The next day, in the imperial prison, Wei Zhongxian looked ashen-faced.
"You brat Zhu Youjian, how dare you treat me like this?!"
In the past, even when Zhu Youjian was just the Prince of Xin, Wei Zhongxian would never have dared to address him like that.
But now, he doesn't care anymore.
Since it's already a capital offense, there's a high probability they'll have to sing the "Nine Clans' Joy Song" (a song celebrating the deaths of many relatives).
Even if he insulted the emperor, would he be punished even more severely?
As a result, Wei Zhongxian cursed and swore all day long.
"If I hadn't promoted you, how could you have been chosen by the late emperor and inherited the throne?"
"Zhu Youjian, you will not have a good end!"
Zhu Youjian overheard these words in the corridor outside the cell, and his face instantly darkened.
Seeing this, Luo Yangxing, who was serving nearby, quickly spoke up:
"Your Majesty, Wei Zhongxian truly deserves to die!"
Zhu Youjian waved his hand.
"I know perfectly well that even if he is killed, it is a punishment he deserves."
"But since Mr. Gao says he is still useful, then I will spare his life for now."
Since leaving Gao Qingyun's place yesterday, Zhu Youjian has not entirely trusted Gao Qingyun's words.
Instead, they conducted a verification process.
He summoned the Minister of Works and ordered him to find the best papermakers and printers in the entire Ming Dynasty to examine the documents that Gao Qingyun had produced.
In the end, all the craftsmen unanimously agreed that such craftsmanship was something the Ming Dynasty could never possess.
Several craftsmen disregarded the emperor's authority, knelt down and kowtowed, hoping that Zhu Youjian would allow them to become apprentices and learn their craft.
Zhu Youjian naturally refused.
After dismissing the craftsmen, he ordered the Imperial Guards to conduct a thorough search of the city with Gao Qingyun's portrait.
The final result was similar.
No one has ever seen Gao Qingyun.
When these two facts were presented to Zhu Youjian, he was finally 100% certain that Gao Qingyun was indeed of extraordinary origin.
Therefore, he placed complete trust in Gao Qingyun's advice.
Zhu Youjian took a deep breath, suppressing the anger ignited by Wei Zhongxian's scolding, and quickly walked out.
He slowly said, "Oh, Your Majesty, is this how you see me?"
Wei Zhongxian was taken aback for a moment, then his face showed disdain.
"Zhu Youjian, did you come to see me to see me in a sorry state?"
"Let me tell you, I..."
Before Wei Zhongxian could finish speaking, Zhu Youjian interrupted him.
"I've come here to release you."
"..."
"What?!"
After a moment of silence, Wei Zhongxian's eyes widened, his face showing surprise.
Zhu Youjian coughed a few times, then said seriously:
"Your Majesty, the reason I had you arrested earlier was to stage a ruse."
Would you believe it?
I froze, dumbfounded.
Wei Zhongxian looked at Zhu Youjian in bewilderment, completely unable to believe what he was hearing.
"What? You're saying this is a ruse?"
He immediately wanted to retort.
But the next moment, he stopped moving.
"That's not right. I'm in this state now, completely at the mercy of the emperor. Why would he still lie to me?"
"So...you meant it?"
At this moment, Wei Zhongxian even felt somewhat ashamed.
"How could I not have guessed the Emperor's thoughts? I even cursed you just now?"
I don't know if it's just an act or if it comes from the heart.
Two streams of hot tears flowed from Wei Zhongxian's eyes as he frantically kowtowed to Zhu Youjian.
"This old servant is guilty, this old servant is guilty!"
"This old servant has misunderstood Your Majesty; I deserve death!"
Zhu Youjian was naturally not fooled by this performance.
He had already sentenced Wei Zhongxian to death in his heart. Now he was sparing his life only to squeeze out the last bit of value from him.
After he had used Wei Zhongxian, he was still doomed.
Zhu Youjian's mind raced, and he turned around, his back to Wei Zhongxian.
He was afraid that he wouldn't be able to keep a straight face and that Wei Zhongxian would notice something.
Zhu Youjian said quietly, "If you know your crime, then you should be loyal to me."
Wei Zhongxian looked up obsequiously.
"Your Majesty is absolutely right. This old servant is the best at serving the Emperor."
"Tell me, Your Majesty, do you intend to select concubines or embark on a southern tour?"
"Should we select concubines during the southern tour?"
"This old servant guarantees that everything will be handled perfectly for you."
Upon hearing these words, Zhu Youjian finally understood why his dear brother had been so fond of Wei Zhongxian.
This eunuch, though inhumane, is indeed a good servant.
Zhu Youjian was slightly tempted, but soon, Gao Qingyun's words echoed in his ears.
"The Ming Dynasty has been gone for 380 years."
"Emperor Chongzhen was a ruler who brought about the downfall of his country!"
Those few words struck his heart like a heavy hammer.
Zhu Youjian's expression changed drastically, then he lowered his voice and said to Wei Zhongxian:
"I don't need you to do these things."
"What I want is for you to deal with certain people."
Wei Zhongxian looked up blankly: "Whom does Your Majesty intend to deal with?"
Zhu Youjian gritted his teeth.
"Of course it's the Donglin Party!"
"It's those treacherous officials in the imperial court!"
"These people appear upright on the surface, but behind the scenes they are all corrupt officials. They are all guilty... no, they deserve to die!"
Zhu Youjian turned his head, his eyes red, and stared intently at Wei Zhongxian.
"I want you to go and bite these people, arrest these people, and confiscate their property and exterminate their families."
Can you do it?
Seeing Zhu Youjian's expression, Wei Zhongxian swallowed hard.
He thought to himself, "Could it be that the Emperor spared my life because those members of the Donglin Party have offended His Majesty somewhere?"
"This shouldn't be happening... Oh well, never mind!"
Wei Zhongxian kowtowed repeatedly.
"As long as Your Majesty gives the order, this old servant will not hesitate to die for it!"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian finally felt a little happier.
He waved his hand and said, "It's good that you have the intention."
"However, the court cannot be without ministers. After you leave, first gather evidence of their crimes and investigate their assets."
"When the time is right, we will defeat them one by one, lest they act desperately in desperation."
Wei Zhongxian nodded quickly.
"Your Majesty is absolutely right."
"Your words are truly mature and prudent, comparable to King Zhuang of Chu's three years of silence!"
Zhu Youjian smiled dismissively.
"You old codger, you actually know these historical allusions."
"You've misused the allusion; what I mean is to proceed gradually."
Wei Zhongxian, seizing the opportunity, said with a grin:
"This old servant's stupid brain can't possibly understand Your Majesty's profound meaning."
...
"Oh, that's what that person told you?"
An hour later, Zhu Youjian returned to the palace and immediately sought out Gao Qingyun.
He recounted, in a different guise, how he had just subdued Wei Zhongxian to Gao Qingyun.
In his heart, he already regarded Gao Qingyun as half a mentor.
He just wanted Gao Qingyun to praise him.
Zhu Youjian nodded with considerable self-satisfaction.
“That’s right, that old servant… that’s what he said.”
Gao Qingyun gave a cold laugh.
"Oh dear, Xiao Zhu, you've fallen for his trick!"
This so-called "Little Zhu" is a pseudonym that Zhu Youjian just made up.
"That person clearly said the wrong thing on purpose so that you would correct him."
"In that case, wouldn't your trust in him, or rather your contempt for him, and your own sense of pride increase a bit?"
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