Chapter 50 Clouds Overlapping (Part 4) "Lan Huaien and she are still colluding..."

Shen Wei understood that Yan Chao was still wary of Lan Huaien.

But as an official of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, he couldn't possibly know the whole story of what happened within the palace. However, recalling the events related to the Yan Dynasty this year, doubts involuntarily arose in his mind.

Yan Chao paused for a moment upon hearing this, then shook his head and chuckled, "That's not it."

It's more likely that Lan Huaien is colluding with her. It's just that we can't completely trust him yet.

Thinking of this, Yan Chao frowned and immediately interrupted his thoughts: "The word 'collusion' is a bit too harsh."

Chen Wei was able to justify himself: "...Your Highness understands what I mean. If he were truly colluding with someone in secret, he would have some reservations and would certainly not act so recklessly as he does now."

Yan Chao: "..."

I don't think so.

She coughed lightly and calmly went to pick up the documents beside her.

Shen Wei pursed his lips, still rambling on: "Last year, His Majesty appointed Lan Huai'en to assist in governing because His Majesty was unwell and His Highness was acting as regent. However, so much time has passed, and he still interferes in the cabinet from time to time. This is really not something a eunuch should do, and there are quite a few people in the court who are talking about him."

"Whether it should be done or not is ultimately up to His Majesty. Apart from the early years of the dynasty, how few times have eunuchs interfered in politics in our country?"

She glanced out the window. In the distance, beneath the palace walls, a line of eunuchs walked by, bowing respectfully in perfect unison. Closer by, officials came and went, bowing politely and respectfully. She couldn't help but think that before Lan Huaien rose to prominence, he must have been just as obsequious and subservient.

Yan Chao put away his brush and ink, and as he got up to leave, he casually asked, "Has Tan Ze met Cui Wenzao?"

“I have met him,” Shen Wei nodded and followed her. “I have been following He Zhanshi and have gotten to know several of the junior scholars who are staying in the Hanlin Academy. Cui Wenzao is currently staying in the Hanlin Academy as an editor. I have spoken with him. He is very proper in his conduct and his words are not revealing. However, I have heard that he is more skilled in writing.”

Yan Chao thought for a moment and said, "I remember you showed me his articles before."

"yes."

"He is still relatively inexperienced, but his writing is truly remarkable." Yan Chao couldn't recall Cui Wenzao's appearance, but he remembered that Yang Ren seemed to have spoken highly of him. However, since he could stay in the Hanlin Academy, his future prospects wouldn't be bad.

She then gave him a word of advice: "If you associate with him, you need to be careful."

After all, the emperor's attitude was clear. If the people of the Eastern Palace didn't know what was good for them and went against him, they would be openly provoking him.

"I understand," he replied, paused for a moment, and then said, "I have one more thing to say."

"you say."

"I am getting married," he hesitated for a moment, but chose to be simple and straightforward. "My father has chosen the younger sister of Zhang Ji, the envoy of the Northern Garrison, for me. The wedding date is set for next autumn."

.

He looked up halfway through his sentence and saw the Grand Secretary enter. The rest of his words got stuck in his throat, and he swallowed them back down.

Yang Ren stepped inside, nodded in greeting to the others, and while flipping through the drafted memorials, asked, "What happened?"

He swallowed the second half of his sentence, unsure how to begin, so he simply turned around, took out the memorials, and presented them to the Grand Secretary, saying, "Please take a look, Grand Secretary."

After a moment, everyone saw Yang Ren's expression gradually change, and the lines between his brows became more defined.

Ren Lu finally couldn't hold back. He gripped the pen in his hand, his face turning pale: "There are several scribes in the Directorate of Ceremonial, but Lan Huai'en is arrogant and domineering. He even framed court officials for his own selfish gain, approving their appointments without proper review. These officials all hold important positions. How can they be dismissed so hastily!"

Yang Ren coughed lightly and asked first, "Where is the Director of the Lan Factory?"

Everyone shook their heads and said they didn't know.

Yang Ren then asked, "Why didn't I see this memorial?"

As the Grand Secretary, he was obligated to review and oversee all memorials that entered the cabinet. Even if Lan Huai'en was incredibly bold, he wouldn't dare bypass the cabinet to keep memorials privately, especially since even the official approvals were now in place, while the draft proposals remained blank.

The group looked at each other in bewilderment.

Yang Ren scanned the crowd with his gaze, but there was still no sound. An inexplicable anger welled up in his heart.

He looked down at the contents of the memorials again. The black and white words on the white paper were clear and distinct. They impeached Cao Ying, the Minister of Personnel, two officials from the Six Ministries, a compiler from the Hanlin Academy, and a eunuch. The charges were different, and the language was quite sharp.

However, upon closer reflection, it seems that when Lan Huaien was suspected of plotting against the Crown Prince some time ago, it was these same people who were relentlessly targeting him. Now that the case at Funing Temple has been closed, Lan Huaien has regained his energy and turned to seek revenge.

He was unaware that Lan Huaien's influence had extended to the imperial court, and he could already sway the censors. This was undoubtedly a terrible sign.

Yang Ren forced himself to calm down, suppressing the urge to take the imperial edict to the emperor. He examined it carefully again, and after a long while, he said in a deep voice, "It is the emperor's will."

Apart from Ren Lu, the others, though shocked, remained outwardly calm. Even Cao Ying, who was among those impeached, merely sighed inwardly.

How could the emperor possibly know? If the emperor knew that such a thing had happened, Lan Huaien wouldn't have enough heads to go around.

Chen Xiu pondered for a long time, as if he had guessed something. Looking at Yang Ren's face, which had changed from anger to worry, he was about to speak when he was interrupted by a loud shout from outside: "His Majesty has arrived at the Wenhua Hall and summoned all the Grand Secretaries."

When Lan Huaien appeared before everyone unharmed, a bad feeling crept into their hearts. Sure enough, the emperor immediately began by questioning Yang Ren.

The memorials were drafted by the cabinet, but a few were "coincidentally" missed. As for whose fault it was, before the person in charge was found, the chief minister should be consulted first.

Yang Ren was completely bewildered, but he had no choice but to confess. The emperor's arrival was overwhelming, and he had no way to defend himself.

Upon seeing this, Ren Lu was filled with righteous indignation and, without thinking, blurted out a plea for leniency, saying that the mistake lay with Lan Huaien for acting on his own initiative. The emperor angrily retorted, "The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs thought that the Cabinet had not drafted a proposal, precisely because they dared not act on their own, that they brought it to me for my review. Are you accusing me?"

Ren Lu had the worst temper among the cabinet members, yet he was ironically promoted by Jing Ting.

The emperor, with a cold face, ordered the eunuchs to come in and drag the man out.

Such scenes are nothing new. Among the court officials, he is in his middle age, with little seniority or age. Ren Lu studied martial arts in his youth, failed the military examination, and then abandoned martial arts for civil service. Now he serves as the Vice Minister of War, and his physique is indeed strong and powerful.

The emperor glanced at the group and said, "Issue it in red." This was his tacit approval of the contents of the impeachment memorials.

Cao Ying's expression immediately changed, and he knelt down, kowtowing and saying, "Your subject knows his crime."

The emperor nodded calmly: "I understand your grief over the loss of your son. You might as well go back and rest more."

The memorial impeaching Cao Ying did indeed contain the phrase "holding a position without performing his duties." After Cao Fu's death, his energy was far less than before, and although it could not be considered dereliction of duty, he was certainly negligent in some ways.

"The Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel will temporarily act as the Minister of Personnel."

After the emperor finished speaking, he waved his hand without regard for the expressions on everyone's faces, saying, "Go back now." He looked up and saw others bowing and taking their leave, then said, "Minister Yang, please stay." Yang Ren then stopped.

When Yan Chao learned of the news about the Wenhua Hall, he was still reading the documents presented by the Prefectural Magistrate.

Upon hearing of the emperor's decision, he sighed inwardly: Lan Huaien is indeed capable, managing to cause Cao Ying such a humiliating defeat. He took such a great risk; it must have taken considerable effort to escape unscathed. Such a high-profile revenge will likely arouse the emperor's suspicion.

Her thoughts suddenly returned, and she couldn't help but shake her head. Why was she worrying about these things?

Weng Yuanxi, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, stood respectfully below the hall. He was nearly fifty years old, but he was meticulous and serious. Every document that passed through his hands was correct word by word, and even the edges of the pages were neat and clean.

At this moment, Yan Chao could feel his piercing gaze shifting uncertainly over him, probing him with a mixture of closeness and distance.

She felt uneasy all over, and her fingers tightened around the document. So she suddenly looked up unexpectedly and saw that Weng Yuanxi immediately lowered his head as if he was guilty, and even his strange gaze disappeared.

Yan Chao's breath hitched, and she said, "Why is Prefect Weng staring at me? Speak your mind."

Her tone wasn't overly harsh. She was simply quite puzzled, however, as the Prefect Weng was usually very proper and she had never seen him so rude.

The prefectural magistrate, who was over fifty years old, immediately broke out in a cold sweat and repeatedly apologized. However, he hesitated for a long time as if he couldn't speak, and finally, when he had no choice, he forced himself to reply:

"Your Highness, there is a drop of ink on your left cheek."

Yan Chao didn't react in time and subconsciously reached out to touch it.

Liang Lu, who was standing to the side, cried out "Ouch!" and tried to stop it, but it was too late. The originally inconspicuous spot was now covered up, looking like a large beard had grown.

Suddenly, the scene became chaotic.

Liang Lu hurriedly ordered people to get water and handkerchiefs.

At this moment, Xiao Jiu came in to announce that several palace officials were requesting an audience. When she looked up, she inadvertently caught sight of the Crown Prince's face, paused for a moment, and then couldn't help but turn her head away to suppress a laugh.

Liang Lu walked over and gave him a light tap on the head. Xiao Jiu let out a muffled howl, covered his head, and slunk away.

Yan Chao was still unsure of the exact condition of her face, but it was clearly very embarrassing. She didn't know whether to sit or stand, so she silently grabbed a book, held it upright with both hands, and buried her head, trying to cover it up as if burying her head in the sand.

The usually serious Weng Yuanxi took in her actions and couldn't help but twitch his mustache, but he didn't show it. He took two steps forward and asked, "Your Highness, would you like me to take these documents with me?"

"Take it. There are two memorials inside. Send them to the Left Spring Palace for the Grand Secretary to review."

"Yes, Your Majesty understands."

A moment later, Liang Lu brought water. Yan Chao put down his book and stood up when a round-faced eunuch came in, saying that Lan Huai'en, the director of the Eastern Depot, had urgent business to discuss with him.

As Yan Chao picked up the damp cloth, he instructed, "Tell those people outside to go back first. If there is any emergency, they can seek out He Shu or Shen Wei."

The eunuch responded and left.

Almost a breath later, Lan Huaien suddenly barged in and bowed respectfully to her: "Your subject Lan Huaien greets Your Highness the Crown Prince. Long live Your Highness."

Yan Chao's movements suddenly stopped, his voice tinged with displeasure: "Did I let you in?"

Lan Huaien seemed surprised: "Your Highness didn't say I couldn't come in." He looked up and saw Yan Chao washing his face. His ever-meddlesome curiosity resurfaced, and he leaned over to peek, asking, "What's wrong with Your Highness?"

Unexpectedly, Lan Huaien had a sharper eye. He exclaimed in surprise, "No wonder Your Highness avoids people. You also love playing with ink, just like Prince Chang Le. You should ask the young prince to paint for you. I have seen his paintings; the big tabby cat he painted is so lifelike."

Yan Chao ignored him, carefully wiping and drying himself before turning around, giving him a cool look, and asking, "What important matter brings the Director of the Imperial Workshop here?"

"Your Highness must already know about the suspension of Grand Secretary Cao. His Majesty's intention is not only to promote Vice Minister He Shu, but also to have Your Highness pay more attention to the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel."

Yan Chao considered the implications for a moment, then pondered, "Is it intentional, or by imperial decree?"

"Since I have come here openly and honestly, I am certainly not here to deceive you. This is a verbal instruction."