When Zhao Zhenji learned the news about Lu Fang's personal visit from his subordinates, he couldn't help but feel a thump in his heart, and a look of panic appeared on his face.
The last time Lu Fang visited in person, he was asked to rush to Zhejiang as an imperial envoy to investigate the case!
"Could it be that something happened again?"
Zhao Zhenji thought so, and immediately ordered his subordinates to respectfully welcome Lu Fang, who was waiting outside, into the Inspectorate.
"I have met Eunuch Lu!"
The moment he saw Lu Fang, Zhao Zhenji took the lead and saluted him respectfully.
"Um."
Lu Fang just glanced at Zhao Zhenji rather flatly, and then continued.
"Master Zhao, come with us. His Majesty wants to see you in person!"
Zhao Zhenji heard the undeniable meaning contained in Lu Fang's words, and plucked up the courage to ask him.
"Eunuch Lu, please forgive me for being presumptuous. May I ask why your Majesty called me here this time?"
After hearing this, Lu Fang looked Zhao Zhenji up and down, and because of his usual filial piety, he explained.
"To be specific, it's matters related to Henan."
As soon as Lu Fang finished speaking, Zhao Zhenji recalled the impeachment memorial submitted from Henan.
After a long time, he turned his gaze to Lu Fang, with a frightened expression and trembling words.
"Eunuch Lu, is it...could it be related to that matter?"
Seeing this, Lu Fang didn't say too much, but nodded silently.
After getting the exact answer from Lu Fang, Zhao Zhenji turned pale in an instant and kept mumbling.
"But...but, this..."
Lu Fang seemed to see Zhao Zhenji's doubts and immediately explained.
"This matter was brought about by my godson Feng Bao."
Immediately afterwards, Lu Fang saw the shock on Zhao Zhenji's face and said slowly.
"Master Zhao, don't waste time, let's go!"
"Yes, Eunuch Lu."
After Zhao Zhenji weakly responded, he followed Lu Fang's footsteps and embarked on the road to the Yangxin Palace.
…
Forbidden City, Hall of Nourishing Heart.
"Your Majesty, Master Zhao is here!"
After Lu Fang brought Zhao Zhenji to Yangxin Hall, he came to Jiajing's side and reminded him.
"Yes, I understand."
When Jiajing heard this, he nodded and put the memorial in his hand aside.
And coincidentally, Lu Fang glimpsed out of the corner of her eye that the memorial in Jiajing's hand was the impeachment memorial submitted by Liu Yuan, the inspector general of Henan.
Lu Fang looked away without leaving any trace. Although she didn't show anything strange on the surface, there was already an uproar in her heart.
"Could it be said that His Majesty has been reading this impeachment memorial before this?"
"If that's the case, things will be very serious!"
Next, I saw Zhao Zhenji kneeling on the ground respectfully and saluting Jiajing.
"I bow to your majesty, long live my emperor!"
Jiajing's tone was quite calm, he waved his hand and gave the order.
"Well, get up!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After Zhao Zhenji responded, he slowly stood up from the ground. Perhaps because of too much fear, Zhao Zhenji's body actually began to tremble uncontrollably!
This scene was naturally seen by Jiajing, who was sitting on the dragon chair.
Jiajing raised his eyebrows, turned his gaze to Zhao Zhenji, and asked.
"Zhao Zhenji, I haven't asked you anything yet, why are you shaking?"
When Jiajing said this, he deliberately paused for a moment before continuing.
"Could it be that you have done something wrong and you can't let me know about it?"
Hearing Jiajing's heart-wrenching words, Zhao Zhenji's body trembled even more seriously. Then, he knelt down on the ground with a plop, his face full of panic, and explained to Jiajing.
"Your Majesty, I... I am just overwhelmed by your Majesty's majesty!"
Jiajing naturally did not believe Zhao Zhenji's statement, which was full of loopholes.
However, Jiajing did not dwell too much on this. He turned his eyes to Lu Fang and gave instructions in a deep voice.
"Lu Fang, show this impeachment memorial to Zhao Zhenji!"
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
After Lu Fang finished speaking, he took the memorial and immediately came to Zhao Zhenji, handing the impeachment memorial into Zhao Zhenji's hands.
After Zhao Zhenji finished browsing the contents of the impeachment memorial, his brain suddenly shut down. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond, so he could only tremble.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, this..."
Jiajing turned his gaze to Zhao Zhenji, who was kneeling on the ground, and asked in a deep voice.
"Zhao Zhenji, as a supervisory censor, how should you explain this impeachment memorial?"
Aware of the emperor's vague gaze, Zhao Zhenji knew that if he couldn't answer this question today, he would probably have to explain it here.
Later, Zhao Zhenji gritted his teeth and explained to Jiajing.
"Your Majesty, I have been busy collecting evidence about land annexation recently!"
"Wei Chen has never seen this impeachment memorial from beginning to end!"
"Otherwise, Wei Chen will definitely submit it to you as soon as possible."
When Jiajing heard that Zhao Zhenji mentioned the land annexation, he couldn't help but become interested and asked more questions.
"Oh, Zhao Zhenji, since you said that you have been busy collecting evidence about land annexation recently, let me ask you, how is your collection going?"
Facing Jiajing's questioning, Zhao Zhenji did not dare to hide anything, and immediately told everything he knew so far.
"Your Majesty, as far as I know, the most serious land annexation is currently in Jiangsu and Zhejiang!"
When Zhao Zhenji said this, he paused before continuing.
"The Yuan family in Jiaxing has 200,000 acres, the Xu family in Qiantang has 180,000 acres, the Yu family in Yuyao has 170,000 acres, and... and..."
When Zhao Zhenji said this, his face was full of hesitation and he did not dare to say any more.
Seeing this situation, Jiajing frowned slightly and then spoke.
"What are you afraid of? Keep talking, I am here to support you!"
Jiajing's words undoubtedly gave Zhao Zhenji the confidence to continue.
Then, Zhao Zhenji summoned up the courage, turned his eyes to Jiajing, who was sitting on the dragon chair, and said in a deep voice.
"Also...and the Xu family in Songjiang, 280,000 acres!"
Hearing this, Jiajing narrowed his eyes slightly and confirmed to Zhao Zhenji.
"You mean, Xu Jie's family annexed 280,000 acres of land?"
Silence, deathly silence!
Facing Jiajing's question, Zhao Zhenji seemed to have lost his mind and froze in place.
But sometimes, silence also represents an answer.
Time passed by slowly, and finally, Jiajing spoke up, breaking the silence.
"Zhao Zhenji, you can't mention this matter in front of anyone in the future, do you understand?"
When Zhao Zhenji heard this, his expression became stern and he immediately said in a deep voice.
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
Lu Fang, who was waiting at Jiajing's side, knew that the emperor had already kept this matter in mind, and maybe he would reveal it at some point and catch everyone off guard!
Then, Jiajing changed the subject, put things back on track, and asked Zhao Zhenji.
"Zhao Zhenji, in your opinion, how should this matter be handled?"
Hearing this, Zhao Zhenji breathed a sigh of relief. After pondering for a moment, he gave his proposal.
"Your Majesty, in my opinion, the matter related to the storage of grain in the granary should indeed be strictly investigated!"
"If Wei Chen is responsible for this matter, it may arouse the vigilance of those people. Therefore, Wei Chen wants to recommend someone to His Majesty."
"who?"
"Hai Rui."
(End of chapter)
