Chapter 216

Chen Hong spoke in a low voice.

"The sea ban."

Upon hearing this, Jiajing looked at Yan Shifan before him without changing his expression and said with a sigh.

"I simply do not understand; how is it that these hundred officials keep pestering me endlessly over a matter I have already decided?"

Having said this, Jiajing could not help but look at Yan Shifan before him.

And Yan Shifan, who had just been promised a huge pie by Jiajing, immediately perked up.

He volunteered, looking at Jiajing and clasping his hands to say.

"Your Majesty, they are merely a group of corrupt scholars who only know how to discuss empty theories; Your Majesty need not take it to heart."

Disgust appeared on Jiajing's face, and he said with a sigh.

"So noisy."

"Who led the disturbance?"

Chen Hong lowered his head and said.

"The Patrol Censor, Chen Jiude."

Jiajing's expression darkened.

He clicked his tongue slowly and said.

"Twenty strokes of the cane."

Chen Hong looked at Jiajing and asked tentatively.

"Then, what about the rest?"

"All of them, twenty strokes of the cane."

"Yes!"

Chen Hong received the decree, then immediately ran quickly toward the Xiyuanda Sect.

Yan Shifan, looking at Jiajing with some shock, advised.

"Your Majesty, these corrupt scholars are merely noisy for a time; is the court beating really necessary?"

Jiajing looked at Yan Shifan and smiled without speaking.

"Why is it not necessary?"

"Some people remember the food but not the beating; they want to gain a reputation for integrity but do not want to pay the price. Where in this world are there so many easy things?"

Yan Shifan's mouth moved.

But the following words were not spoken.

After all, he was about to take charge of the Maritime Trade Office.

Would opposing the sea ban not be smashing his own rice bowl?

Not long after, Chen Hong returned to the front of the hall; Jiajing met Chen Hong's gaze from a distance and smiled.

"Very well, the meal is finished, and I will no longer stop you from returning to fulfill your filial duties."

"Our Great Ming will rely on you and your father in the future."

"Chen Hong, escort the Junior Grand Secretary on my behalf."

Chen Hong outside the door nodded slightly.

"Yes."

The Son of Heaven had already spoken.

Yan Shifan naturally had nothing to say.

He followed behind Chen Hong's heels, walking toward the outside of the Xiyuanda Sect.

However, the scene outside the Xiyuanda Sect was not what Yan Shifan had expected.

Just as Yan Shifan stepped out of the Xiyuanda Sect.

The twenty court beatings ordered by Jiajing had just been completed.

The Zhu Hong Gong Sect gate before him had not yet opened.

Yan Shifan heard the mournful screams from outside the Xiyuanda Sect.

Blood gradually gathered from the cracks in the ground tiles, finally flowing toward the distant Jin Shuihe.

Until this moment.

Did Yan Shifan suddenly realize.

He had been tricked by Jiajing!

Yan Shifan instinctively retreated toward the Xiyuanda Sect.

Before Yan Shifan could retreat back into the Xiyuanda Sect.

The officials who had rushed to the outside of the Xiyuanda Sect upon hearing the news saw Yan Shifan following behind Chen Hong!

"Traitor! Traitor! Yan Shifan! You see! All the dignitaries in the court have died before you today; are you satisfied?"

"Lord Chen, Lord Chen!"

"Lord Weng, Censor Chen, are gone."

"..."

Yan Shifan looked at the crowd before him with a face full of terror.

For a moment, he was at a loss.

These ministers could not directly curse Jiajing.

But if they could not curse Jiajing, could they not curse you, Yan Shifan?!

Just as the crowd of officials rushing to the palace gate to collect the bodies verbally and writtenly attacked Yan Shifan.

Chen Hong, seeing Yan Shifan's slight panic, paid him no attention whatsoever.

Instead, he stepped forward.

Looking at the hundred officials before him, he shouted in reprimand:

"How dare you!"

"By the Son of Heaven's direct command, starting today, the Junior Grand Secretary shall oversee all maritime trade affairs of the Great Ming. The sea ban is abolished; the deed is done. Your continued noise is useless!"

As soon as Chen Hong spoke these words,

the ministers behind him completely lost their composure.

How could they possibly hear the rest of what was said?

They only heard that Yan Shifan would oversee all maritime trade affairs!

Your Yan family, alongside the Son of Heaven, is digging up the roots of the great clans of the southeast!

Instantly, the crying and screaming outside the Western Garden ceased abruptly.

Everyone's gaze inevitably focused on Yan Shifan.

Yan Shifan also keenly sensed the sharp killing intent radiating from everyone present.

If it were not for the hundred or so Eastern Depot agents and Imperial Guards standing behind him,

Gujizhe Society would have rushed forward to fight to the death with him right now.

Fine beads of sweat seeped from Yan Shifan's forehead.

Immediately, without a word, he ran toward his carriage in the distance.

After diving into the carriage, Yan Shifan repeatedly shouted:

"Return to the manor! Quickly return to the manor!"

……

……

The Yan Manor.

Yan Song, already in his eighties, had sensed the eerie atmosphere in the court in recent days.

Unlike every previous court struggle,

this time, Jiajing had truly touched the fundamental interests of the entire scholar-gentry class of the southeast.

Yan Song was also known as Yan Fenyi because he was from Fenyi; the region of Jiangxi was already famous for producing porcelain.

Not to mention Xu Jie and those so-called pure officials.

Even among Yan Song, Yan Maoqing, and others within the Yan faction, many had made their start relying on the so-called "private markets."

This was a muddy pool of water.

Yan Song was old.