Ming Dynasty: At the beginning, the house was ransacked and the ancestral temple was burned down.

Chapter 109 Zhang Chonghui, the evil one, complained first! Wang Xijue collapsed: He is a bastard!

As the saying goes, there are many disputes at the door of a widow, not to mention a young widow like Queen Mother Li who lost her husband in her twenties.

Zhu Yijun's question of "not knowing whether to live or die" can be said to be a "cheerful" attack on his old mother, plus a forced "ridicule"!
  Of course he knew that what he just said was just a rumor spread by people with ulterior motives. After all, his younger brother Zhu Yili looked more like his father Zhu Zaijing than he did.

But even if he knew it was a rumor, Zhu Yijun still wanted to tell this extremely ridiculous rumor to the 'person involved', Empress Dowager Li.

This is an alert and a warning!
  Zhu Yijun was warning his old mother to be optimistic about her 'reputation' in her later years. After all, there were indeed 'rumors' about Empress Dowager Li and Zhang Juzheng, and there were quite a few.

Although Zhu Yijun didn't really believe that there was anything going on between his mother and Zhang Juzheng, the 'rumours' he had heard over the years were really...

Moreover, as he gets older, it becomes increasingly difficult for him to explain the unclear and unexplained 'implied emotions' between men and women.

After all, everyone has been tempted to act, but the moral boundaries are there. Most people actually have to look at their own control most of the time.

At the same time, Queen Mother Li was so angry that she was shaking all over and couldn't even speak. She raised her hand and wanted to slap her son again, but she couldn't do it.

"Jun'er, sooner or later you will harm yourself and your country..."

Queen Mother Li finally just said this sentence, because as a mother, she knew her son very well.

She knew very well that her son had grown up and no longer listened to her, and he was too stubborn to listen to others' advice.

She knew better that no matter how much she said, her emperor's son would never listen. Even if she is really wholehearted, she really only thinks about her son.

However, her emperor son has become a real emperor, an emperor of the Zhu family who is as ungrateful as the ancestor of the Zhu family, and a ruthless emperor who even his mother no longer believes in...

"Mother, my son believes in you, but I also hope that you will stop interfering in the affairs of the past."

As Zhu Yijun spoke, he picked up the crutches beside him, stood up with difficulty, and said in a generous tone:
  "What is past is past. No matter whether the rumors outside are true or false, you are my mother, Prince Lu will always be my brother, and you are all my relatives in this world."

When the words fell, Zhu Yijun had already stood up straight. He turned back without hesitation and walked out of the hall on crutches.

He turned around and left indifferently, as if he didn't care about Queen Mother Li's tears and disappointment in him.

He was obviously so panicked and worried just now, and he was in tears the moment he turned around.

But after all, the most ruthless emperor's family, in the eyes of the emperor, power cannot be 'shared' with others.

In Zhu Yijun's eyes, the Ming Dynasty belongs to him. It is not his mother's turn to advise him, let alone a woman's turn to give him advice.

Zhu Yijun left the hall, avoiding his mother's dissuasion and dragging his residual leg. When he stepped out of the hall, the night was already deep and a waning moon hung high in the sky.

Just like this disabled emperor who was still stubborn in his own way, dragging his huge and decaying empire with him, when he looked back, only half of the Ming Dynasty's "sun and moon" remained.

……

"Chen Ju."

Zhu Yijun threw away the crutch in his hand in disgust, and while placing his hand on Chen Ju, he gave an order:
  "Go and release Zhang Chonghui."

Chen Ju was stunned and asked: "Your Majesty, Zhang Chonghui almost stabbed Eunuch Zhang Cheng to death, and then... let him go like this?"

"Let him go?" Zhu Yijun sneered and said: "Spread the news that Zhang Cheng was stabbed half to death, so that everyone can listen to how Zhang Juzheng's descendants pushed their limits and how audacious they were. "

Chen Ju immediately understood, why did His Majesty the Emperor want to let Zhang Chonghui go?

This clearly means that the reputation of the entire Zhang family will be completely ruined! What's more, they want to completely kill the entire 'descendants' of the Zhang family!

After all, although Zhang Cheng, who is the Priest Priest and Superintendent of the East Factory, is only an eunuch, he is still a high-ranking eunuch and an official of the imperial court!

Zhang Chonghui stabbed the "imperial official" more than ten times alive. This was a capital crime for "treason"! It is a capital crime for the Nine Clan!
  Looking at His Majesty the Emperor, whose eyes were red but whose face was as calm as water, and everything seemed to be 'under control', Chen Ju suddenly seemed to understand why Zhang Cheng had to go see Zhang Chonghui...

Chen Ju understood better why Zhang Cheng, a great eunuch, was stabbed more than a dozen times by Zhang Chonghui in full view of everyone...

It turns out that these were all traps set by His Majesty the Emperor on Zhang Chonghui!

At the same time, this is also a trap His Majesty the Emperor set for Empress Dowager Li!

……

The next day.

Fusi, the northern town, was ordered to prison.

Zhang Chonghui came back, but it was as a 'visitor' because His Majesty the Emperor was 'merciful' and let him go, although he did not explain whether he was 'innocent' or not.

Logically speaking, Zhang Chonghui, who was 'released', could no longer enter the highly disciplined Beizhen Fusi Prison. However, he had an unobstructed journey to the outside of Shen Shixing's cell.

"You can actually come back?"

Seeing Zhang Chonghui coming back with all his beards intact, Shen Shixing's face was full of surprise and he hurriedly asked:

"Didn't you almost stab Zhang Cheng to death? He is the governor of Dongchang! How can you still come back?"

Zhang Chonghui raised his eyebrows when he heard this, and asked in slight surprise: "I just stabbed the person last night. It's only this morning. You know it so soon?"

Shen Shixing paused after hearing the words, and obviously understood what the other party was conveying to him, so he suddenly became angry and said:

"Zhang Chonghui! Do you know how many damn things you have done? Not only did you almost kill Eunuch Zhang Cheng, you also broke the third prince's dragon teeth!
  You have done so many sinful things that deserve death, why didn't the Emperor get angry and kill you, the thief? ! "

After hearing Shen Shixing's "angry" answer, Zhang Chonghui also understood the "situation".

It seems that Shen Shixing only knew that he broke two of Zhu Changxun's teeth and stabbed Zhang Cheng more than a dozen times. But they still didn't know that the emperor fell to the ground, that he went to the palace of Empress Dowager Li, and that the 'murder weapon' was also provided by Empress Dowager Li.

Zhang Chonghui thought for a while and said something that looked like an answer but was actually a 'question':
  "Your Majesty is kind and has not punished me. But before I could even say what I wanted to say to Your Majesty, His Majesty fell down inexplicably."

Shen Shixing 'seemed' still very angry: "Do you still have something to say to the Emperor? Do you still have the nerve to speak to the Emperor?"

Zhang Chonghui seemed unconvinced and said: "Of course I have something to say, but..."

For a while, the two of them chatted like this in the prison where there were informants everywhere.

The prisoners in the next few cells are no longer interested in these 'gossips' due to their 'death-seeking' situation, but that's not necessarily the case with the people lurking 'among them'.

"Speaking of which..." Zhang Chonghui deliberately lowered his voice. Seeing that the other party's ear was very cooperative, he asked unceremoniously: "What's wrong with the emperor's legs?"

Shen Shixing regretted having put his ear to it, but he had no choice but to reply in a low voice: "That year there was a severe drought, the emperor and all his officials walked to the Temple of Heaven to offer sacrifices. After he came back, his legs and feet became worse day by day."

"It's just a leg problem. The imperial doctor from the imperial hospital is not so useless that he treated the emperor until he became disabled, right?" This time, Zhang Chonghui's voice was actually very low, so low that only Shen Shixing could hear it, and he asked again:
  "Besides, if the imperial doctors in the palace really can't cure it, why don't they find some doctors from outside the palace to take a look?"

To this question, Shen Shixing gave a short answer very quickly: "This is the holy will."

"Is it really just the Holy Will?" Zhang Chonghui narrowed his eyes.

"Of course." Shen Shixing still looked intently, but what he was looking at was not Zhang Chonghui.

As a result, Zhang Chonghui became even more suspicious. He directly asked in a low voice, saying:

"Rumo, the emperor is still so young. He just has a leg problem. He shouldn't have gotten this bad. Could it be..."

"Shut up!" Shen Shixing interrupted with a low shout, followed by another "unnecessary" sentence and scolded:

"Zhang Chonghui! How brave you are! You dare to question the medical skills of the imperial doctor!"

Such a reprimand that was "a bull's-eye but a horse's mouth" is quite a bit like "there is no three hundred taels of silver here".

Zhang Chonghui could see that while Shen Shixing was forcibly changing the topic, he was also pressing 'something'. He didn't 'reveal' the other party, he just smiled meaningfully at Shen Shixing and said in a low voice:

"You know that's not what I want to say."

The young man's eyebrows were gentle and clear, and his smile was supposed to be sunny.

However, when such a smile in 'reality' fell into Shen Shixing's eyes, he only saw four words - treacherous and cunning!

Shen Shixing expressed that he no longer wanted to deal with the old cunning old boy in front of him who loved to "catch" people.

He knew the opponent's 'climbing ability' very well. After all, the only person who had been 'caught' by Zhang Chonghui the most was Shen Shixing...

In order not to be bothered any more, Shen Shixing ignored Zhang Chonghui. However, Zhang Chonghui, as if he had some "purpose", stayed outside the cell door and refused to leave.

"Rumo, don't ignore me and talk to me?"

"Ha! I was imprisoned by you all the time, but now you are out, but I am still locked up here! What else do I have to say to you? You hurry up and leave!"

"Hey, believe it or not, I'm sure you will be released soon."

"I do not believe."

"Don't believe it? Let's make a bet?"

"I don't even bother to bet with you, a young boy!"

"I'm a young man? Oh, I understand. You are jealous that I am younger than you now, right?"

"Ah... ah?"

"Actually, I can understand you. After all, when you are as old as you are now, you will feel a bit old."

"You!! What are you talking about! This is a prison!"

"What did I say? I said you smell like an old man! What's wrong with this being a prison? Oh, by the way, you smell like an old man even more."

"You!!" In a corner, the person responsible for recording said: "..."

Just when the atmosphere was awkward, someone came.

It is Wang Xijue, the current chief minister of the cabinet.

Wang Xijue also brought a piece of news, that is - let Shen Shixing go out.

……

Outside Fusi Yamen in Beizhen.

"Rumo, was my guess accurate enough? I told you that you would be released soon. You should believe it now, right?"

Zhang Chonghui, who was very "invisible", inserted himself between Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue and talked eloquently.

During this period, Wang Xijue tried his best to squeeze Zhang Chonghui out, but this kid was not only thick-skinned, but also extremely strong.

"Mr. Wangge, why are you always squeezing me away?" Zhang Chonghui looked unhappy as he looked at Wang Xijue, who had been trying to 'squeeze' him away, and even blurted out to scold him:

"What? It's great to be the chief assistant? It seems like no one has ever been... Ahem, anyway, don't squeeze me anymore!"

Faced with Zhang Chonghui's first accusation of "the evildoer complains first", Wang Xijue was very displeased!

It was obvious that he had worked hard to get Shen Shixing out of prison! As a result, Zhang Chonghui continued to talk like this, and it seemed that the credit belonged to the other party!
  "Zhang Chonghui, why are you following us?" Since he couldn't squeeze away, Wang Xijue directly shouted out and chased the people away, shouting:

"You are a criminal! You have no right to stand by my side! Go away! Don't force me to send someone to beat you away!"

Wang Xijue was not polite at all to Zhang Chonghui, a 'weird' child whom he had not seen for many years! He directly took out the 'seal' of 'Queen of Sinners' and slapped it on Zhang Chonghui!

Faced with Wang Xijue's 'driving', Zhang Chonghui did not argue with him. Instead, he turned to look at Shen Shixing, and shamelessly 'complained':

"Rumo, look at him!"

"Hey! You kid! Come here!" Wang Xijue could no longer hold back his violent temper. He raised his sleeves to give an order to have his followers drive Zhang Chonghui away!

However, Wang Xijue's 'irritable' move was stopped by Shen Shixing.

"Forget it, Yuan Yu, he's just a child, forget it." Shen Shixing advised helplessly.

"He's a bastard! Rumo, you know! There's something wrong with him!" Wang Xijue tried his best to explain something.

However, Shen Shixing didn't want to listen, and just urged "forget it".

After all, how could Shen Shixing not know that there was something 'wrong' with this 'child'? He just didn't want to discuss such 'right and wrong matters' in such a 'place of right and wrong'...

……

In the end, Wang Xijue failed to 'drive' Zhang Chonghui away, but 'scolded' Shen Shixing away.

Shen Shixing said with a tired face that he had been in jail for several days. Not only was he tired, exhausted and hungry, but he also had a "strange smell" on his body and he had to go back and wash himself first.

Wang Xijue said that he would ask Shen Shixing to go to the nearest restaurant and have a meal of wine to wash away the bad luck.

Shen Shixing refused 'again' and said he was in a hurry to go back and take a shower.

"Rumo, let's go have a drink first! Can't we go back and wash up after we're full?"

"No, I have a strange smell and I can't eat it."

"You've only been in prison for a few days? How can there be any strange smell? Besides, haven't you already changed your clothes?"

"I changed my clothes and..."

"I smelled it, but it wasn't there!"

"It's true... Yuan Yu, actually you also have that strange smell on your body, why don't you go back and wash it off too?"

"Hey! Shen Rumo, what's going on with you? The older you get, the more clean you become?"

"..."

……

After Shen Shi walked, Zhang Chonghui also patted his sleeves and left. However, Wang Xijue stopped him.

"stop!"

Wang Xijue walked straight up to Zhang Chonghui, stared into Zhang Chonghui's eyes, as if interrogating a prisoner, and said affirmatively:

"I don't know who you are, but I know that the demon book case was all planned by you!"

The atmosphere suddenly darkened.

Faced with Wang Xijue's "accusation", Zhang Chonghui did not make any answer. He just looked at the other party expressionlessly.

"Aren't you pretty good at making stuff up?" Seeing that Zhang Chonghui had nothing to say, Wang Xijue saw through it and smiled proudly. Then, he asked even more unceremoniously:

"What? You have nothing to say? No excuses to make up? Aren't you pretty good at acting? Are you pretty good at pretending to be Zhang Taiyue?

Come! So many years have passed! You pretend to be him again! Let me take a good look at how good you are at pretending! "

Zhang Chonghui still said nothing and only looked at Wang Xijue without saying a word.

For Wang Xijue's impatience, what he needs is an 'opponent' who can 'refute' him, rather than an 'opponent' like Zhang Chonghui who doesn't say anything. This makes him feel like his fist is hitting cotton. This made him even more crazy!
  One-sided scolding obviously couldn't satisfy Wang Xijue's impatience, but he wouldn't waste time here, so he turned around and left.

But before leaving, Wang Xijue, who was "unconvinced", still said "life-threatening" words to Zhang Chonghui:
  "Zhang Chonghui, silence is useless! As the chief judge of this demon book case, I will never let you go!"

After saying this fiercely, Wang Xijue flicked his sleeves and left in a big stride!

"Old Wang Ge."

Zhang Chonghui finally spoke out. He called Wang Xijue and stepped to follow him, because he knew that the other party would not stop.

Sure enough, Wang Xijue didn't look back or stop as if he was deaf.

"Why are you walking in such a hurry?" Zhang Chonghui took a few big steps and easily caught up with the other party. When he turned around to face the other party, he walked backwards and said to Wang Xijue with a 'simple' smile. In one sentence:

"Wang Yuanyu, I, Zhang, am sure that you will not be able to serve as the chief assistant for more than a year."

Upon hearing this 'rude' 'call' and such 'unclear' 'affirmation', Wang Xijue suddenly stopped and his eyes were obviously stunned!

But it only took a moment. Wang Xijue seemed to have 'reacted' to something. While raising his legs to take another step, he sneered at Zhang Chonghui and said four words:
  "We'll see!"

Zhang Chonghui stopped and looked at Wang Xijue's back as he quickly left. He only said with a deep smile:
  "Then we'll see."

……

Brothel.

"Yan'er, believe me! My sincerity to you is truer than pearls! My love for you is stronger than gold! My love for you..."

Shen Guanyi raised his hands to make an oath, and his old eyes held a "deep" look. At this moment, he seemed to be decades younger, and his mind was filled with "deep love" for the woman in front of him. '.

Perhaps he was afraid that the little girl in front of him, who was younger than his granddaughter, would not be able to understand the 'too profound' love words, so he chose the most 'easy-to-understand' 'swear words'.

"Humph, I don't believe you!" The girl named 'Yan'er' snorted. The next moment, she lowered her eyebrows and said with emotion:
  "Speaking of which, who doesn't know the deep love between you and your wife, Mr. Shen? You have been married for decades, and you have never even taken a concubine. This shows that you are sincere to your wife. Seriously. It’s enviable…”

"This is all false!" Shen Yiguan's face was full of indignation, and he retorted eloquently:
  "She and I were just acting out of luck! It was all the orders of my parents and the words of the matchmaker! I only married her as a last resort! Yan'er, I don't love her at all! The only one I love is you!"

"Really...really?" Yan'er was half convinced. She had just turned thirteen this year. The little girl who was raised in a brothel still couldn't tell the truth from lies. She only knew that this old Hanlin named Shen often came to see her. Although his eyes are narrowed, not all the men here are like this...

At least this Shen Hanlin won't be like other men who want to touch her when he comes up...

"Yan'er, believe me! I am really sincere to you! I, Shen, have lived for more than sixty years! You are the only woman who has ever truly loved me!"

Shen Guanyi raised his hand higher, with three fingers straight up, and swore seriously again:
  "Yan'er! I swear! If what I tell is a lie! Then let me be struck by thunder from the sky! Let me..."

"Hey! Stop!" Yan'er hurriedly took the handkerchief and stuffed it into Shen Yiguan's mouth. While she was glad that she had 'blocked' this terrible 'oath', she patted her chest to comfort herself and said:
  "Stop talking, it's so scary..."

After all, it's about to rain outside. What if a thunderstorm hits this weather and kills this old Hanlin who talks so much about what is true and what is false?
  If someone dies while picking up a customer, this will have a huge impact on his 'reputation'.

Are you going to let her compete for the top spot? Are you going to let her 'progress'?
  Seeing the beauty stopping him from swearing, Shen Yiguan was overjoyed! While tugging at the handkerchief that had been stuffed into his mouth, he said anxiously:

"Yan'er, since you have seen my sincerity, then you... just let me kiss you!"

"Ouch! You..."

The old man was about to kiss her, but at this critical moment, a loud noise interrupted everything!
  "Ah! Thunder!" Yan'er screamed in fright, covering her eyes hurriedly, not daring to look at the old Hanlin who might have been struck by lightning.

However, when Yan'er saw through the seam of her palm that Old Hanlin was still fine, she realized that the loud noise was not a 'thunder strike', but the sound of the door of the wing being kicked open.

Looking up, he saw a tall, handsome young man standing outside the door.

People don't share the same joy and optimism. After seeing clearly the person who kicked the door, the little girl Yan'er covered her increasingly hot and embarrassed face even tighter.

However, Shen Yiguan was so angry that his beard stood up like a reed, and he immediately cursed at the person who kicked the door:
  "Zhang Chonghui! Are you fucking sick?"

(End of this chapter)