On the 21st of January, the cabinet.
Although the government had been open for several days, the cabinet was not busy. After all, the current situation in the court was still stable, and nothing major had happened.
The cabinet was not too busy, and some daily matters would not take too much time.
The imperial court had rules. If one thing was done according to the previous rules, there would basically be no problems.
In addition, there were now five scholars in the cabinet, so there was no need to worry about being too busy.
In the cabinet duty room, the atmosphere was not bad. There was no tension before the New Year. Things like struggles were all at a certain time. After that, no one would hold on to it.
Perhaps they were not convinced in their hearts and wanted to find an opportunity to fight again, but the last time was the past.
Zhang Siwei was reading a memorial. This memorial was submitted by Han Yinggeng, the imperial censor of Shaanxi. The content was also very simple. Shaanxi was going to have another disaster this year.
Since last winter, there had been no snow in Shaanxi. The officials of Shaanxi were worried that there would be a locust plague or a spring drought.
Once there was a spring drought, it would definitely delay this year's spring plowing. If the spring plowing was not good, it meant that the whole year's harvest would not be good.
Seeing such a memorial, Zhang Siwei's mood was not good. Disaster relief had always been a big hole.
Although the imperial court now had a small amount of savings, it would definitely be a cup of water in the face of a major disaster.
Once there was a major disaster, they would have to worry about plagues and civil unrest. Once these things happened in Guanzhong, it would be very troublesome.
Rubbing his forehead, Zhang Siwei drafted his own opinions on the memorial and prepared to send people to Shaanxi and Shaanxi for on-site investigation.
If there was really a locust plague or a spring drought, the imperial court had to be prepared for disaster relief in advance.
"Minister, your family is outside!"
Just as Zhang Siwei finished writing and put down his pen, a clerk in the cabinet walked in front of Zhang Siwei and said respectfully, "He looks very anxious. It seems that there is something urgent."
Nodding gently, Zhang Siwei said, "I got it. I'll go out and have a look!"
Standing up, Zhang Siwei walked out. There must be something urgent for his family to look for him. Zhang Siwei did not dare to delay.
Leaving the duty room, Zhang Siwei saw his housekeeper and a middle-aged man standing next to him.
Seeing this middle-aged man, Zhang Siwei's heart skipped a beat.
This person looked to be in his forties and looked travel-worn.
Of course, Zhang Siwei knew this person. He was a cousin in the clan. Glancing at him, Zhang Siwei asked hesitantly, "Si Xian, why are you here?"
Zhang Sixian looked sad. He took out a letter and said, "Cousin, I'm here to deliver the obituary!"
Hearing the word 'obituary', Zhang Siwei's expression changed drastically. His body swayed and he almost fell to the ground.
Fortunately, the butler beside Zhang Siwei had sharp eyes and quick reflexes. He caught Zhang Siwei and prevented him from falling.
Zhang Siwei's mother had died a long time ago, and his father was the only one left at home. Although he had remarried, if his stepmother had died, Zhang Sixian wouldn't have come all the way to deliver the obituary.
After all, an obituary was a letter of death!
If he was in such a hurry to deliver the obituary, it meant that his old father was dying!
After stabilizing his mind, Zhang Siwei reached out and took the obituary. When he opened it, Zhang Siwei suddenly felt dizzy. It really was his father.
This letter was written by his second brother, and the content was simple: Father is dead!
Zhang Siwei calmed down for a while before he said, "Go home!"
According to the normal procedure and rules, from the moment he received the obituary, Zhang Siwei needed to go home to mourn. He would not go out or work.
Next, he needed to submit a memorial to the emperor and go home to mourn.
Along the way, Zhang Siwei's thoughts were in a mess. He thought of Zhang Juzheng.
Back then, Zhang Juzheng was also in high spirits. Suddenly, his father died, and there was such a big commotion.
At that time, his heart should be similar to mine, right?
I'm not reconciled!
Zhang Siwei had been an official away from home for many years. His father died. On the one hand, he felt sad, and on the other hand, he was not reconciled.
He had just gained a foothold, had an alliance in the cabinet, and also gained the trust of the emperor.
Now was the time for him to show his strength, but at this time, he needed to go home to mourn.
Although he didn't need to mourn for three years, there were still twenty-seven months. Adding the time spent on the way back and forth, and the time taken by the imperial court, it would take more than three years.
In these three years, the imperial court was not the current imperial court.
He was the Prime Minister of the cabinet, and he had to be the Prime Minister of the cabinet. But the Cabinet had its own pit. Who would be willing to give up the position of Prime Minister?
Even if the position of Prime Minister was vacant, the second Prime Minister was still waiting to take over. How could they let him take it directly?
Zhang Siwei's thoughts were in a mess. He thought of Stealing Love and learning from Zhang Juzheng.
But soon, Zhang Siwei dispelled this idea. He was not Zhang Juzheng. He couldn't bear the big hat of Stealing Love.
Not to mention other things, Shen Shixing would not let him Stealing Love.
Shen Shixing wanted to drive him away. Now that there was such a good reason, how could he let it go?
Thinking of his unstarted career, Zhang Siwei suddenly felt heartache like a knife. He died before he could succeed!
The news of Zhang Siwei's father's death spread throughout the capital like a gust of wind. Many people were stunned.
Especially those who waved the flag and shouted with Zhang Siwei in front. This news was definitely like a bolt from the blue!
Once Zhang Siwei returned to his hometown to observe mourning, Shen Shixing would take over the position of Prime Minister of the cabinet. Would they have a good time?
At this point, Shen Shixing was almost certain to take over the position of Prime Minister of the cabinet. Would Shen Shixing let them go?
No one knew who started it, but the news of Zhang Siwei's Stealing Love spread in an instant.
Forbidden City, Wenhua Hall.
Zhu Yijun glanced at Shen Shixing and said, "There are unexpected storms in the sky, and people have their ups and downs. Minister Zhang has lost his father. You should take care of the affairs of the cabinet first. Don't make any mistakes."
"I understand!" Shen Shixing said respectfully.
In fact, Shen Shixing didn't know what he was feeling at this time. From a human point of view, he should feel sad when Zhang Siwei lost his father. It was not a gentleman's behavior to gloat.
However, Zhang Siwei went home to mourn, and he took over the position of Prime Minister of the cabinet. This was a good thing.
In addition, he had fought with Zhang Siwei some time ago. Now that Zhang Siwei was gone, he was really relieved.
"Make arrangements for Minister Zhang. Don't let anyone disturb him, and don't make any rumors!" Zhu Yijun said again.
Of course, Shen Shixing understood that although these words seemed to be reminding him, they were actually telling him that Zhang Siwei's return to his hometown for the funeral was already set in stone. Those who were making a fuss about Zhang Siwei stealing their love, he should suppress them.
"As the Prime Minister of the cabinet, you should be broad-minded. You can't get rid of people just because of political disagreements."
Zhu Yijun glanced at Shen Shixing and warned him again, "You should always look forward. The Prime Minister has a big heart!"
His words were very straightforward. It was clear that he was telling Shen Shixing not to mess with those officials who agreed to the funeral silver.
Shen Shixing understood this. Although those people seemed to be Zhang Siwei's people, the funeral silver was proposed by the emperor.
If he targeted these people, it would definitely make the emperor unhappy.
"I understand!"
Shen Shixing hurriedly bowed. However, Shen Shixing was also relieved. The position of the Prime Minister of the cabinet was his.
Compared to the position of the Prime Minister of the cabinet, those people were nothing.
Zhang Siwei quickly submitted a farewell memorial. Zhu Yijun did not ask him to stay and directly allowed him to go home to mourn.
Three days after the obituary was sent to Zhang Siwei, he left the capital and rushed back to Shanxi to bury his father.
On the third day, Shen Shixing put his chair on the right side and officially became the Prime Minister of the cabinet of Daming.
Zhang Siwei was gone, and the cabinet entered the era of Shen Shixing. This needed a period of turbulence, so Zhu Yijun began to keep a low profile.
Apart from reading the memorial, Zhu Yijun spent most of his time in the harem, accompanying Empress Wang.
During this period, Zhu Yijun successfully made Concubine Yi and Concubine Zhao pregnant. The atmosphere in the harem became more festive.
Zhu Yijun also accompanied Queen Dowager Li from time to time. The old lady was in a good mood recently.
His eldest son had three children, and his second son was also going to open a mansion. Queen Dowager Li was looking for a wife for him everywhere.
According to Queen Dowager Li's idea, he should wait until Zhu Yijun got married.
After the wedding in the capital, he would go to the vassal state.
Perhaps he would have to say goodbye to his second son. Once he left, he did not know when he would see him again. Queen Dowager Li was more concerned about Zhu Yijun's wedding.
Zhu Yijun looked at Zhu Yijun, who was standing in front of him.
The little boy with a runny nose had also grown into a big boy.
After the training in the academy, Zhu Yijun was tall and strong.
He looked very good. He was not infected with any bad habits. He was humble and polite, like a good king.
"Do you want to be a vassal state?" Zhu Yijun looked at Zhu Yijun.
"Do you want to be the vassal state?" Zhu Yijun looked at Zhu Yizhen.
Zhu Yijun looked at Zhu Yijun and asked with a smile.
"Zhu Yijun?"
He was stunned, and then he was shocked by the question. He was no longer a child. Of course, he understood what it meant to be a vassal state.
It would be a lie to say that he was not aggrieved. What kind of life did the vassal state have?
The affairs of the prince's mansion were not decided. Even the land was managed by the chief historian of the prince's mansion. He could not leave the city where the fief was located.
Although it was said to be a vassal state, in fact, it was almost the same as being locked up. He lived a miserable life in the prince's mansion all day long.
If he had some ambition, he would start to study. If he had no ambition, he would completely degenerate. He would play with women and have children all day long until he played himself to death.
These years, he had been learning and practicing martial arts in the academy.
Zhu Yijun also wanted to do something. He even thought of riding on the grassland. Even if he died on the battlefield, he did not want to go to the prince's mansion and be raised like a pig.
Perhaps his mother would give him a lot of land, a lot of women, and a lot of money, but that was really not what he wanted.
However, he did not dare to say these words, let alone to his brother.