Xiyuan was originally a royal garden. Although Jiajing built palaces and many Taoist buildings here, it still retains a large number of landscapes and many original lakes and mountains.

Jiajing got up this morning, and his whole body seemed to be in good condition, as if there was some divine will. He had just finished washing, but he glanced at the skylight one more time, and suddenly wanted to take a walk around Xiyuan for the first time.

"Master, do you really want to go around?" Huang Jin just ordered the maids to retreat. He looked at Jiajing in disbelief as if he couldn't believe his ears.

Jiajing's face straightened slightly, and he looked angrily and said to Huang Jin seriously: "Go and call Yuan Wei over. If Mr. Xu Ge is fine, let him come too!"

"My slave obeys the order!" Huang Jin recovered from his gaffe and immediately turned around to make arrangements.

When the emperor travels, even if it is within the Xiyuan, it is not a trivial matter. But it is not only to guard against assassins, but the roads that the emperor has to pass must naturally be cleaned by the palace staff.

Yuan Wei was able to climb to the position of the second assistant of the Ming Dynasty not only because of his good poetry, but also because he had a very clear understanding of Jiajing's character, so he was quite popular with Jiajing.

When Yan Song was in power, Xu Jie had successfully created an image of a loyal and honest man. Now that he heard Jiajing's summons, even if it was a big deal, he would accompany Jiajing, who rarely moved around.

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The group first went to the Ten Thousand Beasts Garden to watch the spiritual beasts, then went to the Jin'ao Jade Bridge to appreciate the sparkling waves of Taiye Pond, then to the Quiet Valley to taste tea and watch fish, and finally to the Tianmu Pagoda on Qionghua Island for a bird's-eye view of the infinite scenery below.

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Ha ha……

Yuan Wei is an interesting person, his nature is bohemian, and he even has the nickname of "Old Naughty Boy". With Huang Jin's cooperation, he made Jiajing laugh several times.

Xu Jie's performance was not outstanding, and he even looked a bit dull. However, he responded to Jiajing's questions appropriately and adhered to the duties of a courtier in his words and deeds.

If we use metaphors, Yuan Wei is a courtier who flatters and wins favor, Xu Jie is an important minister who abides by his duties, and Huang Jin is a minion who does everything possible to please the emperor.

The Tianmu Pagoda is located on Qionghua Island. It is five stories high and is considered the highest point in the entire Xiyuan. At this moment, they stood on the top of the tower and had a bird's eye view of the surrounding scenery. There was a vague feeling that they would be like the top of the mountain and see all the mountains and small mountains.

experience.

To the east is the majestic Forbidden City, to the west is the imposing Wangfu Street, to the south and north are the infinite lakes of Taiye Pond, and further away can only be faintly seen row upon row of houses.

Standing on the Tianmu Pagoda under this clear autumn sky, everyone seemed to be in a good mood.

Xu Jie paid attention to Jiajing, and at the same time observed which way Jiajing was looking, but found that he was looking towards the south. He just didn't know whether Jiajing was looking at the small Yongfang, or at the Temple of Heaven in the outer city, or at the other side.

southeast.

While Yuan Wei was trying to please the emperor, he was secretly observing Xu Jie. Although the two of them were getting along fairly well, he already regarded the chief assistant next to him as an imaginary enemy.

Yuan Wei was one of the few people who could be called a "child prodigy" in the Ming Dynasty. He showed extraordinary talent at a very young age. He began to specialize in eight-part essay at the age of ten, and he became a recital after reading.

When he was a child, he went to Qingdao with his father to watch the magistrate's trial. Although he was young, he was focused and distinguished, and his eyes were dark, which attracted the attention of the magistrate and he was investigated on the spot.

The county magistrate saw two white cranes flying in the sky above the Taoist temple, so he came out and said, "Two cranes are flying above the Sanqing Hall." Yuan Wei responded: "Six dragons are flying in the five-color clouds."

Then the county magistrate gave Yuan Wei another couplet: "Throwing a child in four directions opens six sides." Yuan Wei immediately responded: "My husband has one virtue and three talents." At this point, his name as a "child prodigy" was promoted.

In the third year of Jiajing's reign, Yuan Wei lived up to his reputation as a child prodigy and became a scholar at the age of only seventeen.

It was only during the imperial examination that his "child prodigy" aura gradually faded, but he repeatedly failed in the provincial examination.

On the other hand, although Xu Jie is not known as a child prodigy, he is a genuine young success. As early as the year before Yuan Wei obtained the title of scholar, Xu Jie, who was only 20 years old, had already been the most beautiful girl in high school and officially entered the officialdom.

Ordinarily, the two of them shouldn't have much interaction, but it's just a twist of fate.

Xu Jie paid the price for his youthful vigour. Because he offended Zhang Cong, he was directly demoted to the position of official in Yanping Prefecture. Fortunately, Zhang Cong was not accepted by the mainstream of the officialdom, and Xu Jie's career was not greatly affected.

Influence.

In the thirteenth year of Jiajing reign, Xu Jie served as Zhejiang's prefect, managing and supervising local schools below the provincial level. At this time, Yuan Wei, who was only four years younger than Xu Jie, had already wasted ten years and was still a well-known person in Ningbo Prefecture, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

of scholar.

Xu Jie was a scholar from Zhejiang Province, and Yuan Wei was still an "old scholar." Although the two were not teachers and students, to a certain extent, there seemed to be a "teacher-student" relationship.

However, this relationship is actually very subtle. Although Xu Jie served as a scholar in Zhejiang Province, there were so many scholars in Zhejiang that the two of them had never even met, and there was no status of teacher and student at all.

Yuan Wei was a prostitute in the 17th year of Jiajing, and then entered the officialdom. He never gave Xu Jie a protégé thorn, and he had no contact with Xu Jie, so he could not be considered a teacher or student.

Now that they are both cabinet ministers, Yuan Wei maintains respect for Xu Jie, but there is no teacher-student etiquette, let alone teacher-student status. Yuan Wei still wants to replace Xu Jie.

As soon as Xu Jie withdrew his gaze, he noticed that Yuan Wei was looking at him and nodded gently. He did not have a strong conflict of interest with Yuan Wei. At present, he wanted to maintain a friendly relationship with Yuan Wei so that this "student

"Stay in the position of secondary assistant as expected.

Jiajing, who was wearing a blue Taoist robe, faced the autumn wind and saw the bare trees below and the lake passing by the large liquid pool. However, he looked at Shi Yongfang's house further away and seemed quite emotional.

He said: "In this season, it is indeed refreshing to climb up and look at it!"

In this era, it is not easy to climb high and see far away.

For the common people at the bottom, they can only go up to the top of the mountain to appreciate the scenery of the fields. But for the dignitaries, more people choose to climb the tower, so high towers in various places are quite popular.

Huang Jin saw Jiajing so happy, and said with a smile: "If the master likes it, I will accompany the master here every day!"

"If I come up here every day, my body won't be able to withstand such a torment!" Jiajing stood with his hands behind his hands and changed the topic: "Maybe in a few years, my body will be like that of Elder Yan Ge, and I will have to be carried on my back.

Climb this tower!"

When Feng Bao behind him heard this, he noticed a different smell and carefully looked up at Jiajing.

Yuan Wei's character has always been optimistic, and he even said with a smile to please: "In my opinion, if it takes a few years, the emperor will definitely ascend the tower in the clouds and mist!"

Jiajing's eyes immediately flashed with expectation, but then he felt disappointed and did not express his position on Yuan Wei's compliment.

Xu Jie had been observing Jiajing, and immediately said solemnly: "If the emperor wants to climb the tower every day, I will follow the emperor to climb the tower like Mr. Yan Ge, even if he is physically inconvenient!"

Huh?

Yuan Wei knew that he had not stepped on the emperor's point just now. When he heard Xu Jie's words of loyalty, he looked at Xu Jie thoughtfully. Although he was more able to make the emperor happy, when it came to trying to figure out the emperor's thoughts, he

It is inferior to Xu Jie.

Jiajing also did not express his position on Xu Jie's words, but turned from south to west, his eyes already looking in the direction of Wangfu Street.

Xu Jie and Yuan Wei saw this move and vaguely captured the emperor's thoughts.

These days, the situation in the capital has actually undergone great changes. While some people are still discussing whether Lin Haoran will be the right minister of the Ministry of Justice or the left minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, a bigger news suddenly came from the palace: due to the Ministry of Rites

Chen Sheng, the left minister, returned to his hometown to guard the system after losing his father. It was rumored that Gao Gong, the minister of Taichang Temple and the Imperial Academy's Jijiujiu general, would take over the position of the left minister of the Ministry of Rites.

After some officials with a keen sense of smell learned about this incident, they sensed a greater political opportunity. They quietly went to Prince Yu's Mansion. Since Gao Gong was reused, some people had interpreted the emperor's move as having the intention of establishing a heir apparent.

It has been two years since King Jing became the vassal, and Crown Prince Yu has been born again. Many ministers are increasingly optimistic about King Yu. Now that they know that Gao Gong has been reused, some officials are already preparing to establish a throne, and they are already preparing to enter the lower levels of politics.

The bet was made.

Jiajing looked far away in the direction of Wangfu Street, without any expression on his face, and asked very coldly: "I wonder whose mansion is the most lively in the capital now?"

Huang Jin turned pale with fright when he heard this question.

"Your Majesty, as far as I know, Prince Yu has been staying in the palace equally and has turned away too many visiting officials!" Xu Jie rolled his eyes, but made a choice and knelt down.

Yuan Wei did not follow suit, but secretly looked at the emperor, hoping that the emperor would severely punish Xu Jie, who had helped King Yu intercede, and even directly dismiss Xu Jie.

Jiajing seemed to have been patient for a long time, and the veins on his forehead suddenly popped up and said: "Even if I am old now, I have to wait until I enter the Tomb of Tombs, otherwise I will kill anyone who dares to raise the issue of establishing a heir with me!"

The last four words obviously conveyed a strong murderous intention. Unlike those emperors who received orthodox education, Jiajing succeeded the larger sect from a small sect, but he always killed his ministers whenever they wanted.

"I respectfully respect your teachings!"

Xu Jie and Yuan Wei put aside their intrigues, knowing that the recent rumors about the crown prince had aroused great dissatisfaction among the emperor, so they bowed respectfully.

When Xu Jie saw that the emperor did not punish him, he secretly let out a breath and his eyes flashed with a bright light of success.

At this time, a eunuch came to report: "To report to the emperor, Qin Minglei, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, found a valuable treasure in the market today and is asking for an audience outside the palace gate!"

If there is anyone who is the luckiest person in the history of the Jiajing imperial examination, it must be Qin Minglei, the current right minister of the Ministry of Rites.

Qin Minglei was from Wuxi, South Zhili Province. In the joint examination and palace examination in the 23rd year of Jiajing, his performance was very average, and he only passed more than 200 fellow Jinshi.

According to common practice, this kind of person is destined to be sent to other places to serve as a county magistrate or an official. There is only a small chance of becoming a prefect before he has the opportunity to return to the capital, and his official career can often only touch the ceiling of the prefecture.

It's just that things happened in the Jiajing Dynasty, and many impossible things became possible. Just like when Zhang Cong, a second-class scholar, became the first assistant in a very short time, Xuang Minglei's life ushered in a major turning point.

Jiajing heard that the grading minister selected Wu Qing as the number one scholar, but he was dissatisfied with the fact that Wu Qing's name was a homophonic word for "Qing Wu". He said that he prayed for rain and dreamed of thunder at night, so he should find someone with "Thunder" in his name to be the number one scholar.

If you were facing an upright grading minister, you would definitely have to fight over this matter related to the talent promotion ceremony, but my cabinet minister has already become a lackey begging for mercy, but he agreed to this ridiculous plan.

The grading minister was obedient to Jiajing. He searched from the second among the Jinshi to more than 200 before he found a man named Qin Minglei and selected him as the top scholar.

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It was for this reason that a limerick was circulated at that time: "The ruthless emperor raises his son ruthlessly, and he happens to pick the advantage when he thunders."

Qin Minglei got this huge advantage and was supposed to be assigned to a certain place, but instead he entered the Hanlin Academy as the number one scholar and served as a sixth-rank Hanlin editor, and climbed step by step to the position of right minister of the Ministry of Rites.

When Xu Jie and Yuan Wei heard this, they were not surprised at all.

Due to the death of his father, Chen Sheng, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, had no choice but to resign and return to his hometown to observe filial piety. Even though Qin Minglei was a lucky man who "won the top prize", he still had ambitions. Naturally, he wanted to obtain the title of left minister of the Ministry of Rites through active performance.

Position.

The Ministry of Rites is not as powerful as the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Household Affairs, and is even lower than the Ministry of War, but it is the springboard for joining the cabinet. The current cabinet ministers Xu Jie and Yuan Wei both entered the cabinet from the Yamen of the Ministry of Rites.

Nowadays, once you can become the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Rites, if you are not transferred to the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Personnel, you will be the Minister of the Six Ministries, or even directly enter the cabinet to pay homage to the Prime Minister like Yuan Wei.

Just like this, if we talk about the value of the Six Ministers, the Left Minister of the Ministry of Rites is only lower than the Left Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and it is a great springboard to become an important minister in the imperial court. No wonder Xuang Ming Lei will do everything possible to get this position.

"The autumn wind is blowing now, and God's will is to silence all things. Who can withstand the cold winter, pine, cypress or willow." Jiajing looked at the vegetation on the island and said something incomprehensible, but he changed the subject and said: "Let him go back! He won the first prize that year,

That is God's will, but the Minister of Rites, Zuo Shilang, already belongs to someone else who belongs to God's will!"

"The person who belongs to God? Is he really Gao Gong?"

Gao Gong's name immediately flashed in Yuan Wei's mind, because the character for Gao Gong is "Su Qing", and the sound of "Su" is similar to the sound of "belonging to". Doesn't this mean "belongs to you"?

It was also at this time that he finally understood why there was news in the palace that Gao Gong had taken over as the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, and why everyone ran to Prince Yu's Mansion.

Xu Jie's brows frowned slightly. He originally thought that the important position of left minister of the Ministry of Rites would belong to his fellow countryman Qin Minglei, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, but now he is afraid that it really belongs to Gao Gong.

As Chen Sheng, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, suddenly returned home to observe filial piety, a sudden turmoil occurred in the officialdom of the capital, which even made Emperor Jiajing angry. However, all this seems to have nothing to do with Yangzhou City, which is far away from the capital.

In the Yamen of Lianghuai Patrol Salt Inspectorate, the officials kneeling in the main courtyard had raised their heads, looking at Eunuch Li who was holding a bright yellow imperial edict, eager for him to announce the whereabouts of Lin Haoran, whether he was the right minister of the Ministry of Punishment or the right minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs. Minister.
Chapter completed!