In the Forbidden City, Zhu Youxiao sat in a wheelchair, gazing into the distance with an expressionless face.
Chen Hong stood silently behind him.
Zhu Youxiao didn't turn around, but just said softly: "Has the news been released?" At the same time, he raised his hand and pulled the blanket to cover himself more tightly.
"Your Majesty, he has been released." Chen Hong did not dare to delay and said quickly.
Zhu Youxiao nodded and asked, "Who let him out?"
"There's a young eunuch beside Eunuch Wang, named Zhao He," Chen Hong said quickly. "We didn't tell him. He just happened to overhear something while passing by, and he's already passed the news outside the palace."
The emperor didn't say anything more. Apparently, the matter was over, which made Chen Hong breathe a sigh of relief. He really couldn't guess what his emperor was thinking.
Just now, the Emperor had someone spread a message:
His Majesty wanted to release Feng Sanyuan, Wei Yingjia, Zhang Xiude and others who were imprisoned in the East Factory Prison. After their release, they would be handed over to the Three Courts for trial, but Gao Panlong did not agree, which angered His Majesty.
As for why Gao Panlong did not agree, it was because he secretly colluded with Wei Zhongxian and became close friends. Wei Zhongxian agreed to let Gao Panlong enter the cabinet, repeating the old story of Zhang Juzheng and Feng Bao.
His Majesty was angry because Gao Panlong did not agree to a joint trial by the three courts, so he summoned Yang Lian. Yang Lian agreed with His Majesty's words and was willing to preside over the trial himself, which pleased His Majesty greatly.
This is basically the news. Some of it is true, and of course some is false.
Chen Hong felt that the emperor's rumor-mongering was too low-class. But he didn't dare to say it, and no one else dared to say it.
The person who leaked the news was a young eunuch beside Wang An, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department. Wang An had a good relationship with the Donglin Party, and if anything went wrong, he would definitely trace it back to the young eunuch.
As for the young eunuch, I heard it from inside the palace, and in the end it turned out to be nothing more than palace rumors.
Are there not enough rumors in the Imperial Palace? Not only in the Imperial Palace, but also in the capital and the officialdom, are there not enough rumors?
Every day, all kinds of people spread all kinds of rumors for all kinds of purposes.
"This palace of mine!" Zhu Youxiao sighed softly, "It's just a wall with leaks on all sides. It can't keep anything out."
Zhu Youxiao turned to Chen Hong and said, "What was the name of the eunuch who delivered the message?"
"Your Majesty, his name is Zhao He." Chen Hong did not dare to be negligent and said quickly.
Zhu Youxiao nodded, and then said: "If you leak the secrets of the imperial palace, you will be beaten to death!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Chen Hong's heart was trembling. The Emperor was going to silence him. Once Zhao He died, there would be no evidence.
After thinking for a moment, Zhu Youxiao stopped Chen Hong again and said, "Forget it. Execution by caning is too cruel. I am a benevolent monarch. He has already been disabled since entering the palace as a eunuch. Now that he is about to die, it is better to let him go gracefully. Give him a white silk!"
"Your Majesty, be merciful." Chen Hong quickly agreed, then turned around and prepared to go to work. Although this matter was shocking, it was not a big deal. There were always a few people dying in the palace every year.
When Chen Hong took people to do the work, Zhu Youxiao sat in a wheelchair, supporting his chin and looking into the distance.
This was a rare sunny day in recent days, and the sunshine was nice. Zhu Youxiao wrapped himself in a blanket and basked in the sun, feeling very comfortable.
"Your Majesty, Li Huan from the Empress Dowager's side is here." Eunuch Wei Chao walked to Zhu Youxiao's side and spoke softly, fearing to disturb the emperor.
The eunuchs in the palace also have to be on duty. Basically, you can only go when it is your turn. When it is not your turn, you just have to do your job.
Now that Chen Hong is gone, Wei Chao has come to take over. He is also a famous eunuch.
During the Tianqi period, Zhu Youxiao knew only three eunuchs, the most famous of whom was naturally Wei Zhongxian.
Apart from Wei Zhongxian, the remaining two are Wang An and Wei Chao. Wang An is the adoptive father of Wei Chao and Wei Zhongxian, and the godfather in the palace.
Wei Chao was Wei Zhongxian's sworn brother and also the person who introduced Wei Zhongxian to the palace.
However, both Wang An and Wei Zhongxian had a bad ending. Especially Wei Zhongxian, he not only took away his best friend Baba, but also exiled Wei Chao to Fengyang.
But now that Kebaba is dead, Zhu Youxiao doesn’t know whether the two brothers will turn against each other again.
Li Huan, the eunuch who served beside Concubine Zhuang, Zhu Youxiao thought for a moment and said, "Let him come over!"
Not long after, Li Huan came in from outside. When she saw Zhu Youxiao, she immediately knelt on the ground and saluted: "Your servant greets His Majesty."
Waving his hand, signaling Li Huan to stand up, Zhu Youxiao asked, "Is there something going on with the Concubine Dowager?"
"Your Majesty, the Concubine Dowager asked me to come and invite Your Majesty, saying that she wants to discuss the selection of the Queen with Your Majesty." Li Huan said hurriedly.
Zhu Youxiao was stunned. Choosing a queen!
If it weren't for Concubine Li Zhuang's reminder, I would have really forgotten about this matter.
Zhu Youxiao also knew that this was Concubine Zhuang's way of asserting her status. Although she could not be the Empress Dowager, she had already considered herself the Empress Dowager since she moved into Ciqing Palace.
Selecting a concubine for the emperor is a big deal. If she can preside over this matter, her status in the palace will naturally rise.
Zhu Youxiao thought for a moment and said, "Go back and report to the Concubine Dowager. I will go there in the evening and have dinner with her."
"Yes." Li Huan agreed, then turned and walked out.
Zhu Youxiao actually didn't pay much attention to the matter of choosing his own queen, because it had little to do with him and his opinion didn't count.
There were many people participating in the selection of the queen, but when it was his turn to choose, there were not many people left, and not many choices.
Besides, Zhu Youxiao was not concerned about this issue at the moment. He was now concerned about the Donglin Party.
The news has already spread, and Zhu Youxiao wants to see what the Donglin Party will do when rumors spread outside.
Zhu Youxiao also thought about eliminating the Donglin Party, but he would not do it like Wei Zhongxian because it would be too crude and ineffective.
Besides, the Donglin Party is just a school of thought, and there are people behind them. There are many complicated issues here!
After overthrowing the Donglin Party, should we also overthrow the Xilin Party? What about the Qi, Zhejiang, and Chu factions? Should we overthrow them as well? Or should we kill them all?
This kind of thing is too difficult. Cleaning is definitely necessary, but it cannot be done like this.
This time, Zhu Youxiao wanted to see what the Donglin Party would do, especially at this time.
Gao Panlong and Yang Lian, which one will you choose? I'm really curious!
"Your Majesty, Wei Zhongxian is here." Wei Chao walked in again and said in a low voice.
Zhu Youxiao smiled. Wei Zhongxian was really quick, but it didn't matter.
Without looking back, he ordered directly: "Let him come over!"
After a while, Wei Zhongxian came in from outside. When he saw Zhu Youxiao, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed respectfully, saying, "This servant pays homage to the emperor."
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