Commander Yang Yu rode a horse and carried a sword. He led a group of guards to lead the way. Behind him was a small sedan chair carried by eight eunuchs. The sedan chair ran very fast. When it reached the Meridian Gate, it was replaced by several generals. Because eunuchs were not allowed to carry sedan chairs out of the palace, it was like a relay race. The small sedan chair ran even faster and went straight out of the palace gate to the Leopard Garden.
Liu Jin sat in the sedan chair, his heart blooming with joy. Along the way, he felt dizzy as if he had drunk four taels of wine. He did not know what thoughts were running through his mind: The most difficult and frightening opponent had died just like that. Originally, he had some misgivings. Now, looking at the entire court, who could be his opponent? Hahaha, power in my hands, the number one person in the court, if not me, who else can do it?
Tomorrow, I have to find time to go to the temple to pay my respects! Liu Jin secretly decided.
The small sedan chair entered the Leopard Garden and stopped at the entrance of Emperor Zhengde's usual residence. When Liu Jin came out, he bumped into Luo Xiang. Luo Xiang was like a hunting dog, sniffing around the Emperor's house. When he saw Liu Jin, it was as if he had met a relative. He immediately knelt on the ground and said with a sad face: "Luo Xiang greets Liu Gong-gong. Gong-gong, I have been wronged. Gong-gong knows me. I have always been filial to Gong-gong. Now that I have ended up like this, can Gong-gong bear to see it?
Ever since I became the ambassador for enemas, all the eunuchs that were under me in the past have been laughing at me behind my back. Originally, I had the opportunity to see His Majesty a few days ago, but His Majesty has changed his taste and doesn't like enemas anymore. I can only squat in the gatehouse every day, basking in the sun and catching fleas. It's worse than being sent to the Cold Palace, wu wu wu wu … "
Liu Jin's smile bloomed like a chrysanthemum. His face was ruddy and full of energy. He had an amiable appearance.
He shook his robe and shook off Luo Xiang's hands that were grabbing his robe. He said with a smile: "What's the rush? Didn't I agree to help you? Wait for another two days. Not only will I restore you to your position, I will also promote you by three ranks. Hahahaha. "
"Ah? What are you waiting for? "
Luo Xiang's face was full of resentment. "How many more days? Father-in-law, I'm your woman. If I'm so down and out, it won't look good on you, right?"
"Alright, alright, don't complain anymore. This time, it won't be a mistake. Two days, within two days, I'll definitely make you look good and powerful."
After Liu Jin finished his promise, he lowered his voice and asked, "Is His Majesty in the room?"
"Yes," Luo Xiang pursed his lips, "He and Miss Tang are drawing some 'Mandarin Ducks Playing in the Water' picture. They said that they have finished the drawing and are going to embroider it on the clothes. For the wedding, instead of embroidering dragons and phoenixes, they want to embroider mandarin ducks."
"Miss Tang is here too?" Liu Jin was about to enter the door when he heard this. He quickly stopped. His eyes turned and he waved his hand. "Get up, get up. Quick, help me take off my robe."
Luo Xiang was baffled, but he still stood up. He helped Liu Jin take off his official robe and removed his crown. Liu Jin also messed up his hair and wore a small white shirt. His hair was disheveled and he looked like a ghost. He said to Luo Xiang in a mysterious manner, "Take my robe and go back to your place first. If I don't look for you, don't come out. Go, go."
Luo Xiang complied. Holding the robe, he walked two steps before he turned around and said, "Father-in-law, you promised me. But it's only two days."
"Go, go. Maybe it won't even be two days. It's only fast, not slow. Don't be long-winded."
After sending away the enema ambassador, Liu Jin stood in front of the door and slowly brewed. Only when two tubes of snot slowly flowed to his lips and the smile lines on his face drooped did he lower his brows. He opened his mouth and took a deep breath. He suddenly gave a dry howl, "Your Majesty, something bad has happened."
Zhengde was holding Tang YiXian's small hand. The two of them were drawing a mandarin duck when they suddenly heard a sharp howl outside the door. Zhengde did not recognize the sound. He was startled and said, "Who is it, making such a racket outside zhen's door. Let's go see."
The two eunuchs opened the door, only to see a white shadow scrambling in, throwing itself at Zheng De's feet, hugging his thigh, crying bitterly with a face full of snot and tears, "Your Majesty, something bad has happened! Something bad has happened! "
Zhengde looked carefully and recognized that the distorted old face was Liu Jin's. This gave him a big fright, "This … … This, this … … What is going on? Something big has happened in the palace?"
Could it be that the Empress Dowager had passed away? These few days, the Empress Dowager's body had not been well. Zhengde had gone back to the palace to visit a few times and under Tang YiXian's persuasion, he had stayed in the Empress' palace for a few nights.
The little Empress, who lived alone in the spring boudoir and lived like a widow, saw that the Emperor was willing to come back for two days. For a moment, she was overwhelmed by the favor and became as gentle and obedient as a little rabbit. She no longer dared to put on the airs of an Empress. She was no longer as dull and ignorant as before about the love between men and women. It was most likely that her maiden mother had taught this daughter by her own words and had put a lot of thought into it.
Zhengde grabbed Liu Jin and sternly shouted, "What exactly happened, say it, could it be that the palace … … the palace … …"
Tang YiXian did not like Liu Jin's conduct. Her eyebrows slightly furrowed and she left the main seat. She gracefully walked to the side and gently ground the ink. She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes, wanting to see what tricks this fellow was playing.
She saw Liu Jin, as if he had lost his parents, say, "Your Majesty, Sir Yang Yang Ling entered Qin from Shu. When he passed by Cockscomb Cliff, the cliff suddenly collapsed. The imperial envoy's honor guard … … were all buried alive under the cliff. Not a single survivor was found … …"
There was a 'clatter' sound. Liu Jin raised his head and saw that the ink slab in Tang YiXian's hand had fallen to the ground. Her slender white fingers were stained with ink. Her face was pale and her body was tottering, as if she could not hold on any longer.
There was another 'clatter' sound. Liu Jin turned his head to look. He saw that Zhengde's sleeves were hanging down and his eyes were staring blankly. He had fallen onto a chair, his eyes staring straight ahead. His back and neck were stiff and motionless. His cheeks were twitching.
Liu Jin looked at the Concubine Consort and then at the Emperor. He suddenly screamed again, "Someone come quickly, summon the Imperial Physician!"
* * *
The Leopard Garden became lively again. Three official sedans were carried in one after another. The three Grand Scholars of the Cabinet answered the summons and hurriedly arrived. These people had only entered the Leopard Garden for the time it takes to drink two cups of tea. The courier officer who reported the news and the personal attendant sent by the Heir of the King of Shu, Zhu Rangxu, were also like stars surrounding the moon. They were surrounded by a group of Imperial Bodyguards and came to see the Emperor.
Zhengde was still young. When he heard of the sudden change in events, he panicked and sat there in a daze. When the three Grand Scholars arrived and asked for details, he did not know anything. He only knew that Yang Ling had been crushed to death by the mountain.
He asked the three Grand Scholars to ask Liu Jin. Liu Jin only knew how big the area of the mountain was and how deep it was buried. After three days of searching, they did not find a single living person. After repeated questioning, they confirmed that Yang Ling could not be more dead. He was overjoyed to see that Zhengde had arrived. He did not know anything else.
The three Grand Scholars glared at him. Under their detailed questioning, the Heir of the Crown Prince's personal attendant trembled with fear and repeated what he knew.
When they heard that half of the mountain had collapsed and two thousand soldiers were crushed to death and buried under the rubble, piling up soil and stones like a small mountain, everyone's face turned ashen and they no longer held a glimmer of hope.
Jiao Fang's old face twitched. Her hands were trembling in her sleeves as if they were cramping, "It's over. Mr Yang is really dead. Even if he had nine lives, he's dead for sure this time.
The imperial envoy's carriage was right in the middle of the army and was buried in the deepest place … it was already the third day when the imperial bodyguard arrived at the capital. On the first day, there was a rainstorm. Even if he was blessed by the heavens and there were some gaps under the stone ramparts, the downpour of the heavy rain had continuously washed the crushed stones and soil off the cliff, filling up all the gaps. This is the Heaven's End Mr Yang! "
Yang Tinghe had walked that road and knew the terrain of Cockscomb Ridge. He frowned and thought for a while before slowly saying, "Your Majesty, Cockscomb Cliff is indeed incomparably dangerous. The giant cliff juts out of the air and stretches for several li. Looking up, it looks like a cockscomb. The giant cliff is uneven and covers the relay road at the bottom. During the rainstorm, the ground is not wet. If this cliff collapsed, there would indeed be no survival.
However, this cliff has been around for thousands of years and the giant rocks are very sturdy. Normally, even loose stones would not fall. If the rocks were to loosen due to the wind and sun, it would be reasonable for only one or two places to collapse. The entire cliff was broken in the middle and completely collapsed. Unless there was an earth dragon turning over and causing a strong tremor, it would be too strange. "
Emperor Zhengde shook his head and then nodded. It was unknown if he had heard it or not.
The Crown Prince's imperial bodyguard swallowed and said with difficulty, "What Daren said is correct. The Crown Prince organized people to move the rocks and rescue the people. He wanted to see if there were any survivors who had escaped into the nearby forest. In the end, he discovered that across the mountain ridge, there was a place that had just been inhabited. From the number of shacks and stoves, there were about four to five hundred people. In addition, he discovered that there were flying stones on the other side of the stream at the bottom of the cliff that had splashed very far and smashed into the forest on the other side. If the cliff had collapsed by itself, there shouldn't have been stones flying so far. So … the Crown Prince thought that someone had purposely set up an ambush to kill the imperial envoy. The collapse of the cliff was probably caused by explosives. "
Li Dongyang's expression was serious as he asked, "There were no signs of fighting, corpses, or bloodstains at the scene?"
The Crown Prince's imperial bodyguard shook his head. Li Dongyang shook his head and sighed, "The scoundrel's plan was thorough and thorough. They were determined to succeed. To blow up the cliff with gunpowder, to light the fuse, two or three people would be enough. If there were more people, it would be easier for them to be discovered. The scoundrel had purposely set up hundreds of assassins. Their intention must have been that they were worried that someone would escape. The purpose of setting up an ambush was to kill them all.
There were no corpses, bloodstains, or traces of fighting at the scene. It seemed that just the collapse of the cliff alone had caused the entire army to be wiped out. Since the Crown Prince's people only arrived on the second night, the scoundrel had long since escaped. Who was it that had such hatred for Mr Yang, and was able to mobilize so many soldiers and horses and possess such a large amount of gunpowder? "
"In Sichuan, the most likely enemy that Mr Yang had made was the Barbarians. Moreover, the Barbarians were a tribe that lived on cliffs and were best at climbing. However … their rebellion had already been quelled. Even if there were any who had escaped, they would have long since scattered like birds and beasts. It was possible to gather thirty to fifty people to take revenge, but a few hundred … could they do it? Furthermore, could those barbarians get their hands on gunpowder? If that was the case, they would have used it when attacking the Barbarians. "Yang Tinghe said as he slowly analyzed the situation.
"Cough, I don't think so." Liu Jin cleared his throat and said, "This … I have heard of a story about reducing stoves and increasing soldiers. The shacks and stoves can more or less be faked. As for gunpowder, the barbarians could even get their hands on gold bricks. If they felt that there were too few people and they couldn't deal with the adults, it wasn't impossible for them to spend a lot of money to buy gunpowder. So, I think … "
Zhengde, who had been sitting there in a daze, gave a long sigh. Liu Jin immediately shut up.
Zhengde said in a hollow voice, "Yang has gone …"
Liu Jin hurriedly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. Your Majesty, please restrain your grief."
Zhengde did not respond and continued, "We are very sad. Are you all sad?"
The officials looked at each other and nodded in unison. "Sad, we … are very sad."
Zhengde flicked his sleeves and said, "Sad? If you are sad, why are you still arguing here? Zhen is annoyed listening to you. Yang has gone, what should zhen do? You are all talking about barbarians, gunpowder, and … "
At this point, he suddenly came to his senses and jumped up from his chair. With a bang, he slammed the table and roared, "Not a natural disaster? Ah? Someone deliberately tried to murder Yang? Who did it? Who did it? Drag him out, confiscate his entire family, exterminate his nine generations, dismember his body by five horses, and execute him by a thousand cuts! Liu Jin, take the people from Dongchang and the Inner Faction to Sichuan immediately. Capture the murderer and execute him as a memorial to my beloved minister. "
Liu Jin saw that Zhengde was going crazy. He didn't dare to refuse, but he really didn't want to go. He couldn't help groaning inwardly, "How long will it take to go to and from Sichuan just by walking? I still have to arrest the murderer. I am preparing to take over Yang Ling's power. If someone does the same thing to me, I can't possibly send people to climb up the cliff to get a clear look at the mountain path, can I? It will take me several months just to walk out of the mountains in Sichuan. How can I do that? "
He was anxious and hurriedly signaled to the three scholars with his eyes, hoping that someone would stand up and speak up for him. Among the three, Yang Tinghe, who had the worst relationship with him, was the first to speak, "Your Majesty, the murderer must be arrested. The King of Shu and the Sichuan Emissary are currently searching for him. If we send people from the capital, by the time they arrive, I'm afraid all the evidence will have been destroyed and the murderer will have long escaped.
The King of Shu has always been smart and capable. It is enough for the King of Shu to take charge of this matter. Eunuch Liu doesn't have to go. It's not like we have nothing to do in the capital. Mr Yang is the Emperor's right-hand man and bears many important responsibilities in the court. If Mr Yang goes, the aftermath needs to be dealt with in a timely manner. "
When Liu Jin heard this, he felt relieved and hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, yes. With the King of Shu around, the murderer will not be able to escape. There are still many things to deal with in the capital. How can the Old Slave leave Your Majesty?"
As he said this, he looked gratefully at Yang Tinghe. He suddenly felt that this mustached man did not seem so annoying. What he did not know was that the reason why Yang Tinghe was willing to speak up for him was because Yang Tinghe was from Sichuan. It was enough for the King of Shu to take the lead in arresting the murderer. If he really sent the great scourge Liu Jin to Sichuan with Dongchang and a large number of ferocious foreigners, wouldn't the Kingdom of Heavenly Province become the Kingdom of Hell? How many people would be harmed?
Zhengde asked in a daze, "Aftermath? What aftermath?"
"This..." Liu Jin almost blurted out the words "about the Inner Depot and the Maritime yamen". She hurriedly changed her words and said, "Official Yang was harmed by thieves and scoundrels and sacrificed his life for the country. He has repeatedly rendered meritorious service in battle and his reputation is illustrious. The court should award him posthumously and hold a funeral to show Your Majesty's kindness and love."
Li Dongyang heard this and felt that it was inappropriate. That was a first-ranked official. His body had not even been found. Wouldn't it be too hasty to arrange a funeral? However, he remembered that half of the mountain had collapsed. It had taken them three days to clean up the surrounding area. The huge stones piled up like a mountain and they had to carry a wooden crowbar on their shoulders. If they really wanted to find the skeleton, who knew how long it would take.
After such a long time, the wind and rain, the insects and snakes had bitten him. His clothes were all rotten. Who would be able to find Yang Ling's skeleton? If he interfered any further, it would be unavoidable that he would lose the kindness of an elder. So he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
Zhengde's mind was in a mess. He had no idea at all. Hearing this, he nodded his head like a puppet and said, "Okay! Then … arrange a funeral for Mr Yang. I want to give Mr Yang a grand funeral. Immediately send out an edict. Order the Hanlin Academy's Vice-Chancellor, the Imperial Censorate's two officials, as well as the six ministries and nine ministers as well as other important officials to come here to discuss a funeral for Mr Yang. I want to reward him. "
He stood up and said, "Wait here. Call me when all the officials are here. I'm going to see Yixian."
Emperor Zhengde took the two little eunuchs with him and left. Liu Jin had been busy for a while, her whole body was soaked in sweat. She felt her nostrils were bright, it seemed like her cold had recovered. She also hurriedly went out to deliver the imperial edict.
The three cabinet ministers looked at each other and sighed. They silently found a place to sit down. They each had their own thoughts. They were worried about the political situation and their future.
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Zhengde's Zither and Flute Bamboo Hut was silent. The bamboos planted by the roadside were already full of yellow leaves. They made crisp rustling sounds in the breeze. It seemed desolate and lifeless.
Zhengde walked alone. The two little eunuchs trailed far behind him, not daring to make a sound. Zhengde walked lightly into the bamboo hut. He saw that Tang Yixian had already changed from her scarlet clothes. She was wearing a black shirt and black pants. She had a white silk tied around her waist. Her slender waist looked like it was going to break. She was leaning on the table and sobbing.
Zhengde walked over and saw a white silk on the table. Tang Yixian must have just torn it. Tang Yixian's tender white cheeks were stained with a string of crystal clear tears. Zhengde sighed softly. He gently caressed her hair. Tang Yixian suddenly stood up and threw herself into his arms. She burst into tears.
Zhengde also felt sad. His eyes were bright. He said, "Yixian, don't be sad. I … I also feel sad when I heard it."
Tang Yixian sobbed. "I thought of the first time I met you. I thought of the Shenji Battalion barracks. I thought of the reunion with you in Datong. I was very sad. I thought that you were both ruler and minister. I … I also have a big brother who loves me. I also have you. We will be happy together forever. But … "
Zhengde was sad. He said hoarsely, "In my heart, minister Yang is as close as a father or brother. I also thought that I can be with him as ruler and minister. For the rest of my life. Who knew … Yixian, don't be sad. The dead cannot come back to life. I am worried about you. That's why I came to visit. I still have to rush back to settle minister Yang's funeral."
Tang Yixian left his arms. She gently wiped her tears. She said in a low voice, "I am not only sad. I am also worried. I don't know what sister Young-niang will do when she knows the news."
"Young-niang sister …" Zhengde opened his mouth. He was speechless.
The two of them leaned against each other. Their emotions floated. They thought of all the sweetness of the past. At this moment, it was full of bitterness. After an unknown period of time, a small eunuch stood at the door. He said in a soft voice, "Your Majesty, all the officials have arrived. Respectfully inviting Your Majesty to discuss matters."
"I know." Zhengde wiped the corners of his eyes. He stood up and was about to leave. He saw the white silk on the table. He picked it up and wrapped it around his dragon robe. Tang Yixian was shocked. She blurted out, "Your Majesty!"
"In front of you, I will always be Xiao Huang or Hou Zhao. Your big brother is my big brother." Emperor Zhengde pursed his lips. He tied the white silk tightly and strode out of the room.
In Zheng De's mansion, that ridiculously large house that consisted of a bedroom, a study, and a meeting hall, was crammed with all of the main officials of the current imperial court who controlled the operations of the imperial court. Everyone knew about Yang Ling's death. Regardless of whether they were truly sad or truly happy, everyone had a sorrowful and grave expression on their faces.
Emperor Zhengde entered the room. Everyone saw that the Emperor had a white silk around his waist. They were all shocked. The Left Imperial Messenger of the Inspectorate, Liu Guan, raised his eyebrows. He was about to step forward and remonstrate, "Ridiculous. Monarch and minister, father and son. How can a monarch wear filial piety for his minister and a father wear hemp for his son?"
Yang Tinghe's eyes were sharp. He immediately glared at him. His gaze was sharp and full of warning. Liu Guan unconsciously stopped in his tracks.
"Really stupid. This is not the right time. The Emperor has a belly full of anger. If you step forward now and touch the bad luck, at the very least, you will be removed from office." Yang Tinghe flicked his sleeves. He had been rebuffed many times. He finally understood the young Emperor's willfulness and lack of propriety. Now that the power of the Qing Sect was weak, how could there be any more losses?
The specifications of the funeral had to be commensurate with his position. For this position, officials who had performed meritorious deeds would be conferred another position or title of nobility on top of their original position. The position would be given a posthumous title, and then the funeral specifications would be studied.
Yang Ling was already a Marquis of the first rank. His title of nobility could not be increased. Everyone was thinking of giving him the title of Ronglu Daifu or Sanshi Sangong before deciding on a posthumous title. Unexpectedly, Emperor Zhengde already had an idea. The moment he opened his mouth, he gave him the title of Marquis. Everyone was stunned.
In the Ming Dynasty, other than the Six Princes and dozens of Marquis, no matter how great the contributions of the officials in the later generations, no one was given the title of Marquis. No matter how great their contributions were, they could never be greater than the meritorious officials who opened up the country and conquered the world, right? Therefore, although there was no rule that one could not be conferred the title of Prince or Duke, there had never been a minister who was worthy of this title, and no one dared to hope for this honor.
Although Yang Ling drove the Tartars to the north, pacified the Wokou pirates to the east, surrendered to Frang Ji to the south, put down the barbarians who had been rebelling for a hundred years in Sichuan, and made a name for himself among the vassal states of Ming Destiny, but the title of Duke was too grand. For a moment the officials were red in the face and ears, they knelt on the ground and kowtowed loudly, trying to persuade the Emperor to take back his order.
Zhengde glanced at them coldly and said indifferently, "Subject Yang's merits are not enough to be conferred the title of Duke? Must have the merit of opening up new territories? Does the regaining of the Full Thorns count? Dozens of islands in the East Sea and thousands of miles of sea area had been abandoned for a hundred years and became pirate lairs. Now that they had returned to the rule of Ming Destiny, did that count? The Barbarian Metropolis had always been a country within a country, not obeying orders. Does changing the soil to the stream count? What nonsense? We still want to be conferred the title of King. What's the big deal about this? Don't try to bargain with us! "
The officials tried to persuade him, but Zhengde smiled coldly and did not speak. It was Liu Jin who became impatient.
Liu Gonggong was a man of action. As for conferring a title, what's there to be afraid of? Even if he was conferred the title of Emperor, what's the use? He's already dead. A county official might as well be in charge now, let alone a dead official? What's the point of arguing over these superficial things? Quickly settle this matter. He still needs to study the internal affairs and Jiangnan's maritime yamen. That's either power or money.
Liu Jin glared at him and coughed. He strode to the front of the imperial table and said loudly, "Your Majesty is wise. The Old Slave feels that Mr Yang's merits are more than enough to be conferred the title of Duke. If it weren't for the ancestors' military merits, Mr Yang would not even have a problem being conferred the title of King. Besides, it can't be that the first generation can be conferred the title of King and Duke, but the later generations of officials can't have the same merits, right? "
Jiao Fang took the opportunity to kneel down and said, "Liu Gonggong is right. What does this mean? It means that the officials who have the merit of opening up territory are not only from the Taizu dynasty. Today, conferring the title of Mr Yang is to encourage the officials to open up territory for Ming Destiny. If someone is conferred the title of King in the future, I don't think Your Majesty is overstepping the ancestral system. At that time, Ming Destiny's territory will continue to expand, and the Emperor's grace will be vast and spread far and wide. "
Liu Jin was the Prime Minister of the internal court and still controlled most of the officials in the Ministry of Appointments, Imperial Censorate, and Imperial Envoy Station. As soon as he spoke out in favor, these people knew what their boss meant. As a result, many who opposed immediately changed their minds and agreed. When the Marquis of Wei Wu was not in the capital, the people in Yang Ling's faction followed Jiao Fang's lead. As soon as he spoke out, they all agreed.
Looking at Emperor Zhengde's face, it was becoming longer and more unsightly. Wang Hua and Li Dongyang exchanged a look. They knew that this was the general trend and couldn't allow the imperial censors to continue showing their loyalty. As a result, the two of them took a step forward and cupped their hands in approval. In this way, Yang Ling's position of Duke was set in stone. After a brief discussion, they decided to confer the title of Duke Wei to Yang Ling.
Immediately after, the Emperor would confer a posthumous title. There were seventy-three characters commonly used for posthumous titles. According to the rules, under normal circumstances, a prince should be given a posthumous title of one character. A prince should be given a posthumous title of two characters. Most officials would also be given a posthumous title of two characters. As for the posthumous titles of two characters, they would be divided into civil officials and military officials. The posthumous titles of civil officials would start with a character, while military officials would start with the word 'Wu'.
Yang Ling's military exploits were illustrious. Logically speaking, he should be a military general, starting with the word 'Wu'. However, he was also a scholar. He was the study attendant of the Crown Prince of Jameson Province. Furthermore, he introduced crops and improved agriculture. He opened the sea and lifted the ban, strengthening commerce. After the new Emperor ascended the throne, many of the government decrees were written with his opinions. This included the more than forty radical reforms proposed by Liu Jin. Yang Ling had put forward his own opinions in them. In the end, it was approved and promulgated by the Emperor. In other words, he should be conferred a posthumous title of 'Wen'.
The group of scholars paid more attention to a person's posthumous title than what happened when they were alive. As for the posthumous title of 'Wen' and 'Wu', they fought back and forth for a long time without any results. Emperor Zhengde was annoyed. He slammed the table and made the final decision, "Don't fight anymore. Subject Yang is well-versed in both literature and martial arts. He has great achievements in both literature and martial arts. Subject Yang will be conferred a posthumous title of four characters. I want both the posthumous title of 'Wen' and 'Wu'!"
The Emperor's words were like gold and jade. Since he had already given the decree, let's just follow it.
Since the Song Dynasty, 'Wen Zheng' was the most honorable posthumous title. Sima Guang and Fan Zhongyan had both been conferred the posthumous title of 'Wen Zheng'. But in the current dynasty, only Fang Xiaoru had received this honor. He was conferred the title of 'Duke Wen Zheng'.
It was not easy for Fang Wen Zheng to obtain this title. It was obtained at the cost of the extermination of ten families. Who could be more ruthless than him? Yang Ling had already been promoted from a hereditary Marquis to a hereditary Duke. His glory was unparalleled. If he was conferred the highest posthumous title, who would be willing to accept it?
These imperial censors were extremely envious. The scholars of the world were also unwilling to accept it. It must be known that no matter how high an official's position was, it was only for a moment. But this posthumous title would last for thousands of years. It would be recorded in the annals of history. It was an evaluation of a person's life.
Sima Guang and Fan Zhongyan had been officials in the Song Dynasty. Who could remember them clearly? Who would care? But as long as you mentioned his posthumous title of 'Wen Zheng', all the scholars would be filled with deep veneration.
'Promoted to Grand Tutor in life and posthumous posthumous title of Wen Zheng in death' was the highest goal that every official pursued. They could not let him take all the advantages. Thus, the posthumous title of Wen Zheng was automatically ignored by the officials. They began to discuss the next posthumous title.
There were seventy-three auspicious characters used for posthumous titles. The suitable auspicious characters for civil officials were: Zheng, Zhong, Gong, Cheng, Duan, Xiang, Shun, etc. For military officials, they were: Zhong, Yong, Mu, Gang, De, Lie, Gong, Zhuang, etc. If the ranking was set too high, everyone would feel unbalanced. If it was set too low, the Emperor would not be happy. A posthumous title was too big to handle.
Liu Jin watched in boredom as these ministers, who were in charge of the country and billions of people, haggled over every ounce for the sake of a lousy title. They refused to budge an inch and kept quoting classics and quoting classics. But this matter was too profound. He did not understand and could not interrupt.
Not only could he not interrupt, Zhengde could not understand as well. Often, when a word was brought out, everyone would start talking about the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. They would talk about it clearly and logically, then they would talk about why this word could be used and why this word could not be used. Zhengde also felt that it was unfathomable. After all, Minister Yang had passed away. This was an extremely solemn matter and could not be done carelessly. Thus, he did not dare to interrupt and let the officials argue.
In the end, the officials finally reached a compromise. They used two posthumous titles that were neither too high nor too low. They were acceptable to all parties and decided on a posthumous title for the newly appointed Duke of Wei. Immediately, the academician of the Hanlin Academy, Lu Jin, went forward with a head full of sweat. He bowed and said, "Reporting to the Emperor, we have already decided on a posthumous title for Duke of Wei."
"Oh?" Emperor Zhengde, who was mentally and physically exhausted and had been annoyed to the point of drowsiness by them, immediately sat up straight. He said, "Hurry up and speak."
"We, the Three Dukes, the Six Ministries, the Nine Ministers, and all the knowledgeable scholars of the Hanlin Academy, after careful discussion, according to Duke Wei's brilliant achievements in his life and his character and virtue, we chose the most suitable one among the suitable ones for a posthumous title. Finally, we unanimously decided that Duke of Wei, Yang Ling's posthumous title is … Successful in Literature and Virtuous in Martial!"
"Successful in Literature and Virtuous in Martial? … Approved! "
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The Yang Family's compound in the western part of the capital was exceptionally magnificent. A white plaster wall that was as tall as two people tightly surrounded the house inside the mansion. The gilded plaque hanging on the lintel of the main door had been replaced with 'Duke Wei Mansion'.
There were two tall and mighty stone lions beside the door, which showed the special status of the owner. In the past, people always walked in and out with their heads held high. Behind the white plaster wall was a world of joy, as if all the happiness and luck of the entire Gaolao Village were gathered here. But now, it was shrouded in a thick layer of sorrow. Everywhere was white, as if a heavy snow had fallen prematurely.
At the main door, there was an archway made of pine branches and white flowers. The four big red lanterns with 'Yang House' written on them had been replaced with plain lanterns made of white silk. Even the necks of the two stone lions were covered with white cloth. On the flagpole in front of the door, there was a long spirit-summoning banner. As the wind blew, it slowly floated up and then gently fell down.
In the middle of the empty space in front of the door, there was a tall stele pavilion. In the stele pavilion, there was a large vermilion gold plaque with the words' Hongzhi Eighteenth Year Scholar, Duke Wei Wei '. Around the stele pavilion, there were four mountains of gold and silver. Thick clouds of smoke mixed with the light of the fire sent the ashes of the yellow and white tinfoil into the air, which then floated down in all directions.
The secret agents of the Third Crops were like wandering spirits, circling around the Yang House. In front of the door, there were Imperial Bodyguards in embroidered robes standing with their heads held high and their waists tied with white silk. The embroidered robed official Tao Wu stood in front of the door with his hand on his saber. He stretched his neck to look inside, drooling.
As the saying goes, a woman must be beautiful and filial. One was beautiful, but the four little girls, all dressed in plain silk mourning, were all beautiful. They were as tender as pear blossoms in the rain. Looking at them, it was really dazzling.
"Ai! What a pity! What a sin! They were so young, especially that Yu Tangchun. When he walked into the mourning hall, he was like a bright moon, lighting up the entire room. That feeling … that feeling … if I were to kiss him, I would be willing to die right away. What a pity, other than one who is the Emperor's woman, the other three are the Duke's wives and concubines. Even if they become little widows, I will not be able to touch them. "
Thinking of this, Tao Wu sighed in pain. Those who did not know would think that he was feeling sorry for Duke Wei, Yang Ling.
Jiao Fang presented the elegiac couplet and walked out of the Yang House with a gloomy face. He stood at the door, looked up at the sky, and let out a long sigh. Another three days passed, there was still no news. In fact, it was impossible for there to be any more news. In another four days, Duke Wei's funeral would be held. This towering tree that had just grown strong and strong was broken just like that.
"What will happen to the political situation in the future?" He sighed softly, walked down the stairs, and was about to walk to his sedan when suddenly, two people blocked his way. Jiao Fang looked up and saw Dai Yi and Miao Kui.
The two old brothers were panicking. They pulled his sleeves and said, "Cabinet Elder, come, come, come. Let's talk in private."
The two pulled him to a quiet place and saw Mou Bin and Wu Jie standing there. A few foreigners and Imperial Bodyguards were patrolling around them, observing the surroundings. Jiao Fang was almost eighty years old. Whether it was wisdom or political experience, he was far better than these 'youngsters'. Although he was worried, he was calmer than them.
He laughed bitterly, bowed, and said lightly, "It's hard to change the situation. Lord Yang is gone, and the situation is clear at a glance. This old man is getting old, but I'm also the most loyal follower of Lord Yang. Liu Jin can't accommodate me, so after Lord Yang's coffin is placed, this old man will ask for my resignation and return to my hometown. Everyone … I wish you all the best. "
Wu Jie's eyes were filled with relief. He suddenly pulled Jiao Fang and whispered a few words in his ear. Jiao Fang's eyes widened so much that his eyeballs were about to fall out. His face twitched and he grabbed Wu Jie's sleeves tightly. "You … you … you … is what you said true?"
Wu Jie nodded and said, "It's absolutely true. The letter was sent by one of our inner factory's leaders, He Sigai. He was ordered by Second Chief Cheng to protect Master Yang in secret. However, Master Yang's defenses are tight, and he has been unable to get too close. However, he has been keeping a distance, and has never lost news of Master Yang. This news … the problem is that this is the only clue. He is currently leading people to continue investigating."
"But as long as there's a glimmer of hope, it's good. If there's hope, there's a possibility. We have a chance!" Jiao Fang's old eyes lit up. Her lifeless appearance immediately disappeared.
Dai Yi said, "But Liu Jin won't wait. Today, he came looking for me. He's acting weird and already thinks of himself as my master. We can't go against him. If he requests an edict from the Emperor to seize this power and install his people, then …"
Jiao Fang's eyes flashed. She slowly said, "Then … we have to find something for him to do so that he can't care about us. If what Sir Wu said is true, it will only be a matter of two or three days before we receive the news. Can't we just think of a way to keep Eunuch Liu busy? "
Miao Kui rolled up his sleeves and said anxiously, "What should we do? Pavilion Elder Jiao, just say it. I'll do it immediately! "
He and Liu Jin had never gotten along. Ever since he relied on Yang Ling, he and Liu Jin didn't even greet each other when they met on the road. Liu Jin had full authority and no longer had any scruples. He, Miao Kui, would definitely be sent to the Cold Palace to sweep the fallen leaves and wash the toilet bowl. How could he not be anxious?
Jiao Fang's eyes flashed. "This … the truth is not clear. How can we fall out with Liu Jin? All of you go back. Don't do anything. Don't say anything. Before we receive accurate information, all of you should be like a rock. Don't speak, don't move, don't listen, and don't hear. As for Liu Jin … "
He twirled his beard and put on a crafty look. "You don't have to worry about Eunuch Liu. Eunuch Liu is very busy. He's very, very busy … "
Mou Bin couldn't stand the suspense. He was about to ask again when he suddenly stopped. He looked strangely at the back of Jiao Fang's shoulder. Jiao Fang and the other two noticed his expression. They hurriedly turned around and looked behind them. What they saw stunned them.
Red. A fiery red. A red cloud was slowly approaching.
She was dressed in a red robe. She walked with a shawl.
She wore a red robe and embroidered shoes. She wore a red robe and a red robe. The day of marriage was the day a woman would become as noble as an imperial concubine. On that day, even an ordinary woman would be able to wear a phoenix crown and a red robe, incomparably honorable and glorious. The one she would solemnly worship was her husband, her heaven.
Now, walking slowly towards the entrance of the Yang House was a Phoenix Coronet And Red Bridal Gown. She was tall and slender, wearing a red wedding gown. Her waist was slender, and the yellow and white tinfoil ashes fluttered around her like broken butterflies.
The fine bead curtain hanging from the phoenix coronet made her face seem invisible. However, her skin was as white as snow, which made her look even more delicate and beautiful. However, this bride, who was dressed in splendid makeup, was holding a small memorial tablet in her hand. A gust of wind blew a corner of her red phoenix gown, revealing a pure white linen mourning dress …
Wu Jie cried out involuntarily, "Miss Gao …"
The body of the young girl in the phoenix coronet and red robe paused, slightly looking in this direction. Another gust of wind blew, lifting up her beaded curtain, revealing the incomparably tender and beautiful face of the young girl under the curtain. It was indeed her … Gao Wenxin.
Several people couldn't help but hold their breath. They had all seen Gao Wenxin before, but they had never seen her dress up so meticulously. So at first glance, although her facial features were still her, she was so breathtaking that no one dared to look directly at her.
The wind rolled up the bead curtain and swayed it down. The indescribable beauty flashed in everyone's eyes. Through the swaying bead curtain, they could still see Gao Wenxin's eyes. In her eyes, there were two piles of snow buried deep …
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