Thousands of Mountains

Things happened faster than expected, the next morning, Cui Jidao, Minister of Rites, asked Chen Ze publicly about the prince's adult marriage in the court hall.

Cui Shangshu cupped his hands and raised his head, "Show the emperor, the prince will soon be [-] years old and will soon come of age. According to the ancestral system, marriage must be completed within the year. I also ask the emperor to grant the marriage as soon as possible, and the ministers can also make preparations as soon as possible."

As soon as these words came out, Yin Cen saw Zhao Lun, who was standing in the front, turned around and pulled the corner of his mouth at Yin Cen through the gap.

On the steps, Chen Ji turned around and bowed his hands behind the hanging curtain and said respectfully, "Father also discussed this matter with my son and minister a few days ago, and my son has no objection to the wedding, but the daughter of the Qiao family whom the father prefers is still young. , can you wait for her to be older? I am willing to wait for you in one or two years."

After hanging the curtain, Chen Ze hadn't spoken yet, and Yin Cen also expected that one of the reasons why Chen Ze didn't make it public and didn't give the marriage directly was probably because this little Qiao girl was only thirteen years old, so she was indeed a little younger.

Cui Jidao still did not let go, and continued, "Princes always get married when they are sixteen, especially the crown prince, as an example, should not break the ancestral rules, etiquette is the foundation of a country."

Chen Ji was a little annoyed, etiquette is the foundation of a country?What about military defense, people's livelihood, government treasury?Alarmist!

Just after Cui Jidao finished speaking, Qi Yanzhi also stood up and cupped his hands, "Your Majesty, the old minister thinks what Cui Shangshu said is very true. The prince is not only about to come of age, but also has been in the palace for many years. He should be established for both public and private purposes." Concubine, if Grand Master Qiao's granddaughter is still young, there are many dignitaries in the court who have daughters of the right age to marry, and the emperor can choose from them."

As soon as the chief assistant of the cabinet spoke, all the ministers spoke up one after another, they were passionate and sad about Chen Youzhi, and there were pedantic and dangerous words. Yin Cen was originally depressed by Chen Ji's wedding, but now he was laughed at when he saw the performance of the ministers. By the way, he recorded all the people who spoke up one by one, and jumped out so quickly, Qi Yanzhi's lackeys really spread all over the court and the public.

Chen Ze sat behind the hanging curtain like Mount Tai, and after all the ministers talked about it, they realized that the emperor was silent all the time. Cui Jidao asked tentatively, "Your Majesty, can you show me to the ministers?"

Only then did the figure on the couch move leisurely, "The matter of the crown prince setting up a concubine is of course a state matter, but it is also my family matter. When did I say that I would not grant a marriage or establish a concubine? Before I said anything, you all urged me in every possible way." , is this forcing me or changing the way to say that I am a foolish emperor? The ancestral etiquette is endless, do I not know the etiquette?!"

As soon as these words came out, all the courtiers knelt down, and Yin Cen also knelt down, but he felt a little unspeakable to Chen Ze's words. It seemed that the emperor was even more... weird?

From his observations since he entered the court, Chen Ze is not afraid of eloquent officials, although this group of frivolous and fearless scholars and eloquent officials often like to talk about one thing to death, and are very keen to scold each other. Go, but Chen Ze usually only treats them as birdsong, and only when it involves fundamental interests, such as border wars, treasury taxation, and cabinet recruitment, will he take it seriously.

Yin Cen has never seen Chen Ze in his early years, and he thought it was a time when he was full of heroism, but now he is just a patient who is terminally ill and does not know it. With the cabinet system, as long as the emperor is not so stupid that he is deaf, even if he governs by doing nothing, relying on a not too bad chief minister, the country can still maintain its basic operation.

To a certain extent, the position of the chief assistant of the cabinet is more important than the imperial power.

Therefore, Qi Yanzhi hid his strengths and bide his time for ten years as the chief assistant of the cabinet, and his party members and disciples were all over the court. It is not an exaggeration to say that he is an invisible emperor.

But he is still short of breath. Although the current emperor seldom cares about ordinary political affairs, he is not so stupid as to let go of military, political and financial power. In addition, Chen Ze is suspicious by nature, and when he is a little sober, he plays with his officials. Qi Yanzhi is obedient and diligent on the surface However, there has been a backlog of grievances and unwillingness for many years.

What the emperor did was like throwing his hands away from the shopkeeper, and going against the cabinet when he wanted to return to Mingjun on a whim, it was extremely difficult to serve.

The court officials knelt down and stopped talking, and Chen Ze spoke again, "I have been looking for a candidate for the crown princess for a long time, and the most important thing is that the person I choose has nothing to do with the complicated political situation in the court! Grand Master Qiao has already resigned from office and is living at home for the rest of his life, and his only son died early, and no one in the family is an official at court, so his granddaughter is the most suitable candidate."

Followed Chao Gao Rendao, "The decree will be drawn up today, and Grand Master Qiao's granddaughter, Qiao Hanyan, will be canonized as the Crown Princess. After she turns [-] next year, she will choose a date for her wedding."

Gao Ren kowtowed and went to draw up the decree immediately.

At this time, Qi Yanzhi led the ministers of the court to kowtow, and never mentioned the need for a big marriage within the year, "Your Majesty is wise!"

The matter of the prince's wedding is thus settled, and all civil and military officials in the court are witnesses, it is irreversible and irresistible.

Yin Cen couldn't tell the truth, so he kowtowed to thank him. Chen Ji is the prince, he will be the emperor in the future, there will be a queen, there will be a concubine, there will be... a child, Yin Cen felt his absurdity for the first time.

After Yin Cen heard about another matter that he had to pay attention to, Gu Cheng, Minister of the Ministry of War, said that Yun Jianqing, the king of Funan, had set off from Fujian a few days ago and was about to return to Beijing to report on his duties. He would arrive in Beijing in about three to five days.

Even though Shen Cang's secret letter had already informed that the general's father was about to return to Beijing, Yin Cen's heart beat slightly faster when he heard the news.

Chen Ze asked Cui Jidao again, "How is the preparation for the marriage between Shizi Yunye and Princess Zhegui?"

Cui Jidao replied, "The auspicious day chosen by the empress and Mrs. Yun is the day of the beginning of summer. The Ministry of Rituals has already arranged all the arrangements. When the general and his wife return to Beijing, they can get married as soon as the auspicious day arrives."

Chen Ze gave a long "hmm" and asked Gu Cheng, "How long has it been since General Yun returned to Beijing?"

Gu Cheng made the calculations, "Back to the emperor, since General Yun led the order to the south in the fourth year of Ning Xi, he has never been back to the capital. It has been 19 years."

Chen Ze asked again, "How is the southeast defense now?"

Gu Cheng continued, "The last Japanese pirate rebellion was in the 17th year of Ningxi. After being put down by General Yun, it is still relatively stable. They still invade every year, but they are all repelled. With General Yun guarding the southeast, the coastal defense is absolutely safe. .”

Chen Ze was silent again after hearing this, and said after a while, "It seems that I cannot do without him in the southeast coastal defense."

Gu Cheng hesitated for a while, but did not answer rashly, Qi Yanzhi said again, "General Yun is certainly brave, but he is getting old, young and middle-aged generals are worthy of appointment."

Chen Ze snorted coldly, "Young military general, Mr. Qi Ge is referring to Yan Shiliang and Ji Ran who you strongly recommended and almost lost the Seven Guards of Guanxi?!"

Qi Yanzhi made a slip of the tongue in court, and these two losers really disgraced the chief assistant.

No matter how he controlled the government, it was difficult for Qi Yanzhi to intervene in the military affairs in the northwest and southeast. It was really the hatred in his heart as the chief assistant, who managed to squeeze out Lin Moyan, but the people he sent had lost such a big chain, Qi Yan Zhi still remembers that night when Chen Ze heard about the defeat of Lei Ting, he was furious, and faced with such a situation that required hard power, he was really... powerless.

After the court was over, Yin Cen was full of worries, and he was still with Qin Nianqin, keeping some distance from Chen Ji, Zhao Lun Shi Shi ran past him again, without stopping, but let out a cold snort from his nostrils.

Yin Cen didn't bother to pay attention to him, and saw that he went straight out of the palace gate and got into the carriage, but... drove towards Yun Ye's Shizi Mansion.

Seeing Yin Cen looking in the direction of the carriage, Qin Nianqin asked, "Where did this person go?"

Yin Cen frowned, "It should be the residence of Shizi Yunye."

Qin Nianqin asked, "Are the two of you on good terms?"

Yin Cen smiled, "One has a scheming heart, the other has no brains, and they hit it off right away."

Qin Nianqin said again, "As the eldest son, representing the will of his father, General Yun, to have close contacts with others so easily, wouldn't this embarrass General Yun?"

Yin Cen smiled at Qin Nianqin, "So, if he is half as smart as Mr. Qin, he won't let a villain like Zhao Lun take advantage of his loopholes so easily."

Qin Nianqin thought for a while, "But since the emperor has granted the marriage, and Princess Zhegui is the daughter of the Qiu family, no matter what Yunye and General Yun think, in the eyes of other courtiers, General Yun has already voted for the queen and Han. Wang Yi sent, so..."

Yin Cen continued, "So the current situation seems to be that the ministers of the cabinet, and now even the originally neutral Funanying is the King of Han's reliance, the crown prince..." Yin Cen looked at the back of Chen Ji in front of him, "It can only be more powerful. Thin."

Qin Nianqin looked at Yin Cen, "Aren't you worried that Your Excellency has such a relationship with His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Yin Cen said irrelevantly, "Just call me Pingshan after reading the quilt, we don't have to be so polite and unfamiliar."

Qin Nianqin was taken aback for a moment, and replied "OK", Yin Cen's face was a little mysterious, and he whispered, "If I say that the calculations of the Queen and Qi Yanzhi are doomed to be empty, then it is impossible for General Yun to stand on their side?"

Qin Nianqin was startled again, and blurted out, "Why?"

Yin Cen rolled his eyes, "The time has not come yet, I will tell you later."

Back in the Yin Mansion, Qin Nianqin and Yin Cen walked into the study naturally and continued to chat about the situation in the court. During the day, they were the only two in the mansion. Chen Ji came quietly at night to avoid suspicion, and Yin Cen gave Wu Ye'er a kiss. With the death order, Chen Ji's safety is always protected, and he can only come here at night. Luo Qingshan has already taken over Ye Mingzhi's shop in the capital, bought another house outside, and is happy to settle accounts and do business every day.

Qin Nianqin was quick-witted, and he could clear up the complicated situation in court in two or three strokes. He was really a rare counselor, and Yin Cen decided to bring this person back that day because of his intentions.

After thinking about it back and forth, Qin Nianqian analyzed, "We learned about the empress and Qi Yanzhi leading the enemy into the pass in Kansai, that is, Qi Yanzhi, his party members, and the supervisor of ceremonies were all involved. Standing on the Queen's side, although this situation has not been put on the court's face, a little analysis of many things can be seen. Fortunately, the Supervisor of Rituals can say that Qi Yanzhi, as the chief assistant of the cabinet, why should he support a person who is not Crown Prince, the King of Han who is also powerless?"

Yin Cen remembered that earlier, before he entered the court, Liang Taifu had commented on Qi Yanzhi. This person has ambitions, and he is not a person who does nothing. He said to Qin Nianqin, "This is also a question that I have never figured out. Whether public or private, he has no reason to support the King of Han. Although the emperor may not be close to the crown prince, he obviously does not intend to abolish him. This King of Han, Chen Yi, is also obviously not popular with the emperor, so Qi Yanzhi said Why..."

Qin Nianqin frowned and paced back and forth, "Everyone's choice is based on their own position and their own interests. Qi Yanzhi's choice of King Han must be in his best interest. As for the Queen..." He After a pause, "I don't think he really has one heart with the empress. King Han is the key to him, but the empress is not."

Speaking of this, a flash of light seemed to flash in Yin Cen's mind. Qin Nianqin's words touched a certain point. In a seemingly complicated relationship, if there is a seemingly unimportant factor that always exists, then, that The seemingly unimportant factors are the most important.

It's like everyone thinks that Qi Yanzhi is following the queen, but the humble Han Wang Chen Yi is the most important.

It's just a little bit closer to the truth, but it's still a little bit closer.

Yin Cen wasn't discouraged either, he patted Qin Nianqin on the shoulder, "I'm better at fighting than you, and it's up to you to analyze the political situation."

Qin Nianqin shrugged his shoulders and dismissed it dismissively, "This...is so wrong, I haven't analyzed the truth..."

Yin Cen giggled, "You said you have such a good brain, why do you prefer someone with such a bad brain?"

When Wu Ye'er was mentioned, Qin Nianqin's face turned red immediately, he didn't understand, they were all scholars, why Master Yin's face was always flushed when facing such topics, but he couldn't resist even asking a question .

He stammered, "With him . . . without thinking."

"Hahahahahaha..." Yin Cen was about to die of laughter, as expected, there was something he didn't care about, and what he didn't care about.

Qin Nianqin said a little annoyed, "And you, why do you like His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Yin Cen stopped laughing, why did he like Chen Ji... Where do we start?

Maybe it started with his stupid fall when he jumped out of the carriage crookedly, maybe it started when he said weakly that I have no one to trust after he was poisoned by Nianxiang powder, maybe it was because he strongly recommended Lin Mo Yan's reinstatement begins, maybe... too many, Yin Cen can't tell.

That jade-carved and glutinous doll turned sixteen in a blink of an eye, and now he is a handsome young prince. Yin Cen sighed deeply, and immediately became depressed.

Qin Nianqin was annoyed silently, just now she praised you for your good brains, and then asked such a stupid question, did she get fooled by Wu Ye'er.