Queen Mother Zhang's wishful thinking was finally out of date.

Zhu Houzhao is not as expected by the world, and he has to set an example for anyone. Moreover, now he really hates his mother to the core.

When Zhu Houzhao returned to the east wing courtyard, he cursed: "...It's so outrageous. Who is the decision in this world? Could it be that the Empress Dowager's younger brother can do whatever he wants without being bound by the law? What's the point of being the emperor?"

Xiao Taozi and Zhang Yuan followed Zhu Houzhao and did not dare to interrupt casually.

As eunuchs, the two were very afraid of Empress Dowager Zhang, which was completely different from the foreign ministers. After all, Empress Dowager Zhang is currently the lord of the inner palace, and his power in the palace was enough to make those eunuchs who were ignorant of their knowledge and tactful.

Just at this time, Chen Xi also entered the East Enclosure Courtyard.

Zhu Houzhao did not walk into the room because he thought that there was a difficult master inside, who was Chen Yier who had been detained by him before, but he had not yet made up his mind how to punish him.

"His Majesty."

After Chen Xi entered the east wing courtyard, he stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Zhu Houzhao.

Zhu Houzhao asked, "Mr. Chen is exempt from gifts, what's going on outside?"

Chen Xi said: "When you say that, the Empress Dowager's qi and blood are suffocating her heart, and she seems to have fainted. She is currently resting in the main hall and has sent someone to the palace to invite the imperial physician."

"It should be pretending to be dizzy, so that I seem unfilial!"

Zhu Houzhao stomped her feet in anger and said, "Mr. Chen, why did the Empress Dowager suddenly kill? The case was tried well, and even the Marquis of Shouning had admitted his crime. Just wait until the case was finally settled, everything would be fine... Now that the Empress Dowager is making such a fuss, I am in no mood. How can I continue to be tried?"

Chen Xi did not answer.

Just like Xiao Taozi and Zhang Yuan’s concerns, this involves the issues of royal family affection and filial piety and etiquette. Even the emperor himself is unable to make up his mind. How could he just say anything as a minister?

Zhang Yuan said: "Your Majesty, the Marquis of Shouning and Marquis of Jianchang are serious crimes of treason..."

Seeing that Chen Xi didn't want to interfere more, Zhang Yuan was a little anxious. He thought that he had a handle on the hands of the Zhang brothers, and he also held a grudge against the brothers, which made him turn from a normal man into a eunuch, and quickly put him in trouble.

Zhu Houzhao didn't listen to Zhang Yuan, but just looked at Chen Xi and asked, "What does Mr. Chen view this matter?"

Chen Xi shook his head: "Does Your Majesty want to violate filial piety and make people laugh at the world? The people will say that Your Majesty ignores the safety of the Empress Dowager in order to punish his uncle!"

Zhang Yuan said: "Mr. Shen, what you said is wrong? Shouning Hou and Jianchang Hou committed serious crimes of treason, so it is not an exaggeration to kill him!"

Chen Xi asked back: "Dare you ask Eunuch Zhang, is the case settled now? Or does Eunuch Zhang believe that with the support of the empress dowager, Marquis Shouning and Marquis Jianchang will admit that this matter is related to them?"

"well!"

Zhu Houzhao sighed and said, "It's too sudden to blame later, otherwise this matter wouldn't be so troublesome. Sir, think of a countermeasure first so that I can settle the case."

Chen Xidao: "If you say to Your Majesty, it is better to follow the words of Master Xie, and postpone the case for further trial, and put the Marquis of Shouning in his residence and not go out, while Marquis of Jianchang... will be imprisoned and then interrogated later."

"Um?"

Zhu Houzhao frowned.

This solution seemed extremely familiar to him, as if it was the result of his last time dealing with the Zhang brothers, and the case was also closed in this way.

However, it is not about closing the case for now, but more like putting the case on hold for the time being, which means that there will be no result in a short period of time.

Zhu Houzhao seemed very unwilling to accept it: "That is a serious crime of rebellion. If it is handled like this, wouldn't it be too cheap for them?"

Chen Xi shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, please think twice. Regardless of whether this case can be convicted successfully, after all, there is no definite evidence that the Japanese assassinated His Majesty was related to Shouning Hou and Jianchang Hou. Besides, the Japanese on the southeast coastal islands can also deny that they are related to it. If it is just a decisive act of Shouning Hou and Jianchang Hou abusing power and bullying the people, or even making money, can Your Majesty kill them?"

Zhu Houzhao stopped answering and asked him to kill the Zhang brothers with his own hands, but he still felt a little reluctant.

Chen Xi said: "After all, they are relatives of the empress dowager and their uncles. Even if they are really wrong, they can be put under house arrest. As long as they no longer do evil in the future, your Majesty can forgive them."

Zhu Houzhao sneered: "Can I forgive them? They were rampant. My father had been doing evil again and again. He even sent someone to assassinate Mr. Chen. He thought they would repent after I taught him a lesson, but who knew that he would become more and more violent, and even I dared to harm him..."

At this time, Emperor Zhengde was like a resentful woman, saying all the dissatisfaction in his heart, that is, in front of Shen Xi, and he would never speak so bluntly in front of others.

Finally, Zhu Houzhao asked in a verification tone: "Mr. Chen, if I kill them desperately, will the people in the world think I am too cruel?"

Chen Xi shook his head: "If the evidence of the crime is conclusive, plotting against the people is the leader of the ten evils. If the crime is unforgivable, the people will never have such a discussion."

Zhu Houzhao said: "Okay, I will not decide the case in this case first, and then investigate it. I will dismiss the Empress Dowager first and ask her to go back to the palace first. I can file a case at any time when I look back. … ”

Zhu Houzhao showed a sneer on the corner of her mouth, as if she had already thought of a countermeasure. She first took a delaying plan and then solved her two uncles.

Chen Xidao: "Your Majesty, this case is actually...can be stopped in time."

"What?"

Zhu Houzhao looked at Chen Xi in shock, her eyes full of confusion.

Chen Xi explained: "If the case is not determined, you can also say that Your Majesty is kind, giving two relatives the opportunity to reform and leaving a way out for the two uncles. The Empress Dowager will also thank Your Majesty, and the people in the world will not think that Your Majesty is unfair to deal with it, after all, the case has not been investigated clearly."

"But if the case has been determined, no matter what the result is, can Your Majesty still handle it so calmly?"

"Um?"

Zhu Houzhao fell into deep thought. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that what Chen Xi said made sense.

Zhang Yuan was silent for a while, and seemed to be inspired, and said to the accomplice: "Your Majesty, Lord Shen is right. If the case is in the end, the court will give an explanation to the people of the world... If Your Majesty kills two marquises, it will be unfilial. If you do not kill them, you will ignore the laws of the court. How can you punish the past and prevent the future and educate the world? What if others imitate them in the future?"

Zhu Houzhao frowned: "Then I can only hold the case so I will not pursue it anymore?"

Chen Xidao: "If Your Majesty feels that the punishment is not strong enough, you can remove the two people from their posts to the people, and Marquis of Jianchang will be imprisoned for a long time. As long as the two do not hold positions in the army, they will not pose any threat to Your Majesty."

Zhu Houzhao pursed her lips and showed a smile on her face that was not easy to detect. It was obvious that what Chen Xi said was exactly what he wanted.

Chen Xi said again: "After the power to command the Beijing camp was given up, even if the two were dissatisfied and wanted to make ill plans, they would not pose any threat to Your Majesty. This would also give the Queen Mother an explanation, and Your Majesty would not have to worry about explaining to the people of the world."

Zhu Houzhao nodded: "Well. Mr. Chen is still considerate. I can't kill these two sinners, otherwise I will be an unfilial emperor. I don't want to commit more murder... This matter was settled so, and the two of them were demoted to the people, put their uncle in the house, and then put their second uncle in the heavenly prison, so that they could reflect on themselves and not be used in the future!"

Chen Xi saluted: "Your Majesty is wise."

Zhu Houzhao smiled and said, "Sir, you are considerate. If you let me deal with it yourself, you must check it out, regardless of whether he has the support of the queen mother. By the way, Mr. Chen, now he has removed the positions of the two. Who will be the admiral of the Beijing camp? I really can't find a suitable candidate at the moment."

Before Chen Xi could answer, Zhang Yuan recommended: "Your Majesty, can the Ministry of War directly manage it, isn't that better?"

Zhu Houzhao nodded and said, "It's reasonable, let Mr. Chen make an offer, I can rest assured..."

"Your Majesty, you must not!"

Chen Xi directly refused, "The Ministry of War has the power to mobilize troops. If it has the direct management power over the Beijing camp, it will undoubtedly combine the two powers into one... The leader of the army will not be able to mobilize troops. This is a tradition that has been adhered to since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. In this way, the weak ministers are suspected of abusing power."

Zhu Houzhao waved her hand: "Sir, I'm worried too much. Could it be that I still doubt your loyalty?"

Chen Xi refused again: "I will naturally be loyal to Your Majesty, but I am afraid that rumors will hurt others... And if this precedent is set, the power of the Ministry of War will be greatly expanded in the future. At that time, the Ministry of War will not be easy to accept His Majesty's jurisdiction. Not everyone is as loyal as a humble minister. What if the Minister of War, who is behind me, has the intention of being unjust?"

"this……"

Zhu Houzhao didn't know how to answer for a moment.

Chen Xi expressed his attitude that I would never rebel, so it would be nothing if you give me the power to command troops and transfer troops, but I can't guarantee that my successor did not have such an idea. Doing so is like digging a hole for yourself.

Zhu Houzhao said: "What does sir think about this matter? Who is more suitable?"

Chenxi Road: "The eldest princess, the son-in-law, Cui Yuan, is the most suitable."

"Ah? You said my...uncle? He...he...he has never brought any troops, how can he be competent?" Zhu Houzhao was very surprised by this candidate, because Cui Yuan was a person who was not so arrogant. No one knew what his ability was, and no one thought that this person was competent for the duties of admiral Beijing.

Zhang Yuan also looked at Chen Xi with curious eyes, wondering whether Chen Xi had any private secret agreement with Cui Yuan, while Zhang Yuan did not know Cui Yuan, let alone had any friendship.

Chen Xidao: "The more irrelevant the person is, the more it can reflect that Your Majesty is not biased towards this case. If Your Majesty directly arranges his confidant to take over the position of the country's uncle, there will be a lot of criticism from the government and the people."

Zhu Houzhao thought about it and finally had to nod, because what Chen Xi said made a lot of sense.

If you want to target your two uncles and convince the world, you must show that you are not for your own selfish interests, but in fact, you want to install someone you trust to this position so that you can rest assured. But now you have revealed your traces, and I am just helping you cover it up.

Zhang Yuan suddenly thought of Chen Xi’s reminder to him before, and seemed to understand something in an instant, and hurriedly said: “Your Majesty, the prince-in-law is also a royal relative, this matter…is feasible.”

Zhu Houzhao nodded: "Then let's make this arrangement for the time being. As for whether it is appropriate, I will discuss it later. At least my uncle will not be able to rebel like my two uncles, so I can still trust me."

...

...

Zhu Houzhao didn't want to face Empress Dowager Zhang anymore, so he issued an imperial decree to deal with everything according to Chen Xi's wishes. As for the matter of death, it was handed over to Chen Xi and Zhang Yuan to handle it together.

When Chen Xi and Zhang Yuan appeared in the main courtyard again, Empress Dowager Zhang had already woken up from the previous "disiasing" but did not come out in person.

Xie Qian appeared in front of Shen Xi as the representative of Empress Dowager Zhang.

Xie Qian looked at Chen Xi with an angry gaze.

Chen Xi's attitude was very calm. For him, this was just a routine announcement.

"Your Majesty issued an order to detain this case and retrial. Marquis Shouning was sent to the house for custody, Marquis Jianchang was placed in the Ministry of Justice. His Majesty will issue an imperial decree to convey the rest of the matters tomorrow..." Chen Xidao.

Xie Qian said: "What does this mean?"

Chen Xi shook his head: "Master Xie, you should not ask me this, but Your Majesty. I need to repeat it? Your Majesty is very concerned about the Queen Mother Feng Ti, but it is not convenient to visit. Another order was issued by Eunuch Gao to escort the Queen Mother back to the palace, and you must not delay outside the palace..."

Xie Qian glared at Chen Xi and wanted to reprimand him, but there was no reason after all, because Shen Xi was conveying the imperial edict on behalf of the emperor.

Xie Qian snorted lightly and turned to the main hall.

Jiang Bin came over and asked, "Mr. Shen, how should I deal with Hou Shouning and Hou Jianchang?"

Chen Xi said Zhu Houzhao's instructions again. Jiang Bin seemed very capable and waved his hand: "Escape the criminals to the place they should go!"

"The imperial physician is here."

At this moment, Doctor Song, accompanied by eunuch, entered the front yard of the Shen family.

Chen Xi took a casual look and didn't pay much attention to Empress Dowager Zhang's physical condition. Even Zhu Houzhao didn't care about it, and there was no reason to care about him, a foreign minister.
To be continued...