Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 483 "God's Wrath"

Zhu Changluo did not notice Wang An's abnormality and continued to read the memorial.

Yuan Huazhong, the Censor of Henan Province of the Censorate, respectfully submits this report.

Yuan Keli, the left minister of the Ministry of Public Security, heard the incident and submitted a memorial.

I have heard that Empress Xiaoding and His Majesty shared a profound love. Grandparents' kindness and grandchildren's filial piety are fundamental principles and ethical norms in the world. However, recently, a monstrous and absurd prophecy has surfaced in the capital, falsely claiming Empress Xiaoding's Buddhist name, "Nine Lotus Bodhisattva." Upon hearing this, I feel a wave of panic and trepidation.

This outrageous and false prophecy should not be published in writing, as it offends the emperor's ears and hurts his heart. However, as a minister of justice, I hold a great trust in you. If I remain silent, I fear that the emperor will be blinded by the inner sanctuary.

The two ministers weighed the pros and cons, and I had no choice but to swallow my anger and write down the letter, saying, "The emperor treats his relatives poorly, and the Bodhisattva Jiulian is famous. If he does not show mercy and pardon, all his sons will die."

I judge Empress Xiaoding's sincere heart to be the most benevolent and compassionate, and she would never pervert the law to protect her nephew and grandson while harming her own grandson. These rumors were fabricated and spread by unjust and unkind traitors who have no father or emperor. Their purpose is undoubtedly to disrupt the Emperor's decisive decision and deter the rectification of the national code and constitution.
Zhu Changluo read the entire memorial calmly. He wasn't angry, nor was he sad, but rather a little bewildered. It wasn't until he saw the gentle words of comfort signed by the cabinet that his expression suddenly changed. Zhu Changluo knew he should be angry at this moment.

Zhu Changluo closed the memorial with all his strength, supported his forehead and closed his eyes. Slowly, Zhu Changluo figured out a lot of things, and his brows gradually furrowed.

When he opened his eyes again, all the emotions were already brewing.

"Rebellion!" Zhu Changluo slammed the memorial shut and slammed his fist on the desk. His expression was ferocious, and his eyes flashed with a murderous gleam that seemed to want to devour someone.

The emperor's furious roar froze everyone in the hall. Wei Chao, caught off guard, flung the ink from his brush everywhere, even landing two drops on his sleeve. But at this point, Wei Chao couldn't care less. He dropped the brush, leaped from his chair, and knelt on the nearest floor.

The other eunuchs on duty in the palace also fell to the ground as if they were crushed by a mountain. In an instant, there was no one left standing in the South Study.

"Wang An!" Zhu Changluo turned his head suddenly.

"Your servant is here!" Even though Wang An had been mentally prepared, he still flinched back in fear. This was the first time in nearly six months that he had seen the emperor roar in such anger.

"Do you know about this?" Zhu Changluo picked up the memorial and threw it hard at Wang An and the open space in front of Wang An.

The memorial slid along the ground and finally hit the brim of Wang An's hat, which was pressed against the ground. Wang An didn't dare to pick it up, and only replied tremblingly, "My lord, I know."

"When did you know?" Zhu Changluo stopped roaring. He gritted his teeth and spoke in a low voice, as if he was suppressing his anger in his throat.

"My Lord, on the day of the imperial examination," Wang An kowtowed. "On the day of the imperial examination, I received a report from the Imperial Guards regarding this false prophecy and conspiracy."

"Okay." Zhu Changluo stood up. He lifted his calf and knocked the chair over. "Such a big thing, and you didn't report it to me immediately, but kept it secret from me for four whole days. Wei Chao, Liu Ruoyu!"

"Your servant is here." Wei Chao had not expected to encounter such wrath today and was still in shock and astonishment. He felt as if the small hall in the southern study was about to collapse at any moment.

"I'm here." Liu Ruoyu felt a little better, but his legs were still trembling.

"What did Wang An tell you? Who promised you any benefits? How dare you join him in hiding it from me!" Zhu Changluo asked.

Wei Chao's heart was in his throat. The rapid beating of his heart forced him to rack his brains to think, but even after his brains were burned dry by the fire in his heart, he still couldn't figure it out.

Liu Ruoyu had already read the memorial and roughly understood its context. He also understood what Wang An meant by "You shouldn't have read it." But by now, the emperor was clearly deeply suspicious of them, and every excuse he offered could be interpreted as a ulterior motive. Liu Ruoyu didn't dare to respond, and could only kowtow repeatedly in response.

"Are you all mute?" Zhu Changluo walked up to Wei Chao. "Wei Chao, I told you to speak!"

Wei Chao's blood and qi suddenly choked, and it felt like his heart had stopped beating. "This servant dares to ask for your instructions, Master."

"Hmph! You're such a smart talker." Zhu Changluo stepped on Wei Chao's shoulder and pushed him down. "Are you trying to say you know nothing?"

Wei Chao dared not to face the floor. He quickly turned over and kowtowed repeatedly, almost crying. "Master! I am a foolish servant. I really don't know what you are talking about!"

"What about you?" Zhu Changluo walked up to Liu Ruoyu again and asked sinisterly, "Junior brother, you don't know either?"

Liu Ruoyu instinctively wanted to deny it, but changed her mind the next moment. "I know! I read the entire memorial when I was sorting it just now, so I know it." In order to avoid being interrupted by the emperor, Liu Ruoyu finished the sentence in one breath.

"Hmph!" Zhu Changluo snorted coldly and was about to speak. Wang An, however, knelt before the emperor and kowtowed, saying, "Master! They haven't left the palace in the past few days and should not know about this. I have also kept it a secret from them. Please, Master, punish them and calm down. Don't let your anger hurt the emperor!"

"Where are Cui Wensheng and Wei Zhongxian?" Zhu Changluo's expression eased slightly. "Don't tell me, these two factory servants don't know about this either."

"They knew." Wang An confessed, "They have wanted to report this matter to the master for a long time. It was me who suppressed them and prevented them from telling the master. Moreover, I also informed Shi Fuming not to tell the master." Shi Fuming's disciples often ran outside the palace to pass on messages, and they were also a source of information connecting the inside and the outside.

At this time, Shi Fuming, who had heard the roar, had already walked to the door of the South Study. When he heard Wang An call his name, he immediately tensed up. "Good, good, good. Wang An, you did a good job. You blocked my eyes and ears!" Zhu Changluo took two steps and came to the center of the hall. "Shi Fuming!"

"I'm here!" Shi Fuming suddenly became weak. He responded with a scream and crawled to the emperor.

"You bastard!" Zhu Changluo cursed, "When did you recognize Wang An as your father?"

Shi Fuming certainly didn't remain silent at Wang An's behest. If he discovered Wang An was profiting from shielding someone, he would have exposed the matter. He remained silent because Wang An had told him that reporting empty information right now was pointless. The Imperial Household Department would investigate the facts and submit a report, without the Qianqing Palace having to take the lead and incur such responsibilities. Wang An and he had a tacit understanding.

However, it was difficult for Shi Fuming to use these considerations as a defense, because Shi Fuming himself was indeed a bit concerned about protecting himself.

Shi Fuming couldn't give a direct answer, so he could only kowtow and apologize repeatedly, "My humble servant was foolish, my humble servant was foolish! Please, Master, please punish me and calm down! Please don't hurt the dragon's body with anger!"

"Enough!" Zhu Changluo retracted his gaze and looked at Wang An again. "Wang An."

"I'm here." Wang An kowtowed heavily to the emperor.

"How many years have you followed me?" Zhu Changluo's voice suddenly softened, with a hint of sadness in his tone.

"My lord," Wang An said, unable to see the emperor's expression, but upon hearing his tone, he immediately felt a surge of empathy. "I have been with you since the 22nd year of the Wanli reign, a period of 27 years."

"It's been twenty-seven years. Have I ever treated you badly?" Zhu Changluo seemed exhausted to the extreme. He sat on the ground and reached out to stroke Wang An's back.

"No." Wang An gritted his teeth, holding back the gradually building sadness, but with each word, his jaw loosened a little. "Master has never treated me badly." By the time he finished the last word, Wang An had already begun to visibly sob.

"I just said a few words to you, and you're already complaining!" Zhu Changluo seemed genuinely moved, even letting out a tearful tone. "How dare you hide such a serious matter involving Jingren Palace and the Empress Dowager from me? If it weren't for the report from the Imperial Academy, I don't know how long you would have kept it a secret from me! Tell me, who gave you what benefit that actually bought your heart? Tell me, speak up, and I'll forgive you."

"Master!" The old eunuch was deeply saddened by the emperor's injury. He couldn't help but burst into tears in public. "I am a rootless duckweed. It is because of you and me that I have taken root and become a human being. If I dare to have such thoughts, I will be ashamed of your grace and the teachings of the previous eunuch. Even if I am killed by thunder, it will only leave behind a pool of filthy ashes that will stink for thousands of years." Wang An kowtowed while crying. "I definitely don't have such thoughts."

"Then why did you hide it from me?" Zhu Changluo let out a long sigh.

"I, your humble servant, serve as an assistant to the emperor, and I know full well the difficulties of state affairs. On October 26, the 48th year of the Wanli reign, there was an earthquake in Jiading Prefecture; on November 28, there was an earthquake in Maozhou; on February 18, the first year of the Taichang reign, there was a second earthquake in Guangyuan County; and on the 27th, earthquakes were reported in Taozhou, Minzhou, and Qinzhou. Natural disasters are frequent, state affairs are in turmoil, and there are also these foolish and ugly people who are making trouble in Liaoyou. The great affairs of the world, the billions of people in all the lands, all rest on the shoulders of your master, Your Highness." Wang An cried miserably, "Your humble servant cannot bear to have such rebellious rumors disturb your majesty's worries anymore, so I want to investigate everything thoroughly before reporting it to you!"

Wang An's words were so sincere that they moved the other eunuchs kneeling on the ground.

Zhu Changluo was silent for a long time. Only when the palace calmed down a little did he let out a long sigh. "State affairs and family affairs, whether good or bad, I must know. If I only report good news and not bad news, then there would be no need for me to rule this world."

"I am guilty and I am willing to accept the punishment from the Holy Spirit!" Wang An kowtowed three times in a row.

Zhu Changluo bent down to pick up the memorial and sat back down behind the imperial desk. "Tell me, after all these days of investigation, what have you found?"

"My Lord," Wang An raised his arm and wiped the remaining tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeve. He swallowed the water in his throat and said slowly, "So far, the East and West Offices of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Northern Pacification Office have arrested 112 people who spread rumors in thirteen wards: Faxiangfang in the North City, Renshoufang and Jiqingfang in the Central City, Rizhongfang, Chaotiangong West Ward, and Hecao West Ward in the West City, Beijuxianfang, Sichengfang, and Huanghuafang in the East City, and Chongbeifang, Chongnanfang, Xuanbeifang, and Xuannanfang in the South City. The Northern Pacification Office is interrogating them day and night. Currently, there are multiple confessions directly pointing to the imprisoned Young Master Li. I believe that a detailed confession will be obtained soon."

"Li Guochen?" Zhu Changluo patted the memorial and asked, "Have you read Yuan Huazhong's memorial?"

When Liu Ruoyu heard this question, he suddenly became nervous.

"I took a quick glance and knew there was this memorial, but I didn't read it carefully," Wang An replied.

Zhu Changluo glanced at Liu Ruoyu after hearing this answer. A sharp remark quickly rose to his lips, but was stopped by his teeth. "Hmm. Yuan Huazhong's memorial, in addition to impeaching the Jinyiwei for arresting someone without a warrant, also stated that the case was committed by Yangwu Hou, Pingjiang Bo, and Boping Bo. What do you think?"

Wang An replied, "Marquis Yangwu, Earl Pingjiang, and Marquis Wuqing are directly implicated in the Guangning case, while Earl Pingjiang, Earl Boping, and Marquis Wuqing are directly implicated in the Tanggu case. I believe they could exploit Li Guochen's imprisonment to fabricate a highly disrespectful prophecy. If my master gives up pursuing the Li family's guilt for the false prophecy, they can shield themselves from punishment."

"Wishful thinking!" Zhu Changluo slammed the table again, but the blow was indeed much lighter than the previous one. "I haven't done anything to Li Guochen yet; he jumped to the Ministry of Justice on his own initiative. Furthermore, the Empress Dowager was a saintly and benevolent woman, wise and righteous, deeply admired both within and without! When she was still alive, she admonished the Li family father and son more than once. How could she curse my young daughter to death over such a trivial matter? Shameless beast, fabricating such false prophecies of disloyalty and unfilial piety, simply threatening rebellion!"

"Master!" Wang An hurriedly crawled forward a few steps, arriving in front of the imperial desk. "Master, please don't let these beasts get you angry and harm your health! Otherwise, I'll have them all arrested right now. After a thorough interrogation, we'll definitely find the culprit!"

"Arrest!" Zhu Changluo picked up his pen and, while scribbling his comments on the memorial, ordered, "Have the East Factory arrest them now! Arrest the Marquis of Wuqing, the Marquis of Yangwu, the Earl of Pingjiang, the Earl of Boping, and all the successors to the throne!"

"Yes!" Wang An responded, and then asked, "Master, do you want to raid their house while you're at it?"

Zhu Changluo paused for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Don't rush. Let's wait until the East Factory gets a solid confession before we torture and confiscate the property."

(End of this chapter)