Chapter 40                                                             �

Zhang Juzheng's heart was extremely bitter.

He really doesn't know what to do.

Because the times are different.

In history, Zhang Juzheng was able to oust Gao Gong, but now it is different.

Zhou Mengchen reformed the cabinet system and made the rules of the game of the cabinet very different. In essence, it changed the way the cabinet fights. Before that, except for a few people such as Yan Song, he served as the chief minister of the cabinet for too long. In other words, Yan Song rose to power for decades in the late Jiajing period, and Xu Jie only blocked the government for three or four years, but in fact, it was quite good compared to the chief minister before.

This is also the reason why Xu Jie is willing to let go.

However, after Zhou Mengchen changed the rules of the cabinet struggle, the cabinet chief would not be replaced. Even if he only served for five years, it was actually quite good.

This has increased the intensity of the struggle for the State Conference, and at the same time, it has also reduced the number of battles for cabinet seats.

Now, everyone can see that Jiajing has not had much time left. In the future, it will definitely be the prince's world.

It is very likely that after Zhou Mengchen stepped down, Gao Gong came to the bench.

If Gao Gong had been in power for ten years, there would not be much time left for Zhang Juzheng.

Therefore, after Zhou Mengchen stepped down, he must find a way to defeat Gao Gong and seize the power of the cabinet chief.

However, with the prince here, Gao Gong would have an invincible golden body. Even in history, Zhang Juzheng took Gao Gong after the prince died. This matter was very troublesome.

At least, Zhang Juzheng has not come up with any way to overthrow Gao Gong. Could it be that he would still serve as a deputy to Zhou Mengchen for ten years?

This result is something that Zhang Juzheng can never accept.

But what should I do?

Zhang Juzheng faced the combination of Gao Gong and Prince, and could not find a way to break the deadlock.

However, the opportunity will come soon.

The prince did not appear in the cabinet for more than ten days.

This is nothing in itself.

Even if the prince came to the cabinet, he would just attend the cabinet meeting. He sat in the main seat of the cabinet and then listened to Zhou Mengchen convening the meeting.

Wenyuan Pavilion was originally a royal library. Only the royal family is the master of Wenyuan Pavilion. Therefore, although there is a main seat in the cabinet, it is usually covered with a layer of yellow cloth. Then the cabinet becomes a seat on both sides for meetings.

It is only when the prince comes that he lets the prince sit down.

The prince never speaks at the meeting. No, every time the prince pretends to be energetic at the meeting, he is inevitably drowsy. It’s fine to act.

There are many decisions, and there is no difference between having a prince and not having a prince.

Therefore, the prince absented the cabinet meeting for more than ten days in a row. Zhou Mengchen didn't think anything was interesting.

Suddenly one day, Gao Gong also absented the cabinet meeting. Zhou Mengchen immediately felt something was wrong. The prince could not be the case, and it did not affect the operation of the cabinet. However, Gao Gong was different. Gao Gong was nominal secondary assistant. He was in charge of the promotion of officials in the world and refreshing the administration of officials. Once the officials below were missing, Zhou Mengchen would usually ask Gao Gong for people.

Gao Gong must not be left out in the operation of the imperial court.

Gao Gong has never missed the cabinet meeting. He took a step back and said that Gao Gong really had something to do, so he would say it in advance. It is impossible to temporarily place so many people in the cabinet.

Zhou Mengchen immediately sent someone to inquire and soon received the news that Gao Gong entered the palace, but was called away by a little eunuch and went to the East Palace.

Zhou Mengchen was still wondering what happened in the East Palace. A message had already come. The prince was seriously ill and fainted in the East Palace.

Zhou Mengchen was shocked.

The prince was very politically settled. In private, the rumors about the little bee had already spread throughout the world. It was time to know that everyone knew. Zhou Mengchen even knew that the prince was having a lot of fun. It is said that the Sixteen Heavenly Demon Dance of the Yuan Dynasty was restored by the prince and held an unblocked conference in the room. Although Zhou Mengchen didn't know what the conference looked like, it was fascinating.

The prince's health is not good at all. If he overdraws like this, it is normal to get sick.

But this time I fell to the point of fainting, it was a little worried.

Zhou Mengchen took the cabinet to visit the East Palace immediately.

When Zhou Mengchen arrived, Gao Gong had been waiting outside.

Zhou Mengchen immediately asked in a low voice: "Brother Gao, what is the situation of the prince?"

In an instant, a ugly expression appeared on Gao Gong's face. Zhou Mengchen didn't know how to describe this expression for a moment. He was ashamed, embarrassed, helpless, worried, and waited for countless expressions to come together.

Gao Gong suppressed countless emotions in his heart and whispered: "No obstacle. No obstacle."

Zhou Mengchen saw that there was too much force in Gao Gong's words. He already had the answer in his heart. The prince might be in danger. After all, the more the prince's life is in danger, the stronger Gao Gong must be.

On the one hand, he was worried about affecting the prince's reputation, and on the other hand, Gao Gong also knew that once the prince had something to do, his position in the cabinet would be in danger.

If you can delay it for a while, maybe the prince’s auspicious person will have a celestial phenomenon.

Zhou Mengchen could not fully understand Gao Gong's expression at that time, but later, Zhou Mengchen found out that the prince was on the wind and fainted suddenly. There were even rumors that even if the prince died, the words were still swollen and difficult to get rid of. I don't know what kind of tiger and wolf medicine I used. After death, it was not soft.

This situation is really embarrassing.

As the prince’s teacher, Gao Gong really doesn’t know what to say at this time. How to say it.

Suddenly, there was a panic. Huang Jin was coming.

Zhou Mengchen suddenly had a bad situation.

Generally speaking, elders cannot visit the younger generation. This will bring blessings to the younger generation. The same is true for the royal family. After the emperor visits the patient, the ministers can only die. Although this is not the case between father and son, Jiajing still sent the eunuchs who value the most to come and take a look first.

As a result, as soon as Huang Jin entered, he did not come out. Immediately, a little eunuch flew towards the West Garden.

Zhou Mengchen's heart was much more at ease.

He knew that the prince would probably be in danger.

Soon a group of imperial physicians retreated from the palace, and Zhou Mengchen saw Li Shizhen at a glance.

Li Shizhen also saw Zhou Mengchen. The two of them did not speak, but just passed each other quickly, but just eye contact was enough for Zhou Mengchen.

Zhou Mengchen knew very well what Li Shizhen expressed.

The prince is in danger and is already at dying.

Zhou Mengchen's heart tightened. Looking at Gao Gong who was worried, he felt a little worried.

Compared to Jiajing, the prince is really a good boss. He trusts his subordinates, is humane and does not mess with trouble. For Zhou Mengchen, the prince is much better than Jiajing. Moreover, Zhou Mengchen is more worried about another thing.

It is the death of the prince that will break the balance of power.

Jiajing has not reached out for so many years, essentially paving the way for the prince. Although the prince seems to be the boss, the prince is older and an adult after all. All officials dare not look down on him.

Now the grandson is only ten years old.

Jiajing is already in his twilight years. It is normal to go there any time. The world is so big that it is supported by a child. Zhou Mengchen himself is not at ease, let alone Jiajing. For a moment, Zhou Mengchen could not guess what kind of decision Jiajing would make at this time.

After all, the older a person is, the more perverse the temper he has. Not to mention that Jiajing, a person with a bad temper, is not so good. Faced with such a situation, it is difficult to guess Jiajing's thoughts.

But Zhou Mengchen had an instinctive feeling of threat.

Because when Zhou Mengchen persuaded Jiajing, everything was based on the use of the crown prince. Now that the crown prince is not here, can Zhou Mengchen's entire cabinet system still satisfy Jiajing?

Zhou Mengchen didn't know.

The only thing Zhou Mengchen can comfort himself is that his second term is coming to an end. Maybe there is no need to worry so much.

Therefore, Zhou Mengchen stood outside the East Palace worriedly, calculating the variables that were brought about because of the death of the prince. There were quite a lot of variables. Only Zhang Juzheng felt a little happy in his heart.

The combination of the prince plus Gao Gong is invincible in the world. Zhang Juzheng has no choice but to Gao Gong himself. In Zhang Juzheng's opinion, there are countless ways to deal with Gao Gong.

Therefore, today's events are bad news for most people, but for Zhang Juzheng, it is good news.

What he had been worried about was that the hurdle that he could not overcome had dissolved and dissipated by himself.
Chapter completed!