I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 386 This is not an easy matter

Gao Gong did not return to the Ministry of Revenue, but asked the sedan bearers to go directly back to Gao's mansion.

Gao Yi and Ge Shouli followed closely behind. Three sedan chairs came out of Nanhua Gate, crossed Chang'an Avenue, and arrived at Gao's Mansion almost at the same time.

The three men got off the sedan chair, Gao Gong took the lead and walked in front, followed closely by Gao Yi and Ge Shouli.

Gao Gong's face turned ashen, he gritted his teeth, and walked quickly with big strides.

Gao Yi and Ge Shouli held up their collars and trotted along, following closely.

The servants of Gao's mansion found it very strange to see the three people coming back at the same time, but when they saw the expression on Gao Gong's face, they all stepped aside and bowed.

The three of them, one in front and two behind, walked into the gate, went around the screen wall, passed through the hall and the courtyard, and went all the way to the backyard. When the family members and concubines inside saw Gao Yi and Ge Shouli behind them, they were so scared that they hid themselves one after another, but they also became curious.

Gao Gong pushed open a door with a bang, walked in, stood behind the screen, and shouted, "Someone, change the master's clothes."

A concubine and two maids came out from the side room and changed Gao Gong's clothes behind the screen.

Gao Yi and Ge Shouli stood outside the door, staring at the screen, neither anxious nor making a sound.

Ten minutes later, Gao Gong changed into a straight-collared silk gown that he usually wore at home, and wore a square scarf. He walked out holding up his clothes. When he saw the official uniforms of Gao Yi and Ge Shouli, he was suddenly stunned. He looked up at the sky and it was still early.

I don’t know what he was thinking about, but he turned back and went behind the screen again.

"Change the master into a new official uniform."

The concubines and maids did not dare to ask more questions, and hurriedly changed him into a brand new red round-collared shirt with patched official uniform, and put on a black gauze hat.

Gao Gong came out again. Gao Yi and Ge Shouli looked at each other and felt very strange.

Lao Gao vents his frustration and resentment by changing clothes?

Who cares? As long as he doesn't do anything wrong, just let him be.

Gao Gong came in front, Gao Yi and Ge Shouli came in the back, and they came to the study room where the three of them usually sat. Gao Gong sat down in the main seat, and Gao Yi and Ge Shouli sat down on both sides.

The servant brought three cups of hot tea, placed them in front of the three men, then left in a flash, shrinking his neck.

Gao Yi asked tentatively: "Su Qing, have you calmed down?"

"Calm down? How dare I be angry? I was just completely hopeless at that time."

Total despair?!
Gao Yi and Ge Shouli were shocked at how serious it was.

On the way, Ge Shouli also figured out that this matter was not simple. He sighed and said, "Duke Xinzheng, you shouldn't have embarrassed Feng Bao in the Taiji Hall."

Gao Yi also understood, and stroked his beard and said: "The eunuch is a villain who will never let go of any grudge. In the past, the Duke of Xinzheng severely offended Feng Bao in the Taiji Hall, and today he took advantage of your critical moment to do this to you.

Oh, it's embarrassing, it's really embarrassing!"

Gao Gong raised his head and sighed, "I have been an official for decades, and I have never suffered such a great humiliation! I will never coexist with this eunuch villain!"

Gao Yi quickly advised: "Mr. Xinzheng, as long as you stay in the palace and establish a solid foundation, you will naturally be able to deal with Feng Bao to the end.

"The eunuchs are not good people after all, so they are not a threat. Besides, the prince is wise and will not be bewitched by the eunuchs, so the Duke of Xinzheng does not need to worry."

Gao Gong sighed, "Yes, the prince is wise, how could he be bewitched by a eunuch!"

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Xiyuan is so wise that I can hardly handle it!
Gao Gong had been an official for decades and had once been the chief instructor of the Prince Yu's palace. He had fought against the Yan Party and protected Prince Yu, so he knew the tricks of officialdom struggles.

Although I have a quick temper and sometimes I don't care about anything when I get angry, but when I calm down and think carefully, I can figure out many things.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is just like the late Emperor Jiajing, a shrewd and deep-minded man. The eunuchs he employs are all intelligent and capable, but none of them dares to act recklessly.

Feng Bao was the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department and the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Depot, with great power in the court. However, he certainly would not dare to do something behind the prince's back, like the third son of Huang Shicheng did, setting out a bowl to beg at Zuoshunmen.

If he really dared to do that, the prince would notice it on the spot in Taiji Hall and would order people to arrest him without saying a word.

It seems that Feng Bao was following the prince's instructions and did this "just right" with the purpose of warning himself.

Why beat yourself up?
Am I just too stubborn and does the banging sound better?
Gao Gong figured it out when he was changing his clothes. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was dissatisfied with the fact that some people in the court were still holding on to the new law to rectify the various vassal clans. These people submitted petitions one after another, under the banner of completely eradicating the malpractices of the royal family, in an attempt to block the royal family's participation in politics, which made His Royal Highness the Crown Prince very unhappy.

His thinking was now very clear. He adopted a multi-pronged approach, supporting old and new nobles, the Imperial College, and royal family members. He tried his best to sow discord between the central government and local governments, and to restrain the "orthodox" civil servants who came from the imperial examinations.

Although Gao Gong also stood on the side of the literati and civil officials, he needed to consider his own interests more.

Although the civil servants who took part in the imperial examinations were numerous and powerful, they were fragmented and divided into dozens of factions, large and small, with even factions within factions.

In the Gao Dang, Gao Yi and Ge Shouli do not have a harmonious relationship. Gao Yi, Ge Shouli, Zhang Siwei and Wang Lin simply cannot get along.

There is no leader in the court now who is outstanding among the crowd like Yang Rong, Yang Shiqi, Yang Pu, Li Xian, Shang Lu, and Yang Tinghe, who can bring everyone together and make them work as one.

Gao Gong was well aware that there were already many upright civil servants in the court who followed the Crown Prince closely for their own interests.

Then why should I become that stumbling block?

If you are not careful, you will be crushed to pieces.

What I pursue is to achieve great things and leave my name in history, not to end up in disgrace and leave in disgrace.

Gao Gong glanced at Gao Yi, thinking about how to tell him not to make trouble among the princes and royal families anymore.

Ge Shouli said on the side: "The Duke of Xinzheng is entering the cabinet, but the Imperial Household Department has Feng Bao who is obstructing it, so it is still very troublesome."

Gao Yi said unconvincedly: "Now the Ministry of Rites and the cabinet's bills are compiled by Chen Ju, the supervision office is reported by Li Chun, Feng Baoming is the seal holder, and more affairs are in the East Factory.

If the Duke of Xinzheng offended him, he would be offended, but he couldn't cover up everything in the Imperial Household Department."

Gao Gong stroked his beard and was still considering his words, thinking about how to persuade Gao Yi, but he did not expect Gao Yi to say in return: "Duke Xinzheng, did you have a good relationship with Wanfu in the palace before? You can use him to help connect with Chen Ju and Li Chun in the Silijian.

If there is no one in the Imperial Household Department, the Duke of Xinzheng will be at a loss in the cabinet."

Gao Gong shook his head and said perfunctorily: "No hurry."

Gao Yi was anxious, "Why not? Lord Xinzheng, we don't know the prince's attitude towards this matter now. Why? Because there is no one in the inner court.

If someone in the inner court could help us turn things around in front of His Highness, or pass on a message or two, it would save us a lot of trouble."

Gao Yi continued talking to himself.

"Lord Xinzheng, even if the Crown Prince lets you off the hook for the Zuo Shunmen incident, entering the Cabinet is only the first step. If you want to achieve something, you must have someone in the inner court to help you. Otherwise, your proposal will be rejected. What's the point of being a cabinet minister?"

Ge Shouli saw something in Gao Gong's careless look and deliberately asked, "Mr. Xinzheng, why did you change into your official uniform?"

Gao Gong replied casually: "What's the problem?"

Gao Yi also glanced at Ge Shouli and asked, "What kind of question are you asking? Don't you see we are discussing important matters here?"

What could be more important than Gao Suqing entering the cabinet right now?

Ge Shouli continued to ask: "Mr. Xinzheng, I saw you change into a straight-collared suit when you entered the room, and when you came out, I realized something was wrong and changed into an official uniform. Do you have any explanation?"

Gao Gong heard from Ge Shouli's words that he had noticed something and smiled, "I'm waiting for someone."

Gao Yi and Ge Shouli were both stunned.

"Waiting for someone? Who is the Duke of Xinzheng waiting for?"

Gao Gong sighed, "If this person comes, everything will be easy in the future, and I won't have to go back to my hometown to study. If this person doesn't come, everything will be over!"

Gao Yi and Ge Shouli looked at each other, not understanding what Gao Gong meant.

After a few minutes of silence, a steward came in to report outside the study.

"Sir, we have a visitor."

(End of this chapter)