Zhou Shuren and other ministers were not listening for nothing today. Everyone pricked up their ears, especially when the Duke of Yong'an took out the memorial.
The Duke of Yong'an stood in the hall in a daze. He attended court only a few times and was very uncomfortable with the stares he felt. He had indeed done something wrong.
The Emperor took the memorial from the Duke of Yong'an. He could not hide the actions of the Duke's Mansion. At the end of last year, the Duke's Mansion sent people to the south to look for evidence. Although they did not have many connections, they had money to pave the way. Wow, they really found out a lot of things.
After reading it, the emperor handed it to the crown prince. The crown prince had Zhuo Guyu to consult, so he just glanced at it and then passed it on.
Zhou Shuren took it and glanced at it, his eyes fell on the words "harbor tax". He knew the emperor very well, and looking at the old duke standing there, the emperor must not have summoned the old duke, then what about Zhuo Guyu who was guided by the prince.
Zhou Shuren passed the memorial in his hand down. The knife of the Duke's Mansion had no weight in the hearts of the father and son of the royal family. Sympathy? No, it was the path that the Duke's Mansion had chosen to lead them to today.
The Emperor wants to regulate the seaport, so he first gives the enemy an opportunity. If he doesn't seize the opportunity, he will take real action, and the Yong'an Mansion is the knife driven by the Emperor.
As the memorial was passed around, the palace was no longer quiet. Duke Yong'an remained silent. He knew in his heart that since the memorial had been submitted today, the Duke's Mansion would have to move on.
After the morning court session ended, the Emperor said he would discuss the matter later, and then he left the court with the Duke of Yong'an.
Zhou Shuren was accompanied by Lord Wei and Old Lord Liu. Lord Wei was worried, "My Lord, my boy..."
Zhou Shuren knew what Wei Yan said, "It's okay."
What the emperor really wants to move against are the noble families involved with the seaport. Some people in the capital might be implicated. The kid from the Wei family has just been transferred to the maritime affairs department not long ago, so maybe he can get a chance for promotion.
Lord Wei felt much more at ease. In the past two years, a series of bloody cases had occurred, and he was intimidated and acted extra carefully.
Old Master Liu stroked his beard and said, "If the Duke's Mansion wins, it can survive, but if it loses, it will be doomed."
Lord Wei frowned, "How big of a grudge is this?"
There were five southern noble families on the memorial, and when he read it he felt that the Yong'an Duke's Mansion had gone crazy.
Zhou Shuren thought that the current outcome was determined by the Emperor. The southern families would focus on the Duke's Mansion and ignore the actions of the court. The Duke of Yong'an was also trying his best to continue the family lineage for his descendants.
The memorial was circulated and its contents did not need to be kept secret. The emperor intended to spread it and soon several southern families involved knew about it.
In the Hanlin Academy, Chang Zhi came out to drink tea and saw several scholars gathered together. They didn't know what they were talking about, but their faces were extremely serious.
Noticing Changzhi, several people greeted him and left with solemn steps.
Master Qi held the tea leaves and asked, "What are you looking at?"
Changzhi took the tea leaves and told them what he had just seen. Lord Qi said, "You go make some tea and I'll go ask around."
The news was easy to get. Chang Zhi did not pay attention to the morning court. All his attention was on editing the book. The content of the memorial from Duke Yong'an had already spread in the Hanlin Academy.
Changzhi listened and said, "This is too urgent."
Lord Qi was waiting for tea, and raised his eyes and said, "I thought the Yong'an Duke's Mansion had been fooled, but it turns out they were holding back their ruthlessness!"
Then he shook his head in confusion. The old Duke was too reckless. It was a relief to submit the memorial, but if too many people were involved, it would be easy to fail!
Chang Zhi said: "Zhuo Guyu has already entered the palace, can't he explain the attitude of the higher-ups?"
Master Qi suddenly realized, "Yes."
Therefore, the Duke’s Mansion has the confidence.
Chang Zhi whispered, "In this imperial examination, none of the sons of the southern noble families sought official positions."
Lord Qi thought that many people had gathered in the Hanlin Academy to become Shujishi, waiting for the three-year assessment. "Is their main purpose in these three years to cultivate connections?"
Changzhi: “Yeah.”
The imperial court has changed rapidly in recent years. The south is indeed prosperous, but the capital is the political center and the imperial court is constantly taking action. The southern families have realized the need to rebuild their network of contacts.
It's a pity that the Emperor won't allow it. As the court changed over the years, the Emperor has been subtly weakening the power of the aristocratic families. How can he allow the aristocratic families to grow stronger again
Changzhi held up his teacup and said, “These three years have not been peaceful.”
Lord Qi's eyes were deep. He believed in Zhou Changzhi's political sensitivity and was thinking about what benefits the Qi family could gain from this struggle.
Chang Zhi felt regretful that the Zhou Marquis Mansion could not gain any advantage. However, not taking advantage of this opportunity would also have its advantages, as it would not attract the hatred of the southern families. His third brother was still staying in the south!
Chang Zhong was so tired that his head was buzzing. When he came out, he saw his fourth brother leisurely drinking tea in the pavilion, "!!"
Changzhi saw his brother and waved with a smile, "Come over for tea."
Changzhong walked over without any hesitation, sat down and asked, "What did Fourth Brother and Lord Qi talk about?"
Chang Zhi, "Let's talk about the memorial from the Duke of Yong'an today."
Changzhong's mind was full of knowledge that needed to be sorted out. After listening to his fourth brother's repetition, Changzhong said "oh" and didn't want to discuss it.
The next day, just as the morning court session began, impeachment memorials came in like snowflakes. Some impeached the southern noble families, and some impeached the Yong'an Duke's Mansion.
Zhou Shuren thought that the Censor had been the busiest these days. This morning, Lord Lin chatted with him for a while and revealed a lot of information. Zhou Shuren felt the importance of having a Censor as his relative. Today's impeachment memorials were all based on evidence.
The Duke of Yongan believed that he had no evidence to clean up his family, relatives, and servants, but he ignored his confidants and let them act on their own? No one believed it!
Duke Yong'an was shaking a little when listening to the impeachment letter, and finally knelt on the ground, "Your Majesty, I have failed to manage my family properly, please punish me."
The noisy hall fell silent; the voice was too loud and everyone's eyes were focused on the old Duke.
The emperor was unhappy. The prince had already given a hint, but the Duke of Yong'an's Mansion was still caught by someone. The emperor was unhappy and kept silent.
Zhou Shuren knew the emperor too well, and the emperor was very unhappy.
Sweat dripped from the forehead of the Duke of Yong'an, and his body was instantly covered with sweat. His mind was full of memorials impeaching the Duke's Mansion. What frightened him the most was that his family property was the military pay embezzled during the march. Although it was nonsense, he knew that too much wealth would arouse jealousy, and once a rumor was formed, it would become true.
The sweat on the Duke of Yong'an's forehead increased, so he had to be convicted of the crime today.
The old Duke knew it clearly, and finally closed his eyes, "I am guilty of the title I hold, I ask the emperor to take back the title of Duke."
The emperor still didn't say a word. Those who had just impeached the old Duke narrowed their eyes. They looked at each other and understood that the Zhuo family had escaped today.
The emperor stood up and said, "You are indeed unworthy of the title bestowed upon you."
The old Duke pressed his forehead against the ground. The cold feeling made his mind particularly clear. "I should have died to apologize for my crime, but I want to make amends. Please give me a chance, Your Majesty."
The emperor could use the Zhuo family. He glanced at the ministers and said, "I will give you three days to see evidence to prove your innocence."
The old Duke kowtowed to express his gratitude and said, "Please Your Majesty take back the title of Duke. I am too ashamed to continue to be a duke."
Finally, the emperor naturally agreed and demanded an explanation. Zhou Shuren raised his eyebrows. The Yong'an Mansion almost capsized. This was a good move!