"Young Master, you'd better run away quickly. If you delay, it will be too late."
At one point in the courtyard of Nanjing City, an old servant anxiously shouted to his young master.
"Uncle Fu, don't worry. As the saying goes, it's a blessing, not a curse. Disasters cannot be avoided."
This young master was none other than Zheng Zhilong's eldest son Zheng Sen. Hearing this, he waved his hands, and although his face was extremely solemn, he was not too anxious.
After saying that, he paced back and forth in the study, as if thinking about something.
Uncle Fu caught up and said anxiously again: "I'm afraid the court won't let him go easily this time. It's too dangerous for the eldest son to stay in Nanjing. It's better to escape first!"
"Is it the land of the king in the whole world? Is it the shore of the land? Is it the ministers of the king? Even if I escape from Nanjing now, where can I escape to? I can escape for a while, but I can't escape for the rest of my life!"
Zheng Sen sighed and said, "Today's men are talented and have great strategies, with the heart to dominate the world and the ambition to conquer the four seas."
As long as the emperor doesn't want to let go, even if he escapes to the sea, he will be arrested one day. Sun Kewang and Ai Nengqi are the best examples.
The two of them thought they could survive by hiding in the mountains with a group of confidants. However, under the imperial court's reward offer, they were kidnapped by their own men in just three months and went to the county government to surrender.
Therefore, if the Zheng family also chooses to resist or flee, the final fate will probably be the same. After all, people are unpredictable, and no one can prevent the sellers from seeking glory.
What's more, crises always coexist. This incident is a catastrophe for the Zheng family, but for him personally, it may be a rare opportunity.
Thinking of this, Zheng Sen showed a trace of determination on his face and said: "I can't sit still and wait for death. I will go into the palace to meet the Queen Mother." After saying that, he strode out.
"The eldest son..."
Uncle Fu behind him was stunned. It took him a long time to react and shouted quickly.
Obviously, he thought that the eldest son was in a hurry. How noble is the Queen Mother? Did he just say that he could see her?
Zheng Sen ignored him, and it was not because he was anxious, because he knew that if it was normal, he would definitely not be able to see the Queen Mother, but now he has a great opportunity. This is his opportunity.
Sure enough, when he arrived at the gate of the palace, Zheng Sen announced his door and only waited for a quarter of an hour before he was actually taken in. He was taken directly to Qianqing Gate, where Zhang Yan usually received ministers.
Along the way, Zheng Sen was filled with excitement, anticipation, and nervousness. When he arrived at the Qianqing Gate, his palms were all sweaty, but fortunately he could keep his composure on his face.
At this time, Ma Shiying and the six ministers were on the platform, still discussing with Zhang Yan how to deal with the Zheng family. Zuo Liangyu on the side did not dare to interrupt anymore.
When Zheng Zhilong's eldest son Zheng Sen suddenly came to the palace gate to ask for an audience, both Zhang Yan and Ma Shiying and other officials were quite surprised.
Ma Shiying even slapped his forehead, secretly blaming himself for forgetting that Zheng Zhilong's eldest son was still in Nanjing and not arresting him immediately.
Zhang Yan also has some impressions of Zheng Sen. The main reason is that Qian Qianyi surrendered to slavery last year and became a traitor, which caused an uproar throughout Jiangnan.
As a disciple of Qian Qianyi, Zheng Sen was naturally the first to bear the brunt. He was reviled and disgusted by countless people. All his former classmates and friends also distanced themselves from him and severed ties with him. For a time, Zheng Sen simply became a street rat.
In this situation, anyone would definitely leave Nanjing, but Zheng Sen refused to leave. Even if he was no longer welcome and was humiliated in public, he would still take the initiative to attend those cultural gatherings.
"The Queen Mother has a decree, and the son of the Xuanshi Zheng Sen is here to see you!"
"Student Zheng Sen, meet the Queen Mother Yi'an!"
After Zheng Sen was brought in, he bowed to Zhang Yan.
As a tribute student of the Imperial College, on ordinary occasions, even when meeting the emperor, there is no need to kneel down and bow.
When Zhang Yan first came to Jiangnan, Zheng Sen followed a group of Jiangnan scholars and only took a look at Jiangbei from a distance, unable to see clearly at all.
However, Zhang Yan was not as flamboyant as the Red Lady and usually lived in seclusion. Therefore, the entire Jiangnan literati only heard of Zhang Yan, the famous empress dowager, but never saw her face.
At this moment, Zheng Sen couldn't help but take a bold peek.
Seeing that the Queen Mother Yi'an was still stunningly beautiful and graceful even though she was over forty years old, my heart was filled with ups and downs and I quickly lowered my head.
"No gift!"
Zhang Yan saw that he was very impressive and talented, neither humble nor arrogant, and his tone was not too harsh.
"Thank you Queen Mother!"
"Zheng Sen, do you have anything to do with the Ming Dynasty? Do you want to meet with the Ai family?" Zhang Yan asked slowly.
Ma Shiying and other big shots were all staring at Zheng Sen, especially the intense murderous intent in Zuo Liangyu's eyes, which made people shudder.
Facing so many sharp eyes, Zheng Sen was nervous, but he finally did not lose his composure and answered with raised hands: "In addition to apologizing to the Queen Mother for my father and second uncle, the student has one more important thing to report to the Queen Mother.
!”
"Oh, then you should first talk about Zheng Zhihu's murder of court officials."
Zhang Yan nodded. She was not unreasonable. The Zheng family actually wanted to ask for an explanation. Naturally, she wanted to hear it first. This was also the reason why she agreed to meet Zheng Sen. As for the other thing Zheng Sen said, it was
Don't really care.
Zheng Sen was relieved to see that the Queen Mother was willing to listen to his explanation. The secret rumors were indeed true. The Queen Mother was indeed very wise and kind. He should have made the right bet this time.
So he told the officials who came to measure the tea mountain that Zheng Zhihu was accidentally beaten to death, and told them everything.
But he only explained that his second uncle was drunk and was dissatisfied with the acres of tea mountain, so he got angry and accidentally beat the clerk to death, but did not mention a word about the clerk's extortion.
Obviously he also knew that once this matter was revealed, the Zheng family would really be doomed.
"So, this matter is purely about Zheng Zhihu's personal drunkenness and murder, and it has nothing to do with your entire Zheng family?"
After listening, Zhang Yan's tone softened a lot. If what Zheng Sen said is true, then this matter is simple. It's just a murder to pay for a life. All that is needed is to bring Zheng Zhihu to justice.
After all, Zheng Zhihu also had an official status, and there was a reason for the incident. It is indeed inappropriate to count the entire Zheng family as a rebellion by killing officials.
"Reporting to the Queen Mother, this matter was indeed done by my second uncle alone. My father and all his subordinates did not know about it in advance."
Zheng Sen hurriedly replied that as for his father's petition to the court, he had withheld it.
"That's nonsense. You said that my second uncle accidentally killed the civil servant who came to measure the tea mountain. How did the other dozen or so minor officials die? Could it be that they were all killed by mistake? I think it's clearly you, Zheng.
The family is dissatisfied with the imperial court’s new policies and wants to take the opportunity to rebel!”
But Zuo Liangyu jumped out and sneered, obviously he wanted to brand the Zheng family as rebels so that he could gain credit.
This time Ma Shiying did not refute Zuo Liangyu, but looked at Zheng Sen. Even Zhang Yan's eyes became stern again.
Obviously, killing one person by mistake is justified, but killing more than a dozen people was definitely intentional. Such unscrupulous killing of court officials simply did not take the court into consideration at all.