The next morning, after Zhu Youjian woke up, he went to attend the morning court session.
Even in the original history, he was considered a relatively diligent emperor.
After Gao Qingyun spoiled the plot, he worked even harder, getting up early and staying up late.
The workload was approaching that of the founding emperor.
Zhu Youjian changed into his dragon robe with the help of palace maids.
Just as he was about to leave, he saw Wang Chengen with several eunuchs behind him.
The eunuchs were also carrying a large umbrella.
Zhu Youjian frowned.
"What are you doing? Is it raining outside?"
Wang Chengen nodded first, then shook his head.
"Your Majesty, it did rain last night, but it has stopped now."
Zhu Youjian nodded.
"So you brought umbrellas because you're afraid it will rain again?"
"Heh, you do care about me."
Wang Chengen expressed his gratitude profusely, but a hint of hesitation still appeared in his eyes, as if he had not yet said something.
In the past, Zhu Youjian would have absolutely ignored it.
However, after being repeatedly taught a lesson by Gao Qingyun, he finally became more shrewd.
"Wang Chengen, is there something you haven't told me?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Chengen dared not hide it any longer.
He first waved his hand, signaling the eunuchs and palace maids behind him to step back.
Then he said in a low voice, "Your Majesty is wise. This servant did indeed have something to say but did not."
"Yesterday, the eunuch from Master Gao's side reported that Master Gao suddenly and inexplicably told the students to be careful of rain tonight."
"And sure enough, it rained that night."
"The timing of the rain was almost exactly as Master Gao had described at noon!"
Zhu Youjian was startled.
"Oh? Is that really true?"
"I seem to have heard somewhere that many common people judge whether it will rain by looking at the sky, and Master Gao may do the same..."
He realized something was wrong before he could finish his sentence.
Gao Qingyun can't see, so how can he read the clouds and predict the weather?
Besides, no matter how sharp a person's eyesight is, they can only make a rough judgment.
How could you possibly pinpoint the exact moment when it rained?
Zhu Youjian sighed: "Master Gao is indeed unpredictable."
"It seems he has many other secrets."
As he said this, a medicine bottle appeared in his mind's eye—the very one that had saved his life not long ago.
After a moment, Zhu Youjian shook his head, putting these thoughts aside.
Gao Qingyun was not only his mentor, but also his savior.
In Zhu Youjian's heart, he almost regarded Gao Qingyun as family.
The more capable Gao Qingyun became, the more at ease he felt.
"So, when you sent someone to bring an umbrella, what did Master Gao say?" Zhu Youjian asked casually.
Wang Chengen immediately nodded in agreement.
"Your Majesty guessed correctly. Master Gao did indeed say that there would be another heavy rain at noon today."
Zhu Youjian smiled slightly and said nothing more.
After the morning assembly began, the Donglin Party members, who had already exchanged ideas the day before, indeed worked through the night to produce a series of congratulatory articles.
It seems that as long as Li Ruolian leads his troops out of the pass, the Jurchens will collapse instantly.
Zhu Youjian sneered inwardly.
Looking at the ministers singing his praises, he knew in his heart that they were only praising him on the surface.
But deep down, they were definitely waiting to see themselves make a fool of themselves.
All the praise now will turn into boomerangs once news of Li Ruolian's defeat arrives.
"However, you've miscalculated!"
Thinking of this, Zhu Youjian suddenly burst into laughter:
"My beloved ministers, you are right. I am very pleased!"
"Wang Chengen, go and collect all these memorials. Show them to Li Ruolian after he returns to the capital."
"Li Ruolian must be made aware that the civil officials who stopped me from appointing him as the top military scholar were not looking down on military men, but rather trying to uphold ancestral rules!"
Hearing this, Zhou Yanru and the others were unaware of the details.
I thought that was really what Zhu Youjian thought.
Many people sneered inwardly.
"Heh heh, this little emperor is so stupid, he can't even see what we mean!"
"But that's fine too. The more arrogant he is now, the greater the blow he'll suffer after the defeat!"
"Only when our Donglin Party controls the government can we lead our Great Ming Dynasty through the crisis!"
The more they thought about it, the happier they became, and finally they burst into laughter.
In an instant, the entire hall was filled with laughter.
If someone unaware of the truth were to see this, they might actually believe that the Ming Dynasty was now in harmony between the emperor and his subjects.
After a long while, the laughter gradually subsided.
Zhu Youjian rolled his eyes and pulled the ministers aside to discuss another matter.
"Former Grand Secretary Lai Zongdao has been imprisoned by me for a long time. Shouldn't he be released?"
When Zhu Youjian fell into the water, Lai Zongdao was the first to stand up and advise the emperor to establish a crown prince as soon as possible.
Although his intentions were good, Zhu Youjian did not intend to hold him accountable.
However, since he dared to say such a thing, once Zhu Youjian recovers, he will certainly lose his position as Grand Secretary.
"Lai Zongdao is getting old, and I intend to let him retire and return to his hometown."
"So, who do you think is suitable for the position of the new Grand Secretary... my esteemed ministers?"
After Zhu Youjian threw out such a bait, all the ministers who coveted the position of Grand Secretary revealed greedy looks in their eyes.
Since Emperor Taizu abolished the position of prime minister, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet has been the de facto prime minister.
Since ancient times, which civil official has never dreamed of becoming prime minister?
Now, not only Zhou Yanru, but also other civil officials with slightly less seniority were eager to try their luck.
Each person chimed in with their own opinion, nominating the powerful figures behind them.
They talked for a long time, but in the end, they never reached a conclusion.
Zhu Youjian took in this scene and nodded to himself.
He glanced at the sky outside, then suddenly smiled and said:
"It seems that none of you ministers can recommend a suitable candidate in the short term."
"In that case, let's adjourn the court."
"We'll discuss this matter again once we get news of the outcome of the Liaodong campaign."
Hearing the emperor's words, the ministers had no choice but to give up.
"We take our leave!"
However, Zhu Youjian suddenly spoke up again.
"My lords, the weather has been quite changeable lately."
"You should be careful when you go out and about, and make sure you don't catch a cold."
Upon hearing this, the ministers bowed their heads outwardly, expressing their gratitude for the emperor's concern.
But his lowered face was filled with a cold smile.
“We all travel in sedan chairs, and there are people holding umbrellas for us.”
"Unless a sudden downpour occurs the moment you get in and out of the sedan chair, so that even the servants don't have time to open an umbrella."
"Otherwise, how could you have caught a cold?"
"Does this young emperor really think that saying a few nice words about not needing money will make us loyal to our duties?"
After they left, Zhu Youjian calculated the time and revealed a cold smile on his face that was almost identical to that of the ministers earlier.
"Hehe, this is going to be good."
He clapped his hands with a smile.
After a long while, he asked Luo Yangxing:
"By the way, why haven't I seen Wei Zhongxian lately?"
"What is he doing? Has he forgotten everything I entrusted to him?"
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