I was a conman in the Ming Dynasty.

Chapter 777 Leaving Beijing

Chapter 777 Leaving the Capital

Outside Yongding Gate, a huge crowd had gathered, with almost all the officials in Beijing present to see Wang Wenzhou off as he departed the capital.

Speaking of which, Zhu Youjian personally saw Wang Wenzhou off on all the previous occasions when he left the capital, except for the last time. This time, however, Zhu Youjian did not come.

The officials in Beijing who came to see him off had no choice; after all, Wang Wenzhou had so many fathers-in-law and great-grandfathers-in-law.

"Please return, everyone!" Wang Wenzhou cupped his hands in greeting to the crowd.

"Boxin! Have a safe journey!" Kong Zhenyun glanced at his daughter with lingering reluctance. Kong Nianhui stood behind Wang Wenzhou, tears welling in her eyes, looking aggrieved. Old Kong sighed inwardly, truly regretting his past actions!

"Boxin! Come back to the capital often!" Zheng Sanjun waved to Wang Wenzhou.

Zheng Sanjun and others learned yesterday that Wang Wenzhou was leaving Beijing. Several prominent figures of the Donglin Party discussed the matter and couldn't understand how Zhu Youjian could possibly let Wang Wenzhou return to Hanshan.

In the eyes of Zheng Sanjun and others, letting Wang Wenzhou leave the capital was tantamount to releasing a tiger back into the mountains. Of course, they wouldn't remind Zhu Youjian of this now. The Donglin Party members hated Zhu Youjian to the core.

In the Ming Dynasty, especially after the Tumu Crisis, the imperial power weakened, and the power of the ministers surpassed that of the emperor. The Ming emperor could only rely on secret police agencies such as the Eastern Depot and the Western Depot to strengthen his imperial power.

This situation had persisted for over a century, but now, with Zhu Youjian holding evidence of the ministers' crimes, imperial power had once again become supreme, even sacred and inviolable. It's important to understand that in the past, ministers could simply refuse the emperor's decrees. For example, the tragic Wanli Emperor, in his attempt to appoint his favorite son as crown prince, even resorted to bribing ministers, but to no avail.

But now everything has changed. Take Zhu Youjian's expulsion of beggars from the capital, for example. In the past, if Zhu Youjian had dared to do such a thing, the civil officials would have condemned him to death. But now, all the ministers obediently shut up and stayed out of it. Zhu Youjian held the evidence of their crimes in his hands, and could kill them at will. Moreover, they would be condemned for eternity after their deaths. No one dared to go against Zhu Youjian.

"Alright, goodbye everyone!" Wang Wenzhou turned around, glanced at the babies behind him, and said, "Babies, babies, let's go. Stop crying. Perhaps we'll return to the capital soon, but by then, I might be sitting on the throne!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Guiying's expression changed. "My dear, can you please stop spouting nonsense? That's the truth, but you can't say it in public."

Gao Guiying quickly stepped forward, took Wang Wenzhou's arm, and complained, "Boxin, stop talking nonsense, let's go."

"Yes, yes!" Wang Wenzhou nodded, then put his arm around the baby and got into the sedan chair.

……

A day later, on the official road of Xinzheng County, Kaifeng Prefecture, Wang Wenzhou's convoy slowly made its way.

Wang Wenzhou still didn't believe that Zhu Youjian would let him return to Hanshan so easily. Therefore, not long after his men left the capital, he secretly led his children away from the main force, disguised himself as a merchant caravan, and stealthily entered the village, avoiding any gunfire.

Inside the carriage where Wang Wenzhou was, Da Yu'er, Wen Liandie, Gao Guiying, and his new favorite baby Kong Nianhui all sat naked on either side of him.

Wang Wenzhou, holding Da Yu'er, took a sip of wine and asked, "Babies, babies, do you think Zhu Youjian is really stupid? How dare he let me go back to Hanshan?"

Gao Guiying frowned and asked, "Boxin, has something happened in Hanshan?"

Wang Wenzhou waved his hand, "Impossible. As long as Mu Yiyun is in Hanshan, nothing will happen there. Besides, if something really does happen, we can't be completely without any news."

Da Yu'er thought for a moment and then said, "Husband, is Zhu Youjian playing hard to get? Is he trying to win you over and make you continue to serve him?"

"Yes!" Wang Wenzhou nodded, hugged Da Yu'er and kissed her, then said with a smile, "I think so too! But do you think I'm that heartless? My babies and little flowers all died at his hands, would I still risk my life for him? Zhu Youjian, that pig, is just daydreaming!"

Kong Nianhui said softly, "My lord, the Emperor is apologizing to you for this! For the sake of the Ming Dynasty and its people, you should still be loyal to the Emperor and love your country!"

"Holy crap!" Wang Wenzhou went completely mad. He suddenly realized something: many of the babies he had recently married were definitely spies sent by Zhu Youjian. And, perhaps, baby Kong Nianhui was one of them.

Thinking of this, Wang Wenzhou broke out in a cold sweat. "I was so stupid! I didn't stay with the main force. Now I'm with over 100 sedan chair carriers and guards. If we get ambushed, I'm dead!"

Wang Wenzhou pointed at Kong Nianhui and said sternly, "Kong Nianhui, I never expected you to be this kind of girl! You're already married to me, but you're still thinking about Zhu Youjian! Tell me, are you having an affair with Zhu Youjian?"

"Husband! Don't wrong me!" Kong Nianhui burst into tears.

Wen Liandie quickly and gently advised, "Husband, don't be angry. Sister Kong Nianhui, how could you talk such nonsense in front of your husband? Hurry up and apologize to your husband!"

"Husband, I'm sorry!" Kong Nianhui quickly apologized.

"Smack!" Wang Wenzhou picked up Kong Nianhui's clothes and threw them at her face, shouting, "Get out! I don't want to see you today!"

Kong Nianhui clutched the clothes, tears streaming down her face. She never liked Wang Wenzhou to begin with, but being married off to him by her own father, she had no choice but to accept her fate. But this husband had no feelings for her at all. Every time he got drunk and slept with her, he would either mutter "Ru Ru" or "Lazy Blue" in his mouth.

"Who goes there?" Sheng Lan suddenly shouted from outside. Then, the carriage braked sharply and came to a stop.

Wang Wenzhou's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly said, "Babies, babies, this is bad! Quickly get dressed! Remember, the assassin's main target is me! Don't worry about me, escape if you can! If you manage to escape, don't seek revenge for me, just find a good man and marry him!"

Gao Guiying calmly put on her clothes and said, "Boxin, don't be alarmed, it's not an assassin."

Da Yu'er lifted the carriage curtain to look around, then turned back and said, "It seems someone is blocking our way."

Wen Liandie shook her head with a wry smile; this rascal had gotten drunk again. However, she was somewhat touched. Although her rascal was a womanizer and his character wasn't great, he was incredibly good to his wives and concubines.

"Tap tap!" Wang Wenzhou knocked on the carriage and asked, "Jian Fengyu, what's going on?"

Sheng Lan replied, "Your Highness, there is a group of people blocking our way with stones and trees, demanding a clearing fee from us!"

Wang Wenzhou frowned. Were these people robbing people on the road, or were they assassins in disguise?

"Give them some silver and let's leave quickly!" Wang Wenzhou said hastily.

A moment later, Sheng Lan spurred his horse back and said, "Your Highness, they not only want silver, but also food. They look like a group of beggars."

"Haha!" Wang Wenzhou smiled slightly and asked, "You're not a beggar who was kicked out of the capital, are you?"

Sheng Lan replied, "Judging from their accents, many of them really do have Beijing accents."