Just two days ago, when Chen Honggang met Eunuch Qin, his attitude was not respectful enough, which probably caused his trouble.
In the eyes of Eunuch Qin, he can see the big by looking at the small, and know the subtle by seeing the small.
If Chen Hong dares to be disrespectful to himself today, he will be able to ride on his head and dominate him in the future.
In particular, Chen Hong is still a close confidant of Queen Fang. The earlier he is dealt with, the smaller the cause and effect will be. Should he still be kept waiting for him to develop further?
This is why those who live the longest in the palace are often those who are cautious in their words and actions and do not easily reveal their true emotions.
Chen Hong paid a heavy price because of his emotional exposure.
But Queen Fang did not have any doubts about Eunuch Qin. It was not because Queen Fang was not smart enough, but because normal people would not think of such a thing.
From a normal person's point of view, Chen Hong might have felt that "a man should be like this" towards Eunuch Qin, the high-ranking governor of the East Factory, and it was possible that he could cause trouble in secret.
Who would have thought that Eunuch Qin would actually have the idea of being "replaceable" to Chen Hong, whose status was far inferior to his own?
And without hesitation, we immediately laid out the plan and took action in just one or two days.
That's why Eunuch Qin was so uncertain, and at this moment, Empress Fang had no eunuch more trustworthy than Qin Fu.
Expelling Chen Hong is only the first step, then the second step is to prove that he can do better than Chen Hong and is more worthy of being relied upon by those in power.
After Empress Fang experienced the shock of hearing the news of Chen Hong's betrayal, she no longer asked "why".
Things have reached this level, and asking why it is of little use and what to do in the future should be the top priority.
As for whether Eunuch Qin was trustworthy or not, Queen Fang decided to test it again and asked:
"I heard before that you cast a net all over the sky with great fanfare and hunted down the few people who escaped from the palace in the capital. Why is this? Why don't you start from the simpler palace?"
Although Empress Fang chose to trust Eunuch Qin from Qin Dewei's perspective, this abnormal approach left a knot in her heart.
In the final analysis, Queen Fang didn't want those people to be dug out, who knew whether she would be implicated.
Eunuch Qin knew that he could no longer keep his secrets at this time, so he quickly answered truthfully: "The queen doesn't know something. This is a plan to hide the truth. It is called to track down a few people who escaped from the palace, but it actually has another purpose."
Queen Fang suddenly became interested, "What other purpose is there?"
Eunuch Qin stopped hiding and continued to answer: "The slap on the sills of Ciqing Palace appears to be a group of palace people making trouble in the Queen Mother's palace. In fact, the root cause is that the palace people who served the Queen Mother in Ciqing Palace were careless and deliberately treated the Queen Mother poorly.
Therefore, these palace people were afraid of being retaliated by the Queen Mother, which led to the farce in Ciqing Palace that day.
Therefore, in order to trace the attack and the origin of Shuo Shuo, we must start from the palace people's indifference to the Queen Mother. Only in this way can the Queen Mother vent her anger.
And because the Queen Mother's palace is of high standard, there are many palace guests who come here for gilding.
At the same time, because the emperor originally assigned Zhang Zuo to be responsible for monitoring the Ciqing Palace, Zhang Zuo took the opportunity to send many of his disciples and fellow villagers to Ciqing Palace for gold plating. In fact, these people had slighted and abused the Queen Mother!
Zhang Zuo was from Beizhili, and most of his disciples, disciples, and fellow villagers were from around the capital.
Therefore, Dongchang launched a large-scale war around the capital. In fact, he went to the surrounding area to find relatives of Zhang Zuo's disciples and fellow villagers according to the map, and tried his best to collect some evidence.
As for tracking down those who escaped from the palace, it is just a cover."
Queen Fang was stunned for a moment, she didn't expect that Eunuch Qin had such a skill, and the doubts she had in this regard gradually disappeared.
But there was still something puzzling about, so he asked again: "Whether it is hitting the eucalyptus on the Ciqing Palace sill, or belittling and abusing the Queen Mother, it is already a serious crime of rebellion. What's the use of checking for other evidence?"
Eunuch Qin said without leaking anything: "Because the Queen Mother's dignity must always be maintained, some things must be kept taboo by her lord.
Although everyone in the palace understands what happened, they can't tell the world that the Queen Mother was bullied by her slaves, right?
So where is the face of the Queen Mother? Where is the face of the royal family? As the Queen, you are theoretically the Queen Mother's junior, so how will the people of the world view your filial piety?
So the safest way is to find some other evidence of crime and send away those rebellious people."
Empress Fang could only say: "Eunuch Qin really handled things appropriately!"
Immediately I heard Eunuch Qin add: "Because this matter is confidential, in order to keep it confidential, as few people as possible know about it. Even Chen Hong, who was not involved in the operation, was not informed, so it may have caused some misunderstandings among Chen Hong."
At this time, Empress Fang remembered again that Chen Hong came to complain to her.
Could it be that he just chose to continue to trust Eunuch Qin at that time, which led to Chen Hong's alienation?
If this is the case, Queen Fang only wants to curse people, and people's hearts are so worthless!
Eunuch Qin didn't give Queen Fang much chance to think, and struck while the iron was hot and said: "There is a second thing tonight that I am about to discuss with you.
That is to say, some incriminating clues and witnesses were caught today, which can all point to Zhang Zuo's godson Zhou Yi, and Zhou Yi was a steward in Ciqing Palace."
Empress Fang took a deep look at Eunuch Qin. She took over the job yesterday and has gained something today. Should she praise Eunuch Qin for his efficiency, or should she have planned it in advance and wait for the critical moment to bring it out?
But no matter what, I don't know better than I don't know. I was shocked when I compared. Eunuch Qin is indeed much better than Chen Hong in all aspects. Chen Hong can't compare at all.
And now that Chen Hong has been lost, we cannot lose Eunuch Qin again, otherwise there will be a vacuum around us.
Eunuch Qin finally passed the test, and Queen Fang formally asked: "Then what do you think should be done?"
Eunuch Qin replied: "As the saying goes, when soldiers come, they will block the water and cover up the soil. There are no certain rules below. At most, we can make a few plans.
All we can do is to first observe the other party's reaction, then choose strategies based on circumstances, and then strike preemptively."
At the same time, in the outer house of Zhang Zuo, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, Zhang Zuo, who had gone to bed early, was woken up again.
When he first served the emperor, because Emperor Jiajing liked to read memorials in the middle of the night, it was difficult for him to go to bed early as the director of rituals.
Now that the emperor is in a coma, it is rare for Zhang Zuo to go to bed early every day. He has to pay attention to health as he gets older.
But tonight's uninvited guest is really special. The long and easy-going diners can't make the decision, so they can only invite Zhang Zuo out again.
A real palace fight will not be like the TV series five hundred years later, with dozens of rounds repeated.
Often one move can mean life or death, and there is no second chance unless there is a big shot who can control the rules to protect him.
But Chen Hong currently needs protection. Among the big figures in the palace who can control the rules, the only one Chen Hong can ask for and who is likely to succeed is the eunuch Zhang Zuo, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony.
Looking at Chen Hong, Zhang Zuo was also inexplicably surprised. Because there was really no warning, Chen Hong suddenly came to seek refuge as soon as he said he would take refuge, and Zhang Zuo had no expectation or preparation at all.
For a moment, Zhang Zuo even suspected that Chen Hong was working as an undercover agent. However, this method was too crude and did not look like a carefully prepared plan.
After patiently listening to Chen Hong's explanation of the whole story, and even hearing Chen Hong's suggestion that the queen was related to the eucalyptus-banging of Ciqing Palace sills, Zhang Zuo was not interested at all.
He said coldly: "I only want to say two points. First, if you have really done those things and offended Ciqing Palace, then if you come to me, won't others think that I am shielding you?
And then we were dragged into the water together by you?
Secondly, what's the point of saying this? Even if I shield you, what's the point? Do you still want me to help you take revenge?
No matter how good Queen Fang is, she is still a queen. I do not have the power to depose the queen, and I cannot do anything to Lady Fang, so you, the eunuch beside Lady Fang, are of no use to me."
Although what Zhang Zuo said was cruel, it was not unreasonable.
Chen Hong is not of much value to Eunuch Zhang, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony. How can we still expect to use Chen Hong to depose Empress Fang?
In addition, there is another meaning, which is to look down on Chen Hong's behavior of betraying his master.
So if you, Chen Hong, really want to die, please die quietly and don't always think about dragging people into trouble.
Feeling that he was on the verge of life and death, Chen Hong gritted his teeth and said to Zhang Zuo in order to save his life.
"I will only say two points. First, I did not come to seek refuge with Mr. Zhang, but to ask Mr. Zhang to detain me!
Secondly, I have no intention of dragging Mr. Zhang along with me to harm the empress, and I don’t resent the empress. But Mr. Zhang just doesn’t want to think about how to deal with Eunuch Qin?”
Zhang Zuo was about to yawn carelessly, and thought about sending Chen Hong away quickly so that he could continue sleeping.
But after hearing the two points Chen Hong said, Zhang Zuo immediately sat up straight.
If dealing with the Queen is meaningless, then dealing with Eunuch Qin is quite meaningful.
In the eunuch system, Eunuch Qin is the number two figure and has always been the person who poses the greatest threat to his palm position.
The key point is that the Qin eunuch was neither a minister of the vassal clan nor a fellow villager of Beizhili. It was difficult for Zhang Zuo to accept and trust the Qin eunuch.
For several years, Eunuch Qin had been making Zhang Zuo sleepless and uneasy, until the emperor fell into a coma. However, since a camel was so skinny that it was bigger than a horse, Eunuch Qin was still the most dangerous person.
"Then tell me more about it?" Zhang Zuo kept thinking in his heart, but his tone was still cold.
Chen Hong finally saw a glimmer of hope and hurriedly continued to talk about his idea:
"Although Eunuch Qin has captured someone, he lacks me as an intermediary link, so it is impossible to point directly to Concubine Fang.
And subjectively speaking, Eunuch Qin had no intention of targeting Empress Fang.
Therefore, it can be concluded that Eunuch Qin poses no threat to Empress Fang at all."
Zhang Zuo couldn't help but gesture: "Let's get to the point!"
Eunuch Qin has no threat to Queen Fang. Is this worth saying?
Chen Hong, who was "living under someone else's wing", quickly continued: "And tonight, it was not me who defected to Master Zhang, but Master Zhang who caught me, and then I truthfully explained all the causes and consequences, including the evil deeds of instigating others to attack Ciqing Palace."
matter.
Moreover, I take orders directly from Empress Fang, so if something happens to me, I can also turn to Empress Fang.
All in all, Mr. Zhang, you have posed a huge threat to the other lady because you caught me."
When Zhang Zuo heard this, he patted the armrest lightly and praised: "Very good!"
One opponent's queen is a threat, and one opponent's queen is not a threat. Even a political novice can see the difference between the two.
Chen Hong heard the encouragement and felt that his chances of saving his life were even higher.
Then Chen Hong came to the most critical point: "So Mr. Zhang, you can definitely negotiate with Concubine Fang and target Eunuch Qin!
And Empress Fang, forced by your threat from Mr. Zhang, will definitely choose to give up Eunuch Qin, who is not a threat to her!
In this case, wouldn’t you have achieved your goal, Mr. Zhang?”
Zhang Zuo rubbed his bald chin. It sounded like a good opportunity indeed. Chen Hong's betrayal was a rare thing and couldn't be wasted.
Anyway, if you don’t try the big gift package that comes to your door, it’s useless. Even if you gain nothing, you have nothing to lose.
The next day, Zhang Zuo came to the back hall of Renshou Palace and Wanchun Palace to meet Queen Fang.
"We have found some clues about the impact of eucalyptus on Ciqing Palace." Zhang Zuo said straight to the point after saluting.
After hearing this, Queen Fang was extremely angry. Chen Hong had indeed betrayed her and told Zhang Zuo everything! Otherwise, where would Zhang Zuo get the "clues"?
But Empress Fang still said calmly: "This matter was handed over to Eunuch Qin of Dongchang the day before yesterday. Eunuch Zhang, you were also present at that time. Why did you go to investigate again in private?"
Zhang Zuo replied seriously: "I didn't intend to investigate. I just got the clues accidentally. A man named Chen Hong recruited them all."
After hearing such clear words, Queen Fang clapped her hands angrily and said: "Chen Hong is from this palace, why don't you send Chen Hong back to deal with it!"
Zhang Zuo replied: "Most of what he said were nonsense. He was afraid that he had lost his mind and gone crazy. In order to avoid disturbing the queen, he did not send her back."
Queen Fang responded angrily: "If you only want to talk about Chen Hong, then you can quit!"
Zhang Zuo then said: "I simply have a clue in my hand, so I would like to ask you to give the order to Dongchang and ask Dongchang to hand over the trusses so that I can verify and compare them."
Empress Fang evaded: "If you have clues and witnesses, you can hand them over to Dongchang. Why bother to re-interrogate?"
Regarding Empress Fang's evasion, Zhang Zuo had already expected it, so he hinted: "My trial and Dongchang's trial are of course different. The only similarity is probably that they will prevent the empress from being contaminated by the cause and effect."
Empress Fang suddenly felt threatened and said angrily: "What's the use of my words? Ever since the emperor fell into a coma, all of you have only done your own thing, so why have you ever listened to me?"
Zhang Zuoban forced the palace to say: "It is the empress's business whether to issue an edict or not, but if Eunuch Qin openly resists the edict, it is Eunuch Qin's business."
No matter what, we must seize the opportunity today. Even if we can't kill him, we will at least severely injure Eunuch Qin.