There are precedents in the history of the Red Chamber

"I haven't been in Beijing for five years, and communication is inconvenient. I need you to communicate with me about important matters in the court." The four of them sat down, and Shi Ding spoke first.

"Yao Yun served the saint by his side, so he knows best, let him talk about it." Shi Nai suggested.Shi Ding nodded, and Shi Zhongzhu began to educate his father about the changes in the court over the past few years.

"Since the rebellion of the princes, a large number of officials in the court have exchanged blood. Most of the newly recruited people are from poor families, and the power of the aristocratic clan has been hit hard. It's just that the officials who have been scientifically tested have some flaws in their conduct, so they are caught by the aristocratic clan. The handle, saying that the imperial examination is more important than morality, is trying to find a way to attack the imperial examination scholars."

"The saint's health is very bad. Originally, the rebellion was very sad. In addition, the abolished prince committed suicide in the end. The saint blamed himself even more, and his health went from bad to worse. Many scriptures were approved by Yuan Jie and I imitating the saint's handwriting... "

"What, you approved it during the memorial!" Shi Nai was surprised, no wonder he was surprised, he was in charge of the imperial army, but he didn't even know the news.

"Third Uncle, the Forbidden Army is only on duty outside the hall, and you don't know the situation of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. What's more, since that night, the sage has tightly controlled the Hall of Mental Cultivation." Shi Zhongzhu first explained that it was not Shi Nai who was useless, but Blame the enemy army for being too cunning, "No one in Beijing, except the sixth prince, um, the crown prince, should know about the fact that the senior scholar Yuan Jie and I have commented on behalf of the sage."

"What does His Royal Highness say?" Shi Ding asked.

"Secrets that are known to people other than myself are not secrets. Although our family supports His Royal Highness, I have never contacted him in private. I am by the saint's side, and the most important thing is honesty. If the saint finds out, the success will fall short. "Shi Zhongzhu explained that they are all political players, so they only need to understand it, but speaking it out or writing it out is the trick.

"I entered the crown prince's tent in the early years, and His Highness is not someone who cares about these things." Shi Ding sighed.

"Jinjie, tell me about the actions of the historian's old relatives." Shi Ding said to Shi Bosong. Jinjie was a word that Shi Ding sent from Fujian when Shi Bosong was 20 years old. Ye Zhan Tianxun. Lingfeng knows the integrity, and bears the snow to see the chastity." It can be seen that Shi Ding's ambition for Shi Bosong is soaring, and his hope goes straight to the sky.

"The Jinling Zhen family has kept a low profile since the fourth prince, His Royal Highness King Rong, was dismissed. However, after all, the old lady is still there, and the saint will not disturb the Zhen family because of the old lady's face. Apart from Wang Ziteng, there is no outstanding member of the Wang family. Characters, even Wang Ziteng went up and down the year before last, and he did a nine-province inspection with no grades and was released. Jia Jingxiu of Jia Jianing’s state mansion, Jia Zhen’s full-fledged dude, and his only son Jia Rong is also a failure Yes, and also, I heard that Jia Rong's wife was the former prince's maid, and after the former prince committed suicide, and now the prince came to power, their family forced the maid to death again, and surrendered to the prince, which was very inappropriate. The government is still the same, there is nothing to say, the men are confused and weak, the women are bold, and Jia Baoyu of their family is also famous in the capital for his absurdity. The Xue family is even more withered. Rongguo Mansion is hopeless."

"My grandfather's family is a lone minister. They have always followed the rules, and their family education is very strict. Dad doesn't have to worry. The Li family (third aunt Li's natal family) has already relinquished military power in the second year after my father left." , Shi Nai interrupted Shi Bosong and said: "Jing Jie said that if my father-in-law hadn't delegated power, how could the sage allow me to be re-elected as the commander of the Imperial Army?"

After Shi Nai finished speaking, Shi Bosong went on to popularize science: "The Duke of Xiangguo (sister-in-law Xu's natal family) originally belonged to His Royal Highness. No one came to take them back, and now, they have little to do with the government.

Shi Bosong talked about the four major families who were originally related to the Shi family, and the in-laws in the family. As the heir to the Bowling Hou Mansion, the family connections are inclined to him. Even if Shi Zhongzhu can get this information through other Channel inquiries are still not as accurate and timely as Shibosson.Therefore, Shi Ding was clear in dealing with the issue of heirs, and the effect was that Shi Zhongzhu didn't care that Shi Bosong knew about it but he didn't.

"Well, our relationship with the Zhen family, Wang family, Jia family, and Xue family has long been estranged. They are not in the way, and the in-laws in the family are also understanding. The biggest problem now is how the crown prince will ascend to power." Shi Ding said.They invested in the current prince for the huge benefit of the prince's ascension. They just wanted to stay safe and stay in peace, so why take risks.

"How is the saint's body?" Shi Ding continued to ask.

"The imperial physicians are all stationed in the palace now, and I can't find out the most accurate information about the imperial army." Shi Nai replied.

"Well, I have a guess, I don't know if it's right." Shi Zhongzhu pondered: "The sage asked Yuan Jie and me to criticize the memorial on his behalf. It's not like the sage said to the outside world that his eyes are ill. I observe that the sage's hands are often out of control. Many elderly people have such a problem, but it is very serious if the hand trembles so much that you can’t write. In the past two years, the saint’s appetite has increased, his body has become thin, his eyes are slightly protruding, and his eyes are bright. Father, third uncle, elder brother , you all know that I have a lot of research on medical skills, such a situation, I am afraid it is a harbinger of stroke."

"Stroke!" The three exclaimed at the same time. You must know that the most feared thing in old age is stroke. A stroke patient is worse than death. Can't move.

"You can be sure." Shi Ding confirmed.

"Nine out of ten." Shi Zhongzhu was very sure of this matter, and he did not learn medicine for nothing after studying medicine for so many years.

"So the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne is just around the corner?" Shi Bosong was excited.

"Brother, not necessarily." Shi Zhongzhu said.

"How to say?" Shi Nai and Shi Bosong asked at the same time.

"I can see such a disease, and the imperial physician can also see it. As long as the saint takes good care of it, it is not difficult to live for a long time."

"Sitting on the dragon chair is the most time-consuming, how can we take good care of it." Shi Nai said.

"What if the sage abdicates as the Supreme Emperor?"

Shi Zhongzhu's words made the three of them silent and abdicated. No one could have imagined how new it was.The throne is for life, and many emperors are unwilling to let go of the jade seal and abdicate. Except for those who are forced by their sons, there are only a handful of voluntary abdications in history.

"Yaoyun, are you sure?" Shi Ding asked.This matter is very important. If the sage abdicates as the Supreme Emperor, then the court will inevitably be divided into the Supreme Emperor faction, the New Emperor faction, and the middle faction. Sometimes he was regarded as a scapegoat.

"I'm also [-]% sure." The reason why Shi Zhongzhu can be so sure is that he is well-informed. In the original Dream of Red Mansions, some scholars analyzed that the sage abdicated to become the Supreme Emperor. In the official history, Qianlong also abdicated in order to maintain his health. Shi Zhongzhu didn't think it was incredible.The second is the performance of a saint.The saint is also very interested in abdicating as the Supreme Emperor.After Wei Haogu was gilded with the merit of saving his family, he practiced in the central government for two years, and was appointed by the sage as a local official.Wei Haogu once told an interesting story to the sage in an excerpt, about how the seriously ill old man of an imperial merchant held power tightly, and his sons had nothing to do. Of course, the merchant ended up miserable, but This does not prevent the sage from being inspired.It took a long time for Shi Zhongzhu to connect the saint's performance with Wei Haogu's memorial.

"Since that's the case, father, third uncle, what should we do?" Shi Bosong asked.

Shi Ding did not answer Shi Bosong, but instead asked: "Yao Yun, when do you think the saint might abdicate?"

"I have a bolder guess that the saint may abdicate this year." The three people in the study gasped, how did Shi Zhongzhu know?

"Don't worry, I'm also speculating, speculating! You see, Dad came back from his term of office this year, so it's not obvious. Look at the governors of Guangdong and Guangxi, the governors of Sichuan, Jiangxi, and governors of Yunnan and Guizhou. I ordered that I will come to the capital during the Longevity Festival this year. Well, I know, you must say that it is customary for the sages to celebrate their birthdays, but there are also special envoys sent by the Central Armed Forces Governor's Office to the command divisions and guards in various places, As far as I know, most of them are His Royal Highness's people. If it weren't for the saint's acquiescence, how could His Highness's people get in."

"That's right, before I came back from Fujian, I met the special envoy sent by the capital, so this is true?" Shi Ding confirmed again.

"This... I really can't guarantee this." Regardless of Shi Zhongzhu's swearing, it is really all speculation, and it is too risky to make a decision based on speculation. "Father, you are back anyway. You have great energy. You and third uncle are collecting more information. Maybe my guess is wrong."

The four core members of the historian are relatively silent. Such speculation is too bold. How can they find information to verify it in a short time?

"Father, you have come back in a hurry, and third uncle is tired after being on duty for a whole day. Anyway, I have said everything that needs to be said, and now I can't think of an idea. You have to enter the palace for an audience tomorrow, let's rest first. " Sposson suggested.

A few people thought it was the same, so they dispersed separately. Thanks to Shi Nai's right to issue curfew notes in charge of the imperial army, otherwise he would have been stopped by patrol soldiers at such a late hour.

When Shi Ding returned to the bedroom in the main courtyard, Mrs. Zheng had already fallen asleep. Shi Ding tossed and turned on the bed, unable to fall asleep, and finally woke Mrs. Zheng up.

"Why don't you go to bed so late?" Zheng was confused.

"Can't sleep."

"Tomorrow I have to get up early to see you. If you don't sleep enough, your face will look bad. Isn't it disrespectful? Go to sleep."

"I can't sleep, my sons have grown up." Shi Ding sighed.

Hearing the words of his son, Mrs. Zheng didn't sleep anymore, stood up and said, "Why do you say that?"

"Oh, I was in the study just now, listening to Jin Jie's talk. He maintained the Beijing-China network very well. Yao Yun surprised me even more. He is courageous, careful, and cautious. I haven't seen him for five years. He has grown into a real man who can stand on his own."

"Pfft... What a real man, Yaoyun hasn't married yet!" Zheng Shi teased. "Okay, my lord, aren't the children growing up well, go to sleep quickly."

"You don't understand, it's like a milk leopard that was fed by people a few days ago, and suddenly grows into a leopard that can be hunted by itself, which makes me happy and sad at the same time." Shi Ding said with emotion.

"What are you sad about?"

"I'm old, and the milk leopard grows up, so I don't need my father anymore."

Mrs. Zheng didn't expect her husband to have such a sour side, "Well, how did you laugh at me as an old hen when my daughter-in-law came in, but now you are an old leopard." To: "Master, Master Shihou, you are not old, you are in the prime of life, and your glory is not diminished!"

Shi Ding made Zheng's laugh so uncomfortable that he turned over and pressed on Zheng's body: "Madam has said so, as a husband, I can't let you down~"