Chapter 1830 Almost Capsized

Zhou Shuren and other ministers were not sitting there listening for nothing today. Everyone pricked up their ears, especially when the Duke of Yong'an took out the memorial.

The Duke of Yong'an stood in a daze in the hall. He attended court only a few times and felt uncomfortable being stared at. He had indeed done something wrong.

The Emperor took the memorial from the Duke of Yong'an. He could not hide the actions of the Duke's Mansion. At the end of last year, the Duke's Mansion sent people to the south to look for evidence. Although they did not have many connections, they had money to pave the way, and they actually found out a lot of things.

After reading it, the emperor handed it to the crown prince. The crown prince had Zhuo Guyu to consult, so he just glanced at it and then passed it on.

Zhou Shuren took the scan and glanced at it, his eyes fell on the words "harbour tax". He knew the emperor very well, and the emperor must have never summoned the old duke, so Zhuo Guyu was guided by the prince.

Zhou Shuren passed the memorial in his hand down. The knife of the Duke's Mansion had no weight in the hearts of the father and son of the royal family. Did they sympathize with him? No, they walked the path that the Duke's Mansion had chosen today.

The emperor wants to regulate the seaport, so he first gives people an opportunity. If he doesn't seize the opportunity, he will take real action, and the Yong'an Mansion is the knife driven by the emperor.

As the memorial was passed around, the palace was no longer quiet. The Duke of Yong'an remained silent. He knew in his heart that since the memorial had been submitted today, the Duke's Mansion would have to go on like this...

The morning court session ended, and the emperor said that he would discuss the matter later, and then he left the court with the Duke of Yong'an.

Zhou Shuren was accompanied by Lord Wei and Old Lord Liu. Lord Wei was worried, "My Lord, my boy."

Zhou Shuren knew what Wei Yan said, "It's okay."

What the emperor really wants to move against are the noble families connected with the seaport. Some people in the capital may be involved, but most of them have already confessed voluntarily and escaped. The kid from the Wei family has just been transferred to the maritime affairs department not long ago, so maybe he can get a chance for promotion.

Lord Wei felt much more at ease. The series of major cases in the past two years represented bloodshed, and he was also intimidated and acted extra carefully.

Old Master Liu stroked his beard and said, "If the Duke's Mansion wins, it can survive; if it loses, it will be doomed."

Lord Wei frowned, "How big of a grudge is this?"

There were five southern noble families listed in the memorial, and when he read it he just felt that the Yong'an Duke's Mansion had gone crazy.

Zhou Shuren thought that the current result was caused by the emperor. The southern families would focus on the Duke's Mansion and ignore the actions of the court. The Duke of Yong'an was also trying his best to continue the lineage for his descendants.

The memorial was circulated, and its contents did not need to be kept secret. The emperor deliberately spread it, and soon several southern noble families involved knew about it.

In the Hanlin Academy, Chang Zhi came out to drink tea and saw several scholars gathered together. He didn't know what they were talking about, but they all looked particularly serious.

Noticing Changzhi, several people greeted him and left with solemn steps.

Master Qi held the tea leaves and asked, "What are you looking at?"

Changzhi took the tea and told him what he had just seen. Lord Qi said, "You go make some tea and I'll go ask around."

The content of the memorial from the Duke of Yong'an had already spread in the Hanlin Academy, and the news was easy to get. Chang Zhi did not pay attention to the morning court, as all his attention was on editing the book.

Changzhi listened and said, "This is too urgent."

Lord Qi was waiting for tea, and raised his eyes and said, "I thought the Yong'an Duke's Mansion was upset, but it turns out that they are holding back their ruthlessness!"

Then he shook his head in confusion. The old duke was too rash. It was satisfying to submit the memorial, but it would be easy to fail if too many things were involved!

Chang Zhi said: "Zhuo Guyu has already entered the palace, can't he explain the attitude of the higher-ups?"

Lord Qi suddenly realized, "Yes."

So the Duke’s Mansion has the confidence.

Chang Zhi whispered, "In this imperial examination, none of the sons of the southern noble families sought official positions."

Lord Qi thought that all the people who had been enrolled in the Hanlin Academy as Shujishi were waiting for the three-year assessment. "Is their main purpose in these three years to cultivate their network?"

Changzhi: “Yeah.”

The imperial court has changed rapidly in recent years. The south is indeed prosperous, but the capital is the political center and the imperial court is constantly taking actions. The southern families have realized the need to rebuild their network of contacts.

In addition, many officials have been dismissed in the past two years, and the family has also suffered a considerable loss of accumulated connections.

It's a pity that the Emperor would not allow it. While the imperial court has changed over the years, the Emperor has been subtly weakening the power of the aristocratic families. How could he allow the aristocratic families to become strong again?

Changzhi held up his teacup and said, "These three years have not been peaceful."

Lord Qi's eyes were deep. He believed in Zhou Changzhi's political sensitivity and was thinking about what benefits the Qi family could gain from this struggle.

Chang Zhi felt regretful in his heart that the Zhou Marquis Mansion could not gain any advantage. However, there were also advantages in not taking advantage of it, as it would not draw hatred from the southern families. His third brother was still squatting in the south!

Chang Zhong was so tired that his head was buzzing. When he came out, he saw his fourth brother leisurely drinking tea in Liangting, "!!"

Changzhi saw his younger brother and waved with a smile, "Come over for tea."

Changzhong walked over unceremoniously, sat down and asked, "What did Fourth Brother and Master Qi talk about?"

Chang Zhi, "Let's talk about the memorial from the Duke of Yong'an today."

Changzhong's mind was full of knowledge that needed to be sorted out. After hearing his fourth brother's repetition, Changzhong said "oh" and didn't want to discuss it anymore.

The next day, when the morning court session had just begun, impeachment memorials came in like snowflakes. Some impeached the southern noble families, and some impeached the Yong'an Duke's Mansion.

Zhou Shuren thought that Yu Shi had been the busiest these days. This morning, Lord Lin chatted with him for a while and revealed a lot of information. Zhou Shuren felt the importance of having a Yu Shi relative. Today's impeachment memorials were all based on evidence.

The Duke of Yongan thought he had no power to clean up his family, relatives and servants, but he ignored his confidants and let them act on their own? No one believed it!

Duke Yong'an was shaken a little when he heard the impeachment letter, and finally knelt on the ground, "Your Majesty, I am guilty, please punish me."

The noisy hall fell silent. The voice was so loud that everyone's eyes were focused on the old duke.

The emperor was unhappy. The prince had already given a hint, but the Yong'an Mansion was still caught by someone. The emperor was unhappy and kept silent.

Zhou Shuren knew the emperor too well, and the emperor was very unhappy.

The sweat dripped from the forehead of the Duke of Yong'an, and his body was covered with sweat in an instant. His mind was full of memorials impeaching the Duke's Mansion. What worried him most was the military pay that was embezzled. Although it was nonsense, he knew that too much wealth would arouse jealousy, and once a rumor was formed, it would become true.

The Duke of Yong'an was sweating even more on his forehead, so he had to press the charges today.

The old duke knew it in his heart, and finally closed his eyes, "I am guilty and unworthy of the title. I ask the emperor to take back the title of duke."

The emperor remained silent. The few people who had just impeached the old duke narrowed their eyes. They looked at each other and understood in their hearts that the Zhuo family had escaped today.

The emperor stood up and said, "You are indeed unworthy of the title of Duke."

The old duke pressed his forehead against the ground. The cool feeling made his mind particularly clear. "I should have died to atone for my crime, but I want to make amends. Please give me a chance, Your Majesty."

The emperor could use the Zhuo family. He glanced at the ministers and said, "I will give you three days. I want to see evidence that proves your innocence."

The old Duke kowtowed to express his gratitude and said, "Please Your Majesty take back the title of Duke. I have no face to continue to be a duke."

In the end, the emperor naturally agreed and demanded an explanation. Zhou Shuren raised his eyebrows. The Yong'an Mansion almost capsized. This was a good move!

(End of this chapter)