Huangming

Chapter 101 The Judge Investigates the Treachery and Declares Guilt in Crimson.

Zhu Youxiao had a long talk with the emperor's brother-in-law, Wang Sheng, and even invited him to stay for lunch before letting him leave.

The Four Guards Battalion is in charge of the palace and is currently the only armed force he can directly control, so it must be handed over to someone who will completely obey him.

Zhu Youxiao didn't trust anyone, whether it was Li Ruzhen, Xu Yingyuan, or Zhu Chunchen.

As for Wei Zhongxian, Wei Chao, and others, it was not a good thing to let them command troops.

A cornered dog will jump over a wall and bite people.

Many things cannot be dealt with after they happen; instead, we must prevent them from happening and deny them the conditions to do so.

After all, once something happens, no amount of remedial action will help.

Preventing problems before they occur is Zhu Youxiao's philosophy of life.

"Summon Hong Chengchou, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Justice, to the palace."

While Zhu Youxiao and his brother-in-law Wang Sheng were having lunch, Hong Chengchou was already waiting outside the palace.

Now that the emperor's brother-in-law has left, Zhu Youxiao naturally wants to see Hong Chengchou.

To be honest, Zhu Youxiao had heard of Hong Chengchou's great reputation.

But this reputation isn't very good.

The phrase "highly controversial" might be the best way to describe his life.

Hong Chengchou displayed outstanding military talent as an important minister of the Ming Dynasty in his early years, successfully suppressing peasant uprisings. However, after being defeated and captured in the Battle of Songjin, he surrendered to the Qing Dynasty and became a key figure in the Qing Dynasty's unification of the Central Plains.

As a pragmatist, he helped the Qing court pacify Jiangnan and stabilize its rule, which objectively reduced the harm of war to the people; however, as a traditional scholar-official, his defection violated the Confucian ethical principle of loyalty to the emperor and dying for one's country, and he was denounced as a traitor by scholars of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

It can only be said that Hong Chengchou was not a man of principle and lacked loyalty to the Ming Dynasty.

But regardless, he is a capable person.

How to utilize this talent was something the emperor had to consider.

"Your subject, Hong Chengchou, Principal of the Jiangxi Provincial Office of the Ministry of Justice, respectfully wishes Your Majesty a long and peaceful life!"

"I am safe!"

Zhu Youxiao looked at the young man kneeling in the hall.

Hong Chengchou is not yet thirty years old, and his life has not experienced too many ups and downs:
Hong Chengchou was born in Yingdu, Nan'an, Quanzhou, Fujian Province in the 21st year of the Wanli Emperor's reign.

He attended Xiyi Academy during his childhood. Due to poverty, he dropped out of school at the age of eleven and helped his mother make dried bean curd at home. Every morning, he would go to Yingweipu to sell dried bean curd from street to street.

Fortunately, he met a benefactor named Hong Qiyin, who was running a village school in Shuigouguan. Hong Qiyin discovered that Hong Chengchou was extremely talented and had great ambitions, so he took Hong Chengchou as his apprentice for free, allowing him to return to school.

In the 43rd year of the Wanli reign, Hong Chengchou, at the age of 23, went to the province to participate in the provincial examination and became the 19th Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination) in the Yimao year.

A year later, Hong Chengchou went to the capital for the imperial examination and passed with flying colors. He ranked fourteenth in the second class of the Bingchen imperial examination and was granted the title of Jinshi. He was initially appointed as the principal of the Jiangxi Qingli Division of the Ministry of Justice.

His life was relatively uneventful.

But his childhood poverty fostered his self-reliance and cultivated his ambition in adversity.

Do you know why I summoned you?

Hong Chengchou's mind raced. How did he know the answer to this question?
He answered honestly, "This is also my doubt. I am merely a minor official in the Ministry of Justice, yet I have been personally summoned by His Majesty. If word gets out, my colleagues will say that I am daydreaming."

Zhu Youxiao, of course, would not tell him, "I saw your name in the history books."

"During the investigation of corruption, many people in the Ministry of Justice abused their power for personal gain, and only a few were able to uphold justice. Among them was your name, Hong Chengchou."

This is also why Zhu Youxiao took notice of Hong Chengchou.

It was found in the memorials to the emperor.

He reviewed memorials day and night, and it wasn't in vain; he discovered quite a few talented people among them.

"I am humbled. I have only been doing my duty faithfully, yet I have been fortunate enough to receive Your Majesty's favor."

Zhu Youxiao said meaningfully, "The four words 'be loyal to one's duty' are easy to say, but how many people can actually do them?"

After your defeat, didn't you surrender to the Qing?

Seemingly sensing the emperor's change in mood, Hong Chengchou dared not reply.

"Rise. I have summoned you here today to give you important instructions."

Hong Chengchou slowly stood up, his heart pounding.

Important matters to entrust?

What important matter warrants Your Majesty's summons?

Zhu Youxiao instructed the eunuchs around him to deliver two memorials to Hong Chengchou.

"Take a look at these two memorials."

Hong Chengchou, filled with doubt, opened the memorial.

The more he looked, the more his brows furrowed.

The impeachment of Cui Wensheng, the eunuch of the Imperial Pharmacy.

Impeach Zheng Yangxing, the Left Vice-General of the First Rank.

It all seems to point to one person.

Consort Zheng in the palace!
Call ~
Hong Chengchou exhaled a breath of turbid air and immediately said, "Your Majesty, I am the Chief Clerk of the Jiangxi Provincial Bureau of Justice. Even if I wanted to investigate these matters, I have no authority to do so."

Investigating these people is too sensitive.

This is not a good job.

Zhu Youxiao knew that Hong Chengchou would decline, so he immediately said, "I have already asked the cabinet to draft a proposal to appoint you as the principal of the Zhili Qingli Bureau."

After speaking, the emperor looked at Hong Chengchou with great interest.

Little brat, what other excuse do you have?

Hong Chengchou had no excuse left, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "Your humble servant obeys."

"I know this matter is not easy, but it is precisely when things are difficult that a person's ability is revealed. If you, Hong Qing, cannot even handle such a trivial matter, how can I dare to entrust you with the affairs of the state?"

Zhu Youxiao started making empty promises!

Hong Chengchou's breathing suddenly became rapid.

The frustration of getting a bad job was instantly swept away.

Therefore, when Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it will first test their will, strain their muscles and bones, and starve their body.
So this was His Majesty's test!
Thump~
Hong Chengchou knelt on the ground and immediately signed a military pledge.

"Within three days, I will give Your Majesty a result. If I fail, please cut off my head!"

Since it is His Majesty testing his abilities.

Therefore, he must handle this matter perfectly.

At top speed! Sure enough, the most common "pie" (a metaphor for something lucrative) eaten by subordinates is the "pie" (a metaphor for something lucrative) offered by the leader.

You don't need to give anything.

With just one sentence, he made Hong Chengchou work for him.

"Very well! I'll wait and see!"

After Hong Chengchou took his leave of the palace and returned to the Ministry of Justice, he was indeed granted an imperial edict appointing him as the Chief Clerk of the Zhili Provincial Bureau of Justice.

Hong Chengchou, having taken on the task, immediately began investigating the case.

Both Cui Wensheng and Zheng Yangxing have irrefutable evidence of their crimes.

Therefore, after investigating all the cases and convicting the perpetrators, Hong Chengchou immediately ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to arrest them.

That was without any hesitation or ambiguity.

Hong Chengchou was appointed by the emperor, so the matter was handled on a special basis. The Embroidered Uniform Guard cooperated fully, and Wei Zhongxian even went to arrest him personally.

Zheng Yangxing and Cui Wensheng were immediately taken to the imperial prison.

Putting everything else aside, let's take care of the prison case first.

And the other side.

Within the palace walls.

A few inches of fresh snow had accumulated on the eaves of Cining Palace, and the icicles hanging from the glazed tiles resembled crystal curtains, gleaming with a cold, bluish light in the twilight.

Consort Zheng leaned against a rosewood couch with openwork phoenix patterns.

Her slender, pale fingers held the jade wine pot, the amber-colored Jinhua wine bubbling away.

Suddenly a breeze swept through the hall, causing the twelve silk tapestry screens depicting flowers and birds to sway slightly.

Consort Zheng furrowed her exquisitely drawn eyebrows, and the red-gold and kingfisher feather phoenix hairpin with pearl in its beaded ornament trembled slightly.

Today she specially changed into an apricot-red brocade satin jacket with a stand-up collar and a thumb-sized pearl button at the collar. This was a gift from the emperor in the thirty-eighth year of the Wanli reign. The pearl's luster made her look like she was in her thirties, even though she was nearly fifty.

"Your Majesty!" The personal maid stumbled in, her forehead hitting the lapis lazuli floor tiles with a loud thud.

"The Embroidered Uniform Guards have arrested Eunuch Cui and his uncle!"

Upon hearing this, Consort Zheng's leisurely enjoyment of the snow vanished instantly.

Her brows were furrowed, her face contorted, and her eyes seemed to devour someone. She stared intently at her personal maid and asked, "Say that again?"

The palace maid was also startled by Consort Zheng's appearance, but she still honestly said, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard has arrested Eunuch Cui Wensheng and Uncle Zheng Yangxing!"

Tap tap tap~
Consort Zheng's face turned pale and then flushed, and she staggered back several steps, almost collapsing.

"Have you found out what they did wrong?"

The personal maid shook her head and said, "This servant does not know."

After the initial panic, Consort Zheng quickly calmed down.

We need to understand what they did wrong before we can deal with it.

The worst-case scenario is that His Majesty will take action against her.

"Send a few men to the Huiluan Palace and ask Consort Li to inquire about the situation!"

Although Consort Li resided in the Huiluan Palace, she was able to meet with the emperor frequently because of her status as the emperor's foster mother.

She has the ability to gather information.

"Prepare some gifts for them."

After all, I'm asking someone for a favor.

"The servant understands."

As her personal maid slowly departed, Consort Zheng's right eyelid twitched violently.

She was examining her actions over the past few days.

Is it
Has His Majesty discovered something?
Qianqing Palace.

Dong Nuan Pavilion.

Only one day later, Hong Chengchou came to report back.

"Your humble servant, Hong Chengchou, Chief Clerk of the Zhili Provincial Bureau of Personnel, respectfully wishes Your Majesty a long and peaceful life!"

"I am well, please take a seat!"

Zhu Youxiao had a smile on his face.

Hong Chengchou is capable, and now he still has the guts.

This kind of person is worth using!
"This is the result of my investigation. I request Your Majesty's review."

Zhu Youxiao opened the case file, and the more he looked, the more his smile broadened.

Hong Chengchou was aware of the emperor's intentions, and by following the clues, he implicated many other members of the Zheng family.

Many of them were palace servants of Consort Zheng.

"You did a good job on this task." Zhu Youxiao was never stingy with praise.

Hong Chengchou's face lit up with joy, but he still humbly said, "Your Majesty has already investigated this matter thoroughly. I was merely following the trend and it is nothing to boast about."

"This servant, Wei Zhongxian, greets Your Majesty."

At this time, Wei Zhongxian had also finished his business.

He entered the palace carrying a blood-stained confession, and said with a fawning expression, "Your Majesty, the Northern Garrison Command has released the results of the interrogation. Zheng Yangxing and Cui Wensheng have confessed to everything. All of their crimes were instigated by Consort Zheng!"

Under Xu Xianchun's great memory restoration technique, Cui Wensheng and Zheng Yangxing confessed everything they could and couldn't.

Zhu Youxiao looked at these irrefutable pieces of evidence and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Consort Zheng, you have committed so many crimes, what else do you have to say?

There is also Prince Fu.

You wouldn't want to see your mother being bullied, would you?

PS:

Day 6 of the 10,000-day streak.

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(End of this chapter)