Chapter 44#
Inside the private room, Weng Yanqing stood by, awaiting Ying Fusheng’s next instructions.#
“Regarding today’s matter with the Three Judicial Offices, the Xiao family, by reason and sensibility, must push forward a corrupt official to quell the impact of the case files.” Ying Fusheng stood by the window, turning to look at the few people behind him. “In other words, this affair will only expose a handful of corrupt officials.”
Weng Yanqing listened and said, “Your Highness means?”
Ying Fusheng looked at him, a hint of depth passing through his eyes. “Corrupt officials are impossible to eradicate completely. The Censorate is here; if we investigate one group, half of them will slip through their fingers… If my father the Emperor can root out this batch of corrupt officials today, what about the corrupt officials in the future?”
Weng Yanqing fell into thought. In truth, the Tribunal of the Imperial Stud had long since gathered traces of evidence regarding the dealings of those corrupt officials from the post stations. That thread of clues, once handed to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, would yield all necessary evidence. But he could see that His Highness did not intend to leave this matter entirely to the Guard for secret raids and arrests.
Or rather, it wasn’t just about arresting corrupt officials. What His Highness wanted was…
Ying Fusheng said, “Repeating the same action over and over will only breed wariness.”
“If we act, we must eradicate the root.”
“Your Highness, this will be extremely difficult. The best approach would be through the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Though we cannot catch them all in one net, we can still punish those who slip through.” Weng Yanqing weighed the pros and cons. After all, the Sixth Prince was only overseeing a temporary assignment. They could push for an investigation into corrupt officials, but the final decision rested with the one on the dragon throne. The slightest misstep would mean overstepping authority, inviting the Emperor’s suspicion.
Moreover, the Censorate, under the Xiao family’s control, had stood firm in the court for many years. To shake such a colossus with their own strength was incredibly difficult.
Outside the window, street vendors hawked their wares as people came and went. The common folk rose at dawn and rested at dusk, day after day. The dire conditions across the land after the Great Yuan War had long been reduced to urgent reports, confiscating wealth to fill the national treasury, providing only temporary relief. The accusations submitted by scholars to the authorities, the experiences the people gathered courage to recount—all were evidence of corrupt officials bleeding the people dry.
“Weng Yanqing, what do you think the people believe in?” Ying Fusheng suddenly asked.
Weng Yanqing paused and did not respond.
Ying Fusheng turned to Song An. Song An thought for a moment and said, “Could it be the government?”
“Trust the court and the government?” Shen Yunfei chimed in from behind. “Then the people surely trust His Majesty.”
The current Emperor led campaigns personally and governed diligently, earning the hearts of the people across the land long ago.
Ying Fusheng shook his head and glanced at the sky from the corner of his eye.
The sun was dazzling, like heavenly light, scattering warmly over the mortal world.
“What the people trust most is up there.”
…
When news of the Dali Temple (Supreme Court) matter spread, scholars from the Imperial Academy rushed to tell each other. The Sixth Prince, to appease the scholars’ emotions, personally went to the Dali Temple to sort through case files, selecting those still in doubt for re-examination. Discussions buzzed in tea houses and taverns. Some said the Sixth Prince spoke out for the scholars and the people; others said he was a fearless novice—did he even understand the issues in the case files?
Common folk in coarse clothes stopped outside the taverns, piecing together the court situation from fragmented gossip.
“Grandfather, did the officials see our petition?” a little girl whispered. “They say many corrupt officials were seized, but why haven’t our fields been returned?”
The old man she asked quickly covered her mouth, leading her into the shadows, his face already numb with despair. “They won’t look into our case.”
A scholar traveling with them was silent for a moment, then said, “The Dali Temple is still accepting petitions. I’ll write another one and submit it for you.”
“We’ve already submitted several.” The old man stopped him, shaking his head. “Don’t ruin your own future.”
In recent days, he had heard some talk—those cases couldn’t be touched. It was the court protecting them; how could common folk like them sway anything? Don’t throw your life into it; it’s not worth it.
The scholar was about to argue when voices came from afar. Several scholars ran frantically, spreading the news—“News is out! His Majesty has ordered the Censorate to hold an open trial!”
“A trial for what?”
“Chen Yuanli! Those case files the Sixth Prince mentioned—they’re all to be retried! In a few days, it’ll be held at the Censorate—”
The old man and the scholar stopped in their tracks, disbelief flickering in their eyes.
Through the alleys of the capital, news from the court spread like wildfire.
Among the court, civil and military officials discussed animatedly.
“His Majesty has tacitly allowed the Dali Temple to continue the investigation.”
“Then those murder cases from the former Shuntian Prefect won’t be easy to handle!”
With the news that the Dali Temple was retrying the Shuntian Prefect’s corruption case, the court’s attention fell on the Censorate. After the morning court session, the gazes directed at the Censorate made Xiao Yao especially displeased.
“Lord Xiao has returned!”
Inside the Xiao residence, security was tight. Xiao Yao stormed in, followed by Xiao Yan, who had also returned from the Censorate. Servants, seeing Xiao Yao’s fury, lowered their heads and dared not speak, only offering a cup of hot tea, which Xiao Yao smashed to the ground.
“Xiao Yan, what the hell do you mean?” Xiao Yao glared at him. “You’re dragging the Shuntian Prefect’s case into this too?”
Xiao Yan lowered his eyes without speaking. From the corner of his eye, he saw the Xiao family head approaching with a cane. He turned and bowed respectfully: “Uncle.”
The Xiao family head, standing at a height, looked at Xiao Yao. He was the current Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, the superior of all censors, the younger brother of the current Empress Dowager, and Xiao Yan’s uncle. The family head was advanced in age and in poor health. In recent years, the affairs of the Censorate had fallen on clan elder Xiao Yao and the younger Xiao Yan, and the Emperor had permitted him not to attend morning court.
“Have you seen the Empress Dowager?” The family head looked at Old Madam Xiao beside him. “This matter with the Sixth Prince—she should be informed.”
Old Madam Xiao had indeed sent messages to the palace repeatedly, but the Empress Dowager had refused several times. Now, they really needed to gauge the Emperor’s attitude through her. “The Sixth Prince’s actions indeed show no regard for us. I have already written a letter and sent it to the palace, delivered to the Empress Dowager’s presence.”
At this, the family head said, “The Empress Dowager is confused too.”
He looked at Xiao Yao. “The clan elder was indeed negligent this time.”
“Who knew that Sixth Prince could talk so persuasively, forcibly linking two unrelated matters?” Xiao Yao said discontentedly. “Rest assured, I will handle the rest. The fire won’t reach the Censorate.”
“Now that His Majesty has returned to court and there is already criticism in the court, it’s different from a few years ago,” the family head reminded him. “Be cautious in everything. Don’t let suspicion fall on us.”
“You did well this time, helping the clan elder out of a tight spot. But the Shuntian Prefect matter should be handled by him.” The family head glanced at the respectful Xiao Yan beside him and instructed without room for argument. “We are all of the Xiao family. What we do is for the family. Be understanding and avoid causing trouble.”
With those light words, he acknowledged Xiao Yan’s help but still assigned the Shuntian Prefect case to Xiao Yao.
Xiao Yan lowered his eyes and said, “It is my duty. Since the Shuntian Prefect matter was handled by the clan elder, it should be decided by him… but does the elder require my assistance?”
Xiao Yao waved his hand. “No need.”
He didn’t want to have another word with Xiao Yan.
The conversation ended unhappily. As the family head left, he cast a distant glance at Xiao Yan and departed with Old Madam Xiao. Xiao Yan sat in the main hall, downed the already cold tea in one gulp, and ordered, “Keep an eye on their actions. Inform me of any changes.”
The attendant took the order and left. Xiao Yan rubbed the edge of the tea cup as several Xiao family members emerged from the shadows behind him.
One said, “His Majesty has been dissatisfied with the Xiao family for a long time. This time may…”
During the years of the Emperor’s campaign, the Xiao family had secretly built ties with various factions, ignoring the laws of the Great Yuan. The wealth and power offered by different forces had repeatedly pushed the so-called clan elders to test the Emperor’s limits. And the family head, his uncle, ever since his father’s death, had been recommended by the clan’s elders to take the post of Left Censor-in-Chief.
So he had always relied on these elders and listened only to their opinions.
If His Majesty truly intended to protect the Xiao family, he wouldn’t have followed the procedures of the Three Judicial Offices. Those stubborn old fools in the clan still thought the Emperor was just going through the motions to appease the court’s resentment, not realizing that the Emperor had long been dissatisfied with the Xiao family… The Empress Dowager’s repeated refusals of the Xiao family’s requests had already shown her stance.
She was a Xiao by birth, but she was also the Empress Dowager of the Great Yuan.
Several concessions had been made only out of regard for the Empress Dowager and the Xiao clan’s past merits. If the Censorate didn’t change its ways soon, the Emperor would take action himself—and then it would be uncertain whether the Censorate would still exist.
“If not for that day’s meeting of the Three Judicial Offices, the Xiao family would have had to cut off an arm.” Xiao Yan set down the teacup. The internal problems within the Xiao family were severe. If he openly showed his stance, it would provoke resistance from the clan elders. Now, he could only push from the shadows. “I cannot do this myself. This matter can only be handled by the imperial family.”
Xiao Yan concealed the depth in his eyes. “The blade that appeared at the Three Judicial Offices meeting.”
The Sixth Prince.
Just then, a messenger hurried into the Xiao residence—
“Lord Xiao Yan! News from the Censorate! The Sixth Prince and officials from the Dali Temple are heading to the Censorate together!”
“What is he doing at the Censorate?” the Xiao family members asked in surprise.
“The Dali Temple is investigating a case. It happens that the Sixth Prince was going along, so they came to the Censorate together,” the messenger said. “They should be at the Censorate gate by now.”
“Is that all? Let Xiao Yao handle it.”
“Not just that…” the messenger said, trembling. “It’s been learned that today’s open trial has drawn scholars from the Imperial Academy and common folk, all gathered in front of the Three Judicial Offices.”
“Did the Sixth Prince arrange that?” Xiao Yan asked.
The messenger had investigated beforehand. “No, it’s not known how it spread.”
Ripples stirred in Xiao Yan’s eyes. The open trial was supposed to be known only to a few. Why had it suddenly spread so widely? He thought back to Xiao Yao’s expression earlier… A chill ran through his eyes. Some people were truly blinded by greed to resort to such measures.
He stood still for a moment, deep in thought, then said, “Fetch the memorial I prepared earlier.”
The messenger was stunned. “My lord, you mean—”
Xiao Yan said solemnly, “I am entering the palace to see His Majesty.”
…
Within half an hour, news of the Sixth Prince going to the Dali Temple and then changing course with the Dali Temple Chief to the Censorate reached the ears of various factions in the capital. The Emperor’s tacit approval of the Dali Temple reopening the Shuntian Prefect case made those involved, whether openly or covertly suppressed, nervous.
“Foolish. With his grandmother there, the Xiao family is his backing.”
In the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince said coldly, “And now he goes and offends that very backing.”
After the task of appeasing the Imperial Academy scholars was given to Ying Fusheng, he had questioned the Censorate a few days ago, earning praise from the Emperor during court. The Crown Prince had recently steadied his temper, knowing that if Ying Fusheng made a mistake in this matter, he would be happy to see him fail. “The Xiao family has stood in the court for years. A few case files are no big deal… To be safe, send someone to check.”
“When necessary, give him a push.”
Meanwhile, other factions in the court immediately sent people to the Censorate.
The Dali Temple Vice Chief rode in the carriage with the Sixth Prince, watching the drowsy prince beside him. He sat upright, occasionally reaching out to pick up the blanket that had slipped to the floor.
By the Emperor’s order, the Censorate was to preside over the retrial of the unadjudicated case files, handling them together to screen suspects in Chen Yuanli’s case, so as to quell popular discontent.
As soon as they arrived at the Censorate gate, several censors stood at the entrance, surrounded by scholars held back by guards. It was quite a lively scene.
The Dali Temple Vice Chief alighted first, then helped the Sixth Prince down. The Dali Temple officials behind them saw how their Vice Chief treated the prince today; many widened their eyes. Was this the same unyielding Dali Temple Vice Chief?
“Has the Vice Chief changed his ways?”
“If you could make the Dali Temple stand tall, the Vice Chief would smile at you too.”
The Censorate had been perfunctory and had suppressed several of their case files. The Dali Temple officials were pondering how to argue with the Censorate to resubmit those files when the Sixth Prince arrived like a godsend.
Ying Fusheng got out of the carriage, saw the commotion at the Censorate gate, and looked back in confusion.
The censors hurriedly welcomed him inside, afraid that this prince’s mouth would cause more trouble at the gate.
With scholars and common folk gathered, the censor in charge of guiding him observed Ying Fusheng and said, “Your Highness, the Three Judicial Offices meeting hasn’t concluded yet. Now that the Imperial Academy scholars and common folk are assembled here, I’m afraid…”
“What’s the problem? Isn’t a public trial a good thing?” Ying Fusheng looked at him quizzically. “If it’s good, they should know about it! If the matter is resolved and a few corrupt officials are caught, the scholars’ emotions will naturally be calmed. His Majesty places great importance on the gathering of the people. Do not take it lightly. You must give the people an account.”
The censors exchanged glances but said nothing.
“Or is it that you can’t even catch a single corrupt official this time?” Ying Fusheng frowned. “Surely not? The problematic case files are right there. Are you trying to bend the law for personal gain?”
His arguments came one after another, effectively shutting up the Censorate officials.
Beside him, the Dali Temple Vice Chief wore an impassive face, ignoring all the looks cast their way. This emboldened the Dali Temple officials behind them, who for the first time walked into the Censorate with their chests puffed out, savoring the joy of borrowing the tiger’s might. It was well known that among the Three Judicial Offices, the Dali Temple had been suppressed by the other two for years, often taking the blame and cleaning up messes, always deferring to the Censorate.
When Xiao Yao arrived, he saw this scene. With a dark expression, he entered the Censorate and saw Ying Fusheng standing in the main hall. His eyes were full of gloom as he bowed. “Your Highness, the Sixth Prince.”
Ying Fusheng nodded, waved his hand for him to ignore formalities, and said they should begin.
The Censorate had no choice but to set up a seat for him in front of the Dali Temple Vice Chief. The Sixth Prince sat down without saying a word, seemingly unwilling to interfere with the proceedings, listening attentively.
“Present the case files to His Highness,” Xiao Yao ordered.
Ying Fusheng raised an eyebrow. “For me to see?”
“Your Highness cares about the case files. Now that the Imperial Academy scholars are gathered outside, if Your Highness reviews them, it will be easier to explain to the scholars.” Xiao Yao emphasized the word “explain” heavily.
“Lord Xiao is most thoughtful.” Ying Fusheng nodded, then turned back. “Today, the Dali Temple brought some case files that were said to have been rejected by the Censorate. I asked them to bring them along. Lord Xiao has no objection, I presume?”
“Naturally.” Xiao Yao was prepared. The rejected files were deliberately set aside by him to guard against the Dali Temple and the Embroidered Uniform Guard behind it.
Over the past few days, the Censorate had no choice but to increase their workload, sorting through the case files, adding and altering content in the problematic ones to “supplement” the evidence. To satisfy the Emperor and the Sixth Prince, the Censorate had no choice but to hold a public trial, let these case files pass through open proceedings, and push forward a few scapegoats to appease public anger.
For this, he had to reconnect with other factions, deciding who to sacrifice to quell the Emperor’s wrath. They had already made plans—they must not let the Dali Temple and the Embroidered Uniform Guard seize another opportunity.
The Dali Temple Vice Chief frowned slightly upon hearing this, while Xiao Yao had already stepped onto the main hall and ordered the suspects to be brought forward. Other court officials were present as observers, by the Emperor’s will. Xiao Yao bowed to them and said, “Since the Imperial Academy scholars are outside, why not let a few in? An open trial—let the world’s scholars know.”
Ying Fusheng said, “Lord Xiao is most thoughtful.”
“Vice Chief!” a Dali Temple official whispered urgently.
The Vice Chief shook his head, signaling him to calm down. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Xiao Yao let in several scholars. Soon, many scholars gathered outside the hall. Xiao Yao remained completely unruffled, sitting confidently in the main hall.
“Vice Chief.” Ying Fusheng turned to look at him. “Could I borrow two people to record the testimony in the hall?”
The Dali Temple Vice Chief nodded and summoned people. The Censorate officials beside him said, “Your Highness, the court testimony is recorded by our own people.”
“Your records are for yourselves. What I record is for my father the Emperor and the scholars.” Ying Fusheng turned his head to look at the Dali Temple Vice Chief. Shen Yunfei walked up to him: “His Highness has given orders. Vice Chief, be sure to have your people record carefully.”
“Rest assured, Your Highness,” the Dali Temple Vice Chief said.
Xiao Yao had no patience for their antics. He quickly ordered the proceedings to begin. “Let’s start.”
Soon, the officials brought in the suspects. The first few cases tried were all the problematic case files Ying Fusheng had singled out during the Three Judicial Offices meeting. The Censorate was well prepared, presenting supplementary evidence that leaned toward “innocence,” or at most minor faults that wouldn’t warrant property confiscation.
“You never had dealings with the Shuntian Prefect?” Ying Fusheng asked.
The official replied, “Of course we had dealings, but many court matters involve the Shuntian Prefecture. Contacts were inevitable!”
“Oh, just official business?” Ying Fusheng pressed.
The official wept in defense: “Absolutely true!”
The court officials gathered below frowned and murmured, observing the situation. Among them, a few “scholars” whispered.
“Isn’t this innocence?”
“It’s said these are the case files the Sixth Prince picked out. A few days ago, he even condemned the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate over them…”
“The Censorate handles so many cases every day. Isn’t the Sixth Prince just making trouble? The Censorate has been handling cases for years. They can tell which case files are problematic and which aren’t!”
“But the Sixth Prince is doing this for our sake too!”
The Dali Temple Vice Chief sensed something amiss. The murmurs below had subtly shifted, turning unfavorable to the Sixth Prince. Several scholars were steering the narrative. He realized this was Xiao Yao’s doing—he had deliberately let in scholars, but these were his plants, sent to sway opinion.
Now that the common folk were gathered, if the hall’s rhetoric spread, the blame would fall entirely on the Sixth Prince.
Ying Fusheng sat quietly, ignoring the whispers around him. Occasionally, he asked a question, focusing on the few suspicious points in the testimonies, repeating inquiries.
Some veteran court officials looked at Ying Fusheng with hidden concern. The Sixth Prince investigating corruption for the court was a good thing, but after all, he hadn’t officially entered the court. He was young and inexperienced, acting on words alone, causing unnecessary trouble.
In contrast, the presiding judge Xiao Yao handled each case meticulously, his rigorous attitude winning approval from many. Truly worthy of a censor from the Xiao family.
Gradually, murmurs grew in the hall. Xiao Yao seized the opportunity to bring forward several pre-arranged scapegoats. If all were found innocent, it would be hard to explain to the Emperor, so he needed to push out some “useless” officials at the right time. This tactic had been used many times in recent years. The Emperor wanted results; as long as results were given, the matter would settle.
A few hours passed, and as the trial approached its end, Xiao Yao’s expression grew more at ease. The “scholars” he had let in subtly influenced the others, and many began to look at Ying Fusheng differently. Unfavorable talk quietly spread outside.
Ying Fusheng lowered his eyes, silently observing the scene in the hall.
Outside the Censorate, the noise from the hall grew louder. The “common folk and scholars” planted among the crowd received signals from inside, spreading word that the Sixth Prince’s pointless questioning was disrupting the court order, that the petitions submitted by the Sixth Prince and the Dali Temple were all for acquittals, which the Censorate had already known, and that they were retrying the cases just for the Sixth Prince.
“Isn’t this a waste of time?”
“Exactly. The Censorate could have been investigating other corrupt officials. Now, with the Sixth Prince making a fuss, the delay gives corrupt officials time to destroy evidence. When the Censorate investigates, it’ll be too late.”
The guards at the Censorate gate watched, letting the “people’s” outcry continue.
Some of the real common folk looked at the rising clamor around them, exchanging bewildered glances. How could it be innocent? Those were the petitions they had written. The Dali Temple and the Sixth Prince were speaking for them. How could the review end in acquittal?
“Guilty! How can they be innocent!” the common folk shouted in protest.
The scholars’ eyes were bloodshot. “Vice Minister of Justice Xu took bribes! This is protection among officials!”
“You’re causing a disturbance! Are you hirelings sent by corrupt officials?” someone retorted. “Vice Minister Xu has judged many corrupt officials—everyone knows that. He’s a court-appointed official. You can’t just slander him without evidence!”
At that moment, an official on high shouted, “Silence! Without proof, slandering the Vice Minister of Justice! Drag the troublemakers away!”
The common folk choked up, their eyes reddening.
The evidence they had submitted with their petitions—every word was what they had witnessed with their own eyes. Why were they found innocent!
A few scholars refused to be dragged away. As the crowd buzzed with discussion, a strange noise suddenly came from above. Everyone looked up sharply to see a flash of red light. An unnatural blaze shot up like a fire dragon, instantly engulfing the plaque inscribed with “Censorate” at the top.
Everyone was stunned, staring up as the fire dragon ignited spontaneously, devouring the plaque like a heavenly punishment.