bad when he saw it. I didn't do anything angry and resentful, why did you look at me like this! Zhang Fan muttered in his heart. Suddenly, he felt a very angry gaze on himself, and he looked at it, it was the old Xu Ge who looked at him wrongly, but Zhang Fan found in his angry eyes that there was still a meaning of smugness. "Is he trying to deal with me again? But what is it? Zhang Fan thought puzzled, and suddenly found that the teacher Zhang Juzheng who was standing on the side was looking at him worriedly.

"Zhang Fan, Xu Ge always has something to ask you." Long Qing said. It may be that he himself is not easy to speak, but now that things have come to this point, it can only be like this.

Zhang Fan was slightly surprised when he heard Long Qing's words, he actually heard a trace of anxiety in Long Qing's words.

Without giving Zhang Fan too much time to think, Xu Jie spoke: "Zhang Fan, are you guilty?" ”

"Guilty? Ge Lao, may I ask what is Zhang Fan's crime? Zhang Fan asked.

"Pretending." Xu Jie snorted coldly and continued, "Where were you yesterday afternoon. ”

When this sentence came out, Zhang Fan knew what Xu Jie was going to say this time, but he didn't speak immediately.

"I can't say it, the old man will tell you for you." Xu Jie felt that he had won the battle, and said, "Yesterday, you actually took the prince out of the palace without permission, as a waiter in the East Palace, you didn't serve the prince wholeheartedly, but instead did such an act, don't you admit your guilt!" ”

Zhang Fan still didn't speak, it wasn't that he had nothing to say, but he was thinking about something else. Although he couldn't help himself about yesterday's incident, he also reported it to Longqing, which can be regarded as agreed by Longqing, otherwise he and Zhu Yijun would not have been able to get out of the palace at all. But look at Longqing's performance just now...... Zhang Fan felt that he had figured it out. He raised his head and said: "Yesterday, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince felt bored, and as the Prince's attendant, I served His Highness, and it was naturally within my duty to solve problems for His Highness." ”

"Oh, so you're not guilty but you're meritorious!" Xu Jie asked with a sneer.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, as a prince, what's wrong with knowing about civil affairs!" Zhang Fan said.

"If the crown prince wants to travel, His Majesty will have a plan." Xu Jie said, "If you act like this, you are discovered by gangsters and endanger the safety of Your Highness, what will happen!" ”

"If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince leaves the palace like this, his safety is guaranteed, but His Royal Highness's identity is also obvious." Zhang Fan faced Xu Jie directly and said, "Your Highness wants to look at the real people of the Ming Dynasty, not those who maliciously flatter. ”

"Shaft, are you saying that there is anything unsightly about the Ming Dynasty under the emperor's rule?" Xu Jie seized Zhang Fan's words and made a fuss. This can be regarded as a crime of bullying the king, the ministers couldn't help but worry about Zhang Fan, even Longqing pinched a sweat, Zhang Fan was happy that he didn't say it, but he didn't have to do it like this, isn't this looking for a way to die for himself!

"Wei Chen is naturally not slandering His Majesty." Zhang Fan said fearlessly, "But Weichen won't even say good things." As the Lord of the peoples, Your Majesty should also love the people with a loving heart when the people of the world support your Majesty. Who can say that there is not a single hungry person in this world! But as a king, he does not know how the people can be supported by the people. As a courtier, if you can't report good news or bad news, wouldn't you become a traitor. ”

Okay! These few words made Xu Jie's two important ministers of the dynasty traitors, which made Xu Jie's anger very much. The ministers below also admired Zhang Fan, they all understood these words, but they could say it here, they didn't think they had the courage to do so.

Xu Jie is full of wealth, but now that he has been buttoned down by Zhang Fan's traitorous hat, it is difficult to say anything. Zhang Juzheng was looking at Zhang Fan from the side, he now felt more and more that he was right to take a fancy to Zhang Fan, now Zhang Fan not only has the same mind as himself, but also has a sharp spirit, if it is in a few years, I am afraid he will not be able to say this.

"Zhang Fan's matter has already aroused the dissatisfaction of the officials, and this matter is still up to Your Majesty to decide." Xu Jie put on the means of speaking official.

Long Qing thought about it, and Zhang Fan could be regarded as having changed direction and carried the black pot for himself, but Xu Jie's and those officials had to be plugged, thought about it, and said: "Elder Xu Ge doesn't have to be angry, Zhang Fan is young and vigorous, not for Elder Ge." Zhang Fan's words are also good, but it is not appropriate to take the prince out of the palace without permission. In this way, give Zhang Fanting forty rods and let him reflect at home. ”

There were guards on both sides to escort Zhang down.

"Your Majesty, is this punishment too light?" Xu Jie originally wanted to get Zhang Fan off the stage, but Long Qing was defeated, and although the court staff was forty, he did not achieve his goal at all. Coupled with Zhang Fan's words just now, Xu Jie's observation of Longqing's words and deeds seemed to be more important to Zhang Fan, which was contrary to his own plans.

"Elder Ge doesn't have to be angry, Zhang Fan is young and vigorous after all, and now he is suppressing it, so that he can gain more knowledge." Long Qing said, "What's more, Zhang Fan is also a good intention, but he can't follow the rules." That's all for this, retreat. ”

"Congratulations to Your Majesty."

After Longqing left, the ministers gradually left, and many people were still talking about Zhang Fan. Chen Yiqin nodded to Zhang Juzheng and turned to leave. Zhang Juzheng and Xu Jie were left behind.

Xu Jie looked at Zhang Juzheng expressionlessly, and Zhang Juzheng also looked at his teacher without giving in. After a while, Xu Jie said: "This time Your Majesty wants to protect him, but you have to be careful and warn him not to fall into the hands of the old man again." ”

"Teacher, why bother!" Zhang Juzheng sighed and said.

"You still think I'm your teacher? I thought you had long since disregarded the relationship between master and apprentice. Xu Jie said unceremoniously, "I know very well what you are thinking in your heart, you have been honest and clear since you became an official, and now you have the appreciation of Your Majesty." But don't forget, the first assistant of the cabinet is an old man, and it is not your turn to Zhang Juzheng. ”

"However, why should the matter between the two of us involve outsiders!" Zhang Juzheng said.

"That kid has the same mind as you, I can't cure you, I can't cure him!" Xu Jie said, "As long as the old man is in the court for a day, he won't want to have a bright future." After speaking, Xu Jie turned around and left.

"Teacher, students would like to thank you for your many years of teaching. It seems that our master-apprentice relationship is over! Zhang Juzheng looked at his back and thought silently in his heart.

Zhang Fan was taken to a place dedicated to the execution of the court staff, and the person in charge of the court staff was none other than an old acquaintance, Feng Bao, the eunuch of Bingbi. Zhang Fan was a little surprised when he saw him.

"Master Zhang, don't be confused." Feng Bao saw Zhang Fan's question and explained, "In addition to being the eunuch of the pen in the master of ceremonies, our family trusts the emperor, and the East Factory is also under the care of our family. ”

This is the first time Zhang Fan has heard that the Dongchang in his impression has been fixed as a dark black area by Hong Kong and Taiwan martial arts movies, and he can't help but shudder when he thinks of this, but then he thinks that the teacher Zhang Juzheng has a good evaluation of this Feng Bao, so he is a little relieved.

"Lord Zhang is now a popular person next to the prince, what is this crime, the emperor actually rewarded you with forty rods!" Feng Bao asked with a smile.

"Gonggong Feng laughed." Zhang Fan didn't believe he wouldn't know about it.

"Hehe, our family is just curious, since the emperor has an order, our family has to obey, so I will be wronged by Lord Zhang." Feng Bao said and gestured to the little eunuch on the side.

The two little eunuchs pressed Zhang Fan to the ground, tied his feet, and ripped off his coat. Two more eunuchs came with their rods and stood on Zhang Fan's left and right. The guards who watched Zhang Fan's execution on the side were a little unbearable, if the forty court rods were solid, not to mention that Zhang Fan was a scholar, even a strong man would have to be beaten to death.

The eunuch who executed got Feng Bao's signal and slapped Zhang Fan's ass with a cane. Zhang Fan held his breath, this cane came down, and it almost didn't make him angry, not because it hurt, but because this cane had some sour numbness, where was the pain. Zhang Fanzheng was surprised, suddenly gasped, and then screamed. The guards who watched Zhang Fan's execution couldn't bear to look at Zhang Fan's screams anymore when they heard Zhang Fan's screams, and walked out.

It turned out that after the cane just now, I don't know who pinched Zhang Fan's inner thigh from behind, and this time it almost killed Zhang Fan. Zhang Fan raised his head and looked at Feng Bao, and saw that he had a cunning eye, so he noticed the difference. The eunuch who executed did not stop, and there were still people counting on the side, and this was accompanied by Zhang Fan's screams. The guards who heard the screams outside were also curious, this Zhang Fan was a scholar, and he had received so many lower court rods, and this scream sounded full of energy!

hit the thirty-fifth time, the little eunuch who held Zhang Fan on the side pinched Zhang Fan hard, Zhang Fan looked at him suspiciously, and the little eunuch said in an inaudible voice: "Master Zhang, you can bear it, it's really coming later." ”

Zhang Fan listened to his words and really held his breath. There was another scream when the rod came down, but this time it was genuine.

After the last five canes, Zhang Fan felt that he had exhausted the last trace of strength in his body. The five rods are like this, and if the forty rods are solid, I guess I can be reborn again.

"What are you doing in a daze, carry Master Zhang back." Feng Bao commanded.

Zhang Fan entered the palace standing this time and came out lying down. When the two eunuchs sent Zhang Fan home, Zhao almost fainted when he saw Zhang Fan's appearance. Zhang Fan lay there and couldn't move, so he had to hurry up and comfort him. When the two eunuchs left, they left a few bottles of gold sore medicine, and then went back to their lives.

Zhao cried and looked at her son who was lying on the bed and couldn't move, and even she didn't have the strength to move in this fright. Xiangmei was waiting on the side, helping Zhang Fan with medicine, although this was a little shy for her as a big girl, but her concern for Zhang Fan overshadowed this thought. Xue'er was very curious outside the door, but Xiangmei didn't let her into the house, and she was very obedient.