Bachelor

Chapter 233 The Harem
Kunning Palace Garden.

The sun is setting in the west, and in the cool autumn wind, Kun Ling's singing comes with the wind:

"The spring breeze is helpless, sending another spring away.

Good things go to waste, and Yan Yanchun suffers from many illnesses..."

It is the authentic Wumata soft language.

The emperor's eyes suddenly lit up: "The song is mediocre, but the words are beautifully written. Who sent the troupe?"

Sitting beside him were Empress Chen and Concubine Zhang Gui, and behind him were a dozen or so eunuchs and court ladies.

Listening to the emperor's question, Empress Chen still had that rigid face, "Returning to Your Majesty, it was Concubine Zhang who invited someone to come in from outside. I heard that it was the famous Zhanjia troupe in the capital. The concubine sang this song very well. In addition, His Majesty was worried about the case of the Shuntianfu Township Examination some time ago. Seeing that His Majesty was bored, the concubine borrowed this team from Concubine Zhang, so that His Majesty could listen to it and relieve the boredom."

Emperor Jiajing's concubines had only been in the palace for a few months, but they all played Beijing movies.Chen Hou was originally from Hebei, so he was quick to learn, but within a hundred days, he was already able to speak Jingshi dialect perfectly.

It's a pity that she is old-fashioned, and there is an indescribable strange smell when she speaks out the smooth Beijing movies, and she always feels that something is missing.

The emperor felt a little uncomfortable when he heard it, and he was even more unhappy when he thought of the case of the rural examination.But on the surface, he still nodded slowly, and said softly: "The queen has a heart."

But the queen said: "It's the noble concubine who has a heart."

The emperor looked at the glamorous Concubine Zhang beside Chen Hou, and showed a rare smile: "The song is good, I like it very much."

Concubine Zhang was a little proud, and she bowed her body: "Your Majesty, the days have been reduced these days, and my concubine feels very sad."

The emperor sighed: "It's rare for me to get together with you today, so I won't mention these troublesome things."

"Yes."

But Empress Chen refused to give up, and suddenly gave Concubine Zhang a meaningful look, and said, "Your Majesty, Concubine Zhang really has her heart on this matter. I heard that this Zhan family class has become very popular recently. It's not the family of a public official, but Please don't move them. The stage troupe is also very expensive. Every performance will cost hundreds of taels of silver. Your Majesty, the money for the theater troupe is paid by Concubine Zhang herself. "

Concubine Zhang already had no capital, and she was even more proud when she heard what Chen Hou said: "It's only a few hundred taels. If it makes His Majesty happy, no matter how much money you have, it doesn't matter."

The emperor's face turned cold, he snorted, and said to Concubine Zhang: "Concubine Zhang seems to be very rich recently!"

Concubine Zhang couldn't understand the meaning of the emperor's words, and complained: "Your Majesty, how much money can the concubine have? The palace is so poor. The life here looks beautiful, but according to the concubine, it is not as good as before. In Anlu, you are comfortable and rich." As she spoke, she smiled coquettishly, pursing her red lips, wanting to act like a spoiled child.

She knew that she was more beautiful than Empress Chen, and the emperor also liked her charming and charming like a bird.

But the emperor's thoughts were beyond Concubine Zhang's comprehension.

As soon as Jiajing thought of the fraud case in the examination room and Concubine Zhang making troubles in it, his face suddenly changed, his face was ashen and he said coldly: "It seems that concubine Ai can't stand poor people. The ancients said: Poor is poor." Change, and change will lead. The lovely concubine sometimes does things too much, and I don't see how the concubine's 'practice will last forever'."

Concubine Zhang realized that she had said the wrong thing after hearing the emperor's words, her face changed color with fright, and tears flashed in her eyes.She wriggled her lips: "Chenqie, Chenqie..." After a long time, she didn't know how to speak.

Empress Chen felt a burst of joy in her heart when she saw it, and said to herself: There is no cure for the idiot. In this palace, having the king's favor can certainly bring you a lot of advantages at the beginning.But if you want to stabilize your favor, it is a university question.Israel is a matter of people, after all, it cannot last long.

There are hundreds of thousands of eunuchs and maids in the palace, and the control is so great that it is no longer the small palace of the past.There are many people with mixed mouths, and all kinds of people have all kinds of thoughts.

What a shrewd person His Majesty is, he can't let his own temper do the job when he is in charge of this family.Before doing anything, you have to think about the reactions of other people in the palace, as well as the consequences.

As women, our youth has only been in a hurry for ten years.If you want to survive in this palace, you have no resourcefulness, and you don't even know what to die.Concubine Zhang, you are just an idiot, and that Huang Jin you tried to win over is also a big fool.

How can it compare to me, I, Empress Chen, have a world-renowned talent in my hands, fighting with me, you are still a little tender.

Empress Chen still refused to let Concubine Zhang go, smiled rare, pretended to be pleading and said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, don't blame Concubine Zhang, she invited this troupe into the palace, but it has another meaning."

Emperor: "What do you mean?"

Empress Chen: "Concubine Zhang knows that His Majesty likes Sun Jingyuan's essays and poems. The script of the play sung by the troupe just now was written by Sun Jingyuan."

The emperor was very surprised: "So it was written by Sun Dan. Hey, I just said why it sounds so familiar." He showed a smile on his face, and shook his head with a wry smile: "This Sun Dan, poetry, opera, morality, essays, storytelling, etc. This is how it came about, but it’s just that he is a bit wild, and he will repay him. Sometimes it really makes me a little annoyed! When dealing with Sun Henian, he actually assisted Sun Henian to commit suicide in fear of crime. It is really extremely abhorrent. But what can I do with them? After all, Sun Dan is Sun Henian's junior. He has a reason for the words of loyalty and filial piety, if I really deal with him, wouldn't he be criticized by the scholar-bureaucrats?"

Chen Hou's mouth twitched imperceptibly: "Your Majesty is talking about the matter between Sun Dan and Huang Jin."

"What else can it be?" The emperor sighed: "These two are my servants of the dragon, and I am also soft-hearted, thinking of their past contributions and love. If it were any other king, I would have put these two The guy who didn't listen to the call was cleaned up. I am also suffering, these two people are my best steward, and the other is my think tank, but why don't they want to get along with each other?"

Empress Chen deliberately said: "Your Majesty is right. Both of these two are talented people. If they can live in harmony, it will be a blessing to Your Majesty and the country."

The emperor's eyes lit up: "Empress, you can do something."

Chen Hou saw that the emperor was surrounded by himself, and said: "Actually, all the conflicts in this world are due to lack of understanding and communication. One of Sun Jingyuan and Huang Jin is outside the palace, and they don't see each other for a month. If a knot cannot be solved, the misunderstanding will become deeper and deeper."

The emperor put his hand on his forehead: "The empress is right. These two people lack communication on weekdays. If you want to untie the knot in their hearts, you have to find a few opportunities for them to sit together and have a good talk. I have to think about it." A way to keep them together all day."

"But... Sun Dan is a foreign minister and cannot enter the palace." The emperor was a little distressed.

Empress Chen smiled slightly: "Your Majesty, my concubine has a way."

The emperor's eyes brightened: "Speak."

Empress Chen: "According to the court's rules, foreign ministers can still come into the palace. Didn't your majesty say before that you want to give Sun Dan a family background? Why don't you appoint him as the senior of the inner school and let him come into the palace to teach the eunuchs. In this way, Sun Dan and Huang Jin can see each other face to face every day, and see each other a lot, and the estrangement between the two will naturally disappear."

The Jiajing Strike Festival applauded: "Wonderful, this method is good. There is a folk saying that love grows after a long time. When Sun Dan and Huang Jin see each other, they will probably not mess around under my nose. Government affairs also need someone to assist, and Sun Dan has a great talent, which is suitable for him.”

The so-called Neishutang is actually a school for eunuchs. In the Ming Dynasty, eunuchs were not allowed to participate in politics, nor were they allowed to read and write. The eunuchs selected were basically illiterate.However, after Chengzu Jingnan ascended the throne, eunuchs were reused, and the power of eunuchs continued to increase, and they held many positions, many of which could not be performed by illiterates.Therefore, during the reign of Xuande, an inner book hall was set up in the palace to allow eunuchs to read and write, so that they could hold certain leadership positions in the future.

Seeing the emperor nodding, empress Chen's eyes flickered.He thought to himself: "Sun Dan can enter the palace, of course he can advise the emperor, but in fact, why can't he be the think tank of the palace. With such a master in hand, why do you, Concubine Zhang, fight with me?"

Chen Hou already knew that there was a man named Chen Rong in his family who had the reputation of a scholar, and he also participated in the Shuntianfu Township Examination in Jinke.After receiving the news, she was overjoyed.Today, the struggle between concubines in the palace has reached the point where fire and water are incompatible, and its cruelty is even more cruel than the political struggle between the court and the middle.In the struggle between government and government, the loser will be dismissed from office at worst, and there may not be no chance of a comeback in the future.But once the struggle in the palace fails, he will be thrown into the cold palace, and there is no possibility of turning over in his life.

But now, Concubine Zhang has won the support of Huang Jin, and she has a great reputation in the palace.Moreover, Concubine Zhang is deeply favored by the emperor, and there is a tendency to take her as the empress instead.

After all, Empress Chen was just a woman, and she didn't have anyone to help in the palace, so she suddenly felt powerless.

As soon as I heard that there was such a famous scholar as Chen Rong in my family, I immediately became excited, and immediately sent people out of the palace to meet Chen Rong.

But the person who came back brought a piece of news that made Empress Chen very disappointed: Chen Rong was a nerd who didn't know much about the world, don't talk about giving her advice, and when he met someone, he would blush before he could speak a few words, he must be a useless trash.

However, Sun Dan, Chen Rong's best friend in the same year, is a famous and powerful character, constantly surpassing the world in talent, playing tricks, and using extremely ruthless methods.Not to mention Huang Jin, he and Sun Dan were not rivals on the same level at all, and it was not surprising that he was humiliated by Sun Dan's teasing.Even King Jianghua fell in his hands at the beginning.

Who is King Jianghua, there are countless capable men and strangers under him, and everyone who pulls out is a momentary hero.If it weren't for Sun Dan, I'm afraid His Majesty would still be his suffocating prince in Hubei!
According to Chen Hou, Sun Dan is a very affectionate person.Otherwise, it would not have been possible to run around the capital for his mentor Li Meiting, contribute money and efforts, and finally rescued Li Meiting from the imperial prison.Otherwise, he would not take the risk of helping Sun Henian commit suicide in Beiya.

With the friendship between Chen Rong and his classmates, and the bond of kindness, it may not be impossible to win over this great talent.

With Sun Dan's help, are you worried that you won't be able to beat Concubine Zhang and Huang Jin?

Moreover, after the fraud case in the examination room, the emperor was angry with Concubine Zhang and Huang Jin in his heart, and he treated himself a lot better.Speaking of which, he, Sun Dan, was also kind to her Queen Chen.

The emperor was still admiring: "Sun Dan has outstanding talents. The most rare thing is that he is proficient in common affairs and does not have the stupidity of old scholars. I am also short of people. If he can teach me a group of capable people within ten years Being an eunuch is also a good thing. Once he wins Juren, I originally planned to let him choose a county in Shuntian Prefecture to be the county magistrate. But this is also good, since he is still in the capital anyway, let him teach and be an official at the same time. I share my worries."

The emperor became excited, rubbed his hands together and said, "Good thing, good thing, great good thing."

Although Concubine Zhang was stupid, she also understood at this moment, and her expression changed drastically.

Who is in Neishutang? This is a preparatory class for senior cadres in the inner palace.The eunuchs who can be selected to meet are all outstanding talents. There are a total of three hundred eunuchs, all of whom are children around ten years old.Study in it for a few years, and when they get older, most of them will be filled to work in various departments in the palace.

And the people who come out of here are all famous people of the moment, as far away as the great eunuch Wang Zhen, and as close as Bi Yun, several eunuchs holding pens from the Supervisor of Rituals, and a father-in-law from the Yuma Supervisor. I read the book from here.

300 people, all became Sun Dan's students at once.After a few years, wouldn't this entire palace become his Sun Dan's territory?
Besides, Sun Dan and Huang Jin are on fire again.If Sun Dan is allowed to stretch his tentacles into the palace, once Huang Jin is eaten by him, will there be a way for his concubine Zhang to survive?
Thinking of this, Concubine Zhang was angry and anxious, and couldn't help saying: "Your Majesty, no, you can't let Sun Dan come to be this senior."

The emperor was a little surprised: "Concubine Zhang, what's the matter with you, I don't think there is anything inappropriate, Sun Dan's talent and learning are enough to be the senior of the inner school."

Concubine Zhang said: "According to the family law of the ancestors, the seniors of the Neishutang are generally held by elders with high morals and respect. Sun Dan's qualifications are not enough for the appointment."

The emperor also found it funny: "Sun Dan is not very virtuous." Thinking of Sun Dan's immature face will be a teacher in the school, the emperor couldn't help laughing.

Concubine Zhang hit the snake with a stick: "Generally speaking, the seniors of the Neishutang should be the bachelors of the Imperial Academy, such as Chen Shan, a junior scholar in the fourth year of Xuande, and Li Dongyang, a senior scholar in the Zhengde period. He is a small scholar, it would be absurd to be the senior of the inner school."

The emperor: "Concubine Zhang has grown up, and she also knows the names of Li Dongyang and Chen Shan." He thought to himself: Haven't I thought about choosing a senior from the Imperial Academy or even the cabinet?However, the academicians of the Hanlin Academy are all from Yang Shoufu, and I am not confused to let the officials of the Yang family stick their hands into my palace?Among the several ministers in the cabinet, the old man Mao Ji belongs to King Jianghua, and I have long wanted to deal with him.As for Jiang Mian, a trash who is a vegetarian, let him teach my ministers, don't teach a group of mediocre people to come out.

Therefore, in any case, it is better for Sun Dan to take up this position.After all, Sun Dan is my own person, so I don't worry about using it.

How could Concubine Zhang understand the emperor's intentions, and said: "I just heard about it, but anyway, Sun Dan's status is not suitable for this senior."

Empress Chen felt anxious when she saw that things were going to be serious, and hurriedly said: "Although Sun Dan is a scholar now, he will soon be in the Shuntian Mansion's provincial examination. With his talent, there should be no problem in being a candidate. Let him teach the eunuchs first. , wait a few more months for the test, Sun Dan was a Jinshi in the first high school, and no one would say anything when he entered the Imperial Academy. Besides, Sun Dan is famous all over the world, even if he enters the inner academy with a white body, he will not recruit people Yang Shoufu knows Sun Dan's talent, and Yang Shen and Sun Dan have a good friendship. If these two don't talk about it, others won't talk too much."

The emperor nodded: "Indeed, Sun Dan's talent should convince the world."

Concubine Zhang was in a hurry: "But... Although there is only one step between Juren and Jinshi, there is a world of difference. If you can win Juren, you may not be able to win Jinshi. Unless..."

Empress Chen's eyes flashed again: "Unless what? Do you think Sun Dan can't even win a Jinshi?"

Concubine Zhang sneered: "It's hard to say, unless he can get the first place in the Shuntianfu Township Examination, Xie Yuan, maybe he will have a chance to be a Jinshi. What I mean is maybe, even if he is Zhong Jieyuan, he may not be able to enter the Imperial Academy. "

"Sister, don't you know?" Empress Chen smiled lightly: "If you talk about the imperial examination, the capital is a place where humanities gather. If the top names in the two capitals can't win the Jinshi, that would be a strange thing."

Emperor: "Indeed, judging from previous results, Jie Yuan, the head of the Shuntian Mansion, has all won. Even if he is not a Jinshi, he will be born as a Jinshi, and he will be born with a Jinshi, without exception."

Although the imperial examination system in the Ming Dynasty was strict, there were still certain unspoken rules to be found.In a place like the capital city, at the foot of the emperor, if the top three in the Shuntianfu township examination would not be able to pass one of them in the general examination, I am afraid that there will be no place to put the face of the court.

The examinations of the Ming Dynasty were divided into top three.The top three people, namely the number one scholar, the second place and Tanhua, were awarded Jinshi and the first place; the No. 1 in the second class was called "Chuanlu". Jinshi background is given; the number of the top three is the largest, and Tong Jinshi background is given.

Seeing that the emperor also said the same thing, Concubine Zhang naturally would not refute the emperor's face, and said: "If Sun Dan can understand Yuan, he will naturally be able to be the senior of the inner school."

Chen Hou immediately said: "That's it, sister, how about we each come up with something to make a lottery bet on whether Sun Dan can get the first place in this provincial examination, and we have the right to be a prankster."

Concubine Zhang naturally refused to admit defeat: "The empress wants to bet, and the concubine naturally dare not refuse. I wonder what my sister wants to bet?"

The queen said: "I heard that Concubine Zhang has more than 100 pieces of high-quality Huzhou silk and satin on hand. Otherwise, I will bet you with the statue of the rosewood Sanfeng real person that His Majesty gave me."

Concubine Zhang: "Okay, I will follow my sister."

Empress Chen smiled softly: "Actually, I've won this one for my sister, so don't feel sorry for your hundred pieces of fine silk and satin when the time comes!"

Concubine Zhang glared: "It's not certain who wins and who loses!"

Empress Chen: "My sister is angry again, but worry about it. If you lose, you will be reluctant to take out the hundred pieces of silk. But I heard that my sister has a lot of money, so naturally you won't care about this little silk. "

The emperor felt vigilant: "Concubine Zhang, why do you have so many silks and satins?"

Concubine Zhang's complexion changed greatly in fright, and she dared not speak for a long time.

Empress Chen: "Your Majesty, don't ask Concubine Zhang anymore. I've been with you for so many years, and no one has much money to spare."

Concubine Zhang saw that Empress Chen kept fanning the flames, and felt great hatred in her heart. She said, "Your Majesty, Sun Dan is going to be the senior of the inner school. There is still one person in charge of the inner school. This position is also very important. You don't have to find that kind of person." The key point for a talented and learned Confucian is to be loyal enough."

The so-called steward is actually the principal of the inner school. He doesn't need to teach in daily life, he just uses his name to manage the students.Generally speaking, this candidate is mostly served by the eunuch who is in charge of the seal.

The emperor nodded again and again: "It is time to appoint a steward. Sun Dan is just a foreign minister. Most of the eunuchs in the palace are extreme and have annoying little tempers. I am afraid that Sun Dan will not be able to control them when the time comes."

Concubine Zhang immediately said: "Your Majesty said so."

Complacent in her heart, she couldn't help but cast a provocative look at Empress Chen.

Speaking of the emperor's close friends, they are nothing more than Sun Dan, Huang Jin, Lu Song, and Lu Bing.The father and son of the Lu family are military officers and not eunuchs, so naturally they would not come to be the stewards of the Neishutang.In this way, only Huang Jin was left as a candidate.

Didn't Empress Chen want to take power, so I asked Huang Jin to divide Sun Dan's power, and everyone competed for the talents in the palace for the next few decades.

This is one of them.

Second, as a rule, the stewardship sign of Neishutang must be held by the eunuch who is in charge of the ceremony.

Now, the emperor has been enthroned for several months, and the post of eunuch in charge of the ceremony has not been implemented for a long time.

Originally, the emperor was interested in Huang Jin, but some time ago, the emperor needed Huang Jin to control the East Factory, so he didn't appoint him for a long time, and only let Huang Jin be the eunuch of Bingbi.One is to let him familiarize himself with government affairs first, and the other is to wait for him to fully grasp the Dongchang before he can become the No. 1 interior minister.

But when the fraud case in the Shuntianfu Examination Center happened, Huang Jin not only lost his position as the governor of the East Factory, but also went back to the Supervisor of Rituals in despair.

If Huang Jin could take this opportunity to be the steward of the Neishutang, according to the rules set by his ancestors, Huang Jin would be able to justifiably sit on the post of eunuch, supervisor of etiquette and seal.Kill two birds with one stone, why not do it.

Empress Chen was stunned, and immediately understood Concubine Zhang's thoughts, her heart was in a mess, but she had nothing to think about.Secretly said: This fox Zhang is really insidious, he can even think of such a way.What should I do, what should I do...

After all, she is a woman. Although she is intelligent, she is not quick-witted. When encountering such a thing, she is immediately stunned.

She was bitter in her heart: at this time, how good would it be if someone would give advice by Bengong's side?
This strengthened her determination to keep Sun Dan in her pocket.

The emperor nodded and sighed: "I also know that Huang Jin wants to be an eunuch with palm prints, and I promised him before. Forget it, I don't want to renege on my promise and get fat, so let him be."

Concubine Zhang was delighted in her heart, with a smile on her face.

The emperor: "However, he can't concurrently serve in the East Factory. I plan to let Bi Yun take charge of the East Factory. I had a conversation with Bi Yun the other day, and only then did I know that he had contributed a lot to my being able to enter the palace. Hey, he never mentioned it in front of me. He doesn't want to take credit. This man is honest, and I can't let honest people suffer." Although Huang Jin is his confidant, he is really domineering, and the palace needs someone who can check and balance , which is also good for him.

Concubine Zhang naturally didn't understand the emperor's imperial mind. When she heard that Bi Yun was going to be the Duke of Dongchang, Concubine Zhang looked downcast.

But Empress Chen felt very excited: I have another big arm in my pocket, it's really God helping me!

(End of this chapter)