CHAPTER 423: 333. FOOTHOLD

Behind the gauze curtain in the hall, a person sat cross-legged like a dragon.

The ceiling was painted with the twenty-eight constellations, and beside him were the all-powerful officials and ministers.

At this moment, Renshou Palace was extraordinarily quiet. Everyone was deep in thought due to the sudden turn of events, not daring to speak rashly.

A decree to quell the rebellion?

Could it be that His Majesty had long intended to eliminate the Wang family and weaken the Chen family, and thus secretly issued a verbal decree, ordering the Yulin Army, who usually went unnoticed, to act on this matter in secret?

If so, the next step would be to convict the Ding Wang family, then use them to implicate the Chen family, and overthrow the Crown Prince’s faction?

Official Chen sat on an embroidered stool, staring intently, as if trying to see through the Chen family’s bastard son before him. He gazed at Chen Ji’s reflection in the mirror-like green bricks, calm and resolute.

Official Xu, Official Qi, and Official Hu closed their eyes in contemplation, their thoughts unknown.

No one was willing to voice an opinion.

Chen Ji silently lay prostrate in Renshou Palace.

His master, Yao Qimen, once said that his fate was "created in primal chaos, difficult to thrive in a mix of hardness and softness, with movements hidden in danger." When he asked what it meant, his master summarized it with seven words: "Survive in a place of death to be reborn."

Chen Ji was taking a gamble.

He gambled correctly.

After a moment, Official Hu slowly spoke, "Your Majesty, if I may dare to ask, when did you issue this verbal decree?"

Emperor Ning, sitting behind the gauze curtain, said calmly, "Chen Ji, tell Official Hu."

Chen Ji slowly said, "A few days ago, this humble servant went to Tianqiao to watch wrestling and happened to hear that there were market idle people in the outer city plotting rebellion, also privately hiding crossbows. I then informed Lord Zhang Zhuo of this matter. Afterwards, Lord Zhang conveyed a verbal decree from His Majesty, to avoid alerting the snake, instructing us to act discreetly and investigate the rebels’ movements."

Official Hu was about to speak when Zhang Zhuo seized the opportunity and said in a loud voice, "Have you found out who the mastermind behind this is? Is it the Wang family?"

Chen Ji understood and calmly replied, "During my investigation, I discovered that the ’Dragon Head’ Wang Huan was backed by Shuntian Prefect Lord Wang. Wang Huan has now confessed in the Imperial Prison; the crossbows belong to the Wang family, and so do the death soldiers."

Wu Xiu glanced at everyone, turned, and left Renshou Palace in a hurry, not knowing where he went.

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of War behind Official Hu asked, "Isn’t it your Chen family backing the Wang family?"

Chen Ji glanced at him, "It has nothing to do with my Chen family."

Official Chen slightly raised his eyelids, and the fist he was gripping slowly relaxed a bit.

The Vice Minister continued to ask, "If it’s not the Chen family, why did Chen Wenren appear in the Eight Great Hutongs? Isn’t he shielding the Wang family?"

Chen Ji calmly said, "My lord, Chen Wenren appeared in the Eight Great Hutongs because the Yulin Army Commander Li Xuan, during the Korean Envoy case, had a personal vendetta against his Deputy Commander, unrelated to treason."

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of War said in a deep voice, "Regardless of the reason, Chen Wenren’s unauthorized deployment of the official army and armed private fight should be punished with a hundred cane strokes and exiled to Lingnan. Otherwise, everyone in the army will imitate this, and military discipline will collapse!"

Official Chen propped himself up from the embroidered stool slowly, lifting the hem of his official robe, kneeled in Renshou Palace, "Your Majesty, this old official’s ears and eyes have grown dull; I did not know the younger generation at home was so audacious. I beseech Your Majesty’s mercy to allow me to resign. I only wish to use my remaining years to teach the young in our family to read and understand right from wrong, so as not to betray Your Majesty’s grace."

Emperor Ning said calmly behind the gauze curtain, "Chen Lizun, support Official Chen. The burden of the Ministry of Revenue still rests on his shoulders. If he resigns, who would I rely on? Official, you’re only seventy-six, so bear this responsibility for my great Daning realm for a bit longer."

Chen Lizun hurried to help up Official Chen.

At this time, Wu Xiu came out from behind the imperial screen, presenting a statement with a blood handprint, "Your Majesty, the court minister went to the Imperial Prison to retrieve Wang Huan’s confession, which is exactly as Chen Ji said. Furthermore, he has confessed about the Wang family secretly raising Taihang Mountain bandits."

"Oh?" Emperor Ning said nonchalantly, "Is there such a thing?"

Wu Xiu looked at the statement and said, "Taihang Mountain bandit Chen Feng once gathered five hundred bandits, controlling official roads, committing arson, and looting. Later, they were encircled by the Longevity Army. In Jianing 27th Year, he quietly entered the capital, hiding in Nianzi Alley. Shuntian Prefect Wang Chong audaciously forged his registration, renaming him Chen Zhu. This Chen Zhu had been working for Heji, serving as a court official. A few days ago, fearing exposure, the Wang family already killed him to silence him, and his body is buried in a graveyard outside the city."

Emperor Ning did not take the statement, only waved his hand, "Let the officials review this confession. Immediately arrest Shuntian Prefect Wang Chong, see if their family still hides crossbows and armor, and arrest all involved in the conspiracy. Execute the men and publicly display their heads, and conscript the women into the Imperial Music Bureau."

After speaking, he looked down at Official Chen, "Official Chen, that Mrs. Chen is a Chen family member; I won’t intervene. You can discipline them well when you return."

Official Chen cupped his hand, "This humble official obeys, thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."

Official Qi, who had been silent throughout, suddenly reminded, "Your Majesty, Chen Ji and others have made contributions in quelling the rebellion."

Emperor Ning was silent for a moment, "Draft a decree. Li Xuan is promoted to Governor of the Yulin Army, Standard Fourth Rank, and granted the Dragon Pattern Sword; Qi Zhenzhuo promoted to Yulin Army Commander, Secondary Fourth-rank, and granted the Qilin Jade Belt; small flag officer Chen Ji promoted to Common Households of Yulin Army, Sixth Rank; the others all rise by one rank."

Wu Xiu bowed, "Yes."

Emperor Ning rose from the throne, "All right, today’s matters are concluded. If there’s nothing else, go home and rest early."

Chen Ji suddenly raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, Chen Wenren."

Emperor Ning paused, and the officials in Renshou Palace focused themselves.

Emperor Ning, standing behind the curtain with a faint smile, said, "Draft a decree, Chen Wenren will receive one hundred cane strokes and be exiled to Lingnan, and his Yulin Army subordinates will all be demoted to soldiers."