Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 262: King’s Grace, Holy Instructions

When the king and his ministers sat facing each other, the sky really became dark.

We first talked about family matters.

"Your Highness has lived a life of integrity, and I have always admired you. Your Highness has no concubines, only one daughter, and I heard that your stepson is also ignorant of people?"

Shen Li's face changed slightly and his expression darkened.

This is a knot in Shen Li's heart.

He never took a concubine in his life. After his wife gave birth to a daughter, she had some health problems and had no children for many years. He adopted a son from the family, but the daughter...

The reason why this stepson is so ignorant is a family shame. He was poisoned by his daughter...

"Yu Tai is devoted to the country and pays less attention to family affairs." Zhu Changluo sighed, "Grandfather, father and I have all been very kind to Yu Tai. Yu Tai has given all the favors to his clan members. Yu Tai has a clear conscience. Some people have impeached the Shen family of Shangqiu for being arrogant and wealthy, but I know that Yu Tai is the poorest in the clan. Your daughter..."

He shook his head, and Shen Li's expression became even more depressed. He said sadly: "My family affairs are disgraceful to Your Majesty."

"I want to say that Yu Tai is now devoted to official duties, which may also be to relieve his worries. Yu Tai's body is still strong. If he really returns to his hometown, he will be troubled by family affairs day and night, and I am afraid it will not be good."

After saying that, he added, "We must adopt another son to ensure that the bloodline is not cut off. Find another one from the clan. I will give him the privilege of attending the clan school, and he will study with my eldest son in the future."

Shen Li's body trembled slightly, and he got up from his seat and knelt down: "I have given up this idea. Your Majesty, I dare not accept your grace."

"I can't say anything about your family affairs. Your daughter is married and has a young son. You will live in the capital. Since you are my eldest son's companion, I think you will be able to become a useful person."

Zhu Changluo first talked about the ugly things in his family, not to mock him.

After all, I only have one biological daughter, and there is no way to change her temperament.

If Shen Li continues to escape like this, his later years will probably be miserable.

According to today's clan customs, it is difficult for his daughter to inherit the family property.

Shen Li himself doesn't have much property.

He is in his sixties or seventies. After going through such a personal experience, it would be wrong not to say that he feels disheartened.

Although Shen Li was a very upright person, after being re-employed by Zhu Changluo and appointed as prime minister, he simply devoted all his energy to work, which may have been due to family reasons.

Having just encountered a "major setback" at work, Shen Li heard in the next moment that the emperor wanted him to adopt another normal son and promised to let this son be the study companion of the eldest prince. He knelt on the ground with mixed feelings.

The current emperor had suffered from the dispute over the foundation of the country in the past. His eldest son, who was less than six years old, had already been enlightened by Zhang Juzheng's son, and his attitude was clear.

The eldest prince is both the legitimate son and the oldest, and as long as he grows up successfully, he will definitely be the crown prince.

"Please sit down and talk while we eat."

Zhu Changluo is young and has a big appetite.

He was eating, but Shen Li only ate a little. After a while, he said, "I am the elder, and I have a higher seniority in the clan. The youngest son..."

Then he sighed and said, "Your Majesty is very kind, and I am grateful to you. Since Your Majesty does not blame me, I..."

"I blame you."

Zhu Changluo's words choked Shen Li again.

"I am the emperor, but I still have many concerns. The chief inspector of the Imperial Court has gone to extremes because he has no worries and is devoted to the country." Zhu Changluo shook his head after taking a sip of soup. "Zhonghua, you are the first Imperial Court of the Inspection Court. The rules and precedents of the Inspection Court are more important."

Shen Li's heart trembled and he was speechless for a moment.

"Ruoyu, bring some meat soup to Yutai."

Zhu Changluo gave an order first, then pointed at the dishes on the table with chopsticks: "This glutinous rice cake is soft, sweet and delicious. Please have a taste." "... Thank you, Your Majesty."

This is really a very intimate chat rhythm, from family matters to national affairs, with both gratitude and responsibilities.

After making this point, Zhu Changluo did not continue to discuss why he was a bit extreme and what the rules and precedents of the Inspection Office were.

But Shen Li was naturally thinking. While listening to the emperor's words about what he saw and heard at Wansui Mountain this afternoon, he was thinking about the emperor's grace and "complaints". After drinking the meat soup and finishing the meal, Shen Li stood up and bowed deeply: "Although I have no selfish intentions, the Inspection Office has just been established, and I am really unsure about the rules. I hope Your Majesty will give me instructions."

"Yu Tai is an elder and a veteran minister." Zhu Changluo pressed his hand, "Sit down, have a cup of tea, and relax your mind."

As for the rhythm between the monarch and his subjects, as long as the emperor has his own ideas, he will of course take the lead.

After taking a sip of tea, Zhu Changluo said, "I heard that the Imperial Household also wanted to include the Ministry of Justice in the Inspection Office?"

Shen Li's heart trembled, he put down the teacup and stood up to apologize.

Apart from his juniors Shu Baiqing and Xie Tingzan, only Guo Zhengyu, Li Tingji and two other people he thought could be discussed knew this idea.

who is it?

"I feel relieved if you dare to think like this."

Zhu Changluo said something that surprised Shen Li again.

"I know that the Imperial Court has been thinking about how the Inspection Office can really play a role in recent years, so that all officials in the world can abide by the law." Zhu Changluo shook his head, "Everything has two sides. What should be advocated and required should be advocated and required; but due to human nature, even if the Inspection Office combines the three judicial departments in one, it cannot achieve the goal that the Imperial Court wants. To be honest, how is the Imperial Court, which combines the three judicial departments in one, compared to the Imperial Prison of the Northern Pacification Office?"

Shen Li was speechless for a moment.

The Northern Pacification Division of the Jinyiwei could completely bypass the Three Law Divisions with just one order from the emperor. Even if the civil officials tried to dissuade him, the emperor was supreme and insisted on handling major cases through the Jinyiwei. How could the officials stop him?
"Hasn't the Imperial Household noticed that, after I ascended to the throne, except for a few occasions, I have never used the Imperial Guards as a weapon?"

"...Your Majesty is wise." Shen Li thought about it and realized that it was indeed true.

Apart from major cases such as the Shanhaiguan Rebellion in the 28th year of Wanli, the interception of grain and killing of transport troops in Jiangnan in the first year of Taichang, and the incitement of gentry in the Chu Zong case, how many times did the Jinyiwei appear in the court and the country?
"Morality is an ideal, and laws are order." Zhu Changluo said, "The Inspection Office is actually the government office that I want to maintain the order of laws and regulations. And if the order of laws and regulations is to be awe-inspiring and inviolable, it must not be swayed by people, but must be transcendent."

Looking at Shen Li who seemed to be thinking about something, Zhu Changluo said leisurely: "The Imperial Household is now actively planning the selection of key personnel. When the Inspection Bureau needs to do something in the future, will other people have something to gossip about what the Imperial Household needs to do?"

"…but…" Shen Li hesitated to speak.

"You must trust me and my colleagues." Zhu Changluo reminded solemnly, "You can't expect everything to go smoothly. Prepare for the worst and go in the right direction. If you encounter setbacks, you can't do anything about it. Just think of a way to solve it. Sometimes when climbing a mountain, you have to go downhill first and take a detour. It's nothing. What do you think, Yutai?"

"…I will accept your instruction."

Shen Li looked at the emperor with mixed feelings.

A 26-year-old emperor comforts a 77-year-old minister?

But he had a point.

"Your Excellency has been in office for quite some time. You should know that I want to accomplish great things more than anyone else, to revive the Ming Dynasty and rebuild the foundation of the country." Zhu Changluo sighed, "It's been almost seven years. I can only endure it for now. It is true that I am still young and Your Excellency is nearly 80 years old. But just as many good policies that benefit the country and the people are often abandoned halfway, this just shows that many things cannot be completed in one generation."

Looking at Shen Li, Zhu Changluo said meaningfully: "The Jinxianyuan points out the direction of morality and learning, and the Jianchayuan corrects mistakes and accuses crimes. We must be vigilant, but also have trust. In this way, all officials will not be afraid of the Jianchayuan, but will also be afraid of it. What do you think?"

"...Your Majesty has a good opinion." Shen Li raised his head, hesitated for a moment and then asked, "What about the governors and censors of the provinces..."

"It has to be sorted out." Zhu Changluo did not shy away from the question. "The criminal cases of the people and the criminal cases of the officials are two different things. The Inspection Office should supervise the officials first, and then it will be sorted out in the future. Even the Imperial Court cannot clear up the situation in a short time. Now, the Imperial Court has made the decision to select the important officials, and will have to supervise the officials in the future. How can it supervise them in an upright manner?"

Shen Li finally understood what the emperor meant. After thinking for a while, he said, "If that's the case, then the Inspection Office shouldn't be involved in the imperial recommendation?"

"It's not clear now, we should still participate if we have to." Zhu Changluo said, "But no matter how they ask, it's not easy for the Inspection Office to personally intervene and influence the outcome. When the Inspection Office does things, the starting point should not be personnel matters, but the crimes that harm the country and the people. As long as they take action, it should be enough to serve as a warning for a while. And when they don't take action, it will be like the imperial prison that scares people, and it will shock people far away."

He stretched out his palm and chopped it down: "The reason why there are five phases is that each of them is responsible for a specific area and is extremely sharp. If you are still in me and I am in you, wouldn't we still be inextricably linked and connected?"

(End of this chapter)