Chapter 209

There was a dead silence in the hall, sweat beads were dripping from Zhengde's forehead, looking at the dozens of Wenchen who were kneeling with His Royal Highness, as well as Liu Jin and others with earthy faces, he really didn't know how to make a decision; For the first time, in the face of the collective attack of civil officials, the fifteen-year-old young emperor felt quite powerless.

"The matter...... I think this matter still needs to be considered, you think that Liu Jin and others are extremely evil, but I think it is still necessary...... It still needs to be checked, at least ...... At the very least, there must be real evidence. Zhengde raised his sleeve to wipe the sweat beads on his face and stammered.

"Your Majesty, what more evidence do you need? It has been clearly written on the ministers' recitals, these events are true, how can the emperor be soft-hearted to the ministers? Please ask the emperor to make a quick decision. Hubu Shangshu Hanwen said in a deep voice.

Zhengde made up his mind, no one in the palace today can make an idea for himself, and he can also ask Liu Jin's opinion when he encounters something on weekdays, and sometimes he also summons Song Nan into the palace to ask him, but one of these two people is the person concerned, and the other is not in the palace, and there is really no one to ask for a while.

Zhang Mao, Xu Guangzuo and other relatives can certainly ask, but the result is inevitably that they can't ask why, most of them are perfunctory in the sentence 'please ask the emperor to judge', after all, the nobles have always been in a transcendent position in the affairs of the inner and outer courts, and they never intervene easily.

"I still feel that the punishment for executing Liu Jin and others is too heavy, and Liu Jin and others have already repented, Li Dongyang, I think it is how about sending Liu Jin and others out of the palace and assigning them to Nanjing as the master of ceremonies? He has been punished and turned away from me, what do you think? ”

Li Dongyang was a little unbearable when he saw Zhengde's embarrassed appearance, after all, it was the emperor in front of him, and his gang were courtiers, and today's move was to force Zhengde to comply in the name of impeaching Liu Jin and others. Everyone knows that although Nanjing has six departments, ceremonial supervisors, and metropolitan procuratorates, it seems to have the same team as Beijing, but in fact it is a nursing home for officials and frustrated officials, and the officials and eunuchs who go to Nanjing basically have no day to turn over.

Li Dongyang looked at Xie Qian and Liu Jian beside him, but Xie Qian and Liu Jian pursed their lips and shook their heads, looking at Han Wen, Han Wen also looked like he refused to give up, knowing that these people refused to stop, so he had to say: "Your Majesty, the responsibility for assigning Nanjing is too light, and the old minister can't agree. ”

Xie Qian, Liu Jian and others echoed: "If Liu Jin and the others are not removed, it will be difficult for the ministers to calm down and the society to be stable, please make a decision quickly." ”

A wave of anger rose in Zhengde's heart, he had promised to punish Liu Jin and others, these guys still didn't give up, it was really hateful, his face became very ugly, and he fixed his mind: "This matter is related to the stability of the inner court, since your lordships and I have some different ideas, let me retreat to think about it, and make a decision tomorrow morning; My head is a little dizzy, and this is the end of this morning. ”

Zhengde played the trick of procrastination again, how could Li Dongyang and others not know, although they tried their best to dissuade them, but Zhengde insisted on retreating from the court, and they could only watch Zhengde go out of the hall with Xiao Jing's support, and their faces were blue with anger.

Li Dongyang quickly summoned all the civil officials involved in the matter to the nearest cabinet to discuss countermeasures, and all the civil officials were full of anger and anger, and they almost scolded their mothers.

Li Dongyang shook his head and said: "Everyone, the emperor is obviously unwilling to kill Liu Jin and the others, or we can stop in moderation, and agree to the emperor's suggestion to drive the Eight Tigers out of the capital and send them to Nanjing?" In this way, it basically achieved the goal of restoring order to the inner court. ”

Han Wen said in a loud voice: "Elder Li Ge, how can you give up halfway like this? The emperor has been bewitched by Liu Jin and others for a long time, so he is naturally a little hesitant, since we have come to this point, and let Liu Jin go to Nanjing to have a good time, are you so sure that the emperor will not think of Liu Jin one day and summon him to Beijing? ”

Xie Qian stroked his beard and said, "Yes, Gong Li, you are good at everything, you teach us everything to admire, but your heart is too soft." Eliminate the evil, this time we can't take Liu Jin, the cabinet and the foreign court will lose face, the emperor will also bargain for such things, how will we act in the future? Didn't Liu Jin laugh off his big teeth? ”

All the civil officials shouted together: "Yes, we can't stop here, we must kill Liu Jin and punish his henchmen, let the emperor correct his behavior, and follow the sage of the emperor, this is the duty of my civil ministers, otherwise what is the use of me?" ”

Li Dongyang's thin face was sad, and he waved his hand and said, "Don't make any noise, the old man only asks, if the emperor insists on refusing, what should I do next?" ”

Everyone was silent, looking at Xie Qian, Liu Jian, Han Wen and other principals, Liu Jian said slowly: "If the emperor is obsessed, we can only die as courtiers, and the old man will be the first to submit his resignation, since the emperor does not listen to our courtiers, what is the use of us staying?" ”

Han Wen nodded and said, "Yes, this official also submits his resignation." ”

Xie Qian said: "The old man agrees, what does Gong Li think?" If the emperor insists on not listening, we will collectively resign and return to the old, as a minister of the Ming Dynasty, can not clear the ministers, and assist the monarch to the right way, what is the use of staying? ”

All the civil officials nodded their heads and said that they wanted to follow in the footsteps of the cabinet bosses; Everyone understands in their hearts that the resignation is fake, and it is true to force the emperor to submit, this time it is a narrow road to meet the brave to win, and this battle must be won, as long as the emperor bows his head, the outer court will be above the hundred officials in the future, and the civil officials will completely become the mainstream of the court.

Li Dongyang sighed slightly in his heart, his heart was very sober, and these people in front of him were already a little overkill, but at this time, saying anything could not calm down their feverish minds, on the contrary, it would lead to attack, so they could only close their eyes and rush forward.

……

Song Nansi entered the palace at a moment, deliberately passed by the Fengtian Temple to take a look, and found that the Fengtian Temple was empty, the early dynasty had long since dispersed, and on the empty square, several officials were talking about something sneakily together.

Song Nan didn't want to inquire, so he went straight to the Qianqing Palace, and when he entered the palace gate, he saw Qiu Ju sitting under the corridor and looking anxiously, although he was still dressed as a black overseer, his face was as white as paper, and his face was covered with clouds.

Qiu Ju saw Song Nan at a glance, and hurriedly greeted him like a savior: "Lord Song, you are here, Gonggong Liu is in a hurry." ”

Song Nan said: "Did you launch it to the officials earlier?" ”

Qiu Ju said as he walked: "It's very fierce, Gonggong Liu and we will ask for the guilt first according to your method, but those old guys insist on cutting off our heads, the emperor seems to be a little tempted, and Gonggong Liu is very anxious." ”

Song Nan nodded, followed Qiu Ju to a public room in the side hall, lifted the curtain and entered, but seeing that the house was lifeless, Liu Jin and the others sat in the house one by one like clay wood carvings.

Liu Jin saw Song Nan and quickly stood up and said anxiously: "Lord Song, what should I do now?" Your plan doesn't seem to be working. ”

Song Nan frowned, and the first sentence was to complain, which Liu Jin seemed to be panicked.

"Don't panic, tell me the situation in your palace first."

Liu Jin hurriedly said everything that happened in the morning, and then said: "Although the emperor has the intention of protecting him, but the old guys seem to be iron-hearted, just now we wanted to go to the emperor to intercede, but the emperor didn't see us, does this mean that the emperor intends to give up my life to settle this matter?" ”

Song Nan looked at the pale and frightened faces in front of him, and sighed secretly in his heart, sure enough, the bigwigs in the inner court seemed to be beautiful, but the power came from the emperor's grant, once they lost this support, they were like lost dogs, slaughtered by others without the power to resist.

"Where is the emperor? I'm going to see the emperor. ”

"The emperor is in the back garden, Princess Kangning is here, talking to the emperor." Liu Jin said busily.

"Princess Corning?" It was the first time Song Nan had heard this name.

"Yes, it's the emperor's sister, she lives in the Queen Mother of Cining Palace on weekdays, and she doesn't come out much, and the matter is too big in the morning today, I'm afraid the Queen Mother sent her to ask about the situation."

Song Nan nodded and said: "I'm going to see the emperor, you don't have to be alarmed, the matter is far from being out of control, at least the emperor didn't agree to the palace, it means to protect you, what should you do, don't delay the errand, wait for my news." ”

Liu Jin sighed: "How can we have the heart to do errands, and our heads will be lost." ”

Song Nan said: "Then you can stay here, I'll go." ”

Under the guidance of the little eunuch, Song Nan walked through the main hall and house, and came to the back hall garden after a few corridors. ”

Song Nan dressed up and walked into the garden, the autumn sun was dazzling, the flowers and trees on both sides of the road were luxuriant, and the golden chrysanthemum was fragrant, but Song Nan had no intention of appreciating it, and turned left and right along the bluestone road, and saw several officials with knives wandering on the side of the rockery in front, and knew that the emperor of the road was set in front.

Zhengde was sitting on the grass under the pavilion, talking to a woman in palace clothes, Song Nan saluted from afar: "Minister Song Nan see the emperor." ”

Zhengde turned his head, a smile appeared on his face, and beckoned: "Song Nan, you came just in time, come and talk." ”

Song Nan nodded in agreement, walked over on the grass, glanced at the woman in the palace costume, but found that the woman was looking at herself with a pair of clear eyes, the two looked at each other, Song Nan quickly lowered his head and didn't dare to look at it again, thinking: I'm afraid this is Zhengde's sister Princess Kangning, it turns out that Zhengde still has such a peugeot sister hiding in the palace, and she has come and gone so much, but it is the first time she has seen it.

Zhengde warmly beckoned Song Nan to sit beside him, and Princess Kangning said softly: "The emperor and Lord Song have something to discuss, and the palace will retire." ”

Zhengde hurriedly said: "Sister Huang doesn't have to retreat, I and Song Nan are good friends." ”

Princess Kangning smiled and said, "Nonsense." ”

Zhengde smiled and said to Song Nan: "This is my imperial sister, Princess Kangning, I'm afraid Song Nan hasn't seen it." ”

Song Nan hurriedly saluted: "I've seen the princess." ”

Princess Kang Ning actually returned the salute and said, "Lord Song doesn't have to be formal, although Lord Song has never seen Kang Ning, but Kang Ning has heard the name of Lord Song for a long time. ”

Song Nan was stunned, didn't know how to respond, Zhengde smiled: "Yes, yes, Song Nan, you still don't know the way, the imperial sister's tennis is very good, I am not an opponent, another day you and the imperial sister have a competition, I guess you are not an opponent either." ”

Song Nan suddenly realized, it turned out that Kang Ning, who had taught Zhengde, had also learned some of the things he had taught Zhengde, no wonder it had been famous for a long time, and that's all.

"Don't talk nonsense, the emperor is not the opponent of Lord Song, but Kang Ning wants Lord Song to teach him how to play golf, and I heard the emperor say that Lord Song said that you can ski down from Banzai Mountain in winter, and I don't know how to ski?"

Kang Ning's bright big eyes were full of smiles, Song Nan was flustered by her, Princess Kang Ning was about eighteen or nineteen years old, graceful, smiling like a flower, and speaking gently and politely, Song Nan looked cramped and uneasy in front of her, and her tongue was clumsy.