"When the emperor saw my memorial, he became furious..." The stubborn old man sighed, stroking his beard.
Nonsense, if you submit a petition like this, it would be strange if the emperor is not furious. It has been many years since anyone dared to criticize Xiu Xuan in front of the emperor. You are lucky to be like this. If you were less lucky, you would have been executed long ago.
Zhu Pingan really didn't know what to say...
Zhu Pingan spent the next two days in the imperial prison. The prison authorities prohibited anyone from visiting him because the case was serious and confidential, but fortunately, he had Old Yang as his neighbor, so he was not lonely.
Zhu Ping'an and Old Yang had become familiar with each other. The two of them drew a chessboard across the fence and used grass, small pieces of mud, and gravel as chess pieces to play chess; or they would discuss the Four Books and Five Classics. During the two days in the imperial prison, Zhu Ping'an learned a lot from Old Yang.
The spiritual aspect is very rich, but the material aspect is lackluster.
Although it was summer, the cell was located underground and was damp and cold. Zhu Ping'an was okay, as young people have a bad temper and could bear it. But it was not easy for Old Yang. Although Zhu Ping'an brought a lot of hay from his own cell to Old Yang, Old Yang still had a hard time at night, especially when his old cold legs flared up, and he felt like his days were long.
As for food, it is good enough if three meals a day in the imperial prison can be supplied on time. Don’t worry about the taste, fragrance and aroma.
On the first day, Zhu Ping'an was not used to it and found it difficult to swallow the stale porridge and moldy steamed buns supplied by the imperial prison. But on the second day, although Zhu Ping'an could not eat with relish, he did not leave any rice grains.
At noon on the third day, when Zhu Ping'an and Yang Lao were playing chess and were in a stalemate, footsteps were heard in the cell corridor.
"Someone is coming? Quite a few?"
When Zhu Ping'an heard the footsteps, he looked up curiously and saw a group of more than 20 people walking in the corridor. There were Jinyiwei, eunuchs, and they were dressed in gorgeous clothes and seemed to be of important background.
At this time, Old Master Yang also put down the stone soldier in his hand and looked up at the group of people who were approaching.
Who are you looking for
Zhu Ping'an looked at himself, then at Old Yang, wondering who this group of people were coming for.
You have to find your own, right
I have been in the imperial prison for three days and have never been interrogated or heard in court. It is as if I have been forgotten.
Did he finally remember himself?!
Zhu Ping'an stood up, stretched his arms and legs, and put his full energy into preparing to greet the visitor.
Soon, the group of people in the corridor came to the prison cell and stopped. The first one was an eunuch wearing a tall crown, a bright red python robe, and a phoenix patch. He held a Buddhist whisk in his hand and looked sarcastic. Zhu Ping'an didn't know this person, but he knew the person accompanying the eunuch. He was Jinyiwei Tongzhi Takuhai. When he and Zhao Daying petitioned the Ministry of Justice last time, Takuhai was one of the chief judges.
Zhu Ping'an had made all the preparations, but he didn't expect that the group would stop when they reached Mr. Yang next door.
"Old man Yang, the emperor sent me to see you."
The eunuch in a bright red python robe stopped in front of Yang Zui's cell. He seemed unable to bear the foul smell of the imperial prison. He reached out and took out an embroidered handkerchief to cover his nose. With his other hand, he made an orchid finger and pointed at Yang Zui, shouting in a shrill voice.
"Your Highness Yang Zui expresses his gratitude. Long live the emperor."
Yang Zui stood up from the ground, patted the grass and weeds stuck on his prison uniform, and knelt down in salute in the direction of Xiyuan.
After the ceremony, Yang Zui stood up, his back straight, chin up, and looked at the eunuch in the red dragon robe and Jinyiwei Tongzhi Takumi.
This old thing!
The eunuch in the red python robe frowned, very dissatisfied with Yang Zui's attitude, and said in a shrill voice, "Old Yang, the emperor has given you a chance because of your old age. The emperor asks you, do you know you are wrong? If you write a confession, the emperor may forgive you this time because you have dedicated most of your life to the Ming Dynasty."
Zhu Ping'an heard it clearly. Emperor Jiajing wanted Mr. Yang to admit his mistake and write a letter of apology before he could release him.
This is fine.
Old Yang is already old, and he has been tortured by the cold and gloomy prison these days. It would be great if he could get out. Zhu Ping'an was sincerely moved and happy for Old Yang.
but
Zhu Pingan was worried again. Given Mr. Yang's temper, it would be too difficult for him to admit his mistakes and write a letter of apology...
really
Zhu Ping'an looked up at Old Yang, just in time to see Old Yang sneering at the eunuch in the bright red dragon robe.
"I thank you for your love and care, Your Majesty, but I am ignorant and don't know where I went wrong."
Old man Yang raised his chin, snorted, and refused to admit his mistake.
"You!!! You are an ungrateful old... old man!!!" The eunuch in the red python robe was so angry that he almost cursed the old thing out. When he was about to say it, he changed it to old man, stretched out his orchid finger, and pointed at Yang Zui indignantly, "You are an old man who raises horses and manages horse affairs. Why don't you just tinker with your horse affairs? At your age, you can retire and return home in another year or so. By then, you will be a third-rank official in Beijing. Wouldn't it be glorious to go home? This is the blessing that your Yang family has earned with the smoke from their ancestral graves. You dare to point fingers at the emperor. Today, the world is peaceful and the people live and work in peace. Isn't this all the credit of the emperor's rule over the world? What's wrong with the emperor taking time out to cultivate immortals and make elixirs? It's not like he has let it go. Why do you have any reason to point fingers? Now, the emperor does not remember the villain's faults. Considering your old age, he specially gave you a chance. How could you be so ungrateful!!!"
"Practicing Taoism and refining elixirs are for those who live in the mountains and practice meditation. How can one live in a yellow house with purple doors, wear fine clothes and eat delicious food, and yet be able to do it in broad daylight? Moreover, there are constant disasters of floods and droughts in the north and south. How can we say that the world is at peace?! If Your Majesty gives up cultivation and focuses on government affairs, our Great Ming will be fortunate, and our Great Ming people will be fortunate."
Yang Zui puffed out his beard and glared, reaching out to grab the fence, with the veins on the back of his hand exposed, and his imposing manner was even more powerful than that of the eunuch in the red dragon robe.
Immortal cultivation and alchemy are things that people who live in seclusion in the mountains do. How can one live in a luxurious palace, wear gorgeous clothes, eat exquisite food, and fly into the sky in the daytime? Moreover, the Tatars in the north and the Japanese pirates in the south are constantly causing troubles, and floods and droughts are endless. How can we call the world peaceful? If Your Majesty can give up immortal cultivation and alchemy and focus on government affairs, our Ming Dynasty will be more fortunate.
Yang Zui attacked him face to face, without any mercy.
"You! Old man Yang, I'll give you one more chance. The emperor has said that if you know your mistakes and can correct them, it would be a great virtue. You'd better think about it carefully." The eunuch in the red dragon robe pinched his orchid fingers and pointed at Yang Zui. His gloomy face was covered with dark clouds, and he said through gritted teeth.
"Although I am ignorant, I dare not obey your order."
Yang Zui raised his chin and replied without hesitation.