PDLP Chapter 297
Chapter 297
"How dare you! Do you have an imperial decree? How dare you trespass into the Marquis's residence?"
Before Chen Wanyan could speak, one of the officials stood up and pointed at Lu Wanshan, angrily rebuking him.
"When has the Northern Garrison ever needed an imperial edict to arrest someone? Everyone, please don't be impatient. Today, you will all come with us to explain where this money came from and what you want to do at Lord Chen's residence."
How could Lu Wanshan be swayed by such words? He glanced at the man coldly and said...
However, this person was not afraid. He felt that he had Chen Wanyan and the Marquis's Mansion as his backers. He believed that the Northern Garrison Commander in front of him was probably sent by Commander Zhou Chu. Even if he and his men were arrested and imprisoned, they would still have to be released afterward.
There was a precedent for this; Marquis Taihe had been imprisoned before, and what happened to him?
Therefore, both he and the other officials around him appeared extremely calm.
"Lu Wanshan, you should think carefully about the consequences of doing this."
Chen Wanyan said with a gloomy expression.
"That's none of your concern, Lord Marquis. Now that I'm here, I know what the consequences will be."
Lu Wanshan sneered.
"Please invite all of you to the Northern Garrison Command, but be mindful of the decorum."
After finishing his sentence, Lu Wanshan stopped wasting time with the crowd and gave the order directly.
The Imperial Guards who followed stepped forward one after another. They were more polite to Chen Wanyan and Chen Shaozu, but they simply took the other officials away.
"My lord, please. If we insist on using force, it will make things difficult for everyone."
Lu Wanshan said with a cold expression.
Upon hearing this, Chen Wanyan and his son understood that they had no choice but to go to the Zhaoyu Prison today. However, they were not particularly afraid. Their thoughts were similar to those of the others who had been taken away before. The Northern Garrison Command might be able to arrest them, but without the emperor's permission, even if the Northern Garrison Command had ten times the courage, they would not dare to touch them.
The Northern Garrison Command has the power to execute first and report later, but that depends on who it is. It can certainly do so for officials of the fourth or fifth rank, but for someone of Chen Wanyan's status, the Northern Garrison Command does not have the authority to deal with him.
Chen Wanyan and his son felt that once this matter was handed over to the emperor, it would be a pipe dream for the Northern Garrison to imprison them. Not to mention anything else, the empress alone would not agree.
"Lu Wanshan, just you wait. It's not just you, but also Zhou Chu. When His Majesty finds out about this, he will not let you off easily."
Chen Shaozu said with an arrogant expression.
The father and son stopped arguing with Lu Wanshan and strode ahead, followed by a group of Imperial Guards, heading straight for the Northern Garrison's prison.
News of the incident at the Chen residence spread quickly, and the first person to receive the news was none other than Empress Chen. After receiving the news from the servants of the Chen residence, Empress Chen was furious. She never expected that Zhou Chu would be so audacious as to attack her father again and again.
"Zhou Chu! Zhou Chu! How dare you?"
Madam Chen smashed everything in her palace. The maids serving her knelt on the ground, trembling. Anyone who dared to mess with her at this time would only face Madam Chen's fury. There had been precedents, so no one dared to provoke her.
"Come with me to see His Majesty."
Madam Chen glanced at her personal maid lying on the ground and said coldly.
Two of the maids hurriedly got up and left the palace with Chen. The other maids breathed a sigh of relief and quickly began to tidy up the palace. If they didn't finish tidying up before Chen returned, they would be punished.
Chen headed straight for Wanshou Palace, but was stopped by Huang Jin as soon as she arrived at the entrance.
"Your Majesty, please wait."
Huang Jin said in a low voice.
"What? You dare to stop me, you lowly servant?"
Chen looked at Huang Jin with a disdainful expression.
"Your Majesty is too kind. This servant would never dare to do that. It was His Majesty who gave the order. These past two days, Master Baoyi Shouzheng has been bathing and burning incense to perform a fasting ceremony for His Majesty. His Majesty wants to pray for the Ming Dynasty and for the people. He specifically instructed this servant that no one should disturb him."
Huang Jin ignored Chen's insulting words. He was well aware of his own status and never intended to hold a grudge against Chen. This was his nature. In his heart, there was only how to serve his master well, and his master's ideas were his ideas.
"Get out of my way! I must see His Majesty today. If you dare to block my way again, don't blame me for being impolite!"
Chen looked coldly at Huang Jin.
"Your Majesty, please be careful. Even if Your Majesty beats me to death here today, I will not let Your Majesty in."
Huang Jin spoke in a soft tone, but his words carried a firm undertone and were unyielding.
Even Chen was stunned when she heard this. She had never seen Huang Jin defy her so much. In her eyes, Huang Jin used to be an obedient servant who would do whatever the emperor asked without hesitation.
At this moment, Madam Chen seemed to be getting to know Huang Jin all over again, scrutinizing the meek and submissive young eunuch with her eyes.
"Huang Jin, today I have truly come to know you in a new light. Very well, very well indeed. Once His Majesty's fasting period is over, I will see how he will punish you."
Chen gritted his teeth and said.
After saying this, Chen left in anger.
Huang Jin paid no attention to Chen's words, and even felt that the arrogant empress in front of him was extremely pathetic.
Huang Jin knew far more than Chen Shi. She was well aware that the fate of Chen Shi and the Chen family had already been sealed when Lord Zhou returned to the capital.
Or even earlier, as early as half a year ago, when Empress Chen first tried to interfere with His Majesty's decisions regarding civil officials, His Majesty had already considered deposing the Empress.
After that, Chen quieted down for a while, which made His Majesty temporarily give up the idea of deposing the Empress. However, recently, since the Empress became pregnant, she has become increasingly arrogant and domineering. Huang Jin knew that this was also related to His Majesty's deliberate indulgence.
The empress and the Marquis of Taihe before them were already like grasshoppers in autumn, yet they were unaware of it.
After Chen left, Huang Jin turned and entered the Wanshou Palace.
At this time, Feixiazi Han Mao was indeed in the Wanshou Palace, but Jiajing did not bathe or burn incense. After all, the morning court was tomorrow, and the so-called bathing and burning incense to pray for the Ming Dynasty was just an excuse for Chen.
"Your Majesty's service to Commander Zhou is truly commendable, and this meeting between ruler and subject will surely be celebrated in the future."
Feixiazi laughed.
"Daoist Master, you flatter me. Hengqi and I are merely complementary. I owe my current situation and power entirely to Hengqi. If I don't help Hengqi now, who will? Hengqi is now close to having enemies throughout the court."
Jiajing sighed.
"Yang Yiqing and others' previous attempt to flatter and kill Hengqi was extremely malicious. If Chen Wanyan hadn't made such a fuss, even if I reinstated Hengqi, these people would have continued to suppress it in the future. In that case, Hengqi could have been doomed if it hadn't been careful."
Feixiazi nodded upon hearing this.
"Your Majesty is far-sighted. In this way, those people who want to deal with Lord Zhou in the future will have to think twice."
After receiving news that the Northern Garrison had taken action, Yang Yiqing sneered.
"Chen Wanyan, Chen Wanyan, who did you have to mess with?"