Zhu Gaoyan was sitting in the imperial study with a smile on his face, and Zhang Yingzhen was holding the peeled grapes and putting them into Zhu Gaoyan's mouth.
"Didn't I just scare those people? What's so happy about that!"
"How can you be unhappy?"
Zhu Gaoyan shook his head,
"These people were originally a bunch of people who couldn't get together, but now that Yang Shiqi has done this, they are all tied to the same rope!"
Zhu Gaotian ate the grapes in his mouth. They were sour and sweet, worthy of being a tribute from the palace.
"It's like I raised a group of things that are not angry, and suddenly one day they know how to work together. Doesn't this make me happy?"
When Zhang Yingzhen heard this, she also laughed and said,
"After all, they are all important ministers of our Ming Dynasty. As you said, they are just like chickens raised in a henhouse!"
"Hey, is this a metaphor? A metaphor, and even if it's a little inappropriate, it's not far off!"
While Zhu Gaotian was reviewing the memorial, he was joking and joking with Zhang Yingzhen. It was a relaxed and happy atmosphere.
"Your Majesty, Mr. Yang Shiqi, the head of the cabinet, would like to see you!"
Yang Shiqi?
Why is this guy here again? Is he here to talk to me about what happened in the morning?
And didn't I say that? Yang Shiqi can come in and out of the imperial study at will without having to say hello to me.
Look at the previous few times, when Su Wu and Yang Shiqi came, the little eunuch at the door didn't come in to inform them.
Why did you come up to report this time?
The eunuch also saw what Zhu Gaoyan was thinking and whispered quickly.
"Your Majesty, I have tried to persuade you outside, but Mr. Yang insists on reporting it. He also said that he is guilty and has come here specifically to plead guilty today!"
guilty?
After hearing this, Zhu Gaotian immediately became interested. He said he was guilty when he went to court this morning, and he said he was guilty again when he was criticizing his pleats in the imperial study room in the afternoon. Did he like to find fault?
"Okay, then let him come in and tell us about the crime he committed!"
The little eunuch immediately ran out to report, and not long after, he saw a figure in ragged clothes walking into the house on his knees!
"Are you...Yang Shiqi?"
Zhang Yingzhen almost didn't recognize him just now.
"The guilty minister Yang Shiqi, please pay homage to Your Majesty and the Queen!"
The clothes and books are broken, but they look more like scratches with wattle sticks, and there are many broken blood stains on the skin.
"Yang Shiqi, I didn't blame you, why did you come down to plead guilty?"
Zhu Gaoying could actually guess what Yang Shiqi was talking about. After all, the only mistake he had made in recent times was to damage the potato seedlings in the back mountain!
But this is not his main responsibility, not to mention that even the old farmer who grew potatoes on the back mountain, Zhu Gaotian, did not hold him accountable.
"Your Majesty, I am indeed guilty because at that time..."
Yang Shiqi wanted to state his crime, but was stopped directly by Zhu Gaotian.
"Okay, we all know what you did, but have you ever thought that the main responsibility for this matter lies with me, not the old farmer who grows potatoes in the back mountains, nor the one who has been supervising the country and the world for
Yang Shiqi, the Ming Dynasty’s dedicated person!”
"His Majesty……"
It can be seen that Yang Shiqi is very grateful for these words, but the stubbornness in a scholar's heart cannot be overcome by a few simple words.
"It's because I didn't think of telling you the precautions for planting potatoes!"
"It was my negligence that caused all this, so where do you have the responsibility?"
Seeing that Yang Shiqi wanted to say something, Zhu Gaojing did not intend to give him a chance to speak, but continued to speak.
"Besides, what's the use of just punishing now that it's over?"
"Even if I chop off the head of you and that old farmer now, will it be possible to restore the damage to the back mountain?"
Obviously, it can't be done. This matter is a foregone conclusion and no one can change anything.
"But you know, you are the pillar of Ming Dynasty and my right-hand man. This Ming Dynasty can live without potatoes, but it cannot live without you, Yang Aiqing!"
Yang Shiqi burst into tears and wished he could take out his heart right now and send it to Zhu Gaotian's heart.
"Forget it, since you want to punish, it proves that you are a strict self-discipline, and I will not break your rules for this!"
Zhu Gaojing thought for a while, if there was no war within this year, then it seemed that there was no very heavy task that needed to be handed over to Yang Shiqi.
However, since there is no such thing under the current system, I can reform the system!
For example, parliamentary system, cabinet system, constitutional monarchy, etc.
Of course, Zhu Gaotian may talk about democracy, but in fact, he will definitely not delegate power.
After all, power is something. The higher you are in a high position, the more obsessed you are with it.
You can go up, but you don't want to step down, unless others force you to do so. Otherwise, how many of them voluntarily step down while they are still in their prime?
"Then I will ask you to select a cabinet composed of businessmen, officials from the six ministries, and bachelors within a month!"
"And your power will be distributed to everyone in this cabinet!"
In short, I have taken off your official hat and found you a small job!
After Zhang Yingzhen heard this, her expression suddenly changed. She was fine before, but why did she immediately dismiss Yang Shiqi from his official position?
Moreover, Yang Shiqi is asking for forgiveness.
"Your Majesty, didn't you say that there was nothing wrong with this? Why did you attack Yang Shiqi so harshly and take off his official title?"
Zhang Yingzhen didn’t understand very much.
Even Yang Shiqi didn't think of this, but when he thought that this was His Majesty's punishment for him, he immediately felt relieved and accepted it in his heart.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"
Even the little eunuch on the side was puzzled for a long time after listening. What happened? That chief assistant Yang Shiqi and Grand Scholar Yang were dismissed just like that?
This was too sudden, there wasn't even a signal.
"Okay, I'm tired today, so just step back. After you form the cabinet, prepare for the transfer of power!"
"His Majesty!"
Zhang Yingzhen felt that this punishment was too severe and wanted to redeem it for Yang Shiqi.
"Then Wei Chen resigns!"
"Yang Shiqi, please stop here and beg His Majesty for mercy. Don't leave like this. Your Majesty just said that the Ming Dynasty cannot be without you!"
The little eunuch on the side couldn't figure it out. His Majesty had clearly said that Yang Shiqi was indispensable to the Ming Dynasty. He was indispensable to His Majesty. How could he be dismissed just like that?
This is too incredible!
"I have my own plans, so please don't interfere with them!"