Once the lid was opened, it was unstoppable. Zhu Can, the president of the Court of Judicial Review, was known in the court for being upright and incorruptible, and even knowing these were people from the Jiangnan faction, he had no intention of letting them off. Before long, the Court of Judicial Review’s report reached the imperial throne, and the Long Zhi Emperor was furious, ordering the Ministry of Punishment to sentence them to death pending review, to be executed after the autumn assizes.
Xue Sheng suddenly lost two capable subordinates, and his situation became delicate. The Long Zhi Emperor’s attitude towards him had also become slightly cold recently.
Tonight, a guest came to his home – Zheng Duanwen, the Right Minister of Rites and Lecturer, who was also from Jiangnan, bringing a piece of news that could be good or bad.
“This afternoon, a messenger brought a military report from the southwest. The army has been stationed outside the city for over a month, but the two sides have not yet engaged. In the military report, Jing Guo Gong wrote that Duan Guihong has repeatedly sent envoys to the camp seeking a meeting with the commander. He wants to meet with the Western Ping Junwang in a few days to persuade him to surrender.”
“After the emperor read the military report, his expression was terrible. His hands were shaking with anger, and he asked me, ‘I have sent people to the southwest multiple times, and he claimed illness and refused to meet. But as soon as Fu Shen arrives, he rushes to report? What injustice does he have that I cannot handle, that he must go before Fu Shen to explain?'”
Xue Sheng was the earliest supporter of the Long Zhi Emperor’s expedition to the southwest, so whenever southwest military affairs were discussed, the emperor would call him to the palace for consultation. However, now that he was tainted, he missed the opportunity and let Zheng Duanwen gain face before the emperor – it seemed the Long Zhi Emperor still valued him somewhat.
The matter was significant, and Zheng Duanwen could not make up his mind.
He carefully asked, “Cloud Ping brother, do you think the emperor is dissatisfied with the Western Ping Junwang, or does he have some thoughts about that person?”
