Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 164 The Emperor is Back!

When the bright yellow dragon flag, representing the emperor's personal presence, once again appeared outside the towering Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City, the entire capital seemed to fall silent for a moment.

Returning from the dust and smoke of Shaanxi was no longer a solitary emperor, but a dark torrent carrying iron will and a pioneering spirit.

Leading the way were the Imperial Guards, the elite cavalry of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, their flying fish robes reflecting a cold, dark light in the afternoon sun of the capital. They surged forward like a tide, leaving a trail of silence in their wake.

Closely following them were the newly uniformed soldiers of the Beijing garrison, their steps perfectly synchronized, the clanging of their armor plates producing the dull thud of metal. Their faces no longer bore the languidness and slickness of the past, but instead bore the grim determination reshaped by strict military law and the awe-inspiring imperial authority.

At the very heart of this torrent of iron and blood, surrounding the imperial carriage, were the true Imperial Guards.

Unlike the Embroidered Uniform Guards, they were not as outspoken, but rather like silent mountains, clad in thicker, more solid golden armor, gripping long-handled swords tightly in their hands. Each of them had eyes that were calm and undisturbed, as if their world consisted only of the safety of the imperial carriage beside them.

Three forces, one in front and one behind, one inside and one outside, together form an awe-inspiring picture.

The procession passed silently through Chang'an Avenue, and wherever it went, the people bowed their heads in submission.

What everyone saw was no longer just a ceremonial procession, but a living, awe-inspiring force.

The Emperor has returned!

He returned to the heart of power in this empire with a decree that shook the world and a government that he had personally rebuilt.

The imperial carriage entered the Forbidden City, and Zhu Youjian did not linger for a moment, heading straight for the Qianqing Palace.

This palace, which symbolized the emperor's daily governance, was almost deathly quiet during the months he was away from the capital.

At this moment, with his return, the sleeping behemoth seemed to open its eyes once more.

Inside the East Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, two figures, one in front of the other, had been waiting for some time.

Wei Zhongxian, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and Zhou Quan, the Commander of the Imperial Guards and the Director of the Western Depot.

From the moment the emperor left the capital, these two men received a death order—to remain in the capital and never leave his side.

Even though the emperor had visited the capital a few days ago to reorganize military affairs and cause a huge uproar, the two of them remained dutiful and did not overstep their bounds.

They knew that the emperor had entrusted the city to them, which was both a sign of trust and the most severe test.

Wei Zhongxian stood in the shadows, his body hunched over, his wrinkled old face resembling a piece of dried old tree bark in the dim light.

He lowered his head slightly, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his whole being seemingly blending into the shadows. Only in his eyes, which occasionally gleamed, would a venomous, cold glint flash.

Zhou Quan stood in the bright area not far from him, his posture upright, his expression respectful but not obsequious, his eyes clear and focused.

"This old servant (your subject) respectfully welcomes Your Majesty (the Emperor) back to the palace."

When Zhu Youjian appeared at the entrance of the warm pavilion, the two knelt down at the same time, their voices filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"Get up."

Zhu Youjian's voice was slightly hoarse from a long journey, but it was still full of undeniable authority.

The emperor casually picked up a memorial, flipped through it, and asked casually:

"Wei Zhongxian".

"This old servant is here." Wei Zhongxian stepped forward, bowing even lower.

"Has the capital remained peaceful during the months I was away?"

“Your Majesty,” Wei Zhongxian’s voice was dry and steady, “with the Duke of Dingguo as the head of the nobility keeping things stable, and with this old servant and the people from the Eastern Depot keeping an eye on things, there hasn’t been much of a turmoil in or around the capital.”

Zhu Youjian gave a noncommittal "hmm," his fingers tapping lightly on the pages of the memorial, producing a rhythmic sound.

Wei Zhongxian knew this was just an opening statement. He paused for a moment and continued reporting, "But... two flies flew away."

"Qian Longxi, Qian Qianyi?" Zhu Youjian didn't even raise his head.

Wei Zhongxian's face showed just the right amount of surprise.

"Yes." He dared not conceal anything. "These two first claimed to be ill and stayed at home, refusing to come out. Then, they seemed to have sensed something." "This old servant sent people to investigate and found that after leaving the capital, these two traveled south and constantly sent people to contact various princes and members of the imperial family along the way. In particular... those retired officials in Jiangnan, as well as several large salt merchants and grain officials in the area, had overly close ties with them."

At this point, a hint of barely perceptible worry crept into Wei Zhongxian's voice.

"Your Majesty, you have executed the Prince of Qin in Xi'an. Now, the decree of 'collecting taxes as a unified system' must have reached the south. This old servant dares to say that Jiangnan is a major financial center of the country, with deeply entrenched gentry and a network of connections that extends throughout the court and the countryside. Qian Qianyi is the leader of the Donglin Party, with disciples and former officials everywhere. This kind of collusion might... might stir up some trouble in Jiangnan."

After he finished speaking, he lowered his head and waited for the emperor's wrath. In his mind, what the emperor hated most was ministers forming factions and causing chaos in the localities.

Wei Zhongxian was met with a soft laugh instead.

Zhu Youjian put down the memorial in his hand, turned around and slowly walked to Wei Zhongxian. His face showed a playful expression that made Wei Zhongxian feel a chill down his spine, almost like a pleasure.

"Trouble?"

The emperor gave a cold laugh.

"How can you cast your line into a stagnant pool?"

He reached out and gently patted Wei Zhongxian on the shoulder.

"Issue my decree that Tian Ergeng's Embroidered Uniform Guard should secretly 'help' them. If they want to make connections, have the Embroidered Uniform Guard deliver the messages faster; if they want to create momentum, have the Embroidered Uniform Guard members disguise themselves as indignant young people and make the fire burn even brighter."

"Your Eastern Depot must also cooperate."

The emperor's gaze passed through the window lattice and looked towards the distant southeast.

Wei Zhongxian felt a chill rise to the sky.

"This old servant... obeys the decree!" Wei Zhongxian bowed deeply, just as he had in the capital, yet not quite the same. This young emperor was already a fierce tiger that knew how to hunt.

"Go down." Zhu Youjian waved his hand.

Wei Zhongxian quietly slipped out, his figure disappearing back into the shadows outside the hall.

"comprehensive."

"Your subject is here." Zhou Quan stepped forward, his expression still respectful.

Unlike the suffocating atmosphere just now, Zhu Youjian's gaze softened considerably when he looked at Zhou Quan.

"How is the palace?"

"Your Majesty, everything is fine." Zhou Quan's reply was concise and warm. "I have followed all the arrangements you made before you left the capital. Now, everyone in the palace, from eunuchs to maids, has had their meals improved by more than one grade, and winter and summer clothes have been issued on time. No one dares to withhold them anymore."

“Most importantly,” a genuine smile appeared on Zhou Quan’s face,

"As Your Majesty instructed, I sent people to verify the families of everyone in the palace. Those whose families are in difficulty are being sent money, grain, and rice monthly in the name of the imperial treasury. Several elderly eunuchs also had their parents seriously ill, and medical treatment was arranged for them. Now everyone in the palace is at ease. Everyone says that Your Majesty truly treats them like human beings, and they all remember Your Majesty's kindness."

Zhu Youjian nodded.

Within this small, warm pavilion, the emperor seamlessly switched between cold, calculating power struggles and warm, human-centered persuasion, employing them with remarkable skill.

"You did a great job," Zhu Youjian acknowledged Zhou Quan's contribution.

Zhou Quan's eyes were slightly red.

Zhu Youjian looked at him and suddenly smiled, a smile that seemed to dispel all the gloom in the deep palace.

"Next time I leave Beijing," he said softly, yet with unparalleled clarity, "I'll take you with me."

Zhou Quan's body trembled violently; the promise was more exciting to him than any reward of gold or silver.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace!" Zhou Quan kowtowed deeply.

Zhu Youjian said nothing more, turned around and walked back to his dragon throne, where he slowly sat down.

Outside the hall, the sound of wind began to rise.

(End of this chapter)