The pattern between the DPRK and China has gradually stabilized, and the chaos after Zhengde Long's control of Shangbin has gradually been forgotten by the people, and the case of Yang Ting and Jiao Zhao has also been announced to be closed recently. Although Yang Ting, Fei Hong and others kept saying that they were thinking about the Ming Dynasty and that they wanted to eradicate the traitors in the DPRK and China, and to risk the condemnation of the world, this kind of argument was not enough to save their lives.

Song Nan's original intention was not to kill Yang Tinghe and Fei Hong and others, after all, these were all former important ministers of the imperial court, and their influence in the court and the opposition was not trivial, maybe it would be more beneficial to him to keep their lives; But Song Nan didn't want to spare them so lightly, after all, it was impossible for these people to be used for themselves, and if they lived, they would give hope to many people who violated the yang and the yin.

At the time of the dilemma, the news came that Yang Ting and Fei Hong had hanged themselves to death in the edict prison, and in addition to being shocked, Song Nan immediately understood that this was the trick of the Jinyi Wei Yamen knowing that it was difficult to make up his mind. Song Nan summoned Wan Zhi and Huang Hui to ask him harshly, but of course Wan Zhi and Huang Hui refused to admit it, only saying that Yang Ting and himself were high and could not accept the current situation, so they hung themselves and died. He also said that he would investigate the crime of dereliction of duty of the guards of the Imperial Prison.

Song Nan stared at them for a long time, and finally had no choice, and finally said something: "You don't quibble, you have followed me for many years, don't I know you yet?" I know you're afraid that I'll not be able to make up your mind, so you settled them privately, and you're not doing the right thing. Remember one thing, the shape of the court is not the same as before, and from now on such means can no longer be used, otherwise I will not tolerate you. If the Ming Dynasty wants to prosper, the imperial court must make great efforts, and it must be stable first, and these drastic measures can no longer be engaged. If you don't restrain yourself at this time, you will accumulate grudges, and at some point in the future, the reckoning will be even more violent. No matter what happens in the future, we must be tolerant of people, and we must unite the forces that can be united, and we must not engage in these means again. ”

The deaths of Yang Ting and Fei Hong really aroused the dissatisfaction of the old ministers in the court, not that they did not deserve to die, but that this kind of death was really difficult to convince the public. However, the Jinyi Wei Prison immediately showed Yang Tinghe's prison diary, and after studying it, the cabinet unanimously agreed that the death of Yang Tinghe and Fei Hong was indeed suicide, and Yang Tinghe's diary before his death contained such a passage that can be clear proof of his will to live and die.

“…… The rest of his life was self-cultivation and self-reliance, and when he was a teenager, he set up the ambition of loyalty to the country, and after entering the office, he was supported by the emperor's favor and mentor, and he occupied a high position. However, Yu was burdened by the holy will and the people, disturbed by fame and fortune, so that he was deaf and deaf, and made actions contrary to the people and ministers, which was really ashamed of the emperor and the people of the world. Every time I think about it, tears fall like rain, and my heart is crazy, which is really hard to forgive. Yu Xin has no disobedient heart, but the facts are there, and there is no argument, the first emperor has gone, how can he confess? On the day when the emperor saw the emperor under the spring, the emperor could also forgive the ministers, but forgive the ministers? ……”

The guards of Jinyi Guard also provided guard records, before Yang Tinghe committed suicide, he couldn't sleep for several days and nights, pacing and muttering in the cell, and the guards heard him say the same sentence over and over again: "It's better to go back, it's better to go back......

The above two pieces of evidence are enough to prove the authenticity of Yang Tinghe's suicide in fear of crime, and Fei Hong's death must have been seen by Yang Tinghe and self-judgment, so he also went with it, there is a friendship between the two, and Fei Hong is a straight person, and it is very likely that he followed Yang Tinghe and hung himself to death.

Although many people still have doubts in their hearts, but the matter has come to this point, they have no choice, but fortunately, what makes them feel comforted is that Song Nan, the king of Zhenguo County, has forgiven Yang Tinghe and Fei Hong's family members, and ordered them to move back to their hometowns with their families, and their descendants will never be allowed to enter the office, which can be regarded as preserving the bloodline of the Yang and Fei families. Many people were very surprised by Song Nan's move, and at the same time, their views on Song Nan changed greatly.

……

In the late spring of May, the warblers and butterflies in the back garden of the Song Mansion are full of flowers and flowers, and in the shade of the pavilion in the back garden, Song Nan leans on a bamboo chair and squints and rests; The pretty maid Wan'er stood behind Song Nan and gently rubbed her sideburns for him, and Qingluan was writing a large stack of drafts on a small table for Song Nan next to her. On the grass in the distance under the pavilion, the voices of Zhu Xiufu, Ye Fanggu, Lu Qingli, Zhu Fengtong, Shen Yunyan, Yang Ko'er and others came from the meadow, mixed with a few milky shouts, which were Song Nan's children who were also coaxing.

In fact, this kind of scene is already the norm in the Song Mansion, and with the stability of the current situation, Song Nan has become idle. Yang Ko'er and Lu Qingli's ears were also gradually treated, and this qiē benefited from the skillful training of Doctor Li. At the beginning, Dr. Li fled the capital in fear because of the prediction of Zhengde's condition, but now that Zhengde has died, he also went to the department, and Jin Yiwei found him in Nanjing in April and invited him back to the capital to help the two daughters be treated. The two girls were shocked that day, and their eardrums were ruptured, and they were indeed on the verge of deafness, but after being treated by Dr. Li, although they have some ears back, they have basically recovered their hearing. Dr. Li said that with the passage of time, the ear disease will gradually recover; With his words, the Song Mansion can be regarded as having put down a big stone in their hearts.

In the court, there is Zhang Yong inside and Yang Yiqing outside, and Zhang Lun in the Beijing camp, they can all be on their own, and they don't need Song Nan to worry about trivial matters. Song Nan was able to enjoy his leisure time, and he also began to think about the future of the Ming Dynasty.

Reform is a must, there are too many shortcomings in the Ming Dynasty, and there are too many places that need to be changed, Song Nan needs to be clear one by one, and then advance one pile after another in order, just like what Zhu Fengtong said in the carriage that day, Song Nan put a heavy burden on himself in his heart, what is the future of the Ming Dynasty, and whether he can rejuvenate the Ming Dynasty, this is the most important thing. Although Song Nan also understands that there is always a succession of ups and downs in a generation, just like people, there is always a process of birth, old age, sickness and death, but Song Nan only wants to give the Ming Dynasty some respite during the period under his control, and give the people more good life to live.

Since crossing over, Song Nan never thought that one day he would be like a loyal subject and obedient to the people, for this feudal dynasty to think of a way to govern the country, but this qiē happened to him after all, Song Nan sighed in his heart that he could not change the Ming Dynasty, but was changed by the Ming Dynasty.

"Lord Wang, this one has been transcribed, take a look." Qingluan sorted out the stack of papers that exuded the fragrance of ink and handed it to Song Nan, she knew that Song Nan was not asleep, she was just squinting and enjoying it.

Song Nan opened his eyes and sat up straight, and took the scroll of transcribed paper, but saw that the paper was full of upright hairpins, and the handwriting was delicate and upright.

"Very good, your handwriting is really as good as your young lady said, at least it is much better than mine." Song Nan said with a smile.

Qingluan blushed and said: "The prince doesn't make fun of the little maid, the little maid's words are just practiced with the young lady, and she is very immature." ”

Song Nan smiled and said: "It's already good, bring the pen, I'll sign the title, and go to the cabinet tomorrow to show Lord Yang and them, and then revise and revise." ”

Qingluan agreed, handed over the ink-stained pen, Song Nan thought for a while, and wrote a line of words on the white paper: "Daming Tianmu Reform Policy". After writing it, it was handed to Qingluan and said, "Binding, rest for a while and then transcribe another one." ”

Qingluan said: "No need to rest, the little maid will transcribe it, is it to write this "Ming Military System Reform Policy" or "Ming Tax Reform Policy"?" ”

Song Nan smiled: "You have to transcribe, you decide for yourself, I'll go and bow with them for a while, you don't have to be tired, it's not a temporary thing, write slowly, write slowly." ”

Qingluan agreed, sat down again, straightened his posture, and began to brush and copy again. Song Nan got up and walked down the pavilion, looking at the figures of the women and children playing on the grass, rolled up his sleeves and was about to pass, when he suddenly saw that on the path leading to the gate of the garden, Xiaojun advocated that Pei Yan was coming in a hurry, and hurriedly greeted him and said with a smile: "Accompanied my mother to the temple to burn incense and came back?" ”

The little county lord nodded and said, "Yes, my mother went back to the room to rest." Just now, a palace eunuch from the outer house arrived, saying that it was a decree of the Queen Mother, and you were invited to enter the palace to meet you. ”

Song Nan was stunned and said, "Queen Mother? Which Queen Mother? ”

The little county lord glanced at him and said, "Which other queen mother?" The one in Xiyuan is now the Queen Mother, who else can be the Queen Mother? ”

Song Nan frowned and thought, the new emperor's queen mother is very low-key, the new emperor has been on the throne for more than two months, Song Nan and the ministers have not even heard a word from her, Song Nan has also led the ministers to Cining Palace several times to meet her, but through a thick curtain, neither can see the queen mother's face nor hear her voice, and the communication is carried out by the female officials around her who shuttle back and forth outside the curtain. Although Song Nan thought it was strange, he didn't think much about it. It's not a bad thing to have such a low-key queen mother, like the queen mother Zhang, who likes to participate in government affairs, that's worth worrying. And now the low-key Queen Mother suddenly took the initiative to summon herself to meet her, which is a bit unusual.

Came to the outer house, the waiting eunuch was drinking tea, Song Nan asked a few words, the eunuch obviously didn't know anything, Song Nan simply didn't ask more, changed into an official uniform and followed the eunuch to go out into the palace, and half an hour later, he was in the palace.

Walking on the corridor of the quiet Cining Palace, Song Nan's heart kept speculating about the Queen Mother's intention to summon him, and made up his mind that if the new Queen Mother had any ideas to participate in the government and express her opinions, she would resolutely resist. to nip in the bud this intention of hers; Song Nan couldn't let the second Empress Dowager Zhang appear in the Ming Dynasty, and he didn't need the harem dowager to worry about state affairs.

"Please sit down for a while, the queen mother will come soon." A female official brought Song Nan into the Xinuan Pavilion, made a cup of fragrant tea for Song Nan, and bowed down.

"I'm tired." Song Nan sat down slowly, and slowly looked around the furnishings in the warm pavilion, but saw that all the things used by the Empress Dowager Zhang had been replaced, and the room seemed more simple and casual. The scabbard was new and jeweled, but judging from the exposed hilt, it was clearly not a precious thing, and the crude hilt was still wrapped in black strips of cloth, which did not correspond to the scabbard at all.

Song Nan got up and walked over, looked at it for a long time, and finally reached out to pick up the knife to check, suddenly there was a gentle cough behind him, Song Nan hurriedly withdrew his hand and turned around, but after seeing the bamboo curtain, a vague figure stood quietly.

Song Nan hurriedly bowed and saluted: "Say hello to the Queen Mother." ”

The figure stood still, and after a while, he said loudly: "Is the prince interested in the knife of the mourning family?" ”

It was the first time Song Nan heard the Queen Mother speak, and this voice sounded a little familiar, but he couldn't remember where it was for a while.

"Ah, the minister just took a casual look, it seems a little strange to have this knife hanging in the queen mother's palace, the minister was curious for a while, so he wanted to pick it up and take a look, it was rude."

"There is nothing strange about that knife, it is not precious, it is just an ordinary thing, but it is the thing of the mourning family, and it is just a sentimental attachment to the deceased by the mourning family."

"Oh, I see. The queen mother, call the ministers into the palace, I don't know what the will is? ”

"Sit down, lord. The mourning family didn't have any will, but the mourning family invited the prince to come...... There is one thing to tell the prince. The mourning family felt that this matter should be known to the prince, and this matter was extremely important to the Ming Dynasty. ”

Song Nan hurriedly said: "Please teach the Queen Mother." ”

"Sit down, sit down." The figure behind the curtain slowly sat down, letting out a faint sigh, Song Nan didn't dare to think about it, and slowly sat on the chair and listened.

"Let's tell the prince a story first, I don't know if the prince is willing to listen to it."

The suspicion in Song Nan's heart became thicker and thicker, and he almost blurted out and asked, "Who are you?" But he understood that he couldn't make a mistake, and it would be troublesome if he recognized the wrong person, so he said: "The ministers bow down and listen to the teachings of the Queen Mother." ”

Behind the curtain, the figure moved slightly, his body seemed to tremble a little, and after a while, he whispered: "There is a family, it is an ordinary family, and there are three brothers and sisters in the family; Later, the two brothers of the family committed an accident, and the government sent someone to arrest him, and the two brothers fled. The officials in charge of the arrest chased him all the way to the mountains, but he was captured by the two brothers, who wanted to make a deal with the court. The younger sister of that family didn't want her brother to make a big mistake, so she secretly released the official. Outcome...... As a result, the imperial army arrived, and the two brothers of the family died, but the sister of the family and the official had feelings for each other in the mountains, and they also did fornication, you say...... Isn't the woman in this house damned? Do you deserve to be reviled by the world? ”

Song Nan banged in his head, like a huge cannonball exploding in his head, and the explosion was a mess, and he slowly stood up holding on to the table.

The woman knew that she should not be with the official, so she left the official, and she could not kill the official for revenge, so she went incognito to the far south, but she sadly found that it was a night of fornication in the deep mountains, and she was pregnant with the flesh and blood of the official; In a foreign land where she is unfamiliar with life, she is still pregnant, and she is desperate. ”

Song Nan said in a trembling voice: "That...... So how will she live? ”

The Queen Mother's voice trembled slightly, and she said in a low voice: "When I parted with the official, the official gave this woman an amber necklace that she carried. Unexpectedly, the necklace was taken out and seen by a nobleman in the pawnshop. The noble man saw that the necklace was precious, so he asked the woman's life experience, and the woman did not dare to tell the truth, so she made up the identity of a woman from a broken family in Beijing. The woman was desperate, and in order to give birth to a child and raise him in the future, she had to commit herself to this noble man. ”

Song Nan's hands and feet trembled uncontrollably, his hands and feet didn't know where to put them, he had already heard who this woman's voice was, and he also heard what this story was about, he couldn't believe it, he couldn't believe it at all.

Unfortunately, the nobleman was seriously ill and died a few months later, and the woman gave birth to a boy eight months later. Except for the noble man himself, no one knew that this child was not the blood of the noble man at all. So the mother was valued by the son, and the woman was respected by the tribesmen as the wife of the nobleman, and the child became the widow of the nobleman. Fate is really elusive, this woman thought that she could live and grow up in the south with this child safely, but suddenly a holy decree, the mother and son had to go to the capital. The woman became the queen mother of the palace overnight, and the child became a ...... overnight Became a ...... The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty ......"

Song Nan stumbled, his hands and feet did not obey the call, and swept the teacups and teapots on the table all over the ground, the tea was dripping, and it was a mess everywhere. A eunuch hurried to the door and asked, "Queen Mother, what's wrong?" What's wrong? ”

Song Nan roared angrily: "Get out, no one is allowed to approach here, if anyone dares to take a step closer, they will be beaten to death." ”

The eunuch was startled, stunned, and didn't know why the king of Zhenguo County suddenly became angry, and he was in front of the queen mother, which was a bit unruly.

"Listen to the orders of the king of Zhenguo, you all retreat. No one is allowed to come in and disturb them, they are all far away, and the mourning family has a major matter to discuss with the king of Zhenguo County. The Queen Mother behind the curtain waved her hand and ordered.

The eunuch hurriedly agreed, and pushed everyone away, not daring to take a step closer to Xinuan Pavilion.

Song Nan dragged his heavy legs and walked towards the bamboo curtain step by step, the figure sitting behind the bamboo curtain trembled slightly, as if he was overwhelmed by Song Nan's approach. Song Nan gently lifted the thin bamboo curtain and saw a pear blossom tearful face, it was Liu Yuerong, who had not seen her for seven years, and she was the current Empress Dowager Liu.

Song Nan's mind was blank, this ending was something he couldn't even think of, he chose and chosen, and chose a candidate for the emperor, but he didn't expect to choose Liu Yuerong's mother and son who lived in Raozhou in peace.

"Yuerong ......" Song Nan stretched out his hand, but he didn't dare to touch Liu Yuerong's body.

Liu Yuerong got up in tears, pounced on her, hugged Song Nan, and cried bitterly. His fists beat Song Nan's back, and he muttered, "Why are you ...... Why do you want to disturb the life of my mother and son, why did you choose us to come to Beijing? I'm carrying this secret alone, and I've been unable to sleep for two months, so I don't care, I'm going to sue you for this, and you'll suffer too......"

Song Nan let her beat and scold, and only said in a daze: "Sue me, whether the emperor is my blood or blood today, I just hope you give me an answer without concealment." ”

Liu Yuerong abruptly left Song Nan's embrace, gritted her teeth and said angrily: "You go and see the amber necklace hanging on the emperor's chest, and then ask the people around you what they think of the emperor's appearance, if you still don't believe it, you can take the emperor home and let your mother see if the current emperor looks like you when you were a child?" Sue you, King Huai didn't touch a finger of me at all, I only have a skin-to-skin kiss with you in this world, is that child not yours or who's? Do you want to have a blood confession? ”

Song Nan's legs and feet were weak, and he sat down on the ground and muttered, "No need...... No, you don't. Creation makes people...... Creation makes people. ”

Song Nan never imagined that things would come to such a result, and the current emperor was actually his son, which was incredible.

Although he has no intention of usurping the throne, he has actually usurped the throne. However, what about agreeing to Zhengde and the princess's promise that she would never usurp the throne? How will we face this fact in the future? I originally made up my mind to reform the government and introduce the constitutional system of the Ming Dynasty, but now the world is my son's, and it is almost equal to my own, can I still do this?

Song Nan had mixed feelings, and thousands of thoughts were intertwined, and he sat on the ground in a daze, unable to speak for a long time.

(End of book)