The horse's hooves were brisk, the dust was flying, and Chen Yiqin was eager to return home. He rode and whipped the horse all the way, wishing he could appear at Prince Yu's mansion in the next second. He couldn't wait to report the good news of his successful bribery to Prince Yu.
Zhu Ping'an rode the Shamatte dark horse and chased closely, so he was not left too far behind by Chen Yiqin.
Finally, the two returned to Prince Yu's Mansion before noon.
When Zhu Ping'an and Chen Yiqin arrived at Prince Yu's mansion, Prince Yu was discussing matters with Gao Gong and Yin Shidan in the study. The study was filled with gloom and a depressed and negative atmosphere.
Prince Yu just got the news that the mother of Zheng Shi, the official in charge of the imperial council in the capital, was celebrating her 60th birthday today. Prince Jing sent the steward of the Prince Jing’s mansion to the Zheng’s mansion, claiming that he had once consulted Zheng’s knowledge, to send a coral bonsai of the fairyland of Penglai, which was over ten feet tall, to the Zheng’s mansion to congratulate the old lady of the Zheng’s mansion on her birthday and to wish her a long life and good fortune with the fairyland of Penglai. It is said that all the guests in the Zheng’s mansion were moved by it, which greatly increased the reputation of the Zheng’s mansion, and the old lady of the Zheng’s mansion was very happy and grateful. The steward of the Prince Jing’s mansion received special courtesy from the Zheng’s mansion. When he was leaving, Zheng personally sent the steward of the Prince Jing’s mansion more than ten meters away from the door, and whispered for a long time before returning.
Have you ever asked for advice?!
Who would believe that!
I have said one or two things before, can that be considered asking for advice?! Don’t use the excuse that a conversation with you is worth more than ten years of reading!
Aren’t these all excuses for you to win over the ministers!
In fact, this was not the first time that Prince Jing had done this. Because Concubine Lu was favored in the harem, Prince Jing received many rewards, plus the annual gifts he received as usual, the private property he secretly acquired, etc., Prince Jing could be said to be hundreds of times richer than Prince Yu. Based on his economic strength alone, Prince Jing could crush dozens of Prince Yu.
Relying on his wealth and power, and willing to spend money and capital, King Jing has already transferred benefits to many ministers in the court under the pretext of congratulating them on moving into a new house, taking a concubine, promoting a job, or celebrating the birthday of an elder in the family.
If someone likes silver, King Jing will give him silver; if someone likes beautiful women, King Jing will give him beautiful women; if someone likes promotion, King Jing will grant him an official position and make a wish... ...
The effect was very significant. Although many officials did not make clear statements, they had secretly approached King Jing.
Zheng Shi, the Zhongyi doctor, had a good reputation and was relatively famous among the civil servants. He had served as a censor, was not afraid of power and did not show favoritism. He had impeached three superiors and three fellow townsmen, and was known as the "Iron Censor".
He is considered to be a relatively influential official.
Today, the attitude and behavior of Zheng Shi, the Grand Councilor, towards the steward of Prince Jing's palace clearly showed that he was leaning towards Prince Jing.
That's why Prince Yu was so worried when he heard the news.
"My brother Zhen is becoming more and more lawless. Our father is in good health, but he dares to do favors and win over ministers like this. If this continues, it will be very disadvantageous to me." Prince Yu said with a gloomy face and worried.
"Your Highness Prince Jing is getting bolder and bolder. He used to win over ministers in a sneaky and cautious manner for fear of being discovered. Now he is becoming more and more unscrupulous." Yin Shidan said with an indignant look on his face.
"Don't worry, Your Highness. Since ancient times, there has been a custom of appointing the eldest son or the legitimate heir to the throne. If there is a legitimate heir, the eldest son will be appointed; if there is no legitimate heir, the eldest son will be appointed, and the order of seniority will be followed. Although King Jing has won over some ministers by relying on his wealth and power, Your Highness is older than King Jing and has a natural advantage. King Jing is young, and this is a flaw that he cannot change. There are more ministers who support Your Highness than those who support King Jing." Gao Gong was worried in his heart, but his face showed composure and calmness. He sat steadily in the chair and comforted King Yu.
"Master Gao, that being said, if I continue to win over people, sooner or later, there will be more ministers supporting me than me. Perhaps, now there are more ministers supporting me than me... After all, I am much better than you. The few times I saw the emperor, he mostly scolded me. Although he scolded me, he also praised me..."
Prince Yu sat dejectedly in the chair and shook his head sadly. Gao Gong's words did not relieve the gloom on Prince Yu's face in the slightest, especially when he thought of his childhood when he was dominated by the outstanding Prince Jing, he felt even more sad.
It is true that since ancient times, the custom of appointing the eldest son of the legitimate wife as the crown prince has been in place, but not every dynasty and generation has adopted the custom of appointing the eldest son of the legitimate wife as the crown prince. There are also examples of abolishing the eldest son of the legitimate wife or appointing the youngest son as the crown prince. Who knows what my generation is like? !
Father doesn't care about me, doesn't that mean he approves it
Why... ...
Thinking of these things, Prince Yu almost burst into tears.
"Master Gao, Master Yin, what should we do?" Prince Yu raised his gloomy face and looked at Gao Gong and Yin Shidan expectantly.
"The fact that His Majesty has been slow to appoint a crown prince has fueled His Royal Highness Prince Jing's ambition to become the crown prince, and has also caused many people to harbor ulterior motives... Although His Royal Highness Prince Jing's methods of winning over ministers are high-sounding, they certainly cannot be hidden from His Majesty. His Majesty has not made a statement, which is tantamount to tacit approval... I dare to speculate on His Majesty's intentions. Perhaps His Majesty is using this to train His Royal Highness..." Gao Gong pondered for a moment and slowly began to analyze.
Gao Gong's words made sense. Emperor Jiajing had not attended court for more than 20 years and was obsessed with cultivating immortals and refining elixirs, but he firmly controlled the entire Ming Dynasty and was the undisputed ruler of the Ming Dynasty. Even Yan Song, who was as powerful as he was, was just a running dog chosen by Emperor Jiajing, who could be dismissed with a single word. In addition to Emperor Jiajing's extreme intelligence and his perfect imperial mentality, the control of intelligence was also a magic weapon for Emperor Jiajing to control the Ming Dynasty.
It is no exaggeration to say that there was nothing in the Ming Dynasty that the Jiajing Emperor did not know. Through the East and West Factories, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Cabinet, and the Secret Guards, the Jiajing Emperor controlled the every move of the court, ministers, princes, and concubines, and any disturbances in the Ming Dynasty. Even if he was not in power, the entire Ming Dynasty was firmly under the control of the Jiajing Emperor.
Therefore, Prince Jing's seemingly clever behavior of winning over ministers must have been seen through by Emperor Jiajing.
In fact, Gao Gong's thoughts were more than what he said. In his opinion, the reason why the emperor ignored it and acquiesced was perhaps to temper Prince Yu as he just said; or perhaps to temper Prince Jing; or perhaps the emperor relied on his good health and longevity to let the two princes fight each other like raising poisonous insects, so that the best one could win and inherit the throne; or perhaps the emperor was obsessed with power and had no intention of appointing a crown prince, so he just let it go... ...
The reason why Gao Gong did not tell the whole story was to encourage Prince Yu and give him more confidence and motivation.
"Yes, Lord Gao is right. His Majesty allows His Royal Highness Prince Jing to win over ministers without doing anything. He is using His Royal Highness Prince Jing as a whetstone to sharpen his skills." Yin Shidan echoed.
"Father is training me?"
With the comfort of Gao Gong and Yin Shidan, the worry on Prince Yu's face faded a lot and his fighting spirit rose again.
"Whether or not the emperor is trying to discipline me, since he has left it alone, then you can win over the ministers, and so can I. Just as Master Gao and Master Yin said, I am older than you, and I am the elder, so it is easier for me to gain the support of the ministers than you."
Prince Yu stood up from his chair, slammed the table hard, and said through gritted teeth.
Gao Gong and Yin Shidan felt relieved to see Prince Yu like this.
but
Next second
Prince Yu was depressed again.
"But I need money to win over the ministers..."
Thinking of this, Prince Yu's rising fighting spirit disappeared in an instant, and he slumped down on the chair, sitting like Ge You.
Gao Gong, Yin Shidan...
Just then
There was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the door, and then Chen Yiqin appeared at the door with Zhu Pingan. Before Chen Yiqin entered the door, an excited voice came in: "Your Highness, it's done, we did it!"
"Fortunately, I have fulfilled my mission." Zhu Ping'an then took a step forward and bowed calmly.
Done!
Fortunately, I have accomplished my mission!
Upon hearing this, the dejection on Prince Yu's face instantly disappeared, and he jumped up from the chair, revived with full health.
Gao Gong and Yin Shidan were also very excited.