klisemfg Chapter 434
Chapter 434
Time flies, and before they knew it, Lu Wei's wedding day was approaching. Zhou Chu and Yun Jin quietly returned to the capital.
The first thing Yun Jin did upon returning to the capital was to go to the palace to plead guilty. No matter what, privately mobilizing the Xuanwu Army to Suzhou and the vicinity of Shaoxing was a serious crime.
"What can I say to you?"
Jiajing pointed at Yun Jin, and seeing Yun Jin's submissive and accepting attitude, he was immediately furious.
“I have privately mobilized troops, which is a serious crime. I am willing to resign from my position as commander of the Xuanwu Army and accept Your Majesty’s punishment.”
Yun Jin said respectfully.
The more Yun Jin said this, the angrier Jiajing became.
"What? Do you really think I'm such a petty person?"
Jiajing looked at Yun Jin and said angrily.
"Your Majesty is not only not petty, but also a rare and benevolent ruler. What my second brother did would not have been tolerated by any other emperor, but Your Majesty could. Therefore, both my second brother and I are trembling with fear, walking on thin ice, for fear of making a mistake. However, I still made a mistake because of personal feelings. If you make a mistake, you must accept the punishment. This is the rule in the army."
Yun Jin said sincerely.
"Moreover, I haven't spent much time in the capital for over a year. Now that the navy is stable, neither the Xuanwu Army nor any other navy needs my command. I also want to take a rest."
Yun Jin's words startled Jiajing.
Looking at Yun Jin in front of him, he realized that Yun Jin was, after all, a girl. While other girls were still enjoying their lives in the inner quarters, she was already leading troops outside. In the past year or so, Jiajing had only seen the Xuanwu Army wreaking havoc at sea and helping the Ming Dynasty establish its naval system.
However, they overlooked the fact that Yun Jin, a girl, had to endure the wind and sun at sea, facing whatever situation she encountered alone, without even anyone to consult with.
Thinking of this, Jiajing looked at Yun Jin in front of him and felt a pang of heartache. After all, Yang was his wet nurse, and Yun Jin could be considered his half-sister.
"In that case, you should take a good rest for a while. As for resigning as commander of the Xuanwu Army, there's no need to mention it again. The Xuanwu Army will stay with Hengqi and protect his safety for now."
Jiajing thought for a moment and then said.
"However, I cannot reward you for now, as the Xuanwu Army has not yet been publicly announced."
Jiajing sighed.
"Your Majesty's decision not to punish me is already the greatest reward you can bestow upon me."
Yun Jin smiled.
The current outcome is the best possible result. Yun Jin made a mistake that negated all the merits she had previously accumulated. Jiajing no longer needs to worry about how to reward Yun Jin, or even whether or not to grant her a marquisate.
After all, it was unheard of for a woman to be granted a title, and if Yun Jin did not make any mistakes, Jiajing would be in a difficult position.
Moreover, Zhou Chu and Lu Bing have both been granted the title of Marquis. If Yun Jin were to be granted the title of Marquis as well, the power of the entire Lu family and Zhou Chu would reach its zenith.
The closer one gets to the pinnacle of power, the more dangerous one often becomes. Zhou Chu understood this, Yun Jin understood it, and even Lu Bing was aware of it.
"By the way, isn't Wenxin getting married in the next few days? Since I can't reward you, let's take advantage of Wenxin's wedding to give him more gifts."
Jiajing sighed.
"But this way, I'm sorry to have to put you through this."
Yun Jin smiled broadly upon hearing this.
"How could I feel wronged? My childhood dream has been to lead troops into battle. Now that I have done what I wanted to do, I can also help Your Majesty and my second brother. My eldest brother was also ennobled as a marquis because of this. My Lu family has already benefited greatly. Your Majesty knows that I have never valued these empty titles."
Not long after Yun Jin left the palace and returned to the Lu family, Huang Jin arrived at the Lu family with a group of eunuchs carrying boxes of gold and silver jewelry.
After Huang Jin finished reading the imperial edict, he handed it to Lu Wei.
Lu Song, who was standing nearby, hurriedly took out a silver ingot and handed it to Huang Jin.
"Lord Lu, you're too kind. My family grew up right under your noses when we were little."
Huang Jin looked at Lu Song and his wife and smiled.
As Jiajing's chief consort, Huang Jin naturally grew up alongside him. Yang Shi was Jiajing's wet nurse, so it's not unreasonable for Huang Jin to say that he grew up in front of Lu Song and his wife.
"That's all in the past, why bring it up? Now, you're a favorite of His Majesty."
Yang smiled.
Although Yang was a woman, her political wisdom was extraordinary.
Huang Jin is currently a favorite of the emperor. Although he has not yet taken control of the entire Directorate of Ceremonial, in terms of true status, even the current head of the Directorate of Ceremonial would have to treat him with utmost respect.
In the palace, Huang Jin was a young eunuch who grew up with Jiajing and was Jiajing's close companion. But outside the palace, he represented Jiajing, the emperor, and his status was naturally extraordinary.
Huang Jin could reminisce about the past and say that he grew up in front of Lu Song and his wife, which was a self-deprecating statement.
However, Yang could not continue this conversation, otherwise she would be suspected of relying on her seniority and using her past status to suppress Huang Jin.
As the saying goes, "a sedan chair is carried by many people." Huang Jin's words, spoken in his own capacity, were meant to elevate the status of Lu Song and his wife and to flatter them. Naturally, Madam Yang would not take the bait, but instead subtly flattered Huang Jin in return.
Huang Jin was very pleased to hear this. He was not one to fight for power and profit. Otherwise, if he wanted to, he could have simply asked Jiajing for the position of Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.
Huang Jin never took the flattery from ordinary people to heart. He knew very well that what those people said, especially the eunuchs in the palace, was all nonsense. It would be a miracle if he believed it.
But Yang was different. Huang Jinzhen had grown up in front of Yang since childhood. When Yang praised her, Huang Jinzhen felt like she was being praised by her parents after she had made something of herself. She felt like she was basking in a spring breeze.
"His Majesty said that the court has certain regulations, and there are only so many things that His Majesty can officially bestow upon Young Master Lu. However, His Majesty instructed us to take many more items from the treasury. You two should carefully count them later, so as not to disappoint His Majesty's good intentions."
Huang Jin smiled.
"Your Majesty is too kind to take this to heart. Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, Your Majesty has shown the Lu family immense kindness. I am truly humbled."
Lu Song said.
"Lord Lu, there is no need to be alarmed. With Wenfu and General Lu here, the Lu family's good days are yet to come."
When Huang Jin said this, he truly didn't consider Lu Song an outsider. To be precise, Huang Jin never considered Lu Bing an outsider.
Compared to his relationship with Lu Song and his wife, Huang Jin's relationship with Lu Bing was much better. After all, Lu Bing and Huang Jin had been by Jiajing's side for many years, and the three of them could be considered childhood friends.
As they were talking, Zhou Chu walked over.
"Eunuch Huang, it's been a long time."
Zhou Chu smiled.
Huang Jin's eyes lit up when he saw Zhou Chu.
"Lord Zhou, it is so good to see you again. You have no idea how worried His Majesty was when he learned of your assassination attempt. He bathed and burned incense for you every day and even had the Taoist priest Baoyuan Shouzheng perform a ritual for you. I was also very worried and prayed for you every day."
Huang Jin seemed to have a lot to say to Zhou Chu.