What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 225 What is meant by imperial favor? Even rebellion is tolerated!
Upon hearing Su Mo reveal his family background, Li Zhong's hunched body trembled involuntarily, and he staggered back half a step in a daze!

"Su Han's son? Who is Su Han? Is the adult my nephew?"

Li Zhong suddenly realized what was happening and stared at Su Mo in shock: "Xiang Mi'er is your mother?"

Su Mo nodded: "It really is my second uncle!"

Su's mother's full name was Chen Yuxiang, and her nickname was Xiangmi'er, but few people knew this.

It was only after Chen Qian mentioned it to Su Mo by chance that Su Mo learned her mother's nickname!
Li Zhong… no, Chen Zhong looked at Su Mo with a complicated expression, and after a long silence, he whispered, “Is A-Qian… alright now?”

Su Mo smiled and said, "Third Uncle is doing quite well."

"He was a clerk in the county before, and now he is a ninth-rank inspector."

Chen Zhong was taken aback.

The promotion from a clerk to a ninth-rank patrol inspector is no small feat, and it seems he is indeed living a very comfortable life.

He suddenly became suspicious and looked at Su Mo with confusion: "Then... Mo'er, how did you also end up in the palace?"

Chen Zhongzhen really didn't know whether his nephew would become a eunuch in the palace or a government official!
Ordinary officials cannot easily enter the inner palace!

Last time, Su Mo even wore a eunuch's robe!

Su Mo smiled and said, "This is a long story, I will tell you the details with my second uncle another day."

He paused, then continued, "Thirty years ago, my second uncle and eldest uncle went to the palace, and we haven't heard from them since. My third uncle has always been thinking about you and eldest uncle."

"If Second Uncle wants to go back to Changping for a visit, I can tell Grandpa An. It shouldn't be a big problem."

Chen Zhong's feelings became increasingly complicated.

Finally, he shook his head, then looked around warily. Seeing that no one was around, he lowered his voice even further: "Mo'er, just pretend that your second uncle and eldest uncle are already dead!"

Su Mo was immediately taken aback: "Why?"

Chen Zhong gritted his teeth: "Do you know why my second uncle changed his surname and hasn't dared to have any contact with the family for the past thirty years?"

Su Mo's eyes suddenly narrowed.

He had been wondering about this for a long time.

Logically speaking, since Consort Li was favored in the past, her second uncle, as a eunuch serving her, should have been quite capable.

Even if they cannot leave the palace to visit their families, they will certainly ask someone to take care of them.

But they were completely out of touch for thirty years, and even the third uncle didn't know if they were alive or dead!
Chen Zhong's expression changed for a long time before he finally said in a low voice, "Back then, your uncle and I originally planned to enter the palace together."

"On the way, they were ambushed by the Heavenly Mother Cult. The eunuchs from the palace were killed, and my elder brother was kidnapped by the Heavenly Mother Cult."

"We had no choice but to change our surname and beg for food all the way to the capital. By chance, we met a palace eunuch and were recommended by him to enter the palace."

As he spoke, Chen Zhong gritted his teeth: "Your eldest uncle came to see me secretly once, but he was captured by the Heavenly Mother Sect and made into a servant. After that, there was no news of him!"

Su Mo's eyelids twitched suddenly!
No wonder my second uncle never dared to return to his hometown, let alone have any contact with the Chen family!
Although my uncle was captured and made a servant, he was still a member of the Heavenly Mother Cult!
If the news leaks, not only the Chen family, but also the Su family and the three Chen families will be implicated and their entire clans will be executed!

Seeing the shock on Su Mo's face, Chen Zhong sighed inwardly and said in a deep voice, "Just pretend that your second and eldest uncles are long dead. Remember, you must not tell anyone about this... not even your third brother!"

If it weren't for the concern that Su Mo might be reckless and reveal their identities to outsiders...

Chen Zhong would never tell Su Mo about this!
Su Mo frowned deeply!

The Empress already knew about her relationship with her second uncle.

I guess they also sent someone to investigate my uncle's whereabouts.

Normally, it's very difficult to find out things that happened 30 years ago.

The problem is, this is an abnormal world!
He looked at Chen Zhong with a serious expression and said in a deep voice, "Second Uncle, tell your nephew the truth, don't hide anything!"

"Besides looking for you once, has your uncle done anything else?"

"Especially... has Second Uncle ever colluded with the Heavenly Mother Cult?"

Chen Zhong shook his head and said with a wry smile, "How could Second Uncle not know the importance of things!"

“Your eldest uncle has kept this matter a secret, and no one knows about our relationship. Naturally, your second uncle could not possibly be involved with the Heavenly Mother Sect.”

Su Mo pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Second Uncle, come with your nephew."

Chen Zhong was taken aback: "Mo'er, what do you want to do?"

Su Mo frowned and said, "Go find Eunuch An and explain things clearly..."

Chen Zhong's expression changed drastically!

His face then darkened, he sighed, and fell silent.

Su Mo smiled and said, "Second Uncle, don't be afraid."

“A nephew only has three maternal uncles. His third uncle treats him like his own son, so how could a nephew possibly harm his uncles!”

Chen Zhong originally thought that Su Mo intended to sacrifice his own family for the greater good and use him as a meritorious deed, but he never expected Su Mo to say such a thing.

However, if Su Moruo wanted to tell him, there was no need for her to tell him.

He looked at Su Mo with some confusion: "Then why did Mo'er bring up this matter with Eunuch An?"

Chen Zhong hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Could it be that Mo'er doesn't know the details of the Heavenly Mother Cult?"

This matter concerns the Heavenly Mother Sect, a serious crime of rebellion. In Chen Zhong's view, even if Su Mo had a relationship with Eunuch An, and even if he were Eunuch An's adopted son, Eunuch An would never show leniency.

In fact, even if Eunuch An really took action, it would be to no avail!

Su Mo sighed inwardly.

He didn't want to confront them directly.

The problem is that the Empress already knew about her relationship with Chen Zhong.

One lie requires more lies to cover it up.

If we don't speak up now, it will be too late once my uncle's affair is discovered.

Of course, this is also the main reason why Chen Zhong did not collude with the Heavenly Mother Sect.

If he is deceiving me and is secretly colluding with the Heavenly Mother Sect, I will not protect him, but will try to protect my third uncle.

Afterwards, Su Mo led the uneasy Chen Zhong towards the Linhu Palace.

Upon arriving at Linhu Palace, An Wu was nowhere to be found.

Turning his head to look around, he saw Ning Jing, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, leading several eunuchs as they walked from the direction of the Ziwei Palace.

When Chen Zhong saw Ning Jing, a look of fear immediately appeared on his face.

Ning Jing, known as the Inner Minister, was the head of all eunuchs, wielding immense power. Only An Wu could compare to him in the entire eunuch class.

Su Mo didn't think that much about it.

When I met Ning Jing last time, he seemed quite easy to talk to.

He quickly stepped forward and bowed to Ning Jing, saying, "This humble official greets Eunuch Ning!"

Ning Jing raised an eyebrow slightly, looked Su Mo up and down, then squinted at Chen Zhong behind Su Mo before saying expressionlessly, "So it's Lord Su."

"What business does Lord Su have with us?"

Su Mo smiled and said, "It is like this, I have something to discuss with Eunuch An, but I do not know where Eunuch An is now."

"I just happened to see Eunuch Ning, so I took the liberty of coming up to ask him a question."

The purple-robed eunuchs behind Ning Jing were speechless.

This kid must have gotten himself into a lot of trouble, actually asking the Master of the Seal a question!

Chen Zhong stared at Su Mo in disbelief.

To the eunuchs' utter surprise, Ning Jing suddenly smiled and said, "So that's how it is."

"I just happened to run into Eunuch An. Lord Su, please wait a moment while I have someone inform you."

He turned and instructed his personal eunuch to inform An Wu, then nodded to Su Mo: "I have many matters to attend to, farewell!"

Ning Jing then hurriedly left with several eunuchs.

After walking a distance, one of the eunuchs in purple robes hesitated for a moment: "My lord, what exactly is the background of that Lord Su... that he has appeared in the inner palace so many times..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ning Jing gave him a cold look: "Don't ask what you shouldn't ask!"

The eunuchs were immediately alarmed. Recalling Su Mo's attire last time, they seemed to have discovered a remarkable secret!
Cold sweat broke out instantly!

Su Mo didn't wait long at Linhu Palace.

After An Wu appeared, he smiled and glanced at Su Mo, then casually swept his gaze over Chen Zhong: "What business does Lord Su have with us?"

Su Mo sighed and said with a wry smile, "This humble official has come to apologize to Uncle An!"

An Wu was taken aback, thinking that Su Mo had accidentally entered the residence of the late emperor's concubines. He frowned and asked, "What crime has Lord Su committed?"

Su Mo pointed to Chen Zhong: "To be honest, Uncle An, Li Zhong's real name is Chen Zhong. He is my second maternal uncle!"

An Wu looked at Chen Zhong suspiciously, but didn't say anything, waiting for Su Mo to continue.

Su Mo then said in a deep voice, "Thirty years ago, my second uncle and eldest uncle, forced by life's circumstances, cut off their own source of trouble and prepared to enter the palace with the palace eunuchs to serve the Emperor Taizu."

"Unexpectedly, they were ambushed by the Heavenly Mother Sect on the way. My second uncle escaped, but my eldest uncle was kidnapped by demons."

Chen Zhong trembled, thinking that Eunuch An would immediately turn on him and arrest him.

Unexpectedly, An Wu merely frowned and said, "Is that so?"

Chen Zhong was speechless.

Su Mo said dejectedly, "I just learned about this from my second uncle."

"Please ask Uncle An to convey my regards to Lord Leng, hoping that Lord Leng can put in a good word for my second uncle and beg His Majesty to pardon his death sentence."

"In his fear, my second uncle dared not speak frankly, but he never colluded with the evil people of the Heavenly Mother Sect to harm Dawu."

Chen Zhong was completely dumbfounded at this point.

Who is this "Lord Leng" that my nephew mentioned? Does he share the same surname as His Majesty?

How could someone possibly beg His Majesty to spare their life?
When did this person appear in the palace?

Members of the royal family?
An Wu pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Lord Su, there is no need to worry."

"His Majesty is well aware of your commendable loyalty and the fact that you have thwarted the Heavenly Mother Cult's schemes on numerous occasions. You would never associate with the remnants of the violent Qian clan..."

He didn't rule out the possibility of a definitive answer.

His Majesty certainly won't do anything to Su Mo, but it's hard to say about Chen Zhong.

Seeing Su Mo frown, An Wu added, "Lord Leng has important matters to attend to."

"Lord Su, please return first. When Lord Leng has some free time, I will inform him of this matter."

Hearing An Wu say this, Su Mo could only cup his hands in greeting: "I entrust everything to Uncle An."

"My parents died early, and I only have a few uncles and other close relatives at home. I really can't bear to stand idly by."

Su Mo gave Chen Zhong a few more instructions: if Lord Leng asked, he must answer honestly and not hide anything. Then, feeling somewhat depressed, he left the inner palace. Where was the heroic spirit of "thousands of miles of ice and ten thousand miles of snow"?

……

Leng Xixi had just finished the morning court session and returned to the Lizheng Hall to review memorials. She was about to summon Chi Wulei.

Unexpectedly, An Wu suddenly requested an audience.

After hearing what An Wu said, the Empress was also stunned: "Su Mo's maternal uncle is a member of the Heavenly Mother Sect?"

An Wu hurriedly replied, "This old servant has already inquired with Chen Zhong. According to him, thirty years ago, Chen Jin was abducted by the Heavenly Mother Sect. Knowing that he had been castrated, they took him in as a eunuch of the false dynasty."

Five years later, Chen Jin visited Chen Zhong and told him about this matter. After that, there was no further news of him, and his fate was unknown.

The Empress frowned slightly and subconsciously asked, "Where is Su Mo now?"

An Wu respectfully replied, "This old servant is afraid that His Majesty will find it difficult to punish Chen Zhong in front of Lord Su, so please ask Lord Su to return first."

The Empress's pretty face suddenly darkened: "Chen Zhong knew that his elder brother had entered that false dynasty, yet he failed to report it. This is a capital offense!"

Her gaze fell on An Wu, and she asked coldly, "An Banban, what do you think should be done with this person?"

An Wu was speechless.

The Empress herself said Chen Zhong deserved to die, yet she still asked how Chen Zhong should be dealt with!

He's clearly making himself the scapegoat!

He hesitated for a moment, then frowned and said, "Chen Zhong deserves to die, but he dares not confess. This is because he is a close relative and it is only natural for him to conceal the truth."

"His brother was kidnapped by a sorcerer, and he had no choice in the matter. It has nothing to do with Chen Zhong."

"Lord Su has rendered great service and has repeatedly struck down the Heavenly Mother Sect. This old servant feels that we should not discourage Lord Su's loyalty to the court..."

An Wu secretly observed the Empress's expression, thought for a moment, and then said, "Of course, the death penalty can be waived, but punishment is inevitable."

"Why not investigate whether Chen Zhong truly has no connection with the Heavenly Mother Sect, and then expel him from the palace and never employ him again?"

The Empress snorted coldly: "To simply banish him from the palace is far too lenient on him!"

An Wu's heart skipped a beat.

Could I have misunderstood the Empress? That can't be!

The next second, the Empress snorted, "Confiscate his family's wealth, and forbid him from taking even a single penny from the palace out!"

Anwu...

Ok.

Adding another crime of confiscating property would be quite reasonable, since that is a serious crime of treason!

Chen Zhong has to work for nothing for thirty years in the palace!

Chen Zhong waited anxiously outside the Lizheng Hall.

When he saw An Wu emerge from the Lizheng Hall shortly afterward, his heart skipped a beat, and he broke out in a cold sweat.

He had committed a crime that could lead to the extermination of his entire clan.

Why did Eunuch An come out so quickly?
Shouldn't he be looking for Lord Leng, whom his nephew mentioned? Why did he come directly to the Lizheng Hall?
Chen Zhong had even imagined the scene of Eunuch An meeting the emperor.

It is estimated that as soon as he told His Majesty about this, His Majesty immediately ordered him to be beheaded and his head displayed to the public.

They might even be executed by slow slicing!

Chen Zhong wasn't afraid of dying, after all, he was almost fifty, which was a long life for an ordinary person, but it would be better if he didn't die a tragic death.

What he feared most was that his third brother would also be implicated.

He had finally been promoted from a clerk to a patrol inspector, but he was implicated and his whole family was beheaded. How could he, a sinner of the Chen family, face his parents in the afterlife?
As for Su Mo, to be honest, Chen Zhong didn't have much affection for her.

When he and Chen Jin left home, his younger sister was only eight or nine years old. He had almost forgotten what she looked like, let alone his nephew who was born later.

As An Wu approached with an expressionless face, Chen Jin's legs trembled!

"Chen Zhong, you have committed the capital crime of deceiving the emperor and should be beheaded as a warning to others!"

"Fortunately, His Majesty is kind-hearted and considers that you have worked diligently in the palace for thirty years. Even if you have not made any great contributions, you have still worked hard. Therefore, he has spared you from the death penalty, confiscated your family property, and banished you from the palace. You will not be employed again!"

An Wu naturally wouldn't investigate whether Chen Zhong was connected with the Heavenly Mother Sect!

If it's really discovered, it will only cause trouble for myself.

As long as Su Mo retains imperial favor, Chen Zhong will not die!

Upon hearing An Wu's words, Chen Zhong was instantly dumbfounded.

That's it?

If a person knows that their elder brother has joined the Heavenly Mother Cult and fails to report it, it is a capital offense punishable by the confiscation of their family property and the extermination of their clan.

He simply banished himself from the palace and had his family's wealth confiscated.
How much money do you own?
I gave all the silver my nephew gave me last time to Consort Li!

As for what An Wu said about His Majesty's benevolence, Chen Zhong didn't believe a word of it!

Killing her two elder brothers and forcing the late emperor to pass the throne to her—is that considered benevolent? Shouldn't it be called ruthless?
Even after being escorted out of Xuanwu Gate by two eunuchs, Chen Zhong was still in a daze.

What baffled him even more was...

After he was escorted out of Xuanwu Gate, one of the eunuchs secretly slipped him a small note.

The sign read: "Bai Yujing! Su Residence!"

(End of this chapter)