Chapter 14: The Year's End (Part One)

  As expected, Governor Tu's expression changed dramatically after receiving the letter from Xu Yingyuan and listening to Zhu Yinglong's words. His eyes flickered with uncertainty. Xu Yingyuan reported back to Zhu Yinglong in detail, and he also saw the sedan chair of Cui Chengxiu, the governor of Henan Province, at the post house, which further confirmed Zhu Yinglong's suspicions. Wei Zhongxian not only wanted to deal with Empress Zhang but might also be targeting himself. Although he currently had some leverage in his hands, it was not enough to put him in a life-or-death situation, so there was no need for immediate action against him. However, what worried him now was that his birthday celebration was originally an excuse to accumulate wealth without arousing suspicion from the eunuchs about having so much money to build the Yinglong Villa. But now he found that things were not quite right - he had not sent out invitations to other regional kings, and even his uncle, the Fu King of Luoyang, who was closest to him, did not receive an invitation. Why did they all send him birthday gifts with such unity? Wasn't it strange?

  Zhu Yinglong told Shi Kefa what he thought in his heart, and Shi Kefa also agreed with Zhu Yinglong's conjecture. He then gathered Xin Tianyi and other confidants to discuss it, and basically they all recognized his idea. However, Zhu Yinglong did not mention the subtle emotional relationship between Zhang Huanghou and himself. Although these people were confidants and very loyal, it was still better to say less about things involving personal emotions.

  "The prince's actions in Kaifeng were too big, and some things couldn't be hidden from the all-pervasive Imperial Guards and Eastern Depot's spies." Sun Chengzong was dissatisfied with some of Zhu Yinglong's methods, but overall, everything Zhu Yinglong did was beneficial to this country; otherwise, he would rather die than stay by Zhu Yinglong's side.

  Zhu Yinglong fell into deep thought. Indeed, his actions were a bit too hasty, but he only had two years left, how could he not be anxious? He couldn't tell these people that the Tianqi Emperor would die in less than two years, but no matter what, things had already been set in motion, so should they just stop now? Wouldn't that give others even more reason to criticize, and when the time came, it would be hard to defend themselves.

  "Your Highness, actually we have an advantageous side." Shikoufa, lying on the bed, said slowly, "That is, Wei Zhongxian still can't figure out whether our king is really stupid or pretending to be stupid. The key role of Your Highness's strategy of feigning foolishness has played a crucial role at this moment."

  Zhu Yinglong and others were shocked by the words, Shi Kefa had truly matured. If Xining was pretending to be foolish, Wei Zhongxian would be able to eliminate Zhu Yinglong in one move. After all, Zhu Yinglong's own power was nothing compared to the national machine, unless he himself rebelled. However, if Xining was truly foolish, all suspicions could only be directed at the people around Zhu Yinglong. Zhu Yinglong would emerge unscathed because no matter how stupid someone was, they wouldn't believe a fool could accomplish so many things without someone behind him giving orders. The person giving orders would certainly be guilty, and Zhu Yinglong would naturally be safe. Wei Zhongxian must have been hesitant because he couldn't prove whether Xining was truly foolish or pretending to be foolish. If he didn't succeed in one move, it would only confirm to the Tianqi Emperor that his brother was truly foolish. In that case, Zhu Yinglong might lose his royal title and become an ordinary person, but wanting him dead would be difficult unless someone was sent to assassinate him secretly. However, the Tianqi Emperor wasn't a fool either - who would let their own brother's royal title be taken away, only for him to suddenly die? It would be obvious. Wei Zhongxian wouldn't gain anything from this, as he relied on the emperor's power to control the court. If he lost the emperor's trust, he would have nothing. So he didn't act and wanted to find a plot to bring Xining to death - that so-called imperial concubine's handwritten letter was actually a love letter. He found an opportunity to send it to his own hands, and with this crime of incest, Zhu Yinglong would be doomed. If he also had ulterior motives and colluded with regional kings, Zhu Yinglong wouldn't be able to escape death!

  Wei Zhongxian really thinks highly of himself, setting up such a large conspiracy against me. Zhu Yinglong sneered in his heart, but unfortunately you can't tell whether I'm really stupid or pretending to be stupid, and you don't dare to make a move until you're sure.

  "Your Highness, there's another piece of bad news." Xiong Zhaoqi said cautiously.

  "Speak!"

  "He Tengjiao, the newly appointed magistrate, has already submitted a memorial impeaching Prince Wang and his accomplice, the former magistrate, for embezzling silver from the national treasury." Xiong Zhaoqin revealed the news she had just received.

  "Good, good, this is really too good!" Zhu Yinglong sneered, having already expected that the reckless and impulsive He Tengjiao would do something like this. If he hadn't received the news in time and returned the incriminating letter, he would have been the one at a disadvantage now. What a clever move, using poison to attack me! He Tengjiao, you've been used by others without even realizing it!

  He then said: "I was wrong about this matter. I only thought of not wanting to clash with Wei Zhongxian for the time being, but I didn't think that would give him an opportunity to counterattack and bite back at me. What a mistake!"

  Xiong Tingbi and others remained silent after hearing this. The eunuchs, in order to usurp state power and eliminate dissent, used every trick in the book to frame and harm loyal officials, one by one they fell, the court became more corrupt by the day, and the country was thrown into darkness and chaos. This is truly infuriating!

  "Your Majesty, should we...?" Xiong Zhaoqi asked anxiously, but in response, he received a fierce glare from his father, which scared him into swallowing the rest of his words.

  Zhu Yinglong saw the actions of the father and son, swept his eyes over the crowd and said: "Brother Xiong asked the right question, what should we do? What needs to be done, I've already done it. For now, we can only wait and see how things develop."

  "Using stillness to control movement, this is currently our best approach!" The most senior Sun Chengzong also nodded deeply.

  "What about our plan, Your Highness?" Xu Guangqi asked with some concern.

  Zhu Yinglong's eyes flashed fiercely as he said heavily: "All plans remain the same, I'd like to see how Wei Zhongxian can deal with me!"

  The next few days, Zhu Yinglong spent in an uneasy atmosphere until the 29th of December when Zhou Huan reported that Wei Zhongxian's plot to persuade Emperor Tianqi to depose Empress Zhang had failed. Wei Zhongxian underestimated the relationship between Emperor Tianqi and Empress Zhang, and his plan was foiled. Wei Zhongxian would not give up easily, and Zhu Yinglong suspected he might be the next target. Due to the emperor's poor health after a serious illness, it seemed that all he had energy for was visiting his concubines.

  Another piece of news confirmed the history that Zhu Yinglong had always known. Wei Zhongxian was secretly planning to select concubines for the emperor next year, filling the harem with them. Zhu Yinglong knew that Wei Zhongxian was preparing to learn from Lü Buwei's "strange goods can be inhabited" story. He would let his nephew Wei Liangqing sleep with the selected girls first and then send them into the palace to Emperor Tianqi. After Emperor Tianqi fell seriously ill, it is estimated that he may have lost his fertility, so the children born in this way may become the crown prince. Once Emperor Tianqi died, Empress Zhang would lose her reliance, and the palace would still be under the control of Wei Zhongxian and Guest Lady. At that time, the Zhu Ming dynasty would become the Wei Ming dynasty, achieving the goal of usurping the throne.

  Although Empress Zhang was not ultimately deposed, her power within the palace was greatly diminished compared to before. The bloody storm that had been brewing within the palace slowly spread to the people outside, and Empress Zhang's father, Zhang Guoji, was falsely accused of rebellion. Although he was eventually found not guilty, many lives were lost in the process. Many loyal old servants and relatives within the Zhang household lost their lives. Considering that even the father of the empress, who was supposed to be revered by all under heaven, almost lost his head, who would dare openly oppose the eunuchs? Wei Zhongxian's mansion outside the palace, which rivaled those of princes, had already been mockingly referred to as the "Small Imperial Court" by the people of Beijing. Every day, the voices of the high-ranking officials inside shouting "Long live the Emperor!" shook the heavens, as if they were holding court themselves.