Outside the Zhu Gate of Renshou Palace, a red-robed official was kneeling at the gate.

Perhaps because he had been kneeling for too long, the official's body trembled slightly, but even then he did not dare to be disrespectful in the slightest. This person is none other than Wang Shangshu of the Ministry of Officials.

This is the sixth day he has knelt here.

On the day of Director Lin's accident, Wang Shangshu was visiting friends outside, and when he returned to the Ministry of Officials, he heard that Qian had come in and made trouble in the Ministry of Officials. But he didn't care, Liu Shilang dealt with it well, as long as Director Lin died, even if Qian Jin took the confession, he could also say that Qian Jin was beaten into a move, and maybe he could beat him up. But when he heard that even Chief Cai had cut off the news, he couldn't sit still anymore.

After a little investigation, he already knew that this time Lin and Cai were planted in the hands of Jinyiwei. Huan Hai has been up and down for decades, and he has seen a lot of open and secret battles in the court, but this time the incident is full of strange energy. It's just Qian Jin who is the one he is dealing with, why did he recruit all the Jinyi guards? Could it be that there is something moving there from Your Majesty, but doesn't the Queen Mother care?

Decades of experience in officialdom told him that this time things were not so simple. He immediately instructed Liu Shilang to go to the Zhenfu Division to find out the news, and he went to Renshou Palace to meet the Queen Mother the next day. As a result, I never thought that the Queen Mother would eat a closed door here.

His intention to come has been passed on by Father-in-law Tuohong, and as a result, Father-in-law is gone. Wang Shangshu didn't leave, and if he wanted to go in again, no one helped, so he could only kneel there in a daze.

Now it is a crisp autumn day, although the weather is not so hot, but after kneeling for a long time, Wang Shangshu's originally somewhat dark face has also been sunburned and a little red. It wasn't until the western sky was burning with clouds that Gonggong Hong came out and said, "The Queen Mother has an order to order you to go back first and wait for the will." ”

Wang Shangshu thanked him, and struggled for a while before he got up from the ground and stood firmly, and the pain in his knee was unbearable. Although the Queen Mother has a will, he is even more confused. Go back first? Waiting for the will? Is this to continue to come to Renshou Palace to kneel and wait?

He didn't dare to think too much, so he had to go back first, and that night he invited a doctor to help him heal his knee, and he felt a little better before falling asleep.

The next day, Wang Shangshu continued to go to Renshou Palace to kneel. There was still no news from the Queen Mother, and when the sun set, she asked him to go back first and wait for the will. This was the case for the next four days.

On the afternoon of the fourth day, His Majesty led the two small yellow gates of Gonggong Cai and Gonggong Su to Renshou Palace.

When Wang Shangshu saw that the emperor was coming, he moved his body with difficulty to the side of the palace gate, and kowtowed to the emperor several times in a row. The emperor didn't look at him directly, only paused on the side, and then entered the queen mother's bedroom with a cold snort.

About half an hour later, the emperor came out of the Empress Dowager Zheng's bedroom, and went straight to the imperial study after leaving the palace gate, this time without even snorting.

Just when Wang Shangshu couldn't grasp His Majesty's thoughts, Gonggong Hong finally brought him the news of the Queen Mother's summons. He struggled to get up from the ground, rubbed his red and swollen knees, and staggered towards the Queen Mother's bedchamber. For the first time in decades as an official, he felt that his body was so heavy.

When he saw that cold face, the fatigue and bitterness of the six days of waiting seemed to explode all at once, and the whole person knelt on the ground with a thud, crying sadly: "The queen mother, the old minister is guilty, ......" Before the words were finished, tears flowed down.

Empress Dowager Zheng snorted coldly and scolded: "The first emperor handed over the officials to you to take care of, but how do you know that you raised a nest of rats for the mourning family." ”

Wang Shangshu didn't dare to refute, still a handful of snot and tears.

Empress Dowager Zheng was disgusted when she saw him like this, so she scolded lightly, and the latter hurriedly held back her sobs. Then, Empress Dowager Zheng glanced at the father-in-law who was standing on the side, and the latter immediately invited all the palace maids out of the dormitory, and then gently closed the door.

"Mourning family and ask you, how much benefit did you receive from the second child?" Empress Dowager Zheng asked in a cold voice.

When Wang Shangshu heard this, he felt like a thunderbolt in the clear sky. The second child mentioned by the Queen Mother is the younger brother of Emperor Hongzhi, that is, King Ming. He finally understood why the Queen Mother made him kneel for six days in a row this time.

Although King Ming was a vassal king, he had always coveted the throne. Although Emperor Gaozu had a legacy and ordered all vassal kings not to enter Beijing, King Ming did not change his mind over the years, and he had many contacts with officials in the capital. Not only his ministry, but also many officials in other government offices have eaten his silver.

He couldn't help but smile bitterly, he couldn't imagine that Director Lin had been mediocre all his life, and when he was old, he was stunned to do a "big thing" and put himself in. If it is an ordinary corruption case, the Queen Mother may turn a blind eye. But what King Ming wants is the throne, and as the biological mother of Emperor Renwu, how can she tolerate it.

"Old minister...... He received three hundred taels of silver. Wang Shangshu 1510 confessed: "Five years ago, King Ming died of a concubine, and someone came to me to ask for a sacrificial draft. ”

"Is it really three hundred taels of silver?"

"Nothing else...... But the old minister is not strict, and many of the people below have received the benefits of King Ming, and the old minister also turns a blind eye......"

"Three hundred taels of silver, is it worth it for you to personally come forward to attack a new champion?"

Wang Shangshu saw that his heart was broken, and he hurriedly bowed to the ground, and after a while, he said in a trembling voice: "The people below have received benefits, and there are also ...... who go to the old minister to pay homage."

Empress Dowager Zheng trembled with anger when she heard this, and only said after a while: "You are also old and confused, and the mourning family will not cure your crimes, go back to your hometown and make fun of your grandson." ”

These words were fluttering, but in Wang Shangshu's ears, they were like a slap in the head. He only felt a buzzing in his head, and after being stunned for a while, he landed on the ground with his head, thanked the Queen Mother for not killing, and then walked out of the door step by step. From behind, it looked as if he had aged dozens of years all of a sudden. "The sea has been up and down for 30 years, but once it was the king's grace." Maybe this is what Wang Shangshu thinks at this time.

After Wang Shangshu left, his father-in-law whispered on the side: "Queen Mother, why didn't you kill him?" ”

"Do you think I don't want to? Colluding with the vassal king is a great crime of rebellion. But if he kills him, I'm afraid that King Ming will think that the mourning family is going to have a showdown with him, and now, ...... It's not time yet. After a pause, Empress Dowager Zheng gritted her teeth and said: "The first emperor has always cared about flesh and blood, but the hated King Ming has always been a thief; Now that the first emperor is gone, he still wants to bully the orphans and widows of the mourning family. ”

Seeing that the Queen Mother was angry, the father-in-law hurriedly knelt on the ground.

After a long time, Empress Dowager Zheng breathed a long sigh of relief, and her mood seemed to have calmed down. She glanced at her father-in-law on the ground with a pair of phoenix eyes, and said lightly: "Get up......"

Coaxed his father-in-law to thank him, served tea and handed water to him, but he didn't dare to say anything. When it comes to the emperor's family affairs, he avoids them, how dare he chew the root of his tongue?

Empress Dowager Zheng took a sip of tea and said leisurely: "This time, Qian Jin did a good errand, not only confiscated more than three million taels of silver for the emperor, but also beat King Ming, and also vented a bad breath for the palace. ”

Coaxed the father-in-law to the side and said: "I heard that Qian Shi said that the raiding officials were 'fines', according to the old slave, the word 'fine' is used wonderfully." ”

"Hmph, this monkey is fine. He fined the minister's money and did his errand beautifully, but when he was done, he asked Bengong to wipe his ass for him, but Bengong couldn't hide from it......"

"Forgive the old slave for being stupid ......"

Empress Dowager Zheng sneered and scolded: "You old dog, you can't pretend to be confused in front of the palace." Those officials who were arrested should be let go? Are you a decoration? ”

"According to the Queen Mother's words, this Qian Jin is indeed a treacherous person, but why did Wang Shangshu participate in his capital crime?" Father-in-law finally asked this question that had been lingering in his heart.

"It's complicated, but it's also simple. Qian has only been in the court as an official for a few months, and of course it is not worth the Ming King's shot. But the mourning family heard that Tianzheng Gong was very fond of this grandson. If there is any danger for Qian Jin, Tianzheng Gong will definitely not sit idly by. ”

"Queen Mother, is this King Ming afraid of Tianzheng?"

Empress Dowager Zheng turned her head to stare at Gonggong Hong, and said in a cold voice: "Don't ask more if you shouldn't know, otherwise you won't know what's going on if your head disappears one day." ”

Coaxed my father-in-law so frightened that he hurriedly shut up.

At this time, a slightly hoarse voice sounded outside the house: "The old minister Li Shijian pays a visit to the Queen Mother." ”

When Empress Dowager Zheng heard this familiar voice, her face looked much better. She tidied up her clothes a little, and said to her father-in-law, "Go...... Hurry up and bring the old Shousuke in. ”

Coax the father-in-law to receive the order, when even if he opens the door to welcome the first assistant in, watch the seat, and serve tea.

"I haven't seen it for some days, but the old Shoufu has been reduced." As soon as the Queen Mother met, she asked with concern.

"I'm old, and I can't compare to that year. However, Taicang is full, and the old minister can go back to sleep a few times now. Li Shoufu laughed, brushing his gray beard from time to time.

"Oh? Didn't the old Shoufu say that Qian Jin was investigating and handling the case of selling officials? ”

"Exactly...... The young man is decisive in killing, much better than my old man. However, I, Chen Guo, need such a talent, the old man likes it, so he can't rush to wipe his ass for him. ”

The Queen Mother heard Li Shoufu say such a dirty thing, and couldn't help but smile and said: "The palace is also worried about this, the old Shoufu is here, then the palace will be relieved." ”

Li Shoufu arched his hand and said: "Chen Guo's rules can't be messed up, and if you commit a crime, you can judge how you want." The old minister is ready to immediately inform the Criminal Department, Dali Temple and the Inspectorate to give a triage to the three divisions. This is not to invite the queen mother's decree. ”

"The old shoufu sent someone to hand over a fold, so why don't you have to run it in person."

Li Shoufu smiled, pondered for a moment and said, "Queen Mother, there is a sentence that I don't know whether to say or not?" ”

"You're here to ask for power on Your Majesty's behalf, right? Today he has come to the palace to say goodbye, and the palace also told him that he has done the same thing to investigate the case of selling officials, but this alone is not enough. ”

"It turns out that Your Majesty is more anxious than Lao Chen", Li Shoufu grinned and continued, "What Lao Chen actually wants to say is...... Said to be robbed. Queen Mother, the Mandate of Heaven is originally ethereal and unpredictable, don't let me be a virtuous person because of the nonsense of those gods. ”

The Queen Mother glanced coldly at the coaxing father-in-law next to her, and said in a cold voice: "Next time you go out, chew the root of your tongue, be careful that the palace pulls out your tongue." Then, she turned her head to Shousuke and smiled, "However, old Shousuke is not an outsider. I've known Lao Shousuke for so many years, and I've never heard you look at a person so highly, what's the reason for this? ”

Shoufu got up and arched his hand towards the Queen Mother, and said: "Other old ministers don't say much, Qian Jin is the same age as His Majesty, if it can be reused, it can at least ensure the longevity of Chen Guo's foundation for fifty years." ”

When the Queen Mother heard this, she was so shocked that she got up from her chair.