It was still before dawn, and there were still a few sparse stars hanging in the sky.
A sedan chair carried by eight people appeared on West Chang'an Street, heading towards the Western Garden where Emperor Jiajing practiced Taoism and made elixirs.
A gust of wind blew by, lifting the curtain of the sedan chair, revealing the face of a kind-looking old man with a white beard. If Zhu Ping'an were here, he would definitely recognize that this old man was the old man who played in the city that day. However, this old man was not an ordinary person. He was the second most powerful person in the daming dynasty, the chief minister of the dynasty, Yan Song.
Yan Song, the old man Yan is already 72 years old this year. In the Ming Dynasty, most people would have died at this age. But our old man Yan is still in good health, his eyesight is not blurry, and his ears are not deaf. He can even do some interesting little shows with his wife in the evening.
Especially, in recent days, Yan Ge Lao has been living a comfortable life. Qiu Luan, who was disobedient and wanted to set up his own faction, has died, and all the civil and military officials in the court are flattering him. Although the political rising star Xu Jie has emerged recently, it doesn't matter. He is a newcomer, so he can just be disciplined.
The day before yesterday, his godson Wenhua brought him a priceless gold-thread tent from the southeast, and nearly ten thousand taels of silver.
In addition, the imperial examination is about to begin, and Donglou has put several carts of silver into the cellar these days.
As Lord Yan sat in the sedan chair and thought about these things, his face flushed and he urged the sedan bearers to go faster from time to time.
Compared with the previous things, this is what Lord Yan is most proud of.
Old Lord Yan gets up early every day, not to exercise, but to go to the West Garden to meet with Emperor Jiajing. His Majesty has been practicing Taoism and refining elixirs for more than ten years and has not attended court. There are only a few people who are qualified to meet the emperor every day, except Old Lord Yan. How can he not be proud
In particular, when Old Yan meets His Majesty, it is not an ordinary "face-to-face meeting" like other people. I am taking the elixir together with His Majesty. Looking at the entire Ming Dynasty, Old Yan is the only one who meets His Majesty.
In the mind of Mr. Yan, he is still able to eat and sleep at the age of over 70, and can even do some exercise with his wife at night when he feels like it. He also believes that it is the merit of the elixir, otherwise why is he still so energetic at the age of over 70.
Therefore, every time he got up early and went to Xiyuan to take the elixir, Yan Ge Lao's face was always rosy. He trotted all the way without breathing, and Yan Ge Lao's positive spirit of being a little white mouse also touched Emperor Jiajing.
The king and his subjects had a perfect understanding for a moment.
Lord Yan's sedan chair did not stop until it reached the gate of Xiyuan Palace. As soon as it stopped, the gate of Xiyuan Palace slowly opened.
Lord Yan was already a regular customer of the West Garden, and the eunuch was very fond of this generous and enthusiastic Lord. For example, this time, as soon as Lord Yan's sedan chair arrived at the palace gate, there were several silver bills of medium denomination in the eunuch's pocket.
The eunuch led Lord Yan into the West Garden, which was very familiar to Lord Yan.
"Master Yan, please wait here for a moment."
However, when Lord Yan was about to walk into the palace where the emperor made elixirs, which he was very familiar with, a beardless man in a python robe and a jade belt walked out of the palace and stopped Lord Yan with a smile on his face.
"Okay, okay, I wonder if Mr. Huang had a good rest yesterday."
Yan Song was stunned for a moment, then walked forward with a smile on his face, holding the hands of the man in the python robe and no beard, asking about his well-being. At the same time, he slipped several hundred-liang silver bills into the cuffs of the man without a trace.
"Thanks to Lord Yan, we slept well last night. We slept soundly." The beardless man in python robe said as he put the silver bills in his sleeve back into Yan Song's sleeve without leaving any trace. The speed and concealment were much faster than Yan Song's.
"Mr. Huang is honest and incorruptible, which is truly admirable," Yan Song said admiringly.
"Master Yan, you are joking. Please come this way and rest for a while." The beardless man in python robe said, stretching out his hand and inviting Yan Song to rest for a while in the palace next to him with a smile on his face.
"How dare I, Mr. Yan, please come in." Yan Song, a man in his seventies, reacted quickly. He half bent over and stretched out his hand to make a gesture of invitation.
Yan Song was the chief minister of the cabinet, so the reason why he treated the beardless man in the python robe like this was entirely because this man was no ordinary person, he was none other than Huang Jin, the favorite of Emperor Jiajing and the head of the eunuchs in the harem.
Emperor Jiajing was quite disdainful of eunuchs, thinking that these eunuchs were only suitable for sweeping toilets and emptying toilets. He always kept strict control over eunuchs, but Huang Jin was an exception and he trusted him very much. Huang Jin entered the palace in the early years of Zhengde and studied in the inner study hall. Soon after, he was selected to study with the prince in the Xingwang Palace. In the 16th year of Zhengde (1521), Wuzong died without a son, and the emperor succeeded to the throne as Shizong. Because of Huang Jin's meritorious service as a study companion, he was promoted to the imperial eunuch. Later, he was successively transferred to the eunuchs of Shangshenjian, Sishejian, and Neiguanjian.
Such a capable, powerful and self-disciplined person is by no means an ordinary person.
Especially recently, Yan Song received news that the emperor intends to let Huang Jin supervise the East Factory.
That's why Yan Song was so enthusiastic and kept smiling even when he was stopped outside the palace gate.
About half an hour later, the door of the palace where Emperor Jiajing practiced alchemy opened, and a short, fair-skinned official in his forties or fifties walked out. He always had a smile on his face and looked kind.
The official came out, smiled and nodded to the eunuch on duty standing outside the hall, then left the hall.
When Yan Song, the elder in another hall, saw this man, his face darkened. Why did Xu Jie come here and was summoned by the sage in advance? Last time, he was in the limelight during the "Gengshu Rebellion". I thought that this political rising star could be dealt with by a few warnings, but it seemed that a drastic measure was needed.
"Your humble servant greets Lord Yan. Lord Yan looks very good today." Xu Jie saw Yan Song from afar and bowed with his hands slightly clasped. It was just the usual courtesy that a humble servant would show to his superior, and he did not try to curry favor with him like other officials did.
Xu Jie had a very comfortable life these days. After the Gengshu Incident, although he did not join the cabinet, he was treated the same as the cabinet, and he was now the Prince's Guardian. These days, he was often called by the emperor to the West Garden to drink tea and ask about state affairs. His colleagues in the court also flattered him.
Especially today, the emperor gave him the important task of presiding over the imperial examination. Others did not realize the power of the imperial examination, but Xu Jie knew it well. If he could master the imperial examination and preside over it, then those who succeeded would be his disciples. Even though these people were insignificant now, they would be very important in the future.
Therefore, in Xu Jie's view, he was not far from success and from avenging Master Xia and those who were persecuted by Yan Song.
"Oh, it's Minister Xu." Yan Song nodded slightly and looked at Xu Jie again. This kid is trying to get cocky. It's time to give him a spanking.
After a brief greeting, Xu Jie stepped aside and made way. Yan Song, under the guidance of Huang Jin, entered the palace where Emperor Jiajing practiced alchemy.
Just wait and see, it won't be long.
Xu Jie looked at Yan Song's back and the smile on his face faded. He turned around and smiled again as he headed towards the gate of Xiyuan. (To be continued)