Ming Dynasty: Is a mere unruly commoner rebelling against heaven?

Chapter 50: I Hope You Can Say the Same in the Imperial Prison

After discussing, the selection officials decided to revoke the status of the eight sick girls as potential consorts, denying them an audience with the Emperor.

That same evening, Zhang Cai volunteered to send these eight girls back to Yangzhou overnight with all possible speed.

Under the cover of night, a carriage sped along the road to the capital.

The driver was Zhang Cai's coachman, with Zhang Cai sitting beside him, constantly urging him to go faster.

However, their destination was not Yangzhou, but a private residence in the outskirts of the capital.

This residence was Zhang Cai's own, used specifically to house his hidden beauties.

The thought of being able to possess these eight charming beauties filled Zhang Cai with extraordinary excitement.

Suddenly, more than a dozen figures appeared on the previously smooth road ahead.

They blocked the road, their long sabers appearing exceptionally cold under the moonlight.

Seeing this, the coachman quickly pulled the carriage to a halt.

This sudden turn of events made Zhang Cai panic.

Due to the secrecy of the operation, he hadn't even brought soldiers from the garrison with him.

He originally thought that it was only a dozen or so miles to his private residence, and the journey would be smooth.

But he never expected to encounter these desperate men on the road.

Because of the distance, Zhang Cai could only see a group of blurry black figures and didn't know who they were.

Zhang Cai forced himself to calm down and shouted at the black figures.

"Greetings, heroes! I am Zhang Cai, a Secretary in the Ministry of Rites, an official of the Imperial Court!"

"If you harm me, the Ming Dynasty will not let you off!"

"If you are after money, I can offer you fifty taels of silver, but I beg you, please do not resort to violence."

Zhang Cai cautiously stared at the group of black figures, waiting for their response.

But they didn't respond; they simply urged their horses to slowly approach.

As they got closer and closer, Zhang Cai finally saw their attire in the moonlight.

Flying fish robes and Embroidered Spring Blades!

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard!!!"

Zhang Cai screamed, his eyes widened to the maximum, and he desperately retreated.

Unfortunately, behind him was a sturdy wooden board; the door of the large carriage he was in opened from the back.

So, he was blocked in place, his feet still kicking backward desperately, looking extremely comical.

"Secretary Zhang, you dare to hide potential consorts; you truly have boundless胆大包天!"

A clear, cold female voice rang out.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Zhuque, wearing a red flying fish robe, slowly approached Zhang Cai.

Her voice was devoid of any emotion.

In the dim light, half of her face was covered by a Vermillion Bird mask, emitting a cold, eerie glow.

Few people knew that Zhuque, one of the four great guards of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was actually a woman.

Zhang Cai was terrified, his legs felt numb, and he vaguely felt like he was losing control of his excretory system.

But Zhang Cai still stubbornly retorted, determined not to admit to the crime of hiding potential consorts.

"What nonsense are you talking about?! Who in the world would dare to hide potential consorts?!"

"I am acting on His Majesty's orders, entering South Zhili to select potential consorts for His Majesty, working diligently and not daring to be negligent in the slightest!"

"Now, as we are about to enter the capital, eight potential consorts have suddenly developed a terrible illness, coughing incessantly!"

"According to the selection rules, sick potential consorts cannot have an audience with the Emperor. After discussion, the selection officials unanimously decided to eliminate these eight potential consorts and send them back to Yangzhou!"

"I am just following orders to send them back to Yangzhou. How can you say I am hiding potential consorts?!"

"You Embroidered Uniform Guards, don't make false accusations and slander people's reputations out of thin air! Show me your evidence!"

Zhuque didn't even glance at Zhang Cai, simply saying indifferently, "Well said. I hope you can continue to say the same in the Imperial Prison."

"Take him away!"

"Yes, Fourth Master!"

The Embroidered Uniform Guards obeyed the order and rushed forward to arrest Zhang Cai.

Zhang Cai was scared out of his wits, and fear penetrated his bones.

"Stop! You have no evidence! You can't arrest me!"

"Stop, stop! I didn't hide potential consorts! I didn't! I didn't!!!"

"Stop! Stop, ah, ah, ah, ah!!!"

"…"

After Zhang Cai was taken away, an Embroidered Uniform Guard asked, "Fourth Master, what should we do with the potential consorts in the carriage?"

Zhuque came to the back of the carriage, reached out and opened the door. Inside, eight beautiful women were huddled together in fear, hiding as far away as possible.

Zhuque pondered for a moment and ordered, "First, settle them in my residence. After the effects of the medicine wear off, send them to the palace and present them to His Majesty."

"Yes, Fourth Master!"

Then, Zhuque looked at the eight potential consorts and comforted them, "It's alright, rest well."

Afterward, she waved her hand and sent people to take them away.

According to the secret report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard's spies, Zhang Cai had added a stimulating drug to the water the eight potential consorts drank, which would cause temporary coughing.

Other than that, there was nothing seriously wrong with them.

Zhang Cai's every move, from the moment he left the capital, had been exposed to the Embroidered Uniform Guard's surveillance.

It was just that he himself didn't know it.

Ever since Ma Wensheng left the capital without authorization last time, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard failed to report the situation to His Majesty in time, incurring His Majesty's great wrath.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard had secretly vowed that they would never miss any information again.

They, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, were the ears and eyes of the Great Ming Emperor, monitoring the world!

…

The Forbidden City.

Fengtian Gate.

Zhu You樘 sat high on the dragon throne, holding court.

The officials of the Six Ministries stood below the steps, presenting their reports in turn.

In recent days, the officials in the capital had been very quiet, and everything was proceeding in an orderly manner, as if the world was at peace.

Just as the court session was coming to an end, Mu Bin, the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander, suddenly walked to the steps and bowed to Zhu You樘 from afar.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I have an important matter to report."

The civil and military officials were somewhat surprised. Generally, the Embroidered Uniform Guard reported matters to His Majesty in private and in secret.

This was the first time they had reported matters publicly in court.

Zhu You樘 looked at Mu Bin and said in a calm tone.

"Granted."

"Your Majesty, I wish to impeach Liu Jian, the Minister of Rites, for failing to supervise his subordinates strictly, failing to recognize people clearly, and failing to monitor effectively!"

Mu Bin's words caused all the civil and military officials to change their expressions.

Impeaching a Minister or even a Grand Secretary was not a big deal.

The officials of the Censorate and the Six Offices of Scrutiny did this every day.

However, the Embroidered Uniform Guard impeaching the Minister of the Six Ministries was unusual.

Since Zhu You樘 ascended the throne, the style of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot had always been to directly raid homes and arrest people.

When had the Embroidered Uniform Guard become so polite?

They were even doing the work of impeaching people, which was just a war of words?

Liu Jian's face changed drastically, and he was immediately covered in a cold sweat.

He could ignore the impeachments of others.

But he was really afraid of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's impeachment.

Liu Jian quickly held his笏板, stepped out of the ranks, and stood beside Mu Bin.

After bowing to Zhu You樘 first, he opened his mouth and said, "Commander Mu, what do you mean by this?"

Mu Bin calmly dropped a bombshell.

"Zhang Cai, a Secretary in the Ministry of Rites, attempted to hide potential consorts during the selection process and has been caught on the spot by the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

"Ah?!"

Liu Jian's face was ashen, and he staggered, almost falling to the ground.

The entire court was in an uproar, and everyone was extremely shocked!

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