Chongzhen's domineering

Chapter 19 The Villain Unleashes His Power: Chuxiu Takes a Concubine
Wei Zhongxian was actually quite good at understanding people's thoughts.

Tianqi was completely figured out by him and was completely fooled.

The reason he hadn't used his ability to read people's minds to fool the young Emperor Chongzhen these past few days was because he wasn't sure whether the young emperor wanted to continue using him or get rid of him.

He knew perfectly well that the late emperor had done countless despicable things during his lifetime, and ten heads wouldn't be enough to pay for it.

If the young Emperor Chongzhen wanted to deal with him, he would have no idea how terrible his death would be.

Moreover, Gu Bingqian, Feng Quan, and his adopted sons and grandsons all wanted to seize his power and kept submitting memorials to expose his shortcomings.

He was so frightened that he was on edge and sweating profusely.

These days he's been preoccupied with whether he can save his life, so he has no time to ponder the young emperor's thoughts.

Now that his and Madam Ke's plot to rebel has been exposed, the young emperor hasn't punished him, but Gu Bingqian has been so frightened that he's begging to retire. He finally understands that the young emperor really wants to continue using him and doesn't want to punish him.

Now he also had time to figure out what the young emperor was thinking.

What does the young emperor really want?

These days, the young emperor talks to him mostly about money, money, money, and food, as well as dealing with those who dare to oppose them.

However, the young emperor also told him that he wanted to lure all the Donglin members back to the court and deal with them, so Feng Quan and the Ni brothers, Ni Yuangong and Ni Yuanlu, could not be dealt with first.

In other words, his only chance now is to quickly acquire money and supplies in order to win the favor of the young emperor.

After he figured this out, he immediately went to the imperial prison and subjected Xu Zhiji to a brutal interrogation.

Xu Zhiji finally confessed after being tortured, admitting that he had indeed embezzled over a million taels of gold and silver, as well as a considerable amount of antiques and paintings.

Moreover, this fellow is from Huizhou Prefecture. When he was making money in his hometown, he offended all the villagers. They were so angry that they wanted to dig up his ancestral graves. Naturally, he didn't dare to buy land in his hometown. Instead, he hid all his money in his mansion in the capital!

He finally got a great deal.

The gold and silver treasures confiscated from Xu Zhiji's mansion filled over a hundred carts!
With the sun about to set, he hurriedly led a long procession of carriages toward the palace.

Zhu Jue had finished processing the memorials by now.

However, he did not go to rest; he was looking at the huge map of the Ming Dynasty spread out on his desk.

The problem of the Ming Dynasty being plagued by war has not yet been resolved, let alone building a Ming industrial empire, which is still far from being achieved.

This progress is too slow.

How to do?
As he was pondering this, a voice suddenly announced from outside, "Wei Zhongxian requests an audience."

This guy actually came to find him on his own initiative, what could it be?
He paused for a moment, then announced loudly, "Announce."

Soon, Wei Zhongxian scurried in, beaming with joy, and bowed, saying, "This servant greets Your Majesty."

What are you so happy about?
Zhu Jue nodded slightly, then asked sternly, "What is it?"

That's naturally a matter of money.

Wei Zhongxian fawned, “Your Majesty is so wise! Xu Zhiji has indeed embezzled over a million taels of gold and silver. He has also hidden a lot of treasures, antiques, and paintings. This servant has confiscated them all and brought them into the palace. Ruoyu is currently leading people to count and receive them.”

Oh, so you're here to take credit?

Now the treasury finally has some money, and many things can be started.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Jue nodded slightly in approval and said, "Yes, not bad, you handled it quite efficiently this time."

You're praising me?
Sure enough, all you're thinking about is making money.

What are we going to do with this money?

Men, besides thinking about money, probably only think about women.

He was once a man, and he had been with women, so he believed he understood men's thoughts.

The young emperor hasn't even held a talent show since he ascended the throne; I guess it's because he doesn't have the money.

They don't even have much money in the treasury, what kind of show are they going to put on?

Without money, the palace maids and even the concubines selected would go hungry!
Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the young emperor is so eager to make money.

Currently, there is only one Princess Zhou in the harem, who has not yet been made empress, and it seems that the young emperor has never visited Kunning Palace since his ascension to the throne.

Are these old married couples getting all lovey-dovey?

Wei Zhongxian's eyes darted around for a moment, then he flattered, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Treasury is now somewhat overflowing. Shouldn't we hold a selection of concubines? The harem doesn't even have a single consort. It's all because of my incompetence."

A talent show?

Do you think I've never seen a woman before?
Wait a minute, I don't care for women, but I desperately need the families of my concubines. Right now, I have no one I can rely on. The only people I can trust are the families of my concubines, those few who will be remembered in history.

Princess Zhou's father was a fortune teller and a geomancer, utterly unfit for any important position.

With no one else available, should we do everything ourselves?
If those in positions of power think this way, they have already embarked on the path to failure.

I must find some capable people as soon as possible; this is the most urgent matter at hand.

Relatives of the emperor's wife are a good choice. They are relatives, and the emperor also has the trick of banishing concubines to the cold palace to control them. Relatives of the emperor's wife are easy to manage.

Upon realizing this, Zhu Jue nodded slightly and said, "Yes, it's time to hold a selection of candidates. This time, select a large number, and give me a thousand."

Do you have such a big appetite?

very good!

Wei Zhongxian nodded repeatedly and said, "This servant understands, this servant will make the arrangements immediately."

After saying that, he bowed and took his leave, then scurried away.

As Zhu Jue watched the man's retreating figure, he was already thinking about where to spend the stolen money.

He pondered for a moment, then said to Wang Chengen beside him, "Send someone to ask if Jiandou and Boya have returned yet."

Lu Xiang-sheng and Sun Chuanting took the money to the outer city's drill ground to recruit soldiers for the Beijing garrison.

Upon hearing this, Wang Chengen hurriedly went to the door and gave some instructions. A young eunuch immediately ran towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

A short while later, the little eunuch ran back.

Wang Chengen then turned around and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, Lord Lu and Lord Sun have not yet returned."

That's because they hadn't recruited all the people yet.

Selecting tens of thousands of people is not an easy task.

Lu Xiang-sheng and Sun Chuanting were both away, and even if they returned, they would be heading to Liaodong with provisions and supplies in a couple of days.

Liu Ruoyu had to write imperial edicts, inspect gold and silver treasures, and oversee the construction of factories in the inner palace. He had absolutely no free time.

Fang Zhenghua also had to keep an eye on things outside for him.

Wang Chengen also had to stay by his side at all times.

He really has no one left who can be of use.

These young ladies really need to be selected quickly.

He needs to quickly select some useful maternal relatives.

So, what kind of relatives should one choose as a maternal relative?
People are divided into four classes: scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants.

He seems to need it because he comes from a farming family, he seems to need it because he comes from a crafts family, and he seems to need it because he comes from a merchant family.

Forget about the aristocratic families; they generally wouldn't be chosen for the imperial concubine selection process, and people wouldn't feel comfortable using relatives of the aristocratic family.

As he was pondering this, Fang Zhenghua suddenly strode in, cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, the Empress has sent word that she invites you to Kunning Palace for dinner."

Queen?

This empress is his sister-in-law, Empress Yi'an Zhang Yan. Zhou Shi has not yet been made empress.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Jue asked in surprise, "Why did my sister-in-law suddenly invite me to have dinner together?"

I don’t know about that.

Fang Zhenghua cautiously said, "Your Majesty, it seems that Wei Zhongxian just ordered Tu Wenfu to deliver two jewelry boxes, each about a foot in size, to the Empress and the Princess Consort."

This guy knows how to fawn over everyone.

The question is, should I go or not?

This is truly a dilemma.

Well, I'll have to meet these two empresses eventually.

Men can relax occasionally, as long as they don't become addicted.

Zhu Jue thought for a moment, then slowly nodded and said, "Yes, send someone to tell him that I will be there shortly."

(End of this chapter)