Chongzhen Sunset Song

Chapter 29

?one

As everyone in the palace knew, Chongzhen did not punish Zu Dashou for his ineffective defense of the city. Instead, he appointed him to continue guarding the city after he fled to Jinzhou. It seemed that he did not have the slightest doubt about Zu Dashou's loyalty.Although the letter of loyalty and secrets was sincere, Xi Zhao still felt that the emperor's decision was inextricably linked to the severe punishment of Governor Yuan - more or less, he wanted to make some compensation.

However, even if Zu Dashou stirred up the long-standing regret in Chongzhen's heart, this regret would not last long - within two months, Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming led troops to rebel and captured Dengzhou, Shandong.These two people were the subordinates of Mao Wenlong Mao Zongbing who was killed by Yuan Chonghuan.Mao Wenlong died unexpectedly, and his successor was hard to convince the public. This rebellion undoubtedly made the already internal and external troubles of the Ming Dynasty even worse.

"Has Gao Qiqian set off yet?" Chongzhen asked as soon as he came out of the Huangji Hall just after the morning court.

"Back to the emperor, Gao Qiqian left for Shandong yesterday." Wang Chengen replied respectfully.

"Well, good." Chongzhen nodded, boarded the dragon chariot, and sat down, "I hope he can fulfill his duty of supervising the army and quell this rebellion for me."

Wang Chengen worshiped and said yes, and then stood to the side of the dragon chariot.Looking at the golden silk sash swaying in the wind, Wang Chengen secretly felt that the emperor seemed to have changed a lot compared to the past.At the beginning of his succession, Wei Zhongxian had just been rectified. At that time, the emperor was extremely sensitive and disgusted with eunuchs discussing politics.The other prisons are in charge of food and beverages, or in charge of clothes and crowns, and they keep their mouths shut. However, the eunuchs in the ceremonial prison deal with memorials every day, so they have to be careful, lest they say too much, which will provoke suspicion of discussing politics. Then get on fire.In recent years, however, the limit for discussing politics no longer exists, and now eunuchs are even appointed to oversee the army. Wang Chengen was surprised by the change of the emperor, but also secretly rejoiced.After all, it is of course a good thing for him that the emperor is willing to use the eunuch's power.What is even more fortunate is that the eunuch who was sent out of Beijing was actually the arch-nemesis Gao Qiqian. There was no such ignorant bastard in the palace. raw flowers.

Xi Zhao didn't know much about high diving.Ever since the incident with Er Fu many years ago, Gao Qiqian hadn't had much contact with him.On weekdays, most of the people who came to report state affairs to the emperor were princes and fathers. Occasionally, Gao Qiqian could also be seen, but usually the two of them would not appear at the same time.Almost all that Xizhao knew about Gao Qiqian was the fact that Wang Gao and Wang Gao were at odds.But if we talk about this, it can be said that everyone in the palace knows it well, but it's just tacit understanding.Xizhao stayed with the South Study every day, even if he hadn't heard others talk about it, but seeing the disdain they both had for each other, it was not difficult to get a glimpse of it.

"Why did your majesty send Eunuch Gao out of Beijing to supervise the army?" Xi Zhao asked while walking with the emperor in the imperial garden.

"Huh?" Chongzhen tilted his head slightly, "Because among his cronies, he is the only one who knows something about military affairs."

"What Dexiu means is that the emperor doesn't trust those rebel officials?"

Such conversations often occur between Xizhao and the emperor these days.Chongzhen's transformation is also confirmed by Xizhao - he seems to have no longer prohibited Xizhao from interfering in political affairs.

"It can be considered." Chongzhen walked slowly on the cobblestone path with his hands behind his back, his tone was flat, "I just don't want to be as passive as I was in Dalinghe."

After hearing the words, Xi Zhao didn't ask any further questions, but just walked behind the emperor, listening to the same birdsong and watching the same scenery as the emperor.It's just to accompany the emperor to relax, Xi Zhao doesn't know much about government affairs, and doesn't want to know too much.If the emperor confides, Xizhao will listen; if the emperor keeps silent, Xizhao is also willing not to go deep into the muddy water that cannot be seen or discerned clearly.

"Eunuch Gao is gone, Eunuch Wang should be very happy." After walking the pebble road, Xi Zhao said casually.

"This is also one of the reasons." Chongzhen said, stopped, and looked up at the pines and cypresses beside him, "Both of them are too strong, and they refuse to give in to each other. If they continue to confront each other like this, I'm afraid it will be out of control in the future. Whoever loses, These are the results I don’t want to see.”

"Hmm..." Xi Zhao thought about it for a while, and then said carefully, "Shu Dexiu said bluntly, without this powerful enemy, what if the prince's power is too inflated...?"

"Isn't there still you?" Chongzhen smiled at Xizhao, stopped talking, turned around and walked slowly towards the gate of the Imperial Garden.

And I……?Xizhao was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly followed.The emperor may have the emperor's plans, but how can I compare with the princes and the others.Xi Zhao walked and thought, but suddenly noticed that the emperor was walking a little strangely, his hands and feet were not natural, and his steps were much slower than usual.

"Is the emperor tired?" Xi Zhao asked with concern.

"Huh? Uh...um." Chongzhen answered vaguely.

two

"Since Kong Youde's rebellion, there have been more cases of impeachment against Zhou Yanru."

Chongzhen flipped through the stack of memorials that had just been delivered, and said thoughtfully.

"Yes. This rebellion has nothing to do with Mr. Shoufu. It was Mr. Shoufu who recommended Sun Yuanhua at the beginning. After the death of General Mao and the Mutiny of Pidao, it was Sun Yuanhua who took over the rebel general Kong Youde and others. Now Kong Youde is back again. In the rebellion, Sun Yuanhua failed to resist the rebels and defend Dengzhou, and all these incidents will naturally be given to the officials." Wang Chengen said, and put a stack of memorials on the table in front of Chongzhen.

Chongzhen frowned slightly, picked up the top memorial, and looked at it hastily, but saw that the first one was the memorial to impeach Zhou Yanru.

"The speech officials are too aggressive. The current chaos is not something that Zhou Qing could have predicted."

"Although that is the case, there is a twist. The Dao Kong Youde rebellion was instigated by Sun Yuanhua, and the culprit who brought about this embarrassing situation was the chief assistant who elected Sun Yuanhua..."

"A bunch of nonsense!" Chongzhen snapped the memorial in his hand, raised his eyebrows, very displeased, "Who played this?"

"Back to the emperor, it is Yu Yinggui, the censor of the Shaanxi Taoist Examination..." Wang Chengen replied in a low voice.

"Yu Yinggui...it's him again, who has repeatedly framed the chief minister of the cabinet wantonly with ulterior motives. According to my will, he will be demoted to three levels as a punishment." Chongzhen said in a muffled voice without looking up, waving his hands to signal Wang Chengen to step down, and then Pick up the memorial again, and continue to look through it.

Wang Chengen saluted and resigned according to the order.Seeing Wang Chengen leave from the corner of the eye, Chongzhen relaxed, put down the memorial, and let out a long sigh.

"It seems that the emperor still believes in Lord Shoufu?" Seeing that Chongzhen seemed to be conflicted, Xi Zhao said from the side.

"I just believe that the rebellion has nothing to do with him." Chongzhen leaned back in the chair, rubbed the center of his brows, and looked tired, "But Wang Chengen's words are also reasonable. Sun Yuanhua's improper employment and ineffectiveness in suppressing the rebellion are all indisputable facts. At this point, although Zhou Qing, who recommended Sun Yuanhua, is not responsible, he is not without fault. As the chief assistant of the cabinet, being impeached so widely is not beneficial to the government or the hearts of the people."

As he said that, Chongzhen stood up, just about to stretch his muscles and bones, but he didn't want his dress to be caught by the armrest of the seat. With a ripping sound, the dragon robe was torn out a tear.

The atmosphere in Nan's study instantly became awkward.The maids on one side held their breath and lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound.Chongzhen showed embarrassment and stood where he was, not knowing what to do.Seeing this, Xi Zhao hurriedly stepped forward to check, and saw that the rip seemed to have been worn long ago, and the fabric was already thin, but when she looked closely, she found that there were several inconspicuous patches on the emperor's dragon robe.

"Your Majesty..." Xi Zhao looked up at Chongzhen, "This is..."

"Hmm..." Chongzhen forced a smile, his cheeks flushed slightly, "I found out that it was broken the day before yesterday when I was walking in the imperial garden. I have been busy with political affairs for the past two days, so I haven't had time to mend it." As he spoke, he put the damaged part on his outer robe The bottom was stuffed, "It would be better to ask the queen to fill it up, so as not to make such a big hole."

"Hmm... so the emperor will replace first?"

"it is good."

Chongzhen tugged at the front of his clothes again, tidied up the underside of the robe, and walked slowly to Xinuang Pavilion in small steps.Arriving at the Xinuang Pavilion, Xi Zhao quickly walked a few steps forward, took out another set of dragon robes that she had prepared from the cabinet, shook them open in her hands, and suddenly found that there were several patches on this set.

"Your Majesty..." Xi Zhao held the dragon robe, feeling very uncomfortable.

"Huh?" Chongzhen took off all the clothes on his body, put them on the side of the Arhat bed, turned his head slightly to look at the sunset, his face was calm as usual.

"Well, it's okay." Xi Zhao pursed her lips, swallowed her words, spread her smile as if nothing had happened, and raised the robe in her hand to put on for Chongzhen, "The emperor will put on this one for now, and Dexiu will go to teach Shang the next day." The clothing supervisor will bring another set."

"Hey, it's okay, mending can still be worn." Chongzhen stretched out his arms and waited for the sunset to tie a knot around his waist. "It would be a waste of money and people to buy another set. Save some human and financial resources to suppress the rebellion."

Xizhao paused when she heard the words, raised her face, her gaze was on Chongzhen's sharp jaw.Looking at the emperor's thin and tired face, and at the already worn and mottled inner robe, Xi Zhao's heart felt sour and bitter, and the surge was unstoppable.Every day in the pile of memorials on the Dragon Case, the courtiers who are fighting each other, has anyone ever understood the hard work of the emperor?Whether it is the peasant army or the rebel army, when they are full of thoughts about the emperor and keep saying that they want to overthrow the Zhu family dynasty, have they ever experienced the emperor's difficulties?Xi Zhao thought, if they could accompany the emperor for two years like himself, seeing this king wearing old clothes, frowning and governing until the third watch every day, more or less, they would definitely regret their actions .

That night, Xizhao took out the 400 taels of silver note she got from Zhou Yanru from the interlayer of the small cabinet, opened it for a little look, folded it again, and carefully put it away in her clothes.

three

"Hey, you all know Eunuch Zhang, right? I've seen him for a long time. Come, please take your seat."

In Shangyi Prison, just as Xizhao reported Zhang Dexiu's name, the eunuch in charge suddenly smiled and invited him into the room.

"You recognize me?" Xi Zhao was a little surprised.

"Look at what you said, the new celebrity in front of the emperor, no one in this palace knows you." The eunuch in charge smiled flatteringly.

Sure enough, today is not what it used to be.Just like what Zhou Xi said back then, when you get close to the emperor, everything changes.Xi Zhao didn't refuse, took the seat directly, picked up the tea that the little eunuch had just brought up, blew on it, and took a sip. "Eunuch Zhang is here today, what can you do?" The eunuch in charge signaled the young eunuch to step down, and sat beside him with a smile.

"The emperor wanted to wear a dragon robe, so he asked me to pass on the order, asking for the shape of twelve dragons." Saying this, Xi Zhao took out the banknote from her bosom, pressed it on the table, and pushed it forward.

"Oh, this is a big deal, and the villain will handle it right away." The steward heard the word "emperor", and immediately turned her head straight, picked up the bank note, looked at it, but relaxed her brows again, and smiled embarrassingly, "Here The emperor bought a dragon robe, the 400 taels...isn't enough..."

"The emperor has a decree. Now it is an extraordinary period. Internal and external troubles, the country is poor and the people are poor, so everything is kept simple. But even though it is kept simple, the outer robe must not be sloppy. You can only be a little frugal on the inner robe, do you understand?" Xi Zhao remained calm, looking at the eunuch in charge.

"Hmm..." The eunuch in charge nodded hesitantly, lowering his eyes, as if calculating.

Seeing this, Xi Zhao took out two more ingots of silver from her pocket, put them on the table, and made two crisp rattling sounds.

"This is...?" The eunuch in charge grimaced when he saw Yin Zi, his eyes lit up.

Xizhao pressed the silver ingot with his hand, pointed at the table with his fingertips, and said calmly: "You look carefully at the silver bill, but it's exactly 400 taels?"

The eunuch in charge looked at the bank note again. "It's 400 taels."

"Okay. These two ingots of silver are a reward for you. After taking this silver, the 400 taels in the silver ticket is a lot of money. It will be used on the emperor's dragon robe, remember?" He stared straight at the eunuch in charge opposite.

"I remember, I remember." The eunuch in charge nodded hurriedly.Xi Zhao hummed, loosened Yin Zi's hand, gave a few more instructions, and left Shangyi Prison.