Chapter 63: The Non-Existent

  "Your Majesty, I impeach the Grand Councilor Fang Congzhe for blocking the path of speech and deceiving Your Majesty's wisdom." Sun Shenxing's voice was not loud, but his words were like a thunderclap, and all the ministers present knew that it had begun.

  "My dear, where did you get this from? Fang University Scholar has been like this for many years, it can be said that he is diligent and hardworking, even if there are no achievements, there is still hard work. You quickly tell me in detail." Upon hearing Sun Shenxing's words, the Tianqi Emperor was suddenly shocked, his face also showing great disbelief.

  Sun Shenxing said: "I have submitted a memorial impeaching the Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe, but so many days have passed and there is no news. It must be that Fang Congzhe privately suppressed the memorial, I request to punish Fang Congzhe's crime."

  It seems that Sun Shenxing is quite clever after all, knowing how to approach from this angle, and doesn't seem like an easy person to deal with.

  "My dear ministers, you have wronged Fang Yizhi in this matter. The memorial you impeached was the Chief Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, so this draft has already reached me. The cabinet did not even draft an opinion to avoid suspicion." Tianqi Emperor picked up a memorial from the table and waved it, continuing: "This is a major event, I have been thinking about it for several days, but there is no conclusion yet. Well, since all of you are here today, let's discuss it! Read it out loud." He handed the memorial to Chen Hong, Tianqi Emperor took a sip of tea and smiled.

  As Chen Hong's voice fell, the great hall became even quieter, and everyone seemed to be listening to Zhezi's words, seemingly thinking about what to do. But what they were really thinking in their hearts was unknown.

  After the eunuch finished speaking, the grand hall suddenly fell silent. The Emperor Tianqi slowly placed his teacup on the table and said, "How do you all think? Who will speak first?"

  "I have a memorial to present, I think Fang Zongliang is in collusion with Zheng Guifei and Li Keshou, which led to the death of the previous emperor. He should be punished severely." The speaker was still Sun Shenxing, Minister of Rites. It seems that this official is going to bring down Fang Zongliang!

  "I have a basis for my argument. On the day Li Kezhuo presented the red pills, I and three other officials from the Grand Secretariat, including Han Kuang, were present. Because we did not believe Li Kezhuo's words, we all chased him away. However, later when Your Majesty personally inquired about this matter, Fang Zongluo had no choice but to inform Your Majesty about it. Who would have thought that Your Majesty believed it to be true? If Fang Zongluo is guilty, then I and the others are also guilty." This time, it was Liu Yijun, a Grand Secretary of the Imperial Cabinet, who spoke out. At this moment, all the members of the Donglin Party were stunned, unable to believe that one of their own would come forward in opposition at this time.

  Liu Yiyuan was also a member of the Donglin Party and deeply embroiled in factional strife, but he couldn't bring himself to do something as base as framing someone for personal gain. After learning about this incident, he had been wavering and even skipped that day's gathering.

  Seeing Liu Yijiu stand out, the Tianqi Emperor smiled lightly, it seems that this inner cabinet scholar still has a conscience and there is still a possibility of salvation.

  "Is it true, Han Ai-qing, as Liu Aiqing said?" The Tianqi Emperor cast his eyes on Han Ao again, a member of the Donglin Party, to see what he thought and did.

  "Your Majesty, the events of that day were indeed as Liu Xueshi said, but this proves nothing. It was just a matter of that one day, and as for whether Fang Zongru colluded with Li Kecheng in private, we do not know." Han Kuang's words sounded like a verbal slap, which was a severe blow to Fang Zongru, wanting to kick him to death.

  Then many people spoke, some impeaching Fang Zhongruo, others defending him, and it seemed that both sides were evenly matched.

  "Your Majesty, I think that although the Emperor has no intention of killing, he still has the crime of killing. Even if he avoids the name of killing, it is hard to avoid the reality of killing." At this time, the Minister of Rites, Sun Shenxing, stood up again and said something that shocked everyone, even Yang Lian and others who had not spoken yet furrowed their brows suddenly.

  The originally noisy hall suddenly fell silent, with everyone's eyes fixed on the Heavenly Emperor above, as if they all wanted to know what this young heavenly son was thinking.

  At this time, the ministers in the Qianqing Palace were all looking at Emperor Tianqi with caution, but there was no emotion on the face of this young emperor, as if the words just spoken had not entered his ears.

  Just as everyone was different, the Minister of Rites Sun Shenxing suddenly knelt on the ground, touched his head to the ground and said loudly: "Your Majesty should quickly destroy this thief and avenge the injustice!"

  This has stunned all the ministers, what is this? The so-called killing of one's father, not sharing the same sky, Mr. Sun really wants to kill Fang Congzhe. And gave him a crime name that can destroy nine clans! It's really too ruthless, even if it's a party struggle, it won't be done so absolutely.

  The Prime Minister Fang Congzhe's body was trembling uncontrollably, he knew he was in big trouble this time. He had submitted a letter of resignation, just to tell these people that he didn't want to mess with them anymore, he just wanted to go home safely and quietly. But they insisted on pushing him to the limit! For a man over 70 years old, they actually still wanted to pin a crime of "destroying the family" on him.

  "Your Majesty, I agree with Mr. Sun's opinion. For such an old thief, we must deal with him seriously and cannot tolerate him!" This time it was spoken by the Imperial Censor Zou Yuanbiao. In his view, this young emperor seemed to have been intimidated, and this time the Donglin Party's big affair had succeeded.

  Gently putting down the teacup in his hand, Tianqi Emperor looked at the ministers below and slowly said: "I haven't read books, but I've heard stories. Today, I'll tell you a story!"

  After listening to the Tianqi Emperor's words, all the ministers present were at a loss for words. The Tianqi Emperor had not read any books, which was no secret. All the ministers present knew that he had heard stories before, but what was going on now?

  At this time, the only one who could understand the thoughts of Emperor Tianqi was Shi Kefa, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Looking at that familiar expression and listening to those familiar words, Shi Kefa knew that Emperor Tianqi was very angry now. Taking another look at the two ministers kneeling on the ground, Shi Kefa knew that these Donglin Party people had calculated every step carefully, but there was one thing they had miscalculated - the thoughts of Emperor Tianqi. This young emperor was not as simple as he seemed.

  "Gentlemen, you are all well-read scholars, I believe you all know a man named Yue Fei. Do you still remember how he died?" The Tianqi Emperor looked at the ministers below him with a serious face and said: "Without any evidence, you want to deal with the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet? Tell me, what is the difference between you and that infamous Qin Hui? Do you think I am some kind of ignorant child or an idiot who has not grown up?"

  Today's first chapter, asking for votes! Originally, my mood this morning was still okay, but as soon as I got up, I saw that my reader image had become "intelligence with no lower limit". Although it's not a masterpiece or anything, I feel like I put in some effort when writing it, and suddenly the feeling in my heart is very complicated. Maybe every book is an author's child, maybe I'm just a newcomer, maybe it's me who's wrong, I need to adjust myself properly.