Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Is this the end of Chapter 198?

Things evolved very quickly.

In just five or six days, the incident spread to the southeast and north. Who is Confucius? He is the ancestor of all scholars in the world. Which emperor did not treat the Kong family with courtesy?
Now that things have turned out like this, it’s embarrassing for everyone.

Zhang Yunxiu didn't feel anything about this. If he wanted to make a fuss, then he could go ahead with it. In the end, it wasn't him who would lose face anyway.

It was his Kong family that was disgraced, and it was the face of those scum of the literati and beasts in human clothing that was disgraced.

Early that morning, Zhang Yunxiu walked to Zhang Juzheng's bedroom.

Yuqin pulled out a stool, motioned for Zhang Yunxiu to sit down, then she made a pot of tea and left the room.

The father and son looked at each other. Zhang Yunxiu looked at Zhang Juzheng, whose face was sallow but who had recovered some spirit.

I feel a little better.

Then, he told him everything that had happened in recent days.

After hearing this, Zhang Juzheng nodded slightly and reminded him, "The Kong family is a big family with deep roots and friends all over the world. This time, we are rectifying the imperial examinations and punishing the Kong family. Each of these is a big event that will shake the world."

"I know." Zhang Yunxiu nodded solemnly.

Hearing the voice, Zhang Juzheng closed his eyes and leaned against the head of the bed to take a nap.

Zhang Yunxiu, who was sitting beside the bed, didn't understand what was going on and didn't want to disturb him, so he just sat beside the bed and looked at Zhang Juzheng quietly.

But his skin was wrinkled and covered with spots, and the sunlight shining through the window shone on it, giving it a strange color.

He is old, he is really old.

An idea suddenly popped up in Zhang Yunxiu's mind.

At this time, Zhang Juzheng suddenly opened his eyes, stared at Zhang Yunxiu and said: "If you want to do something, the only thing you can't do is to harm the interests of the emperor. You are doing very well in this regard now."

Do you know now?
Zhang Yunxiu complained in his heart and nodded reluctantly.

"Okay, just remember this, just remember this." Zhang Juzheng let out a long breath, closed his eyes again, waved his hand weakly, and said, "Go down, someone else will take care of the rest."

"Yes."

After returning to his study and sitting down, Zhang Yunxiu planned to write a letter to Han Sanxiu to inform him of the situation in the capital.

Just as he was about to write, he heard footsteps outside, and then Zhang Fu's voice came in: "Sir, Eunuch Wei wants to see you."

At this point, Wei Qing came to see me.

Zhang Yunxiu's heart skipped a beat. He guessed that something must have happened in the palace. So he hurriedly ordered Zhang Fu, "Go and bring Eunuch Wei to the study."

Zhang Fu led Nuo away, and soon brought Wei Qing to the study. He led Wei Qing to sit down, and then ordered someone to put some cakes on the table, and then hurriedly left the study.

The two were old friends, so they didn't bother with polite words when they met. Zhang Yunxiu asked directly, "Eunuch, why are you here? Is there something wrong in the palace?"

Wei Qing nodded and simply revealed what happened today:

But it is said that at noon today, Emperor Wanli was in the East Warm Pavilion listening to him reading memorials. He listened to three or four in a row, all of which were pleading for the Kong family.

Immediately, Emperor Wanli frowned, slammed the table, and cursed, "These officials, is there nothing else to do in this world?"

"They keep talking about the Kong family all day long. I give them so much salary, is it just for them to talk to me like this?!"

Seeing that Emperor Wanli was angry, Wei Qing quickly put down the memorial, walked up to the emperor, and followed his words: "Your Majesty, these foreign ministers never think about sharing your worries every day, and stare at you all day long. If this continues, how can you have freedom?" "Only we, the inner ministers, are really looking forward to your well-being."

As he spoke, Wei Qing pursed his lips and forced two hot tears out of his eyes.

"That's enough. That's enough." Emperor Wanli waved his hand impatiently and added, "External and internal officials are all officials. There are good people and bad people. You can't distinguish between good and bad based on internal and external factors."

"Your Majesty is wise and brave, and he can distinguish between loyalty and treachery. I am just an ordinary man, how can I be the same as Your Majesty?" Wei Qing's expression changed immediately, and he smiled flatteringly.

"Hahaha, you old thing, you only know how to say nice things to make me happy all day long." Emperor Wanli clapped his hands with joy.

"The old minister is telling the truth."

Wei Qing smiled and answered. Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the palace gate. Then, a shrill voice came into the hall: "The Queen Mother is here!"

Emperor Wanli hurriedly stood up and walked down from his chair, standing aside with his hands hanging down.

Wei Qing followed closely behind.

All eyes were turned towards the entrance of the East Warm Pavilion.

Empress Dowager Li walked into the small pavilion with a disdainful look, took a quick glance, and then sat down on an embroidered couch.

The eunuchs and palace maids bowed respectfully first, and then Emperor Wanli stepped forward, straightened his body, knelt on the bright yellow cushion, and shouted respectfully: "Your son, I greet your mother."

Empress Dowager Li nodded slightly, motioning him to sit on the embroidered couch next to her.

Between the two embroidered couches, there is a Yuan blue and white porcelain filled with roses.

After Emperor Wanli sat down, Empress Dowager Li glanced at her son and asked, "Emperor, I have been feeling uneasy lately, and I always feel that something big has happened. Can you tell me what big thing has happened in this world?"

"It's nothing serious." Emperor Wanli replied.

"You're lying!" Empress Dowager Li suddenly frowned and shouted, "There's already a lot of rumors out there, saying that you're going to attack the saint's descendants. If this gets out, how will people in the world view you?"

"How will people in the future view you?"

"Let them see it however they want. I am the emperor. Can't the emperor do whatever he wants?!" Emperor Wanli felt rebellious and immediately muttered to his mother.

Empress Dowager Li was stunned by this.

This was the first time in all these years that her son spoke to her like this.

She was so angry that her eyes bulged, but thinking about the business, she put her anger aside for the time being and quoted from the classics: "Who said that the emperor can do whatever he wants? Can you stop the people from talking nonsense? In the past, Emperor Shizong, your grandfather, favored a Taoist priest. A man named Hai Rui came to the Huangji Gate with a coffin and cursed Emperor Shizong."

"Emperor Shizong was furious and wanted to kill Hai Rui, but he failed in the end. After your father ascended the throne, Hai Rui was not only acquitted, but was promoted three levels and became a model for scholars all over the world."

"Tell me, can the emperor do whatever he wants?!"

Empress Dowager Li spoke very quickly, and because her words were mixed with anger, two blushes appeared on her plump, fair cheeks after she finished speaking.

"Mother." Emperor Wanli stood up and gently patted Empress Dowager Li on the back.

Empress Dowager Li covered her chest and exhaled a few breaths of fragrance, then looked up at her son and said, "Emperor, this matter should be small rather than big. Let Mr. Zhang handle the imperial examination. But this is the end of the Kong family."

"The Kong family and the royal family share weal and woe and must not be suppressed!"

(End of this chapter)