Scheming Separately

Shangyang Palace, outside.

The on-duty eunuch stopped Zhang Zhengyang, standing on the steps and looking down, he said.

"Lord Zhang, His Majesty has already retired for the night. If you have anything, you can submit a memorial in court tomorrow."

"This official has important matters to report. Please trouble Eunuch Xu to announce it."

Zhang Zhengyang looked at the brightly lit palace, the sounds of string and bamboo music and singing reaching his ears, along with the occasional sounds of women chasing, playing, and laughing.

Eunuch Xu said, "This humble servant wouldn't dare disturb His Majesty's rest. Lord Zhang, please return."

"Your subject requests an audience with His Majesty!"

Zhang Zhengyang knelt outside the palace gate, tears streaming down his face, his voice mournful, constantly requesting an audience with the Emperor.

He kowtowed repeatedly, blood seeping from his forehead.

After a long while.

There was no response from the palace. Zhang Zhengyang's expression changed from resolute to miserable and dejected. After three kowtows and nine bows, he struggled to his feet and left.

"Your subject takes his leave!"

Inside the palace.

Forty or fifty beautiful palace maids were dancing and playing in the hall. On the dragon throne at the front, Emperor Yongxing was nowhere to be seen.

After Zhao Yuan ascended the throne, he established the era name Yongxing.

This year was still Hongchang 18th year; next year would be Yongxing 1st year.

Eunuch Xu hurried to a small pavilion in the rear palace, entered, and knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Zhang has left the palace."

Emperor Yongxing leaned lazily on a soft couch, surrounded by more than twenty people like stars surrounding the moon, all high-ranking officials in purple and crimson robes. On his left was Minister of War Liang Dong, and on his right was Minister of Appointments Xie Wei.

The two men had originally been Zhang Zhengyang's confidants, but now they had joined Emperor Yongxing's camp.

A new emperor brings a new court. The civil and military officials could see clearly that Prime Minister Zhang, whose power had overshadowed the heavens, would inevitably fall. They had to make plans early.

Emperor Yongxing asked, "Prime Minister Zhang retreated just like that? Did he show any disobedience?"

Eunuch Xu truthfully reported, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Prime Minister Zhang looked despairing and had no complaints."

"Prime Minister Zhang is still sensible."

Emperor Yongxing waved his hand, ordering Eunuch Xu to withdraw. He turned to a eunuch serving on the side and asked, "Defu, have you found out who is spreading the rumors?"

Li Defu had originally been an inner eunuch of Prince Qin's Residence. He had served Emperor Yongxing since childhood, and now he had leaped to become the Director of Ceremonial Affairs and concurrently the commander of the Brocade Guard.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, there were too many people who saw what happened that night in the palace. A thorough investigation will still take some time."

Emperor Yongxing said coldly, "What fault is there in entering the palace to quell the rebellion? I am asking who is spreading the rumors about assassinating my sixth brother?"

Since the edict of ascension to the throne was issued, various rumors had spread throughout Shenjing, such as usurpation and great filial impiety, which vaguely made Emperor Yongxing's position unstable.

Li Defu knelt down with a thud: "Your Majesty, this old servant deserves to die. I have not yet completely controlled the Brocade Guard."

Emperor Yongxing frowned slightly, wanting to summon someone to drag this trash out and beat him to death, but he had ascended the throne in haste, and there were too few usable people in his bag.

The commander of the Brocade Guard was too crucial and sensitive. It was better to give it to a loyal piece of trash than to allow outsiders to interfere.

"Your Majesty, anyone with eyes can see that this matter is false. Those people don't care about the truth at all; they only want to tarnish Your Majesty's reputation."

Xie Wei said, "Instead of chasing after the rumor-mongers and being led by the nose, it's better to point directly to the source. The beneficiaries of these rumors are none other than those three!"

Of the late Emperor's six princes, the eldest son was imprisoned in the Cold Palace, and the sixth prince was dead. Only three were qualified to replace Emperor Yongxing.

Emperor Yongxing nodded slightly, a fierce light flashing in his eyes. He had still been softhearted when he killed his first brother, but killing again would be much easier. If he weren't concerned about his reputation, he would have exterminated the families of his three younger brothers now, and the rumors in the capital would be dispelled without a fight.

"A bunch of cowards hiding their heads and tails. After I negotiate peace with Great Yong, I will transfer the armies of the various prefectures back to the capital and kill them all!"

Emperor Yongxing looked at the Minister of War: "Is the Capital Garrison stable?"

"Your Majesty, please rest assured! This subject entered the Capital Garrison alone, severely rebuked the Sun family for only knowing how to drink the blood of soldiers and disregarding the Emperor's grace, and removed them from their positions on the spot. Several troublemaking military heads were beheaded, and no one dared to object anymore. The military power of the Capital Garrison is now entirely in my hands."

Liang Dong said with great pride: "To prevent the Sun family from making a comeback, I also disrupted the Capital Garrison's troops and transferred them to other departments in Shenjing, which is now foolproof."

Emperor Yongxing praised, "Lord Liang is truly a pillar of the court."

The Capital Garrison was Emperor Yongxing's only concern. Even if other demons and monsters rebelled, they could not break through the heavily guarded imperial palace.

Now that Emperor Yongxing had announced it to the world and been recognized by the prefectures of the Fengyang Kingdom, the rebel army could not quickly break through the imperial palace, and the king-defending army would inevitably be wiped out upon arrival.

At this moment.

A voice entered the pavilion.

"Your Majesty, we've caught an assassin."

Emperor Yongxing snorted coldly: "Bring him in."

The one who came in was a white-robed monk, with an old face and a thin figure.

The old monk was carrying a man in night clothes in his hand. He waved his hand and threw him on the ground. He did not kneel to Emperor Yongxing, but directly reported: "This person's nickname in the Jianghu is 'Touching the Sky'. He is extremely skilled in lightness techniques. I heard that he was recruited by Prince Chu's Residence a few days ago."

Emperor Yongxing said, "A mere country bumpkin dares to call himself 'Touching the Sky'. Send him to the Imperial Prison for interrogation, investigate his nine generations of relatives, and send them to the Northern Frontier to serve in the army!"

"As you command."

The monk snapped the strongman's limbs with a series of crack, crack, crack sounds, disappearing as quickly as a ghost.

Emperor Yongxing looked at Li Defu kneeling before him, and said approvingly, "This matter has been handled well. Although Jianghu people are not presentable, they can prevent petty thieves from spying on the palace."

Li Defu breathed a sigh of relief, flattering him, "Your Majesty, this old servant dares not take credit. Those righteous experts, upon hearing that they were working for Your Majesty, eagerly joined the Brocade Guard."

Emperor Yongxing said with delight, "It seems that the people's hearts are with Us!"

The two Ministers stroked their beards and smiled, while the other high-ranking officials applauded.

"Your Majesty receives his mandate from Heaven, may you live long and prosper!"

Emperor Yongxing felt greatly reassured.

"Then, according to the established plan, We shall act as a foolish ruler for a few days, and when those jumping clowns come out, We will catch them all in one fell swoop."

Northwest corner of the Imperial Palace.

A remote and desolate unnamed palace.

The guarding eunuch not only did not stop Zhang Zhengyang when he saw him coming, but bowed and saluted.

"Prime Minister, His Highness has been waiting for you for a long time."

Only one candle was lit in the hall, dimly illuminating the area. The deposed Crown Prince Zhao Xian paced back and forth, his expression quite anxious.

Zhang Zhengyang entered and said, "Your Highness, in the face of great events, you must calm your mind!"

"Father-in-law, you don't understand."

Zhao Xian's face was bitter. "According to the eunuchs in the palace, my brother has won over the two Ministers of War and Appointments, and holds the military power of the Capital Garrison and the appointment and removal of officials. He is sitting more and more securely on the throne."

Zhang Zhengyang said, "Liang Dong is an old pedant who only knows how to talk on paper, and Xie Wei is a weathercock who sways with the wind. These two wastes are not worth paying attention to."

Zhao Xian asked in confusion, "Weren't these two promoted by you, Father-in-law, as capable ministers of the country?"

Zhang Zhengyang was old and weak. Not long ago, he had cried and kowtowed in Shangyang Palace, expending most of his strength, so he found a round stool to sit down.

"If I had really promoted capable ministers, the late Emperor would have replaced me as the chief minister long ago. In the future, when you ascend the throne and become emperor, remember not to allow only one voice in the court, even if it is wrong, there must be two!"

Zhao Xian bowed and said, "I respectfully obey your teachings, Father-in-law."

"If you had really listened to me, you shouldn't have associated with the Li family in the first place. How could you have ended up like this?"

Zhang Zhengyang knew that this son-in-law was of average talent and had no ability or wisdom of his own, but he insisted on trying to manipulate things, turning what was originally a sure win into a major disadvantage.

If it weren't for his daughter's plea and the existence of his grandson, Zhang Zhengyang would have followed the late Emperor's will.

After twenty years of holding the power of the chief minister, and experiencing so many storms and struggles, Zhang Zhengyang was confident that he could send the other three regents to the Imperial Prison.

Even the Emperor's own mother would not be spared!