Zhu Ping'an, who was far away in Prince Yu's Mansion, had no idea that his fate was currently riding a roller coaster in Yan's Mansion.
Of course, Prince Yu didn't know that a huge crisis was approaching him.
The two of them continued to study in the study. Prince Yu liked Zhu Ping'an's companionship. He found that with Zhu Ping'an's company and explanations, even boring classics such as "The Analects of Confucius" and "The Book of Changes" became vivid and interesting, and his insights and gains after reading were better than before.
It was not until the steward of the inner chambers of Prince Yu's mansion came to consult Prince Yu on the matters of the inner chamber that Prince Yu finished his study for the day.
"With Zihou accompanying me in my studies, I no longer find studying boring. Before I know it, it's almost noon. Let's stop here today. Thank you Zihou for your hard work."
After listening to the steward's request, Prince Yu's mind flew back to the inner house and he could not concentrate on reading a single word. He put down the book in his hand and said to Zhu Ping'an.
"Your Highness, you are too polite. This is Ping'an's job. Your Highness has a sharp vision and profound insights. Every problem he raises is thought-provoking. Reading with Your Highness, Ping'an always gains new insights and benefits a lot." Zhu Ping'an replied with a bow, flattering Prince Yu subtly in his words.
"Haha, if we talk about gains, I have gained a lot. Zihou, you have worked hard. Go back and have a good rest. I heard Zihou sneeze several times today." Prince Yu couldn't help but smile when he heard this. He was very pleased with Zhu Ping'an's praise.
"I am ashamed... Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I will take my leave now."
Zhu Ping'an smiled embarrassedly. Knowing that Prince Yu was concerned about the inner palace, he bowed and asked for his resignation.
After Zhu Ping'an left, Prince Yu rushed to the inner house without stopping, and the firefighters in the inner house were on duty again.
Zhu Ping'an returned to his office, dealt with two pending documents, then sat down and could not help sighing. He spread out rice paper, picked up his pen and wrote the couplet "Carrying the moral responsibility with a strong shoulder, and writing articles with a sharp hand", and also wrote the horizontal banner "Iron-boned minister of remonstrance".
"Brother, what can I do..."
After finishing writing, Zhu Ping'an sighed, crumpled up the rice paper, and placed it in the tea-making stove to burn it to ashes.
My senior brother is a man of strong character and is loyal and upright in giving advice.
Yan Song was corrupt and sycophantic, and his influence spread throughout the world.
The emperor is smart, arrogant, suspicious and refuses to accept advice.
That.
The unlucky one is my senior brother.
Looking at the ashes of the burnt rice paper, Zhu Ping'an sat down on the chair exhausted and feeling lost.
The food was tasteless and he couldn't swallow it, so he didn't even have lunch. Feeling lost, Zhu Ping'an flipped through "Zhenguan Zhengyao" in his office, recalling the era when people were open to opinions and were willing to accept advice...
Before he knew it, noon had passed and Zhu Ping'an had already read two volumes of "Zhenguan Zhengyao".
"Dongdong..."
There was a knock on the door, pulling Zhu Ping'an out of "Zhenguan Zhengyao".
"Come in."
Zhu Ping'an put down the book and shouted towards the door.
Crunch.
The door was pushed open.
The moment the door was pushed open, an enticing aroma of meat wafted in from the doorway and penetrated into Zhu Ping'an's nostrils without a word. Even though Zhu Ping'an was bored and had no appetite, he couldn't help but salivate at the smell of meat.
"Master Xiao Zhu, it's me."
A girl's voice sounded at the door, and then a young but well-developed girl squeezed in from the door. She was charming, and even her nervous voice was charming.
Li Caifeng?!
The moment Zhu Ping'an saw the person coming, he was confused. Why was the future Empress Dowager Li here
"I... I was helping out in the public kitchen. When I saw that Master Xiao Zhu hadn't had lunch, I made a basket of buns and brought them to Master."
Li Caifeng had flushed cheeks like last time, lowered her head, and spoke a little nervously. As she spoke, she pulled her hands out from behind her back. In her chubby hands was a basket box that exuded a delicious aroma. Without even looking, one could tell that it was filled with meat buns.
So, she came to deliver the buns because she saw that she didn't go to the public kitchen to eat? The future Queen Li was really a person who knew how to repay kindness.
"Thank you, Miss Li." Zhu Ping'an couldn't help but smile and bowed to thank Li Caifeng.
"Master Xiao Zhu, you are too polite. It's very uncomfortable to be hungry. Master Xiao Zhu, please eat quickly."
Li Caifeng spoke a little more fluently and placed the food box in the basket in her hand in front of Zhu Ping'an's table. She opened the food box with her small hands and took out a plate with four big steaming meat buns on it.
"Master Xiao Zhu, just put the plate in the public kitchen another day."
Just like last time, Li Caifeng put the buns down, picked up the food box, and ran away with her head lowered like a thief.
Boom
It was almost the same scenario as last time. She accidentally bumped into the door frame when she was going out.
Zhu Ping'an watched her walk away, touching her forehead, and was speechless. It was hard to imagine that this clumsy, shy little girl like a rabbit would be the legendary empress dowager who would rule the country in the future - Empress Dowager Li.
After Li Caifeng left, the meat-scented buns on the table exerted a fatal attraction on Zhu Ping'an.
Gulu…
My stomach also made its protesting sound at the right time.
All right.
Let me fill my stomach first. After I’m full, I’ll go over my senior brother’s history in my mind to see if there are other ways to make up for it.
Only when you are full can you have the energy to think.
Zhu Pingan picked up a meat bun and ate it. Hmm, it tasted really good. Empress Dowager Li was a master at making buns. The skin was flexible, the filling was rich but not greasy, the texture was soft, and the taste was delicious.
After finishing four meat buns in one breath, Zhu Ping'an burped, poured himself a cup of hot tea, walked to the door with the hot tea in his hand, and locked the door casually.
After returning to his seat, Zhu Ping'an spread out the rice paper, picked up his pen, and recalled the Ming history and unofficial history he had read in modern times. He recorded the relevant historical events of Brother Yang's impeachment of Yan Song in chronological order in the form of a number tree.
Analyze one event after another to see if there is room for maneuver, struggle, or manipulation.
Impeachment—The Emperor is furious—Yan Song slanders—The Emperor becomes even angrier—Sent to prison—Friends present snake gallbladder, broken bowls and rotten meat—Court trial—Ministry of Justice convicts—3 years in prison—Yan Song adds Yang Jisheng’s name to the memorial on the crimes of Zhang Jing and others—The Emperor reads the memorial but does not notice it and hastily agrees to the execution—The loyal soul returns.
Looking at these historical nodes, Zhu Pingan fell into deep thought.
After carefully studying for a long time, Zhu Ping'an's eyes lit up when he saw the words "three years in prison". Yes, although the Jiajing Emperor was furious, he actually had no intention of killing Senior Brother Yang. If the Jiajing Emperor wanted to kill Senior Brother Yang, he would have ordered the killing the day the Ministry of Justice convicted him. Why did he keep Senior Brother Yang in prison for three years? Although the Jiajing Emperor was smart and arrogant, suspicious and refused to remonstrate, he still had a bottom line. Although Senior Brother Yang criticized the Jiajing Emperor in his memorial, compared with the future Hai Rui's "Public Security Memorial", the degree could not be any lighter. Hai Rui pointed at the Jiajing Emperor and cursed "Jiajing Jiajing, every family is clean". The Jiajing Emperor did not order the killing of Hai Rui, so how could he want to kill Senior Brother Yang
From this we can see that Emperor Jiajing had no intention of killing Senior Brother Yang.
The key to Brother Yang's death was that Yan Song attached Yang Jisheng's name in an inconspicuous place in the memorial to Zhang Jing and others. Yan Song knew Emperor Jiajing well, and he seized the opportunity of Emperor Jiajing to kill Zhang Jing and others. As expected, Emperor Jiajing did not pay attention when reading the memorial. When he saw that it was a memorial to Zhang Jing and others, he did not read it carefully, and did not notice Yang Jisheng's name in an inconspicuous place, and hastily signed the word "agree" under the memorial.
Therefore, as long as Yan Song's conspiracy is uncovered, Senior Brother Yang can still be saved, although he cannot escape imprisonment.
Survive from desperate situation.
Zhu Ping'an suddenly became alert.