I really don't want to be a traitor

Chapter 553 Blood is Medicine

Xu Jie's long-cherished wish was finally fulfilled.

The Prime Minister of the Ming Dynasty!

The pinnacle of human officials!

Leader of the group!

The six ministries of Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Punishments, and Works are all under his control!

With so much power, what should you do first?
Xu Jie once thought that if he ever ascended to a high position, he would definitely let Yan Song see how a prime minister should be:
"Return power and blessings to the master."

"Return government affairs to the various departments."

"Reward and punish should be based on public opinion."

however……

Xu Jie held a golden scroll of imperial edict in his hand. It was his first task after being promoted to the Prime Minister of the Ming Dynasty, which was to collect the raw materials needed to refine the [Nine-Turn Golden Pill].

This raw material is simply ridiculous!

It even went so far that Xu Jie suspected that the so-called elixir recipe he found in the Imperial Master's Mansion was simply fake!

"Lord Xu, why are you still standing here?"

"Nine hundred and ninety-nine palace maids are ready. Only our Daming Palace can gather so many virgins at once."

"Hehehehe!"

Suddenly, a flattering voice sounded behind Xu Jie.

He looked back and saw Chen Hong, the current chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, walking towards him with a beaming face.

It is indeed understandable that Chen Hong is in a good mood.

Lu Fang is dead.

Huang Jin also died.

There are only two eunuchs in the inner court who can outshine him!

With their death, wouldn't the position of the chief eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department fall on Chen Hong's head?
"Eunuch Chen, so fast?" Xu Jie asked casually with a bitter face.

"quick?"

"Hehehe."

"Lord Xu, do you think I am Lu Fang? You are so slow in doing things. This is a typical example of serving the master insincerely."

"Our family is different from Lu Fang's!"

"If the master gives us a task, we will complete it immediately even if we have to give up eating and sleeping and risk our lives!"

As Chen Hong spoke, he moved closer to Xu Jie and made a few expressions.

"Lord Xu, let's take care of the first important thing His Majesty has to do after returning to the court."

"Tell me, how will the civil and military officials in the court praise us?"

boast?
Xu Jie's old face trembled.

If you really do this immoral thing, I'm afraid your ancestral graves will be dug up at night!

"Eunuch Chen, I think this matter is inappropriate and I should advise His Majesty again..."

Collecting women's blood to make elixirs?
This is totally a heresy!

How could it be a panacea or a recipe for immortality?
"Hi!"

"What's wrong?"

"As subjects and servants, we should give His Majesty whatever he wants. We should always serve our master with a sincere heart and never go wrong!"

Chen Hong shook his head when he heard this, his face full of disdain.

"Moreover."

"Master is the master of the Ming Dynasty, and all the people belong to him. Finding a thousand or eight hundred girls and taking a little blood from each of them, what's the big deal?"

As Chen Hong spoke, he made a gesture of wiping his neck.

"Even if we kill all the people and drain their blood, who in the Ming Dynasty would dare to say 'no'?"

Xu Jie was stunned when he heard this!

But he immediately came to his senses and realized that Chen Hong was right.

During the Jiajing period, who dared to say "no" to the emperor?
Not now.

Someone once said that they are all dead.

A major ritual debate that year resulted in the punishment of hundreds of people.

With a divine whip, he killed Gao Gong and Chen Yiqin, two prince's party members who were disloyal to the emperor.

Your Majesty, you are indeed a man of your word.

"Master Xu, please come with us." Chen Hong said with a flattering smile, "A great achievement is waiting for us!"

Xu Jie subconsciously raised his foot, wanting to chase Chen Hong who had already walked ahead.

But as soon as he thought about it, his body froze in place.

Then, the raised foot fell again.

"Lord Xu?"

Chen Hong turned around and found Xu Jie still standing there, his old face gradually showing a look of determination.

The newly appointed Prime Minister of the Ming Dynasty, Xu Jie, actually bent down and saluted Chen Hong.

"Hey? What is the Prime Minister doing? Don't bring trouble to our family."

Although Chen Hong said this, he felt quite happy in his heart.

He thought he had been promoted and became the number one eunuch in the Ming Dynasty, and finally even the Prime Minister looked up to him.

“That’s great.”

"It's worth it that we have been following Lu Fang's buttocks for so many years."

Chen Hong was feeling secretly happy when he heard Xu Jie's voice coming over.

"Eunuch Chen."

"I dare to ask you not to harm those innocent palace maids for the time being."

"Ah?" Chen Hong was stunned when he heard this: "What does the Prime Minister mean? We have received an imperial decree!"

"I want to see the emperor!"

Xu Jie's tone was firm!
"The emperor is the parent of the people. How can there be any reason for a parent to harm his children?"

"If Your Majesty were to refine the medicine according to that recipe, I'm afraid that the eunuch would have to drain the blood of nearly a thousand palace maids. But in the end, he might not be able to refine the Nine Revolutions Golden Pill."

"For the sake of these innocent lives, I must advise Your Majesty to revoke the order!"

"Before I finish my audience with the Emperor, please, Eunuch Chen, follow the will of God and spare those palace maids for now."

After Xu Jie finished speaking, he turned around and walked towards the Jinshen Jingshe with big strides!
Chen Hong was stunned.

He never expected that after the death of Gao Gong and Chen Yiqin, there would still be someone in the Ming Dynasty who dared to disobey His Majesty?
"Is Xu Jie crazy? Or is His Majesty really not well anymore?"

Loyalty will always be Chen Hong’s golden signboard, but it is just a signboard.

He carefully analyzed Xu Jie's words and actions, and thoughts popped up in his mind one after another.

"Your Majesty is really incompetent, so Xu Jie dares to disobey?"

"so what should I do?"

"Oh! I'm so confused!"

"Your Majesty is no longer able to do this, so of course I have to rely on the Crown Prince!"

Chen Hong is very proud of his wisdom.

But when he thought of the tragic deaths of Gao Gong and Chen Yiqin, he felt frightened again.

After thinking it over, it turns out that the best way to survive is to not offend either side and get along with both sides.

Chen Hong immediately called over a trusted young eunuch, who was also his godson.

"Go to the Crown Prince's Mansion immediately and tell him about His Majesty's alchemy and blood collection."

"Remember! You must let the prince know that Chen Hong's heart is with the prince!"

The young eunuch nodded rapidly.

"Dad, don't worry, I will definitely get it done!"

"But if you want to please the prince, why don't you go there in person?"

Snapped!
Chen Hong slapped the young eunuch on the back of the head.

"nonsense!"

"I'm going to see the prince in person. What will happen if His Majesty finds out?"

"Besides, without me to keep the peace, how can those useless people below draw blood smoothly?"

The young eunuch was dazed by the slap and spoke without thinking. He asked another question: "Dad, are you still taking blood? Didn't Lord Xu ask you to wait just now?"

This question really shouldn't be asked.

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Hong's second slap had already landed.

"shit!"

"Xu Jie can command your father?"

"A new emperor chooses new ministers. It is still uncertain who will be in charge of the Ming Dynasty tomorrow. How long can Xu Jie remain the Prime Minister?"

"Not only will I supervise the blood collection, but each palace maid will also have to collect an extra bowl!"

"Anyway, I have received the imperial edict!"

……

…………

Respect your body.

Xu Jie knelt down and said everything he needed to say.

He also said things that he shouldn't have said.

The emperor's rage was expected, even though he was already very weak and only his heavy, rapid breathing proved that he was indeed angry.

"I dare to ask Your Majesty to withdraw your sacred intention."

no respond.

Xu Jie lowered his head, but could feel the emperor's gaze.

There was even murderous intent in that look. However, the knife was blunt, how could he kill anyone?
"Xu Jie... please step down. I will let Chen Hong handle this matter. You are an important official and you should cherish your reputation. The arrangement just now was not well thought out by me."

Xu Jie looked up in surprise and stared at Emperor Jiajing with wide eyes.

This emperor who had been so strong all his life actually had a time to speak softly? !

He even saw a slightly apologetic smile on Emperor Jiajing's face.

"Go back and have a rest. You have worked hard these days." Emperor Jiajing said with a smile again.

For a moment, Xu Jie was so moved that he wanted to cry and wanted to retreat.

But, no!
He is not here to give up!

The key to the whole thing is the 999 palace maids. They shouldn't have been innocently reduced to raw materials for alchemy.

"Your Majesty!" Xu Jie gritted his teeth and said, "I beg Your Majesty to withdraw your order. Otherwise, the Six Ministries will have the right to... reject the imperial edict!"

The ancestral system of the Ming Dynasty.

Six secretaries were set up to assist the emperor in handling government affairs, namely, the six ministries, namely, the departments of civil service, household affairs, rites, military affairs, criminal justice, and engineering, to supervise the six ministries and criticize and criticize officials.

The official position of Jieshizhong was low, only the seventh rank.

However, his powers and responsibilities were heavy, and he could perform tasks such as advising, filling in the gaps, picking up omissions, reviewing, and sealing and rejecting imperial edicts, thus complementing the Censor.

Xu Jie was the Prime Minister, not the Imperial Secretary, but when he said so, it meant he could really do it!

"Ah?"

"Hehehehe..."

Emperor Jiajing laughed dryly, pausing occasionally, as if his throat was dry and he couldn't laugh out loud.

"I almost forgot."

"Almost all of the six officials currently serving are students of your Excellency Lord Xu."

"Refuting the imperial edict?"

"Xu Jie, I trust you so much, do you really want to disappoint me?"

Emperor Jiajing looked at Xu Jie deeply.

His eyes were filled with sadness and seemed to be begging. He looked so pitiful, which was something the emperor had never seen before.

However, Xu Jie only looked at Emperor Jiajing for two or three seconds, and he felt cold all over, as if he had fallen into an ice cave!
Because in the eyes of Emperor Jiajing, there is the truth beneath all disguised expressions.

Icy.

There is not a trace of human emotion and it is completely selfish.

"His Majesty."

"That's nine hundred and ninety-nine lives."

"If the elixir fails, I'm afraid Your Majesty will have to take more blood... I beg Your Majesty... to accumulate virtue and do good deeds."

When he said the last four words, Xu Jie was actually in despair.

He knew that there was no way he could convince the emperor.

In the face of absolute interests, there is no kindness towards others.

Human nature is what it is.

What’s more, this person is Emperor Jiajing?

There was an eerie silence in Jinshen Jingshe for a very long time.

Xu Jie didn't dare to speak anymore, but he also didn't understand why His Majesty was also silent.

Such a stalemate seems to be meaningless to Your Majesty?
suddenly!

The sound of hurried footsteps!

"Master."

"Fortunately, I have fulfilled my mission and completed the blood collection task."

"Ten large jars are filled, enough for you, my master, to make the elixir!"

Chen Hong's voice came from behind Xu Jie.

Xu Jie suddenly turned around and glared at Chen Hong.

Understood!
He finally understood!

His Majesty is not in a stalemate with me, he is just waiting for Chen Hong.

His Majesty knows the servants around him and knows that Chen Hong will definitely complete the blood collection task on his behalf.

And yet I am so naive?

He actually thought that with his status as the Prime Minister, he could restrain the behavior of the eunuchs in the inner court, especially when such restraint was contrary to the Emperor's will!
Chen Hong walked past Xu Jie without even looking at the Prime Minister of the Ming Dynasty.

The chief eunuch knelt down beside the dragon bed with a smile on his face, looking as if he was asking for credit and reward.

"it is good."

Emperor Jiajing nodded and looked down at Chen Hong.

The master and servant smiled knowingly and both ignored Xu Jie.

"How many people died?" Xu Jie heard his voice trembling.

Drawing blood so quickly must have been very rough.

But brutality will definitely result in loss of life.

"This one……"

Chen Hong was about to answer, but he felt that Emperor Jiajing was glancing at him, so he immediately shut up.

"deliver an imperial order."

Emperor Jiajing suddenly spoke.

"Xu Jie, the chief minister of the cabinet, has been mediocre all his life, with little talent and virtue, and is not qualified to be the chief minister. I have selected him, but he does not know how to thank the emperor for his grace and serve him until his death with loyalty."

"Remove Xu Jie from all his official positions and titles, throw him into the Heavenly Prison, and wait for trial and conviction, then execute him immediately. There is no need to wait until autumn!"

Xu Jie was shocked.

"Your Majesty? Your Majesty??"

Emperor Jiajing only glanced at him calmly and spoke again.
"Xu Jie, the chief minister of the cabinet, is diligent and loyal. I know this very well."

"Now that Xu Jie is old, I cannot bear to see him waste his time and suffer, so I have specially granted him the title of Grand Tutor. I have granted him a scarlet silk python robe with four colored stripes on the outside and inside, and he can retire with honor."

Two imperial edicts?

One life and one death?
But the result was that Xu Jie was driven out of the court and no longer served as the prime minister.

"We are a king and his subjects."

"Which of these two imperial edicts you like is up to you to choose."

As Emperor Jiajing spoke, a look of deep disappointment finally appeared on his face.

"Xu Jie."

"I originally thought that the country was in crisis, so I abandoned Yan Song and saved you. You can help me regain my confidence."

"After all, the world believes that the clean officials are capable and capable officials. They can save the collapsing building and turn the tide."

"Unfortunately, I was wrong."

"The so-called upright and capable ministers only care about the country and the people, but not me."

"If I had known this, I should have ordered you to cover the rear and let Yan Song escort me back to the court."

Xu Jie was silent.

He couldn't refute it because Emperor Jiajing was right.

From the beginning to the end, he only wanted to be loyal to the Ming Dynasty, but he never thought that the country and the king are not one and the same.

No wonder, even though Yan Song was dead, the emperor's evaluation of him was still not as good as Yan Song's.

Xu Jie knelt down and kowtowed.

"Thank you for your tolerance, Your Majesty."

"I am willing to retire."

……

…………

When he left Jinshen Jingshe, Xu Jie no longer had the privilege of riding in a sedan chair in the palace.

He was a little dazed and his steps were slow. It took him a long time to walk a short distance.

The eunuchs in the palace glanced at Xu Jie secretly, with an expression of gloating in their eyes, but no one dared to urge him to walk faster.

Even though he lost his official position, Xu Jie was still in the Mahayana realm.

The strong cannot be humiliated.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Xu Jie, with a dazed look on his face, suddenly felt someone pulling at the hem of his official robe.

"Mr. Xu Ge!"

"Please save this slave!"

"My brother is your student, Imperial Censor Zou Yinglong!"

Xu Jie lowered his head numbly and saw the poor woman lying on the ground with blood all over her face.

He vaguely remembered that he did have a good student named Zou Yinglong.

He also remembered that Zou Yinglong once said that he had a sister who worked as a female official in the Shangshi Bureau in the palace.

Isn’t blood drawing limited to palace maids?

Why are even female officials with high rank and family background not spared?
After years of ups and downs in officialdom, even though Xu Jie was numb, an answer immediately came to his mind.

It’s Chen Hong.

In order to win credit and ensure the quality of blood collection, the eunuch forcibly expanded the scope of blood collection and created more victims.

"Lord Xu...please say something...ahhhh..."

Lady Zou screamed in pain as two eunuchs ran over, grabbed her bruised body, and forcibly dragged her back to continue drawing blood.

Xu Jie just watched her leave.

After a long time, he seemed to remember something and slowly took off his official hat.

Xu Jie said to himself: "I'm sorry, I've been ordered to retire, and there's nothing I can do."

This is a 4000-word chapter, and it ends today.