lcionline Chapter 503: Criticizing Sang and Huai
Chapter 503: Criticizing Sang and Huai
"You've been living a life of debauchery, and you still have the nerve to question me?" Chen Er said domineeringly.
Chen Er's words sent shivers down the spines of many civil and military officials. It was clear that his words were a veiled insult, a direct accusation that the Empress Dowager was shameless.
Zhang Shaoqing was originally kneeling on the ground with Chen Er, but when Chen Er stood up, he pulled Zhang Shaoqing up without hesitation.
The Empress Dowager was so angry that she trembled all over. She felt as if the sky was about to fall over the entire Ming Dynasty. She had never imagined this before.
How dare such a nobody call her shameless? The Empress Dowager couldn't care less about such things at the time, and she waved her hand dismissively.
"Guards, seize Chen Er and throw him into the dungeon to await my judgment."
The Empress Dowager's words immediately silenced all the civil and military officials, while those who were on good terms with Wei Zhongxian were secretly overjoyed.
Is this the effect they wanted? They thought to themselves, Chen Er is finished this time. Even with the emperor backing him up, what can he do?
The Empress Dowager is now angry, and the consequences could be very serious. However, before these people can take action, the Emperor has already spoken.
"Men, seize Wei Zhongxian. Wait a moment, I have something to explain."
No sooner had the Emperor finished speaking than the Imperial Guards approached from outside, clearly indicating that anyone from the Eastern Depot who dared to arrest Chen Er was a threat.
So the Imperial Guards dared to arrest Wei Zhongxian, and this incident made the atmosphere strange.
No one expected that the Emperor would be acting this way today. He actually dared to challenge the Empress Dowager to a duel, something none of them had ever dared to imagine before.
You have to know what kind of personality the Emperor used to have. He would listen to whatever the Empress Dowager said. Who would have thought that in just half a month, the Emperor would actually have such audacity?
The Emperor has openly provoked the Empress Dowager more than once. He was always like that before, and even Wei Zhongxian was afraid of him. Now he is actually going against the Empress Dowager, which is a reality that is hard for them to accept.
The Empress Dowager was a little stunned after hearing the Emperor's words, because in her mind, she believed that the Emperor had been sidelined and had no real power.
But why should the Emperor challenge her now? Even if the Emperor has the Imperial Guard, so what? So the Empress Dowager didn't even think twice and immediately looked at the eunuch beside her.
"Go and fetch Zhang Xingchen right now, and bring all their Imperial Guards here. Let's see who dares to rebel today!"
The Empress Dowager's words were about to turn icy again; clearly, this was a scene where a disagreement could escalate into a fight.
However, Chen Er was not worried at all. He looked at the emperor with great satisfaction. Only then did he realize that the emperor was already sweating profusely and looked like he was about to collapse.
If it weren't for the two eunuchs who were quick-witted and nimble-fingered and helped the emperor up, he would probably have stumbled and fallen to the ground.
Chen Er felt that the emperor was truly spineless, and it was a real injustice that someone with such a personality could be the ruler of a region.
To put it bluntly, if Chen Er were the emperor, let alone Wei Zhongxian, even the empress dowager would probably have been banished to the cold palace by Chen Er.
Of course, this doesn't mean Chen Er is heartless. Chen Er is just that kind of person. When facing his enemies, he likes to cut through the mess indiscriminately, preferring to kill the innocent rather than let the guilty go free.
That's what makes someone capable of great things. Otherwise, he would probably cause even more trouble for many people. So now Chen Er feels that the emperor is really not quite competent.
Chen Er really didn't understand why the Emperor was so afraid of the Empress Dowager. But after thinking about it carefully, Chen Er realized that the Emperor had no choice.
Or to be more precise, the emperor has now become a paper tiger, with no means at his disposal. Therefore, in Chen Er's eyes, the emperor is somewhat pitiful.
A short while later, Zhang Xingchen came running in from outside, his forehead covered in sweat.
If the Empress Dowager has made a move against the Emperor today, then the Ming Dynasty may be about to change. It all depends on where Zhang Xingchen stands. The Emperor is a little at a loss.
The Emperor originally thought that Zhang Xingchen would definitely stand on his side, but who could have imagined that Zhang Xingchen is now clearly close to the Empress Dowager? The Emperor is a little confused.
Not to mention the Emperor, even Chen Er was a little surprised. Zhang Xingchen clasped his hands in a fist salute.
"I'm just following the Empress Dowager's orders. I'm already waiting outside. As long as the Empress Dowager gives the order, I can arrest whoever she wants," Zhang Xingchen said.
Zhang Xingchen glanced at the Emperor with a sinister look in his eyes. When Zhang Xingchen felt Chen Er's gaze, he lowered his head in shame, unable to meet Chen Er's eyes.
This surprised Chen Er a little. Chen Er felt that this matter was not as simple as it seemed on the surface. Although Chen Er and Zhang Xingchen had not known each other for long, Chen Er had a good understanding of Zhang Xingchen's character.
Chen Er had some understanding of the situation, and he believed that it was completely impossible for Wei Zhongxian to bribe Zhang Xingchen with gold and silver jewelry.
So why would Zhang Xingchen stand by the Empress Dowager's side? Chen Er found this somewhat puzzling.
Chen Er suddenly appeared before the Emperor. Chen Er thought of a possibility: Yang Xiaoqian. Chen Er knew what Zhang Xingchen cared about most: Yang Xiaoqian.
"Your Majesty, tell me the truth, is Yang Xiaoqian in your hands? I've told you more than once not to touch Yang Xiaoqian, why don't you listen?"
Chen Er's voice trembled slightly. He made no attempt to hide his anger towards the Emperor. He knew that Zhang Xingchen cared most about Yang Xiaoqian.
Now that Zhang Xingchen has chosen to collude with Wei Zhongxian, there is only one possibility: Yang Xiaoqian has already left Zhang Xingchen and is now by the Emperor's side. The Emperor sighed.
"Chen Er, let me explain. Actually, I didn't want to do this either. It's because Yang Xiaoqian looks so much like my deceased beloved concubine that I took her in."
The Emperor's words surprised Chen Er a little, because the Emperor said he would take Yang Xiaoqian in, not that he would snatch Yang Xiaoqian away from Zhang Xingchen.
Therefore, Chen Er felt that the emperor's meaning was not very clear: "Tell me the truth, what exactly happened during the time I was away? Tell me quickly."