Chapter 20: The charming Concubine Li

Inside Prince Yu’s Mansion.

Yan Shaoting followed the servants of the palace with relaxed steps and walked into the main hall.

into the eye.

Except Zhu Zaigui, Zhang Juzheng and Tan Lun.

It was Concubine Li from Prince Yu's Mansion who was being served by two palace maids, holding the little Wanli in her arms.

She wore a golden hairpin with flowers in her hair, and a lock of beautiful hair was flying slightly.

Under the slender eyebrows, the bright eyes are charming, the nose is straight and beautiful, the cheeks are rosy, and the lips are delicate and tempting, covering the white teeth like jade.

Her skin is as white as jade and her complexion is incredibly beautiful.

Princess Li has a petite figure. Although she is from Northern Zhili, she is gentle and graceful, with a soft, tender and tempting scent.

In addition, Concubine Li had just given birth to little Wanli, so her figure became even rounder, and the festive palace dress she wore actually made her curves appear in perfect shape.

Yan Shaoting just took a glance.

One cannot help but sigh that Concubine Li still has her charm.

wrong.

Thinking of this, Yan Shaoting remembered that according to her age, Concubine Li is only 28 years old now.

young……

Yan Shaoting hurriedly shook his head gently, walked into the house, bowed and nodded: "Your Highness, Yan Shaoting, I pay my respects to Prince Yu, and greet the Princess Yu and the Crown Prince."

He is quite polite and knows the rules.

Zhu Zaigui sat firmly on the chair, looking directly at Yan Shaoting who was bowing to him, and silently affirmed in his heart.

Zhu Zaigui then said, "Mr. Yan is visiting the palace today. What is he doing here?"

He did not mention Yan Shaoting's job in Youchunfang of the Zhanshi Palace, and his refusal was obvious.

Yan Shaoting lowered his head and smiled slightly, then raised his head and said, "I have been ordered by the emperor to serve as the right son of the Right Spring Office of the Zhanshi Palace and enter the Prince Yu's Palace to serve as a tutor to the Crown Prince. I have been busy in the cabinet recently and have been delayed. I dare not refuse today, so I come to the palace to ask for permission."

Yan Shaoting answered in a very proper manner that no one could find fault with.

Zhu Zaigui naturally could not disobey the order of his father, Emperor Jiajing, so he had to look at Concubine Li and even changed the address, saying, "Let Master Yan see the prince."

Li Fei pursed her rosy lips and nodded.

Before Concubine Li could come forward with the baby Wanli in her arms, Yan Shaoting had already walked forward.

I definitely just wanted to take a look at the little Wanli.

Yan Shaoting said in his heart.

Then, a light fragrance blew towards me, mixed with the scent of baby's milk.

Yan Shaoting collected his thoughts and looked down at the little Wanli who had just fallen asleep in his cradle.

He was tall and a head taller than Concubine Li.

When Yan Shaoting lowered his head at this moment, he saw not only the little Wanli in the cradle, but also the round eyes squeezed by the cradle.

There is a faint fragrance in the air.

It seems to be emanating from here.

Yan Shaoting further gathered his thoughts, took two steps back, turned his gaze towards Zhu Zaigui, bowed and smiled, "Your Highness is handsome and elegant, with the demeanor of Your Majesty and the prince. Our dynasty has enjoyed peace for three generations. Given time, our dynasty will surely prosper and the people will live and work in peace without any more disasters."

This is actually quite flattering.

It's almost like saying directly that the future of the Ming Dynasty belongs to Prince Yu and his son, and that the Ming Dynasty will become prosperous in their hands.

It's not like everyone in Prince Yu's Mansion hasn't heard such words before.

Xu Jie, Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng and others often said this to Prince Yu Zhu Zaigui, implying that the heavy responsibility of the Ming Dynasty would sooner or later fall on Zhu Zaigui's shoulders.

But the strict party.

But this was the first time someone said this. Zhu Zaigui felt confused and embarrassed when he heard it.

Zhang Juzheng glanced at Yan Shaoting's smiling face and snorted in his heart. He knew that there was no good person in Yan's party.

They are all flatterers with their mouths full of nonsense!
Zhu Zaigui could only say solemnly: "Master Yan is able to gain the trust of His Majesty and enter my Prince Yu's Palace to serve as a tutor to the Crown Prince. Although the Crown Prince is still in his infancy, Master Yan should still come to the Palace more often."

Yan Shaoting nodded in agreement and turned to look at Zhang Juzheng.

Today, I came to Prince Yu's Mansion, not only to report and perform my duties as a tutor, but also to meet Zhang Juzheng.

According to the schedule agreed upon by the cabinet, Zhang Juzheng will set off south to Nanzhili and Zhejiang as the imperial envoy tomorrow.

"Mr. Zhang will set out for the south tomorrow. I would like to wish you success and smooth sailing."

Zhang Juzheng's face twitched. "Thank you, Master Yan. I just hope that when we go south, there will be fewer mediocre officials in the local area."

He didn't directly mention the corrupt officials in Yan's party, but his eyes were directed at Yan Shaoting.

Yan Shaoting smiled faintly.

At this time, Tan Lun glanced at Prince Yu.

Zhu Zaigui immediately looked at Yan Shaoting and said, "Master Yan, please take a seat."

After saying this, he signaled to Concubine Li with his eyes.

Yan Shaoting watched Concubine Li carrying little Wanli away, and bowed and said, "I respectfully send Concubine Li and the Crown Prince off."

After completing the formalities, Yan Shaoting finally sat down opposite Zhang Juzheng.

He looked at Zhang Juzheng, who was nearly forty years old but still handsome and was known as the most handsome man in the Ming Dynasty cabinet.

Yan Shaoting then turned to Prince Yu and said with a smile, "I heard a statement before that was quite interesting."

Zhu Zaigui didn't know what Yan Shaoting wanted to do. After looking at Zhang Juzheng, he said, "Master Yan, just tell me. What's the interesting thing?"

Yan Shaoting then explained: "This saying compares the court officials to the Yangtze River and the Yellow River."

As soon as this topic was brought up, even Zhang Juzheng straightened his back and looked directly at Yan Shaoting.

As for Zhu Zaigui and Tan Lun, they were more out of curiosity.

I'm curious about what Yan Shaoting can say on this topic.

Yan Shaoting continued: "The ancients called the Yangtze River 'Jiang' and the Yellow River 'He'. The water of the Yangtze River is clear, and the water of the Yellow River is turbid. The Yangtze River flows, and the Yellow River also flows."

As far as the imperial examination is concerned, this is the point.

Everyone's eyes gradually calmed down.

Yan Shaoting said: "There is an old saying: When a sage appears, the Yellow River becomes clear. But when has the Yellow River ever been clear? Even when the Yellow River is not clear, there will be sages. Even when the Yellow River is clear, there will be troubled times."

After the introduction, the topic began to turn to the officials in the court.

Yan Shaoting's face was calm: "The water of the Yangtze River irrigates millions of hectares of farmland in several provinces on both sides of the river. The water of the Yellow River also benefits several provinces on both sides of the river. But I have never heard of the principle of using clear water and discarding turbid water. This principle has been the same since ancient times."

Zhang Juzheng's face suddenly turned colder.

According to what Yan Shaoting has said so far, is he defending the Yan Party?
Zhu Zaigui also felt a little cold in his heart.

Yan Shaoting continued, "The civil and military officials in the court are like the Yangtze River and the Yellow River. They are all officials of the court and should be used."

A light flashed in the corner of Zhang Juzheng's eyes.

Look!

The treacherous minister jumped out on his own initiative!

Yan Shaoting met Zhang Juzheng's eyes and said with a smile: "Earlier, Zhang Ge Lao was worried that there would be bad apples among the local officials during this trip to the south. In fact, if I can be used by Zhang Ge Lao and can help him get things done, I can use it.

Just like the Yangtze River and the Yellow River.

If the Yellow River floods, it must be controlled, and Zhang Ge Lao can use thunder and lightning to suppress the local situation.

On the other hand, if the Qingshui Yangtze River overflows, should it also be managed and severely punished?
But if the water of the Yellow River is turbid but does not flood, and instead irrigates both banks, does it need to be managed?
I think that there is no need to manage the floods, but to build dikes and take precautions, just like the ancient Yu the Great’s flood control, which focused on dredging rather than blocking the floods.

(End of this chapter)