Zhu Houzhao snorted and said with dignity, "Yongchun, you have no manners at all. You don't even know how to greet me when you see me."
The young girl's voice said, "Forget it. If Imperial Brother is willing to follow the rules, Imperial Mother would worry less. You talk about me all day and never say you are alone. Why should I greet you?"
Yang Ling stood behind the screen and heard Zhu Houzhao call her Yongchun. She thought, "Hongzhi Emperor has one son and two daughters. This is Hongzhi's youngest daughter, Princess Yongchun. I heard she is only 11 years old. No wonder she is so mischievous. The other one is naturally Princess Yongfu. What are these two little girls doing here?"
Princess Yongfu was 13 years old, two years younger than Zhu Houzhao. She was dignified, gentle, and well-mannered. Her younger sister was mischievous, but she just smiled and ignored her. She still curtsied to Zhu Houzhao and performed the formal court etiquette, "Imperial Sister Yongfu greets Your Highness. Long live Your Highness."
Zhu Houzhao had never liked court etiquette. Although he had reprimanded his younger sister, he actually liked her easygoing attitude. Now that he saw Princess Yongfu really perform the etiquette, he could only sit upright and accept the etiquette. Then he raised his right arm like a marionette and said dryly, "Imperial Sister, please rise. You don't usually come to the Spring Square. Today you are …?"
Princess Yongchun rushed to say, "Brother Crown Prince, the back palace is very noisy now. You should quickly go …"
Princess Yongfu suddenly coughed and interrupted her. "You can all leave. We have something to say to His Highness."
"Yes!" Gu Daeyong was very alert and quickly agreed. He waved his hand and left with the two little eunuchs, gently closing the palace doors.
Princess Yongfu sat next to the soft couch and said worriedly, "Imperial Brother, you should quickly go to the back palace. Imperial Father has always loved you the most. If you appear, you may be able to appease Imperial Father's thunderous anger."
Zhu Houzhao was puzzled and asked, "Why is Imperial Father angry?"
Princess Yongfu said, "Just now in the afternoon court, Grand Secretary Li impeached Marquis Of Shouning, saying that he took and occupied private land. He occupied nearly 1,800 hectares of the imperial family's nearly 4,000 hectares of good land and fought with the people. He also instigated his family to privately sell 1.2 million tons of salt. In addition, he occupied people's houses and forced prostitutes to be his concubines. In the end, he quarreled with Marquis of Imperial Father and Marquis and Marquis of Of Shouning.
"Ah?!" Zhu Houzhao was dumbfounded. How did it become like this? He was stunned for a moment, and then his eyeballs moved and he said, "Both of them … both of them are in prison. It seems that someone has impeached the Marquis of Shouning before. Father has never been so angry. What happened this time?
Princess Yongchun giggled and hopped over to hold his arm. She said, "Scholar Li accused Marquis Of Shouning of making a slip of the tongue when he was monopolizing power by his maternal relatives. He said that Marquis Of Shouning shared the glory of Empress Zhang. Marquis Of Shouning took the opportunity to accuse Scholar Li of using his status as an official to say that the Empress was Zhang. This was a great disrespect and should be executed.
Scholar Li was furious. He snatched the golden melon warrior's Crouching Melon Hammer and chased Marquis Of Shouning in the Golden Palace. He was an old man nearly 60 years old. How could he beat Marquis Of Shouning? Instead, Marquis Of Shouning took the golden melon and kicked him twice. Imperial Father was furious and said that they had lost etiquette in front of His Majesty, so they were both sent to prison. "
Zhu Houzhao wanted to laugh. He raised the corner of his mouth and said, "How did this happen? Haha, ahem, this... "As he said this, he glanced behind the screen. But there were two princesses sitting outside. Yang Ling did not dare to respond.
Princess Yongfu rolled her eyes at her little sister who was gloating. She said worriedly, "Imperial Brother, Imperial Father's health has always been poor. Now that Li Dongyang has been sent to prison, Xie Qian, Liu Jian, and Liu Daxia have led all the civil and military officials to kneel in the hall to plead for mercy. Imperial Father angrily hid in the back palace. But when Imperial Mother heard that Marquis Of Shouning was arrested, she cried and complained to Imperial Father. I and the Imperial Sister saw that the situation was not good, so we came to see you..."
Although Zhu Houzhao was naughty, he respected his father the most. Hearing this, he quickly stood up and said, "I was wondering why Imperial Father would not allow any woman to enter the Eastern Palace to give lectures. Why did you come today? I will go to the back palace now, you..."
Just as he said this, someone shouted from afar, "His Majesty has arrived at the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince has come out to welcome him!" This was the eunuch in charge of the ceremony in the palace. His voice was loud and clear. Princess Yongfu jumped up and said in a panic, "Oh no, Imperial Father is angry. If he sees that we do not listen to the edict, I am afraid he will be even angrier. This, this, this..."
Princess Yongchun pulled her imperial sister and said, "Quick, hide first. Imperial Father may be here to check on Imperial Brother's homework. We will come out after he leaves."
As she said this, Yongchun pulled her imperial sister to hide behind the screen. Zhu Houzhao could not stop them in time. The two had already hidden behind the screen. After waiting for a while, there was no sound of surprise coming from behind the screen. Zhu Houzhao was puzzled when the palace doors opened and Hongzhi Emperor walked in. Seeing him, Zhu Houzhao hurriedly bowed and said, "Your son greets Imperial Father."
"Get up." Hongzhi waved his hand and signaled to Miao Kui who was beside him. Miao Kui hurriedly led his people out and quietly closed the palace doors.
Zhu Houzhao stood up and quietly looked at his father's expression. He saw that his father's expression was calm and there seemed to be a hint of a smile in his eyes. He did not look like he was angry. Only then did he relax. At the same time, he felt a little strange.
As soon as the palace doors closed, Hongzhi did not put on the airs of an Emperor. He casually sat down beside the desk and patted the brocade couch. "Imperial Son, sit!"
Zhu Houzhao sat next to his father. It was not convenient for him to mention what had just happened in the back palace. He could only ask, "Imperial Father has just finished the afternoon court. Why don't you rest? Look at you, you are sweating again."
Hongzhi looked at him benevolently and said with a smile, "Your Imperial Mother and Imperial Father are at loggerheads. Imperial Father has come to hide here. Ha ha, these two days, the scholars have been busy with the Spring Examination. Have you put aside your homework?"
Zhu Houzhao pretended to be surprised and asked, "Imperial Mother and you are at loggerheads. Why is that?"
Hongzhi still looked at him with amusement. Suddenly, his expression changed and he said, "Imperial Son, you really don't know?"
Zhu Houzhao's heart shook. Seeing his father's penetrating gaze, his forehead unconsciously broke out in sweat.
※ ※ ※
Yang Ling hid behind the screen and listened to these princes and princesses discuss the affairs of the state as if they were discussing their daily lives. The family of the Emperor and the Empress, who was the mother of the world, were just like any other husband and wife. Just as he was listening with interest, he heard a shout from outside that the Emperor had arrived. It was followed by a burst of fragrance. Two young beauties dressed in palace robes hurriedly flashed behind the screen. Yang Ling couldn't help being stunned.
With a quick glance, he saw a young girl dressed in a bright yellow palace robe. Her appearance was elegant and she had a gentle air about her. She was only thirteen or fourteen years old and had a tall black bun on her head. Under the bun was a snow-white and charming little face. Her eyebrows were like crescent moons and her eyes were limpid. When she saw him, she was so shocked that her cherry-like mouth formed an O shape and she almost cried out.
The other young lady was still a little girl. She wore a purple palace dress and had a small oval face. Even though she was young, she had a cute appearance. Her body was as petite as a fan. When she saw Yang Ling, she couldn't help but widen her eyes. But when she saw that her elder sister was about to exclaim, she hurriedly covered her cherry lips and shook her head at her elder sister.
Princess Yongfu's mouth was covered by her younger sister, only revealing a pair of large black eyes. She blinked and signaled to her younger sister. Yongchun then let go. The two turned their heads and two pairs of bright eyes stared at Yang Ling. Yang Ling had a bitter expression. He first made a bow and then pointed outside, then pointed at himself. Finally, he cupped his hands again, his expression bitter as if he was acting a pantomime.
The petite Princess Yongchun couldn't help but let out a laugh. She quickly covered her mouth and glared at him with her large eyes. Seeing him like this, Princess Yongfu couldn't help but smile. At this time, Emperor Hongzhi had already entered the room. The two of them were afraid of being discovered by their father, so they quickly moved closer to Yang Ling. This way, they were even closer to Yang Ling.
Yang Ling and Yongchun didn't mind, but Princess Yongfu was already a thirteen year old girl. This was the first time she was so close to a man, so she couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. At that time, etiquette was on the rise and it was a rather awkward period. Some scholars were no longer as strict with the relationships between men and women as they were since the Song Dynasty, while others were strict with the old ways. Their requirements for etiquette became stricter and stricter. For example, Hai Rui, just because his five-year-old daughter received a pancake from a man, he felt that it was too much. He forced his daughter to starve to death to preserve his reputation and chastity.
Princess Yongfu was a descendant of the royal family. Although she had a natural and unrestrained personality, hiding with a young man like this made her feel very uncomfortable. Furthermore, in the palace, the number of men she had actually seen was pitifully few. At this time, she stole a glance. This person was dressed like the Crown Prince's study attendant. He was tall and handsome with a straight nose and a square mouth. He was extremely handsome. Her face couldn't help but turn even redder. In her daze, she didn't hear what was being said outside.
Yang Ling had two little beauties by his side. With his experience from several lives, he didn't fall head over heels for them. In addition, he had already seen the Emperor and the Crown Prince, so their identities might not be enough to shock him. He apologized to the two princesses. Seeing that they didn't dare to make a sound, he finally relaxed. He pricked up his ears to listen to what was going on outside. He only heard a whisper outside, then Hongzhi Emperor laughed loudly. He didn't hear what he and the Crown Prince were talking about.
It turned out that the Crown Prince confessed to Hongzhi that he had collected evidence and incited Li Dongyang to impeach the Emperor. He still had some sense of loyalty and didn't expose Yang Ling. Hongzhi heard this and laughed. He smiled and said, "My son, Li Dongyang is a great scholar in the court. He is a quick-witted person. Do you think your little tricks can fool him? However, there are some things that even if we both know what is going on, there is nothing wrong with doing it. "
The Emperor chuckled and said, "There are some things that are inconvenient for one to say, so the officials should come forward and make it clear. My son, the nobles in the court are encroaching on the people's interests more and more seriously. It's not only the Marquis Of Shouning's family. Father Emperor and several great scholars are preparing to eliminate some of the abuses. They are restricting the royal family from accepting land as tribute and encroaching on the people's interests. "
He looked at the Crown Prince approvingly and said, "It's just that Father Emperor has not been able to find a starting point to smoothly implement the new policies, so as to avoid the opposition of the entire royal family and the officials. Father Emperor is worried about this. Hehe, if it wasn't for Father Emperor … although Li Dongyang is a righteous official, he might not dare to snatch the golden melons in the Golden Hall and use his fists and feet. I am only borrowing his hand to teach the Marquis Of Shouning a lesson. "
Hongzhi furrowed his brows and sighed again. "I have always been lenient toward the royal family, but recently the two brothers, the Marquis Of Shouning, have indeed been too impudent. It's good to lock him up for a few days to dampen his spirit."
Zhu Houzhao stared with wide eyes and said, "So Father Emperor … Father Emperor has long had the intention of punishing him. I was wondering how Li Dongyang's courage became so big. It turns out that it was Father Emperor's incitement. It's just that … it's just that why did Father Emperor arrest Scholar Li as well?"
Yang Ling, who was listening from behind, was also secretly shocked. He had really underestimated Li Dongyang, and even more so, he had underestimated this somewhat obese Emperor. Looking at it now, it was still unclear who was being used by whom.
Hongzhi patted his hand and said with a smile, "Silly child, if I didn't do this, wouldn't your mother be even more unwilling to let it go? State affairs are easy to handle, but if your mother is unforgiving, I will also have a headache. "
As he spoke, he smiled faintly and said, "However, my son has always been playful and has never cared about state affairs. Gu Daeyong and those others only know how to blindly win your favor, and have some acrobats play around in the Eastern Palace. It's not like I don't know. This time you suddenly care about the sufferings of the common people and painstakingly put together this so-called passerby's remonstrance. Was it that Yang's idea? "
Princess Yongfu was also leaning against the screen to eavesdrop on her father Emperor and the Crown Prince's conversation. Hearing these words, her heart was moved and she tilted her head to look at Yang Ling. As she moved, the pearl hairpins in her hair slid against the screen, making a squeaking sound. In the room, only Hongzhi and his son were talking. It was strangely quiet. As soon as he heard this sound, Hongzhi immediately said in a stern voice, "Who? Who dares to eavesdrop on me and the Crown Prince's conversation? Come out! "
Yang Ling looked at the two princesses and saw Princess Yongfu looking at him with a red face. Princess Yongchun's black eyes turned and she stretched out a slender finger to point at Yang Ling and then pointed outside. With a bitter face, Yang Ling pointed at his own nose. The little princess nodded her head gracefully and smiled contentedly.
Yang Ling looked helplessly at Princess Yongfu and saw that her face was apologetic, but there was also a pleading look in her eyes. He couldn't help smiling bitterly and thinking, "These two little princesses are really too much. Eavesdropping on your father's conversation is not a big deal. If I tell them, at most I'll be reprimanded a few times. Why do they want me to take the blame?"
What he did not know was that Hongzhi was only very lenient toward the Crown Prince, but he was still very strict with the princesses. In the eyes of a child who was afraid of his father, a father's reprimand was, of course, an extremely heavy punishment. Yang Ling had no choice but to brace himself and walk out. He did not dare to raise his head and hurriedly took two steps forward. With a thud, he knelt on the ground and said, "Subject Yang Ling greets Your Majesty. Your Majesty has arrived, this subject was unable to hide in time and could only hurriedly hide behind the screen. I did not want to startle Your Majesty. Your Majesty, please forgive me!"
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