Chapter 90: The Baffled Censor

A Censor from the Censorate loudly denounced the Crown Prince's treasonous actions in the night, and no matter how one looked at it, he was determined to drag Zhu Cilang into the charge of plotting rebellion.

Zhu Cilang responded with a sneer, saying, "This Prince plotting rebellion? Has your brain developed a problem that you can't afford to treat? The Eight Great Shanxi Merchants colluding with the Jianzhou barbarians—the evidence is conclusive."

This remonstrating official, even more enraged at being publicly humiliated, launched into a lengthy discourse full of classical platitudes, enumerating Zhu Cilang's crime of killing court officials without authorization, until the Chongzhen Emperor on the throne was so furious his face turned ashen.

Zhu Cilang only gave a cold laugh and said, "His Majesty my Father ordered that I not touch officials of the fourth rank or above—this Prince has already done you plenty of face. Don't mistake kindness for license!"

This remonstrating official said angrily, "What does Your Highness mean by this? Are you insinuating that we are colluding with those treasonous Shanxi merchants?"

Zhu Cilang walked up to him, glanced at him, and asked, "What is your name?"

This remonstrating official gave a snort, and even arrogantly bounced on his heels, saying, "Your servant is Wei Dan, Right Vice Censor of the Censorate. Surely Your Highness doesn't intend to kill me as well?"

Zhu Cilang ignored him, simply reaching into his robes to feel around, then rummaging about. The assembled officials all looked curiously at the Crown Prince, wondering what he was searching for—even Chongzhen was curious.

Before long, everyone saw the Crown Prince pull out a large stack of documents from his robes, which when opened stretched over a meter long.

Zhu Cilang searched through the documents for a while, and finally found this Wei Dan's name.

Zhu Cilang glanced at this Censor and began to read aloud: "Wei Dan, jinshi of the fourth year of Tianqi, Bureau Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue in the second year of Chongzhen, promoted to Right Vice Censor of the Censorate in the sixth year of Chongzhen. In the three years since, he has submitted one hundred and twenty memorials of impeachment, impeaching a total of forty-three officials of various ranks."

Zhu Cilang paused, looking at this Censor surnamed Wei with some surprise, thinking to himself that this fellow was quite impressive—he bit whoever he saw!

Hearing someone read out his record of achievements, Wei Dan naturally raised his head with a proud air. Having served three years as a Censor, if he hadn't filed at least a hundred or so impeachment memorials, he wouldn't even dare greet his colleagues when going out.

Seeing this Censor's smug demeanor, Zhu Cilang laughed inwardly—in a moment I'll make you cry. He continued reading: "In the seventh year of Chongzhen, Wei Dan entrusted his steward Wei Wushuang to purchase a mansion in the outer city, valued at five thousand three hundred taels of silver; in the eighth year of Chongzhen, Wei Dan's father Wei Dalu opened three grain shops at the new Taicang treasury in the eastern city, valued at nine thousand taels of silver;

In the ninth year of Chongzhen, Wei Dan's wife, née Yu, took over a high-end jade shop in Mingyu Lane of the western city, valued at twenty-six thousand taels of silver. Furthermore, Wei Dan owns three thousand mu of farmland in his hometown of Yuncheng, Shanxi, two estates, and seven shops."

Wei Dan, who had been feeling quite pleased with himself, went wide-eyed upon hearing Zhu Cilang recite these matters. His heart suddenly chilled, and the more he heard, the more alarmed he became.

Chongzhen on the throne slammed the armrest, shaking his own right hand numb but not caring, and roared furiously: "Wei Dan! Where did all this money come from!"

With his secrets laid bare, Wei Dan knew there was no hope of luck now. He could only kneel prostrate on the ground, trembling all over, speechless.

Zhu Cilang said, "Your Majesty my Father, this Wei Dan is originally from Shanxi. He was already bought by the Eight Great Shanxi Merchants when he passed the juren examination. Every year the treacherous merchants sent him generous sums of silver, which is why he has always spoken up for those traitorous families."

Looking at Wei Dan kneeling silently on the ground, Chongzhen knew he had effectively confessed. His anger burned even hotter, and he roared: "Right Vice Censor Wei Dan, guilty of grievous corruption and deceiving the sovereign! Let the Embroidered Uniform Guard confiscate his property, and flay Wei Dan and stuff him with straw according to the standard set by Emperor Taizu the Most High, then hang him at the Western Market!"

Hearing this, Wei Dan's mind went completely blank. His whole body collapsed onto the ground, and his robes were soiled with excrement and urine.

The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice memorialized: "Your Majesty, the punishment of flaying has been prohibited by ancestral injunction—it absolutely cannot be carried out again!"

"Flay him! And behead him first before flaying! Whoever pleads for him shares his crime!" Chongzhen roared, frightening the assembled officials so thoroughly that none dared to dissuade him further.

Zhu Cilang found it amusing inwardly—this Emperor father of his really had quite the acting talent. He was truly an actor wasted on the throne.

Flaying and stuffing with straw—that meant peeling off a person's entire skin, filling it with straw, and making a human-skin straw sack. Just thinking about it was chilling. After the Wei Dan affair, who in the entire Censorate dared to interject? Even Tang Shiji, who had prepared his lines to back up Wei Dan, flinched and couldn't help shrinking backward.

Seeing no one speak, Zhu Cilang slowly folded up the documents and said casually, "If not for His Majesty my Father's mercy, unwilling to expand the matter, do you think any of you would still be hale and hearty enough to question this Prince like this?"

As he spoke, he deliberately walked over to Tang Shiji and gave him a meaningful glance. That damned Tang Shiji's words outside the Meridian Gate had all been secretly recorded by the young eunuchs guarding the gate and passed on to Zhu Cilang.

It wasn't just Tang Shiji—many of the ministers present were growing restless, staring at the booklet in Zhu Cilang's hand with burning yet fearful eyes.

Wen Tiren swept his gaze across the crowd, taking everything in. He said slowly, "How does Your Highness know these matters? Has His Majesty restored the Embroidered Uniform Guard's investigative authority?"

The old ginger is spiciest—with Wen Tiren's words, the ministers all balked. What was the meaning of this? Hadn't it been agreed to revoke the agencies' power to surveil officials? How was it back again? What about the trust between sovereign and minister?

The ministers began to murmur among themselves, casting strange looks at Zhu Cilang and Chongzhen—displeased, deeply resentful!

Chongzhen was also growing anxious. He shot Zhu Cilang a look, equally puzzled, wanting him to explain.

"You old bastard, you really know how to flip things around!" Zhu Cilang cursed Wen Tiren inwardly. He also knew that if he didn't explain this properly, he'd have a hard time going forward—having the entire court as his enemy wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Who wants to live under constant surveillance? Receiving gifts during festivals, visiting a brothel or courting a girl on ordinary days—if everyone knew about it, who could be happy?

Zhu Cilang said, "This Prince was able to lead five thousand Yongwei Camp soldiers to cut down over ten thousand Jianzhou barbarians, relying not only on the well-trained, valiant warriors of the Yongwei Camp, but also on the supremely capable Longxiang Night Scouts under my command. The Night Scouts are especially skilled at gathering intelligence—surely Grand Secretary Wen is aware of this?"

Zhu Cilang could only pin the intelligence matter on the Longxiang Night Scouts. He continued: "The Longxiang Night Scouts of my Yongwei Camp dare to penetrate within five li of the Jianzhou barbarian army for reconnaissance. What is this paltry intelligence compared to that!"

"So what Your Highness is saying is that you use the military Night Scouts to surveil your ministers?" Wen Tiren remained calm.

Zhu Cilang frowned and said, "What are you saying, Grand Secretary Wen? My Longxiang Night Scouts are primarily responsible for reconnoitering enemy military intelligence, beheading Tartars for bounties, and serving the nation loyally. They don't have that much leisure time to meddle in your household's trivial affairs!"

Zhu Cilang reopened the booklet, holding it in one hand, and said, "As for this thing, it was evidence discovered by chance in the homes of the treasonous Shanxi merchants while this Prince had the Night Scouts investigate and gather proof of their collusion with the enemy. Everyone listed on it is someone who conspired with the traitorous merchants this time—the amount of bribes received and the locations are all recorded."

Zhu Cilang said, "However, nearly everyone listed has already been arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. As for the rest, I believe His Majesty my Father is merciful and unwilling to pursue the matter too far. I hope certain people will conduct themselves well, diligently serve the court, and atone for their crimes with merit!"

As he spoke, he took out a fire striker from his person and set the documents alight on the spot, burning them completely to ashes.

Three chapters today, two already posted, one more coming tonight—continuing to beg for votes!