I was a conman in the Ming Dynasty.

Chapter 525: Rebellious Officials and Traitors

Chapter 525 Traitors and Scoundrels

Upon seeing this scene, Liu Rushi was shocked. This was bad! This couldn't possibly have been the work of Wei Yongfu's Iron-Blooded Anti-Traitor Battalion, because since Wang Wenzhou's imprisonment, Wei Yongfu had been under her command. She had never given such an order, nor would she have done so.

The people at the scene were actually people she had tricked into coming to pressure Zhu Youjian to release Wang Wenzhou. Why would she send people here to create a riot?

Someone wants their enemy dead! Thinking of this, Liu Rushi's expression changed, and she said coldly, "Eunuch Wang, I have something urgent to attend to today. I will meet with the Empress again tomorrow, if the Empress will still keep the appointment."

Upon hearing that Liu Rushi wanted to leave, Wang Chengen immediately thought of the tragedy unfolding at the scene. Could this have been Liu Rushi's doing? Or was it done behind her back by one of her subordinates, and she needed to rush back to deal with it?

Wang Chengen came here not on the orders of Empress Zhou, but on the orders of Emperor Zhu Youjian.

This story begins in the morning when Zhu Youjian received Wang Wenzhou's letter written in blood.

After the court session, Zhu Youjian returned to his study and received a letter written in blood by Wang Wenzhou.

After reading the letter written in blood, Zhu Youjian frowned deeply.

Although Wang Wenzhou defended himself in his letter, he also subtly implied that Zhu Youjian distrusted him and had planted many spies around him. By the same token, he too distrusted Zhu Youjian.

Wang Wenzhou pointed out that someone of his extraordinary talent would easily incur resentment, but as a subject, if he were to incur the emperor's resentment, his life would be in danger. It was precisely for this reason that he did some things that seemed disloyal.

In the letter, Wang Wenzhou also requested an audience with Zhu Youjian and asked for a face-to-face meeting.

Zhu Youjian thought about it. Wang Wenzhou wasn't making baseless accusations. Wang Wenzhou wasn't stupid. How could he not know that Zhu Youjian had sent people to monitor him? Moreover, Wang Wenzhou had done everything openly and honestly. Even when he contacted Dorgon, Wang Wenzhou hadn't kept it from Zhu Youjian.

Thinking of this, Zhu Youjian felt a little guilty. He kept saying, "You will not betray me, and I will not betray you." But he was guarding against Wang Wenzhou every day like a thief. If he were Wang Wenzhou, he would also be afraid and would also leave himself a way out.

Although Zhu Youjian understood Wang Wenzhou's situation, the ministers of the Donglin Party were relentless in their pursuit of evidence against him, which they considered irrefutable. Zhu Youjian's decision not to use the Three Judicial Offices but instead imprisoned Wang Wenzhou in the Imperial Prison was, in effect, a form of protection for him.

If the three judicial departments were to interrogate Wang Wenzhou's case, under the control of the Donglin Party, Wang Wenzhou would be doomed.

Zhu Youjian was conflicted. How could he release Wang Wenzhou? He genuinely regretted his impulsive decision to imprison Wang Wenzhou. He had only wanted to give Wang Wenzhou a warning; a face-to-face discussion over drinks would have been far more effective. He had only wanted to vent his anger, but things had escalated to a point where they were difficult to manage.

"Wang Qingtian is innocent! We beg Your Majesty to release Wang Wenzhou!"

Just then, Zhu Youjian heard deafening slogans coming from the direction of the palace gate.

Zhu Youjian frowned and ordered, "Wang Chengen, go and see what's happening outside?"

"This old servant accepts the decree and thanks you." Wang Chengen hurriedly accepted the order and left.

A moment later, Wang Chengen returned, saying with a wry smile, "Your Majesty, outside are petition groups from all over the country, numbering in the tens of thousands. They are asking you to release Lord Wang."

"Huh?" Zhu Youjian knew that Wang Wenzhou's cronies had instigated his former subordinates and incited the people to come and seek justice for him. He just didn't expect that there would be so many people.

At this moment, a young eunuch came and reported: "Your Majesty, Yang Sichang and Lord Yang request an audience."

Yang Sichang had just arrived in Beijing and, as the newly appointed Minister of War, should have come to report to Zhu Youjian, who would then have to give him personal instructions.

"Let him in," Zhu Youjian instructed.

Yang Sichang entered the study and immediately kowtowed: "This old minister greets Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"

"Rise, my dear minister!" Zhu Youjian waved his hand.

"Wang Qingtian is innocent! We cannot let treacherous villains succeed! We cannot let a loyal minister be wronged!"

Hearing the chants coming from outside, Yang Sichang frowned. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Your Majesty, this old minister impeaches Wang Wenzhou, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate. This traitor has recruited cronies and incited a mob. His disloyal intentions are obvious to all. For the sake of our Great Ming Dynasty, I request that you order the execution of this traitor!"

Zhu Youjian frowned deeply. He was very puzzled. Yang Sichang had been in mourning at home for the past two years and had no enmity with Wang Wenzhou. Why did he impeach Wang Wenzhou and want to kill him as soon as he entered the palace?

“Minister Yang, you have been away from court for a long time, and there are some things in the court that you are not aware of. Although Wang Wenzhou is unrestrained and somewhat arrogant, he is also a loyal minister who is devoted to the emperor and loves his country.” Zhu Youjian quickly spoke up for Wang Wenzhou.

What? Yang Sichang frowned deeply. He couldn't understand why Zhu Youjian, having already imprisoned Wang Wenzhou, would exonerate him. There were tens of thousands of people outside the palace. Wasn't Your Majesty afraid? These uninformed people were like a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment. Weren't you afraid they would storm the palace?

Yang Sichang cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I have no grudge against Wang Wenzhou, but I must speak of what I saw on my way to the capital."

Yang Sichang recounted to Zhu Youjian everything he had seen and heard on the road, along with his thoughts and reflections.

Zhu Youjian's expression changed upon hearing this.

Zhu Youjian was aware of these matters; local officials from various regions had submitted memorials to him. He simply hadn't expected Wang Wenzhou to possess such considerable influence.

At this moment, a young eunuch rushed in and reported, "Your Majesty, the Governor of Shaanxi, Sun Chuanting, has sent a messenger with an urgent report from the front lines."

"Bring it here!" Zhu Youjian was somewhat surprised. After Gao Yingxiang was wiped out, there were no large bandit forces in Shaanxi. Li Zicheng had gained the aura of the "Chuang King" and had gathered Gao Yingxiang's remaining forces; he was currently raiding Sichuan. Zhang Xianzhong was also in Sichuan. Why was there fighting in Shaanxi again?

Zhu Youjian opened the memorial and his expression changed.

"Minister Yang, now that you are the Minister of War, this is exactly your duty. Take a look." Zhu Youjian instructed Wang Chengen to hand the memorial to Yang Sichang.

Yang Sichang took a look and saw that Sun Chuanting's report was about Wang Wenzhou's younger brother, Wang Qiang, who was leading 20,000 elite Qin soldiers and repeatedly saying that he wanted to go to the capital to petition. They were about to leave Shaanxi Province, and Sun Chuanting was leading 30,000 Qin soldiers in close pursuit. He had come to ask Zhu Youjian whether to intercept Wang Qiang's troops and what to do if Wang Qiang insisted on going to the capital.

"Your Majesty! How can we turn a blind eye to such a treacherous minister? Sun Chuanting has neglected his duties! This old minister begs Your Majesty to issue an edict to quell the rebellion!" Yang Sichang said righteously.

At this moment, another eunuch entered the room. He walked up to Wang Chengen and handed him a secret letter. When Wang Chengen opened it, he was immediately terrified.

"Your Majesty, look!" Wang Chengen handed the secret letter to Zhu Youjian.