Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 16 Turning sides
At this moment, Yan Maoqing's arm was still wrapped around Zhang Yusheng's neck.

Upon seeing this commotion, the Imperial Guards didn't even need to ask who Yan Maoqing and Zhang Yusheng were; they immediately swarmed forward, separated the two, and took them into custody.

"I'm innocent! I'm innocent! It was Yan Maoqing who beat me!"

Zhang Yusheng was merely a newly appointed scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, and his family was not even considered poor. He had never seen anything like this before, and his legs went weak with fear. His voice trembled as he tried to defend himself.

"All of you here can testify for me that I did not fight back at all. This was not a fight; it was Yan Maoqing who hit me!"

"Not a fight?"

Upon hearing this, the captain frowned and looked the two men up and down.

Although Yan Maoqing's clothes were somewhat disheveled, there was not a single scratch on his body.

Looking at Zhang Yusheng, he was not only disheveled and disheveled, but through his messy hair, one could clearly see a swollen handprint on each side of his face, and there was even a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.

In this light, it does seem to be as Zhang Yusheng said: that this was actually a one-sided beating, rather than a mutual fight.

However, this captain had been guarding the palace gates for many years and had seen many nobles and court officials on a daily basis.

Having already acquired a great deal of political savvy, he knew that many things in officialdom could not be judged by right and wrong. Naturally, he would not express his position before understanding the situation and the background of both parties, so as not to cause trouble for himself.

So he just sneered and squinted at Yan Maoqing:
"He said it wasn't a mutual fight, but that you unilaterally assaulted him. Do you admit that?"

"He clearly attacked first; I was forced to retaliate."

Yan Maoqing, of course, spoke fluently without hesitation.

"Hiss—this is going to be difficult."

The captain, feigning difficulty, pondered for a moment and said...
“You say it was a beating, he says it was a mutual fight, and both sides have their own version of events, so we have no choice but to send them all to the Northern Garrison Command for interrogation and a decision by our superiors.”

With just a single sentence, he had already distanced himself from the matter, ensuring he would never make a mistake.

However, upon hearing this, the newly appointed scholars who were watching couldn't help but gasp.

The Northern Garrison Command was the Zongli Yamen (Foreign Office) of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Even though they were new to officialdom, they had already heard of the notorious reputation of the Northern Garrison Prison, which was even more cruel than the Court of Justice (equivalent to the Ministry of Justice) of the Han Dynasty.

Most importantly, the Embroidered Uniform Guard could arrest, interrogate, and convict people without going through the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate.

Whether those who go in can come out alive, or even unharmed, truly depends on fate...

"Shangguan, I'm innocent! I didn't lay a hand on him..."

With just this one sentence, Zhang Yusheng was so frightened that his legs went completely limp. Even though two Imperial Guards were holding his arms, he still slid down and collapsed to the ground like a lump of mud.

Immediately afterwards, a foul odor filled the air, and a yellowish liquid gushed out from beneath him.

He was so scared he peed himself!

"Heh, with this level of knowledge and audacity, you dare to jump out and try to climb over me to get ahead?"

Yan Maoqing found it amusing.

He already knew the duties and operating model of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and knew that this was not a matter for the Northern Garrison Command to intervene in.

He and Zhang Yusheng were not qualified to be imprisoned in the imperial prison. At most, they would be temporarily detained in the Jinyiwei garrison under the palace gate, and then reported and requested instructions from higher levels.

If an ordinary citizen committed such a crime, they would face a near-certain death and simply vanish without a trace, with no one caring.

However, these newly appointed scholars with official titles and degrees, and legitimate disciples of the emperor, were not subjects that the Embroidered Uniform Guard could do as they pleased. At the very least, they needed the explicit instructions of the Jiajing Emperor; otherwise, they risked being accused of overstepping their bounds. After all, this was the Jiajing Emperor's most inviolable taboo.

Under his rule, even though he did not attend court for more than 20 years, no powerful eunuch ever emerged, which speaks volumes.

Moreover, the announcement ceremony was just held today, and these newly appointed scholars will have to participate in a series of ceremonies, including the Imperial Banquet, the Thanksgiving Ceremony, the Dishes Offering Ceremony, and the Selection of Scholars.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards naturally dared not detain them for too long, otherwise, if a few people were missing from these ceremonies, or if a few thank-you notes were missing from the ceremony, it would be a matter of Emperor Jiajing's dignity, and the Embroidered Uniform Guards would also have some difficulties.

Therefore, Yan Maoqing's deduction is...

Strictly speaking, this was a minor incident that occurred outside the palace, and it will most likely be left unresolved.

Although Emperor Jiajing had a very high chance of hearing about this matter, in order not to leave the impression of being "harsh and ungrateful" on the newly appointed scholars, and also for the sake of his own dignity, it was highly unlikely that he would make a big deal out of it or condescend to inquire about it.

However, regardless of whether it was a one-sided beating or a mutual fight, both he and Zhang Yusheng would most likely incur the displeasure of the Jiajing Emperor, which would inevitably affect their future careers.

With these additions to his previous actions, Yan Maoqing has essentially secured three layers of protection.

Why worry about not being able to retire and return to one's hometown soon?

at the same time.

The captain gave Zhang Yusheng a disdainful look, quietly took two steps away, and then turned back to survey the crowd:

"This person says that you can all corroborate his statement. Whoever saw what just happened, please leave your name so that the Embroidered Uniform Guard can question him."

"..."

Upon hearing this, all the newly appointed scholars immediately took a step back and looked up at the sky.

No one wanted to be the witness, after all, it was probably not a good thing to have one's name recorded in the Northern Garrison before even entering officialdom.

Moreover, this matter is very likely to be reported to the current emperor.

Anyone who gets involved might end up being punished equally on both sides, or even be seen as a troublemaker by the emperor, which would ruin their future.

They must be out of their minds to do something that offers almost no benefit but carries risks.

"No one is willing to corroborate this?"

The captain felt contempt. These scholars were getting worse with each passing year. They were all so timid and afraid of trouble, so eager to protect themselves. How could they possibly govern the country well?
Just at this time.

Gao Gong suddenly stepped forward, first glancing at Zhang Yusheng, whose face was ashen, then at Yan Maoqing, whose expression remained unchanged, before bowing and speaking slowly:

"Shangguan Mingjian, this matter is probably a misunderstanding."

“I saw it from beginning to end and can prove that the two were not provoking a fight.”

"Just now, Yan Maoqing and Zhang Yusheng were actually arguing about some things, just like scholars debating the classics. When they got excited, they pulled each other a few times, which caused a little disturbance."

"The affairs between scholars are at most a matter of mutual tugging and pulling, and certainly cannot be called provocation and fighting."

Eh?
The newly appointed scholars looked at Gao Gong in surprise.

If we were to say who had been the most vehement in criticizing Yan Maoqing just now, it would undoubtedly be Gao Gong; in fact, he was the one who started it all.

Why did he suddenly turn against us in such a short time?
The phrase "turning against each other" is quite apt.

Gao Gong's repeated claims of "mutual entanglement" not only contradict Zhang Yusheng's statement but also serve to exonerate Yan Maoqing!
(End of this chapter)