Chapter 42#
The moment Xiao Yan appeared, the hall fell into a long silence. Especially among the officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate—those who had been bickering arrogantly with the Court of Judicial Review suddenly quieted down. Only Old Master Xiao stared at Xiao Yan, his fingers resting on the armrest growing visibly pale.#
No one present had expected this man to show up. The Censorate was filled with members of the Xiao family, a precedent established during the late emperor’s reign. Years ago, the Right Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate had passed away, and now the three highest-ranking officials in the Censorate were all from the Xiao family. The youngest among them was this very man, Vice Censor-in-Chief Xiao Yan.
They looked toward the Sixth Prince, whose eyes held a hint of confusion. “You are…?”
“Your subject serves as Vice Censor-in-Chief in the Censorate,” Xiao Yan explained.
Ying Fusheng suddenly understood. “Ah, another Lord Xiao, I see.”
The word “another” was cleverly used. Old Master Xiao’s face darkened upon hearing it.
“Your subject learned that the Three Judicial Departments were in session today and came specifically for that reason.” Xiao Yan dispensed with pleasantries, turned, and gestured for the official behind him to step forward, handing over a dossier. “Since Your Highness is here, please take a first look. It concerns Chen Yuanli.”
Ying Fusheng glanced at Shen Yunfei, who stepped forward to receive the dossier. “Your Highness.”
“Why not read it aloud? So many esteemed officials are present.” Ying Fusheng looked at Xiao Yan. “Don’t you agree, Lord Xiao?”
Xiao Yan nodded. “As Your Highness decides.”
As his words fell, a faint stir rippled through the hall.
Hearing this, Old Master Xiao abruptly tried to rise and stop them.
But Shen Yunfei had a loud voice. Before any other official could intervene, he read it out in full, holding nothing back—
The dossier detailed the suicide case of Chen Yuanli, in even greater depth than the copy the Court of Judicial Review had submitted to the Censorate. Clearly, someone had reinvestigated and reorganized the case afterward. The process matched Old Master Xiao’s account, except on the matter of the murderer sending the gift. This dossier was much more specific: Old Master Xiao claimed Chen Yuanli had used his family’s gift delivery to send the poison and commit suicide, while Xiao Yan’s version stated that the pastries given as gifts were made by a local restaurant and then delivered to the Chen residence.
Moments earlier, the assembly had debated the dossier back and forth several times. Many officials from the Court of Judicial Review, seeing Xiao Yan arrive and the dossier in his hand, immediately understood something. This newly appointed Censor had brought a relevant case file, and the details about the gift were identical. Wasn’t this clearly coming to Old Master Xiao’s rescue?
A flicker passed through Ying Fusheng’s eyes. Xiao Yan had not sat down from start to finish; he stood straight and upright, unmoved by the criticism from other officials. Seeing this, Ying Fusheng turned to the Deputy Chief of the Court of Judicial Review. “Deputy Chief?”
The Deputy Chief took the dossier and examined it carefully. It matched exactly what Shen Yunfei had read aloud.
He pondered for a moment, then said, “Lord Xiao, are you certain the pastries were made by the restaurant?”
“What I have investigated is all recorded in the dossier,” Xiao Yan replied.
Seeing the Deputy Chief fall silent, Ying Fusheng took the initiative to ask, “The Court of Judicial Review excels at investigating cases. Deputy Chief, what is your opinion?”
The Deputy Chief hesitated inwardly. The details appeared the same, but adding the step of the restaurant changed the nature of the case entirely.
In that case, wouldn’t it perfectly align with the Sixth Prince’s speculation? If the pastries were made by a restaurant, it became impossible to determine whether the poison had been introduced before or after delivery.
“Then this case has doubts. Since it passed through a restaurant, we need to investigate all possible suspects,” the Deputy Chief said.
Old Master Xiao’s face turned ashen. He glanced at Xiao Yan, who remained impassive, then shot back, “Are you certain, Deputy Chief?”
“If the Deputy Chief says there are doubts, then it must be investigated.” Ying Fusheng followed along. “Everyone says the restaurant hasn’t been investigated. I think this matter should be looked into. Don’t you agree, Deputy Chief?”
The Deputy Chief had been preparing to trade arguments with the Censorate, but unexpectedly, a graceful out was offered to him. Since the Sixth Prince said so, this was something the Sixth Prince wanted investigated. He had no reason to refuse. “The Sixth Prince is right. If we wish to close the case, we must first investigate the restaurant.”
Everyone in the hall fell silent, all eyes on the Sixth Prince.
Ying Fusheng lowered his head to continue reading the dossier. When he looked up and saw the entire hall still motionless, he asked in confusion, “Well? Why are you all standing around staring? Go investigate!”
“Can talking produce the truth? If so, what use does my father emperor have for you? In the future, just settle cases with your mouths!”
Shen Yunfei immediately chimed in, “Still standing? His Highness ordered you to investigate the case!”
The officials of the Court of Judicial Review promptly responded and set off without delay.
This left the officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate standing there. With one of the Three Judicial Departments gone, staying would be too awkward. Old Master Xiao waved his hand and left without even a word of farewell. Only Xu You from the Ministry of Justice bowed to both the Sixth Prince and Xiao Yan before turning to leave.
Xiao Yan: “Your Highness, your subject takes his leave.”
Ying Fusheng waved his hand. As Xiao Yan departed, his gaze lingered on him for a moment before shifting away.
As he exited, Old Master Xiao nearly stumbled. Xiao Yan caught him.
Old Master Xiao shook him off. “No need for your help!”
“Your junior came today to relieve the clan elder’s troubles. But the clan elder was also careless. The Sixth Prince came in person. The Court of Judicial Review has close ties with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the same information has already reached the palace.” Xiao Yan’s face no longer bore the tolerance he had shown inside. He smiled, but there was no trace of amusement in his words. “Now, do you still intend to submit that conclusion? Is it because the one who came is the Sixth Prince, raised by the Empress Dowager?”
Old Master Xiao fumed, “You!!”
“Why is the clan elder angry? If I hadn’t come, would today’s matter have been settled peacefully?” Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes.
Old Master Xiao saw no point in continuing the conversation. He waved his hand and stalked off in anger. After he left, Xiao Yan’s attendant came forward and handed him a handkerchief. Xiao Yan wiped his hands, especially the parts that had touched Old Master Xiao, cleaning them thoroughly. “Throw it away.”
The attendant acknowledged. “My lord, was it appropriate for us to come today?”
In the distance, a carriage was parked in front of the Court of Judicial Review. Seated inside was a young palace attendant.
Xiao Yan glanced at it, then looked away. “That is the Sixth Prince’s carriage.”
The attendant didn’t understand why his master placed such importance on the Sixth Prince. Upon receiving news at the government office, they had rushed over immediately. The Chen Yuanli case had already been blocked by Old Master Xiao. For Xiao Yan to come running here like this was truly a slap in the face to his elder in the clan.
Xiao Yan’s gaze skimmed over the distant carriage. “I was just thinking—how perfectly timed this was.”
“Are you referring to the restaurant matter?” the attendant asked.
Before coming, Lord Xiao had prepared two dossiers, each for different contingencies.
They had originally intended to submit the other dossier. But unexpectedly, after Lord Xiao arrived at the Court of Judicial Review and saw the Sixth Prince, he made a last-minute decision and switched to the restaurant version.
“Destroy the other dossier. Eliminate all records of its investigation and all entries in the Ministry of Justice’s archives.” Xiao Yan looked at him. “Nothing extra today is to be spread outside.”
The attendant was startled. “Understood!”
Was this matter coincidental…? What was coincidental was how this perfect opportunity had been handed to them on a silver platter.
Xiao Yan looked down at his now-clean hands. “This Sixth Prince is not so simple.”
The carriage door closed as Xiao Yan boarded, and soon they drove away.
Not far off, on the Sixth Prince’s carriage, Qi Hanzhou lifted the curtain and watched the Xiao family’s carriage disappear into the distance. “Have the dossiers in the Court of Judicial Review’s archives been restored?”
Ye Xuanjiu was inside the carriage, understanding these arrangements well. “All have been sorted out.”
Earlier, Shen Yunfei had only briefly appeared, and the Young General had immediately sent him to organize the archives.
Days ago, when the Empress Dowager fell ill, the Sixth Prince and the Young General had spoken about something, after which they had instructed him to monitor the Three Judicial Departments. That was what led to today.
It was easy for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to enter and exit the Court of Judicial Review’s archives. The dossiers they had placed inside were copies that the Court had originally filed with the Guard. Some dossiers had long been destroyed by the Censorate and Ministry of Justice. Such incidents were not uncommon, which made it difficult to trace certain cases.
After all, the Xiao family’s reputation at court rivaled that of the Qi family, both backed by the imperial household.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Censorate had always kept to their own business. Some matters were too delicate to touch, as they easily crossed the emperor’s bottom line.
Especially after the Young General joined the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the emperor paid even more attention to them. The Chen Yuanli case had seemed doomed to a dead end. But no one expected the Sixth Prince to step forward, and to do so in a way that openly offended the Xiao family. Even an outsider like him felt that the Sixth Prince had no regard for the Empress Dowager’s feelings.
“Will the Sixth Prince’s actions…?” Ye Xuanjiu hesitated.
Qi Hanzhou said, “Xiao Yao will go back and investigate his subordinates thoroughly. Logically, some problematic dossiers shouldn’t still exist. Once he investigates, he’ll quickly realize something is wrong. If we want him to keep quiet, we’ll have to pin this on the Court of Judicial Review and the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”
“So that’s why Minister Liu ran away?” Ye Xuanjiu remembered the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, who had hastily claimed illness and stayed home.
“The Court of Judicial Review kept the Deputy Chief.” Qi Hanzhou had not finished speaking.
Just then, a sound came from the entrance of the Court of Judicial Review.
The Deputy Chief personally saw the Sixth Prince to the door, his demeanor entirely different from when he had welcomed the Sixth Prince inside. A slight movement flickered in Qi Hanzhou’s brow as he caught the man’s glance, then let the curtain fall.
Soon after, Ying Fusheng lifted the curtain and entered the carriage. He noticed Qi Hanzhou, silently sat down beside him, and heard the Deputy Chief’s voice outside. Ying Fusheng lifted the curtain. “No need to see me off. Go investigate your case.”
The Deputy Chief understood. “Forgive me for not escorting Your Highness further. I will devote myself fully to this case.”
As the carriage pulled away, Ying Fusheng straightened his clothes. The Deputy Chief’s attitude was quite subtle—completely indifferent when he had first handed over the dossier, yet now unexpectedly deferential. “Is he your man?”
At this, Shen Yunfei tactfully moved to exit. Ye Xuanjiu also wanted to leave, but as soon as he stuck one foot out, he remembered they were on a busy street, so he had to shrink back reluctantly and sit near the inside of the door.
“No. The Embroidered Uniform Guard merely cooperates with the Court of Judicial Review.” Qi Hanzhou said. “This man is shrewd. He’s long been dissatisfied with the Censorate, but with the slick Chief Minister pressing down on him, there are things he handles carefully.”
Ying Fusheng caught on immediately and smiled. “Then I thank the Young General.”
Qi Hanzhou did not respond. The man before him still wore a courteous mask, but his words and tone carried less familiarity than before.
News from the Court of Judicial Review would soon reach the emperor’s desk. The Sixth Prince could take the lead on this matter, but some details were not suitable to be revealed before the throne. What the emperor needed was results, not the process; everyone understood that.
“This way, the Court of Judicial Review can investigate legitimately,” Qi Hanzhou said. “But you have offended the Xiao family today.”
Not far away, Ye Xuanjiu pricked up his ears. Young General, weren’t you just saying you didn’t care!
The mastermind behind the scenes had used factional power to kill Chen Yuanli. They could no longer obtain any information from Chen Yuanli himself, and since the Censorate had handled the case, the conflicting decision fell on the emperor. Whether it was the factions or the Xiao family, touching either would be inappropriate for the emperor, especially after years of warfare had entangled court relations into a complex web.
Whether corrupt or honest officials, the functioning of the court relied on these capable ministers. If the emperor wanted to govern diligently and root out the rot, he would have to proceed slowly.
A large-scale purge would destabilize the foundation.
Without an investigation, the mastermind would have ample opportunity to place chess pieces in the court, eventually riddling it like a sieve.
This was a difficult situation to overturn. And Ying Fusheng had chosen to offend the Xiao family.