The Hongzhi Emperor was a bit afraid of his wife. Although he was not muddle-headed, he usually spoiled the Empress. Seeing her angry now, he couldn't help but be shocked. Empress Zhang glared at Li Dongyang. Old and new hatred surged in her heart. Her pretty eyes were almost spitting fire.
In the past, she couldn't give birth to a prince, so these people wrote to the Emperor all day to ask for a concubine. Yesterday, Li Dongyang had sent a report to his elder brother, and he had been thrown into prison. Today, he had used Yang Ling's matter to scold him while pointing at the mulberry tree. How could he stand this?
Empress Zhang said coldly, "When the Emperor chooses a capable person, he prioritizes virtue. Yang Ling's wife is seriously ill and her life is in danger. If Yang Ling accepts the imperial edict and abandons his wife to go to court, what will happen?
That will be heartless and not tolerated by heaven and earth! Heaven, Earth, and Teacher? Humph, you also know that Heaven, Earth, and Teacher! If a person doesn't cultivate virtue, doesn't respect heaven and earth, and doesn't value affection, can he be a loyal and righteous gentleman? When he goes to court, will he respect the Emperor or covet wealth? "
Empress Zhang couldn't help but stare at her baby brother. This little brother was really muddle-headed. This group of scholars were used to insinuating, but he couldn't see it and even followed them.
Empress Zhang changed the topic and said to the Hongzhi Emperor, "Your Majesty, I know that Your Majesty is angry that Yang Ling has betrayed the Emperor's favor. But this also shows that Your Majesty is wise and can recognize talent. Since ancient times, how many virtuous officials have not angered the Emperor? Yang Ling is not greedy for power or profit. He values affection and righteousness. He has the style of an ancient sage.
When Emperor Guangwu of Han was in power, didn't Song Hong also disobey the Emperor's will with the reason of 'a wife who has gone through hardships should not come to court'? When Emperor Taizong of Tang was in court, Xuanling's wife refused the imperial edict. These two wise emperors didn't punish the officials. It can be seen that only when the Emperor descends will such virtuous officials appear. "
Li Dongyang moved his sore legs and smacked his lips as though he was savoring the taste: "En, I like Empress' words. It seems that women still need to study. Otherwise, how can they say such words."
Being glared at by his older sister, Zhang Yanling was momentarily at a loss. It was only now that he understood, "Aiyo, it turns out that these old fellows were scolding the bald monk in front of the monk, and secretly advising the Emperor not to favor the main wife. Hei, these scholars are really full of twists and turns."
After figuring this out, Zhang Yanling immediately shouted, "Your Majesty, the Empress is right. Yang Ling shouldn't be killed!"
Hongzhi was moved by the Empress' words. He thought that what the Empress said made sense. If Yang Ling really abandoned his wife's life and death and went to court to see the Emperor, would he dare to use such a person in the future?
Just as he was pondering, he suddenly heard the Imperial Uncle's shout. He could not help but ask in puzzlement, "Didn't the Marquis of Jianchang just suggest that he should be publicly punished and announced to the world? Why shouldn't he be killed? "
The Marquis of Jianchang's face reddened and he said, "This … this … this subject has just thought it through. There are priorities. Of course, the monarch's affairs are more important than the family's affairs, but there is no urgent matter to meet the monarch. The matter of saving people cannot be delayed, this …"
Liu Jian heard that he was strenuous and could not help but interrupt, "The Empress is right, Your Majesty is a benevolent monarch. Only then will there be virtuous officials to follow suit. Yang Ling's actions are the result of Your Majesty's teachings. There is no greater good than this."
Flattery was useless. Even though Hongzhi Emperor knew what this old official was thinking, he still could not help but chuckle. He sat back down at the table and thought for a moment. He chuckled and said, "Everyone get up, everyone get up. This Yang Ling's disturbance has spoiled the mood of zhen and my beloved officials. Come, come, let's continue drinking. The matter of Yang Ling … let's put it aside for now and discuss it tomorrow."
The Emperor wanting to put the matter aside for discussion was equivalent to putting a wind vane bigger than the palace gates in front of the officials. As long as one was not blind, who could not see it? If this person was not arrested immediately and wanted to discuss it another day, what should they discuss? Should they bring the carriage to arrest him or carry the shackles to arrest him? Liu Jian and the others were relieved and were very happy. Empress Zhang also felt that she had won back a round with Li Dongyang and was very pleased with herself. The banquet in the palace was filled with cups of wine. Suddenly, it was a beautiful scene where everyone was happy.
※ ※ ※
Yang Ling tightly hugged Young-niang's soft and lifeless body. He was very anxious. Suddenly he heard Young-niang moan. It was like hearing celestial music. He was so excited that his voice trembled as he called out, "Young-niang, wife?"
After a long while, Young-niang forced herself to respond again. Yang Ling was overjoyed. He clenched his sweaty palms. Seeing that Young-niang was exhausted and still could not open her eyes, he was afraid that she would fall asleep again. He hurriedly whispered in Young-niang's ear, "Young-niang, wake up quickly. You like me to hug you and talk. When you get better, I will hug you every night and chat with you, okay?"
"My dear wife, I can't bear to leave you. Didn't you say two days ago that you were going to buy a jujube tree to plant in the yard? Let's go buy it together and plant a jujube tree in the yard. You said you want to raise chickens, then we will raise chickens. Oh yes, we will also raise a watchdog. It will be lively enough when the chickens are in chaos.
Young-niang, the capital is not like the countryside. You stay at home alone and have nothing to do. When you get better, I will give birth to a child with you. No! Give birth to a dozen little babies so that you can't stay idle for a moment. Do you like it? You have to be alive to accompany me to do these things. Otherwise, I will find another beautiful wife to chat with her, plant trees with her, raise with her … "
"No … Don't …" Han Youniang's body wriggled as she suddenly moaned. Yang Ling's words suddenly stopped. He was stiff for a long time before he suddenly raised his head from Young-niang's wet hair and stared at her with ecstasy.
Under the light, Young-niang's face was still a sickly red and there were beads of sweat on the tip of her nose. However, the rose-colored rash on her neck had completely disappeared and the gray color had also disappeared. Her long eyelashes trembled for a long time. She slightly opened her eyes, but then she tiredly closed them again. She moaned and said, "Husband, I … I'm very tired. I don't want to open my eyes."
Yang Ling hurriedly said, "Okay, okay, don't open your eyes, don't open them. You're fine like this, you're fine like this."
The room was quiet. Only the thumping of their hearts could be heard. Yang Ling felt that Young-niang's little hand gradually became warm. He gently touched her forehead with his cheek. It was already warm, so he couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.
After a long time, Young-niang seemed to have gathered enough strength. She twisted her delicate body and weakly said, "Husband, it's so hot …" Yang Ling hurriedly said, "Don't move. Be careful not to catch a cold. The pill hasn't finished melting yet."
Young-niang meekly hummed and gasped, "Husband … can you be a little gentler? Young-niang can't … can't breathe."
Yang Ling almost slammed his head on the ground. It seemed that Young-niang couldn't breathe because of him. He thought that Young-niang still didn't have the strength to speak. Yang Ling hurriedly propped himself up with his elbow. Han Youniang panted for a while and slowly opened her eyes. She looked at Yang Ling's sweaty face and said lovingly, "Husband, Young-niang feels much better. You … you should rest."
Yang Ling hummed and slightly moved his body to lean against her. Young-niang closed her eyes. After a while, she softly said, "Husband, Young-niang still wants to hear you speak."
"En! … Speak … What do you want to say? Usually when I'm asleep, you lie next to my ear and speak. "Yang Ling said in a daze. Young-niang said with a little shyness, "Like … what you said just now, Young-niang hasn't heard it before … Husband said it before, I like it very much …"
※ ※ ※
As soon as the news of Yang Ling defying the imperial decree to save his wife spread in Beijing, all the 'clothes' in the capital, no matter high or low, stood on Yang Ling's side and waved the flag for him.
The officials in the capital were also divided into two factions. They argued with each other until their faces were red and ears were red. As a result, after the morning court session, the officials with daughters were bombarded with exhaustion. At night, their wives and concubines gave them pillow talk. Those who were not firm on their stand immediately raised the white flag and decided to pretend to be deaf and mute to this matter. Immediately, the anti-Yang faction became isolated.
As soon as the news that the Emperor did not immediately issue an order to arrest Yang Ling spread, some of the more sensitive Imperial Censors began to stand on Yang Ling's side. They researched the ancient records and flipped through the files. They began to prepare for a rainy day and began to look for a theoretical basis for Yang Ling's actions.
There were also many discussions about this. A Jiangxi scholar named Yan Song wrote a long poem and spread it everywhere. First, he praised the Hongzhi Emperor as if he was the reincarnation of Yao Shun. He then quoted the classics and praised Yang Ling for being educated by the Emperor. The Emperor was wise and the officials were loyal. He praised it as if the Emperor was not wise and the officials were not loyal.
Yang Ling was also very busy. He wrote a letter and asked Wu Jie to bring it back to Fengming to ask the Han father and son to immediately come to the capital. In his opinion, if they did not die, they would be imprisoned for resisting the imperial edict. Young-niang had just recovered from her illness. How could she bear such a blow? Therefore, he did not dare to mention it to her. He only hoped that the Han father and son could come to the capital as soon as possible so that Young-niang could be taken care of.
Yang Ling saw that Young-niang was sick and weak, so he bought a little maid to take care of her. When he went to the government office to register the master and servant documents, the people in the yamen, including the official registrar and the yamen runners, all rushed to the door to watch. It was as if the wind was blowing and the water was cold.
The next morning, Yang Ling woke up early without Young-niang calling him for the first time. He packed up and looked at the sleeping Young-niang with nostalgia. He quietly called the little maid Yun 'er and told her to go to the Forbidden City.
Yang Ling's hip injury had not healed yet. He was afraid that he would be late, so he hired a carriage and went to the corner gate as usual. The imperial palace guard checked his waist token and said with a fake smile, "Mr Yang, the inner palace has already sent out an imperial edict. If Mr Yang comes, you don't have to go to the East Palace. You can just kneel outside the Meridian Gate and wait for the imperial edict."
Yang Ling was startled. He cupped his hands and said, "Yes, thank you, General." He staggered to the front of the palace gate. Those civil and military officials wearing court robes and holding ceremonial tablets were waiting for the palace gate to open. Seeing a sixth-rank official walking over, they couldn't help but reveal a surprised expression, and one by one they paid their respects.
Yang Ling looked straight ahead and went straight to the front of the palace gate. He knelt down and bowed his head without saying a word.
It was fine when he first knelt down on the flat stone floor, but after a long time, his knees were sore and painful. There were officials at the palace gate who were responsible for checking the appearance of the civil and military officials. Yang Ling was now a guilty official, so he didn't dare to act rashly. He could only endure it.
After a while, the melodious sound of the bell came from afar. The first ray of light from the sky shone on the red palace gate. The palace gate opened and the officials entered the court. Yang Ling lowered his head and only saw pairs of official boots walking past him, making a slight rustling sound.
The morning court began. Time passed minute by minute. Yang Ling's hands were on the ground. His knees were so numb that he couldn't feel them. His neck was sore and painful because he had to maintain the same posture all the time. Beads of sweat dripped down from his forehead.
The bell rang and a group of officials came out in a line. They walked past Yang Ling. Yang Ling's spirits rose. The morning court was over, so the Emperor should be summoning him. But after waiting for a long time, the palace was still quiet.
Yang Ling couldn't help but despair. Did the Emperor want him to kneel here until he died? He couldn't stand the hidden torture of maintaining the same posture for a long time. Yang Ling's hands pressed hard against the ground. He saw stars and the muscles in his neck were trembling.
Yang Ling didn't know how he managed to hold out until the afternoon court ended. It wasn't until a young eunuch walked in front of him and shouted, "Sir Yang, His Majesty summons you into the palace." Only then did he wake up.
It took a long time for Yang Ling to crawl up. He staggered behind the young eunuch and walked into the palace. Crossing the Golden Water Bridge, passing through the Gate of Supreme Harmony, passing through the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, the Hall of Preserving Harmony, and passing through the Gate of Heavenly Purity, Yang Ling was led by the young eunuch straight into the inner court. Yang Ling's heart gradually calmed down. The Emperor wanted to meet him in the inner court. It looked like at least he wouldn't be beheaded.
Yang Ling was led to the front of a hall. The eunuch bowed and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Yang Ling requests an audience."
He heard an old eunuch say in a loud and clear voice, "His Majesty has an imperial edict to summon him for an audience!" Yang Ling stepped through the door and saw the Emperor of Hongzhi, dressed in bright yellow casual clothes, standing behind a desk, waving his brush and drawing. Next to him was a great eunuch named Miao Kui, who was grinding ink and waiting on him. Other than them, there was no one else in the imperial study.
Yang Ling hastily took two steps forward and kneeled down on the floor. "Sinner Yang Ling kowtows in salute to Your Majesty, sinner must die ten thousand times!"
Hongzhi acted as if he did not hear anything; he carefully examined the drawing paper, raised his brush and sketched for a while, and then put down the brush and said with a smile, "How is it?" Miao Kui praised, "Your Majesty's painting is full of vigor and charm, it is indeed the work of a great master."
Hongzhi laughed aloud and said, "What do you know? Hehe, Yang, why don't you take a look at Zhen's painting?"
Yang Ling saw that he was talking and laughing, but did not mention anything about his rebellion against the imperial edict; he could not help but secretly felt strange. He nervously complied, got up and moved in front of Hongzhi to look at the imperial study desk. He saw a mountain peak painted on the paper, the peak was overgrown with trees, on the peak of the mountain there was a pine tree as straight as a pen, as if it wanted to pierce the clouds. In the distance he could faintly see the rise and fall of the mountain range. Although the whole painting was simple, the brushwork was indeed not ordinary.
Yang Ling did not understand painting, but in his previous life he was fond of calligraphy, he remembered a lot of ancient poems. He saw that the shade of this landscape was just right, but he was unable to evaluate it. Thereupon he took a shortcut and said, "Your Majesty's skill is deep and profound, what is even more rare is that this painting has a profound meaning, the ambition of the world. Look at this thousand-zhang pine tree, although there are many things in it, it must be a great pillar."
A strange look flashed past Hongzhi's eyes, he smiled faintly and said, "Minister Yang, don't just look at this strange pine tree, look at the trees on the mountain, some are thin and straight, can be used as rafters, some are straight and thick, can be used as pillars, but most of them are crooked and strangely shaped, can only be chopped to make firewood."
He smiled leisurely, but the corner of his mouth was cold, "Minister Yang, are you willing to be a pillar, material for rafters, or a bundle of firewood?"
Without thinking, Yang Ling kneeled down on the ground and said loudly, "Subject, is willing to be the material for a pillar!"
Miao Kui swayed and almost knocked over the inkstone in his hand. Hongzhi initially thought that he was going to shed his own blood and make a passionate speech, he did not expect to hear such words from his mouth. Hongzhi was stunned for a long time before he said in surprise, "What? Are you willing to be the raw material of the citrus tree? "
Yang Ling bowed his head and said: "Yes, your subject cannot be like Liu, Xie, and Li, the Three Grand Dukes to help Your Majesty govern the country and bring peace to the world. Your subject cannot command thousands of troops and horses, gallop through the barren grasslands, and spread your might to the four seas. Therefore, I am willing to be the material of a citron. If I can help Your Majesty defend a village or a county, and bring good fortune to the people, your subject will be satisfied."
Hearing this, Hongzhi laughed involuntarily. He felt that although this subject was resourceful, his personality was straightforward and cute. He was basically a hothead. He saw that while Yang Ling was speaking, his knees were still trembling slightly. He did not know whether it was because he was scared or because he was kneeling outside the Meridian Gate. He could not help but feel a trace of pity in his heart, "Forget it. Today I will make him kneel outside the Meridian Gate and not get up. It can be considered as a punishment in front of the civil and military officials. This person still needs to be used. If he is scared into doing things from now on, it will not be worth it."
He chuckled and said, "Get up. You have the heart to compare yourself with Liu, Xie, and Li, the other beloved subjects. This ambition is already very high. They have also been toiling day by day since your age, with your status. When they were at your age, they might not necessarily have the ambition you have today. Therefore, you do not need to belittle yourself."
While saying that, he went back to the back of the writing desk. He picked up the brush and wrote on the painting, 'Dense thousand zhang pines, although there are many openings, when used in a big building, in the end it will be a pillar of the country'. Then he handed it to Yang Ling and said, "Zhen will bestow this painting to you. I hope you will remember what you said today, and reflect on yourself from time to time. Hehe, you may withdraw."
Yang Ling was baffled as he received Hongzhi's treasured calligraphy and painting. His expression was somewhat blank. The Emperor left him hanging outside the Palace gate for the whole morning, came in to give him a piece of noodles, and then sent him home? This really was unfathomable.
As if relieved from a heavy burden, he said, "Yes, subject takes his leave." Finished speaking, he raised the painting high above his head with both hands, and respectfully withdrew. Seeing him leave the Imperial Study, Hongzhi Emperor's eyes revealed a trace of a smile. He nodded slightly and said, "Not self-righteous, so outstanding; not self-condemning, so meritorious; not boastful, so long. Hmm, at such a young age, yet able to have this kind of insight, Zhen's nurturing has not been in vain. Miao Kui, pass on the imperial edict: Yang Ling is dismissed from the Eastern Palace Palace Study Assistant, to be promoted to a mid-ranking officer of the Shenji Battalion. "
Miao Kui was shocked; he hastily said, "Your Majesty, Yang Ling has just been punished, if he is promoted to mid-ranking officer, I am afraid the court officials will criticize him again. Your Majesty, shouldn't we let him be the Deputy City Secretary first, and then slowly promote him later?"
Hongzhi let out a bitter laugh; he thought to himself, "Zhen also wants to temper him slowly, but Zhen is afraid that Heaven's mandate is coming to an end, and there is no time. Right now, the Six Ministries of the Imperial Court and the Three Dukes of the Cabinet are all old officials. Although they are loyal and devoted, in the end they are still officials. If I don't give my son another force to balance the internal and external officials, how can my son control this ten thousand li of rivers and mountains, and the court full of civil and military officials? "
Thinking this, Hongzhi Emperor waved his hand and said, "Forget it, the imperial edict says that he will be assigned to the Shenji Battalion. As for the specific position … Wang Yue is supervising the Twelfth Battalion. He has always been reliable, let him make the arrangements.
Right, give him two bottles of medicine for wounds. Yesterday, Yang Ling defied the imperial edict and took his wife to seek treatment. Today, Zhen will give him 'Yang Ling's wife obeys the imperial edict, apply medicine for her husband, ha ha ha! "
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
