[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-wanli-the-enlightened-emperor":3,"chapter-wanli-the-enlightened-emperor-wanli-the-enlightened-emperor-chapter-65":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Wanli, the Enlightened Emperor",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2321887,4542,"Chapter 65: Retreat to Advance, Act on Impulse","wanli-the-enlightened-emperor-chapter-65",65,"\u003Cp>After the court session.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng, Gao Yi, and Lu Diaoyang went to the Ministry of Personnel, where they met with Vice Minister Shen Shixing and Chief Censor Li Zaiting to hold a private meeting regarding the events of the court session.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The expressions of the several Grand Secretaries were far from pleasant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way to the Ministry of Personnel, the inner court sent a messenger with word: a full audit of all inner court personnel was to be conducted, staff numbers reduced, and the Ministry of Personnel was to prepare accordingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prepare? Court ladies could be dismissed and sent out of the palace—but what could be done with the eunuchs? Either send them to Nanzhili or assign them to guard the imperial tombs—this was merely a notification to the outer court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone present understood this was an opportunity to purge the inner court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, such actions always carried the pretext of severing ties between inner and outer court, and several senior eunuchs would be impeached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at this critical moment, no one dared openly challenge the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng looked grimly at Li Zaiting and said sternly: “What exactly does His Majesty expect us to do, Yingfeng? Tell us plainly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yingfeng was Li Zaiting’s courtesy name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zaiting shook his head: “This came suddenly—I had no idea. What I said in court was truly my own heart’s voice, not the Emperor’s instruction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had shouted in court for Hu Xao to be beaten to death, causing several Grand Secretaries to assume he was acting on the Emperor’s orders, and now they all sought to probe him for the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unfortunately, he genuinely did not know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Diaoyang also questioned Li Zaiting: “His Majesty is about to move into the Western Garden—why still hide things? Li Censor, if His Majesty goes to the Western Garden, we shall all be guilty!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor claims he goes to the Western Garden to cultivate virtue, but he certainly does not intend to abandon influence over state affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he wishes to emulate the Shizong Emperor, what he abandons will not be power—but the realm itself!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then we shall have another holy monarch who manipulates court politics while ignoring the people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Diaoyang glanced at Li Zaiting—this man might well be a second Yan Song.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zaiting merely smiled bitterly and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men were about to speak further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yi cut in directly: “If His Majesty wishes to go this far, why doesn’t the Chief Grand Secretary personally petition for an audience? Why are you pressuring us subordinates here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was already weary. Overnight, the palace had suffered a fire, and a princess had died. Even though everyone urged the Emperor not to overthink it, insisting it was mere coincidence, what would the Emperor himself think?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, during this morning’s court session, Hu Xao seized the opportunity to stir up trouble—who dares look the Emperor in the eye and say, “Your Majesty, don’t let conspiracy thoughts take root; court officials are not this wicked”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isn’t that adding fuel to the fire?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They are all living people. The Emperor’s shock and anger—even if we cannot fully feel them, we must at least understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is precisely why we are gathered here at the Ministry of Personnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yi now showed no restraint, turning to Shen Shixing: “Was this orchestrated by your fellow natives of Nanzhili?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Shixing was from Changzhou in Suzhou Prefecture, Nanzhili, but he served the New Party and bore no deep provincial factional ties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Gao Yi ignored all subtlety and pressed directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Shixing remained silent, head bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now called out, he raised his head to meet Gao Yi’s gaze: “Grand Secretary Gao, though I am from Nanzhili, I have never acted as a provincial factionalist—Heaven and Earth bear witness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yi refused to yield: “You, Vice Minister Shen, now head the Ministry of Personnel—you are pivotal. I do not believe no one has contacted you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Shixing fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long pause, he sighed: “Someone sent a message—Shen Yiguan, a Hanlin Academy examiner—secretly tried to recruit me, but I refused, and I did not inquire who was behind the coordination.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yi nodded—so there was indeed secret coordination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In ordinary times, the death of a royal daughter or a palace fire would be ignored—but it happened precisely when secret alliances were forming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yi thought of this, and his heart ached for his own disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rose and turned to Zhang Juzheng: “Chief Grand Secretary, I wish to petition His Majesty for an audience. Will you come with me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng rubbed his knuckles, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was now caught between a rock and a hard place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was not merely a question of whether to persuade the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the Emperor seized the initiative, he would inevitably be forced out to confront Nanzhili head-on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never wished to reach this point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Examination System had already drawn him enough hatred; now even in Beizhili, rumors spread that he was corrupt, that he imitated the former Emperor by taking aphrodisiacs—how much more filth would be dumped on him in the future?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had not even reached the stage of land surveying, yet his reputation was already precarious—he truly did not wish to provoke the people of Nanzhili.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the Emperor who had promoted Hai Rui and appointed Wang Zongmu to confront the Two Huai salt administration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, facing fierce backlash, the Emperor grew impatient with his neutrality and could no longer tolerate his impartiality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He openly staged this move in court, forcing every Grand Secretary to choose sides, pushing everyone to the edge of a cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor neglecting state affairs was acceptable—his predecessor did the same, and everyone was satisfied with that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if the Emperor controls the court yet refuses to govern, that is unacceptable—Shizong Emperor did exactly that: “I won’t do it, and neither will you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was precisely why Gao Yi and Lu Diaoyang feared it—they saw this clearly, terrified the Emperor would emulate Shizong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But… Zhang Juzheng saw deeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could not claim to know this Emperor well, but by instinct, he believed the Emperor would not do such a thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor may not wish to abandon governance at all!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He feared the Emperor wished to emulate Wuzong Emperor—discard the court officials and build a new power structure!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Residing in the Western Garden did not mean he could not summon ministers for audiences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li Zaiting and others like him were placed in charge, wielding imperial authority, creating a miniature Baofang or miniature Grand Secretariat, it would be far more dangerous than emulating Shizong!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, they had not probed Li Zaiting thoroughly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng thought of this, sighed, and rose as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Shen Shixing: “Rumo, go find Jia Daiwen and watch him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They must not be allowed to coordinate further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the situation escalates again, soothing the Emperor will no longer suffice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then instructed Lu Diaoyang: “Heqing, go find Zhang Siwei and tell him: Wang Chonggu was always a frontier commander—if he comes to the capital and still seeks control of the Capital Garrison, why did he even come to the capital?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Capital Garrison had always been agreed upon between him and the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jin Faction wished to use the Ministry of War to control the Capital Garrison, but they needed to be warned before attempting to persuade the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After giving these two instructions, Zhang Juzheng nodded to Gao Yi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go. We shall petition His Majesty for an audience.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qianqing Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chief and Deputy Grand Secretaries requested an audience; the Emperor readily agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But both were detained in the side hall to wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the Emperor was receiving another court official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vice Censor-in-Chief Hai Rui, who had been presiding over a case, received word and immediately entered the palace to petition the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Commander of the Capital Garrison Gu Huan had been summoned by the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng and Gao Yi sat quietly in the side hall; both keenly noticed that the eunuchs and palace maids in Qianqing Palace had been reduced by nearly half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They exchanged a glance and sighed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While they waited, Hai Rui was led out of the palace by Jiang Keqian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yi rose immediately: “Censor Hai!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hai Rui returned the bow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yi asked: “What instructions did His Majesty give you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hai Rui regarded the Chief and Deputy Grand Secretaries with an odd gaze, making them both feel deeply uncomfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was already impolite, yet Hai Rui seemed unaware.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head, expression unreadable: “His Majesty instructed me regarding the Two Huai matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He added meaningfully: “Pay special attention to your safety.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hai Rui was to depart for the Two Huai region to inspect salt administration the day after tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing his case today, he had planned to report to the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But upon returning to the Censorate, he heard of the court session and rushed over immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His report turned into a plea to stay—he feared the Emperor stood alone in court, unable to bear leaving His Majesty to shoulder the burden alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the Emperor’s announcement of moving to the Western Garden terrified him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet… what moved him was that the Emperor showed no signs of despair, nor any intention to abandon the realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Majesty himself stated that moving to the Western Garden was solely for safety, with no other meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he earnestly reiterated instructions regarding the Two Huai affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Hai Rui proposed staying in the capital, the Emperor insisted he relax, saying he could manage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key now was to wait for the Two Huai salt taxes to come in before taking action—and this task could only be entrusted to Hai Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a sovereign!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hai Rui could not fathom what these Grand Secretaries were doing, allowing the Emperor to be reduced to a figure of pity!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he thought, the more he despised them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng also rose: “Censor Hai, watch your words!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He too was filled with anger today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never agreed with the Emperor’s plan to target the Two Huai—now that backlash came, was this not proof he was right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now that he’s been pushed back, you come to threaten him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He is now the leader of the civil officials—he ought to harmonize yin and yang, steadily advance the new policies; must you force him to fulfill the Emperor’s wish and have all these civil officials beaten to death?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, though he has no personal grudge against Hai Rui, they are not allies, so his words are naturally blunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hai Rui, rebuked, offered no rebuttal, only nodded: “Hai Mou indeed ought to learn the ‘extreme caution’ of the Chief Grand Secretary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having spoken these words, he bowed and departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng took a deep breath, suppressing his inner displeasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hai Rui passed by, walked a distance away, yet seemed unsatisfied—he turned back to look at Zhang Juzheng: “Chief Grand Secretary, you are merely a minister; naturally you must harmonize yin and yang, prioritize the greater good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But His Majesty is the Son of Heaven—he needs only to press forward relentlessly, charge boldly through the rapids.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having spoken this heartfelt truth, he finally felt lighter, striding off with long steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng, lectured by Hai Rui, was momentarily choked with rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a eunuch stepped out: “Your Excellencies, His Majesty requests your presence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two finally refocused, set aside their earlier dispute, asked the eunuch to lead, and followed behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they entered the inner chamber, they saw Gu Huan exiting, wearing armor and carrying a sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the mere sight of him, Zhang Juzheng and Gao Yi both gasped in shock!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun kindly explained: “I permitted Marquis Zhenyuan to wear armor and carry a sword into court.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng felt even more troubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He is already wearing armor and carrying a sword—does the Emperor mean to favor the nobles and eunuchs, and distance himself from the court officials?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huan bowed slightly, a token of greeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The simple motion made his armor chime loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huan gripped his sword, without waiting for their return bow, walked off directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yi had no interest in matters of the nobility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he entered the hall, he could no longer hold back: “Your Majesty, Hu Xao may be sentenced to death, but I beg Your Majesty not to move palaces!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun did not answer at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rose and looked at Gao Yi: “What crime has Hu Xao committed that he deserves death?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng could no longer hold back: “Your Majesty uses this matter to pressure us—we have come; let us establish a resolution, why drag this out endlessly?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the result of extreme urgency, a failure of inner calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun slowly descended from the imperial dais.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waved his hand, dismissing all the eunuchs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he stepped down the dais, as if too weary to move, simply sat down on the steps, leaving the two stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun sat on the stone steps, leaning back, elbows propped on the stone, legs crossed, utterly disregarding imperial dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not answer Zhang Juzheng’s question, but spoke off-topic: “The Inner Treasury still holds two million seven hundred thousand taels.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng frowned deeply; Gao Yi did not understand why the Emperor suddenly mentioned silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun continued: “After the Gengxu Incident, Gu Huan commanded the Beijing garrisons for ten years. Even though his influence has waned, and even discounting the ghost soldiers on the rolls, he can still command seventy thousand troops.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yi was puzzled; Zhang Juzheng’s face turned pale: “Your Majesty…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun raised his hand to stop him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still propped on his elbows, he continued: “The Imperial Horse Supervision has twenty thousand men—I can command fifteen thousand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Add the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot, and we reach fifteen thousand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yi finally understood the Emperor’s meaning—his face turned pale with dread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though both were Grand Secretaries, masters of inner cultivation, they could not suppress the cold sweat beading on their foreheads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun went on: “Even one Sun Yi’s household confiscation yielded over one hundred thousand taels—there must be much more silver still hidden in the capital.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are also no shortage of loyal, patriotic officials.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hai Rui, Chen Dong, Li Zaiting, Wang Xijue—I cannot even name them all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here he paused: “Not to mention the other Grand Secretaries, who have always stood with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun tilted his head upward, so he could not see the factionalism at court, nor the entrenched power of local magnates, nor the terrified expressions of the two Grand Secretaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He murmured as if to himself: “Emperor Wu of Wei held the Son of Heaven hostage to command the lords.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, I am the Son of Heaven.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, looked at Zhang Juzheng and Gao Yi, his voice cold and stubborn: “You two, men of great learning—tell me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With these hundred thousand taels, ten thousand troops, the Mandate of Heaven, loyal ministers and fierce generals…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could I not conquer the realm again?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, their faces turned ashen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did this mean? It was clearly a call to tear everything down and start over!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A true Son of Heaven’s rebellion!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could no longer hold themselves up—they collapsed to their knees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng cried urgently: “Your Majesty! The situation has not reached this point!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yi, already kneeling, wept: “Your Majesty, the Two Capitals and Thirteen Provinces rest upon your shoulders—do not act rashly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never mind talk of bloodshed and ruin—the situation has not yet deteriorated to this!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rose from the steps, brushed the dust from his robes, and helped the two old ministers to their feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said softly: “It has not reached this point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I only wish to ask: if I were to ascend Mount Da Ming again… would you two follow?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This step belonged to Chongzhen—but it was also his final option—he truly did not fear doing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which emperor, in reforming, does not wish to ascend Mount Da Ming?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He has not done so yet only because Hai Rui, Zhang Juzheng, and others remain—now he must judge whether they are worth his continued patchwork.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng’s heart burned: “Your Majesty! This speech shakes the very foundation of the state! I cannot answer!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yi gripped the Emperor’s hand tightly: “Your Majesty, though the court is tangled in webs of faction, solutions still exist—please withdraw this statement!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply stared at them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That gaze pressed like Mount Tai—forcing them to bend their spines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, they truly felt each moment an eternity, each second agony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed slowly; all three fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How long passed, none knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yi finally made his decision—he suddenly released the Emperor, knelt again, bowed his head hard to the ground, choked with unspoken tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun turned to Zhang Juzheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng wrestled within himself for a long while; seeing Gao Yi’s posture, he could no longer resist—he too knelt down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun, seeing their bowed heads, closed his eyes and nodded silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He helped them up, speaking more gently: “My retreat to the Western Garden is not abandonment of the realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After this, I will purge the palace attendants; once cleared, I will return to the palace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Audiences will be suspended, but memorials will still reach me—I will read each one, and summon you if I have questions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the two Grand Secretaries finally exhaled deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng did not readily agree—he pressed: “Your Majesty, give me a date!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This cannot last long—if it does, whoever the Emperor summons becomes his proxy, no different from establishing a private inner court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun had already prepared his answer: “By the seventeenth day of the eighth month next year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seventeenth of the eighth month is his birthday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He is now eleven; by next year’s seventeenth of the eighth month, he will be twelve by East Asian reckoning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One year—if he cannot make the inner court as solid as iron by then, it will be his failure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yi still harbored doubts, gripping the Emperor’s hand tightly: “Your Majesty, do not emulate the Jiajing Emperor!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun patted Gao Yi’s hand reassuringly, signaling him to calm down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he turned to Zhang Juzheng: “Chief Grand Secretary, the affairs of the Two Huai provinces—I leave them in your hands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng had previously kept aloof, unwilling to offend the officials of Nan Zhili.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that he was forced to take a stand, there was no way he could evade it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng felt bitter, bowed: “The events of this morning—I beg Your Majesty to prioritize the greater good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The affairs of the Two Huai provinces—the Emperor wished to retreat behind the curtain and make him bear the burden; he had no choice but to accept—but Zhang Juzheng had his own demands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The events of this morning must not be branded as treason, punishable by extermination of nine clans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun’s face grew cold: “The masterminds—I will kill them without mercy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nine clans may be spared—but the masterminds will never escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng hurried to plead: “This may merely be coincidence!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Infant mortality is naturally high; the Jiajing Emperor lost so many children—could every one have had a mastermind behind it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun’s expression did not change: “I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He met Zhang Juzheng’s gaze: “Infant deaths may be due to illness; palace fires may be accidents—I know that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun made no effort to hide his murderous intent—he declared openly: “But it is too convenient. Too convenient—I want to kill someone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Productivity determines the relations of production.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a feudal society, to speak of presumption of innocence would be a betrayal of the throne beneath you!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood the reasoning, but he still intended to kill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yi had no ties to Nanzhili; he declared directly: “Censor Hu Xiao manipulated omens and portents—sentenced to death!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun shook his head and said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng closed his eyes with difficulty and said hoarsely: “Assistant Censor Jia Daiwen instigated it—equally guilty, sentenced to death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun still shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He scanned the two men and said softly: “The three clans of the above two, along with Assistant Censor Zhang Daoming of the Ministry of Works, Vice Minister Bi Qiang of the Ministry of Justice, Compiler Shen Yiguan, and six others, shall be exiled.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun smiled: “The journey is long—if they fall ill and die by accident, it cannot be blamed on me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he turned and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One more chapter remains, too late—will make up tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>",3450,"2026-06-20T16:31:33.303Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","cc5e60b4b6214f4d669d87fd769d97d76f636b90a8e8d7fec39d1e696e53a595","wanli-the-enlightened-emperor-chapter-66","wanli-the-enlightened-emperor-chapter-64",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwanli-the-enlightened-emperor-cover.jpg"]