Chapter 100 Chapter 100
After Cao Da received the news, he couldn't get angry in front of Dan Feng, but as soon as the people left, he smashed the set of Yue porcelain tea set on the table to pieces.
But Empress Dowager Zhaoyu had said so before.
This book is compiled exclusively for you by the LK team. Cao Da naturally didn't dare to do anything behind anyone's back.
It was not the time to fall out yet, and Cao Da naturally did not want to be attacked from all sides, so he could only swallow his anger for the time being.
"If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have let the girl from the Xu family marry Xie Qingya!" Cao Da was really regretful. He regretted that he had made such a bad move just for the sake of momentary pleasure.
If Xie Qingya had not married the girl from the Xu family, the one in Shoukang Palace wouldn't have been so indecisive.
But it’s no use regretting now, I can only be angry in secret, it’s really infuriating!
Chen Li was picking up the debris on the ground, thinking about how to comfort his godfather so as not to be scolded, when he suddenly heard a cold voice coming from the front: "The one from Shoukang Palace is taking me less and less seriously now..."
At this point, he could not help but get angry again: "It's all because of Wang Shi's uselessness. I paved the way for her, but she still managed to reveal her flaws and be discovered by others! If not for this, I should have had the final say in this palace by now."
"Fuck daddy!"
Chen Li's face changed and he shouted softly.
As he shouted, he ran outside to look, fearing that some ignorant person might have heard what happened.
Make sure no one is there.
He finally breathed a sigh of relief, came over with a handful of broken porcelain pieces, looked at Cao Da with a pale face and said, "Why did you suddenly bring up this matter? If anyone hears this, the master of Shoukang Palace will definitely not forgive us!"
Cao Da saw that he looked worried and panicked.
Although he knew that he was worried about him getting into trouble, Cao Da couldn't help but feel annoyed.
This is what it feels like to be oppressed by someone above you.
If there was no one in Shoukang Palace, what would he be afraid of that greenhorn in Qianqing Palace?
At first, he wanted to use Wang to kill the man in Shoukang Palace.
After the incident happened, Wang would be pushed out.
From then on, he had the Jinyiwei outside the palace, which he had built up, and the East Factory in the inner court, and everyone was under his control.
So what if he's a eunuch?
So what if you don’t have children of your own?
This book is exclusively compiled for you by the LK team. He can still stand at the pinnacle of power, making others bow down to him and even let the emperor call him "Ya Fu" in person!
Looking back at the past dynasties, there were times when eunuchs were in power.
There are many records in history books about the eunuchs' tremendous power. Shouting "nine thousand years old" was nothing.
"Holding the title of king in hand and speaking the law of heaven", this is the life he should have!
Unfortunately, Wang was useless. It was useless for him to pave the way for others. Instead, he made the person in Shoukang Palace become alert.
Over the years, he has never been able to find the right opportunity and can only maintain a superficial balance with others.
Instead, I am now forced to retreat again and again.
Cao Da endured for a while, but in the end he did not scold Chen Li, but just turned his face away impatiently.
Chen Li didn't dare to say anything more.
After quickly packing up the things, he poured another cup of tea for the guest.
After taking a sip, Cao Da calmed down a lot. He asked, "Is there any news in Zhuzhou recently?"
Chen Li knew what he was asking about and shook his head.
Cao Da's expression was difficult to discern.
Chen Li carefully observed his expression and saw that he was not very angry at the moment. However, he was still worried and whispered to others, "Father, aren't you afraid that the people in Jizhou will tell the person in Shoukang Palace? Prince An is the best at changing his attitude according to the situation."
"Moreover, the imperial court has never restricted Jizhou in recent years. I don't think Prince An has this intention."
"What do you know?"
Cao Da glanced at him.
After hearing this, Chen Li dared not say anything more and could only concentrate on listening.
"How do you think our late emperor's brothers died? The Emperor Ming gave birth to so many princes, but only three survived. One is Prince Xin, who was born to the same mother as our late emperor and raised by him. The other is our Prince An."
After all, Chen Li is not very old.
When he entered the palace, Prince An was already in his fiefdom in Jizhou, so there were some things he was naturally unaware of.
But Cao Da was clear about it.
At this time, he said to Chen Li: "The second prince, Prince An, has been smart since he was young and is very much loved by the Emperor Ming. If it were not for the relationship between the Xiao family and Prince Wen Zhao, the throne would not have been our late emperor's turn to sit on it."
"After the birth of Crown Prince Wen Zhao, our Prince An suddenly fell seriously ill and was on the verge of death. After he got better, he asked to go to his fiefdom. Not long after he left, our late emperor was named crown prince."
"Was it the late emperor who murdered him?" Chen Li asked in a low voice.
Cao Da glanced at him.
Then he looked mysterious, retracted his gaze, held the teacup, looked ahead, and continued indifferently: "Once upon a time, we all thought so."
This "we" naturally refers to many people, such as him and the one in Shoukang Palace.
"But later I discovered that during the years when the late emperor was alive, he sent many people to Jizhou to inquire."
"At first I thought the late emperor was just worried about Prince An, until one day I heard him chatting with Prince Xin about this matter, and the late emperor said that he didn't have time to take action against Prince An at the time."
"This……"
Chen Li's expression changed slightly.
"Then Prince An's illness..." He murmured quietly, and his thoughts were almost drifting to the person in Shoukang Palace.
But then I heard another voice coming from the front: "What if he did it himself?"
"What?"
Chen Li was stunned at first.
When he reacted, his face changed drastically.
He subconsciously felt that it was impossible, but he also felt that it made sense.
Since you know you are in a dead end, it is better to retreat while the tide is flowing, so that you can still save your life.
But if this is true, then it is too different from the way Prince An usually behaves.
When the young emperor ascended the throne in his early years, Prince An was recalled once.
That was also the first and only time Chen Li met His Royal Highness Prince An.
Prince An is almost fifty years old this year. He is white and plump. He looks very kind but a little timid.
The man in Shoukang Palace at that time wanted to test Prince An's abilities, so he deliberately asked his godfather to arrange an assassination.
Unexpectedly, Prince An was so frightened that he peed his pants in front of everyone.
It was also because of this reason that he returned to Jizhou the next day and has not been back for many years.
There is still a nickname circulating among the people, "The Fat Prince Who Wets in His Pants", which refers to this Prince An.
"But if this is really the case, then His Royal Highness Prince An is too patient and too unfathomable. Is it really okay for my godfather to conspire with such a person?" Chen Li was very worried.
He knew the reason why his godfather wanted to cooperate with Prince An was that he didn't want to be inferior to the one in Shoukang Palace anymore.
But as he listened, he felt that this Prince An was even more terrifying than the one in Shoukang Palace.
Isn't it like conspiring with a tiger to do this?
"When Prince An came to Beijing, Doctor Yu took his pulse." Cao Da suddenly said this.
Just when Chen Li was still puzzled as to why he suddenly changed the subject, he suddenly heard someone say, "Doctor Yu said he doesn't have much time left."
"Put yourself in a desperate situation and then survive. In order to leave, King An took a ruthless drug on himself."
Cao Da took another sip of tea, and then continued to speak calmly, "The three generations of Prince An's family, he himself is about to die, and his son has been weak and sick since childhood, and it seems that he will not live long... This is why the one in our Shoukang Palace can be so confident in their family."
"But she forgot that a dying tiger can still bite."
Cao Da narrowed his eyes and revealed an ambiguous smile on his face: "If I can support Prince An's family to ascend the throne, even if I have suffered some injustice in the past few years, when he and his son pass away, what should I be afraid of with just a baby?"
Movement returns to mountains and seas, breath turns into frost and dew.
One day, he will stand at the top of everyone and make everyone submit to him!
In recent years, he seemed to be controlled by the man in Shoukang Palace, but he was secretly looking for other ways out.
And this Prince An was another way out he planned for himself.
Originally, if the young emperor had been more obedient, he could have allowed him to be the emperor. However, as the young emperor grew up, he became more and more thoughtful. Moreover, there was an uncontrollable existence like Xie Qingya. He did not want to become a wedding dress for others in vain and end up with his head and body separated.
"Send another trustworthy person to deliver a letter to Jizhou, attach the name of my house in Jizhou, and tell him that under the osmanthus tree behind the house, I have written my letter of surrender to His Royal Highness Prince An."
"As long as Prince An can allow me to continue to enjoy my current wealth and splendor after ascending the throne, I still have a lot of 'thoughts' to contribute to Prince An."
Chen Li no longer had any doubts at this point, and he agreed immediately. Seeing someone coming outside, he also stopped talking.
Although those who came were all my godfather's confidants.
But for things like this, the fewer people know about it, the better.
"Ancestor, Lord Quan is here again." After the man came in and greeted Cao Da, he said to others with a helpless look on his face.
When Cao Da heard this, his previously calm expression suddenly became extremely ugly.
"Isn't it enough for this money-hungry guy? He's still not satisfied!" Cao Da was furious.
How could he not know what his stupid brother was here for?
It’s all because of Xun Yan’s history!
He said with a cold face, without thinking, "No, get him out!"
The visitor looked at Chen Li hesitantly, unsure whether it would be feasible for him to go like this.
After Chen Li caught Cao Da's attention, he said, "Fuck dad, I'll go talk to him."
Cao Da glanced at him impatiently, with a look of dissatisfaction on his face.
陳立先把人打發下去之後，又壓着聲音同他說道：“您就算不看在大人的面子上，好歹也先想想小郎君，您不是還想着明年把小郎君接到自己身邊嗎？總不能真的就這樣抹了大人的臉面了。”
“兒子替您好好跟大人說去，一定不讓他再為這事來煩您。”
“他還有什麽臉面？”話是這樣說，但曹達終究也沒反對，揮着手讓人退下了。
陳立松了口氣，又與人欠了欠身，這才退下。
……
全方同今年三十有幾，比曹達要小上一輪，當年曹達被賣掉的時候，他還沒出生。
或許是因為不是一個娘的緣故，兄弟倆長得其實并不像。
這也是為什麽，旁人從未猜過他們是兄弟的緣故。
此時他正被陳立請到了司禮監的一處值房裏，這處值房是陳立平日用來辦公和休息用的。
作為曹達最信任的幹兒子，也是司禮監中除曹達以外最有話語權的人，陳立的值房自然不會差。
桌上已擺好了糕點和茶水。
但全方同的眼睛，卻始終流連在屋內那幾幅名家字畫上面，還有那幾只一看就價值不菲的瓷瓶。
陳立進來的時候，就看到全方同站在那幾只瓷瓶面前，這邊摸一下那邊碰一下，光從背影就能看出他的貪婪。
他眼中閃過一抹厭棄，臉上卻照舊挂着一個笑。
“讓大人久等。”
全方同一聽到他的聲音，倒是立刻回過了頭。
“陳公公。”他對陳立倒是十分客氣，顯然也清楚他在司禮監的地位，以及在他哥心中的位置。
“我哥呢？他還是不肯見我？”全方同有些不高興。
陳立沒有正面回答，只同人做了個請坐的手勢，待人坐下之後，他便跟着在全方同的對面坐下了。
這才一邊給自己倒了盞茶，一邊同人說道：“幹爹這會在忙。”
這話一看就是推辭搪塞，全方同豈會相信？他臉色先是一沉，待反應過來坐在對面的是誰之後，方才強行忍住。
“陳公公，你替我跟我哥好好說說，我想去做這個，還不是為了他，他手下養着這麽多人，我總得替他多考慮下。”
“我哥也真是的，肥水不流外人田的道理，他都不知道。”
“這世上除了我以外，還有誰會這樣全心全意待他？”話說到這，待看到陳立瞥過來的視線，他忙又腆着臉補充了一句，“當然，陳公公你是例外，誰不知道，我哥最信任的就是你了。”
“大人謬贊。”
陳立與人笑笑，并未把這聲恭維放在心上。
“其實幹爹不讓您做這事，也是為了您好。”
見全方同一臉不信的模樣，陳立忽然壓低聲音與人說道：“大人可知曉，今日幹爹為何生氣？”
“我哥生氣了？”全方同一愣。
他倒是不知道這事，此時自是一臉納罕道：“誰這麽大膽，敢惹他生氣？”聲音倒是也因為陳立的這番話，放輕了許多。
顯然也是害怕這把火，燒到他的身上。
“大人可知曉南安王如今在玉田的處境？”陳立不答反問。
“不是說玉田有瘟疫嗎？他怎麽樣，死了沒？”全方同聽他說起謝清崖，倒是又顯出幾分激動。
他進京那日，就聽說玉田那邊的事了。
心裏正感慨着也不知道是哪個倒黴蛋，這麽倒黴催的，這種時候去玉田，就聽人說，這次去的官員正是謝家那小子。
知曉這事的時候，他自是好不興奮。
恨不得謝家那小子，就這麽死在玉田。
其實說句心裏話，他并沒把謝家那小子放在心上，當初那件事處理得十分幹淨，除非有鬼跟他通風報信。
不然謝家那小子，是絕不可能知道這事的。
但他哥卻不肯他留在京城，非要把他派到外頭去。
事實證明，他沒錯，謝家那小子這些年活得人不人鬼不鬼的，每天醉生夢死，雖然仰仗着嘉順長公主，得了個順天府尹的差事，但也沒多少人信服他。
想到前些日子回京，他哥又對他耳提面命。
他就煩不勝煩。
但再煩，他也不敢在他哥面前表現出來。
不過在陳立面前，他的态度便要松泛許多，聽人這樣詢問，他也只是随口問了一句：“什麽處境？”
陳立沒隐瞞，把謝清崖在玉田受人褒揚、以及衆人下跪的事，都同全方同說了。
全方同聽完之後，也不禁有些納罕。
沒想到這南安王去了玉田，口碑就立即反轉了，但他心裏其實還是沒有把這事，太放在心上。
陳立卻不知道他在想什麽，只繼續同人說道：“幹爹本來想把這南安王秘密處置了，可壽康宮那位不肯，所以幹爹不讓您做那事，也是為了您好，以免您總是在那南安王面前出現，讓他想到什麽，就不好了，您說是吧？”
“畢竟當年那場戰役，死得可是他的親父兄，擱南安王從前的脾氣，要是知道這事和大人有關，大人覺得自己……”眼見全方同臉色霎時變得慘白起來，陳立則繼續盯着人，一字一頓繼續同人說道，“還有命活着嗎？”
全方同被人這話說得，想去握茶盞，卻先失手打翻了眼前的茶盞。
直到手觸碰到熱水，這才匆匆回過神。
他一邊失态地拿帕子擦手，一邊則開口，說話時，聲音不知不覺已經啞了：“……不至于吧，當初的事，不是瞞得挺好的嗎？”
陳立淡聲：“誰知道呢？但大人總不會想試試吧？”
全方同自然不敢。
陳立也看出來了，便繼續好聲好氣與人說道：“這巡鹽禦史又不是就今年一年，待風頭過去，到時候大人要是還想做，我一定替大人好好跟幹爹說一說。”
全方同聽他這樣說，臉色這才好看了一些。
他勉強與人一笑：“那就多謝陳公公了。”
陳立自是笑着說不必。
“那大人今日先回去？”他問全方同。
全方同自然沒意見。
他本來就是為着巡鹽禦史的事來的，想着要是真能拿到這個任命，被罵一頓也就罵一頓。
但現在到嘴的鴨子，都已經飛了，他何必再去挨一頓罵。
得不償失。
因此全方同也沒說什麽，點了點頭，便準備起身走了。
陳立倒是反而讓人先留步。
他親自起身給人裝了兩幅字畫，送給全方同。
見他臉色明顯變得好了許多。
陳立繼續溫聲與人說道：“大人一個人來，拿不了太多東西，這幾只花瓶，回頭我讓人直接送去大人的府中。”
“這多不好意思。”
全方同看着矜持了一下，但眼睛早就貪婪地移不開了。
陳立與人笑笑：“大人是風雅之人，看得懂這些，我卻是個兩眼白目的粗人，給我是白費了。”
全方同自是知曉他這是在故意貶低自己，以此擡高他，雖然心裏十分驕傲自滿，但全方同也不至于這麽蠢，什麽都表現出來。
“陳公公這話說的，你要是兩眼白目的粗人，這世上就沒多少聰明人了。”
二人說笑又彼此恭維一番之後，陳立親自送全方同走了出去。
恰在此時，司禮監中又來了一位衣着得體的內監。
路過的人看到他，便恭敬地喊他一聲“喬公公”。
這位喬公公，便是徐端宜讓時雨找的那位喬衷。
宮裏有二十四衙門。
這司禮監，其實就位屬于這二十四衙門之中。 本書由LK團隊為您獨家整理 但因為如今的司禮監掌印是曹達，這司禮監的地位，自然也要高于其他二十三個衙門，大有領頭羊的姿态。
這司禮監的太監們，自然也要高出其餘衙門的人。
而這喬衷，如今是針工局黃公公的麾下。
這針工局負責宮中的衣裳制作，看似沒什麽地位，但卻十分重要，這宮裏上到主子，下到奴才，一年四季的衣裳都得出自他們手中。
越是底下的人，越盼着能有一件好衣裳。
尤其是冬天，一件禦寒的衣裳，對他們而言可太重要了。
也因此，喬衷雖然地位不高，但在宮中卻十分受歡迎。
他今日是來送今年夏季的衣裳的，自是一來就引得衆人十分高興，有人還要拉着喬衷去喝幾杯。
喬衷也不推辭，沖他們笑着說好，眼睛卻往一處看去。
在看到陳立領着一個穿着官員服飾的男人，從自己的值房出來的時候，不由往那處多看了一眼。
此時圍繞在喬衷身邊的，都是些基層的內監。
沒什麽地位，自然也不知道這個全方同的真實身份，但他們有眼睛，有耳朵，自然會聽會看。
這會見喬衷望着那處，只當他疑惑全方同的身份，便與他說道：“那是江寧織造局的全大人，現在拜在我們老祖宗的門下，今日估計又是來拜見老祖宗的，不過老祖宗今天心情不好，沒見他。”
喬衷聽到這話，不動聲色地收回視線，嘴裏卻随口問了一句：“他經常來？”
說話的那人，跟喬衷關系不錯。
Of course, he did not hide anything and answered truthfully: "Whenever this Lord Quan returns to the capital, he will come to pay homage to our ancestor. But this is not surprising. There are many people who want to pay homage to our ancestor."
The man's tone was very proud.
"But——"
The man suddenly changed the subject. He looked around first, then lowered his voice and continued to say to Qiao Zhong: "When you see this Lord Quan in the future, remember not to offend him."
"Why would I offend these adults for no reason?" Qiao Zhong said with a smile.
Seeing that he looked like nothing had happened, the man couldn't help but look around again, then he pulled his arm and continued, "I'm doing this for your own good. Mr. Quan is still highly regarded by our ancestors. His job as the Jiangning Textile Factory was actually arranged by our ancestors."
"Eunuch Chen also reminded us privately to be polite to this gentleman and remember not to offend him."
Qiao Zhong's heart was slightly moved.
In fact, he had just noticed the difference in Chen Li's attitude towards people.
He pretended not to know and continued to ask with a puzzled look on his face: "Why is this? Is there something extraordinary about this Master Quan?"
"Whether I can live with others or not, I don't know. It's probably because we gave too much money to our ancestors as a tribute."
That's what they speculated privately.
So at this moment, the words came out without thinking, and when he saw Qiao Zhong's eyes, he became scared: "Don't tell anyone else."
Qiao Zhong comforted her kindly, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone else."
Although Qiao Zhong is highly valued by Eunuch Huang and is now the second-in-command in the Needlework Bureau, because he is young and has a gentle temperament, the young eunuchs in the palace all like to talk to him.
Hearing him say this, the man breathed a sigh of relief.
He just continued talking about other topics with Qiao Zhong.
Qiao Zhong listened with a smile on his face, but in his heart he was thinking about what Miss Shi Yu had just said to him.
I don't know why Your Highness wants to know about Cao Da's situation.
But since it was His Highness' order, he would naturally go through fire and water and would not refuse even if it meant death.