lovenovelstory Chapter 5: The Four Great Constables Investigate the Officials!
Chapter 5: The Four Great Constables Investigate the Officials!
Zhang Jun's heart, which had been ashen, suddenly began to pound violently under Zhu Houzhao's questioning.
How could Your Majesty know about these things?
But he couldn't say it!
If he tells them, those people will hold a grudge against him...
The thought of the immense power behind those people made him tremble uncontrollably.
Compared to the emperor, he was actually more afraid of the power coming from the south.
"Your Majesty, this was a plan I devised alone; no one else was involved!"
"Kill or torture, it's up to me alone!"
Zhu Houzhao didn't believe a single punctuation mark of Zhang Jun's words.
Zhang Jun certainly had the motive to stage a coup. He did everything he did: embezzling salaries without working, occupying granaries, and falsifying accounts.
If Zhu Houzhao were to investigate further and eventually reach Xuanfu, he would undoubtedly die.
The problem is that Zhu Houzhao has only just begun to investigate the troops around the capital, yet his troops in Xuanfu are already eager to launch a mutiny.
He simply couldn't believe that this wasn't orchestrated by officials in the capital!
At this moment, Zhu Houzhao already had several suspects in mind.
Liu Jian and Xie Qian from the cabinet, along with Zhang Mao, the Duke of Yingguo, who had just requested that he immediately send troops, and Shi Lin, the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate…
These people must be thoroughly investigated!
Zhu Houzhao sneered: "Do you think I wouldn't find out if you didn't tell me?!"
"Summon Zhuge Zhengwo of the Six Doors to an audience!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
A young eunuch immediately obeyed the order and went to summon Zhuge Zhengwo.
Before long, Zhuge Zhengwo arrived at the court and knelt down to pay his respects to Zhu Houzhao.
"Your subject, Zhuge Zhengwo, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
"Zhuge Zhengwo, I have heard that your four famous constables are renowned throughout the land."
"Today, I have something to tell you."
Zhu Houzhao looked down at Zhuge Zhengwo, his voice devoid of sorrow or joy.
Zhuge Zhengwo, his heart pounding with unease, said solemnly, "The title of 'Famous Constable' is merely a hollow one in the martial world. The Six Doors will always be His Majesty's most loyal sword, and everyone in the Six Doors will obey His Majesty's commands!"
"Alright, Zhuge Zhengwo obeys!"
"Investigate Zhang Jun's mutiny case immediately and thoroughly find out who he colluded with in the capital!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Zhuge Zhengwo solemnly accepted the order, his heart filled with excitement.
They, the Six Doors, finally have the opportunity to serve His Majesty.
He was determined to make this matter a success; he wanted His Majesty to know that it wasn't just the Imperial Guards who could serve him.
The Six Doors can do just as much as the Imperial Guards!
"Go, and hand over these people to your Six Doors as well. Examine them thoroughly for me!"
Zhu Houzhao pointed to Zhang Jun and others kneeling on the ground, as well as Xie Qian, Zhang Mao, Ma Wensheng and others who had previously pressured him.
Seeing Zhu Houzhao pointing at them, Xie Qian, Zhang Mao, and Ma Wensheng were terrified and hurriedly tried to exonerate themselves.
"Your Majesty, what do you mean? Zhang Jun's false report of military intelligence has nothing to do with me!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, I was only so eager to save the country that I fell into Zhang Jun's trap!"
"Your Majesty, I am also a victim!"
"..."
Zhu Houzhao sneered, "If you are truly innocent, then the Six Doors will naturally clear your name."
"But if anyone is involved in this case, I will execute their entire family!"
"take away!"
"Yes, Your Majesty. This humble subject takes his leave."
Zhuge Zhengwo and the constables from the Six Doors immediately escorted Zhang Jun, Xie Qian, Zhang Mao, Ma Wensheng, and others away from the imperial court.
"Court adjourned!"
After dealing with the matter, Zhu Houzhao did not linger and directly announced the end of the court session.
After Zhu Houzhao left, the officials in Fengtian Hall Square remained in a daze for a long time.
During this court session, they truly felt that the current emperor was vastly different from the young emperor of the past.
They could already sense the oppressive feeling of having absolute power and controlling the people in Zhu Houzhao's presence.
Although Zhu Houzhao seemed to have raised the issue high but then lowered it gently, without executing anyone this time.
But everyone knows that this is just the calm before the storm.
The moment the Six Doors uncover the truth will be the moment when the heads of all the officials in the capital roll.
No one can predict how many people will die in the capital at that time.
But one thing everyone was certain of was that when Zhu Houzhao said he would exterminate his entire family, he was definitely not just joking...
……
Qianqing Palace.
When Zhu Houzhao returned to the Qianqing Palace, the eunuch Gu Dayong ran to report to him.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager summons you to the Cining Palace for a gathering."
At this time, the imperial harem was considered relatively clean and peaceful.
Emperor Zhu Youcheng never took any concubines in his life; he only had Empress Zhang as his wife.
Zhu Houzhao was very young when he ascended the throne, and he did not have a single concubine.
After thinking it over, Zhu Houzhao still went to Cining Palace.
……
Inside the Cining Palace, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.
When Zhu Houzhao entered Cining Palace, the eunuchs and palace maids inside immediately knelt down.
"This servant greets Your Majesty."
Zhu Houzhao casually waved his hand and sat down in front of Empress Dowager Zhang.
"Your son greets Your Majesty."
"The emperor has arrived."
Empress Dowager Zhang smiled warmly and said, "Zhao'er has just ascended the throne and has many things to attend to. You must be very tired these days."
Unsure of Empress Dowager Zhang's meaning, Zhu Houzhao replied calmly, "It's alright. With the cabinet helping me, I don't feel tired."
"Now that the affairs of state are in order, I think the emperor has gotten back on track. I think it's time to put the selection of imperial consorts on the agenda."
Empress Dowager Zhang pondered for a moment and said, "In my opinion, why not issue an order now to begin the selection of imperial concubines?"
It turns out it was about choosing a concubine.
Zhu Houzhao felt somewhat relieved; the selection of concubines should have been the responsibility of the Empress.
At this time, Zhu Houzhao had not yet established an empress, so it was understandable that Empress Dowager Zhang, as Zhu Houzhao's mother, would be concerned about this matter.
Zhu Houzhao nodded: "Very well, then I'll leave the selection of imperial concubines to the Empress Dowager and the Ministry of Rites to handle together."
Empress Dowager Zhang said with a smile, "Choosing a good match for Zhao'er and an empress for the world is my duty as a mother."
"Don't mention it, Zhao'er, you're too kind."
Zhu Houzhao smiled slightly, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then left Cining Palace.
Subsequently, under the auspices of the Empress Dowager and the Ministry of Rites, a momentous event that would affect the entire Ming Dynasty unfolded in a grand and spectacular manner.
The Empress Dowager of the Ming Dynasty issued an imperial edict to select concubines for the new emperor throughout the entire Ming Dynasty.
All women of suitable age and with a clean background, preferably from ordinary families, are eligible to apply, provided they are healthy and beautiful.
Entering the palace was arguably the most coveted thing for ordinary women throughout the Ming Dynasty.
This is a true example of a fish leaping over the dragon gate!
If one is fortunate enough to be favored by the emperor, the whole family will go from being ordinary people to being imperial relatives, truly a case of "when one person attains enlightenment, even his chickens and dogs rise to heaven."
Even if she can't become an imperial concubine, being a palace maid for a few years is fine. A woman who has seen the world is always more likely to find a good husband than an ordinary person.
As a result, within just a few days of the start of the selection process, more than 10,000 women signed up to participate!