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

Chapter 43 Urgent Report
"Father, please calm down. I know I was wrong. I'll go out and kneel down right now..."

Yan Shifan immediately fell silent, repeatedly admitting his mistake and retreating outside.

It's just that he got too carried away and forgot his father's prohibition, so he deserved the scolding.

"Alright, tell me, what exactly happened that has excited you so much?"

Yan Song exhaled a breath of turbid air, his anger subsiding by half. He then glared at Yan Shifan and said irritably.

Yan Shifan felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and immediately changed his expression, stepping forward with a grin and saying:

"Father, have you forgotten that I was going to deal with that bastard Yan Maoqing? That has already been accomplished."

"I just received the news that today Yan Maoqing was suddenly summoned to the West Garden by the Emperor, then flogged and thrown out. This time, this bastard has not only cut himself off from the court, but has also cut himself off from the Emperor. Where will he have a place to stand in the court from now on?"

Yan Song was taken aback upon hearing this:
"Is this serious?"

"Of course it's true. This matter has already been confirmed by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Imperial Guard. How could it be false?"

Yan Shifan became smug again as he spoke, his one eye narrowing into a slit with laughter.

"This is the Emperor dealing with Yan Maoqing, what does it have to do with you? Why are you so smug?"

Yan Song rolled his eyes at Yan Shifan again.

Yan Shifan disagreed:
“Father, your words are biased. If I hadn’t suggested exposing that bastard’s examination paper, how could that bastard have been summoned by the Emperor?”

"If he hadn't been summoned by the Emperor, how could that lowly child have angered him to the point of being flogged and thrown out of the West Garden?"

"Therefore, although this matter was not in our son's plan, he has at least served as a catalyst, hasn't he?"

"hehe."

Yan Song smiled noncommittally, then pondered for a moment and said,
"What I care about more now is what that bastard did in the West Garden and why he angered the Emperor."

He still clearly remembered the "prophecy" that the Emperor had Huang Jin secretly passed on to him, and he always felt that there was something fishy about today's events.

"No news has come out yet."

Yan Shifan said nonchalantly,
"But what does it matter? It's all done now, that bastard has no chance of turning things around."

“Even if we ignore him, Xia Yan and his so-called upright officials and the Hanlin Academy will have no scruples when they kick him while he’s down. Not only will he not be able to hold his position as a probationary official for long, but he may not even be able to keep his official title in the end.”

"Alright, let's leave it at that."

Yan Song thought about it and agreed, so he solemnly instructed Yan Shifan,

“From now on, you should have self-respect and not waste your energy on such insignificant and lowly people. Crushing a mere ant is not worth your complacency; on the contrary, it makes you look down on others.”

……

Cabinet value.

"I predicted long ago that Guo Xun's attempt to make a comeback with such treacherous people and a worthless book is utterly laughable!"

Unlike Yan Song today, Xia Yan is the one who holds absolute power in the court.

Furthermore, he and Guo Xun were sworn enemies. Ever since Duan Chaoyong was imprisoned, he paid even closer attention to Guo Xun's every move, never missing an opportunity to kick him while he was down.

Therefore, he had already learned of Guo Xun's presentation of the book and Yan Maoqing's summons immediately.

However, before learning that Yan Maoqing had been flogged in court, he was not as relaxed as he was now saying, and even worried that Guo Xun would get away with it again.

After all, the "fastest legend" of Yan Maoqing being flogged upon meeting the emperor was extremely rare among the sorcerers and shamans who had been summoned by the emperor in the past.

To be more precise, it should be called absolutely unique!
“Brother Guizhou is absolutely right. You cannot entrust yourselves to wicked people; in the end, they will only harm others and yourselves.”

Zhai Luan only wanted to be a quiet, non-stick pan. Although he nodded in agreement with Xia Yan's words, he only mentioned Yan Maoqing and did not comment on Guo Xun, so as to avoid leaving any grounds for criticism.

"With Duan Chaoyong imprisoned and Yan Maoqing punished, the Emperor must be utterly disappointed in Guo Xun." Xia Yan, still trying to win over Zhai Luan to his side, narrowed his eyes and asked with a smile,
"Over the years, this villain has abused his power, indulged in corruption and lawlessness, and plundered the people for personal gain. Now is the best time to rid the people of this scourge and eradicate this national pest. I intend to lead the ministers in submitting a memorial to impeach him. I wonder what Brother Shimen thinks?"

Zhai Luan nodded, but continued to feign ignorance:

"It is our duty as upright people to eliminate harm to the people and eradicate corrupt elements in the country."

“A villain like Yan Maoqing, who has now been selected as a probationary official in the Hanlin Academy, is like a rat dropping into a porridge pot. He should indeed be removed as soon as possible.”

This could be considered a gesture, so Xia Yan finally stopped insisting and said with a smile:
“That makes sense. As the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and a Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy, how can I tolerate this scoundrel corrupting the atmosphere of the Hanlin Academy?”

Just then, a shout came from outside:
"Report—Urgent report from Shanxi!"

……

Qianqing Palace.

"What did you say?!"

Having just returned to the palace from the Western Garden, Zhu Houcong received another unexpected message, and he stood up, patting the armrest of his dragon bed.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger..."

Huang Jin lay prostrate on the ground, speaking cautiously.
“This servant did receive a report from the servants below that after Yan Maoqing left the West Garden, he went to the Thousand Steps Corridor and spread the news that he had been summoned to the West Garden by the Emperor and flogged. Now everyone knows about it.”

"What on earth is this bastard trying to do?!"

Enraged, Zhu Houcong kicked over the bench under the dragon throne.
"Could he have revealed everything that happened in the Hall of Diligent Governance?"

"No, that's not true... I heard that he only went to the Hanlin Academy to ask for leave, and then soon after he left through Zhengyang Gate and went home on his own."

Huang Jin replied.

"Why are you asking for leave? Did you go too far?"

"Your Majesty knows me well. If I had used excessive force today, even if Yan Maoqing could still breathe, he would have been carried back. He would never have been able to walk to the Thousand Steps Corridor on his own!"

"Humph……"

A heavy breath of dragon's breath emanated from Zhu Houcong's nostrils.

"Tell Lu Bing to keep a close eye on this scoundrel. If he dares to spout nonsense again, don't even bother reporting it; just throw him into the imperial prison. This time, give him a good beating!"

"This servant obeys the decree..."

Huang Jin was truly impressed; in all his years of life, he had never seen anyone as reckless as Yan Maoqing.

The Emperor had already shown leniency in the Western Garden, so what else does he want?

Based solely on the Emperor's words just now, if he were to fall into Lu Bing's hands this time, he would be doomed.

"Wait a minute."

Just as Huang Jin was about to leave, Zhu Houcong called him back.
"Forget it, just tell Lu Bing to have someone keep an eye on this person secretly. Don't make any decisions on your own, and don't expose him easily. Report back immediately if anything happens. I will make the decision about this person myself."

"According to the order."

At this moment, Huang Jin finally realized that what Yan Maoqing said in the West Garden today had truly touched the Emperor's heart.

Furthermore, what he saw in Yan Maoqing, the Emperor must have seen even more of.

That's why the Emperor was so tolerant and lenient towards this madman...

While they were talking.

A shout suddenly came from outside:
"Report! Grand Secretary Xia Yan and Grand Secretary Zhai Luan request an audience! Urgent report from Shanxi!"

(End of this chapter)