Mo Yunzhao called the person in.

After bowing, Liu Ruzhi said, "Your Majesty, I have come to the palace today to discuss the case of Jiang Zhao. There is already evidence proving that there are other hidden circumstances surrounding the murder of Chief Wang in the secret room. I am presenting this case report for Your Majesty's review."

The execution of Jiang Zhao was, after all, carried out by imperial decree.

This matter must be reported in person, without needing approval from the Ministry of Justice.

The chief eunuch took the memorial and placed it on the table.

Mo Yunzhao did not translate.

"You just said that you captured Luo Ruyan?"

Liu Ruzhi immediately replied, "What I said is true. Luo Ruyan is currently imprisoned in the Jingzhao Prefecture prison, but it was not the constables of the Jingzhao Prefecture who captured her, but Qinghui, a young lady from the Ninth Prince's Mansion. The Princess Consort also helped."

The Empress snorted coldly.

"Lord Liu, as the official in charge of the capital, anyone who doesn't know better would think you're a lackey of the Ninth Prince's mansion."

Liu Ruzhi cupped her hands in a respectful gesture.

"Your Majesty, I entered this officialdom through the imperial examinations and was appointed by His Majesty as the Prefect of Jingzhao. I am responsible for the official training personally given by His Majesty and for speaking up for the people. If Your Majesty feels that I have done something wrong, please feel free to point it out. Such words are an insult to the dignity of the royal family."

The Empress's expression changed slightly.

She subconsciously looked at Mo Yunzhao.

As expected, seeing his displeasure, she quickly shut her mouth and turned to look at Zhang Huai'an.

Zhang Huai'an gently shook his head at her.

Mo Yunzhao glanced at the two of them and asked, "Liu Ruzhi, now that the person has been caught, have you gotten any information out of them?"

Liu Ruzhi hurriedly replied, "After Luo Ruyan was captured, I interrogated her and confirmed that she was indeed a spy of the Sui Dynasty, acting under the orders of Zhou Tao."

"She's talking nonsense."

Zhou Tao, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly flew into a rage.

"She is Mo Yunhan's person. I was the one who was deceived by her."

Zhang Huai'an immediately said, "Lord Liu, Zhou Tao had already confessed before you arrived. Even if you want to protect the Ninth Prince, you cannot speak nonsense in front of the Emperor."

As soon as Liu Ruzhi entered the hall, she saw Zhou Tao.

Despite being questioned at this moment, he remained neither humble nor arrogant.

His upright spirit of speaking out for the people for many years remains.

"Lord Zhang, I did not mention the Ninth Prince. Why are you saying that I am protecting the Ninth Prince?"

Zhang Huai'an choked.

Only then did I realize that my haste had given me away.

Liu Ruzhi, however, did not press the matter further.

Instead, he leisurely took out a confession and several old letters from his pocket.

"This is Luo Ruyan's confession, along with secret letters she and Zhou Tao once wrote, and signals used by the Sui Dynasty's spies to communicate in various places. Some of these signals have not yet been verified, but in the capital, three people have already been captured, confirming that the signals are genuine."

Mo Yunzhao angrily rebuked.

"Zhou Tao, how dare you lie to me?"

Zhou Tao knelt on the ground, his eyes filled with resentment and anger.

That bitch Luo Ruyan couldn't even endure the slightest physical pain, and she gave herself away so quickly. She's not worthy of being a spy for the Great Sui Dynasty.

Right now, there's no way to survive.

Then drag as many people down with you as you can.

He shouted again,

“Your Majesty, it is true that Lord Liu and His Highness the Ninth Prince have a very close personal relationship. This matter is of great importance. I implore you to have someone else conduct the investigation in order to ensure fairness.”

Liu Ruzhi echoed this.

"Your Majesty, I agree with your request. The case of Zhang Haotian's return is inextricably linked to the case of Luo Ruyan, a spy for the Sui Dynasty. The private information of the officials that Luo Ruyan stole from the Zhang family should also be thoroughly investigated. Otherwise, the people will really think that all the officials of our Great Zhou have risen to their positions through shady means. In that case, the imperial examinations will be a mere formality, the students will be disheartened, and our Great Zhou will have difficulty recruiting future talents."

"However, there is still one thing I don't understand and would like to ask Lord Zhang. Luo Ruyan has already handed over the original stolen secret letter. I have seen it. Judging from the age of the paper and the ink stains, it is obvious that Lord Zhang has been collecting these materials for many years. But why didn't you report it to the court and inform His Majesty? Why did you hide it in a secret room in your home? What is your intention?"

Zhang Huai'an's expression changed slightly.

The Empress, however, could no longer contain herself.

“Vice Minister Zhang is the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. What problems could he possibly have that require him to explain to a mere third-rank prefect like you? As for when to report to the court, he has his own discretion. Who are you to question and interrogate him?”

Liu Ruzhi bowed slightly.

"Your Majesty, the women of the inner palace are not allowed to interfere in politics; this is a rule left by our ancestors."

The Empress was choked half to death again.

Mo Shaoze seized the opportunity to say,

"Father, since there are differing opinions, an investigation should be launched. Neither Zhou Tao's nor Luo Ruyan's words can be trusted. However, it is a fact that the Second Prince led troops into the palace, and it is also a fact that Qin Minglang accused him of treason. I believe that a joint trial should be held by the three judicial departments, in conjunction with the Jingzhao Prefecture, to investigate the truth behind the Sui Dynasty's spies, verify the corruption of the officials, and uncover the truth behind the siege of Ma Huaipo, so that the spirit of our late grandmother may rest in peace!"

The Empress was extremely anxious.

He immediately knelt down and begged for mercy, completely forgetting the ancestral teachings that Liu Ruzhi had just mentioned.

"Your Majesty, this is unacceptable. Once the three judicial departments jointly try the case, Shaoqing will lose his chance to be named Crown Prince. Among the many princes, who can inherit the throne? Isn't only Mo Shaoze left? If the throne falls into Mo Shaoze's hands, wouldn't that be the same as falling into the hands of the Sui people?"

"presumptuous!"

Enraged, Mo Yunzhao grabbed a teacup and smashed it hard.

The shards of porcelain nearly cut the empress's face.

"I'm not dead yet, and you're already in such a hurry to make your son the crown prince? Why don't I abdicate right now and let your son ascend the throne, and you become the empress dowager?"

The empress was so frightened that her face turned as white as paper.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty did not mean that. I was only thinking about the future of the Great Zhou. Even if my son cannot be the crown prince, Your Majesty must not allow Mo Shaoze, who has half of the blood of the Great Sui Dynasty, to take advantage of the situation."

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