Traveling through the emperor, overthrowing the empress dowager at the beginning

After leaving the Yangxin Palace, Ye Chen got on the sedan chair and headed towards the Kunning Palace.

When he arrived at Kunning Palace and strode into the main hall of Kunning Palace, he saw Su Mengjiao reviewing memorials.

"Queen Mother, what on earth do you want from me?"

Ye Chen sat down next to Su Mengjiao and asked.

Su Mengjiao looked at Ye Chen, who was carefree, and was already used to his casual behavior.

She didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "Emperor, I have read all the bamboo slips you asked Qiu'er to check."

"The Sima family in Hedong, the Yuan family in Huai'an, the Yang family in Longxi, the Zhen family in Hebei, and the Gao family in Jingji, these big families are all involved."

"Emperor, what exactly are you planning?"

Su Mengjiao looked at Ye Chen doubtfully and asked.

She only pointed out the very powerful families, and did not mention the medium and small aristocratic families.

"These families are deeply intertwined, share the same business, and naturally have the same interests. They must have been colluding with each other for a long time."

"Empress Dowager, I haven't thought of touching them now. We have to take our time with this."

"Besides, opening a restaurant isn't illegal. I can't arrest all these wealthy families and officials just because they don't pay business taxes."

Ye Chen smiled slightly, but his tone was extremely calm.

He now only knows that these families have colluded with each other, and he is facing a collective of interests. However, unless he finds evidence that they are harming the country and the people, it is impossible to wipe them out at once.

"Ah."

Su Mengjiao nodded, but also felt it was quite tricky.

The powerful force formed by these families colluding with each other can definitely shake the entire imperial rule of Dayu.

The reason why powerful officials are so powerful is because of the collusion between these interests, which makes the power of the aristocratic families become one.

This matter cannot be ignored, but Su Mengjiao has no idea how to deal with it.

"But Queen Mother, although we cannot take direct action against these families, we cannot let them go either. This is like scraping the bone to cure the poison. We have to do it bit by bit."

Ye Chen then said to Su Mengjiao.

Hearing this, Su Mengjiao was slightly stunned, and then her eyes lit up.

"Emperor, do you have an idea?"

"Empress Dowager, when I was flipping through those bamboo slips today, I saw two familiar names: the Xiahou family of Jingji and the Qi family of Taiyuan!"

"Aren't these the Minister of Personnel and the Minister of Justice?"

"I can take this opportunity to deal with the Lu merchants, seize evidence, and punish them severely. However, this time, I'm afraid I'll have to exterminate their entire clan and exile them!"

"Queen Mother, I need your support!"

Ye Chen's eyes were sharp, and his tone revealed a murderous intent.

When he attacked the Ministry of Households and the Ministry of Works before, Ye Chen only arrested the two ministers and several officials. At most, he only exiled their wives, children and some of their immediate relatives, but he showed mercy to most of their relatives.

But now, facing these aristocratic families who have been colluding for dozens or even hundreds of years, obviously have common interests, and may have become one, Ye Chen has decided to take drastic measures.

Exterminate three clans, relocate nine clans, or even exterminate nine clans.

Only such drastic measures can intimidate these giant aristocratic families that have been deeply rooted in the local area.

"Emperor, go ahead and do it. As long as it's not too extreme, I will fully support you."

Su Mengjiao nodded slightly.

"it is good!"

Ye Chen nodded heavily, and the corners of his mouth quickly curled up.

He immediately stood up and wanted to say goodbye and return to Yangxin Palace. Lu Shang had not been found yet, and he had nothing else to do today, so he wanted to practice martial arts.

However, before he could say goodbye, Shen Qiu suddenly walked up to him.

"Queen Mother, Your Majesty, that Lu Niu Dan has sent news that he has found the second hideout of the Lu merchants!"

Hearing this, Ye Chen’s eyes lit up.

"Empress Dowager, I need to leave the palace immediately!"

Hearing this, Su Mengjiao looked at Ye Chen with a frown on her face.

"Emperor, those Lu merchants have a lot of manpower, don't rush in rashly."

"I know that I will mobilize most of the people from the Jing'an Marquis' Mansion this time. Even if I have to break into the Lu Merchants' lair, I will not put myself in danger."

Ye Chen smiled slightly, very confident.

Seeing him like this, Su Mengjiao stopped trying to persuade him and just gestured for Shen Qiu to stay close to him.

When Ye Chen returned to Yangxin Palace, changed into casual clothes, walked out of the palace, and got into the carriage, Shen Qiu, who had just gotten into the carriage, suddenly clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, Miss Qin is entering the palace again today."

"Let Meng'er wait for me at the city gate."

Ye Chen said immediately.

He still needed people from the Jing'an Marquis Mansion today, so naturally he didn't mind bringing Qin Man along.

The carriage soon arrived at the gate of the imperial palace. Qin Man was wearing a pink brocade dress, exuding a pure temperament, like a plum blossom in the snow, with an otherworldly beauty.

"Mian'er, get in the car."

Ye Chen lifted the curtain of the carriage and said.

"Yes."

As soon as Qin Man saw Ye Chen, a look of surprise immediately appeared on her pretty face. She nodded and got on the carriage.

"Mian'er, I have to go somewhere today. It might be dangerous. Please wait in the car."

Ye Chen took Qin Man's hand and gave her earnest instructions.

After hearing his words, Qin Man's face changed slightly.

"Your Majesty, if that place is dangerous, then it's better not to go there."

"Oh, Meng'er, I'm going on this trip to see what methods the Lu merchants have used on the people. I want to see their actions with my own eyes so that I can make sure they die without a burial place!"

Ye Chen waved his hand, his tone filled with murderous intent, and the imperial aura emanating from him was breathtaking.

Qin Man was shocked, but she could feel Ye Chen's determination, and the uneasiness in her heart calmed down.

"Then Your Majesty, the people in Jing'an Marquis' Mansion are ready to obey your orders at any time."

Qin Man finally said that she was willing to offer her support to Ye Chen.

"Oh, Meng'er, I will definitely transfer the people from Jing'an Marquis' Mansion."

Ye Chen smiled slightly and gently stroked Qin Man's hand.

Qin Man's skin was fair and smooth, and her palms were soft and boneless. They felt soft in her hands, completely different from Shen Qiu's hands.

"His Majesty."

"Ok?"

"Can you let go?"

Qin Man's pretty face flushed and she said.

Ye Chen held her hand tightly and wouldn't let go. She was so embarrassed.

"Hey, cough, cough."

Ye Chen coughed twice in embarrassment, then let go of his hand. Then, he turned his attention outside the carriage.

This time, before he left the imperial city by carriage, Shen Qiu also arranged for several carriages to go ahead, and they all left from the four gates of the imperial city at the same time.

However, according to reports from the various gates of the imperial city, no more whistles were heard outside the gates.

Ye Chen felt relieved, and soon, the carriage he was riding in entered the most prosperous commercial street in the capital and stopped in front of a pawnshop.

Lu Niudan brought his men to the carriage where Ye Chen was.

"Lu Niu Dan, is this the new hideout of the Lu merchants?"

Ye Chen lifted the curtain and looked at the pawnshop in front of him in confusion.

On the surface, it's just an ordinary pawn shop.

"Here it is!"

Lu Niu Dan lowered his voice and said to Ye Chen: "Your Majesty, this pawnshop is not simple. Those Lu merchants are still secretly recruiting people."

"Oh."

Ye Chen's eyes suddenly became sharp.

These Luzhou merchants are really bold.