Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 139 Crimes Exposed in the Imperial Court! You are unworthy of this official robe! (Long chapter of 10,000 words)

Emperor Wanli, who was about to leave, suddenly paused.

He looked at Zhang Yunxiu with a hint of surprise, and then he realized what was going on.

No wonder I always felt something was missing. Xu Xuemo, the Minister of Rites, has many suspicions of colluding with the White Lotus Rebels, so we can't let them off easily!

A hint of expectation flickered in the eyes of the Wanli Emperor, but his face remained serious as he feigned anger.

"Zhang Shiyuan! Don't talk nonsense! Do you know what you're saying? You're making baseless accusations against an official of the court. Aren't you afraid I'll punish you?"

Even the court officials looked at each other in bewilderment.

In particular, Zhang Yunxiu's words, such as "forming cliques for personal gain," "colluding with the White Lotus Religion," "harming the people," and "deceiving the emperor," are all capital crimes.

So, it wasn't Zhang Yunxiu who colluded with the White Lotus cult, but rather upright figures like Zhang Siwei and Xu Xuemo? This kind of statement sounds like it's a case of seeking revenge at any opportunity.
The Wanli Emperor pretended to be very serious and turned to look at Zhang Siwei and Xu Xuemo.

"Do you two gentlemen have something to say?"

Zhang Siwei's expression was uncertain, but Xu Xuemo couldn't wait to refute him.

"This is utter nonsense! Zhang Shiyuan is known for his outrageous behavior in the court. This is not a marketplace; how can we allow him to run wild and make such baseless accusations? Your Majesty, I must impeach Zhang Shiyuan."

But before he could finish speaking, Zhang Yunxiu mumbled a bunch of strange words.

"Knave! beggar! coward! pander! and the son and heir of a mongrel bitch!"

Xu Xuemo originally intended to cite classical texts and thoroughly refute Zhang Yunxiu.

Upon hearing these words, his facial expression involuntarily contorted.

He already harbored resentment towards Zhang Yunxiu, and the other party had repeatedly provoked him, making him feel like a powder keg that could be easily detonated.

"You little bastard! You son of a bitch, do you really think I can't handle you? I..."

Enraged, Xu Xuemo nearly lunged forward and instinctively hurled a string of vulgarities at them.

However, in an instant, his expression changed drastically, he stopped speaking, and stared wide-eyed at Zhang Yunxiu, his eyes filled with shock and confusion.

Zhang Yunxiu gave a mocking smile.

"You do speak English."

Xu Xuemo's expression froze for a moment, then he realized what was happening, his eyes darting away as he quickly tried to cover it up.

"What English? I don't know it. Don't make false accusations!"

Feeling unsure, he added another sentence.

"Your tone was unfriendly just now, which is why I was so agitated and lost my composure for a moment."

After saying this, Xu Xuemo turned around and respectfully knelt down before Emperor Wanli.

"Your Majesty, I have been disrespectful in front of you. Please forgive me."

Emperor Wanli looked speechless. How many people had behaved improperly in front of the palace today?

Now that things have come to this, all he wants to know is what evidence Zhang Yunxiu will produce to expose the Minister of Rites' true colors!

"Alas--"

Zhang Yunxiu looked at Xu Xuemo with a puzzled expression: "What a strange thing! It's just a foreign language. Why is Minister Xu so eager to deny it?"

"I, Xu Xuemo," the old man said, his neck stiff, refusing to look at the other person. "I don't know what you're talking about."

While he said this, Xu Xuemo was inwardly in turmoil.

How could Zhang Shiyuan possibly know English?!
Nowadays, the people of the Ming Dynasty had the most contact with "Folangji" and "Hongmao Fan" (foreigners). They might be somewhat familiar with their languages, but the number of people in the entire Ming Dynasty who knew English was extremely small!

Could it be that this kid is also...?
For a moment, Xu Xuemo's mind was in a daze, and his gaze toward Zhang Yunxiu shifted between resentment, confusion, and even a hint of affection.

But Zhang Yunxiu had no intention of letting him off the hook. During the court assembly, he paced around Xu Xuemo and spoke in a loud voice.

"You're probably afraid to admit it, aren't you? A few days ago, the Embroidered Uniform Guard discovered a strange female corpse in the west of the city. The little finger of this woman was severed. According to the Embroidered Uniform Guard's coroner, this woman was most likely involved with the White Lotus Sect before her death."
And she carried this so-called English code, which led me and Zhang Jianxiu, the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, to find Ling Xuanying!

Zhang Yunxiu stared intently at the other person and said in a meaningful tone, "As far as I know, England and our Great Ming have not established friendly relations. There are no foreign envoys in or around the capital. The number of people in and around the capital who can understand the English language is no more than five."

So, does Minister Xu actually understand English?

Xu Xuemo panicked. He could feel the strange looks he was getting from the court officials and the emperor.

But he had been through many ups and downs in his official career, and he wouldn't be so easily scared off.

In an instant, the expression on his face returned to calm.

Zhang Yunxiu was no fool. He would bring this up for no reason, and he could even speak a few words of English. He must have something to rely on.

Denying it might actually make things worse.

So he scoffed.

"What exactly does Zhang Tongzhi want to say? I don't have time to argue with you here. I am the Minister of Rites and often come into contact with foreign envoys. Although England has no diplomatic relations with our dynasty, other foreign officials always mention this country. It is not surprising that some of them who are proficient in languages ​​can speak some English."

Does understanding some English mean one is colluding with the White Lotus Rebellion?

With the position of Minister of Rites, Xu Xuemo had a perfectly legitimate reason.

He forced a smile and stared at the confident Zhang Yunxiu as he retorted.

"How ridiculous! Magistrate Zhang keeps saying that I am fluent in English, yet you can recite English fluently. Isn't that even more suspicious?"

Zhang Yunxiu accused Xu Xuemo of speaking English because he was colluding with the White Lotus Religion, but he himself could speak it fluently. Wasn't he just shooting himself in the foot?
For a moment, many ministers frowned and looked at Zhang Yunxiu.

"Cough cough~"

Xu Guo, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, coughed and couldn't help but remind him.

“Zhang Tongzhi, this matter has not yet been thoroughly investigated, so it is best to put it aside for now. It will not be too late to argue about it after the three judicial departments have made a joint trial and reached a decision.”

If the matter were to be brought to a joint trial by the three judicial departments, it would inevitably become another wrangling struggle between the "Zhang faction" and the "anti-Zhang faction".

It's better than letting the "anti-Zhang faction" gain the upper hand. Xu Guo is backed by Huizhou merchants, while Zhang Siwei is backed by Shanxi merchants. Naturally, he doesn't want to see Zhang Siwei become too powerful.

Moreover, in the eyes of Xu Guo and others, the clinic and the new policies have already been protected, so why is Zhang Yunxiu causing any more trouble?
Are they afraid these people won't have a reason to complain?
But Zhang Yunxiu shook his head and said, "Minister Xu, I think we don't need to wait for the joint trial by the three judicial departments. We can get some results today."

Then, Zhang Yunxiu cupped his hands to the emperor and said, "Your Majesty is wise. The key to this case lies with the British merchants. I urge Your Majesty to issue an edict summoning them to the palace for questioning!"

Emperor Wanli frowned.

He had a general understanding of Zhang Yunxiu's analysis and thought that Xu Xuemo might be the culprit, but he did not know much about the evidence.

This English merchant was also hearing about it for the first time.

He immediately nodded and said, "Let's announce it."

With the emperor's decree in hand, a great Han general immediately went to lead the people away.

Today's court assembly has turned into a veritable interrogation of prisoners, much to the dismay of the Han generals.

A short while later, a red-haired, hook-nosed Englishman was brought in.

His hands were tied behind his back, and he was muttering something incoherently. Seeing the scene of the court assembly, he became even more agitated.

Especially after being brought before the king, the Englishman was still searching for something.

Finally, his gaze fell on Xu Xuemo. He grasped at the straw and rattled off a bunch of things.

"Xu, please save us for the sake of our partnership!"

"Xu is a cunning man. He used academic inventions to lure us. He's a despicable bastard who cheated us! He has absolutely no sense of contractual obligation!"

"Xu, is this business still possible? We have even more black incense. Is this man your country's king? Please help us speak to him."

As expected of a British businessman, even with a knife to his throat, he was still thinking about doing business.

Upon seeing this person, Xu Xuemo's face showed an expression of disbelief, and he retreated repeatedly, trying to avoid the other party.

Zhang Yunxiu said with a smile, "Minister Xu should be very familiar with this, right? A little over a month ago, this person secretly visited the Xu family. That batch of black incense was also bought from Minister Xu, wasn't it?"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard, which monitors all officials, had been sending people to spy on the Xu family ever since Xu Xuemo first revealed his true colors a month ago. Unexpectedly, they actually discovered something amiss.

However, at the time I only felt it was strange, but now the clues have actually come together.

Xu Xuemo panicked, flicked his sleeve, pointed at the Englishman, and said to the Han general.

"What are you all standing there for? Are you just going to let this British barbarian rant and rave in the courtroom?"

The Han generals exchanged glances, but also felt it was inappropriate, so they immediately went up and kicked him twice.

The Englishman felt a sharp pain, lost all his former pride, and prostrated himself on the ground, kneeling and wailing.

“Your Imperial Majesty~”

Then he chattered on and on, even using the honorific title the British use to address their king.

The Wanli Emperor was completely bewildered, finding the two men both pitiful and incredibly devout.

He turned to Zhang Yunxiu and asked, "What are these British people saying?"

Zhang Yunxiu explained, "Your Majesty, he is addressing you as the Emperor, begging for your forgiveness."

After saying that, Zhang Yunxiu went up and kicked the Englishman.

Speak Chinese!

The Englishman shuddered, clearly terrified of Zhang Yunxiu, and obediently stammered as he kowtowed to the Wanli Emperor.

"Your Majesty the Emperor, I am a Wu Xiang from England."

This Englishman knows a few simple phrases of everyday Chinese, but he can't understand anything more complex.

However, Emperor Wanli still understood what the other party meant.

One meaning is that he should let him go, and the other meaning is that he can get more incense to atone for his sins.

“Your Majesty!” Zhang Yunxiu explained. “It is perfectly acceptable for officials of the Ministry of Rites to interact with foreign merchants, and I did not initially pay much attention to this matter.”

Following the cryptic messages on the woman's body, Ke Chen arrived at West Mountain. After witnessing the ritual, he realized that something was amiss.

As they spoke, Zhang Yunxiu briefly recounted to the officials and the emperor what he and his fourth brother, Zhang Jianxiu, had seen on the Western Hills.

When they heard that the White Lotus cult bandits were using incense to bewitch believers, using young boys and girls as sacrificial offerings, and even taking the placenta and fetus of pregnant women as offerings during the sacrifices!
The court officials could no longer remain silent; their eyes were bloodshot, and they looked heartbroken.

"Shocking! Shocking!"

Yang Wei, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, stomped his feet in anger and clutched his chest as he spoke.

"The White Lotus Sect traitors are utterly depraved! Everyone has the right to kill them!"

Sacrificing young boys and girls, cutting open the bellies of pregnant women—these cruel acts are horrifying to anyone who hears about them.

Zhang Yunxiu looked at Xu Xuemo, whose face was frosty, and said coldly.

"This black incense is an extremely precious item, which can only be obtained through maritime trade. Even the imperial court doesn't have much of it. How could the White Lotus Religion be able to use it to perform rituals?"
Recently, Minister Xu purchased incense from the English, and he also learned the language of the White Lotus Sect's secret codes on the female corpse.

"It's really strange, how could everything be such a coincidence?"

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the court immediately changed, and everyone's eyes turned to Xu Xuemo.

All the resentment they had felt towards the White Lotus Rebels was now directed at Xu Xuemo.

Xu Guo, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, reacted quickly. He immediately jumped out and pointed directly at Xu Xuemo, rebuking him.

“Xu Shuming! I originally thought you were well-versed in the classics and could uphold moral principles.”

Who would have thought that you, wearing the robes of a second-rank official with a golden pheasant emblem, would act like a wolf or tiger!

Emperor Wanli also put on a stern face and questioned Xu Xuemo.

"Xu Shuming, what else do you have to say?"

Xu Xuemo's expression was deep. He looked at the trembling Englishman on the ground, then at Zhang Yunxiu who was standing aside scrutinizing him, and then at the pairs of disgusted eyes in the court.

He couldn't help but burst into wild laughter.

"Hahahahaha!"

He stepped forward, cupped his hands, and addressed the Wanli Emperor.

“Your Majesty! I have a clear conscience and nothing to say. I did have contact with these British barbarians and I did purchase a batch of incense, but so what?”

He gave a mocking smile, looked at Xu Guo, and then at Zhang Yunxiu.

"Is there a provision in the Great Ming Code that states that officials of the Ministry of Rites cannot purchase incense? Is there a regulation that states that officials of the Ministry of Rites cannot understand English?"
Even if I possess it, what grounds do you, Zhang Shiyuan, have to punish me?
You are but a mere child, yet you dare to imitate me and meddle in Xing Ming's affairs?

That's absolutely ridiculous!

Xu Xuemo, brimming with confidence, found the other party's accusations rather ridiculous.

Even if these things can prove that he has a problem, so what?
Can you beat me to death in the imperial court?

It's nothing more than another joint trial by the three judicial departments. At that time, the upright officials will have countless ways to make sure that these matters remain completely unsolved!
Zhang Yunxiu remained completely calm and looked at the other person meaningfully.

"May I ask Minister Xu, what exactly is the purpose of this headquarters in the capital? Is Dajue Temple a place for your association to gather?"

He narrowed his eyes.

"Or should I address you as Manager Su?"

Since its establishment in the third year of the Shaoxing reign of the Southern Song Dynasty, the White Lotus Sect has developed into a certain organizational group.

These people usually address each other as master and disciple, and the relationship between them can be described as close as father and son. They usually address each other as "Grandmaster", "Master", "Head Marshal", "Vanguard", etc.

"I have no idea what you're talking about!"

Xu Xuemo's facial muscles twitched slightly, and he flicked his sleeve, seemingly unwilling to acknowledge Zhang Yunxiu.

He addressed the emperor respectfully.

"Your Majesty, whether it is the White Lotus Sect or the new policies and the plague, the relevant authorities still need to investigate. There is no point in arguing about it in court!"

Zhang Yunxiu stepped forward and questioned, "Wait for an investigation? Wait for you to kill that monk Fahui from Dajue Temple to silence him, and to wipe out all the remnants of the White Lotus Sect from Southern Zhili?"

"Zhang Shiyuan!" Xu Xuemo stamped his foot and said. "You have repeatedly humiliated this old man. Do you really regard the laws of the court as nothing?"

With a twisted mouth and a tearful expression, he knelt down before the Wanli Emperor and spoke with great emotion.

"Your Majesty! This old minister is entirely innocent!"
Since the outbreak of the epidemic, my elderly mother has been seriously ill. We have been searching for medical treatment everywhere, and our family is now destitute. We heard that black incense could have some effect, and hoping for the best, we sought out an English merchant for the medicine.

This old minister also wanted to make some money, so he purchased more, but he didn't expect to be slandered like this.
"Old minister~ Old minister~ Waaaaaah~"

Xu Xuemo cried his heart out, his face pale, as if he had suffered a great injustice.

"Still trying to bluff! Then let me ask you."

Zhang Yunxiu said angrily.

"What is your relationship with the abbot of Dajue Temple? Why did the Ministry of Rites suddenly recruit an abbot from Southern Zhili to the capital?"
Dajue Temple frequently holds prayer ceremonies in the capital, so why do accidents always occur?

Xu Xuemo cried while still speaking in a self-righteous manner.

"The imperial court has its own rules for selecting monks; how could I, alone, make such a decision? Abbot Fahui of Dajue Temple is highly respected and virtuous."

Zhang Yunxiu squinted and said, "Still trying to argue here? Should we summon that monk Fahui to the court assembly to confront him about Buddhism?"
I found it strange. The monk Fahui was from Southern Zhili, the novice monk of Dajue Temple spoke with a Suzhou accent, and you, Xu Shuming, also happened to be from Suzhou. The White Lotus rebels also spoke with a Suzhou accent. What kind of coincidence is this?
Are you suggesting that Suzhou Prefecture and Songjiang Prefecture are dens of White Lotus rebels?

"That's absolutely not the case!"

Xu Xuemo panicked a little. He hadn't expected the other party to investigate so thoroughly, and he kept backing away.

Grand Secretary Zhang Siwei could not contain himself and stepped forward to sternly rebuke him.

"Zhang Shiyuan! This is the imperial court, not a place for you to fool around!"
Is it a Suzhou accent? All the doubts you raised are just your guesses.

Do you really want to arrest a high-ranking official of the imperial court based on just a few guesses?

That's a bit too frivolous.

"exactly!"

Xu Xuemo seemed to have gained confidence, and looked up at Zhang Yunxiu.

"You have no evidence! Without irrefutable proof, how can you convict me!"

Zhang Siwei then said to the emperor, "Your Majesty, the court session has lasted for nearly two hours. Most of the court officials are old and frail. I fear that the old ministers are no longer able to keep up. It would be best to adjourn the court session as soon as possible."

In fact, Emperor Wanli also wanted to adjourn the court session, but he was putting in a lot of effort, hoping that Zhang Yunxiu would completely expose the hypocrisy of these two people!

Just then, Zhang Yunxiu shouted loudly.

"Who says I have no evidence!"

"Your Majesty, please summon Zhang Jingxiu of the Ministry of Rites again!"

To be honest, this court assembly really wore the court officials out.

The courtiers at the front were alright, at least they could understand what was happening, but the courtiers at the back suffered terribly, their legs trembling and their heads spinning from the sun.

Even so, when they saw Zhang Jingxiu, the head of the Ministry of Rites, come up, they felt that their suffering was nothing.

Heaven knows what this eldest son of the prime minister went through. He had huge dark circles under his eyes and looked like a soulless walking corpse, as if he hadn't slept for several nights.

When he arrived before the emperor, even the Wanli Emperor was startled and said...

"Manager Zhang, what's wrong with you?"

Zhang Jingxiu glanced at his younger brother, who gave him an encouraging smile. Only then did he sigh, bow, and report.

"Your Majesty, in order to investigate the Ministry of Rites' collusion with the White Lotus Rebellion, I have been hiding in the Ministry of Rites' treasury day and night to copy and review numerous accounts. I have been working day and night for days, which is why I am in this state."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Siwei glanced at Xu Xuemo almost imperceptibly, and the latter's pupils also contracted slightly.

These days, he and Zhang Siwei and others have been thinking about how to plan and keeping an eye on Zhang Yunxiu's actions. However, he did not expect that the other party had such a useless older brother in the Ministry of Rites, who actually allowed him to sneak into the warehouse to check the accounts.
Surprised as I was, I glanced at the thick stacks of account books that the eunuchs had been carrying on the ground, which looked like a small mountain.

Zhang Siwei couldn't help but sneer, saying, "Chief Zhang, Assistant Magistrate Zhang, you two don't intend to use this stack of account books as evidence, do you? Do you two want the entire court and His Majesty to go through them page by page, fooling around until noon?"

Why is Grand Secretary Zhang in such a hurry?

Zhang Yunxiu looked at his elder brother, Zhang Jingxiu, signaling that he could continue. Zhang Jingxiu appeared completely dazed, but still mustered his strength and spoke to the group of clerks who had come forward.

"Generate the data report!"

Since the last court meeting, data reports have become something that the upright officials fear like a tiger.

Zhang Jingxiu's mention of it again made them even more uneasy.

This time, the data report has been improved, and a display board has even been set up.

Huge display boards were erected in the square outside the main gate of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, allowing many courtiers at the end of the procession to get a glimpse of them.

But one could hear Zhang Jingxiu, the head of the Ministry of Rites, reading aloud in a completely emotionless voice.

"Since the ninth year of the Wanli reign, disasters have occurred continuously throughout the north and south of the Yangtze River, with severe famine and poor harvests in various places. Henan has also suffered from a windstorm, and the rainfall near the capital has been irregular, causing crops to wither. In early April, several counties in Shanxi Province were also affected by disasters. On the 22nd, relief was provided for floods in Jiangsu, Huaihe, Fenghuang, Xuzhou, and Suqian."

"The Ministry of Rites has a series of functions, including presiding over disaster relief and organizing sacrificial rites to eliminate disasters. It is naturally duty-bound to take responsibility in such disasters."

After delivering his prepared speech, Zhang Jingxiu became much more confident. Holding a wooden stick, he pointed at the statistical reports and explained them to the emperor and the court officials.

"However, I have found many irregularities in the accounts of the Ministry of Rites. Please take a look here. Since the Chenghua era, the Ministry of Rites has been using ordination certificates to raise funds for various expenditures. This was normal before the eighth year of the Wanli era, but since the eighth year of the Wanli era, the number of these ordination certificates has increased dramatically!"

Zhang Jingxiu looked disgusted and glanced at Xu Xuemo before speaking.

"Coincidentally, the eighth year of the Wanli reign was also the year when Minister Xu took office in the Ministry of Rites!"

Xu Xuemo's body trembled slightly, but he still continued to explain.

"Over the years, the national treasury has been depleted and the people's livelihood has been impoverished, all due to the new policies. How can our Ministry of Rites not issue more ordination certificates? Zhang Siwen, as an official of the Ministry of Rites, don't you even understand this?"

"This is truly strange."

Zhang Jingxiu ignored the other party's impotent rage and instead pointed to another chart.

"Since the eighth year of the Wanli reign, incidents of White Lotus Rebellion have occurred frequently in various places. The rate of increase and the affected areas coincide with the locations where the Ministry of Rites issued new ordination certificates. How could there be such a coincidence in the world?"

boom!
These words struck Xu Xuemo like a thunderbolt, leaving him utterly speechless.

Xu Xuemo's behavior was obvious to all the court officials, so how could they not guess what was going on?
But Zhang Jingxiu still didn't let him off the hook and continued speaking.

"This ordination certificate matter can still be explained as a coincidence, but since the eighth year of the Wanli reign, the various sacrificial and monk stipends issued by disaster relief centers in various places have coincided with the places where the White Lotus Rebellion was rampant!"

Initially, Zhang Jingxiu found his younger brother's speculation quite unbelievable.

But the more he studied these accounts, the more shocking they became.

Zhang Jingxiu said through gritted teeth, "Minister Xu has kept the accounts watertight, which is undeniably meticulous, but he has forgotten that the net of heaven is vast and its meshes are wide, yet nothing escapes it."

In the past, court accounts were recorded in writing and bound into volumes, making them naturally difficult to judge.

However, once the chart analysis method is introduced, everything becomes clear at a glance and nothing can be hidden when comparing various numbers!

What else do you have to say?

"correct."

Zhang Jingxiu slapped his forehead and said.

"Minister Xu kept the Ministry of Rites' accounts very detailed, but he forgot one account, which was the estimated cost of building the Emperor's mausoleum, including site selection and exploration, which resulted in a deficit of nearly 50,000 taels."

This deficit coincides with the recent disturbances caused by the White Lotus Sect in the capital.

Presumably, Minister Xu hasn't had time to correct this error in the accounts?

After saying this, Zhang Jingxiu bowed to Emperor Wanli and said...

"I guarantee with my life that every word of the above analysis and figures is true."

If someone says this is a coincidence, then I must ask: if a coincidence of one number is a coincidence, is a coincidence of all numbers still a coincidence?

Upon hearing this, the Wanli Emperor, seated on his throne, was immediately shaken.

My money!

His eyes were practically spitting fire as he looked at Xu Xuemo.

What a dog! They dare to touch the money meant for my palace renovation!
The emperor was seething with hatred, but he still couldn't go down and give Xu Xuemo a good beating.

Xu Xuemo shouted, "This is just a guess! It doesn't count!"

"Dog thief!"

Zhang Jingxiu turned his head and glared angrily at Xu Xuemo, taking one step at a time as he spoke.

"It doesn't count? Would you like to look at other numbers?"

"And then there's the contrast between these prayer and sacrificial rites in the capital and the mischief perpetrated by the White Lotus Rebellion!"

"And there's Dajue Temple."

"Children and pregnant women from the capital have also gone missing."

As Zhang Jingxiu gradually approached Xu Xuemo, even someone as good-tempered as him was enraged by Xu Xuemo's heinous behavior.

If they weren't in front of the emperor, Zhang Jingxiu would have pounced on Xu Xuemo and torn a piece of flesh from his body.

The relief intended for ordinary people has been diverted to the White Lotus sect bandits for ordination certificates and sustenance! How much harm will this bring to the people?

And those numbers of missing children and women, marked with vermilion ink, seem insignificant, but they represent real human lives!

For the sake of their own power, for the sake of "nurturing bandits to enhance their own prestige," and for the sake of using the White Lotus Sect as a bargaining chip, these high-ranking officials actually disregarded life!
Even worse, some, like Xu Xuemo, became leaders within the White Lotus Sect.
Zhang Jingxiu, who already looked haggard, now had eyes that seemed to be about to burst, and roared at Xu Xuemo like a god of death.

"Xu Shuming! What else do you have to say! These accounts are irrefutable evidence! The thousands upon thousands of lives lost because of you, are you not afraid that they will come after you in the dead of night to claim your life?"

Xu Xuemo took another step back, and saw that the other party was Zhang Jingxiu.

This mere head of the Ministry of Rites, who usually keeps a low profile and doesn't dare to utter a harsh word in the Ministry, actually dares to ride roughshod over me!
His chest heaved as he stared at the air.

“Zhang Siwen, you are merely a minor official in the Ministry of Rites. How dare you speak to me like this?”

The so-called chart method is utterly ridiculous!

Do you think you can convict this minister by arbitrarily fabricating some numbers?

"I am innocent! Those White Lotus cult members have nothing to do with me!"

Xu Xuemo pushed Zhang Jingxiu to the ground.

The eldest brother, Zhang Jingxiu, had been exhausted from staying up all night, and staggered backward after being pushed by him.

Just as he was about to fall straight onto the floor tiles, a hand firmly supported his older brother's back.

"Fifth brother."

Zhang Jingxiu strained to open his eyes wide, his eyes filled with exhaustion.

As the child most disappointed by his father Zhang Juzheng, he ultimately did his best.

Zhang Yunxiu patted his older brother on the shoulder and said, "Brother, that move you just made was awesome! Now it's time for your foolish younger brother to perform."

Zhang Jingxiu didn't know where the phrase "so handsome" came from, but he could tell it was a compliment to him.

He hadn't slept for three days and three nights. Zhang Yunxiu gently laid him on the ground, and he fell into a deep sleep as soon as he touched the floor tiles.

Even in the emperor's presence, he slept with extraordinary peace of mind.

"Xu Xuemo!"

Zhang Yunxiu suddenly let out a loud scare.

Upon seeing the other person, Xu Xuemo reacted as if he were a mouse seeing a cat, turning around and trying to escape.

But Zhang Yunxiu was not about to let him go. Dressed in a third-rank leopard-patterned robe, he was as agile as a tiger or leopard and grabbed Xu Xuemo.

Xu Xuemo was still roaring, "Zhang Shiyuan! Release me, Minister! What right do you, a mere third-rank commander, have to arrest me!"

"Snapped!"

Zhang Yunxiu acted swiftly and decisively, slapping Xu Xuemo into silence instantly.

"This slap was delivered for the people of the capital. You hypocrite, a beast in human clothing, a fraud who seeks fame and fortune, for your own selfish gain, you attempted to close the clinic, ruin the new policies, and destroy the livelihoods of the common people. You deserve to die!"

"Snapped!"

Another slap followed, and Xu Xuemo's face was already swollen.

"This slap is for the lives harmed by the White Lotus Sect. You condone your followers' heinous acts without the slightest remorse, and you have unworthyly worn this human skin!"

The slap had drawn blood from Xu Xuemo's mouth, leaving him barely recognizable.

"Snapped!"

The final slap sent Xu Xuemo flying, landing right in front of the steps.

But then Zhang Yunxiu shouted angrily.

"This slap was delivered by His Majesty! You shameless villain, treacherous and wicked, cruel and vicious, have dared to insult the Emperor! If you are not eliminated by man, Heaven will surely punish you!"

Three slaps landed in quick succession, shocking everyone in the room!
For a moment, the officials in the court were dumbfounded.

Just now, the old ministers ganged up on the censor and knocked him unconscious, which was already shocking and worthy of being recorded in history.

This time, Zhang Yunxiu slapped a minister hard across the face during the court assembly.

How would this be recorded in historical books?

Despite the shock, no one went up to plead for Xu Xuemo or even tried to stop him.

Those who gain the way help more, those who lose the way help few.

With multiple pieces of evidence, Xu Xuemo is no longer able to refute these shocking crimes. Even dissecting and exposing him is not enough to satisfy our anger.

Xu Xuemo was no longer human; his face was covered in blood or tears as he crawled on the ground.

As if seeking help, he crawled to Zhang Siwei's feet, clung to his leg, and cried bitterly.

"Mr. Ziwei, please say something! Mr. Ziwei, I'm innocent! Mr. Ziwei, you must stand up for me!"

Zhang Siwei's face was gloomy. He glanced at the other person, his eyes full of regret, and stomped his feet repeatedly, as if he was heartbroken.

"Xu Shuming! I never imagined you could be such a depraved and utterly wicked person! I..."

"Hey~"

He let out another heavy sigh, as if it had nothing to do with him, and then pulled his leg away, avoiding Xu Xuemo's plea for help.

All of this evidence points to Xu Xuemo, but has nothing to do with Zhang Siwei.

"Mr. Ziwei~"

Xu Xuemo let out a shrill cry, but found that the other party still ignored him.

Then his eyes grew increasingly resentful. He struggled to his feet, turned to Zhang Yunxiu, and said...

"You son of a bitch! I am innocent! I am the Minister of Rites, you cannot judge me!"

As he spoke, he suddenly lunged at Zhang Yunxiu.

But he was no match for Zhang Yunxiu. Zhang Yunxiu kicked him right in the face and knocked him down again.

Seeing Xu Xuemo lying on the ground like a dead dog, his crimson second-rank official robes were particularly glaring.

Zhang Yunxiu reached out and grabbed Xu Xuemo's collar, tearing off his official robes with a ripping sound.

"Xu Xuemo! You colluded with those above you, embezzled and perverted the law. Do you even deserve to wear an official hat? Do you even deserve to wear this official robe?"

On the steps of the imperial palace, witnessing everything unfold, the Wanli Emperor had completely lost his composure, jumping up and down and muttering something under his breath.

"Yes! Give him a good beating!"

"Xu Xuemo deserves to be killed by everyone!"

"Well done! Strip him of his official robes! Does he even deserve a second-rank official's robe?"

Seeing the emperor lose his composure and the court in complete chaos, Feng Bao, standing beside the throne, knew that things could not continue like this.

He shouted in a low voice.

"Court adjourned."

"Zhang Ziwei! His Majesty summons you to the Qianqing Palace for questioning!"

"Brother Ziwei, why are you running?"

"Zhang Ziwei has confessed his crimes and accepted punishment; it's not too late!"

On the stone-paved road outside the Wenyuan Pavilion, Zhang Siwei came down from the court assembly. Gone was his earlier composure. He looked flustered and dared not face Shen Shixing and the emperor.

He jogged along, muttering something to himself.

"I am the Grand Secretary."

"I am the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet!"

"Zhang Jiangling is dead! He's going to die!"

"Shen Rumo must listen to me, and the emperor must listen to me too. I can do whatever I want!"

For a moment, he seemed to have gone a little crazy.

Stumbling and staggering, they made their way to the office of the Wenyuan Pavilion.

With a loud bang, he pushed open the door of the office and ran towards the prime minister's seat in the center.

His eyes were filled with longing.

"I am the Grand Secretary! I am the true Grand Secretary!"

Zhang Siwei, looking extremely eager, ran towards the seat he had been longing for day and night.

However, he was almost startled when he looked up.

"thump!"

His legs gave way and he knelt down, his body leaning back, his eyes filled with fear, his mouth trembling as he pointed at the person in the prime minister's seat.

"Zhang Jiangling! You're not dead! Weren't you seriously ill? What are you doing here! Zhang Jiangling—"

"Ai--"

Zhang Juzheng, the Grand Secretary, looked radiant at this moment. His scarlet silk robe with crane motifs made him appear extremely dignified.

Beneath his official hat, a long white beard trailed across his desk.

He was writing at his desk.

Where is there even a hint of illness?
Zhang Juzheng sighed heavily again, looked at Zhang Siwei on the ground, and said helplessly.

“In the third year of the Wanli reign, I tried my best to help you enter the cabinet, but I did not expect to arouse evil thoughts in your heart, which led to this great mistake.”

"old."

Zhang Siwei wanted to curse, but the other party's imposing manner drained all his strength, and tears streamed down his face.

Zhang Juzheng stopped writing, picked up the book he had annotated on his desk, and casually tossed it in front of Zhang Siwei.

The Book of Rites states: "A gentleman values ​​others and belittles himself, putting others before himself."

You are well-versed in poetry and literature, yet you cannot even understand the Book of Rites. You should read it more often in the future.

Zhang Siwei knelt on the ground, looking at the "Book of Rites" in front of him. The pages were open, and Zhang Juzheng's tiny, official script was clearly visible.

When Shen Shixing hurriedly arrived at Wenyuan Pavilion, he happened to run into Zhang Juzheng, who was coming out of the gate.

He said with a hint of surprise.

"My lady! You've fully recovered?"

However, Zhang Juzheng straightened himself and took two steps toward him, but his face once again contorted with pain.

"Ouch! That hurts so much!"

He clutched his anus, looking as if he was in excruciating pain.

Shen Shixing stepped forward to help Zhang Juzheng, and couldn't help but ask with some concern, "Master En, would you like me to take you back to the clinic?"

"No need," Zhang Juzheng waved his hand and said with a smile.

"You and Shiyuan did a good job this time. I'm fine, so please take me back to my residence."

"Back to the manor?" Shen Shixing asked, somewhat puzzled. "But the Ke'en family's illness hasn't fully healed yet."

"It does not matter."

Zhang Juzheng shook his head, a profound look appearing in his eyes.

“This matter is complicated. Zhang Yunxiu has done so much. I should have a good talk with him.”

Shen Shixing couldn't help but sigh and say, "This young master of the En family is truly a prodigy! It's just that his actions are a bit too unconventional."

"It's more than just unorthodox."

Zhang Juzheng sighed, his eyes filled with even deeper worry.

"The more he flaunts his talents, the more I, as his father, must set things right!"

　Note 1: The English swear words are selected from William Shakespeare's King Lear (written in 1606), and Kent used this series of insults to vehemently denounce Oswald.

　　Note 2: The section on the construction of the mausoleum by the young emperor is recorded in the "Veritable Records of Emperor Shenzong of Ming" (Volume 132): "On the day of Dingchou in the first month of the eleventh year of Wanli, the emperor issued an edict to the cabinet: 'In the intercalary second month, I will personally go to Tianshou Mountain to perform the spring sacrifice and select a mausoleum. You are to draft an edict to carry it out.'"

　　Some other unclear records mention that in March of the eighth year of the Wanli reign, Zhu Yijun had the idea of ​​building a mausoleum while visiting the imperial tombs at Tianshou Mountain, but was stopped by Lao Zhang.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)