Liver into a martial arts legend: starting with Embroidered Spring Blade

Chapter 172 Zhu Youjian's Dissatisfaction, Xigong Yuhuatian! [Second Update, Please Subscribe]

Capital City, Imperial Palace.

After reviewing today's memorials, Zhu Youjian got up and stretched his limbs.

"Your Majesty!" Wang Chengen hurriedly served tea.

Zhu Youjian took the drink, sipped it, and casually asked, "Jiang Xuan hasn't returned yet?"

"Your Majesty, not yet," Wang Chengen replied respectfully.

Zhu Youjian frowned, somewhat displeased: "This Jiang Xuan is becoming more and more outrageous!"

"I granted him permission to wipe out the Songshan Sect. After that was done, he's now handling some case. What kind of case is it that requires the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to handle it personally? And it's been going on for so long! The Embroidered Uniform Guard has been back in the capital for two months, and he still hasn't returned, not even a word from him!"

"I think he's increasingly disregarding me!"

Wang Chengen remained silent, neither adding insult to injury nor speaking up for Jiang Xuan.

His relationship with Jiang Xuan was neither good nor bad. In this situation, he should, in principle, speak up for Jiang Xuan and do him a favor.

However, when Zhu Youjian asked Jiang Xuan for his opinion on the selection of the head of the Eastern Depot, Jiang Xuan recommended Cao Zhengchun. As a result, Zhu Youjian was somewhat dissatisfied with Jiang Xuan, so at this time, he was too lazy to speak up for Jiang Xuan.

Seeing that Wang Chengen remained silent, Zhu Youjian glanced at him and said, "Wang Chengen, you've become increasingly silent lately. What's wrong? Don't you want to share my burdens?"

Wang Chengen's expression changed slightly, and he quickly lowered his head and said, "This servant dares not. It is my honor to be able to share the Emperor's burdens."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Lord Jiang left the capital to handle a case without the Emperor's permission and did not report to the Emperor. That is indeed a bit inappropriate."

"You dog!" Zhu Youjian was clearly dissatisfied with Wang Chengen's perfunctory attitude. He snorted, but didn't say much. He knew that Wang Chengen did indeed harbor resentment over the selection of Cao Zhengchun as the head of the Eastern Depot.

But he couldn't change his mind and dismiss Cao Zhengchun because of this.

Moreover, thunder and rain are both acts of imperial favor.

Wang Chengen showed his dissatisfaction on his face, which added to his frustration and disgust.

Does becoming emperor mean there's no one you can trust?

Everyone was thinking about their own interests, but no one was considering the emperor's feelings at all!

This world belongs to the Ming Dynasty, and it belongs to Zhu Youjian!
Without him, how could these people hold high positions and enjoy wealth and luxury?
Thinking of this, Zhu Youjian became even more displeased. He put the teacup back on the dragon table and ordered, "If Jiang Xuan returns, tell him to come see me immediately!"

After saying this, Zhu Youjian left with his hands behind his back.

Wang Chengen felt a jolt of fear and immediately regretted his actions.

Having served the emperor since childhood, he knew Zhu Youjian's personality very well.

Although the emperor did not say anything, he knew that when the emperor remained silent, it meant that the emperor was already angry.

"I deserve to die for daring to act out in front of the Emperor. But... I have served the Emperor for so many years and done so much for him. Even if I have no merit, I have certainly worked hard. And... putting aside the facts, is the Emperor completely without fault?"

Wang Chengen felt extremely wronged.

Meanwhile, Zhu Youjian returned to the inner palace to retire for the night.

Recently, a newly acquired Consort Wan has been very understanding and has caught Zhu Youjian's eye. For several days in a row this month, Zhu Youjian has spent the night in Consort Wan's West Palace.

It must be said that Consort Wan was indeed very understanding. When Zhu Youjian came, she first helped him undress, then personally accompanied him to bathe and gave him a massage.

Feeling those soft, nimble little hands roaming over his body, Zhu Youjian felt all the fatigue of the day disappear. Feeling empty, he couldn't help but want to confide in someone, so he told Consort Wan about his recent troubles, including Wang Chengen's tantrum.

Consort Wan listened and softly echoed, "Your Majesty, you are usually too lenient with your ministers, which is why they dare to be so presumptuous. Whether it is Wang Chengen, Jiang Xuan, or Cao Zhengchun, they are all like this."

Zhu Youjian sighed, "After all, Wang Chengen has served me for so many years. Even my ascension to the throne was facilitated by him, who advised me on how to do so."

"Jiang Xuan was the same. Back when Wei Zhongxian was in power, he secretly served me and did a lot for me. Without his help, I could not have so easily overthrown Wei Zhongxian and ascended the throne."

"As for Cao Zhengchun..."

Zhu Youjian snorted and said, "This old eunuch, I trusted him so much that I put him in charge of the Eastern Depot, but I never expected that he couldn't even do such a small thing as protecting the envoy of the Kingdom of Chuyun. He didn't even know that he had a ghost by his side. After finally catching the traitor, he was beaten into the Eastern Depot and killed to cover his tracks. To this day, we haven't found out a single clue. He is simply useless!"

"However, when Wei Zhongxian rebelled, he immediately came to my aid to show his loyalty, so I cannot dismiss him for such a trivial matter."

"But none of these people give me any peace of mind!"

Consort Wan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the reason they are so audacious lies entirely with Your Majesty yourself." "With me?"

Zhu Youjian frowned and said, "You mean, it's because of my indulgence that they dare to act so recklessly?"

Consort Wan nodded: "Although this is disrespectful to the Emperor, it is the truth."

"It is precisely because Your Majesty has been too lenient with them that this situation has arisen."

"Jiang Xuan, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, is entrusted with the Emperor's favor and the responsibility of protecting the capital. Yet he dared to leave the capital to handle a case without reporting to Your Majesty, disregarding Your Majesty's safety."

"And this Wang Chengen is the same. Relying on Your Majesty's favor, he dared to express his dissatisfaction with Your Majesty's decision to appoint Cao Zhengchun as the head of the Eastern Depot. He is simply audacious."

Zhu Youjian pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "What my beloved consort says makes sense. I have indeed been too lenient with them, which is why they think I can't do without them. None of them take me seriously."

With that, Zhu Youjian snorted coldly again and said, "If it weren't for their meritorious service in following me to the throne and the many things they have done for me, I would have eliminated them long ago. But instead of being grateful for the Emperor's grace, they have become even more wicked. It is truly outrageous!"

A scheming glint flashed in Consort Wan's eyes as she continued to guide the conversation: "Actually, Your Majesty, you have overlooked a crucial issue."

"What's the problem?" Zhu Youjian asked curiously.

"Your Majesty, you do not have enough control over them."

Consort Wan bluntly stated, "Your Majesty established the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard to monitor the entire country, but no one monitors them. This is why they have gradually become arrogant and presumptuous, relying on Your Majesty's favor."

“For example, Jiang Xuan, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Your Majesty, you only know that he left the capital to handle a case, but you don’t even know what he went there to do. If he takes advantage of his position to seek personal gain and amass wealth, Your Majesty will not know it.”

"If this continues, I'm afraid they will take Your Majesty even less seriously. Given time, it's hard to guarantee that... the scene of the eunuch faction wreaking havoc on the court will be repeated."

Consort Wan feigned hesitation as she spoke.

Zhu Youjian's expression changed: "They dare!"

From birth, Zhu Youjian lived under the oppression of the eunuch faction. The harm caused by the eunuch faction was almost a nightmare for him. After he came to power, this matter became his exclusive domain.

The reason he reactivated the Eastern Depot was to check and balance Jiang Xuan, to make the two of them monitor each other, to prevent either of them from becoming too powerful, and to avoid a repeat of the situation where power was usurped.

But what Consort Wan said at this moment made him wary, as well as wary and murderous.

If these people dare to do anything to profit behind his back, he will show no mercy!

Seeing Zhu Youjian's expression, Consort Wan knew she had achieved her goal. She continued to stir things up, feigning concern for Zhu Youjian: "Your Majesty, you can know a person's face but not their heart. People's hearts change over time. Your Majesty is so benevolent and trusts them, but they may not appreciate it. Your Majesty should prepare for this soon."

Zhu Youjian's expression shifted between light and dark as he asked, "Does my beloved consort have any good advice for me?"

Consort Wan feigned hesitation and said, "Your Majesty, I am but a woman, and I dare not speak presumptuously about state affairs. I also do not know if what I have said is correct..."

“Speak, even if you are wrong, I will not blame you,” Zhu Youjian said.

"Then I will speak."

Consort Wan breathed a sigh of relief and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, I just think that you should set up another department to monitor the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so as to prevent them from deceiving the emperor and doing things that would harm the interests of the court and the emperor's dignity. Moreover, this would also allow the three parties to check and balance each other, making it easier for Your Majesty to manage. In this way, nothing in the world can be hidden from Your Majesty's eyes."

"The department that monitors the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard..." Zhu Youjian murmured, deep in thought.

Consort Wan also stopped there, waiting to the side, not daring to disturb her.

After a long while, Zhu Youjian sighed, looked at Consort Wan, and nodded, saying, "What my beloved consort says makes sense. It's time for me to properly manage the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"But Cao Zhengchun and Jiang Xuan, although they act recklessly because of my favor, are both quite capable. Ordinary people cannot control them. Do you have any candidates for my beloved concubine?"

Consort Wan hesitated for a moment before saying, "If Your Majesty does not have a suitable candidate, I do know someone whose martial arts skills and abilities are quite good. He should be able to share Your Majesty's burdens."

"Oh?" Zhu Youjian's eyes lit up. "Who is this person that my beloved concubine speaks of so highly? Is this person in the palace?"

Consort Wan nodded: "He is in the palace. He is the chief eunuch of my West Palace. If Your Majesty wishes to see him, I will have him come to pay his respects immediately."

"Summon him here so I can see him." Zhu Youjian was very much looking forward to it.

"Yes."

Upon hearing this, Consort Wan breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that success or failure hinged on this moment. She then hurriedly ordered her maids to go find someone.

Soon, footsteps sounded outside, followed by a tall, handsome, even beautiful, white-robed eunuch who strode in and bowed respectfully before Zhu Youjian: "This servant, Yu Huatian, greets Your Majesty."

(End of this chapter)