After the court session, Zhu Youjian returned to his study and summoned Wei Zhongxian directly into the palace.
Wei Zhongxian visited this place countless times.
But this time, I came in with a heart full of emotions.
"The young emperor is really lucky. He actually survived a life-or-death situation like falling into the water and getting sick."
"Ah, if only the late emperor had been so lucky."
"Then I, Wei Zhongxian, am still the Ninth Prince, second only to the Emperor!"
Seeing Wei Zhongxian kneeling on the ground, seemingly deep in thought.
Suppressing his excitement, Zhu Youjian asked calmly, "Wei Zhongxian, what are you thinking about?"
Wei Zhongxian was startled and quickly kowtowed three times.
Then he looked up with a smile on his face.
"Your Majesty, this old servant is overjoyed to see that you are safe and sound!"
As he spoke, tears welled up in his eyes.
"After you fell into the water, those Donglin Party members went completely out of control, and even refused to let me enter the palace to see you!"
"This old servant has no choice but to stay at home, eat vegetarian food, and chant Buddhist prayers, hoping that all the gods and Buddhas in the heavens will bless you with a speedy recovery."
"I never expected this. Your Majesty, you are indeed the Son of Heaven. You don't need the gods or Buddhas to intervene at all."
"Your health improved on its own."
"This old servant is delighted, but I am also awestruck by Your Majesty's might, which is why I did not pay my respects to Your Majesty immediately."
Upon hearing this flattery, Zhu Youjian was naturally delighted.
But she quickly woke up again.
"Master Gao is absolutely right. That bastard Wei Zhongxian is really good at winning my favor."
"No wonder the late emperor trusted him so much."
Zhu Youjian quickly shook his head, banishing his newly formed goodwill towards Wei Zhongxian.
He asked earnestly, "Wei Zhongxian, besides praying for my well-being during this time, have you forgotten the important matters I entrusted to you?"
Wei Zhongxian replied with a smile:
"Your Majesty, even if this old servant forgets to eat and sleep, I would never dare to delay your important matters!"
He meant it sincerely.
Wei Zhongxian had always been at odds with the Donglin Party, and even without Zhu Youjian's orders, he would have gone to cause trouble for them.
Moreover, this time, Zhu Youjian also ordered him to secretly investigate the crimes and assets of the Donglin Party officials.
Wei Zhongxian wasn't stupid; he had already guessed that Zhu Youjian intended to wipe out the Donglin Party members and confiscate their property.
He took out a memorial from his pocket, raised it high above his head with both hands.
"Your Majesty, these are the results of my investigation over this period of time."
When Zhu Youjian saw the memorial, he intended to go and take it directly.
However, Wang Chengen stopped him.
Wang Chengen walked over himself, took the memorial, and then wouldn't let Zhu Youjian touch it at all.
Instead, he read it aloud himself and then repeated it to Zhu Youjian.
This was because they feared Wei Zhongxian's treacherous intentions would not be extinguished and that he would poison the memorials.
After hearing this, Zhu Youjian's expression changed from excitement to anger.
"What? These Donglin Party members actually have so much wealth?"
According to this memorial, Wei Zhongxian didn't even know how much cash the Donglin officials actually had.
But just looking at the shops and land under their names, as well as those famous antique treasures, they are already worth tens of millions.
This value of tens of millions is not a figment of imagination, but a literal figure.
Wei Zhongxian knelt on the ground and, upon hearing Zhu Youjian's anger, also joined in cursing the Donglin Party.
"Your Majesty is right. According to my investigation, part of the Donglin Party's assets are worth more than 11 million taels of silver."
"If we include cash, it would probably be twenty or thirty million taels."
"In addition, they should also have shares in many chambers of commerce, both in cash and in secret."
"These things can't be investigated clearly. Only by searching their homes and obtaining their account books can we find out the whole truth!"
"As for the Donglin Party, there are also many corrupt officials who are quite wealthy."
"However, I have not yet thoroughly investigated their matter. I beg Your Majesty to give me some more time."
Wei Zhongxian's ability to handle affairs may not have been up to par.
But his ability to amass wealth is absolutely top-notch.
For the next few hundred years, it is estimated that only a certain Lord He will be able to keep him in check.
Therefore, Wei Zhongxian's investigation was exceptionally thorough.
Zhu Youjian was furious and wished he could immediately issue an edict to wipe out the Donglin Party.
But he quickly calmed down again.
As Master Gao once said, "Haste makes waste."
"The Donglin Party members must be arrested one by one, otherwise the government and the public will be thrown into turmoil!"
He took a deep breath and then said to Wei Zhongxian:
"Put other people's matters aside for now. First, sort out the situation of Zhou Yanru and Bi Ziyan and hand it over to Luo Yangxing."
"I will deal with those two first!"
Upon hearing this, Wei Zhongxian nodded repeatedly, saying, "Your Majesty is absolutely right."
"The imperial court has just experienced a great victory, yet these two are still spouting discouraging words; they're practically courting death!"
But he was somewhat worried.
After leaving the Imperial Study, he looked at the roof ridge beasts on the palace eaves, his heart filled with complex emotions.
"I don't care whether Zhou Yanru and Bi Ziyan live or die."
"But I know that the young emperor would not have been so angry if it were just because of his suggestions."
“He has been studying the classics since he was a child, and he’s become a bit silly from it. He really believes in the idea of opening up channels for communication, so he wouldn’t be so quick to call for violence against those two over something like this.”
"In my opinion, it was clearly their insults directed at Master Gao that angered the Emperor so much!"
"But... now that the emperor has Master Gao by his side, what am I supposed to do?"
Wei Zhongxian returned to his residence with a heavy heart. As soon as he stepped off the carriage, he sighed softly.
"The emperor can only have one close advisor."
"How can I compete with that Master Gao?"
"But with Master Gao staying by the emperor's side, what about my future, Wei Zhongxian..."
He recalled that not long ago, he had been imprisoned in the imperial jail.
"Although the emperor said it was a misunderstanding, I still feel that something is not right."
"What if the young emperor finishes dealing with the Donglin Party and then discards me like a used tool after the birds are all gone?"
A hint of doubt flashed in Wei Zhongxian's eyes.
After he was taken down last time, the once powerful eunuch faction scattered like monkeys falling from a tree.
As for the Jingjun, which he trusted and relied on greatly, it was an army composed of eunuchs.
Upon seeing the emperor's edict, they surrendered without uttering a word.
He had absolutely no intention of rebelling for the sake of his "good godfather" Wei Zhongxian.
"If the emperor decides to take action against me, I will be utterly powerless to resist!"
Just then, someone approached and cautiously asked, "Uncle, what are you doing standing here?"
Wei Zhongxian was startled.
"Who dares to sneak up on me and eavesdrop on my mutterings?"
He was about to get angry, but when he saw who it was, he sighed.
"Oh, it's Liangqing! What brings you here?"
It turns out that this person's name was Wei Liangqing, and he was Wei Zhongxian's nephew.
Wei Zhongxian was unable to have children due to "health reasons," so he treated this nephew as his son.
As early as the Tianqi era, Wei Liangqing was granted the title of Duke, and Zhu Youxiao was invited to appoint him as the high-ranking Grand Tutor.
These two are practically in the same boat.
Wei Liangqing scratched the back of his head.
"Uncle, I've come to report to you."
"I have taken care of the matter you asked me to make contact with Madam Fengsheng."
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