Chapter 162: Peaceful Redemption, Leveraging Mountains and Seas

Yuezhou Prefecture, Yueyang Prince's Mansion.

Since being implicated in the treasonous case of assassinating the imperial envoy, the mansion had sunk into gloom and despair.

An entire company of soldiers rotated day and night, keeping watch over every corner of the mansion.

The imperial clansmen within were constantly terrified, fearing they would be dragged into the scandal.

Especially those without any noble titles—those who had never enjoyed privileges, whose stipends were long overdue, whose food and clothing were never secure—now facing this disaster, their suffering was beyond words.

Today, Zongzheng Wu Wu Jinghe arrived to handle the Yueyang Prince's Mansion.

He summoned all mansion officials and direct-line clan members to the ancestral hall, where they spoke for two full hours—no one knew the outcome.

The collateral clan members suffered in agonizing suspense.

Then they saw the once-arrogant direct-line relatives being dragged, screaming and struggling, into prison carts—those waiting in the courtyard trembled with fear.

"Prince Wu! You only dare bully the weak! Have the courage to target the Princes and Commandery Princes!"

"I won't accept this! I demand to see His Majesty!"

Another clan member was dragged out of the ancestral hall, face pale with terror, babbling incessantly—the outcome had clearly been dire for him.

Zhu Zhu Yunhua peered out from the crowd, nervously tugging at the torn hem of his robe.

He recognized the man—he was an uncle or elder with a noble title, who had often flaunted his power.

Though he couldn't help a flicker of dark satisfaction, the atmosphere in the entire mansion was so dire that none might escape punishment—there was no room for schadenfreude.

Just then, the Sacrificial Officer stepped out of the ancestral hall, pointed at a few individuals, and said: "The imperial envoy calls you in."

Zhu Zhu Yunhua was among those named.

He froze slightly; seeing several pairs of eyes turn toward him, he quickly suppressed his unease and lowered his head as he followed.

Entering the ancestral hall, he saw Wu Wu Jinghe seated on the main seat, with eunuchs standing on either side.

Since a group had already been dealt with, only a few Fengguo Fengguo Zhongwei and Xiangjun remained inside.

But to his surprise, their faces showed no anxiety—instead, they wore expressions of profound relief.

Had they survived the purge?

Zhu Zhu Yunhua's heart leapt—if so, then those of us without titles had even less reason to be punished.

As he thought this, the eunuch beside Wu Wu Jinghe stepped forward and declared: "Zhu Zhu Yingyan harbored bandits, attacked the county Prefectural Yamen, murdered the imperial envoy, and plotted rebellion—his crimes are unpardonable!"

"The imperial envoy acted under imperial mandate, entitled to discretionary authority—by law, every single person in this mansion should be executed by association!"

Sun Long thundered at them, and all Fengguo Fengguo Zhongwei, Xiangjun, unranked clan members, and officials knelt to confess their guilt.

Zhu Zhu Yunhua followed the crowd and knelt down.

He feigned terror on his face, but breathed a sigh of relief inside.

If they'd said this much, surely there'd be a turn.

Sure enough, Sun Long changed tone: "Yet we, who serve beside His Majesty, are bathed in his virtue and observe his noble conduct."

"We have glimpsed but a fraction of His Majesty's benevolence and forbearance—we dare not impose mass executions by association."

"Thus, for the treason of the Yueyang Prince's Mansion, only the ringleaders shall be executed; all others shall be spared death!"

Instantly, everyone bowed to the ground: "His Majesty's benevolence! The envoy's noble integrity!"

Sun Long nodded, satisfied.

He cast a subtle glance at Wu Wu Jinghe, then raised his head, looking down imperiously: "Yet, death may be spared, but punishment cannot be avoided."

"All noble titles of the Yueyang Prince's Mansion shall be stripped!"

"All estates, tea plantations, and shops shall be confiscated by the Inner Court."

With that, he stepped back beside Wu Wu Jinghe, clearly finished.

The clan members below dared not utter a word beyond thanking the emperor.

Zhu Zhu Yunhua kept his head down, staring at his torn clothes, glancing furtively left and right.

He spoke in the faintest whisper, summoning courage to ask: "Your Excellency, will the stipends be halted?"

It wasn't that he was suicidal, daring to speak up now.

It was that the stipends were the only thing keeping him alive!

There were countless rules for clan members: prohibitions against engaging in the four occupations, against leaving city walls, and so on.

But the higher-ups ignored them—only when applied to us, the unranked lower clan members, were they strictly enforced.

Selective enforcement was most evident on us.

In other words, Zhu Zhu Yunhua had no income except his perpetually delayed stipend.

If the stipend stopped… what difference would it make from being sentenced to death?

As soon as he spoke, every eye turned toward him.

Even the Zongzheng looked at him.

Silence stretched.

Wu Wu Jinghe finally spoke: "The stipends will also be halted."

Zhu Zhu Yunhua's heart sank to the bottom.

Was the emperor merely condemning them to die slowly?

What kind of benevolence was this!?

Too bad they were so far from the north—these days, countless destitute clan members defected to the Tartars when they couldn't afford food.

As Zhu Zhu Yunhua thought this, the Zongzheng's tone suddenly rose: "But…"

"His Majesty's virtue is profound and benevolent—he has made other arrangements."

Wu Wu Jinghe scanned the unranked clan members of all generations and branches, then said slowly: "You may engage in commerce to earn your livelihood."

The moment he spoke, the ancestral hall erupted in uproar!

Clan members exchanged glances, mouths opening but words unspoken.

They all stared at Wu Wu Jinghe, trying to determine if he was joking.

The Fengguo Fengguo Zhongwei who had feigned silence moments before gasped: "Is His Majesty lifting the clan's ban on commerce!?"

Zhu Zhu Yunhua was equally stunned into silence.

No wonder they were shocked.

The ban on clan members engaging in the four occupations was stricter than any other prohibition—against leaving city walls, against harming commoners!

Our dynasty was nothing like the Tang—such clan members as could be appointed ministers or govern provinces existed only in dreams!

They could not touch scholar, farmer, artisan, or merchant—any of them.

Though commerce was not as strictly forbidden as the first three, few clan members dared touch it.

Previously, when a clan member was starving and wanted to sell shoes at a stall, he was forbidden—even as the emperor expressed sympathy, he ordered local officials to watch him closely.

Malicious officials in the Ministry of Rites would sneer: "Are you trying to emulate Liu Bei? Do you think the Great Ming is about to fall?"

Even princesses and ladies who learned needlework dared only secretly weave and sell their embroidery, pretending the work was done by servants.

Repeated petitions from the princely houses had always been blocked by the Ministry of Rites—"The ancestral laws cannot be changed"—even a three-year-old child knew that phrase by heart.

And now, the emperor says he will lift the commerce ban!?

Does our Zhu family still have such a virtuous sovereign!?

Zhu Zhu Yunhua could hardly believe it.

Wu Wu Jinghe observed their reactions, then nodded slowly, confirming his words once more.

But he added: "Yet… only real industry is permitted."

The Yueyang Prince's relatives exchanged glances.

Zhu Zhu Yunhua, impatient, pressed: "Zongzheng, what counts as real industry?"

Wu Wu Jinghe recalled the emperor's instructions and explained patiently: "Cotton processing, silk weaving, garment-making, rice milling, oil pressing, papermaking, printing, straw weaving, brick, tile, and lime production—all tangible goods count as real industry."

"Pawnshops, moneylenders, salt trading, and grain transport are strictly forbidden."

"A detailed list will be provided to you by Eunuch Sun."

Many faces brightened.

They didn't care about the political consequences or who opposed or impeached them—finally, they could weave shoes and sell them!

They had no interest in how this might affect things, or who opposed it, or who lodged accusations—anyway, they could finally weave shoes and sell them!

After all, not everyone had a trade.

But Zhu Zhu Yunhua saw further ahead, and asked: "Zongzheng, can we only work alone—or can we pool resources, open a workshop, and work together?"

Wu Wu Jinghe glanced at this young man with surprise—his insight was sharp.

Each question he asked sounded as if it had been scripted by Wu Wu Jinghe himself.

He finally smiled slightly: "Of course, both are permitted."

He finally showed a faint smile: "Of course, all are acceptable."

Wu Wu Jinghe looked around the room, then nodded to Sun Long to continue.

Sun Long stepped forward: "As the Prince Consort said, you have two choices."

"The estate and properties of the mansion are being reclaimed by the Inner Court—not sold off, nor left to decay."

"The Inner Court will take from the mansion and use it for the mansion—establishing a Mansion Trading Company to develop real industries."

"You may either be employed by the company, take assignments, and receive stipends."

"Or, with initial support from the mansion, you may strike out on your own—bear all losses yourself, and surrender one-third of your profits."

As soon as he finished, the unranked clan members bowed again, pounding their heads to the ground: "His Majesty's virtue! His Majesty's virtue!"

The moment he finished speaking, all the royal clan members without titles bowed their heads again: "Your Majesty's holy virtue! Your Majesty's holy virtue!"

We're all Zhu family; who doesn't want to be born above others?

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

Now we're so destitute our clothes can't cover our bodies, our food can't fill our stomachs; last winter we lamented how even a fox-fur coat couldn't keep us warm and silk quilts were thin, and just as summer arrived, our leaky roof met relentless rain.

Under such circumstances, having even the hope of eating and waiting to die is a great blessing.

Especially now, at the height of a treason case!

It turns out the imperial court is seizing princely estates and punishing direct-line imperial clansmen—only to show mercy to us!

Zhu Zhu Yingyan died well!

In the past, these direct-line imperial clansmen flaunted their power and seized every benefit of the princely estates, not even sharing a spoonful of soup.

Now that it's seized by the Emperor, at least we can catch a whiff of it.

At least now we're treated equally, aren't we?

A few titled imperial clansmen who were slow to react hurriedly knelt down.

No one knows what they're thinking.

Zhu Zhu Yunhua sank into thought: Is this princely estate now just a royal enterprise?

No wonder these imperial envoys are targeting every princely estate.

Otherwise, how could they lawfully seize princely property and win over these low-ranking imperial clansmen?

Only by completely subduing those direct-line imperial relatives can these princely estates be transformed into imperial commercial enterprises!

What a holy sovereign!

Zhu Zhu Yunhua silently thought: If so, could I become a shopkeeper if I go out on my own?

I'd probably make a lot… I haven't changed my clothes in ages.

…

If someone plays the good cop, someone must play the bad cop.

Whether seizing princely property for imperial use or showing mercy to low-ranking imperial clansmen, we must ensure the higher princes and commandery princes obey.

Unfortunately, the Prince of Dong'an isn't an obedient sort.

Zhu Xianquan, being a commandery prince, was brought to the Provincial Governor's Prefectural Yamen and wasn't deliberately humiliated—only led to a clean, spacious side hall.

He had cultivated his qi well; he sat calmly in his chair, enduring the overt and covert glances.

Only when Hai Rui entered carrying case files did Zhu Xianquan slowly open his eyes.

The latter remained composed: "Your Majesty summoned me; I came without hesitation to the Provincial Governor's Prefectural Yamen with Inspector Hai. But I haven't yet been told what crime I've committed."

He'd covered his tracks well; these envoys could at most chase shadows.

No need to rush.

Besides…

Once the Jing princely estate is implicated, he didn't believe these envoys would dare so brazenly humiliate these commandery princes.

Wouldn't they fear sparking nationwide unrest?

Hai Rui sat across from Zhu Xianquan, opened the case files, turned them around, and placed them before him.

He spoke without preamble: "Previously, we investigated merchants smuggling arms to barbarians; the Chu princedom was involved. Are you aware, Prince of Dong'an?"

Interrogation naturally began with evidence, slowly circling the opponent.

Zhu Xianquan paused—he'd expected immediate confrontation with his nephew, not this.

He hesitated slightly, then shook his head: "The Chu princedom has over ten princely estates and thousands of imperial clansmen; I don't know them all."

Hai Rui gently flipped to a page and pointed: "The Prince of Dong'an's household is also implicated."

"Your illegitimate son, Zhu Zhu Yingsui, personally oversaw this matter."

Zhu Xianquan suddenly laughed: "Then Inspector Hai should have summoned Zhu Zhu Yingsui—why summon me?"

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

Zhu Xianquan froze.

He turned his head away in silence.

Hai Rui skipped past that and spoke again: "Last year, Huguang suffered severe floods; the court sent relief funds. The Yueyang princely estate approached then-Provincial Administration Commissioner Sun Yi and had him exchange silver for copper coins."

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

Its form was unmistakably privately cast.

Hai Rui pushed it over: "Since arriving in Huguang, I inquired into this. These privately cast coins circulate among the people on lands owned by the Prince of Dong'an—identical to those exchanged by Sun Yi."

Zhu Xianquan frowned: "I never realized my domain suffered so from private coinage—I'll investigate thoroughly upon returning!"

Hai Rui stared intently at the Prince of Dong'an and shook his head: "Witnesses say these coins originated from the Prince of Dong'an's princely estate and were mandated for public exchange."

Zhu Xianquan fell silent again, then sighed: "My servants are uncontrollable!"

Hai Rui suddenly cut him coldly: "So when Zhang Chucheng came to your estate to reprimand you, that was also your servants' doing?!"

He leaned forward, staring at Zhu Xianquan, each word deliberate: "Prince of Dong'an, you've illegally mined mines, privately cast coins, melted weapons, and colluded with foreign barbarians."

"After being reprimanded by Zhang Chucheng, you feared he'd report you to His Majesty and ruin your princedom, so you incited the Yueyang princely estate to conspire with imperial clansmen officials offended by Zhang Chucheng and murder the imperial envoy!"

"After the incident, in panic, you secretly murdered Zhu Zhu Yingyan, defied the law, and resisted investigation!"

His words were fierce, as if he'd witnessed it all.

Zhu Xianquan suddenly slammed the table!

He leapt to his feet: "Hai Rui! I show you respect as an imperial envoy, bow to the Emperor behind you—not to let you wield power like a fox borrowing a tiger's might!"

"The court isn't some lowly gang; actions must be grounded in evidence and law!"

"I have no time to listen to your tales! If you have nothing else, I'm leaving."

As he turned to go, the Embroidered Uniform Guard stepped forward and blocked him.

Zhu Xianquan turned back, staring at Hai Rui: "So, you're arresting me?"

Hai Rui also rose, softening his tone: "That was merely one of my hypotheses—if I'm wrong, Prince of Dong'an, correct me. Why such agitation?"

Zhu Xianquan suddenly smiled, as if his earlier anger had been feigned: "Inspector Hai should have said so earlier—I thought I'd already been condemned."

The two had exchanged two light blows, revealing nothing.

The two behind the screen watched, murmuring in amazement.

Feng Feng Shiyu glanced at Li Li Zaiting beside him, curious: "Will this alone keep the Prince of Dong'an?"

Li Li Zaiting, eyes fixed, replied casually: "Never expected to detain him now."

"But whether searching for mine bandits in Cao Daye County or severing his influence in the Chu princedom, we need him to stay here for a few days."

Feng Feng Shiyu nodded.

He sighed: "This Prince of Dong'an truly has no fear—where does his confidence come from?"

Logically, when envoys come knocking, even if innocent, one should be shaken—

Much less remain so calm.

Especially seeing this Prince of Dong'an sit down so nonchalantly—it's astonishing.

The two on the hall tested each other, then sat again.

The atmosphere shifted entirely.

Hai Rui looked at Zhu Xianquan and moved the case files aside: "Prince of Dong'an said servants are hard to control. Clearly, Chu princedom affairs are taxing you."

Zhu Xianquan, as if finding a kindred spirit, nodded repeatedly: "What can I do? The Chu Prince died young at thirty-one; as his uncle, if I don't hold things together, how can he look upon me from the grave?"

Hai Rui hinted: "True, but your negligence still makes you liable."

Zhu Xianquan nodded matter-of-factly: "I'll petition His Majesty to reduce my stipend and fine me."

Hai Rui shook his head: "His Majesty granted me discretionary authority—I won't wait two months for back-and-forth petitions."

"Since you can't manage affairs, the governance of the Chu princedom shall be returned to the Prince of Prince Wugang."

Zhu Xianquan froze, finally dropping his amiable facade.

His expression darkened: "Inspector, the originator of the practice—will he have no descendants?"

The one who first invented terracotta figures for burial—will he not suffer a terrible fate?

Hai Rui said nothing, rose, and ended the conversation.

As he left the room, he couldn't help frowning.

The Prince of Dong'an's reaction was nothing like he'd expected.

What was his leverage?

After the 24th, things won't be this busy—this period has been exhausting. Thank you all for your support.

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(End of Chapter)