Chapter 113: Peaceful redemption, carrying the mountain and the sea

Yuezhou Prefecture, Yueyang Prince's mansion.

Since being implicated in the major treason case of harming the Imperial Envoy, the mansion had fallen into a state of gloom.

An entire company of guards watched the mansion day and night.

The members of the imperial clan in the mansion were even more terrified all day long, fearing they would be implicated.

Especially those clan members without titles, who didn't enjoy benefits in normal times, had their salaries delayed, and had no guarantee of food or clothing; now that they were involved in such a matter, the taste in their hearts was even more indescribable.

Today, the Clan Official Wu Wu Jinghe came to deal with the Yueyang Prince's mansion.

He summoned the mansion's officials and direct relatives to the ancestral hall, and after talking for two hours, no one knew what the result was.

The side-branch relatives felt even more tormented.

Later, seeing the direct relatives who usually threw their weight around being dragged into prison carts while crying and struggling, those waiting in torment on the scene were even more terrified.

"Consort Wu! You only know how to bully us weak ones! If you have the ability, go find those Princes and Commandery Princes to cause trouble!"

"I don't accept this! I want to see His Majesty!"

Another clan member was dragged out of the ancestral hall, his face full of panic, shouting incessantly; clearly, the result was not very good for him.

Zhu Zhu Yunhua poked his head out in the crowd, somewhat uneasily pinching the torn corner of his clothes.

He naturally recognized that person; he was an uncle with a title who had thrown his weight around quite a bit in normal times.

Although he couldn't help but feel a bit secretly happy, in this atmosphere, with the entire mansion unlikely to escape disaster, he was in no mood to gloat.

Just as he was thinking, he saw the sacrificial official walk out of the ancestral hall, point at a few people, and say: "The Angel wants you to go in."

Zhu Zhu Yunhua was unexpectedly one of the people pointed at.

He was stunned for a moment, and seeing several gazes fall on him, he hurriedly suppressed the unease in his heart and followed with his head lowered.

Walking into the ancestral hall, he only saw Wu Wu Jinghe sitting in the main seat, with eunuchs standing to the left and right.

Because a batch of people had already been dealt with, only a few Lieutenants Defending the State and Township Ladies remained in the ancestral hall.

But to his surprise, these people did not look anxious at all, but rather looked as if they had been granted a reprieve.

Was this... a narrow escape from death?

Zhu Zhu Yunhua felt happy in his heart; if this were true, then they, these untitled clan members, would have even less reason to be pursued.

Just as he was thinking, he saw the eunuch beside Wu Wu Jinghe step forward and say: "Zhu Zhu Yingyan raised bandits, attacked the county Prefectural Yamen, murdered the Imperial Envoy, and committed treason; his crimes are unforgivable!"

"The Imperial Envoy is acting under imperial orders and has the authority to act as circumstances dictate; he should have implicated the entire mansion according to the law!"

Sun Long spoke sternly, scolding everyone; all the Lieutenants Defending the State, Township Ladies, untitled clan members, and officials knelt down to admit their guilt.

Zhu Zhu Yunhua also followed the crowd and knelt down.

He put on a look of panic, but felt relieved in his heart.

Since it had been said to this point, there should be a turning point.

Sure enough, Sun Long changed the subject and continued: "But we serve by His Majesty's side, bathed in the wind of virtue, observing his benevolent actions."

"Realizing a fraction of His Majesty's way of loyalty and forgiveness, we dare not implicate too many."

"Today, for the crime of treason by the Yueyang Prince's mansion, only the principal offender will be executed; the rest are spared from death!"

As soon as the words fell, everyone bowed: "His Majesty is benevolent, the Angel has high integrity!"

Sun Long nodded with satisfaction.

He glanced at Wu Wu Jinghe implicitly, raised his head again, and looked down from above: "However, the death penalty can be spared, but the living crime is hard to escape."

"All titles of the Yueyang Prince's mansion are to be stripped!"

"Farmland, tea gardens, and shops are all to be confiscated by the Inner Court."

After saying this, he retreated to Wu Wu Jinghe's side, clearly finished speaking.

The clan members in the hall, besides thanking him, dared not say a word.

Zhu Zhu Yunhua lowered his head, staring at his torn clothes, and secretly looked left and right.

He lowered his voice to the extreme and asked boldly: "Angel, will the salary silver be stopped?"

It wasn't that he didn't want his life, daring to be so bold at this time.

But salary silver was what truly concerned their lives!

There were thousands of rules for the imperial clan, such as forbidding them from the four occupations, forbidding them from leaving the city walls, and so on.

But often, those above turned a blind eye, while they, these bottom-level clan members without titles, were strictly enforced.

Selective law enforcement was best reflected in them.

In other words, besides the salary silver that was always delayed, Zhu Zhu Yunhua had no other income.

If the salary silver were stopped... how was that different from letting him die?

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's gaze turned toward him.

That Clan Official also cast his gaze on him.

After a long silence.

Wu Wu Jinghe finally opened his mouth: "Salary silver will also be stopped."

Zhu Zhu Yunhua's heart sank to the bottom.

If this were the case, wasn't the Emperor just letting people wait for death?

And what about benevolence!?

It was a pity they were too far from the north—in these years, there were no shortage of bottom-level clan members who couldn't afford to eat and defected to the Tatars.

Just as Zhu Zhu Yunhua was thinking, he heard the Clan Official's tone suddenly rise: "However..."

"His Majesty is benevolent and generous, but he has other arrangements."

Wu Wu Jinghe scanned the clan members of various generations and branches who had been summoned, and said slowly: "You may engage in business to make a living."

As soon as the words fell.

The ancestral hall was in an uproar!

The clan members looked at each other, wanting to speak but stopping.

They looked at Wu Wu Jinghe, wanting to distinguish whether he was joking.

The Lieutenant Defending the State, who had been too scared to speak, said in astonishment: "His Majesty wants to lift the ban on business for the imperial clan!?"

Zhu Zhu Yunhua was also stunned.

It was no wonder they were so surprised.

The ban on the imperial clan engaging in the four occupations was an even stricter prohibition than forbidding them from leaving the city walls or forbidding them from harming the people!

This dynasty was not like the previous one; the imperial clan of the Tang Dynasty, who could be appointed as ministers or govern a region, could only be seen in dreams!

Scholar, farmer, artisan, merchant—they couldn't touch any of them.

Although business was not managed as strictly as the first three, few clan members dared to touch it.

Previously, there were clan members who truly couldn't afford to eat and wanted to set up a stall to sell shoes, but they were not allowed—the Emperor expressed sympathy on one hand, while ordering local officials to strictly supervise them on the other.

The ill-intentioned officials of the Ministry of Rites would also say coldly, wanting to learn from Liu Huangshu, do you think the Great Ming Dynasty is not going to last?

Even the various County Ladies and Township Ladies who learned needlework and wanted to sell it could only do so secretly, pretending it was done by the mansion's servants.

The various fiefs had submitted memorials several times, but none could pass the Ministry of Rites—"The ancestral law cannot be changed," even a three-year-old child knew it by heart.

Under such circumstances, the Emperor said he wanted to lift the ban on business!?

Did their Zhu family still have such a good sage king!?

Zhu Zhu Yunhua found it hard to believe.

Wu Wu Jinghe took in everyone's expressions, nodded unhurriedly, and confirmed what he had just said.

But he added: "However... you may only engage in real industry!"

The clan members of the Yueyang Prince's mansion looked at each other.

Zhu Zhu Yunhua couldn't wait and hurriedly asked: "Clan Official, what is real industry?"

Wu Wu Jinghe recalled the Emperor's instructions and explained patiently: "Cotton processing, silk weaving, ready-made clothing, rice milling, oil pressing, paper making, printing, straw weaving, brick and tile lime, etc., anything with physical output counts as real industry."

"As for pawnshops, banks, salt trading, water transport, etc., none are allowed to be touched."

"Specifically, Eunuch Sun will have a detailed list for you."

Many people showed joy.

They had no intention of caring about the impact of this matter, or who opposed it, or who impeached it; anyway, they could finally weave shoes and sell sandals!

Some were also frowning.

After all, not everyone had a craft.

Zhu Zhu Yunhua looked a bit further and couldn't help but ask: "Clan Official, is it only for oneself, or can one set up a workshop and work together?"

Wu Wu Jinghe looked at this junior unexpectedly; his talent was quite good.

He asked these questions one by one; he almost thought he was his own plant.

He finally revealed a smile: "Naturally, both are fine."

"Besides this, there is also..."

Wu Wu Jinghe scanned the crowd and looked at Sun Long, signaling him to speak.

Sun Long hurriedly stepped out and took over: "As the Consort Commandant said, you have two other choices."

"The mansion's farmland and property are confiscated by the Inner Court, but it is not to be sold off or left to go to waste."

"After the Inner Court takes over, it will take from the mansion and use it for the mansion—establishing a mansion trading firm and running some real industries."

"You can either be employed by the trading firm, receive some errands, and receive a salary."

"Or, the mansion will support you in the beginning, and you can go out and fight for yourself; you bear all losses, and turn in one-third of the profits."

As soon as the words fell, the untitled clan members knelt down again: "His Majesty is benevolent! His Majesty is benevolent!"

They were all Zhu family members; who didn't want to be born to be superior?

At the very least, being a playboy would be satisfying enough.

Now they were living in rags and starving; last winter they were lamenting that fox fur wasn't warm and silk quilts were thin, and a few days ago when summer arrived, it was raining through the roof.

In such a situation, having a hope of eating and waiting to die was a great favor.

Not to mention it was at the critical moment of a treason case!

It was actually confiscating the mansion's property, punishing the direct relatives, and finally bestowing favor on them, these bottom-level clan members!

Zhu Zhu Yingyan died well!

In the past, it was these direct relatives who threw their weight around, hogging all the benefits of the mansion and not sharing a single drop of soup.

Now that it was confiscated by the Emperor, they could at least smell the scent.

At least it was treating everyone equally, wasn't it?

The few clan members with titles were half a beat slower and also hurriedly bowed.

Not knowing what they were thinking in their hearts.

Zhu Zhu Yunhua lowered his head and pondered; wouldn't this mansion become a royal merchant?

However... no wonder these Imperial Envoys were looking for trouble with the major royal mansions.

If not, how could they legitimately confiscate the mansion's property and buy over these bottom-level clan members?

Only by bringing those direct imperial relatives to heel can the various Prince's Mansions be reformed into state-owned merchant firms!

What a sage king!

Zhu Zhu Yunhua thought silently; in this way, if he went out to work alone, would he also count as a shopkeeper?

He should be able to earn quite a bit... he hadn't changed into new clothes for a long time.

Someone sings the red face, naturally someone has to sing the white face.

Whether it was confiscating the mansion's property for the Emperor or bestowing favor on the bottom-level clan members, it had to be done in a way that made the Princes and Commandery Princes above listen.

Unfortunately, the Prince of Dong'an was not an obedient character.

Zhu Xianhuang, after all, had the status of a Commandery Prince; after being led to the Provincial Governor's Prefectural Yamen, no one deliberately made things difficult for him, only taking him to a clean and bright side hall.

His cultivation of qi was in place, and he just sat in the chair, accepting the gazes from the light and the dark.

It was not until Hai Rui walked in from outside with the case files that Zhu Xianhuang slowly opened his eyes.

The latter was calm and composed: "The Angel summoned me, and I followed Hai Hai Yushi to the Provincial Governor's Prefectural Yamen without a word, but I have yet to ask the Angel what crime I have committed?"

He had done his work cleanly; these Imperial Envoys could at most catch shadows.

There was nothing to be anxious about.

Besides...

Once the Jing Prince's mansion had an incident, he didn't believe these Imperial Envoys would still dare to be so unscrupulous in insulting them, these Commandery Princes.

Weren't they afraid of provoking turmoil under heaven?

Hai Rui sat opposite Zhu Xianhuang, opened the case file, turned it over, and placed it in front of Zhu Xianhuang.

He said to himself: "Previously, we investigated the private sale of weapons and armor to barbarians, and the Chu fief was also involved; does the Prince of Dong'an know?"

Interrogation naturally started from where there was evidence, slowly circling with the other party.

Zhu Xianhuang was stunned; he thought he would immediately confront his nephew, but didn't expect this matter to be brought up.

He paused slightly before shaking his head: "The Chu fief has over ten royal mansions and over a thousand clan members; I don't know everything."

Hai Rui considerately turned the case file to one of the pages and pointed: "The Dong'an Prince's mansion is also implicated."

"The Prince of Dong'an's concubine-born son, Zhu Zhu Yingsui, personally handled this matter."

Zhu Xianhuang suddenly laughed: "Then Hai Hai Yushi should have let Zhu Zhu Yingsui come; why summon me?"

Hai Rui nodded: "I have already summoned him to the Provincial Governor's Prefectural Yamen; I just came from there."

Zhu Xianhuang paused.

He turned his head away without a word.

Hai Rui skipped the previous words and opened his mouth again: "Last year, Huguang had a great flood, and the imperial court provided disaster relief; the Yueyang Prince's mansion found the then-Provincial Administration Commissioner Sun Sun Yizheng and asked him to exchange the silver for copper coins."

As he spoke, he took a copper coin from his sleeve.

In terms of shape, it was clearly privately cast at a glance.

Hai Rui pushed it over: "After I came to Huguang, I inquired about this matter; these privately cast copper coins are circulating among the people in the farmland under the Prince of Dong'an's name, and they are exactly the same as the ones Sun Sun Yizheng exchanged with silver."

Zhu Xianhuang frowned: "I didn't expect that under my rule, I would also suffer from the harm of private casting; I will definitely investigate thoroughly when I return!"

Hai Rui looked at the Prince of Dong'an seriously and shook his head: "There are witnesses who say these copper coins flowed out of the Prince of Dong'an's mansion and were also designated by the mansion for the people to exchange."

Zhu Xianhuang was silent for a while again and sighed: "The servants are hard to manage!"

Hai Rui suddenly interrupted coldly: "Then when Zhang Chucheng went to the mansion to reprimand the Prince of Dong'an, was that also the servants' business!?"

He leaned forward, looking at Zhu Xianhuang, word by word: "The Prince of Dong'an stole and dug mines, privately cast coins, melted and made weapons, and colluded with foreign barbarians."

"After being reprimanded by Zhang Chucheng, fearing that he would submit a memorial to the Emperor and ruin your position as the fief leader, you instigated the Yueyang Prince's mansion, colluded with the clan members and officials Zhang Chucheng offended, and dealt a heavy blow, murdering the Imperial Envoy!"

"After the incident, you were panicked, and the Prince of Dong'an secretly harmed Zhu Zhu Yingyan, defying the law and opposing the investigation!"

The words were stern, as if he had seen it with his own eyes.

Zhu Xianhuang suddenly slapped the table!

He stood up abruptly: "Hai Rui! I gave you face as an Imperial Envoy; I bow to the Emperor behind you! I am not letting you act like a fox pretending to be a tiger here!"

"The imperial court is not some low-class gang; handling matters requires evidence and adherence to the law!"

"I have no time to listen to your stories! If there is nothing else, I will return."

He was about to turn and leave, but the Embroidered Uniform Guard at the door immediately stepped forward and blocked him.

Zhu Xianhuang looked back at Hai Rui: "Why, do you want to place me under arrest?"

Hai Rui also stood up and softened his tone: "Just now was only one of my speculations; if I said it wrong, the Prince of Dong'an can correct me; why be so agitated?"

Zhu Xianhuang also suddenly laughed, as if the previous unpleasantness were fake: "Hai Hai Yushi should have said so earlier; I thought I had already been convicted."

The two passed two moves lightly, revealing not a single detail.

The two people behind the screen were amazed.

Feng Feng Shiyu looked at Li Li Zaiting beside him and asked curiously: "Just like this, I'm afraid we can't keep this Prince of Dong'an, right?"

Li Li Zaiting watched intently and said casually: "I didn't expect to handle him now."

"However, whether it is searching for mine bandits in Cao Daye County or isolating his influence in the Chu fief, we must invite him to be a guest here for a few days."

Feng Feng Shiyu nodded.

He felt some emotion: "This Prince of Dong'an is truly fearless; I don't know where he gets his reliance."

Logically speaking, being investigated by the Imperial Envoy, even if he didn't do it, he would inevitably be panicked in his heart.

Not to mention responding so calmly.

Especially seeing this Prince of Dong'an sitting down so comfortably, it was truly amazing.

The two in the hall probed each other and sat down again.

The atmosphere was another situation.

Hai Rui looked at Zhu Xianhuang and pushed the case file aside: "Just now the Prince of Dong'an said that the servants are hard to manage; it seems that the affairs of the Chu fief are busy, making the Prince of Dong'an tired."

Zhu Xianhuang nodded frequently as if he had met a bosom friend: "No way, the Chu Prince died young at thirty-one; if I, this uncle, don't support him, how will he look at me in the underworld?"

Hai Rui pointedly said: "Although that is so, this crime of negligence, I'm afraid the Prince of Dong'an is also hard to escape."

Zhu Xianhuang said as a matter of course: "I will naturally submit a memorial to His Majesty, requesting a reduction in salary and a fine."

Hai Rui shook his head: "His Majesty gave this official the authority to act as circumstances dictate, so I won't wait for these two months of back and forth."

"Since the Prince of Dong'an is not managing well, the affairs of the Chu fief should be returned to the Prince Wugang Prince to manage."

Zhu Xianhuang paused and finally put away his kind expression.

His expression was ugly as he said coldly: "Angel, the one who invented the burial figurines, will he not have a good end?"

The person who first invented figurines for burial likely wouldn't have a good end.

Hai Rui did not answer and stood up to end the conversation.

But when he changed the door to leave, he couldn't help but frown.

This Prince of Dong'an's reaction was very different from what he expected.

What exactly did he rely on?

I won't be this busy after the 24th; this period has been too tiring, really thank you all for your support.

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(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 114 =====