The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Min Gui hung the painting in his study and looked at it for a long time, feeling that it was wonderful.

"I don't know who painted it. The brush strokes change, the ink color is thick and light, and it is bold and bold. It looks like a painting by a top scholar."

Wu Wei, the top painter, was the most famous painter of his time.

This person is comparable to Wu Daozi, the painting sage of the Tang Dynasty.

Emperor Hongzhi never indulged in sensuality, nor did he give him official appointments, but he made an exception for him and showed favor to him.

The most shocking thing is that this person is Jin Yiwei.

Min Gui thought about it and felt that it was more likely. It was normal for Jin Yiwei to lose a painting when he went in and out of the Meridian Gate.

"What a beautiful painting."

………

Yanfu,

Yan Chengjin returned to his mansion and thought for a long time. The only person who had anything to do with him in Jiangnan was Cheng Minzheng.

Cheng Minzheng has gone to North Korea to serve as ambassador, so he will not specially order people to send paintings to him.

He Neng trotted in and said, "Master, I saw Master Min picking up the painting."

Yan Chengjin didn't want to deliberately trick Min Gui. Since he picked up the painting...

Just wait and see what happens.

Maybe it was Tang Bohu who reported to him.

Yan Chengjin ordered: "Don't mention this matter again. You collect the paintings for me privately, and you will be fined one year's wages. Then go to the accounting office to pay the money yourself, write the amount in the account book, and send it to Xie Yu for settlement tomorrow."

One year, one year's salary?

He Neng's eyes darkened and he passed out. His salary for a year was twenty-five taels, which in exchange for property was one acre of land.

"Master... I made a mistake. Can you break one of my legs without being fined?"

Yan Chengjin looked down upon me, how could I be such a vicious person.

"Come here, break half of your leg, and you'll be fined half a year's wages."

For the sake of hard work without credit, he wouldn't have to suffer so much if he compromised.

Chunxiao walked in and said, "Master, Master Xiao Song is here and waiting in the main hall."

Song Jing bought a small house in the capital. Many officials would move their families to the capital after becoming officials in the capital.

With Song Jing's salary in Liangxiang, he could buy a small courtyard without relying on the imperial government's monthly salary.

"Sir Yan, the student has moved into a new house. My wife has prepared a banquet and ordered the student to come and invite the master to enjoy the wedding banquet." Song Jing said.

Yan Chengjin was a little surprised. Song Jing had brought the young lady to the capital? From what Wang Busui said, he was a virtuous man.

"I don't want to eat food from outside, so just treat these ten taels of silver as a gift."

Song Jing knew Yan Chengjin's temperament. If he said he wouldn't eat, he really wouldn't eat.

…

Huagai Hall,

Emperor Hongzhi was in a good mood and copied the ancestral teachings of the Emperor Ming Dynasty in vigorous handwriting. He was very satisfied with it.

Taking advantage of Long Yan's great joy, eunuch Wei En flattered him and said: "Your Majesty, I heard that Yan Chengjin collected a painting. I don't know how it was made by a master. It is better than the top painter."

In the canopy hall, three priceless paintings hang.

They are the Pictures of Picking Zhizhi, Pictures of Fairies and Couples with Cranes, and Pictures of Zhixian, all of which were created by Wu Wei.

However, other famous paintings in Huagai Hall were collected in painting tubes, which shows that His Majesty loves the top painter.

Emperor Hongzhi rarely became serious and looked at Wei En: "Yan Chengjin also likes to collect paintings?"

Mou Bin on the side bowed and said: "Your Majesty, Yan Chengjin has a picture of the Five Oxen in his collection. As for the other pictures in the collection, I don't know."

Emperor Hongzhi was not interested in painting, but he was extremely interested in people who could surpass Wu Wei, the top painter.

"I would like to see who in today's Ming Dynasty has better painting skills than the number one scholar." Emperor Hongzhi said with great interest: "Summon Yan Chengjin."

Yan Chengjin was flipping through the Ming Dynasty Huidian being compiled in Hanyuan.

The young eunuch walked in and said with a smile: "Master Yan, Your Majesty invites you to go to the Huagai Hall."

All the young eunuchs who came to announce Yan Chengjin had more money from him.

Therefore, all the little eunuchs in front of the imperial family rushed to announce him.

The least publicistic ones are Liu Jian, the cabinet minister, and Ma Wensheng, the official minister.

Just don't give me any money, I always put on a bad face.

Those who work as eunuchs receive a pitiful monthly salary, and they have to pay filial piety to the great man in the palace.

I just hope that when I preach the edict, I can get some silver reward.

Yan Chengjin thought of the rebel painting. His Majesty rarely discussed matters in the Huagai Hall, probably not for the imperial court.

After leaving the duty room, I gave the young eunuch a tael of silver.

The little eunuch understood and said: "Your Majesty heard that you got a painting and wanted to take a look."

Yan Chengjin couldn't help but worry for him.

If Tang Yin had tipped him off that Prince Ning was going to rebel, he would definitely not have spread the news to the palace.

Tang Yin is not that powerful.

That must be Prince Ning, who wants to cause him some trouble.

Perhaps the biggest intention is to alienate His Majesty from him.

After seeing this painting, even if I can explain it clearly, it will still leave hidden dangers in His Majesty's heart and be wary of him.

The most important thing is to attack the heart. Prince Ning is really an old coin.

Min Gui is in danger!

Yan Chengjin came to the main hall and saw Emperor Hongzhi staring at a painting on the wall in a daze. There was an old Jinyi guard next to him. He quickly saluted.

"Your Majesty, Yan Chengjin, has met you. Your Majesty has a long life..."

Emperor Hongzhi turned around with a smile on his face: "Do you have a painting in your hand of a person sitting on a wooden bench under the pine trees?"

You can even see everything in the painting clearly. Your Majesty has never seen it, right?

Yan Chengjin shook his head calmly: "I don't."

"Master Yan, please don't deceive me. If you find out, it will be a serious crime." Wei En said sadly.

This person looks like a big man in the palace.

Among the twelve eunuchs in the palace, in addition to the eunuchs in charge, there were also many big ones. Yan Chengjin didn't know who they were: "Who is this father-in-law?"

Wei En bowed and saluted: "I am the eunuch of the Internal Affairs Bureau, Wei En."

The Internal Affairs Bureau is a lucrative position in the palace, specializing in the procurement of the palace, and is known as the middleman of the Forbidden City.

It is easy for Prince Ning to bribe sincerely.

Yan Chengjin fell into deep thought, and began to calculate frantically in his heart.

Seeing that he had not spoken for a long time, Emperor Hongzhi looked unhappy: "I have called all the top painting scholars here, you really don't have it? What's wrong with showing it to me, I won't want your painting."

"I really don't have it." Yan Chengjin said.

Emperor Hongzhi looked at Wei En with a little doubt.

Wei En's forehead was full of cold sweat. The painting was clearly given to the long-term attendant of the Yan Mansion, and he was watching it in the dark.

If I don't give your Majesty an explanation today...

"Your Majesty, why don't you search the Yan Mansion?"

Searching the mansion is a great insult to the ministers.

Generally, people who are considered to be rebellious by the emperor will be searched, such as Xia Yan and Yan Song in later generations.

Yan Chengjin was in a dilemma. There was more silver in the mansion than rice in the rice jar.

If it was searched out, how could he be called an honest official?

"Your Majesty, I only have one painting of five cows, but I beg Your Majesty to search it to prove my innocence."

The most feared thing for an official is to have his house searched, and the second is to search his mansion. Emperor Hongzhi was very surprised. This guy actually asked for permission to search his mansion?

Xiao Jing looked strange. This guy really can't be guessed by ordinary people.

He and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince are simply like-minded and in cahoots with each other!

Emperor Hongzhi looked at Yan Chengjin and said unhappily: "I trust Yan Qing's family. Why search your mansion!"

Yan Chengjin insisted: "Your Majesty, send someone to search it. I want to search it."

"..." Mou Bin.

"..." Xiao Jing.

In the world, who would ask Your Majesty to search their own mansion? Searching a house is a great insult.

This guy actually asked Your Majesty to insult him. What on earth does he want to do...