Volume 1: The Swan Goose Chapter 68: How Proud of a Strong Man (1)
A dark cloud passed over and enveloped Ziwei City. As soon as the sky passed, Eunuch Shuangxi took his new disciple and walked toward the Zichen Palace with square steps.
This disciple had just entered the palace not long ago. He was only twelve or thirteen years old. He had pink makeup, red lips and white teeth, and a black mole between his eyebrows, which added a bit of femininity. The first time Eunuch Shuangxi saw him, he was
I liked him so much that I immediately accepted him as my disciple.
"What name did your parents give you?" Eunuch Shuangxi looked at his apprentice with joy.
The young eunuch said in a low voice: "Back to father-in-law, my disciple's name is Wang Shisan."
Eunuch Shuangxi curled his lips and said angrily: "It's too vulgar. Master, how about changing your name to Ming'en?"
The little eunuch rolled his watery eyes and immediately smiled and said, "Thank you, father-in-law, for the name!"
Eunuch Shuangxi chuckled and asked again: "Do you know why master gave you the name Ming En?"
Ming En understood, blinked his eyes, and replied: "My father-in-law wants me to remember your kindness all the time!"
Father Shuangxi's face immediately lit up with joy. He touched Ming En's head and said with a smile: "What a smart boy! The more I look at you, the more I like you! From now on, you will follow the master. If you don't understand, you should read more and ask more questions."
, so as not to make a fool of yourself in front of the Holy Master and lose the master’s face!”
Ming En nodded, pondered for a moment, and then asked cautiously: "Master, I accidentally dropped a memorial just now and saw the inscription 'Liu Bu Jiu Qing' at the signature. Whose name is this? Why is it so weird?"
?”..
Eunuch Shuangxi looked at him sideways and asked, "Do you know how to read?"
Ming En nodded first, then shook his head quickly and said with a blush, "I only know a few..."
Seeing how simple he was, Eunuch Shuangxi liked him even more, so he explained: "You have to remember that these six ministers and nine ministers are not names of people, but refer to the ministers of the six ministers, the ministers of general affairs, and the ministers of Dali Temple.
The collective title of the three highest officials of the Procuratorate and Censor."
Ming En opened his eyes and asked in surprise: "So, they have great rights?"
Eunuch Shuangxi smiled and said, "That's natural! These people are the most powerful court officials in Beiyu!"
Ming En tilted his head and asked again: "Father, what is a Yan Guan? What is the relationship between a Yan Guan and a salt seller?"
Eunuch Shuangxi was so amused by him that he covered his mouth and giggled, and said dotingly: "Silly boy, this Yan is not the salt we eat. Yan Guan is actually the collective name for supervisors and admonishers. Most of them are not of high rank and have limited power.
Very big! Because they are responsible for admonishing the emperor and guarding all officials, even the emperor must respect them!"
Ming En lowered his head and thought for a while, and then asked: "Father, I see that many ministers came to court today in an aggressive manner. Is there something big going on in the court?"
Eunuch Shuangxi glanced sharply and smiled sinisterly: "Silly boy, we just need to listen to the emperor and do whatever the emperor tells us to do and ignore other things. Only then can we live longer!"
Ming En looked at Shuangxi's smiling face and nodded in understanding.
The Zichen Palace fell into a deathly silence, and one could even hear the sound of rain falling from the eaves. The palace was filled with well-dressed courtiers with their own thoughts.
Xia Yunqing held her head high and stood majestically in the middle of the hall, slowly stroking her long beard.
Emperor Yu sat on the dragon throne solemnly, looking deeply at the memorial on the case, and tapped the armrest intentionally or unintentionally with his emerald-green finger.
He glanced at Xia Yunqing and said casually: "This memorial is like an account book. It lists how Pingyang Hou and his son have oppressed the people and disregarded human life since I came to the throne. It also stated that if I don't punish this person severely, I will
The common people gathered to make trouble, which seriously threatened the country. It was signed by He Mengchun, Wang Yuan and other 187 famous officials! Xia Aiqing, have you read this memorial?"
Xia Yunqing bowed and said loudly: "Your Majesty, after reading this memorial, I felt that the situation was serious, so I immediately submitted it to the emperor for review."
Emperor Yu looked at the memorial with sharp eyes and snorted coldly: "A group of petty officials of no more than six or seven ranks, but all of them have their eyes fixed on me. If there is any slight disturbance, they will rush to the ground to clear the air."
Impeachment, are they treating the court as a child's play!"
Xia Yunqing said without changing his expression: "Your Majesty, the duty of the Yanguan is to admonish the Emperor and inspect all officials! What Pingyang Marquis did this time has aroused the anger of the people. If it is not dealt with severely, the people and officials who suffered will definitely cause trouble. Still
I hope your Majesty will rule as soon as possible!"
Emperor Yu's eyes became colder, but his tone remained calm: "Are you trying to force me to kill our relatives out of justice?"
"I don't dare!" Xia Yunqing bowed deeply and said sternly: "I'm just worried that today's disaster in Annan will be the disaster in Beiyu in the future!"
"Bold!" Emperor Yu's face suddenly changed, and his sharp eyes suddenly became cold: "Xia Yunqing, you are too presumptuous! You usually speak unscrupulously and have no scruples. I want to tolerate you again and again because of your hard work and achievements.
But you push yourself even further! Do you really think I don’t dare to kill you?”
"Your Majesty, calm down. I have been an official for decades and have nothing to do with my life. I only have passion and courage to fulfill my duties. If I can bring down Pingyang Marquis, who bullies the emperor and poisons the people, is extravagant and arrogant, why should I be afraid of death?" Xia Yunqing
But he held his head high and his chest high, still looking righteous and awe-inspiring.
"You!" Emperor Yu was so angry that his eyebrows furrowed and his face turned livid.
"Your Majesty, it's not good, it's not good!" Suddenly a high-pitched and thin exclamation came from outside the palace. A little eunuch with red lips and white teeth rushed into the palace with small steps, and knelt on the ground with a "plop".
"What are you yelling about? There are no rules!" Emperor Yu suddenly vented his anger on the little eunuch.
Ming En was so frightened that he immediately turned to look at Eunuch Shuangxi, as if asking for help. When Eunuch Shuangxi saw that it was his apprentice Ming En, his face suddenly sank, and he immediately walked over and raised his hand to give him a big ear.
Melon seeds.
"Look at how flustered and careless you are, you really don't look like the disciple I taught you! You are yelling so early in the morning, what's wrong with you?"
Ming En shuddered, lay on the ground, kowtowed to his third brother, and said in a trembling voice, "I know my mistake! Your Majesty, please punish me! I know your mistake!"
Emperor Yu's eyes were fixed on the memorial in front of him and he ignored him.
Eunuch Shuangxi observed his words and immediately glared at Ming En, angrily scolding: "You blind idiot! If you don't tell me what happened quickly, I will delay the business, so I will take off your head!"
Ming En was so frightened that he trembled like chaff. He fell on the ground and said tremblingly: "Your Majesty! Hundreds of ministers are crowded in the Long Live Hall at this moment. They are clamoring to meet the Holy Spirit!"
Emperor Yu didn't even move his eyebrows and said coldly: "Let them wait!"
Relying on the emperor's thoughts, Eunuch Shuangxi looked at Ming En and asked in a low voice: "Can these adults tell me why they want to meet the emperor?"
Ming En lay on the ground shaking for a long time before murmuring: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I don't dare to say anything!"
Eunuch Shuangxi glanced at the emperor and saw his face darken. He immediately walked up to Ming En and cursed angrily:
"You reckless bitch, you yell when you're not supposed to. When I ask you to speak, you become mute again, right?"
"Go and call Man Tingfang." Emperor Yu, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke.
As if he had received an amnesty, Ming En immediately stood up, bowed and exited the hall, and ran away quickly.
After a while, Man Tingfang slowly walked into the palace, bowed and said, "I pay homage to your Majesty."
Emperor Yu asked with a sinking face: "Man Ai Qing, you have always been very close to the ministers of the court. Do you know why those more than a hundred people in the Long Live Hall want to see me?"
Man Tingfang pondered for a while and said calmly: "Back to the emperor, these people heard that Xia Shoufang was assassinated by Pingyang Hou's men yesterday, so everyone came spontaneously to seek justice for Mr. Shofu."
Emperor Yu raised his eyebrows and directed his sharp gaze at Xia Yunqing: "Xia Shoufu, is this possible?"
Xia Yunqing bowed his hands and said in a neither humble nor condescending manner: "Back to the emperor, it is indeed true. Yesterday, I was walking by the river to admire the moon. I met a group of thieves who intercepted me on the way. They were all dressed in black and masked, claiming to be the henchmen of Pingyang Marquis.
. Later, thanks to a few righteous men who came to the rescue and killed the assassins, I was able to escape!"
Emperor Yu looked at him suspiciously and asked, "They claim to be from the Marquis of Pingyang? Will the real assassins declare their family status?"
Xia Yunqing said without changing his expression: "Back to the emperor, I have reported this matter to Dali Temple. They have brought several bodies back for inspection. The specific truth is not yet known. I just reported it based on the facts."
Emperor Yu pondered for a moment and then asked: "You just said that you were saved by the righteous people. Who are they? Have you found out?"
Xia Yunqing replied: "That is a gang called the Horse Gang in Jianghu. They happened to pass by and came to the rescue. I have verified their identities."
Emperor Yu had a gloomy face and said nothing, seeming to be thinking.
Man Tingfang took a step forward and gave another salute: "Your Majesty, there was civil strife in Annan before, and later the chief minister of the cabinet was assassinated. The ministers are also worried that the situation will get out of control, so they hope that Your Majesty can punish the evildoers as soon as possible!"
Emperor Yu snorted coldly and reprimanded: "You keep forcing me to punish Marquis Pingyang, but all you hand over are just some groundless accusations. Until now, no one can come up with a strong evidence to prove that
It’s the fault of Marquis Pingyang and his son! By the way, where’s King Yi? Isn’t he responsible for hearing the case? Why don’t you see others coming?”
Man Tingfang said calmly: "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness King Yi is ill and did not come to court today."
Emperor Yu's face darkened and he said angrily: "If he gets sick at a critical moment, he really knows how to hide and relax!"
Man Tingfang bowed his hands and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. Your Highness, Prince Yi, couldn't bear to face Marquis Pingyang's trial, so he hid on purpose. He once said that no matter what Marquis Pingyang did wrong, it was for the sake of the Queen Mother Xiaokang's face."
, he couldn’t bear to be harshly criticized.”
Upon hearing this, Emperor Yu's face brightened slightly, but his tone remained stern: "I have made up my mind! Unless there is irrefutable evidence, the case of Marquis Pingyang will be put on hold for the time being!"