Lake Pavilion!
Zhu You marked all the memorials that needed to be approved with a red brush, sat by the lake, and started fishing!
"Emperor, the Tianjin government has sent an urgent report. The Hainan yellow rosewood has arrived at Haikou and is being sent over urgently!”
Wei Zhongxian rowed over, and the surface of the lake rippled gently, driving away the fish that were carefully eating the bait on the hook!
With a wave of its tail, the big red carp dived into the depths of the lake. No matter how much bait it threw, it would not come out!
"How much is it?"
"Wild 500-year-old rosewood!”
"It's enough!"
Hearing this, Wei Zhongxian smiled bitterly. Over the years, less than 100 rosewood trees had been mined. In such a short period of time, 1,000 trees had been cut down, almost killing the Hainan officials!
"Emperor, the Duke of Wei and his wife request an audience!”
"Who is it?"
"The wife of the previous Duke of Wei, the younger sister of the current Marquis Wuding, and also a first-grade imperial wife of the previous dynasty!”
"What is it?"
"He only said that he wanted to see you, but he didn't say the reason!”
"Let's meet in the warm pavilion!"
Zhu Youxiao shook the fishing rod, and the fish around the hook fled one after another. He got up and got off the boat!
A first-grade imperial concubine!
There had been no prince in Ming Dynasty for nearly a hundred years. His status was especially noble and was not inferior to the chief of the cabinet. Even Zhu Youxiao could not neglect him!
"My wife Xuguo greets Your Majesty!”
Lady Xuguo bowed in greeting, her etiquette impeccable!
Although she was called the old madam, she was actually more than forty years old. As she took good care of herself, she could be said to still be charming!
"Madam, rise!"
Zhu Youxiao raised his hands and smiled gently."May I know why Madam has come?"
"I'm ashamed. This official's wife is here for a good-for-nothing son!”
"Xu Hongji, Duke of Wei?"
Zhu Youxiao's expression was a little strange. When he thought of the silly state duke's appearance, he felt his teeth ache!
Logically speaking, his father was the previous Duke of Wei, and his mother was the sister of Marquis Wuding. How could a duke and a marquis nurture such a thing?
"It's the youngest son!"
Xuguo-shi nodded and took out a letter from her sleeve. She respectfully said,"This is a letter from my youngest son from Shanxi. He said that he wanted my wife to send him to the palace!”
"Since it's a letter from home, why do you need me to read it?”
Zhu Youxiao smiled and opened the Xu family's letter. The smile on his face gradually froze!
An aura rose up involuntarily, causing the warm pavilion to feel a little stifled. Wei Zhongxian, who was beside him, found it difficult to breathe!
"Emperor! Emperor!"
Noticing the change in Xuguo-shi's expression, Wei Zhongxian reminded her in a low voice. No matter what the content was, the atmosphere of the conversation between the Emperor and a first-grade imperial concubine should not be like this!
"Thank you, Furen. Zhen will accept the letter!”
Zhu Youxiao came back to his senses and suppressed the anger in his heart. He smiled again and said reluctantly,"Furen is a precious daughter and is well-educated. This time, when you enter the palace, you might as well make a trip to Kun Ning Palace to teach the Empress etiquette!”
"I don't dare, I will go!"
Xuguo-shi understood the meaning behind the bow, bowed and took her leave. She did not stop walking towards the Palace of Earthly Tranquility!
Looking at the Emperor's expression, it was definitely not something that had happened to his youngest son. This way, she could rest assured!
"Summon the Prime Minister Ye Xianggao and the Second Prime Minister Fang Congzhe to the Warm Pavilion for an audience!”
"This servant will obey!"
As a vassal, Wei Zhongxian could feel that a volcano was churning, as if it was about to erupt at any moment!
Something big was about to happen!
Head Chief Wei had no choice but to personally welcome the Chief and Second Assistant into the palace. After instructing the two cabinet ministers that the Emperor was being cautious in his words and actions, he quietly retreated to the side!
"Your humble subject pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
"Look at this!"
Zhu Youxiao didn't waste any time and directly threw the Xu family's book to the chief assistant!
"This…"
The chief assistant couldn't help but exclaim!
Treason!
Bribe openly!
Land annexation!
Misleading the people!
Bribing the military!
The Five Deadly Sins were shocking!
The Jin merchants were actually so arrogant!
After the chief assistant finished reading, the second assistant took it. As he was mentally prepared, he did not lose his composure, but his heart was extremely heavy!
"Pavilion Elders, what do you think of Xu Hongji's words?”
Zhu Youxiao was furious!
The imperial edict was issued to raise funds for the Grand Canal. This was an act to benefit the people. The Jin merchants would only pay silver. They refused!
However, in order to bribe officials, they had to spend tens of millions of silver!
The entire treasury of Datong Town was filled with bribes from the officials. The amount spent to clean up the entire Grand Canal was nothing more than this!
"I implore Your Majesty to eradicate the traitor!"
Fang Congzhe knelt on the ground, sighing in his heart that his plan was about to fail!
In the court, there were countless corpses, but compared to the bandits of the Jin Dynasty, it was less painful!
In the face of great right and wrong, the assistant minister firmly stood on the side of the country and left his name in history. There would still be opportunities in the future!
"I agree!"
Ye Xianggao followed closely behind and said sadly,""Jin Shang is a traitor. He has been in Shanxi for many years and has harmed a region. As the chief assistant, he knows nothing about it. I am old and feel that it is difficult for me to be the chief assistant.”
Zhu Youxiao's back was facing the chief assistant. His voice was emotionless as he said coldly,""Allow!"
Ye Xianggao left!
His heart was extremely cold!
After decades of being an official, he had already reached the peak of his position. It seemed that it was time for him to retire!
"I beg for my bones!"
Compared to the chief assistant who was in a mess, Fang Congzhe was even more thorough. He took off his official hat and accused him of his crimes."As a minister of the auxiliary country, I boast that there is nothing that I don't know about the affairs of the country. In fact, I have eyes but can't see.
In the past, he was one of my favorite students, but he colluded with the Red Top Merchant. He stole the country and the people. He should be executed!
As the lord of all countries, I can't escape my sin. I hope Your Majesty will remember my hard work and allow me to retire!”
Disciples and lords, advance and retreat together, honor and disgrace together!
He couldn't escape!
"Allow!"
Zhu Youxiao's voice sounded again!
The second assistant of the court took the blame and returned to his hometown!
"I will take my leave!"
A letter to home!
The chief assistant was alienated!
The second assistant retired and returned to his hometown!
Wei Zhongxian, who was beside him, started trembling!
The plan had failed!
The eunuchs are in danger!
Could it be that the Chief Assistant, the Second Assistant, the East Chamber, and the Jinyiwei had put in so much effort, but in the end, they were going to give it to the Qi Party?
Thinking of this, Head Chief Wei felt a little despair!
"It is decreed that the chief assistant and the second assistant's corpse are in a vegetarian position and do not know who they are.”
"It is decreed that the commander of the five armies, Lu Xiangsheng, will lead the four guards of Tengxiang to secretly attack Shanxi with the excuse of training their troops. Within seven days, they will cooperate with the commander of Shanxi, Xu Hongji, and the governor of Datong Town, Sun Chuanting, to uproot the Jin merchants!”
"This servant will obey!"
Wei Zhongxian lowered his head deeply, unable to change his mind!
……
At the same time!
Ningxia, Xinying has arrived. The old man's carriage will return to Beijing immediately!
The messenger eagle has arrived in Hangzhou. The carriage will return to the capital immediately!
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]