Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 176 His Majesty's intentions were good, but his subordinates messed things up.

"How could Yan Shifan have been kidnapped? Who did it! Who did it!!"

"I don't know..."

"Can't even handle a small task! Useless! Useless!!"

Xiao Zhen threw his trusted subordinate to the ground with a thud, his face contorted, veins bulging on his forehead as if countless venomous snakes were writhing beneath his skin.

In the previous two cases involving Zhang, Tang Mu, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, was executed, while Yao Jingyang, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and Zhang Run, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, were exiled to the frontier and never pardoned. Only Xiao Zhen, the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, remained unscathed.

Is it because he enjoys the Emperor's favor?
Do not!
Xiao Zhen understood that His Majesty's temperament; he would never show mercy.

So it was to check and balance the power of Commander-in-Chief Wang Zuo, so that he wouldn't become too powerful in the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Do not!
Because someone like that wouldn't necessarily need Xiao Zhen.

As expected, Sun Weixian, the garrison commander of the Southern Garrison, was ordered to be transferred to Beijing.

Xiao Zhen knew Sun Weixian, who had also had many conflicts with Wang Zuo in the past, and at the same time had a group of trusted and capable men under his command.

Without a doubt, Sun Weixian's return to the central government of the Ming Dynasty was to replace him, establish his own faction within the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and rival Wang Zuo.

By then, Xiao Zhen will be completely useless, and his fate will be obvious.

Realizing this, Xiao Zhen finally decided to take a risky step.

His spies at the examination hall would send out a copy of the new list of successful candidates each time. When they discovered that Yan Song's son, Yan Shifan, had passed the examination but ranked last, Xiao Zhen took the initiative to submit a secret report, proposing to investigate whether there was any cheating in the examination.

Anyone in officialdom could tell at a glance that this was not an investigation at all, but rather an attempt to tarnish Yan Song's reputation.

Xiao Zhen deeply resented Yan Song's iron-fisted approach, which caused a case that could have been easily dismissed to become a major scandal, an inspiration he drew from Zhang Cong and Gui E.

In the eighth year of the Jiajing reign, during the impeachment of Zhang Cong and Gui E, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had actually discovered evidence of collusion between the officials long before, but His Majesty pretended not to know until he demoted the two Grand Secretaries and then suddenly discovered the evidence, clearing their names.

As a result, Zhang Cong and Gui E, who had been wrongly accused, were reinstated, while the group of officials who had slandered them were either imprisoned or dismissed from their posts.

Xiao Zhen, who was involved in the incident, only realized what was going on after it happened: His Majesty didn't even trust his two trusted ministers, which was why he made such an arrangement.

And now that Yan Song is about to enter the cabinet, he should be no exception.

As expected, after the memorial was submitted, it was like mud flowing into the sea, receiving no response whatsoever.

Do not reprimand.

That's the default.

Xiao Zhen was greatly encouraged, knowing that he had grasped the last straw. As long as he did the dirty work for His Majesty, he could keep his current position.

As for what the consequences would be for slandering a high-ranking official, he didn't care about that now; he just needed to get through this immediate crisis first!
However, Xiao Zhen never expected that such a simple matter could go wrong.

"Yan Shifan has disappeared! Li Mo has already notified the Shuntian Prefecture to search for him! The fact that a scholar from Lumingyan has been kidnapped by thieves is bound to alarm the court and the public. This matter has blown up!"

Xiao Zhen closed his eyes and hissed, "The one you arranged, the one who directly bribed the servants at the examination hall..."

"It is Ni Jie, a clerk in the rites department of the Shuntian Prefecture government."

The trusted aide replied tremblingly, "Don't worry, Vice Minister. Ni Jie has no idea that we arranged this. He thought it was to relieve Prefect Huo Tao's burden. If we investigate later, it will only implicate them..."

Do you think everyone is as stupid as you?

Xiao Zhen shook his head, not daring to harbor the slightest hope: "This person cannot be allowed to live. Get rid of him, and say that he committed suicide out of fear of punishment!"

His confidant's expression changed drastically.

When the Embroidered Uniform Guard received an imperial order, they could act with impunity. As long as someone was arrested and imprisoned, no matter how high-ranking an official was, they would be subjected to severe torture and all sorts of torment. After all, it was the emperor's order, and the imperial power was the guarantee.

But killing officials in private is another matter entirely.

Putting everything else aside, Xiao Zhen is at odds with Wang Zuo, and his trusted subordinates are hostile to each other. Meanwhile, they're keeping a close eye on things, waiting to find something to use against him!

If discovered...

Looking at his subordinate's unpredictable expression, Xiao Zhen reached out and coldly slapped his cheek: "Do you think we have any way back? First, we need to force Yan Song and Grand Secretary Zhang to fight each other, to put His Majesty at ease. Otherwise, if things are exposed even slightly, we'll be the first to die! Understand? If you understand, then hurry up and go!!"

"Yes Yes!"

Watching his trusted aide rush out, Xiao Zhen pressed his brow, slowly sat down, his mind filled with a jumble of thoughts, and even felt a pang of regret.

Since His Majesty ascended the throne, the power of eunuchs has been declining, the Eastern Depot has fallen silent, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard has risen in power. This should have been a great opportunity for people like them, but unfortunately, due to a momentary lapse of judgment, they conspired with those fools in the Three Judicial Offices to create the Zhang brothers' scapegoat case, and now they can only go down this dark path.

After being in a daze for an unknown amount of time, Xiao Zhen was interrupted by the hurried footsteps of another trusted confidant entering the palace. The words whispered in his ear shocked him even more: "What! Yan Song entered the palace to see His Majesty in the middle of the night?"

……

Inside the Qianqing Palace. Zhu Houcong, wearing a long robe, looked at Yan Song, who was lying prostrate on the ground, concealing the fleeting guilt in his eyes.

During this period, Yan Song visited the palace more frequently than the Grand Secretary Zhang Cong, which was the most direct manifestation of his favor with the emperor.

While Yan Song was inferior to Xia Yan in both appearance and voice, Zhu Houcong had recently discovered that this steady and shrewd ruler was willing to flatter him, which rather matched his ideal image of a perfect minister.

We must adhere to discipline and ethics, uphold morality, and be flexible and adaptable, and not be overly critical of the emperor in everything!
How come I never noticed before that this elderly minister could be so loyal?

Of course, just as jade cannot become a useful object without being carved, a subject also needs to be polished. He must guard against arrogance and impetuosity in order to maintain a long-lasting and harmonious relationship between ruler and subject.

Therefore, when Xiao Zhen proposed to investigate the cheating in the imperial examinations, Zhu Houcong tacitly agreed.

Let the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigate using their own methods. The innocent will prove innocent, and the guilty will prove guilty. Even if there is some turmoil, I believe the truth will eventually come out.

To my utter surprise, this kind of thing happened.

Hearing Yan Song's tearful and heartbreaking voice, Zhu Houcong composed himself, stood up, and personally helped the old minister up: "Minister Yan, please get up quickly!"

"His Majesty!!"

Yan Song, trembling, refused to rise, tears streaming down his face, and said, "My son didn't know how to hide it. He went home and told this old minister that he wanted to investigate the secret society for Your Majesty and for the Ming Dynasty. This old minister was greatly shocked and repeatedly told my son that in the past, when wolves and jackals were in power, it was impossible to hide my pure heart. Even if I died nine times, I would not regret it. I was willing to give my life to repay the emperor's kindness. Now that the holy emperor is in power, we must not allow the villains to plot against us. No matter what dangers we encounter, we must persevere and capture all these villains!"

Zhu Houcong coughed lightly and pulled him up with all his might: "Yan Qing, get up quickly! I know you are loyal and devoted!"

Yan Song then rose shakily. His normally robust fifty-year-old body suddenly appeared as if he were seventy or eighty years old. He said in a trembling voice, "My son has sacrificed himself for the country this time, and this old minister is content. It is only a pity that the Liyuan Society dared to retaliate so openly at the Deer Cry Banquet. Where is the dignity of the court? Your Majesty must wipe out all the traitors. You must not worry about my son's safety!"

“Not to the extent that…”

Zhu Houcong's eyes flickered.

Yan Shifan was indeed involved in the entire investigation of "Jingmu Han" and "Yihuo She". Even though his role in the case file was just to run errands, he was still involved in it.

Could it really be a provocation from the traitors of the Liyuan Society?

Ah!
That's it!
What a fine Liyuan Society!

Zhu Houcong's expression turned stern: "Minister Yan, please rest assured. I will immediately order the Embroidered Uniform Guard to do everything in its power to apprehend the thieves. Everything must be done with your son's safety as our top priority. Our Great Ming Dynasty cannot do without loyal ministers like Minister Yan and his son!"

The only son of a trusted minister was captured at the Deer Cry Banquet. Both the emperor's own attitude and the court's prestige required a full-scale effort.

Zhu Houcong even had a clue, but of course, he couldn't let Yan Song investigate it to avoid actually finding anything: "Quickly summon Lu Bing to the palace!"

Lu Bing soon entered the palace.

He was actually very concerned about the situation at the examination hall, because based on his understanding of Hai Yue, Yan Shifan had been kidnapped, and this chivalrous Hai Shisanlang would never stand idly by.

Unfortunately, this matter is quite sensitive. As a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Lu Bing should not get involved without an imperial edict, lest he do more harm than good. But now, His Majesty has summoned him late at night, so he came over excitedly.

However, after entering the palace, Zhu Houcong gave Lu Bing a baffling instruction: "Go back to the Embroidered Uniform Guard and thoroughly investigate the traitors of the Liyuan Society!"

Lu Bing paused for a moment, then cautiously said, "Your Majesty, Lu Yuan, the traitor of the Li Yuan Society, has been placed under guard. Some of the illusionists from the Yun Yin Society who were previously imprisoned have also become uncooperative. However, whether there are others colluding with the traitors, I currently have no clue..."

"Lu Yuan, a mere captain, is certainly not enough to allow Li Yuanshe to escape the sight of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Zhu Houcong waved his hand, his eyes flashing coldly: "I noticed someone long ago. I originally wanted to stabilize the situation, but now it seems I have no choice but to deal with him!"

Lu Bing sensed a long-lost killing intent and awaited orders with a stern expression: "Who goes there?"

"Commander Xiao Zhen!"

Just as Xiao Zhen's first thought was to eliminate Ni Jie, the clerk who directly participated in the slander, so that there would be no way to verify the truth, Zhu Houcong and this minister had the same idea.

No matter what, Xiao Zhen cannot be allowed to live!

If they can't even handle this simple matter, what's the point of keeping them around?
Furthermore, one must avoid uttering any rebellious words that could alienate the ruler and his subjects!

Lu Bing received the imperial decree, frowned in thought, and returned to the Northern Garrison. There he saw his master, Wang Zuo, holding a cup of tea and sipping it. There was also a steaming cup of tea on the table, obviously prepared for him.

"gentlemen?"

Wang Zuo dismissed his attendants and asked succinctly, "Is it Xiao Zhen?"

Lu Bing nodded blankly: "His Majesty suspects him of having illicit relations with the Liyuan Society..."

"His Majesty's intentions were good, but his subordinates messed things up!"

Wang Zuo leisurely finished the last sip of tea, then his expression changed drastically. He slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "Guards! Seize Xiao Zhen, the spy from the Liyuan Society!!"

(End of this chapter)