Chapter 155: Wan Jing Beaten to Death

Wei Zhongxian sensed an immense crisis and left the palace with a grim face.

As soon as he returned to the Eastern Depot and entered the secret chamber, he said coldly, "Any movement from Prince Hui's side?"

Behind him stood a young man in embroidered uniform, wearing a black iron mask, revealing a pair of narrow, cold eyes. In a hoarse voice, he said, "Nothing out of the ordinary. Prince Hui has been studying in the palace since the new year and rarely leaves."

Wei Zhongxian sat on a stool, his expression ugly, and said, "Keep a close watch on him. If there's any news, let me know immediately!"

The young man bowed slightly and said, "Yes."

"Uncle." The moment the young man finished speaking, Fu Yingxing suddenly burst in.

Wei Zhongxian frowned and said, "What happened now?"

Fu Yingxing looked tense and said urgently, "Uncle, something's wrong! Wan Jing and others have entered Jingyang Palace to impeach you before the Emperor."

Wei Zhongxian sneered upon hearing this and said, "Wan Jing? Fine. A mere Bureau Director of the Ministry of Works dares to bully me! Gather our men — tomorrow we go to the palace together!"

Fu Yingxing was puzzled, but Wei Zhongxian snorted inwardly. Whoever entered the palace to impeach him at this time would be the one to suffer.

Yang Lian had been publicly rebuked by imperial decree. Zhu Xu, as his student, naturally could not sit by and do nothing. He brought gifts and left the palace for the Yang residence.

Zhu Xu revealed concern without any change in expression, bowing respectfully and saying, "Master."

Though Yang Lian still wore that expression of everyone owing him money, and was unhappy about the imperial rebuke, he still nodded reluctantly upon seeing Zhu Xu and said, "Your Highness is thoughtful. I am fine."

Zhu Xu studied Yang Lian's expression but quickly gave up, saying with a faint smile, "Master need not be disheartened. My imperial brother has simply been deceived all along. I have already met with him. He knows you have suffered an injustice. I hope Master will not lose heart."

Yang Lian could naturally tell truth from falsehood in Zhu Xu's words. He frowned slightly and said, "Your Highness must not involve yourself in these matters. Focus on your studies."

Zhu Xu laughed inwardly — I'm only here to stoke the fire. He bowed deeply and said, "Yes. Master, if you have any need, please speak frankly to your student."

Yang Lian nodded without expression. The meaning was simple: see the guest out.

Zhu Xu took the hint and rose, said his farewell, and left the Yang residence.

Cao Wenzhao drove the carriage for Zhu Xu, looking puzzled, and said, "Your Highness, did we come all this way just to console Lord Yang?" He knew that given Zhu Xu's temperament, this was not the time to wade into the fray.

Zhu Xu naturally could not speak his true thoughts aloud — it would scare half the people to death.

Smiling, he found an excuse: "Now that we have money, the next step is naturally to seek fame."

Though Cao Wenzhao found Zhu Xu's words somewhat strange, he did not press further and drove the carriage straight back to the palace.

The next day, the court was fiercely agitated. Yang Lian, Zuo Guangdou, and others impeached Wei Zhongxian. Others joined in as well, as if the Donglin Faction was united in purpose to thoroughly eliminate the scourge of the eunuch faction.

But contrary to their expectations, although no one should have spoken for Wei Zhongxian in court, a large number of people who should have been trembling in fear and daring not to speak suddenly came out to support him, turning the one-sided situation into a deadlock of mutual attacks. In the end, it deviated from its original purpose and became naked factional strife.

Among them, Wan Jing, Bureau Director of the Ministry of Works, spoke with extreme vehemence and implicated Madam Ke. With the 'evil faction' fanning the flames, this thoroughly enraged Zhu Youxiao, who issued a decree to have him dragged out and beaten with rods in the court!

Outside the great hall, a row of Embroidered Uniform Guard stood in formation, holding rods and clubs, glaring with murderous intent at Wan Jing, who was pinned to the ground and still cursing without pause.

Wei Zhongxian stood before him, his gaze cold and stern, and said flatly, "Lord Wan, this eunuch doesn't seem to have offended you, does he?"

Wan Jing was burning with rage, craning his neck and cursing loudly, "Treacherous eunuch! I failed to eliminate you today — don't be so arrogant! One day I will tear you limb from limb!"

"Tear me limb from limb?"

Killing intent surfaced on Wei Zhongxian's face, impossible to contain. He gnashed his teeth and said hatefully, "By imperial decree, Wan Jing has committed gross disrespect — one hundred strokes of the rod!"

Wan Jing's face changed drastically upon hearing this, and he roared even louder, "Treacherous eunuch! You dare to forge an imperial decree! I will absolutely—ah—"

The embroidered guards on both sides struck Wan Jing's buttocks hard with their rods.

Wan Jing's buttocks were pale white, and after a few strokes blood appeared. Painful groans came without end, yet he still cursed relentlessly.

"Treacherous eunuch, you will die a horrible death..."

"Treacherous eunuch, we righteous men will never tolerate you!"

"Treacherous eunuch... ah..."

Before thirty strokes had landed, Wan Jing's voice grew faint and his curses ceased. Covered in sweat, he was in a semi-conscious state.

One of the guards beating him hesitated, looked up at Wei Zhongxian, and said, "Gonggong, should we continue?"

Wei Zhongxian had already come to hate these outside officials to the bone. His eyes filled with murderous intent as he stared at Wan Jing and said coldly, "Splash him awake. Keep beating!"

The guard hesitated for a moment, then went to fetch a bucket of water and splashed a ladleful over him.

Wan Jing shuddered and woke up. He looked up at Wei Zhongxian and cursed through gritted teeth, "Treacherous eunuch, just you wait! I swear I will not let this rest!"

"Keep beating!" Wei Zhongxian's eyelid twitched as he said coldly.

"Ah! Treacherous eunuch, you forge decrees and beat ministers with rods! I will impeach you and have your nine clans executed... ah..."

Soon, Wan Jing fell unconscious again, but was immediately splashed awake.

After more than eighty strokes, the guard stopped, checked his breathing, and his expression changed slightly. He looked at Wei Zhongxian and said, "Gonggong, the man... is dead."

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhongxian felt no fear — instead, the anger in his heart was vented and he felt refreshed. He glanced coldly at Wan Jing's corpse, took a deep breath, and said, "Drag him out. Leave the rest to this eunuch."

The guard was greatly relieved upon hearing this and said, "Yes, Gonggong."

After Zhu Youxiao finished court, Wei Zhongxian entered the imperial study and reported, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Wan Jing was frail of constitution. He died after just thirty strokes."

Zhu Xu leaned on his cane and limped over to sit behind the imperial desk. He looked somewhat surprised upon hearing this, but then waved his hand and said, "Dead is dead. Have the matters at the Suzhou textile bureau been investigated?"

Wei Zhongxian was secretly delighted and replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the textile eunuch has reported that it was the Vice Prefect of Suzhou making false accusations, trying to skim from the quota of robes and reduce the amount sent to the capital."

Zhu Youxiao's face immediately filled with rage. He said coldly, "Investigate for me! Anyone who dares to skim from imperial tribute deserves death by execution. Make the case solid!"

Wei Zhongxian suddenly felt a peculiar sensation, as if everything was within his grasp. Something was swelling in his chest. He straightened up and said, "Yes, Your Majesty. This servant will make sure the outside officials have nothing to say!"

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "You are the only one I can trust now. Investigate thoroughly for me."

Wei Zhongxian kept his head low, his cold, hard face expressionless. He looked up at Zhu Youxiao, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, and said softly, "Yes, Your Majesty. This servant will devote himself wholeheartedly to Your Majesty's affairs!"

Wan Jing being beaten to death naturally caused an uproar throughout the court.

The censors only then realized that Wei Zhongxian was no longer merely a palace eunuch — his hand had already reached into the court itself.

When Zhu Xu heard the news, he shook his head helplessly. The Donglin Faction was perhaps too accustomed to their methods of dealing with the 'evil faction,' always thinking that impeachment alone could remove Wei Zhongxian — yet they kept hitting a wall.