Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 420 Public Opinion Before the Storm: People from the Prison Arrive!

"Have you heard? The Emperor's brother-in-law has been imprisoned!"

"Of course! My family lives right across from the residence of the Imperial Uncle. I saw with my own eyes the yamen runners of Yingtian Prefecture come out in a grand procession and take the Imperial Uncle away."

"What exactly happened? Wasn't His Majesty supposed to dote on the Empress? How come he suddenly imprisoned the Empress's own brother, the Emperor's brother-in-law, for no apparent reason?"

The teahouse where Zhu Yunwen came was still thriving.

The crowds were dense, coming and going, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere with constant noise.

While leisurely sipping their fragrant tea, the group discussed this "major national event" with great interest.

"What other reason could there be? The Emperor's brother-in-law instructed that Third Master Zhao to act recklessly outside, and two censors happened to witness it and immediately reported it to the Emperor. The Emperor was furious, and the Emperor's brother-in-law was imprisoned. This happened near our teahouse, and many people saw it with their own eyes."

"Something's not right. I have a feeling there's something fishy going on here."

"Yes, Master Zhao committed a crime outside, so how did it implicate the Emperor's brother-in-law?"

"Isn't Third Master Zhao spreading rumors everywhere that he was acting under the orders of the Emperor's brother-in-law?"

"That's just his side of the story; it shouldn't be taken seriously. Who knows if he's just using the emperor's brother-in-law's name to bully others?"

“That’s absolutely right. Even if the Imperial Uncle really did instruct Master Zhao to do it, so what? As long as the Imperial Uncle denies it outright, Master Zhao’s accusation alone is not enough to convict him. Besides, the yamen will definitely help the Imperial Uncle get away with it. After a beating, would Master Zhao still dare to say that he was acting on the Imperial Uncle’s orders?”

"Third Master Zhao isn't stupid. There's no need for the yamen to use torture, and he won't accuse the Emperor's brother-in-law. He can brag outside, but when it comes to the yamen and he has to sign and put his fingerprint on documents, he'll definitely say that what he did had nothing to do with the Emperor's brother-in-law!"

“That’s right. If he really dares to accuse the Emperor’s brother-in-law, the government might accuse him of slandering the Emperor’s brother-in-law. He might even die in prison under mysterious circumstances! If he honestly takes the blame upon himself and distances himself from the Emperor’s brother-in-law, at least his family won’t be implicated. Maybe the Emperor’s brother-in-law will even find a way to get him out.”

Everyone chimed in, discussing the matter animatedly, but they all agreed that it was highly unlikely that Zhao Sanye's actions alone would be enough to imprison the Imperial Brother-in-law.

Firstly, logically speaking, Master Zhao would definitely take responsibility for his crimes and would never implicate the emperor's brother-in-law.

After all, those arrogant remarks made outside could be easily excused as him acting under the guise of being the emperor's brother-in-law, and the emperor's brother-in-law was completely unaware of it.

His boastful remarks in the marketplace were nothing more than an attempt to bolster his own image by leveraging the influence of the emperor's brother-in-law. In a truly critical moment, he would never dare to involve the emperor's brother-in-law, as that would be a matter of life and death.

Secondly, even if Master Zhao is cowardly and foolish, and refuses to take responsibility, how can his statement alone be considered valid?

Who can guarantee that he wasn't harboring resentment towards the emperor's brother-in-law and deliberately "framing" him?

How could the emperor's brother-in-law be so easily imprisoned based solely on the one-sided testimony of a servant?

This doesn't make sense from either a logical or emotional standpoint.

However, the reality was that the emperor's brother-in-law was suddenly imprisoned without any warning, which left everyone puzzled and feeling that the matter was shrouded in mystery.

Just as everyone was discussing this, a tea drinker cautiously lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "I heard that it's not just the Emperor's brother-in-law who has been imprisoned, but even the Empress has been ordered by His Majesty to reflect on her mistakes in the Kunning Palace for failing to properly manage her family."

"what?"

These words immediately caused an uproar in the teahouse.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief.

Their mouths were wide open, as if an egg could fit inside.

Whether it was the Emperor's brother-in-law being arrested or the Empress confining herself to her quarters to reflect on her mistakes, the court naturally wouldn't issue a grand edict to announce it to the world.

The news of the arrest of the emperor's brother-in-law was witnessed by many people and spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys.

However, the Empress lived deep within the palace and had no direct contact with the common people outside the palace, so the common people were naturally unaware of the situation.

Although the palace had strict rules and forbade the disclosure of palace affairs to outsiders, there were many people in the palace who talked a lot, so how could news be completely prevented from being leaked?

Moreover, this time it was the Empress who was ordered to reflect on her mistakes behind closed doors, and the affairs of the palace were temporarily taken over by Consort Xu Miaojin, which was known to everyone in the palace.

Such a momentous event quickly reached the ears of many court officials through various clandestine channels.

Among the customers enjoying tea in this teahouse were many scions of official families, and naturally, some of them had heard the rumors.

"How could this be? I've heard that Her Majesty the Empress is incredibly beautiful, and His Majesty is infatuated with her. How could he punish her so severely?"

A middle-aged man dressed in coarse linen clothes looked puzzled, shook his head slightly, and asked his companion with disbelief in his tone.

"Indeed! Her Majesty the Empress is like a celestial being descended to earth. When she first arrived in Jinling City, she caused a sensation throughout the city. Back then, countless sons of noble families flocked to her stall, spending exorbitant prices to buy items just to catch a glimpse of her unparalleled beauty. Even His Majesty the Emperor was captivated by her charm and fell in love with her at first sight, subsequently making her his Empress."

An elderly man with a white beard stood nearby, gesturing with his hands as he spoke, his eyes seemingly still able to see the grand scene of that time.

"His Majesty's favor towards the Empress is known to everyone in the court. How could he punish her so severely for such a trivial matter?" A young man frowned, clearly not believing the news.

"I've heard that the Empress lives a life of extreme luxury, spending money without restraint every day. For example, she prepares 120 dishes for every meal," a slightly overweight man said mysteriously.

"You're making this up! How could she possibly finish 120 dishes by herself?" the young man immediately retorted.

"You're really out of touch. I'm not making this up; this is all news from the palace, absolutely true. The Empress does indeed have 120 dishes at every meal, but she never finishes them all. She just picks a few dishes at random, takes a few bites, and then gives the rest to the maids and eunuchs below her." The fat man straightened his back, his face full of pride, as if he had discovered a huge secret.

"What a waste! So many precious delicacies, just wasted like this!" Another middle-aged man couldn't help but sigh, his face full of regret.

"That's not quite right. Weren't they all given to the palace maids and eunuchs?" the white-haired old man said, his eyes slightly narrowed.

"That's not all. I've also heard that the massive expansion of the palace was all the current empress's idea. The amount of money spent on it is astronomical. Her residence, Kunning Palace, is even more magnificent, and it is in no way inferior to the legendary Epang Palace." The fat man began to reveal information with great enthusiasm, waving his hands in the air.

“I’ve heard a little about this. Not only that, but most of the things the Empress uses in her daily life, even the jewelry she wears, are only used once or twice before being discarded like worn-out shoes and ignored.” The old man stroked his beard and added.

“I know that. The Jinling Auction House has auctioned off many items used by the Empress, and the prices were astonishingly high. Any one of them could buy ten teahouses like this.” The young man’s tone was full of admiration for the Empress’s extravagant lifestyle.

"But why is Your Majesty auctioning off your own personal belongings?" someone asked, puzzled.

"Using old items from the palace to pay for money is something that has been done since ancient times." Someone replied, "'Half a bolt of silk and a length of brocade tied to a cow's head to pay for charcoal' is just following the old practice of previous dynasties, only now it is being auctioned, which is much better than forced buying and selling."

"I've heard about this too. A piece of porcelain that the Empress used in her palace sold for a million taels of silver at an auction house in Jinling," someone remarked.

"Behind the red gates, meat and wine go to waste, while on the roads, the frozen dead lie!" In the crowd, a middle-aged man, his face full of indignation and his brows furrowed into a deep frown, shouted, "Countless people in the world go through the whole year without tasting meat, and countless others are destitute and starving. She, on the other hand, squandered her wealth so recklessly, and now she has come to this end. It is entirely her own fault!"

"As the mother of the nation, the Empress should set an example of frugality for all people. But she clearly comes from an ordinary family. Once she gained power, she indulged her desires and became extravagant. How can she be worthy of the title of Empress?" A scholar in a long robe stroked his beard and continued to criticize.

“I’ve heard that the daughter of the Prince of Zhongshan, the current Consort Xu, is not only beautiful and intelligent, but also a capable homemaker who never squanders money. Moreover, she comes from a noble family. Your Majesty should make such a woman your empress. Why did you choose a commoner instead?” A young man asked, his face full of doubt and his eyes full of confusion.

"You can't say that. She is, after all, the Empress, so it's only natural that she enjoys some privileges." A short, reserved-looking man muttered softly, "When the palace was being built, not a single laborer was conscripted; the court funded the hiring of craftsmen. I've also heard that the Empress is extremely kind to her servants and has rewarded the craftsmen who built the palace generously on many occasions. Everyone speaks highly of her."

"Hmph, she's just squandering the court's money!" A burly man with a full beard immediately raised his voice and retorted, "Don't let her little favors cloud your judgment. She can't generate wealth herself; in the end, isn't she just spending the emperor's money? It's all the people's hard-earned money!"

"You say she's extravagant and uses all the people's hard-earned money, but ask yourself honestly, aren't our lives getting better and better?" The middle-aged man, still holding his neck, loudly questioned the bearded man.

"This is all thanks to His Majesty's effective governance. What does it have to do with her, the Empress?" The burly man with the thick beard retorted immediately, not to be outdone.

The two argued back and forth, neither willing to give in, like needles clashing against wheat awns, until they were both red in the face.

"The Emperor's brother-in-law is no saint, and this Empress is probably no better." A sharp-faced man in the crowd, seeing the two arguing so fiercely, quickly interjected, breaking the argument: "I really don't know what His Majesty saw in her that made him so infatuated and even made her Empress!"

"Even heroes have always found it hard to resist the charms of a beautiful woman." An old man shook his head, sighed, and continued, "Your Majesty may be wise and powerful, but you are still a man, and you are in the prime of your life. It is only natural for a young man to be attracted to a beautiful woman."

"His Majesty is wise after all! He has already imprisoned the Imperial Uncle and made the Empress reflect on her mistakes behind closed doors." In a corner of the teahouse, a middle-aged man dressed in coarse linen clothes grinned with a hint of satisfaction on his face. His voice was not loud in the teahouse, but it still attracted the attention of those around him.

“Of course! Throughout history, who can compare to His Majesty’s wisdom? She is just a woman. Even if she can bewitch His Majesty for a while, how can she last? His Majesty has come to his senses now!” An old man with a goatee and wearing a long robe said, shaking his head slightly.

When His Majesty was mentioned, his eyes were filled with reverence. His hands, which had been casually resting on his lap, were now placed upright as if to express his respect for the Emperor. The tea drinkers around him nodded in agreement upon hearing the old man's words, and the once noisy teahouse instantly quieted down as everyone's attitude became solemn.

In the hearts of many, the Empress may be a "wicked queen" who bewitched the king, but His Majesty is undoubtedly a wise and virtuous ruler.

“That being said, if we just confine her to her room to reflect on her mistakes, who can guarantee that His Majesty will really stop favoring her in the future? However…” A slender man with shrewd eyes seemed to suddenly realize something, frowned slightly, and changed the subject: “This time, she has truly touched His Majesty’s sore spot.”

These words, once uttered, were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples.

The curiosity of everyone in the teahouse was completely piqued, and the tea drinkers who were originally sitting together chatting all turned their attention to the person who was speaking.

A scholar sitting nearby couldn't wait any longer and leaned forward, asking, "What's the story behind this? Please tell us."

In an instant, people around them unconsciously crowded around. The once noisy teahouse was now so quiet that only the urgent breathing of the crowd could be heard. Everyone was eagerly waiting for the thin man to reveal the answer.

"It's still about the new policies and regulations!" The thin man deliberately kept everyone in suspense. He first picked up the teacup on the table, took a slow sip, and seeing everyone's eager gazes, he put down the teacup with satisfaction, a smug smile on his lips.

"That day, the talented scholar Xie Jin was having a long and arduous discussion in our teahouse, talking about His Majesty's support for the new learning and new policies."

"As a result, Third Master Zhao led a group of people in and barged in, shouting that he was going to beat Xie Jin to death on the spot."

"Hey, what a coincidence! They were spotted by an imperial censor who was traveling incognito, and he arrested Master Zhao and his men on the spot."

"Upon investigation, it turns out that the emperor's brother-in-law was behind it all, opposing the new policies and new schools."

This was something everyone already knew, but everyone still listened intently, waiting for him to continue. The thin man looked around and deliberately lowered his voice, his expression becoming increasingly mysterious: "Think carefully, the Empress's previous actions have already aroused dissatisfaction among many ministers in the court."

"The people from the Imperial Uncle's Mansion have been running rampant outside for quite some time now."

"Although the court officials are mindful of the Empress's reputation and no one has publicly submitted a memorial to impeach her, His Majesty has the secret service of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, including its agents, inspectors, and intelligence bureaus. His eyes and ears are everywhere in the country, infiltrating every nook and cranny. How could His Majesty not know these things?"

"It's only because of his relationship with the Empress, and because the Imperial Uncle hasn't committed any heinous crimes, that His Majesty has been turning a blind eye."

The old man sitting next to him stroked his beard and chimed in, "That's right!"

The gaunt man nodded vigorously and said, "But the Imperial Uncle has really lost his mind this time, daring to interfere with the new policies and new learning. The interference of the empress's family and relatives in politics is a major taboo in all dynasties. No matter how benevolent His Majesty is, he would never tolerate such a thing."

"This enraged His Majesty, who immediately imprisoned the Imperial Uncle and confined the Empress to the palace, ordering her to reflect on her actions behind closed doors."

After hearing his explanation, everyone looked enlightened.

“That makes perfect sense! I’ve heard that as soon as Xie Jin returned to court, His Majesty reinstated him and appointed him as a compiler. He is currently recruiting talented individuals and preparing to compile the most comprehensive book in history.” In the crowd, a middle-aged scholar wearing a square cap and looking quite pleased with himself waved his folding fan.

"Although this book editor is only a fifth-rank official, this fifth rank is far from being comparable to an ordinary fifth rank."

"His former teacher, the Crown Prince, was only a fifth-rank official, yet he was a renowned Confucian scholar and a model for all scholars."

"In the imperial court, his power far surpasses that of many high-ranking officials and nobles."

"The same principle applies to Xie Jin today."

"Don't underestimate him just because he's only a fifth-rank official. As the chief editor of the imperial court's monumental work, he is the leader of the civil officials."

"His evaluations are written by historians, and he also determines the essence of many Confucian classics, which is just right to vindicate the new books and new policies."

As soon as the middle-aged scholar finished speaking, another scholar chimed in, "That's right. The position of compiler may seem prestigious and prestigious, and he may not hold any real power, but in reality, his importance is no less than that of the Minister of Rites."

"Xie Jin openly supports the new learning and new policies, and His Majesty has entrusted him with the important task of compiling books. The profound meaning behind this is to announce his intentions to the world."

"I've also heard that those who oppose the new policies and new learning in the court are now terrified and silent."

"Think about it, even the Empress and the Emperor's brother-in-law, who are as noble as them, were severely punished by His Majesty simply for opposing the new policies and new learning. Who would dare to stand up and oppose the new learning and new policies again, and offend His Majesty's dignity?"

"It seems that His Majesty is determined to promote new policies and new learning in the Ming Dynasty. This is truly a cause for celebration!" A young nobleman, unable to contain his excitement, slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and exclaimed with delight.

His words instantly resonated with many people, who applauded and cheered.

The teahouse was bustling with activity, filled with cheers and applause.

However, some people, despite being in this enthusiastic atmosphere, remained silent throughout.

Their expressions varied; some frowned slightly, while others had shifty eyes. They simply kept their heads down, drinking tea and concealing their inner thoughts.

Under the general trend of this new policy, even if one has some objections, one can only suppress them and dare not express them casually.

Don't be fooled by the fact that these people are now talking loudly about national affairs in the teahouse, seemingly audacious. In reality, they are not without restraint, revealing all their innermost thoughts at once.

Take the past for example. Although many people were dissatisfied with the Empress's actions, no one dared to openly discuss the Empress in this teahouse, let alone make any harsh accusations.

Only now that the Empress has been ordered by the Emperor to be confined to Kunning Palace and to reflect on her mistakes behind closed doors, do people dare to stand up, speak freely, and criticize the Empress.

This wasn't just the case in this teahouse; it was the same in every street and alley of Jinling City.

During their leisure time, the common people were discussing the arrest and imprisonment of the emperor's brother-in-law and the confinement of the empress.

Officials in the court were also frequently active in private, gathering information from all sides.

Rumors about His Majesty's firm resolve to vigorously promote new learning and new policies spread like wildfire.

The atmosphere of the Yingtianfu Prison was completely different from that of the prisons of the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, or the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Previously, this place was not used to detain criminals wanted by the imperial court.

Normally, it was rare to find high-ranking officials, meritorious officials, or imperial relatives imprisoned in the prisons of Yingtian Prefecture for committing crimes.

Therefore, the layout of the Yingtianfu prison appeared extremely ordinary, with nothing special about it.

Until His Majesty issued an edict ordering the Yingtian Prefecture to arrest and imprison the Imperial Brother-in-law, Gu Yanxiu.

This immediately kept the officials of Yingtian Prefecture busy.

While they quickly mobilized manpower to capture Gu Yanxiu, they also carried out "emergency reforms" of the prison without stopping.

The renovation project itself wasn't particularly complicated, but the key was to at least keep the environment clean and tidy.

In this era, prisons were generally filled with filth and stench.

Although Gu Yanxiu was imprisoned, he was still the emperor's brother-in-law.

As long as the emperor has not ordered the empress to be deposed, his noble status will not change.

Moreover, the crime Gu Yanxiu committed was not a capital offense.

The officials of Yingtian Prefecture, having served in the capital for a long time, were quite adept at reading people's expressions and moods.

While they were arresting people, they would never dare to actually place the emperor's brother-in-law in an ordinary, stinking prison.

Therefore, the officials specially arranged a clean and hygienic "cell" and even thoughtfully arranged for maids to serve them.

At this moment, Gu Yanxiu was comfortably staying in the prison, enjoying a delicious chicken leg in one hand while leisurely enjoying a well-balanced massage from his maid.

Just then, a figure draped in a black cloak, completely covered from head to toe, slowly walked in from outside, like a ghost in the dark night.

……

(End of this chapter)