Chapter 145: Arrest Me? This Marquis Has Divined For The Emperor! 【 Seeking Monthly Tickets 】
That scoundrel said that I killed Biao’er?
What does this mean?
Could Biao’er’s death be related to me?!
Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
Old Zhu’s thoughts grew darker and darker, his hands tightly gripping the dragon desk.
He couldn’t imagine such a result, nor did he dare to think about it further.
But the seed of suspicion was spreading like poison.
Unknowingly, the atmosphere in the entire Huagai Hall became as oppressive as a tomb.
Jiang Huan and Yun Ming knelt on the ground, their foreheads pressed tightly against the cold floor tiles, not even daring to breathe.
After a long pause, Old Zhu finally managed to steady his mind and quickly shifted his attention.
The package embroidered with glaring peonies lay on the imperial desk, like a gaping abyss exuding a suffocating, ominous aura.
Old Zhu did not open it immediately.
He merely stared at it intently, his chest heaving violently, his bloodshot eyes churning with immense wrath, extreme humiliation, and a madness born of being pushed to the brink.
Utter humiliation! Utter humiliation!
In his entire life, when had he, Zhu Yuanzhang, ever endured such an open, blatant provocation and coercion?!
This was not just a scandal; it was the most direct trampling of his imperial authority!
No matter what was inside, this matter itself had pushed him, the Emperor, into a desperate situation requiring an immediate reaction!
Finally, Old Zhu slowly raised his head, his gaze piercing like lightning towards Jiang Huan, his voice hoarse and low, yet with a tranquility that made one’s soul tremble:
“Have you investigated clearly? The background of that old litigant? Who instructed him?”
“Replying… Replying to Your Majesty…”
Jiang Huan’s voice trembled: “That old litigant took the money and acted, and the person who instructed him… left no clues, as if… as if they vanished into thin air.”
“Good… Very good…”
Old Zhu let out a chilling low laugh: “You’re all playing tricks on me, aren’t you? You all treat me like a pawn!?”
“Bang—!”
With that, he slammed the imperial desk, causing the package to jump.
“Zhang Biao! It’s all Zhang Biao, that bastard!”
Old Zhu roared: “If he hadn’t audited, how would these demons and monsters have been uncovered?! If it weren’t for his subordinates, how would they dare to bring this matter to the heavens?! If he hadn’t been playing god in the Imperial Prison, how would these monsters and demons have been drawn here!?”
The source of everything, all the chaos, was that madman in the Imperial Prison!
He truly regretted not having Zhang Biao killed sooner.
However, with things as they were, he was like a completely enraged lion, his eyes filled only with murderous intent and a persistence to uncover and control everything.
“Investigate! Investigate every detail based on all clues! We want to know the whole truth!”
“But Your Majesty…”
Jiang Huan said with trepidation: “This involves the palace, should we…”
“There is no ‘should not’!”
Old Zhu interrupted him abruptly, his gaze like a blade scraping across Jiang Huan’s face:
“Anyone! Anything! If there’s the slightest suspicion, investigate it for us! We want to see how many more demons and monsters are hidden in this world!”
“Yes!”
Jiang Huan accepted the order, his soul scattered.
He knew that a sweeping purge involving the entire court, and even the imperial palace, was now inevitable.
After seeing him off, Old Zhu sank back down and gave another order: “Yun Ming!”
“Your servant is here.”
Yun Ming’s voice shook uncontrollably.
Old Zhu then said coldly: “Pass on our decree: Immediately order the Five City Patrols to seal the nine gates, allowing entry but no exit! All those who observed the Drum of Hearing Petitions today are to be registered, and anyone who dares to spread rumors will be treated as a traitor!”
“In addition, from today onwards, Hanlin Academy Scholar Liu Sanwu will temporarily manage the Ministry of Revenue, Duke Wei Xu Yungong will temporarily oversee the Ministry of War, Mei Yin will assist the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of Personnel will be personally handled by us!”
“During the investigation, the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers are to remain in their positions. If anyone dares to form factions or deceive us again, their fate will be like that of Fu Youwen and others!”
“Yes!”
Yun Ming agreed and quickly bowed and retreated from the Main Hall.
At the same time, in the Eastern Palace, Chunhe Hall.
Incense curled lazily in the hall, and the furnishings were elegant, attempting to maintain a facade of tranquility, isolated from the turmoil outside.
Consort Lü sat by the window, seemingly calmly trimming the leaves of a potted orchid, but her trembling fingertips and occasional faraway gaze betrayed her inner unrest.
Zhu Yunwen sat not far away, holding a book, but hadn’t turned a page for a long time.
A lingering worry was etched on his delicate face, his brows furrowed, clearly unable to concentrate on his reading.
The ringing of the Drum of Hearing Petitions, forbidden palace medicine, the Shaanxi old case, four key officials including Fu Youwen being thrown into the Imperial Prison by imperial decree…
This series of earth-shattering news had already pierced through the palace walls like thunderbolts and reached the Eastern Palace.
Even if they deliberately avoided it, the whispers of palace maids and eunuchs, and the tense atmosphere permeating the air, constantly reminded them that a monumental change was unfolding outside.
A trusted close eunuch quietly hurried in, leaned close to Consort Lü’s ear, and reported in a very low voice, conveying the news of Fu Youwen and others frantically attacking each other in court, even vaguely implicating the princes, and the Emperor’s furious order to thoroughly investigate ‘treason’.
Consort Lü’s hand trimming the orchid branch trembled violently, and with a ‘snap’, an inappropriate tender branch was cut off.
Her face instantly turned somewhat pale, but she quickly regained her usual gentle demeanor, though a look of carefully concealed alarm flashed in the depths of her eyes.
“I understand, you may go.”
She dismissed the trusted close eunuch, her voice as steady as possible.
The hall was once again filled with just the mother and son, but the atmosphere was even more stagnant than before.
Zhu Yunwen put down his book and looked at his mother with concern: “Mother, has it truly reached this point outside? Vice Minister Fu and the others… how could this happen…”
A hint of imperceptible panic was in his voice.
Fu Youwen, Ru Chang, and others had always shown great respect to him, the ‘future Imperial Grandson’, offering thorough festival gifts.
Although he did not participate in political affairs, he knew they were important officials of the court.
For them to have met such an end, even being branded as ‘traitors’, was an immense shock to him.
Consort Lü took a deep breath, put down the silver scissors, walked to Zhu Yunwen’s side, gently patted his hand, and forced herself to comfort him with composure:
“Don’t panic, Yunwen. The affairs of the court are ever-changing; your Imperial Grandfather’s wisdom will guide him. We, in the inner palace, need only to keep to our duties and observe the situation.”
Her words, though seemingly comforting, carried a subtle hint of warning and distance.
She knew deeply that in this deep palace, one wrong step could lead to an abyss.
However, Zhu Yunwen’s brows did not relax; he said in a low voice: “But Mother, what the Drum of Hearing Petitions mentioned… forbidden palace medicine… and it even involves Father King…”
His voice choked slightly as he said ‘Father King’: “Imperial Grandfather must be extremely grieved and enraged. This son wishes to see Imperial Grandfather and offer comfort…”
“Absolutely not!”
Consort Lü firmly objected, her voice slightly hurried, before softening her tone:
“Your Imperial Grandfather is in a fit of rage at the moment and needs to be alone to handle state affairs. If we go, not only will we not comfort him, but we might cause him further annoyance.”
“Remember, at this moment, stillness is better than action.”
Her worries extended far beyond this.
The words ‘forbidden palace medicine’ pricked her heart like a poisonous thorn.
In the deep palace, there were never a shortage of hidden affairs. Although she was confident in her cautious actions, who could guarantee that someone wouldn’t use this opportunity to accuse them or even smear them?
The Emperor was now extremely suspicious; what if…
And then there was the ‘Shaanxi old case’, which involved the late Crown Prince… this was an even more sensitive topic.
Although her Yunwen was the beneficiary, who could guarantee that the Emperor, in his rage and suspicion, wouldn’t develop some terrible associations?
A faint, yet incredibly cold fear, crept into Consort Lü’s heart.
Beneath her carefully maintained composure lay the terror of walking on thin ice.
She knew better than Zhu Yunwen that the terrifying aspect of this storm was that it might not develop according to anyone’s expectations, and could sweep everyone into it, regardless of whether they stood by or were at the center of the maelstrom.
Zhu Yunwen looked at his mother’s solemn expression, nodded as if he understood, and did not insist further, but the worry in his eyes deepened.
He vaguely felt that his mother seemed to know something, or was afraid of something, something he had never encountered, the darkest side of the deep palace.
For a moment, mother and son were silent, sitting opposite each other in the hall.
The sky outside remained the same, but over the Forbidden City, dense, oppressive dark clouds had gathered.
All they could do seemed to be to wait, in this suffocating tranquility, for the unknown destiny that might engulf everything to arrive.
That trace of worry, like the lingering incense in the hall, quietly spread and seeped into their hearts.
On the other side.
Jiang Huan, having received Old Zhu’s oral decree filled with immense wrath and chilling killing intent, as if holding a death warrant, led the most elite Imperial Guard officers and scouts to search for clues everywhere.
Although there wasn’t much inside the package, the Imperial Guard were always professional when investigating cases.
Even the slightest trace could lead them to the source.
Finally, they found a clue to the forbidden medicine at a pharmacy in the east of the city.
This clue led directly to Zhou Ji, the son of Marquis Jiangxia Zhou Dexing.
Thus, Jiang Huan immediately led his subordinates, without stopping, like a black tide, towards the mansion of Marquis Jiangxia Zhou Dexing.
At the mansion gate, the gatekeeper, seeing that the visitor was the Imperial Guard Commander himself, and that his entourage was menacing, was so terrified that he rushed inside to report.
A moment later, the mansion gate opened, and Marquis Jiangxia Zhou Dexing, dressed in his customary noble attire, emerged with a grim expression.
He was old, but still powerfully built, exuding the fierceness of a warrior.
Upon seeing Jiang Huan, a flicker of surprise crossed his face, then he forced himself to remain calm, even adopting the airs of a marquis.
“Commander Jiang?”
Zhou Dexing’s voice was loud, with a hint of displeasure: “Such a grand mobilization, surrounding this Marquis’s mansion, for what reason? Could it be that His Majesty has another decree that requires this Marquis’s service?”
He attempted to take the initiative, invoking the Emperor’s name.
Jiang Huan’s expression was unreadable; he cupped his hands slightly, his voice as hard as iron: “My Lord, I am here on His Majesty’s oral decree to investigate a serious case, and require your Lordship and your son, Zhou Ji, to cooperate with the investigation.”
“Oral decree?”
Zhou Dexing’s brows furrowed, his eyes filled with increased vigilance: “What serious case requires the Commander to personally investigate? And to question my son? Is there an imperial decree?”
He was deliberately being difficult, hoping to buy time.
A cold glint flashed in Jiang Huan’s eyes; he was no longer polite, stepping closer, lowering his voice, each word like an ice pick piercing Zhou Dexing:
“My Lord, must some things be said in front of so many people? Regarding… some ‘spices’ that should not be in the palace, and… some ‘interactions’ that should not occur?”
Although he did not explicitly mention words like ‘harem’ or ‘licentiousness’, the words ‘spices’ and ‘interactions’, coupled with his bone-chilling gaze and suggestive tone, instantly shattered all of Zhou Dexing’s hopes.
Zhou Dexing’s face turned as pale as paper, his body visibly shaking, his forced composure collapsing instantly.
Of course, he knew what Jiang Huan was implying!
The shameful deeds of that rebellious son, had they… had they been exposed?! And even alerted the Emperor?!
“You… you are slandering me!”
Zhou Dexing shouted in a feigned outrage, his voice betraying an unconcealable tremor:
“This Marquis followed the former Emperor when he raised his army, and his meritorious service is outstanding! Moreover, I once divined the former Emperor’s destiny, and am a meritorious official of the Great Ming!”
“You, a mere Imperial Guard Commander, without proof, how dare you slander nobles?! I want to see the Emperor! I want to report to His Majesty in person!”
He attempted a final struggle, trying to suppress them with his past achievements and his ‘special relationship’ with the Emperor.
Jiang Huan looked at his weak facade, sneering inwardly, but his face remained cold:
“My Lord wishes to see the Emperor, and of course, he may. But this subordinate is acting on the Emperor’s oral decree! Evidence?”
Jiang Huan suddenly pulled out the package embroidered with glaring peonies from his bosom, flashing it before Zhou Dexing’s eyes:
“This is the evidence! Does my Lord wish for this subordinate to open it here and let everyone see?!”
The familiar peony pattern was like a red-hot branding iron, making Zhou Dexing’s eyes shrink, his soul scattering.
He was completely panicked, no longer caring about his marquis’s dignity, his voice taking on a pleading tone:
“Commander Jiang! Lord Jiang! There must be a misunderstanding! Someone must be framing my Zhou family! Please allow me to see the former Emperor…”
“Enough!”
Jiang Huan interrupted him sternly, having completely lost his patience.
The Emperor’s fury and pressure had pushed him to the brink as well; there was no room for leniency now.
“His Majesty has decreed: investigate thoroughly! Those who obstruct will be punished as accomplices!”
Jiang Huan suddenly waved his hand: “Guards! Please have the Marquis rest! The rest of you, follow me into the mansion! Search! Find Zhou Ji for me!”
“How dare you?!”
Zhou Dexing tried to stop them, but two fierce guards grabbed him tightly on either side and dragged him aside to be guarded, his shouts and struggles rendered useless.
“Jiang Huan! You dog! The Emperor will not let you off! I am a meritorious official…”
Zhou Dexing’s curses were quickly silenced.
Jiang Huan did not even look at him, leading his large contingent to charge into the luxuriously decorated Jiangxia Marquis Manor like wolves.
The mansion immediately erupted into chaos, the screams of maids and servants, the shouts of the Imperial Guards, and the sounds of rummaging through drawers and cabinets blended into a cacophony.
Jiang Huan’s target was clear: the residence of Zhou Ji in the back courtyard.
As soon as he reached the courtyard gate, he smelled a strong, pungent, rotten odor mixed with alcohol and a strange sweet fragrance wafting from within.
Indistinct sounds of men and women laughing and indecent noises could be heard from inside.
“Bang—!”
Jiang Huan’s expression darkened further, and he kicked open the door.
The scene inside made him, a seasoned head of the Imperial Guard, feel nauseated—
The room was a mess, with wine bottles, fruit pits, and torn clothing scattered everywhere.
The Heir Apparent of Jiangxia, Zhou Ji, was disheveled, his face flushed, his eyes unfocused, entangled with three similarly scantily clad women in a state of debauchery on a couch, clearly having taken a potent aphrodisiac and being completely disoriented.
In the nearby incense burner, that strangely colored incense emitting a sweet, exotic fragrance was still burning!
It was one of the forbidden medicines mentioned in the package!
“Seize them!”
Jiang Huan waved his hand in disgust.
The scouts rushed forward like wolves, roughly dragging away the screaming women and the struggling Zhou Ji, splashing them with cold water to wake them up.
Startled by the cold water, Zhou Ji regained some consciousness. Seeing the Imperial Guards filling the room and Jiang Huan’s ashen face, he froze for a moment, then his body went limp with fear, his crotch instantly wetting itself, emitting a foul odor.
“Lord… Lord Jiang… spare my life… spare my life…”
Zhou Ji wailed, kowtowing profusely, no longer resembling the Heir Apparent of the Marquis Manor in any way.
Jiang Huan had no intention of wasting words with him. His sharp gaze swept the room, and he quickly found more unused forbidden medicine and several letters with ambiguous handwriting and veiled signatures in a secret compartment by the bedside.
The evidence was conclusive! Caught red-handed!
Jiang Huan looked at the decadent and absurd scene before him, smelling the nauseating odor, his heart was ice-cold.
【 Marquis Jiangxia… is finished. 】
【 Not only was he indulging his son in debauchery within the harem, but I fear… a truly colossal scandal is about to be exposed. 】
He could already imagine the Emperor’s extreme rage upon learning of this scene, and the bloody storm it would surely unleash.
“Arrest everyone! Seal all evidence! The Marquis Manor is to allow entry but not exit!”
Jiang Huan ordered coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion.
The Imperial Guards dragged the limp Zhou Ji and the pale-faced women out like condemned prisoners.
The once illustrious Jiangxia Marquis Manor was now completely shrouded in the shadow of death.
Jiang Huan stood in the messy courtyard, looking at the ashen-faced old Marquis Zhou Dexing, who was being controlled by the scouts, feeling no relief, but rather a heavier heart.
He knew this was just the beginning.
Pulling out one root would bring up others; who would Zhou Ji’s connection lead to? That person in the harem? Or others involved?
A storm far more terrifying and dirtier than the Shaanxi corruption case had already arrived.
And he was at the very center of the storm.
What Mao Xiang experienced back then was probably nothing compared to this, Jiang Huan thought, and waved his hand: “Take Zhou Ji away!”
That pharmacy only provided the materials for the forbidden medicine; the formula was Zhou Ji’s own.
And Jiang Huan naturally did not believe that Zhou Ji could come up with such a formula for forbidden medicine; there must be someone behind him.
Thinking of the person behind it, Jiang Huan actually had some suspicions already, but he dared not speculate further.
Everything could only be decided by the Emperor.
