Chapter 27 Chongzhen's First Experience of Rage
Chongzhen rolled his eyes for the second time. How much money did his cousin need?
…………

After leaving Wang's Herbal Medicine Shop, Wang Cheng'en whispered outside the carriage: "Your Majesty, would you like me to inform the father-in-law and ask him not to embarrass the young master... No, Wang An!"

There was no sound in the carriage for a long time. Just when Wang Chengen thought that the matter would be over, Chongzhen suddenly answered the question irrelevantly: "Ask Jinyiwei Commander Zheng Shiyi to investigate Zhou Kui thoroughly and tell him to investigate impartially without any favoritism!"

Wang Chengen's heart trembled and he quickly agreed.

That night, Wenhua Palace.

Since Tian Ergeng was dismissed, the Jinyiwei was taken over by the commander-in-chief Zheng Shiyi, who was in charge of the Dongsifang and was in charge of all the Jinyiwei affairs.

At this time, Zheng Shiyi was lowering his head, watching Wang Chengen take the secret report about Zhou Kui from him with his peripheral vision, and he felt very uneasy.

As the current top leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Zheng Shiyi had naturally heard about Zhou Kui's various illegal activities, but he didn't know why the new emperor suddenly thought of investigating his father-in-law.

Could it be that he wanted to use his father-in-law as an example to show that he was an emperor who would sacrifice his own relatives for the sake of justice?

Let's not talk about what Zheng Shiyi speculated, but let's just say that Emperor Chongzhen took the secret report from the Jinyiwei, opened it and read it carefully word by word.

As time passed, Chongzhen's face became more and more ugly, and in the end he was furious.

With a "bang", Chongzhen threw the secret report on the table and said three times, "How dare Zhou Kui!" Then he looked at Zheng Shiyi and confirmed that there was absolutely no falsehood in the secret report.

Illegal mining of Xishan coal mine, lending money and setting up gambling, human trafficking, running brothels, monopolizing military funds, withholding military pay, bullying men and women, each of these crimes is enough to get ordinary people beheaded, but Zhou Kui did them all!

However, considering the fact that Empress Zhou accompanied him in times of danger, these were not enough to make Chongzhen want to kill her.

After all, the emperor is also a human being and he also has to understand the ways of the world.

After all, it is only the common people who are harmed, and the mistakes made can be made up for.

What really made Chongzhen want to kill him was that Zhou Kui actually colluded with foreign officials and leaked some of his words and deeds to ministers in the court!
It was even earlier than what Wang An said about the eleventh year of Chongzhen, when he colluded with Zhou Yanru!

The most coincidental thing is that according to the secret report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the person Zhou Kui was colluding with was actually Zhou Yanru!

It seems that if nothing unexpected happened, Zhou Yanru and Zhou Kui would have colluded for at least eleven years.

Having lived in the treacherous palace since childhood, Chongzhen had already developed a suspicious personality, or an extreme sense of insecurity.

He always doubted whether the people around him had ulterior motives and whether his ministers were loyal.

Chongzhen could support a person unconditionally, just like when Yuan Chonghuan later proposed "pacifying Liao in five years" during a public hearing, Chongzhen believed it.

From then on, whenever Yuan Chonghuan asked for money, he was given money, and whenever he asked for food, he was given food. Even though the treasury was empty, the officials were sad, and they tried their best to ensure Yuan Chonghuan's military pay and food.

Even the unauthorized killing of Dongjiang General Mao Wenlong could be forgiven.

Mao Wenlong was a first-class military general who had fought against the Later Jin for half his life. He was not just an ordinary person.

However, Yuan Chonghuan not only failed to pacify the Liao Dynasty, but also allowed the Jiannu to plunder the capital, and even demanded to lead troops into the city after the war. This was an extremely taboo in any dynasty.

Chongzhen's trust in him came to an end, and it goes without saying what happened to Yuan Chonghuan after he lost Chongzhen's trust.

From this perspective, Yuan Chonghuan’s death was not unjust.

It is conceivable that Zhou Kui betrayed his words and actions and broke his trust. This is a crime that is so worthy of the execution of all nine generations of his clan that it would not be enough to quell his anger!
"I trusted Zhou Kui so much, and he is still not satisfied with his high position and generous salary! And this Zhou Yanru, I thought he was a capable minister, so I summoned him back to the capital and made him the Zhanshi of the Zhanshi Mansion to teach the princes. This is how he repays me!"

Chongzhen became angrier and angrier as he spoke. He stood up and angrily threw the items on the imperial desk to the ground.

Wang Chengen and Zheng Shiyi both held their heads tightly, not daring to make any noise. Even though Wang Chengen had been with Chongzhen for more than ten years, it was the first time he saw Chongzhen so furious, as if he had become a completely different person.

In fact, it is normal to think about it. Before Chongzhen, he was only Prince Xin. He was living in fear for his survival and was even particularly friendly to the eunuchs in the palace.

Although no one can threaten him now, he has only been emperor for two months and has not had the opportunity to show his character flaws.

So, this is the first outbreak.

It was especially terrifying because it was the first time!
"Zheng Shiyi!" Chongzhen shouted.

"I'm here!" Zheng Shiyi knelt down with a plop, waiting for Chongzhen's imperial edict in fear.

Chongzhen's face was gloomy, and a gurgling sound came from his throat. "Immediately take five hundred strong men to arrest Zhou Kui and Zhou Yanru, and confiscate all their property!"

"Yes!"

Zheng Shiyi felt his legs were weak, so he stood up and bowed hurriedly to retreat.

"My dear companion!" Chongzhen looked at Wang Chengen again.

Wang Chengen quickly agreed.

Chongzhen sighed, as if he had no strength left in his body, and said weakly: "I will not go to Kunning Palace these days. If the queen sends a message, please say that I am busy with government affairs."

"I obey your order." Wang Chengen knew that when Chongzhen said this, Zhou Kui's fate was almost certain.

…………

Wang An was leaning back in his chair thinking about how to deal with Zhou Kui's oppression. Although his cousin promised to use his connections to mediate, the other party was Chongzhen's father-in-law.

What kind of relationship could convince the father-in-law of the emperor?

"Should I sell the shop and run away? I will have to leave the capital sooner or later anyway..." Wang An muttered to himself, and suddenly a group of people rushed in at the door.

The leader was about fifty years old. Although he was dressed luxuriously, he exuded the air of a stock trader.

As Wang An sat up, a man jumped out from behind the old man, pointed at him and said, "Master, this is the ungrateful shopkeeper!"

Wang An curled his lips. The person who came was the young man who claimed to be a servant of the father-in-law's mansion yesterday.

It’s easy to tell the identity of the wealthy old man opposite.

"Fuck! Just for a prescription, the father-in-law of the emperor came to visit in person. He is indeed the Ming version of Grandet."

Complaining in his heart, Wang An still forced a fake smile, "Ha, you must be the father-in-law of the emperor, right?"

Zhou Kui was not as domineering as Wang An had imagined. He did not use the airs of a father-in-law to coerce and bribe Wang An. Instead, Wang An was very surprised that he said in a friendly manner, "Boss, the father-in-law wants to buy your secret recipe. Name your price."

Wang An blinked and thought that although allicin was impressive, that was without any comparison. He also vaguely remembered the culture method of penicillin. If he could sell it for a good price, it would not be wrong to sell the method of extracting allicin.

As far as business is concerned, Wang An didn't feel there was anything to be upset about.

Hearing this, he smiled and said, "It is a great honor that the father-in-law is willing to condescend to me. I can't ask for a random price. Let the father-in-law tell me the price."

(End of this chapter)