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

Chapter 94 Has Guo Xun gone mad?
Yanzhai.

It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky that Yan Maoqing finally stepped out of the room, supporting his aching back, still smacking his lips in savoring the memory.

It must be admitted that Bailu truly lives up to her name.

However, this "person is as their name" refers to Bai Lu's surname and given name, which together are pronounced "Bai Suzhen".

Yan Maoqing felt that Bailu must have been a snake demon in her past life, and it was even possible that she was a snake demon in this life. Otherwise, how could she be so vigorous on her wedding night, making people want to take her away but unable to?

"Master is awake. This maid will now assist you with your washing and grooming..."

Bai Lu's personal maid was already waiting outside the courtyard. When she saw Yan Maoqing, her face flushed slightly, and she quickly turned around to fetch some warm water.

Yan Maoqing could tell at a glance that this girl must have been eavesdropping outside the room last night.

These days, most of these personal maids have the characteristics of being a concubine.

To put it bluntly, it means taking the master's place for one's mistress, or having the mistress share a room with the master on her behalf during her period.

Sometimes, when the master and young lady were exhausted from their time together, she would even have to play the role of Boiling Sheep, being called in to help push them from behind... Therefore, listening in on their room was also one of her duties.

Yan Maoqing had absolutely no intention of replacing Bai Lu with her, but he didn't feel awkward at the moment either. He simply called out to her, "..."

"No need. Just bring me a basin of warm water and leave it at that. Go inside and serve the lady."

"Yes……"

The maidservant responded softly, blushed, and ran off quickly with her chest tucked in.

Yan Maoqing first stretched his arms and legs in the courtyard, the warm sunlight shining on his face, and he felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

But he soon fell into worry again...

He only received a three-day holiday upon his return, and then he had to go to the Hanlin Academy every day to report for duty and attend classes.

Three years!

A junior scholar (庶吉士) had to attend the imperial academy for three whole years!

This made Yan Maoqing, whose net worth was already 400,000 taels of silver, feel very unfair.

If you convert that amount of silver to modern currency, he would be a multi-millionaire by now, wouldn't he?

In the future, billionaires will have people saying that their excrement smells good, and a large group of people will be eagerly waiting for them to give lectures on success. It's not like others are the ones giving them lectures.
Just as I was thinking this.

"Master is awake..."

An older servant passing by saw Yan Maoqing standing alone in the courtyard. He immediately stepped forward, bowed, and apologized to Yan Maoqing.
"Please forgive me, sir! These servants are becoming more and more unruly. No one is even serving you while you wash up. I will teach them proper manners later!"

This is the steward Bai Lu brought, named Bai Sheng.

The reason he also has the surname Bai is because it was bestowed upon him by the patriarch of the Bai family.

Having served the Bai family patriarch for many years, he was quick-witted and reliable, thus earning the deep trust of his master.

In fact, before coming to the capital, he had already risen to the position of second-in-command among the servants of the Bai family. If it weren't for these necessary factors, his father-in-law probably wouldn't have entrusted him with the responsibility of escorting Bai Lu to the capital.

In addition, he was actually a person with a tragic fate.

Bai Lu mentioned it briefly when she was having a private conversation with him last night.

It is said that Bai Sheng accidentally fell and injured a bird while climbing a tree when he was young, and has been unable to have children since then. He has not married and has no offspring at this age, and the elders in his family have also passed away.

Therefore, he had no ties in Jiangxi, making him the most suitable servant to escort Bailu to the capital...

"Oh, no, that's not true. The maid has already gone to fetch water."

Yan Maoqing waved his hand and said with a smile.

“That’s more like it… Master, please feel free to give me any orders from now on. As Miss’s dowry servant, I am now also your servant and will serve you wholeheartedly.”

Bai Sheng quickly bent down and said.

In his mind, Master Yan Maoqing was no ordinary person. How could an ordinary person be so generous when they first met?

After moving the goods from those oxcarts into the cellar yesterday, each servant received a full ten taels of silver as a reward. With dozens of people involved, the total expenditure amounted to several hundred taels.

This generosity… Now, every one of these servants who are complaining on the streets says that Miss married the right master, bringing them a life of luxury. Yan Maoqing nodded:
"Okay, I'll call you if I need anything. Go ahead and get busy."

"Yes, I'll take my leave..."

Bai Sheng was about to turn and leave, but then he remembered something, hesitated, and stopped, saying...
"By the way, sir, I went out this morning to buy some supplies, and on the way I overheard many people discussing matters of officialdom. They were saying that things in the capital might change after today, so I took the opportunity to inquire about it. I wonder if you would like to hear more?"

"Oh, tell me?"

Yan Maoqing stopped stretching. This Bai Sheng was indeed good. He knew how to inquire about things without being taught and knew to pick out reports that might interest him.

"Actually, there are only three main things."

Bai Sheng refined his thoughts in his mind, then tried to be as concise as possible.

"The first thing is that the Emperor, who was supposed to be holding a religious ceremony today, suddenly came to the morning court, wearing a leather cap and robe that he hadn't worn in a long time. People outside are saying that this is very unusual, and there must be some explanation for it."

"The second matter is that the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet was two quarters late to the morning court session today, which enraged the Emperor. Not only did the Emperor immediately confiscate the Grand Secretary's seal and order him to be dismissed and placed under house arrest, but he also demoted dozens of censors and attendants who should have impeached the Grand Secretary for his improper conduct at the morning court session but failed to do so."

"The third thing is that during the morning court session, the Emperor brought out a box of accounts of embezzlement by border generals. The Duke of Yi, contrary to his usual behavior, volunteered to investigate it thoroughly. However, the Emperor ordered it to be burned in front of all the civil and military officials, saying that he would not pursue the matter further."

"These are just three things. I don't know if they're important. Should I inquire about them in more detail?"

"..."

After hearing Bai Sheng's words, Yan Maoqing's brows furrowed, and he was inevitably shaken.

Zhu Houcong, who was about to give up and become complacent in history, suddenly became assertive again. Isn't this a sign of a change in the political landscape?

First of all, this leather cap and jacket are indeed quite remarkable.

Putting aside historical records, after he entered the capital, he heard rumors that Zhu Houcong had not worn a leather cap for many years, and that he wore a Taoist robe even when attending court assemblies on the first and fifteenth of each month, issuing important edicts, or receiving foreign envoys.

Now that he has suddenly put on a leather cap during the morning court session, this unusual move certainly needs an explanation.
As for Xia Yan being dismissed and forced to stay at home for being late to the morning court session, he wasn't particularly surprised.

He only knew that Xia Yan would be dismissed one day; it was only a matter of time. Even if he wasn't late, Zhu Houcong would definitely find something else to talk about.

This matter depends solely on whether Zhu Houcong wants him to continue serving as the Grand Secretary, and not on whether he arrived late, left early, or entered the door with his left or right foot first.
As for Zhu Houcong's handling of that box of accounts, it was exactly what Yan Maoqing had expected, and it was very wise.

This matter truly cannot be fully disclosed, much less ordered for a thorough investigation.

After all, there were quite a few border generals on the list, and these were all people who held military power.

If these people unite to cause trouble in order to save their lives, even a mighty dynasty like the Tang Dynasty could not withstand such turmoil, let alone the Ming Dynasty, which is already on its last legs. This would be a major event that could destroy the country.

Therefore, burning it in public is the best way to deal with it. It can not only appease these border generals, but also win them over and make them hesitant to act for a period of time. Perhaps this opportunity can also be used to regain control of the troops.

After all, the accounts were burned in public, but who can guarantee that Zhu Houcong didn't see them or didn't make a copy?

What truly reassured them was Zhu Houcong's "let bygones be bygones" attitude...

However, what surprised Yan Maoqing the most in this matter was the unusual behavior of Duke Guo Xun.

Previously, when Zhu Houcong asked him to sort out military affairs, he refused to go even if it meant death, and even submitted a memorial questioning the emperor about why he wanted to harm him.

Compared to clarifying military affairs, which still has room for maneuver, this matter is the one that truly offends people.

You might encounter a border general's rebellion upon reaching the border town, and get killed on the spot...

This matter, which is a hundred times more dangerous than clarifying military affairs, not only did he not need to be forced by Zhu Houcong this time, but he even volunteered in front of the entire court. Has he gone mad?!
Just as I was thinking this.

"Master, Master, something bad has happened!"

The servant who had left Yan Maoqing hanging at the gate yesterday rushed into the courtyard shouting in panic.

“A eunuch claiming to be from the palace arrived, leading the Imperial Guards. He said he was there to deliver an imperial edict, specifically a decree from the Emperor punishing someone!”

"what?!"

Before the servant could finish speaking, Bai Lu, who hadn't even washed or combed her hair, appeared out of the room and threw herself into Yan Maoqing's arms, tears streaming down her face.

"My lord, I knew it. They say, 'Don't reach out, or you'll get caught...'"

"I'm not going to be a widow so soon, am I?"

(End of this chapter)