Chapter 93 The Treacherous Minister
The arrival of Shinjuku was met with a grand reception from the entire Shangyi Bureau, a level of courtesy that would never be given to anyone else, no matter the circumstances.
After being informed by someone, the clerk rushed to the yamen, only to find that the monk had already been ushered into the private room where the magistrate Pan was to discuss matters.
"I have come here to see if there are any promising talents to enrich the Imperial Horse Administration."
All the eunuchs from the Shangyi Bureau crowded into the room, witnessing the emperor's favorite, who sat to the right of Eunuch Pan, bowed to Eunuch Pan in greeting, then crossed his legs and asked directly.
After a moment of confusion, everyone remembered that the Emperor had indeed planned to expand the military to cope with the increased need for border defense due to the extension of the national border.
As a military institution, the Imperial Horse Administration was naturally included in the plan.
Some people had previously informed them that the Imperial Horse Administration would come to demand the people, but no one expected that it would be the Grand Master Qing himself who would come.
The Bureau of Ceremonial Affairs was in charge of internal affairs and personnel management. Most of the people in the bureau had dealt with Masakatsu before, so this wasn't their first time seeing him in person. But such a close meeting still left them mesmerized.
It was all because of Masakatsu's striking beauty. His features weren't exactly feminine; one could immediately tell he was male, yet a hint of allure lingered in his domineering eyes. Unlike the androgynous male prostitutes, his figure was taller and more slender than that of ordinary eunuchs. Without makeup, his features were as striking and beautiful as if he were wearing makeup. He was neither a eunuch, nor a male prostitute, nor a concubine, yet all of these were his identities.
It is precisely this contradictory temperament that makes Shinjuku stand out so easily in a crowd.
Eunuch Pan's face darkened. He couldn't help but think to himself that if he had seen this person during the selection process, he certainly wouldn't have allowed him to grow up so wildly. In that case, there would be no possibility of this person being on equal footing with him now.
Since Eunuch Pan did not speak, the people below did not dare to interrupt, so they turned their attention to the Prime Minister.
Unfortunately, the Prime Minister's mouth was still full of blood, and he had to cover his cheek, unable to speak. So the Admiral stepped forward and carefully inquired about Masakatsu's request.
Shinju's request was very simple, just ordinary requirements for hiring people, so simple that everyone's minds started to race. It wasn't about promoting anyone, so there was no need to make a special trip for such a trivial matter. They couldn't help but speculate that Shinju's trip was probably to cultivate relationships with them, the eunuchs.
It seems that the Emperor's favor and protection are already precarious. He's trying to find a way out for himself!
So the eunuchs invited Masakatsu to visit the bureau, and secretly and openly slipped him small gold leaves, gave him cloth and tea, and even had young eunuchs serve him personally.
With a blink of his golden eyes and a flick of his long sleeves, Shinju accepted all but the little eunuch.
From that day on, if it weren't for the fact that Masaya didn't have a private residence in the city, his doorstep would probably have been worn down by people bringing him gifts.
Even though Shinju was basically operating under the nose of the King of Poison, the seasoned officials in the bureaucracy had all sorts of ways to give gifts, many of which were so sophisticated that it was impossible to find fault with them. In less than ten days, a steady stream of gold, silver, and paintings by famous artists filled Shinju's small side room. Meanwhile, Eunuch Pan also benefited, with countless officials coming to curry favor with him and offer him favors.
Shinju's blatant collusion with and promotion of the eunuchs undoubtedly aroused the dissatisfaction of many ministers, and countless memorials criticizing Shinju were submitted.
However, the poison king did not act for a long time, which angered the public, and the crown prince was pushed forward to act as an envoy.
Then the Crown Prince saw the King of Zhen summon Masakatsu to his side, his face as stern as ever, his dark eyes even revealing a hint of sinister intent—though that intent was never directed at Masakatsu. The Crown Prince's heart trembled, and he couldn't help but think: He had indeed touched the King of Zhen's sore spot. As a servant subservient to the imperial power, he dared to seek greater power; no monarch could tolerate such contempt for imperial authority.
The King of Zhen said, "From now on, you are not allowed to accept their gifts."
Before Shinju could reply, King Zhen continued, "Qing'er, do you not like what I sent? Or perhaps what they sent was better than what I sent?"
"..." The crown prince was speechless for a moment.
Shinju explained, "Why not take it? Didn't Your Majesty use this to get leverage over several people? Besides, I didn't do what they asked me to do, so it doesn't count as embezzlement or bribery."
King Zhen squeezed Zhen Su's palm hard and scolded, "I told you not to accept them, did you hear me? I have my own ways of dealing with those shady characters."
Seeing his insistence, Shinjuku could only purse his lips and nod in agreement.
When the Prince of Zhen saw his arrogant and spoiled demeanor, he felt as if he had been lightly tickled by a feather, and his back burned. The Prince of Zhen immediately swept away the obstructing memorials, lifted the man onto the desk, and restrained him between his arms. Then, he used his eyes to drive away the Crown Prince who was standing to the side.
When the Crown Prince received the signal from the King of Zhen, he was surprised that such a matter, which would inevitably lead to beheading under any circumstances, could be discussed so openly. He was once again enlightened, realizing that Zhen Su's position in the King of Zhen's heart was unparalleled, and at the same time, he was extremely shocked by their relationship, which transcended the boundaries between ruler and subject and blurred the lines between self and others.
Even more absurdly, after the prince left, he heard that the gifts that Shinju had received were not touched by the King of Zhen, who did not require them to be handed over, and they were still piled up in Shinju's room.
Given that Prince Zhen overruled public opinion, the court stopped making a fuss about the matter, and the scandal seemed to have passed.
However, rumors began to circulate in the capital that an ominous star was shining brightly beside the Purple Star, indicating that the nation's fate was being threatened by treacherous officials. Adding to the chaos, fires broke out in several parts of the city, but the source could not be found. Then, coincidentally, two horrific massacres occurred, wiping out entire families. Panic gripped the city, and many began to connect these strange phenomena and ominous events with the earlier bad omens.
With each and every one of these allegations so clearly implying something, it was no surprise that a memorial impeaching Shinju from his position as head of the regency was inevitable.
The prince initially thought that the King of Zhen might ignore it, but the people's denigration and attacks on Zhen Su became increasingly blatant and sharp. Even a three-year-old child, who listened daily to storytellers' veiled criticisms and heard commoners gossiping about the King of Zhen's attendants, could recite a few lines: "The ferocious beast devours the Purple Star; if the treacherous officials are not eliminated, the sun and moon will lose their light."
If even young children are treated this way, then those with genuine malice will be even less merciful, as if spitting on such a person would make them proud and prove that refusing to conform is the mark of a true hero.
From officials to commoners, anyone could regard Zhen Su as a scourge, a bewitching concubine, or a treacherous villain. How could the King of Zhen tolerate such a thing?
Therefore, the King of Zhen mobilized all his power to cleanse the people of their evil customs and rumors.
When power is used in this situation, there may be a period of apparent calm, but the underlying issues cannot be completely suppressed. They simply become more subtle and the backlash is even stronger. From then on, whenever something bad happens, the people habitually blame it on those who bring bad omens that affect the nation's fate.
Shinjuku said he didn't care, but Zashiki noticed that he had become much more silent. Although he was still clingy, he always seemed to want to say something but held back when looking at Zashiki, as if there were some complex emotions hidden within him that no one could understand.
The King of Poison felt inexplicably anxious. Although Shinju was always inseparable from him, even closer than before, and Shinju was quite compliant, only occasionally throwing a tantrum, he had a feeling that Shinju was drifting further and further away, that something was quietly slipping out of his control…
In the imperial court, the arguments grew increasingly heated, and one remonstrating official even smashed his head against a dragon-carved pillar in the Golden Palace, dying instantly.
Shinjuku, who had been busy with the matter of expanding the Imperial Horse Stables, returned to the court. He happened to be standing by a pillar, so he saw the civil official with a bloodied head and unseeing eyes. His golden eyes were shocked.
Criticism arose from all around.
"Your Majesty!! Please stop protecting traitors! We implore Your Majesty to hand over the seal of Qing to the Ministry of Justice for a thorough investigation of his numerous properties in the capital, as well as the ten thousand taels of gold he has hidden underground!!"
"Your Majesty! If this man is not apprehended today, the court, the people, and all will suffer!"
"Your Majesty, please reconsider! Order an investigation into the origins of these ten thousand fine horses from the Imperial Horse Stables. According to the information I have received, there is definitely something fishy going on!"
On the high platform, King Zhen looked directly at Shinju, who was surrounded by his ministers. Seeing Shinju's shocked and helpless appearance, he desperately wanted to hug him, but how could the words of the courtiers be so easily quelled? Recently, King Zhen had been greatly hampered by those below him. The operation of the country could not be accomplished by the monarch alone; it also required the cooperation of his ministers.
In just a short period of time, his master, Shinju, was put in a precarious position and became the target of public criticism. And all the things he had done to protect Shinju had become one of the culprits who pushed him into the fire.
After some deliberation, the Prince of Zhen slammed his fist on the armrest, nearly denting the dragon head on the armrest of the throne. He then rose from his seat and said coldly and angrily, "I have heard all your demands. I will give an explanation within two days regarding the matter of the Imperial Stables privately issuing breeding horse certificates. As for Master Qing, he will be confined to the Scorpion Shadow Hall for now. Court adjourned!"
Upon receiving the imperial edict, all the officials knelt down and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"
Many gloating glances were cast at Shinjuku, but only the prince cast a subtle look of worry.
Shinju bowed his head and knelt to receive the order.
.
Scorpion Shadow Palace.
Shinjuku lay on the bed, which was cluttered with miscellaneous items and barely had any space. He rested his head on one arm, picked up the gold coins beside him, and put them in his mouth.
The canine tooth easily pierced into the gold ingot, and Shinjuku sighed, "Hmm... it's all real gold."
After leaving unsightly teeth marks, Shinju threw the gold aside and then picked through the pieces, gnawing on them with great relish.
After a while, Shinjuku spoke into the air: "Little Dunzi? Can you hear me?"
Within moments, Xiaodunzi's honest voice echoed from Zhensu's secondary dantian: "Qingqing? I heard it, I heard it!"
"Have you finished printing the newspapers I asked you to?"
"It's all set! It will be sent to all the mansions first thing tomorrow morning. As for the local ones, Old Lu said it will probably take a while longer."
"Alright." Then let's wait and see how the public opinion about him will develop. A sly smile appeared on Shinju's lips, his eyes gleaming.
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Author's Note: I apologize. I feel the pacing of this piece is very poor, with too many flaws, and it's far from a mature work. Poor writing naturally results in poor performance; it hasn't been on any rankings, and there are very few readers left. After deciding not to apply for rankings, I lacked the motivation to even reach the weekly word count required for rankings (7,000 words), which is why updates have become so inconsistent.
I know that those who will see these words are actually my precious readers who are willing to read this far, so I'm very sorry. I was genuinely confused myself, which is why I decided to speak out.
I don't know when I'll be able to adjust, but the gap between my efforts and the rewards is too wide, and it's hard to shake off the negative emotions of self-doubt. But it's a work I've poured so much heart and soul into, and I can't bear to just abandon it. It's so frustrating; I'm stuck here, not quite there yet. I haven't even finished the first volume.
Nothing can be changed. Perhaps this is the fate I deserve, given my high aspirations but low abilities.
I'll try to finish the remaining seven or eight chapters next month... That's all for now.
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