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

Chapter 263: His Majesty has ordered an investigation of all concubines!
Zhu Youtang looked at Wang Zhi seriously. Zhang Wan'er also clenched her hands nervously and listened carefully to Wang Zhi's report.

Wang Zhi spoke slowly: "Your Majesty, after the West Factory and the East Factory put out the fire in Xianfu Palace last night, the West Factory launched an investigation into Xianfu Palace."

"After investigation by the Western Factory, it was found that the arsonist's method was very crude, and the ignition material he used was just common kerosene."

"The fire started in the small kitchen next to the Crimson Cloud Palace, and then spread to the Crimson Cloud Palace."

"In the entire Xianfu Palace, there were only a few people burned to death, only one palace maid, two eunuchs and three others. Their identities have been identified."

"The two eunuchs are Xiao Liuzi and Xiao Guizi, who are on duty, and the palace maid is Yi Cui, the queen's personal maid."

"The West Factory has initially concluded that the person who set the fire was this maid Yicui!"

"what?!"

Hearing Wang Zhi's inference, Zhang Wan'er covered her mouth in surprise and widened her eyes in disbelief.

Zhu Youtang, on the other hand, had a calm expression, showing no signs of surprise or astonishment.

Because he already knew that the person who could set fire in Xianfu Palace must be someone around Zhang Wan'er.

It is absolutely impossible for ordinary palace maids and eunuchs in the palace to set fire.

Since Zhu Youtang forced the emperor to abdicate and seize power, he had carried out several purges of the palace maids and eunuchs in the imperial palace.

The largest-scale purge was the carpet-style purge launched by Zhu Youtang against the Empress Dowager's party in the palace right after Zhu Youtang imprisoned Zhou.

On that occasion, thousands of eunuchs and palace maids were cleared out of the palace, eradicating Zhou's power in the palace.

Later, during the second Tumu Incident, Zhu Youtang returned to the palace and carried out another purge.

The main purpose was to eliminate the forces and spies planted in the palace by Xinghuang King Zhu Youlang and Yu Shen.

Now in Zhu Youtang's palace, the backgrounds of the palace maids and eunuchs are very clean and it is impossible for them to do anything bad to Zhu Youtang.

Therefore, from the very beginning, Zhu Youtang did not ask the guards to check the palace maids and eunuchs in the palace, but only asked the Western Factory to investigate the case.

Yicui's identity is rather special, and Zhu Youtang was not surprised that she was the real arsonist.

Because Yicui did not enter the palace as a palace maid, but was selected to enter the palace as a concubine.

Yicui originally entered the palace to participate in last year's national talent show along with Zhang Wan'er, Chen Yuanyuan, Weihong and others.

It was only during the audition stage that Zhang Wan'er, Chen Yuanyuan and others were fortunate enough to be chosen by Zhu Youtang and became his concubines.

As for Weihong, Yicui and others, since they were not children of officials, no one took them out of the palace after they failed in the selection, so they stayed in the palace and became ordinary palace maids.

And because she was chosen by Zhang Wan'er, she became her personal maid.

Weihong and Yicui are both from the south, but Weihong is from Guizhou and Yicui is from Ganzhou.

Zhu Youtang nodded. He was no stranger to how to deal with this kind of situation.

"Wang Zhi, immediately have the Western Factory examine the last batch of palace maids who passed the selection. If any abnormalities are found, arrest them immediately."

"At the same time, we will hold the officials who were responsible for selecting Yicui to enter the palace accountable. All officials involved and Yicui's family will be killed without mercy!"

"Also, investigate Yicui's whereabouts over the past few days. Find out who gave Yicui the order to set the fire, and how the news reached the palace!"

"All those involved in this case will be killed!"

Wang Zhi bowed his head and clasped his hands, accepting the order in a deep voice: "Yes, Your Majesty!"

In theory, all the beauties sent into the palace had to undergo strict examination and be confirmed to have a clean background before they could be sent into the palace.

But the problem was that the three parties responsible for examining the backgrounds of the concubines at that time were mainly the Imperial Household Department, the Ministry of Rites, and the Censorate.

None of Zhu Youtang's direct guards intervened.

A single mistake almost led to a disaster.

So at this moment, Zhu Youtang quickly took remedial measures: first, investigate, second, hold accountable, and third, execute.

Such serious safety lapses must never be made again.

After receiving the order, Wang Zhi did not execute it immediately, but stayed where he was, frowning slightly, with some hesitation and confusion in his eyes.

Zhu Youtang raised his eyebrows: "Do you have anything else to say?"

Wang Zhi gritted his teeth and lowered his head even more.

"Your Majesty, there is one thing I do not understand. I beg Your Majesty to explain it to me."

"explain."

"Your Majesty, among the group of beautiful girls who entered the palace, some have been selected by the concubines to be personal maids."

"Do you want to check these personal maids?"

"As for the concubines, they also entered the palace as concubines. Should we investigate this... or not?"

"Ah I?"

Zhang Wan'er obviously didn't expect that the task of investigating the concubines would fall on her shoulders, and a look of surprise appeared on her face.

Zhu Youtang was also stunned, and then he pondered: "Of course, the concubines' personal maids must be investigated."

"But Concubine Shu, Concubine Ning and the others..."

After all, these concubines were women who had had sexual relations with Zhu Youtang, and some even became pregnant with his child.

Such blatant suspicion, doubt, and even investigation will definitely damage the relationship between husband and wife.

For a moment, Zhu Youtang was a little hesitant.

At this moment, Concubine Shu smiled and said, "Your Majesty, check, you must check."

"If I can completely dispel your majesty's doubts, I am willing to accept any investigation from the Western Factory."

"After the investigation, my identity is now clear."

"Shufei..." Zhu Youtang's eyes flashed. Although he couldn't bear it, reason eventually overcame emotion.

"Okay, since Concubine Shu has agreed, then Wang Zhi, you must investigate carefully."

"Give them a clean bill of innocence, and give me peace of mind."

With Zhu Youtang's approval, Wang Zhi finally felt relieved.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Wang Zhi bowed and accepted the order, then turned and left the west side hall.

Zhu Youtang held Zhang Wan'er in his arms, feeling mixed emotions, and sighed softly: "Shufei, you have been wronged this time. You have suffered such an unprovoked disaster, but you still have to cooperate with the investigation..."

"After this incident, I will definitely compensate you."

Zhang Wan'er leaned on Zhu Youtang's chest, lowered her eyes, and forced a smile: "I have long known that once you enter the palace, it is like entering a deep sea, and nothing can be done by others."

"This was not your majesty's original intention, but it is a good thing to investigate it thoroughly. I only hope that your majesty will no longer be suspicious of me, and I will be satisfied."

Zhu Youtang didn't say anything else, but just hugged Zhang Wan'er tighter in his arms.

……

Jingren Palace.

Anhe Hall.

After Chen Yuanyuan returned from the Palace of Tranquil Longevity yesterday, she felt very uncomfortable. She lay in bed without eating or drinking, and shed tears silently several times.

This made Gu Hengbo and Li Xiangjun very anxious. They kept wandering at the gate of Anhe Hall, not knowing what to do.

"It's not a good idea for you to keep going like this, my lady!"

"I don't know what happened in the Yangxin Palace last night to make Her Majesty so sad. It's really frustrating!"

Gu Hengbo walked back and forth outside the Anhe Hall, looking anxious.

Li Xiangjun was well-informed. She lowered her voice and said to Gu Hengbo, "I heard that there was a fire in Xianfu Palace last night. The Concubine Shu was trapped in the palace and is still unconscious."

"what?!"

Gu Hengbo was shocked, and when he thought of Chen Yuanyuan's abnormal attitude today, his worries increased instead of decreased, and he couldn't stop sighing.

"Why did the Xianfu Palace catch fire when the queen was sleeping with her?"

Gu Hengbo was afraid that the fire in Xianfu Palace would affect his own queen.

But as the saying goes, what you fear will come to you. Just as Gu Hengbo was muttering to himself, Wang Zhi arrived at Jingren Palace with a team of soldiers from the Western Factory.

"Excuse me, ladies."

"Ah?! Eunuch Wang!"

Gu Hengbo and Li Xiangjun were not unfamiliar with Wang Zhi and the Western Factory, and were even very familiar with them.

Wherever the Western Factory appears, nothing good happens.

Several bloody incidents in the palace involved the involvement of the Western Factory guards.

This made the eunuchs and palace maids in the palace extremely afraid of the people from the Western Factory.

Especially towards Wang Zhi, the favorite of His Majesty, he was extremely afraid.

At this moment, they suddenly saw the people from the Western Factory appear in Jingren Palace, and Li Xiangjun and Gu Hengbo's legs were shaking with fear.

"My daughter meets Eunuch Wang!"

Li Xiangjun and Gu Hengbo were at a loss as to what to do and quickly bowed to Wang Zhi.

Wang Zhi frowned slightly, as if he didn't like being called eunuch.

But he didn't say anything, just said in a businesslike manner: "I am here on the orders of His Majesty to investigate the group of beautiful women who entered the palace last year."

"Ladies, please cooperate with our West Factory's investigation. It won't be too much trouble. We'll just ask a few questions. Please answer truthfully."

Facing the two personal maids around Concubine Ning, Wang Zhi behaved quite politely.

If it were someone else, they would have been taken back for interrogation long ago.

After hearing this, Gu Hengbo and Li Xiangjun felt as if their hearts were falling as if they were stepping into air, and their hearts were filled with fear of the unknown.

Li Xiangjun, in particular, was so frightened that she started crying. Her legs went limp and she sat down on the ground.

“Wow… wuwuwuwu…”

Li Xiangjun cried very sadly, her tears fell in big drops, and soon her clothes were wet.

Gu Hengbo helped Li Xiangjun up from the ground while forcing a smile to Wang Zhi: "Please forgive me, Eunuch Wang, Xiangjun has always been timid..."

Wang Zhi seemed very calm and composed about the fact that he had scared someone to tears.

He waved his hand gently, but his face remained expressionless: "It's okay."

At this time, Gu Hengbo had already helped the crying Li Xiangjun up, and at the same time he was constantly preparing himself mentally. Finally, after taking a deep breath, he nodded to Wang Zhi.

"Eunuch Wang, shall we begin now?"

Wang Zhi looked at the tightly closed door of the Anhe Hall and said calmly, "In addition to you, Concubine Ning was also a concubine who entered the palace with us last year."

"Forgive me for being so rude. Please ask Concubine Ning to leave the palace and accept the investigation of the Western Factory together."

After hearing this, Gu Hengbo widened his eyes in shock. Li Xiangjun was also frightened and stopped crying. She looked at Wang Zhi in front of her in horror.

"What?! Concubine Ning is also going to be investigated?!"

(End of this chapter)