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

Chapter 22 The Longevity Emperor
Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Jiajing, Zhu Houcong, had a livid face and stared at the two people kneeling in the hall with a gloomy gaze.

On the dragon desk in front of him lay a memorial of impeachment submitted to the palace not long ago by Gao Shi, a censor from the Ministry of Justice.

The person Gao Shi impeached was none other than Guo Xun, the Duke of Yi, a powerful and influential nobleman.

In this memorial, Gao Shi exposed more than ten of Guo Xun's crimes of corruption and embezzlement, impeaching him for disrespecting the emperor, abusing his power, profiting at the expense of the people, and engaging in market manipulation, among other offenses.

But what Zhu Houcong cared about most at that moment was one of the suspected crimes of deceiving the emperor.

This crime is closely related to the two people kneeling before the prince.

"Duan Chaoyong, the Emperor of Longevity is asking you a question. Answer carefully."

After receiving Zhu Houcong's approval, Huang Jin stepped forward and spoke on his behalf.
"The Emperor of Longevity asks you, when you entered the palace before, you claimed to be skilled in alchemy and presented the Emperor of Longevity with a batch of platinum vessels that could communicate with the gods as offerings. Were these vessels indeed made by yourself?"

Duan Chaoyong's heart tightened upon hearing this, but he still forced himself to answer:

"In response to Your Majesty, these platinum vessels were indeed crafted by your humble servant. Using these vessels to hold food and offerings can indeed invite the gods. However, it will take time. Once the gods sense Your Majesty's sincerity, they will respond accordingly."

"But today, Emperor Wanshou heard that this batch of platinum artifacts was actually funded by Duke Guo Xun. What explanation do you have for that?"

After observing Zhu Houcong's expression, Huang Jin asked another question.

Duan Chaoyong was introduced to the palace by Duke Guo Xun a year ago, which gave him the good fortune to be summoned and employed by Zhu Houcong.

Although this year was not a very long period, its impact on Zhu Houcong was considerable.

He even nearly succeeded in persuading Zhu Houcong to abdicate early and become the retired emperor just a few months ago.

Speaking of this, we must mention the legend of "refining gold with cinnabar" that has been widely circulated since the Qin and Han dynasties of China.

Legend has it that anyone who refines gold from cinnabar and consumes or uses such gold utensils for food can achieve immortality.

This claim has been used by various alchemists for over a thousand years. Qin Shi Huang believed it, Emperor Wu of Han believed it, Emperor Huizong of Song believed it, and the current Jiajing Emperor also firmly believes it.

Duan Chaoyong, on the other hand, knew how to keep up with the times and slightly upgraded this statement.

Thus, it became, "Only when the emperor secludes himself in the palace to cultivate in seclusion and does not come into contact with the outside world, can the gods sense his sincerity and refine gold from cinnabar to obtain the elixir of immortality."

When the Jiajing Emperor saw that he spoke with such seriousness, he actually began to consider taking a gamble.

He then immediately issued an edict, ordering the court officials to assist the five-year-old crown prince in governing the country, while he himself would live in seclusion in the palace for two or three years before emerging to govern the country as before.

When the imperial edict was issued, the entire court was shocked!
However, because many censors and officials had previously offended, lost their positions, or even their lives, by advising the Jiajing Emperor against his pursuit of Taoism and metaphysics, no one dared to submit a memorial to remonstrate.

Finally, Yang Zui, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud, risked his life to remonstrate, which enraged the Jiajing Emperor, who ordered him to be severely beaten with one hundred strokes of the cane.

However, Yang Zui died after only half the heavy beating. Emperor Jiajing was still not satisfied and ordered that the beating be completed one hundred times before he would stop.

After this incident, all the officials in the court knelt in fear and became even more secretive about matters of metaphysics.

However, after that, Emperor Jiajing suddenly seemed to understand something and never mentioned again that he had secluded himself in the palace for two or three years, leaving the court officials to assist the crown prince in overseeing the country...

When Yan Maoqing saw this part of history in his previous life, he felt a little regret.

It's not that I regret Yang Zui's wrongful death, but rather that the Jiajing Emperor didn't stick to this absurd idea to the end.

If the Jiajing Emperor had actually become the retired emperor, the government would have been governed by a group of relatively upright and capable ministers, such as Xia Yan, Zhai Luan, and Wang Tingxiang, who were also willing to help the government and were determined to reform. In addition, there would have been rising stars like Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng who were determined to reform the old system. It might have been a good thing for the Ming Dynasty.

In this way, Yan Song and his son would probably no longer have the opportunity to corrupt the court and bring disaster to the country and its people.

But for Emperor Jiajing himself, this might not necessarily be a bad thing.

After all, many people in later generations have said that if we only look at the first half of Emperor Jiajing's life, he can be called a wise and diligent ruler.

But if we include his absurd later life, then he can only be described as a foolish emperor who "actually caused the downfall of the Ming Dynasty with the death of Emperor Jiajing"...

Closer to home.

Upon hearing Huang Jin ask this question, Duan Chaoyong's face turned slightly pale. He immediately knelt down and kowtowed deeply, pleading in a trembling voice:

"Your Majesty, even if I had ten thousand lives, I would never dare to deceive you like this. This matter must be a frame-up by a villain. I humbly beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for me!" Huang Jin remained expressionless, then looked at the young man kneeling behind Duan Chaoyong:

"Prince Yan, the Emperor Wanshou asks you: You were already Duan Chaoyong's disciple before entering the palace. Do you have anything to say about this?"

"!!!"

Upon hearing this, Duan Chaoyong immediately turned around and looked at his most trusted disciple in disbelief.

When he saw the other person's evasive gaze, he understood what was happening. His face turned ashen, and his body went limp.

really.

The young man kowtowed and replied:

"In response to Your Majesty, all those platinum vessels were handled by me, therefore I can confirm that they all came from the Duke of Yi's mansion."

Huang Jin nodded, emphasizing his words slightly:

"Your Majesty, I ask you again: Duan Chaoyong previously advised Your Majesty to live in seclusion in the deep palace to cultivate your mind and not to have any contact with the outside world. Was this Duan Chaoyong's idea, or was it also the Duke of Yi's idea?"

This is a truly life-or-death question.

If Duke Guo Xun of Yiguo is even remotely involved in this matter, he will face certain death!
Those who are associated with Guo Xun will likely also be affected.

……

"Oh my god, that scared me to death!"

Yan Maoqing was tending to the row of scallions he had planted himself in the courtyard when he looked up and was startled to see a smiling head floating on the low courtyard wall.
"Brother Gao, how did you know I lived here?"

How would I know you lived here?

Gao Gong mimicked Yan Maoqing's tone and asked a question in return, then walked around the courtyard wall, pushed open the door, and came in.
"It just so happens that my home is in this alley. I was passing by when I saw someone in the courtyard who looked somewhat like you, so I stopped to take a closer look. I never imagined it would actually be you. Is this fate?"

"Your family? If I remember correctly, you should be a tribute student from Kaifeng Prefecture, Henan Province, right?"

Yan Maoqing couldn't help but be somewhat surprised.

This residential area is not comparable to the luxurious mansions with their vermilion gates and blue tiles within the imperial city.

However, because they are located near the most bustling commercial area of ​​the inner city, and are at least single-family courtyard houses, the prices are naturally not low.

In any case, ordinary officials in Beijing definitely couldn't afford it without trying to earn some extra money on the side.

Gao Gong had only recently passed the imperial examination and arrived in the capital, yet he already had a place here that he could call "home." This must mean he was no ordinary second-generation rich kid.
“My grandfather served as a senior official in the Ministry of Works during the Zhengde era, and my father also served as a junior official in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices a few years ago, which is why we have this property.”

Gao Gong puffed out his chest, making it clear that he was not a rich second-generation, but a son of a high-ranking official.
"Let's put that aside for now... You've already submitted the selected essays to the Ministry of Rites, haven't you? Are you confident about being selected as a junior compiler?"

"I did not submit an article to the Ministry of Rites."

Yan Maoqing shrugged and said very frankly.

He could never have imagined that right now, in a large mansion about six kilometers away, a professional agent in his sixties was working tirelessly, as if he were writing a petition for the Jiajing Emperor, preparing articles for his imperial examinations.

"Not submitted? Why is that?"

Gao Gong remained puzzled.

"There's no reason why, I just don't want to take the exam, I'm too lazy to take it."

Yan Maoqing smiled.

"Brother Yan, are you deliberately making fun of me?"

Gao Gong didn't believe it and glanced sideways at the road.

"If the list of candidates for the Imperial Academy comes out in a couple of days, and Brother Yan is selected as a probationary official while I can only observe the administration of various ministries, don't blame me for being consumed by jealousy and giving you a couple of punches."

(End of this chapter)