Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 4: Impeachment before your death
"Oh? A visiting card from Yuanshi Liu." Liu Yirong, the Grand Secretary of Dongge Palace, took the visiting card from the servant and felt a little surprised.

Although they are brothers, they are actually five generations apart. They seldom interact with each other in normal times, and only exchange polite courtesies during the Chinese New Year.

The Imperial Medical Service was a very confidential place. The Donglin Party had always wanted to insert spies into it, because if they could control the Imperial Medical Service, they would be able to obtain a lot of exclusive information that other parties could not.

But Liu Heqing, now in his eighties, was a man of exceptional detachment. He flattered no one, and he offended no one. Even after Liu Yirong entered the cabinet, he never paid him a visit. Consequently, during the Wanli reign, the declining Donglin Party was unable to gain access to the Imperial Medical Service.

"Why did he suddenly come today? Is it related to the emperor? The emperor looked haggard yesterday, and today he claimed to be ill and did not attend the court." Liu Yirong thought of Zhu Changluo's appearance at the court yesterday. "Forget it, I'll know when I see him."

After a while, Liu Yirong came to the reception room: "Hahaha, long time no see, brother."

"The elder minister works tirelessly, devotedly pursuing state affairs. How could I possibly interrupt him?" Liu Heqing, who had lived through nearly the entire life of the Wanli Emperor, deeply disliked the Donglin Clique. He felt they simply had too much to eat, constantly spitting insults and accusations. This annoyed the Emperor (Wanli) so much that he finally resorted to violence.

"You're too polite, brother." Liu Yirong said with a smile, "We are just helping the emperor and the court to relieve their worries."

After a round of pleasantries, Liu Heqing grew impatient. Why was this guy beating around the bush and not even asking why I was here?
Liu Yirong was also a little anxious, but he had to find out Liu Heqing's approach first.

If you don't want to say it yourself, then we'll just wait like this for now, Liu Yirong thought.

The Donglin Party had already discussed this. They had concluded that there was no need to specifically try to win over Liu Heqing. The old man was old enough that it was time for him to retire. They could let him go once the government was more stable.

Liu Heqing was preoccupied and was the first to lose his temper: "Lord, let's not beat around the bush."

That's right. "Oh? I don't quite understand what you mean, brother."

"Sir, the Emperor sent me to treat him yesterday. His condition is very bad."

After saying this, Liu Yirong almost dropped the teacup in his hand. "Very bad? Yuanshi Liu, please explain clearly."

"The night before last, Imperial Concubine Zheng presented eight beauties to the Emperor. Then Eunuch Cui presented the Emperor with a pill of that kind. After the Emperor took it, he became very irritated and had sex with seven of them in one night. In the end, he fell ill and could not get up. How can I put it? The Emperor's face looked like dried orange peel, yellow and shriveled." Liu Heqing's face was ashen and his heart was in turmoil.

Wouldn't a normal person's first reaction when faced with something like this be to suppress it? Why would the Emperor think of actively exposing this? If this task fell upon me, I'd lose my integrity if I wasn't careful.

Liu Yirong had no idea what Liu Heqing was thinking. He thought the court envoy's expression meant the emperor was in dire straits. He had to go to the palace immediately to investigate.

6:15 PM, Qianqing Palace.

"Your Majesty, Cabinet Grand Secretaries Liu Yirong and Han Yu, Minister of Personnel Zhou Jiamo, Vice Minister of Rites Sun Ruyou, and Military Censor Yang Lian request an audience," Cui Wensheng reported.

"Xuan."

Yang Lian insisted on coming after hearing the news.

His rank was too low and he acted on his own, which made many bigwigs in the Donglin Party very dissatisfied.

After everyone entered the bedroom, they saw someone they really didn't want to see - the chief minister Fang Congzhe.

Why is Fang Congzhe here? Where did he get the information?
"What brings you to the palace?" Zhu Changluo was half lying on the bed, holding Fang Congzhe's hand, his voice full of fatigue and weakness.

"We heard that Your Majesty was ill, so we came to pay our respects." Liu Yirong took a step forward.

"I'm fine, cough cough cough!" Zhu Changluo started coughing as soon as he said two words.

The atmosphere fell into an eerie silence, with only Zhu Changluo's voice being heard.

The emperor was unwell and did not summon the Donglin Party members immediately. Instead, he summoned Fang Congzhe, the leader of the Zhejiang Party, and even held his hand.

A sense of crisis welled up in Liu Yirong's heart. But Fang Congzhe was the Prime Minister after all, so this made sense. Liu Yirong consoled himself in this way.

In order to keep the emperor in the Wanli Dynasty, the Donglin Party had done their utmost to protect him. In Liu Yirong's view, there was no one in the court more loyal to the emperor than them, and there was no reason for the emperor to abandon them and choose the Zhejiang Party.

"I want to honor Concubine Zheng as the empress dowager. What do you think?" Zhu Changluo saw Yang Lian coming and knew it was time.

Upon hearing this, Yang Lian confirmed his suspicions and stepped forward, declaring in a shattered voice, "Rumors are circulating in the outer court that Concubine Zheng presented Your Majesty with several beauties and even ordered her former eunuch, Cui Wensheng, to present you with a potent drug. Your Majesty knew of the Concubine's ill intentions, yet she still fell prey to their deception. New to the throne, yet so corrupted is this. This is not the spirit of a benevolent ruler, but rather the sign of a tyrant!"

Han Yu, who was standing next to Yang Lian, was completely stunned.

"What are you doing? Are you trying to kill yourself?" Han Yu tugged at the corner of Yang Lian's clothes, gritted his teeth and reminded him in the quietest voice possible not to say anything more.

"I'm dead, what's Lian's crime?" Yang Lian slapped Han Yu's hand away, but he swallowed the words. "Your Majesty wishes to honor the Imperial Concubine as Empress Dowager. This is unprecedented! If the Imperial Concubine is honored as the legitimate mother, then where does Your Majesty place the late Empress (Wanli's empress)? If the Imperial Concubine is honored as the biological mother, then where does the Bensheng Empress (Zhu Changluo's deceased mother) fit in? Your Majesty, please revoke your previous decree!"

"How dare you! Is this how you talk to the emperor?" Cui Wensheng shouted.

He knew something bad was going to happen the moment this group of people came in, but he didn't expect this person to be so direct. If he didn't speak up, he would be doomed. He had to pull the blame for his offering of the elixir onto the emperor. As long as he could drag the emperor into the water, he would be safe. "And I offered the elixir..."

"What do you mean? Are you the imperial physician?" Yang Lian interrupted Cui Wensheng.

"No." Cui Wensheng didn't know what Yang Lian meant.

"If you're not the Imperial Physician, what medicine are you offering to the Emperor?" Yang Lian risked his life. "Your Highness, Yang Lian, impeaches Cui Wensheng, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department. He harbors evil intentions and abuses medicine, harming the Emperor's health and undermining His Majesty's virtue. He deserves death!"

Death impeachment! Fight till death!
Impeachment by death was a crime punishable by death. If the impeachment failed, the plaintiff would often be held responsible for the same crime. Therefore, while impeachment was prevalent during the Ming Dynasty, impeachment by death was extremely rare.

"I am innocent! I am innocent!" Cui Wensheng fell to his knees, wailing and kowtowing. Once, twice, three times. Blood oozed from his head, staining his entire face.

"Enough!" Zhu Changluo coughed twice and ordered, "Wang An, arrest Yang Lian."

Yang Lian's face flushed red, and he suddenly felt dizzy.

"Hahahaha!" He laughed so sadly that his steps became unsteady and he fell heavily to the ground.

"Your Majesty! Please forgive Yang Lian's death sentence." Liu Yirong, Han Yu, Zhou Jiamo, and Sun Ruyou knelt on the ground.

Yang Lian's official career had come to an end. But before they could draw a clear line between themselves and him, the Donglin Party had to save his life, or at least prevent him from being executed by the emperor as a Donglin Party member.

"My dear ministers, please stand up. Yang Lian is Yang Lian, and you are you." Zhu Changluo's tone was a little more relaxed, but he still looked annoyed.

"Your Majesty, I have one last thing to ask for, and I beg for your permission." Yang Lian bowed and begged.

"Speak." Zhu Changluo's tone sounded as if he was holding back a breath of anger.

"I have not yet completed my memorial on Liao affairs and Liao supplies. I hope Your Majesty will allow me to conclude this memorial. I am deeply grateful!"

"allow."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Yang Lian bowed again. This was the last thing he would do for the Emperor and the Ming Dynasty.

Liu Yirong and the others breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Yang Lian wasn't executed immediately, there was still room for improvement.

"I'm tired, everyone go out. Wang An, summon Liu Heqing." Zhu Changluo ordered.

(End of this chapter)