Fengtian Temple, the scene of the court meeting.

A court discussion about the emperor initiating a great ceremony and the courtiers making fierce opposition was thus launched in the early morning of this day with advance warning.

The emperor made an opening speech first, and the eunuch Zhang Zuo was in charge of the eunuch Zhang Zuo, and made his decision public, which was nothing more than to take Zhu Youhang as the imperial examination, and did not admit that his small sect had succeeded to the big sect, that is, he adhered to the principle of "succession without succession".

No surprises.

First of all, Wang Jun, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, came forward to argue with the emperor, citing the precedent of the change of dynasty since ancient times, and showed Zhu Si that since ancient times, the emperor did not say that the small sect only inherited the throne and did not succeed the big sect.

The person who came forward to defend on the emperor's side was Huang Zhan, a scholar from Hanlin. Huang Zan quoted the same cliché argument, that is, when Zhu Si was the prince of Xingwangfu, he was not made the crown prince one day, and adhering to the principle of "brother to brother", it was not reflected more clearly in Zhu Houzhao and Zhu Si, and proposed that Zhu Youhang only had one son, Zhu Si, and the eldest son could not be inherited......

The two sides argue on the basis of reason.

But in the final analysis, the leader of this court is Zhu Si.

Hearing that there had been a quarrel for a long time, Zhu Si said as if he had made a decision: "I have made up my mind, and I will send an edict to the Hanlin Academy, and ten days later, I will send a letter to the heavens and the earth!"

Such a fierce reaction, the ministers actually expected, after all, the emperor asked them to give an early warning yesterday.

At this time, Jiang Mian, the first assistant of the cabinet, walked out, and as the head of the civil ministers, he knelt directly on the ground and asked Emperor Jiajing on the throne to take back his order.

The matter dragged on until noon, and the two sides were still at loggerheads.

In the Hanlin Courtyard, everyone kept inquiring about the news in the palace. But even though the ministers were in the palace at this time, there was still a lot of news coming out, and the emperor intended to find someone to release it.

Yang Shen, as the new attendant and bachelor, is also the core figure of the previous Great Rites Discussion, at this time, most people in the Hanlin Academy still look at him, after all, these ordinary Hanlin also know that in order to oppose the emperor and form a big public opinion effect, it is necessary to have an official like Yang Shen who has a strong appeal among the middle and lower class literati.

If the emperor has a falling out with the top civil servants, then the Ming Dynasty will be in trouble. But if it was just a group of middle- and lower-level officials who were fighting, the emperor would not only be under pressure, but the contradictions between the monarch and the ministers would not deteriorate to the point of being out of control.

"With Xiu, although the situation in the palace is unclear, it seems that His Majesty is serious this time, and at this time, we may be able to take that last step!"

Yu Chengxun, Ye Guizhang and others went to inquire about Feng Xi's situation in the palace, Feng Xi did not enter the palace to participate in this court meeting that day, and when they turned back, Yu Chengxun directly gave Yang Shen advice.

They had also discussed it a long time ago, and went to the palace to kneel down.

In the past, Yang Shen definitely didn't hesitate to pull people away, but because of the experience of secretly colluding with the emperor's faction, Yang Shen had some concerns this time.

Yang Shen said, "Since you all know that the situation is still unclear, if we take that step at this time, we can't turn back! Let's see how the argument in the palace turns out first!"

Although some people think that Yang Shen is a little too conservative, but his starting point is to take into account the overall situation, and Yang Shen has not changed the direction of the big courtesy, so others can't say anything.

At this time, in the palace, a resignation activity initiated by Sun Jiao, the head of the household, officially began.

Sun Jiao also waited for the heat to ferment to almost before he came out and handed the resignation note that had been prepared long ago over his head: "Your Majesty, the old minister is old and healthy, and he wants to return to his hometown to recuperate, please ask Your Majesty for permission."

Sun Jiao's appearance was quite unexpected in the eyes of many people. It is that many ministers feel that if the emperor really wants to force out some civil servants in the court in this way, then Sun Jiao must have vested interests, and it can even be said that Sun Jiao can achieve a complete victory. Some people also think that Sun Jiao is coy.

The emperor is employing people, if Jiang Mian and the others retire, the emperor will definitely value you, even if your resignation is sincere, the emperor will not take your resignation seriously.

Zhu Si sat on the dragon chair.

He had been confronting the ministers all morning, and there was no intention of backing down on each other.

It is also because there is no way to retreat this time.

Last time, there was a Zhu Hao who came out and proposed to posthumously crown Emperor Xingxian as the "Bunsheng Emperor Examination", but now even this move can't work, what will Zhu Youhang posthumously seal?

Father?

Or are Zhu Youhang and Zhu Youzhu both for the imperial examination? One son and two fathers?

Even if someone has such thoughts, they will not say it under tremendous pressure like Zhu Hao.

There is no way out for the two sides to retreat, so they can only be so stiff first, and Sun handed over his resignation, which is the only person who came out to say some "mediation" words in the confrontation between the two sides.

Zhu Si frowned and asked, "Sun Qing's family, you have been asking for your resignation since you returned to the dynasty, and now you have resigned more than ten times, right?"

Sun replied, "Yes."

"Is it because I'm not courteous enough? Or do you think I owe something? I hope that there will be old ministers from the former dynasty who can stand up and serve the country, set things right, and put the court on the right track, did I do something wrong?"

Zhu Si revealed such a tone, probably still disagreeing to let Sun Jiaozhishi.

Sun Jiao said: "The old minister is old and old, and he really can't hold on." "That's ......."

Zhu Si pondered for a while before he said, "Sun Qing's family, don't say that I am inconsiderate, it is indeed difficult for you to let you return to the court at the beginning, you are so old, and you have to work hard day and night for the big and small affairs of the imperial court, I am grateful for your contribution to the imperial court, so I agree to let you return to your hometown." I will give you the title of secretary of the ministry, and you will retire in the coming day."

Many people present listened with a bewildered expression. Sun Jiao's resignation, is it so accurate?

Although the addition of the title of Shangshu of the Ministry of Officials sounds like a compliment to Sun Jiao, letting Sun Jiao retire as he wishes shows that the emperor is still dissatisfied with Sun Jiao.

Let your old man Sun always like the neutral wall-riding faction when you're fine, this is a loss, right? We don't want to see you, and the emperor doesn't treat you as his own!

Originally, if you survived today, you might be able to be a real official secretary, but at this time, you jumped out to find a sense of existence, and finally deflated, right?

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Sun Jiao got his wish, and he was relieved in his heart, and a smile appeared on his face. Zhu Si turned to glare at Wang Jun, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and asked, "Ministry of Rites, are you unwilling to carry out my edict and go against me?" As the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, don't you take me seriously?"

Wang Jun looked at this posture and seemed to understand something.

In fact, not only did he understand, but also those top ministers who took the lead, such as Jiang Mian, Mao Ji and Qiao Yu, also understood it. Sun Jiao's resignation was successful, which was a sample for them. The emperor's reprimand of Wang Jun doesn't just show that the emperor wants Wang Jun to take the initiative to resign and get out?

Wang Jun said: "The minister can't do anything, please ask Your Majesty to ask for another master!" Saying that, Wang Jun also took out the resignation note he had prepared, this thing has been discussed by everyone, and almost everyone present has a copy, but Sun Jiao took it out first.

Zhang Zuo hurriedly came down and handed over Wang Jun's resignation to Zhu Si. Zhu Si took it and looked at it, and said coldly: "Wang Shangshu has done his best for the imperial court and has contributed a lot to the matter of etiquette, but he doesn't have insight into my intentions, and always wants to make some different choices with me...... Well, I won't embarrass you, you can also go back to your hometown to live your old age."

The emperor's attitude towards Wang Jun this time was different from agreeing to Sun Jiao's resignation, and his attitude towards Wang Jun was clearly to let Wang Jun resign voluntarily, and there was no mercy to talk about. It can even be said that Wang Jun was driven out of the court. "Your Majesty, please think twice."

Although Jiang Mian knew that resignation was a means of coercion, but now that Wang Jun's resignation was really agreed to by the emperor, he still had to hurry forward to fight for Wang Jun.

If the Ministry of Rites can't do anything, then who will stop the progress of the Emperor's Great Rites Discussion?

Zhu Sidao: "Wang Shangshu took the initiative to resign, do I want to save his face? Or do you think that I and the Qing family should continue to be in such a stalemate?

"I put my words here, and I insist on advancing the Great Rites Discussion, which is no longer just a matter for me alone, but something that everyone in the Ming court should care about. The Ministry of Rites can't be discussed, so let's change to a Ministry of Rites, do you have any opinions?"

"Your Majesty......" Jiang Mian really couldn't listen to it anymore.

The emperor just drove Wang Jun away, meaning that he was not satisfied and wanted to continue to do this to them

Some old ministers started.

How aggrieved were Jiang Mian and others, who were dedicated to the Ming Dynasty, but ended up being rejected by the emperor?

Wenchen could not understand the emperor's thoughts, and the emperor would not make the same consideration as Wenchen, and the two sides stood on their own positions, as if they could only split up in two.

Zhu Si shouted: "Ladies and gentlemen, now put aside the etiquette in advance, you say, who will serve as the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, who can advance my proposition?" Let's push it now! 「

Wang Junren hasn't left yet, the tea is already cold, and in front of Wang Jun, the emperor wants to ask the ministers present to recommend a new candidate for the Ministry of Rites?

Huang Zan walked out unceremoniously and said, "Xishu, the right attendant of the Nanjing Military Department, is worthy of this position!"

"Huh?" The Wenchen present was in an uproar.

As soon as the emperor said that he wanted to push the court, you Huang Zan couldn't wait to transfer Xi Shu, one of the core figures of the Yili faction, to the capital to be the secretary of the Ministry of Rites?

Is there still a royal law? Is there still a heavenly principle?

Zhu Sidao: "Xi Shu? Is it the former Huguang Governor Xi Shu? His proposition, I have seen, can not only quote the old classics of the previous dynasty, but also have new ideas, with him as the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, it is most appropriate, what is your opinion?"

Jiang Mian unceremoniously refused: "Your Majesty, no!" Zhu Si asked coldly, "Elder Jiang Ge, if there is a better candidate, you can say it, what does it mean to just say it?"

The smell of gunpowder is very strong among the monarchs and ministers.

Jiang Mian knew that he couldn't persuade him, and he recommended someone from the Criticism Sect to come out, and the emperor would definitely not agree, so he could only take the "last step" at this time, he held up his resignation and said, "Your Majesty, the old minister resigns!"

"Not allowed!"

Unlike the previous two resignations who were allowed on the spot, Zhu Si didn't even think about it this time, and directly rejected Jiang Mian's request to resign.

Even Huang Zan didn't understand this for a while.

Zhu Sidao: "I agreed to replace the Ministry of Rites, so that you can renegotiate the method of the Great Rites, if all of them are people like Mao Shangshu and Wang Shangshu before, then wouldn't there be only one final result? Is it different from my demands every time? Now that I am only serving as the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, in exchange for you to stay in the court with peace of mind, do you want to resign all of them to put pressure on me? 「