Chapter 35: The Troublemaker in the Imperial Court!

Zhu Cilang feigned ignorance, merely nodding and saying, "Please, Grand Secretary Zhou, speak your mind."

Zhou Yanru spoke in a resonant voice: "Since yesterday afternoon, I know not how, news has spread throughout the capital that His Majesty intends to re-establish the imperial secret agencies. The common people are filled with terror and unease, fearing that His Majesty is being misled by the eunuch faction, which would bring about a catastrophe akin to that of Wei Zhongxian. Therefore, I implore His Highness the Crown Prince to advise His Majesty against re-establishing these agencies, so as to spare the people from such panic!"

As soon as Zhou Yanru finished, a large group of officials immediately jumped out to echo his sentiments.

"I second this motion!"
"I second this motion!"
"I second this motion!"

Zhu Cilang continued to feign ignorance, then asked with a look of genuine confusion: "Is that so? How is it that I have heard nothing of this? Summon Luo Yangxing, Commander of the Jinyiwei!"

Before long, Luo Yangxing appeared in the grand hall.

"Your humble servant, Luo Yangxing, pays his respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince!" Luo Yangxing bowed respectfully.

Zhu Cilang nodded and asked directly: "Luo Yangxing, Grand Secretary Zhou claims that since yesterday afternoon, rumors have spread across the capital that His Majesty intends to re-establish the secret agencies, and that the people are panic-stricken. Is there any truth to this?"

As the Emperor’s most loyal lackey, Luo Yangxing naturally knew how to respond. He replied with a look of utmost respect: "Replying to Your Highness, your servant has not received any such reports!"

What?

Zhou Yanru was completely dumbfounded. How could this be? He had gone to such great lengths to incite these rumors, specifically so the Jinyiwei would report them to the Emperor and force a concession—and yet, he was being told the Jinyiwei had received no information? Could it be that the people who were arrested for spreading the rumors yesterday were not, in fact, caught by the Jinyiwei?

With this thought, Zhou Yanru asked with a stern face: "Commander Luo, are you certain of this?"

Luo Yangxing replied without a hint of hesitation: "Naturally! The Jinyiwei has never received any such information; otherwise, how could we allow them to slander His Majesty?"

Zhou Yanru and the Donglin faction were left speechless. In the past, no matter what rumors they spread in the capital, the Emperor would invariably hear of them by the next day. Why was this tactic failing now? Had the Jinyiwei truly rotted to such an extent? That seemed impossible.

According to previous reports, the Jinyiwei had indeed arrested quite a few people!

Just as Zhou Yanru was lost in doubt, Xue Guoguan stepped forward. "Grand Secretary Zhou, I have never heard of the matters you speak of. May I ask where you obtained such information? Why is it that His Majesty does not know, the Crown Prince does not know, the Jinyiwei does not know, and I do not know, yet you and your few companions are the only ones who do? Could it be that this is your own doing?"

Here it was! Xue Guoguan, the leader of the Emperor’s faction, had finally begun his offensive against the Donglin faction. A corner of Zhu Cilang’s mouth curled upward involuntarily. Meanwhile, Zhou Yanru’s complexion had turned ghastly. Although it was indeed his doing, how could he possibly admit it?

In the next second, he snapped: "Grand Secretary Xue, do not speak nonsense. I only learned of this from my servants. This matter has supposedly spread throughout the entire capital, though I know not why His Majesty and the Crown Prince remain unaware. Perhaps my servants were mistaken."

As he spoke the final sentence, his tone softened significantly. But Xue Guoguan had no intention of letting him off the hook. He continued: "It is said that rumors stop at the ears of the wise. Even if such rumors were circulating, a wise man would have dismissed them. Grand Secretary Zhou, you are well aware that His Majesty intends to re-establish the secret agencies precisely to prevent a repeat of the corruption and bribery among the nobility. Why, then, would you give credence to such rumors? Not only did you believe them, but you even brought them to the imperial court, forcing them into the ears of all the civil and military officials, His Majesty, and the Crown Prince. Grand Secretary Zhou, what exactly are you trying to do? Are you attempting to deceive the throne?"

Good heavens! Xue Guoguan’s words were enough to make Zhou Yanru choke on his own bile, and he was completely unable to refute them.

"Grand Secretary Xue, isn't that going a bit too far?"

Just then, another man stepped out. This was none other than Zhang Zhifa, another member of the Cabinet. Zhang did not belong to the Donglin, Zhe, or Chu factions, but rather to the smaller Qi faction. Under normal circumstances, he would have no reason to assist the Donglin faction, but he was also deeply opposed to the re-establishment of the secret agencies, so he naturally stood on the same front as Zhou Yanru. Furthermore, he despised the Emperor’s faction, which Xue Guoguan represented.

Xue Guoguan glanced at Zhang Zhifa and said coldly: "Grand Secretary Zhang, am I wrong? These were merely trivial rumors; one should have treated them as idle chatter and moved on. Instead, you insisted on bringing this matter into the court. What are you trying to achieve? Could it be that you, too, have a hand in this?"

Zhang Zhifa’s face twitched. He eventually shut his mouth and retreated in frustration, daring not say another word.

Zhu Cilang sat above, overlooking the battle between Xue Guoguan and the civil officials, feeling invigorated. As expected, the power of the head of the Emperor’s faction was not to be underestimated; he had silenced both a Chief Grand Secretary and a Cabinet Minister single-handedly. He wondered what the Chongzhen Emperor had been thinking when he insisted on killing Xue Guoguan. Even if Xue Guoguan couldn't accomplish much, keeping him around as a disruptor was perfectly useful!

Regardless, with Xue Guoguan’s interference, the Donglin faction was left with nothing more to say. As for the others, they were equally silenced.

Zhu Cilang cleared his throat and said: "I trust everyone now understands that this matter was merely a collection of rumors. Grand Secretary Xue is correct—rumors stop at the ears of the wise. Let us hear no more of this. Court dismissed!"

With that, Zhu Cilang rose and departed. Behind him, only the voices of the officials remained. "We respectfully send off Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

As they walked out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Zhou Yanru and the other Cabinet ministers remained livid, their footsteps hurried. They truly could not understand what was happening. Since the Emperor had fallen ill, it was as if he had become an entirely different person. He failed to execute those who should be executed, promoted those who shouldn't be, and instead, frustrated his own "loyal ministers." Where was the image of a sagely monarch? Was it possible that he had truly been driven to madness by the corruption and rebellions of the nobility?

As he pondered this, Zhou Yanru noticed that Xue Guoguan was heading toward the palace exit. Sneering, Zhou Yanru called out to him: "Grand Secretary Xue, where are you off to? Now that you have been restored to your position, you should be joining us to handle state affairs. Or is it that after spending so much time in prison, you have forgotten where the government is managed?"

As he said this, the men around him chuckled in secret. Xue Guoguan, however, did not care in the slightest. He gave a yawn and said: "You gentlemen go ahead. I have other matters to attend to—matters specifically entrusted to me by His Majesty and the Crown Prince. I simply cannot refuse!"

Having said this, Xue Guoguan swept his gaze over the group, his eyes filled with nothing but contempt. Zhou Yanru and the others watched as their own expressions soured instantly.