Ji Xiang quoted this poem, but in reality, it was not a poem of praise and exhortation. It was originally a prayer written for the gods, commissioned by Mr. Gong at the invitation of a Daoist priest. It meant that the old society urgently needed a thunderous storm to break the stagnant social situation, hoping that the gods could reopen their eyes and allow a large number of extraordinary talents to emerge in this world.

However, poetry is something that everyone interprets differently. Ji Xiang made this poem in four steps, using ten thousand horses to compare the officials and the Heavenly Duke to Emperor Ming, which was not a problem.

The sound echoed in all directions before the Fengtian Gate, stirring the morning breeze. After a brief silence, the ministers began to discuss noisily.

The little old man, Liu Yingqiu, was speechless. At this moment, after the poem was recited, he even wanted to praise Ji Xiang a few times.

Emperor Wanli looked at the ministers and asked, "What do you all think of this poem?"

He himself was very satisfied with the literary talent displayed in this poem, feeling that Ji Xiang still had a lot of good stuff in his belly.

During the first two lines, he frowned, hearing the sarcasm within, but the last two lines could be regarded as turning criticism into praise. First of all, the words "Heavenly Duke" made Emperor Wanli very happy, and then the last two lines, when put together, combined with the fact that he had suddenly attended court this morning, were indeed very appropriate.

*Chong dousou* (re-energize himself), that was indeed what he was thinking. If he didn't have the intention to *dousou*, why would he attend court today? Was it to hold a story meeting? He might as well go and publish a book. Anyway, there were many emperors in the Ming Dynasty who did side jobs, and publishing a book might even be a bestseller...

This poem scolded the ministers, but not too harshly, and the subtle exhortation also gave the emperor a little praise. It neither made the emperor lose face, nor did it lose the essence.

Emperor Wanli narrowed his eyes: "I think it's acceptable."

*Zhen* (I) thinks it's okay, Old Liu, do you think it's a crime?

The little old man did not say anything strange at this time, and he had a special way of responding:

"I have nothing to say about this child's poem. It is indeed appropriate, a great poem!"

The little old man first praised it, then nodded frequently, and then a gleam flashed in his eyes:

"Your Majesty, after listening to this poem, I suddenly felt enlightened, as if struck by a thunderbolt!"

"Nowadays, in the court, the atmosphere of attacking each other is rampant. There is little talk of state affairs, and instead, people are busy attacking other people's privacy and shortcomings. They speak for the sake of attacking, not for the sake of rectifying the court. The style of the censors is already chaotic!"

"The vitality of the Nine Provinces has become deathly. The wind and thunder do not sound, and ten thousand horses make wrong noises. It is precisely today that Your Majesty has returned to the court, and should vigorously rectify the officials, so that the clear wind sweeps through the court. The Heavenly Duke should be invigorated and release a shocking thunder, and talented people should be promoted more!"

"May Your Majesty live ten thousand years, may our Great Ming be as powerful as the sun in the sky! Sweep away the turbid miasma of the world, so that the mountains and rivers will be forever solid!"

The little old man, Liu Yingqiu, first said that Ji Xiang was right, and that he liked his poem very much. Then, he suddenly changed the subject and stabbed the censor group in the back.

The censor group was stunned.

Good you, little old man!

A backstab to a teammate, then a borrowed flower to offer to the Buddha, angrily brushing a wave of presence in front of the emperor, defecting at the last moment. This set of skills takes at least twenty years of practice!

But Old Liu thought very simply and directly! Whoever the emperor wants to hit, I will hit. Whatever the emperor says, I will listen to. Now that Your Majesty has returned to the court, how can I, a fifth-rank official, be promoted? By flattering him!

A good opportunity for promotion is coming!

"Well, not bad, Liu Yingqiu. It seems that your position as the Director of the Imperial Academy was really chosen by the grand secretaries based on your own ability."

Emperor Wanli was very happy with Liu Yingqiu's backstab, saying that Old Liu was still very aware of the times.

Ji Xiang was stunned. If it was a fight, he wouldn't lose to anyone, but someone else took the pretense he put on and angrily brushed a big pretense in front of the emperor. This wave of operations really stunned him.

"This *Siyue* (Assistant Instructor) of the fourth rank will be decided, and one more person will be added. In two days, he will receive the official robe and other items."

Emperor Wanli decided on the position. In fact, this position was also a sinecure. Anyway, it was added. The three grand secretaries discussed why Ji Xiang was not allowed to go to other departments related to sacrifices. First of all, officials in the Imperial Observatory were not allowed to be transferred to other positions. Their sons and grandsons were in hereditary occupations, and they could not be promoted, transferred, or retired unless by special decree. If there were vacancies, they would be filled by the Imperial Observatory level by level.

There was only one position in the Daoist Records Division, Taihe Mountain Tidian, and this could not be supplemented by Ji Xiang, and it required Old Zhang to stamp it, and Old Zhang had not yet arrived.

What's more, the reward was up to the emperor. The great demon Daoist Tao Zhongwen had been the Minister of Rites, and the contemporary Old Zhang had even been the Guard of the Meridian Gate (the gatekeeper of the Forbidden City) from the fifth year to the eighteenth year of Wanli. It didn't matter what position was rewarded.

"Next... I have one more thing to tell everyone."

Ji Xiang accepted the emperor's praise, but when he heard the words "next," he immediately understood that he was going to talk about Zhu Changluo. At this time, he had to pretend to be stupid.

So Ji Xiang stepped back, not saying a word. Silence is golden, he stood back beside the three grand secretaries. The three grand secretaries also knew what the emperor was going to say, and now they narrowed their eyes. As long as the emperor didn't name them, they would be in a state of senile dementia.

What are you discussing? We three are old and can't hear clearly. What is the dispute over the *Guo Ben* (foundation of the state)? What is the origin of this country?

Emperor Wanli opened his mouth and said that Zhu Changluo had been arrested, and that he had colluded with the Fire Lord, conspired to rebel, and burned the Forbidden City.

The ministers were dumbfounded.

It turned out that Emperor Wanli had been suppressing the "someone" without revealing his identity. This someone was actually the First Prince!

For a time, no one dared to speak, but everyone knew that Emperor Wanli's public announcement of this matter was to tell the ministers that the dispute over the foundation of the state was over!

This time, seniority prevailed! Because the eldest son was going to be exiled to Fengyang, and because the second son died early, the third son, Zhu Changxun, directly took the throne!

"Does anyone object to me and want to intercede for the First Prince?"

Emperor Wanli once again raised the question, but this time he asked the full court of officials. The officials were silent for a while, and finally someone stood up as "expected."

"Your Majesty, the First Prince colluded with an evil god and burned the Forbidden City. There may be hidden circumstances in this matter..."

"Hidden circumstances? Didn't I say that he admitted everything? The three grand secretaries all heard it."

This time, Emperor Wanli pulled the three old men into his camp. The three grand secretaries did hear it clearly. This time, there was really no hidden circumstance. The First Prince really wanted to rebel on his own initiative.

It's just that he didn't succeed, and changed from the "mastermind" of the case to "someone Zhu."

"The First Prince colluded with an evil god this time, causing chaos in the Forbidden City and burning the Nine Palaces and Three Halls. Among them, more than three hundred people died, all charred corpses, all without falsification. What Your Majesty said is all true. The First Prince has pleaded guilty and was captured by the Northern Garrison Division at the fifth watch."

At this time, the ministers suddenly remembered that when the grand secretaries came out and announced that the ministers were going in, people from the Northern Garrison Division escorted a person covered in black cloth away... Unexpectedly, it was the First Prince!

"I know what you are thinking, but I will not discuss the matter of the Crown Prince today! I haven't closed my eyes all night and am very tired. If you have anything, say it in two days."

"Dismiss court!"