The next day, morning.
"All my beloved lords, stay safe!"
Chu Yanwu looked solemn and said in a deep voice: "Is there anything you can do today?"
Zhou Tianfu stepped forward with a stern face and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I have something to report!"
Chu Yanwu narrowed his eyes and nodded.
Zhou Tianfu continued, saying: "Your Majesty, news came from Linzhou City today that Governor Xiao's fleet sank in the Li River outside the city, and the ship was destroyed and everyone died! You should already know about this!"
Chu Yanwu's tone was somewhat unkind: "I know what's wrong with you at this time?"
Zhou Tianfu's face was solemn and he said: "Your Majesty, Governor Xiao went south. Wherever he went, it was said to be a disaster! Nineteen aristocratic families in Jiangdong, big and small, had all their property confiscated by him! The people in Jiangdong complained, and some even Organize your own organization to petition at the gate of the Yamen! Previously, all the ministers in the court had jointly submitted a letter to invite Your Majesty to recall Xiao Chen... Unfortunately, His Majesty did not agree... And now that Xiao Chen is dead, it is time to close down the East Factory and give an explanation to the people. !”
Chu Yanwu twitched the corner of his mouth, with a hint of evil in his eyes: "Zhou Aiqing's words are wrong. The Dongchang is a supervisory agency established by the imperial court. It monitors public opinion and officials, and carries out the emperor's will. If it is shut down rashly, it will inevitably cause negative consequences. It will have an impact on the DPRK! Zhou Aiqing, please don’t say too much.”
Chu Yanwu's words were also within Zhou Tianfu's expectation, but he did smile and continued: "Your Majesty, I have not said that the East Factory will be abolished. I just hope that it will be temporarily closed... Wait until the weather calms down and the clouds clear up. Rest, Dongchang can naturally open again!"
What Zhou Tianfu said was actually very strange.
How long will the East Factory be shut down?
There is no definite number either.
In the end, it wasn't him who had the final say.
Without Dongchang as a restriction, Zhou Tianfu would no longer be afraid of making trouble, let alone earth-shaking changes.
So Chu Yanwu would definitely not agree: "Xiao Chen is Xiao Chen, and Dongchang is Dongchang. If he has a problem, what does it have to do with Dongchang? I will be careful to cleanse the remaining forces, and I will not let him If the people have any objections again!”
Zhou Tianfu saw Chu Yanwu say this and knew that he must be determined not to close the East Factory.
But it is a pity that this time Zhou Tianfu has prepared a generous gift to present to Chu Yanwu!
He just raised the corners of his mouth slightly and said softly: "Your Majesty, I have something here, and I believe your Majesty will be very interested in it."
His words not only attracted Chu Yanwu's attention, but some ministers in the court also cast their eyes over, curious about what the then Prime Minister Zhou Tianfu could come up with that would interest His Majesty...
Zhou Tianfu narrowed his eyes slightly and waved his hand.
A eunuch walked over, and Zhou Tianfu took out a booklet from his sleeve and handed it over.
The eunuch took it and handed the book to Chu Yanwu.
Chu Yanwu browsed through it briefly, and his face became extremely ugly: "When did Xiao Chen get involved with the people in the harem? They even jointly opened a chamber of commerce... He is so brave!"
That's right, what was recorded in that booklet was Xiao Chen and Jing Fei's joint establishment of a chamber of commerce...
Moreover, Zhou Tianfu's records are quite detailed, every shop and every business is recorded carefully!
But the reason why Chu Yanwu was angry was not because Xiao Chen was amassing money... but because Xiao Chen actually hooked up with a concubine in the harem!
He also knows that his health has been poor these years, and he is powerless when facing beauties from the first palace.
Although Xiao Chen is a eunuch, he is handsome in appearance and tall in stature. There is no chance that those Jiu Kuang concubines might have any wrong thoughts...
What's more, there are still interests involved!
Zhou Tianfu felt confident when he saw Chu Yanwu's gloomy expression.
He bent even lower, and said with seeming loyalty: "Your Majesty, Xiao Chen's matter is definitely not that simple!"
"Not only is he arrogant and domineering, bullying the people, and robbing aristocratic families... he is also closely involved with the concubines in the harem, and not only his former master Concubine Shu, but Concubine Jing also has interests with him!"
After these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone present changed somewhat.
You must know that this matter is not as simple as it seems...it may be the crime of fornication.
And who are Concubine Jing and Concubine Shu? That's Chu Yanwu's woman!
Who is Chu Yanwu? Chu Yanwu is the emperor of Chu!
This update is about the royal family’s face!
If there was really something dirty... Xiao Chen would not be able to get rid of his crime even if he was crushed to death!
In fact, Zhou Tianfu's idea was also very correct. He just wanted to force Chu Yanwu to attack Xiao Chen.
But Zhou Tianfu ignored a more critical point.
Chu Yanwu is also a man, and he is also a man who wants to save face.
If Chu Yanwu really executed Xiao Chen, wouldn't it mean to tell everyone that Xiao Chen really had something to do with the two concubines?
No matter what the relationship is...just the rumors can make him so angry that he vomits blood.
Chu Yanwu's face became extremely gloomy, and he gritted his teeth and said: "Prime Minister, I know that Xiao Chen's crime is extremely heinous, but what you just said is of great importance, so please don't make any mistakes!"
Zhou Tianfu's words were no different from those squeezed out from between his teeth.
Everyone could hear the anger in his voice.
Zhou Tianfu's heart skipped a beat, and he ignored Chu Yanwu's personal emotions...
In fact, it's no wonder Zhou Tianfu, who knew that Chu Yanwu, who seemed to be in his prime, now has no ability...
To say that Xiao Chen had an affair with the harem at this juncture is to stab Chu Yanwu in the heart.
But now that the matter has come to this, what can be done?
Zhou Tianfu could not give in at all, and even said in a higher tone: "Your Majesty! Dongchang, as a force cultivated by Xiao Chen himself, must be shut down, otherwise it will be endlessly poisonous!"
Chu Yanwu said almost coldly: "Prime Minister, I have already said it once, and I don't want to say it a second time!"
But Zhou Tianfu will not be afraid.
After all, the reason is on his side, and even the emperor Chu Yanwu will not do it to his face...
He even knelt down on the ground and kowtowed heavily: "Your Majesty, for the sake of the peace of the harem, Concubine Jing and Concubine Shu must be executed. As for the Dongchang founded by Xiao Chen, they cannot be kept! Please give your Majesty a clear warning!"
Even some officials from the same faction as Zhou Tianfu knelt down and shouted:
"Your Majesty, please give me a clear warning!"
Chu Yanwu's face was already ugly, so gloomy that he seemed to be dripping with water.
He once again felt his powerlessness in the court... and felt that the court was actually controlled by these civil servants from aristocratic families!
The anger in Chu Yanwu's heart could hardly be restrained.
He even wanted to call the guards and drag that old dog Zhou Tianfu out.
But at this moment, the eunuch’s announcement came from the door:
"Director Xiao is here!"
This voice made everyone stunned.
The next moment, Xiao Chen dragged Jiang Rongfeng in like a dead dog and walked in swaggeringly.
