"Kong Taichang's youngest daughter committed suicide?" The fourth prince asked in surprise, "When did it happen?" ”

"I heard that I hanged myself last night, but I found out at dawn today."

"He hanged himself in Bodhi Nunnery."

"It's really self-hanging, didn't he kill him?"

"Didn't the emperor cancel her marriage contract with His Royal Highness the Acting King, why did she still hang herself?"

"The specifics are unclear, but it doesn't seem to have been killed by someone else."

"Don't you know that her reputation has been ruined since she was discovered to be a secret monk."

"Some time ago, His Royal Highness the Acting King interceded for their family, which made her reputation even more stinky."

"Everyone is scolding her for not knowing what to do, if it were me, I wouldn't be able to stand it."

"She was originally a famous talented woman in the capital, but because of this incident, her reputation was discredited, and it was normal for her to hang herself."

"When she heard that the family was in prison, she wanted to kill herself, but she certainly didn't dare to kill herself at that time."

"I guess she waited for the limelight of this matter to pass before hanging herself."

"I feel shameless to live in this world."

"Alas, what a pity."

"What's wrong with accepting this engagement honestly."

"It's a pity that a generation of beauties died like this."

The fourth prince listened to the discussion of his colleagues for a while, and then returned to his seat.

Taichang Cheng and Shaofu Cheng sat opposite the four princes, copying historical materials while discussing the hanging of Kong Taichang's youngest daughter.

"Your Highness, do you think Kong Taichang's youngest daughter really hanged herself?" Tai Chang Cheng asked.

The fourth prince intuitively felt that Kong Taichang's youngest daughter was not hanging herself, but this was just his feeling.

"It's hard to say."

Shaofu Cheng has a different opinion from his brother: "I don't think it's strange that Kong Taichang's youngest daughter hanged herself, after all, her reputation is ruined, and her reputation is really too important to her daughter's family." ”

"She's already a monk, and she cares about her reputation." Tai Changcheng had a conjecture in his heart, but he didn't dare to say it here. "It's certainly not self-hanging."

The fourth prince said: "Whether it is really self-hanging, it should be able to be tested." ”

Kong Taichang learned of the hanging of his youngest daughter, and took his wife and son to Bodhi Nunnery, but did not come to participate in today's morning court.

In the early days, the ministers did not report the matter to Emperor Wu of Zhou, after all, they did not know what the matter was.

This morning, the main discussion was on the situation of spring ploughing in various places.

Every year during spring ploughing, the yamen in various places must go to the imperial court to report their local spring ploughing situation, such as the situation of cultivated land, seedlings, and cattle.

Spring ploughing is related to this year's grain harvest, and Emperor Wu of Zhou attaches great importance to it.

Judging from the situation reported by the yamen in various localities, spring plowing is going smoothly in most places, and the spring ploughing situation is not very good in only a few places.

These few places are due to a lack of water. Since September last year, there has been almost no rain in these places, and there has not been a drop of rain until now. If it doesn't rain again, I'm afraid the spring plowing in these places will be finished.

Whether spring ploughing can go smoothly depends on God.

If it doesn't rain, there is nothing the local officials can do.

Fortunately, last year's harvest in these places was okay. If spring plowing is not possible this year because of the drought, they will also have food to eat.

After discussing the spring ploughing situation in various places, Emperor Wu of Zhou asked Sun Kui to announce his retirement from the dynasty.

As soon as the dynasty came, Emperor Wu of Zhou asked the acting king and Shaoqing of Dali Temple to go to Bodhi Nunnery together to carefully investigate the self-hanging of Kong Taichang's youngest daughter.

After Emperor Wu of Zhou explained this matter, he discussed the matter of Yangzhou with He Xiang.

Last night, Emperor Wu of Zhou received a secret letter from Taishi Liu. In the letter, he wrote, everything went according to plan.

Emperor Wu of Zhou mainly discussed with He Xiang who to send to Yangzhou next.

This time, Emperor Wu of Zhou wanted to completely purge Yangzhou officialdom. Judging from the situation reported by Liu Taishi, there are only a few officials in Yangzhou officialdom who can stay and continue to appoint.

Yangzhou's geographical location is important, and this rearrangement of officials must be cautious.

The new officials who go to Yangzhou to take up posts cannot all be transferred from the capital. If all of them are transferred from the capital, the number of officials in the capital will be reduced by half.

He Xiang meant to transfer some officials from all over the country to Yangzhou.

Officials who are lacking in various localities can be selected from the recommended personnel, and some outstanding students can also be selected from Taixue to take up posts. Alternatively, you can select outstanding students from your local college to take up positions.

After discussing the officials who were transferred to Yangzhou, He Xiang left the Imperial Academy and returned to Lanyuan Pavilion to work.

Emperor Wu of Zhou sighed: "There is a lack of talents. ”

In the past ten years, academies have been set up in various parts of the Great Zhou. There is no threshold for these academies, and as long as you have talent, you can enter and study. Although many outstanding students have been trained, only half of these outstanding students can become officials. Therefore, the imperial court has always lacked talents.

Emperor Wu of Zhou has always felt that such a recommendation is not a very good way, but he can't think of a good way, so he can only continue to use this recommendation method.

"Your Majesty, now that there are more and more scholars, there will be more and more virtuous people."

"Hopefully."

In terms of cultivating talents, the imperial court has really put a lot of effort into it. Not to mention anything else, it is a lot of money to subsidize the major academies every year. The money to subsidize the college is to help students from poor families.

Sun Kui looked at Emperor Wu of Zhou, and for a while he didn't know whether to open his mouth to remind him.

Seeing that Sun Kui was about to speak and stopped looking at him, Emperor Wu of Zhou raised his eyebrows lightly and said, "If you have something to say, just say it." ”

Sun Kui hesitated, but decided to open his mouth to remind Emperor Wu of Zhou.

"Your Majesty, today is the birthday of the Eighth Prince."

Emperor Wu of Zhou thought it was something, but he didn't expect it to be like this. He said with a faint expression: "As usual." ”

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"In the future, you don't have to tell me about this kind of thing." Emperor Wu of Zhou said indifferently, "You just do it according to the rules." ”

Hearing the displeasure in Emperor Wu Zhou's tone, Sun Kui hurriedly pleaded guiltily and said, "The slave should die!" ”

Emperor Wu of Zhou waved his hand and motioned for Sun Kui to retreat.

Sun Kui respectfully withdrew.

Sun Doudou saw that his master's face was a little pale and retreated, and he hurriedly stepped forward and asked with concern: "Master, what's wrong with you, you were reprimanded by the emperor?" ”

Sun Kui took out a towel from his sleeve and wiped the cold sweat on his forehead and face.

"I shouldn't have talked too much." After speaking, he raised his hand and slapped himself gently.

Sun Doudou was frightened by his master's appearance, and hurriedly asked, "Master, what are you talking about?" ”

"Isn't today the birthday of the Eighth Prince, I reminded the emperor a lot just now, but I didn't expect to make the emperor unhappy." Sun Kui felt a chill in his heart when he thought of Emperor Fangcai's indifferent and unhappy tone. "I thought that the Eighth Prince was seriously injured in order to save His Royal Highness the Crown Prince before, and on the Eighth Prince's birthday, the Emperor might reward the Eighth Prince with more things, but I didn't expect ......"

"Master, it's not that you don't know that the emperor doesn't like the Eighth Prince, why do you have to say this."

"Isn't it because the Eighth Prince saved His Royal Highness the Crown Prince before?" Sun Kui lowered his voice and said, "I didn't expect the emperor to be ...... to the Eighth Prince because of this It's me who has a lot of trouble. ”

"Master, don't talk about the Eighth Prince in the emperor in the future."

"Don't mention it, don't mention it again." Sun Kui regretted his mouthfulness just now, "According to the rules of previous years, I will choose a gift for the Eighth Prince at will, and then send it to Xingde Palace." ”

"Okay, I'll pick it now."

Sun Doudou's movements were very fast, and it didn't take long for him to pick out a gift.

"Master, what do you think of this gift?"

Sun Kui looked at it, "Isn't this the bad inkstone that the emperor used before?" "This inkstone is a tribute inkstone, but some time ago, because he accidentally fell to the ground and broke a corner, Sun Kui put this inkstone away.

"That's right, isn't this just a gift for the Eighth Prince?" Sun Doudou said with a smile, "The inkstone used by the emperor was rewarded to the Eighth Prince, and the Eighth Prince should be very happy." ”

"Okay, then you can send it." Although a corner was broken, it didn't hurt.

Sun Doudou took the broken inkstone to Xingde Palace.

Although the Eighth Prince was not liked by the emperor, Sun Doudou would salute in a proper manner every time he saw the Eighth Prince, and never showed the slightest contempt.

Sun Doudou first respectfully saluted the children of the Eight Desolations, and then congratulated the Eight Emperors on a happy birthday, and then gave a gift, saying that this inkstone is commonly used by the emperor.

The eighth prince said that when he recovered from his injuries, he personally went to thank Emperor Wu of Zhou. He thanked Sun Doudou again.

Yu Hai took the brocade box, then sent Sun Doudou out of the house, and gave him a money bag.

Sun Doudou was also not polite, and generously accepted the money bag.

Yu Hai returned to the house and saw that the Eighth Prince had opened the brocade box, which was an inkstone.

"Put it on your desk."

"Yes, Your Highness." When Yu Hai took the inkstone, he found that one corner of the inkstone was broken, and he was surprised, "Why is it broken?" ”

In fact, it's not bad, it's just that the top corner of the inkstone is broken, and it doesn't affect the use. Sun Kui felt that this inkstone had a broken corner, and it was not suitable for Emperor Wu of Zhou to use it again.

"It's not bad either." The Eighth Prince said calmly, "It can still be used." ”

"This ......" works, but it still breaks a corner. The emperor doesn't like His Royal Highness anymore, so there's no need to send a broken inkstone to His Highness.

"This is the inkstone commonly used by my father, and there is nothing if a corner is broken."

Seeing that the eighth prince looked completely indifferent, Yu Hai was very distressed and wronged His Royal Highness.

"Your Highness......"

The Eighth Prince interrupted Yu Hai and said, "I think it's good, put it on my desk." ”

Yu Hai didn't dare to say anything more, and put the inkstone on the desk of the eighth prince according to his words.

(End of chapter)