Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 118 This is outrageous!!!

That night.

"what--!"

Yan Song, who was in his sleep, suddenly sat up with a start, his face ashen, covered in cold sweat, and even his white beard stood on end. His face was filled with fear.

He and Yan Shifan knelt outside Chengtian Gate for a whole day, but still failed to be summoned by Zhu Houcong.

As night fell and the palace was about to close for the night...

Gao Zhongcai, the head eunuch of the Qianqing Palace, came out of the palace and conveyed the emperor's oral decree ordering him to go home.

At this critical moment, he naturally dared not ask Gao Zhong about the situation in the palace in private, nor did he dare disobey the imperial edict and continue to kneel outside the palace. He could only drag his numb legs back home with the help of Yan Shifan.

Because he clearly remembered the fate of those officials who knelt prostrate outside the palace gates after receiving eunuch orders during the Great Rites Controversy many years ago.

In the Emperor's eyes, this was not loyalty, but a treasonous coup!

"My husband, what is meant to be will be, and what is meant to be will be."

Madam Ouyang Duanshu was also startled awake. While gently patting Yan Song's back, she helplessly offered words of comfort.

"Since the Emperor has not made any statement today and has ordered you to go home and rest, it means that he still cares about your hard work over the years. You might as well relax and wait for the outcome. Whether it is a blessing or a curse, I will share it with you."

Yan Song never took a concubine in his life. As his only first wife, Ouyang Duanshu held an unparalleled position in Yan Song's heart and was often his irreplaceable spiritual pillar.

"No, Madam, I suddenly have a very bad feeling, my heart is pounding!"

Yan Song raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his face, panting heavily as his lips trembled, and said...

"Just now I dreamt that the Black and White Impermanence were standing in front of my bed. They've come to take me away. I'm afraid I won't be able to escape this hellish place this time."

"I just can't figure out who could have harmed me like this. Of all the people I've offended so far, none of them have the ability to do this today, not even Xia Yan."

"This is what terrifies me the most. It's as if it's the will of Heaven, and I can't defy it... Heaven wants to take me away!"

As he spoke, Yan Song wondered if it was just his imagination.

He felt that the faces of the Black and White Impermanence in his dream just now were very similar to the strange smile Yan Maoqing had shown at Zhengyang Gate that day...

Ouyang Duanshu had shared a bed with Yan Song for decades and had never seen him so terrified. She had no choice but to straighten his face, grab his hand, and say seriously:

"My husband, look into my eyes and listen to me!"

"There are countless evil people in the world. How many have you done over the years? Even if God really comes to take people away, it won't be your turn yet!"

"Stop talking nonsense. All you need to do now is to conserve your energy so you can deal with this matter properly tomorrow."

"You are the backbone of the Yan family. Qing'er and I are counting on you. If anyone falls, you cannot fall!"

"As long as we get through this, our family will continue to practice vegetarianism, follow the Tao, do good deeds, and accumulate merit. What is there to fear if Heaven comes to take us away?"

Looking into Ouyang Duanshu's eyes, feeling the warmth of her hands.

Yan Song's complexion gradually regained some color, and then he knelt on the bed and began to perform the three bows and nine kowtows, muttering incantations as he did so:

"Yes, yes, you're right."

"May Heaven protect the Yan family. I, Yan Song, swear to Heaven that as long as my family can survive this calamity, I will dedicate myself to doing good deeds every day and observing vegetarianism and practicing Taoism every night..."

……

The next day.

Qianqing Palace.

This is outrageous!

A dragon's roar that almost pierced the dome suddenly exploded, startling all the eunuchs, palace maids, and guards within a two-mile radius of the Qianqing Palace into bowing their heads and kneeling, not daring to make the slightest sound.

"..."

Huang Jin, who was standing next to Zhu Houcong, was so terrified that he barely had time to breathe.

He didn't know where he got the courage to report what had happened the night before to Zhu Houcong.

Perhaps it's because they dare not not report it, or have no choice but to report it?

Or perhaps he was completely stunned when he heard the news, and then, as if possessed, he acted on impulse?
Yesterday, the Emperor was so angry that he couldn't eat because the court officials opposed the special appointment of Xu Zan and Zhang Bi to the cabinet and even proposed to hold a court recommendation meeting to strongly recommend Yan Song to the cabinet.

Last night, someone secretly revealed that the Emperor had secretly rewarded Yan Maoqing. This is simply touching the Emperor's sore spot repeatedly!

The Emperor has now been cornered!
Take Yan Song's entry into the cabinet as an example.

Regardless of whether this matter is related to Yan Song.

The current situation is comparable to the "Great Rites Controversy" that shook the world back then.

Was the "Great Rites Controversy" essentially a dispute over etiquette?

Absolutely not!

It was a contest between the old and new court forces, the most brutal political struggle, and a challenge that the emperor had to launch against the entire court in order to regain complete imperial power!

So, is the debate over whether Yan Song should have been appointed to the cabinet?
Absolutely not!
In the Emperor's eyes, this was a counterattack launched by the civil service group after years of accumulating strength, a challenge to wrest back the power to appoint cabinet ministers from his hands!
If he were to agree to Yan Song's entry into the cabinet this time, it would be seen by the people as a compromise, a relinquishment of this portion of imperial power. This would undoubtedly damage his prestige and weaken his control over the entire court and even the whole country—an absolutely unacceptable thing!

Even if he doesn't respond to this matter this time, he will probably be seen as showing weakness in the eyes of the world.

Even if he showed weakness, it would still damage his prestige, and people would continue to challenge him and try to erode his imperial power.

This was also his Achilles' heel; otherwise, there wouldn't have been that earth-shaking and protracted Great Rites Controversy many years ago!
The emperor at the time refused to compromise or show weakness.

Now that the emperor has finally regained his fighting spirit and is back on his feet, he is even less likely to compromise or show weakness!

That's why he deliberately ignored Yan Song when he learned yesterday that Yan Song was kneeling outside the palace begging for an audience.

He neither ordered him to leave nor summoned him.

He wanted to use this to send a clear message to the world:

Who can enter the cabinet and who cannot is only decided by me!

Even though Yan Song was the most popular candidate for Grand Secretary, he could only kneel outside the palace, begging for my permission to rule from behind the curtain and pleading for my forgiveness!

In the Emperor's view, this was undoubtedly the lowest-cost approach and also a way to protect Yan Song.

The Emperor did indeed intend to protect Yan Song.

Because it was impossible for him not to realize that Yan Song had most likely been framed this time.

He knew Yan Song all too well; that old man didn't have the guts, much less be so foolish.

This incident also proves that Yan Song was an isolated official in the court.

Furthermore, judging from past events, he was a loyal and capable minister who was both obedient and efficient.

The previous selection of officials and the recent re-examination of the court would not have been possible without Yan Song's strong support.

The Emperor needs to get things done, and what he lacks is such a loyal minister. Losing Yan Song would be like cutting off one's own arm!
Aside from the matter of Yan Song.

The same principle applies to what is happening to Yan Maoqing now.

In the Emperor's view, this was also a challenge launched by the civil service group in an attempt to wrest the power to decide on rewards from him.

The events of last night also prove that Yan Maoqing is a lone minister in the court.

In fact, the Emperor could have known this long ago even without what happened last night.

Because apart from having Guo Xun as his godfather, he was almost isolated even in the Hanlin Academy, only getting close to Gao Gong.

Furthermore, past events also show that although Yan Maoqing was not as obedient as Yan Song, and even dared to take advantage of the emperor at times, his ability to get things done was far superior to Yan Song's.

The Emperor already knew this from the detailed record of the love letter that Shen Lian kept when he accompanied Yan Maoqing on his mission to Anda. Huang Jin clearly remembered that the Emperor had a smile on his face almost the entire time when he read the love letter, and even laughed and shared it with him when he saw the wonderful parts.

This was something Huang Jin had never seen in the Emperor in all these years.

From that moment on, Huang Jin was certain that Yan Maoqing had truly won over the Emperor's heart and was regarded as a secret weapon by the Emperor.

Otherwise, why would the Emperor have specifically summoned Yan Maoqing to the palace to assist in the investigation when the palace coup occurred a few days ago?

But Yan Maoqing just happens to have this kind of ability that makes people admire him.

The mastermind behind this, whom even Lu Bing couldn't find out and even the palace maids didn't know, actually confessed after Yan Maoqing's crazy antics!
The Emperor is now undertaking a great undertaking, and what he lacks is such a fortunate and extraordinary minister. Losing Yan Maoqing would be like cutting off one's own leg!
Therefore, the Emperor must protect Yan Maoqing even more.

They couldn't bear to let him suffer any injustice he shouldn't have, lest he lose his edge and become dull from then on!
This.

This is the dilemma the emperor is facing right now, and the real reason for his outburst of anger!
Having experienced the "Great Rites Controversy," the Emperor is no longer young and has long understood the damage it caused to the court and the country. Therefore, he is determined not to allow the "Great Rites Controversy" to happen again.

However, it is absolutely impossible for the emperor to cut off one of his own arms and legs and compromise and relinquish power to the "deep court" that is suspected of being formed again!
Alas... Who says the emperor can do whatever he wants? Even the emperor has his own set of problems.

Perhaps it's still the most difficult sutra to recite in the world...

Just as I was thinking this.

"Huang Jin!"

A loud shout startled Huang Jin awake, and she quickly replied, "Yes, sir."

"Didn't Yan Song kneel at Zhengyang Gate again today? Order Lu Bing to immediately throw him into the imperial prison. Do not torture him. Let him await my judgment!"

Zhu Houcong shouted loudly, his eyes red.

"This servant obeys the decree..."

Huang Jin's mind was a little slow to catch up, and he didn't understand what the Emperor was planning to do to Yan Song.

Then Zhu Houcong shouted without even taking a breath:

"Draft another decree for me, in recognition of Yan Maoqing's meritorious service in assisting with the Xin Chou Palace Coup, granting him the initial appointment as Fengyi Dafu, and writing the date of the decree before the date I bestow upon his wife!"

Fengyi Dafu was an initial civil official title without any real authority. Like Gaoming Furen, it only represented corresponding qualifications and status, similar to a professional title.

Most importantly, the title of Fengyi Dafu is also a fifth-rank official.

She is a perfect match for Bai Lu, a fifth-rank imperial consort!
(End of this chapter)