Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

At this time, Zhu Gaosui narrowed his eyes and said conspiratorially: "Father, please ask me to copy Jingqing Guaman. His life and the lives of his nine clans originally belong to the father. Why should I use it as a bet? Father. Just ignore him.”

"idiot!"

Zhu Di, who was still angry, had just picked up the "Records of Emperor Taizu Gao" that had saved his life from the ground, and was about to throw it at the idiot Lao San.

However, the next moment, Zhu Di looked at the handwriting on a certain page in "Records" and was stunned for a moment.

"I am going to offer sacrifices to the southern suburbs to avoid harming all the officials. The deacon said: I move the heaven and the earth and feel the ghosts and gods, but I am sincere and respectful. People will not fail to realize that the sky is high and the ghosts and gods are hidden. Now it is time to pay tribute to all the officials and deacons. You should be careful."

Zhu Di's thoughts seemed to go back to the time when he was taken by his eldest brother to see his father's majestic sacrifice in his childhood. At that time, he didn't understand why his supreme father was afraid of the ghosts and gods of heaven and earth.

But now looking at the wet blood on the Golden Palace, Zhu Di's eyebrows jumped, and his mood suddenly became complicated.

"Second brother, please go to Jingting Mountain yourself and invite Mr. Jiang and Duke Dao Rong back. If Duke Rong is in poor health, please ask Mr. Jiang to come back first. He cannot solve the current problem."

Above the Golden Palace, Zhu Di thought for a few breaths and gave instructions to Zhu Gaoxu.

"Yes, father!" Zhu Gaoxu said, holding his fists in accordance with military etiquette.

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaochi who was about to speak: "If you have anything to say, just say it."

"Father, Jing Qing's blood oath may have another meaning."

"Is there another meaning?" Zhu Di frowned slightly.

Zhu Gaochi answered honestly: "I am worried that by associating praying for rain with the imperial master and being a treacherous person, no matter whether praying for rain succeeds or not, someone with ulterior motives will associate Mr. Jiang with Lin Lingsu." .”

Lin Lingsu, a Taoist priest of the Northern Song Dynasty, benefited from Huizong with his magic, and lured Song Huizong to become the leader of the Shenxiao Sect, and then took control of the religious power of the Northern Song Dynasty. Later generations often attribute one of the reasons for Huizong's loss of the country to his belief in nothingness and neglect of national affairs. As a result, the people's power was exhausted, and the leader who promoted them to the level of "confidence" was Lin Lingsu.

Zhu Gaochi's worry was not unreasonable, because Lin Lingsu's unique skill was to pray for rain, and he fell into the rain in the end.

In the eighth year of the Zhenghe period, there was a severe drought in the Central Plains. Huizong once again asked Lin Lingsu to pray for rain, but this time it failed. Cai Jing took the opportunity to report that Lin Lingsu had no magical powers. Lin Lingsu recommended his old friend Nanfeng Taoist Wang Wenqing, saying He was originally in charge of the Rain Department in Shenxiao Palace. After Wang Wenqing came, he asked for a three-day heavy rain. Lin Lingsu probably knew a little about weather and predicted that it would rain in a few days, so he asked Wang Wenqing to delay it for a few days. , in the end they really waited until it rained.

But luck does not always favor those who pretend to be gods. In the first year of Xuanhe, it rained heavily and Kaifeng was besieged by floods. Huizong asked Lin Lingsu to try to rescue the disaster, but Lin Lingsu returned without success, while the prince Zhao Huan burned incense on the Kaifeng tower. After praying, the flood actually receded. As a result, Lin Lingsu completely fell out of favor and was released back to her hometown.

Zhu Di immediately realized that the blood oath Jing Qing swore at the expense of himself and the whole family, no matter whether Jiang Xinghuo could pray for rain to break the situation, the result would probably not be good.

Because even if Jiang Xinghuo has great supernatural powers and can pray for rain, who can guarantee that praying for rain will be effective every time? If there is a drought and the conservatives use this matter to attack the reform, can Jiang Xinghuo ask for rain again and again?

Therefore, it seems that no matter how you deal with it, this is actually a dead end.

But Zhu Gaoxu suddenly said something at this time.

"Father, we must believe in science."

Zhu Gaoxu's words stunned the father and son in the palace.

We are engaging in feudal superstition here, and you tell me you believe in science?

"Have you forgotten? When Mr. Jiang was teaching geography, he said that rain in the sky is actually a weather phenomenon caused by condensed water vapor in the air falling to the surface of the land in different ways. It is nothing extraordinary. Erchen believes that Mr. Jiang can not only Praying for rain can also prove that thunder, rain and dew are not some kind of divine inspiration."

Zhu Gaochi's eyes also lit up: "Father, if Mr. Jiang can really do this, I think this hidden worry will be solved!"

"Then why don't you invite Mr. Jiang back quickly?"

Zhu Di kicked Zhu Gaoxu.

——————

Let's say that Jing Qing sacrificed his life and stabbed Jing, and Zhu Di was furious.

Dressed in a flying fish suit and with a spring knife embroidered across the waist, the horse's hoofbeats almost trampled the early spring in Nanjing.

As soon as the horse flew by, the suppressed and stubborn weeds raised their heads from the cracks in the green bricks again, like whispers emerging from people's mouths that could not be sewn shut.

Around the small courtyard of Jing Qing's house, there were a few casual people who had the courage to come out to watch the excitement. They were talking about it and guessing which rumor was related to all the changes that happened in the court today.

They all knew that during this period of time, Jing Qing had been living in the mansion, and besides going to court every day, he taught his disciples to learn poetry.

But just this morning, it was said that Jing Qing's sudden assassination failed in the early morning. As soon as the news spread, Jing Qing's mansion was blocked by the Jinyi guards sent by Zhu Di, and no one was allowed to approach.

As for those who want to peek into what is going on, they are also strictly prohibited.

Such a nervous attitude made many people who originally did not believe in such an outrageous thing as "Jing Qing assassinate the driver" began to believe that something was really wrong with Jing Qing - after all, even several thousand households in Jinyiwei rushed to the government office in person. This shows that , this matter has seriously threatened the safety of the imperial power!

Everyone is looking forward to it, hoping to hear the complete message from someone's mouth.

"What did you say?"

In Jing Mansion, after hearing the news brought back by the servant, the eighty-nine-year-old lady's lips immediately started to tremble and her face turned livid.

The old lady held the table with both hands, her body shaking uncontrollably from fear. She couldn't believe what she heard, and she was unwilling to accept this fact.

"Old madam, please don't worry," the housekeeper supported her and consoled her: "Since there is no definite news now, these are just rumors. The guards outside have not broken down the door for a long time, so it may not be for this matter."

Although the housekeeper's words were words of comfort, his expression showed a bit of worry, as if he was not optimistic about whether Jing Qing would come back alive.

"Old Madam..." The servant next to her tried to help her, but was pushed away by her: "Go! Go and bring the two girls over to me."

Jingqing's parents died when he was young, but he was raised by this old lady, his maternal grandmother.

Jing Qing was filial and filial. When he became an official, he not only wrote chastity letters for his mother, but also served his grandmother in the capital.

The two girls under his knees have not grown up yet. Seeing that this is a huge event for the Jing family, the old lady realizes that her time is short. She doesn't care about life or death, but she cannot let the Jing family really be the queen.

Two little girls aged seven or eight were brought over by servants. Seeing their ignorance, the old lady of the Jing family became even more sad. She directed the servants to tear off a piece of cloth and wrap it around their mouths, then quietly stuffed them in. In a pickle vat in the cellar.

"Nanny, remember, no matter what happens outside, don't make a sound! When the rooster crows tomorrow, if you are not discovered and crawl out along the dog hole at home, you must remember to survive!"

Those were the last words the two sisters heard before they were shrouded in shadow.

In the alley in front of Jing Mansion, many people gathered waiting for news. They were so anxious that they completely lost the excitement of eating melon.

They just felt that the entire workshop was shrouded in a thick layer of haze, making them breathless.

Because, if you eat melon, you will eat it on your own head.

The latest news is coming.

——Jing Qing bet with the emperor on melon vines!

At this time, the neighbors had no chance to discuss the case or sympathize with the situation.

Some of the neighbors on the street were so fierce that they even wanted to kill Jingqing's whole family.

Nanjing city and this square have been blocked, and it is impossible to escape. While waiting anxiously, the final imperial edict arrived.

Several Jinyi guards came to the front of Jing Mansion surrounded by a senior official in scarlet robes. The Jin Yiwei around Jing Mansion saluted in unison.

"See the Commander!"

Ji Gang got off his horse and glanced at the whole place with cold eyes.

Everyone immediately fell silent, and there was no sound. Only the heart was beating like a drum, panicking.

"According to the imperial decree, the traitor Jingqing and his family are arrested and brought to justice. The rest of the gang should retreat as soon as possible!"

Ji Gang's voice was a little low and hoarse, but it shocked everyone.

"Wow--"

When they heard that the neighbors would not be implicated, the crowd instantly exploded.

"The traitor Jingqing deserves to die!"

"Your Majesty is wise and mighty, and with the blessing of God, Jing Qing, a wolf-hearted man, actually chose to betray the Ming Dynasty at such a critical moment!"

"Tsk, tsk, Doctor Jing ended up like this. It is really a pitiful person who must be hateful."

"Oh! Why is Doctor Jing so hard to think about it!"

…

People shook their heads and sighed with regret.

When Ji Gang heard these remarks, he immediately showed an expression of disgust on his face. The world is cold and warm. In the past few days since Yan Jun crossed the river, he has seen a lot of cases.

The royal guards broke into the house and quickly took control of all the prisoners in the mansion.

The hall of Jingfu was brightly lit, the atmosphere was stagnant, and there was silence.

The family members of Jing Mansion were escorted by Jinyi guards and knelt in the hall.

The other Jinyi guards searched the Jing Mansion and soon found the cellar where the two girls were hidden.

Seeing this, the pale old lady who was kneeling on the ground covered her chest with her hands and coughed violently, as if her heart and lungs were being coughed out.

"You guys go and take a look. Don't let the prisoner die. Your Majesty wants to live."

In the cellar, Ji Gang ordered calmly.

After the Jin Yiwei beside him responded and went up to check, Ji Gang pulled out his knife with a "Clang~" sound.

Aiming at the thick lid of the pickle jar, the tip of the Xiuchun knife was inserted into it and picked up.

Below, there are the timid eyes of the two girls.

Not sure whether he was thinking of the second prince's instructions or the abandoned baby adopted by his family, Ji Gang hesitated for a moment and said softly.

"Hide here. I'll send you to someone else later."