Chapter 159: Suspicious Goings-On

New Year's Eve was a day of double joy for the Chongzhen Emperor, but for certain people, it was anything but.

The Chongzhen Emperor held a morning court session, and as he left, he ordered the assembled ministers to reach a consensus on next year's plans within the day. Before departing, he issued a harsh ultimatum — the results were to be presented to him at the Winter Warm Pavilion that evening for his review.

Given the ferocity with which he'd had Wang Jun killed in broad daylight, no one could tell whether the Chongzhen Emperor meant what he said. The ministers were bitter, but they dared not voice it. After court adjourned, they hastily gathered to discuss how to respond.

As for a "response," it amounted to Chief Grand Secretary Wei Zaode, Second Grand Secretary Jiang Dejing, Minister of War Zhang Guowei, Minister of Personnel Wang Shaowei, Minister of Works Feng Quan, Minister of Revenue Ni Yuanlu, and others summoning the left and right vice ministers of each ministry to debate in a side hall for an entire day.

This was the first time these ministers had ever taken matters of state so seriously. Even their meals were brought into the hall by eunuchs so they could eat and discuss simultaneously. Finally, at dusk, they managed to rough out a general framework for the so-called plans for the coming year.

In the final stage, however, the ministers fell into disagreement. They shoved and jostled one another for a long while, no one willing to go to the Winter Warm Pavilion to see the Chongzhen Emperor — not even Chief Grand Secretary Wei Zaode. In the end, it was Second Grand Secretary Jiang Dejing who carried the memorial to the Warm Pavilion to face the Chongzhen Emperor.

Many of them shared the same thought: being in front of this emperor was no easy matter. One wrong sentence could mean having your household confiscated and your head chopped off. Who would willingly court such trouble?

Even Jiang Dejing's heart was full of trepidation. All the way there, he kept running through the questions the Chongzhen Emperor might possibly ask.

But when he arrived at the Winter Warm Pavilion, he was told by Li Chun, the seal-holding eunuch of the Palace Maintenance Directorate standing guard outside the door, that the Emperor had returned to the Warm Pavilion briefly after court but hadn't stayed long — he'd spent the rest of his time in the inner palace.

Jiang Dejing breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly handed the memorial to Li Chun, asking him to place it on the imperial desk, then fled posthaste, walking away without so much as a backward glance.

Watching Jiang Dejing's stumbling footsteps, Li Chun found it strange. This Second Grand Secretary had frequently defied the Emperor in years past — how was it that this year he'd become a changed man, so obedient all of a sudden?

Though the Chongzhen Emperor had spoken harshly at court, in his heart he'd merely meant to give the ministers a scare, so that even their New Year wouldn't be too easy.

Even if they failed to deliver, it wasn't as if he'd slaughter all the court's heavyweights over the New Year holiday.

As luck would have it, by the time Jiang Dejing was on his way to the Warm Pavilion, going by the timeline, the Chongzhen Emperor's imperial New Year's banquet should have long since concluded, and he ought to have returned to the Warm Pavilion to wait.

But fortune is fickle. The Chongzhen Emperor, delighted by his good fortune, had carelessly become a father. In his excitement, he'd forgotten the matter entirely — by the time he remembered, he was already in Kunning Palace, holding the Empress and nearly asleep.

On the dragon bed, the Chongzhen Emperor couldn't resist wanting to go further. In the past, Empress Zhou would always welcome his advances proactively, but this time she blushed deeply and shyly refused. Of course, touching was still permitted.

Even so, being allowed to touch but nothing more, the Chongzhen Emperor grew more inflamed the more he touched, that part of him anything but calm. He was just about to go to Noble Consort Yuan's chambers to vent his fire when he reconsidered — he'd only just said he would stay in Kunning Palace with the Empress. Going to someone else now just felt... off somehow.

After all, this concerned the great matter of his own son; face was secondary. In the end, the Chongzhen Emperor obediently held Empress Zhou and slept through the night. As for reviewing memorials — that was long since cast to the nine clouds. Even an emperor deserves a holiday now and then, doesn't he?

Early the next morning, the Chongzhen Emperor dressed neatly under Empress Zhou's attendance, then summoned Wang Cheng'en and asked: "Cheng'en, I've put you through hardship — working at the Eastern Depot even on New Year's Eve."

Wang Cheng'en felt a warmth in his heart, thinking that a night of busy work was nothing at all. He quickly replied: "Serving the imperial house, this old servant does not find it hard."

The Chongzhen Emperor gave an "mm" and asked: "Last night, were there any restless sorts inside or outside the capital trying to fish in troubled waters?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the petty thieves were all just street toughs. This old servant had the Eastern Depot's watchmen on duty day and night. Anyone who caused trouble on New Year's Eve was sent straight to the Eastern Depot's prison. With the Five Wards Troops and Horses Office and various yamen patrolling the streets, the capital was fairly peaceful last night."

"Right — what did those ministers do after returning home? Did any of them say anything about me?" the Chongzhen Emperor asked casually as he walked toward the Warm Pavilion.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the other ministers said little of note. But one wealthy household in the capital, a family surnamed Zhao, sent someone to the Xu residence in the middle of the night. That was somewhat unusual."

Hearing this, the Chongzhen Emperor turned his head and fixed Wang Cheng'en with a stare. He walked to the Warm Pavilion's door, then suddenly stopped and said: "A wealthy household surnamed Zhao? Hasn't Xu Shilin already been dismissed from office by me? Why would they go to the Xu residence?"

"Your Majesty, the waters in the capital run deep. In recent years, the capital's prisons have seen officials privately releasing prisoners and beating constables to death. For the Zhao family to seek out the Xu residence on New Year's Eve — there must be something fishy about it."

The Chongzhen Emperor had long felt something was off about this matter. Historically, Xu Shilin was not the type to engage in graft or favoritism. For him to act so abnormally lately, and to be drawing so close to a wealthy family he'd always despised — it didn't add up.

Thinking this far, Chongzhen said:

"Cheng'en, this matter cannot be let go lightly. I specially authorize your Eastern Depot to investigate it exclusively. If you uncover any wind of it, I want to know everything — not a single detail omitted."

Following the Chongzhen Emperor into the Warm Pavilion, Li Chun outside the door and Fang Zhenghua inside had both been waiting for some time. Both men immediately sensed the killing intent radiating from the Chongzhen Emperor and turned questioning looks toward Wang Cheng'en.

Wang Cheng'en said nothing more, only bowing even lower and saying: "Rest assured, Your Majesty. The Eastern Depot will work around the clock — we will surely get to the bottom of this matter."

"Mm, you may go." The Chongzhen Emperor waved his hand to dismiss Wang Cheng'en, then picked up the memorial Jiang Dejing had delivered the night before, asking with seeming nonchalance:

"Fang Zhenghua, what were you busy with last night?"

At these words, Fang Zhenghua's heart gave a lurch. Terrified that his private dealings might have been discovered, yet not daring to refuse an answer, he forced a smile and said:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the inner depot had no business. This servant remained in the palace all night."

The Chongzhen Emperor knew Fang Zhenghua was loyal, but he still gave a cold snort and set down the memorial. "Do you truly think I know nothing?"

"Last night the Empress was with child — why was this dog of a servant nowhere to be seen?"

Fear gripped Fang Zhenghua's heart, and he regretted it ten thousand times over. Hearing the Emperor's tone turn wrong, he hurriedly knelt and said: "Your Majesty, spare my life! This servant was at home collecting bribes last night. I will immediately send someone to surrender all the goods to the public coffers. I dare not do it again!"

The Chongzhen Emperor gave a cold smile and waved his hand: "Enough. It's the New Year — consider it your lucky tidings. I have no use for it anyway."

"But whose gifts can be accepted, whose cannot; when gifts should be taken, and when they shouldn't — you're no newcomer to the palace. You ought to understand these principles well enough without me spelling them out, don't you?"

Fang Zhenghua breathed a sigh of relief and nodded frantically like a chick pecking at rice. The Chongzhen Emperor chuckled, his fingers tapping one by one on the imperial desk, as if weighing something.

"Tap, tap, tap..."

Fang Zhenghua didn't know whether the Chongzhen Emperor was deliberating how to deal with him or something else entirely. His heart was in his throat, and he dared not even lift his head.

Without the slightest warning, the Chongzhen Emperor suddenly spoke: "Fang Zhenghua, I am entrusting you with a task. Handle it well, and past offenses are forgiven. Handle it poorly, and all your crimes will be punished together. Do you understand!"

"The Empress is with child. From today onward, you will attend to her without leaving her side for a single step. Take your men and manage the Empress's clothing, food, lodging, and travel to perfection. If my Empress or the imperial prince suffers the slightest mishap during this time, I will have your head."