readytorunbook Chapter 292 The Emperor’s Mental Technique
Chapter 292 The Emperor’s Mental Technique
Chapter 292 The Art of the Emperor
The officials began to vote.
Wang Wenzhou stood in front of the ballot box, staring intently at the ballots in the hands of those who came to vote.
"Stop right there! Show me your ticket," Wang Wenzhou said, pointing at an official.
The man handed the ticket to Wang Wenzhou, who glanced at it, tore it up with one hand, and asked coldly, "What's your name? What's your official position?"
"I am Chen Liangmo, an imperial censor," Chen Liangmo replied.
"Slap!" Wang Wenzhou slapped Chen Liangmo across the face, cursing, "You bastard, how dare you vote against it? Tell me, are you colluding with the Tartars? A traitor from within?"
“Wang Wenzhou, you are slandering me! How I vote is my prerogative!” Chen Liangmo retorted righteously.
"Men, drag him away and beat him. When he realizes he was wrong, make him come back to vote again," Wang Wenzhou ordered.
"Yes!" Several guards quickly stepped forward, pulled Chen Liangmo, and led him outside.
Everyone was dumbfounded. Wang Wenzhou was incredibly audacious; even His Majesty wouldn't dare to do such a thing. This mad dog, Wang Wenzhou, was ruthless when he bit!
Qian Qianyi said softly, "Lord Chen has a strong and unyielding spirit; he is truly a fine son of our Great Ming!"
"Alas!" Kong Zhenyun sighed and said mournfully, "Wang Wenzhou is a mad dog, he has no humanity. If the peace talks cannot be passed today, I'm afraid he will really resort to a fight to the death."
Qian Qianyi nodded and said helplessly, "Lord Kong, I'd like to trouble you to go and talk to your colleagues and get them to vote in favor. There's no need to argue with a mad dog over a moment's pride. As long as we don't cooperate, even if the court agrees to peace talks, it will be difficult to reach a consensus with the Tartars."
Kong Zhenyun nodded and said, "I will take care of it right away."
"Slap slap slap..." Several guards surrounded Chen Liangmo and punched and kicked him.
Chen Liangmo crouched on the ground, holding his head, thinking, "I've already been beaten so many times, this show should end now. If this continues, I'll die on the spot."
In reality, Chen Liangmo had already secretly pledged allegiance to Wang Wenzhou. His public appearance was merely a performance for the officials; anyone who dared to vote against him would be punished by Wang Wenzhou. Of course, Wang Wenzhou's schemes were always meticulous, and Chen Liangmo had another mission: to infiltrate the Donglin Party and become Wang Wenzhou's inside man.
"Stop hitting! I've thought it through!" Chen Liangmo shouted hurriedly.
The guards immediately stopped and escorted Chen Liangmo to Wang Wenzhou.
Wang Wenzhou asked coldly, "Have you figured it out?"
"Hmm!" Chen Liangmo wiped the blood from his nose and said with a wry smile, "Lord Wang, although I was forced to vote in favor, I still sincerely oppose your traitorous act!"
"Pah!" Wang Wenzhou cursed, "Chen Liangmo, you heartless bastard, you eat the Emperor's food and curse the Emperor's mother! Why does the Emperor pay you a salary? It's because he wants you to be loyal to the country! The Emperor is pushing for peace talks for the sake of the Ming Dynasty, and you heartless bastard, you dare to vote against it! Do you deserve the monthly salary the Emperor gives you?"
“Wang Wenzhou, stop slandering me! How could I be disrespectful to the Emperor?” Chen Liangmo quickly retorted.
"Get out of the way after you've cast your vote, don't get in the way!" Wang Wenzhou said irritably.
"Hmph!" Chen Liangmo threw his ballot into the ballot box and swaggered toward the officials like a victorious general returning home.
"Clap clap clap..." The crowd burst into enthusiastic applause. Regardless of status or era, those who dare to resist tyranny will receive the heartfelt respect of onlookers.
Qian Qianyi smiled and nodded at Chen Liangmo, saying, "This young man is teachable and can be recruited into my Donglin Party."
Wang Wenzhou stood in front of the ballot box, one arm around Chen Yuanyuan and the other around Wang Ying, monitoring the votes. Of course, his hands were slipped inside the babies' clothes through the openings.
Wang Ying's face flushed red with shame. Yesterday's Consort Tian was now being humiliated by Wang Wenzhou in front of all the officials, but she dared not resist and could only silently endure it.
Half an hour later, the voting ended, and after the votes were counted, the imperial court approved the peace talks.
Wang Wenzhou cupped his hands to the crowd and said, "Today, I finally understand that all of you colleagues are patriots! Well then, court adjourned. I will immediately go to report this good news to the Emperor."
"Phew..." The officials breathed a sigh of relief. The peace talks were finally over. Many of them had been tortured beyond recognition by Wang Wenzhou these past few days. Kong Zhenyun, in particular, felt as if he had aged several years in an instant.
Wang Wenzhou pinched each of the two babies with his hands and said softly, "You two go home and wait for me."
Wang Ying nodded. It seemed that Wang Wenzhou, that madman, wasn't so mad after all, as he still knew to prevent her from meeting the Emperor.
Chen Yuanyuan looked at Wang Wenzhou with some surprise, because in the past two days, Wang Wenzhou had taken her with him wherever he went. Even when he went to see His Majesty, Wang Wenzhou would put his arm around her and occasionally make light touches on her.
Wang Wenzhou explained with a wry smile, "Babies, remember this: you must stay away from Brother Zhu from now on. I slept with his wife, and I'm afraid that one day he'll get angry and sleep with my babies too!"
"Shameless!" Chen Yuanyuan and Wang Ying cursed in unison.
Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "The line between good and evil is very thin. Sometimes, people can't control their emotions. Let's go."
After seeing the two babies off, Wang Wenzhou went to the Ministry of Rites to find Zhu Youjian with a smile on his face.
Zhu Youjian sat on the dragon throne, lost in thought, his face full of worry. He now regretted drinking with Wang Wenzhou. If he hadn't listened to Wang Wenzhou's drunken ramblings, he wouldn't have been fooled by Wang Wenzhou and so eager to negotiate peace with the Tartars. Of course, in that case, Wang Wenzhou wouldn't have slept with his beloved concubine.
"Brother Zhu, I have good news for you. Just now, during the court debate, all the officials agreed to negotiate peace with the Tartars," Wang Wenzhou said with a smile.
"I understand! This matter is still in your hands. Make preparations, and you will be sent as an envoy to Liaodong in a few days," Zhu Youjian said weakly.
It seems Brother Zhu can't forget Consort Tian! Wang Wenzhou thought for a moment and asked softly, "Brother Zhu, how about I return Wang Ying to you?"
"You!" Zhu Youjian was furious. He stood up and kicked Wang Wenzhou.
Wang Wenzhou didn't dare to fight back. He covered his head and squatted on the ground, thinking, "Go ahead and hit me. Let me vent my anger. That way, you won't try to kill me because of this again."
After fighting for a while, Zhu Youjian, panting heavily, asked, "Wang Wenzhou, why didn't you fight back?"
Wang Wenzhou said with a wry smile, "Brother Zhu, although I was framed, I did something to wrong you! You are so magnanimous, Brother Zhu, and spared my life, but I feel terrible!"
"Sigh..." Zhu Youjian sighed, gently patted Wang Wenzhou's shoulder, and said, "Get up, it was my fault! I shouldn't have hit you!"
Wang Wenzhou silently watched Zhu Youjian, his heart suddenly racing. Damn! No wonder he's the emperor! If he didn't have some cunning, he would have been played to death by his ministers long ago!
Wang Wenzhou wasn't sure if Zhu Youjian's words were sincere. Regardless, Zhu Youjian said this to make Wang Wenzhou grateful. But one thing was certain: Zhu Youjian's willingness to sacrifice his woman was truly remarkable! This is one of the most ruthless things a man can do. If a man can be so cruel to himself, you really have to be careful.