Chongzhen Sunset Song

?one

When Xizhao returned to Qianqing Palace again, it was already February of the seventh year of Chongzhen.

Everything in front of him is no different from half a year ago.The peasant army is still rebelling everywhere, and Huang Taiji is still ready to move.Only Lord Shoufu, who often walks in the palace, has changed his appearance, but the officials are still keen to praise and recommend or impeach and expose, and still few people can come up with any valuable countermeasures to calm internal and external chaos.

"In recent years, there have been many wars and chaos. Now that the sutra feast is approaching, I want to select learned scholars to give lectures on "Spring and Autumn". Maybe I can get enlightenment to calm the chaos and stabilize the country. What do you think?"

After the early court, in the south study, Chongzhen said to the two people in front of him.Both of them were wearing first-rank official uniforms, one of them had gray hair and fine wrinkles, he seemed to be over sixty years old, but upon closer inspection, his complexion was fair and his eyes were restrained, showing a sense of elegance.This person is the newly promoted chief assistant of the cabinet, Mr. Wen Tiren Wen, a scholar of Dongge University.The other person was about the same age, and stood humbly behind him. This person was Qian Shisheng, a scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion who was promoted to the second assistant according to the order.Wen Tiren listened to Chongzhen's words, thought for a while, and said:

"Your Majesty's proposal is very good. Liu Changzong, who edited and compiled the Hanlin Academy, is very knowledgeable and proficient in "Spring and Autumn". I believe that this person is qualified for the post of lecturer."

Chongzhen frowned slightly, secretly searching for the name in his memory.Before waiting for Chongzhen to say yes or no, the second assistant Qian Shisheng stepped forward and cupped his hands, and said loudly:

"Your Majesty, if you talk about the No. 1 family of "Spring and Autumn", I think that in the world, it must be Mr. Wen Zhen and Meng Wen. This person was a lecturer of Jingyan in his early years, so it is very appropriate to ask him to talk about "Spring and Autumn" That's right. How did Mr. Wen forget him?"

When Qian Shisheng said a word, Wen Tiren's expression froze instantly.He cast his eyes on Qian Cifu beside him, only to see Qian Cifu facing each other with a frank smile, and there was no trace of malice in his eyes.Wen Tiren could only swallow his saliva, and reached out to pat his forehead:

"That's right, I forgot about this person when I talked about "Spring and Autumn"! I should be punished!"

After the dragon case, Chongzhen also stretched his eyebrows as if he had just woken up from a dream, nodded, and said with a smile: "This person is the best, but I have forgotten it. According to my will, I will recruit Wen Zhenmeng into the palace as a lecturer today." job."

"Your Majesty, Mr. Wen seems to be jealous of Mr. Wen?"

After Wen and Qian walked away, Xizhao said to Chongzhen.

"Oh?" Chongzhen read the memorial and responded casually.

"When the villain saw Lord Qian suggesting this person, Lord Wen seemed unnatural."

Chongzhen heard the words and closed the memorial. "It's because I've been in the South Study Room for a long time." His eyes flashed, and he smiled at Xi Zhao, "The observation ability is commendable."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your compliment." Xi Zhao bowed slightly, and a gleam of joy flashed in her heart.

Chongzhen nodded, stood up, and said while exercising his muscles and bones: "The two did not get along in the early years. Wen Zhenmeng was upright and upright, fearless and dared to speak out, while Wen Qing was cunning and calculating, and the city was quite deep. If the two lived together , it should be like water and fire."

"The emperor means...?" Xi Zhao blinked, seeming to understand something.

Chongzhen turned his head halfway, and did not answer, with a sly smile on the corner of his mouth.

two

"Why does the emperor want to use that old stubborn again?" In the prison of ceremonies, Wang Chengen was playing with two walnuts in his hand, squinting his eyes and curling his mouth, looking very dissatisfied with the emperor's will, "Impeached Wang Yongguang three years ago, The matter of admonishing Wei Dang to overthrow the case has caused a lot of trouble in the court. Such a stubborn and corrupt Confucian, who was put back to the countryside, is still quiet, but now he is brought out, what is the emperor's intention?"

Li Quan smiled and raised his hand to pour tea for Wang Chengen. "The emperor may just want to listen to "Spring and Autumn", and has no other intentions."

"Hey~" Wang Chengen waved his hand, disapproving, "The war has not lasted for a year or two. If you are looking for a way to calm the chaos, why did you come to lecture on "Spring and Autumn" until now?" He picked up the tea cup, took a hasty sip, He also said: "Besides, this is the time when the cabinet is changing. Zhou Yanru has just resigned, and Mr. Wen's position as the first assistant is not stable, but the emperor is mentioning him at this time..." Wang Chengen dragged his voice and looked at Li Quan, there was something in his words, "Do you know how many contacts he had with Mr. Wen when he prevented the Wei Party from overturning the case? And do you know how much hatred will be formed in Mr. Wen's heart with the sentence of 'disrespect and disrespect' this year? Yes This person, our chief assistant, hates him to the bone. Don't you think the emperor...?"

Li Quan thought for a moment. "Your father-in-law means that the emperor mentioned him to contain Mr. Wen?"

"If you talk about restraint, a scholar, I'm afraid he doesn't have the ability." Wang Chengen waved his hand, "But the emperor certainly doesn't want Mr. Wen's life to be too smooth."

"Elder-in-law is right." Li Quan nodded, twisting the lotus-bud-shaped hijab with his fingers, with a thoughtful look on his face. "However...it's good for him to come. It's not a good thing to let Mr. Wen cover the sky with one hand." Li Quan paused, and then said, "Recently, I have been thinking about it. Father-in-law needs to be more careful with Mr. Wen. This person is cunning, It's hard to see, and he's definitely not a loyal person. The dispute with the former Chief Assistant Mr. Zhou is an excellent example. Now that he is sitting at the top of the cabinet, he has fulfilled his wish and has extreme power. It's hard to guarantee that I won't use those methods against Mr. Zhou again. On the father-in-law's side, we still have to save a hand first."

"How could our family be afraid of him?" Wang Chengen closed his eyes and sipped his tea again, with disdain in his words.

"I'm afraid I'm not afraid." Li Quan smiled, speaking in a calm manner, "No one knows, the status of the father-in-law in the palace has long been unshakable. But after all, no one has thousands of hands and eyes, and the father-in-law is already In such a position, if one day I get caught off guard and suffer from this shady man, it would be really disgusting, wouldn’t it? It’s better to prepare early.”

"Hmm..." Wang Chengen nodded slightly after listening to the words.Li Quan filled Wang Chengen's teacup with tea, and the two sides were thinking about each other, speechless for a while.For a moment, Wang Chengen seemed to have recovered from his contemplation, and said slowly: "If you talk about preparation, it can be like this..." Before he finished speaking, he glanced his eyes, stopped talking, and stood behind Li's body. The little eunuch said coldly: "You go down first."

Ever since he followed Li Quan into the house, the little eunuch stood obediently, held his breath, and didn't say a word.I saw that he was not tall, with a handsome face, and his eyes were dark and alert. This person was Zhou Xi who had been transferred to the Supervisor of Rituals with Li Quan for many years.Hearing Wang Gonggong's order, Zhou Xi looked at Li Quan with a little anxiety. "It's okay, my own." Li Quan hurriedly explained for Zhou Xi.Wang Chengen frowned, and after looking at Zhou Xi for a long time, he barely agreed, so he lowered his voice and discussed with Li Quan.

three

This Wang Chengen is really a piece of spicy old ginger, the emperor's mind, he did not guess wrong.But he still couldn't imagine that the emperor would unexpectedly promote Wen Zhenmeng to such a level.

It is late spring, the sky is bright and the warm wind is slightly intoxicating.The ceremonial chariots and chariots outside the Wenhua Hall are mighty, and another day of lectures is over. "Qian Aiqing has a good eye for talent, and the recommended Wen Zhenmeng is worthy of being a famous writer. I am very satisfied with the lectures on "Spring and Autumn" in the past few days." Chongzhen walked towards the dragon's chariot, and said to Qian Shisheng, the second assistant beside him. . "Your Majesty's award, it is my honor to satisfy His Majesty." Qian Shisheng followed Chongzhen and answered respectfully.

"By the way, why didn't you see Wen Qing at the Jingyan this morning?" Chongzhen walked to the side of the dragon chariot, stretched out his hand to support the eunuch's arm and was about to board the chariot, and asked inadvertently.

"Returning to Your Majesty, Lord Wen suffered a sudden illness last night, and he has not yet had time to ask His Majesty for leave. According to the imperial doctor, Lord Wen's illness is dangerous and difficult to recover, and it will take about two months of rest to recover."

"Oh..." Chongzhen took a step forward and boarded the dragon chariot.The eunuch waiting at the side hurriedly raised the bead curtain for the emperor, and carefully lowered the bead curtain after the emperor sat still.The beaded curtain was so dense that it covered Chongzhen's figure and face, making it difficult for people outside the chariot to distinguish the emperor's joy and anger.Just as the herald was about to call out to drive, he suddenly heard the emperor speak from inside the chariot:

"Wen Qing's hard work caused illness. I see it in my eyes, and I really can't bear it. Qian Aiqing, you go back and draw up a list of capable ministers and submit it. I will personally select talents to join the cabinet, so as to share the burden of Wen Qing and you. Waiting for the hard work of the cabinet ministers."

Qian Shisheng was taken aback when he heard the words, he seemed quite surprised, but he didn't dare to hesitate too much, so he owed his thanks.The dragon chariot moved slowly, and the bead curtains swung lightly. When passing by Qian Shisheng's side, the emperor's voice came clearly from inside the chariot:

"In the list, don't miss Wen Zhenmeng."

four

A few days later, the list drafted by Qian Cifu was submitted. Chongzhen had a look at it and was satisfied with it, so he summoned the officials on the list and held a court examination in Huangji Hall.But whether it was a coincidence or on purpose, the lecturer Wen Zhenmeng happened to be unable to take the exam due to illness.

So after the morning court that day, Chongzhen summoned him alone in Qianqing Palace.

"Can your disease be cured?"

The hall was spacious and empty, and even the usual volume of questions echoed slightly.I saw Chongzhen sitting on the dragon chair in the center of the hall, with both hands loosely placed on the armrests, just enough to hold the dragon head at the front of the dragon chair.In front of the table is hung a moist and delicate brocade with bright yellow cloud pattern, and a pair of gold-plated lion-faced incense burners on both sides occasionally wafted a few wisps of blue smoke. The palace maids stood behind Chongzhen with intertwined sparrow-feathered fans, and the eunuchs stood in the dragon with low eyebrows. On both sides of the chair, although Chongzhen had a kind face when he spoke, it was still difficult to conceal the majesty like a god and Buddha in this golden ball.

Wen Zhenmeng bowed, and replied: "Thank you for your concern. I am plagued by old diseases, which recur frequently, and it is really difficult to recover. But thanks to Your Majesty, my health has generally improved recently."

Xizhao stood beside Chongzhen, looking at the skinny old man in front of the hall.The jaw is square and wide, the cheeks are sunken, and the wrinkles are deeply embedded. The face is so thin that it only has skin and bones.But when he raised his head, he saw his straight eyebrows raised, the corners of his eyes hanging high, and his eyes were sharp and terrifying.

"As long as it gets better." Chongzhen nodded and said, "For the sake of the country and the community, you must take good care of your health."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern." Wen Zhenmeng bowed deeply.

"Hmm." Chongzhen paused for a moment, and then said, "This time calling Qing to come here is not for other reasons, it is my intention to propose Qing to the cabinet, I don't know what your intention is?"

Wen Zhenmeng trembled slightly when he heard the words, and replied cautiously: "...Return to Your Majesty, this minister failed to participate in the court examination this time, making an exception to enter the cabinet, there seems to be something wrong..."

"It doesn't matter. With Qing's qualifications and talents, even if he is exempted from the examination, no one will have any objections." Chongzhen was not surprised by Wen Zhenmeng's answer, and said calmly and calmly.

Wen Zhenmeng bowed his back, lowered his head, and remained silent for a while as if he had something to say, but he finally opened his mouth, but he was obviously trying to avoid speaking lightly: "Your Majesty loves me so much, I am grateful, but I have passed my sixtieth birthday, and I am old and frail. , the appointment of the cabinet minister is really powerless..."

Do you feel powerless... Chongzhen tapped the brass faucet on the armrest with his fingers, looked at the distressed old minister in front of him, and didn't speak immediately.Chongzhen naturally understood Wen Zhenmeng's thoughts.Wen Tiren, the chief assistant of the current cabinet, was single-handedly promoted by himself. Chongzhen saw his talent and ability, as well as his scheming and ambition.Wanting to use it but not daring to let it go, this person is really a double-edged sword.And recalling the stubborn stone Wen Zhenmeng to the court and moving it into the cabinet may just be able to dampen some of the sharpness of that sword for himself.Even though the future is uncertain, even though he is not sure enough, even the person in front of the hall can see that the confrontation between swords and stones planned in his heart is not fair to this sharp-edged stubborn stone.But Chongzhen couldn't think of any other way in this court where mediocrity was born in large numbers, and everyone only wanted to protect themselves. A few wisps of control.

So he sighed softly, thought for a moment, and said word by word: "It's not that I don't sympathize with Qing's difficulties, but now there are few straight ministers who are as upright as Qing and have no other distractions." After speaking, Chongzhen sighed again He said, "In a peaceful and prosperous age, you still need to rely on capable ministers to rule the country. Today's Ming Dynasty is full of wars and party disputes. The court needs ministers like Aiqing to turn the tide and bring a new wind to the society. I have high hopes for you. , Wang Qing can perceive my sincere heart, don't disappoint my expectations, share my worries to some extent, and tide over the difficulties with the country and the community."

It was a few ordinary words, but Wen Zhenmeng in front of the hall was very moved, and even his eyes became moist.Chongzhen was a bit surprised that he was moved so easily by talking.Wen Zhenmeng threw off his skirt, knelt down on both knees, bent down reverently, and kowtowed earnestly.

"Your Majesty's words, I am really flattered. Thanks to His Majesty's love, I am looking forward and backward, hesitating. I am extremely ashamed. From now on, I will do my best to serve the country and repay Your Majesty's kindness."

Hearing the words, Chongzhen nodded and smiled slightly.It is obvious that the monarch and his ministers agree with each other and the matter has been accomplished, but Xizhao faintly feels that the emperor's smile is not as easy as it should be.