Chapter 15: Closing the Door and Releasing the Dogs

After discussing with Wang An how much silver he had on hand, Zhu Youxiao was already calculating in his heart which families had the deepest coffers.

That evening, a group of people gathered at Yang Lian's residence. They took their seats as host and guests, but all eyes were fixed on Sun Shenxing, the Minister of Rites.

"Minister Sun, I wonder what matter you've called us all here for. You can speak now, surely!" Seeing that everyone had arrived, Liu Yijing spoke up.

"Very well! Then this old man will speak. A few days ago I submitted a memorial impeaching Wei Zhongxian, the Director of the Eastern Depot. After the memorial was submitted, it should have reached His Majesty's hands, yet for some reason there has been no word to this day." Sun Shenxing stopped there, because he believed these people could understand his meaning.

"May I ask under what charges you impeached him?" Someone on the side asked impatiently.

"Consorting with evil Daoists, misleading the state and harming the people. Blocking the channels of remonstrance, clouding the Sacred Wisdom." The moment Sun Shenxing's words fell, the hall fell utterly silent—so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

"I wonder what Minister Sun hopes to achieve with this? There are no outsiders here—you might as well speak plainly." Yang Lian gently set down his teacup and said slowly, his expression not changing in the slightest.

No one could tell what this lord was thinking.

"Everyone present has gathered for the sake of family, state, and all under heaven. How can we sit by and watch a rotten apple like Wei Zhongxian remain in the inner court, letting him cloud the Sacred Hearing?" Sun Shenxing's words were concise, yet also somewhat puzzling.

But everyone present understood perfectly. At this time, the Donglin Faction's wings had grown full—they could pull Wei Zhongxian, the Director of the Eastern Depot, down from his horse and replace him with one of their own, or someone inclined toward them, such as a great eunuch deeply trusted by the Emperor like Wang An.

"When treacherous villains hold sway, we righteous men naturally cannot shirk our duty. I too submitted a memorial, but like Minister Sun's, it has vanished without a trace."

As his words fell, the room immediately grew lively. It seemed Wei Zhongxian was the worst eunuch under heaven—if he were not removed, the people's anger could not be appeased; if he were not killed, the nation's laws could not be upheld.

What they did not know was that even as they discussed how to pull Wei Zhongxian down, Wei Zhongxian was already preparing to make his move first.

That night, after toiling all day in his carpentry workshop, Zhu Youxiao returned to his bedchamber. He was sipping some seventh-grade conch tea that Chen Hong had newly acquired, reading a book while soaking his feet—a most leisurely little life. But his leisure lasted barely a moment before a knock sounded at the door.

"Your Majesty, Wei Zhongxian requests an audience." As one of the eunuchs His Majesty trusted most, Chen Hong naturally knew his master's arrangements. Since Wei Zhongxian had come, it meant matters had taken shape.

"Let him in." A glint of sharp light flashed through Zhu Youxiao's eyes. What must come always comes—and sure enough, Wei Zhongxian should be ready to start biting.

The maids of Qianqing Palace were very perceptive; after clearing away the foot-bathing tub, they swiftly withdrew.

The moment Wei Zhongxian entered, he dropped to the ground with a thud and performed a grand kowtow. Prostrate on the floor, he said cautiously: "Your Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years. This servant has disturbed Your Majesty—a crime deserving ten thousand deaths."

"Rise!" Zhu Youxiao set his teacup on the table and quietly watched Wei Zhongxian.

Stunned for a moment, Wei Zhongxian felt a chill rise from the depths of his heart. His Majesty's attitude left him unsure how to proceed.

But Wei Zhongxian reacted quickly. He knocked his head on the ground and said: "Your Majesty, Yao Zongwen has been exchanging secret letters with Liaodong in private, and the sums involved are enormous. This servant suspects—"

"Speak freely." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand. This matter had been within his expectations all along.

"Bureau Secretary Yao Zongwen of the Ministry of War—his participation in impeaching Xiong Tingbi actually has another reason." Wei Zhongxian said in a loud voice, sneering inwardly again and again: Whether you, Yao Zongwen, impeach Xiong Tingbi is none of my business. But if you try to impeach me and make all my years of struggle come to naught, then I will certainly destroy you.

Zhu Youxiao's gaze toward Wei Zhongxian grew stranger and stranger: "So such a thing exists? It seems those who appear single-minded in serving the public may not truly be so at heart. Then let's have it investigated!"

"This servant of the Depot is Your Majesty's household slave. This servant will surely not fail Your Majesty's trust—I will see this matter done properly!" Wei Zhongxian said with resolute determination.

Though the matter had some difficulty, this was exactly what the Eastern Depot was for. If even this could not be done, then what use was keeping the Eastern Depot at all? Besides, as long as His Majesty ordered an investigation, results were certain to be found. Wei Zhongxian hardened his resolve in his heart.

Straw Hat Hutong in the capital was a place known to everyone—it was where most of the capital's officials resided. Though the houses were nothing special, it was called a place of nobility.

At this moment, a squad of Eastern Depot agents arrived at the mouth of the alley, stopping with menacing vigor before the gate of a residence.

Passersby who saw the Eastern Depot agents hurried to avoid them, retreating far away to watch the excitement.

A somewhat plump leader stepped out from the ranks, walked to the great gate, and gently knocked the door ring.

"The Yao residence... There aren't many surnamed Yao among the officials at court!"

"In Straw Hat Hutong, it should be that Bureau Secretary Yao Zongwen, Lord Yao!" In a wine house not far away, people who loved watching trouble discussed among themselves.

The high-ranking officials of the capital's officialdom all knew Bureau Secretary Yao Zongwen's character well—a man of great ambition but little talent, insatiably greedy. He had once been appointed Governor of Liaodong due to the favor of Chief Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe, but Yao Zongwen knew nothing of military affairs and was given to corruption and extortion.

For this reason, Xiong Tingbi could not stand it and impeached him severely, thereby offending this petty, vindictive Lord Yao. In turn, Yao Zongwen counter-impeached him, to the point that Xiong Tingbi resigned from office and returned to his hometown.

"These Eastern Depot agents came with such menace today—they're not to be trifled with! I wonder who this Lord Yao has offended now!" Someone said in puzzlement.

The fat man waited a long while before the Yao residence's great gate opened a crack. An old steward cautiously poked his head out and said fawningly: "My lords have waited long. May I ask what business you have—"

Before the old steward could finish, the fat man waved his hand impatiently, and several men immediately pushed the gate open, ignoring the old steward's protests.

The group surged in like a flood, throwing the Yao residence into chaos—chickens flying and dogs jumping.

The agents following the fat leader each dropped off one man from the rear of the column every five paces the fat leader walked. Before long, the entire courtyard was posted with a sentry every five steps.

"Where is Yao Zongwen?" The fat man and his men searched all around but could not find Yao Zongwen. Seizing the old steward who was trying to flee, he demanded loudly.

The old steward had long since been scared out of his wits, yet he still refused to reveal his master's whereabouts, only biting his lip and trembling.

Seeing that he could not get Yao Zongwen's whereabouts out of him, the fat man angrily slammed the old steward hard onto the floor of the front hall and shouted: "Tie him up!"