Indeed,
These old meritorious officials held views largely aligned with the Yan family's, favoring the sage's system. Their protection of the Imperial Grandson in Yunnan and Guizhou after the Jingnan Campaign stemmed from this very consideration. Ultimately, they were loyal to the Great Ming, but loyal to the legitimacy of the Imperial Grandson, not the usurper's false regime.
Since Jiajing's ascension, this conflict had been somewhat mitigated. His enshrinement of Emperor Yongle as "Chengzu" was already a compromise. They all believed that after Jiajing's death, everything would return to the Imperial Grandson's rightful path. But who could have predicted Zhu Mo's reforms?
For a long time, the two sides had many points of intersection, yet their paths differed significantly. It was only when the Emperor suppressed Yan Song, and Yan Song subsequently supported Prince Yu, that their relationship grew closer. Otherwise, Mu Chaobi would not have invited Wang Daren to his home.
Seeing Wang Daren's increasingly insistent questioning, Mu Chaobi feigned a reply:
"Shi Zhou, when you return to the capital, please convey a message to the Grand Secretary. I absolutely will not participate in Zhu Mo's reforms! Please assure the Grand Secretary of this!"
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"Mm-hmm,"
Wang Daren nodded, "Zhu Mo is naturally a public enemy..."
Mu Chaobi wished to change the subject. He nodded and smiled, diverting the conversation:
"Shi Zhou, what has the Emperor been saying lately?"
Wang Daren pondered for a moment and sighed:
"Duke, please don't blame me for pressuring you. As the saying goes, those who get things done are not to blame. I am merely a messenger... We two brothers are still on good terms... Uh, the Emperor is old now, and Xian Xiu is growing more impatient. My affairs are difficult to manage... Fortunately, I found some treasures this time. Otherwise, who knows when I might be executed..."
Mu Chaobi nodded, "Indeed, indeed. Accompanying the ruler is like accompanying a tiger..."
He expressed his sentiments with emotion, refilled Wang Daren's cup, and then lowered his voice, "Shi Zhou, you must give me a definitive answer. What is the Emperor's attitude towards Prince Yu now?"
Wang Daren was taken aback. After hesitating for a long time, reluctant to part with the treasures before him, he gritted his teeth and said:
"Duke, I should not say this, but since you think highly of me, I will give you some inside information – the Emperor is very displeased with Prince Yu associating with the Grand Secretary..."
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"Oh..."
With a clatter,
Mu Chaobi's wine cup fell from his hand. He blurted out, "Really?"
Wang Daren nodded and leaned closer to his ear, "The Emperor hasn't said anything, nor shown any expression..."
"Oh,"
Mu Chaobi immediately understood. This Emperor had always been this way; the angrier he became, the more outwardly calm he appeared. When he showed no expression, it meant extreme displeasure.
Mu Chaobi had always viewed it this way, which was why he hesitated. These meritorious officials simply wished for Jiajing to die soon and Prince Yu to ascend naturally. They never expected Jiajing to support reforms, which forced them to seek out Yan Song.
However, their stance was also delicate. While they needed to oppose Zhu Mo together, they also did not wish to be bound to the Yan family. They believed that once Prince Yu ascended the throne, he would surely rely on them, the meritorious officials, to deal with the Yan family as well.
After a moment of contemplation,
Mu Chaobi finally made up his mind and said:
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"Shi Zhou, You Jujing once mobilized troops without authorization. I have concrete evidence. Uh, this person should indeed be handed over to the Censorate..."
Wang Daren pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled:
"Very well! Let's handle one matter first. We are brothers, after all. Once we accomplish one thing, it will serve as a satisfactory resolution... As for Zhu Mo, that troublesome star, as your brother, I am truly sweating for you. It's best not to provoke him if possible..."
This heartfelt statement made Mu Chaobi deeply grateful, and he poured several more cups.
...
Wang Daren emerged from his residence by sedan chair late at night, returning to Yuantong Temple after more than an hour.
Upon entering his quarters, he called out:
"Someone! Why is Grand Master Dakong missing?"
Two personal guards and four or five attendants stood in a line and said softly:
"The Grand Master has been in his quarters all along. We, we don't know..."
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"What?"
"This?"
Wang Daren muttered to himself, "This bald donkey! We agreed to take turns guarding, but how can you disappear again... What if something happens?"
"Go find him quickly!"
Agitated, he immediately roared.
Everyone immediately scattered.
After they left, Wang Daren took a brocade box from under the bed, opened it with a snap, and his eyes were immediately dazzled. He shook his head vigorously, and when he looked again, it was indeed empty...
"Someone! Someone..."
In his panic, a surge of resentment roared from his chest and abdomen.
Be aware,
This was something he had spent several months searching for. If anything went wrong, it would be a disaster of annihilation.
...
At the same time,
In the barrack square.
Zhu Mo held two thin stone slabs, each as large as a bowl, turning them over and over, unable to discern their purpose. On the ground, a bound foreign monk knelt.
Dong Ren was indeed highly efficient. A report came back that morning: within the quarters where Wang Daren resided at Yuantong Temple, there was another foreign monk, likely from Ü-Tsang. It was also reported that Wang Daren slept with a brocade box every night...
Zhu Mo thought it best not to delay. Since action was necessary, he might as well have Dong Ren bring the person over. That brocade box was likely the treasure he had found.
After nightfall,
Dong Ren saw Wang Daren leave in a sedan chair for the Mu residence and immediately dispatched men to retrieve the person and the box.
But at this moment,
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Zhu Mo examined them several times but still couldn't understand what they were. Inside the box was a small blue jade bottle, seemingly containing pills? But the talismans on the stone slabs were very strange? Even though Zhu Mo had grown up in a Taoist temple, he had never seen anything like this.
He could only ask:
"Who are you? How do you know Wang Daren?"
The foreign monk still harbored a fierce spirit. He turned and snorted, saying:
"Buddha kindly advises you to release me quickly. I will then let bygones be bygones. Otherwise, hehe..."
Zhu Mo smiled calmly:
"Otherwise, what?"
The foreign monk immediately became enraged: "Otherwise, I'll have all of you beheaded and exiled! Who do you think Buddha is? Go and find out for yourselves!"
"Heh heh,"
Zhu Mo said calmly, "I certainly know you are searching for secret arts and talismans for the Emperor... I only ask you, what are these on the stone slabs? What is in the bottle? And what is your relationship with Wang Daren?"
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The foreign monk was suddenly stunned. A look of pained confusion flashed across his face, and he stared venomously at Zhu Mo, saying, "You, you, you have such great nerve... How dare you touch us?"
Zhu Mo was immediately displeased, "You foreign monk, considering we are both practitioners, I don't want to resort to torture. You should show some restraint!"
The foreign monk then realized the situation was different. Looking at Zhu Mo, he vaguely recalled someone and immediately shook his head vigorously, asking tremblingly:
"You, who are you?"
Zhu Mo shook his head and waved to Dong Ren, saying, "Someone, apply torture!"
"No, no, no! Wait, wait! I'll talk, I'll talk!"