nashuaworldcup Chapter 762 The Old Minister Who Committed Suicide
Chapter 762 The Old Minister Who Committed Suicide
Chapter 762 The Old Minister Who Committed Suicide
Inside the royal estate, Wang Wenzhou was still cuddling his baby, who was sleeping with his bottom sticking up, when suddenly someone knocked on the door.
Wang Wenzhou said irritably, "Who the hell is it? Why can't people get some sleep this early in the morning? Are you out of your mind?"
Sheng Lan shook her head with a wry smile. Ever since the banquet tragedy, this rascal had been working day and night, staying up all night to torment his little bitch in various ways, while the daytime became his rest time. Sheng Lan felt sorry for him, but her attempts to persuade him were useless.
Sheng Lan said, "Reporting to you, my lord, it is I, Jian Fengyu. You should get up quickly and go see what's going on. An old man has hanged himself."
Wang Wenzhou cursed and said, "These old bastards, are they tired of living? They even tried to commit suicide? Okay, wait a minute, I'll get up now."
Da Yu'er and Gao Guiying hurriedly helped Wang Wenzhou get dressed. Afterwards, Wang Wenzhou didn't even have time to eat breakfast. He took the baby to the stable, which is now the dormitory for civil and military officials.
Outside the stable, Kong Zhenyun, Zheng Sanjun, and others had been waiting for a long time.
Wang Wenzhou covered his nose and said irritably, "Why does it smell so bad?"
Zheng Sanjun shook his head with a wry smile. "Boxin, stop joking! You know this is a stable. Besides thatch, it's covered in horse manure and urine. How can it not stink?"
Wang Wenzhou looked at Kong Zhenyun and asked, "Old Kong, who the hell is the idiot who committed suicide?"
Kong Zhenyun replied, "This is the will left by Xu Jingyi, the young master of the Zhan family. Please take a look."
The Zhan Shi Mansion was an institution that assisted the Crown Prince. Since Zhu Youjian had not yet established a Crown Prince, the officials in the Zhan Shi Mansion were all nominal positions, just loafing around and waiting to die.
Wang Wenzhou took Xu Jingyi's suicide note and began to read it.
"As a veteran official of three reigns, I should continue to be loyal to the emperor and love my country, sharing His Majesty's burdens. Unfortunately, my old illness has recently flared up, and I can no longer serve the country. Living on would only be a burden to the court and my colleagues. However, please believe me, Your Majesty, that I am truly innocent!"
Long live the Ming Dynasty! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Ming Dynasty! Long live the Ming Dynasty! Long live the Ming Dynasty! Long live the Ming Dynasty!
"Hmm?" Wang Wenzhou frowned and asked, "Old Kong, is Xu Jingyi sick?"
"Alas..." Kong Zhenyun sighed, leaned forward, and whispered, "As far as I know, Lord Xu is in good health. The reason he sought death was because he couldn't bear the torment! Boxin! Let me give you a piece of advice: stop torturing your colleagues!"
Wang Wenzhou said irritably, "Old Kong, you've seen the Emperor's edict, so is this my fault? Even so, the Donglin Party members still stubbornly resist and refuse to admit their guilt! What can I do? If it weren't for the pretext of the plague, the capital would have been under martial law, and the imperial estates would have been sealed off, and the Donglin Party members would have already stirred up trouble!"
Kong Zhenyun said with a wry smile, "Boxin! Not all officials are members of the Donglin Party! For example, someone like Lord Xu is not a member of the Donglin Party, so this is an undeserved disaster for him!"
Wang Wenzhou pursed his lips and said helplessly, "What can I do? Can I just lock up the Donglin Party members? Wouldn't that be blatantly trying to kill them? They're not stupid; they won't just sit and wait to die."
"Pat pat!" Wang Wenzhou patted Kong Zhenyun on the shoulder and said solemnly, "Old Kong, I know you have never formed factions, but in the current situation, as the Grand Secretary, you should unite the non-Donglin Party members, tell them in private about the Emperor's good intentions, tell them not to worry, unite around the Emperor, and be loyal to the country!"
"Alright! I will do as you say!" Kong Zhenyun nodded helplessly. He really had no other choice. He simply couldn't understand how Zhu Youjian could be fooled by Wang Wenzhou into doing such a thing!
“Old Kong, you will have to take care of Lord Xu’s funeral arrangements. Although we are all stuck in the imperial estate and can’t leave, we can’t just leave the body like this. Take some people and bury him temporarily. After the plague is over, we can hand him over to his family for a proper burial!” Wang Wenzhou said solemnly.
"Yes!" Kong Zhenyun nodded, waved to the guards, and led them to handle the funeral arrangements.
As soon as Kong Zhenyun left, Zheng Sanjun and several other Donglin Party leaders quickly surrounded Wang Wenzhou. Since they were all Wang Wenzhou's father-in-law and grandfather, they didn't treat him like an outsider.
Zheng Sanjun said with a wry smile, "Boxin! Tell me the truth, when does the Emperor plan to release us?"
Zheng Sanjun and other members of the Donglin Party, knowing the inside story and having already formed an alliance with Wang Wenzhou, were suffering greatly, but they truly didn't want to die. They were waiting to get out and depose the incompetent Emperor Zhu Youjian.
Wang Wenzhou shook his head and said helplessly, "Old Zheng, you're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask? Not only can you not get out, but I can't either. I have no idea what's going on outside, and I'm not getting any information!"
"Is this really true?" Qian Shisheng really didn't believe Wang Wenzhou's words, after all, Wang Wenzhou was in charge of everything within the imperial estate.
Wang Wenzhou said with a wry smile, "Old Qian, we're all family now. Why would I lie to you? That bastard Wang Qiang has the Imperial Estate completely surrounded. How could I possibly get any news from the outside? Actually, you Donglin Party members are far more resourceful than I am. How could you possibly get any news from the outside?"
Zheng Sanjun cupped his hands in greeting and said sincerely, "Boxin, don't be angry. Lord Qian is just anxious! Putting aside everything else, we are all trapped inside the imperial estate. How can the Ming court function? The Ming Dynasty is already going through a turbulent time. The tyrannical and incompetent ruler has done such a foolish thing. It hurts our friends and pleases our enemies! If we don't get out soon, the Ming Dynasty is likely to be in grave danger!"
Wang Wenzhou chuckled inwardly. These bastards from the Donglin Party, each one of them claiming to be loyal to the emperor and patriotic, but when it comes to personal gain, they're all the same to the emperor and patriotic to him.
Wang Wenzhou thought for a moment and then said, “Gentlemen, don’t worry! Not only are we worried, but Zhu Youjian is too. Think about it, he has sealed off the capital, and the court is practically a shell. If this continues, the local forces will start to stir. Zhu Youjian isn’t stupid; he won’t go down a dead end. Don’t worry, as long as you grit your teeth and hold on, and don’t do anything foolish or commit suicide, in a few days, if Zhu Youjian can’t find any evidence against you, he’ll have no choice but to let you out!”
"Yes!" Several Donglin Party leaders nodded. Wang Wenzhou's words made sense. They also felt that the court could not function without them.
At this moment, several Donglin Party leaders all looked at Zheng Sanjun, who looked as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "Old Zheng, we're not strangers. You've already betrothed your granddaughter to me, so just say what you want to say."
"Boxin! Could you please not let the girls into our room tonight? Our bodies really can't handle it!" Zheng Sanjun said with a wry smile.
"Haha!" Wang Wenzhou laughed loudly, "Old Zheng, you're biting the hand that feeds you! Isn't it good to sleep with pretty girls?"
Zheng Sanjun cursed inwardly, "Wang Wenzhou, you mad dog! Sleeping with girls my ass! You're young, sleeping with girls is fun for you, but we're risking our lives to sleep with girls! And without the drugs, where do we get the energy to sleep with girls? Do you want to work us to death?"