Xie Jin was the first place winner in the provincial examination who came out of Jiangxi Examination Hall, which was known as the Shura of the imperial examination, the most talented scholar during the Yongle period, the president of "The Code of the Ming Dynasty", and the first secretary of the Minutes of the Ming Cabinet.
A literary leader, a prominent figure in political circles, and a former confidant of the emperor, Emperor Yongle once said from the bottom of his heart, "The world cannot do without me for a day, and I cannot do without Xie Jin for a day."
If you believe what Emperor Yongle says, you might as well believe that there are ghosts in this world.
People change, especially kings.
The same mouth also uttered the words "Is Xie Jin still alive?"
The second most difficult enemy on Ji Gang's death list was finally killed by him successfully by using a knife to kill someone else. He froze to death, and Xie Jin became Thaw.
Ji Gang watched the snow thaw. Every cold winter, there would be homeless people and drunkards freezing to death on the streets.
When they were on the verge of freezing to death, they were all unconscious and took off their clothes. They looked very hot, as if it was summer. They scratched their chests with their hands, wishing they could take off this layer of skin to cool down. Their death postures were all similar.
Now, the once most talented person in the world is no different from the countless frozen corpses on the streets.
Life is so fragile, and everyone is equal in the face of death.
Are kings, princes, generals, and ministers of different species
Since I have decided to avenge Lord Mao, no matter how high his official position or status, I will pull him down and drag him into hell together!
Thinking of this, Ji Gang smiled silently at the thawing snow pile.
The Palace of the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Zhanji, who was at the center of the vortex of "deposing the crown prince and enthroning the grandson", took out his pocket watch to check the time. It was almost time to close the palace gates and Concubine Hu was about to leave the palace.
Ever since Muchun was injured and fell seriously ill and nearly lost his life, Hu Shanggong suddenly had a sense of crisis. She felt that life was short and she should spend more time with her family, so she seldom stayed in the palace and tried to go home every day to have dinner with Muchun and Alei.
Since her comeback after being released from confinement, Concubine Zhang has become a different person. She no longer looks at Emperor Yongle with lingering eyes. She has completely given up and no longer has any illusions about love and children. She is wholeheartedly devoted to her job as a concubine.
Concubine Zhang no longer even paid attention to maintaining her Kardashian-like curvy figure. She ate and drank as she pleased. If she went to bed late at night and felt hungry, she would ask the imperial chef to prepare a midnight snack for her and no longer abstained from certain foods.
Soon, Zhang Kardashian became Zhang Yang Guifei, with even more imperial concubine's demeanor and aura.
Concubine Zhang's family was of high status and strong confidence, so she had no worries and no fears. Far away from her upside-down dreams, she broke through the last layer of constraints, loved her job, and managed the harem in order.
"The Daily Records of Concubine Duan Jing" and Hu Shanwei's words could not make Concubine Zhang see the reality clearly. It was Concubine Quanxian and the more than 1,000 lives of the five east and west residences that made Concubine Zhang realize the truth.
With Concubine Zhang in control of the harem, Hu Shanwei can be more relaxed and get off work on time.
Zhu Zhanji looked at his pocket watch and saw that the time was almost up. He then picked up the paperweight on the desk and smashed it onto the pocket watch!
The good pocket watch was smashed, the glass dial was shattered, and the tiny gears inside flowed out like intestines.
Zhu Zhanji was very satisfied. He wrapped the broken pocket watch in a handkerchief, put it in a red lacquered box, and called in the young eunuch who served him with writing materials.
"Wang Zhen, take the box to Lady Hu and tell her that I accidentally dropped this pocket watch. If Miss Hu is free, please help fix it. If it is repaired well, then fix it. If not, don't force it. Leave the small parts inside for Miss Hu to use in other small things."
"I obey your command." Wang Zhen picked up the box.
Wang Zhen was the scapegoat when Xie Jin was plotted against by the King of Han for the first time. Xie Jin mistakenly entered the Eastern Palace's Zhanshi Mansion because of his message and was framed for "secretly meeting" with the crown prince. In the end, the crown prince was suspected, Xie Jin was demoted and exiled to Jiaozhi, and Wang Zhen was also dragged to the Ministry of Punishment for severe torture and was almost beaten to death.
The young eunuch was a slave of the government, his life was like an ant, no one cared about his life or death. At that time, Hu Shanwei saw that he was the same age as A Lei, weak and innocent, so he felt sympathy for him and asked the people of the Ministry of Punishment not to embarrass him.
Later, the prince brought Wang Zhen out and sent him to the inner school of the Imperial Household Department to continue his studies. He graduated in four years. Wang Zhen had studied for three years before that. A year later, Wang Zhen had A grades in several subjects. Last year, the emperor's eldest grandson was named the Crown Prince and moved out of the East Palace. The new Crown Prince Palace was built and manpower was needed. Wang Zhen went to work in the Crown Prince Palace.
Wang Zhen was born in a study in Neishu. He was well-educated, had beautiful handwriting, was smart, and good at speaking. He was appreciated by Zhu Zhanji and served him in the study, becoming his confidant.
After careful calculation, Wang Zhen "accidentally" met Hu Shanwei who was off work in the inner alley. At that time, a new batch of young eunuchs in the inner study hall were queuing up to write poems after school.
Because they had just entered the school, many students were unable to compose poems. According to the Ming Dynasty version of the rules of the inner study hall of Hengshui Middle School, if there was someone in each row who could not compose a poem, they would be humiliated and slapped in the face by a row of eunuchs as punishment.
When Hu Shanwei arrived here, the slapping sounded like firecrackers during the Spring Festival. Every slap was real, but no one said anything, let alone cried. The inner study hall was the only promotion channel for young eunuchs. If they wanted to climb up, they had to study hard first.
"Please stay, Lady Hu." Wang Zhen held the box, saluted Hu Shanwei, explained his purpose, and conveyed the Crown Prince's words.
Because of their previous contacts, Wang Zhen was already familiar with Hu Shanwei, so it was easy for him to talk to him.
Hu Shanwei opened the red lacquered box and found nothing else but a broken pocket watch on the pure white silk handkerchief inside.
A Lei likes to tinker with these things and thinks it is fun. He said he was helping, but in fact, he was satisfying A Lei's desire to repair watches.
Hu Shanwei said, "I understand. I'll go back and show it to her. If there's still hope, I'll tell the Crown Prince."
Wang Zhen smiled and said, "Miss Hu is very talented. I am dazzled by these tiny parts. This wooden box is heavy. I will let Concubine Hu hold it and bring it to the carriage."
Wang Zhen was a man with great foresight, and he seized every opportunity to climb up. Hu Shanwei also rose step by step from the bottom. She understood Wang Zhen and had no aversion to ambitious people, so she let him praise her and sent her all the way to the carriage waiting outside the palace.
Wang Zhen put the box on the carriage, and complained that the carriage was not warm enough, so he ordered someone to add enough smokeless silver frost charcoal to the brazier.
Although the rumor of "deposing the crown prince and enthroning the crown prince" was forbidden in the palace, the palace people knew the situation - mainly because the lame crown prince was in poor health and there was a high possibility that he would die before Emperor Yongle. Sooner or later, the Ming Palace would belong to the crown prince. Wang Zhen was a favorite of the crown prince, and as the saying goes, when one person succeeds, the whole family will benefit. As soon as Wang Zhen opened his mouth, someone immediately brought charcoal.
The minor official who was once on the verge of death in the Ministry of Punishment gradually became successful.
Hu Shanwei was very emotional. After getting on the carriage, she opened the red-carved box and looked through it carefully.
Our family has a grown-up daughter, so Hu Shanwei and Mu Chun built a high wall around their house for fear that their daughter would be taken away by someone - especially someone from the Ming royal family.
Zhu Zhanji has been petty since he was a child, and Hu Shanwei was afraid that he would have inappropriate thoughts about A Lei, so he was always very careful.
What's more, Zhu Zhanji is now in the spotlight, and as a palace lady, she cannot let A Lei get involved.
First, Hu Shanwei opened the handkerchief that wrapped the pocket watch. It was a pure white silk handkerchief without any embroidery on it. It should be used only for wrapping.
Then, Hu Shanwei gently knocked on the four sides of the box, listened to the echo, and tried to see if there was any hidden layer in the box.
No, it's just a red box.
Finally, Hu Shanwei took out all the velvet filling in the box and looked at them one by one, but found nothing unusual.
Maybe I was overthinking it, Hu Shanwei restored everything one by one.
After returning home, the family of three had dinner. After dinner, while chatting around the fire pot, Hu Shanwei gave the box to A Lei and explained the origin, "… We agreed to repair it tomorrow. Go to bed at night and don't strain your eyes."
Arei likes to tinker with these broken clocks the most. Every time she fixes one, she feels a sense of accomplishment. She can't wait to open the box, "I'll just take a look at what it looks like. I won't fix it tonight."
Under the lamp, A Lei was looking at the broken pocket watch with a western glass magnifying glass. Mu Chun winked at Hu Shanwei, saying that they were an old married couple. Hu Shanwei understood and went outside with Mu Chun.
Mu Chun whispered: "Have you... seen it?"
Hu Shanwei said: "I secretly checked the carriage, but there was nothing but a broken watch."
Mu Chun sighed: "The girl has grown up, and it's not easy to worry about her."
Hu Shanwei nodded. "I heard that the new capital of Beijing is being built very quickly. The capital will be moved in about five years. By then, I can hand in my work and leave."
Mu Chun looked worried. "Will the emperor really let you go? Last time, you left the harem to Shen Qionglian in order to go to Kunming to accompany me to recuperate. As a result, something terrible happened and more than a thousand people died."
Hu Shanwei said: "The emperor promised me."
Mu Chun shook his head. "The Emperor once said that I couldn't live without Xie Jin for even a day, but today, Xie Jin died in the imperial prison."
"What?" Hu Shanwei couldn't believe it. "Are you serious?" She had been in the harem today and had no idea what was going on outside.
Mu Chun said, "This morning, the Imperial Guards carried Xie Jin's body to Xie's house. It is said that Xie Jin's death was very ugly. Xie's family members and some of Xie Jin's students and old friends went to beat the drum to appeal for Xie Jin's injustice, but they were all tied up and taken away by the Imperial Guards. All of Xie's family property was confiscated, the door was sealed, and the whole family was exiled to the bitter cold of Liaodong. They left the city that day."
Hu Shanwei suddenly felt a chill, "Xie Jin's family was destroyed, but in the harem, both the East Palace and the Crown Prince's Palace were as calm as water, as if nothing had happened. The Crown Prince was fine, but the Crown Prince was still so young, but he was able to keep his composure. This generation of Crown Princes and Crown Princes is different from the previous one, and even I can't guess the ending."
To be honest, if the previous Crown Prince Zhu Biao and the Crown Prince Zhu Yunwen had half the wisdom and patience of the current Zhu Gaozhi and Zhu Zhanji, there would be no Emperor Yongle in the future of the Ming Dynasty.
While the old couple were chatting outside, Arei in the house glanced at the two figures outside the window, shook out the pure white handkerchief wrapped around the pocket watch, and put it on the charcoal fire to dry.
The handkerchief gave off a fragrance similar to that of grapefruit peel, and then a line of faint handwriting appeared on the white silk handkerchief.
Arei threw the handkerchief with the writing on it into the brazier to destroy the body. The flames passionately wrapped around the handkerchief and it soon became charred black.
When Chunwei and his wife came back, Arei had recovered as usual. He used a magnifying glass to observe the damaged pocket watch and sniffed the air like a dog. "Why does it smell sour?"
Are pointed his chin at the tangerines on the fruit plate and said, "I just peeled the tangerines for you."
When Mu Chun saw the icy world outside, his heart melted. He touched A Lei's head and said, "You are so good."
The couple ate the oranges peeled by their daughter with sweet words and exchanged glances: Our daughter is still the best!
At this time, the housekeeper came to report that the Prince of Han was visiting.
Brother Shuikeng has grown rapidly in the past two years, as if he had been fertilized. He is only thirteen years old but looks like an eighteen-year-old boy.
Zhu Zhanhe's appearance and temperament are exactly like the young Emperor Yongle. The grandfather and grandson are so similar.
Zhu Zhanhe had just returned from training in the military camp. He entered the room with an air of war and cavalry. His voice was a little hoarse due to the young man's voice change. He took out a package from his arms and said, "Is Sister A Lei here? The silver chain of my pocket watch broke when I was riding a horse today. It fell to the ground and was stepped on by a horse's hoof. Can you help me fix it?"
Hu Shanwei and Mu Chun exchanged glances again: How could it be such a coincidence that all of our cousins' pocket watches broke within one day? Get out!
Zhu Zhanhe felt that the atmosphere was not right, especially Mu Chun. Why did he feel murderous
Mu Chun reached out to Zhu Zhanhe and said, "Give it to me."
Zhu Zhanhe handed it over with both hands. Mu Chun glanced at it casually and said, "Horse hooves have iron shoes nailed on them. If you step on them, they will definitely be crushed to pieces. Yours is not completely broken. Did you fall on purpose?"
Zhu Zhanhe cried out in injustice, "Why would I throw a good pocket watch? I didn't break anything."
Mu Chun now saw everyone as a thief who wanted to take his daughter away, especially the tall and strong Zhu Zhanhe who was quite threatening. He returned the broken pocket watch to Shuikeng and said, "My A Lei is not a watch repairman. She is very busy recently and has no time to repair it for you. You can find a watchmaker outside."
Zhu Zhanhe asked: "What has she been busy with recently?"
Mu Chun became more suspicious and hurriedly served tea to the guest. "It has nothing to do with the prince. It's getting late. Please go back."
At night, Ji Gang walked into the secret room.
He lit three incense sticks at Mao Xiang's tablet, then picked up a red pen and circled Xie Jin's name on the half-worn list. He also said to Mao Xiang's portrait: "Mr. Mao, almost all of your enemies who killed you have gone to hell with you. The second most difficult one, Xie Jin, has also gone. Now there is only one left, the last and most difficult one. If you know about this in the afterlife, please bless me to succeed in revenge."
Ji Gang turned to the last page, and there was only one name that had not been circled in red.
It reads: "Zhu Ming Dynasty."
Ji Gang poured two glasses of wine, one for Mao Xiang and one for himself, "The Zhu family has always treated us as a knife, not as human beings. When the birds are gone, the good bows are put away; when the rabbits are dead, the running dogs are cooked. I am different from you. You are the adopted son of Emperor Gaozu. You have worked for him all your life and have been loyal to him to the end. He wanted you dead and cut you into pieces to appease the anger of the people. At that time, you clearly had the opportunity to escape, but for the sake of so-called loyalty, you arranged for only me to escape, and sacrificed yourself for the master, fulfilling the so-called loyalty."
"I fled to the north and attached myself to the Prince of Yan, helping him to seize the throne and change the country. I destroyed the successor arranged by Emperor Gaozu, killed someone with a borrowed knife, and eliminated all the officials who impeached you to avenge you. Now, my situation is similar to yours, and it's time to cook the dog for the dead."
"However, I will not sit and wait for death. The Zhu family used us as pawns, so I will use the Zhu family as pawns in return, and use the imperial power to incite them to commit suicide, killing people with borrowed knives. When the Ming Dynasty becomes chaotic, I will not repeat your fate and end up being used as a running dog by Emperor Yongle and killed to appease the public anger."
"You always say that if the king wants his subjects to die, they have to die. You are wrong. If the king wants his subjects to die, why must they die? I don't accept it! Are kings, princes, generals, and ministers of different species? We are all flesh and blood!"
The author has something to say: Ji Gang vs. Hu Shanwei, they will eventually go to the opposite side. Thank you to the little angels who cast the tyrant votes or irrigated the nutrient solution for me~
Thanks to the little angels who cast [mines]: 2 Buddhist followers; 352291 1;
Thanks to the little angel who irrigated [nutrient solution]:
Wei Wan° 29 bottles; Don't Want to Work, Nuan Yin, Gu Dong is Here! 10 bottles; Chinless Chubby Short Star, Wei Zi 5 bottles; Dimple 2 bottles; 20487360, Qing Xuan Zhu Bai Zhou 19, Hua Diandian, Mikimika 1 bottle;
Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!