Jingming

Chapter 431: Well-intentioned but self-defeating

Knowing that Cui Yuan and the others were there, Huang Jin still came in to report at this time.

This was not Huang Jin's choice to wait for Cui Yuan, a man with great influence in the clan, to report and deal with it.

With Huang Jin's character, it can only mean that this incident just happened.This matter is serious and cannot be ignored.

"Are you checking?"

"I have already locked up several slaves who know about this matter in the direct room of the Supervisor of Ceremonies. I will rush here to report to His Majesty."

After Empress Dowager Chiang passed away last year and was buried in Anlu, Zhang Zuo was also old and was arranged to go back to supervise the construction of the Xianling Mausoleum and will guard it there from now on.Now Huang Jin has been promoted to the position of Chief of Ceremonies and has become the No. 1 minister.

Zhu Houcong nodded: "Well done. There is no need to investigate in Renshou Palace. Ask the whistleblower. If you didn't report earlier, if you didn't report later, why did you report today? Who instigated it. Investigate secretly first, don't make any announcement."

For people like Empress Dowager Zhang, Zhu Houcong never expected her to realize her problems.Is it strange that she would pray and curse Zhu Houcong's family?

The people who reported it all said that they had been praying for many years, so they knew it a long time ago.

So the focus is not on Queen Mother Zhang herself.After keeping her for so many years, Zhu Houcong just treated her as if she no longer existed. Why should he do anything to her at this time?
On the contrary, reporting at this time shows that someone in the harem can no longer hold back.

The emperor made such a statement, and Cui Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

As a witness to the incident in which Empress Dowager Zhang acted violently towards the Empress, and was then taken to Fengxian Hall by the Emperor and subsequently placed under house arrest, Cui Yuan knew very well how sensitive this time is now.

For more than a year, news of the death has spread frequently.Now, with the Queen's new funeral and the news of Zhang Fujing's death reaching Beijing, the emperor himself may be at the moment when his emotions are most likely to lose control.

If the emperor is angry, other troubles aside, the biggest trouble is that everyone in his own harem will start to feel uneasy.

At this time when the princes and princesses are gradually growing up, if they know that there are ambitious people in the harem, which concubine will not take the initiative and be forced to join the fight for the life of herself and her children?

This is the problem that immediately erupted after the harem lost its master.

Zhu Houcong was silent for a long time, and then said: "I originally planned to be like Taizu and Taizong, no longer to establish a queen, but to enter the imperial concubine as a concubine and take care of the harem. Now it seems that my thinking is simple."

Cui Yuan sighed with him and replied: "Your Majesty is kind and can't handle the chores in the harem like Taizu and Taizong."

Of course, the harem does not have to have an official queen.

But as long as there are concubines in the harem, some people will always fight.The back seat is vacant, and with that glimmer of hope, the overt and covert fighting will become more intense.

If Zhu Houcong was such a ruthless king and dealt with one or two typical examples ruthlessly, or if there were signs of that kind in the future, he would deal with them with thunderbolts, then he would be able to suppress them.

The problem is: Zhu Houcong is not that kind of person.

He didn't want to rely on pressure, and he also wanted to avoid so many disputes in the harem to cause him headaches. He also hoped that his sons and daughters could live in harmony. This was where Zhu Houcong was in trouble.

But now it seems that we have to kill this trend first.

Who was the one who planned this?
……

What happened in the palace is not known to the outside world yet.

Lu Bing has a new mission, Huang Jin can't make a fuss, and the information he can get under covert visits is limited.

After a whole day, he still could only go to Zhu Houcong to report the progress.

"...This servant is incompetent, Your Majesty, please forgive me."

In the Yangxin Hall, Huang Jin kowtowed, but Zhu Houcong did not blame him.

Since last year, so many people inside and outside the palace have left, especially the death of Empress Dowager Chiang. There have been changes in personnel and affairs in the harem. It is normal for someone to take advantage of the loopholes and connect them first.

What Zhu Houcong is looking at now is the most important record.

Renshou Palace is under house arrest, and the eunuchs and old maids serving there rarely leave.Those who leave will not leave the palace, but will only do some necessary things after registering.

And whenever other people go to Renshou Palace, they must be recorded.

Zhu Houcong looked at the record and asked: "Have all the ministers and female officials who have been in contact with Renshou Palace since last year checked it?"

"Back to Your Majesty, I have followed Your Majesty's instructions and have only secretly checked the behavior of these slaves before and after. Except for the slaves in Renshou Palace, the other slaves have their own errands. Normally, it is impossible to remember their daily behavior so carefully."

"Bring it to me to see."

The first record is the ministers and female officials who have been in contact with Renshou Palace since last year.

The second information is about some of the activities of these ministers and female officials before and after their contact with Renshou Palace.

In one day, Huang Jin took out these two things and put a lot of thought into them.

Zhu Houcong also knew why he didn't continue the investigation, because what the emperor wanted to know was who instigated the eunuch of Renshou Palace to report yesterday.

Those who are qualified to command the eunuchs of Renshou Palace are naturally the important people in the harem.

Apart from eunuchs like Huang Jin, the most likely ones are naturally the concubines.

So two pieces of information were used to prove it, and there were only four people who stood out: Wen Jingyi, who originally served Empress Dowager Jiang, who had served Sun Ming since she was a child, and Zhang Qiaomei, who followed her into the palace and became the head of the female officials of Kunning Palace, and the head of the palace in the east palace of the prince. Yin Fang, the eunuch, and Tian Yu, the eunuch in charge of Yong'an Palace where Duan concubine was located.

Zhu Houcong looked at Huang Jin: "Yin Fang is your godson. I asked him to go to the East Palace. Did you ask him first?"

Huang Jin kowtowed: "Every year for the birthday of Renshou Palace, the Queen Mother, the Queen Mother, and the Crown Prince will send people to go there as usual. Last year, my servant also went there on behalf of Your Majesty."

This is why Wen Jingyi, Zhang Qiaomei, and Yin Fang appeared in Renshou Palace.

"Where's Tian Yu?"

"We are strangers to Wang He, the eunuch in charge of Renshou Palace. Wang He entered the palace when Xiaomiao was there, but Tian Yu entered the palace only after His Majesty became emperor."

Zhu Houcong looked at the record and said: "But the two of them met three times in the Imperial Prison, in the Xinxi Department, and in the Clothing Bureau? Yesterday, they met in the Shrine Prison and received incense lamps together?"

It is said that people in Renshou Palace worship Buddha and chant sutras all year round, and they always use incense lamps.Are Duan concubines also worshiping Buddha for the queen?

Huang Jin only said: "Your Majesty, please judge, what is the next step for me to investigate?"

Zhu Houcong said nothing.

Renshou Palace is already a key target for the palace to be wary of. Although it is only a secret investigation, such preliminary clues will soon be obtained.

But concubines?

Even if his father is Cao Cha, who is currently the Minister of Civil Affairs, and is very likely to enter the State Palace this year, will she be the queen?

This concubine gave birth to a total of three daughters for Zhu Houcong, and it was difficult for her to give birth to children.

Zhu Houcong thought about this clue, and suddenly his face became even more ugly.

"How popular is Tian Yu in the palace?"

Huang Jin quickly replied: "He is known for his affability and is very popular. He gets along well with the twelve supervisors, four divisions, eight bureaus and the heads of various palaces."

"Which ones do you have the best relationship with?"

"That's not true. I just greet everyone with a smile." After Huang Jin answered this sentence, he lowered his head.

Zhu Houcong's eyes turned cold: "If you still know anything, just tell me. Don't answer before I ask."

"...Your Majesty, forgive me." Huang Jin kowtowed, "Na Tian Yu... received the grace of Duan Concubine and married Tong Ruiying, the female official of Yong'an Palace. The two people in the palace are known for their deep love and affection. Na Tong Ruiying knew it well. The art of Qihuang has always been reused by concubines. In recent years, the three princesses in Yong'an Palace have occasionally been slightly ill, and she has done a lot of work. In the past five or six years... Tong Ruiying has often met with the female officials of various palaces who gave birth to princes. Coming and going. It is normal for a concubine to ask for food recipes if she hopes to have a son..."

It used to be normal, but now it's unusual.

But these are just speculations at the moment, and Zhu Houcong and Huang Jin cannot think that she is a suspect just because of these interactions and because Duanbi has been eager to have a son.

The key question is, who knows about Huang Ming’s wise harem?This matter of instigation will be known upon investigation.If it was found out that Duan concubine was the one responsible, what hope could she have?Not only did he not give birth to an heir, but he also hated the emperor.

Unless there is a proper follow-up solution for this matter, there is a plan that Zhu Houcong will find difficult to refuse.

And since Wang He of Renshou Palace... dared to report, he probably wouldn't let go even in the face of Zhu Houcong himself.

Zhu Houcong closed his eyes tiredly: "I remember that the people in charge of Concubine Xian and Concubine Shu are all old people, right? How is your relationship with Wang He?"

"...Your Majesty clearly understood that they were all Wang He's godsons. In the past, Wang He did not do well in An's palace. After An's misfortune, Wang He also got their pleas, and finally he was sent to Renshou Palace."

"Go and tell Lu Bing first and ask him to check on Wang He. Do you have any social interactions with your family and clan members recently... I have to think about it before making a decision."

Concubine An's difficult delivery was partly due to physical problems, and partly because Wang He, who was in charge at the time, drank some wine and was slow to notify the imperial doctors.Although it was likely that timely notification would not change the final outcome, Zhu Houcong, who was faced with the difficulty of giving birth to his concubine for the first time and the death of two people, still had to deal with Wang He.

To be sent to be the head of the first palace, Wang He himself must be recognized, or recognized by the eunuchs in the palace.He entered the palace during the Hongzhi Dynasty, and even his two godsons were assigned to the palaces of Concubine Xian and Concubine Shu respectively. If he was not very good, how could he serve in the concubine's palace?
He was already old at that time, so someone helped him to plead for mercy. After Zhu Houcong calmed down, he just let him go to Renshou Palace.

In the harem, any treatment, eunuch or maid, will bear some unexpected results at the right time after a long time.

But this matter is obviously not that simple, because Wang He's two godsons are in the palace of Concubine Xian and Concubine Shu respectively.

Why did he want to kill his two godsons?Do you think that their intercession for him in the past was counterproductive?Is it better to stay in Renshou Palace than to be expelled from the palace back then?

Unless someone promised him something...the thing promised to him made him think it was worth it and he should definitely get it.

Lu Bing had more things to check, but Zhu Houcong looked at the other three people: Wen Jingyi, Zhang Qiaomei, and Yin Fang bitterly.

Are they really just going to Renshou Palace for a routine visit?

If Duanbi wanted to do this, it was impossible for Cao Cha not to know about it.

With Cao Cha's involvement, he should be very clear: in the eyes of the emperor, the crown prince is the fundamental problem.Judging from the clues that are known so far, if this matter is to be dealt with, the prince will be the one who will benefit.

In other words, when Wang He was involved, the emperor could just use the excuse of dealing with the people related to him to tell the harem that the prince would not move by dealing with the two concubines and the eunuchs in charge of the palace.

Duan concubine could not give birth to a son, but she had three daughters.

If she couldn't give birth to a son, she wouldn't threaten the prince.

Under today's rules, this also means that if the concubine becomes the queen, the prince will have three consorts as ministers of the humerus.

Before Sun Ming's illness was not serious, another thing he worried about was: the prince would be seventeen soon, so he could think about the princess...

Unfortunately, she saw the niece and grandniece that Mrs. Cao Cha brought when she came to the palace to visit Duan Concubine after Cao Cha returned to Beijing.

Although she is only 12 years old, Sun Ming likes it very much.

The key point is: the son of brother Cao Cha has been studying new learning and new methods with Cao Cha, who went to Guangdong to serve as an official. He was the number one scholar in the 17th year of Jiajing.

You are only 12 years old, what do you want to be a princess?All said and done, it was just to help Zhu Zaicheng get more helpers.

Zhu Houcong felt bitter now: did the prince know about this matter and was he involved?
Is this matter another backup plan arranged by Sun Ming, if Zhu Houcong does not agree to her letting Sun Lan take over the Kunning Palace?

But didn’t Zhu Houcong already agree to her?

……

In the Forbidden City, Empress Dowager Jiang was gone, Sun Ming was gone, and Zhu Houcong could no longer find anyone to express his depression.No matter how comfortable he is in state affairs, this issue is now his family matter.

Although his family affairs are state affairs.

After confirming some things in his own way, Zhu Houcong left the Yangxin Hall.

In the banquet hall, Zhu Houcong came to Sun Ming's Zi Palace.

"Zai Chi, you are young, go back and have a rest first."

"...Yes, Royal Father."

Zhu Houcong stood there, with his back to Zhu Zaicheng who was kneeling beside him.

"Everyone else should step aside first. I'll talk to the queen and the prince."

"Yes……"

Zhu Zaiyi became nervous. He didn't know why his father wanted to shun everyone and even asked his fourth brother to leave first and only talk to him alone.

After a few faint sounds in the banquet hall, it became completely quiet, with only the beeping sound of the burning oil lamp.

Zhu Houcong looked at Sun Ming's coffin quietly, his eyes gradually turning red.

Is it because there are too many concubines in the harem, and she knows that her lifespan will not last long, so she has no choice but to not put all her hopes on herself and find ways to arrange everything for her son?

Zhu Houcong was not sure. After a long time, he turned his back to Zhu Zaicheng and said softly: "You may be the prince for a long time, and my father will always teach you with his heart. Study hard and practice slowly. There will be no surprises. Understand ?"

Zhu Zaiyi thought that he was here to reassure him, and his heart suddenly felt warm. He choked up and replied: "I understand."

"Is Yin Fang still capable?"

Zhu Zai'an was stunned for a moment: "He... I thought he was still capable."

Zhu Houcong turned around and looked at him: "Yin Fang has been waiting here these days?"

Zhu Zaiyi felt that something was wrong, and his father's eyes were sharp.

He thought about it and said nervously: "I spend most of my time here, but I also went out a few times."

"several times?"

"...My son didn't pay attention."

Zhu Houcong looked into his eyes and paused for a while before asking: "He came from your grandmother's palace to serve you after the Duanben Palace was built. Among the old people in Qingning Palace, do you know who he had the most contacts with?" "

"It should be Wen Siwei. Grandma's grace allowed him and Wen Siwei to marry each other."

Zhu Houcong thought of Wen Jingyi, whom the Empress Dowager Jiang often assigned to hang out in front of him in the past. She once represented the Empress Dowager Chiang's desire for her son to have an heir as soon as possible.Whether it's using her as a wet nurse or her son being moved by her surging breasts.

Finally, Zhu Houcong killed Lin Qingping.

When father and son talked, Zhu Houcong just wanted to confirm one thing.

"Does Yin Fang report everything to you?"

Zhu Zaiyi's heart palpitated. When his father asked this question, his eyes became sharper.

He hesitated before saying: "Big things will be reported, but trivial matters...Father, should we report them all?"

Zhu Houcong discerned his eyes and continued to ask: "What about the past few days, are there any major events to report to you?"

When Zhu Zaiyi heard that all his questions were about Yin Fang, he immediately replied: "My sons and ministers have been guarding here these days. There is nothing important in Duanben Palace."

Zhu Houcong nodded, turned around again and looked at Sun Ming's Zi Palace, and said slowly: "Before your mother's death, you must remember not to make false promises. What your mother hoped for from me before she died, I did it in front of you. Your face answered. You don’t know, but I feel a lot relieved.”

Zhu Zaiyi's voice trembled a little: "Father, what happened?"

Zhu Houcong shook his head, walked forward, gently touched the coffin with his hand, his voice was soft, but what he said made Zhu Zaicheng's heart tremble: "Remember, the people around you can't hide anything from you, even if it's for the sake of Hello. But there are some things that you must hide from the people around you. Did you tell the servants what I promised your mother before she died, so as to reassure them? "

"...My son, I did something wrong. Father, please forgive me."

"It's not a crime. Ming'er, he is still too young after all. He has a lot to learn..."

Zhu Zaiyi was now sure that something was wrong with Yin Fang, but wasn't he the godson of Eunuch Huang, a person that both his grandmother and mother felt very trustworthy?

What did he do?

When Zhu Houcong returned to the Yangxin Hall, Zhang Qiaomei, Wen Jingyi, and Yin Fang were still kneeling there.

The master of the Ming Dynasty and the most outspoken emperor in the Forbidden City returned to the three of them and sat down without saying a word.

One is the head of the female officials of Kunning Palace, one of the two imperial palaces in the Forbidden City.

One is Si Wei, the subordinate of the Shanggong Bureau. After the death of Empress Dowager Jiang, he went to Duanben Palace to restrain all female officials not to seduce the prince.

One is the eunuch in charge of the East Palace.

Zhu Houcong finally spoke: "Wang He, the eunuch in charge of Renshou Palace, reported last night that Empress Dowager Cishou has been praying for many years. Zhang Qiaomei, do you know about this?"

The three of them have been kneeling here for a long time. Zhang Qiaomei has been Sun Ming's personal maid since she was a child. She has been confused for a long time. At this time, her face suddenly turned pale and she said immediately: "Your Majesty, slave... I don't know..."

Yin Fang suddenly trembled and couldn't help but look at Wen Jingyi.

Zhu Houcong also looked at Wen Jingyi: "What about you? Wen Siwei?"

"...This slave doesn't know."

"Okay, I don't even know." Zhu Houxuan said slowly, "One is from the queen's palace, and the two are from the prince's palace. It's not good for me to strictly interrogate you, so as not to shock the court, right?"

"Your Majesty, the slaves really don't know..." Yin Fang kowtowed repeatedly.

"If you don't know, just say you don't know. Why don't you say you don't know what to do on their behalf?" Zhu Houcong looked at him coldly.

"My slave is wrong. I really don't know. I am in charge..."

Zhu Houcong looked at Huang Jin as he slapped his mouth with all his strength: "Ask him, does he know?"

Huang Jin also knelt down: "Yin Fang! Do you know about this in the past few days? Did you know about it before?"

"My slave..." Yin Fang kowtowed to Zhu Houcong first, and then cried again, "My slave, I really don't know..."

"He has always been honest, just like a slave. Maybe he really doesn't know." Huang Jin actually had the courage to plead for him, "Let me ask you, do you know about Wen Siwei's frequent visits to Yong'an Palace?" have no idea!"

This is the new situation Huang Jin learned after following the clues.

At this time, Yin Fang knew it, and just argued: "I went because the concubine Duan came to invite me..."

"The prince regards you as a close minister." Zhu Houcong's eyes flashed coldly, "Have you told Wen Jingyi everything the prince told you?"

"...I know my mistake. Your Majesty, please spare my life. Your Majesty, please spare your life..."

But at this moment, Wen Jingyi was the calmest.

Zhu Houcong glanced at him, and finally looked at Zhang Qiaomei: "I agree to the queen, you have heard, don't be harmed by others. I just want to know one more thing, have you been clear about this before?"

Zhang Qiaomei burst into tears: "Your Majesty...there is no such thing...the queen told me that there is no such thing! Your Majesty has made arrangements. I follow the queen's order and will go to Duanben Palace to take care of the prince." "

Zhu Houcong narrowed his eyes.

It was finally confirmed that Sun Ming did have another secret plan.It may not have been like this originally, but since some attitudes have been released to Duan Concubine, Kunning Palace can just endorse it behind the scenes.How to do it is a matter for the concubine and Cao Cha.

Another plan should have been aborted because Zhu Houxuan agreed to Sun Ming's first choice.

However, how can a person who has a seed planted in his heart hold back?

Zhu Houcong opened his eyes and then looked at Wen Jingyi: "Why are you doing that? Because Qiaomei went to Duanben Palace, so there is no place for you?"

Wen Jingyi kowtowed calmly and replied: "This slave is just following the Queen's decree. If there is a call from Yong'an Palace, there is no need to see anyone outside."

"Even if the situation changes?"

"Your Majesty has always known that this slave is stupid and vulgar. How can this slave understand the situation?"

Zhu Houcong looked at her and saw a trace of resentment in her eyes.

It seems that she no longer pretends, but where does this resentment come from?

She is also one of the top female officials in the palace, and now she is the head of the female officials in the East Palace.

Already 35 years old and having lived in this era for more than [-] years, Zhu Houcong thought about it briefly and felt extremely helpless.

"Because you only said a few words about your mother in the past, you had hopes, but in the end, they all came to nothing. Now you want to make my harem unpeaceful and make all the concubines panic?"

"I don't understand. I have a question. I follow the Queen's orders and stay away. I really don't know the rest."

Zhu Houcong understood, the firewall.

Kunning Palace and East Palace only released attitudes and did not participate in the specific implementation of the plan.

Sun Ming still thought very hard, but he just missed the judgment of people's hearts.

Did Wen Jingyi make any suggestions in this, reminding her of this entry point that could implicate Concubine Xian and Concubine Shu in one fell swoop?

Zhu Houcong couldn't help but feel tired.

When Sun Ming was here, the harem was peaceful.After Sun Ming left, the first palace fight that Zhu Houcong had to face turned out to be because of Sun Ming's "death".

But when he promised her, why didn't she remind her that she had other arrangements?Did he forget it, or did he know that it would be extremely difficult for Sun Lan to take her place in the palace, and there were also hidden worries?
She has done so much for her son with good intentions, doesn't she believe that her husband will not shake the prince's status?

Or is it that the years of life in the palace have made her no longer as innocent as she was back then, and she only bets her money on "trust"?

Until now, this result was all the result of the causes he planted, including Wen Jingyi's resentment.

Did Duan concubine know through her that Zhu Houcong had promised Sun Ming and was preparing to let Sun Lan enter the palace, so did she take action?
If Sun Ming didn't have this request, what would be the next plan?Why did Concubine Duan take the position of queen over Concubine Xian and Concubine Shu?

No, this is most likely still the plan.

If you want to preserve the status of the prince, the duan concubine who cannot give birth to a daughter is indeed better than the virtuous concubine who already has the emperor's eldest son, and the concubine Shu who gave birth to the emperor's seventh son.

Help her to the upper position, and then tap the virtuous and virtuous concubines.In addition, Cao Cha's niece and granddaughter can become the crown princess, and the marriage becomes even more intimate.Even if Yang Shen fails to become the general assistant, if there is another staunch princeling Cao Cha in the State Palace, wouldn't the prince be very stable?

Faced with such a situation, Zhu Houcong's reaction became very straightforward.

The depressed mood these days and the anger after this incident all turned into three cold words: "Xuan Caocha!"

Cao Cha, who had gone to court to avoid suspicion because of Zhang Juzheng's entry into Beijing, was now another state relative after Sun Jiao who was expected to become one of the giants of civil servants. He wanted to make progress too much!
(End of this chapter)