Chapter 136: The Situation in the Imperial Court

Outside, several Embroidered Uniform Guards were playing Mahjong, and naturally, someone was playing in Zhu Gaoxu's stead.

The noisy sound of card playing outside perfectly masked the conversation in the inner room.

"Did Father send you here today with any news?"

The servant nodded and said, "The imperial court is indeed as Your Highness expected; early this morning, His Majesty officially announced the abolition of the Chancellor system, and he strictly forbade all future descendants from ever restoring it."

"Furthermore, His Majesty issued an edict establishing the Five Prefectures, the Six Ministries, the Censorate, the Office of Transmission, the Grand Court of Revision, and other offices to manage the various affairs of the realm, with all matters centralized under the imperial court."

"At the same time, the court has not been peaceful these past two days. His Majesty has executed many of Hu Weiyong's accomplices and confidants, and many officials who had regular dealings with them could not escape the disaster; the lightest punishment was dismissal from office to return home."

Hearing the servant's words, Zhu Gaoxu nodded.

These were things he had already anticipated, though it appeared Lao Zhu's hand was significantly lighter than expected.

According to historical records, although the Hu Weiyong case was time-consuming and implicated tens of thousands of officials, Lao Zhu's current actions did not follow the established plot at all.

According to Zhu Gaoxu's thinking, if Lao Zhu were truly intent on a massive slaughter, he would enter the palace to persuade Lao Zhu, even if it meant defying an imperial decree.

Although he did not know the reason why Lao Zhu had become much more "merciful," regardless, it saved him quite a bit of trouble.

As for those who were killed, Zhu Gaoxu specifically asked; people like Chen Ning certainly deserved to die, and other accomplices were surely unavoidable.

But Lao Zhu truly did not touch some of the innocent people.

Nodding, Zhu Gaoxu continued to ask, "Does Father have any movements?"

The servant replied after hearing this, "Following your instructions, the Prince has basically been watching from the sidelines. However, with His Majesty dismissing so many officials, although he has promoted many others, he has also added many new offices. Most of the positions in them are temporarily filled, which can be said to be a big piece of fat that many people are eyeing greedily. Many officials who are confidants of the Prince are also thinking of moving up a step. Although the Prince understands the big picture and can hold back, many of the officials below are short-sighted and cannot see it, so for a time, they have become somewhat restless."

Hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu frowned.

Zhu Gaoxu knew his father had his own influence, but he had always believed that while Zhu Di had influence, it certainly wasn't large.

Now it seemed his father had paved quite a path.

Either he had planned this long ago—a point Zhu Gaoxu could be certain was absolutely not the case.

Then only one possibility remained: Zhu Di must have organized it after returning to the capital.

Being able to organize so many officials in such a short time, Zhu Gaoxu secretly praised his father as a man of talent.

But while being able to recruit people was a skill, one also had to be able to control them.

This was a critical moment, and they absolutely could not act rashly.

Thinking this, Zhu Gaoxu said directly, "Tell Father to instruct the people below that they must hold back. Now is not the time to stick their heads out. Many high-ranking court officials are currently desperate to get out; why are there still people foolishly wanting to get in?"

"Tell them clearly: right now, Grandfather hates nothing more than forming cliques for private gain. Whoever sticks their head out now, forget about climbing higher—they'll be lucky to stay alive. If there are those who insist on courting death, then ignore them; our temple is too small to accommodate such people."

Hearing Zhu Gaoxu's words, the servant nodded and said, "Your meaning is much the same as the Prince's; this servant knows how to reply."

Zhu Gaoxu nodded slightly and then continued, "Have Father find an opportunity to mention it to the Old Man. Me being outside every day is not a solution. Just find some excuse, like saying my mother misses me or something, so that I can return early and test Grandfather's attitude."

"This servant understands."

Zhu Gaoxu had said all he needed to say, then finally asked, "Is there any other news?"

Just when Zhu Gaoxu thought the servant had finished, he didn't expect the servant to actually have more to say.

"When the Prince was at the early court today, he heard that there was a person on the list of those awaiting judgment named Song Shen."

"Song Shen? Song Shen..."

Zhu Gaoxu felt the name was somewhat unfamiliar for a moment.

However, he quickly reacted.

"Surname Song... could it be my teacher's grandson..."

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu react, the servant nodded and said, "That's right, it is indeed the grandson of the old scholar Song Lian."

Hearing the servant's confirmation, Zhu Gaoxu suddenly remembered.

In his previous life, it was because his grandson Song Shen was implicated in the Hu Weiyong case that Song Lian himself and his son Song Sui were both dragged into it; despite being 72 years old, he had to suffer exile.

In the end, he died on the road.

Zhu Gaoxu had always felt something was wrong before, but this person Song Shen truly had no fame, and the records were unclear as to why he was involved in the Hu Weiyong case.

So Zhu Gaoxu had only mentioned Song Lian to Lao Zhu before, thinking it would pass, but he hadn't expected it to be unavoidable after all.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu asked directly, "How did he get involved with Hu Weiyong?"

The servant replied, "The Prince specifically inquired about it; it is said that he had previously given gifts to Hu Weiyong, hoping to climb the social ladder and move up a step..."

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