Chapter 74: Personal Trial
"Then the room is long but not wide, and there is a screen in the middle to block it. It will be difficult for the young master to see the emperor's true appearance!"

Chongzhen thought about it and thought that this was an idea. "But how can we cover up this sound?"

Wang Chengen pondered for a moment, then his eyes lit up and he said, "I have asked Fang Zhenghua to accompany you. If you want to know what the emperor wants to ask, please write it down on a piece of paper and have Fang Zhenghua pass it on."

"Although the young master is well-versed in history and the present, he probably doesn't know much about the rules of our palace. He probably just thinks it's the etiquette of the emperor's family and doesn't suspect anything."

Chongzhen was relieved, and slammed the table and shouted: "Then we will set off immediately. I want to see who is so bold as to bully my brother's family!"

"Yes!" Wang Chengen hurriedly accepted the order, and while instructing the eunuch to move the screen and prepare writing brushes and ink in advance, he also arranged for the imperial carriage.

Chongzhen waved his hand and said, "The carriage is too slow, it would be faster for me to go there directly!"

Even though Wang Chengen knew the position Wang An held in Chongzhen's heart, he was still slightly surprised.

It was rare for the emperor to travel in the palace without a sedan chair, but because he was in a hurry, he just kicked it. It can be seen that Wang An's importance in Chongzhen's heart seemed to have skyrocketed.

But if you think about it, when Chongzhen recently reviewed the memorials from various places requesting money and grain, he was no longer as gloomy as before, but instead was full of energy and vigor, like a local tyrant, and you will understand.

Wasn't it all thanks to Wang An that Chongzhen was able to feel so confident in reviewing memorials on money and grain from all over the country?
Who can ignore this God of Wealth-like figure? Who dares not to pay attention to him?

Even in the time of Taizu, let alone visiting Zhuge Liang three times at his thatched cottage, he would at least have imitated Cao Cao's treatment of Xu You and staged a show of welcoming someone with open arms.

It’s just that his identity cannot be revealed at the moment. Otherwise, given Chongzhen’s importance to Wang An, who knows what he might do.

Not to mention that the master and servant hurriedly left the Wenhua Hall and headed towards the Meridian Gate.

When Chongzhen in the Wenhua Hall heard the drumbeats from the Meridian Gate, the cabinet office in Wenyuan Pavilion, which was right behind the Wenhua Hall, naturally heard it as well.

Although Wei Zhongxian was not eliminated by Chongzhen as happened in history, it was inevitable that his power would fall into the hands of others and he would never be as powerful and omnipotent as he was during the Tianqi period.

In addition, many civil and military officials in the court impeached Huang Liji, especially last month when Shanyin student Hu Huanyou submitted a memorial to impeach him for "holding the prime minister's seat but not taking charge" and even for killing ministers indiscriminately.

Huang Liji was extremely frightened, thinking that he could no longer stay in the position of Prime Minister of the Cabinet. If he did not flee, he would probably lose his head, so he submitted a petition to retire and returned to his hometown.

The current Prime Minister of the Cabinet is Shi Fenglai, another loyal dog of Wei Zhongxian.

However, Huang Liji had run away, and Shi Fenglai was also very worried. If Wei Zhongxian had not been collecting taxes in Jiangnan, he would probably have run away too.

At this time, Chongzhen had already selected a group of new cabinet scholars by drawing lots to fill the cabinet, among whom was Qian Longxi, who had a close personal relationship with Yuan Chonghuan.

At this time, there were not many Grand Secretaries working in Wenyuan Pavilion, only Shi Fenglai and Qian Longxi.

The two men listened carefully and could vaguely hear the drum sounds coming from the direction of the Meridian Gate. They looked at each other and saw surprise in each other's eyes.

Qian Longxi smiled but didn't smile: "Could it be that someone has beaten the drum to file a complaint with the emperor? Now that the Holy Emperor has ascended the throne, what kind of injustice has been caused to the point of filing a complaint with the emperor?"

As he spoke, his eyes moved back and forth over Shi Fenglai with ill intent.

The meaning is very clear. Who else could come up with such an injustice to file a complaint with the emperor except you, Shi Fenglai, and the eunuch party?

Although anyone with a discerning eye could see that Shi Fenglai would not be the prime minister of the cabinet for long.

But on the surface, the two were both cabinet ministers, and Shi Fenglai was the chief minister of the cabinet, so Qian Longxi had no reason to be so malicious towards Shi Fenglai. But in fact, Qian Longxi had a grudge with the eunuch party. In the fifth year of Tianqi, Qian Longxi served as the right assistant minister of the Nanjing Ministry of Personnel. Because he offended Wei Zhongxian, he was dismissed from his post and almost had his official title revoked.

Now that Wei Zhongxian had fled to Jiangnan, Qian Longxi had no place to avenge his grudge, so naturally he directed his anger on Shi Fenglai.

Therefore, during the time when the two were in the cabinet together, Qian Longxi would take every opportunity to mock Shi Fenglai.

This is also one of the main reasons why Shi Fenglai felt that he could no longer work in the cabinet.

This leader is criticized by his subordinates every day, but he knows that he is about to lose power, and he can neither flatter nor persuade his subordinates. Anyone would feel that he can't continue to do this job.

However, Shi Fenglai was at a disadvantage at this time, and had long been numb to Qian Longxi's sarcasm. Hearing this, he just laughed awkwardly and said:
"Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, it has been quite common for people to file complaints to the emperor in the court, but I have never seen anyone file a complaint to the emperor by beating the drum."

"Master Qian seems to be quite interested. What kind of injustice is this? Why don't we go and have a look?"

"Ha," Qian Longxi sneered, "Since the Lord has the leisure time, I will accompany Lord Ge to take a look."

After the two of them finished talking, they smiled at each other with ulterior motives and left Wenyuan Pavilion together.

Just as he was passing by the Wenhua Hall, he happened to see Chongzhen and Wang Chengen rushing to the Meridian Gate in a hurry.

Even though the two of them didn't get along, Qian Longxi couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Hiss~ Looking at the direction your majesty is heading, it seems like you're going to the Meridian Gate?"

"Could it be that someone at the Meridian Gate really filed a complaint against the Emperor?"

Shi Fenglai also looked doubtful and said, "That's right, we are heading to the Meridian Gate!"

"But Your Majesty didn't even bring the imperial carriage, but just walked over there?"

Shi Fenglai and Qian Longxi looked at each other and said in unison: "My goodness, how great is this injustice?"

After saying that, the two of them followed quickly and quietly.

Perhaps the greatest injustice of the Chongzhen reign was about to happen in front of these two people. As cabinet ministers, how could they miss it?

The two teams arrived at the Meridian Gate one after another, alarming many eunuchs along the way.

Leading the way was the Ming Emperor Chongzhen, accompanied by the chief eunuch Wang Chengen from the Imperial Household Department.

Following closely were the first and second assistant ministers of the Ming cabinet, the number one and number two figures in the Ming officialdom.

Such a scene not only caused chaos in the Forbidden City, but also spread rumors.

Many eunuchs who had secretly made friends with the foreign relatives and ministers had flickering eyes, either happy or worried, thinking about how to pass on this news.

Meanwhile, Wang An, who was having a great conversation with Fang Zhenghua and even wanted to chop a rooster and burn yellow paper to become sworn brothers with him, knew nothing about this. He even smacked his dry mouth, wondering whether he should ask Fang Zhenghua for a cup of tea.

However, before Wang An could figure out how to put forward his request without sounding excessive, two young eunuchs came in carrying a huge silk screen and said to Fang Zhenghua, "The Emperor is coming, hurry up and go out to greet him!"

(End of this chapter)