Taiping Fang, Jian House.

Gu Zuo was led into the main courtyard by Sun Xu, the housekeeper of the house, and saw that under the eaves of the upside-down house, there were still rows of officials waiting to be seen.

He couldn't help but ask, "Lord Shangshu, this day is really a great opportunity!" ”

Sun Xu, the housekeeper of Jian Mansion, said disapprerovitically: "Since the early years of Yongle, my lord was promoted to the secretary of the ministry, and there has not been a moment of peace in this family. ”

When those people saw Gu Zuo, who had just been promoted to the secretary of the Criminal Department, they all stood up and saluted.

Gu Zuo waved a circle as a return salute, and then followed Sun Xu and walked to the study of the mansion.

The ancient Chinese ritual is the most elegant etiquette. Just the movement of the palm, the angle of bowing, and the movement of the head can derive countless meanings.

No etiquette can be like a salute, which can be between elders and juniors, juniors and elders, and many people against one person, and one person against many people.

With just a simple salute, you can bow to dozens of people at once, which is something that no etiquette can do.

Moreover, it is also clean and hygienic.

At the door of the study, Jian Yi shook his head to the end, and laughed softly: "Liqing is here, and I can't help but be overjoyed." ”

Jian Yi's original name was Jian Ying, the word Yizhi, and the name Yi was given by Zhu Yuanzhang.

Although Gu Zuo's current level is the same as Jian Yi's, he is a Zhengyin Shangshu, but Jian Yi has been a secretary of the Ministry since the early years of Yongle, commanding hundreds of officials.

He was only promoted from Ying Tianfu Yin to the secretary of the Criminal Department some time ago, and the Criminal Department is not as good as the Ministry of Officials, and he is twenty years younger than Jian Yi, where can he dare to hold it up.

He hurriedly responded: "Brother Yizhi is polite." Zuo is a latecomer, and he doesn't dare to be a good brother's gift. ”

Jian Yi was still very satisfied with Gu Zuo's attitude, and he returned a half-salute before introducing Gu Zuo into the study.

In the past few days, in response to the unpredictable situation in Tianfu, it was revealed from the emperor that the prince would go to Jiayuguan, which was like a drop of clear water falling into a boiling oil pot, triggering a huge reaction among the ministers.

Although most of the Wenchen did not make any moves, it was just because they knew very well that they would definitely not be able to please the emperor.

What's more, they all have functions now, and no matter who is in charge of the country, it will not affect them much.

The only ones who really dance are those who don't have a formal job.

Eastern palace officials like Yang Shiqi and Yang Pu, their fates are tied to the crown prince, and the ones who are most affected are their gang.

But Jian Yi was originally the head of the hundred officials, as well as Xia Yuanji, Lu Zhen and others, who were already extremely popular ministers, but they didn't care who was in charge of the country.

Whether it is the prince supervising the country or the grandson supervising the country, they are always needed to do things.

And a few days ago, Gu Zuo was quickly promoted to the secretary of the Criminal Department, and Jian Yi knew that this Gu Zuo was definitely a grandson.

It's not uncommon for him to fall in love with the grandson, if he wants to take refuge in the grandson, the grandson will definitely welcome him. Gu Zuo can see his position clearly, and he is not proud of it, so it is not in vain for him to sign the appointment order.

The two sat down in the study, Gu Zuo knew that Jian Yi was busy with affairs, and he had to receive so many officials at home, so he made a long story short. "His Royal Highness Zomon favors him, and now he is in charge of the affairs of the Criminal Department. But Zuo has been working in the small pond of Yingtianfu before, so naturally he doesn't have the vision and mind of Brother Yizhi. In the past few days, the Criminal Department has arrested more than a dozen bachelors and dozens of prisoners at once, how to deal with this, I hope that Brother Yi will be able to teach. ”

Jian Yi arched his hand in the direction of the palace and said, "Thunder and rain and dew, it's all Jun'en." You and I are of course extremely human ministers, but everything should be based on Your Majesty's wishes. ”

Gu Zuo shook his head and said, "Your Majesty is furious because of the death admonition, and you want Zuo to be strict and serious. But His Royal Highness thinks that this situation is excusable, and let Zuo be lenient and relaxed. Zuo is in a dilemma, so he can only ask Brother Yi for advice. ”

Jian Yi smiled and asked, "How is the situation with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?" ”

Gu Zuo didn't hide it at all, and replied: "Zuo just came back from the East Palace, and after His Royal Highness the Crown Prince vomited blood for the second time, he has been unconscious for the past few days. However, this coma is also in line with the theory of recuperation, and recovery is just around the corner. ”

Jian Yi nodded and said: "The emperor is going to go on an expedition, and in the future, it mainly depends on how His Royal Highness the Taisun wants to govern!" ”

Jian Yi is an old politician, and of course he will not express his meaning directly. He knew very well that Gu Zuo was Zhu Zhanji's person, so it was very important to deliberately point out Zhu Zhanji's opinion, which also indirectly showed that he supported leniency and leniency in dealing with these prisoners and scholars.

However, he is speaking from Gu Zuo's point of view, and it is not necessarily his true thoughts.

But Gu Zuo was still very grateful, and said sincerely: "Zuo is favored by His Royal Highness, and now he is honored as the secretary of the Criminal Department, and he should have repaid him with his broken bones." But His Highness is young after all, and some of his thoughts are afraid that his Majesty will not be in line with his wishes. As courtiers, we should relieve His Majesty and His Highness of their worries, not add to their conflicts. ”

Jian Yi said with a smile: "Your Majesty is a man of destiny, his opposition is not necessarily opposition, and his approval is not necessarily approval!" ”

That's, and it doesn't work at all.

Gu Zuo said dryly: "Brother Yizhi, you are a pillar of the imperial court, and today Zuo just wants to find a good idea from you." Try to deal with these prisoners as leniently, and don't let them be blinded for a while, and lose their future for a lifetime. ”

This time, Jian Yi is not good to deal with the scene anymore. He pondered for a while and said, "It's better to delay for a while on the grounds of verification." Your Majesty is now bent on the westward expedition, if Your Majesty travels far away, how to deal with this is up to His Highness. ”

Gu Zuo clenched his fists again and said: "Brother Yizhi knows that His Royal Highness ordered Jinyiwei and the Criminal Department to go to Ningbo to raid the family business of the six major grain merchants?" ”

"I have heard that this Confucianism messes with the law, chivalry uses martial arts to ban, and commerce uses silver to mess with the country. Such an illegal profiteer should be severely punished. ”

"There are two of them that are collateral ...... of the Confucius family in Shandong."

Jian Yi didn't know this, and he asked in surprise, "Is that really the case?" ”

Gu Zuo nodded and said, "It's true! On the one hand, His Royal Highness kept an estrangement from the literati, and on the other hand, he protected him, but now he was going to do something to the Confucian family, so Zuo really didn't understand His Highness's intentions. ”

Jian Yi was also a little uncertain at this time, he frowned and thought for a while before saying: "Liqing has a close relationship with His Royal Highness, have you heard him say a word?" ”

Gu Zuo pretended to be deep and said, "Your Highness said that the master is the master, the Kong family is the Kong family, and the branch is the branch. In my opinion, I am afraid that it is not to be treated differently. ”

His eyes were fixed on Jianyi's face, hoping to see some clues from Jianyi's face. But Jian Yi was scheming, and there was no emotion on his face.

"His Royal Highness is young, but he is also old, and treating him differently is a mature concept of governance. I was worried that His Highness was biased, but now I don't have to worry. ”

After all, the two are not close, and Gu Zuo came to visit today just to sell Jian Yi a good one. But Jian Yi was moved in the slightest, and he looked like a duke.

The two of you went back and forth, but they didn't say their opinions on how to deal with this group of prisoners.

Subsequently, Gu Zuo said goodbye, and Jian Yi personally sent him to the gate of the courtyard before stopping.

Jian Yi felt that the purpose of Gu Zuo's trip was unclear. He seems to have come for the fate of the prisoners, but he did not have that heartfelt concern for the fate of the prisoners all along.

Gu Zuo got into the carriage and lifted the curtains. "Brother Yi, I took the liberty to come here today and benefited a lot, thank you Brother Yi for relieving my worries."

"Well said, well said."

Watching the carriage leave, Jian Yi was suddenly shocked, and suddenly understood Gu Zuo's intention today.

He didn't come today for those prisoners, nor for the merchants of the Kong family, but just to let him know the mind of His Royal Highness Taisun.

At today's meeting, he said that although it was all other things, through these things, he had already clearly expressed Zhu Zhanji's attitude.

Gu Zuo has the ability, otherwise, he would not have been Ying Tianfu Yin for eight years, and people can't find fault with him.

He can follow Taisun with all his heart, and today he revealed to him Taisun's true intentions, which is to point out that Taisun should not be underestimated, so that he should not act too disobediently to Taisun in the future!

He hurriedly stretched out his hand to summon the guards, and commanded in a low voice: "You send someone to follow the carriage to see where Gu Shangshu went next, and then come to report quickly." ”

Jian Yi received two more groups of guests, and the guards came back to report. "My lord, Gu Shangshu went to Xia Shangshu Mansion first, stayed in Xia Shangshu Mansion for two incense sticks, and then went to Lu Shangshu Mansion after coming out."

"Got it."

Jian Yi completely understood, Gu Zuo came here today not to ask questions, but to explain Zhu Zhanji's attitude to them.

This grandson is really unusual, no wonder the prince family has no power to fight back at all.

Bachelor Street, Yang House.

In the past few days, Yang Shiqi, the owner of the Yang Mansion, has been in a bad mood, and even the atmosphere in the mansion has become extremely depressed.

The second son was a little better when he was at home, he was not at home, and he didn't even have a person who spoke loudly.

said that they all know that now that the prince's life and death are undecided, their Yang Mansion completely relies on the prince, and their fate is uncertain.

Yang Shiqi has been running all his life in order to follow the prince to realize his life ambitions, but his ambition is unfinished and now he is about to wither.

He used to drink very little, let alone drink during the day. But in the past few days, in addition to going to James's Mansion every morning, after coming back, I hid in the study to read and drink, which made me look particularly depressed.

The prince's life and death are undecided, he has no spare strength, but he has nowhere to vent, and he doesn't even dare to make a small move.

If the crown prince dies like this, the more he does, the more wrong he will be.

This kind of grievance has not been tasted by him for more than ten years.

Moreover, the originally boiling James Mansion, the Hanlin Academy, including the Guozijian, have also become calm because of the uncertainty of the prince's life and death.

They want to fight, they want to get ahead, everything is based on the crown prince.

If the crown prince is gone, everything they do will mean nothing.

At this time, Zhu Gaochi, who had been in a coma for four days, finally woke up.

The news of his waking up was deliberately spread by Zhu Di as soon as possible, and to be honest, he was also relieved in his heart.

He didn't care about Zhu Gaochi's body, but if Zhu Gaochi died at this time, his great cause of the western expedition would have to be delayed again.

He is a father, of course, he does not have to be filial piety for the prince. But if he ignores the fact that the crown prince has just died, he will go on an expedition, and those literati will write him as a ruthless and unrighteous person.

He breathed a sigh of relief, and so did Zhu Zhanji. As long as he does not affect Zhu Di's great cause of the Western Expedition, he will bring some minor troubles, and Zhu Zhanji is not afraid at all.

It's a big deal that the water comes to cover the earth, and the soldiers come to block it. He is not worried about a healthy Zhu Gaochi, let alone a seriously ill Zhu Gaochi.

As for the literati under him, they are just useless scholars.

In the Wenhua Palace, Zhu Gaochi's eyes looked at his son, and he was disappointed.

Vomiting blood twice in a row, he could feel that his body could not support the huge empire of the Ming Dynasty at all.

Thinking that forty years of expectations have come to naught, if he is not lost, he will be a saint.

"Because of my business, dozens of prisoners and more than a dozen ministers were arrested?"

Zhu Zhanji nodded and said calmly: "Father, don't worry, I have already asked the Criminal Department to take care of them, and I won't let them be tortured." ”

"Can I put it...... Let's just let it go......" Zhu Gaochi felt it from his heart for a while, and couldn't help choking. "Why bother to implicate so many innocent-hearted prisoners and ministers for my own sake."

Zhu Di, who got the news, walked to the door of the main hall and did not let people spread it, but stood at the door of the main hall, listening to the conversation between his son and grandson inside.

Zhu Zhanji said softly: "Father, please rest assured, the children will invite the emperor's grandfather tomorrow, and let them go." Don't worry about others, but take care of your health. ”

Zhu Gaochi was silent for a long time, Zhu Di was a little impatient, and when he was about to go in, he heard Zhu Gaochi say again: "Zhanji, you have always done better than your father, and my father insists on handing over this Ming into your hands, which is more suitable than me." Just ......"

Zhu Gaochi coughed twice more before he said, "You give me Tangchi Farm, I want to live in Tangchi for some time in the future." Even if you have a lot of pride, if you don't have a good body, you can't see you bring Daming to glory. ”

Hearing him say this, not only Zhu Zhanji was surprised, but even Zhu Di, who was standing outside the hall, was extremely surprised. But thinking about his weak character, Zhu Di was relieved again.

This can be said to be the best result, a weak and gentle prince can't bear the heavy responsibility of Daming, but after all, he is his own son and the father of his grandson.

This is a good son who has never had the slightest bad thoughts, he has never been sorry for anyone, he only thinks about others.

He stopped listening, got up and walked into the main hall and said, "Da Lang, you can recuperate with peace of mind, and when you recover, you will come out to do things." ”

Zhu Gaochi looked at Zhu Di who walked in, his eyes flashed with a burst of pain and unwillingness, but he quickly calmed down again.

"Father, the child has already figured it out. The soup pond has a beautiful environment and a pleasant climate, which is suitable for children to recuperate. All the courtiers in my James's Mansion are learned men, and in the future, we will compile and write books in the soup pool, and we will also enjoy ourselves. ”

Zhu Zhanji noticed Zhu Gaochi's eyes, but he was not worried. Zhu Gaochi didn't want to go to the northwest, so he didn't go. Just counting on the group of civil servants under him, they can't turn the sky.

However, he also underestimated Zhu Di's bearing and his own mind, at first they were ready to let him go to the northwest, just to prevent him from affecting Zhu Zhanji's imprisonment.

There is no need for him to retreat at all, go to the soup pool to compile books, even if he stays in the palace, what does it matter!

Zhu Gaochi woke up, Zhu Di and Zhu Zhanji breathed a sigh of relief, and his concubines felt like they had escaped death again.

Zhu Zhanji thought of the current funeral system again, and felt more and more that this system was inhumane.

However, now is by no means the best time to bring up changes to such a system. After two years, when Zhu Di returns victorious, he will be able to control the situation in Daming again, and this time is the best.

He looked at the sky and said to Liu Wan: "Go and call Yang Zhangde to see me." ”

In the past few days, Zhu Gaochi has been in a coma, so that he is not easy to meet with foreign ministers, and he has become almost deaf.

He doesn't worry about others now, but he is afraid that the Han King will not die.

It's getting dark, and tomorrow is the big court meeting on the fifth day of the second lunar month, even if there are any changes outside, I can't take care of it now.

However, King Han has lost power, if he really doesn't die, Zhu Zhanji doesn't mind digging a big pit and burying him in it.

Yang Zhangde has met with Zhu Di a few times in the past few days, but Zhu Zhanji has to wait for the prince and has no chance to see him.

Liu Wan just went to the front hall to talk to the Han general of Jinyiwei, and after a while, Yang Zhangde quickly came to Donghua Gate.

In the Department of Counseling, Yang Zhangde carefully recounted the arrest experience in the past few days, and finally concluded: "Those scholars are all very powerful, and they are scared when they see knives and guns, and they have to pee their pants one by one. The minister has arrested dozens of people in the past few days, and none of them are hard-hearted, so there is no need to worry about them at all. ”

Zhu Zhanji nodded and asked, "Is the Han Palace's Mansion still calm these days?" ”

Yang Zhangde's face showed a trace of doubt, and said: "The Han Wangfu has been closed for the past few days, and the minister has heard a news in the past few days, and he doesn't know if it's true or not......

"Let's talk about ......"

"According to the secret agent report of the Jinyi Wei Han Palace, the King of Han has handed a post to His Majesty in the past few days, wanting to go west with His Majesty."

Zhu Zhanji paused for a moment, then groaned again and said, "The post was handed over?" ”

Yang Zhangde nodded. "It's just that the minister didn't find out what King Han wrote."

Now that the post has been delivered, there should be news from the cabinet and the celebrant supervisor, and ask Wang Yan in a while to know what King Han wants to do.

"Okay, you don't have to worry about it. In the past few days, I have stepped up the monitoring of all the nobles, and I still don't know that those nobles have secretly taken refuge in my father, which makes it difficult for me to sleep. ”

Zhu Zhanji is not afraid of the enemies on the surface, but he is afraid of those enemies in the secret. If he surrenders to himself and secretly falls to the prince, it will have an impact on him.

Yang Zhangde was about to go, but Zhu Zhanji suddenly remembered to ask him. "Is there any news from Shandong?"

"It's only been less than half a month, and there is no news yet. Do you want to send someone to urge you? ”

"No need. The overall situation has been grasped, and individual details cannot affect the situation. ”

After Yang Zhangde left, Zhu Zhanji quickly got the news from Wang Yan that King Han did hand over a post to Zhu Di.

However, he did not expect to lead the Northern Route Army alone, but applied to Zhu Di to go on the expedition with the army, and applied to Zhu Di for a few boats, wanting to go to Xizhou during the Western Expedition.

As long as he is not watching military power, Zhu Zhanji will not care. He applied to follow the Southern Route Army. If he dared to look at the power of the Northern Route Army, Zhu Zhanji would definitely not let him go.

Li Liang reminded softly: "Your Highness, it seems that the King of Han has made up his mind to go to sea now. He wants to join the army, but I'm afraid he is also afraid of His Highness. ”

Zhu Zhanji immediately understood, he was guarding against King Han here, but King Han was even more afraid of him.

Now Zhu Gaochi, who is most concerned about brotherhood, is critically ill, and Zhu Zhanji is in charge of the country. If he took advantage of Zhu Di's expedition to the west and directly found an excuse to destroy Zhu Gaoxu's family, he would have been wronged.

So now that Zhu Gaochi is critically ill and Zhu Di wants to go west, he doesn't dare to stay in China.

Zhu Zhanji couldn't help laughing, he couldn't help but spend the belly of a gentleman too much with the heart of a villain!

In this way, I don't have to worry about him at all.

However, there is also a King Zhao, which makes him a little dilemma.

In recent years, Zhao Wang Zhu Gaosui has been very obedient, but while he is obedient, his greed has also increased greatly. It's not enough to follow the inner prison to make easy money, and it's even more difficult to learn to take it by force.

He is now in a lot of trouble, and although it is easy to deal with, it has ruined the credibility of the imperial court.

Such a person is a rat poop that spoils a pot of soup.

However, he is his own uncle, and Zhu Zhanji is not good at targeting him directly.

It's better to wait for Zhu Di to leave, and then find a way to treat him, and let him know that not all the money can be earned.

returned to Xingqing Palace from the Counseling Division, but happened to meet Zhang Guifei who was about to leave.

Just as soon as he saw that it was dark and had not left, and he was still left to eat, Zhu Zhanji knew that Zhang Guifei was deliberately looking for him.

She is the first person in the name of the harem, and she has grown up for two generations. Whether it is Sun Xian, Hu Liangdi, or Lan Liangdi, they have to serve carefully.

She didn't come this time to spread the word to Zhang Fu, but for her other two brothers, Zhang Hui and Zhang Xuan.

Zhang Hui is now the commander of the Shen Cewei, but his position is nominal and has no authority.

Because the Zhang family wants to tie the feudal domain, most of the members of their family are now just idle.

There is also Zhang Xuan, who is now named as the commander of the Jinyi Guard, but in fact, he only receives an extra portion.

But since the Zhang family wants to seal the feudal domain, they also have to prepare for the future, so now that Zhang Fu is stationed in the capital, both of them want to follow the army to the battle.

This is just a trivial matter, even if Zhang Guifei doesn't talk about it, Zhu Di is afraid that he will directly bring them to the experience.

So Zhu Zhanji directly agreed.

But when she was leaving, Concubine Zhang Guifei said softly: "Your Majesty woke up in a dream last night, I don't know what nightmare I had, I trembled, and I drew my sword and killed a palace maid. ”

Zhu Zhanji knew that she was worried about Zhu Di's body, but with historical experience, Zhu Zhanji knew that Zhu Di had at least three more years to live.

He just smiled, nodded, and didn't answer.

In his previous life, there were twenty-two years of Yongle, and in this life, Zhu Di was even more high-spirited, if he didn't defeat Timur, I'm afraid he wouldn't die so early.

As long as he is given two years, he will have the confidence to control the entire court situation, and no matter what happens at that time, he will be able to deal with it calmly.

Now, we just have to wait for tomorrow's big court.

(Sorry, it's late today, try to be early tomorrow)