Chapter 010: Cleansing

If that is really the case, he will definitely have to skin Wang Dehua alive

Inside the grand hall, Emperor Chongzhen also felt a bit curious and was eager to hear what Zhang Mingwei had to explain, so he looked at him with interest

Zhang Mingwei watched this scene and smiled faintly. Although Emperor Chongzhen was extremely short of money, after all these years of being an emperor, he still had some means.

Hearing him speak eloquently, every point he made, whether about Emperor Chongzhen or Wang Cheng'en, prompted nods of agreement. They had not expected that the young gentleman's thinking could be so meticulous and impressive

But who would have thought that Zhang Mingwei had not yet finished speaking. After swallowing a mouthful of saliva, he continued: "Third, further investigate the Wu Qing Hou residence, and see which individuals had close interactions during that period. After the incident, also look into which individuals they interacted with closely. Fourth ... ... "

It is just a pity that he no longer has the opportunity, as he was taken away by Wang Cheng'en's men

Looking at Zhang Mingwei, who is only in his twenties, his thoughts and considerations are surprisingly meticulous. The events from back then can be analyzed from so many aspects; it is truly impressive!

At this moment, Zhang Mingwei gave him the impression that he was exceptionally capable in every aspect, and thus he sincerely praised him: "Your talents are truly unparalleled in my lifetime!"

Upon seeing this, Zhang Mingwei was about to offer some words of persuasion when he heard Emperor Chongzhen coldly say: "In consideration of your loyalty, I command you to hand over 20,000 taels of silver, and the rest will be rewarded to you."

This matter regarding the picture book is of great importance to him, thus he is very concerned about it

Then, he turned to leave, but suddenly remembered something, and immediately turned back, kneeling down with a "thud". He slapped himself twice and then reported to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, I truly deserve to die. Over the years, I have saved some silver. I realize my mistake!"

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince and Princess Kunxing, along with others, immediately tensed their expressions and showed great concern

However, at least he recognized Wang Cheng'en's loyalty, and with Zhang Mingwei having mentioned it beforehand, now that Wang Cheng'en has also admitted his mistake, he said with a serious expression: "How many are there in total?"

However, Zhang Mingwei did not speak to Wang Cheng'en, but instead turned to Emperor Chongzhen and asked: "Your Majesty, was it still this Wang Dehua who was the supervisor of the Eastern Depot when the fifth prince encountered trouble?"

I scrimped and saved, worrying endlessly about money and food, only to find that my servants were all greedy for money

"... After investigating that matter, who benefited the most?" After saying this, Zhang Mingwei concluded, "Based on these clues, let's investigate first, and then we can narrow down the scope for further examination. Perhaps we can catch the murderer who harmed the fifth son of the emperor back then"

Emperor Chongzhen nodded slightly, and suddenly realized something, his face turning ashen. He immediately inquired, "Does your Excellency mean to say that this dog is responsible for it?"

Compared to his tight-fistedness with money, if it were the Jiajing Emperor, he might have turned a blind eye. This reflects the different strategies of emperors, and of course, there are also differences in the historical context.

The servant understands! After Wang Cheng'en responded, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Sir, your scholarly insights are profound; through careful analysis, this matter will surely be revealed to the world in due time!"

This cautious attitude made Emperor Chongzhen nod repeatedly. Before Wang Cheng'en could respond, he followed up with a reminder: "Just do as you think, sir"

The servant understands! Wang Cheng'en responded immediately.

He was very eager to listen to the upcoming conversation and observe that strange person. At this moment, he was certain that the emperor's drastic change in attitude towards him was absolutely influenced by this peculiar individual

However, if Zhang Mingwei only gained an additional three hundred years of experience, it may not be particularly impressive. However, having undergone the baptism of the information explosion brought about by the internet, that makes a significant difference

They naturally do not know that the information explosion of later generations is far beyond what the people of this era can compare to

Before Wang Dehua was escorted out of the palace gates, he also heard it. At that moment, he suddenly felt a bit dazed

After a pause, Emperor Chongzhen asked the question he was most concerned about, his expression filled with anticipation as he awaited Zhang Mingwei's response

Zhang Mingwei listened, shook his head, and said: "That is not what I meant. What I am trying to say is that the Eastern Depot is responsible for investigating the officials and gathering information from the capital. The so-called manifestation of the Bodhisattva and the retribution that is supposed to fall upon the fifth son of the emperor is such a significant matter that it would be hard to believe that the Eastern Depot has not caught wind of any insider information. Therefore, I have an idea."

Upon hearing these words, Emperor Chongzhen's expression inevitably turned somewhat unpleasant

Emperor Chongzhen, upon hearing this, also expressed with emotion: "I did not expect that you, sir, are so well-versed in criminal law; it is truly remarkable"

After a while, watching Wang Cheng'en disappear at the palace gate, Zhang Mingwei turned to Emperor Chongzhen and smiled, saying: "Your Majesty has relieved the burden on Master Wang; when he investigates others, he will have no psychological burden!"

"Yes, yes, yes..." Wang Cheng'en nodded repeatedly, much like a chick pecking at grains. At this moment, he was truly very happy

However, Wang Cheng'en now knows that he should no longer have this concern. And all of this is brought to him by this noble person

Thus, he also said to Wang Cheng'en: "You are someone who will be remembered in history and admired by future generations. Wealth is something that one cannot bring into this world at birth nor take away at death; it is important to have a broader perspective. With His Majesty and the Crown Prince present, it is unlikely that you will have to worry about your livelihood, right?"

Although parting with twenty thousand taels of silver is painful, from now on, one can live freely and openly, which can be considered a worthwhile trade

Emperor Chongzhen listened and revealed a slight smile, nodding his head. He was satisfied with the matter led by Zhang Mingwei.

The current cash is approximately over 20,000 taels, and when combined with the house and farmland, it is estimated to be around 100,000 taels or so

If Emperor Chongzhen previously regarded the pursuit of Confucius as merely the struggle of Zhang Mingwei, at this moment, considering Zhang Mingwei's profound knowledge, he truly believed that Zhang Mingwei might indeed possess such capability

Without waiting for Emperor Chongzhen to respond, he continued: "Secondly, Lord Wang must reorganize the Eastern Depot and then investigate the source of the initial rumors, which will definitely be related to those who conspired against the fifth son of the emperor. Furthermore, we should look into those within the palace who had the opportunity to come into contact with the fifth son’s daily life, investigate individuals whose behavior was unusually suspicious before and after the rumors, and even check who suddenly acquired a significant amount of wealth or silver during that period."

Wang Cheng'en originally thought that based on his understanding of the emperor, he would likely have to hand over all of these. To his surprise, the emperor was so generous; he immediately understood that this was due to their shared experience of hanging together. Therefore, while he hurriedly expressed his gratitude, he was also very appreciative of the noble Zhang Mingwei.

Zhang Mingwei listened and replied: "When Lord Wang goes to investigate Wang Dehua, he must examine every transaction of silver. Not only can this reveal the source of Wang Dehua's wealth, but it can also identify those who have colluded with him. Among them, there may very well be individuals involved in the plot against the fifth prince."

Zhang Mingwei has watched countless crime-solving films and television dramas. He has seen a wide variety of cases and various logical deductions. Regarding what he just mentioned, people in later generations would basically be able to articulate the same, which is not surprising at all

Therefore, upon hearing their compliments, Zhang Mingwei merely smiled slightly, showing little pride. Instead, he advised Wang Cheng'en, saying, "It is better to conduct these matters as discreetly as possible. It is best not to let the outside world know that we have begun to suspect and investigate the events of that year."

Then the question arises again, who exactly is this strange person

As a eunuch, the greatest concern is that with each new emperor comes a new set of officials. No matter how favored one may be, if the emperor changes, it is impossible to retain the previous power. This is because the eunuchs around the crown prince are bound to rise in rank.

For Emperor Chongzhen, the more formidable Zhang Mingwei was, the greater the hope for the revival of the Ming Dynasty, which naturally brought him joy

Just now, when Wang Dehua was about to retaliate against him, he was fortunate that Zhang Mingwei lent him a hand. Now that he intends to investigate Wang Dehua, he must first provide a clear explanation to Emperor Chongzhen regarding this matter

Emperor Chongzhen listened, staring at Wang Cheng'en without saying a word, his gaze fixed to the point that Wang Cheng'en's forehead began to sweat.

At last, having finished speaking, Emperor Chongzhen immediately turned to Wang Cheng'en and instructed, "Proceed according to the gentleman's wishes. Do you understand?"

When he reached this point, Emperor Chongzhen and Wang Cheng'en, among others, were completely stunned; there was actually a fourth one?

Although he was not called by the emperor, Wang Cheng'en still obediently stood still, even listening with a hint of respect.

All along, he believed that the person was associated with Wang Cheng'en, but he just realized that this individual seems to hold a higher status than Wang Cheng'en and is definitely not affiliated with him

What idea?" Emperor Chongzhen immediately inquired after hearing this