My uncle is Zhu Di

Chapter 89 Strict Investigation
When Empress Xu saw Zhu Gaosui standing there hesitating, she immediately turned her head and looked at him unhappily.

Zhu Gaosui made up his mind and bowed to Empress Xu, saying, "Mother, this is all Shijiabao's fault. Shijiabao tied the token to the gate of the weaving bureau himself. Mother, do you think we should arrest Shijiabao and put him in prison? This kid has repeatedly defied the imperial power."

When Empress Xu heard this, she frowned and looked at Zhu Gaosui. Zhu Gaosui didn't dare to look up at Empress Xu. When Empress Xu saw him like this, she understood that the third prince was lying.

"Tell the truth!" Queen Xu scolded.

Zhu Gaosui was so frightened that his legs trembled, but he still said to Empress Xu: "That's it, that's it, that's it."

Empress Xu picked up the teacup and said nothing.

Zhu Gaosui continued, "Mother, you don't know how arrogant Sakyabao is. Today, he beat Qiu Jianqing and Li Zhuang again. I heard that Qiu Jianqing was unconscious and was carried back. Mother, you said that this kid is so arrogant because he relies on your majesty. You indulge him like this, and there are many criticisms outside."

"Criticism? Well, what criticism? Why did Qiu Jianqing and Li Zhuang go to find Sakya Bao? And, third brother, what did your second brother say to you? Huh? Why did you so determined to arrest Baoer and send him to the imperial prison, even though he is your cousin." Empress Xu turned her head and looked at Zhu Gaosui and said.

"Yes, ah, no, second brother didn't tell me anything." Zhu Gaosui immediately waved his hand and said.

Empress Xu sighed and said, "Third brother, your father asked you to take charge of the Jinyiwei and Wucheng Bingmasi, but that doesn't mean your father has to rely on you for all the news. Jinyiwei also has your father's people. If you want to go to the fiefdom, just say so."

"Mother, I, I, I!" Zhu Gaosui was terrified when he heard Empress Xu say this.

"What did your second brother say to you?" Empress Xu stared at Zhu Gaosui and asked.

Zhu Gaosui could only bow his head: "Second brother said, second brother said, let Sakyabao go to the imperial prison, everyone wants to see it, and, and, now Sakyabao does not go to the weaving bureau, but it is better."

"Oh, what actually happened when Sakyabao went to the weaving bureau?" Queen Xu nodded, without getting angry.

"Sakyabao went to the weaving bureau, but couldn't get in. The guards received orders from above and stopped him. The guards went in to inform Ning Qing, who said he didn't care. In a fit of rage, Sakyabao tied the token to the copper ring on the gate." Zhu Gaosui told the truth immediately and didn't dare to hide it.

My mom and dad are not easy to deal with. For my own sake, I'd better betray my second brother. Anyway, my second brother is thick-skinned and it's okay.

Empress Xu sat there with a stern expression, and Zhu Gaosui looked up at her.

After waiting for a while, Empress Xu spoke up, "This time when your father went to Jiming Temple, he didn't bring anyone from the Imperial Household Department with him, but instead chose a few young eunuchs to go with him. What was his purpose? Do you understand now?"

"Mother?" Zhu Gaosui looked at Empress Xu, a little confused.

"Those eunuchs and palace maids in the palace have already shit on your parents' heads. As a son, can you avenge them?" Empress Xu looked at Zhu Gaosui and asked.

When Zhu Gaosui heard this, he immediately bowed to Empress Xu and said, "Don't worry, mother. I know what happened. I will investigate it thoroughly."

"If you don't investigate thoroughly, don't come to me when your father asks you to go to the fiefdom! This time, Sakya Bao is here to ward off disaster for your parents. If it weren't for Sakya Bao, those people might have thought of dealing with your parents. As for what the second brother is planning, mother knows it, but we have to make things clear. This time, on the surface, they are dealing with Sakya Bao, but in fact, they are dealing with your parents. Do you understand?" Empress Xu said coldly to Zhu Gaosui.

Zhu Gaosui nodded immediately. If he still didn’t understand, then there would be trouble.

"Go. Mother needs you to investigate this matter for me as soon as possible. There is no limit to the number of eunuchs and palace maids in the palace. No matter who they are, as long as there is a possibility of suspicion, they will need to be transferred at the very least. Those with conclusive evidence will be killed first." Empress Xu said while staring at Zhu Gaosui.

Zhu Gaosui was so scared that he nodded quickly. He knew best how powerful his mother's methods were. Sometimes, his father needed to listen to his mother.

"Go!" Empress Xu waved her hand and said to Zhu Gaosui.

"Yes, mother, I'm leaving!" Zhu Gaosui left immediately.

After Zhu Gaosui left, Empress Xu sighed, stood up and started to walk outside. She was still a little worried. Sakyabao had thrown away the token, which meant that Sakyabao would not go to the Weaving Bureau. Zhu Di needed Sakyabao's ability to make money, so how would she convince Sakyabao then?

What Shakyabao said was right. He didn't take the money, but he still did the job. If something went wrong, even if it was his fault, no one would do it again.

If the overseas trade was successful this time, and if Zhu Di did not express his gratitude to the Xu family, Xu Qin would definitely not go.

It’s not easy for my nephew!
That night, people were arrested in the palace. Some senior eunuchs were arrested and some of them resisted. They were immediately hacked to death by the Jinyiwei. It was very violent and made those eunuchs who originally wanted to stand firm tell everything.

Knowing that the Jinyiwei were serious this time, some sensible people began to think about how cruel Empress Xu was.

Liu Yongcheng was sitting there at the moment, and Shang Minghai was also very worried. "Godfather, I really don't know when they will catch us." Liu Yongcheng sat there and said worriedly.

"Hey, the Queen Mother has taken action. We underestimated her. Fortunately, we did not participate this time. However, if we did not report it, His Majesty will probably not trust me anymore." Liu Yongcheng said with a wry smile. He had known about this matter for a long time, but he did not report it to Zhu Di. This is deceiving the emperor."

Especially since he was in control of the East Factory, and the East Factory did not report this matter, wouldn't Zhu Di be angry?

At this moment, a eunuch knocked on the door outside. Liu Yongcheng called out to him to come in. The eunuch came in, knelt down and kowtowed to Liu Yongcheng, saying, "Godfather, the Queen Mother summoned you."

"Oh, okay, okay!" When Liu Yongcheng heard the Queen's summons, he immediately stood up and set off for Kunning Palace.

Although he didn't know why Empress Xu summoned him, he knew that she was probably going to confront him. Liu Yongcheng admired Empress Xu's methods.

Soon, Liu Yongcheng arrived at Empress Xu's greenhouse. Liu Yongcheng knelt down and kowtowed to Empress Xu. Empress Xu sat there looking at the account book and had no intention of letting him get up.

Liu Yongcheng just knelt there and didn't dare to say anything.

After a while, Empress Xu asked, "How many years have you been with us?"

Liu Yongcheng immediately burst into tears, kowtowed to Empress Xu and said, "Your Majesty, I have been with you for twenty years."

"Yes, it's been twenty years! Does Your Majesty trust you? Do we trust you? Have we given you power? Have we given you benefits?" Queen Xu sighed.

Liu Yongcheng nodded while crying.

"Your Majesty has handed over the management of the East Factory to you, but what about you? Why didn't you report this matter?" Empress Xu put down the account book and said indifferently to Liu Yongcheng.

Liu Yongcheng kowtowed and cried, "My queen, I have been bewitched. I am sorry to Your Majesty and the Queen."

"Ah!" Empress Xu sighed, and then said, "Go and guard Taizu's body. Write down everything you know and give it to the Royal Guards. I will not touch your family this time. After all, they have been with us for more than 20 years."

When Liu Yongcheng heard what Empress Xu said, he burst into tears and kowtowed to her, saying, "Your Majesty, can you please let me stay in the palace? I don't want any position, I just want to serve Your Majesty and Your Majesty in the palace. I was wrong. I shouldn't have allowed this to happen in order to protect the children below!"

"Let's go and keep vigil first! Stay away from him for a while." Empress Xu said with a sigh.

When Liu Yongcheng heard this, he immediately understood that Empress Xu was still protecting him, so he kept kowtowed to her.

"Go!" Queen Xu waved her hand and said.

Liu Yongcheng kowtowed vigorously again, then stood up, bowed to Empress Xu, and left the warm room.

After leaving the warm room, Liu Yongcheng burst into tears. He was really reluctant to leave. It was not that he was reluctant to give up power, but he was reluctant to leave Zhu Di and others. They had lived together for more than 20 years. Liu Yongcheng knew everything about Zhu Di's rise from Prince of Yan to emperor. They had encouraged and supported each other.

The next day, Liu Yongcheng sat in a carriage and prepared to go to Taizu's tomb. When he was about to leave the palace, a eunuch and several porters stood there blocking the way of the carriage.

Liu Yongcheng lifted the curtain, and the eunuch came to Liu Yongcheng and said, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince specifically ordered me to bring some things over, saying that the weather is getting cold and he is worried that you, godfather, will catch a cold. These are all supplies to keep you warm."

Liu Yongcheng immediately got off the carriage, kowtowed in the direction of the Eastern Palace, and then kowtowed in the direction of the Kunning Palace and the Qianqing Palace. Zhu Di's family treated Liu Yongcheng very well.

Meanwhile, at Jiming Temple, Zhu Di also knew about the actions in the palace last night.

At this moment, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Ji Gang, was standing behind Zhu Di. Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard was under the jurisdiction of Prince Zhao, the actual manager was Ji Gang. Zhu Di asked Ji Gang to do many things. Ji Gang reported some unimportant matters to Prince Zhao, while for important matters, Ji Gang reported directly to Zhu Di.

Zhu Di was sitting there playing chess with Yao Guangxiao. At this time, Hu Guang walked in with some memorials in his hands. They were sent by the prince.

"Where to put it? I'll see later!" Zhu Di held the chess piece in his hand and thought for a long time. Yao Guangxiao stood up at this moment and prepared to make tea. He knew that this chess game could not be played.

"Hey, I'm still entangled in worldly affairs. I won't play anymore." Zhu Di said as he moved his hands on the chessboard, and all the chess pieces were in chaos. Then he asked Hu Guang: "What's the matter? I'm already at Jiming Temple, and you still want to find me? Can't you ask the prince to solve it?"

"Your Majesty, these are some memorials concerning the Weaving Bureau." Hu Guang bowed and answered Zhu Di. The eunuch behind him was dragging a tray. Zhu Di walked over, picked up one, unfolded it and looked at it.

(End of this chapter)