Ming Dynasty: A mere unruly commoner is rebelling against the heaven?

Chapter 117 Let’s get someone who dares to investigate to be the commander of the East Factory!
After Huai En finished speaking tremblingly, Zhu Youtang's frown finally relaxed a little.

Praise the superstitious ancients, praise the superstitious emperors and ministers.

The emperors of the Ming Dynasty believed in various religions. There was Zhu Yuanzhang who believed in Buddhism, Zhu Houcong who believed in Taoism, Zhu Houzhao who believed in Islam, and Zhu Youlang, the Southern Ming Emperor who believed in Christianity.

Moreover, Zhu Houzhao not only believed in Islam, but also in Tibetan Buddhism.

Zhu Jianshen also believed in Taoism and also dabbled in Buddhism to some extent. He really believed what those scholars in the cabinet said.

This makes sense, then.

Zhu Youtang's expression was uncertain. Looking at the blood flowing from Huai'en's forehead, he thought that Huai'en had been running around for him, and his anger disappeared for the most part.

Zhu Youtang took out a handkerchief from his arms and threw it on Huai En's face.

"Wipe the blood off."

Holding the handkerchief given by Zhu Youtang, Huai En's tense nerves finally relaxed. His heart was filled with emotion and tears instantly flowed down.

He knew that after Zhu Youtang rewarded him with this handkerchief, he would not kill him again.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern!"

Huai En cried very sadly, not knowing whether it was because of the grievance of being wrongly accused by Zhu Youtang, or because of the fear of surviving the disaster.

However, Zhu Youtang's next words made Huai En break out in a cold sweat.

"Then why is it that up to now, among the news reports submitted by the East Factory regarding the poisoning of the previous emperor, there is not a single piece of information about the harem?"

"Huai En, don't use excuses like you didn't get the news to perfunctorily deal with me."

Huai En was met with Zhu Youtang's cold gaze head-on, and he immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

"This... this is because... because..."

Huai En lowered his head, his eyes dodged, and his speech became hesitant.

Huai En's clothes were soaked with cold sweat, and the cold wind outside the door made him feel bone-chilled.

But what made Huai En feel even colder was Zhu Youtang's gradually icy gaze.

Huai En gritted his teeth and kowtowed to Zhu Youtang again.

"I am guilty, I am guilty. I dare not investigate the harem!"

"I am guilty, please punish me, Your Majesty!"

Of course, the Eastern Depot investigated the harem, and even investigated the harem very early, but was soon ordered by Huai En to stop the investigation.

The harem is the emperor's family affair. If you investigate into the harem, you will find that it is wrong no matter how you investigate.

Whether it is clear or not, it is not the best option.

The best option is not to check at all!
Therefore, Huai En would rather commit a crime that goes unchecked than wade into this muddy water.

"Humph, I don't dare to check."

Zhu Youtang stood up and looked down at Huai'en condescendingly.

"Since you don't dare to investigate, then let's find someone who dares to investigate and let him be the commander of the East Factory."

"You should not take the position of the Director of the East Factory, and you should not give it to your godson Li Guang."

"Let Liu Jin be the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department and the commander of the Eastern Depot. Let me get to the bottom of this matter!"

Zhu Youtang walked out of the room and Wang Zhi followed closely behind him.

When Zhu Youtang walked to the door, he stopped again, looking forward, but speaking to Huai En behind him.

"Don't come out. Stay here until things are completely clear."

"Yes, I obey the order!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"

Huai En knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly to Zhu Youtang's departing back.

Zhu Youtang already believed 80% of what Huai En said.

But these are just Huai'en's one-sided words after all, and Zhu Youtang still has to check and verify them himself.

Now, Huai'en has been imprisoned by him, and the East Factory has been handed over to the commander-in-chief Liu Jin.

For a madman like Liu Jin, let him command the East Factory to investigate the harem.

We will definitely get to the bottom of this matter and won't be afraid to conduct an in-depth investigation.

Zhu Youtang returned to Hongde Hall and Wang Zhi followed him in.

After thinking it over again and again, Zhu Youtang gave instructions to Wang Zhi.

"Wang Zhi, the West Factory should not be involved in the poisoning of the late emperor. The West Factory should focus on investigating the events from the sixth to the eleventh year of Chenghua."

"Especially the things that happened in the palace around the eleventh year of Chenghua, after I came out of Anle Hall."

"I always feel that what happened back then was not that simple."

Zhu Youtang had only vague memories of what happened eleven years before Chenghua.

After all, I was still young at that time and couldn't remember anything.

After the eleventh year of Chenghua, Zhu Youtang lived in the Cining Palace, and the person he had most contact with in daily life was the Empress Dowager Zhou.

I haven't seen much of my biological father, Zhu Jianshen.

Zhu Youtang had no impression of Concubine Wan who was beside him.

It was only from Empress Dowager Zhou that I knew Concubine Wan was a jealous and vicious woman.

Relying on Zhu Jianshen's favor for her, she caused chaos in the harem and persecuted all the princes who were not her biological children.

In history books, Concubine Wan was described as a witch.

But now that I think about it, there are too many doubts, and it is completely different from my own personal experience.

At least, when he lived in Zhaode Palace, Concubine Wan did not do anything to him.

If it was true, as recorded in the history books or as said by Empress Dowager Zhou, that Concubine Wan wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible, then why didn't Concubine Wan take action against him when he lived in Zhaode Palace?

Any accident could have killed the young Zhu Youtang.

Are such accidents rare in the Ming Dynasty's harem?

The emperors of the Ming Dynasty had encountered dozens of accidents in the palace. For a crown prince like him, an accident was not worth mentioning at all.

Zhu Youtang remembered that in the second year after he was named Crown Prince by Zhu Jianshen, Zhu Jianshen was assassinated in the palace.

The incident caused a huge uproar in the city at the time and had a huge impact. Zhu Youtang still has some impression of it.

At that time, Zhu Jianshen's second son, Zhu Youhang, was born.

This created suspense for Zhu Youtang's originally extremely secure position as the crown prince.

On the seventh day after Zhu Youhang was born, Zhu Jianshen was assassinated in the palace.

At that time, Zhu Jianshen was attending the morning court at Fengtian Gate. Suddenly, there was a commotion among the four Tengxiang guards in the palace, and shouts to catch the assassin were heard from all directions.

Zhu Jianshen once stood up and tried to run away, but was held down by Huai'en, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department, and failed.

Fortunately, the assassin was quickly captured and killed, and Zhu Jianshen was safe.

After investigation, it was found that the assassin was named Li Zilong, a sorcerer.

He bribed the eunuchs in the palace, the captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Wei She, the eunuch in the Weaving and Dyeing Bureau, and forged imperial seals, which allowed him to enter and leave the palace at will.

He even went to Wansui Mountain behind the imperial palace to look out over the palace, familiarize himself with its structure, and look for Zhu Jianshen's whereabouts.

Wansui Mountain is the Jingshan Mountain where Emperor Sizong Zhu Youjian hanged himself. There is a crooked tree on the mountain, and it is the highest place in the imperial palace.

After finding out the whole story, Zhu Jianshen immediately sent people to thoroughly investigate the harem. As a result, Wei She committed suicide out of fear of punishment, and the case could not be investigated further.

An assassination attempt on the emperor in the palace was a serious case of treason, but in the end only fourteen people were executed and the case was hastily closed.

It is known in history as the case of the evil man Li Zilong.

The chain reaction caused by this case had a far-reaching impact on the Ming Dynasty.

The very next month after Li Zilong was executed, Zhu Jianshen conferred the title of Imperial Noble Consort on Consort Wan, rewarded her with a gold seal, a gold book, and a gold treasure, and everything was done according to the standards for the empress.

Afterwards, Concubine Wan's three younger brothers, Wan Tong, Wanda, and Wan Xi, were all transferred to the Jinyiwei to serve and held important positions.

In the first month of the following year, Zhu Jianshen asked Wang Zhi, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Stables who was less than 20 years old, to set up the Western Factory!
From then on, the Western Factory became a sharp knife in Zhu Jianshen's hand, capable of striking wherever it pointed.

The fact that Zhu Jianshen did not use the East Factory but instead wanted to set up the West Factory was very meaningful.

At that time, Huai'en was the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department and also the director of the Eastern Depot.

The fact that Zhu Jianshen did not use the East Factory can only mean one thing: Zhu Jianshen no longer trusted Huai En that much at that time.

At least around the 12th year of Chenghua, there was a lack of trust.

But the fact that Huai'en stayed in the palace until the 21st year of Chenghua also shows that Zhu Jianshen did not have enough evidence to prove that Huai'en had any rebellious intentions.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wang Zhi accepted the order calmly, his face expressionless.

Zhu Youtang asked curiously, "Wang Zhi, you have been serving the late emperor since you entered the palace. What is your impression of the palace at that time?"

Wang Zhi entered the palace in the third year of Chenghua and was demoted to Nanzhili in the eighteenth year of Chenghua.

Therefore, Wang Zhi was completely unaware of the change of crown prince that occurred in the 21st year of Chenghua.

But Wang Zhi should have some impression of what happened around the 11th year of Chenghua.

But unfortunately, Wang Zhi just shook his head.

"When I entered the palace, I was less than ten years old, and I worked in the Imperial Horse Administration, so I didn't know much about the harem."

"After that, I was often away on imperial orders, so I had even less impression of the harem."

Zhu Youtang nodded and sighed: "I understand."

"You have performed a great service in today's matter. I will remember it and reward you again during the Chinese New Year."

"Okay, I'm a little tired, you go down first."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will take my leave."

Wang Zhi left Hongde Hall quietly. Zhu Youtang half-lay on the couch, rubbing his eyebrows tiredly.

Since becoming emperor, Zhu Youtang found himself surrounded by enemies.

Countless people covet the power in his hands, and countless people want to put money into their own pockets from his pocket.

The Ming Dynasty court belongs to him. Every penny they take from the Ming Dynasty is money taken from his pocket.

Zhu Youtang had to hold on to the power in his hands, keep an eye on his purse, and deal with the open and covert attacks from all corners.

With the help of the system, he was able to stabilize the situation.

I also don’t know how those who have no system and want to seize power can stay in this position for a long time.

"Fu Dahai."

Zhu Youtang called out softly, and the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department quickly came to Zhu Youtang.

"I am here, what do you want, Your Majesty?"

"Call Concubine Chen, I want to listen to some music."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Fu Dahai's face lit up with joy. After quickly paying his respects, he took the sedan chair from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and went to Jingren Palace where Chen Yuanyuan lived.

At the same time, an imperial edict issued by the Imperial Household Department was delivered to the East Factory by a young eunuch.

At this moment, Liu Jin, the future director of Dongchang, was still in the Dongchang prison, doing his favorite job.

He had no idea that the gears of fate had already turned to him.

(End of this chapter)