The monarch and his ministers talked again, and Zhang Yanling got up and left, preparing to go to see the Empress Dowager Zhang.
When they walked under the atrium corridor, Liu Jin's voice came from behind. "Master Marquis, please stay!"
Zhang Yanling turned around and saw Liu Jin coming quickly, with a gloomy look on his face.
"Eunuch Liu, what's the matter? Does the Emperor have any other orders?"
Liu Jin shook his head and said, "No, my family wants to say a few words to you."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Okay, what does Mr. Liu want to say?"
Liu Jin looked around, pulled Zhang Yanling's sleeves and pulled Zhang Yanling into a room at the end of the corridor, and closed the door smoothly.
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Eunuch Liu, what's the matter? Are you making it so mysterious?"
Liu Jin stared blankly at Zhang Yanling and said: "Master Hou, do you really want to go to the outer court to negotiate an agreement on behalf of the emperor? Do you want to be a peacemaker?"
Zhang Yanling said: "Yes, didn't you also hear what the emperor said?"
Liu Jin sneered and said: "Master Hou, do you think the outer court will agree to keep big things down?"
Zhang Yanling said solemnly: "I don't know, you always have to give it a try. Otherwise, the emperor and the ministers in the outer court cannot be so stiff. It is not good for anyone. If the conflict intensifies, something big might happen."
"
Liu Jin laughed and said: "Master Hou, you are such a smart person, how come you are so confused that you want to take such an errand? If you want to be compatible, there are many people who are more respectable and suitable than you. The British Lord, I am sure
The Duke, as well as other highly respected princes, aren't they more suitable than you? Don't you think about it, why don't others come forward to take this job?"
Zhang Yanling frowned and said: "I don't know about this. Maybe the emperor didn't mention it, and it's hard for them to take the initiative to ask for help."
Liu Jin sneered and said: "Why did you take the initiative to ask for help? Is it possible that the Marquis is still trying to please the outer court through this matter? Master Marquis, please don't see the situation clearly."
Zhang Yanling said in a deep voice: "What did Eunuch Liu say? What does it mean to please the outer court? I just don't want things to get worse. The emperor is also worried and hesitant about this matter. Can't you see it?"
Liu Jin said in a deep voice: "Of course our family can see that, and Mr. Hou, don't think what we say is unpleasant. The fact is that this matter is irreconcilable now. If you try to reconcile, you will be humiliating yourself. Why else?
The Duke and the Marquis remained silent, because they also knew that even if they came forward, they would be in trouble, and the people in the outer court had no intention of taking a step back. The Marquis took the initiative to ask for help, so our family had to doubt the Marquis's motives."
Zhang Yanling said in a deep voice: "Eunuch Liu, I can understand your mood. Xie Qian beat you in public, which is indeed excessive. If it were me, I wouldn't give up. But you can't add fuel to the fire just because you are angry, no
I am willing to ease the matter. The emperor and the outer court are at odds with each other, which is not a good thing for the court. It is not necessarily beneficial to you, Eunuch Liu."
Liu Jin laughed and sighed: "It seems that you really want to reconcile the conflict, Mr. Hou. Hey, we don't know what to say. Mr. Hou, you are resourceful, brave and fearless, and our family will treat you very badly."
I admire you very much. If it hadn't been for your full protection this time, Mr. Hou, we wouldn't have been able to escape this disaster. But Mr. Hou, you are young after all, and you still don't know much about the people and things in the court. It seems that our family wants to share it with you.
Big secret news."
Zhang Yanling said: "Secret news? What kind of secret news?"
Liu Jin's smile faded and she said solemnly: "Master Hou, do you know that a large-scale impeachment is being planned in the outer court. It is said that it will clean up the emperor's side and eradicate the so-called treacherous villains. It will be launched soon."
Zhang Yanling said in surprise: "Is there such a thing?"
Liu Jin sneered and said, "Can our family still lie to you? They have drawn up a list for impeachment. Does Mr. Hou know who is on the list?"
Zhang Yanling frowned and said, "How do I know?"
Liu Jin said: "Master Hou, you might as well take a guess."
Zhang Yanling was amused. If Liu Jin knew that he was a time traveler, he probably wouldn't ask himself. In the first year of Zhengde in the Ming Dynasty, the ministers in the outer court impeached the Eight Tigers. This is clearly written in the history books.
"I can't guess, father-in-law might as well say it clearly."
Liu Jin sighed: "It's not that the Marquis can't guess, it's just that he doesn't want to guess. Well, it doesn't hurt to tell the Marquis. The ones they want to impeach and eradicate are me and Zhang Yong, Gu Dayong, Qiu Ju, Wei Bin, Ma Yongcheng,
Gao Feng, Luo Xiang and others served the emperor from the East Palace.
Thanks to them, they gave us a domineering name and called us the 'Eight Tigers'. Haha, the eight of us served the emperor diligently and thought about the emperor at all times, but in the end we became eight tigers in their eyes.
Mr. Hou, do you think it’s ridiculous?”
Zhang Yanling said in shock: "Is this really happening? Where did this news about Eunuch Liu come from?"
Liu Jin said in a deep voice: "How did you know the news? Mr. Hou doesn't need to worry about it. But I swear to Mr. Hou that my source of information is absolutely reliable. Someone has tipped me off a long time ago. Liu Jian Xie Qian Li Dongyang and others summoned
The officials of the outer court assigned a task, saying that we will not retreat this time, and we must get the emperor's consent to eradicate the eight of us."
Zhang Yanling frowned and said: "Is there such a thing? Just like the last impeachment, they made a comeback this time through the border patrol. They are not targeting you eight people, but the emperor."
Liu Jin nodded and sneered: "Master Hou has finally come to his senses. Now Wang Yue, Fan Heng and others have already colluded with the outer court. Who spread the news about the last time they impeached me for accepting bribes? Who is competing in Master Hou's mind?
We all know. Mou Bin, the commander of your Jinyiwei Yamen, is also with them
They worked together and communicated with each other in private. We were the only ones loyal to the Emperor around him, so he became a thorn in their side. They were dealing with us, but they only wanted to isolate and control the emperor. We were eliminated by them.
,Who is left with the Emperor?"
Zhang Yanling said in a deep voice: "If this is really the case, how could they succeed? Why didn't Eunuch Liu report it to the emperor?"
Liu Jin frowned and said: "How to report to the emperor? Didn't the Marquis test the emperor's attitude just now? Although the emperor is angry, he is afraid of the officials in the outer court. He hopes to reconcile. Otherwise, how could he agree with you to say it?
He? The emperor is young and has never experienced any major events. Once the gang in the outer court gets into trouble, the emperor will
The emperor is inevitably afraid. Our family is even worried that if the outer court demands the elimination of the eight of us, the emperor may even agree. Our family is not afraid of death. What we are afraid of is that after we are eliminated by the outer court, the emperor will no longer be able to
You are independent, but you are controlled by others in every aspect. Lord Marquis, are you willing to see such a situation happen?"
Zhang Yanling said: "Of course I don't want to see this situation."
Liu Jin nodded and said: "That's it. Does the Marquis still want to go and negotiate peace with them?"
Zhang Yanling said in a deep voice: "Eunuch Liu, I still have to go. I have promised the emperor to go, and I cannot go back on my promise. But don't worry, I am just trying to make peace with the bottom line of the outer court, not that I really want to go."
No matter what agreement is reached, it will be much more advantageous to go than not to go."
Liu Jin sneered and said: "I don't see any benefit. If they propose to kill eight of us, what will you do? Or what will you do if they impose any other harsh conditions?"
Zhang Yanling said: "Eunuch Liu, I went to talk to them on behalf of the emperor. It was a gesture of goodwill. Let others see that the emperor is still extremely benevolent and righteous to them. Eunuch, please don't forget that I have said before that we must occupy morality.
The commanding heights. This is the moral high ground. The emperor is willing to show kindness, but they are acting recklessly.
If they are entangled, that is their fault. Then the next thing may not be on their side. After all, in this border patrol matter, we were still unreasonable and acted recklessly. To reverse this trend,
You must have an attitude and win people's hearts. Mr. Liu, do you think what I said is right?"
Liu Jin glared at Zhang Yanling and said: "Master Hou, I understand all the things you said, but I always feel that it is not necessary. Our family believes that this time we must confront each other, and we must let the emperor understand the ulterior motives of the outer court. We must tell the outside world
The court must continue to suppress it. Otherwise, the matter will not be settled. Hou
Master, we won’t beat around the bush with you. We hope that the Marquis can convince the emperor not to show off to the outer court and never back down. The emperor now respects and trusts you very much. When things involve our family, we don’t have anything to say but you.
It will work. So our family hopes that Mr. Hou can contribute this effort."
Zhang Yanling frowned and said nothing.
Liu Jin continued: "Master Hou, as long as you can suppress the momentum in the outer court this time, you will also benefit greatly. Master Hou, do you want to be a Jianchang Marquis for the rest of your life? Don't you want to be granted the title of Duke? Do you just want to live in a nest?"
Hanging around in the Jinyiwei Yamen? Don’t want to dominate the government?
Our family still says the same thing, and the agreement between us is still valid. Our family is in charge, the Marquis is in charge, and we have the final say in future matters in the court. We are all people who sincerely serve the emperor, how can we let those gangs
Someone with ulterior motives is holding the Emperor hostage? Threatening the Emperor."
Zhang Yanling said in a deep voice: "I didn't think too much about it. I don't have any big ambitions. But maybe my father-in-law is right about this matter. I will go back and think about it carefully and rationalize my thoughts before I act. Eunuch Liu, don't worry.
Yes, if I have to stand on a certain side, I will naturally stand with my father-in-law. But the matter has not yet reached the point of breaking out. Maybe your information is not accurate. And
Perhaps, they will restrain their conscience in the outer court. In short, my idea is that if there is room for maneuver, they cannot cause uproar in the city. After all, the foundation of the outer court is solid, and the emperor has not long been in power. If things are done too radically, it will not be good for the emperor.
It is not good for our Ming Dynasty. It is best to find a compromise method that is acceptable to both sides. Don’t you think so?"
Liu Jin looked at Zhang Yanling blankly, and after a while, he said in a deep voice: "What the Marquis said makes sense, so let the Marquis go and find out their bottom line. Our family won't beg the Marquis anymore. One day we will be killed.
When I chop off my head, I hope that the Marquis will burn some paper money for us for the sake of our life and death."
Zhang Yanling waved her hand and said: "My father-in-law made serious words, why do you do this?"
Liu Jin nodded and said: "That's all, I won't waste Mr. Hou's time. Our family won't send Mr. Hou off."
Zhang Yanling nodded, cupped his hands and said, "Eunuch Liu, relax and wait for my news. Take your leave."
Liu Jin said nothing, Zhang Yanling turned around and walked out quickly.
Liu Jin stood in the room, frowning in a daze, and as soon as a figure flashed outside, Gu Dayong quickly slipped in, closed the door, and came to Liu Jin's side and whispered: "Eunuch Liu, how was the discussion? Will Zhang Yanling help?"
Liu Jin said coldly: "This guy's attitude is unclear. I doubt he wants to help us."
Gu Dayong said in shock: "What should we do? The emperor trusts him the most now. If he is willing to help us and speak in front of the emperor, the emperor will definitely make up his mind. If he doesn't, wouldn't we... be in trouble?"
Liu Jin sneered and said: "If he doesn't want to, we have to force him to agree. If the fire burns on our heads, he can naturally stand by and watch. If it burns on his head, how will he hide?"
Gu Dayong was startled and whispered: "Eunuch Liu means..."
Liu Jin sneered and said, "You go out of the palace to see Jiao Fang in the afternoon and ask him to meet me at my outer house in Shuijing Lane tonight."