The Ming Dynasty’s Prodigal Son - Chapter 1661

[1661. Chapter 1579 The real culprit behind the scenes]

After hearing this, Xiao Jing knew that no amount of persuasion would be of any use.

Although His Majesty is the emperor, he is a man with deep feelings, not to mention towards others, let alone his own son-in-law.

Xiao Jing’s eyes still showed concern for Emperor Hongzhi, but he nodded and said: “Slave… Let’s go to Zhangluo now. I wonder if your majesty will be simple?”

Emperor Hongzhi waved his hand: “Let’s make a big show, now is the most difficult thing for the Fang family. This is also the most difficult time for Xiurong. It is not easy for an orphan and a widowed mother to be in charge of such a large family business…”

When he thought of Zhu Xiurong, Emperor Hongzhi felt a stabbing pain in his heart.

He stood up and looked at the peaceful sky outside the glass window of the hall.

Emperor Hongzhi stood with his hands behind his hands and said: “What she means is already clear. She is a woman, but now she has to shoulder the responsibility of the head of the family. This is what she means. I feel heartbroken when I see it, but I can’t stop it. You Do you know why?”

Xiao Jing bowed and remained silent. He knew very well that Emperor Hongzhi just needed an audience to listen to his grief.

Emperor Hongzhi did not hide his emotions in front of Xiao Jing. He burst into tears at this moment and continued: “Since Xiurong came out of her mother’s womb, she has always been well-behaved. She always listened to what I and Empress Zhang said. When she was in the boudoir, she listened. She obeyed her parents’ orders when she got married. She had never suffered hardship in her life. But now, she suddenly wanted to support the Fang family. Based on her obedient and obedient nature, she must have made up her mind. That’s how determined I am… I can’t help it. I am her father, so

I

can help her if I can. If the Fang family collapses, Xiurong will also collapse.

Wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes, a look of determination appeared in his eyes: “I want to go out from the Daming Gate on April 7th, with all the proper honors and guards, and I want to lead my officials to go to Fang’s house again. , let everyone in the world know that not only Xiu Rong cannot collapse, but also the Fang family cannot collapse. If Xiu Rong and the Fang family collapse, the Ming Dynasty will also collapse.”

Then he rolled his sleeves and said, “Be prepared. “

My slave obeys the order.”

……

This is the day of April 7th.

When Emperor Hongzhi left the palace from Daming Gate, hundreds of officials knelt down outside Daming Gate to welcome him.

After that, he led the mighty chariots and horses to Xishan.

Here in Xishan, everything seems to have changed color all of a sudden. Everyone is wearing plain silk, and everyone is looking sad.

I heard that the prince of Xinjin County was still seriously ill. Missing his son made him sick, and he was so ill that he became blind.

This… makes the people up and down the Western Mountain even more sad.

Even if it is just a small farmer settled in Xishan, in addition to grief, there is also fear for the future.

The young master is gone, and if something happens to the master, the Fang family will really be left with only orphans and widows.

Although Her Royal Highness the Princess is noble, she is just a prostitute after all. These days, she is running around here and there. It is said that although she is trying to turn the tide, there is also a lot of news. Xishan Bank has more and more bad debts. Although the stock price is barely saved, Although the market has risen, it has only managed to keep from falling. However, countless gold and silver have been spent on bailing out the market. Many people have begun to persuade everyone to find another way out early. Once the Xishan Bank collapses, the entire Xishan… I’m afraid… It’s all over.

It’s just…

how can it be so easy to leave? They are used to being here and being protected by Fang’s family. They have long regarded this place as their home. Although they are not the owners here, they regard themselves as a member of Xishan. The masters and young masters here, as well as the scholars in the academy and the nearby merchants, are all familiar to them. Even the soldiers of the Flying Ball Battalion in the back mountain look friendly to them. This… is their home…

Up and down Xishan, there are tens of thousands of families who were originally refugees and settled here. They came from all over the world and left their homes to come here. Now… they don’t want to go anywhere.

Here, almost every family wears filial piety clothes and hats.

A man named Huzi had a conflict with a scholar a few days ago and beat him to a bloody head. He was caught on the spot.

A young man like Hu Zi was in his prime when he was young and full of energy. He was even ‘invited’ by the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division, but it was Shen Ao of the Feiqiu Battalion who personally went to recruit people from the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division. Si fished it back.

There are many such things.

Especially a group of young people, they are almost crazy. Compared with their parents, they have a deeper sense of identification with Xishan. No matter where they go out to explore, if they are asked, they can always say proudly He is from Xishan, and he hinted to the other party that he always seems to have some indescribable relationship with Qi Guogong.

The bad news about Duke Qi was unacceptable to the people of Xishan.

Therefore, every household wears linen and mourning, and soul-calling pans are consciously hung in front of every door.

After Emperor Hongzhi arrived at Xishan, he rushed to the mourning hall surrounded by hundreds of officials.

He took several important ministers in. Every time he stepped into this place, Emperor Hongzhi had an unbelievable feeling.

It was always difficult for him to accept this cruel reality, but the decorated mourning hall reminded him all the time that at this time, he had encountered a tragedy in life, and the white-haired man sent the black-haired man.

Zhu Houzhao and Zhu Zaimo came early.

Zhu Zaimo wore mourning clothes and observed mourning under the mourning hall with Ouyang Zhi and Tang Yin.

Fang Tianci was still young, and he just cried while being held by others.

Zhu Xiurong looked extremely haggard under this spiritual throne.

Emperor Hongzhi deliberately did not let Xiao Jing announce the announcement, because he did not want to break the atmosphere in the mourning hall, and did not want these haggard and grieving children to greet him.

Emperor Hongzhi came in and met Zhu Xiurong’s eyes.

Emperor Hongzhi’s heart felt like a knife twisting again. He quickly looked away, not wanting to see his daughter’s desperate eyes. He said nothing. As a king’s father, he didn’t need to make a big gift, he only needed to pinch a few sticks of incense. , it is enough to express the memory of the deceased.

Fang Tianci was crying, and no one paid attention to him. At this moment, he saw his grandfather coming, and he seemed to have support all of a sudden, so he made a milky sound and said vaguely: “Grandpa…Grandpa… …”

Emperor Hongzhi lowered his head, and his heart was about to break when he heard the cry.

The child still doesn’t know that he has no father. When he realizes it in the future, he will probably forget about today’s scene.

“Succeeding to the Fan…” Emperor Hongzhi murmured: “I… came to see you again. I am the Emperor. Is the whole world the king’s land, and the shores of the land are the king’s ministers? This… now Come to think of it…it’s really a joke. Even the emperor has to taste all the ups and downs in the world. It’s painful and such a pity. Why are there always difficult things in this world? Now I finally understand the emperor, the emperor At that time, he indulged himself in seeking immortality every day, working tirelessly, thinking about it… This is probably because he also knew that there are always many helpless things in the world.”

After Emperor Hongzhi said this, he looked at the mourning hall and remained silent for a long time.

………

Emperor Hongzhi’s voice can be heard outside the mourning hall.

Many people lowered their heads and did not dare to express their anger.

All the officials were standing here, but among the crowd, Imperial College Superintendent Liu Huiwen’s face was very calm.

The Imperial Academy was not only the highest institution of learning in the Ming Dynasty, but also an institution responsible for managing the world’s education. It was extremely noble.

As for the post of offering wine, only those with high moral character and high prestige are not allowed to hold the position.

Liu Huiwen’s status as a sacrificial wine minister in the Imperial College is naturally transcendent.

But…

now, the Imperial Academy, which once had a lot of people all over the world, has become idle. In the past, students from the Imperial College were admitted to the Imperial College to study, but with the abolishment of the Eight-legged Legislation, the Imperial College suddenly became deserted, and they no longer studied the Eight-legged Legge. The officials at the Imperial College and above were almost completely black-eyed, and they no longer even knew what their responsibilities should be.

Liu Huiwen, the great master who supervises students all over the world, is also responsible for managing the grand sacrificial wine for all the academic officials in the world, but now… he seems to be alone.

But… he was very calm and didn’t seem to care, and went on duty every day as usual.

Recently, he contracted a cold, and today he came with a sick body, still coughing constantly.

Behind him, an official from the Ministry of Rites came forward, looked at him with concern and said, “Master, your health has never been good. Why don’t you go aside and take a rest.”

This doctor from the Ministry of Rites was obviously a disciple of Liu Huiwen. The purpose of deliberately raising your voice is to attract others’ attention.

Sure enough, Xie Qian, the cabinet scholar who was not far away, looked sideways after hearing this, and then glanced at Liu Huiwen worriedly.

Liu Jijiu was sick and was driving with him, and he was old. It looked worrying. He was negligent and forgot that he was still sick. So Xie Qian said: “If you feel unwell, please help him out.” Take a break.”

Liu Huiwen’s disciple seemed to be waiting for Mr. Xie’s instructions and quickly helped the slightly trembling Liu Huiwen to a corner.

Liu Huiwen looked at the countless crowds and sighed, but his eyes were cloudy, making people look down on his thoughts.

“Teacher…” the disciple said: “Your Majesty’s preference for Qi Guogong is really enviable.”

Liu Huiwen smiled, and he gave his favorite disciple a meaningful look: “The emperor’s preference for his ministers cannot last long. Yes, now that the Duke of Qi has passed away, no matter how much the emperor prefers him, he still needs to put his mind on the country and the country. Today is the fourth and seventh, and in a few days, it will be the seventh and seventh. But what if it is a year and a half later? “

This disciple? He took a deep look at his mentor. In fact, he had been anxious these days. Many changes had taken place in Jingli that he had not expected. He even vaguely felt that he had done something wrong. But his mentor still looked calm and calm, but it seemed to give him some confidence.

It’s just…

this disciple glanced in the direction of the mourning hall, and then said sadly: “But… Master, eight-legged writing has been abolished.”

Liu Huiwen said calmly: “This is just for a moment… cough cough cough…”

The two of them were in the corner. , there is no one around, so I can speak freely.

(End of chapter)