Chapter 97: Abdicate
"Then why did you leave suddenly just now?"
"Just leave when you're done. I have other places to clean!"
The reason is perfect.
Meng Xiyan did not continue to ask.
Instead, he knelt on one knee and apologized to the emperor: "Your Majesty, this eunuch has been squatting outside the window. He was about to leave as soon as we finished talking. I thought he was suspicious, so I arrested him.
I didn't expect that I was too cautious and misunderstood.
I am willing to apologize to this eunuch."
The emperor waved his hand and said, "I know all the news you've reported. It's getting late, so you should go back first. If you have anything to say, we can discuss it at the court tomorrow morning."
Meng Chifei said nothing and left the imperial study with his brother.
However, when he left, he took one more look at the young eunuch.
The young eunuch lowered his head, looking frightened by Meng Chifei.
But in his heart he was glad that he had escaped.
It is said that the emperor favors the Meng brothers and sisters more than princesses and princes.
Now it seems that is not entirely true.
Report this news and maybe you can get two rewards!
He was about to leave.
The emperor suddenly ordered the chief steward, "Drag him away and interrogate him thoroughly."
The look of relief froze on the little eunuch's face.
His legs went weak and he fell to the ground.
He had seen the torture methods used by the eunuchs.
No matter how hard the bones are, they can't last more than two days in there.
Very few can come out alive.
He knew he was going to die.
He immediately took out a short jade hairpin from his sleeve and stabbed it into his neck.
Manager Liu is quick-witted and agile.
She kicked the thing out of his hand and stepped on his back.
The young eunuch lay on the ground, unable to move.
Two guards immediately came in from outside the door, dislocated his jaw and limb joints, covered his head, and dragged him out.
The young eunuch's face was full of despair.
In just a quarter of an hour, he confessed.
The chief steward came back to report.
The young eunuch was a spy hired by Concubine Lan.
He accepted money from Concubine Lan and usually monitored every move in the imperial study for Concubine Lan.
All news concerning the Lan family, no matter how big or small, must be reported to her.
The faster the news spread, the more reward he would get.
He had just overheard what Lan Hong said outside the window and knew that it was a big deal and would definitely fetch a lot of reward money.
He couldn't wait to find Concubine Lan to take credit.
He walked very lightly, but was still caught by Meng Xiyan, who had sharp ears.
After the chief steward finished his report, he didn't dare to breathe.
The emperor remained silent for a long time.
The chief steward asked, "Your Majesty, should we get rid of that young eunuch?"
"No need, keep it for now." The emperor's eyes were cold as he ordered, "Inform everyone that a grand court meeting will be held tomorrow."
The chief steward replied anxiously, "Yes."
Go down and pass on the order.
In a short while, messengers were running frantically on the streets of the capital, big and small.
**
After Meng Chifei and his sister returned home, they recounted what had happened in the imperial study that day.
"The Emperor won't protect Lan Hong, will he?" Meng Chifei said worriedly, "It's said that men can't stand rumors.
Maybe Concubine Lan can just coax them into letting the Lan family go.”
Meng Xiyan tapped Meng Chifei's head lightly: "What nonsense are you talking about! Your Majesty is wise."
He might condone some minor matters, but this matter concerns the people of an entire prefecture, and His Majesty will not act recklessly.
Wen Yan was almost 100% certain that the little eunuch was Concubine Lan's man.
Originally, she was worried that the drought would not become unmanageable and the losses suffered by the Lan family would be smaller than in the previous life.
Unexpectedly, Concubine Lan brought disaster upon herself by actually setting her sights on the Emperor.
The emperor's mind is hard to predict.
How could he allow her to have spies around him?
Wen Yan smiled.
Perhaps, the Lan family in this life is not as difficult to deal with as in the previous life!
**
The next morning.
The Qinzheng Hall was filled with officials of all ranks who had received a temporary notice to attend court.
Today, Meng Xiyan and Meng Chifei also came to attend the morning court.
However, the brother and sister were of different ranks, so the brother stood inside the hall while the sister stood outside.
They watched coldly as the ministers gathered in twos and threes, whispering to each other:
"A major court meeting is held every ten days, and a minor court meeting is held every five days. Officials who have matters to attend to during normal times go directly to the Imperial Study to discuss matters."
"We just had a grand court meeting three days ago, and they're being interrupted today. Something big must have happened. Do you have any inside information?"
The ministers all shook their heads, feeling uneasy.
Even if I knew, I wouldn't dare say it out loud at this time.
Suddenly, the eunuch called out, "The Emperor has arrived."
Those who were whispering to each other just now immediately fell silent and returned to their seats.
After the ministers had paid their respects, Chief Steward Liu did not call on them to stand up.
The ministers became increasingly reluctant to speak out.
"Where is the Minister of Personnel?" the emperor shouted.
Then a man in a purple robe, about fifty years old, lifted his robe, walked to the center of the hall and knelt down: "I am your humble servant."
The emperor suddenly threw the memorial in his hand in his face: "Look at what you have done!"
The Minister of Personnel did not dare to hide.
The sharp corner of the memorial immediately hit his head and made him bleed.
At this moment, he was not very scared.
He picked up the memorial very calmly and read it through quickly.
Cold sweat instantly soaked his purple official robe, and the blood drained from his face. He kowtowed, "Your humble servant acknowledges his guilt, Your Majesty, please forgive me..."
"It's not me who should forgive your sins, but the hundreds of thousands of people in Jinyang Prefecture. It's those who died of starvation."
"The Ministry of Personnel is responsible for evaluating all officials. Is this how you do it? You've nurtured a bunch of traitors in Jinyang Prefecture!"
The Minister of Personnel was so frightened that he was shaking all over, and this time he didn't even dare to say "forgiveness".
The emperor then looked at another gray-haired minister and said, "Right Prime Minister, take a look at this as well. See how the Minister of Personnel you recommended is just sitting there doing nothing but eating and drinking."
The right prime minister's heart skipped a beat.
He bent over to pick up the memorial and immediately kowtowed again: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. It was because I failed to fulfill my supervisory duties that the tragedy in Jinyang Prefecture occurred."
"Just because you didn't fulfill your supervisory duties, can you bring back to life the tens of thousands of people who died of starvation in Jinyang Prefecture, give those who were displaced a home, and fill the stomachs of hundreds of thousands of people?"
The right prime minister dared not say another word.
"Grand Censor?" the emperor said in a low voice.
A thin middle-aged man immediately knelt in the middle.
This time, without waiting for the emperor to speak, he picked up the memorial and started reading it.
After reading it, big drops of sweat dripped down his forehead and his body was emitting waves of coolness.
"The Censorate monitors all officials. The people of Jinyang Prefecture are living in dire straits. How do you monitor them?"
"The drought in this prefecture has lasted for two years, leaving the people in dire straits and full of complaints.
But I, the emperor, didn't get any news at all.
Is this my court? Or is this Lan Hong's court?
I will do as you wish and abdicate to Lanhong."
The emperor spoke slowly and even lightly.
The ministers kneeling below were so frightened that they felt a chill on the back of their necks.
The emperor pointed at them and said, "You are guilty, but I, the ruler of a country, am even more guilty. I raised a bunch of useless people like you who just sit there and eat for free!"
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