PFC Chapter 20 Shangguan Haitang Enters the Palace!
Chapter 20 Shangguan Haitang Enters the Palace!
After arresting Zhang Heling, the agents of the Eastern Depot went to the Jianchang Earl's residence and arrested Zhang Yanling.
Like Zhang Heling, Zhang Yanling was initially bewildered after being arrested, then enraged, then shocked, and finally filled with fear and regret.
Under immense pressure, Zhang Yanling cried, made a scene, struggled, and resisted, but all to no avail.
He and Zhang Heling were both imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice prison.
Subsequently, following Zhu Houzhao's orders, Cao Zhengchun notified the three judicial departments to jointly try the two men and determine their crimes.
Upon hearing this news, some officials in the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate were shocked, while others were delighted.
Among the three judicial departments, there were many officials who disliked Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling.
The main problem is that their crimes are too numerous to list. If they were all listed, it would be enough to have their entire families executed ten times over.
The news of Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling's imprisonment quickly spread throughout the capital.
When the people of the capital learned of this, they were overjoyed and spread the news far and wide.
They had suffered for these two relatives of the emperor for a long time, and when they heard that the two had finally been imprisoned, they were happier than if it were the New Year.
In the seventh year of the Hongzhi reign, Li Mengyang, a secretary in the Ministry of Revenue, exposed to Emperor Xiaozong the crimes committed by these two men, including recruiting rogues, profiting from thieves, seizing people's land, demolishing their houses, kidnapping their children, intercepting merchants' goods, occupying salt tax, running rampant along rivers, and waving yellow flags, acting like winged tigers.
However, Li Mengyang was imprisoned by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, while the two men escaped unscathed.
Zhang Heling framed Li Mengyang in front of Emperor Xiaozong, wanting to kill him as soon as possible.
However, Emperor Xiaozong did not allow it and released Li Mengyang after imprisoning him for a few days.
After Li Mengyang was released from prison, the first thing he did was to stop Zhang Heling's convoy and whip Zhang Heling in the street.
For such a serious act as beating the emperor's brother-in-law in the street, Emperor Xiaozong only punished Li Mengyang by fining him a few months' salary and did not pursue the matter further.
From this point on, Li Mengyang and Zhang Heling became mortal enemies.
In the eighteenth year of the Hongzhi reign, which is this year, Li Mengyang also impeached Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling, but the matter still came to nothing.
After hearing that Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling had been imprisoned and handed over to the three judicial departments for joint trial.
Li Mengyang was overjoyed and wrote two memorials overnight detailing the crimes of the two men. He submitted one to Zhu Houzhao and the other to the Ministry of Justice.
Meanwhile, after learning of this news, Xie Qian was moved and approached Liu Jian.
"Grand Secretary Liu, His Majesty has confiscated the salt permits and arrested Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling. Has his relationship with the harem fallen apart now?"
"good."
Liu Jian nodded: "His Majesty's revocation of the salt permits has offended all the imperial relatives. I'm afraid not only the Empress Dowager, but even the Grand Empress Dowager is dissatisfied with him."
"Does that mean the time is ripe?"
Xie Qian's eyes widened, and his breathing became somewhat rapid.
Liu Jian held up one hand, making a seven: "If we make a move now, we have at least a 70% chance of winning."
"Then what should we do?" Xie Qian asked hurriedly.
"When I'm on duty at the Wenyuan Pavilion tomorrow, I'll try to find a way to make contact with the eunuchs at the Cining Palace."
Liu Jian, his face grim and gloomy, said, "Although we can't control His Majesty now, there are people who can."
"Who is it?" Xie Qian asked curiously.
Liu Jian turned his head, looked at Xie Qian, and softly uttered two words.
"The late Emperor!"
Xie Qian was startled!
……
Forbidden City.
Qianqing Palace.
Liu Jin entered the hall and bowed, standing beside Zhu Houzhao: "Your Majesty, someone just handed me a token, claiming to be a secret agent from the Imperial Guard Manor, requesting an audience with Your Majesty."
As Liu Jin spoke, he respectfully placed a ivory tablet in front of Zhu Houzhao.
The token bears three large, elegant characters: "Dragon Protection Order!"
On the other side, the character "玄" is engraved.
This proves that the person who possesses this token is a secret agent belonging to the Xuan class.
"Dragon Guard Manor..."
Zhu Houzhao tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his eyes lowered in thought.
Zhu Houzhao was fully aware of the background of the Dragon Guard Manor.
During the Ming Dynasty, other members of the imperial family lived as idle princes within their own fiefdoms.
Only Zhu Wushi received special permission from the late emperor to establish the Dragon Guard Manor and assist the emperor in handling affairs of the martial arts world.
Zhu Wushi is a man of considerable ability and even greater ambition.
But so far, Zhu Wushi still obeys the Ming emperor's every word and is completely loyal.
Moreover, although the four secret agents of Heaven, Earth, Black and Yellow were under the jurisdiction of the Dragon Guard Manor, they were loyal to the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
"Let him in."
After thinking it over, Zhu Houzhao had already made up his mind.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After receiving the order, Liu Jin went outside the hall and soon brought Shangguan Haitang in.
"Your humble servant, Shangguan Haitang, greets Your Majesty!"
After Shangguan Haitang entered the hall with her head down, she immediately knelt down and bowed to Zhu Houzhao.
No need for formalities.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After Shangguan Haitang stood up, she dared to look at Zhu Houzhao sitting on the dragon throne.
But when she saw Zhu Houzhao's appearance on the dragon throne, she was shocked and even began to doubt her own eyes.
She knew the current emperor was young, but she didn't expect Zhu Houzhao to be even more immature and handsome than she had imagined.
This made it difficult for her to connect Zhu Houzhao with the Ming emperor she imagined, the one who, with a single order, commanded the Western Depot to collect back taxes nationwide, driving thousands of landlords and gentry to their deaths.
While Shangguan Haitang was observing Zhu Houzhao, Zhu Houzhao was also observing her.
What caught Zhu Houzhao's attention the most was Shangguan Haitang's stunning beauty.
People are unconsciously drawn to her appearance, thus overlooking her identity as the number one secret agent of the Xuan class.
Zhu Houzhao knew that Shangguan Haitang was not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also proficient in medicine and astrology, and at the same time, she was in charge of the number one manor in the world.
In terms of martial arts skills alone, she might be the weakest among the four secret agents.
In terms of overall ability, none of the other three secret agents can surpass him.
Although Zhu Houzhao admired Shangguan Haitang, he disliked her scrutinizing gaze.
"How dare you! Who gave you permission to look at me like that?"
Zhu Houzhao frowned, held the teacup, and said in a low voice.
His tone was flat, neither angry nor happy.
But in that instant, Shangguan Haitang felt an immense pressure, like Mount Tai, rushing towards her.
At this moment, Shangguan Haitang finally realized that he was facing the emperor who ruled the entire Ming Dynasty!
Shangguan Haitang quickly knelt down again, her heart pounding with anxiety, and said nervously, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This humble servant did not intend to offend Your Majesty. Please punish me."
Zhu Houzhao said calmly, "This is a one-time exception. Speak, what brings you to the palace?"
Shangguan Haitang breathed a sigh of relief, her tone becoming even more respectful: "Your Majesty, I have come to the capital on the orders of the Iron-Blooded Marquis to pay the taxes owed by the Dragon Guard Manor over the years."
"A total of 500,000 taels of silver has been transported to the capital. Your Majesty, please inspect it!"