After receiving Kangxi's edict to enter Beijing on October 26, Tong Guowei, the minister of the Shangshu who stayed in Beijing, felt a slight relaxation of his heartstrings, and immediately consulted the six Shangshu servants to his mansion in Tieshi Hutong to meet and arrange for the pick-up in person. The Criminal Department of the Ministry of Household Affairs was ordered to fold all the backlog of cases into a document and write out an abridgement for the emperor's examination, and the Luan Yi Department of the Ministry of Rites and Rites was ordered to raise a note for the ceremony, and the Ministry of War would synchronize the army to lead the Yamen, and the generals sent by Shuntianfu and the Wolf Blind agreed to hand over the customs defense - the Wolf Blind soldiers would not enter Gyeonggi to prevent further turmoil in the hearts of the people. Tong Guowei was thoughtful and confident, and he spoke for most of the day. These officials already knew that something had happened to Chengde, but they couldn't guess how much the prince had committed and how much he had to do with him, and they were pregnant with ghosts one by one and wanted to ask Tong Guowei. But this Tong Zhongtang said eloquently, and the long speech was not painful, and everyone couldn't help but be a little anxious. Tong Guowei saw that everyone looked at him, and smiled back: "Brothers, I know what you want to ask. But for now, like you, I don't know. For the courtiers to pay attention to loyalty to the master, what do you want to do so much? You are all in peace. I've been with the emperor for decades, and I haven't seen anything? Long live the time when he has not sinned against his loyal servants. To have a strange mind, which brother do you want you to get close to, he thinks that he has a cup of friendship with which master, but he wants to admit guilt, this is called self-inflicted! Running errands in peace is a self-sufficient policy! "Let's serve tea and send it off. With this rambling official talk, everyone became more and more confused, so they had to disperse.

Tong Guowei taught others some truth, but in fact, he was the most anxious for many days. Yin Yu writes almost every day, he knows everything about the movement and stillness of Rehe, and he himself is facing a decision. Tong Guowei is the cousin of Emperor Kangxi's biological mother Tong Jiashi, a member of the Zhengpai clan, and the uncle of Huanghuang. But Tong Jia's Kangxi died in three years, and people went to tea and cool, plus he was a pearl faction, and Suo Etu controlled the government, but he didn't let the Tong family get on the side of the study for more than 20 years. Emperor Kangxi conquered Galdan, Ulan Butong fought a battle, Suo Etu borrowed a knife to kill people, and sent Tong Guowei's eldest brother Tong Guogang to the Jedi, and was shot like a hedgehog by random arrows, and the hatred between the two families became deeper and deeper. On this floor, he went into the study and was on guard against the prince everywhere. Now that Yinren had an accident, he was overjoyed, but then the eldest brother also had an accident, and his spirit that had just loosened a little tightened again. There are also the words in Yinren's letter, "Although Yinren has no power, the power of the prince still exists, and the holy family seems to be unfinished", which made him even more vigilant. The ups and downs of the sea are unpredictable, and Yinzhen is not a character to mess with. Therefore, he could not make up his mind what to do.

Tong Guowei was searching for ideas in the study, but he saw the housekeeper come in and said, "Zhongtang, Second Master Long is here." ”

"Second Master Long" is Tong Guogang's son Long Keduo, who often comes to the mansion to walk around, and was originally a fellow acquaintance of Shuntianfu, but he was implicated in the case of Zhang Wuge and lived at home. Tong Guowei is upset at the moment, where would he like to see this unlucky bastard? Because he said angrily: "Just say I'm resting, I'll see you tomorrow if there's anything." He's going to make a fuss, and you can see which amount of money you can give him. ”

In fact, Long Keduo has already been admitted to the hospital. This is a middle-aged man with a short stature, in his forties, Zitang has two knife wounds on his cheeks, flashing black and red, which are the war wounds left behind by the Western Expedition. This person has long been in the official residence, and he has regained his official position, and he has been a fellow acquaintance and has suffered from things, and he has repeatedly stumbled, thinking that with this uncle who is in power and the opposition, he can still get out step by step, but the people of the Tong family have already soared one by one, and for some reason it is not his turn! He stood under the porch, and when he heard Tong Guowei's words, he was so angry that he was so angry that he almost fell into tears, and then he forced it down, but he pretended not to hear it, stepped into the study with one foot, and said with a smile: "Sixth uncle, your body is strong?" ”

"Dick!" Tong Guowei expected that when he heard his words, he couldn't help blushing, let go of his hand, and said: "I'm so tired that my body hurts, I just wanted to crook for a while, and you came!" If you don't have anything to say, why do you have to see me? Long Keduo was uncomfortable, seeing him look down on himself so much, he was useless. pressed and pressed, after all, he couldn't help it, sat opposite him with a swing of robe, and said coldly: "It seems that my mourning star really makes the sixth uncle disgusted." The year before last, the alternate Lang borrowed 300 silver, and the sixth uncle was worried about it! On the contrary, I have brought you even the interest today! With that, he took out a five-hundred-tael silver ticket from the page of his boots and handed it over. Tong Guowei was stunned by him, and hurriedly said: "Virtuous nephew! Don't get me wrong, I didn't mean that...... I'm troubled, and I don't believe you. You can't be so shabby your uncle! ”

Long Keduo's five hundred taels of silver had just been borrowed from the household department to fight the famine, and when he saw that Tong Guowei was sincere, he rubbed his legs and put away the rope, and said: "That said, my nephew appreciates it." I heard that something bad happened to the prince, I think you are in the top spot in the study! I want to ask Uncle Sixth to help me talk about the matter of revenge-Sixth Uncle, in my conscience, look at who I have come out of the West together, who is like me? Even the horse cannon is an eight-seater general! Tong Guowei became angry when he heard this: At this time, he actually came to me to ask for an official! But his prime minister's city government, paying attention to joy and anger is invisible, he groaned slightly, and said slowly: "In terms of qualifications, you are also full of books in the military department." When you come back from the Western Expedition, you will release your lieutenant, if you don't wear a yarn hat, you will come back from Uriya Sutai privately, who can compare to you? ”

"Does Uncle Sixth see it that way?" Roncodo sneered, "It seems that my nephew doesn't know how to lift." In the Gobi Desert where the ghosts don't lay eggs in Uriya Sutai, in addition to the distribution of the army, who is willing to be the leader of the troops there? I can come back and count my knowledge of current affairs, I didn't learn from my former lieutenant general, went out to patrol the sentry, and called the quicksand to be buried alive! ”

Hearing this, Tong Guowei suspected that he was deliberately rectifying, swallowed his breath and said: "Second brother, you listen to my advice, now that the turtle in Beijing City is turning over the pool, how is the prince, how is the eldest brother and the thirteenth elder brother, rumors are flying all over the sky, and I don't know where to go for the court - someone has already said that I am 'Tong Banchao'." Wu Sangui's election is called 'Western Election', and the one I elected is also called 'Tong Election'! Listen, what kind of good words is this? What good is it to choose you out again at this time, and you still carry sin? ”

"The crown prince has collapsed, only in your favor, what are you afraid of?" Long Keduo's face calmed down, "It's the fourth master's life now, it's not easy!" "But Chitose has also fallen!" Tong Guowei frowned and said, "Looking at its situation, the matter is bigger than the prince!" I can't hide the things here from you, to put it mildly, the skin doesn't exist, and the hair will be attached? Long Keduo smiled and said, "It turns out that the sixth uncle is worried about this!" The third master and the eighth master are still there! The new prince can't run away from one of them, and they have to count on you to protect them! ”

Tong Guowei was taken aback and didn't speak for a long time. Long Keduo's casual words were like an enlightenment for him. Although the third master and the eighth master are not as close to themselves as the eldest brother, they are also intimate, why do they only want to be in trouble for themselves, and they can't think that others are more demanding of themselves? What a fan of the authorities! Thinking about it, a pleased smile appeared on his face, and just as he was about to speak, the family member of the door boss came in and reported: "The scholar Wang Liang asks to see the middle cousin!" ”

"In this case, you go back first." Tong Guowei got up with a smile and said, "I'm old, and I count on your juniors to have a lot of things!" It's good to do it yourself—please come in, Lord Wang! With that, he greeted the dripping eaves. Long Keduo hurriedly resigned, stood under the magnolia tree, and waited for Wang Luo to enter the study before leaving in a hurry.

"Haoweng!" Tong Guowei invited Wang to sit down, took the tea from his family and saluted it with his own hands, with a smile on his face, "I have long said that I will visit you in the house, but I am entangled in many things, so I have to send people to greet you frequently." The saint has asked you several times, I have turned around, have you ever seen it? I can't take care of it anywhere, Hao Weng is more considerate, even if he is sympathetic to me. Wang Luo looked tired, coughed dryly, and said: "I have been uprooted in heaven, and I have died all the time, and the grace of God is so high, and I am more and more ashamed that there is no way." Now that there are more and more rumors, and there is no clear will, I used to think that I was just passing the autumn wind, but now I can't sit still. Don't talk to me, tell me, the emperor abolished the crown prince, is it true or not? Tong Guowei moved his seat forward cordially and said, "Hao Weng must have read the edict of the deactivation of the prince's seal?" ”

Wang shook his head and said, "That is not accurate." Long live has long said that it is inappropriate to use the words 'Yuqing Palace Master' for the next line. The old gentleman was so pedantic, Tong Guowei had no choice but to smile slightly, and said: "Hao Weng, you don't ask me to speak officially, this is trustworthy to me." I respect your moral articles, and tell you the truth, now the prince, the eldest brother, and the thirteenth elder brother, I don't know what they have done, they are all under house arrest! Wang Luo nodded, his eyes jumped, and said, "I have been prepared." This kind of thing is only the death of a courtier. As he spoke, he took out a stack of Xue Tao paper from his arms and handed it to Tong Guowei, "Please take a look at Lord Zhongtang." ”

"What is this?" When Tong Guowei took it, there was no title, no payment, and a few pieces of paper were densely written with people's names, but he immediately understood that it was this bad old man who contacted his protégé and old officials, and he wanted to protect Yinren in the concert, sneered in his heart, but said in his mouth: "I understand, Hao Weng wants to protect the prince." This is the time when my courtiers see the backbone and see the wind. How can I Tong Guowei be willing to descend? As he spoke, he walked to the corner of the case without hesitation, and filled in his name under Wang Yu's name, "I'm also one-no, not me, even Zhang Hengchen and Ma Xiushui will not stand idly by!" ”

Wang Zhu came here, originally did not expect Tong Guowei to join the name of Gubao, only to ask him to stand by and not suppress even if he was satisfied, seeing that he was so generous, he signed in person, and he also wanted to persuade Zhang Tingyu and Ma Qi to also come to protect the prince, I couldn't help but feel a confidant, took the paper, it was already old tears, and said: "Tong Xiang, I can't think of you...... So is loyalty! I originally thought that there was a gap between the Tong family and Suo Etu, although I would not gloat, I would definitely not help...... The crown prince is the foundation of the country, and the foundation of the country is difficult to clean up...... You treat each other with all sincerity, but the old man is ashamed, where did this person start...... Prince, Prince...... What the hell happened to you? I really hate myself, why didn't I resist the decree at that time and go to Chengde together...... You useless king......" he said incoherently, his robe wet with tears. Seeing him so sad, Tong Guowei suddenly felt a sense of guilt, his heart was sour, and he also shed tears, comforting Wang Wei and saying, "Don't be too sad, old man. Protecting the prince and consolidating the country is a matter for the courtiers, although I am not sensitive, I will not be so confused that I don't know the general situation. Rest assured, the prince's affairs have not yet been finalized. As far as I know, Long Live Lord didn't close his eyes for six days and six nights, and he knew about the big brother's nightmare, and the Sacred Heart was still hesitating. Even if the prince is at fault, he is also harmful, so there is room for protection......"

"Alas......" Wang Luo sighed sadly, unable to say anything. He is orthodox Taoism, he doesn't believe in any demon law that can harm people, the prince is weak and incompetent, and in his opinion, it is a curable disease, but when he hears his ambiguous palace rumors, if it is true, it will be in vain for a lifetime...... Thinking of this, I felt even more sad when the knife cut my heart, and I cried loudly. Tong Guowei persuaded him for a while and personally sent him out of the house without mentioning it.

The situation is changing dramatically. Kangxi returned to Beijing non-stop, and the next day he ordered Zhang Tingyu to send an edict, gather hundreds of officials to the Temple of Heaven, sue heaven and earth, and issued a proclamation to depose the prince Yinren:

Prime Minister Heshan Chen Aixin Jueluo Xuanye would like to tell Haotian God: The minister is Liangde, and Zhaoxu Piji has been in power for more than 47 years. In the national economy and people's livelihood, night and night, not favoritism, not seeking the small, dare not slack off, this bandit is known to the subjects of the world, the heavens, the real appreciation of the ministers! However, I don't know what the minister is innocent of, the one who gives birth to a son is like a Yinren, who occupies the position of the Qinggong, does not want to be motivated, and is prone to becoming ill. The ministers observe their actions, do not follow the teachings of the ministers, do not speak faithfully, do not perform their virtues and righteousness, gather their henchmen, commit violence and fornication, and humiliate the courtiers. Thinking about the great cause created by the ancestors with great difficulty, how can it be put into this person? It is used to smoke Mu Xiujing, and it is played in the sky, that is, Yinren will be abolished from the position of the prince. Set up the Qing Dynasty to be long, begging to increase the longevity of the ministers, and the ministers will be exhausted, diligently seeking governance to pay the virtue of compassion; If the natural disaster is set up, please give the minister a quick death, and in the name of the whole minister, so as to avoid the unspeakable catastrophe...... The ministers trembled, and the spine wept blood!

Zhang Tingyu read, thinking of Kangxi's painful face when he dictated the edict, his sick and broken body, and looked at the ministers of the black crows below, and saw that some of the elder brothers in front of him bowed their heads and were silent, some were picking at the bricks, and some were calm, looking unmoved, and their hearts were gray, and they also shed tears. Choked and bowed to the altar, waved his hand to order the officials to disperse, and then got on the sedan chair and returned to the Qianqing Palace to pay the decree. The elder brothers knew that the emperor owed peace, so they also followed the Xihuamen to hand the sign into the big house to ask for peace.

Kangxi wore a small smoked mink satin crown, a mink yellow gown and a sauce-colored Jiang silk Tianma leather robe, and a string of coconut Wang Fang Buddha Chaozhu in his hand, waiting for Zhang Tingyu to come back in the Xinuan Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace. Ma Qi and Tong Guowei knelt on the ground one by one, looking at Kangxi quietly, and neither spoke. Seeing that Liu Tiecheng and Fifth Brother Zhang were guiding Zhang Tingyu to the Danqi, Delentai came in and said, "Zhang Tingyu is back." Kangxi stood up.

"Lord," Zhang Tingyu's expression was gloomy, and he slowly walked to the Sumeru seat, held the sacrificial proclamation with both hands, and said, "The minister comes back to pay the decree." Kangxi bowed to the clerk heavily, took it, sighed, handed it to Li Dequan, who was standing beside him, sat down and asked, "Is there anything to say below?" Zhang Tingyu lost his identity as an angel worshipper at this time, so he asked for peace first, then knelt under Tong Guowei, and said with a reluctant smile: "There are no words." The elder brothers also came in with a sign and waited for the order in the heavenly street. The servant came in from the Qianqing Gate, and saw the king kneeling in front of the door, crying and begging to see his master. Does the master see them? Kangxi was stunned for a moment and said, "Brothers, don't come in, please go to the palace and send them back." Call...... Come in, king. ”

Zhang Tingyu agreed to go out, and silence returned to the huge hall, and even the movements of the eunuchs walking lightly outside the hall could be heard. Ma Qi and Tong Guowei's hearts were a little anxious. It stands to reason that the abolition of a prince should set up a prince, I thought that this matter must be involved in the book of astronomy, but I didn't mention a word, what kind of idea did the emperor have? Just as he was looking down and thinking, Kangxi coughed lightly and asked, "Tong Guowei, what are you thinking?" ”

"Slave ......" Tong Guowei was caught off guard, panicked for a while, and said, "The slave is thinking about the prince." These words are so smooth that they don't fall to the ground, it can be said that they want to think about Yinren, or they want to choose the new prince, Ma Qi couldn't help but laugh secretly when he heard it, but Kangxi said: "This is the first priority today, of course you should think about it." Yinren was abolished, half of it was a nightmare town, and he was no longer able to be the prince of the people, and half of it was himself, who did not study and did not cultivate virtue. He is a clever person, and he is not under other elder brothers, if he is willing to read like the third elder brother, and the eighth elder brother is willing to read and cultivate virtue, how can he become a villain? ”

The two of them broke and crumpled every word of Kangxi's words, and chewed carefully. It seems that Kangxi is interested in these two elder brothers, but after careful comparison, it seems that the eighth elder brother is more preemptive! Just thinking about it, Kangxi said again: "But the third and the eighth, I don't want to take them." The third elder brother excerpts the chapter and quotes, the eighth elder brother is gentle and gentle, neither of them has the hard bones of the fourth, it seems that natural people are born in the world, and it is always difficult to gather all virtues in one......" As he was saying, Zhang Tingyu came in with Wang Luo, and just saluted Kangxi, Wang Luo was already prostrate on the ground, crying bitterly and said: "Long live!" What crime did the prince commit and depose for no reason? ……”

"Gratuitous?" Kangxi waited for him to restrain his voice, and asked coldly, "The reasons for his crimes are all written in the edict and in the letter to heaven, haven't you heard?" The king paused again and again, and said: "The ministers have seen and listened, and there is nothing to say about chasing after the wind and shadows-he is the thirty-fifth year prince, and he will be abolished with a few empty words?" How can this be enough to win the trust of the world? Kangxi stared at Wang Luo, who was trembling with excitement, and didn't speak for a while, before he said, "Wang Luo, you must know that I have time to talk to you alone." Putting aside his violent and fornicating aspects, you can think about it in all fairness: how many malpractices did he do in charge of government affairs? He can't cure the fraud in the scientific field; Officials form parties for personal gain, and he can't govern them; Unfair donations, unfair prison lawsuits, and land annexation, he is at a loss - what I want is someone who can govern the country and level the world, and he can do this? ”

The king kowtowed, and replied, "Are all these accounts counted on the crown prince's head?" Kangxi snorted and said, "Of course not, so I didn't punish him for capital crimes!" You are his master, the prince is immoral, you have a heavy responsibility, I naturally have to clean it up one by one. Wang Luo listened to Kangxi's words, knelt up straight, and said: "The minister is guilty, long live just don't say it, the minister himself knows, the truth is clear, the court will not punish it, and the minister is ashamed in the world." But the ministers in the study are plain and wise to protect themselves, and the prince has no words of praise, and the kings and elder brothers are in their own ways, and they are not restrained, is long live not responsible? Are the ministers not responsible? Now that the prince has been abolished, people say that they can be killed, please long live the silence, the villain is in the front, set up in the middle, and the stone is in the back, should it be killed or not? Now it is unfair to say that the prince is immoral? ……”

"Fork out!" Kangxi didn't wait to finish listening, he was already furious, and shouted, "He has to do it, and I will fulfill him!" ”

Zhang Tingyu Ma Qi Tong Guowei had already heard it covered in cold sweat, since they entered the study, they had never seen a courtier dare to talk to Kangxi like this, with Kangxi's virtue and majesty, his face changed slightly, there was no one who was not frightened and did not possess his body, Wang Luo actually scolded all the civil and military officials in a package, and even Kangxi's "responsibility" was swept in! The eunuchs standing in the hall were also pale in the face, their legs and stomachs were turning straight, and they didn't dare to slack off at all. Wang Luo simply cried loudly: "Lafayette, the first emperor...... Open your eyes and see...... They're going to put the young master to death......"

"Come back!"

Kangxi suddenly waved his hand and ordered someone to take Wang Luo back, his face became extremely calm, and he stared at Wang Luo for a long time and said, "You scolded well!" This is the second time in my life that I have heard someone scold, the first time it is Guo Xiu, scolding me for being the lord of the scold, it seems that you still have a mercy for me. There must be two of them in a court, so I don't offend you! ”

"I don't want the emperor to forgive me!" Wang was dumbfounded and said, "I ask the emperor to forgive the prince to calm the world!" ”

Kangxi shook his head and said, "That's another matter. I didn't do anything about Yinren, he has gone to the punishment now, but the eldest brother, I have been strictly confined! Wang Luo, you are from a scholarly family, what books have you not read? The world is a heavy weapon, and you can't trust it unless you are a gentleman, don't you understand this truth? From the perspective of my own heart, it is also good for Yinren. Dan Zhu is not Xiao, Yao also abolished his prince, Taijia is promiscuous, Emperor Tang let him go to Tong, suffer a little, he may become a good person! Zhang Tingyu couldn't help but gasp: How can it be compared to Taijia's banishment? Taijia put Tong, changed in three years, and regained the crown prince, what is the mind of this emperor who has learned from ancient and modern times? Just thinking about it, Kangxi said again: "I have made up my mind, I will invent the edict today, and the hundred officials will recommend him from among the elder brothers, and I will only obey the public will!" ”

"Long live," Tong Guowei was still thinking about Kangxi's words in front of him, "The ministers are public, there is no ancient precedent, I am afraid that there will be trouble again." Who does Banzai belong to, it is decided, why bother to ask for the next head? Kangxi sneered: "You and Ma Qi are a Manchurian, a Han Army banner person, learn from Zhang Tingyu, and read some books!" Before the dawn and dusk monarch established the prince, he still had to consult his subordinates! ”

Wang Luo had already stopped crying, but there were still tears on his face, staring and asking, "Long live, what if your subordinates still protect the crown prince?" ”

"How can this be true? I have already said that only the will of the public is obeyed! Kangxi had no expression on his face, and after a while, he turned his face and said: "It's just that you have to be impartial, and I don't allow gangs and factions." I heard that you Wang made a joint performance to protect Yinren? You don't count! ”

Everyone quit, Kangxi looked very tired, so he called Fifth Brother Zhang in, and He Zhu'er pinched it, and talked to Fifth Brother Zhang without a match.

"Fifth Brother Zhang," Kangxi asked with half-closed eyes, "You are from the people below, according to you, which elder brother is the best?" ”

"Thirteen Master ......"

Kangxi seemed surprised, and Qu Ran opened his eyes and asked, "How can you see it?" Fifth Brother Zhang lowered his head and said, "The slave was born in a poor family, sold illicit salt, and was seized by the government. When the thirteenth master inspected the inspection, he released the slave and reprimanded the official family and said: 'It is the salt road salt lord who really sells smuggled salt, and the one who transports the salt to support his family by his strength, you are not allowed to take it in the future!' 'The Thirteenth Master knows what's going on. It's good to be righteous......" Kangxi listened and closed his eyes. No matter how good the thirteenth elder brother is, he can't be a prince! Fifth Brother Zhang saw that Kangxi just couldn't sleep, and said softly: "Master, I'll stay here, who doesn't alarm you, you really should have a good night's sleep......"

"I can't sleep," Kangxi said lazily...... "As soon as I close my eyes, I dream of my grandmother, my mother, and the queen...... When they close their eyes, they are not happy...... Since you said that the thirteenth master is good, let someone pass the decree...... Let him out......"