Chapter 130: Giving the Empress Advice

Emperor Hongzhi naturally did not easily agree to Zhu Houzhao’s request.

At this time, Emperor Hongzhi glanced at Fang Jifan and said, “When the various provincial armies become familiar with the climate of Yunnan-Guizhou, the victory report will likely come.”

Emperor Hongzhi obviously did not have much interest in Horse Administration. In fact, throughout history, the Hongzhi Reign was relatively peaceful, yet it was far weaker militarily compared to other emperors’ reigns. This clearly had a lot to do with Emperor Hongzhi’s personality.

Even now, he still hoped that the imperial court’s army, after gradually getting familiar with the enemy, could quickly defeat them.

Fang Jifan had some understanding of Emperor Hongzhi’s temper, but he said, “Your servant has something to say, though I don’t know if I should say it. To be blunt…”

Before he could finish half his sentence, the expressions of Emperor Hongzhi and Minister Liu Jian, among others, suddenly changed.

This fellow was a jinx! Did he even need to ask if he should say it? And to say it bluntly…

“Enough!” Emperor Hongzhi cut Fang Jifan off without hesitation, saying directly, “You need not speak!”

“…” Fang Jifan looked as if he had swallowed a fly, his face bitter as he said, “Your Majesty, I still wish to speak…”

“Wait a bit longer, wait and see!” Emperor Hongzhi was somewhat speechless!

People of this era more or less still believed in supernatural things. Emperor Hongzhi said displeasedly, “I never thought you also understood Horse Administration. Very good…”

It must be said that Emperor Hongzhi was growing more and more appreciative of this young man. He then glanced sideways at Zhu Houzhao, feeling somewhat frustrated inwardly. Then, he coughed and said, “I have matters to discuss with Minister Liu. Fang Jifan, you and the Crown Prince go pay respects to the Empress. She has been thinking of you.”

Clearly, the emperor was determined not to let him speak further. Fang Jifan sighed inwardly and had no choice but to take his leave with Zhu Houzhao.

As soon as they left the Warm Pavilion, Zhu Houzhao immediately exclaimed in a low voice, “Old Fang, you’re really amazing.”

Seeing Zhu Houzhao’s admiring gaze, Fang Jifan said expressionlessly, “Not really, just a little bit amazing.”

Their voices inevitably drifted into the Warm Pavilion.

Emperor Hongzhi shook his head, looked at Minister Liu Jian and the others, and his face darkened. “We must prepare for the worst. Issue an imperial decree, ordering the Duke of Qianguo’s Mansion in Yunnan to train a Mountain Brigade.”

“Your Majesty…” Liu Jian said with a warm smile, “Since Your Majesty has this intention, why not say it earlier instead of waiting until after Fang Jifan left?”

Emperor Hongzhi looked deeply at Liu Jian, his expression peculiar as he said, “This lad, if I were to listen to all his suggestions, wouldn’t his tail be sticking up to the sky?”

Liu Jian couldn’t help but chuckle wryly.

…

Zhu Houzhao and Fang Jifan indeed went to pay respects to Empress Zhang. When the two arrived at Qianning Palace, they heard pleas for mercy coming from the main hall: “Sister, spare us! It’s not our fault…”

Soon after, someone went in to announce them. A moment later, a Palace Maid Official invited the two inside.

As Fang Jifan stepped into the main hall, he saw Empress Zhang’s face dark and furious, gritting her teeth, nothing like her usual dignified and graceful self. The two Zhang brothers were kneeling at Empress Zhang’s feet, continuously begging for mercy.

Empress Zhang said sharply, “Just for a piece of land, you fought with the Zhou Family and even injured someone? You… are truly insolent!”

“The land is ours, sister, our Zhang Family’s land.” Although Zhang Heling was begging for mercy, he clearly wasn’t convinced and subconsciously retorted.

After listening from the side, Fang Jifan understood. The so-called land dispute, involving the Zhou Family again… it was most likely the lawsuit the Zhang brothers stirred up in history.

This lawsuit was recorded in the Veritable Records of the Ming Dynasty, showing how serious the issue was.

This pair of Zhang brothers were famously foolish in history. While Emperor Hongzhi was still alive, their usual troublemaking was bad enough, but they caused a major incident that made Emperor Hongzhi completely lose hope in them.

The problem in this case lay with the Zhou Family. The Zhou Family was also an imperial in-law family, and their background was even greater than the Zhang Family’s—they were relatives of Grand Empress Dowager Zhou. Grand Empress Dowager Zhou was the grandmother who had personally raised Emperor Hongzhi! How important she was in his heart!

But this pair of fools not only went to compete with the Zhou Family over land, but they also injured someone.

Calling these two idiots was truly no exaggeration. Later, when their own nephew Zhu Houzhao ascended the throne, logically speaking, Empress Zhang only had this one son, and she had raised him, so her own brothers should have been protected. Yet, these two even managed to anger Zhu Houzhao, who pointed at their noses and furiously scolded them, vowing to have them executed. If not for Empress Zhang desperately stopping him, these two fools would likely have been chopped to mincemeat long ago.

What’s worse, during the Jiajing era, when Emperor Jiajing ascended the throne, the political climate had clearly changed drastically. Yet the two brothers still thought they were as influential as during the Hongzhi and Zhengde reigns and didn’t know how to restrain themselves. As a result, Emperor Jiajing directly placed Marquis of Shouning under house arrest. After Empress Zhang passed away, he directly executed the Zhang brothers.

Although Emperor Jiajing was cold and ruthless, he was full of schemes and calculations. Keeping a pair of useless Zhang Family members actually posed little threat, as they were just down-and-out dogs, really not worth killing. Yet Emperor Jiajing insisted on killing them, to the extent that people commented he was “uncommonly cold-hearted.”

The meaning was that Emperor Jiajing, after all, had received Empress Zhang’s support to inherit the throne, yet after Empress Zhang died, he killed her brothers, which was truly too heartless.

But Emperor Jiajing remained as he was, knowing the consequences, yet not changing his mind. Besides revealing his cold-heartedness, it also had much to do with the Zhang brothers’ foolish acts of courting death.

“You!” Empress Zhang was clearly very angry at this moment, sharply scolding, “Even now, you still want to argue? Get out! Get out!”

The Zhang brothers hesitated for a moment but dared not misbehave further. They hurriedly got up and scrambled away.

Empress Zhang’s anger had not yet subsided. Upon hearing that the Zhang Family had beaten the Zhou Family members—and knowing that Grand Empress Dowager also doted on him greatly—Zhu Houzhao felt closer to the Zhou Family and couldn’t help but say angrily, “Empress Mother, Marquis of Shouning and Earl of Jianchang truly deserve death. They should be severely punished.”

Upon hearing this, Empress Zhang’s phoenix eyes instantly filled with shock!

She clearly never expected her own son to look down on her two brothers so much that he used words like “deserve death.” She couldn’t hold back her tears: “Houzhao, your two uncles may be disappointing, but after all, they are Imperial Uncles. Ah… This Palace… truly spoiled them rotten…”

Her face showed both self-blame and deep distress.

Seeing his mother upset, Zhu Houzhao didn’t want to speak too harshly anymore and just snorted coldly.

Empress Zhang composed herself with difficulty and finally noticed Fang Jifan. Fang Jifan bowed to Empress Zhang, and she managed to force a slight smile, saying, “So Jifan has come too.”

“Yes…” Regarding Empress Zhang’s family matters, Fang Jifan thought it best not to say much. This Young Lord is not stupid at all.

But unexpectedly, Empress Zhang looked deeply at Fang Jifan and said, “This Palace heard from Houzhao that you are a person with many ideas. The Zhou Family, you know, they are the maternal family of Grand Empress Dowager. Those two useless brothers of mine actually beat a nephew of Grand Empress Dowager. Tell me, what should be done about this? Although Renshou Palace hasn’t blamed us yet, This Palace understands that Grand Empress Dowager must feel very upset. Give This Palace an idea—what should we do?”

Empress Zhang looked meaningfully at Fang Jifan, her phoenix eyes seeming to hold a peculiar expectation.

Fang Jifan’s heart tightened.

He inwardly shouted, Zhu Houzhao, you’re really screwing me over!

What ideas do I have? Why drag me into this?

But it seemed Empress Zhang had already developed some expectations of him.

And what she asked wasn’t so simple—it wasn’t just about how to resolve this matter peacefully.

Rather…

The Zhang brothers beat the Zhou Family members, and the Zhou Family would certainly seek revenge. Grand Empress Dowager was no pushover either; that woman who had experienced three reigns, how could she allow her family to be bullied?

So next, either the Zhou Family, backed by Grand Empress Dowager, would severely punish the Zhang brothers.

Or, the matter would have to be brought before the Emperor for judgment.

Although the Emperor and Empress Zhang had deep affection for each other, the Emperor was also a filial son, obeying Grand Empress Dowager in everything. Moreover, the Zhang Family was in the wrong this time. The Emperor would surely be furious, and even with Empress Zhang’s protection, the Zhang Family certainly wouldn’t have an easy time.

Furthermore, many Censors were already dissatisfied with the Zhang brothers. The Zhou Family’s influence in the court was formidable; these two brothers were just waiting to have their weaknesses exposed.

On the surface, Empress Zhang was asking how to resolve the matter peacefully, but in reality, she was asking: Is there still room for maneuvering? Although these two brothers made Empress Zhang furious, they were still her own brothers, and she had a tendency to shield them.

But…

Save them? How to save them? With what?

After all, Empress Zhang’s brothers were her brothers, but weren’t Grand Empress Dowager’s nephews also her nephews?

Empress Zhang wanted to protect her brothers, but if Grand Empress Dowager’s nephew was beaten, could she just swallow the insult?

This kind of matter was a tangled mess. I’m afraid the palace might not remain peaceful in the future.

Fang Jifan neither wanted to save the Zhang brothers, nor did he dare to fall into this trap, because…

Fang Jifan understood one thing very clearly: although Grand Empress Dowager had always lived deep in Renshou Palace, her status was like that of a great demon lord. With just a pinch of her hand, she could probably make the Fang Family vanish into thin air.

Seeing Fang Jifan’s troubled expression, Empress Zhang sighed sadly.

The Emperor was certainly not to be relied upon. Even the Crown Prince was now alienated from his own uncles. And none of the court officials had a good impression of the Zhang brothers.

This was undoubtedly being besieged on all sides. Was there really no way out at all?