Xie Jin said that he had no courtiers and was imprisoned. The blow to the prince was beyond imagination. The most fatal thing was the suspicion between father and son.
Before, Emperor Yongle had always been reluctant to change the prince. Firstly, he thought it was unlucky. Secondly, although he didn't like the prince, he just thought he was fat and stupid. However, he believed that he was pure-hearted, sincere and filial, and he couldn't bear to destroy him.
.But now, the prince made a fatal mistake in the matter of Jie Jin, and even this last benefit was denied by Zhu Di.
Now the emperor had no pity for the prince, and the idea of Yi Chu became stronger. Fortunately, the ministers in the cabinet tried their best to save Zhu Gaochi, so Zhu Gaochi was not abolished.
The King of Han is worthy of being a master of political power. He has followed Zhu Di for many years and knows that although his father, the Emperor, is extremely intelligent and strategist, he has a great weakness - suspicion. This problem is half inherited and half caused by the sequelae of unfair rule. It is congenital and acquired.
The word "suspicious" has been engraved in Zhu Di's bones.
Since the seventh year of Yongle, because Zhu Di wanted to expedition to Mongolia in the north, he often patrolled the border. Whenever his father was out, the prince would often supervise the country. This was also the time when Zhu Di's suspicion broke out - although he had to go on an expedition.
Giving power to the prince is a last resort. The emperor who leaves the capital is always worried about whether he will be replaced.
Zhu Gaoxu took advantage of this and asked the people he bribed to continue to confuse the emperor and spread rumors that the prince was colluding with ministers, seizing power, and eager to ascend the throne. Although it was just some vague news, it was enough to make the emperor feel anxious. Any news would be ignored by him.
If you overinterpret it, people around you will feel that the atmosphere is highly tense.
In September of last year, Emperor Yongle returned to the capital with his sage, and before the dust had been washed away, he launched a stormy counterattack against the prince who had ulterior motives. He reviewed all the decrees made by the prince during his supervision of the country and refuted them one by one.
As soon as the overthrow was overthrown, there were many quarrelsome and "ridiculous" comments, and even the prince was called "a fool".
In addition to severely reprimanding the prince, Zhu Di also ordered Ji Gang to arrest a large number of princeling officials and issued an edict to abolish many decrees issued by the prince.
But it is not at home in people's hearts. It is obvious to all that the prince worked hard and was cautious and disciplined during his supervision of the country. The ministers were extremely dissatisfied with Zhu Di's behavior of finding faults and fixing people. They must take action because
The emperor's behavior seriously weakened the prince's prestige and shook his status.
The prince is the foundation of the country. The foundation of the country is shaken and the country is uneasy.
The ministers wrote letters one after another. Among them, the most vehement one was Geng Tong, the Prime Minister of Dali Temple. He bluntly advised the prince: "There are no serious mistakes in the prince's affairs, so there is no need to update them." The memorial was returned by the Secretary of General Affairs, and he wrote it repeatedly, several times.
After that, he was finally targeted by Zhu Di.
But Zhu Di's scheming was as deep as the sea, and he would never act out immediately, which would cause an even fiercer backlash from the civil servant nerds. Instead, he secretly ordered Ji Gang to investigate his faults.
Soon, Jin Yiwei reported that Geng Tong had been asked to release a criminal. Zhu Di was immediately furious and ordered the Metropolitan Procuratorate, together with all civil and military officials, to go to the Meridian Gate and personally angrily denounce Geng Tong's crime... In fact, it was just a small and ambiguous matter.
The emperor took advantage of the situation and rose to the level where he had defiled the national law and committed a heinous crime. In the end, Zhu Di categorically told the officials: "Everyone will be killed without mercy."
After saying that, the emperor's gloomy eyes slowly swept across the officials. Everyone was silent, but the officials of the Department of Justice were still a bit stubborn and reminded the emperor in a low voice that Geng Tong's crime was not enough to impose the death penalty...
The emperor was like a poisonous snake, staring coldly at the judicial officials, and finally said what was in his heart:
"This is indeed a small matter. But he said for the prince that he broke the laws of our ancestors and alienated my father and son. Such behavior is absolutely unforgivable, so I must kill him." Finally, the picture came out.
It's a small thing to intercede for others, but it's not okay to intercede for the prince.
He just pointed at his nose and yelled at the prince and officials, "Zhu Gaochi, I'm not dead yet, please be honest with me"
On that day, the prince was naturally present...
As a result, none of the officials spoke up to defend themselves. In the end, Geng Tong was quartered by Emperor Yongle's five horses...
Since then, the growing princeling party has completely died down, a large number of the princes have been beaten down, and the status of the prince is also in danger. Zhu Gaochi was already in poor health, and after this blow, he became seriously ill and will be ill for the whole winter.
He had just gotten better, but he was already disheartened and had the idea of becoming a monk and escaping from the world...
When Yang Pu heard this, he felt bad. We can't talk about these Taoist things in the future. Otherwise, if we develop the prince into a Taoist priest, we will be guilty of a big crime. Just when he was about to give some guidance, the eunuch from outside came in and reported: "
Mr. Hu Xunhu has come according to the order."
"Oh, he's back?" The prince's heart moved, but his expression showed no change.
"I heard that he came to Beijing last night," Yang Pu said softly: "At this time, the emperor should not see him."
"Sigh, Mr. Hu has been living in the open for many years. He has no merit but hard work," the prince sighed and said, "Quickly change my clothes."
Except for a few official masters, the prince would not meet the ministers in the study. Although his legs were disabled and his mobility was inconvenient, he still insisted on meeting the ministers in the front hall to show that he had no secret activities... Among the eunuchs and maids in the palace,
I don’t know how many spies there were. When he spoke in the front hall, at least the emperor, the king of Han, and Ji Gang knew about it without taking a cup of tea.
Even if you are so careful, you will still find trouble. Being a prince for the emperor is so miserable.
Zhu Gaochi stood up slowly, put on the bright yellow prince's robe, and slowly came to the front hall with the support of two palace attendants.
"Your Majesty, Hu Wei, comes to see His Royal Highness the Prince." Hu Wei, dressed in court uniform, knelt down to worship the Prince.
"Mr. Hu is free of charge. I haven't seen you for more than a year. Thank you for your hard work." Zhu Gaochi looked at him and said slowly in a tone that tried his best to express comfort but could not be too cordial.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
The palace servants helped the prince sit down, and Zhu Gaochi said to Hu Tong, "Please sit down too."
Hu Tong did not refuse, thanked him, and sat down on the wooden table brought by the palace servants.
"When did Mr. Hu come back?" Zhu Gaochi asked warmly.
"Your Highness, yesterday afternoon." Hu Han replied.
"Have you ever paid homage to the emperor?" Zhu Gaochi asked.
"Wei Chen handed over the sign yesterday and went to the palace gate to listen to the announcement this morning," Hu Wei replied with a somewhat gloomy look: "But the emperor sent a message saying that he was not feeling well today and had to go back to Zhejiang.
." Originally, when Hu Wei came back to report on his duties, the emperor would personally meet him, but this time he set up a dragnet and let Jianwen escape. Emperor Yongle was naturally dissatisfied with him. He did not see him in person and asked him to report to the prince. He was considered a policeman.
"My father is busy with many things, so maybe he just doesn't have time," Zhu Gaochi comforted him and said, "There will be a chance next time."
"I am self-aware. I failed in my job this time. If the emperor does not punish me, it is already a great gift from heaven. How can I dare to take advantage of it again?" Hu Wei said seriously: "The only way to make up for the mistake is to make up for it."
"It's good if you can appreciate Tian's grace." Zhu Gaochi said slowly: "Have you gained anything from your stay in Zhejiang these past few months?"
"We are incompetent and have not found that person." Hu Yan said, lowering his voice unconsciously: "But it is not all without gain. We have narrowed the suspects to three people. But these three people
Because of the high authority, I dare not make good opinions, so I ask the emperor for orders."
"Who are the three people?" Since he was asking questions on behalf of the emperor, Zhu Gaochi naturally wanted to ask clearly, not to mention that he was also quite curious.
"Your Highness, it's the three major constitutions of Zhejiang." Hu Tong did not mince words, because Zhu Jiu also knew about it, and both Natural Ji Gang and the King of Han knew about it. What else could be hidden? But he also had to explain it to Zhou Xin and the others.
Two sentences: "It's not that their behavior was suspicious, it's just that after sorting out the situation in Pujiang, it was found that only the Three Constitutions of Zhejiang Province had the conditions to take that person out of Zhengzhai Town, or even send him away from Zhejiang. This was an oversight at the time.
In this case, I am guilty, but the two people in the three constitutions should be innocent. This is certain."
"Since it concerns the three major constitutions, it is not up to me to decide," the prince said slowly, "please give me the articles and I will forward them to you."
"Yes." Hu Tong took out the notebook from his sleeve, made a gesture of offering it with both hands, and hesitated for a moment before saying, "There is another matter in the notebook that must be explained to the prince."
"What's the matter?" The prince's eyes narrowed.
"This is what I saw and heard in Zhejiang." Hu Han took a deep breath and said.
"You are an imperial envoy, patrolling the sky for hunting, and it is your duty to report on the customs and conditions of the people in each province." The prince said slowly.
"This matter is of great importance. Please read it to the prince." Hu Tong bowed and presented the memorial to the prince.
"Oh?" Zhu Gaochi took it and unfolded it. The beginning was about building a copy, which he already knew. After turning two pages, he saw that Hu Wei's writing changed and he actually talked about Jin Yiwei's misdeeds in Zhejiang and Yu's
Those outrageous things
Looking at those shocking words, the prince felt dizzy and sweat broke out on his forehead.
Seeing this, the palace servants quickly offered a handkerchief, and the prince took it to wipe his sweat. After drinking another bowl of soothing soup, he calmed down and said in a trembling voice: "Is this all true?"
"The power of the Jinyiwei is overwhelming. How dare I make it up out of thin air and bring about my own destruction? I really saw Xu Yingxian and others wantonly poisoning the people in Zhejiang, and the people are furious. If it continues, it will lead to a civil unrest. As a minister who is the eyes and ears of the emperor, I can't
I will repay the truth without telling the truth, so that the emperor can know the truth," Hu Tong said loudly.
"This..." The prince's lips trembled twice before he said softly: "I will play it for you."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Hu Tong bowed deeply and said, "What other instructions does the prince have?"
"No, you've worked hard, go back and rest." The prince nodded.
"I beg you to leave." Hu Wei kowtowed again, exited the front hall, followed the little eunuch who led the way, and walked out along the long corridor.
As he walked, he realized that something was wrong. This was not the way out of the Prince's Mansion. But he did not panic and followed the eunuch to a courtyard as usual.
In the courtyard, a young man with a burly build and a dark face is practicing boxing. Every move has a sharp sound of breaking the wind and is full of power.