Sun Jiagan, Shi Yizhi and E Shan were all deep people, and the three of them received the feast in the West Side Hall, and they hardly said a word. Several eunuchs were very attentive, and when they heard a cough, they took a gargle and handed a towel; When he saw the cup, he took the pot and poured wine. They were also deeply disturbed by this, drank three cups to celebrate their birthday, picked up their favorite dishes and took a few bites, and then withdrew from the West Side Hall. Shi Yizhi and Eshan still bowed to the main hall three times in the patio, and then withdrew. Sun Jiagan followed Gao Dayong back to the East Warm Pavilion in the Heart Cultivation Palace.

"Have you had a feast?" Qianlong held the pipe in one hand and wrote Zhu Pi on a fold, pointed to the wooden pestle next to him with one finger, and said without raising his head, "Xigong is exempt from courtesy, sit over there." There are some Tibetans on the Dajinchuan side who are restless. This is Zhang Guangsi's excerpt. Zhang Guangsi has been bored for a while, and now he has to comfort you a few words-I will talk to you after I have finished criticizing. Sun Jiagan had to sit down leaning. I don't know how many times Sun Jiagan has been here, all of them are courteous and talking, and kowtowing after the matter is over. At this time, there is nothing to carefully consider, looking west from the East Warm Pavilion, the bright yellow heavy curtain covers the Western several bookshelves, and the black and blue square bricks on the ground can be identified. There seems to be a corridor aisle to the north of the Xinuan Pavilion, and there are palace maids standing in front of the heavy doors. Occasionally, there are also deacons and palace maids, all wearing flat soft shoes, and their steps are light. The Sumeru seat in the main hall was empty, and there were eight eunuchs standing next to it, all of whom held the dust in their hands and did not squint. Next to the screen of the warm pavilion, there are five personal attendants such as Gao Dayong and Bu Ren and Bu Yi. Looking at this powerful faction, Sun Jiagan only felt that the scholars had been cold for ten years, and the so-called Yutang Golden Horse and the eight living quarters haunting the dream were all turned into dung, which was really exhausting...... was thinking about it, when he heard the rustling of paper, Sun Jiagan was busy looking at it, and saw that Qianlong had finished writing the imperial approval.

Gao Dayong had been staring at it for a long time, and when he saw Qianlong putting pen to paper, he hurriedly stepped forward and said with a smile: "These things are done by slaves, master, you rest." Qianlong said: "The folding documents on this case are usually sorted out by me myself. If you are ordered to do so, you will be organized, and if you are not ordered to do so, you will not be able to move a piece of paper. He looked at Sun Jiagan, and a smile appeared on his face: "From the Han and Tang dynasties to the former Ming Dynasty, how many foolish emperors have suffered the losses of these lowly eunuchs." The Holy Grandfather was born with dragon virtue, and the eunuchs did not dare to be a little presumptuous; Master Shi is always severe, and the villains dare not commit it; I am the master of the inheritance, and if I don't prevent it, I will call them to coax them sooner or later. Therefore, it is necessary to establish rules, and those who speak and interfere with politics will be killed immediately! The twists and turns I watched, no matter whether it was important or not, who dared to watch it privately, pass it on privately, and kill it immediately—Gao Dayong, you can listen! ”

"Yes, yes, yes!" Gao Dayong hurriedly said, "The eunuchs are all cheap even me!" The slave turned around and passed the master's will to the whole palace word for word. ”

Qianlong put away the fifty yarrow and held it in his hand, and said to Gao Dayong: "You come with me." Saying that, he deceived himself and got off the kang and walked towards the main hall, Sun Jiagan didn't know how the emperor was going to move. Qianlong had already paced in front of the screen of the Xinuan Pavilion, and as soon as he let go, he scattered fifty yarrow sticks on the ground. He pointed to the straw sticks scattered all over the ground and said, "This place must be cleaned every day, but after cleaning, the straw sticks should be arranged as they are now." The system I have established is called 'Grass of Rules'. The Qing Dynasty is here for a day, and this grass has been like this for thousands of years! After that, he ignored Gao Dayong, who was stunned there, turned around and took a sip of ** comfortably, and said to Sun Jiagan: "How do I deal with it?" ”

"Your Majesty," Sun Jiagan said with a bow, "The ministers are invited to see you today, and they are not here to defend the false performance." But please ask the emperor to strictly prohibit the palace and alienate the internal prison. This is the first thing that the minister wants to play. The emperor has done so, and the minister's advice is no longer as good as the holy consideration. The minister's heart is really inexplicable! Qianlong pointed to the divination ceremony, ordered Sun Jiagan to give tea, and said, "It seems that you have to say more than this?" "Yes," Sun Jiagan said solemnly, "what the minister wants to say is the emperor's heart!" ”

Qianlong's smile froze on his face, and it took a long time to come back to his senses, slowly put the ** on the table, and said unhurriedly: "I want to hear it!" ”

"The emperor is benevolent, no matter Huang Tong or Bai Suo in the world, everyone knows it, and this superior minister has nothing to say," Sun Jiagan looked at Qianlong quietly. Only at this moment did Qianlong see the iron bones of this old courtier. He changed his solemn appearance and listened intently to Sun Jiagan said, "The emperor's heart is benevolent, filial piety, sincerity, and forgiveness, and he was originally impeccable. But chaos is like yin and yang. The cathode is yang, and the anode is yin. When things are at their peak, there will be chaos lurking, and their opportunities will be hidden in the smallest details, and people will not be able to perceive them, and when they appear, they will be accumulated and cannot be returned, don't you say? ”

Qianlong was afraid that this unsympathetic veteran would expose his shortcomings in front of him and bring out things like Tang'er. Hearing him say this, he suddenly fell into his heart, leaned over and said, "Xigong, go on, say it boldly!" ”

"The minister doesn't want to talk about things. That will only blind the eyes, and you will not see Mount Tai. Sun Jiagan was encouraged, his face turned red, and he said eloquently, "It is the lord's prestige and high prestige, and he has received the heart of the world, and the minister wants to remind His Majesty of three habits and one disadvantage."

"The ears are accustomed to what they hear, and they are happy and evil. The Lord praises the court with a word, and praises the world with a command, and the subjects are indeed from their hearts, but your ears are filled with these holy words all day long, and you are accustomed to hearing them. As long as it is not praised, it will be seen as rebellion, and it will be regarded as wooden, and it will feel stupid. After such a long time, those who praise inappropriately will feel disrespectful.

"When the eye is accustomed to what it sees, it is soft and evil. Every day, Lord, you see you kneeling and prostrating, smiling and flattering. You have been careful since you ascended the pole, and you have rarely made mistakes. The smarter you are, the more stupid you feel below, and the more capable you are, the more you will obey you, which is also a good thing. But after a long time, as long as you don't flatter you, you will feel that it is offending you.

"In the world, it is not surprising when you see too much, and it is a cliché when you do too much. Ask people, you can't hear your own shortcomings; I introspect and find no fault. Be confident that everything you want to do is right; issued an order, confident that it will pass without delay. After a long time, the mind is accustomed to what it is, and it is happy and evil. ”

Qianlong breathed a sigh of relief, obviously, he didn't expect that Sun Jiagan didn't talk about the things in the pseudo-recital on a case-by-case basis, and he didn't seem to be in a hurry to find out who made the pseudo-recital. This kind of admonition does not hurt self-esteem, but also hits the nail on the head. Qianlong couldn't help but think secretly: "Worthy of the famous minister, step by step, it seems to be bland, but in fact it is aggressive." Thinking about it, he smiled and said: "Back then, you advised the emperor about three things, but I didn't see it in person, are you so calm?" This is talking about the 'three habits', but what about the 'one disadvantage'? I'm listening. ”

"Don't dare." Sun Jiagan said solemnly, "When Emperor Xian was admonished, he directly pointed to improper government affairs, and he risked his life to speak, which was naturally a matter of words. The Lord has not made any major mistakes now, and the ministers are just worried about getting something and preventing it from happening. Naturally, it is Kankan - with these 'three habits', it is natural to have a disadvantage, like villains and hate gentlemen. The ministers saw with their own eyes that the emperor abandoned the internal servants to interfere in politics, and all the systems were the way of the saints and the heart of the benevolent monarch. I thought these words were redundant, but the minister was already old, the emperor was prosperous in the Spring and Autumn Period, and he had a future of thousands of miles. Near the gentleman and far away from the villain, even the third and fourth emperors also understand. What emperor doesn't think that he is using a gentleman, but a villain? ”

Qianlong looked at Sun Jiagan in a daze, and sighed: "How can this not be the case! I am most afraid of misusing the villain and wronging the gentleman. But the villain and the gentleman are too difficult to distinguish. ”

"The emperor's heart is connected to the sky, which is the blessing of the society." Sun Jiagan said unhurriedly, "'Virtue' is unique to a gentleman, 'talent' is shared by gentlemen and villains, and villains are often better than gentlemen." The language is played correctly, the gentleman is straightforward, and the villain is flattering, which corresponds to the 'ear practice'; running around, the gentleman is clumsy and the villain is clever, which is in line with the 'eye practice'; the class performance is examined, the gentleman often goes his own way, and is ashamed of his words; the villain is skillful in catering and working in the diligent, which is similar to the 'heart habit'. Over time, black and white can change color, and things can be transposed. Therefore, it is really not easy to say in "University" that 'you can't lift up when you see the virtuous, and you can't retreat when you see the unvirtuous'! From this point of view, the opportunity to control chaos is determined by the advance and retreat of gentlemen and villains; Advance and retreat are in the hands of the mind of the master. The master does not expect respect, but respects himself, and is cautious when there is no fault, and does not dare to be self-righteous. With this self-respecting and self-respecting heart, how can Wang Dao rule not prosper? ”

Qianlong listened as he paced back and forth on the ground. To be honest, Sun Jiagan's words are not very similar to his mood today, and they are obviously a bit empty. But compared with the details of the accusations against himself in the pseudo-recital, some of them are indeed not chasing after the wind. What is this Sun Jiagan really referring to? Thinking about it, Qianlong asked, "The truth you said is very clear, the way of the university is to be close to the people, and it is to stop at the best, and I am very careful." I may think about it trivial, but now I feel that there is a villain, but looking at the ministers, it is difficult to refer to it! "Then I told Sun Jiagan about the strange things that happened recently, as well as what I talked about in Zhang Tingyu's mansion." With so many clues, it's hard to get started. What do you think? ”

"If there is a clue, investigate it openly; If there is no clue, look at it darkly. Sun Jiagan said, "For example, slandering the Holy One in my name; Zhang Guangsi of Shanxi intervened in the military, which almost led to the defeat of the entire army; Be sure to pursue it. If they are not pursued, there will be more and more such things. Things like the Eight Kings discussing politics, the emperor might as well take a look at them. Do you really want to restore the ancestral system, or do you have other plans? There is no chasm that the gentleman and villain can't jump over. Some people have good roots, but they are villains when they get into bad habits. Some people are good at the beginning, but later they become villains. There are also - of course there are very few - such as Guo Xiu, a famous minister of the former dynasty, who was first a corrupt official, and then turned his deeds and became a gentleman. There are no rules for this. Therefore, the minister said, where is the way to control chaos? It's in the emperor's heart! You have your own uprightness, this one is firm, and it is natural to advance the gentleman and retreat from the villain. Deliberately pursuing a gentleman and looking for a villain is the way to get inferior. ”

Qianlong blushed and thought of Tang'er: It is indeed someone else's husband who has made meritorious service outside, and he is behind...... Thinking about it, he couldn't help but sigh, but changed the topic and asked, "You are a Jinshi in the fifty-second year of Kangxi, right?" ”

"Yes."

"Fifty-seven years old?"

Sun Jiagan glanced at Qianlong, and didn't know why he suddenly asked about these, so he hurriedly bowed and replied: "The courtiers have fifty and eight horses' teeth. ”

"You're talking about a false age." Qianlong said with a smile, "Except for Yin Jishan, as far as you are a big man, you are still young." What is the situation of the illness in the previous paragraph, why is it rumored that even your wife said that you became ill due to depression? Sun Jiagan said with a smile: "The minister is not young anymore, in recent years, he has a bad stomach, he doesn't think about eating, and this year it is getting worse and worse." More than half of them were lying in bed. The words of being scared out of the illness were conjectured by my wife herself, and there were too many rumors outside, and it was true that the minister was depressed and depressed. I came to see my master today, and I also want to ask En's permission to return home to recuperate. The minister's body and bones really can't stand it. Qianlong smiled and asked: "Really not for those rumors?" Aren't you at all worried about slander? ”

Sun Jiagan lowered his head and thought about it, and said, "The saint said this, and the minister also thought about it carefully. The minister's fame lies in the fact that the minister made a direct admonition back then, and the minister's reputation may also be defeated by the word 'good name'. In all fairness, when it comes to talent, Chen and Shi Yizhi are similar, which is not surprising, and they are both a bit famous. Now the lord is bright and good, seeing that the world is prosperous, and the minister has the heart to retreat with his full name. From this article it is said that there is a heart of anxiety and fear. ”

"You can't go back. Prepare to wait before me for the rest of your life! Qianlong smiled: "I want to think about it, you still want to be the imperial history of the capital, so I ask you how old you are." This official is not going to do anything, and he writes an excerpt for a few months, and he is very idle; To do things, there are endless things to do all year round. I want you to make a royal history. If the body is bone-topped, do more; If you can't stand it, it's good for you to sit in the Metropolitan Procuratorate to suppress the evil spirits. Now there is an evil spirit in the court, and there is no trace of it, and it is dedicated to slandering the Holy Ancestor, Sejong, and Zhen, and you have seen this falsetto. If I hadn't been upright and unobtrusive, how would I have sent these nonsense things to the six parts in the original text? Slander and bow, I can still swallow it, there are some things now, involving the Holy Ancestor and the First Emperor, if I let go of my hand, it will be difficult to comfort the Holy Ancestor and the spirit of the Emperor in the sky. In me, he is the king of unfilial piety. Therefore, I have already sent this fake matter to Liu Tongxun for investigation. Find out who is the mastermind and cure him for the crime of rebellion! Sun Jiagan said: "Your Majesty, this is the heart of righteousness and the words of Jinshi." This kind of thing, even slander today, is intolerable. The minister is a person who has been the imperial history all his life, and now he is the imperial history of the capital. But please allow the Imperial History to be heard. If not, there can be no cheering. ”

The wind rumor is a system that Kangxi abolished in his later years. At that time, because the princes competed for the storage position, they set up their own doors, and the imperial historians were not guilty of the "wind news", and they also played hearsay and mutual attacks for their masters, which stirred up the words and politics of the imperial court. Kangxi was furious and issued an edict, "Don't rush the rumors." Whoever does not tell the truth will sit back." Since the report was untrue and wanted to sit back, the imperial historians were silent together, making them lifeless. Qianlong listened to the silence and said: "This is a big matter, I will discuss it with the upper study and the military aircraft department before issuing an edict." There is a good side to the news, which can encourage the official to speak boldly, but some people take the opportunity to make waves, fearing that the situation will not be chaotic, or even add notoriety to the monarch's father, and sell his own reputation, which I also hate very much. Can you compromise it, everything that is said and dedicated, and those who are fiercely stated are not guilty, and they must be recorded and evaluated. Those who perfunctory blame or chase after the wind and shadows have no basis will be punished, although they will not sit back. These small things, you can get them in and think about them. When Sun Jiagan saw Qianlong get up, he hurriedly got up to resign. Qianlong pressed his hand weakly and said, "This year, Nanyu Xuezheng wants you and Yin Jishan to pay attention to choosing a few good ones to come to the palace for the test." Shu Hede, the squire of the military department, made a statement, please abolish the text, this matter should also be discussed, and he will send you his original fold when he goes back. ”

"There was an edict when the Holy Ancestor Wen was abolished." Sun Jiagan replied solemnly, "The way of taking scholars for more than three generations is out of learning, after the Han Dynasty, from the county officials, since the Wei and Jin Dynasties, from the Jiupin Zhongzheng, and from the Sui and Tang dynasties to the imperial examination." It has been 400 years since everyone knew that this thing was flashy and useless, neither clear nor adaptable, rotten and plagiarized, and the name was empty. But it cannot be abolished, because no one can think of a better way to get a doctor. This is also a helpless thing. When the minister presided over the Shandong Township Examination, he took "Time Chicken" as the title. There is a show talent who wrote, 'This black chicken, white chicken, or not black and white chicken'? The minister laughed and approved a 'Luhua chicken'. Looking down further, it was a self-set question, 'This rooster, hen, or injustice, not a hen's chicken', and the minister had to criticize the 'gelding'......"

Before he finished speaking, Qianlong laughed so much that he squirted out a mouthful of tea: "Good approval...... I always thought that you would just keep a straight face all day long, but I didn't expect you to be witty! Sun Jiagan sighed: "The minister can only follow reason. The servant has the way of serving the king, the friend has the reason of the friend, and the feeling of waiting for the next time, the minister is telling the truth, and he does not dare to be witty with the master under this golden que. He regained his solemnity.

Qianlong was on the rise, and suddenly listened to Sun Jiagan's words again, and Tan Xing was suddenly washed clean again. He saw the unbreakable city in Sun Jiagan's heart: serving the king, friends, and staying under him all had their own insurmountable norms, and in the face of this self-set norm, he would not take a step forward. Qianlong was in awe, slowly returned to the kang and sat cross-legged, and said: "You killed your mother's enemy at the age of nineteen, entered the forest of secrets at the age of twenty-five, and became a pillar of the country. Do it yourself, you can come in at any time if you have something to do - kneel down! ”

After Sun Jiagan calmly resigned, Qianlong realized that he hadn't eaten dinner yet. Look at the self-striking clock when the time card has been corrected; Only in early summer, the days are long, the sky is still bright, and it is not yet the time to hold the lamp. Gao Dayong saw that Qianlong was full of tiredness, so he hurriedly came over and gently pinched his back and waist for him, and said: "The master is really tired." Just now Lafayette came over to ask, and the slave said that the master was seeing the adult. Lafayette sent a message: Today, I and a few Fujin went to Dajue Temple to make incense, and they were also tired of each other. Tell the master that you don't have to go over today to say goodbye. The minions give you a loose look. …… They came to the dining room and asked the master how to eat. The slave said that the master has not loosened since early times, and may not have a good appetite, and the greasy one is categorically unpalatable, and it can be fragrant with some homely food. According to what the servant said, the imperial dining room boiled a small pot of millet porridge, sesame oil mixed with fresh cucumbers, and old salted mustard greens. If you go in more, the minions will be faithful to this idea......"

"Okay." Qianlong listened to his nagging while "um", and saw a palace maid holding a silver bar plate, in which was a bowl of millet gruel, a small plate of fragrant mustard shreds, a plate of green cucumbers, and four small steamed buns made of stick noodles. There are also fermented bean curd, bean paste hot sauce, and leeks - it is really a village meal often eaten by old farmers. His eyes lit up with joy, and he looked at the tray and said, "Replace this tray with a wooden one!" The palace maid agreed, and in an instant, she changed to a carved plate of boxwood in the primary color. Qianlong moved at this time, and drank two bowls of porridge at once, ate two steamed buns, and sandwiched a spoonful of mustard greens, chewing loudly and crisply in his mouth, and smiled meaningfully: "The eunuch still wants to use Baoding people, and Baoding people will wait!" This meal was delicious, I had never eaten it like this before, and I got a little forgetful. ”

Gao Dayong replied: "What the master is talking about, Jingyouzi, Weizuizi, and the dogs of Baoding Mansion!" At that time, the old lady of Zhang Lao Xiangguo (Zhang Juzheng) went all the way from Huguang to Beijing, and everywhere she went was delicacies from the mountains and seas, chicken, duck and fish. When the old lady went to Beijing to see her son, the first sentence was 'I didn't eat all the way, so I had a full meal in Baoding'. Zhang Lao Xiangguo is a filial son, and immediately passed on the Baoding County Order to make up for the lack of Baoding Mansion - only when a slave can you know how to be a slave, you have to figure it out! ”

"This so-called thief also has a way," Qianlong suddenly remembered what Sun Jiagan said, "three habits and one evil", so he smiled and recited a paragraph of "Liezi": "The person who hides in the room of the husband is also a saint; First, the original also; After coming out, righteousness also; Equally, benevolence is also ......" Gao Dayong blinked his eyes and said ignorantly: "This is all the business of adults, and slaves can't afford to be ......" Qianlong thought about his words, and couldn't help laughing more and more: "Well said...... There are thieves among the adults, too! Let's go, go to the Queen! ”

When Qianlong arrived at Zhongcui Palace, it was already dark, and without waiting for the palace maid to report, Qianlong stepped in with one foot, but he couldn't help but be stunned, it turned out that Niu Hulu and Tang'er were there. The queen sits on the couch and eats**. Niu Hulu stood aside. Tang'er knelt on the side, her eyes swollen with tears and peach-like words. Seeing Qianlong come in suddenly, the three of them were taken aback. Niu Hulu knelt down, Tang'er didn't dare to raise her head, the queen stood up, bent slightly, and said calmly: "Has the emperor seen someone?" ”

"Which one did you guys get here?" Qianlong smiled and said: "It's very busy today, I got up at five watch in the morning until now, and I haven't even had time to change clothes, and my legs are numb...... There are also jokes, Sun Jiagan said today...... "So he recited the two candidates' questions that Sun Jiagan said to the queen." He asked again: "Why did Tang'er come to this palace?" Haven't you seen Galeries Lafayette? Tang'er hurriedly wiped away her tears and said, "The slave maid has asked Lafayette to say goodbye." Today, Lafayette is tired, and he didn't stay in Cining Palace for long, so he came over to say hello to his mother and your lord. Qianlong called out and said, "Fu Heng is not allowed to come back for a while." He presided over the measurement of land in Shanxi and persuaded tenants to reduce their rents. He also quelled the rebellion of the White Lotus Sect and bandits in the area of Heichashan and Jinxi, opened warehouses to help the people, and robbers to appease. The errand was well done. If you want to use what you need at home, just tell your mother, and you will naturally try your best to take care of it. ”

Qianlong said a word, Tang'er agreed, she had a big belly, and it was very inconvenient to move. Qianlong had the heart to ask her and Niu Hulu to sit down, and swallowed back after a while. The queen's heart was bright, and she didn't say anything, and said with a faint smile: "Tang'er, it's getting late, and the emperor is very tired, so you can quit." Don't listen to the gossip out there. Don't I know your character? With me and Niu Hulu in the way, no one dares to help you! You are a man of body, take care. According to what the emperor said, the man is not at home, and you are my mother's family, so naturally I will take care of it. ”

"Yes." Tang'er squatted down and saluted the Fucha clan, flashed a look at Qianlong without resentment, and went out behind Niu Hulu's clan. Qianlong watched them go out, turned his face and asked the queen: "You seem to be muttering something, you didn't say anything when you saw me coming, what's wrong?" ”

The queen gave Qianlong a bowl of ginseng soup and ordered Qin Meimei: "Tell them all to quit!" Only then did he calmly say: "Isn't it for those rumors outside?" Ye Tai is a can't speak, and he made trouble in front of Lafayette. I just called Prince Yi Fujin over and asked her to go to Fu Heng's Mansion in person to make amends to Tang'er. I said that this is my decree, if I don't obey the decree, our concubine's affection will be gone, and the status of the monarch and minister will also be gone, and she will never be allowed to enter the palace. There is also a concubine, fighting cards at Lafayette, you say something to me with thorns, sarcastic Tang'er. It made Lafayette scratch his head. I also sent her down, told her to think about it behind closed doors, and not to leave her palace gate for three months. I want to demote her, but you have to make a will. After that, he took a long breath of depression, looked at Qianlong with a blank expression and said nothing.

"I know what you're talking about." Qianlong blushed, took a sip of ginseng soup and said, "I won't tell you anything, what Tang'er has in her belly is my blood and bones." This matter was brought here and silenced. The concubine was reduced to a concubine and told her that disaster comes from the mouth, and blessing comes from the heart. I'm going to take care of this idea to the end. The queen sighed and said, "You can bear it, can Tang'er?" As he spoke, he rubbed his clothes and lowered his head.

Qianlong looked at her under the lamp, and saw her coquettish and angry. The queen's complexion was not reduced by Niu Hulu's family, but her body was noble and solemn on weekdays, but at this moment, her expression was so hooked that Qianlong was a horse's heart, and she couldn't help but step forward and hug the queen's shoulders and said: "I can save it, I understand what you want to advise." Isn't it just a change from now on? So saying, he was going to pull her down and lie down.

"Moxiang!" The queen gently broke away from him, rushed out of the door and ordered, "Wait for the emperor to rest in peace." Light incense, and I will rest after reciting this sutra! ”

Qianlong let go of his hand in a daze, and was immediately swept away with tenderness.