Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 106: Prime Minister is ill and escapes, the Heavenly Official resigns

The experienced Wang and Zhang were able to test their reactions to emergencies with just this one gesture.

But this is not enough.

Zhang Zhizheng waved his hand and said, "We have prepared some small gifts to show our appreciation. Tomorrow, the eunuchs from the palace will come to take you to the selection. Before you enter the palace, we are still your elders, so we have some words to tell you."

After hearing Wang Xun's words, the "Ten Beauties" who were sent all the way from Shanxi were either shy, excited, or nervous.

The woman from the Fan family looked at the precious rouge and other gifts, as well as the many gold leaves and small silver fish that were sent to her, and felt that her "mission" to enter the palace this time was extraordinary.

If he dared to tell them directly that "one of them will be the concubine", then it must be the emperor's will.

Before coming, they had actually been given numerous instructions.

But the heads of the Wang and Zhang families still had to give instructions, which shows that not everything would go smoothly after entering the palace.

The Emperor...why does he show such special favor to the great merchant families in Jin?
Wang Xun said solemnly: "Your Majesty has the intention to use our families, but you must not be arrogant when you enter the palace. The palace rules are strict, you just need to serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly, and you must not do anything to seduce us, let alone interfere in politics!"

He knew the limits. The emperor was only using this method to reassure them, but he would never tolerate their collusion between internal and external forces.

He was an emperor with a very opinionated and strong character, so he had to make his words clear first.

Of course, those who are presented to the palace for selection are already extremely beautiful, and it would be even better if the emperor likes and favors them.

"I don't think you will be banished and then released. So after you stay in the palace, if only one of you is a concubine, others who don't have such titles as Zhaoyi, Jieyu, Cairen, and Guiren should not be jealous even if they have to be palace maids first. Whoever is a concubine cannot openly take care of others."

Wang Xun took a special look at the girl from the Fan family, and then said to the others: "Your Majesty has only chosen one queen and two concubines this time, but they will naturally have many children in the future..."

Wang Xun had already thought through many issues, and after giving them careful instructions, he let the servants take them to wash up and rest.

Having come all the way from Shanxi, they are naturally not in their best condition right now.

We finally settled down in the backyard, which was different from the hostels and inns along the way.

And tomorrow they will go to a new environment, how can a group of girls stay still and calm?

Soon, he ran to the room of the girl from the Fan family, chattering about the fine rouge, powder, jewelry, gold and silver...

"Sister Sirong, if His Majesty can canonize you as a concubine, why not just let the nine of us stay in your palace?"

It was as if they also recognized that Fan Sirong was the most outstanding.

"Who knows what His Majesty likes? Besides, have you all forgotten what Uncle Wang told you? The palace rules are strict, and we don't have time to think about these things..."

She is two or three years older than the other nine. In her hometown, she is actually over 18, which is very late to talk about marriage.

That's because her father has high standards and won't easily marry her off.

Her father was a scholar in the Fan family, but he had not passed the imperial examination for many years.

She was quite famous for her talent in the past and was highly valued by the Fan family, which is why they helped her father marry a beautiful daughter of a wealthy family who was famous far and wide.

Now she can only be a teacher in the clan school. Her father was originally reluctant to send her here.

The Forbidden Palace is a dangerous place. People who have read books have read countless stories from past dynasties. They love their daughters, so how could they be willing to let their daughters take risks?
But Fan Sirong felt that if she could repay the kindness of her family at this point, she would be favored after entering the palace in the future, and perhaps she could even ask for some grace for her biological father.

She was well-read and well-mannered, and she admired her father's talent.

Now she looks at these innocent sisters with mixed feelings.

Now they get along like real sisters, but Wang Xun made it very clear: this time only one concubine will be chosen from the ten people, and the others may be palace maids.

They can't take care of other people openly, isn't it because they are afraid that the emperor will worry that they will form a clique and jeopardize government affairs?
At that time, there will be differences in status, some will live in luxury, while others will be treated like slaves... Some of them have been like rich girls since they were little.

They stayed there all night, and Wang An came early the next morning to take them all away.

The Ming Dynasty already had a very complete process for selecting concubines, but they still had to be screened in a centralized location first.

According to the "grand occasion" in the past, five thousand beautiful girls would enter the capital.

After passing several rounds of screening outside the palace, only three hundred people will actually enter the palace to receive longer training in palace rules and etiquette, and then only three people will be selected, and the emperor will choose one to be the queen and the other two to be canonized as concubines.

As for the "Nine Concubines" who were conferred during the Jiajing and Wanli dynasties, they were not the regular selection of concubines for the emperor's wedding.

Wang An has been busy with this matter for a long time.

First, they directly selected a group of people through the Jinyiwei and Wujun Dudufu. Then they connected with Shuntianfu and selected a group of people from the public.

Now, there are places outside the palace where preliminary screening is being carried out. In fact, there are only less than five hundred people left. Only three hundred more will be selected and sent to the palace after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

These ten girls from Shanxi were naturally considered to be "cutting in line".

"Sister Fan, what should we do?" Feeling the strange looks from the girls who have been here for a long time, the "Ten Beauties of Shanxi" still couldn't help but huddle together.

Fan Sirong pursed her lips and shook her head: "Just follow my instructions, don't argue, don't chat."

As expected, the “Ten Beauties of Shanxi” passed the subsequent round of screening, which made them attract more attention and fear from people.

And the time has come to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival.

What is coming will eventually come. At the first court meeting of the first year of Taichang, everyone was in a serious mood.

Shen Yikuan really took sick leave!

This has brought about huge concerns and caused more dissatisfaction.

Xiao Daheng stood there, as gloomy as water.

The storm is about to come, and the leader of the Zhejiang Party does not want to be at the center of it. So, won’t others push those who were in power in the past to take some of the blame?
Shen is always confused!
During the court session, I could faintly hear people talking.

"We still need to recruit cabinet ministers, right? Lords Shen and Wang are getting old..."

"Who else can join the cabinet?"

Xiao Daheng gritted his teeth silently.

Only those who come from the Hanlin Academy are allowed to enter the cabinet. Could it be that Zhu Guozuo, or other high-ranking officials or retired ministers are chosen?

Shen Yikuan began to convey his firm intention to leave in this way, and everyone recalled the years when Zhao Zhigao was paralyzed by illness.

Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue stood behind Kong Shangxian, one worried and the other dissatisfied.

Kong Shangxian was thinking about the letter that had just been sent from Linqing the day before.

As long as he stayed in the capital, Kong Shangxian could come to every court meeting whenever he wanted and stand at the front of the civil officials.

If he can stand here forever, even if he says nothing and does nothing, the gentry of the world will be more grateful.

After all, when the emperor sees him, he will be more cautious.

After three drum beats, all the ministers entered the court.

Ma Lin also stood in the military ranks and walked into Youshun Gate with resentment in his heart.

There was another person among the military officials, Qi Jiguang’s son, the new Marquis of Zhenyi, Qi Zuoguo.

Because Dengzhou was relatively close, he was the first one to rush to the capital to express his gratitude.

What you see is the Huangji Gate which has already started construction. Although it is still early, the craftsmen have not arrived yet.

Under the Qianqing Gate, Zhu Changluo sat on the throne and the court meeting began.

Qi Zuoguo was grateful to be able to stand at the front of the line to express his gratitude.

Marin also had to thank the emperor - there was no such process in the last Zhengdan grand court meeting. Although he was demoted, it was still considered the emperor's grace, after all, he was not dismissed from office.

Zhu Changluo didn't say much to them, just some formal encouragement.

Before he officially started to report on his affairs, Zhu Changluo spoke first.

"The Prime Minister has fallen ill due to overwork, and I am really worried. Chen Ju, please call one or two imperial doctors to see him first. I hope he can recover soon and return to the cabinet to manage affairs."

All the civil officials were shocked.

Sending a eunuch to examine the patient and "examining the patient on my behalf" are two different things.

If the emperor personally visited the patient, on the one hand it was a great honor, but on the other hand it also meant that he was really going to die.

Now that the emperor had suddenly done this, Shen Shixing had not yet decided whether to try to persuade him or not, but Chen Ju had already received the order and left.

"Let's start the show."

There was no coughing from either the civil or military classes, and everyone was still guessing what the emperor's intention was.

Does this mean that you value Shen Yi Guan, or is it a hint to him that he should leave quickly?

"There is an early report!" The official from the Honglu Temple saw the awkward silence and immediately spoke up to remind everyone.

"Ahem..." Seeing that Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue did not speak, the Minister of Personnel Li Dai stood up first, "Your Majesty, Li Dai, has been the Minister of Personnel for three years. Now I feel that my spirit and body are getting weaker and weaker, and it is difficult for me to continue in this position. I hope that Your Majesty will have pity on my old age and weakness, and make an early recommendation. After I have completed the examination and the appointment of the new Jinshi, I can return to my hometown."

Everyone's heart skipped a beat and they couldn't help but look at the emperor.

(End of this chapter)