Chapter 45#
The fire dragon scorched the plaque, and the censors and officials snapped to attention, urgently shouting to put out the fire!#
The censors had never seen such a situation and hastily ran around calling for people to extinguish the flames.
The plaque at the entrance of the Censorate was bestowed by the late emperor—it was the very foundation of the Censorate’s establishment, embodying the common people’s hopes for the institution. Yet a fire dragon surged forth, suddenly igniting spontaneously before everyone’s eyes. The raging flames spread, triggering a commotion at the entrance of the government office!
The scholars and commoners stared intently at the high place. Those among them who had been stirring up trouble in the chaos were also frightened by the scene and could not utter a single word.
Remnants of the flames fell to the ground, igniting the petitions the people had been eagerly submitting. The red glow mixed with the grievances. The crimson words on the petitions were etched into everyone’s eyes, like a blood letter written with heart and soul. The scholars were terrified, and the people’s voices erupted—
“Heaven’s punishment! Even the heavens can’t stand to watch!”
The censors, witnessing this omen, turned pale with fear. The censors under Xiao Yao’s command could no longer sit still upon seeing such a strange occurrence. They hurriedly tried to enter the hall to report the situation, but at that moment, officials from inside the Censorate ran out, believing the situation outside had already been stirred up. Before even reaching the entrance, they shouted loudly, announcing the verdict of Censor Xiao.
When the censors heard that there was no mention of corrupt officials, they were so frightened that their legs gave way: “Quick, stop him from speaking!”
But it was too late. The people’s eyes instantly turned red, and voices of complaint rose everywhere.
“I said this Censorate and the Ministry of Justice are covering for each other. I once saw Minister Xu’s carriage passing by the Shuntian Prefecture’s mansion outside the capital, and then the Shuntian Prefect fell, but Minister Xu was completely fine—they said it was official business!”
“What official business? Who discusses official business at a mansion outside the capital? Absurd!”
Only then did the censors and officials manage to extinguish the fire on the plaque, but the uproar among the crowd could no longer be suppressed.
“Get control of them now!” said the censor. “Don’t let word of the court proceedings get out.”
Just as the officials were about to suppress the agitated scholars, someone arrived on horseback with urgent news: a disturbance had broken out at the gate of the Ministry of Justice a few streets away. Some people had gathered to appeal for justice, and all the commoners and scholars watching had seen it. Now it wasn’t just their Censorate side; the Ministry of Justice was also in chaos. The commoners were all focused on the plaque’s self-immolation and the appeals for justice, claiming that the Censorate and Ministry of Justice had conducted unfair trials. Many commoners and scholars were already heading toward the Censorate.
Inside the Censorate, the noise from outside had already reached the government hall, where the court proceedings were still ongoing.
Xiao Yao, hearing the increasingly loud noise outside, was slightly surprised. Was the effect that good?
Several senior officials below the hall looked outside, not understanding what was happening, when their subordinates hurried in and whispered in their ears.
The senior officials’ faces changed drastically. “Is it true!?”
Noticing the anomaly below the hall, Xiao Yao finally sensed something wrong. He turned around and suddenly saw Ying Fusheng looking at him with a faint smile. The Censorate’s censor rushed in with a pale face and told Xiao Yao about the plaque’s self-immolation. Xiao Yao was so shocked that he stood up: “Block the news immediately!”
“Can’t block it! There are too many scholars and commoners gathered outside; the news has already spread!” The censor was at his wit’s end.
At that moment, the officials outside the government office couldn’t hold back the crowd. Several scholars and commoners ran in, charging toward the court hall and shouting, “Officials protect each other! Heaven’s punishment! The heavens are about to send down a divine curse!!!”
“Disrupting the court—drag them out.” Xiao Yao was alarmed and quickly ordered.
The scene was already in chaos, and officials stepped forward to drag the commoners away.
At this point, Ying Fusheng stepped forward and stopped the officials. “Hold on.”
“Before the people have even spoken clearly, why is Elder Xiao so eager to suppress them?” Ying Fusheng turned around. The commoners were being pressed to the ground by the officials, unable to lift their heads, but their eyes were filled with hatred.
The commoners glared at Xiao Yao with wide, furious eyes.
Xiao Yao avoided their gaze and said bluntly, “Disrupting court order is a serious crime. If everyone did this, where would the laws of Dayuan stand?”
“Who dares?” Ying Fusheng stepped forward, and the guards he had brought immediately blocked the officials.
The officials were caught in a dilemma and looked to Xiao Yao.
The Deputy Minister of the Grand Court of Justice stepped forward: “Are you all defying the orders of His Highness, the Sixth Prince?!”
Since the Sixth Prince was present, disobedience would be an act of rebellion against imperial authority.
The officials withdrew their hands one after another, and the commoners surged in, voices rising and falling.
“I accuse the censors of the Censorate of accepting bribes and shielding each other!”
“According to the laws of Dayuan, even the Censorate’s plaque has burned, and the ancestors can no longer bear to watch!”
By this time, news of the plaque’s self-immolation at the Censorate had spread inside. When the officials heard of such an omen, their faces showed a strange expression. This was not merely unbelievable—the plaque being burned was the very foundation of Dayuan’s legal system! The censors and officials of the Censorate were frantically trying to stop the commoners from flooding into the Censorate. Meanwhile, throughout the streets and alleys of the capital, commoners hearing the news of the plaque’s self-immolation all rushed toward the Censorate.
“What are you standing there for? Go to the government office and suppress this situation!” Xiao Yao commanded.
His trusted subordinate hurried off to handle it, but no sooner had he left than another person arrived: “Your Excellency, there are many commoners and scholars outside with different testimonies…”
The commoners and scholars flooding in brought their petitions. Commoners wept and scholars read them aloud, and inside and outside the Censorate, it was all accusations.
Officials of the Grand Court of Justice restrained the commoners trying to charge the court hall and blocked the other officials, all looking toward Ying Fusheng, who stood in front. When the commoners saw that the Sixth Prince was backing them, they hurriedly told him their grievances.
“Don’t worry, take your time and speak.” Ying Fusheng helped an elderly man who kept kowtowing.
The old man was incoherent, but fortunately, the scholar beside him was clear-headed and quickly relayed the story. The senior officials who had come on imperial orders heard the impassioned words in the petitions and their expressions darkened. How could the testimonies these people recited be different from what they had heard?
The witnesses summoned to the hall seemed particularly absurd. Outside, a large number of commoners were giving completely different testimonies, the opposite of those selected for the hall.
“What’s going on!?” a senior official demanded.
One of the witnesses, upon hearing that the plaque had burned and heaven was about to send punishment, turned pale on the spot. Under interrogation, he blurted out: “I lied! I lied! That day, Minister Yu did not go to the outskirts of the capital… Don’t blame me! Don’t blame me!”
His sudden change of testimony made Xiao Yao’s face change drastically. He immediately looked at Ying Fusheng.
But Ying Fusheng looked surprised. He frowned slightly and said, “It seems that the testimonies in this court are problematic.”
“Elder Xiao, is this the result of the Censorate’s investigation? Why are the common people so full of grievances?”
“Deputy Minister.” Ying Fusheng turned around. “Were the testimonies just now recorded?”
The Deputy Minister of the Grand Court of Justice stepped forward: “Reporting to Your Highness, they have been recorded.”
At this moment, all the senior officials who had been ordered to observe the proceedings wore strange expressions. If the Censorate conducted an investigation, it must first gather the voices of the people. This was stipulated in the laws of Dayuan authored by the Xiao family: the local government investigates, the Grand Court of Justice reviews, the Censorate examines, and finally, the Ministry of Justice pronounces judgment. Such a meticulous process was meant to prevent miscarriages of justice… As everyone knew, the Grand Court of Justice had submitted records suggesting official corruption, but after the trial just now, all had been deemed innocent.
But now, new witnesses appeared outside the door—which meant there was a flaw in the procedure: someone had given false testimony.
“Since the Censorate is to conduct a review, it must hear all testimonies and judge the truth before concluding the case.” Ying Fusheng mused. “If I’m not mistaken, that’s the procedure, isn’t it, Elder Xiao?”
Xiao Yao’s expression had already changed. “This matter is anomalous. We need to sort out the situation and discuss it another day.”
He only wanted to end this now and figure out what was really happening! He signaled his subordinates to rush to the Xiao family and summon the family head.
“Why is that, Lord Xiao?” Ying Fusheng looked at the bright daylight outside and said meaningfully, “There are new witnesses and new testimonies. The officials of the Three Judicial Offices are all here, and senior court ministers are present. As for whether there is corruption, call everyone up for a face-to-face confrontation. With so many high officials watching, who would still dare to lie?”
All eyes in the hall fell on Xiao Yao, who was caught between a rock and a hard place.
Just then, a voice called from outside the hall—
“His Excellency, Commander of the Imperial Guards, Qi Hanzhou, has arrived—”
Hearing the name of the Imperial Guards, the senior officials’ expressions shifted. The Imperial Guards had informants all over the capital. Since he had come, it meant that news of the Censorate plaque’s self-immolation had reached the Emperor’s ears. The crowd in the hall parted to make way. When Qi Hanzhou entered from outside, several officials followed behind him: the Minister of Justice, Lord Li; the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, Xiao Yan; the Chief Minister of the Grand Court of Justice, Lord Liu…
Ying Fusheng looked innocently at this lively court. He sat with his sleeves folded and said, “So many people have come.”
“Isn’t that perfect? Now the Three Judicial Offices and the Imperial Guards are all present.”
When Qi Hanzhou entered, he bowed slightly to Ying Fusheng. Their eyes met for a moment, then parted, as if they were strangers. After the bow, Qi Hanzhou turned to face the assembly. He produced an imperial edict, and the officials immediately knelt. He said, “By imperial order, the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief Xiao Yao and ten censors under him are suspected of engaging in fraud and favoritism. Their authority to conduct trials is hereby revoked, and the cases are to be retried.”
The censors’ faces changed drastically, and they all looked at Xiao Yao.
But before they could react, several Imperial Guards stepped forward and subdued Xiao Yao and the implicated censors beneath the court hall. The commoners watched in stunned silence. The high officials who had been seated above moments ago were now all pressed down in the hall as suspects.
“Where is the Deputy Minister of the Grand Court of Justice?” Qi Hanzhou asked.
“Here, Your Excellency.” The Deputy Minister stepped forward and presented the case files and testimony records: “One copy was submitted by Left Vice Censor-in-Chief Xiao Yao, one by the Grand Court of Justice, and the last is the testimony recorded at the request of His Highness the Sixth Prince. Please review them, Commander.”
Xiao Yao hurriedly signaled to Xiao Yan. Since this man had come, he must have brought a solution. Now, they needed to stabilize the Imperial Guards before the Xiao family head arrived. But no matter how much he hinted to Xiao Yan, the latter ignored him. Instead, Xiao Yan had some case files brought forth: “Left Vice Censor-in-Chief Xiao Yao is suspected of secret dealings with many people in the court. These are the evidence of their communications.”
Hearing “evidence,” Xiao Yao’s eyes widened in shock. What was he saying?
What was Xiao Yan doing!?
“Xiao Yan!” Xiao Yao shouted.
Qi Hanzhou’s gaze turned cold: “Silence.”
Not just Xiao Yao—the officials below the hall and even the commoners looked at Xiao Yan with unusual expressions.
Weren’t these two censors both members of the Xiao family? How could they be turning against each other!?
Facing the doubts, Xiao Yan remained composed. After presenting the evidence, he stepped back slightly into the line of officials.
“Isn’t this man from the Xiao family?” Shen Yunfei whispered. “He’s directly submitting evidence?”
“Because he’s seized the opportunity.” Ying Fusheng drank tea, his gaze briefly falling on Xiao Yan. Seeing that his official robe fit him snugly, he must have received the news and immediately gone to see the Emperor.
Xiao Yan stood diagonally opposite Ying Fusheng. When he looked up, Ying Fusheng met his gaze calmly and even returned a smile. He liked cooperating with smart people. Some things didn’t need him to push; when the time came, someone would naturally take over. This evidence he had submitted to Qi Hanzhou had probably already been seen by his father the Emperor.
The moment this evidence reached his father, the conflict between the Xiao family and the imperial family was laid bare on the table.
Even if the Xiao family had once been the eyes of the imperial house, once they touched the bottom line of the imperial family, those eyes could be removed in an instant.
There were many censors in the Censorate, divided into left and right factions. Xiao Yao, as an elder of the Xiao clan, had high prestige within the family, and naturally, the censors in the Censorate followed his lead. Under such circumstances, for Xiao Yan to have reached a position on par with him showed that he was a man of deep scheming.
In Ying Fusheng’s memory, after the Empress Dowager’s death, Xiao Yan had single-handedly reorganized the Censorate.
He had been lying low for a long time, holding evidence against Xiao Yao and even the Xiao family head, but he lacked the opportunity. So when he appeared at the Grand Court of Justice to help Xiao Yao out of a tight spot, Ying Fusheng knew this man was already looking for a chance.
“Your Highness, someone from the Xiao family has arrived.” Song’an approached from behind and whispered in his ear.
Ying Fusheng’s expression remained natural: “He won’t come in person. Right now, he’s thinking about how to protect himself.”
Xiao Yao’s move to bribe scholars and commoners to create a disturbance was foolish. It was meant to divert public opinion onto Ying Fusheng, but he didn’t consider that the court proceedings were ordered by his father. If public opinion was directed at Ying Fusheng, it would undoubtedly offend the imperial family. Within half a day, the Imperial Guards would present the full story to his father’s desk.
Engaging in fraud and showing contempt for imperial authority was a double offense.
The Xiao family head did not arrive; instead, a messenger from the Xiao family came with a letter.
The letter was handed to Qi Hanzhou, who didn’t even glance at it before tossing it aside.
He scanned the evidence submitted by Xiao Yan in one go. The details were even more thorough than what the Imperial Guards had investigated, enough to net Xiao Yao and his faction of censors in one fell swoop. They were almost all irrefutable proofs.
He handed it to Ye Xuanjiu, who immediately read it aloud to the assembled officials and commoners—
The officials who had privately traded with Xiao Yao had been acquitted, but upon hearing this evidence, the various testimonies they had falsely given in court—which the Sixth Prince had ordered recorded—all became new evidence against them. Even if they had room to argue, the mere act of giving false testimony was, under the laws of Dayuan, collusion in corruption.
Ying Fusheng’s sharp gaze swept over the censors in the hall. The censors knelt in cold sweat, none daring to lift their heads. Xiao Yao’s face was ashen, and he was speechless. “His Majesty ordered a strict investigation into corruption and fraud in the court. The Censorate is suspected of covering up cases and committing perjury. Xiao Yao, you have some nerve! If not for the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief’s clear-sightedness, how long would you have continued to deceive above and below!”
Xiao Yan stood with his eyes lowered below the hall. Upon hearing these words, he looked at the righteous Sixth Prince. His lips moved slightly, but he said nothing.
Qi Hanzhou glanced at Ying Fusheng upon hearing this, then looked at the silent Xiao Yan.
The commoners present, hearing the Sixth Prince say this, suddenly understood. The current emperor cared for the people’s welfare, investigating corruption and fraud, and even holding open trials to give the people a chance to appeal. Unfortunately, there were too many termites in the court, some deceiving above and below. Even heaven couldn’t stand it anymore and sent down a divine curse to rebuke the Censorate!
The problem all lay with this Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate!
“Bring the suspects to the Imperial Prison and await trial.” Qi Hanzhou looked at the commoners below the hall. “All cases will be retried openly by the Grand Court of Justice. Petitions and evidence can be resubmitted. If anyone tries to suppress evidence, they may directly file a complaint with the Imperial Guard’s Commission.”
The commoners were deeply moved. His Majesty saw everything clearly, even taking action against the Censorate.
Although the cases were adjourned for another day, no one present complained; they were all moved to tears.
The Censorate was in chaos, and the Grand Court of Justice worked frantically to calm the commoners inside and out. The Imperial Guards escorted the senior officials away. As Qi Hanzhou walked to the side, Ying Fusheng was already waiting for him there.
“The young commander arrived just in time,” said Ying Fusheng.
Qi Hanzhou looked at that confident and cunning demeanor. “Your Highness, I will escort you back to the palace.”
They didn’t exchange many words and left through the back door amid the crowd.
Xiao Yan watched Ying Fusheng leave. Behind him, the commoners were buzzing with discussion. He suppressed his thoughts and watched Ying Fusheng disappear into the distance. In the court earlier, Ying Fusheng had spoken only a few times, but each time he skillfully guided the situation. When Xiao Yan had presented the evidence on the spot, given his Xiao family identity, the commoners would have hated him as well. At that point, the Xiao family’s credibility among the people would have been completely destroyed.
But at the critical moment, he shifted the blame to Xiao Yao and his faction of censors… The commoners were not sharp about court officials, but they would remember that Xiao Yan of the Xiao family had presented evidence to expose corrupt officials. This move elevated his standing.
“Lord Xiao Yan, the family head has sent a message.” Seeing Xiao Yan, a member of the Xiao family hurriedly said, “The family head orders you to find a way to preserve the Censorate.”
That was the symbol of the Xiao family’s power.
The soft light in Xiao Yan’s eyes vanished, replaced by an icy coldness that kept people at a distance. “Uncle seems not to have understood clearly. If he wants to save the Xiao family now, he can only rely on me.”
His voice was low, making the messenger shudder.
“If he wishes to enjoy his remaining years in peace, he’d better keep his mouth shut. Understand?”
…
“Is that what the child really said?” The emperor looked at the secret report from the Imperial Guards. It showed Ying Fusheng establishing imperial authority in the court. Now, the common people were all praising the emperor, saying that the flames on the Censorate plaque were like a fire dragon, a sign of the true dragon, a manifestation of heaven and His Majesty’s will to punish.
“So, ‘heaven’s punishment’ is not a problem?” The emperor looked at the Imperial Guard.
Qi Hanzhou lowered his eyes: “Upon careful investigation, it was determined to be due to the hot weather.”
The emperor looked at the submitted case files. “This child is truly a lucky star.”
He had only intended to let the child see the world, but who would have thought that after one visit to the Three Judicial Offices, things would develop like this.
The Imperial Guards and the Grand Court of Justice had only given a slight push, and he had managed to resolve such a major problem as the Censorate.
The Censorate was the foundation of the Dayuan legal system, and the Xiao family was a prominent clan. Xiao Yao’s activities had been reported through the Imperial Guards multiple times, but the right time to deal with him had never come. How to uproot this termite without shaking the foundation of Dayuan—the emperor had long pondered this. Now, with public opinion and heaven’s will aligned, even the senior ministers and cabinet members who sided with the Xiao family dared not say a word.
“The Censorate does need to be reformed. Xiao Shunian is advanced in years; it’s indeed inconvenient for him to handle these trivial matters.” A sharp glint passed through the emperor’s eyes. Since he was old, there was no need for him to hold too much power in the court. Some old things should be pushed down. “Then draft the edict.”
Some termites in the Censorate indeed needed to be pulled out, but the task of overseeing the hundred officials still had to be carried out.
Fortunately, the Censorate was not entirely useless now.
All censors involved in the case were arrested and imprisoned. Not long after, the previous case files were overturned and retried. No one in the court dared to express any objection to this. Now, public sentiment was surging, and anyone who opposed it would be seen as defying heaven’s will. The Censorate underwent a major cleanup. The censors under Xiao Yao’s faction were either dismissed or demoted, and Xiao Yao and several other chief culprits were subjected to severe public punishment.
The emperor, considering the Xiao family’s contributions in stabilizing the dynasty, did not implicate the family this time, only allowing the family head to retire voluntarily.
The authority of the Censorate fell into the hands of Xiao Yan of the Xiao family. He was promoted from Right Vice Censor-in-Chief to Right Censor-in-Chief. Everyone knew who Xiao Yan was—a man of reputation in the court, handpicked by the emperor, and the emperor’s confidant.
Now that authority rested with him, the Xiao family’s status was still secure.
When news from the court reached Ying Fusheng, he was having a meal with the Empress Dowager.
As for what happened afterward, he let the court descend into chaos, with factions distancing themselves from one another. These were not things he, a prince without real power, needed to worry about. That was for his father to decide.
In recent days, the old Madame Xiao had gone frantic, trying every means to enter the palace to beg the Empress Dowager for mercy, but the Empress Dowager ignored her completely. Now that the dust had settled, the Empress Dowager’s mood had improved slightly.
She looked at Ying Fusheng, who was waiting on her, and a softness appeared in her eyes: “In these past few days, why haven’t you gone out of the palace?”
Ying Fusheng hesitated slightly. “Grandmother, are you still angry?”
He trailed off. When handling matters, he hadn’t thought about these things—only about the harm posed by the Xiao family. If Xiao Yao and his ilk were not dealt with, the court’s oversight would be as good as nonexistent. Moreover, the Xiao family was closely connected to the Empress Dowager. Any misstep could endanger her.
He could afford to offend the Xiao family and many others, but his speculation about the Empress Dowager was entirely based on personal judgment. The Empress Dowager’s relationship with the Xiao family had indeed grown distant, but blood ties still existed. Moving against the Xiao family would still sadden her.
The Empress Dowager looked at him. They had been together for a long time now. When she first saw this child last year, he was kneeling before the hall, pleading for his mother. At first, she thought the child was weak, but later she saw a stubborn strength in him.
Even though he was frail and sickly, his behavior outside did not lack imperial dignity. When she had fallen ill earlier, this child had stuck by her side almost every step of the way, even having her daily meals checked multiple times. She still vividly remembered the day she fainted in the palace and the expression on this child’s face as he stood before her.
Now, with so many things happening outside, if it had been any other prince who had accomplished this task, he would have already gone to his mother to act cute and ask for rewards. But this child was still worried about whether she was angry.
The Empress Dowager said nothing, and Ying Fusheng couldn’t help but think further.
Suddenly, he heard a sigh, and then the old woman’s hand fell on his forehead.
“You child… have you been thinking about this these past few days?”
Ying Fusheng paused. It was the first time he felt such closeness.
“You handled this task very well. Your father sent you to do it. As a prince, you don’t need to worry about others’ opinions. The imperial house stands behind you.” The Empress Dowager patted him gently, one stroke after another, as if softly soothing him. “You did very well.”
“Grandmother is happy for you; how could she be angry with you?”