In the palace of Shangjing, Emperor Jing'an finished listening to Yu Yijian's report, stretched back and leaned back on the back of his chair. Qiu Deyong and Hu Jing were also in the cabinet, and Emperor Jing'an deliberately asked both of them to stay and listen to Yu Yijian's meeting with Wei Qi.

Emperor Jing'an opened his mouth and said, "Tell me about your impression of Wei Qi. ”

Yu Yijian said: "When the minister first saw His Royal Highness, he had no impression, but after seeing it a few times, he felt that although he was not as wanton as he jumped away, his bearing was precious, especially although His Highness's life was poor, he did not look sluggish. ”

Emperor Jing'an looked at Yu Yijian and said, "It's very high." ”

Yu Yijian said calmly: "This is the minister's true words. ”

Emperor Jing'an said to Qiu and Hu: "You also talk about it." ”

Qiu De bowed and said, "The slave has not seen His Highness, so he doesn't dare to say anything." But judging from the words of His Royal Highness asking Yu Yijian to come back to report to the emperor, His Royal Highness has seen extraordinary things and has a calm bearing. ”

Hu Jingdao: "The minister and Chief Qiu have the same opinion, His Royal Highness has been poor since he was a child, but he is not weak and has been born in the middle school, which is different from mortals. ”

Emperor Jing'an sighed: "When he was just over one year old, I hugged him and held my fingers, which was very strong. The second brother smiled and told me that this kid would not be as weak as him when he grew up. As you know, my second brother has not had a good body since he was a child. All three bowed, but none of them dared to say anything.

Emperor Jing'an said: "Are you sure that Wei Qi didn't know anything, and the two people around him didn't tell him anything?" ”

Yu Yi replied simply: "The female official's name is Guixiang, and she was married by Empress Huixian from the Qing family; It is clear that the monk was originally the head of the Su Guard, and he was indeed a monk in Jing'an for three years. The minister was sure that the two of them had not told His Highness the true situation, because Empress Huixian ordered Guixiang to take His Highness incognito to live an ordinary life, so even the Qing family did not know that His Highness was still alive. They have lived in Xiangfan for more than ten years, if it weren't for the emperor to learn the news and find His Royal Highness, the minister would definitely have lived like this for the rest of their lives. ”

Emperor Jing'an said: "Providence! Let me know that Wei Qi is still alive, otherwise let him live in the people like this, how can I be worthy of my second brother and Empress Huixian. ”

Qiu Deyong said: "It was the emperor's sincerity that moved the heavens, so that His Royal Highness reappeared in the world." ”

Emperor Jing'an said: "Wei Qi is right, you can't be too rash. How can he be officially identified? ”

Qiu Deyong said: "The prince was born with a golden book and jade. ”

Yu Yijian said: "At that time, the five princes were in turmoil, the prince escaped death, and Empress Huixian wanted to hide the identity of the prince, but these were not taken out of the palace. ”

Qiu De's eyes lit up and said: "There is another way, when the prince is born, the Tai Hospital and the Jingshifang will carefully check the body, and the imprints will also be counted in the secret file." These secret documents are kept in the Worship Office, can I check the secret documents to confirm my identity? ”

Emperor Jing'an nodded and said, "Not bad." ”

Hu Jing said: "You can also ask the clan family to ask Guixiang and Monk Zhiran in detail respectively, and record the situation at that time as evidence." ”

Emperor Jing An thought about it and nodded slowly, and said: "Then let the ministers of the clan family's mansion, the Ministry of Rites, the Inner Provincial Respect Office, and the Tai Hospital all send people, and Hu Jing personally follow." Qiu Deyong and Hu Jing bowed down and agreed.

Yu Yijian said: "Your Majesty, the road in Luchuan Villa, where His Highness is located, is narrow, and it is inconvenient for a large number of people to enter and exit, so please ask Your Highness to move out of the mountain first and go to a certain city and county." ”

Emperor Jing'an thought for a while and said: "Then it's not far from Xi'an, so let's go to the Xi'an County Palace, and the King of Xi'an County is still Wei Qi's uncle." ”

Yu Yijian hesitated for a moment and said: "Your Majesty, Your Highness said that you would go to Shu County, and the minister was worried that he would not be able to persuade His Highness to go to Xi'an. ”

Emperor Jing'an said unhappily: "Go with my holy decree, talk about the public, how can the royal bloodline do its own thing; In terms of selfishness, I am his uncle, his surname is Wei and not Ye, and he must listen to me, an elder. Hu Jing, you bring him my original words. ”

Hu Jing bowed and said, "Obey." ”

Emperor Jing'an said to Qiu Deyong: "Message: Let Lu Yichu, Jia Yuan, and the six departments, the Duchayuan, Dali Temple, and the Tongzheng Department go to the Tiren Hall to see them, and I will also inform these ministers." ”

That night, Lu Yichu had dinner in the Prime Minister's Mansion, sat in the study and sipped tea, thinking about what happened in the Tiren Hall during the day. When Emperor Jing'an announced that the imperial court would send someone to Xi'an to confirm the identity of the prince of Hongzhi and take back the decision to go to Beijing, the ministers were not too surprised, but more excited. After all, the matter of the national prince has plagued the entire Dasui for several years, and this time the prince of Hongzhi was brought into Beijing with great fanfare, although the prince was not clarified, but the discerning people felt that the matter had an eyebrow. Moreover, in the past two years, state affairs have been in turmoil, the war to quell the rebellion of the Wudoumi Sect has reached a stalemate, foreign tribes in the north and northwest have frequently attacked and disturbed, the problem of displaced people has become more and more serious, the treasury has been empty, and people of insight are worried. If the matter of the national reserve is resolved, it will greatly boost the government and the opposition, and it is not known whether the situation of the government and state affairs will take on a new look.

While he was thinking wildly, the steward came to report, and Zuo Zhenkun, the imperial history of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, came to see him. Lu Yichu was slightly surprised, Zuo Zhenkun was his student, he valued this student very much, Zuo Zhenkun respected him as a teacher very much, but Zuo Zhenkun was upright, and he usually did not come to his home as the prime minister of the dynasty except for festivals and birthdays.

Lu Yichu hurriedly ordered: "Please." Then he stood up and walked to the second gate to greet him.

Zuo Zhenkun saw Lu Yichu standing at the second gate, hurriedly quickened his pace, moved forward, and said, "How dare you work as a teacher." ”

Lu Yichu returned the half-way, Zuo Zhenkun stepped forward to help Lu Yichu, and walked into the study together, after the steward offered tea and withdrew, Lu Yichu said: "Filial piety until my house, there must be something important." ”

Zuo Zhenkun said: "There are some things that students can't make up their minds and want to ask the teacher for advice. ”

Lu Yichu half-jokingly: "You are the person with the most ideas, when will you need help from others." Let's talk about it, let's think about it together. ”

Zuo Zhenkun said: "There is a royal history looking for me, preparing to impeach the ministry." ”

Lu Yichu asked attentively, "Why?" ”

Zuo Zhenkun said: "It is the matter of Diao Qiming, the director of the Ministry of Works, who was promoted to a member of the Criminal Department. Teacher, you also know that Diao Qiming was born as a shadow official, his knowledge is shallow, he has been an official for many years, and he only knows how to drill camps, and he spends all his days drinking. ”

Lu Yichu relaxed a little and said, "I know about this matter, I have seen the evaluation of the officials, and I have no objections. ”

Zuo Zhenkun asked puzzledly, "Doesn't the teacher know what Diao Qiming usually looks like?" ”

Lu Yichu sighed and said: "Filial piety, you also said just now, Diao Qiming has been an official for many years, and his qualifications are enough, just because he is a shadow official, he has not been promoted, and there are many people among the courtiers who are unhappy about it, saying that the imperial court has only looked at the imperial examination in recent years, and has not regarded Yin En. ”

Zuo Zhenkun sneered: "It must be Ji Zhenyi." Diao Qiming is a fellow villager with him, and he must have followed his path. ”

Lu Yichu said: "Regardless of fellow villagers or teachers and students, there is still some truth in just listening to this." ”

Zuo Zhenkun said: "In recent years, the imperial court has greatly promoted the imperial examination, the court has a new weather, the country is rising, and the shadow officials have not been completely abolished. ”

Lu Yichu said: "You are right, but the imperial examination officials also have talents and mediocre talents, and those who rely on their qualifications to make a living, although it is difficult for the imperial court to have a bowl of water, it must also be roughly balanced." After all, Ji Zhenyi is a second-class member, and the officials have also officially approved it, so it is not good to refute their face too much. Filial piety is straightforward for you to explain, as long as it is not too excessive, at this juncture, don't make extraneous branches. ”

Zuo Zhenkun pondered for a long time and said, "Since the teacher said so, the students just do their best." ”

Lu Yichu said with a smile: "You taste this tea, I specially asked someone to make it for you, I know you like green tea, this is the Longjing before the Ming Dynasty, the emperor rewarded it, and I am usually reluctant to drink it." ”

Zuo Zhenkun took a sip and said, "It's really fragrant and mellow." After silently taking a few more sips of tea, he seemed to have made up his mind, put down the tea bowl and said, "Teacher, you are not only my teacher, but also the prime minister of the dynasty, I don't know whether to say some things or not?" ”

Lu Yichu said: "Filial piety, I have a lot of students, but you know that I value you the most, you are now a big Jiuqing, and you are in the prime of life, your character and ability to do things are obvious to all, and the emperor appreciates you." In the future, take my place, revitalize my great follow, and the burden is on you. Don't worry about me, just say what you think. ”

Zuo Zhenkun bowed and said, "The teacher has a good reputation. What the students want to ask is whether the teacher knows that there are people moving around, encouraging the courtiers to write a book, hoping that the emperor will make the prince of Jinling the crown prince. ”

Although it was like a thunderbolt on a sunny day, Lu Yichu's expression remained unchanged, but the tea in his hand rippled slightly, he slowly put down the tea bowl, looked at Zuo Zhenkun and said, "Where did you start with this, is there any evidence?" ”

Zuo Zhenkun said: "The imperial history under my command has heard the rumors, but there is no solid evidence. ”

Lu Yichu asked again: "Who knows?" ”

Zuo Zhenkun hesitated, shook his head and said, "It's not clear for the time being." ”

Lu Yichu said slowly: "Then what do you think about this matter?" ”

Zuo Zhenkun said carefully: "This matter must be banned immediately, and all officials must be told not to collude with each other and discuss the country's capital in vain." ”

Lu Yichu thought about it and said: "The emperor announced that he would go to Xi'an to pick up the prince of Wei Qi, but he did not clarify the matter of the crown prince. Liu Zhengzong wrote a letter to discuss the national prince, but the emperor was lightly dismissed, and did not indicate how the matter of the national prince would be determined in the future. I'm afraid it's inappropriate for the government hall to write without authorization. ”

Zuo Zhenkun said: "The emperor has a clear edict the year before last, and the matter of the national prince is dictatorial. ”

Lu Yichu shook his head and said: "At this time and that time, at that time, the prince of Wei Qi had not yet appeared, and now he has taken it back with great fanfare, what will happen next, the government and the opposition will naturally pay attention." After all, the prince of Wei Qi is not the son of the current emperor, so he is not a natural prince, and it is normal for the courtiers to have discussions. ”

Zuo Zhenkun asked strangely: "Does the teacher think that Prince Wei Qi is not worthy of being the crown prince?" ”

Lu Yichu said categorically: "No! I don't think so. Then he asked rhetorically: "Then filial piety, who do you think should be the prince?" ”

Zuo Zhenkun hesitated for a long time, shook his head and said, "I haven't thought about it." ”

Lu Yichu nodded and said, "That's the reason." Just because you haven't thought about it doesn't mean that others haven't thought about it, it's just a matter of whether to say it or not. I mean according to the emperor's intentions, the emperor didn't ask, we can't take the initiative to say, the emperor didn't explicitly prohibit it, so we shouldn't do it ourselves. ”

Zuo Zhenkun looked at Lu Yichu and said, "The student has been taught." ”

Lu Yichu smiled and said, "I still have to thank Xiaozhi for his understanding." Come on, try this tea again. ”

On the running horse street in the capital, at the east end of the center of the street, is the famous big restaurant in the capital - Hongyun Building. The building is three floors high, and the third floor of the private room usually costs hundreds of taels of silver, so it is commonly known as "Hundred Gold Building". Tonight in the largest three-story private room, Diao Qiming specially invited Ji Zhenyi, first, to celebrate his promotion to the fifth grade, and second, to thank Ji Zhenyi. Most of the guests invited were his and Ji Zhenyi's fellow villagers and Ji's students, as well as a few officials who were born in the shadows and had a very close relationship with each other.

The banquet was full of delicacies from the mountains and seas, and the fly in the ointment was that there was no call for the bureau, and there was less excitement and fragrance of the warbler and Yanyan, because Ji Zhenyi said hello, and he still had something to say tonight, so even the guys who were waiting rushed downstairs, and the people with low seniority were responsible for pouring the wine.

At this time, it was already over thirty years old, Diao Qiming, who was full of red light, stood up, held a full glass of wine and said: "Everyone, I will give another glass to Lord Ji, without Lord Ji's cultivation, there would be no me today." Lord Ji, please! ”

Ji Zhenyi raised his wine glass a little reservedly and said, "Master Diao is polite, you deserve your name, and the evaluation of the officials is fair." After speaking, Diao Qiming hurriedly raised his glass and drank it all.

A person on the side said: "This time, Lord Diao's promotion has fought for our people who were born in the shadows. Another person hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, there are too many people like Master Diao who have not been promoted for more than ten years, if they were born in the imperial examination, they would have been four grades long ago." ”

Ji Zhenyi waved his hand and said: "The imperial court implements the imperial examination and the shadow attack at the same time, taking into account all parties, which is really good governance. If an official from a shadowy background only relies on the merits of his ancestors and does not want to make progress, it is naturally difficult to be promoted. is as solid and hard-working as Master Diao, even if he is wronged for a while, he will not bury it in the end. ”

The people on the side echoed one after another, and one of them said: "The imperial examination was not a smooth journey, that Liu Zhengzong of the Hanlin Academy, who was extremely pedantic, has been working for more than 20 years, and he is not a five-grade person." Last time, I wanted to fight to the death and fight for a reputation for daring to speak, but the evaluation of the officials was still middle and low, and I was almost demoted. ”

Ji Zhenyi said unhappily: "Although Liu Zhengzong is pedantic, he is quite upright. ”

The person who spoke hurriedly changed his words: "Indeed, it is true, so the emperor did not punish him for the crime of lying in vain." ”

Diao Qiming asked with some trepidation: "Lord Ji, I heard that there is a royal history of the Metropolitan Procuratorate who is preparing to impeach the officials for my business?" ”

Ji Zhenyi stretched out his chopsticks to pick up a piece of roasted venison, and after eating, he said slowly: "Impeachment what?" The officials act according to the law, the government hall follows the rules, your brother has all the qualifications and conduct, who can pick a bone in the egg? ”

The atmosphere suddenly became more relaxed, everyone toasted Ji Zhenyi and Diao Qiming one after another, some people drank high, and began to pout, and the people sitting next to Ji Zhenyi hurriedly greeted everyone: "Don't be busy, everyone, Lord Ji still has something to say." And they all fell silent.

Ji Zhenyi said unhurriedly: "Don't be in a hurry to be happy, Lord Diao has just made a start, and in the future, as long as you are like Lord Diao, you will have a chance." ”

Everyone was a little excited, and said: "It's all up to Lord Ji's cultivation, and we only look forward to Lord Ji." ”

Ji Zhenyi Road; "I still have some business, go first, and you all continue."

The crowd did not dare to dissuade him, so they had to get up and send him away. After Ji Zhenyi left, everyone asked Diao Qiming, "Master Ji just said half of what he said, why did he leave?" ”

Diao Qiming poured a glass of wine and said proudly: "Don't be impatient, everyone listen to me first, and then we will call the bureau and drink it happily." ”

Everyone sat down and leaned their heads towards Diao Qiming, who muttered in a low voice for a long time. After speaking, everyone had different expressions, some were eager to try, some whispered to each other, some were silent, and some showed fear.

Diao Qiming said with a straight face: "We are for the national fortune and long-term peace and stability of Dasui, not for ourselves." Let's look at Liu Zhengzong, as long as he is dedicated to the public, the emperor will only give a slight punishment. As long as our loyalty is realized, we will have the opportunity to make great achievements in the future. ”

The strength of the wine coupled with Diao Qiming's incitement, everyone's emotions were mobilized, no matter what their true thoughts were, they all made impassioned statements, regardless of life and death.

Diao Qiming raised his hand and pressed it down, and said in a low voice: "We must also do things steadily, pay attention to steps, and we can't rush to the top of the group, nor can we go our own way." And everyone is based on their own hearts and out of public hearts, and they can't bite each other and mess with themselves. Otherwise, it will cause disaster, and the personal future will be small, and it will be difficult to protect the life of the family. ”。

Everyone's expressions were a lot more solemn, and Diao Qiming said: "After the ugly words are over, let's call the bitch and play happily!" The crowd applauded, and the atmosphere was immediately warm.

At this time, a guy standing outside the door quietly went downstairs and disappeared. When the door shouted a timer, the other guy hurriedly ran upstairs and opened the door to enter. The previous guy saw that people were unprepared, came out of the hiding place, as if he heard the greeting of the guests downstairs, promised to go downstairs, turned to the side, came out of a side door of the restaurant, and quickly disappeared into the crowd on the street.