Rule over Ming Dynasty

Chapter 70 Aftermath 2
Outer East Road, Qingning Palace.

The Empress Dowager Zhou lived a life of pampering and pampering for decades, and because she had too much free time, she spent her mind on this diet.

The imperial dining room delivered exquisite breakfasts on time, and each dish was very particular.

The Empress Dowager Zhou was slowly tasting a piece of spring mountain snow lotus sent by the imperial dining room. It looked very attractive, and it was even more delicious when it was put in her mouth.

But before she could swallow it, she saw her confidant female officer He Shanggong hurried in from outside.

After getting along for a long time, I naturally know that He Shangguan is so anxious that something urgent must have happened.It's just this early in the morning, and now that he controls the harem, what else can happen?
As for Waichao, although his younger brother was indeed a bit greedy, the land in Baodi had already been rowed over, and he must have been too embarrassed to come here to ask for rewards from him for a long time.

"Empress Dowager, Huai En has just been arrested and sent to Fusi Prison in Beizhen for coercion!" He Shanggong endured the panic in his heart, came to him and tried to lower his voice.

The Empress Dowager Zhou suddenly felt that the food in her mouth was not delicious, and she said with displeasure on her face: "Is this true? Why does Wynn dare to act like a coward?"

"Yesterday, His Majesty sent Wynn to Wenyuan Pavilion to reprimand Elder Wange, but Wynn took away Wan An's tooth card and kicked Wan An out of the palace. His Majesty was furious at Long Yan in the early morning because of this matter. He even quarreled with the ministers!" He Shanggong reported what he had heard.

Although the Empress Dowager Zhou knew that Wynn was getting more and more rampant as she got older, she didn't expect to have reached this level. She couldn't help saying angrily: "This dog, it's not a pity to die!"

"Wynn has been in the palace for so long, and he knows too much. Will he say something he shouldn't have said in Beizhen Fusi?" He Shanggong naturally didn't care about Wynn's life, and seemed very worried.

The Empress Dowager Zhou took a sip of the soup, but she said confidently: "Wynn is crazy, but he must know what he can say and what can't be said, so you can rest assured!"

"Empress Dowager, there is one more thing! Your majesty is not sure why your majesty is arguing so fiercely with the ministers, but your majesty has just issued an order in the early morning to send twelve eunuchs to the twelve battalion prime ministers for military affairs!" He Shanggong Seeing that Wynn's matter didn't seem to need to be overemphasized, he confided another message.

Zhou Taihuang was about to take a sip of fresh soup, and suddenly raised his head in shock and said, "If His Majesty wants the Prime Minister's military affairs, and sends twelve eunuchs to directly take over the Twelve Battalion, how can all civil and military officials not stop it?"

After all, it has gone through three dynasties, but it is known that the Twelfth Battalion is actually managed by three parties.

If Zhu Youtang is directly managed by the eunuch, not to mention that Zhu Youtang is not a person who favors the eunuch, this move will definitely be blocked by civil and military officials, and Zhu Youtang has no courage to do this at all.

Don't look at the emperor as aloof, but many things are actually involuntary.Not to mention far away, like his son Zhu Jianshen loved that demon concubine so much, but he couldn't get the queen position at all.

"The lower officials don't know exactly what's going on, but this matter has indeed happened, and the twelve imperial decrees have been issued now!" He Shanggong didn't understand why the Empress Dowager Zhou was so nervous, so he reported the truth.

The spoon in the Empress Dowager Zhou's hand fell back into the soup bowl, as if thinking of something terrible, the corner of her mouth trembled and she said, "Quickly, send someone to Zaochao to stop Qingyunhou!"

"I'm afraid that Marquis Qingyun won't come to the morning court, so I'll send someone there!" He Shanggong knew that Qing Yunhou hadn't attended the morning court for many days since his salary was withheld, but he still obeyed the order and sent people to look for Dao.

The Empress Dowager Zhou realized that it was really unlikely that her younger brother would come to the court, so she murmured, "It's over, something is going to happen!"

Inside the imperial palace, although the palaces here are magnificent, the Waixi Road and Waidong Road obviously lack the light of life.

Since Yingzong abolished the sacrificial burial system, Yingzong and Xianzong's harem concubines have been arranged to live here, and many young and beautiful concubines have entered the pension mode in advance.

A concubine like Concubine Shao who gave birth to three princes would be in a much better situation, but if a concubine doesn't even have a princess, she really has no idea in life.

The Queen Mother was lucky and unlucky. Unfortunately, she was not favored by Emperor Chenghua, and she did not have a son and a half daughter. Fortunately, she was the Queen Mother.

Renshou Palace, the main hall.

When Zhu Youtang came here, he saw the Queen Mother's image of a virtuous queen, but he couldn't help being slightly taken aback when he saw Wang Lan standing beside the Queen Mother.

Wang Lan is no longer the high-spirited young man of the past. His right arm is obviously injured, and one eye is also blind. He looks like he escaped from death.

After seeing each other, Zhu Youtang took a seat on the left side of the Queen Mother, and asked Wang Lan curiously, "Wang Lan, what's going on?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I went to Baodi to perform official duties a few days ago, and was ambushed by thieves on the way back!" Wang Lan said with erratic eyes, showing lingering fear.

"How can there be such rampant thieves in the land of Gyeonggi, Zhu Ji must have sent someone to do it!" The young man standing aside immediately interrupted, and then saluted Zhu Youtang: "Your Majesty, this time I happened to have something to do with my humble job Brother ran into those assassins, but it was a pity that no one was left alive, but it must be Zhu Ji who wanted to get rid of my second brother or warn my second brother!"

"President Wang, don't talk nonsense about things without evidence!" The Queen Mother scolded the young man, and then explained to Zhu Youtang: "Your Majesty, this is my youngest nephew, and he is Prime Minister Wang! Wang Xiang has been very stubborn since he was a child, and he doesn't know how to speak, so please forgive me!"

Wang Xiang was about the same age as Wang Lan, and his facial features were somewhat similar, except for a mole on the tip of his eyebrows, but there was a touch of heroism between his brows, his stature appeared taller, and his temperament appeared very straightforward and resolute.

"Queen Mother, what are you talking about? How can I be angry because of this! It's just a matter without evidence. Even if we are from our own family, it is not easy to deal with Zhu Ji!" Zhu Youtang could see that Wang was stronger than Wang Lan. Vigorous, but still intends to stay out of the way.

Although I don't understand why the Queen Mother called me to Renshou Palace again, my attitude from the beginning to the end is very clear. I need Zhu Ji's criminal evidence, so naturally I can't deal with Zhu Ji because of this kind of flirting.

Seeing Zhu Youtang's attitude, the Queen Mother couldn't help but secretly heaved a sigh of relief, especially "my family" made her feel very warm.

Wang Xiang just knew that Zhu Youtang ordered Wynn to be arrested, and he also knew that the closet prince in front of him was not always harsh on his servants, so he said solemnly: "Your Majesty, I have a policy for my humble position, and I can use Wynn to do it." This article may help His Majesty get rid of Zhu Ji!"

"Get rid of it?" Zhu Youtang frowned, and suddenly became interested.

Wang Xiang met Zhu Youtang's gaze, and said very firmly: "When the late emperor was in power, some civil servants must have been given preferential treatment when they went to Fusi in Beizhen. It's just that this action made the late emperor bear a bad name, but he, Zhu Ji, became a good person instead. It’s like eating what’s inside and out. Now that Zhu Ji has close contacts with ministers, even if he’s dismissed, it’s going to be cheap for him, so naturally we want to get rid of him!”

"What's the strategy?" Zhu Youtang pinched the tea lid and lightly splashed the tea, and asked with interest.

The Queen Mother turned her head to look at this most naughty nephew curiously, but she didn't think that he could come up with a good plan. Wang Xiang was really too impulsive sometimes.

Wang Xiang realized that his words had pierced the emperor's heart, and said boldly: "Please Your Majesty, please promote the humble position to Jinyiwei Qianhu now, and the humble position will definitely settle this matter!"

"Prince Wang, you are so presumptuous, how can you negotiate terms with His Majesty!" The Queen was startled, and severely criticized.

Wang Xiang hesitated for a moment, then seriously explained: "Humble job is only a small hundred households now, and I have been restricted by Fusi in Beizhen, so I need to be promoted to a thousand households to handle things! Besides, the humble job is so hard for your majesty. Your Majesty will be rewarded and punished for doing things!"

"Queen Dowager, speaking of which, after I ascended the throne, I haven't given any rewards to the Rui'anbo family. Let Wang Lan and Wang Tong be promoted to Jinyiwei Qianhu today!" Zhu Youtang took a sip of tea, turned to look at the queen mother and said with a smile .

The so-called loyalty is nothing more than wanting to benefit from oneself.

Civil servants in the Manchu Dynasty wanted power, Wu Xun wanted military power, and relatives wanted rewards, even though the eunuchs around him just wanted to use their favor to ride on other people's heads.

But I don't care about these, what I want is someone who can do things for me, someone who can be controlled by me and help me completely manage the great cause.

Whether it is Wan An or Xu Pu, if you are willing to be your own chess piece, you can get rewards, but if you want to take what you shouldn't take, or plan what you shouldn't plan, then you will lose everything.

Knowing that Zhu Youtang agreed to Wang Xiang's conditions, and even gave an extra copy as a gift, the Queen Mother turned to look at Wang Lan and Wang Xiang and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty Long En!" Wang Xiang's eyes flashed brightly, and he said ambitiously.

Zhu Youtang took a deep look at Wang Xiang, and found that this kind of person was more in line with his appetite, and could even become a knife for him to clean up Jinyiwei.

It's just that things can never go smoothly, a young eunuch who accompanied him rode back from the direction of the barracks, and then ran into the Meridian Gate in a panic and shouted: "It's reversed, it's reversed!"

(End of this chapter)