bookrandom Chapter 299
Chapter 299
Jiajing's words essentially settled the matter; details might be open to discussion and adjustment, but the overall tone was set.
Chen Wanyan is guilty, and his crimes are heinous.
These words caused the officials who were loyal to Chen Wanyan to feel dizzy and tremble with fear; some even collapsed to the ground.
Those officials who had sensed something was wrong earlier now realized that their feeling was not unfounded; it turned out that everything was already destined.
They looked at the two officials who had been advising Chen Wanyan, who now stood there calmly and composedly. When Jiajing spoke these words, the two seemed to have expected it, and did not even show the slightest surprise.
At this moment, some people suddenly realized something, as if enlightened, and instantly understood many things.
It was precisely because they understood that they were even more desperate. If they hadn't understood, they might still have harbored illusions and hoped that the Empress would overturn Chen Wanyan's case. Once they understood, they felt a chill run from the soles of their feet straight to the top of their heads.
It turned out that from beginning to end, they, including Chen Wanyan, had been framed. As for who framed Chen Wanyan, they dared not think about it, nor dared to guess; it was either Zhou Chu, or...
Even if they figured it out, these people could only keep it buried in their hearts, and dared not tell anyone even until their death.
Even if they were investigated and their property confiscated, or even beheaded, they dared not utter a single word of these things.
If they don't tell, their people will at most be exiled and still have a chance to survive; if they do tell, then the problem will become serious.
"The minister obeys the order."
After Zhou Chu bowed, he turned around and came to Lu Wanshan, who was kneeling. He reached out and lifted Lu Wanshan up. Lu Wanshan hurriedly bowed to Jiajing and then followed Zhou Chu out of the main hall.
"You're usually so tough, why are you acting so cowardly today?"
Zhou Chu glanced at Lu Wanshan, who was still shaken, and said.
"You flatter me, sir. I am really not confident about Chen Wanyan's status. If His Majesty wants me to take the blame, I am not capable of doing so. Moreover, I have never attended court before and am only occasionally summoned. Seeing such a scene naturally makes me a little nervous."
Lu Wanshan chuckled.
"Don't worry, it's not your turn to take the blame."
Zhou Chu smiled.
If Lu Wanshan were to take the blame, Jiajing would not mind sacrificing Lu Wanshan for the sake of his own reputation, since Lu Wanshan had no irreplaceable value in Jiajing's eyes.
Lu Wanshan, the garrison commander of the Northern Garrison, is capable, and so are the others. Although it's not a matter of killing Lu Wanshan, dismissal and loss of office are inevitable.
Now that Zhou Chu has taken the blame, things are completely different. Zhou Chu took the blame voluntarily for Jiajing, so Jiajing will not only not blame Zhou Chu, but will value him even more.
Often, the slightest difference between people can lead to vastly different outcomes.
Moreover, the difference between Lu Wanshan and Zhou Chu is far more than just a hair's breadth.
This is also why Lu Wanshan was so nervous. If Zhou Chu hadn't lifted him up, he would have remained kneeling there.
Despite his relaxed demeanor, Lu Wanshan had been prepared to be dismissed and lose his official position ever since he accepted the assignment to the Chen family.
"Since you've considered these consequences, why did you still go to the Chen residence?"
Zhou Chu looked at Lu Wanshan and said.
Lu Wanshan could easily delegate such a life-threatening matter to someone else and simply feign illness and stay home.
Lu Wanshan's expression turned serious upon hearing this.
"Compared to you, my humble work is utterly insignificant. I am far inferior to you. If you give me any orders, I will go through fire and water. Moreover, if I entrust this matter to someone else, how can I be worthy of the position of the Northern Garrison Commander?"
Lu Wanshan's words had a hint of flattery, but they were also the truth from the bottom of his heart.
Zhou Chu's actions, one after another, were all done with his life on the line. If anything had gone wrong, or if the emperor's attitude towards him had not been so firm, Zhou Chu would have been killed long ago to appease the anger of the officials.
What about Chao Cuo of the Han Dynasty? He was a great contributor, yet he was still executed by Emperor Wen of Han to appease the anger of the vassal kings.
Although Lu Wanshan was not well-read, he knew many classical allusions, which is why he admired Zhou Chu so much. There were many things he wouldn't even dare to think about, but Zhou Chu not only did them, he accomplished them.
Lu Wanshan knew very well that no matter how smoothly Zhou Chu was doing, if anything went wrong, such as if the rebellion in Jiangnan could not be suppressed, the emperor would probably follow the example of Emperor Wen of Han and kill his superior to appease the resentment of the Jiangnan gentry.
This has nothing to do with the depth of the relationship between the emperor and the commander. A qualified emperor may have his own feelings, but when his feelings conflict with the country, he will not hesitate to sacrifice himself to protect the Ming Dynasty and the court.
Conversely, emperors who were burdened by personal feelings and ruined their country because of their own actions may be discussed in various stories by later generations, but they will not be given a good evaluation.
"What? His Majesty ordered Zhou Chu to raid the Chen residence?"
Upon receiving this news, Lady Chen was consumed by rage. She never expected things to turn out this way. She had originally planned to plead for her father's life after meeting the emperor, and then the matter would be over.
"It must be Zhou Chu who bewitched His Majesty! I want to see His Majesty! I want to see His Majesty!"
Chen acted as if he had gone mad.
At this point, Lady Chen no longer cared about referring to herself as "this palace".
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid you will not be able to see His Majesty."
A eunuch led a group of people in, carrying an imperial edict in his hand.
"By imperial decree, Empress Chen, as the head of the harem, should have been a model of virtue for the nation, but instead she has not thought of serving the country and has only sought personal gain for the Chen family, bewitching the emperor with her words. Effective immediately, Empress Chen is hereby deposed and banished to the Cold Palace. This is the imperial decree."
Huang Jin did not come to deliver the imperial decree. He had always disliked kicking someone when they were down. Although he had long anticipated the Empress's fate, he did not want to gain a reputation for revenge. That's why he sent other eunuchs to deliver the decree.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible! How could His Majesty be so heartless?"
Chen received the imperial edict and looked at it again and again, still unable to believe that the contents of the edict came from the emperor who had been so tolerant of her.
"I want to see your Majesty, I want to see your Majesty!"
Suddenly, Chen went crazy and tried to run away. In her mind, it seemed that as long as she saw Jiajing, all the problems could be solved.
It's no wonder that Ms. Chen was so distraught; how could she possibly accept falling from grace so quickly?
"Guards, move Lady Chen to the Cold Palace. Don't let her offend His Majesty."
The eunuch who delivered the imperial decree had a cold expression.
Inside the Zhao prison, Chen Wanyan and his son Chen Shaozu were extremely arrogant.
"You'd better keep my son and me locked up and don't let us out! I want to see how your Northern Garrison Command will get out of this mess, and how Zhou Chu will get out of this mess!"