In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 1009 The Advance of the Embroidered Uniform Guard
The vermilion gates of the He residence in the north of the city were tightly shut.

The gatekeeper huddled behind the door, peering out with his head out.

Seeing the peddler carrying vegetables pass by in the alley, he quickly pulled his head back, his face full of anxiety.
Why did such a disgraceful thing have to happen to the He family!
The courtyard felt even more oppressive.

The ground was covered with fallen sycamore leaves, and the usually gleaming bluestone slabs were deserted today.
The servant sweeping the floor gripped the broom, waving it unconsciously, his eyes constantly drifting towards the main hall, his ears perked up.

The atmosphere in the main hall was extremely tense!

He Zicheng sat in the grand chair at the head of the table.

Her dark blue brocade robe was full of wrinkles, and her eye sockets were sunken.

Clutching the teacup in his hand, the veins on his knuckles stood out.
On the lower left side, in a pear wood chair, sat a woman around thirty years old.
She wore a pale white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), the delicate orchid pattern on the hem mostly dampened by tears.
It was stuck to his legs, making him look particularly disheveled.

She is Li, the second daughter-in-law of He Zicheng.
Since the death of his second son, He Ming, two years ago...

She remained a widow and rarely even left her courtyard.

At that moment, she was clutching a plain handkerchief, her shoulders trembling, and her sobs were barely audible.

"Second Madam, please don't cry."

Standing beside Madam Li, the head steward, He Zhong, bowed deeply, his voice even softer than Madam Li's sobs.
"This must be just rumors spread by outsiders."

Who in the capital doesn't know the rules of our household?
You have been a widow for two years and haven't even picked a single flower from the backyard. How could there be such gossip?

The master is aware of the situation and will certainly investigate thoroughly to clear your name.

Li only shook her head, covered her face with a handkerchief, and choked out:
"Innocence? What innocence do I still have?"
This morning, the maid told me that even people from the Imperial Academy had sent someone to inquire.
How am I supposed to face people after this?

"enough!"

He Zicheng slammed his teacup down on the table.
With a crisp "clang," tea splashed out, dripping down the edge of the table and landing on the hem of his robe.
He finally lost his temper, his voice becoming urgent and hoarse, tinged with exasperation:
"Crying! All you do is cry!"
Can crying shut people up? Can crying save face for me?

Li paused in her crying after being shouted at.
But the tears fell even more fiercely, and her shoulders trembled like fallen leaves in the autumn wind.

He Zhong was so frightened that he quickly lowered his head and didn't dare to breathe.

He Zicheng looked at Li Shi and felt a tightness in his chest.
He valued his reputation most in his life.

Now that such a blunder has just occurred and has been discovered by outsiders, it's worse than death for him.

"He Zhong!"

He suddenly looked at the head butler, his voice rising a few decibels.

"Investigate! Investigate immediately! Find out who's gossiping behind your back!"

This matter must be related to someone in the manor; investigate them one by one!

He Zhong immediately bowed, bending even lower, his voice revealing a hint of calm:

"Master, I will go and investigate immediately!"
"We'll definitely find that traitor and avenge Master and Madam!"

As he spoke, he turned to Li and advised her:
"Second Madam, please go back to the backyard to rest. I will come to inform you as soon as I find out the news."

Li didn't speak or move; she just sat there crying.

He Zicheng waved his hand helplessly.

He Zhong bowed and quickly retreated.

Only the two of them remained in the room. He Zicheng looked at Li Shi's tearful appearance.
His face flushed slightly, and a complex mix of emotions welled up inside him.

He took a deep breath and said in a low voice:

"Who knows anything about what happened that day? Tell us everything you know, and we'll investigate one by one!"

"Besides you and me, who else could know?"

Li suddenly raised her head, revealing a beautiful face with mature charm, showing no signs of being over thirty.

She seemed to remember something and quickly added:

"That's right! He Zhong! He Zhong knows!"

He Zicheng sighed and shook his head:

"Even though you are a woman, you can't be so foolish."

He Zhong stayed in the mansion for over thirty years.
If I can't trust this kind of person, who can I trust?

Li cried and sobbed, choking back tears:

"Sir, I am not pregnant."

There are just wild rumors circulating outside; you should go and clarify them.

He Zicheng's face darkened, and he leaned back in his chair, sighing heavily:

How can this be clarified?

Do you want me to put up a notice on the bulletin board saying "My daughter-in-law is not pregnant"?

Li's beautiful eyes suddenly reddened:

"Sir, if this gets out, what will become of my reputation? How will I ever face anyone again?"

As she spoke, she suddenly felt a churning in her stomach and froze on the spot.

Before I could even react, a wave of nausea rose in my throat.

Her eyes were filled with astonishment, and she abruptly lowered her head:
"Ugh~"

Upon seeing this, He Zicheng suddenly sat up straight.

He froze on the spot, his withered fingers pointing at Li Shi, trembling slightly:
"You...you're pregnant?"

Li raised her head, her lips glistening with moisture, her face also filled with astonishment and panic:
"How...how could this be?"

He Zicheng observed her reaction.

My head was throbbing with pain, and a deep sense of lingering fear washed over me.
How could she get pregnant after just one time?

Moreover, they themselves were unaware of it, but the news had already spread outside!
who is it?

Who exactly is spreading this message?
He suddenly realized something, his eyes hardened, and his withered face was filled with anger.
Someone wants him dead!

In the backyard, He Zhong questioned each of the servants one by one, and after confirming that everything was correct,
Only then did they send everyone to disperse and search for information.
He changed his clothes and hurriedly left the He residence.

After exiting through the side gate, I walked halfway around the alley.

He turned into a narrower alley.

At the end of the alley, there was an inconspicuous little courtyard with a layer of rust on the door knocker.

He looked around and, seeing no one was there, gently knocked on the door, his rhythm perfectly clear.

The door creaked open, and the person inside saw He Zhong.

He didn't speak, just nodded and stepped aside to let him in.

The courtyard was very simple, with only an old locust tree and a stone table under it.
A middle-aged man sat at the stone table, dressed in dark casual clothes with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing his muscular arms.

His face was expressionless; he was none other than Da'erma, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

He held a rough porcelain bowl in his hand, filled with freshly brewed hot tea. Steam rose in wisps, but it did not warm the coldness in his eyes.

"sit."

Da'erma pointed to the stone bench opposite her, her voice concise and without any unnecessary words.

He Zhong sat down on the stone bench, his body still slightly bowed, his tone respectful but not obsequious.
She looked much the same as when she was at the He residence, but with a more capable and efficient air about her.

"Your Excellency, the master just lost his temper in the hall and ordered me to investigate the source of the rumors."

Da'erma took a sip of tea, her gaze sharp as she stared at him:
"Didn't he think of anything else?"

He Zhong shook his head:

"No, the master is only thinking about his reputation right now, and he's only thinking about who's trying to smear him."

However, I plan to remind him of something when I get back.

A cold smile curled at the corner of Da'erma's lips:
"Good job. Keep an eye on him. The point is to make him chaotic. Only when he's in chaos will he make mistakes."

"I understand," He Zhong replied, bowing.

Da'erma put down her teacup and asked:

"Is Madam Li really pregnant? Has the doctor in the manor examined her pulse?"

He Zhong shook his head:

"There is no resident doctor in the manor, but I know some medicine."
Recently, Ms. Li has experienced swelling in both legs, a stronger craving for spicy food, and excessive sleepiness.

More importantly, her period was more than ten days late, and all signs pointed to pregnancy.

Da'erma heard something strange behind her back and chuckled:
"This scholar He is known as a gentleman, but I never expected him to be such a hypocrite."

Taking advantage of his drunken state, he assaulted his daughter-in-law.

"The exact time and day were written down; is it his?"

He Zhong thought for a moment, then said softly:
“My lord, I remember everything. I suspect that the day you were drunk was because something important had happened.” “What do you mean?”

"The master has always been health-conscious; he rarely drinks alcohol, and even strong tea is a rare treat."

He was drunk that day, something must have happened.

I only realized it belatedly after the adults told me that my master was involved in a treason.
Perhaps that day will be the day the master makes the decision to rebel!

"Oh?"

Da'erma narrowed her eyes, instantly understanding his meaning.
If it weren't for something extremely important, Ho Tsz-shing would never drink alcohol, much less do such a ridiculous thing.

Who did he go to see that day?

"I don't know. After leaving Mingdao Academy that day, the master said he was going to visit a friend."
It wasn't until midnight that a carriage brought him back.

"Hehe." Da'erma laughed:

"So, if we find out where he went that day, we'll know who he conspired with in the rebellion?"

He Zhong's thoughts were complicated, his expression was not good, and he sighed softly:

"This is just a petty person's guess."

“It must be,” Darma said with absolute certainty.
"You should go back first. We'll handle the rest. Don't contact us again for a while."

"It's you, sir; it's my son."

He Zhong suddenly felt a little uneasy and asked the question tremblingly.

Da'erma laughed:
"The Embroidered Uniform Guards are not those self-righteous scholars; they will not betray anyone who is loyal to the court."

Your son will be freed from slavery and enter the Imperial Academy to study.

Whether he can become a county magistrate or an imperial censor in the future depends on his talent.

Of course, it also depends on you.

If you can achieve great merit, he will rise rapidly in his official career!

He Zhong's breathing suddenly became rapid.

Let alone becoming an official, simply escaping slavery was an immense temptation for him.

He had been planning this matter in his residence for almost twenty years without success, but today he has succeeded in one day!
"Thank you so much, sir."

His voice was choked with emotion, and tears streamed down his aged face.

Da'erma stood up and patted him on the shoulder:

"Go back and pretend nothing happened."

"Yes, my lord!"

At the Liu residence at No. 15 Beishi Street, the sun was already past its zenith, but it brought little warmth to the study.

The study was filled with a scholarly atmosphere; the bookshelves against the wall were piled high, containing everything from the Thirteen Classics with Commentaries to collections of memorials from previous dynasties, as well as many rare editions by famous authors.
A charcoal stove sat on the table by the window, with old tea bubbling away on it.

The steam mixed with the scent of ink filled the study, but it couldn't dispel the oppressive atmosphere.

He Zicheng sat in the straight chair in front of the desk, but his back was not straight.

He held a celadon teacup in his hand; the tea had long since gone cold, but he didn't drink a drop, not daring to look directly at Liu Sanwu sitting opposite him.

Liu Sanwu sat in the chair opposite him.
Much older than He Zicheng, with a full head of white hair.
He stared at He Zicheng, his eyes filled with helplessness and a hint of disappointment.

After a long pause, Liu Sanwu finally spoke slowly, his voice hoarse as if sandpaper were rubbing against wood:

“Brother Pan Chen, do you know what you look like now?”
He's like a street ruffian, not a shred of a scholar!"

He Zicheng lowered his head even further, his voice trembling slightly:

"Brother Liu, I have no choice. These rumors are spreading all over the city. Li Shi, she, she..."

He swallowed his words before he could finish, his face flushing red and then pale, a mixture of shame and panic.

Liu Sanwu snorted heavily and slammed the book he was holding onto the table.
"There are so many women in this world. With your reputation, how could you lack women? How could you be so foolish!"

He Zicheng suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with regret:
"Brother Liu, I didn't mean it!"
That day, when I learned that the palace had confirmed that His Highness the Crown Prince had been poisoned, I panicked!
If anything were to happen to the Crown Prince, would any of us have a good ending?

The more I thought about it, the more frightened I became, so I could only drown my sorrows in alcohol.

Who would have thought that he would get so drunk and act recklessly?

Seeing his remorseful expression, Liu Sanwu's expression softened slightly, but he still said coldly:

"It's pointless to say anything more now that things have come to this, and this matter can never be resolved peacefully."

In my opinion, you only have one path left: resign your official post and return to your hometown in Jiangnan.

"Resign?"

He Zicheng suddenly raised his head, his face full of shock.
"Absolutely not! I studied diligently for fifty years to finally attain the position of Grand Secretary."

If we leave now, won't all our previous efforts be wasted?
Moreover, wouldn't resigning from office be tantamount to confirming the rumors circulating outside?

How can I possibly face my clansmen in Jiangnan?

His voice grew louder and louder, tinged with urgency.

"Brother Liu, please think of another way!"

Let's speak with a few senior officials in the court and ask them to put in a good word for us.

"Can't we suppress the rumors?"

Liu Sanwu gently shook his head, a hint of pity in his eyes:

"Brother Pan Chen, you still haven't grasped the situation?"
I'm absolutely certain that this humiliating thing was done by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
"Either His Majesty authorized it, or it was the Crown Prince who did it. Now you want to protect yourself, do you think others will let you off the hook?"

"What? The Embroidered Uniform Guard? He's got his eye on me?" He Zicheng looked shocked.

Liu Sanwu sighed:
"You're already incredibly lucky to be alive and standing here, able to drink tea and talk to me."

He Zicheng's heart skipped a beat:
"Brother Liu, what do you mean by that? Has... something happened?"

Liu Sanwu picked up the teapot from the charcoal stove and refilled He Zicheng's teacup with hot water:

“I’ve found out where the Marquis of Jingning is. He’s been hidden by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He’s not in the palace, nor in the Three Departments Prison. No wonder he’s nowhere to be found.”

"Caught?"

He Zicheng's face turned deathly pale, and he swayed, quickly reaching out to steady himself on the corner of the table.
"They actually got arrested."

Liu Sanwu scoffed:
"Moreover, I suspect there's something else going on."

Yesterday, the Duke of Liang and Lu Yunyi hurriedly entered the palace, first meeting the Crown Prince and then His Majesty.
They must have found something else, and it's probably related to you.
If His Majesty and the Crown Prince hadn't intervened...

Think about it, even you, the one who started this, didn't know that Ms. Li was pregnant.
How could the people on the Qinhuai River have known first?

He Zicheng's lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a single word; cold sweat streamed down his temples.

"Xianxian, what should we do now?"
I don't want to die, and I don't want to leave the capital. Brother Liu, please think of another way.

Seeing his distraught appearance, Liu Sanwu sighed and softened his tone:

It's not that I don't want to help you, it's that there's no one who can help you right now.

Ye Sheng has been arrested; he'll expose you sooner or later.

Your only way out now is to resign and return to your hometown before His Majesty takes action, so that both sides can at least save face.

If you hesitate any longer, wait for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to come to your door.
Let alone losing his position as Grand Secretary,
It's hard to say whether you can even save your life.

By then, even if we wanted to speak up for you, it would be too late.

He Zicheng's mind was in complete chaos.
He recalled the days of diligent study during the chaotic Yuan Dynasty.

He thought of the glory of returning home in triumph, and then imagined the humiliation of being arrested.

Finally, as if he had made up his mind, he sighed heavily, his face somber yet carrying a hint of resolve:

"I understand. I will go to the palace to resign from my post."

Liu Sanwu nodded, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes:
"This is the wise thing to do. After you enter the palace, be respectful and do not make excuses for yourself."

His Majesty knows what's going on; as long as you're sensible, he'll definitely let you off the hook.

He Zicheng bowed respectfully, his voice slightly hoarse:

"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Liu. I'll go right away."

"Leave Beijing as soon as possible before things completely explode," Liu Sanwu added.
"Don't worry, after you leave the capital, even if His Majesty wants to settle scores later, he won't have the time or resources."

He Zicheng stopped in his tracks and abruptly looked up:
"Is it about to start?"

"Although the Market Bureau has seized many things, we cannot remain inactive."

Liu Sanwu's eyes were vacant as he said indifferently:
"The idea of ​​relocating the capital is escalating rapidly. If we don't divert the court's attention, all the efforts of those of us who share the same goal will be in vain."
Only by creating more chaos in the court can people abandon their obsession with moving the capital.

(End of this chapter)