The Concubine in the Palace_The Feast of Masks【Complete】(157)

After nearly two months of turmoil in the court, the matter of the princes returning to the capital was finally settled.

On the surface, it was naturally not said that Emperor Hongjing intended to withdraw the vassal states. He only said that the current emperor was old and needed the assistance of the princes to help manage the government affairs. Now he specially ordered the princes to return to the capital and enter the six ministries to learn government affairs.

It was considered that the cancer of the powerful vassal kings was solved without bloodshed.

Every dynasty would experience such things once.

The vassal kings were enfeoffed and protected the country, which was the ancestral precept given by Taizu.

At first, the effect was very significant, which not only strengthened the centralization of the rulers, but also prevented the descendants from fighting against each other in order to compete for the throne. Unfortunately, as Daqian's country became stable, some disadvantages gradually emerged, that is, the vassal kings were powerful, threatening the orthodoxy, and the country was unstable.

Every emperor had to win over and suppress a group of vassal kings when he first ascended the throne. The honest ones naturally enjoyed wealth and peace, and the dishonest ones mostly did not have a good end.

At that time, Taizu established the vassal state for the sake of kinship and to protect the country. The idea was good, but it missed the heart of the people. In the hearts of the elders, they naturally hope that the descendants of the younger generation can jointly protect this huge country. But for the princes who are also the sons of dragons and phoenixes, this kneeling down is for generations.

The first emperor and Gaozu did not think about withdrawing the vassal state, but they all ended in failure for various reasons. Now, after many twists and turns, it is unexpected that it has been done in the hands of Emperor Hongjing. But it is still inevitable to have disputes over the throne. Perhaps being a man born in the royal family is destined to be this fate.

Prince An went to the Ministry of Rites, Prince Dai went to the Ministry of War, Prince Yong went to the Ministry of Households, Prince Lu went to the Ministry of Punishment, Prince Wu was in the Imperial Household Temple, and Prince Qing was arranged to go to the Guanglu Temple. It is worth mentioning that Prince Jin went to the Ministry of Works, which is the most stereotyped and the most inconspicuous place among the six ministries.

But it was Prince Hui's son Zhao Zuo who went to the Ministry of Personnel, which really surprised many people.

But it was not surprising that he was surprised. The arrangement of Emperor Hongjing clearly revealed his thoughts. Like the other kings, Zhao Zuo, the former crown prince, also had the same opportunity.

That being said, the real situation was not as people imagined. Several princes led a department, played their own strengths, stood out from the other princes, and were selected by Emperor Hongjing as the next successor.

These sons and grandsons of the royal family only received the job of the sixth-rank chief. A small official who could not even go to court.

However, the kings did not have any objections to this. Being allowed to serve as an official in the court meant that they could participate in the government openly. The Daqian prince had a decree that only the crown prince could not participate in politics and could not make friends with court officials. This was considered to be the lifting of the ban on the King of Jin and others, so the position of chief was just a sheep's head selling dog meat.

Everyone knew it well, but did not say it.

However, Emperor Hongjing obviously did not intend to do so. He specifically told several ministers of the six ministries in the court that he wanted to train these sons and asked them to supervise them more and not to be partial.

Such words were brought to the court, which obviously had a different meaning. Regardless of what Emperor Hongjing was thinking, in short, Prince Jin and others were about to enter the various ministries as officials.

Yao Niang was still in confinement, and she was slow to realize it. She only knew that Prince Jin was going to the Ministry of Works as a small chief when she saw Prince Jin bringing back two sets of official uniforms from outside.

She was very surprised. For her in the past, a sixth-rank official was already many times higher than a county magistrate. But Prince Jin was a prince, a super-first-rank official, but now he has turned back to be a sixth-rank official.

She thought that Prince Jin might have been punished by the emperor or something, and she was uneasy for a while, and she also specifically told Xiaobao not to be naughty, so as not to make his father angry.

Xiaobao was helpless about this. Being able to serve as an official in the court was a good thing, wasn't it? But being made a fuss by the stupid mother, when he looked at the face of the King of Jin again, he also had an indescribable subtle feeling for no reason.

For a whole day, Yao Niang carefully watched the movements of the King of Jin.

She was supposed to stay in confinement for 30 days, but the King of Jin insisted that she stay for 42 days. It was so hot in the hottest days of summer, and she insisted on lying down. She should sit as little as possible. Yao Niang had long been impatient, and she insisted on asking the King of Jin to agree that she could stay in bed and walk around, but she could do anything, as long as she didn't go out and paid attention to the taboos.

So Yao Niang had moved back to the main room, and the King of Jin also lived there, but the taboo of not having sex was still observed.

Yao Niang went to look at the two official uniforms that the King of Jin brought back. They were both blue-bottomed, with a patch embroidered with a egret on the front. There was also a crown, belt, pendant, badge, and boots, a complete set.

There was also a booklet.

Yao Niang was literate, so she took it and flipped through it casually. Once she flipped through it, she couldn't take her eyes off it.

This was a manual equivalent to the code of conduct for officials. It clearly stipulated the moral conduct of officials and the time for them to go on duty and rest. They had to go to the government office on time every day. They could not go off duty before the time. Those who did not go without reason or left early would be punished accordingly.

For example, it was clearly written in this book: Any official, big or small, who did not attend court without reason, did not work properly outside, and any official who did not return to his post without reason after the leave period expired, would be flogged ten times a day, and one level would be increased every three days. Each crime would be limited to eighty strokes of the cane, and the offender would be returned to his post. ①

And the time to go on duty was Mao time.

Mao time? !

At that time, it was still dark, and she was usually still in a deep sleep.

Maybe it was because Yao Niang's sympathetic look was too obvious. King Jin took a sip of tea and said, "When I become the prince, I will get up at Yin Shi."

Yao Niang asked subconsciously: "Why are you getting up so early?"

"study."

Your Highness is so pitiful!

Based on this mood, the next day she couldn't open her eyes and was still asleep, so Yao Niang forced herself to get up and send King Jin to go on duty.

From then on, King Jin began his daily duty at the Ministry of Industry.

Note ① Taken from the reference "Da Ming Code, Official Code, and Official System"

Chapter 125

Yao Niang yawned, supported her chin with one hand, and watched King Jin enjoy his breakfast.

"Go to bed." Prince Jin said this for the third time while holding the porridge bowl.

"Yes, my dear, just go to bed, there is an old slave watching over you."

Yao Niang became more energetic and asked curiously: "Your Highness is going on duty, can you go too?"

"this--"

To be honest, King Jin and Fucheng haven't discussed this matter yet.

However, Fucheng has been following King Jin for decades, so it makes no sense for him to change now. In fact, it stands to reason that when the King of Jin goes on duty, he cannot bring his servants to the government office. If every official went to the government office and brought his servants with him, there would be no room for them in the government office.

"He won't go." King Jin said simply and clearly.

Yao Niang gave Fucheng a look that said, "Look, you stay at home just like me." Fucheng felt a little anxious, but naturally he couldn't discuss the matter in front of Yao Niang, so he didn't speak.

"I think your Majesty is really a very strict person." After saying this, Yao Niang quickly reiterated: "This is a compliment. It means that your Majesty is good at domestic affairs, self-restraint and self-cultivation..."

King Jin nodded hurriedly to show that he understood what she meant, otherwise he would not know how long she would have to explain, and motioned for her to continue.

Yao Niang continued, "You see, you are obviously the prince, but he wants you to be a minor official, and he also sends you a pamphlet, telling you to eat on time and not to be absent without any reason. Not only that, you You can't even ride in a car or ride a horse. You can only ride in a sedan or walk. But the problem is that this sedan has regulations and you can't violate it. Just look at the size. Your Majesty, you are so tall. I have calculated the size of this sedan. It will definitely not be comfortable sitting in it..."

Yao Niang took advantage of her woman's habit of talking nonsense and started talking incessantly. In fact, she was also worried. Ever since she read this booklet yesterday, she had been extremely worried.

It's not about anything else, but I feel wronged by King Jin.

The King of Jin was born to the noble family of Tianhuang. He had never suffered such hardships and suffered such sins since he was a child. These are all secondary. The key is that there are too many strict regulations, and she is afraid that King Jin will not be able to stand it.

Now Yao Niang also knows that King Jin will not return to Jinzhou in the future, but will stay in the capital, under the nose of the Holy Emperor. I was used to being domineering in the past, but I would definitely not accept being suddenly controlled and restrained. Especially since Prince Jin has a bad temper. If he gets into trouble with his own father...

Thinking about it, Yao Niang felt extremely worried.

King Jin laughed a little and wanted to tell her that this booklet was for everyone who was an official. It was not that Emperor Hongjing sent it to him deliberately and asked him to follow the instructions in it. But soon he remembered Yao Niang's words to describe Emperor Hongjing, who was wise in domestic affairs and self-restrained and moral...

Although his father had many shortcomings common to emperors, he was actually a good emperor in all seriousness. Do not be extravagant or extravagant, do not use slanderous officials, be strict with your subordinates, know people well and do their jobs well, and be diligent in government affairs.

At first, the King of Jin only thought that Emperor Hongjing arranged the brothers into the Sixth Division and only gave them such a low position. He probably wanted to suppress them and wanted to see them fight with each other, but now he has an extra layer. Food for thought.

Xiaobao is also the one who has this deep thought.

He slept with his parents last night, so King Jin got up early in the morning before dawn, which also woke him up. King Jin went to do morning exercises, and Yao Niang fumbled around to get up and pack her things, and Xiao Bao got up too.

At this time, he was sitting on a high chair specially made for him, eating porridge from the bowl in front of him.

Yao Niang can't eat, but it doesn't hinder his appetite. He is growing. Yao Niang was chatting with King Jin over there, while Xiao Bao started thinking about the problem.

Xiaobao, who had come up with some ideas, looked at his stupid mother with a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Could it be that he is a simple-minded person who looks at problems relatively simply? Or was it an accident?

Xiaobao prefers the latter.