Chapter 321: Zhang Weixian Confesses His Fault

"What's going on here?"

Hearing Zhu Youxiao's question, Chen Hong was also completely baffled, and quickly said, "Your Majesty, this servant doesn't know what's happening either. How about this servant sends someone to investigate?"

"Forget it, no need." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand, speaking in a casual tone.

Though he didn't know what had happened, Zhu Youxiao was certain that this matter was inseparable from the Duke of Ying, Zhang Weixian—it must be this old fellow stirring up trouble. Xu Xi wasn't crazy; why would he run over here to do something like this?

After pondering for a moment, Zhu Youxiao said, "Leak this news to the Duke of Ying and see how he reacts. Seal off the information—don't let the people below spread it around."

"Yes, Your Majesty, this servant will arrange it right away." Chen Hong quickly agreed.

He could also tell that his master was genuinely angry this time, and his mood wasn't very good. If he made any slip-up at this moment, he might well become the target of his master's anger.

That was a mistake he couldn't afford to make.

The news quickly reached the Duke of Ying's ears, and Zhang Weixian's face was filled with utter disbelief.

No matter how he looked at it, Zhang Weixian never imagined that he would be outmaneuvered by Xu Xi. At this moment, his face was frighteningly dark, the anger in his heart already at full capacity—he truly wanted to find Xu Xi and cut him down with a single stroke.

What kind of stupid thing had that bastard done? Wasn't that just asking for death?

If Xu Xi had written the routine memorial as he'd been told, and then he himself had co-signed it, the two of them submitting the memorial together—the significance of this matter would have been completely different.

Two dukes jointly advocating would show that the meritorious nobility had the will for this. At the same time, with himself taking the lead, it would turn this matter into a collective action.

But now Xu Xi had gone on his own and directly exposed this matter before His Majesty, turning it into Xu Xi's own personal wish.

One had to understand that an individual's wish and a collective's wish were not the same thing.

Hiding within the embrace of the collective was safer; at the same time, leveraging the collective's strength made it easier to accomplish things.

If one stuck one's head out alone, one could easily become cannon fodder. At the same time, His Majesty would not want to see anyone sticking their head out alone, especially someone like Xu Xi.

Zhang Weixian helplessly rose to his feet, forcibly suppressing his anger, then turned and headed toward the Western Park.

Since the matter had already come out, even strangling Xu Xi to death would be useless. At this point, he could only go see His Majesty.

Mulling over how to speak with His Majesty along the way, Zhang Weixian soon arrived at the Western Park.

Upon seeing Chen Hong, Zhang Weixian quickly said, "Eunuch Chen, how are you today?"

Seeing Zhang Weixian, Chen Hong sighed inwardly.

So this matter really did involve the Duke of Ying—it seemed His Majesty hadn't guessed wrong. He should keep his distance from the Duke of Ying, lest His Majesty's anger spill over and splash onto him.

Though he very much wanted to stay far away from the Duke of Ying, the smile on Chen Hong's face remained as bright as ever. "Thanks to Your Grace's blessings, my days are still getting by."

Chen Hong said with a smile, "Your Grace has come to the palace today—are you seeking an audience with His Majesty?"

Chen Hong didn't want to say much more with Zhang Weixian right now, so he proactively steered the conversation elsewhere.

Zhang Weixian looked at Chen Hong. He had originally wanted to probe this eunuch for some information, but seeing Chen Hong's demeanor, Zhang Weixian knew that Chen Hong definitely knew something—but would absolutely never tell him.

Given Chen Hong's current position in the palace, there weren't many things that could be kept from him. His showing this attitude was a clear refusal. If the matter weren't so serious, Chen Hong wouldn't be acting like this.

This made Zhang Weixian's heart sink, so he quickly said, "There are indeed some matters I need to present to His Majesty in person."

Chen Hong nodded and said, "Then Your Grace, follow me."

Hearing this, Zhang Weixian was startled, then asked, "Eunuch, what do you mean by this?"

"His Majesty is already waiting for Your Grace." Chen Hong said with a smile. "His Majesty just instructed that if Your Grace arrived, there was no need to announce it—just bring Your Grace straight in."

Hearing Chen Hong's words, Zhang Weixian grew even angrier—though what angered him was Xu Xi.

Sure enough, he was a good-for-nothing who spoiled everything! He had nearly been dragged down by that bastard!

If he hadn't reacted in time and come straight to the palace, this time would have been disastrous!

"Then I'll trouble Eunuch." Zhang Weixian said with a smile, cupping his hands toward Chen Hong.

"Your Grace is too kind." Chen Hong said with a smile, turning to lead the way ahead.

The two walked all the way to the lakeside of the Western Park, where they saw Zhu Youxiao.

Because the weather had turned warm, Zhu Youxiao could come out and fool around again.

Having been cooped up all winter, his whole body felt like it had rusted over, so Zhu Youxiao was now lying on a rocking chair by the lake, holding a fishing rod in his hand. Whether he could actually catch anything—well, that was another matter entirely.

Seeing this scene, Zhang Weixian breathed a slight sigh of relief. Clearly His Majesty was angry, but the degree didn't seem all that severe.

Walking straight to Zhu Youxiao's side, Chen Hong said softly, "Your Majesty, the Duke of Ying has arrived."

Gently lifting his eyelids, Zhu Youxiao glanced at Chen Hong, then looked at Zhang Weixian standing not far behind him, and nodded, saying, "Let him come over."

Before long, Zhang Weixian walked up before Zhu Youxiao and quickly bowed, saying, "Your subject Zhang Weixian, paying respects to Your Majesty."

"Enough, no need for so much formality here." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand, then instructed Chen Hong, "Bring the Duke of Ying a stool. The Duke of Ying is getting on in years—standing to talk would be hard on his body."

"Thank you for Your Majesty's concern." Zhang Weixian quickly said.

After Chen Hong had brought the stool and Zhang Weixian had sat down, Zhu Youxiao finally said, "Does my beloved minister have any matters coming to the palace today?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject has come to confess his fault." Zhang Weixian quickly said.

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao smiled, directly setting down the fishing rod in his hand, and said in a gentle tone, "What's going on today? Nothing's happened in the court, has it? Or is it that I've been too harsh? How is it that one after another, you all come to confess faults? The Duke of Ding just left, and now you've arrived. Go on, tell me."

Hearing this, Zhang Weixian cursed Xu Xi another round in his heart, then said, "Your Majesty, the matter your subject wishes to speak of is actually related to the Duke of Ding. The day before yesterday, the Duke of Ding came to your subject's residence and spoke of some things."

"The Duke of Ding said that he wanted to do something these days to show his loyalty to Your Majesty. Of the three dukes in the capital, two had entered the Staff Office, and only he had not. He wanted to ask your subject why—whether Your Majesty had become dissatisfied with his conduct. As your subject's minister, I naturally would not dare to presume Your Majesty's intentions."

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Zhang Weixian without speaking, but his eyes said it all.

That single glance made Zhang Weixian extremely embarrassed.

Zhang Weixian's face flushed somewhat red, but he still steeled himself and continued, "At the time, your subject said that I knew nothing of this matter and had nothing to do with it. But the Duke of Ding refused to leave my residence, even bringing up matters of the elder generation. Your subject truly had no other choice."

"No other choice, so you gave him this idea?" Zhu Youxiao turned to look at Zhang Weixian, his tone growing heavier.

"Your Majesty, the idea of confessing fault was not your subject's suggestion!" Zhang Weixian quickly rose to his feet, speaking with great urgency. "It was entirely the Duke of Ding's own decision—your subject had nothing to do with it."

"Is that so?" Zhu Youxiao asked with a hint of doubt.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhang Weixian quickly explained, "At the time, your subject was pondering matters of the Staff Office, thinking about what the Staff Office should do next, and your subject thought of the salt monopoly."

"In recent years, the court's finances have been strained, yet those salt merchants have been raking in money hand over fist. Through these salt merchants, the court's meritorious nobles and imperial relatives have been amassing wealth on a grand scale—truly damaging to the court's dignity, while also draining the national treasury and leaving the court without funds. Your subject wanted to rectify this matter."

"When the Duke of Ding came begging to my residence, your subject told him about this matter. At the time, your subject told the Duke of Ding to go back and write a routine memorial, and that your subject would also sign his name—the two of us would jointly petition this matter. First, it could rally some allies among the meritorious nobility; second, it could also be seen as giving the Duke of Ding a hand, offering him an opportunity to render meritorious service for Your Majesty and the nation."

"But who could have thought that the Duke of Ding would be so..."

At this point, Zhang Weixian could not continue, panting with anger. This was not deliberate showmanship on his part—he was genuinely furious.

"You've certainly calculated this well." Zhu Youxiao gave a cold snort.

"Your subject is guilty." Zhang Weixian hastily knelt to the ground.

"Enough, get up!" Zhu Youxiao sighed and waved his hand. "I am not one to disregard human sentiment. Your methods may have been improper, but I can understand them."

"The Duke of Ding came to me, saying that the salt monopoly violations at his household were quite serious, and that he had only discovered this in the past few days, so he wanted to return the money."

Hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, Zhang Weixian cursed inwardly.

Truly an idiot—this is what it means to be mud that cannot be plastered onto a wall!

Of all the people you could emulate, why did you have to imitate Zhu Chunchen's way of doing things? If word of this gets out, you'll be cursed to death!

Although the estate tax was also cutting flesh, that was still small money.

But this salt money—this is truly big money. Doing things this way, how many people will come to hate you?

If you had stated it openly and honestly, you would have claimed the moral high ground. Even if people were dissatisfied in their hearts, they would not dare say anything on the surface; if you pushed it through with force, those people could only endure it.

But now you've stuck your head out on your own—what if His Majesty doesn't back it? Wouldn't you have buried yourself? Then how would those people deal with you?

Do you truly think the title of Duke can hold as steady as Mount Tai?

If you truly offend people to the point of no return, it's still a dead end.

When doing things, you must hold power in your hands. When power is in hand, no one dares oppose you; by the time you lose that power, you'll have already finished the task.

Now you've lost the moral high ground and can't obtain power—isn't this just courting death?

"Your Majesty, this truly was not something I had the Duke of Ding do. I merely wished to discipline the nobles and imperial relatives. In recent years, they have gone too far, disregarding the court, indulging in pleasure and dissipation all day long—truly shaming their ancestors."

Zhang Weixian hastily continued: "But who could have imagined that the Duke of Ding, for his own private gain, would do such a thing!"