I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 17 I, Shen Nian, will not be a whip in the hands of others!

late at night.

A slightly tipsy Shen Nian returned to the Shen residence.

The silver ingots and silk that the emperor generously rewarded him have been taken home by Aji.

Gu Yue'er placed it on the table in the center of the main hall and pasted red paper on it. All that was missing was to put an incense burner on it and light three incense sticks.

Gu Yue'er's family is well-off, much richer than Shen Nian's.

If it was just twenty taels of silver and two pieces of good cloth, she would not care at all.

However, this was a gift from the emperor and is of great significance.

Shen Nianyi returned home.

Gu Yue'er then prepared some hangover soup for Shen Nian, and then helped him change his clothes and wash up.

Shen Nian likes this feeling very much.

When he returned home, he turned from a beast of burden into a master.

All the fatigue in my body was gone in an instant.

……

A moment later, in the bedroom.

Gu Yue'er leaned in Shen Nian's arms and excitedly discussed with Shen Nian how much cloth to give to her parents-in-law and how to word the letter.

"There are two pieces of cloth in total, one for my family and one for my parents-in-law. As for the letter, I can write it!" Shen Nian said in an unquestionable tone.

Shen Nian knew that Gu Yue'er wanted her family to benefit from it as well, but she didn't dare to say anything until Shen Nian opened his mouth.

If she asks for it.

Her parents would scold her, and she would feel that she was not a good woman.

This is the ethics of a good woman today: marry a man and obey him.

When Gu Yue'er heard Shen Nian's arrangement, she was very happy. She pouted and kissed Shen Nian on the cheek.

Shen Nian had a wicked smile on his face and said, "Yue'er, it's time for us to get down to business!"

What they did was indeed the right thing.

If Gu Yue'er's belly still doesn't show any signs of pregnancy by the end of this year, I'm afraid the four parents will rush to the capital with all kinds of prescriptions for conceiving a child.

After saying that, Shen Nian pounced over.

……

Three days later, the imperial inspection of the Hanlin Academy ended.

No one in the review hall was punished and all of them remained in the museum.

Wang Zudi, Zhao Yongxian, and Liu Chuxian did not show much emotion, but Liu Kezhen was so excited that he almost picked up Shen Nian and spun around.

If Shen Nian had not performed brilliantly recently, Ma Ziqiang would have valued him more and more, and everyone in the review office would have benefited from it.

There is a high probability that Liu Kezhen will be sent out.

at the same time.

The trend of gathering people on the streets of the capital to give lectures, talk nonsense, and ridicule the government was also suppressed a lot.

The eight regulations were issued by the Ministry of Personnel and gradually spread to various provincial capitals.

The intensity of execution is as strict as the performance evaluation system.

Zhang Juzheng once again made countless people understand:
If one wants to destroy his new policies, one must replace him and become the new Prime Minister of the Ming Dynasty. Otherwise, one can only follow in his footsteps.

……

Another day, in the inner study.

Shen Nian passionately lectured on the Book of Documents for nearly an hour.

The young eunuchs listened with great interest and were as respectful to Shen Nianzhi as they were to their ancestor Feng Bao.

Other teachers in the inner study hall also began to learn Shen Nian's teaching methods.

Although he didn't speak as well as Shen Nian, he was obviously more serious and worked harder than before.

Some teachers even felt that Shen Nian was able to stand by the emperor's side, write the daily notes, and even make Zhang Juzheng speechless that day, all because the young Wanli eavesdropped on his lectures in the inner study, which triggered a series of positive effects.

They felt that they just lacked an opportunity.

Therefore, they all racked their brains to innovate their teaching.

pity.

There were many people who tried to imitate Shen Nian, but none of them was better than Shen Nian, and the little emperor never came to the inner study again.

After Shen Nian finished speaking, he was about to leave.

A young eunuch with a very pale complexion came up to Shen Nian and bowed, saying, "Reviewer Shen, Eunuch Feng invites you to the tea room for a chat."

Eunuch Feng.

These three words can only refer to Feng Bao, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department and the close companion of the young Emperor Wanli.

The Ming eunuchs had a total of 24 offices, namely 12 offices, 4 departments, and 8 bureaus. The Silijian was the head of the 24 offices and was overseen by Feng Bao, also known as the Internal Minister.

In the Song Dynasty, there was also the title of Internal Prime Minister.

But it refers to the Hanlin academician who is equivalent to the emperor's secretary general.

However, Feng Bao at the moment.

Although he was only a fourth-rank official, he approved documents on behalf of the emperor and did things that were beyond the rank of a first-rank official.

Equivalent to the emperor's spokesperson.

Because he was in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he had a higher status and greater power.

In addition, the young Wanli trusted him very much.

When Empress Dowager Li and Zhang Juzheng discussed the young emperor's studies or political affairs, they would often seek Feng Bao's advice.

When Shen Nian saw him, he naturally had to be respectful, just like he was to Zhang Juzheng.

……

Next to the inner study, inside the tea room.

Fifty-four-year-old Feng Baozheng was sitting cross-legged at the table drinking tea.

Either because of the need to purify one’s body or because of the power to support others.

Feng Bao had fair skin and white hands, and he was very well maintained. He looked younger than the 40-year-old Zhao Yongxian, the reviewer of the Hanlin Academy.

Feng Bao was a eunuch who walked out of the inner study hall.

He loved literature and art. Not only did he have beautiful handwriting, he was also very skilled in playing the zither and was good at compiling books.

If he had not become a eunuch, perhaps he could have entered the Hanlin Academy and achieved great success.

Shen Nian bowed and said, "I, the Hanlin Reviewer Shen Nian, pay my respects to Eunuch Feng!"

Feng Bao showed his signature smile on his face.

"Reviewer Shen, this isn't a public housing unit. No need to be polite. Come, sit down and have a cup of tea!"

The young eunuch serving on the side quickly laid a cushion for Shen Nian.

After Shen Nian sat down, he quickly poured tea for Shen Nian.

Feng Bao looked at Shen Nian and said with a smile, "Reviewer Shen, I also came from the Inner Academy. If I had met a teacher like you back then, perhaps I could have shared more political affairs with His Majesty!"

"Eunuch Feng, you're joking. My teaching method is just a minor one, just a trick!"

"No! No! Shen Jiantao, you've brought life to the inner study hall. After listening to your lectures, these little brats are so eager to learn!"

……

The two chatted for a while and drank a few cups of tea.

Feng Bao said, "Shen Jiantao, His Majesty has discussed this with Prime Minister Zhang. From now on, you will be responsible for recording His Majesty's daily activities during regular court sessions, imperial lectures, daily lectures, and sacrificial ceremonies. You should understand that this is the court... no, His Majesty wants to use you. Do not disappoint His Majesty!"

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Shen Nian's mouth.

Feng Bao's implication was that when Shen Nian wrote the diary, he should have considered the emperor more rather than the court.

The court he mentioned was referring to Zhang Juzheng, and the word "Your Majesty" was the little Wanli.

It was most likely that the young Wanli instructed Feng Bao to talk to Shen Nian.

As the young Wanli became more sensible, he also wanted to cultivate his confidants in preparation for ruling the country in the future.

And Shen Nian was exactly the minister he had his eyes on.

For Shen Nian, this is another difficult choice.

If you look at the near future, you naturally have to follow Zhang Juzheng's lead; if you look at the far future, you naturally have to follow the pace of the young Wanli.

Shen Nian took a sip of tea.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your esteem. I will devote my whole heart and soul to serving the court, speaking from the heart and not from personal interests!"

Shen Nian's attitude is to discuss matters and feelings rather than personal interests.

He is unwilling to take sides, and it is impossible for him to take sides.

He didn't want to have the same ending as Zhang Juzheng, nor did he want to be a loyal follower of the young Emperor Wanli.

"I understand. Come, have some tea!" Feng Bao immediately poured tea for Shen Nian himself.

He hinted to Shen Nian that he didn't expect Shen Nian to immediately declare that he would die for the emperor.

If Shen Nian expressed his loyalty and declared his allegiance to the young Wanli, Feng Bao would look down on Shen Nian instead.

He just doesn't want to.

Shen Nian became a whip for Zhang Juzheng to spur the young Wanli.

Today's knock.

Shen Nian's lukewarm answer still made him very satisfied.

(End of this chapter)