Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 236 I Won’t Leave Prison
How to reward Chen Ce is a science. The most important thing is not to reward Chen Ce, but to let the merchants in Shuntian Prefecture know how much importance the superiors attach to the attitude towards merchants.

Finally, the cabinet decided to give Chen Ce a reward of 100 yuan and 30 pieces of silk, and to register him with the emperor to be the owner of Shuntian Press and Shuntian Express.

This was an imperial edict. It did not mention Chen Ce's name, but referred to newspaper and courier owners in general, just to let the merchants in Shuntian Prefecture know the attitude of the higher authorities.

Emperor Hongzhi instructed Huai'en to handle the matter personally. Huai'en knew that this was Emperor Hongzhi's special favor to Chen Ce, because ordinary rewards would not be given to him, a eunuch.

After receiving the imperial edict, Huai'en led the Jinyiwei and the Dongchang guards straight to Huaihua Hutong. However, when they arrived at Huaihua Hutong, no one answered the door no matter how they knocked.

Madam Wu from next door opened the door and asked, "Are you looking for Master Chen?"

Huai En nodded and said, "Where is Master Chen?"

Madam Wu saw that the man was obviously from the palace because of his attire, so she said, "He was captured by Shuntian Prefecture officials earlier, and he should be in the Shuntian Prefecture prison now."

Ok?
Huai En was stunned for a moment and asked, "What crime did he commit? Why did Shuntian Prefecture arrest him?"

Madam Wu said, "It seems that I offended the government because of the porridge distribution during the day. I don't know the details."

Huai'en looked a little gloomy. He thanked Madam Wu and headed straight to Shuntian Prefecture with the East Factory and the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Zhang Chong had already finished his duty and returned home. When Huai En arrived at Shuntian Prefecture, he shouted, "Go and call Master Zhang!"

"We are here with an imperial decree. How dare he delay us?"

……

Zhang Mansion.

Zhang Chong had just finished washing up and was about to go to bed when the clerk from Shuntian Prefecture came over breathlessly and said anxiously, "Master Zhang, there is an imperial decree from the palace."

Zhang Chong was stunned for a moment, thinking, so fast?
He just caught the man, and Jiao Fang took credit for it?

Zhang Chong did not dare to delay, and hurriedly got up, dressed neatly, and went out with his family.

The clerk of Shuntian Prefecture hurriedly said, "People from the palace are waiting outside the government office."

Ah?
Shouldn’t you come to Zhang’s house?

Zhang Chong couldn't help but become suspicious. It was so late, why did the imperial edict come to the palace at this time?
He was a little confused, but he didn't dare to delay anyway. After getting on the sedan chair, he went straight to the Shuntian Prefecture government office.

Huai En had been waiting here for a while. When Zhang Chong got off the sedan chair, he saw such a big scene. He ran over anxiously, saluted and said, "Your Highness! Shuntian Prefecture Governor Zhang Chong accepts the order."

Huai En stared at him coldly and said expressionlessly, "When did our family say we would issue an imperial decree to you?"

"Did you arrest the owner of Shuntian Newspaper tonight?"

Zhang Chong's heart skipped a beat, and he said with a stiff face, "Well... to answer your question, this person privately set up a porridge stall with ill intentions. I am investigating."

Huai En sneered and said, "The emperor wants to reward this merchant. Sir Zhang is so powerful that he wants to go against the emperor?"

Zhang Chong broke out in a cold sweat.

Why, why did you disturb the emperor?

Huai En said angrily: "Why don't you let him out?!"

Zhang Chong hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, I will go right away. I will go right away."

Zhang Chong wiped the cold sweat from his head, walked quickly into the prison in three or two steps, and staggered to find Chen Ce who was sleeping on a mat.

"You can go out now." Zhang Chong said.

Chen Ce turned over and pretended not to hear.

The yamen runner shouted angrily, "Our master is talking to you! Get out of here!"

Snapped!
Zhang Chong slapped the clerk in the face with such force that his face was immediately covered in blood.

He looked so majestic when he put Chen Ce in shackles, and now he looks so miserable.

Zhang Chong said to Chen Ce gently, "Mr. Chen, let's get out quickly. This prison is not a good place." Chen Ce looked back at Zhang Chong and smiled, "No."

"It's nice here, I can sleep well."

Cold sweat streamed down Zhang Chong's face. The eunuch who was delivering the imperial edict was waiting outside. The imperial edict was not for him, Zhang Fuyin, but for Chen Ce.

But now the real culprit is imprisoned by him. If he doesn't get out, his official position may be in danger.

"Mr. Chen, there may be some misunderstanding between us. I just asked you to assist in the investigation."

Chen Ce asked back, "I'm afraid so? Are you going to put me in the shackles for assisting in the investigation?"

Zhang Chong was so angry that he kicked the yamen runner in the stomach and shouted, "Who the hell put you in the shackles?"

The yamen runner's face was distorted after being kicked, and he hurriedly apologized to Chen Ce: "Sir, sir, I'm sorry."

Chen Ce stared at him, and seeing him trembling, he asked, "Where's the unruly look when you put me in the shackles? I still like your unruly look. Why are you apologizing? You didn't do anything wrong."

puff.

The bailiff knelt down before Chen Ce and kept saying, "Sir, I am a despicable villain. It is my fault. It is all my fault."

If he doesn't know what's going on now, then there's something wrong with his brain.

Even the adults are so flattering, doesn't this mean that the person in front of him is someone he absolutely cannot offend?

Zhang Chong tried to persuade him kindly, "Sir, can you come out now? The prison is damp, don't stay in there."

"Someone from the palace has come and wants to see you. Even if you don't give me face, you should give face to the person who delivered the imperial edict."

Chen Ce bared his teeth and said decisively: "No."

Zhang Chong: “…”

He is really anxious now. The longer Chen Ce stays here, the greater his sin will be.

He really couldn't understand why a mere businessman would alarm the palace and issue an imperial decree?
What is the origin of this?

Zhang Chong cursed Jiao Fang's ancestors for eighteen generations in his heart. This guy was obviously from a prominent family, but he asked me to arrest him?
He is going to kill himself!
Zhang Chong said cautiously, "Sir, please be kind and leave first. Can I come in?"

"I really misunderstood before."

Chen Ce said: "What misunderstanding? Didn't you say that I won the hearts of the people with evil intentions?"

"Master Zhang, I told you that it's easy for you to let me in, but it's not easy for you to let me out."

Zhang Chong hurriedly asked: "Then, how can you get out?"

Chen Ce shook his head and said, "I said, I won't go out."

This is to kill Zhang Chong! This guy really holds a grudge.

"Big, my lord."

A Shuntianfu clerk came over and said to Zhang Chong, "The eunuchs in the palace have left."

"Leave a few Jinyiwei to surround the prison."

Hearing this, Zhang Chong suddenly felt dizzy. It was over!

The matter has become a big deal, and the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict from the palace has left. This means that as the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture... let alone further advancement, his position may have come to an end!

The Jinyiwei who stayed behind were obviously there to protect Chen Ce and prevent him from getting into any accidents.

When Zhang Chong thought of this, his whole body began to tremble like a sieve.

(End of this chapter)