After Zhang Rong learned from the housekeeper that Jiajing had Jinyiwei and Dongchang dispatched at the same time, he was a little relieved and said with emotion.

"It seems that in Your Majesty's heart, there are still our clans and nobles!"

Then, I saw Zhang Rong react, looked at the housekeeper on the side, and commanded in a deep voice.

"You immediately send someone to invite the people of Chengguo Gong, Dingguo Gong, Wuqing Hou, Xincheng Hou, and Qianguo Mansion to the mansion, and say that I have something important to discuss with them, go quickly!"

"Yes, sir, the little one will go!"

When the butler heard this, he forcibly suppressed the horror in his heart, leaned down, and answered in a deep voice.

The reason why the housekeeper was so shocked was because the names mentioned by Zhang Rong were all the top clans and nobles of the Ming Dynasty.

Just as the butler was about to leave, a servant hurried into the room, leaned down, and respectfully reported.

"Old ...... Master, Cheng Guogong is waiting outside, saying that he has something important to discuss! ”

After a while, several more slaves came running in one after another, and reported respectfully.

"Master, Dingguo Gong is also here!"

"Master, Wuqinghou, Xinchenghou, Qianguo Mansion, and other clans and nobles have all sent people!"

After listening to the reports of the slaves, Zhang Rong's face was full of relief, and after scanning the circle, he commanded in a deep voice.

"Bring them in now!"

"Yes, sir!"

After hearing Zhang Rong's command, the servants did not hesitate at all, and immediately turned around and left the room.

After that, Zhu Xizhong, Duke of Chengguo, Xu Yande, Duke of Dingguo, as well as Wuqinghou, Xinchenghou and other clans and nobles, gathered in the hall used to entertain guests in the British Mansion.

Zhang Rong looked around, and saw that the person who came was almost there, and after clearing his throat, he immediately chose to go straight to the point.

"Everyone should know about the incident that is spreading in the DPRK right now, right?"

As soon as Zhang Rong's words fell, Zhu Xizhong, the Duke of Chengguo on the side, stood up and said indignantly.

"This group of bastards, how can there be such a coincidence in this world, His Majesty on the front foot has just announced that an exam will be held in the Tribute Courtyard specifically for the clan and the nobles, and there is news that there are ghosts and gods in the Tribute Courtyard on the back foot!"

As soon as Zhu Xizhong's words fell, Xu Yande, the Duke of Dingguo on the side, also followed closely to express his thoughts.

"Hmph, I see, this is obviously a small trick played by those officials behind their backs, they don't want to see us, the clans and nobles, be reused by His Majesty!"

"This group of damn insects, if this is placed in the Taizu years, one of them will be counted as one, and they will all have to be pulled to peel and fill the grass!"

The words of Zhu Xizhong, the Duke of Chengguo, and Xu Yande, the Duke of Dingguo, successfully resonated with all the clans and nobles present, and for them, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

If you miss this time, the next opportunity, you don't know when it will be!

After all, the clans and nobles have been silent for too long, and the comfortable and leisurely life is gradually eating away at their will.

Just ask, when you are born with a noble status, no worries about food and clothing, as long as you don't make big mistakes, you can spend this life rich and leisurely, will you still choose to take up arms and fight the enemy to the death?

As long as there is a choice, the vast majority of people will not choose to pick up arms, go to the battlefield, and fight the enemy desperately!

And at present, the clans and nobles of the Ming Dynasty are in this state, and the pampered life has gradually eaten away the residual blood and courage in their bodies.

Over time, they gradually became cowardly, short-sighted, and stupid, and naturally forgot what they relied on to get to where they are today.

The Ze of the gentleman, the fifth generation and beheaded, is what he said.

In this process, there are also many knowledgeable clans and nobles who realize that they can't go on like this, and if they continue like this, the clans and nobles will quickly become corrupted and become "pigs" who only know how to enjoy, and they will never be able to regain their former glory.

And at this critical moment, Jiajing proposed to hold an examination specifically for the clan and nobles in the court, which made them see a glimmer of light, after all, with the support of His Majesty, everything will be much easier.

Even if it is just to let the clan and the noble children start from the grassroots level, at least it can be regarded as giving them the opportunity to sharpen themselves!

After all, there are so many people in the Ming clan and nobles, no matter how many useful talents can be produced, at that time, the clans and nobles will have the opportunity to gradually restore their influence in the court.

Immediately, I saw Zhang Rong look around, and then followed the opening.

"Although right now, Your Majesty's side has dispatched Jinyiwei and Dongchang to arrest those officials who spread rumors!"

"But this is still a drop in the bucket, after all, there are so many officials in the DPRK and China, it is impossible for His Majesty to arrest them all in prison, right?"

"English Lord, you mean ......"

When Zhu Xizhong, the Duke of Chengguo on the side, heard Zhang Rong's words, a look of doubt suddenly appeared on his face, and he asked instead.

Facing Zhu Xizhong's doubtful gaze, Zhang Rong organized the language in his mind, and then immediately faced everyone and said all his inner thoughts.

"I mean, we clans and nobles can't watch it, we also have to do our part to share the pressure for Your Majesty, right?"

Zhang Rong's words quickly won the recognition of other clans and nobles on the scene.

"Yes, that's right, that makes sense!"

"Yes, after all, Your Majesty's move is also for us, we can't just watch it!"

After that, Zhu Xizhong, Duke of Chengguo, Xu Yande, Duke of Dingguo, and a large number of clan nobles present such as Wuqinghou and Xinchenghou expressed their attitudes.

"It's settled, you guys go down and prepare separately first, and then make plans after I go to the Forbidden City to meet Your Majesty, what do you think?"

After Zhang Rong finished speaking, he swept his gaze from Zhu Xizhong, the Duke of Chengguo, and Xu Yande, the Duke of Dingguo, as if to ask for the opinions of the two of them.

"Well, I have no opinion, if Your Majesty makes other arrangements, if we act rashly, won't it make Your Majesty's previous achievements undone?"

"Well, I'm okay with that!"

As soon as Zhang Rong's words fell, Zhu Xizhong, the Duke of Chengguo, and Xu Yande, the Duke of Dingguo, expressed their attitudes.

Many clans and nobles present saw that the Duke of Chengguo and the Duke of Dingguo had expressed their attitudes, and they also expressed their agreement with Zhang Rong's proposal one after another.

Seeing that the dust had settled, many of the clans and nobles present did not stay in the British Mansion for too long, but left one after another.

After sending off the last guest, I saw Zhang Rong turn his gaze to the butler on the side and command in a deep voice.

"Prepare a sedan chair and go to the Forbidden City!"

"Yes, sir!"

……

Forbidden City, Ministry of Punishment.

At this moment, Zhang Runde, the waiter of the Criminal Department, is sorting out the backlog of case files in the room.

For the news that is now spreading in the DPRK and that there are ghosts and gods in the Gongyuan, Zhang Runde has a respectful attitude.

Years of experience as an official have taught him that more is better than less, and besides, this is a very sensitive topic.

On the surface, the whole thing was due to the death case on the side of the Gongyuan, and the Taoist priest responsible for exorcising evil spirits died violently, which made the news that there were ghosts and gods in the Gongyuan very loud.

But in fact, it was the officials who wanted to take this opportunity to get His Majesty to postpone the upcoming examinations in the Gongyuan that were specifically aimed at the clan and nobles.

In the final analysis, this is a confrontation between civil officials, clans, and nobles!

"Alas, it's been an eventful time lately!"

Zhang Runde sighed with emotion, and immediately continued to sort out the backlog of case files in his hands.

At this moment, there was a rapid knock on the door from outside the door, and when Zhang Runde saw this, he couldn't help frowning slightly, and commanded in a deep voice.

"Come in!"

As the words fell, only a 'squeak' was heard, and the door of the room was pushed open, only to see an official rushing in in a hurry, with a look of fear and uneasiness on his face.

"Big ...... My lord, no, there are a lot of Jinyi guards and Dongchang people from outside, and right now, they are arresting people everywhere in the Criminal Department according to the list! ”

"What!"

After listening to his subordinates' reports, Zhang Runde suddenly got up from his seat, his face full of horror.

At this moment, Zhang Runde didn't care about the case files in his hand that had not yet been sorted out, so he looked at the subordinate and asked questions.

"What the hell is going on, how can the people of Jinyiwei and Dongchang arrest people in the Criminal Department?"

When the subordinate heard this, he didn't dare to slack off in the slightest, so he had to tell the news he knew.

"My lord, according to the news heard by the official detective, the cause of the incident seems to be because the Criminal Department gave Ouyang Yijing in the matter, and sent a letter to His Majesty on the grounds that there were ghosts and gods in the Tribute Courtyard, asking him to postpone the exam!"

"This letter has angered His Majesty, and then Dongchang and Jinyiwei have been dispatched to arrest those officials who spread rumors!"

"My lord, what should we do next!"

After telling everything he knew, the subordinate looked at Zhang Runde with pleading eyes.

"Damn, this Ouyang Yijing is really a bastard, relying on his identity in the criminal department, he is a disobedient offender!"

"What you caused yourself, pat your ass and leave, in the end, you still have to let us bear it for you!"

The more Zhang Runde spoke, the more angry he became, but he was helpless about it.

Although Ouyang Yijing's criminal department is under the jurisdiction of the Criminal Department, it is actually not under the jurisdiction of the Criminal Department and is an independent institution.

Not only that, although Ouyang Yijing has only seven grades in the criminal department, he has great power, and he is in charge of the attendants, admonishment, supplementing, picking up the relics, and inspecting the affairs of the six hundred divisions, and even the secretary of the criminal department has to temporarily avoid the edge, and he does not dare to offend him at all!

Zhang Runde quickly calmed down after venting the anger in his heart almost as well.

Then, he found a problem that he had ignored, only to see him react, look at the subordinate menacingly, and ask questions.

"By the way, didn't Lord Shangshu give orders before, and the officials in the Criminal Department, big and small, were not allowed to discuss what happened in the Gongyuan?"

"What, is it possible that you take Lord Shangshu's words as a deaf ear?"

When the subordinate heard Zhang Runde's words, he immediately became extremely weak-hearted, and immediately became speechless.

"Big ...... My lord, I ...... We didn't expect it to be like this, we just used this as a talking point, who knows......"

Before the subordinate could finish speaking, he was coldly interrupted by Zhang Runde.

"Hmph, you brought it all on yourself!"

When the subordinate heard Zhang Runde's words, he immediately panicked even more, only to see him kneeling on the ground with a 'plop', crying and pleading.

"My lord, can't you see death without help, right now, those people from Jinyiwei and Dongchang are being implicated in the criminal department without saying anything, and if it goes on like this, everyone will be finished!"

"You are Yan Ge's old people, Jinyiwei and Dongchang will give you a thin face!"

When Zhang Runde heard the subordinate's words, his face was immediately full of black lines: "Idiot, that's Jinyiwei and Dongchang, Yan Ge Lao is nothing in front of them, not to mention me, a little servant of the Criminal Department!" ”

Having said that, Zhang Runde still decided to stand up for his colleagues in the Criminal Department.

No matter what the final result is, in short, this kind of thing must be made by yourself, otherwise, if Jinyiwei and Dongchang are so implicated, people's hearts will be scattered!

Thinking of this, Zhang Runde couldn't help but take a deep breath and forced himself to calm down, after that, I saw Zhang Runde look at the subordinate and command in a deep voice.

"Well, let's bring the official over!"

"Yes, it's an adult, please come with the little one!"

Under the leadership of that subordinate, Zhang Runde walked out of the room and walked straight towards the lobby of the Criminal Department.

As soon as Zhang Runde came to the vicinity of the lobby of the Criminal Department, he saw such a picture, only to see a man with a blue nose and swollen face. The official of the Criminal Department, who was covered in injuries, was kowtowing on the ground: "My lord, the mastermind behind what you said, the lower officials don't know at all!" ”

The chief-looking brocade guard next to him didn't seem to be convinced by his statement, and instead commanded his subordinates on the side.

"Damn, you should still be hard-mouthed, take him down, and serve the big punishment, I don't believe he won't open his mouth!"

"Yes, sir!"

After that, the official of the criminal department was dragged down like a dead dog.

Seeing this, Zhang Runde couldn't help but tremble, and at the same time, his heart was also full of remorse.

"Alas, if I had known, this official would not have come to wade into this troubled water!"

Soon, the brocade guards present noticed Zhang Runde who appeared in the lobby of the criminal department, and the brocade guards next to him just wanted to step forward to interrogate, but were stopped by the chief on the side with his eyes.

I saw that the chief came to Zhang Runde's face, and his tone softened a little.

"Jin Yiwei is handling the case, what is Lord Zhang doing here?"

When Zhang Runde heard this, he couldn't help but panic, and immediately, he saw him leaning down and stubbornly saying.

"Big ...... My lord, the lower officials know that your Jinyiwei and Dongchang are acting under orders, but if you continue to be implicated in this way, I am afraid that the daily operation of the Criminal Department will be affected......"

The chief of the brocade guard could naturally hear the meaning of Zhang Runde's words: "This is the end of the matter, don't be implicated, just be able to make a difference, if it goes on like this, everyone's faces will not look good!" ”

When the chief of the brocade guard heard Zhang Runde's words, he turned around and swept his gaze from the subordinates around him one by one.

Anyway, Jinyiwei's operation has already gained a lot, and no matter how much he can give it to the top.

Just as he was about to agree to Zhang Runde's proposal and lead people away, he saw a director of the East Factory walking over with several East Factory guards.

"Yo, what are you Jinyiwei trying to do, is it difficult, do you want to shield criminals?"

After the chief of the East Factory finished speaking, he glanced over Zhang Runde and the chief of the brocade guard, and his tone was full of banter.

When the chief of the brocade guard saw the arrival of the people from Dongchang, he couldn't help but bow his head and curse secretly.

"These damn Dongchang fans!"

Not only the chief of the brocade guard, but even the other brocade guards on the scene also looked at those Dongchang guards with an extraordinarily hostile gaze.

Those Dongchang factory guards, after noticing the unkind gaze of Jinyiwei, also followed and glared back.

The atmosphere between the two sides suddenly became tense.

Immediately, I saw the chief of the brocade guard earlier, looked at the chief of the East Factory, and followed the opening.

"Hmph, I'm acting in Jinyiwei, why do I have to explain it to the people in your East Factory?"

When the chief of the East Factory heard this, he was not annoyed at all, and after looking the chief of the brocade guard up and down, he immediately spoke.

"Hmph, having said that, I'm afraid that some people will take this opportunity to shield those who are suspicious, come on, take him down for me, and interrogate him strictly!"

After the director of the East Factory finished speaking, he stretched out his hand and pointed to Zhang Runde on the side, and instructed his subordinates.

"Yes, sir!"

As soon as the words of the director of the East Factory fell, the guards of the East Factory on the side immediately stepped forward and wanted to escort Zhang Runde down.

When the chief of the brocade guard on the side heard this, he sneered, swept his gaze from the chief of the East Factory, and commanded in a deep voice.

"Hmph, I'm going to see who dares to snatch people from our Jinyi Guard!"

As soon as the words fell, the brocade guards who were waiting on the side immediately surrounded them, and the Dongchang factory guards did not dare to make any more moves when they saw that the other party was overwhelming.

The director of the East Factory, seeing that the other party was powerful, knew that he could not do anything, so he had to order his subordinates to let go of Zhang Runde.

"Hmph, wait and see, this hatred, I wrote it down in Dongchang!"

After scanning everyone at the scene with the gaze of selecting people, the director of the East Factory put down his cruel words, and immediately left the lobby of the Criminal Department with the guards of the East Factory.

……

The Forbidden City, outside the Qianqing Palace.

At this moment, Zhang Rong looked at the Qianqing Palace close at hand in front of him, and his heart became more and more uneasy.

"Alas, I don't know what the current situation is, I heard that there are many officials in the court, and the upper secretary asks His Majesty to postpone the upcoming exam in the Gongyuan!"

"In case Your Majesty can't bear the pressure and agrees to the proposal of those officials, then what can we do, we, the clans and nobles, are counting on this opportunity to turn over!"

Immediately, I saw Zhang Rong withdraw his gaze from the Qianqing Palace, take a deep breath, and comfort himself.

"No, no, no matter what Your Majesty says, he is also a person who has experienced the Great Rites, and this little thing should not be enough to shake His Majesty's will!"

At this moment, I saw Lu Fang quietly come to Zhang Rong and bow to him.

"British Duke, you can go in, Your Majesty is waiting for you inside!"

When Zhang Rong heard Lu Fang's words, he suddenly came back to his senses and bowed slightly to Lu Fang, expressing his gratitude.

"Well, I'm tired of Grandpa Lu!"

When Lu Fang heard Zhang Rong's words, a flattered expression suddenly appeared on his face, and he couldn't help but say modestly.

"Where, where, the British prince will come with us!"

"Hmm."

After that, the British public Zhang Rong, under the guidance of Lu Fang, stepped on the stairs of the Qianqing Palace.

After the two entered the Qianqing Palace, they saw Lu Fang turn his gaze, and Jiajing, who was sitting on the dragon chair at the moment, leaned down and reported respectfully.

"Your Majesty, the British Duke has arrived!"

"Hmm."

When Jiajing heard this, he just responded imperceptibly, and immediately, Lu Fang came straight to Jiajing's side and stood still, like a sculpture.

"Weichen knocks to see Your Majesty, long live my emperor, long live, long live!"

After Zhang Rong finished speaking, he planned to kneel on the ground, but who knows, but was stopped by Jiajing.

"Alright, English duke, you don't have to salute me!"

After Jiajing finished speaking, without waiting for Zhang Rong to respond, he waved his hand again, and then commanded.

"Come, give a seat to the British!"

As soon as Jiajing's words fell, a eunuch soon stepped forward and brought a seat for the British Gong Zhang Rong and covered it with soft cushions.

Seeing this, Zhang Rong immediately arched his hand to Jiajing and expressed his gratitude.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Well, sit down!"

Jiajing didn't care about this, just raised his eyebrows and motioned for Zhang Rong to sit down on the chair.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

When Zhang Rong heard this, he didn't excuse himself, he sat down on the chair directly, and after a while, Jiajing's ancient sound sounded in his ears.

"British duke, do you have anything to tell me when you come to see me this time?"

Zhang Rong heard Jiajing's words, and after organizing the language in his mind, he spoke cautiously.

"Your Majesty...... Your Majesty, to tell you the truth, Weichen recently got some news, it is said that Yan Shifan, the old man of the small pavilion, invited some Taoist priests to go to the Gongyuan to exorcise evil spirits for the upcoming exam, and later these Taoist priests all died! ”

"Since then, the rumor that there are ghosts and gods in the Gongyuan has been very loud, and it has spread in the court and in the capital!"

"There are even some officials, taking this opportunity, to go up to Your Majesty, wanting you to postpone the upcoming exam in the Gongyuan, Wei Chen feels ......"

After listening to Zhang Rong's narration, a warm smile appeared on Jiajing's face, and he saw him looking at Zhang Rong and comforting him unhurriedly.

"British Princess, you can rest assured of this, I beg you to go back and tell everyone later, no matter what, the exam will still be held normally!"

There is no doubt that Jiajing's remarks were a shot in the arm for the nervous British public.

Let's ask, in this world, what is more reassuring than the emperor's promise?

After this, I saw Zhang Rong pluck up his courage and turn his gaze to Jiajing, who was sitting on the dragon chair at the moment, and continued.

"Your Majesty, to tell you the truth, after learning about the actions of those officials, everyone was quite indignant, and they also wanted to do something for Your Majesty, you see......"

When Jiajing heard Zhang Rong's words, after looking Zhang Rong up and down, his face was full of relief, and he immediately spoke.

"Well, I'm glad you have this heart, but for now, your focus should be on the upcoming exam!"

"But you can't give up your roots!"

When Zhang Rong heard this, there was no disappointment on his face, and he immediately lowered his head and responded respectfully.

"Yes, Your Majesty, Weichen will tell you what you said!"

"Hmm."

(End of chapter)