Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 101 This Junior Scholar is Clearly Strong but Overly Cautious
When Huang Jin ordered his men to summon Yan Maoqing from the Hanlin Academy, Yan Maoqing looked completely bewildered, pointing to himself repeatedly to confirm:
"Your Majesty... has ordered me to enter the palace to investigate this case?"

Huang Jin had already given a brief account of what happened last night.

It really was the Renyin Palace Coup!
The details are also largely consistent with historical records.

Last night, the Emperor slept in Consort Cao's Yude Palace. While Consort Cao got up to use the night, Yang Jinying, a concubine in Consort Wang's palace, and a total of sixteen palace maids seized the opportunity to assassinate the Emperor, intending to strangle him with a fine ceremonial rope.

However, contrary to historical records, this time Zhu Houcong was not strangled unconscious...

Instead, they launched a fierce counterattack, killing two palace maids in one fell swoop and scaring the rest of them into scattering and fleeing!

Therefore, Zhu Houcong did not summon the imperial physicians for treatment, and thus Xu Shen, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, did not have to risk his life to administer the medicine, which led to his death from fear.

But after hearing what happened...

Yan Maoqing felt that the world he was in now had a touch of magical realism to it.

Is this something that can be turned around and defeated simply by fighting back?
Although women are slightly weaker than men, these are still sixteen palace maids.

As the saying goes, "two fists can't beat four hands," but Zhu Houcong was clearly fighting against thirty-two hands with two fists.

If he could really resist, then he would have to be at least at the level of the Great Ming War God, right?
In the Renyin Palace Coup in history, how could she have been held down and unable to move until she was on the verge of death and fell into a coma? Only when a palace maid ran to Empress Fang to confess out of fear was she finally spared from death.

Therefore, Yan Maoqing also didn't understand this...

"Hurry up and come with us. The Emperor specifically mentioned you, saying you're the most resourceful...

Huang Jin had no time to chat with Yan Maoqing; he just kept urging him on and even made an inappropriate slip of the tongue.

Yan Maoqing looked astonished upon hearing this, and continued to press for answers as he followed behind:
"What does that mean? Is His Majesty saying I have too many birds, or that I have too many ideas?"

"Yan Jishi!"

Huang Jin stamped his foot and glared angrily.

To boast about having many birds in front of someone who has none is incredibly humiliating!

"Alright, alright, please forgive me, Eunuch Huang, I won't ask about this anymore, okay?"

Yan Maoqing laughed it off without any remorse and continued rambling on.

"Then, Eunuch Huang, you can tell me exactly how His Majesty killed the palace maid in retaliation. Surely that's related to the case?"

"This matter should be kept to yourself by Yan Jishi and should not be spread outside... In fact, the Emperor has hidden a short sword."

Huang Jin finally managed to reveal a little more information, keeping his voice down.

He regretted it as soon as he finished speaking, because this was a secret that the emperor had emphasized he should not reveal, and it seemed the emperor had other plans.

But then I thought again, if this person is Yan Maoqing, then it doesn't matter.

After all, this was not the only secret between Yan Maoqing and the Emperor. Compared to the previous secrets, this was a trivial matter... A good daughter-in-law would keep secrets from both sides.

wrong!

No, no, no!

Huang Jin suddenly realized another extremely serious problem.

Not only did the Emperor undergo an inexplicable transformation, but the Duke of Yi also underwent a strange change without realizing it!

He never thought that "being a good wife and keeping secrets from both sides" was something he should do for granted. After all, Zhu Houcong had become increasingly suspicious in recent years and was most wary of eunuchs communicating privately with court officials.

And what has he been doing lately?

Previously, during the "reinstatement of the imperial court," he had privately reminded Yan Song that "the emperor does not wish to reinstate the imperial court."

Now, Yan Maoqing only asked one more question, and he revealed the secret that the Emperor had emphasized must not be divulged...

He actually thinks this is a matter of life and death, and he takes it for granted... Is he insane?!
"I see... But I'm just a newly appointed scholar, I have no experience in investigating cases at all!"

Yan Maoqing immediately scrunched up his face like a bitter gourd and let out a wail.

Historically, Zhu Houcong had never acted so openly and honestly during this period, so even without his reminder, Zhu Houcong himself was already on guard...

This is the main reason that changed the course of history in the Renyin Palace Incident.

But... investigating a case?!

How do I check?!

Yan Maoqing was in a dilemma. How could he possibly investigate any cases? And how could his investigative skills compare to those of Lu Bing, who had been deeply involved in this field for many years?

Lu Bing was no ordinary person. After only a few brief encounters, Yan Maoqing had already discerned Lu Bing's shrewdness and cunning.

Don't be fooled by his ever-smiling, seemingly kind-hearted demeanor; he was definitely not a good person. Otherwise, how could he have survived the treacherous and unpredictable officialdom of the Jiajing era?
Lu Bing is currently in the palace; if even he can't find out who's behind this, then...

However, historical records only attributed this palace coup to Wang Ningping and Consort Cao. How could he possibly have known that Zhu Houcong was forcing a duck onto a shelf?
Wait a minute...right!
Wouldn't this just disappoint Zhu Houcong?
After the clever scheme to subdue Anda, Zhu Houcong seemed to have changed his opinion of him, otherwise he wouldn't have summoned him to the palace to assist in the investigation.

The higher Zhu Houcong's expectations of himself were, the more disappointed he would be if he failed to achieve them, and the more he would see through his own mediocrity and incompetence.

Over time, even "ingenious schemes" would be dismissed by Zhu Houcong as mere lucky breaks.

Also.

This is also to give Lu Bing face. After all, if Lu Bing can find out a case that Lu Bing can't, wouldn't that be a huge loss of face for Lu Bing, the head of the Ming Dynasty's intelligence bureau?

Kill two birds with one stone!
This is definitely a win-win situation!

"..."

Seeing Yan Maoqing's expression, Huang Jin did not respond.

He could always see this sleazy quality in Yan Maoqing, or you could say it was self-deprecation.

He just doesn't understand.

This thing emitting blue smoke is clearly a wise and capable advisor to a king.

Why do they seem completely unaware of their own ignorance, always putting on such a pretentious act, belittling themselves?

……

Yude Palace.

Empress Fang has already visited, and the ailing Empress Dowager Zhang has also sent someone to visit.

Duke Zhu Xizhong of Cheng, Duke Zhang Rong of Ying, Duke Guo Xun of Yi, and other nobles also requested an audience outside the palace.

Zhu Houcong refused to summon any of these people, except for Yan Maoqing, whom he sent someone to summon.

But at this moment.

Another person also came to Zhu Houcong's side. Although he was not summoned like Yan Maoqing, he took the initiative to ask for an audience and was not refused by Zhu Houcong.

This person was none other than Tao Zhongwen, the Taoist priest who had previously been the most favored by Zhu Houcong.

"The fact that the Emperor Wanshou recovered from his calamity is a testament to divine protection. My recent rituals to ward off disaster and pray for blessings have not been in vain."

Tao Zhongwen bowed slightly, still maintaining the composed demeanor of a wise man unperturbed by praise or criticism, but inwardly, a storm was raging within him.

This was not the script he designed for Zhu Houcong at all!

In his design, there were only two possible outcomes to this matter.

Either Zhu Houcong dies!

Either Zhu Houcong was afraid!

But now, Zhu Houcong not only hasn't died, but he also doesn't seem afraid. On the contrary, he has inexplicably killed two palace maids all by himself!

This is the most fatal problem for him!
If it were Lu Bing who captured and killed the palace maid, or if it were anyone else who came to protect the emperor, there would be no problem!
But Zhu Houcong is now saving himself with his own abilities, and this problem is bigger than anything else!
In this way, Zhu Houcong will likely become even more convinced of Yan Maoqing's heretical words, and will only increasingly believe in his own power, rather than the power of the heavens that these sorcerers and shamans "pray" for!
This would undoubtedly be a devastating blow to Tao Zhongwen, who was previously the emperor's most favored advisor!

"It all started because of that Yan Maoqing who was emitting blue smoke. We must find a way to get rid of him as soon as possible!"

Just as I was thinking this.

"Report——!"

A shout came from outside:
"Yan Maoqing has been summoned and is requesting an audience outside the palace!"

"..."

Tao Zhongwen's heart tightened upon hearing the sound, and a murderous intent surfaced deep in his eyes.

"Such a major event has occurred, yet His Majesty did not send anyone to summon me. Instead, he summoned Yan Maoqing alone, which shows that my current situation is extremely critical."

"I have no way out but to fight with all my might!"

"Today, either Yan Maoqing dies, or I live. I'll show this man what I'm capable of!"

"It's not just about winning or losing, it's about life and death!"

(End of this chapter)