In the forty-first year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty, Yan Song and Yan Shifan, who had been in charge of the government for 20 years, fell and their sons fell. However, due to all kinds of complicated and ambiguous political relations, Jiajing fell strict but did not fall down Yan Song, "bestowed Song Zhishi, and rewarded Lu rice with 100 stones a year", Yan Shifan and other core figures of the Yan Party were also exiled only for their crimes, and most of the Yan Party officials were still in power, and the trend of extravagance and greed for ink and scraping was "not curbed in the slightest." By the forty-fourth year of Jiajing, disasters in many provinces were frequent, the treasury was empty, the enslavement was heavy, and the heavens were angry and the people were resentful. Xu Jie, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng instigated the imperial history to go up again, and although Jiajing killed Yan Shifan and others in May of that year, the world was not ashamed of Jiajing.

In July of that year, Hai Rui was transferred to Beijing as the head of the household department.

The large plaque of "Liubiju" inscribed by Yan Song is still hanging on the lintel in the middle of the pickle shop in the face of the door of this three-bay room, shining brightly by the sun.

Under the plaque, the courtyard is cold, a bustling street of the store, the crowd is bustling, and the people who come and go to the door of this pickle shop but avoid the road, and countless hurried eyes look sideways at the plaque.

There is a secret decree, Jiajing will not let this plaque be taken down, he wants to see how the world talks about himself!

This morning, the sedan carriage carrying Hai Jui's family to take office came.

In front of the chariot sat a whip driver. Because it was a summer day, the canopy was narrow, Hai Rui also sat in front of the wheel, wearing a hat on his head, wearing a kudzu gown, compared with three years ago, his beard was grayer, his eyes were still so sharp, and he keenly saw the plaque of "Liubiju" under the hat.

"Stop." Hai Rui suddenly shouted.

The coachman pulled the reins, and the carriage stopped in front of a teahouse on the street opposite Liubiju.

Hai Rui jumped out of the carriage and looked fixedly at Liubiju opposite.

"Is it there?" The question of the sea mother came from the sedan canopy blocked by the bamboo curtain.

Hai Rui replied to the inside of the car curtain: "Back to my mother, I haven't arrived yet, my son wants to buy some pickles here first, and then make porridge for his mother and daughter-in-law when he gets home." ”

"Go ahead." Hai Mu said from inside the curtain.

"Please buy a pot of herbal tea for my family." Hai Jui took out two copper coins from his body and handed them to the coachman.

"Master, where are you going?" The coachman took the coin and asked in some surprise.

"Go to Liubiju." Hai Rui replied that he had walked towards the door of Liubiju.

The coachman was shocked with two copper coins in his hand.

Immediately, many passers-by looked at Hai Rui in astonishment.

Hai Rui walked to the door of Liubiju and stopped, looking up at the plaque.

The passers-by were even more amazed, and although their eyes looked at him, their steps quickened.

In front of a table at the entrance of the teahouse opposite Liubiju, there were immediately several pairs of eagle-like eyes cast on Hai Rui's back under the plaque. Although these people were wearing casual clothes and long robes, the person sitting in the middle could tell at a glance that it was the eunuch of the Punishment Division in the palace, and the two people sitting horizontally with wide shoulders and long legs and cold faces and cold eyes could also see that it was the person of the Jinyi Guard!

The coachman holding the two copper coins had already seen the three people in the teahouse at this time, where did they dare to go in to buy tea, their feet seemed to be nailed, standing next to the car, not daring to move.

The most embarrassing thing is that the shopkeeper and the guy in the Liubiju store only looked at the guest officer at the door, neither beckoning him to come in to buy things, nor driving him away, just staring blankly.

Hai Rui's eyes moved off the plaque, glanced around, and soon understood the current predicament of the store, took off the hat and held it behind his back, and walked into the store alone.

The eunuch and the two brocade guards in front of the table at the entrance of the teahouse opposite immediately stood up, walked out of the teahouse, and walked towards Liubiju on the opposite side.

Then the coachman dared to move, thrust the pole in his hand in front of the wheel, put the two copper coins back on the board in front of the wheel, moved slowly out of the carriage, and after a few steps, he took off and kicked, and ran alone.

The pedestrians who passed by are gone, from east to west turn back to the east, from west to east back to the west, but they are reluctant to leave, standing far away, waiting to see a story of painting and fiddling in front of people after tea and dinner.

Hai Rui entered the store, walked to the counter, and slowly glanced at the jar and jar of containers displayed in the store.

A few of the men sat there lazily, and none of them got up to greet him.

The boss surnamed Zhao was sitting at the counter where Hai Rui was standing, and he looked at Hai Rui lightly: "The guest officer wants to buy pickles?" ”

Hai Rui: "An old man, a sick person, wants to buy some pickles for porridge." Shopkeeper, what pickles are suitable? ”

"Any pickle is suitable." The boss surnamed Zhao still sat and replied lightly.

Hai Rui keenly felt that the guys sitting at the counter were looking at the door behind him, and he stood up and bowed for a moment, and immediately sat down again.

At the door of Liubiju, the eunuch and the two brocade guards appeared coldly by the door. The eunuch of the Criminal Division glanced at the two brocade guards, who stayed by the door, and the eunuch quietly walked in and sat down at a square table on the left side of the shop. A man hurriedly lifted a porcelain pot, took a cup and walked through the side cabinet door, poured the eunuch a cup of tea, left the porcelain pot on the table, and quietly retreated to the counter.

Hai Rui was silent, took out ten copper coins from his body and put them on the counter: "Buy ten pickles." ”

The boss surnamed Zhao stood up, took out a cover from the container fence inside, pulled out a large lotus leaf on a stack of sun-dried lotus leaves, pasted it in a large white porcelain bowl, held it, uncovered an altar cover, scooped out a spoonful of pickles with a leaky spoon, decanted the sauce and poured it into the lotus leaf, and opened a jar lid to scoop out a spoonful of pickles and decanted the sauce into the lotus leaf. If so, scoop up the pickles full of lotus leaf hearts and put them on the counter, then pull out a larger lotus leaf, take out the lotus leaf pickles in the bowl and put them on another large lotus leaf, wrap them quickly, pull out three from the palm leaves torn into strips under the counter, and wrap a six-contract heart knot horizontally and vertically on the pickle lotus leaf wrap, tie it, lift it up and hand it to Hai Rui: "Guest officer, let's go." ”

Hai Rui still stood there and didn't move: "I heard that the pickles in your store used to be more expensive than meat, but now ten copper coins can buy so much?" ”

The boss surnamed Zhao glanced at him: "The guest officer bought it for the patient, and the small shop is willing to give more." Please take it. ”

Hai Rui didn't ask anymore, picked up the lotus leaf bun pickles, turned around, didn't go out, went straight to the square table, and sat down on the stool opposite the eunuch: "After a long day's journey, shopkeeper, please give me a cup if you have one." ”

Whoever dared to move at the counter all looked at the boss surnamed Zhao.

The boss surnamed Zhao looked at the eunuch of the Criminal Division who was sitting there.

The eunuch of the Criminal Division had been pretending not to look at Hai Rui, but at this time, he saw the gaze of the boss surnamed Zhao, and immediately handed him a look and motioned for him to give water.

The boss surnamed Zhao sighed silently, picked up a cup from the counter, pushed open the counter door and walked to the square table, and poured a glass of water for Hai Rui: "Guest officer, please drink." Drink it and go. With that, he turned around.

"Shopkeeper." Hai Rui stopped the boss surnamed Zhao.

Boss Zhao had no choice but to stop again.

Hai Rui: "I heard something and wanted to ask you for advice. ”

The boss surnamed Zhao had no choice but to turn around slowly and look at Hai Rui.

Hai Rui asked very clearly: "I heard that your store was originally called Liuxinju, why did you change its name to Liubiju?" ”

The face of the boss surnamed Zhao immediately changed.

The face of the eunuch in the other seat who looked away immediately turned around, and his eyes stared at Hai Rui with a cold light.

The two brocade guards at the door also turned around and looked at the square table.

The others hurriedly looked away, or at the ground.

Hai Rui still had the same indifferent look, staring at the boss surnamed Zhao, waiting for him to answer.

The boss surnamed Zhao immediately turned back to the counter, swept up the ten copper coins from the counter and walked back to the square table: "Guest officer, this is your money, pay you back." This pack of pickles is no longer for sale, so let's go. As he spoke, he put the copper coin in front of Hai Rui's table, and went to get the bag of pickles on the square table.

"What kind of rule is this!" Hai Rui pressed the boss's outstretched hand and pushed it away, "I paid, you handed over the goods, why don't you sell it?" ”

The boss surnamed Zhao froze there and quickly glanced at the eunuch of the Criminal Division, and then looked at Hai Rui: "Since the guest officer is buying something, please leave if you buy it." You and I don't know each other, what kind of mess do you give me? ”

Hai Rui: "The first time I went to Beijing, I just asked about some customs, what does it mean to add to the chaos?" ”

The boss surnamed Zhao was anxious: "Guest officer, this is at the feet of the Son of Heaven, you are a foreigner, it is best not to cause trouble here." ”

"Wrong." Hai Rui stood up, "I never cause trouble, I only take care of my own business." For example, if no one dares to buy such a good thing, I have to take care of it for you. ”

"Who says no one dares to buy my stuff?" The boss surnamed Zhao was even more anxious, and quickly glanced at the eunuch of the Criminal Division, "If you don't buy it, you can leave, don't delay my business." ”

"That's my own business, and it has nothing to do with your business." Hai Rui simply showed his intentions, "I heard people in other provinces say that your store was originally called Liuxinju, and business has been very good." Since it was changed to Liubiju, no one dares to come and buy things. Shopkeeper, why did you change the word 'heart' to the word 'must'! ”

The boss surnamed Zhao and all the guys behind the counter had white faces, who dared to answer his words, and they all looked at the eunuch of the Nati Criminal Division who had been looking at Hai Rui gloomily and the two brocade guards who were eager to advance at the door.

Hai Rui ignored it and said slowly: "I have heard some floating rumors along the way, you add a skimming to the word 'heart', as if you have inserted a knife in the 'heart', and business will naturally be bad." What do you think of the shopkeeper? ”

The eunuch of the Nati Criminal Division stood up abruptly.

The two brocade guards also strode in and stood in front of Hai Rui.

Everyone was shocked, the boss surnamed Zhao who was standing there was stunned, and the guy sitting at the counter was also stunned.

The eunuch of the Criminal Division stared at Hai Rui: "Say, go on." ”

Hai Rui didn't seem to see these three people, sat down again, and still said to the boss surnamed Zhao: "Actually, changing the word 'heart' to the word 'must' may not have a bad meaning." It's just that no one has made it clear why they changed it this way, so there are rumors. Shopkeeper, please bring me a pen and paper, I will make a footnote to the word 'must' for you, and the people will be upright! Your business will naturally improve. ”

The boss surnamed Zhao was already frozen there, where did he dare to move.

The eunuch of the Nati Criminal Division looked at the boss surnamed Zhao: "Take a pen and paper and let him write." ”

The boss surnamed Zhao slowly looked at a guy at the counter: "Take, take the pen and paper......"

Because of the bookkeeping at any time, the paper and pen are ready-made, the guy held the paper, pen, ink and inkstone from the counter, his legs trembled, and he looked at the brocade guard from the cabinet door, moved over, put the things on the square table, and hurriedly walked back.

"Write it." The eunuch of the Nati Criminal Division looked at Hai Rui.

Hai Rui picked up the pen, probed in the inkstone, and then turned his face to ask the boss surnamed Zhao: "I heard that the pickles in your store are quite particular, one is to pay attention to the origin, the second is to pay attention to the season, the third is to pay attention to melon vegetables, the fourth is to pay attention to sweet sauce, the fifth is to pay attention to containers, and the sixth is to pay attention to water springs." Is that so? ”

Although the boss surnamed Zhao was still frightened at this time, he couldn't help but be moved in his heart when he heard him say so eloquently about the six benefits of pickles in his store, but he didn't dare to answer, so he looked at the two brocade guards again.

"Reply to his words." The eunuch of the Punishment Division looked at him.

"Yes." The boss surnamed Zhao replied to this word, not only to reply to the eunuch's words, but also to Hai Rui's question just now. and he spoke no more.

"In that case, I'll write it to you." Hai Rui said, dipped in ink and wrote on the paper.

The two brocade-clad guards stared at the last word on the paper.

The boss surnamed Zhao couldn't help but quietly look at the words that appeared last time on the paper.

The eyes of the eunuch of the Criminal Division lit up, and the eyes of the two brocade guards also lit up! Although none of the three were scholars, they were all literate because they often interrogated the edict, and the confessions of the officials of the section who arrested and interrogated the edict were not underestimated. At this time, seeing that this person wrote such a good hand, which is not usually seen, he couldn't help but show some surprised eyes, and the three of them all touched their eyes: This person has some background!

After the last word was written, Hai Rui put down the pen, raised his head and looked at the boss surnamed Zhao, and at the same time looked at the three people with a little afterglow: "How?" ”

The tone of the eunuch of the Criminal Division became a little measured: "You read it again." ”

Hai Rui stood up and read aloud: "The origin must be true, the season must be in season, the melons and vegetables must be fresh, the sweet sauce must be mellow, the container must be clean, and the water spring must be fragrant!" This is the true meaning of changing the Six Heart Residence to the Six Must Residence! Shopkeeper, make another plaque of the 'six musts' I wrote and hang it up. If your business is not good, just look for me. After speaking, he picked up the lotus leaf pickles on the table, picked up the hat, and walked out the door.

The eunuch of the Nati Criminal Division immediately gave a brocade guard a look.

"Standing." A brocade guard immediately put his hand on Hai Rui's shoulder, "Don't leave your name and whereabouts, where will people find you?" ”

Hai Rui stood there: "Come to the household department and find me." ”

"Tobe's?" The brocade-clothed guard looked at the eunuch of the Nati Criminal Division beside him.

The eunuch of the Criminal Division: "What kind of official is the household department?" ”

Hai Rui raised his voice: "Hai Rui, the head of the household department." With that, he raised his hand and pushed the palm of the hand that was on his shoulder down, and walked towards the door again.

"Wait!" The eunuch of the Criminal Division called out to him, "Since you are the head of the household department, then follow us to the household department to verify your identity." ”

Hai Rui stood again: "Yes." I'm about to report to the household department. A few of you don't have to bother, settle the family with me first, and then go together. ”

The two brocade guards looked at the eunuch of the Nati Criminal Division again.

Eunuch of the Punishment Division: "Let's follow." ”

Hai Rui was in front, and the two brocade guards followed closely behind and walked out of the store.

The boss surnamed Zhao finally came to his senses and looked at the "six musts" on the square table where the ink had not dried.

The guys behind the counter all stood up, tiptoeing to look at the "six musts" on the square table before the ink had dried.

The eunuch of the Criminal Division had his back to them but had not yet gone out, when he suddenly turned around and said to the boss surnamed Zhao, "Take another piece of paper." ”

"Get a piece of paper! Get a piece of paper! The boss surnamed Zhao hurriedly greeted the guy behind the counter.

The guy hurriedly picked up another blank piece of paper and ran out.

The eunuch of the Criminal Division took the piece of paper from the man's hand and lightly pasted it on the handwriting written by Hai Rui, rolled it, picked it up, and then walked out the door again.

The boss surnamed Zhao sat on the bench next to the square table.

The guys behind the counter all rushed out: "Boss, are you okay?" ”

The boss surnamed Zhao muttered: "Clean up the bed, the big guys will go their separate ways......

Here, Hai Rui carried the lotus leaf bag pickles to the carriage parked on the side of the road, but saw the long horsewhip stuck vertically in front of the wheel, and the coachman had disappeared!

Looking around, there were many people hiding from afar, all looking to their side.

"The coachman is gone." Hai Rui walked to the carriage and looked at the two brocade guards who followed him, "How to get to Qianliang Hutong, bother the two to lead the way." ”

The two brocade guards didn't answer him, and were waiting for the eunuch of the Criminal Division. The voice of the sea mother came from inside the curtain: "Why have you been going for so long, and the coachman is gone?" ”

Hai Rui hurriedly replied to the car curtain: "Back to my mother, I bought a few more pickles and delayed the hour." The driver suddenly left in a hurry, and asked a few other people to take us to the accommodation. ”

"Got it." The mother of the sea said a word in the curtain of the car, and said no more.

The eunuch of the Criminal Division came over with the roll of paper in his hand and instructed the two brocade guards: "You go with him, first to the residence, and then follow him to the household department." ”

A brocade guard: "What about my father-in-law?" ”

The eunuch of the Criminal Division: "I'll go back to the palace and present this heavenly thing to Gonggong Chen." Speaking of this, he looked not far away and stretched out his voice: "Come on! ”

A man was waiting with a horse on the other side, and when he heard the high, high-pitched sound, he hurriedly led the horse and trotted over.

The eunuch of the Nati Criminal Division took the reins, turned over on his horse, clamped his legs, and galloped in the direction of the street outside the front door.

Hai Rui didn't know how to catch the car, so he had already walked to the horse's head and grabbed the reins: "Qianliang Hutong, the two of you will lead the way." ”

It is known that he is an official of the household department, but he dares to do such a stabbing thing when he enters Beijing, although the two brocade guards have to investigate him, but they already feel that this person has some origins. The two exchanged a look, and they were both polite: "Let's go." ”

This is a strange scene, such a lively and prosperous street, the crowd is far away, the front of the road is empty, only Hai Rui led the horse-drawn carriage, and a brocade guard walked to the other end of the street.

In the Ming Dynasty, the regulations on the sedan chair in the nine gates of Beijing were extremely strict, especially on the thoroughfare, and the non-high-grade officials could not take the sedan chair carried more than four times. In a place like Qianmenwai Street, those who dare to gallop horses are not in possession of the express delivery of the military department, but they are very important people. Just now, the eunuch of the Criminal Division galloped away, and many people were already frightened to avoid it. At this moment, in the direction where the eunuch had galloped, that is, in the direction behind Hai Rui's carriage, the sound of horses' hooves was heard again on the street. Just now the crowd that was about to rush over dodged because of the avoidance, and made way out of the way, only to see the three horses trotting all the way to this side.

The three horses trotted closer and closer, and the three of them were also dressed in civilian clothes, and their origins were obviously not small.

"It's a big deal! The Thirteenth Master is also here! There was a tea guest in the teahouse opposite Liubiju who looked at the three horses trotting past and blurted out.

"Which? Which is the Thirteenth Master? Another tea guest hurriedly asked.

The tea guest walked to the door and pointed at it, and many tea customers crowded to the door to look at it.

The tea guest: "The one at the front is the thirteenth Taibao Ye of Long Live Lord Qinfeng." I must have caught that person. ”

Everyone was amazed, and the three horses had already chased to Hai Rui's carriage and slowed down.

"Thirteen masters!" A brocade guard who followed Hai Rui hurriedly saluted, "Stop first." He told Hai Jui to stop the carriage.

"The Thirteenth Master is well!" Another brocade guard who followed Hai Rui hurriedly saluted.

The thirteenth master grabbed the reins of the horse and asked tightly, "Is it the head of the household department who was in Liubiju just now?" ”

"Yes." A brocade guard hurriedly replied, "So soon the Thirteenth Master will know?" ”

The thirteenth master's eyes immediately looked at Hai Rui who was wearing a hat, although he couldn't see his face, his figure was still familiar, and he immediately turned over and dismounted, and looked at him: "It's really a good father!" As he spoke, he knelt down in the street.

He suddenly knelt down and startled the two brocade guards. The other two brocade guards who came with him were also a little surprised. According to the etiquette system, the brocade guards of the Zhenfu Division can only kneel to the emperor, and the chief of the Zhenfu Division can only kneel down to the chief of the ceremonial supervisor and the Zhenfu Division, and the other officials of various grades only raise their hands to salute when they see it, and they do not kneel at all.

Several Jinyi guards saw that their boss actually knelt down to this petty official of the household, and called him "Engong", he knelt privately and had nothing to do with his position, so several people couldn't kneel with him, so they had to stand sideways with their heads bowed.

Hai Rui looked at Qi Dazhu, the Thirteenth Master, who was kneeling in front of him, and his eyes were quite emotional, but he soon became calm: "Get up quickly." This is not a place of worship. ”

Qi Dazhu stood up excitedly: "What about Mrs. Tai and Mrs., and what about Miss, are they all in the car?" ”

"Who is it? Ruxian, why did you stop again? The jellyfish questioned inside the curtain.

"Mrs. Tai! It's your son Qi Dazhu who picks you up! Qi Dazhu heard Haimu's voice and hurriedly walked to the car curtain.

The curtain of the car lifted a corner, revealing the white-haired face of the jelly-haired her.

"Son Dazhu kowtows to you." Qi Dazhu said as he took a step back and was about to kneel down again.

"It's not a salute." Hai Rui waved his hand to stop Qi Dazhu, hurriedly went over to lift the curtain of the car, and held the arm of his mother who was about to come out, "Mother, it's Dazhu." ”

"Big Pillar?" Hai Mu looked at Qi Dazhu with both eyes.

Qi Dazhu stepped over in one step, stretched out his big hands and hugged Hai Mu: "Mrs., it's me." I heard that Engong and Mrs. Tai have been here for a few days, and my son has rented a yard for Mrs. Tai, and the ground has been cleaned, and then I have been waiting at Dongbianmen Wharf for the past two days. Who knew that you had taken the land route. ”

Hai Mu smiled: "It's rare for you to care about us like this." What about the daughter-in-law? ”

Qi Dazhu: "Wait at home." I heard that Mrs. Tai and Mrs. Tai came to Beijing, and they couldn't sleep for several nights. ”

"Mother." Hai Rui looked at his mother, "Da Zhu is now an official of the Suppression Division, and he is specially for the emperor on an errand, so we can't delay his official business." Let him go first. ”

Hai Mu understood something from her son's words and eyes: "I understand. Let him go. With that, he lowered the curtain.

Hai Rui looked at Qi Dazhu: "The previous things are over. In the future, when you are on your errand in the Zhenfu Division, don't come to me, look for me, and I won't see you. ”

Qi Dazhu was stunned by him: "Engong ......"

"I'm not anyone's benefactor." Hai Rui's face became more solemn, "You go." Two, let's go. So saying, he went to take the reins of the horse, and pulled the carriage forward.

The two brocade guards were a little embarrassed, looking at the carriage and going with them again, and they didn't know how to tell the thirteenth master.

Qi Dazhu just heard in a hurry that Liubiju was taken away by Jinyiwei and a household official, so he guessed that it might be Hai Rui who he was waiting for, but he didn't understand why, so he stared at the two Jinyiwei: "What's the big deal, you guys are making a big fuss?" ”

The two brocade guards glanced at each other, a little embarrassed, and one of them whispered: "Back to the thirteenth master, this master said some taboo words in Liubiju, and also wrote a taboo word, and Huang Gonggong of the Criminal Department asked us to send him home first, and then send him to the household department to wait for disposal." ”

Qi Dazhu was shocked at this time: "What kind of words?" What about Grandpa Huang? ”

Another brocade guard: "It's another way to say the word 'must' that the emperor changed." What is said is to 'uphold people's hearts and minds'. Gonggong Huang had already taken the painting and sent it to Gonggong Chen, the celebrant of ceremonies. ”

"Oops!" Qi Dazhu stomped his feet, "How long has Gonggong Huang been gone, has he ridden a horse?" ”

A brocade guard: "I rode a horse, but I couldn't catch up if I wanted to." ”

Qi Dazhu thought anxiously for a while: "You better go with you, send Master Hai to your home, don't go to the household department." ”

Two brocade guards: "Got it." The two of them quickly turned and chased after the carriage.

"Go back to Zhenfuji!" Qi Dazhu stepped on his horse and galloped towards the west front door.

The two brocade guards hurriedly followed and got on the horse and galloped after them.

In the distance, many people who were hiding from watching crowded out.

It is the dog day of summer practice, Beizhen Fusi is on duty on this day, bare-chested to reveal a body of iron pimple-like tendons, against the sun is carrying two huge stone locks strung by a thick bamboo pole on the shoulder, one foot lifted, one foot golden rooster independent, there to practice "horse pile gong".

Qi Dazhu came in from the courtyard gate sweating profusely, and it was not easy to interrupt his practice, so he stood beside him and waited silently.

Zhu Qi propped up the bamboo pole with both palms, and one leg still didn't move, but he just changed his shoulders and asked, "What's the matter?" ”

"Master, the disciple is in trouble." Qi Dazhu said with remarkable anxiety.

Zhu Qi was still carrying the bamboo pole and glanced at him: "Is it a matter of the dead?" ”

Qi Dazhu: "That's not true. ”

"What's the hurry if you're not dead?" Zhu Qi carried the stone lock and changed his leg.

Qi Dazhu: "This matter is about Liubiju." Someone made an article on the word 'must' that the emperor changed. ”

Zhu Qi was stunned for a moment, his legs fell to the ground, he propped up the bamboo pole with both palms and threw it on the ground, and immediately looked at Qi Dazhu: "What article?" Is it spoken by mouth or ink eating paper? ”

"It's ink. The people from the Criminal Division have been sent to Chen Hong and Chen's father-in-law. Qi Dazhu said in a hurry, "Master, the person who wrote this word is the disciple's father-in-law." ”

Zhu Qi: "Which Engong?" ”

Qi Dazhu: "Hai Rui, Lord Hai." ”

"Is that him? Isn't he in Jiangxi? Zhu Qi's face also froze.

Qi Dazhu: "After killing Yan Shifan, the cabinet transferred a group of people to Beijing, and Master Hai also transferred the head of the household department. ”

Zhu Qi knew that the matter was serious: "What have you written, do you know?" ”

Qi Dazhu: "It was said that he made another statement for Liubiju." ”

Zhu Qimo thought about it there.

"Master." Qi Dazhu looked at Zhu Qi anxiously, "Can you go to Gonggong Chen and suppress this matter?" ”

"Confused." Zhu Qi's eyes flashed, "Who dares to suppress the matter of Tongtian?" Besides, Chen Gonggong would like to have such a thing. ”

Qi Dazhu: "Then the emperor has seen it, and the disciple's benevolence will be guilty." ”

"Don't say anything about Engong!" Zhu Qi's voice became stern, "Only the emperor has no grace here!" ”

Qi Dazhu lowered his head.

Zhu Qi softened his tone: "Do you know why he wrote this word?" ”

Qi Dazhu: "The disciple was not there at the time, and the people below heard that Master Hai said that the purpose of writing these words was to 'uphold people's hearts and calm the floating words'." ”

Zhu Qi stared ahead and thought carefully.

Qi Dazhu was even more anxious, and sweat flowed down his face.

Zhu Qiqian turned to look at him: "I understand." This Hai Rui is a person recommended by Prince Yu, and it has nothing to do with you. You only have to do one thing, hurry up and tell Elder Xu Ge about it, and then come back here and stay, and don't go to see him again. Give me the clothes. ”

Qi Dazhu immediately walked under the eaves and picked up Zhu Qi's clothes, spreading his hands.

Zhu Qihou stretched out his arms and put on his underwear, and Qi Dazhu picked up his robe and unfolded it for him to put on.

"Let's go." Zhu Qi tied his belt and walked towards the courtyard gate.

"Where is the master going?" Qi Dazhu followed closely behind him.

"Where else can I go? The matter stabbed Chen Hong, of course, the only way to see the ancestor was to go! Zhu Qi said and had already stepped out of the courtyard gate.

In the Ming Dynasty, Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang was born in extreme poverty, won the world, and the officials were set almost harshly. The magistrate is still good, and the cars and horses used for household use are all supplied by the government office. When you become a Beijing official, especially a petty official below the fourth grade, you can only receive a few dozen taels of silver a year, and if the treasury is tight, you can even use pepper, cloth, etc. to offset the money. Chang'an is expensive, and the house, car, and long-term followers all need to be prepared, and it is even more difficult to support a family.

Hai Rui served as a prefect in Nanping, Fujian Province for several years, and as a county magistrate in Chun'an, Zhejiang, and Xingguo, Jiangxi Province for several years. The cost of carriages and horses is limited, and they can't afford to take a boat, so they have to take the land route, relying on a post station for dozens of miles according to the level of the seven-rank official transfer, relying on food and lodging, and changing cars at the next station. Before the rejuvenation of the country, the first thing he did was to write a letter to Wang Yongji, who had been transferred to the imperial history of the Beijing Metropolitan Procuratorate the year before, asking him to find a small mansion on his behalf, and said that the monthly rent of copper coins should not exceed five hangings. This is a little difficult for the king, even if you find a simple courtyard on the edge of the northeast city far away from the six departments, the minimum monthly rent is eight hangs. Wang Yong took a brain and prepared to sign two contracts with the landlord, one of which stated the actual number of eight hangings, and he secretly made up three hangings for Hai Rui every month; One is that Hai Rui must sign with the landlord himself, and it is written that the monthly rent is five hangs, which will be paid by Hai Rui on a monthly basis.

The house I found in this way was only a small courtyard with a house in three directions, which was empty, with no furniture, dilapidated doors and windows, and peeling interior walls. It took a long time for Wang Yongji to pay for the masonry and carpenter, and it was not until this morning that he rushed to finish repairing it.

"People are coming, don't nail them there." Wang Yongji said to the two masons who were still hammering the window pages, and then shouted to the north side of the main house, "And those inside, hurry up and pack up the utensils, and you can go." ”

The two masons still nailed the last window, and several masons came out of the house, and one walked up to Wang Yongji and saluted: "Master Wang, then we will go." ”

"Pay them the rest of the wages." Wang Yongji said to a long entourage who was standing outside the courtyard gate and watching.

The chief walked in, took out five copper coins from the placket of his coat, and handed them to the one with the head.

For the head: "Thank you for the reward." He walked out of the courtyard with the group of masons carrying the guys.

Wang Yongji said to the chief follower, "Tell the people outside to bring in the rest of the things!" Also, hurry up and wash the floor of the main house of the North House! ”

"Yes." The chief hurriedly instructed a few helpers outside the courtyard gate, "Move in the rest of the household belongings immediately!" Wash the floor of the main house of the North House! ”

Immediately a few helpers carried the pots and pans into the east kitchen, and the other two helpers carried the last table and a few chairs on the table into the main room of the north house, and hurried out again, and went to a well on the right side of the courtyard to put down the buckets on the wheels to draw water.

The landlord of this mansion is a middle-aged man in a long shirt, who has been standing beside Wang Yongji, and when he saw that Wang Yongji paid for the renovation of the mansion by himself, he smiled all over his face: "Thanks to the blessing of the king, the villain's ancestral house has been polished, and it has finally been repaired." ”

"Wash it with two buckets for two people. Hurry up! The king urged the servant who was carrying water and a bucket.

The two helpers no longer carried water and buckets, but both ran into the north main house with buckets.

"I don't need to say anything superfluous." Wang Yongji turned to the landlord at this time, and then took out a contract from his body, "Wait for Master Hai to arrive, you can sign another copy with him according to this rent contract." ”

The landlord: "Master Wang, didn't you sign the rent contract with the villain yesterday?" ”

Wang Yongji: "I signed the copy with you yesterday, don't tell Master Hai." Today, you signed this with Master Hai. ”

The landlord took the contract suspiciously, and immediately changed his face: "Master Wang, I said that it is a monthly rent of eight copper coins, how can it be written as five copper coins?" ”

Wang Yongji: "My colleague is a Qing official, and his family has no foundation, and he can't afford the rent of eight copper coins a month, and he can only pay five copper coins at most." ”

"Said eight hangings. Five copper coins killed the small ones, and they didn't rent them. Before Wang Yongji finished speaking, the landlord was in a hurry.

"Listen to me." Wang Yongjiduan sternized his countenance, "Eight hangings or eight hangings, he will give you five hangings every month, and I will give you three hangings." ”

"Slow down, let the villain think." The landlord opened his eyes and pondered for a long time, and seemed to understand, "Master Wang is saying that the monthly rent will be paid according to the eight hangs we signed yesterday, and Master Hai will pay five hangs to the villain in the open, and Master Wang, will you secretly pay three hangings per month to Master Hai?" ”

Wang Yongji: "It's good to understand." Don't let Master Hai know. Also, the use of these furniture is also said to be your own. In the future, Master Hai will move another house, and these things will be left to you. ”

"The little one understands, everything is done according to the instructions of Master Wang." The landlord smiled again.

"Master, a carriage is coming, like the family of Lord Hai." The chief attendant was outside the gate of the courtyard and said to the king through the door.

Wang Yongji strode out of the courtyard gate, and at a glance saw the carriage slowly rolling in, and also saw the familiar figure wearing a hat and a long gown of arrowroot, so he hurried over.

Of course, Hai Rui also saw Wang Yongji who was hurrying in, and hurriedly took off the hat and walked quickly to greet him.

Wang Yongji smiled, Hai Rui also smiled, and the two of them approached each other, standing there a foot apart.

You looked at me, I looked at you, and I was speechless for a moment.

"I guessed it. Do you want to say that now that I am an official in Beijing, I must give me two sets of silk clothes if I am in the place? Hai Rui smiled and said with a pretended seriousness.

"You guessed it, I won't give it away. Pick up Mrs. Tai and Mrs. Sister-in-law. Wang Yongji said, and took a few steps to the side of the approaching carriage. Hai Mu had already lifted the curtain, and Wang Yongji saw Hai Wife leaning in the car with a pale face, so he walked into the hospital door with Hai Mu in one hand and ordered loudly, "There is a patient in the car, quickly bring a chair!" ”

"There is no such thing." Hai Mu turned to Hai Rui, who was holding her on the other side, and said, "Ruxian, carry your daughter-in-law into the house yourself." ”

Hai Rui glanced at Wang Yongji and replied to his mother, "Yes." ”

"No need!" With this sound, the two brocade guards untied their horses at some point, one in front of the carriage and the other behind the carriage, and they were stunned and carried in from the courtyard gate with the carriage.

The people in the courtyard are stupid!

The two brocade guards carried the carriage station in the courtyard, calm and relaxed, and the one in front looked at Hai Rui and asked, "Where to put it?" ”

Hai Rui: "Please carry it to the Westinghouse." ”

The two brocade guards effortlessly lifted the carriage and the people to the door of the west wing and put it down gently, clapped their hands and walked to the courtyard gate, standing there one by one.

Wang Yongji helped Hai Mu to sit down on a chair by the window of the north room, and then he noticed these two people, approached Hai Rui, and asked in a low voice, "Who is it?" ”

Hai Rui replied lightly: "Jinyiwei's." ”

Wang Yongji was stunned: "I just entered Beijing, why did I provoke them?" ”

"I told you in the letters, they will always be in trouble. It's better to provoke late than early. Hai Rui replied lightly.

The landlord was already very nervous when he saw these two people, and when he heard the conversation between the two of them, his face immediately changed and he was stunned.

The small courtyard house that Wang Yongji found was very much in line with Hai Rui's heart. There are three rooms in the north and south, and a living room in the middle, with a door on the east side of the living room leading to Hai Mu's bedroom, and a door on the west side leading to the bedroom, which can be used as a study for Hai Rui, and can also allow him to lie here at night to take care of his mother. The most rare thing is that there is a locust tree in the west of the yard, which is very lush, half of the courtyard in the summer shade, a small table and a few bamboo chairs, and it is convenient to eat and enjoy the coolness; The east side of the courtyard is not far from the kitchen is the well, less than a zhang deep is clear water, which is not easy to get in Beijing, and it is especially easy to worry about the Haijia who has to carry water to wash the floor every day.

The few servants who had been hired by the king to carry things had already dispersed. Lunch was Wang Yongji's long-standing takeaway, and he also ate it at this time. The long attendant cleaned up the dishes and chopsticks in the living room of the main house, and walked out with his hand, turning to the kitchen to the east. Hai Rui arranged for his mother to rest in his bedroom, and then he and Wang Yongji walked out of the main door of the living room, and at first glance they saw that the courtyard door was wide open but empty, and the two brocade guards were gone, but at the second glance, they saw the landlord walking out of the kitchen, and walked towards the two with a bitter face and a smile.

"Who is this?" Hai Rui looked at Wang Yongji.

Wang Yongji: "I've been busy forgetting to introduce, this is the landlord." It just so happened that I signed the contract with Master Hai. With that, he accompanied Hai Rui to the small table under Huaiyin, and the two sat down.

The landlord followed, but did not sit down.

Wang Yongji looked up at him: "If you want to sign a contract, please sit down." ”

The landlord was so awkward, he first glanced at the courtyard gate, then looked at Wang Yongji and Hai Rui, and his voice was so low: "The two masters, they haven't left, they are all standing in the alley." ”

Hai Rui and Wang Yongji glanced at each other, and then they both looked at the landlord.

The landlord thought that the two didn't understand, so he made a gesture to lift the car, and stretched out two fingers: "Those two, stay in the alley." ”

"It's none of your business." Wang Yongji interrupted him, "Sign a contract with Master Hai." ”

The landlord glanced at the courtyard gate quickly, knelt down to the two of them coldly, and suppressed his voice: "The two lords are gracious, the villain's ancestor became a grandfather who made a living in Beijing at that time, and he has never been to the yamen of the inspection master, please raise your hand to keep the villain's family safe." ”

Although he said it all the way, Hai and Wang still understood what he meant, and they looked at each other again.

Wang Yongji sank his face: "What do you mean by this?" Who made your family uneasy? ”

The landlord was still kneeling there: "The lord is the blue sky of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, how can he not see the bitterness of the villain?" Please find another house to live in, and the villain is willing to give the lord the money to repair the villain's yard in the past few days. ”

Wang Yongji was anxious: "What words! How can there be a rented house that people call moving out as soon as they move in! ”

Where is the landlord willing to sign, or kneel there.

Hai Rui was a little embarrassed: "Since you haven't signed the contract yet, you refuse to rent it to me, of course I have to move out." But an old man and a sick person have just laid down, and I can't move today. ”

"Not moving a day." Wang Yongji had no choice but to have a showdown, "Brother Gangfeng, don't worry, I signed his appointment yesterday." The lease term is one year. Just keep it in check. At this point, he looked at the landlord again, "There is no need to sign that false contract, you can leave immediately." ”

The landlord was about to cry: "Master Wang, Master Hai, you are all eating the emperor's money, and you are all loyal to the court." The villain is a flat-headed common man, and he can't afford to cause this trouble. ”

Listening to the more he spoke, the more unspeakable he became, Wang Yongji, who had always been mild-tempered, was also moved: "Are you going or not?" If you don't leave, I'll bring the two people outside the door, and you tell them to go. With that, he stood up.

"Don't, don't price!" The landlord stood up spring-like, "The villain goes, let's go." As he spoke, he walked out of the courtyard gate, and at this moment one of the acquaintances on the locust tree suddenly called, and the landlord was startled again, and walked out of the courtyard gate as if he were mourning.

Wang Yongji also sat down, bowing his head and silently there.

Hai Rui is a person who understands so well, at this time he knew the arrangement of Wang Yongji for him, and even knew that it was not easy for him to sit here with him at this time, so he was also silent.

The branches of the locust tree above me screamed louder, but the yard was quieter.

Wang Yongji, the long attendant, came over with a pot of tea and two cups at the kitchen door, poured tea for the two masters, and put the porcelain pot on the small table.

"Wait for me outside the courtyard and close the courtyard door." Wang Yongji did not look up.

"Yes." The long follower also walked out of the courtyard gate and closed the two doors from the outside with his backhand.

"State affairs are difficult, and family affairs are also difficult." Wang Yongji picked up the teacup and looked at Hai Rui.

Hai Rui also picked up the teacup and raised it to Wang Yongji, and the two of them took a sip and put down the cup.

Hai Rui looked at him at this time: "Friends have the meaning of wealth. I can't afford to pay back the money you used for me anyway, and I don't thank you, I accept it. I didn't come here with the intention of causing trouble. The country is sick like this, the officials want to make licorice, the Ming Dynasty will die in the country, the world is suffering, why do you want to be a family. Since the imperial court has transferred us all to Beijing, let's go to the difficult times together. ”

"Shame." Wang Yongji also looked at Hai Rui, "I have been transferred to the Metropolitan Procuratorate for almost a year, I have participated in some cases, and I have also taken a few mistakes, and if I say something self-reproachful, it is similar to licorice." However, as soon as Brother Gangfeng arrived in Beijing, he gave a dose of symptomatic medicine. One stone shocked the sky, and finally stirred up the stagnant water from the palace to the yamen of various ministries. ”

"It's not that useful." Hai Rui waved his hand, "I just want to say that black is black, white is white, and no one dares to say black and white, let alone anything else." In the past few years, I have also wanted to do something for the people in Xingguo, but everything has been difficult and has little effect, just because the government is not right, and the officialdom has no right or wrong. ”

Wang Yongji: "State affairs must be done, and family affairs should not be too negligent." Brother Gangfeng, I didn't say you, in the past three years in Xingguo, you are sorry for this family. When the little niece was killed, if you were by her side, she might be saved, and the sister-in-law would not have died, and the fetus herself would be sick like this. ”

"Blame." Hai Rui's voice was deep but sincere.

"It's good to be in Beijing." Wang Yongji was originally a very optimistic person, and at this time he deliberately swept away the dull haze in everyone's hearts, "There is good news that I haven't had time to tell you about Mrs. Hetai and Mrs. Sister-in-law, guess." ”

"Mr. Li has entered Beijing!" Hai Rui actually guessed it.

"Kyo a month forward!" Wang Yongji showed the pleasure of "old knowledge", "Mingli is here to see Prince Yu, and he is still worried about wanting to enter the palace to save the emperor's life." I hope that Elder Xu Ge and Gonggong Lu can let the emperor be admonished, and the loyalty of Imperial Physician Li will not be in vain for the filial piety that the prince invited him to. ”

"Being in the rivers and lakes, I have Wei Rong in my heart. Not many people know about Imperial Doctor Li. Hai Rui also sighed, "I remember I told you when I was in Zhejiang, and you and Imperial Doctor Li are my friends in this half of my life." ”

"Imperial Doctor Li deserves it, I don't count." Wang Yongji waved his hand, "It is estimated that the court will make a fuss for a few days when you wrote that character." After a few days, Imperial Doctor Li will naturally come to see you and Mrs. Tai, and just to check the pulse of Mrs. Sister-in-law. ”

Hearing him say this, Hai Rui was solemn, looked at him and whispered: "Brother Runlian, I have something from my heart, you really listened." If it weren't for you in Beijing, I wouldn't have dared to write the painting of Liubiju today. Maybe I'll be in prison today or tomorrow. If that's the case, the family will have to ask you. ”

Wang Yongji was also solemn by him: "First, I promise you, and second, it shouldn't be like this." After all, I came to Beijing a year before you, and I know more about the court than you do, and I know more about the emperor than you do. Although the words you wrote are directed at the emperor, you will not understand it with the wisdom of the emperor. That's what I just said, if the medicine is right, it won't hurt much. ”

At this time, the sea wife coughed in the western bedroom, and at first the sound was not loud, and then she coughed violently, and there was a breathless sound.

Hai Rui immediately stood up.

"Let's go check it out." Wang Yongji also stood up immediately.

Hai Rui hurriedly ran to the west bedroom.

Wang Yongji didn't go in well, and stood there, but saw that Hai Mu also came out at the door of the living room of the main house in the north, so he hurriedly walked over: "Mrs. Tai." ”

Haimu: "Lord Wang, I'm afraid I'm afraid I'll have to bother you to invite a doctor." ”

Wang Yongji helped Haimu to the west of the courtyard: "It's all arranged, Mrs. Tai can rest assured." ”

At this time, the futon that has always sat on Jiajing was empty, and Jiajing was lying on a bamboo recliner!

Xu Jie sat on the embroidered pier of Yan Song, placed on the side of Jiajing's recliner, with a large stack of official documents on his lap, quietly looking at the emperor with slightly closed eyes, black eye circles, and beads of sweat on his forehead.

Jiajing is sick!

There was a large square of ice in the golden basin next to the altar, and then a golden basin of ice water, Lu Fang was holding a snow-white velvet cotton cloth face towel and soaked it, twisted it, folded it into a strip, held it in his left palm, and picked up a dry edelweiss face towel in his right hand, and quietly walked over, first wiped the sweat on Jiajing's face with a dry face towel, and then applied the ice towel to Jiajing's forehead.

In May of the 41st year of Jiajing, Yan Song Zhishi returned home, and Xu Jie took over as the first assistant of the cabinet, and sorted out the accumulated shortcomings hidden in the yamen of the ministries of the two capitals and 13 provinces, only to find that the state affairs were more erosive than they imagined. Since then, Xu Jie, Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng and others have begun to tear down the east wall to make up the west wall, and even revealed some things that were originally hidden by the Yan Party to Jiajing little by little. Jiajing felt that his body was getting worse day by day, and he was eating more pills. This year, several major events broke out at the same time: the military expenditure for land defense in the north and coastal defense in the southeast was seriously insufficient, the Mongols attacked suddenly, and many tribes in Liaodong also began to provoke wars; The Japanese in southeastern Zhejiang were pacified, and they plundered cities and destroyed land in Fujian and Guangdong; In Shaanxi, there were even more than 150 clan officials in the Han Palace's palace who demanded the arrears for many years, besieged the governor's yamen, and beat the governor's yamen and burned the government office. As a last resort, they wanted to increase taxes to solve the deficit of the national treasury, and the greedy officials increased their exploitation, so that Wanping and Daxing, which were close to Shuntianfu on the edge of Beijing, had a tragic scene where the people were overwhelmed and abandoned their homes to escape, and there was no one in the whole house. In May, Xu Jie and others instigated Yushi Linrun and others to impeach Yan Shifan, Luo Longwen and the rest of the party, Jiajing killed Yan Shifan and others in a fit of rage, arrested and dismissed a number of Yan parties, and confiscated family property. In June, Jiajing's illness could not even be concealed by himself, and he continued to sweat this summer, but he still obeyed the words of the priests, acted against the season, did not open the windows to ventilate, and still wore a thick cotton coat. The time spent only meditating has been greatly shortened, and I can usually sit for a few hours at a time, but at this time, I will only sit for two hours at most and lie down, and I will still sweat when I lie down.

State affairs are like this, Xu Jie finished handling government affairs in the cabinet every day, and rushed here as much as possible, guarding Jiajing, trying to get Jiajing to approve or acquiesce to him and Gao Gong and others to remedy some of the evils. This month in particular, it is necessary to sort out the family finances of the confiscated Yan Party one by one and make up for the huge deficit in the state treasury. Today is the day to come to play Chen's big event, it should have come after night, but suddenly received the incident reported by Qi Dazhu, so he changed his mind, and came to the Yuxi Palace Essence House before noon, holding a large stack of official documents to choose Chen Zuo, and then cooperated with Lu Fang to try his best to fill the gap with the Lou Zi who stabbed Hai Rui, so as not to involve King Yu.

After Lu Fang put the ice towel on, Jiajing's irritability eased a little, his eyebrows were still locked, and he opened his mouth to speak, but it was still a mess of stone paving, but it was no longer as calm as usual: "It's nothing more than a fire in the east, a wind in the west, and the sky can't fall." As long as it's annoying, I like to hear it. ”

This was naturally a counterword, and Lu Fang couldn't help but quietly hand over a look to Xu Jie.

"Yes." Xu Jie's face of autumn water at this time had already been practiced, although Jiajing closed his eyes, he still owed a little, and then picked up the outline on the official document, and said in the official language with Wu Yin: "Qi Shengshang, the list of households that have copied Yan Shifan, Luo Longwen, Yan Maoqing and other greedy officials have been calculated, there are more than 370,000 taels of gold, more than 6.4 million taels of silver, and the rest of the antique treasures are also discounted by nearly 3 million taels. ”

Jiajing's eyes widened: "Go on." ”

Xu Jie: "Yes." The cabinet convened various ministries to deliberate and requested that 3.6 million taels be allocated to the Ministry of War, of which 1.6 million taels were allocated to Yu Dayou and Qi Jiguang for the military quarters of Fujian and Guangzhou, and 2 million taels were allocated to the governor of Jiliao for the defense of the north. ”

"Quasi-play." Jiajing thought about it, spit out these two words, and closed his eyes again.

Xu Jie handed the two tickets to Lu Fang, who took them and walked to the imperial case, stood there and began to approve the red.

Xu Jie continued: "Many provinces have accumulated arrears of officials, especially Shanxi, Northwest Shaanxi, Zhili, Henan, Yunnan, and Guizhou, which have been in arrears for more than a year. ”

Jiajing was silent.

Lu Fang's red pen stopped there, and he didn't come to pick up Xu Jie's paper ticket.

"Divide it." Jiajing said for a long time, "What other provinces and ministries owe Yulu will say it, and they will all divide the money." ”

Xu Jie: "Back to Shengshang, in other provinces, there are still two capitals and various ministries in arrears. The ministers discussed it, and found a way to make up for it slowly from other sources. ”

Jiajing's face looked better: "Then you have the final say, and you will reissue the arrears of those provinces just mentioned." ”

"Don't dare. Ministers obey orders. Xu Jiezuo replied, and gently took out the ticket to hand it to Lu Fang.

When Lu Fang approved the paper ticket, the red pen deliberately wrote very slowly, as if it was particularly heavy.

"Change an ice towel." Jiajing really opened his eyes, looked at Lu Fang and said suddenly.

Lu Fang's red was very slow to be approved, and he hadn't finished writing at this time, so he hurriedly put down his pen, washed his hands in the copper basin, went to the gold basin and twisted another face towel, and walked over to replace the face towel on Jiajing's forehead.

Jiajing closed his eyes again: "I have divided the money for the army, and I have also divided the money for the officials, so it's time to share the money for my people, right?" ”

"The emperor is like the benevolence of heaven!" Xu Jie hurriedly chanted, "This year, Jiangxi is the most severely affected, in March, the four prefectures and counties were flooded, and since the beginning ......of the summer, the seven prefectures have been drought, Jiangxi has exempted these places from taxes this year, and asked the imperial court to allocate funds to buy grain in his province for relief of 3 million stones" Speaking of this, Xu Jie stopped.

"Finished!" Jiajing waved his hand.

"Yes." Xu Jie continued, "Since the second half of last year, some places have increased the taxes of the people, such as Wanping and Daxing counties in Shuntianfu, and the taxes levied last year were three times that of previous years. Speaking of this, Xu Jie was moved, took out the silk scarf in his sleeve and printed his eyes: "Hubu Song, please allocate 2 million taels of silver to the people in several provinces with added taxes, of which Shuntianfu will allocate 600,000 taels, so that the people in exile can return to their hometowns to farm." ”

"Needless to say!" Jiajing took away the ice towel on his forehead and threw it aside, "Have you taken the two county orders of Shuntianfu, Wanping and Daxing?" ”

Xu Jie: "Hui Shengshang, he has been dismissed and is being interrogated." ”

Jiajing: "First raid their homes and return the people's money!" ”

"Yes. It's just a drop in the bucket to raid their homes. In fact, these two million taels are not enough to refund the overpaid taxes and calm people's hearts. Xu Jie replied, and still drew out the few papers that were going to be used to request appropriations.

Lu Fang looked at Jiajing in confusion, and did not immediately go to get the ticket in Xu Jie's hand.

"I'm willing to do it, what are you pretending to be?" Jiajingyin looked at him, "Dial it, dial it." It's nothing more than that the place where I live is broken, and the people in the palace are wearing old clothes and going to the street to beg for food! ”

Lu Fang had to answer, and looked at Xu Jie: "Elder Xu Ge, the emperor's Wanshou Palace has only been repaired less than half, and the 100,000 mouths in the palace are all waiting to eat." This money was not counted in the cabinet? ”

Xu Jie stood up: "No matter how bitter you are, you can't be bitter to your father." The ministers and others have all agreed, and the remaining more than 2 million taels are submitted to the palace, part of which is repaired in the Wanshou Palace, and the rest is used for various expenses in the palace. ”

Jiajing closed his eyes, of course he wouldn't directly say anything to Lu Fang at this time.

Xu Jie and Lu Fang had no choice but to wait there, and there was a sudden silence in the fine house.

"A phrase that the people often say, destroy wealth and eliminate disasters." Jiajing knew that this money that had not been copied was used in these places, and the cabinet had done its best, but he was still uneasy, "I have divided all this money, and God should let me be cured." Lu Fang, it's all red. ”

Xu Jie immediately knelt down beside him, how could Lu Fang criticize the red at this time, and quickly knelt down.

Xu Jie: "Renjun Tianshou!" But the saint also has to rest the dragon body to comfort the thoughts of the people in the world! ”

Lu Fang: "The slave agrees with Xu Ge Lao's words, God bless the master, and the master must also cherish the immortal body." ”

"Do you really think I'm sick?" Jiajing suddenly turned his face again, "Will I get sick?" ”

Xu Jie and Lu Fang had been a little tired from his almost crazy torture since he was sick, so they had to kneel there with their heads bowed deeply, not daring to answer.

Jiajing stopped pressuring them, and actually stood up from the recliner himself.

"Master!" Lu Fang hurriedly got up and wanted to help him.

Jiajing waved his hand and shook him off, his steps floated, but he still forced himself to walk to the futon and sat down, cross-legged.

Lu Fang stood quietly behind him, ready to help him at any time. Xu Jie also got up at this time, stood beside Jiajing, and looked at him nervously, ready to help him in case he was going to fall.

"God knows if people are sick?" Jiajing did not fall, closed his eyes and muttered such a sentence grotesquely, and began to practice qi, this practice, the sweat on his forehead trickled down, and his face was immediately difficult to see.

"Your Majesty, Master!" Xu Jie and Lu Fang both changed their faces, and the two of them called out at the same time and went over to hug him.

"Elixir!" Jiajing sat there stubbornly, and these two words burst out from between his teeth.

"Let's call the Imperial Doctor!" Xu Jie shouted urgently.

Lu Fang had no idea for a while, so he wanted to call the eunuch on duty outside the palace.

"Do you—do you want to die...... Elixir! Jiajing's sweaty face had turned black when he said this.

"Hold it!" Lu Fang hurriedly let go of his hand, let Xu Jie hold Jiajing alone, ran to the altar by himself, opened the gold box, took out a bright red pill, took the cup of gaiwan and ran over, "The master pill is here!" ”

Jiajing struggled to open his mouth, and Lu Fang put the pill into his mouth, holding the back of his neck with one hand, and feeding him the water in the bowl with the other.

Jiajing struggled to swallow the pill with this saliva, and then led his body up, trying to straighten his waist. Xu Jie hurriedly helped him up. Jiajing began to be lucky again, this elixir had such a miraculous effect, and in just a while, he saw his spirit, the sweat on his face was slowly collected, and his face was red, but it was the kind of red blood gushing up!

Although Xu Jie and Lu Fang breathed a sigh of relief for the time being, their faces became even more worried.

"Xu Jie." Jiajing's tone was calm again at this time.

"The minister is here." Xu Jie's answer was very heavy.

Jiajing: "What are you talking about, you want to call those people from the Tai Hospital to treat me?" ”

Xu Jie moved emotionally: "The emperor is sage." After saying this, his eyes were wet.

Jiajing turned to look at Lu Fang: "Lu Fang, you also mean this?" ”

"Master!" Lu Fang's feelings for Jiajing were naturally deeper than Xu Jie's, and at this time, regardless of whether Jiajing was angry, his voice was a little choked, "As long as you eat grains, even Da Luo Tianxian will inevitably get sick." The slave and Xu Ge always had the same thoughts, and dared to ask the master to give the master a look. If those people in the hospital can't do it, they will visit the wise doctors in other provinces to take a look at the master. ”

Jiajing looked at Lu Fang, and then at Xu Jie: "You all come here." "This voice is warm.

"Ministers, minions are here." Xu Jie and Lu Fang hurriedly rubbed their eyes and leaned closer.

Jiajing said softly: "I am sixty years old this year, and after cultivating for so many years, sixty is a level. After passing this level, you may be able to live forever. Those quacks in the hospital can't help me, no one can help me, you know? ”

This is the difference between Xu Jie and Yan Song, although they are both in Zaifu, after all, Confucianism is authentic, and they did not agree with Jiajing's words, but only bowed their heads and said it in silence.

Lu Fang's identity was different, and he felt uncomfortable for a while, but he had to answer: "The slave understands." ”

"It's good to understand." Jiajing was still soft, but suddenly changed the subject, "How is King Yu's illness?" Which miracle doctor did you invite to Beijing to show him? ”

Lu Fang looked at Xu Jie.

"Your Majesty." Xu Jie replied, "It was Li Shizhen, who had been on an errand in Tai Hospital, who had entered Beijing." Yu Wangye took several doses of medicine he prescribed, and his condition has improved. ”

"The people who treated King Yu have entered Beijing, and the people who treated me have also entered Beijing, right?" Jiajing took the pill and gained confidence again, and his eyes were sharp again, "Who is the person who opened the pill for me in Liubiju!" ”

This matter was finally raised, Xu Jie and Lu Fang no longer looked at each other, and were silent.

Jiajing glanced at Xu Jie: "The right thing to play in the afternoon, Xu Ge came to play the right thing in the morning, isn't it just to see the Danfang that person opened for me?" Lu Fang, show him the handwriting that Chen Hong presented. ”

Lu Fang had no choice but to walk to the closet where he was decorated with music, took out the scroll sent by Chen Hong from it, and handed it to Xu Jie.

Xu Jie unfolded and looked at it intently.

"Elder Xu Ge." Jiajing called him.

Xu Jie: "The minister is here." ”

Jiajing: "Monarch and Minister, how is this Dan Fang going?" ”

Xu Jie slowly raised his head: "Back to the saint, the minister is dull, and he can't see that there are any kings and ministers in this painting." ”

"Can't see it or don't want to say it?" Jiajing's voice was sharp, "Didn't you come here just to speak to this person and to King Yu?" ”

This is the extreme difficulty of serving this emperor: extremely sensitive! Extremely suspicious! Extreme suspicion! And leave no room for it!

How do you answer that? Xu Jie could only bow his head and remain silent.

"And Lu Fang." Jiajing's gaze turned to Lu Fang again, "What did Zhu Qi say to you?" ”

"Back to the master's words. Zhu Qi came to report this matter to the minions. Lu Fang replied truthfully at all times.

"The Suppression Division and the Criminal Investigation Division are all under Chen Hong's control, it's not enough to report Chen Hong, and I still want to come to you?" Jiajing's words became sharper and sharper, "Since I found you, what do you think?" ”

Lu Fang: "Master Shengming." This is just a few nonsense words from a newly appointed petty official in the field, who does not know the height of the sky. Zhu Qi came to find the minion, but he was also worried that the master would violate the immortal body, and wanted the slave to make it clear to the master first, so as not to hurt the immortal body if the master moved his true anger. ”

Jiajing: "What do you think?" ”

Lu Fang: "Back to the master, the slave also read these few words, and he did not commit a very important taboo, and he had nothing to do with Prince Yu." ”

"It has nothing to do with Yuwang?" Jiajing sneered, "Which yamen does this person work in, and who is his name?" ”

Lu Fang: "Back to the master, it seems to be called Hai Rui." ”

Jiajing's gaze stared at him, and he glanced at Xu Jie: "It seems to be called Hai Rui?" How many of the officials are named Hai Jui? ”

Lu Fang: "Master Shengming." This Hai Rui should be the Hai Rui who was transferred from Xingguo Zhixian County. ”

Jiajing: "Isn't that the Hai Rui recommended by my son?" also said that it has nothing to do with Yuwang! ”

Lu Fang had to kneel, and Xu Jie also knelt down again.

Lu Fang kowtowed: "Where do the slaves dare to deceive their masters, this Hai Rui entered Beijing this morning, and he wrote these few words when he passed by Liubiju, and Prince Yu has been recuperating behind closed doors for a month, where will he know?" ”

Jiajing's face calmed down: "Then you said that he knew that the word 'must' in 'Six Must Residences' was changed by Yan Song, why did he ask these words?" ”

Xu Jie had to reply: "The minister called him to the cabinet today and asked him to understand the reply." ”

Jiajing: "I want you to understand what to say now. Why did he make such an article on the word I changed! ”

Lu Fang had just explained that Xu Jie didn't know about it, so Xu Jie had to be silent and wait for Lu Fang to reply.

Lu Fang thought nervously, in fact, he had already thought about it: "Master, the slave can't think it through. But the slave also asked Zhu Qi what he said when Hai Rui asked these few words, what was it for 'righteous people's hearts and quiet words'. ”

"Want to speak for me?" Jiajing looked at Lu Fang, and then at Xu Jie, "It seems that there are a lot of floating rumors about me outside!" ”

Xu Jie had to answer: "The emperor is sage." King Wen made it easy, Zhou Gong made a ceremony, and there were rumors in the world at that time. At that time, the emperor asked Yan Song to inscribe Liubiju, which was also for the stability of my future life. The foolish people know the Sacred Heart! In May this year, Yan Shifan and others were punished, and the plaque inscribed by Yan Song was still hanging there, and some floating rumors were inevitable. The minister thought that Hai Rui inscribed these words, perhaps, as he himself said, in order to 'uphold people's hearts and appease the floating words'. ”

This performance was sincere and decent, and Jiajing slowly accepted it, but the suspicion in his heart still did not go away: "A head of the household department who was born in a person, so many officials don't come to Jing this floating rumor, but he comes to Jing this floating rumor." This man has a lot of skills! ”

Xu Jie couldn't answer, and lowered his head again.

Jiajing knew that in order to avoid suspicion, Lu Fang would not answer this sentence, so he named him again: "Lu Fang, Xu Jie doesn't seem to understand the reply, you reply to me." ”

"Back to the master, what ability can a six-grade petty official have, it's rare that he has this heart." Lu Fang came out to tell the truth.

"What heart!" Jiajing asked.

Lu Fang: "The heart to speak for the master." ”

Jiajing looked at Lu Fang again: "Is he speaking for me, or are you speaking for him, or is it for my son?" ”

Lu Fang raised his head, his eyes full of sadness: "Master, if you really think about your master, the slave will think that he has at least a little conscience." These few sentences written by Hai Rui can indeed play a positive role for the master, but he is a little bolder. Unlike some people, today is a sparse and tomorrow is sparse, just to gain a loyal name. ”

Jiajing's gaze slowly smoothed, and his face was still gloomy: "I have a lot of courage in the Ming Dynasty, but not many people with a conscience." As for what kind of heart this Hai Rui has, whether it is a conscience or not, I don't know, maybe King Yu knows. Since he is the person used by King Yu, you will send these words he wrote to King Yu, and let King Yu personally copy them, put them on the money, and then engrave a plaque and send them to Liubiju to hang up. Let's see what else is going to happen! With that, he lifted the roll of paper in his hand.

Lu Fang took the paper with both hands.

"You don't need to go, call Chen Hong in." Jiajing drank him away.

Lu Fang retracted his hand, only then did he know that Chen Hong had been waiting outside the hall for a long time, so he had to walk to the door of the house: "The master has a will, is Chen Hong here?" ”

Chen Hong walked in from outside the main hall like a ghost, walked to the door of the fine house and knelt down: "Back to the master's words of long live the master, the slave Chen Hong is waiting for the order." ”

Jiajing: "What are you doing kneeling at the door?" You won't be able to get in here! ”

Chen Hong kowtowed, stood up, still lowered his head, and walked in like a little daughter-in-law.

Lu Fang and Xu Jie both lowered their heads and didn't look at him, nor at Jiajing.

Jiajing: "Three things: first give the character written by Hai Rui to King Yu and ask him to copy it, and send his carved plaque to Liubiju to hang it." ”

"Yes." Chen Hong replied in a low voice, walked over, and took the roll of paper with both hands.

Jiajing: "Then go to the Zhenfu Division and tell those minions that the Criminal Division and the Zhenfu Division are all under your control, and you can only report anything to you." Whoever crosses you up and complains to someone else, you know what to do. ”

"Yes." Chen Hong deliberately replied slowly and lowly.

"Answer louder." Jiajing deliberately forced him.

"Yes!" Chen Hong had a reason to answer loudly.

Jiajing: "There is one more thing you understand, I won't talk about it." ”

"Yes." Chen Hong's answer was neither high nor low.