Forbidden City, Qianqing Palace.
At this moment, Jiajing looked indifferently at Chen Hong, who was kneeling in front of him, and asked: "Chen Hong, it's so late, why did you come to see me?"
When Chen Hong heard this, he looked happy at first, and then became anxious and uneasy. After hesitating for a moment, he kowtowed heavily to the ground three times and said in a deep voice.
"Your Majesty, I have taken the liberty to come here to disturb you because I really have something extremely important to report to you!"
As Chen Hong spoke, he took out the many incriminating evidences about Lu Fang that he had already prepared from his sleeves, raised them high above his head, and said respectfully.
"Your Majesty, here are the many crimes committed by Lu Fang, the eunuch of the Chief of Ceremonies. They are really too numerous to describe. I really can't bear to see them. Just now..."
Chen Hong did not finish the rest of the words, because he keenly felt that there was an invisible pressure that enveloped him, and even breathing became difficult.
After hearing what Chen Hong said, Jiajing narrowed his eyes slightly and did not take the envelope from Chen Hong's hand in a hurry. Instead, he raised his eyebrows and asked slowly.
"Chen Hong, do you know what you are talking about?"
When Chen Hong heard this, his whole breath couldn't help but suffocate. Then he thought that he had no way out, and his expression became firm. He gritted his teeth and continued.
"Your Majesty, this slave knows exactly what he is talking about!"
"Lv Fang has been relying on your favor to engage in bribery, selling off officials, framing loyal people, and excluding dissidents. His godson Yang Jinshui, while serving as the eunuch in charge of the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau, relied on his power to collect bribes on a large scale!"
When Chen Hong said this, he paused for a moment and then continued.
"Your Majesty, in fact, the annual income of the Weaving Bureau is not limited to what is stated on the surface."
"In addition, as far as I know, there are two kinds of ledgers in the Weaving Bureau, one is the open ledger, which is specially shown to Your Majesty, and the other is the secret ledger, and the things recorded on it belong to the Weaving Bureau. True accounts.”
"And through this method, most of the money obtained through corruption fell into Lu Fang's pocket!"
"In addition, before the imperial court officially lifted the sea ban, the smuggling families along the southeast coast also had an unclear relationship with Lu Fang, the eunuch who was the chief of ceremonies. Those families would draw money from their income every year. Use part of it to bribe Lu Fang."
"Your Majesty, what I said is all true. You only need to take a look at the evidence in my hand to know that what I said is true. If there is a lie in it, I am willing to be struck by five thunders from heaven!"
Seeing that Jiajing didn't respond for a long time, Chen Hong suddenly panicked and swore quickly.
While Chen Hong was still anxiously waiting for Jiajing's decision, he felt a lightness in his hand. He raised his head and saw Jiajing silently taking many pieces of evidence from his hand.
Seeing this, Chen Hong couldn't help but feel overjoyed and said to himself: "Your Majesty has taken the evidence from my hands. Huh, Lu Fang, you will be in bad luck soon!"
Just when Chen Hong thought that Jiajing would be furious after reading the criminal evidence related to Lu Fang, and immediately sent someone to deal with Lu Fang, who knew that Jiajing only glanced at it briefly, then lost interest and instead ordered: .
"Well, I know about this, please go back!"
When Chen Hong heard this, he was dumbfounded. He immediately plucked up the courage and asked Jiajing: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, don't you plan to deal with it..."
However, before Chen Hong finished speaking, he met Jiajing's extremely cold gaze.
Jiajing saw the expression on Chen Hong's face, sneered, and asked immediately.
"What, Chen Hong, are you teaching me how to do things?"
When Chen Hong heard this, he suddenly panicked and hesitated for a long time without saying a complete sentence.
"No... I don't dare, Your Majesty, I just think..."
Before Chen Hong could finish his defense, he was coldly interrupted by Jiajing.
"Okay, if nothing happens, you can go back. It's so late and I'm a little tired!"
When Chen Hong heard this, even though he was unwilling to do so, he could only respond respectfully.
"As you command, Your Majesty, I will leave now!"
After Chen Hong left, Jiajing looked at the many criminal evidence related to Lu Fang on the desk with a cold expression, not knowing what he was thinking.
After Chen Hong came out of Qianqing Palace, on his way back, he bumped into Lu Fang who was coming in a hurry.
Seeing this situation, Chen Hong immediately got out of the way, and then asked Lu Fang with a smile on his face: "Old ancestor, it's so late, where are you going?"
When Lu Fang heard this, she was stunned for a moment, then she realized what she was doing and responded unhurriedly: "What a coincidence. Our family has just received news that a mouse seems to have sneaked into the Qianqing Palace where His Majesty is!"
"As the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, we naturally have this obligation to go and confirm, lest some shady rats take this opportunity to slander His Majesty!"
When Lu Fang said this, he also looked Chen Hong up and down, and the contempt in his eyes was self-evident.
After hearing Lu Fang's ridicule, Chen Hong's resentment towards Lu Fang rose to another level.
At this moment, he wanted to eat Lu Fang alive. For this reason, Chen Hong clenched his fists and looked at Lu Fang with a selective and devouring gaze.
Due to too much force, the nails were deeply embedded in the flesh, and traces of blood came out. But at this moment, Chen Hong didn't feel anything about it. He could only see him looking at Lu Fang with a gloomy face and speaking word by word.
"Hmph, let's wait and see. Your Majesty has already learned about the crime you have committed. I want to see how you explain it to His Majesty!"
After saying these words, Chen Hong did not stop at the scene and left immediately.
After hearing what Chen Hong said, Lu Fang suddenly showed a confused expression on her face, and said silently to herself: "Your Majesty, everyone knows?"
Immediately, Lu Fang came back to her senses and muttered silently to herself.
"No, no, I have to rush to see His Majesty immediately and explain it to him face to face!"
After that, Lu Fang was seen walking in the direction of Qianqing Palace with extremely eager steps.
…
Since Chen Hong left, Jiajing was the only one left in the huge Qianqing Palace.
At this moment, he was slowly picking up the green teapot on the table, pouring himself a cup of hot tea, and sipping it to himself.
The moment the tea entered his mouth, it was bitter at first, and then sweetened. This feeling made Jiajing extremely intoxicated.
Before that, Jiajing browsed through all the evidence submitted by Chen Hong.
His intuition told him that everything Chen Hong said just now was true!
Whether it is the overt and dark account books of the Weaving Bureau, or the previous interest exchanges between Lu Fang and the smuggling families along the coast before the imperial court lifted the maritime ban, and even some matters involving the sale of official positions and titles. It's all true!
At this moment, the guiding eunuch walked in with delicate steps and respectfully reported to Jiajing.
"Your Majesty, Eunuch Lu is outside asking for an audience. Look..."
After hearing the report from the guiding eunuch, Jiajing raised his eyebrows and immediately gave instructions with a normal expression.
"Well, let him in!"
(End of chapter)
