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

Chapter 152 Big Fool Zhu, you wanted a Yan faction member, and you got your wish! [Seeking monthly votes]

When Yan Maoqing arrived at the courtyard of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

Kong Jian, Li Chengzhi, and the others had all knelt on the ground to receive the imperial edict, and then they heard the eunuch who came to deliver the edict loudly read it aloud:

By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

Cha Shaozhan Shi Kong Jian, Zuo Shuzi Li Chengzhi, Zuo Zhongyun Feng Degui, Zuo Sizhilang Hu Hongzhen, and others, who previously neglected their duties, have now formed cliques and disrespected the emperor, their crimes deepening.

Considering this is the first offense, in accordance with the provisions of the "Collected Statutes of the Ming Dynasty, Volume 7: Laws on Officials" regarding flogging, each offender shall be given twenty strokes of the cane and fined three months' salary.

He ordered Yan Maoqing, the Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, to supervise the execution of the punishment without delay.

I consult my colleagues!

The Eastern Palace is a crucial place, and we should emulate the sincerity of Zhou and Zhao in assisting each other; the Crown Prince's quarters are of high importance, and we should avoid the disasters caused by factionalism during the Han and Tang dynasties.

If such transgressions are repeated, they will be severely punished in accordance with the Great Proclamation.

The announcement was made at home and abroad, and the envoys heard about it.

Admire this! 】

"This, this, this..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Kong Jian, Li Chengzhi, and the others turned pale, their eyes filled with disbelief.

They never imagined that things would turn out this way.

Because they were stubborn and refused to implement Yan Maoqing's "new internal rules," Yan Maoqing actually went and falsely accused them of dereliction of duty, forming cliques, and disrespecting their superiors.
the most important is.

They had both submitted their resignations to express their determination, yet the emperor believed his false accusations without even investigating and issued an edict to punish them entirely according to his wishes.
"How...how could this be..."

Lu Maocai, who was standing next to Yan Maoqing, was also dumbfounded and could hardly believe his ears.

He clearly remembered that when he reported the treacherous words that Yan Maoqing had spoken to the Emperor when he came to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to take up his post, the Emperor had scolded him as "a dog relying on its master's power," clearly already harboring resentment.

But why is he now so cooperative with Yan Maoqing in handling this matter, making his "prophecy come true"?
this moment.

Everyone subconsciously turned to look at Yan Maoqing, who had just walked out of the duty room, and felt even more suffocated.

At this moment, the "instigator" also looked incredulous, equally dumbfounded, and seemed even more surprised than them.

This traitor! This villain! This scoundrel!

To still pretend like this at a time like this, do they think we're all fools?!

"???"

"!!!"

At this moment, Yan Maoqing felt his head buzzing and the world spinning, and he no longer cared about these officials of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

He simply couldn't understand what Zhu Houcong was trying to do.
Why should she cooperate with him unconditionally?!
Now, his bewildered mind could only glean two messages from this imperial edict:

First, Zhu Houcong was keeping a close eye on him;
Secondly, Zhu Houcong was fully supporting him and warning these people to obey him obediently.

even……

Yan Maoqing unconsciously glanced at Granny Li to the side.

This is the most incomprehensible thing!
He was absolutely certain that Consort Wang would not allow him to take the Crown Prince to play in the water and catch fish, and therefore she would definitely run to Zhu Houcong to complain immediately.

As long as Zhu Houcong disagrees with this matter, even if the young crown prince is misled by him, this matter will definitely not be discussed further.

This is also the main reason why Yan Maoqing has stopped his activities today after visiting Zhongcui Palace for three consecutive days.

In other words.

Even his suggestion to take the Crown Prince to play in the water and catch fish was incomprehensibly agreed to by Zhu Houcong!

What exactly is the reason for this?
Where exactly was Zhu Houcong's bottom line?!
"Why haven't you accepted the imperial decree and expressed your gratitude?"

After waiting for a while, the eunuch saw that everyone in the courtyard of the Imperial Household Department was frozen in place, as if petrified, while he was reading the imperial edict at the top of his lungs. Finally, he couldn't help but frown.

Everyone was finally awakened.

"This sinful subject... respectfully obeys Your Majesty's decree!"

Kong Jian, Li Chengzhi, and the others hesitated for a moment, but had no choice but to kowtow and accept the imperial decree.

Whether it's dereliction of duty or forming cliques and disrespecting authority, these two crimes combined cannot outweigh the single charge of "disobeying imperial orders."

Moreover, their previous resistance to Yan Maoqing's proposed "new internal regulations" and their resolute refusal to collude with him was also a form of upholding their integrity and loyalty. "Disobeying imperial orders" is the greatest act of disloyalty besides treason!

The voice just fell.

Before anyone could process what was happening, the eunuch immediately took another imperial edict from the eunuch behind him and continued to read aloud:

By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

The primary responsibility for guiding the Crown Prince rests with the Grand Chamberlain.

I hereby appoint Yan Maoqing to oversee all affairs of the prefecture and grant him the special authority to select scholars from the Hanlin Academy to serve as assistant officials and academicians. He shall have full authority to make decisions and implement them at his discretion.

You should carefully select virtuous and wise individuals, and widely seek out wise and discerning people.

In the past, Bing Ji recommended virtuous men without regard to enemies, and Yan Ying retired from the mediocre without forgetting old friends. You should emulate the public-spiritedness of the ancients and assist the crown prince in following the right path.

Admire this! 】

"???"

"!!!"

This time, Lü Maocai, Kong Jian, Li Chengzhi and the others finally couldn't hold back anymore. Everyone's eyes widened like bulls, and their hair buns started to stand up in strands, turning into a head full of ahoge.

Even Li Mama, who was originally uninvolved, was momentarily stunned and involuntarily gasped!
Is the Emperor going to turn the Court of Imperial Sacrifices into a one-man show by this absurd Grand Master who's only interested in seducing the Crown Prince to go fishing?!

Even more than that.

He gained the privilege of independently selecting assistant scholars from the Hanlin Academy to serve in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and from then on, his influence on the Hanlin Academy was equally unimaginable.

After all, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices was the most attractive promotion channel for the officials and students of the Hanlin Academy. Even the Hanlin scholars in charge of the Hanlin Academy probably had to curry favor with him!
even……

Currently, the Crown Prince is still young and has not yet moved into Cining Palace.

Otherwise, even Consort Wang, for the sake of the Crown Prince's future, would probably not dare to give this absurd Grand Tutor a bad look!
"???"

"!!!"

Yan Maoqing felt extremely overwhelmed, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, and his eardrums felt like they were about to be pierced by a piercing buzz.

Big Fool Zhu, what are you up to now?!

What grudge do I have against you that you want to treat me like Yan Song?

I wield such immense and unrestricted power. If I were to openly form cliques, corrupt officials, manipulate the crown prince, and undermine the foundation of the nation, like Yan Song and his son in history, are you sure you could withstand it in the future? ... Hold on!
This is a path that was never considered before, but it doesn't necessarily mean it can't be followed successfully!

Putting aside his preconceived notion that Zhu Houcong was "ruthless in punishing and killing, and protective of his own shortcomings," a closer analysis of the man reveals that Zhu Houcong can also be considered a complex person who cherished old friendships.

Think of the key cabinet ministers who were heavily relied upon by him during this reign:
Yang Tinghe, Fei Hong, Yang Yiqing, Gu Dingchen, Zhang Cong, Gui E, Li Shi, Zhai Luan, Xia Yan, Yan Song...

Of these people, only Xia Yan was beheaded because Yan Song acted so recklessly.

The remaining people, including Yang Tinghe, who was his sworn enemy in the "Great Rites Controversy," and Yan Song, who was hated by both heaven and man, all ended up with a peaceful death, even if they were stripped of their official positions or had their homes confiscated.

Even Guo Xun, who dared to defy imperial orders and recommended Duan Chaoyong to deceive the emperor, was released by Zhu Houcong after being imprisoned.

It was only because Xia Yan falsely conveyed the imperial edict and went to great lengths to fabricate charges against Guo Xun that Guo Xun ultimately died in prison instead of being executed.

and so……

Yan Maoqing felt he had found the reason why Zhu Houcong treated him this way.

It's all Gao Gong's fault... He was forced to perform the merit of relieving the Tartar threat, and by sheer luck, he helped Zhu Houcong expose Tao Zhongwen, the mastermind, during the Xin Chou Palace Coup.

These two achievements combined are probably the real reason why Zhu Houcong treated him like Yan Song!
If that's really the case, his previous ideas are probably already outdated.

No wonder that the recent minor skirmishes have been unable to break through Zhu Houcong's defenses, or even cause him to have any emotional reaction...

That being the case.

You silly Zhu, you got what you wanted – a member of the Yan faction!

"Your subject kowtows in gratitude for Heaven's grace!"

As the ringing in Yan Maoqing's ears subsided, he accepted the imperial edict from his father-in-law with both hands.

When he stood up again, his mind was clear, and he surveyed the crowd, saying in a deep voice:
"Arrest Kong Jian, Junior Chamberlain; Li Chengzhi, Left Vice Minister; Feng Degui, Left Vice Minister; Hu Hongzhen, Left Director of Justice; and all others. This Minister will personally carry out the executions with a cane!"

(End of this chapter)