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

Chapter 167 Father, How Will We Divide the Proceeds This Time? [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

"?!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Houcong pretended to open one eye halfway, then suddenly widened it.

"Wait a minute!"

Faced with this situation, a certain gene deep within Yan Maoqing was instantly activated.

Suddenly, he jumped up, quickly retreated more than ten feet, pointed at Huang Jin, and howled:
"Your Majesty, the eunuch Liu Jin, who is comparable to the former dynasty's Grand Eunuch Liu Jin, has himself jumped out!"

"This eunuch dares to openly distort the law and commit violence in front of the emperor. Even I, a sinner, dare not imagine how arrogant and disrespectful he is when the emperor cannot see him!"

"Your Majesty, I, a sinner, deserve no regrets even in death. I have managed to expose this treacherous eunuch who has brought disaster to the country and its people. Even in death, I can die with my eyes closed in peace!"

"???"

"!!!"

Upon hearing these words, Huang Jin froze on the spot, his mind blank for a long time.

This, this, this...

Once he regained some of his senses, his heart was instantly filled with unprecedented fear. He could no longer stand steadily and could not even speak.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me! This servant only... this servant only..."

Huang Jin's face turned deathly pale. He hurriedly and carefully put down the bronze chime in his hand, then with a "thud," he used his "Iron Knee Skill" to kneel down on the ground, his head hitting the ground with a loud thud.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Each throbbing pain in his forehead brought him a little clearer-headedness.

He couldn't help but recall the scene when Yan Maoqing first met the emperor in the West Garden and confronted Tao Zhongwen head-on.

He couldn't help but recall the scene later when Yan Maoqing faced off against Tao Zhongwen again during the "Xin Chou Palace Coup".

He couldn't help but recall the tears and snot that Yan Maoqing had wiped on the dragon robe...

He couldn't help but recall the words Zhu Houcong had once said to Tao Zhongwen that had left a deep impression on him: "Why did you provoke him?"

the most important is.

He couldn't help but recall the question Zhu Houcong had asked him just about an hour ago: "You dog servant, do you also want to be my master?"

That's reckless!

Seeing Zhu Houcong and Yan Maoqing getting along so well today, he unconsciously began to empathize with them.

For a moment, he lost his mind, forgot his identity, and did something so reckless that he should never have done it!

Unfortunately, Yan Maoqing was a scoundrel who, apart from being forced by the emperor's tyranny, could not tolerate the slightest grievance from anyone else. Once he sensed any malice, he would immediately start biting and lashing out at anyone, regardless of the occasion, his status, or his bottom line.

Tao Zhongwen was powerless against him, so what right did I have to stand up and provoke him?

What exactly did I do...?

Huang Jin was filled with remorse and could only hope that Zhu Houcong would understand that he had only acted rashly and had no other improper intentions.

But speaking of orthodontics!

That bastard has absolutely no self-awareness!

Do I even deserve to be called pretentious?
At most, it can only be considered an attempted forgery, okay?

That bastard who's practically emitting blue smoke just now falsely claimed to have the Emperor's decree and confiscated the property of three great dukes!
How could he so effortlessly utter the words "pretend" in front of the Emperor? If the Emperor were to take it seriously, could he bear the consequences? You bastard!
"..."

Seeing the scene before him, especially Huang Jin's fearful and remorseful expression, Zhu Houcong couldn't help but laugh.

He could tell, of course, that Huang Jin had just deliberately cooperated with him to scare Yan Maoqing, and that he probably also had some intention of giving him a way out.

After all, others might not be able to see it, but Huang Jin could not possibly be unaware that he had no intention of taking Yan Maoqing's life.

Therefore, the order to "drag him out and beat him to death" will definitely be revoked after Yan Maoqing understands where he went wrong this time and sincerely admits his mistake and repents.

only……

From what had just happened, Zhu Houcong could also sense that this was not Huang Jin's usual style of doing things.

Huang Jin had been serving him for quite some time.

This maid has always been cautious and prudent, and has never done anything out of line over the years. It is quite unusual that she has suddenly acted this way.

Could it be... because I was unknowingly influenced by this thing emitting blue smoke?
This is not a good sign!

Everyone has their own responsibilities. For me, the only requirement for a close servant like Huang Jin is unconditional obedience and submission. She should not have too many of her own ideas, let alone act on her own initiative!
I thought so in my heart.

Zhu Houcong had made his decision. He immediately threw back the brocade quilt, sat up, and coldly shouted:
"Huang Jin, I will spare you this time since it is your first offense. Go out and accept your punishment. If you dare to do it again, I will never forgive you!"

"Your Majesty's leniency and forgiveness have moved this servant to tears!"

Huang Jin felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He immediately kowtowed several times and, with blood streaming down his face, hurriedly retreated out of the hall.

What is this called?
This is called "Gods fighting, mortals suffer!"
He secretly swore an oath in his heart that if the Emperor and Yan Maoqing ever pretended to be something they weren't going to do again, he would never get involved, even if he couldn't avoid it. Neither of them was someone he could afford to offend...

"..."

Looking at Huang Jin's miserable state, Yan Maoqing shook his head inwardly, feeling a pang of sympathy. "But Eunuch Huang, this isn't my fault."

Let's put ourselves in their shoes. If someone held such a huge bronze chime to your death, you would definitely be scared and fight back fiercely, right?
Don't do that again next time, I was almost scared to death just now, I'd be a dog if I lied to you...

Just as I was thinking this.

"Snapped!"

A wet wipe suddenly hit him on the head, and then Zhu Houcong's booming voice rang in his ears:
"You bastard, kneel down now!"

"Confess to me one by one. What other despicable acts of deceit and treachery have you committed this time? Receive your punishment for each one!"

……

After a while.

"You filthy, smoking bastard..."

Zhu Houcong suppressed his inner joy, still keeping a straight face and glaring at Yan Maoqing, letting out a low growl like a wild beast.

Yan Maoqing did not deliberately conceal what he had done. Apart from using "The Art of War" to enlighten the Crown Prince and some more sensitive details, he told almost everything he had done in the past few days.

After all, deceiving the emperor by impersonating someone is like dancing on the tip of a needle; a slight misstep could lead to utter destruction.

Moreover, he knew that Zhu Houcong was truly anxious and had reached the point of needing the imperial physicians. The smell of Chinese medicine permeating the air of Qianqing Palace and Xu Shen bustling around outside the palace were proof of this.

Although he knew that Zhu Houcong actually lived to be sixty years old in history.

But historically, Zhu Houcong certainly never encountered such a scoundrel as him.

No matter how much trouble Yan Song and his son stirred up in the court, they were always extremely obsequious to Zhu Houcong and would never have stirred up Zhu Houcong's emotions as much as he did.

Therefore, some things should be done in moderation.

After all, there is a limit to human patience. If Zhu Houcong were to be angered to the point of illness, it would not do him any good.

He might not even be able to retire and return to his hometown; he might even have to be buried with Zhu Houcong...

Therefore, Zhu Houcong already knew about Yan Maoqing's actions in the Censorate. To this, he could only say one thing to Yan Maoqing: "Well done! Well done!"

Wang Tingxiang, you've been in charge of the Censorate for so many years, and all you've done is raise beasts?!

He had long wanted to call that old bastard Wang Tingxiang to his side, spit in his face, and interrogate him mercilessly!

This Yan Maoqing is practically a mind reader!

I was just thinking about what to do next after this situation has come to this.
Are the censors of the Censorate and the officials in charge of criticism from various departments still reliable? Or will they collude with me to turn a good thing into a bad one?
Unexpectedly, Yan Maoqing had already considered this step in advance, and even managed to deal with Wang Tingxiang, who wanted to take this opportunity to retire!
It's his methods...

Zhu Houcong was really not a very good person.

When he was in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, he would constantly accuse the Crown Prince of making false accusations in front of all those officials in the Eastern Palace.

Now that he's in the Censorate, he actually dared to openly threaten that old bastard Wang Tingxiang with "slanderous words," demanding that the old man's "family property be confiscated and his clan be exterminated"...

This thing emitting blue smoke is as if it wants others to know how cunning it is, how unscrupulous it is, and how unscrupulous it is.
but……

Even Zhu Houcong had to admit that this extremely wicked method was shameless.

But it is indeed useful in officialdom, and is definitely more persuasive than feigned "appealing to emotions and reasoning with people".

He suddenly remembered the three paths he had previously drawn for Yan Maoqing in his mind:

It either dies young;

Either become a great sage;

Either become a heinous traitor!

But now even Zhu Houcong himself can't see things clearly anymore.

Based on the results, Yan Maoqing's accomplishments can be considered those of a great sage.

However, upon closer analysis of the process, Yan Maoqing's actions certainly qualify him as a great villain!
This is an extremely complex and lovable yet infuriating character; even Zhu Houcong couldn't foresee how Yan Maoqing would ultimately turn out...

"A tree will not grow straight if it is not pruned, and a person will not develop talent if he is not taught!"

As Zhu Houcong analyzed Yan Maoqing in his mind, he gradually made up his mind.

He was convinced that what was kneeling in front of him was a sapling. As for whether it would be a good sapling or a bad sapling, and how it would grow, that would depend on how the person who planted the tree pruned it.
From now on, I will personally guide you!
From now on, I will personally educate them!
From now on, I will personally enforce the rules!
As long as I keep a close eye on this person, correct him at all times, and guard against him at all times, surely with my abilities, I can cultivate a towering tree?
After a moment's hesitation, Zhu Houcong took a deep breath and asked with a hint of expectation:
"So what are your plans next? You must be going to punish these powerful and wealthy people who are encroaching on the interests of the people, right?"

"Father, spare my life! This humble subject has no courage to oppose the powerful and influential people of the land. Father, you are sending this humble subject to his death..."

Yan Maoqing immediately frowned, wailing and kowtowing as he pleaded desperately.

"..."

Zhu Houcong thought about it and realized that this was indeed a problem, and was just about to say something.

But when Yan Maoqing raised his head again, he had already revealed a fawning and obsequious expression:

"But I do have the audacity to use this matter to amass wealth, and a great deal of it. I just don't know how much Your Majesty will give me afterward?"

(End of this chapter)