Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 309 The Ultimate Arrangement of the Liyuan Society
"Life is short!"

Haiyue stood with her hands behind her back by the window, listening to the sound of firecrackers outside.

With the sound of firecrackers a year old, the spring breeze sent warmth to Tusu.

Another Chinese New Year has arrived.

It was already the twenty-first year of the Jiajing reign.

The Renyin Palace Coup in history occurred in this year.

This also prompted the already negligent Jiajing Emperor to abandon even the Forbidden City and move directly to the Western Garden, where he devoted himself to Taoist cultivation and ignored state affairs.

Although Zhu Houcong no longer attends court, he remains within the palace. His ministers repeatedly submit memorials to him, hoping that he can recover from the grief of the Empress Dowager's death and regain his strength.

It's practically impossible now, but there's still some hope.

thus.

The outer court was a tripartite balance of power, with both struggles and cooperation.

The governance of the dynasty remained on the right track.

Oh, now in addition to him, the Grand Secretary, and the Second Grand Secretary, there is also the Embroidered Uniform Guard, headed by Lu Bing, who monitors the officials.

After Lu Bing returned to the capital, he only sent a servant with a message, which consisted of polite greetings and showed no intention of meeting him.

Haiyue was naturally well aware of the situation.

Once you rise to a high official position, you lose your scholars and your true friends.

Some benefits come from allies.

Many people are powerless to control their own lives.

Thinking back to how he met Lu Bing in Guangzhou and together they investigated the truth behind the legend of Hidden Mist Village, he couldn't help but feel a little wistful.

There's no going back!
“Young master, this letter is from Zhou Xuan, the former Guangdong Provincial Surveillance Commissioner.”

Just then, Gong Hao came up behind him and presented the letter.

Given Haiyue's current status and position, the visiting cards for holidays are piled high, and the key letters have to be selected by her page.

Unless it is an extremely special case, they will report directly without delay.

"Old Zhou?"

Haiyue took the letter, and her expression became serious.

Old Zhou was Zhou Xuan, the former Guangdong Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, known for his incorruptibility and meritorious service in solving cases and apprehending criminals in the local area, but he was unable to get promoted.

Later, in the case of Hidden Mist Village, he was involved in protecting thieves. Because he had no background in the central government, he became the only official in charge of the Three Departments to be sent to the capital in prison.

Haiyue was indignant about the unfair treatment and took good care of Zhou Xuan on the way to the capital. Even after entering the capital, she tried her best to get leniency for him.

As a result, Zhou Xuan declined to help, and after arriving in the capital, he was not tried. The case was raised high but then gently lowered, and landed smoothly.

A case that shocked the entire province and had far-reaching implications has quietly come to an end.

Every year thereafter, Haiyue wanted to visit him, but Zhou Xuan refused, only sending a message to let her know he was safe.

But now the letter provides a detailed address and expresses a desire to meet him.

"Prepare the car!"

"I want to go to the outer city."

As dusk settled, Haiyue stepped into a quiet alley in the outer city.

Tenacious wild grasses grow between the cracks in the bluestone slabs, and at the end stands a low courtyard.

Withered vines climbed the gray tiles, and the paint on the lintel was already peeling.

Haiyue gently knocked on the wooden door, and an old woman dressed in simple clothes and wearing a hairpin opened the door.

"But was it Madam Zhou in person?"

"I dare not address you as Madam, please, Mr. Hai!"

There were no servants in the courtyard, only an old plum tree standing crookedly, its branches as hard as iron.

The courtyard was small, just an ordinary house. The old woman quickly led him to the front of the house and said inside, "Master Hai has arrived..."

"come in!"

Some indistinct sounds came through.

Haiyue bent down slightly and went inside.

The room was dimly lit, filled with the scent of medicine mixed with the smell of old ink.

Zhou Xuan leaned against the couch, covered with a quilt.

That once iron-faced man who silenced Guangdong officials is now deeply wrinkled, with sunken eye sockets.

The setting sun shone through the window paper, bathing it in an orange glow, as if it might vanish with the setting sun at any moment.

"Mr. Zhou!"

Haiyue came to the bedside and gently supported him.

"Mingwei, you haven't changed! You haven't changed at all!"

Zhou Xuan looked him over, a hint of relief in his eyes.

Not only did this person arrive quickly, but he must have set off immediately after receiving the letter.

Even more so because of those eyes—

It's not the scorching sharpness of my youth.

It was not the profound wisdom of someone who had reached the pinnacle of power.

Rather, it is like a cold blade after being quenched.

Within its clear, cold exterior lies an unwavering resolve.

In light of this, Zhou Xuan didn't bother with pleasantries and gestured to the side with his withered hand.

Haiyue had already noticed that there was a stack of files neatly arranged beside the bed, and the smell of ink was emanating from them.

It was clear that most of these files were handwritten by Zhou Xuan. Upon taking them and opening the first page, Hai Yue's expression immediately hardened: "Li Yuan Society?"

"That case from back then..."

Zhou Xuan said, "Do you have any doubts? Since I have been convicted, why am I safe and sound in the capital?"

Haiyue nodded gently: "Yes."

Zhou Xuan asked, "Do you understand now?"

Haiyue slowly said, "A self-inflicted injury scheme."

"Not bad!"

Zhou Xuan smiled and said, "It's a ruse. I'm using my life as bait to enter Liyuan and let His Majesty see the true colors of these demons and monsters!"

Based on subsequent developments, Haiyue quickly understood.

Zhou Xuan's reputation as an iron-faced judge was well-deserved. He solved many strange cases and made great contributions, but because he had no backing in the court, he spent a long time in the local areas. However, Lu Bing once said that His Majesty had already taken notice of this outstanding old minister. As a result, Zhou Xuan fell into depravity first, which was particularly regrettable.

In fact, Zhou Xuan's experience of being neglected was real, and his confession at the time was sincere. However, he did not survive until dawn; he fell into depravity and became Fang Wei's accomplice.

The act of covering up this person's crimes was intentional.

“Wang Zuo, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was the first to smell the stench of the Liyuan Society, but those imperial guards searched the ground three feet deep and couldn’t even find a trace of the thieves. His Majesty had to make other arrangements.”

"Initially, it was a eunuch who came to my house under the pretext of pearl diving and told me about these things. At that time, I only knew that the secret society was called Liyuan Society, which dared to plot against the emperor and was extremely rebellious, but I was never able to find any clues."

"I was convicted in the Fang Wei case and escorted to the capital in prison, enduring much humiliation and indignation. Finally, I caught the attention of these villains... cough cough cough!"

Zhou Xuan revealed a look of reminiscence and slowly recounted the cause and effect of that year, but his breathing gradually weakened and he began to cough violently, pointing to the files below.

Haiyue listened and watched at the same time.

Each line of brief handwriting records the wits and courage Zhou Xuan used to fight the thieves.

This elderly man, who was convicted and dismissed from his post, still silently guards his obsession with being a "judge".

Unfortunately, Li Yuanshe was still cautious at the time.

On the surface, the person who came into contact with Zhou Xuan was just an idle man from the capital who claimed to have connections in the three judicial departments and could help him get off the bus. The reward was not ordinary gold and silver, but Zhou Xuan's local connections.

Zhou Xuan worked in criminal law for thirty years, traveling to Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi. He trained many disciples, most of whom were just low-level officials in prefectures and counties. Once they were put to use, they were a force to be reckoned with.

Clearly, what Li Yuanshe valued was not Zhou Xuan himself, but rather his more than thirty years of diligent accumulation.

However, while Zhou Xuan was struggling with him, the thieves of the Liyuan Society on the other side also began to be captured one by one. Due to the internal strife in the Sanyuan Hall, more and more people were exposed.

In the end, Zhou Xuan paid a huge price but made no substantial progress.

But Haiyue, who valued the process more, showed genuine respect: "I admire Elder Zhou for taking such a dangerous risk!"

"You don't need to comfort me. The new generation always replaces the old, and new people always come and go!"

Zhou Xuan's tone was devoid of self-pity, filled only with relief, before a sharp edge appeared in his voice: "Until the Emperor's southern tour, the bandit leader of the Liyuan Society, 'Yuan Tianzi,' was finally captured. The case file is below!"

Haiyue retrieved the third file and discovered that it made no attempt to conceal Wang Zuo's death, and even directly revealed Consort Du's identity.

"Is Consort Du still alive?"

"Alive!"

Zhou Xuan's eyes flickered slightly, showing a hint of evasion, but he ultimately said frankly, "Your Majesty has long been prepared and is not afraid of this bandit leader causing trouble again!"

Haiyue understood: "So, you're the ones we're using to replace the Liyuan Society's manpower?"

"Yes!"

Zhou Xuan nodded slowly: "After this, the Liyuan Society is no longer a secret thief society, but the Emperor's secret guard!"

'As expected...'

Haiyue was not surprised at all.

Emperor Jiajing had one person he trusted without reservation: his birth mother, Empress Dowager Jiang.

After Empress Dowager Jiang died, Jiajing trusted no one anymore.

This includes Lu Bing and Huang Jin.

Perhaps there's a bond that's existed since childhood.

But if we're talking about complete trust...

No.

Such an emperor, whose suspicions ran high, was certainly even less likely to trust a group of traitors who had turned against him.

The current revelation can be said to have completed the last piece of the puzzle.

Emperor Jiajing had long ago arranged for a group of people to investigate the secret societies hidden in the shadows.

Zhou Xuan, who has outstanding criminal investigation and case-solving abilities, was thus selected, and there must be a group of people like him.

When Consort Du Kang was captured and revealed the secrets of the Liyuan Society, Jiajing simply used this group of secret agents he had cultivated to replace everyone in the Liyuan Society.

Thus, together with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, one operating openly and the other covertly, they formed a force that monitored the entire country.

Haiyue shook her head secretly, but didn't say anything more. She just asked curiously, "Old Zhou, did something unexpected happen?"

"Not bad!"

Zhou Xuan's voice was hoarse, but every word was as firm as iron: "The Dark Guards were taken from the Liyuan Society. They abolished the Three Enclosures Hall and the Twenty-Eight Constellations. There were many hardships during the process, especially with the Taiwei Enclosure and the Tianshi Enclosure. If some of the elite Jinyiwei Guards had not been transferred in advance, we would probably have been counterattacked by these traitors!"

This corresponds to Sun Weixian's previous report.

Haiyue continued listening.

And then, the main event begins: "But according to my observation, there's something very strange about the current secret guards!"

"The Li Yuan Society wasn't completely eradicated; there are signs of it resurfacing?"

Hai Yue narrowed her eyes slightly: "Have any members of the Dark Guard defected?"

"The defection of a few people is not a big deal. Is there any monolithic force in the world?"

Zhou Xuan leaned forward abruptly, his withered fingers clenching the bedding, veins bulging: "What I'm worried about is not that the court has incorporated the Liyuan Society and transformed it into a secret guard, but that the Ziwei Palace, betrayed by the Taiwei Palace and the Tianshi Palace, had set up this scheme long ago, using the secret guard as a shell to allow the Liyuan Society to be reborn!"

(End of this chapter)