The next day.
Yangxin Palace Hall.
All the officials were divided into two groups. The eunuchs placed a small table in front of each official.
Early this morning, Chongzhen had ordered all the officials to hold a banquet in Yangxin Palace Hall. No one was allowed to eat!
The entire court was discussing in low voices.
After all, with the great disaster in Shaanxi and Shanxi, the imperial court was already in a terrible state of panic when it came to collecting food. How could Chongzhen have the mood to eat?
"His Majesty has arrived!"
Wang Chengen's duck-like voice sounded.
Chong Zhen walked up the steps expressionlessly.
"Dear ministers, yesterday I heard about the locust plague in Shanxi. I couldn't sleep at night. Ever since I ascended the throne, there have been Jian Krupp outside and natural disasters inside.”
"I've let down the heavens and earth, my ancestors, and the people!”
"Wan Fang is guilty, and the crime lies with me!"
Chong Zhen's eyes were slightly red, and his emotions gradually became a little agitated.
The faces of all the officials in the court changed drastically.
The monarch insulted the courtiers and they died!
If Chongzhen was guilty, all of them as officials should die!
"Your Majesty, we are incompetent. Please don't blame yourself!”
All the officials in the court knelt down in unison.
The huge Yangxin Palace Hall was instantly filled with grief.
Many officials began to cry softly, covering their faces with their sleeves. Their grief filled the entire court.
"Your Majesty, although I am old, if Your Majesty needs anything, I am willing to hand over my life to the Imperial Court and serve the country with my life!”
Cheng Ji Ming spoke first.
"Your Majesty, this subject is also willing to go through thick and thin with the Imperial Court!”
"Your Majesty, I am willing to die for the Imperial Court. I can only die to serve my country!”
The rest of the officials quickly agreed.
"Good, good, good!"
"I knew it. In the royal court, all of you are loyal officials and my important ministers!”
Chong Zhen slapped the imperial table excitedly and stood up abruptly."In that case, I will face the difficulties together with all the ministers. With the unity of the monarch and his subjects, we will definitely be able to overcome the difficulties!”
"Men, serve the food!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the young eunuchs brought up plates of food.
All the civil and military officials hurriedly thanked him.
However, when they stood up to take a look, their faces turned pale.
There were five small plates on each table. There was no food in them. They were clearly locust cubs.
There were fried, roasted, stir-fried, and steamed dishes.
This stunned all the officials. What was Chongzhen doing?
They wouldn't let them eat locusts, right?
Can this thing be eaten?
The officials had not eaten breakfast to begin with, and now that they saw these locusts, many of them felt disgusted.
The sound of retching could be heard in the hall.
Chong Zhen acted as if he did not hear anything. He picked up a skewer of roasted locusts and walked to the front of the steps."The locust plague in Shanxi is beginning to show signs. Although it hasn't spread, I can imagine that two months later, locusts will flood Shanxi!”
"I can imagine the scene of locusts sweeping away the crops of the people!”
"I can imagine the miserable scene of my people, the people of the Great Ming Dynasty, wearing rags and not having enough to eat!”
"Zhen is heartbroken!"
Chongzhen pounded his chest and stomped his feet, revealing a fierce expression."Today, I am of the same mind as all the ministers and ministers. If these locusts really eat people's hearts, then I will bear the responsibility!”
When all the officials heard this, their expressions changed drastically.
"Your Majesty, you can't!"
"Your Majesty, it is rumored that these locusts are highly toxic. Eating them will cause poisoning.”
"Your Majesty, you can't take risks easily!”
“……”
All the civil and military officials in the court hurriedly remonstrated.
"Dear ministers, I've made up my mind!”
"Evil insects can eat my heart, but don't eat the grain of the people!”
With that, Chong Zhen took a bite of the locust skewer as if he had killed his father.
This scene shocked many of the officials!
Chongzhen was really brave!
Many of the ministers turned pale.
Chongzhen really ate it!
This…Ugh…
Many ministers directly retched.
Come on, he even spat out his bile.
Fortunately, the eunuchs beside him had prepared spittoons and all of them were presented in time.
When Chong Zhen saw this scene, he couldn't help but laugh. Last night, when he had asked the imperial chef to study how to make locusts delicious, he had also vomited like all the civil and military officials in the court.
However, after a night of research, the taste of the locusts was very good.
Especially the grilled meat in his hands. It was fragrant and fresh. He had eaten a lot last night.
The rest had their own characteristics, but they didn't look good and easily caused a reaction.
"Dear ministers, I am willing to set an example. Are you willing to work with me to fight against this evil insect?”Chong Zhen said indifferently.
The faces of all the officials in the court instantly turned ugly.
No one who could stand in the court was stupid.
How could they still not understand why Chongzhen had just come up and said something like," All sides are guilty, and the fault lies with me."
He said it so emotionally!
This was all an act!
This was to pave the way for them to eat locusts now!
They couldn't refute him!
Previously, they had all expressed their loyalty to Chongzhen, how much they loved their country, how much they were loyal to His Majesty.
Now that His Majesty wants you to eat some worms, you won't?
What did he mean?
Afraid of death?
Aren't you going to pledge your loyalty to His Majesty with your life?
That was the crime of deceiving the sovereign!
Moreover, the emperor had already eaten it. Didn't they say that the monarch and his subjects were of the same mind?
Then aren't you on the same side as the Emperor?
That was treason!
Disloyal and unfilial!
This made all the civil and military officials in the court speechless.
Since when did His Majesty have so many complicated thoughts!
Chong Zhen smiled as he looked at all the civil and military officials in the court. At this moment, Chong Zhen's face no longer had the same bemoaning expression as before. Instead, there was only the complacency of his scheme succeeding!
"Minister Cheng, as the head of the cabinet, please lead the way for the ministers!”
Chong Zhen smiled faintly.
Cheng Ji Ming sighed in his heart and said expressionlessly,""Yes!"
Qian Xiangkun and the other Pavilion Elders wanted to say something but stopped. They were a little flustered. If they ate the Foundation Establishment Life, they would be next.
The other officials also looked at Cheng Jiming.
Cheng Ji Ming didn't hesitate. He took a deep breath and mustered his courage. With the heart of dying for his country, he picked up a skewer of roasted locusts with a heavy heart!
So be it if you die!
His Majesty ate it!
Cheng Ji Ming thought to himself. He closed his eyes and took a big bite!
When the locust entered his mouth, it first emitted a unique fragrance, followed by a fresh taste. The meat juice was incomparably delicious!
Cheng Ji Ming's eyes widened in disbelief.
This taste…was too delicious!
When Qian Xiangkun and the other Pavilion Elders saw Cheng Jiming's expression, they couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
This…this chief assistant couldn't have died after taking a bite, right?
The other officials were also extremely nervous.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。