Chapter 36: Female Official: Your Highness is Kind-hearted
Those who could participate in the court meetings in Kyoto were at least of the sixth rank.
Ye Zheng was not here to participate in the court meeting.
He was called here because he would be called later and needed to wait somewhere outside the hall.
If he didn't come, the eunuchs would send messages one after another, and finally leave the palace to the South City Bingmasi to look for him. If they were lucky, he would be in the Bingmasi yamen. If they were unlucky, he would be patrolling outside. Then, they would have to ride a horse, and the round trip would take a lot of time.
How many hours does the court meeting last?
Want Lao Deng and a group of ministers to wait for him?
At around 5 o'clock in the morning, when the sky was just getting light, after passing the deep and dark Shenwu Gate, suddenly a wide open area appeared before our eyes, and right in front of us was the Taiji Hall.
"Deputy Commander Ye."
"Master Xiaoye."
"... "
The Censorate, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Rites, the Military Commission, etc.
It is difficult to tell whether these people are well-intentioned or malicious just by their names.
Someone is smiling, who knows if he will be blamed later?
Ye Zheng was dressed in the official uniform of a commander, as straight as a pine or cypress, with an extremely graceful demeanor.
He nodded in response, which was polite and proper; his every move was outstanding and extraordinary.
Some of the military heroes just wanted to go home and whip their own family members with a horsewhip.
"Master Xiaoye, please wait here."
An unknown eunuch said.
Ye Zheng exchanged glances with his father in the distance. After the latter nodded slightly, he went straight into the Taiji Hall. He bowed and said, "Thank you, eunuch."
"Don't dare."
The young eunuch bent his waist greatly, stood up, moved to the side, and waited not far from him.
As the sun gradually rose, the Daqing Imperial Palace was not just covered in gold or indigo glazed tiles, but was also full of colors when the sunlight shone on it; the dark blue tiles were thick and majestic.
The clouds roll and unfold, floating away and coming.
"Have you read the memorials from the Privy Council, the Ministry of War, the Military Department, and Ye Zheng, the deputy commander of the Military Department? Tell us about it."
Emperor Qing spoke in a relaxed tone, still seeming to take things as lightly as possible.
Outside, hearing Lao Deng's words, Ye Zheng slowly withdrew his gaze from a distance.
"Your Highness, I, the Supervisory Censor Yu Guang, impeach the Deputy Commander of the Military Department, Ye Zheng, for not being strict with his subordinates and not handling affairs effectively. I request that he be dismissed!"
"Your Highness, I, the Supervisory Censor Hong Ying, impeach Chen Chong, the Lieutenant General of the Beijing Camp, for harboring evil intentions and smuggling military equipment. This is an unforgivable crime. Please punish him severely!"
"Your Majesty, I, the Supervisory Censor Chu Jian, impeach the Privy Council's Chief Envoy Qin Ye. As the head of the military squad, he should have helped your majesty, but he failed to notice the loss of military equipment!"
"... "
In matters like this, the censors are always the first to take action. They are like sharks that smell blood, determined to enjoy this feast.
"Your Majesty, I am guilty."
After the first wave of fierce impeachment, Qin Ye stood up tremblingly from the only two large chairs under the throne and in front of all the officials, prostrated himself on the ground, and pleaded guilty in a pitiful voice.
The performance was very good, and such a southern opera troupe must be performed.
What kind of impeachment is this?
You arranged it yourself, right?
Take yourself out first.
"The Privy Council is overloaded with affairs, and it is inevitable that there will be times of negligence. I understand, General Qin, there is no need to do so."
Emperor Qing's smiling words made Qin Ye break out in a cold sweat on his back.
The expert who had been above the ninth rank for many years was so frightened that he fell to the ground again, "I have failed your Majesty's expectations and failed to supervise properly. I am guilty!"
"Hey, someone, come and help General Qin up." Emperor Qing smiled.
His tolerance not only does not make people feel at ease, but also makes them feel cold in their hearts.
But at this point, Qin Ye understood that this time he would at most be reprimanded and there would not be any serious punishment.
The Ye family kid has caused quite a bit of trouble if he stirs up this matter.
Since there was no benefit to be gained, he thought it would be best for him to continue pretending to be dead.
"Where's Chen Chong?"
As soon as Emperor Qing finished speaking, a man with a burly figure stepped out from the front of the martial arts team and knelt on the ground, "Your Majesty, I am here."
"How do you say that?"
"I am guilty. The loss of the weapons was my fault. The smuggling of weapons was a malicious slander!"
Ye Zheng would not use the smuggling of military equipment in his memorials. Exaggerating too much would lead to liability. If the censors used it, nothing would happen. However, he did not expect that Chen Chong...
Immediately, Ye Zheng who was waiting outside the hall, several people from the Censorate, several members of the martial arts team, including Ye Chong's prepared backup plan, were all stunned.
Is Chen Chong ready to take the blame?
No, who is involved in this matter?
Why would a third-rank military officer come to this?
He insisted on blaming his subordinates for their mistakes and argued about it for a while, but in the end he would not be charged with a serious crime. At most... he would be charged like General Qin for failing to supervise properly.
Through the bamboo curtain, Emperor Qing stared at the person kneeling on the ground with his head bowed in the hall...
a little
"Since you have admitted your guilt, well, hand it over to the Ministry of Justice."
Soon, the imperial guards dragged Chen Chong away.
Among the students in the literature class, Yu Guang, who had previously impeached Ye Zheng, secretly regretted that it was too early to impeach him.
If impeached at this moment, Ye Zheng would certainly be charged with the crime of "laxity in governing his subordinates".
Or... impeach again?
As his greed was about to take effect, he suddenly felt a gaze falling on him. He looked up and saw...
Left Censor-in-Chief Lai Mingcheng.
When he met Lai Mingcheng's sharp gaze, he shuddered and came to his senses.
……
Ye Mansion Carriage
"Is this the end of the matter?" Ye Zheng felt a little discouraged.
He waited outside the Taiji Hall for... an hour and a half.
"After Chen Chong confessed his guilt, no one will accuse you of 'failing to govern your subordinates strictly'. Just be happy about it." Ye Chong said.
"Then I have made a contribution by reporting the case."
Just as he finished speaking, Ye Zhong's gaze pressed over him.
"Father, I felt like I was hitting cotton with my fist. I didn't use my strength."
"Every court dispute is always thrilling. The confrontation in front of the palace has no room for maneuver. It's like a fight on the battlefield. It's either you die or I die. This time Chen Chong took on the whole thing alone. It's not a bad thing that some of our preparations were not used." Ye Zhong comforted.
"So you're not going to check the weapons that were lost this time or in the past?"
"What does it have to do with you?"
"The ten bows from my South City Army are still in the Beijing Camp."
"... "
"The imperial edict has arrived~"
The carriage stopped just as the father and son were returning home. Eunuch Hou, who had arrived ahead of them, stepped forward and shouted.
The father and son were not in a hurry. They asked the servants to set up the incense table and burn incense before bowing and waiting for the order.
Eunuch Hou read a speech, the general meaning of which was that Ye Zheng was diligent and responsible, and was highly praised by the people and merchants in the South City. In addition, he was rewarded with some silk cloth for his meritorious service in reporting crimes. He was also appointed to lead the West City Military Department, and his official position remained unchanged. He was given the title of Wuqiwei and his official rank was promoted to the seventh grade.
"It's rare for eunuch to come here, please have a cup of tea before leaving." Ye Zheng took the imperial edict and Ye Chong said with a smile.
"No, no, Commander Ye." Eunuch Hou waved his hands repeatedly.
"I'll see you off, eunuch." After placing the imperial edict on the incense table for offering, Ye Zheng escorted him out the door. When he was getting on his horse, he stuffed a silver note worth one hundred taels into his pocket.
"Master Xiaoye is too polite."
"It should."
When I returned to the mansion, the servants had already set up the incense table and the altar.
Ye Zheng and Ye Chong entered the study.
Seeing that his father looked a little gloomy, he smiled and said, "Father, don't worry, at least I got promoted."
Ye Zhong glanced at his youngest son, his frown slightly relaxed, and he sighed, "Our Majesty..."
Getting promoted due to meritorious reporting is not a sustainable way for an official.
Among all officials, it is inevitable that they will be branded as "seeking favor and glory".
"This is perfect. We want everyone in Kyoto City to know that the Ye family belongs to His Majesty." Ye Zheng said again.
Ye Zhong thought about it and stopped worrying. He smiled at his youngest son and said, "Don't think you have gained much benefit. The uncle of Lao Li, the former deputy commander of the West City Military Department, is in the Ministry of Rites and is a disciple of the Crown Prince."
Ye Zheng: Lao Deng, you have done all kinds of bad things!
"Are we going to help the second brother in this way?" he said helplessly.
Although they are all poisonous red apples, they are gifts with a hidden price tag.
Ye Zhong shook his head and sighed, "The holy heart is like an abyss..."
He nodded knowingly, then suddenly remembered something. Ye Zheng raised his head and looked at his father, "Father!"
"What's wrong?" Ye Chong was stunned as he looked at his youngest son's nervous eyes.
"Father, is it possible that Lao Li was also arrested by the Inspection Bureau?"
Ye Chong paused for a moment, then after understanding, he could not help but look deeply at his youngest son, "This... should I send someone to ask."
……
Guangxin Palace
Under the pavilion, Li Yunrui was drinking tea and reading, enjoying a very leisurely and carefree mood.
"Your Highness."
The female official pushed aside the curtain on the side, came up to me and whispered to me.
Li Yunrui chuckled, "Demotion from office and imprisonment is not enough."
"Is it just him, or..." the female official asked in a low voice.
"Leaving no trace is too serious, let's make it a suicide out of fear of crime." Li Yunrui picked up the book again, read two lines, and suddenly said, "You say, Chen Chong should thank me, so that when something happens in the future, he and his family will not be implicated."
"The kid from the Ye family should thank me too. From now on, he can only be a lone minister. There is no place for him in the martial arts class."
The female official leaned forward and nodded in agreement, "Your Highness has a kind heart."
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(End of this chapter)