Item 6: Provoking disputes without authorization. Item 7: Allowing troops to plunder. Is this referring to Prince Li? It feels like it's referring to the former Zuo Liangyu! Item 8: Controlling government affairs and appointing personal connections. This accuses Zhao Xiaofei of appointing the Three Heroes of Jiangyin, as well as those technical officials who only know how to use technology but not how to read. These were all promoted by Zhao Xiaofei and his brother, so they were naturally the targets of their attack.
Article 9: Act recklessly and kill prisoners at will. If you don't kill those useless prisoners, will you pay for their support? Don't let your appearances fool you. In fact, you are all wealthy men, rich enough to rival a country. You keep asking the court to cut taxes and stop competing with the people for profits. You are afraid of competing for your own interests.
As for the last one, forming a clique for personal gain and plotting something illegal, it is a very serious accusation.
Empress Dowager Zhou was so angry after reading these memorials that she threw them on the desk and said, "You have spoken ill of Prince Li. Without him, you would have been killed by Li Zicheng by now, right? Wei Zaode's wife and daughter were raped, and his sons were killed by the rebels. Think about his fate. Do you still have a conscience?"
"Empress Dowager! Prince Li has indeed shown favors to us! But that was a personal favor. We are subjects of the Ming Dynasty. Our first loyalty is to the court, and only then should we care about our personal feelings for Prince Li! Public and private matters must be clearly distinguished! We cannot overlook Prince Li's illegal activities due to personal feelings. Your Majesty, please investigate Prince Li's illegal activities!" said Meng Zhaoxiang, the kneeling Minister of Rites. He was originally the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, but later, after arriving in Nanjing, he became the Minister of Justice.
"Open investigation? How to investigate? Who will be in charge? There must be a set of rules, right?" said Queen Mother Zhou.
"I recommend Mr. Fan Jingwen, the Minister of Personnel!" said Meng Zhaoxiang.
This Minister of Personnel, Fan Jingwen, was only a Grand Secretary. Later, he was promoted to the position of Minister of Personnel when he came to Nanjing. He was also the person Zhao Xiaofei rescued from the capital.
When Empress Dowager Zhou heard this, it seemed the Donglin Party was already prepared for Zhao Xiaofei! So she said, "Master Meng, please come up with a plan! This is settled! Let Kunxing and Zhaoren return to the palace and move out of the palace!"
"Empress Dowager! According to etiquette, the princess cannot return to the palace to live after her marriage!" At this time, Wu Gan, the attendant of the Ministry of Revenue, came out and said.
In the palace's living room, Princess Kunxing was so angry that she smashed a cup. She had been living in fear these days, sending people to inquire about Zhao Xiaofei's whereabouts. She simply couldn't believe that Zhao Xiaofei was dead. Could tens of thousands of troops not protect her husband? How absurd!
But the fact was already established, so she had no choice but to send someone to look for him. She had to find the body, alive or dead, and she also had to appease Zhaoren and Kou Baimen.
Now, suddenly hearing that the imperial court was going to take action against the palace, I felt a chill in my heart. I was filled with rage. I had never seen such coldness in the world. Without my husband and me, how could the Ming Dynasty be in its current state?
Princess Zhaoren, who was sitting beside her, asked quietly, "What happened to my sister?"
Princess Kunxing handed the note to Princess Zhaoren. When Zhaoren took it and looked at it, her face turned pale.
"Why are they like this? Didn't the Queen Mother stop them? Didn't the Emperor say anything?" Zhao Ren became angrier and angrier as he spoke, feeling extremely wronged. Tears actually flowed down his face.
"Ten major crimes! And they want us to move out of the palace! Let's see who dares to come. I will let him know how powerful I am!" Princess Kunxing's eyes flashed with coldness!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
