Yangxin Palace Hall.
Xiahou Wan 'er, who had a beautiful face, leaned over Zhu Houzhao. She was twenty-two years old this year and was in the prime of her life.
"Your Majesty, let me serve you to bed…"
Xiahou Wan 'er placed the lotus seed soup on the dragon table and gently leaned over Zhu Houzhao.
"Zhen doesn't like scheming women.”
As Zhu Houzhao finished speaking, Xiahou Wan 'er unwillingly reached out and hugged Zhu Houzhao.""Isn't ChenQie beautiful? Your Majesty…"
" I don't deny that you're beautiful, but I don't like women who are too materialistic…"
Zhu Houzhao sat upright and stared at Xiahou Wan 'er.
Xiahou Wan 'er saw determination in Zhu Houzhao's eyes. She realized that this young emperor was not one who would easily fall for beauty!
Emperor Zheng De was a true emperor. Only a great ruler with ambition would have such a firm mind.
"I will take my leave, but I will come back…"
Xiahou Wan 'er left Yangxin Palace Hall. Although she had failed again, she was still very happy.
Because she realized that His Majesty did not chase her away. This meant that His Majesty did not hate her and she still had a chance to become an imperial concubine!
In order to become an imperial concubine, Xiahou Wan 'er was willing to pay any price!
"Your Majesty, I will definitely become your concubine…" Xiahou Wan 'er stepped out of Yangxin Palace Hall.
After Xiahou Wan 'er left, Zhu Houzhao began to consider the candidates for the navy. It seemed that he needed to select a general who could manage the navy at the court meeting tomorrow!
Zhu Houzhao rested. He was full of energy that night. It was a joyous occasion that the White Lotus Society was exterminated. This time, Zhu Houzhao had a good sleep!
……
The next day, the sun was shining brightly.
Zhu Houzhao woke up in high spirits!
All the officials had been waiting outside the Wu Gate for a long time. When they were waiting for the imperial edict outside the Wu Gate, they were surprised to find that there were more than ten important officials missing.
The Minister of Justice naturally knew what had happened, but he did not dare to say it.
Because he was afraid of being implicated.
Assassinating the emperor and plotting a rebellion was a crime that could kill all nine generations!
Outside the noon gate, there were many weapons.
The entire Forbidden City was filled with a murderous aura.
Wuwuwu!
The horn sounded.
The Meridian Gate opened, and the civil and military officials entered the court in order.
Zhu Houzhao ascended the Xuanzheng Hall.
"Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"”
"If you have a book, report it as soon as possible! Retreat without a foundation!"
As soon as the eunuch finished speaking, a unique voice rang out in the hall.
"I, Cao Zhengchun, have a memorial."
"Yes."
At this moment, all the officials in the court realized that Cao Zhengchun, the supervisor of the East Chamber who rarely attended court, was actually in the court.
An ominous premonition shrouded the hearts of all the officials.
There were more than a dozen ministers absent today. Could it be that something big was about to happen?
When they saw Cao Zhengchun step out, they were all watching quietly. They could vaguely guess the whereabouts of those officials.
Cao Zhengchun stood in the court and raised the ivory board in his hand."Your Majesty, I have already raided the headquarters of the White Lotus Society yesterday and captured 37,652 remaining members!”
" The bandit leader of the White Lotus Society, the White Lotus Saintess, the Two Saints, the Three Absolutes, the Seven Heroes, and the Ten Guardians. None of them escaped…Now, the White Lotus Saintess is outside the hall…"
As Cao Zhengchun's words fell, the officials began to discuss.
"Lord Cao, how can we let such a dangerous person enter the palace?" Liu Jian, the chief assistant of the cabinet, stepped forward.”
Cao Zhengchun smiled." Lord Liu Jian, please rest assured. I've already ordered people to break all her bones. She's a cripple now. Even crawling is wishful thinking!"”
All the civil and military officials in the court gasped when they heard Cao Zhengchun's words. The people of the East Hall were so ruthless!
Liu Jian heard Cao Zhengchun's promise and returned to the court.
"Let her in." Zhu Houzhao said softly.
"Bring the Saintess of the White Lotus Society, the Courtesan Belle of the Ten Thousand Flower Pavilion, to the main hall…" Cao Zhengchun shouted.
"What?"
"Ten Thousand Flower Pavilion?"
" The number one brothel in the capital…"
"The Ten Thousand Flower Pavilion is the headquarters of the White Lotus Society?”
"The Saintess of the White Lotus Society is the courtesan of the Ten Thousand Flower Pavilion?”
The imperial guards were carrying a bamboo bed. A woman with no bones was lying on the bamboo bed.
After the palace guards carried the Saintess of the White Lotus Society to the main hall, they stood guard on both sides of the bamboo bed.
All the officials in the court gasped when they saw the woman. Some of the officials had been to the Ten Thousand Flower Pavilion and even slept in her bed…
They had never expected that the top courtesan of the Ten Thousand Flower Pavilion was the Holy Maiden of the White Lotus Society, who had committed the most heinous crimes!
" Your Majesty," Cao Zhengchun reported," I have raided thirteen officials of the imperial court yesterday. I have found the remnants of the White Lotus Society in their homes. I seek Your Majesty's judgment."”
Cao Zhengchun handed over a stack of crimes. Yesterday, Zhu Houzhao had asked him to arrest them, so he had ransacked the homes of thirteen high-ranking officials overnight. After bringing these officials into the East Chamber, he had interrogated them overnight. In just one night, he had thoroughly investigated the crimes of these high-ranking officials…
There were too many interrogation methods in the East Chamber. Even the Great Immortal could not withstand the interrogation of the East Chamber, let alone these officials who lived like kings.
After Zhu Houzhao read through these crimes, he asked,""Minister of Justice, according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, officials of the imperial court colluded with the rebels and plotted to rebel. What kind of punishment is that?”
The Minister of Justice felt his scalp go numb, but he had no choice but to step forward.
" According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, those who commit treason and plot to rebel shall be executed by a thousand cuts. Their grandfather, son, grandson, brother, and cohabiting relatives shall be beheaded regardless of their surnames, as well as the sons of their uncles and brothers. All those over the age of 16 shall be executed regardless of their nationality, regardless of their serious illness or disability. Nine families shall be implicated…"
After the Minister of Justice finished speaking.
Zhu Houzhao glanced at the Saintess of the White Lotus Society and said,"" Skin this person alive and kill his entire family…Those officials who are related to the White Lotus Society will be interrogated by the Ministry of Justice…"
"Yes!"
The palace guards carried the Holy Maiden of the White Lotus Society away.
The Minister of Justice wiped his cold sweat and returned to the court.
The heavy responsibility fell on his shoulders. If it was confirmed that those ministers were colluding with the White Lotus Society to rebel, it would be difficult to escape the fate of implicating nine families.
However, if they were handed over to the Ministry of Justice, even if nine families were involved, they would still leave behind youths under the age of sixteen.
If they were handed over to the East Hall, even the young man would not be able to stay.
……
No one in the court dared to make a sound.
Zhu Houzhao looked at the ministers and said,""Since none of the ministers have any memorials, then Zhen will discuss a hundred-year plan with all the beloved ministers!”
"We respectfully listen to the holy words…"
Zhu Houzhao looked at all the officials and said," I want to build an invincible navy. I will allocate 10 million taels of silver as the initial budget…I want to build 30 large ships, each with 13 heavy cannons!”
When all the officials in the court heard the Emperor's words, they were extremely excited. The Emperor was finally going to build the Ming Navy. Zheng He's magnificent voyage to the West would once again be glorious!
Zhu Houzhao ignored the uproar of the officials and continued,""Zhen wants to build the Ming Navy and still lacks a Navy Governor. Dear ministers, recommend a person for Zhen. Zhen wants a person who is both civil and martial!”
As soon as Zhu Houzhao finished his words, all the civil and military officials in the court fell into deep thought, thinking hard about the candidate who could be the Navy Governor…
……
On the ocean south of the Ming Empire, a fleet of thirteen ships was moving forward. These fleets were all from the Hong Yi people. They claimed to be the strongest country in the ocean, and their country was called Portugal.
"General, in front of us is the rich Ming Empire. All the nearby countries are affiliated to this country…"
"The Great Ming Empire…has it finally arrived at the legendary country of gold?”
"Yes, but the Ming Empire has extremely powerful firepower and Zheng He's navy…"
"Then we should be more cautious…"
Thirteen battleships with cannons approached the sphere of influence of the Ming Empire.
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