Chapter 341 The stunning Kun Ling, the beauty trap!
East of the world.

The arrival of spring has made the people of the Ming Dynasty busy with spring planting, weeding, road construction, bridge building, school construction, etc. Everyone is doing their job and everyone is happy.

Full of vitality, everything is flourishing.

The holy light of peace and harmony envelopes everyone. It is because people have experienced war and chaos that they cherish everything they have now, knowing that these things are not easy to obtain in this world.

When people’s hearts are at peace, the world will gradually become peaceful.

Cabinet, government hall.

Prime Minister Gao Gong reviewed and approved reports concerning all aspects from the two capitals and eighteen provinces. The national economy and people’s livelihood were constantly developing in a positive direction, and he smiled from the bottom of his heart.

Four years ago, who could have imagined that the Ming Dynasty would have its current development?
Four years ago, who could have imagined who would be in charge of the country?

Yan Song, Xu Jie, Zhang Juzheng, Yan Shifan, and even Zhao Zhenji, Tan Lun, etc., which one of them was not a genius, which one of them was not a celebrity of their time?
But when the time comes, some die, some die, and some get hurt.

After two years in office, Gao Gong already knew that the missing Xu Jie had actually been in the capital, imprisoned in a secret courtyard of the East Factory.

As a former “friend”, Gao Gong wanted to visit him on a whim, but was politely rejected by Huang Jin, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department and the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Depot.

Xu Jie and Gao Gong had a bad relationship. It was easy to imagine that Gao Gong’s visit was not out of concern, but rather a way of mocking or sighing in the manner of a victor.

During the three years of imprisonment, Xu Jie’s condition deteriorated. He killed his son with his own hands in the Meridian Gate, and none of his clansmen escaped in the “anti-Xu” movement. His mentor died in the snow because of him, and the Donglin Academy he founded was also destroyed in several disturbances.

Xu Jie was a man with a strong heart. When he first was imprisoned, he would present poems to the emperor and his father during festivals, hoping to gain their mercy.

But no matter how strong his heart was, it could not stop the constant neglect. The emperor and his father never responded to Xu Jie’s poems, nor did they show any grace to Xu Jie.

When hope turned into despair, Xu Jie fell ill and was unable to even get up from his bed. The imperial physician Li Shizhen went to treat him, but he said that external illnesses were easy to cure but heart illnesses were difficult to treat. He only left a few prescriptions, instructed the East Factory guards on how to boil and take them, and then passed away.

The person is already in this state, and if he is stimulated again, he may not survive. Therefore, the kind-hearted Huang Jin despises the moral character of this prime minister.

However, unable to resist Gao Gong’s constant nagging, Huang Jin revealed his father’s final decision on Xu Jie.

Regardless of whether Xu Jie’s illness was real or fake, it was impossible for Xu Jie to leave that small courtyard alive, but the emperor and his father allowed Xu Jie to be honored after his death, his name to be recorded in the national history, and he was granted sacrifices.

Gao Gong was satisfied. The national history should be compiled by historians, but since the Tang Dynasty, the reputation of historians for their “integrity” has become widely known.

In addition, whether it is granting sacrifices or setting up cemeteries, these have to be handled by the court. As the chief minister of the cabinet, he has to make the final decision.

Gao Gong claimed that he was an honest man and would never make trouble at the funeral of his enemy. He patted his chest and promised to give Xu Jie a grand funeral.

Especially in terms of firecrackers, a solemn promise was made that when Xu Jie’s coffin was sent back to Songjiang, firecrackers would be placed wherever the coffin went. If the expenses exceeded the prescribed amount, that part would be borne by Gao Gong. If the prime minister’s salary was not enough, the Gao family would also donate money to see “Xu Jie, Lord Xu” off for the last time.

He was not recognized by the people during his lifetime, but after his death, Gao Gong ensured that Xu Jie would become “famous throughout the world.”

If the wealthy families had not moved to Yongling, Gao Gong would have planned to live in Songjiang after he stepped down from the position of Chief Minister of the Cabinet, so that it would be convenient for him to “worship” every year in the future.

Facing Gao Gong’s pity, Huang Jin spat at him, turned around and left. How much hatred did this man have that he couldn’t even forgive him after his death.

But this also gave Huang Jin a warning, that is, he must live long, otherwise it would be too early to die and it would be too early to have enemies and foes. The thought of the scene of firecrackers going off in front of the grave after his death made him shudder.

It may be lively, but even the dead cannot rest in peace, and the enemies can do whatever they want. Who can bear this?
Huang Jin learned well in the inner study hall. In an instant, he thought of several people in history who lived long lives and counterattacked their enemies, such as Sima Qian, Sima Yi, Sima Guang… Hey, why are they all from the Sima family?

Therefore, Gao Gong has been in a good mood in recent days, and has even been much friendlier towards other people in the cabinet, ministers of the six ministries and nine departments, and visitors from local areas.

This made some people who saw Gao Gong for the first time think that the rumor about “Gao Huzi” having a bad temper was just a rumor, or that he had changed it.

The court and the country were at peace, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. Thinking of the high evaluation of the cabinet of this dynasty in history books and later generations, Gao Gong could not help humming Kunqu opera.

“My face is as white as a peach, my waist is as thin as a willow, and my brows are furrowed with worry and illness.

I’m not sad about the coming of spring, so why am I staying indoors?

I am afraid of seeing bees flying outside the window and catkins flying in front of the eaves. I want to get rid of them during the Qingming Festival…”

The deputy prime minister Hu Zongxian, and the other ministers Li Chunfang, Hai Rui, and Zhu Heng were not surprised by the unusual movements of the prime minister these days, but it was a bit too much for him to sing a little tune while on duty.

Hu Zongxian’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Gao Gong and said with a smile, “This is a passage from Huanxisha: Holding the Heart. It doesn’t sound like the original Kunshan tune. Yuanfu, who modified this tune?”

Seeing Hu Zongxian directly explain the tune, Gao Gong felt like he had met a bosom friend, and laughed, “This is the Xin Kun tune that Wei Liangfu from Kunshan used to modify after ten years of seclusion using water mill. People in Jiangnan call it water mill tune. What do you think, Ruzhen?”

Hu Zongxian nodded and said, “Not bad. This Wei Liangfu is also amazing. After ten years of hard work, he has lost his worldly airs. It’s rare.”

Gao Gong became interested and sang a few more lines, “The east wind is helpless, and another spring has passed.

Good things are wasted, and the gains are gloomy and spring illness is many…”

Seeing that Gao Gong still didn’t know how to restrain himself, Hai Rui put down the wolf-hair brush in his hand and said, “What a good fellow.”

As soon as these four words came out, Gao Gong’s face immediately turned red, then blue, as if he was an unripe wolf peach.

Kunling is a female actor.

Qiandan is a male actor dressed as a woman.

Actors are lowly, so people often say: “Whores are heartless and actors are disloyal.”

To compare the prime minister of the dynasty to a joke is already a great insult, and to insult him by not distinguishing between men and women is an even greater insult.

“Hai Ruxian, what do you mean?” Gao Gong asked in a cold tone, burning with anger.

A smile will not disappear, it will only shift. Gao Gong stopped smiling, but Hai Rui smiled and said, “The Yuanfu can sing so delicately. It is obvious that he cannot achieve it overnight. It takes a lot of effort to polish the tune. I have heard that Wei Liangfu composed a song for a beautiful Kunling and brought her to the Prime Minister’s residence. I wonder if the Yuanfu knows that Kunling?”

Wei Liangfu was not a professional composer, he was a serious official of the Ming Dynasty.

He became a Jinshi in the fifth year of Jiajing, and served in the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Justice, and the Deputy Envoy of the Guangxi Censorate.

In the 31st year of Jiajing’s reign, he was promoted to the Left Governor of Shandong. Three years later, he retired and lived in Taicang, Jiangsu.

Wei Liangfu, who was over 70 years old, might have lost the ambition to serve the people and indulge in music, but how could one be without any worries in life? He had children, daughters and grandchildren, and he could take care of them when he was in the court. But after he left the court, his children and grandchildren were forgotten by the public and could only be entrusted to others to take care of.

Yuanfu has no children, and everyone knows that he is inevitably used by people with ulterior motives. He is in a high position and has countless temptations. But Yuanfu likes simple things: one, power, two, drama, and three, sex.

In terms of power, no one can give Gao Gong more than the current emperor.

Gao Gong had seen countless beauties, countless beautiful girls, and countless soft Wu dialects.

But it was the first time that Gao Gong heard the stunning female actor singing Kunqu opera in the soft Wu dialect.

Moreover, Hai Rui’s words were full of sarcasm. If Gao Gong had never seen the person who had entered the prime minister’s residence, would he have to return home every night after work just to see his aging and ugly wife?
Hear the words.

Hu Zongxian, Li Chunfang and Zhu Heng were all stunned. They had heard some rumors about the Prime Minister’s Mansion and thought they were just jokes and did not take them seriously.

After all, state affairs are so busy that one has to sit in the government hall, drink a bowl of tea, and deal with a bunch of government affairs for a whole day. Both the spirit and the body are exhausted, so how can one have time to think about anything else?

Everyone present was roughly the same age, and they all thought their mental and physical conditions were similar, but through Hai Rui’s words, everyone sensed something unusual.

Old pervert… Well, I didn’t expect the Prime Minister to have so much free time when state affairs are so heavy.

Thinking of this, the three cabinet ministers Hu, Li and Zhu all sighed in their hearts at the same time that the cabinet members of Yan Song at that time were indeed all “gods”.

There is no need to say much about Yan Song. At the age of eighty, he was still able to hold power over the country. His son, Yan Shifan, was harming the people and had just married his ninth concubine when he was held accountable by the current emperor.

When Xu Jie and Zhang Juzheng were in the court, they were incredibly energetic and often took strong and powerful drugs. This was known to everyone in the court.

I thought Gao Gong was an exception, able to withstand all tests except for power, but what kind of official could withstand such a test as the beautiful Kunling, which was almost a privately tailored one?

Yuanfu must have learned the Kunshan dialect on his bed. No wonder he learned it so well. You really need to learn Kunqu opera!

Li Chunfang couldn’t help but think of a little discovery of the Chen family made by his old friend Chen Yiqin, which was that “people who are active in one field are generally not weak in other fields.” But she never expected that Yuanfu, who was already in his fifties, could still be so passionate…

The questioning and teasing from his colleagues made the blueness on Gao Gong’s face disappear, and his whole face turned red, like a ripe peach.

“I am a minister in the same cabinet, and the Prime Minister is also the head of the cabinet. I shouldn’t be like this.”

Hai Rui looked at Gao Gong, his eyes clear of any distracting thoughts, and continued, “But it is precisely because we are both ministers that I want to advise the Prime Minister not to ruin his reputation for the sake of a play…’benefit’.”

These words came from Hai Rui’s heart.

The rumors about other cabinet ministers being able to become prime ministers were false, and so should Hai Rui. However, Hai Rui could speak with certainty at this time and knew more than the other cabinet ministers. The source of the information was Yan Jing, the sworn brother of the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.

The Censorate was keeping an eye on the Prime Minister’s Mansion and Gao Gong, and would immediately launch an impeachment if they found any behavior of favoritism or corruption on Gao Gong’s part.

Hai Rui could pretend nothing happened, letting Gao Gong fall into a deeper trap, and speak up for Gao Gong because he really wanted Gao Gong to change his ways and not make such a big mistake for an actor.

Being criticized by his colleagues, Gao Gong felt more ashamed, but when he heard Hai Rui’s insults to the people he cherished, even though Hai Rui had tried his best to restrain his insults, Gao Gong still exploded and said angrily: “Then tell me, is Shanniang just a benefit? Can’t I tell the difference between true and false human feelings?”

Shanniang?

The third cabinet minister who was listening in repeated the name in his mind, and the prime minister took the initiative to say the name, which shows how much he cherishes it.

But the words that relied on many years of experience in officialdom to defend himself and Shan Niang, and that he claimed to know the warmth and coldness of the world, were so clear to the Third Elder as a bystander that he almost laughed out loud.

If the beauty trap was really that simple, it would not have appeared in the Thirty-Six Strategies.

The reason why the beauty trap has a certain “destructive power” is mainly because it touches people’s deepest emotions and desires.

People are often easily attracted by appearance and ignore the other person’s possible hidden motives.

In addition, when it comes to power, love or sex, people’s decision-making is often influenced, and they may make decisions without reason.

Others only think that the beauty trap is just a stunning beauty posing in a coquettish manner. However, the most realistic beauty trap is hard for even the emperor to refuse.

For example, Wei Zifu brought Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, and Huo Guang. Huo Qubing was holding Jin Midi in his hand. They just stood there.

The three cabinet ministers could not think of any emperor in history who could refuse.

Now Gao Gong fell into the beauty trap. He was a stunning female actor singing Kunqu Opera in the soft Wu dialect. She looked pitiful and said that she wanted to bear a child for the prime minister.

As expected, Yuanfu had such aesthetic fantasies when he was young and frivolous and had not yet entered the official career and was a romantic student.

All the people present were smart. The glances they exchanged gave them a glimpse into Gao Gong’s many youthful fantasies. The colors in their eyes were not just brilliant, they were simply soaring.

Hai Rui was silent. He did not expect that the Prime Minister would be so deeply poisoned.

But in Gao Gong’s eyes, his colleague’s silence was because he was intimidated. He became more arrogant and said to Hai Rui, “Shanniang and I are in love. You will probably never understand this kind of love!”

The Book of Rites states: “Humans have seven emotions: joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, hate, and desire.”

When the word love comes out.

Hu Zongxian, Li Chunfang, and Zhu Heng were stunned. They even stopped making eye contact and all looked at Gao Gong.

It would be difficult for the so-called “Shan Niang” to make the prime minister of the cabinet so infatuated with her beauty and Kunqu opera alone.

There is only one possibility, Shanniang did something that Gao Gong had always wanted.

Hai Rui’s eyes showed a complicated expression, and he slowly said, “May I ask Yuan Fu, is Shan Niang pregnant?”

Hai Rui and Gao Gong had a lot in common on the issue of offspring. After many years of marriage, they had no children, and Gao Gong’s three daughters did not even live to adulthood. In this era where ethics and morals were supreme, not having children was considered unfilial. As for the pressure, no one knew better than Hai Rui how much pressure Gao Gong was under.

Hai Rui was lucky in that his wife became pregnant in the 40th year of Jiajing’s reign. The baby was born in the 41st year of Jiajing’s reign and is now three years old. However, Gao Gong was still facing the situation of dying without an heir.

Gao Youshi, the adopted son from his brother, was adopted after all.

Gao Gong was silent.

Gao Youshi, the Secretary of the Central Secretariat who was guarding outside the Government Affairs Hall, sighed imperceptibly.

(End of this chapter)