Chengguo Gongfu.
Seeing his father-in-law's insistence, Zhu Yi felt that the old man was a bit stubborn, but he still followed his words and said it again.
"...When my son-in-law was leaving the palace, His Majesty said that my father-in-law had been an official for five dynasties, and his early experiences were similar to my son-in-law. He gave my son-in-law some time to talk to his father-in-law, and then..."
"stop!"
Hu Hui finally discovered something strange, frowning, as if he was asking Zhu Yi, and also seemed to be asking himself.
"What are the similarities between my experience and yours?"
Zhu Yi was stunned and speechless for a moment.
Yes, what are the similarities between him, a young prince from the Chengguo Palace, and Hu Hui, who was born as a pure civil servant?
After hesitating for a moment, Zhu Yi asked.
"Father-in-law, you are the elder. Logically speaking, my son-in-law should not inquire about your past affairs. However, since His Majesty has said this, my son-in-law dares to ask if it was true that you were in your early years..."
Zhu Yi knew some of Hu Hui's early life experiences.
However, it was limited to superficial experiences. On a deeper level, Zhu Yi was a junior after all, so he didn't ask too much.
But based on what he knew, his father-in-law's career path seemed very strange.
He was a Jinshi in the second year of Jianwen's reign, and was awarded the rank of Military Science at that time.
After Emperor Taizong was in jail, he was promoted to Hu Kedu, and then... Hu Hui stayed in this position for seventeen years!
Then, he was suddenly promoted from being a seventh-rank Hu Kedu to Shi Lang to a third-rank Minister of Rites.
This is the first strange thing. There is a gap of eight steps from the seventh rank to the third rank. This is the only one in the entire Ming Dynasty that has such an extraordinary promotion.
But this was not the end. A few years later, after Renzong succeeded to the throne, he was thrust into the East Palace and served as a guest of the third-grade prince and a supervisor of the prince.
You know, Emperor Xuanzong was established as the grandson early on. He had his own team, but Hu Hui was forced into it.
There is also the Imperial College, which has always been the clearest stream among the cleanest streams. Among scholars, its gold content is second only to the Hanlin Academy.
Later, when Renzong suddenly collapsed and Xuanzong succeeded to the throne, he was immediately promoted to Minister of Rites, where he remains today.
In other words, since he was admitted to Jinshi, Hu Hui has been sitting in the seventh-grade position for nearly twenty years.
Then he was suddenly promoted to a third-rank official. He then spent seven years accumulating the Conglong Gong and Qingliu qualifications, and was promoted to the seventh rank, crossing a threshold that many officials could not cross in their lifetime.
No, to be more precise, he did not spend seven years on this latter step, but less than three years.
Zhu Yi suddenly remembered that shortly after Hu Hui was awarded the title of Hu Kedu Ge Shizhong, he went out of the capital to "visit immortals" for Emperor Taizong.
In the 17th year of Yongle, Hu Hu's mother died of illness. He requested to return home to observe filial piety, but Emperor Taizong refused and promoted him from Qipindu to Shizhong and promoted him to Minister of Rites.
In the next four years, although Hu Hui was promoted in official position, he still went out to "visit immortals". It was not until the 21st year of Yongle that he was recalled.
In the first year of Xuande, in just three years, he became the seventh minister.
Normally, because it was an old story, he didn't ask too much and never thought about it in detail, but now, he suddenly remembered a rumor he overheard his uncles talking about when he was a child.
The period of seventeen plus four years when Hu Hu was away was called "Visiting Immortals", but in fact, many people speculated that what he was really looking for was Emperor Jianwen, who disappeared in the fire of Nanjing during the Jingnan period.
Otherwise, it is impossible to explain why he was able to receive such a high promotion and the almost partial favor of three successive emperors.
What's more, Emperor Taizong had never been interested in seeking immortality, but he sent Hu Hui to "visit immortals" for more than twenty years. How strange it seems.
When he first heard this rumor, Zhu Yi was still young and forgot about it. Moreover, as time passed, he never heard similar rumors again.
But today, when Hu Hui's "early experience" was mentioned, Zhu Yi suddenly thought of it.
After hearing Zhu Yi's question, Hu Hui silently pondered for a rare moment and said nothing.
After a long silence, Hu Bi nodded slightly and said.
"Back then, I did go out to look for immortals for His Majesty Taizong, and finally found the traces of immortals. However, since I am an immortal, I will not mess with the mortal world. I should go to the immortal world and feel at ease. Therefore, I will report back to His Majesty Taizong. Heaven and humans are different.
On the way, don’t be greedy for vain things.”
After all, Hu Hui still didn't admit it, but such a vague explanation was enough for Zhu Yi to understand.
Even though he had already suspected such secret news, he still couldn't help but feel a little shocked when he actually heard it.
In the end, it was Hu Hui who was the first to reveal the matter and said calmly.
"The events of the past have come from my mouth and entered your ears. There is no need to mention them again. Your Majesty thinks clearly about my early experiences. From this point of view, the achievements your Majesty talks about may not necessarily refer to military achievements."
Zhu Yi also realized that whether Hu Hui had visited Emperor Jianwen was already in the past, and what he wanted to focus on was the present.
"But, my father-in-law, you are the Minister of Rites, and you should know the most about the ceremony. Our dynasty has an ancestral system, and all titles and titles cannot be awarded unless they have merit in the military. This..."
Hu Xi's expression was a little complicated. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he sighed long and said nothing.
After a long while, Fang said: "Anyway, you don't have to worry. His Majesty said that you and I are similar. I'm afraid there is another purpose."
Zhu Yi thought about it for a while, but couldn't figure it out, so she had to say obediently: "Please give me some advice from my father-in-law."
Hu Xi said calmly: "Wait!"
Seeing that Zhu Yi was still confused, Hu Xi explained.
"Your Majesty specifically mentioned my early experience, just to tell you not to be anxious. I visited immortals for twenty years back then. Your Majesty said that you are still young and you will have opportunities in the future. He just wants you to be patient and wait for the opportunity."
"He asked you to bury your father with the rites of a duke. From the outside, this seems to be deliberately belittling your father, but on the other hand, doesn't this preserve your father's position as a duke?"
"Your Majesty did not cut off the title of Duke Chengguo, and by saying these words to you, he is telling you that the lintel of Duke Chengguo's Palace will not be lost, but if you want to truly inherit it, you will have to wait a long time.
It’s been a while.”
As he said that, Hu Xi sighed and felt a headache. He was getting older and it was a bit unbearable to use his brain like this.
As soon as he thought about this, his resentment towards a certain Duke of Feng deepened.
If this guy hadn't been so meddlesome and mentioned the existence of the Chengguo Palace in front of the emperor, there would have been so much trouble.
After hearing these words, Zhu Yi didn't know whether to be happy or worried.
Fortunately, things have turned around, and there is still hope for the Duke Cheng's government to be saved, but what worries me is Hu Hui's words.
After hesitating for a moment, Zhu Yi still couldn't hold it back and asked: "Zhang Yue, you spent twenty years visiting immortals for His Majesty Taizong. Your Majesty, he doesn't know how to..."
I won't let myself endure it for twenty years.
Hu Xi shook his head, but this time he didn't hesitate much, and said: "I'm afraid it won't happen. Back then... the situation was special, but it shouldn't happen now. I guess it could be as short as three to five years, or as long as seven or eight years. This matter will definitely happen."
The dust will settle, as for how long it will take..."
Looking at the expression on his old father-in-law's face, Zhu Yi always had a feeling that the old man had guessed something, but he refused to tell himself.
Just as he was about to ask a question, Hu Xi spoke again and choked him back.
"I remember that you just said that His Majesty gave you three days to prepare?"
Zhu Yi nodded, then Hu Xi said.
"In this case, then set off again in three days. After three days, there will be Chang Chao, so I won't see you off. You should be low-key when you leave. It is best to set off during Chang Chao. Don't do it on the road.
If you are in a hurry, especially when you are just leaving the city, walk slowly, do you understand?"
Uh, I actually don’t quite understand…
But it was not a difficult matter, Zhu Yi nodded as he was told, and then he saw Hu Hui rubbing his forehead and said.
"Okay, let's get down to it. I'm still saying the same thing. Whenever there is a big event, calmness is a blessing in disguise. After this incident, maybe Chengguo Duke's Mansion can reach a higher level?"
"It's so late. I'm tired from all the tossing and going back home now. You should go back quickly and see your old lady and Yueniang. They've been worried about you most of the night. Go back and comfort her."
After saying that, Hu Hui shook his sleeves, stood up and left.
Zhu Yi was scolded and did not dare to ask any more questions, so she obediently sent Hu Hui to the door.
However, when she was about to go out, she saw that he was hesitant to speak. Hu Hui finally sighed and said calmly.
"There is no need to ask me any more questions. Our Majesty is always considerate in his work and will not keep you waiting in confusion. Someone will tell you the answer you want to know soon."
After that, without further words, he got on the sedan chair and left the Duke Cheng's Mansion, leaving Zhu Yi alone in a daze, not knowing what he was thinking...
This chapter has been completed!