Chapter 33: Let’s Beat Him Up Today
Chapter 33: Let’s Beat Him Up Today
Yang Xin did not care too much. At worst, he would just run away again. But he still needed to find a way to get Cao Wenzhao out of this mess…
After all, Old Cao really was innocent.
“This matter is not difficult. Since he is a soldier from Xuanzhen, he is also supposed to go to Liaodong. The newly appointed Liaodong Provincial Governor, Xiong Tingbi, is about to set off. Let him follow Xiong Tingbi to redeem himself through service! I can recommend him to Xiong Tingbi. Xiong Tingbi also holds the title of Right Assistant Censor-in-Chief, so he is part of the Censorate. The City Patrol Censor won’t refuse to give him face. If your friend is truly a Peerless Warrior, Liaodong is the perfect place for him to earn merit. Perhaps he can even build a future there.”
Fang Congzhe said.
He simply did not want to get involved in trouble.
His relationship with Yang Xin was not close enough for him to truly exert himself. As for Yang Xin’s nonsense, this old, crafty fellow just laughed it off. Yang Xin’s value to him was the Terrestrial Globe. But now that the globe had been presented, Yang Xin’s value was almost entirely used up, if not completely exhausted.
He could be discarded like an old shoe.
But if Cao Wenzhao was really as Yang Xin described, then he still had some use.
In short, he only looked at value.
This kind of career politician, or more politely, statesman, had no real principles. They only cared about benefits. They would befriend those useful to them now, those who might be useful later, and even those who might possibly be useful in the future, not minding doing a favor first. But if the value had been squeezed dry, they were just dregs. Not stepping on dregs was considered kindness. Moreover, someone like Yang Xin, who liked to stir up trouble, had no value to him as an ally. What a boss disliked most were subordinates who constantly needed their mess cleaned up. Such subordinates were worse than those with less value but who were sensible and didn’t cause trouble for their boss.
So, regarding Yang Xin, he was just being hypocritically polite.
Yang Xin understood this perfectly well.
Although Wanli had not yet made a decision, the Five City Military Inspectorate would at least not arrest anyone tonight. The City Patrol Censor also needed to investigate and understand what had happened first.
How did this fugitive, Yang Xin, get summoned by the Emperor?
They would not take action before finding out.
Yang Xin then followed Fang Congzhe out of the Imperial City through the Xi’an Gate. By then, rain had started falling, and it was coming down hard. Fang Congzhe returned to his residence, and Yang Xin also rode back to the Xianyi Neighborhood. Fang Congzhe did not give him a night pass, but Yang Xin did not need one. No one was patrolling in such heavy rain. Although it was pitch black, it did not affect his vision at all. This guy moved through the rainy night like a ghost. He returned to the Xianyi Neighborhood, called to have the neighborhood gate opened. The gatekeeper knew he had been taken into the palace by the Imperial Guard. Soon, under Xiaocao’s sleepy gaze, he was back in his own bed to sleep.
The next day.
“Grandpa, what brings you here?”
Yang Xin looked quite surprised at Nine Thousand Years Old.
“You little rascal, hiding your true self! Even I misjudged you. The Imperial Noble Consort summoned me early this morning to ask about you. I’ve been in the palace for over twenty years and haven’t seen the Imperial Noble Consort many times. I never thought you, little monkey, less than half a month in the Capital City, would actually get to see the Emperor!”
Nine Thousand Years Old said with a smile.
“That’s not much use. Look!”
Yang Xin said.
Wei Zhongxian turned and saw that official from last night outside, leading a large group of soldiers in.
He was immediately taken aback.
“Deputy Commander Xu, what is the meaning of this?”
He asked.
“Eunuch Wei, your nephew last night resisted arrest with weapons, seriously injuring six archers from our West City Metropolitan Police Office and lightly injuring fifteen others. They are still lying in the government office. However, he did merit by presenting the treasure and was summoned by His Majesty last night. Before His Majesty issues an edict on how to deal with him, we must ask him to stay here. Otherwise, if he takes the chance to run, we won’t be able to face our brothers then!”
Deputy Commander Xu said.
“Didn’t the Imperial Noble Consort’s decree reach you?”
Nine Thousand Years Old said angrily.
“The Five City Military Inspectorate is not under the Imperial Noble Consort’s authority. Also, the Great Ming has no Empress, so there is no such thing as an Empress’s decree!”
Deputy Commander Xu said.
After saying this, he looked at Yang Xin with a smug smile. Yang Xin suddenly stepped forward. He was so scared he hastily stepped back, tripped over a brick on the ground, and sat down hard.
“You… do you still want to commit violence?”
He shouted, fierce in tone but weak at heart.
Wei Zhongxian gave a cold laugh, then took out a brocade box from his robe and directly handed it to Yang Xin…
“Hit him. We’re beating him up today!”
He said.
“Alright!”
Yang Xin took the brocade box, then immediately pulled Deputy Commander Xu up from the ground.
“Audacious! Do you want to rebel!”
Deputy Commander Xu shouted in panic.
“Rebel? We’re not rebelling. We just want to beat you up today!”
Yang Xin said with a grim smile.
After saying this, he swung the brocade box in his hand and fiercely slapped it across Deputy Commander Xu’s face. The latter let out a scream. His whole face was slapped sideways by the hard wooden box, and he spat out bloody saliva at the same time.
The soldiers behind him immediately rushed forward in confusion.
“Do you want to rebel?”
Nine Thousand Years Old said ominously.
“This is a precious calligraphy gift bestowed by the Imperial Noble Consort!”
He then shouted.
At the same moment, Yang Xin’s brocade box came down for a second slap, this time on the other side of Deputy Commander Xu’s face. Poor man, after just two hits, Deputy Commander Xu’s face had swollen like a pig’s head. He kept spitting blood while screaming. Yang Xin was ready for a third slap, but Wei Zhongxian stopped him with a look. He immediately withdrew the brocade box and casually wiped the blood off on Deputy Commander Xu’s clothes…
“Deputy Commander Xu, it wasn’t me hitting you. It was the Imperial Noble Consort hitting you. Grand Secretary Fang should have delivered the Imperial Noble Consort’s decree to you by now, right? What’s this? You don’t regard the Imperial Noble Consort? You won’t even listen to the Imperial Noble Consort’s words? Your Five City Military Inspectorate, relying on the Censorate’s backing, doesn’t even put the Imperial Noble Consort in your eyes. If I didn’t teach you a lesson today, wouldn’t that be disloyal to the Imperial Noble Consort? I, Yang Xin, will say this here today: whoever dares to disrespect the Imperial Noble Consort again, I, Yang Xin, even if I have to risk my life, will make them see blood!”
He said with the style of the Eunuch Faction.
Poor Deputy Commander Xu was completely dazed from the beating, only capable of wailing, and had no mind to talk to him. The soldiers behind looked at each other, but no one dared to step forward again.
The Imperial Noble Consort!
Everyone knew the Emperor listened to the Imperial Noble Consort.
Although Yang Xin and the other were clearly using her authority like a fox borrowing the tiger’s might, the problem was that Yang Xin really had entered the palace last night, and the Imperial Noble Consort had bestowed a gift this morning. This clearly showed he had pleased the Imperial Noble Consort. On one side, the Imperial Noble Consort rewarded him with calligraphy, and on the other, the Five City Military Inspectorate came to arrest and detain him. This was directly slapping the Imperial Noble Consort’s face. With the Imperial Noble Consort’s protective and vindictive temperament, if she really found out, she would absolutely not let it go.
“Enough. He’s been taught a lesson. Let him know to respect the Imperial Noble Consort. We are not the type to push an advantage too far.”
Wei Zhongxian said.
Only then did Yang Xin throw Deputy Commander Xu to the ground.
Deputy Commander Xu finally came to his senses. He hatefully spat out a mouthful of blood, got up with hatred, gritted his teeth, waved his hand, and led the soldiers out of the courtyard.
But Yang Xin continued to stare at the doorway.
Fang Tinglan was looking at him with an angry expression.
Yang Xin had nothing to say.
Fang Tinglan flicked her sleeve and left.
“You and this Seventh Miss Fang…?”
Wei Zhongxian looked at this scene suspiciously and said.
“It’s a long story. But Grandpa, why were you like that today? If you had just shown the bestowed item, perhaps they would have left. But now we’ve made a sworn enemy. Behind them is the City Patrol Censor, and behind the City Patrol Censor is the Censorate. Those censors are people even Fang Congzhe doesn’t want to provoke. This way, those censors will definitely submit memorials.”
Yang Xin said.
“Even without this, they would submit memorials!
You have gained the Imperial Noble Consort’s favor, that already makes you an enemy of the censors. No matter what, they will use this incident to make trouble. You don’t understand matters in the capital. Anything related to the Imperial Noble Consort, the censors will inevitably find fault. Our Emperor is too lenient with the censors. Since that’s the case, it’s better to make a big scene. Let the Imperial Noble Consort see your loyalty. Let the Imperial Noble Consort see these people’s disrespect towards her. If we don’t make a big scene, you are just an ant to them. Make it big, and this ant has the Imperial Noble Consort standing behind him.”
Wei Zhongxian said with a cold laugh.
“Grandpa, I heard you follow Wang An? But Wang An is the Crown Prince’s confidant. Between the Crown Prince and the Imperial Noble Consort…”
Yang Xin hesitated.
“You little monkey! I care for you, and you dare think such wild thoughts!”
Wei Zhongxian slapped him on the head.
“Grandpa, that’s just my personality. If I don’t understand something, I ask directly. What is our relationship? With anyone else, I wouldn’t dare speak like this!”
Yang Xin said with a disgustingly pitiful look of grievance.
“I’ve followed Wang An all these years and haven’t made any name for myself. I’m almost fifty now. If I don’t take a risk now, there won’t be another chance. I don’t want to be like those who are dogs their whole lives, living and dying in disgrace! Don’t think about palace affairs. Your matter is not that simple. I will go back to report to the Imperial Noble Consort. You better prepare yourself. This trouble is just beginning!”
Nine Thousand Years Old said with a sigh.
Then he left with his hands behind his back.
Clearly, he planned to enter the palace to whisper slander to Consort Zheng.
Only then did Yang Xin remember. Although historical records said he was promoted by Wang An, he was almost fifty and still a low-ranking inner servant without a rank. That promotion was clearly not substantial. Moreover, he wasn’t under Wang An now. Wang An was the Crown Prince’s study companion, effectively controlling the Eastern Palace. But the Imperial Treasury was not under the Eastern Palace’s jurisdiction. So, it couldn’t be ruled out that the Donglin Faction Scholars later, when compiling history books, intentionally exaggerated to create an image of him betraying his benefactor. Conversely, during the Palace Removal Case, the one recorded as Li Jinzhong was likely a historical error, using his previous name. So, calculated this way, he should have been Concubine Li’s person, and Concubine Li and Consort Zheng were allies…
That made sense.
He had already been abandoned by Wang An!
This could explain his role in the Palace Removal Case. Wang An was Concubine Li’s main enemy within the palace during the Palace Removal Case. Otherwise, how could Nine Thousand Years Old, as a confidant of Wang An, participate in the Palace Removal Case and become Concubine Li’s confidant?
It could only be that he had already been abandoned by Wang An and had switched allegiance to Concubine Li.
Or he was loyal to Tianqi.
He had been serving Tianqi and his mother all along. Tianqi was transferred to be raised by Concubine Li. He, because of some incident, offended Wang An and was expelled from the Eastern Palace. But because of this, he gained Concubine Li’s trust and ultimately became her confidant. Then, during the Palace Removal Case, through practical actions, he demonstrated absolute loyalty to Tianqi at a critical moment. That’s why he became the person Tianqi trusted most until death…
“The waters run deep here!”
Yang Xin sighed.
“Damn it, what does this have to do with me? I still need to find a place to borrow money to pay off debts. Speaking of which, I’ve been too busy these past few days, haven’t even had time to go hunting!”
Immediately after, he said to himself.
After saying this, he tucked the still bloody brocade box into his robe and strode out the door proudly.