After a night of fermentation, the news that the emperor agreed to cut the expenses of the clan and the imminent implementation of the Tui'en Decree spread throughout the capital, along with the news that the imperial concubine Shen was pregnant.

Early in the morning, Yan Mansion.

After sending away the people who came to report the news, Yan Shifan was in a good mood, in order to ensure the smooth implementation of the plan, he did not sleep all night, and now the burden that had been deposited in his heart for a long time finally landed, Yan Shifan couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort in his body and mind, and when this excitement passed, followed by irresistible fatigue, Yan Shifan fell asleep on the chair.

I don't know how long I slept, when Yan Shifan woke up, he was wearing a piece of clothing to keep out the cold, Yan Song sat aside, took the ginseng soup handed over by the maid, and rinsed his mouth.

"Father!" Yan Shifan was startled, and was about to get up and salute.

And Yan Song just waved his hand and signaled, "No need, you didn't sleep all night last night, let's sleep a little longer." ”

"Father, last night Your Majesty has adopted your suggestion, and will reduce the expenses of the clan and implement the Grace Decree!" Although Yan Song said this, Yan Shifan still got up from his chair and told him what happened last night.

"I know all this, these news have been spreading in the capital for a long time, I heard that King Yu rushed to the palace early in the morning, wanting to meet the saint." Yan Song said, took the handkerchief soaked in hot water from the maid's hand, and wiped his hands.

"Why did King Yu suddenly rush to the palace, could it be that he went to speak for those clans?" Yan Shifan frowned and said suspiciously.

"I think so, but King Yu's trip is destined to be fruitless, Your Majesty's Chrysostom has been opened, and it is impossible to take it back! Moreover, this matter was originally promoted by His Majesty. After Yan Song finished speaking, he turned his gaze to the green plants planted in the yard, and couldn't help but feel good.

Perhaps tired of watching, Yan Song turned his gaze back and continued: "By the way, do you know the news from the palace last night? ”

"Father refers to the fact that the imperial concubine Shen is pregnant?" Yan Shifan heard what Yan Song said, and after recalling it for a while, he responded.

"Yes, this matter is not trivial, and it is related to the survival of our Yan family in the future! His Majesty has not appointed a crown prince at present, and at this time, there is news in the palace that the imperial concubine Shen is pregnant......"

"Father, do you mean that the child in the womb of the imperial concubine, if it is a boy, may become the prince of my Ming Dynasty in the future? Your Majesty also has two sons, one King Yu and one King Jing, and His Royal Highness King Yu also has a child, which is a waste ......"

"Okay, no need to say any more, go down and prepare, and I'll go to court later!" Just as Yan Shifan wanted to say the next words, Yan Song opened his mouth abruptly and interrupted him.

"Yes, father."

Seeing that his father had no desire to talk again, Yan Shifan had to bow down and leave.

……

The Forbidden City, the Palace of Nourishing the Heart.

Jiajing looked at his son who was kneeling in front of him, and after listening to his story, he sighed helplessly, helped him up from the ground, and said lightly: "So, you are here to be a lobbyist for them?" ”

When Zhu Zaikun heard what Jiajing said, he hurriedly replied: "Father, the sons and daughters have indeed been entrusted by some clans to persuade Your Majesty, and ask Your Majesty to take back your order!" ”

"What nonsense, I'm the emperor! How can I take back the promise I made? ”

Hearing Jiajing's angry reprimand, Zhu Zaikun became even more panicked, and then knelt on the ground, knocked his head on the ground a few times, and sobbed: "If the father and emperor rashly cut the expenses of the clan, there will be many low-level clans who will not be able to survive!" They were originally side branches, barely surviving on the silver and rice distributed by the imperial court, and now that they cut the expenses of the clan, the vast majority of them have to fall to the point of selling their sons and daughters. ”

After listening to this, Jiajing stood in place silently for a long time, and said lightly: "I know what you said, so I plan to take those big sects first!" ”

After Jiajing finished speaking, he turned around and took out the fold that Yan Song had handed over to him earlier and sent it to Zhu Zaikun.

"Take a look for yourself, this is the fold that Yan Song handed over earlier."

After reading the contents of the compromise, Zhu Zaikun was silent, and the compromises recorded in detail the many crimes committed by the vassal king and the clan.

"Father, son, ......"

"Alright, go down! I'll have to go to the Cabinet meeting later, and I'll think about what I said earlier. ”

"Okay, son-in-law retire!"

After Zhu Zaikun, the king of Yu, saluted respectfully to Jiajing, and then left the Heart Cultivation Palace.

After Yuwang Zhu Zaikun left, Lu Fang stepped in and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, someone found the slave maid last night and wanted to ask the slave maid to help say a few good words. ”

"Hmph, their hands are stretched out, first my son, then you, are they going to hit my concubine and unborn child next?"

Seeing that the emperor was angry, Lu Fang hurriedly knelt on the ground, and then pleaded: "Please also ask Your Majesty to calm his anger!" Otherwise, let the slave send someone to check......"

Jiajing shook his head and refused: "No need, it's a matter of time anyway." ”

……

Outside the cabinet, Yan Song and Xu Jie were greeting each other, and the rest of the people followed silently behind them.

"The matter proposed by Elder Yan Ge at the court meeting earlier has been approved by His Majesty, and it will be discussed at the cabinet meeting today."

"Thanks to Your Majesty's wrong love, the old man just did what I, the head of the cabinet, should do."

"Anyway, last night, the officials of the four ministries of officials, labor, criminals, and rituals took the people of the capital to His Majesty's petition, can Elder Yan Ge know about it?"

"I really don't know, I went to bed early last night."

"Hahaha, that's great!"

Entering the cabinet, the charcoal fire in the furnace was blazing, dispelling the chill that enveloped everyone, and while the emperor had not yet come, Yan Song put on his reading glasses and dealt with the twists and turns with Xu Jie.

"Anyway, did the Gansu Governor Wang Jien recruit?" Yan Song put aside the corrected recital and asked out loud.

"I have recruited it a long time ago, I originally planned to send people to Jinyiwei's side, but who knew that I would recruit them all halfway! According to his confession, a large number of people were arrested in Gansu, and the state treasury received a total of 3,920,000 taels of silver. Xu Jie glanced at Yan Song in surprise and responded.

"It would be nice if there were more such people, in this case, how can the court still worry about silver!"

"yes!"

Xu Jie also followed with emotion.

"Your Majesty has arrived!"

When the two of them heard the sound, they stopped reading and commenting, and then Yan Song took off his reading glasses and knelt on the ground with the other cabinet members, waiting for the arrival of the emperor.

Jiajing looked at the many ministers kneeling on the ground, and said loudly: "Get up." ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After Jiajing sat down in his own seat, he only listened to 'Ding! With a sound, Jiajing behind the bead curtain knocked on the jade pan.

Lu Fang, who was on the side, then spoke: "What the cabinet is discussing today is to reduce the expenses of the clan and implement the Tui En Order!" If there are no objections, let's get started. ”

"Your Majesty, the minister has something to say." Yan Song was the first to speak, and said to Jiajing behind the bead curtain.

"Speak." When Jiajing heard this, he motioned for Yan Song to speak.

"The minister proposed that when reducing the expenses of the clan, the clan should be divided into major clans and their side branches, and it cannot be generalized!"

"The bulk is rich, but the side is poor! Most of the silver and rice issued by the imperial court to the clan every year were owned by the large clans, and the rest of the side branches could only get a very small part of it, barely making ends meet. ”