Huangming

Chapter 58 Kneeling at the Palace Gate to Remonstrate, Shocking the Court and the Countryside

These past two days, Zhu Youxiao has been extremely exhausted from presiding over the funeral of the late emperor.

Especially during the performance of crying at Deshengmen, he almost lost his voice from shouting.

As a result, Zhu Youxiao got up later than usual the next day.

Attended by palace servants, Zhu Youxiao dressed in his imperial robes and left the rear hall of the Qianqing Palace, heading towards the East Warm Pavilion.

After becoming familiar with the surroundings, Zhu Youxiao sat on the throne, preparing to begin handling state affairs.

The most urgent matter now is naturally those officials who have already been imprisoned.

Zhu Youxiao summoned Wei Zhongxian, the eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and Luo Sigong, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, for questioning.

As for Zhang Weixian, he is still at Tianshou Mountain offering sacrifices and will not be able to return for at least ten days.

The two entered the East Warm Pavilion, paid their respects to the Emperor, and were then given seats on round-backed chairs.

Zhu Youxiao cut to the chase, asking, "Have those people in the imperial prison been thoroughly interrogated? Are there any innocent people among them?"

Wei Zhongxian immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, those are all serious crimes. After the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigated, they were either corrupt, derelict in their duties, or colluded with merchants to accept bribes. Not one of them is innocent."

Those thirty-three memorials were all selected from those impeachments that had solid evidence.

It's not surprising that it has this effect.

"Show me the case files and the list of confiscated property."

Wei Zhongxian handed over two thick books with both hands and presented them to Wei Chao.

Wei Chao then quickly delivered the memorial to the emperor.

Zhu Youxiao opened the two booklets, his eyes gradually narrowing.

Thirty-three officials in the capital were found guilty, some of whom had already confessed, while others refused to admit their guilt.

The confiscation of property from fifteen households, along with the silver and goods, amounted to nearly 300,000 taels of silver.

After finishing reading the book, Zhu Youxiao looked at Luo Sigong and asked, "Commander-in-Chief, is there any mistake?"

Luo Sigong stood up straight and said, "Your Majesty, there is no mistake."

Zhu Youxiao put the two booklets together and had Wei Chao hand over the list of fifty-six people to three people.

This involved not only officials in the capital, such as those in the Censorate and the Six Ministries, but also officials in the Grand Canal and local areas.

"Your superiors, investigate thoroughly and find out the facts. As for when to make the arrest, I will inform you."

"This servant obeys!"

The two looked at the memorial in their hands. Luo Sigong frowned slightly, but remained expressionless.

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Wei Zhongxian's eyes, followed by a look of delight.

Investigation and house raid!

Wei Zhongxian had become somewhat addicted to this feeling.

"Your Majesty, then we shall take our leave."

Wei Zhongxian was already getting impatient.

However, Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said, "Wei Zhongxian, you stay. The rest of you, leave."

Upon hearing this, Luo Sigong's eyes flashed with a strange light, but he quickly left the hall.

Wei Chao raised his head high, glanced at Wei Zhongxian with a gloating look, and left.

Soon, only the Emperor and Wei Zhongxian remained in the East Warm Pavilion.

"Zhongxian, do you have nothing else to say to me?" Wei Zhongxian's forehead was covered in sweat, and he immediately knelt down.

"This servant is foolish and ignorant, please enlighten me, Your Majesty."

Zhu Youxiao saw Wei Zhongxian kneeling on the ground and slowly said, "You did not embezzle a single penny of the proceeds from the confiscation of your property, but your subordinates seem to be less than clean. In addition, I have heard that several merchants who colluded with the criminals have given you a lot of things."

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhongxian broke out in a cold sweat.

He cursed Wei Chao in his heart for being a persistent ghost and accused him of slander.

At the same time, I was shocked.

He secretly approved of his subordinates embezzling and confiscating the emperor's property, all in order to test the emperor's temperament.

But those merchants arrived secretly, on Wei Zhongxian's orders by his trusted subordinates. He never expected that His Majesty would find out about it.

He thought he had done everything perfectly!
In that instant, Wei Zhongxian felt as if he had been stripped naked, with no secrets left to him.

bang bang bang~
Wei Zhongxian kowtowed repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty is wise. This servant was unaware of this matter. I will investigate and give Your Majesty an explanation!"

Fortunately, he had made backup plans in advance, and the money did not end up in his hands, but in the hands of his subordinates.

By having his subordinates take the blame, he won't be harmed.

Zhu Youxiao coldly said, "Wei Zhongxian, I hope you will become a minister who serves the country like Zhi Du and Zhang Tang. Do not let me down. Today's matter is the last time. There will be no next time."

If we don't teach these servants a lesson, they'll get too cocky.

Wei Zhongxian broke out in a cold sweat and kowtowed repeatedly.

"This servant thanks Your Majesty for sparing my life. If there is a next time, there is no need for Your Majesty to take action. This servant will jump into the Jinshui River and feed the turtles myself!"

It seems that it won't be easy to fool His Majesty!

He wondered how many of the Imperial Guards and eunuchs under his command were actually His Majesty's spies.

Wei Zhongxian now completely concealed his ulterior motives.

"Go down! Thoroughly investigate your subordinates. I believe these corrupt officials, along with those merchants, have at least one million taels of embezzled funds. What do you think?"

bang bang bang~
Wei Zhongxian kowtowed several more times and immediately said, "This servant will investigate immediately and will definitely give His Majesty an explanation!"

After saying that, he crawled out of the East Warm Pavilion, looking extremely disheveled.

Outside the East Warm Pavilion, Wei Chao looked at the disheveled Wei Zhongxian and said sarcastically, "Does the Grand Eunuch need help?"

Wei Zhongxian glanced at Wei Chao, forcing a smile onto his old face.

"I dare not trouble my elder brother."

After saying this, Wei Zhongxian quickly left the East Warm Pavilion. After turning around, the smile on his face turned ruthless.

Wei Chao, you just wait!

Not long after Wei Zhongxian left, Wang Tiqian rushed over.

"Not good, not good."

Wei Chao quickly stopped Wang Tiqian and asked, "What's wrong? Why are you so panicked?"

Wang Tiqian was breathing rapidly, and beads of sweat on his forehead were almost the size of soybeans.

"Your Majesty, outside Zuoshun Gate, Grand Secretary Han Kuang of the Eastern Pavilion, along with nearly two hundred officials from the Censorate and the Six Ministries, are kneeling and remonstrating, causing a stir throughout the court and the country!"

Zuoshun Gate was the only way for officials to go to court. If they knelt down to remonstrate here, any court official would see them.

The emperor mobilized the Imperial Guards, and Han Kuang and his men also began to unleash their ultimate moves!
(End of this chapter)