Lu Fang sneered and said, "What else can they say? Just fabricating nonsense. They claim Zhu Mo is wrong in this, wrong in that, and even brought up the heavens and earth, the ancestors. They say Zhu Mo practices the laws of farming and warfare, and that the ancestors do not bless us, nor the earth spirits protect us... It's truly bizarre, how can such venomous words exist..."
Oh?
Jiajing also found it strange—
It could be taken that far?
Hmph!
He snorted, flicking the paper from Lu Fang's hand to the ground with his whisk. A glance was enough to grasp the general meaning, and a surge of anger immediately ignited within him.
"This Sun Ying'ao, he's a scholar of Neo-Confucianism, isn't he? Why drag in the concept of cosmic resonance? Is it not known that the heavenly way is difficult to fathom? I, who have cultivated the Dao for sixty years, dare not claim to know the will of heaven. And him? He understands? Hmph... Utterly nonsensical!"
Lu Fang, who always knew his words hit the mark, found them exceptionally pleasing at this moment. "Indeed, Your Majesty, who are you? Even Your Majesty dares not speak of heaven's will. What is this fellow? He barks like a dog here..."
Jiajing had already risen and was pacing, holding his whisk, and said leisurely,
"Barks like a dog...? A dog barks at its master. He is Yan Song's dog, so naturally, he must bark..."
Lu Fang said, "It is not for this servant to be overly talkative, but a person with such venomous words, if it were Your Majesty's past temperament, he would have been beaten to death on the spot to vent your anger!"
Hearing Lu Fang's genuine indignation on Zhu Mo's behalf, Jiajing felt greatly comforted. "Lu Fang, you are a good person... But there are so many wicked people, and we can never finish punishing them... However, you are right, it is time to conclude this matter... Zhu Mo has suffered enough during this period..."
Speaking of which,
He suddenly looked very desolate, a hint of indescribable pain flashing across his face. He sighed, "It's been a long time since I've seen Zhu Mo, hasn't it? Lu Fang, you see, let us go visit him again and have a chat..."
Lu Fang understood his thoughts—
Now that commoners and the low-born had someone speaking for them, Yan Song and Gao Gong could no longer cover the sky with one hand. As the Emperor, he was the father of all under heaven. Naturally, he had to be fair. Even if he sometimes had to bend for the common people, he couldn't always let them suffer. Now that the rioters had been quelled and the situation had not worsened, the Emperor could indeed speak up for his subjects...
This way, Zhu Mo, who had the support of the low-born and commoners, could not be killed. But on the other hand, Zhu Mo's reforms, which benefited the low-born and commoners, were now over. After all, the truth of the accusations of treason was now difficult to ascertain. For instance, Zhang Gui's confession—the man was already dead, so who could be cross-examined?
Therefore,
The Emperor was now helpless, forced to seek a truce with Yan Song and Gao Gong. The price for this was the sacrifice of Zhu Mo's future...
This young man, after all, was too young. How could he contend with these people? Thinking this, Lu Fang's nose ached again, and he almost wept.
It should be known,
Lu Fang himself was the child of impoverished guards. Merely by becoming a eunuch to the Emperor, he could not have his own thoughts. If he followed his own heart, although he had doubts about Zhu Mo at first, after Zhu Mo began his work in Jiangnan and championed the guards in Xuanda, Lu Fang greatly admired him. He truly felt that Zhu Mo was destined to govern the realm. But the world was such, and heaven did not always grant human wishes...
Jiajing continued to circle the gossip diagram for a long time, deliberately ignoring the Prince of Yu. Lu Fang stole glances, only to see that the Prince of Yu truly had perseverance this time, remaining motionless for over an hour. Several times, Lu Fang wanted to remind Jiajing, but upon recalling the rumors of an illegitimate son, he dared not utter a word.
As for Jiajing, his disappointment in this son had never been so bleak as it was today—
What was happening? He was always immature...
This child of the earth always lacked a broader perspective, always thinking of himself first... As the saying goes, those who put themselves last go first. With this kind of character, the Great Ming would sooner or later face trouble...
But now, with Mo being besieged by all the scholar-officials under heaven, merely saving his life would be a blessing. To be able to live a peaceful life hereafter would already be divine protection... This child was indeed a genius, but he was too hasty, and too trusting. He hadn't anticipated the unprecedented unity of the scholar-officials across the land.
In this light, everything he said was true, incredibly true! But fate, this heavenly way, did not always align with the human way. For the human way to flourish, it required destiny, much like Zhuge Liang; without destiny, even a genius for a lifetime was of no avail.
Before, he couldn't save him. Now that he could, his sorrow was even greater. Tell me, what father would willingly accept this outcome? But at this moment, he had to accept it, which was—
To let the capable Mo retire, and let the mediocre Hou inherit the throne... To negotiate a truce with Yan Song and Gao Gong, to let those scholars return to their studies and cease their disturbances. As for those low-born commoners, they should also let go of their grievances, the case should be concluded swiftly, and everything should return to normal...
"Lu Fang, tell the Prince of Yu to return..."
He sadly made this decision, sinking back onto the gossip platform with a heavy heart, no longer willing to look at the Prince of Yu.
...
Meanwhile,
In Gao Gong's mansion late at night, an unease also pervaded.
Gao Gong stood by the window, gazing at the pavilions and landscapes in the snowy night, his mind restless.
During this period, he had been feigning illness, neither going to the Grand Secretariat nor lecturing at the Prince of Yu's residence. His disciples constantly reported various intelligence, and he, from his strategic position, had stirred up the entire realm within a month.
This,
This was the feeling Gao Gong desired!
If he could become the Grand Secretary, he would wield power over the realm in the same manner. Within ten years, the Great Ming would prosper under his leadership, and all the accumulated problems of the nation would be resolved.
He certainly had this confidence—
In today's world, who could compare to Gao Gong?
Yan Song is an old fool. He can no longer comprehend many matters, and this person has never harbored ambitions for the rejuvenation of the Great Ming, only pride and debauchery. His son, Yan Shifan, acts unscrupulously and has become the chief of the universally condemned villains. His death by unnatural causes is merely a matter of time.
Xu Jie is a henpecked husband!
What he detested most was this insidious old man. If this person became the Grand Secretary, the Great Ming would be further delayed and would completely lose its opportunity for rejuvenation. Such a person appearing in the current cabinet of the Great Ming would be the sorrow of all people under heaven! Occupying a position without merit, a pedantic scholar, he would be most suited to return home and become a tutor!
And that child prodigy, Zhang Juzheng, what was he doing? A half-cooked meal! He wants both Confucianism and Legalism. Is such a thing possible in this world? He talks about reforming the realm, but for so many years, he has achieved nothing! Any good governance proposed has always been first suggested by him, Gao Gong. Zhang Juzheng merely follows suit, relying on his glib tongue to become the natural leader for the Great Ming's rejuvenation?
As for Li Chunfang, what can be said about him? If Xu Jie is said to occupy a position without merit, it is literal. Li Chunfang doesn't even qualify for that; he's just muddling through! But if muddling through leads to the cabinet, how can the Great Ming not perish?
After much deliberation,
Gao Gong found the Great Ming increasingly displeasing in every aspect. Finally, he snorted and said,
"The Prince of Yu kneels at Yuxi Palace... This disturbance is likely nearing its end. You all, speak your minds..."