Jiajing Chengming

Chapter 280 The Queen Mother is angry with the Qingliu and wants them to be executed!

"It's an apology!"

"No one expected that Xie Qian would suddenly appear in the capital, and as soon as he showed up, he brought his two sons to Zuo Shunmen."

"Many of the courtiers who came to present the documents were shocked when they saw it."

Qin Wen replied.

Zhu Houcong smiled after hearing this: "That's good!"

then.

Zhu Houcong ordered: "Let them kneel for a while longer, so that more court officials will know about this!"

"It's rare for a leader of the Qingliu clan and a veteran of two dynasties to take the initiative to tie up his child and come to me to apologize!"

"This is bound to be a story that will go down in history! It would be better for us to stay a little longer."

"Send a message to the Imperial Academy, and ask them to send someone who is good at painting to paint this scene. Afterwards, I will reward you handsomely!"

After Zhu Houcong said this, he stood up and left the Qianqing Palace.

Today is Queen Yao's birthday.

All the noble ladies in the harem had to gather in Kunning Palace to attend the banquet. The nobles and officials from the outer court also entered the palace to congratulate the empress.

Zhu Houcong naturally wanted to take a look as well.

When Zhu Houcong arrived, he saw Princess Yongchun running towards him first, smiling: "Brother!"

"Where did you go to have fun again?"

Zhu Houcong asked with a smile.

Princess Yongchun waved her hands and said, "I didn't go anywhere. My sister came to the palace and I accompanied her for a walk."

at that time.

Princess Yongfu and her husband Shen Xueli also walked towards Zhu Houcong.

At this moment, Princess Yongfu was also pregnant. Her face and waist had become much plumper, but she also looked more graceful and elegant. When she saw Zhu Houcong, she was more relaxed than before. She called out "Your Majesty" with a smile, and then was about to salute with her husband Shen Xueli.

Zhu Houcong naturally exempted her and her husband from the formalities, and then asked Princess Yongfu: "Sister, can you use the red and blue flowers from Ganzhou?"

Princess Yongfu smiled and replied, "It has already been used. It is quite tasty when eaten with vegetables."

"If it's not enough, you can send someone to the palace to ask for it. Ganzhou Governor Chen Jiuchou and his men have organized people to plant a lot of red and blue flowers outside Ganzhou City. Now it's no problem to supply the palace."

Zhu Houcong was talking nonsense, then he looked at Shen Xueli and asked, "What is the prince consort doing after returning to Beijing?"

"Your Majesty, I will just accompany the princess to watch plays, play chess, and write some plays."

Shen Xueli replied.

Zhu Houcong nodded and asked with a smile, "What kind of plays do you and your sister usually watch?"

Nowadays, the main type of drama performed in the Daming Palace uses northern tunes, but some legendary dramas developed from southern dramas have also become popular, and legendary dramas naturally use southern tunes.

"The Story of the Pipa, The Story of the Thorny Hairpin, and The Story of Moon Worship."

Princess Yongfu replied.

Zhu Houcong nodded slightly after hearing this.

He was not fascinated by drama. After all, he came from the future and had been exposed to more realistic film and television dramas, but people of this era were generally fascinated by it.

Zhu Houcong could also tell that Princess Yongfu obviously liked watching dramas, so she could name several plays.

Princess Yongfu grew up in the south and naturally liked watching legendary dramas, so she answered on behalf of Shen Xueli.

Zhu Houcong said to Shen Xueli, "Now that we have increased the tax on banknotes, it will increase some revenue. I will set up a clan school to teach the royal family and relatives. Drama and abacus can be taught to prepare for the land survey in the future. Drama can help the people understand why the court needs to conduct a land survey, and abacus can teach some etiquette masters to review the results of the land survey. You will be responsible for this matter when the time comes."

Shen Xueli was overjoyed after hearing this and quickly bowed in agreement.

Because of his contribution in reviewing and measuring land in the southeast, Shen Xueli was promoted to Taibao after returning to Beijing.

But the next time Shen Xueli would be given an additional title, he would have to wait until the next land survey.

According to the ancestral system set by Zhu Yuanzhang to survey the land every ten years, Shen Xueli would have to wait another ten years if he wanted to be conferred the title again.

However, later emperors often did not abide by this ancestral system, not even once.

But now, Zhu Houcong asked him to cultivate royal relatives in the future, which was naturally implying that the land survey would continue in the future, and he would have the opportunity to be conferred again, so he was naturally happy.

After talking with Princess Yongfu and her husband Shen Xueli for a while, Zhu Houcong came to the two Empress Dowagers and bowed to them.

Then, Zhu Houcong hugged the prince and princess.

At this time, Empress Dowager Jiang suddenly asked Zhu Houcong: "Are those clean officials in the outer court still making trouble?"

"No, the imperial aunt's decree frightened them, and they all went back in disgrace."

Zhu Houcong replied.

Empress Dowager Zhang raised her eyebrows and laughed, "I thought they really didn't take me seriously, but it turns out they are afraid!"

"But I heard from the people below that they were very angry about this privately, complaining that you, the Imperial Aunt, only know how to dote on the two Imperial Uncles, and that you are a brother-supporting demon."

Zhu Houcong then added fuel to the fire.

Empress Dowager Zhang's eyebrows immediately raised: "What kind of demon is that?"

"The brother-supporting demon!"

"The Qingliu people all say that you only know how to love your two younger brothers!"

"I was very angry when I heard this. I didn't think that you, the Imperial Aunt, only knew how to dote on the two uncles. On the contrary, you were a virtuous queen who cared about the ancestors and the country. Otherwise, I wouldn't have issued an imperial decree to reprimand Xie Pi and other upright people for this!" "Besides, what's wrong with the Imperial Aunt loving her younger brother?"

"Besides, the two uncles didn't do anything bad. They just lent money at a low interest rate to help the people. That was also for the sake of the Ming Dynasty and to prevent the common people from being exploited too harshly!"

"But because of this, they not only resent the two uncles, but also frame you."

Zhu Houcong continued.

Anyway, the ancestral system of the Ming Dynasty was that the harem was not to interfere in government affairs, so it was impossible for Empress Dowager Zhang to see the upright ministers every day. Even after he ascended the throne, it was impossible for her to see the cabinet ministers anymore. So Zhu Houcong was allowed to sow discord in front of Empress Dowager Zhang as he wished.

"How dare they be so bold and rebellious!"

Empress Dowager Zhang was indeed a person who was easily persuaded by the instigation of others. After hearing what Zhu Houcong said, she hated the upright people even more. She opened her eyes wide and asked angrily.

then.

She said to Zhu Houcong: "The emperor is right. What's wrong with me loving my brother? Besides, they haven't done anything bad. They are working for the country and the people! Shouldn't I be nice to them?!"

As Empress Dowager Zhang spoke, she became so angry that she burst into tears.

Upon seeing this, Empress Dowager Jiang hurriedly persuaded Empress Zhang to come.

Zhu Houcong laughed secretly on the side.

After Empress Dowager Zhang calmed down, she felt relieved because fortunately Emperor Zhu Houcong did not believe the words of the outside elites and did not dislike her two younger brothers anymore. She felt that Zhu Houcong was a truly wise ruler!

However, when Empress Dowager Zhang thought about how the Qingliu were dissatisfied with her and framed her in this way, she could not help but say to Zhu Houcong:
"Emperor, you should not indulge them too much sometimes. Those who should be killed should still be killed!"

Zhu Houcong was waiting for her to say this, thinking that when he did this in the future, he would say it was the intention of Empress Dowager Zhaosheng.

"Just as the Imperial Aunt said, the officials have already found evidence that the Xie family is guilty of smuggling prohibited items. I will kill a few of them to deter those clean officials!"

……

……

When Zhu Houcong came to Kunning Palace, Xie Qian and his two tied sons were still kneeling outside Zuoshun Gate.

It was already dark and the rain had started to fall, getting heavier and heavier. The rain could no longer be drained away and formed a small river on the ground.

Xie Qian and his two sons' clothes were naturally soaked.

For these three people who had lived a life of luxury, they had naturally never suffered such pain before.

The eldest son Xie Zheng couldn't help but tremble all over.

The second son, Xie Pi, also looked pale.

The crown on Xie Qian's head was becoming heavier and heavier.

During this period, more and more ministers rushed to Zuo Shunmen after hearing the news.

After all, it was the first time for them to see the elders of two dynasties tie up their two sons and come to Zuoshun Gate, kneeling down to apologize to the emperor.

The court officials were very surprised.

A dignified minister and veteran of two dynasties!
A leader of the Qingliu movement who was once as famous as Liu Jian and Li Dongyang!
Thanks for moving!

Thank you, Master!
He actually brought Xie Pi, an important figure of the Qingliu clan who also graduated as a third place in the imperial examination, and his eldest son Xie Zheng to kneel in front of Zuoshunmen and take the initiative to plead guilty!

He also said that he had committed a capital crime that violated ancestral rules!
It was precisely because of this that more and more court officials began to inquire about the reasons and discuss the matter.

They don’t know what crime Xie Qian and others have committed?
Don't even want to believe it.

After all, what kind of person is Xie Qian? He is recognized as a wise and capable assistant by the world!
But the more I don't want to believe it, the more I can't help but ask the truth.

Naturally, many court officials were greatly surprised when they learned the reason, and even began to criticize Xie Qian.

Zhao Huang was the first to criticize Xie Qian, and pointed at the Xie family father and son and said: "You are really unworthy of being called the Qingliu! How could you do such a thing!"

talking.

Zhao Huang then said loudly: "However, this incident also shows the merits of my emperor's virtue and education! That's why the elders of the two dynasties took the initiative to tie up their sons to apologize, rather than hiding their family scandals!"

There were Jinyiwei at Zuoshunmen, so Zhao Huang believed that his words could be known to the emperor.

And he was always good at linking many things to the emperor's wisdom.

Many ministers and assistant ministers envied him for having such ability.

But after hearing this, the Minister of Rites Wu Yikuan's face became even gloomier. He certainly didn't want to see the Qingliu leader Xie Qian in such an embarrassing scene.

Let’s talk.

Many Hanlin scholars in the Hanlin Academy could not accept Xie Qian's apology with his son. In their opinion, this was an insult to the upright officials.

Therefore, when Zhu Houcong asked the Hanlin scholars who were good at painting to paint this scene, many of them were unwilling to accept the task.

Hanlin scholar Liu Pu took the initiative to say: "We should advise His Majesty. We can't let the Xie family apologize in this way and affect the reputation of the entire Qingliu!"

"I don't agree!"

"Having the courage to confess is the true and magnanimous act of a clean and honest gentleman. How can I ask Your Majesty to make random decisions just for the sake of being clean and honest?"

"I will paint this picture as ordered."

Wen Zhengming, a newly admitted Hanlin scholar, objected and said to the eunuch who came to announce the decree, "Please wait a moment, sir. I will prepare my brush and rain gear right away!"

Liu Pu and others were very embarrassed when they saw this.

After returning from Kunning Palace, Zhu Houcong ordered Xie Qian and his two sons to go back, change clothes, and come to see him in the evening.

At night, Zhu Houcong met Xie Qian and his two sons and said, "I am very pleased that you, Master, took the initiative to tie them up and plead guilty. I have indeed seen evidence of your Xie family's involvement in smuggling! Now tell me what exactly is going on with your smuggling."

(End of this chapter)