Chapter 9: How do you want to kill Hu Gou'er? ...
The afternoon sun began to set, the light under the bright windows was already mottled, and the Qinzheng Hall fell quiet for a while.
"Eunuch Hu, please stop talking nonsense." Sun Zhidao's thick eyebrows were about to turn into hills. "Are you afraid that the eunuchs you sent were exposed? You are making random accusations here. The court is in need of talents. The eunuch faction should stop being so rampant."
When Hu Gou'er heard the last sentence, his eyes turned red with hatred.
He knew very well that even if he held a high position of power, was favored by the emperor, and could stir up the world, as long as he was a eunuch, he would be looked down upon by these scholars.
His shrill voice rang out again, "Master Sun, don't you know? Master Ming wasn't born to the mistress of the Ming family. His biological mother was a concubine. It's hard to repay her kindness, but he didn't mourn for his mother's death. He disregards the laws of Dayong. It's simply hateful."
Gao Yun, Sun Zhidao and others were all furious, their chests heaving, and they all looked suspicious. It seemed that they really didn't understand what was going on.
Zhao Changning was also a little shocked. Hu Gouer was not a fool. He had figured out all these things.
Dayong values filial piety. If Mingxuan's biological mother is really the deceased concubine, then his crime of concealing the death is irrefutable. Even if he has a serious problem at this time, he has to mourn for his mother.
But to be honest, this matter is not a big deal, but it is not a small matter either. However, once it becomes a big deal and is really investigated, there will be no good consequences.
Her hands slowed down, and the prince noticed it immediately.
The prince opened his eyes and said solemnly, "Lord Ming has worked tirelessly in Zhejiang, wholeheartedly and wholeheartedly, without slacking off. This is understandable and pitiful. Father, what do you think?"
After hearing the Crown Prince speak, the Emperor slowly responded, "Have you investigated the matter between the Weaving Bureau and the rebels?"
Zhao Changning's gaze immediately turned to the emperor, his heart filled with doubts. In the past, when faced with internal and external troubles, the emperor would suppress the resistance in the first place. What happened today?
Although it was her first time attending court, she had served the emperor for many years and had a deep understanding of the matter. She knew in her heart that this matter was not simple.
When Hu Gou'er heard the emperor ask this, he immediately felt relieved.
"Your Majesty, the Admiral of the Weaving Bureau has sent a memorial stating that Lord Ming has forbidden them from collecting silk, and that those who went to collect it were beaten. Last year, there was no rain, so there weren't enough mulberry trees, and there wasn't enough silk either. The Maritime Customs is pressing hard, and we, the servants, have no other choice but to submit this memorial. As for the matter of treason, Lord Sun says we disagree. It's truly an injustice."
Sun Zhidao was almost furious when he heard him distorting right and wrong.
"When did Mingxuan stop us from collecting silk? I wasn't asking you to buy it at a low price. Eunuch Hu, the eunuchs you sent to the local areas are always tyrannical. How many people were killed in the Suichang gold mine? You even concealed the memorials submitted by the Zhejiang Provincial Commissioner. How audacious! The people of Zhejiang have always been brave. How can we not resist?"
Hu Gou'er firmly denied it and did not mention the Suichang incident at all. He only turned the topic to Mingxuan's guilt.
"...Even his own mother's death was concealed. A person as devoid of conscience as Lord Ming is unfit to be a local official, let alone hold such an important position. Your Majesty, please understand this."
These words are indeed a bit harsh. You have to know that Mingxuan was the top scholar chosen by the emperor and was the most popular one.
Seeing the emperor raise his hand, trembling, Zhao Changning rushed forward before Hu Gou'er and said to everyone in a serious tone, "The emperor is not feeling well. You gentlemen should rest first. We can discuss matters later."
Gao Yun stood up tremblingly, saluted, and led everyone away.
After exiting the ceremonial gate of the Qinzheng Hall, there is an empty, flat area with no one around.
Sun Zhidao couldn't hold it in any longer. "Outrageous! Outrageous! These eunuchs are getting more and more outrageous. They even dare to conduct private investigations and slander imperial officials. Is there any justice in this court?"
"Didn't you see the emperor's expression just now? How could you casually mention the Suichang incident?" Gao Yun glared at Sun Zhidao, his brows furrowed. "Is what Hu Gou'er said true?"
Zhou Min stroked his beard. "I only know that Mingxuan was born to a concubine, but I don't know who his biological mother is."
Everyone looked at Qi Yuwei. He was Gao Yun's disciple, had been in the cabinet for a short time, and was acquainted with Mingxuan.
Qi Yu bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Teacher, as far as I know, Mingxuan's biological mother was sent away to remarry two years after giving birth to him. We have never had any contact since then, let alone whether she is alive or dead. He was so busy in Zhejiang that he had no idea whether he was alive or dead."
Gao Yun's wrinkled face was filled with embarrassment. He said in a deep voice, "The higher one rises in officialdom, the more he fears having obvious weaknesses, especially such a fatal one. He's already become the Governor of Zhejiang, so how could he not have any sense of precaution? The Emperor is old and even more sensitive to filial piety. How could he not have noticed it?"
And what about the Ming family? What are they doing?
"That Hu Gouzi deliberately picked this opportunity to bring this up. He did it on purpose." Sun Zhidao slammed his left hand against his right. "We can't let the eunuch party frame Mingxuan like this. If Mingxuan falls, where will scholars put their dignity in the future? Will they still want to be officials? They might as well just become eunuchs. Why bother studying..."
Seeing that he was talking without thinking, Zhou Min quickly pulled him aside and looked around again.
"Lord Sun, please be careful with your words."
Gao Yun spoke again, "Let's go back and discuss this. The Zhejiang issue needs to be resolved as soon as possible. As for Mingxuan, send a letter to him immediately and ask him to write a letter of defense so that we can make a long-term plan."
Qi Yuwei nodded quickly and said, "I will go right away."
In the Qinzheng Hall, the prince hesitated and stayed.
Hu Gou'er was so frightened that he didn't move. He didn't want to leave. If he really blamed the chaos in Zhejiang today on the Weaving Bureau, then his position as the leader would be almost over.
Zhao Changning saw the emperor glance at her. Having served for many years, she naturally knew what he meant, so she boldly said, "Eunuch Hu, you should go out too."
After she finished speaking, she turned her head, helped the emperor lie down carefully, and then gently massaged his legs.
Even if you don't watch it, you can guess Hu Gou'er's extremely wonderful expression.
The prince watched for a while and saw that the emperor could not leave Zhao Changning, so he did not drive her away.
"Your Majesty, Lord Ming is a sincere and capable person. He has been praised by the people in Zhejiang for his years. There must be some hidden reason for concealing his death."
The emperor still closed his eyes and said slowly: "If this is true, what do you think should be done?"
The Crown Prince carefully considered his words and said respectfully, "Father, I would like to ask you to take away my life and protect Mingxuan. Zhejiang cannot do without him, and we cannot do without him in the fight against the Japanese pirates. We cannot allow any chaos to occur at this time. Conflict is of utmost importance."
"Yin and Yang blend, black and white are hard to distinguish. Who can tell right from wrong in the court?" The emperor looked up at the prince with an unclear expression. "If you protect Mingxuan, will Zhejiang not be in chaos? In this world, the sun will still rise regardless of who is gone, even me, cough cough cough..."
Zhao Changning quickly patted his chest to help, looked at the old and tired prince with a worried look, and shook his head slightly.
Seeing this, the prince could only shut up.
The emperor waved his hand and closed his eyes wearily. "Tell Hu Cunzhi to mobilize troops for support. No matter what, we must not allow the Japanese pirates to cause chaos in Dayong."
The prince's eyes lit up, he quickly bowed, and then took his leave.
Seeing the old emperor coughing violently, Zhao Changning quickly brought a cup of warm tea and carefully fed him, "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. As long as you are here, our Dayong will not be in chaos. You must take good care of yourself and beat the Japanese pirates so that they dare not come again."
The emperor took a sip of tea and his throat finally felt much better.
"Alas, they are still no match for the old ministers, who are considerate and sensible. These people nowadays are young and impulsive, and they are not even half as steady as the old ministers."
When he said this, he was very emotional, his eyes full of memories.
Zhao Changning thought that the room was full of white-haired old men, which had nothing to do with youthful impulsiveness, but when he looked at the old emperor again, he felt that it was not wrong.
He understood in his heart that the emperor was too old. Not only had his wife and children died, but many of his ministers had also died. The ministers came in waves, but nothing new happened.
She felt that the old emperor was really tired. Living to this day, he did feel a little lonely, and his words also revealed that he missed the past.
If a person starts to think about the past, it means that the current life is not what he wants.
But the emperor is rich, superior to millions of people, and lives to such an old age. What could he not be satisfied with?
Zhao Changning didn't quite understand, but fortunately she didn't like to dwell on useless things. After helping the emperor to sleep, she put these thoughts aside and sat at the foot of the bed to think seriously.
If she wants Hu Gou'er to die, she must rely on external forces. As a servant in front of the emperor, she has no power or influence. If she wants to kill the seal, she will only bring disaster upon herself.
I only found out today that the Cabinet and the Imperial Household Department are at odds, and the Cabinet ministers headed by Gao Yun and Hu Gou'er are even more hostile than water and fire.
I don’t know what Hu Gouer has done over the years?
Then why did the old emperor also want to kill Hu Gou'er? Judging from Hu Gou'er's words and actions just now, although his fighting was a bit shameless, he was loyal to the emperor and had no second thoughts.
Zhao Changning couldn't figure it out, so she stopped thinking about it. She had a goal for the time being, which was to take Hu Gouer's life before he took hers.
After she thought it through, she slowly breathed a sigh of relief, only to find her hands and feet were cold, her heart was pounding, and she was completely exhausted, but her mind was unusually excited.
Because of the events in Zhejiang, the emperor was no longer as idle as before, and he got up from his nap to discuss matters.
This time, Zhao Changning did not hesitate at all and stayed firmly beside the emperor. If the emperor was tired, she would rub his shoulders and back and read memorials to him. As for Hu Gouer, she didn't want to pay attention to him and was no longer as absent-minded as before.
"Changning." The emperor waved his hand, "Accompany me for a walk outside."
As the sun sets, the clouds are magnificent, layer upon layer, and under the cover of warm light, everything seems softer, and the majestic imperial city with red walls and black tiles also has a little more warmth.
"Your Majesty, please go up the stairs slowly." Zhao Changning felt the wind and draped the black fox cloak he was holding over the emperor. "This is the black fox that the Fourteenth Prince hunted, and he personally hired someone to make it. It must be warm."
The emperor listened with a calm expression, "Fourteen has always been sensible, but he's too noisy. He's already so old, yet he still runs out all day."
Zhao Changning felt that the emperor had suddenly become gentler, not as sharp and violent as before, just like the evening sun, dazzling but not glaring.
"How do you want to kill Hu Gou'er?"
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