HLnovel Chapter 248
Chapter 248
Yang Yiqing had been suffering from Jiajing's torment and had been staying home on sick leave for the past few days. In reality, it wasn't anything serious, but he was worried that the emperor might do something like that again, as it was hard to say how many times his body could withstand it.
"Master, Eunuch Huang has arrived."
One of Yang Yiqing's concubines ran into his room in a panic and said...
Yang Yiqing's legal wife passed away ten years ago. Over the years, Yang Yiqing, though old in years, has taken several concubines, each one younger than the last.
The concubine in front of him had been with Yang Yiqing the longest, and was much older than the other concubines. However, in the Yang household, the other concubines could not compare to her.
In terms of thoughtfulness and attentiveness, those young concubines paled in comparison to the one before him.
Yang Yiqing was getting old, and most of the time he could only look at her with amusement. So he valued the concubine in front of him who was so considerate of him even more.
"Quickly, invite Eunuch Huang in."
As Yang Yiqing spoke, he hurriedly lay down on the bed, pretending to be terminally ill, as if he was about to pass out.
Soon, Huang Jin arrived at Yang Yiqing's room. Looking at Yang Yiqing in front of him, Huang Jin was somewhat surprised. If he hadn't already received the news that the Grand Secretary was not seriously injured, Huang Jin would have been deceived.
"Your Excellency, it's only been a few days since I last saw you, what's gotten into you?"
Huang Jin said with a look of heartache.
"Cough cough cough, I'm getting old, and I have many health problems. My health is sometimes good and sometimes bad. I'm sorry to trouble you, Eunuch Huang."
As Yang Yiqing spoke, he coughed twice, making it seem even more serious.
"His Majesty heard that the Grand Secretary was in poor health and was very concerned. He specially sent me to bring the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital to examine the Grand Secretary."
As Huang Jin spoke, he clapped his hands, and the imperial physician who had been waiting outside came in.
When Yang Yiqing saw this scene, his heart skipped a beat. He wondered if the emperor would take advantage of this opportunity to have the imperial physician kill him.
"Then I'll have to trouble you. I've long heard that the imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital are all skilled healers and can surely cure any disease."
Yang Yiqing wanted to recover as soon as possible so that the imperial physician would not continue to treat her in the future, and this statement was also a prelude to that.
The imperial physicians immediately stepped forward and examined Yang Yiqing's pulse in a professional manner. These imperial physicians were no longer the incompetent ones of the past; they were all truly skilled.
Upon touching him, the imperial physician immediately understood that despite his advanced age, Yang Yiqing was in excellent health. His pulse was normal and balanced, though slightly weak, which was perfectly normal for his age.
“Your Excellency’s condition is indeed very serious. As the saying goes, a serious illness requires strong medicine, otherwise it will be difficult to see results. I have a prescription that will surely cure your illness after you take it.”
The imperial physician stroked his beard and said confidently.
Before he arrived, Huang Jin had specifically instructed him on what to say.
Upon hearing this, Yang Yiqing's eyelids twitched. A strong medicine? Doesn't he know whether he's sick or not?
At this age, even a strong medicine would take half your life, if not kill you.
"Then I'll trouble you. I'll have my servants prepare the medicine according to the prescription later."
Yang Yiqing followed the words of the imperial physician.
Hearing this, Huang Jin chuckled inwardly, but his face showed worry.
Soon, the imperial physician casually wrote down a cold-natured prescription. Yang Yiqing was already somewhat deficient in Yang energy and needed a warm-natured prescription to nourish him. If he actually took the medicine according to this prescription, his body would only become more deficient, and he would become sick even if he wasn't sick before.
"Your Excellency, I have conveyed His Majesty's message. I need to go to the residences of the other officials to inform them that there is an emergency court meeting tomorrow, and given Your Excellency's health, you will probably be unable to attend."
Huang Jin then got to the main topic.
Upon hearing this, Yang Yiqing raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself that all this buildup had been for this very moment.
Yang Yiqing never expected this young emperor to be so difficult to deal with, almost like a thousand-year-old fox.
"Don't worry, Eunuch Huang, I'll have someone fetch the medicine right away. If it really works as the imperial physician says, I should be able to attend court tomorrow."
Yang Yiqing hurriedly expressed his opinion.
Nonsense, if I don't take a stand soon, I'll be ruined.
"That's good. However, we must prioritize the health of the Grand Secretary. If things get really bad, I will bring the imperial physician again tomorrow to examine and treat the Grand Secretary."
Huang Jin smiled.
In reality, apart from Yang Yiqing's residence, which required Huang Jin to make a special trip, all other officials were notified by his eunuchs.
The next morning at dawn, all the officials began their court assembly on time, and Yang Yiqing stood prominently at the head of the assembly.
Emperor Jiajing was very pleased with Yang Yiqing.
"I am holding this court assembly today because I have great news to share with you all: the rebels in Jiangnan have been completely wiped out by Zhou Hengqi."
Jiajing said with a face full of excitement.
These words caused an uproar among the officials. They had considered that the Zhang brothers were not a force to be reckoned with, but they had not expected them to be this incompetent. How long had it been? Just a few days ago, the court meeting had discussed and decided to appoint Zhou Hengqi as the Marshal of the Jiangnan Rebellion Suppression, and now the rebellion was already over?
"Huang Jin, announce Zhou Hengqi's results."
Jiajing glanced at Huang Jin and said.
"Lord Zhou defended Suzhou Prefecture. When the rebel army attacked Suzhou City, Lord Zhou led his troops to annihilate them all. In this battle, Lord Zhou killed 123,535 enemy soldiers, while 35 of our Ming soldiers died in battle. Lord Zhou's contribution was outstanding."
If Jiajing had just said that Zhou Chu had successfully quelled the rebellion, the officials would at most be shocked by the speed at which Zhou Chu had quelled the rebellion.
But upon hearing Zhou Chu's battle report, all the civil and military officials were stunned, especially the generals, who couldn't quite process what was happening.
What kind of insane battle casualty ratio is this?
"Your Majesty, could Lord Zhou's battle report be fabricated? Is he falsely reporting his military achievements?"
One of the military officers, in a moment of impulsiveness, stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, I also believe that this battle report is questionable and needs to be verified. The casualty ratio is simply too absurd."
Yang Yiqing continued.
Yang Yiqing would lend a hand to any argument that was detrimental to Zhou Chu.
As soon as Yang Yiqing said this, countless officials echoed his sentiments.
When Jiajing heard this, he sneered inwardly, but he had expected this and was naturally not in a hurry.
"When I received this battle report yesterday, I was also somewhat puzzled. It wasn't until last night, when I received Cui Yingsu's secret report, that I discovered that Zhou Hengqi had indeed lied about some military intelligence."
As Jiajing spoke, he gestured for Huang Jin to bring out another memorial.
Cui Yingsu is Cui Wenkui, and Yingsu is Cui Wenkui's courtesy name.
Upon hearing this, all the officials wore expressions of "I knew it!" Yang Shen, however, looked puzzled. Based on his understanding of Zhou Chu, Zhou Chu shouldn't be such a boastful person. Why would he lie about military intelligence?
In fact, it wasn't just Yang Shen who didn't understand; even Han Jie and the other officials who sided with Zhou Chu and the emperor didn't understand either.
Yang Yiqing was secretly delighted. He hadn't expected Zhou Chu to make such a basic mistake. This way, he could take the opportunity to erase Zhou Chu's military achievements. Otherwise, the military achievements this time were too great. Wang Yangming was able to be ennobled as a count based on his military achievements. Given the emperor's favor towards Zhou Hengqi, it would probably be reasonable to ennoble him as a marquis.
Regardless of what others thought, Huang Jin had already begun reading Cui Wenkui's secret report.
"Lord Cui's secret report did indeed mention the casualty ratio, and it was indeed different from what Lord Zhou said. Lord Cui said that after Lord Zhou finished suppressing the rebellion, not a single soldier died in battle, and only a very small number of soldiers were injured."