Chapter 88 The minister is guilty

Just as Li Zhong had predicted, the news of Jiang Jiarong's death and his burial with the honors due to a concubine's son, along with the return of Zhang Xiangling's dowry to the Jiangling Marquis's residence, caused a sensation throughout the powerful and influential circles of the capital.

For a time, everyone was talking about this matter during their leisure time. Some said that the Duke of Chu's mansion had acted too heartlessly, while others said that Zhang Xiangling should not have returned to the Marquis of Jiangling's mansion. Opinions varied widely.

This was exactly the effect that Jiang Yu and the Duke of Chu wanted. Regardless of what others said, Jiang Chengye's "smuggling of salt" was covered up and he was also cut off from the Jiangling Marquis's mansion.

Just as Lu Yifang said, it's difficult to have the best of both worlds. The Duke of Chu's mansion wanted to resolve the crisis without being gossiped about; that was impossible.

Upon hearing this, Xie Yun, the head of the Xie family, paced back and forth in his study. After a while, he stopped and looked at his eldest grandson, Xie Ning'an, saying:

"This time, the Duke of Chu did a very clean and ruthless job. Although Jiang Jiarong's true identity was that of a son born out of wedlock, he had been treated as a legitimate son for so many years. I don't believe that Jiang Jinglan had no feelings for him at all. But he killed him without hesitation."

Yes, he did not believe that Jiang Jiarong committed suicide.

After hearing his words, Xie Ning'an paused for a moment before saying, "It seems that the Duke of Chu already knows what the Marquis of Jiangling has done, otherwise he wouldn't be so resolute."

“Yes,” Xie Yun nodded thoughtfully, then Xie Ning’an continued, “Just as I told you before, if the Duke of Chu retaliates this time…”

Xie Yun narrowed his eyes, and Xie Ning'an said again, "I still maintain that you, Grandfather, must make a decision."

Xie Yun frowned deeply and began pacing back and forth. After a while, he said to Xie Ning'an, "I'll think about it some more. You should go back first."

Xie Ning'an bowed to him and then stepped out. Once outside the study, he glanced back, inwardly disapproving of Xie Yun's indecisiveness. This time, his grandfather had not made the same decision as the Duke of Chu.

.........

Jiang Jiarong's funeral was hastily held, mainly because few people attended. If he were still the eldest son and grandson of the Duke of Chu, many people would have come to pay their respects. But since he had become a son of a concubine, it was different; very few people came.

Meanwhile, a bloody storm was brewing in the capital. At that moment, Prince An, Qin Jingwei, was in the emperor's study, reporting the results of his investigation over the past few days. The more the emperor listened, the more gloomy his face became. After Prince An finished his report, a teacup was smashed on the floor.

"How dare they! What are they trying to do? Rebel?" the emperor roared, while Prince An stood with his head bowed in front of the table.

The emperor clenched his fist, squinted, and pondered for a moment before looking at Prince An and saying, "You're saying that someone slipped information into the hands of Dong Cheng of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

"Yes," said Prince An.

The emperor stepped out from behind his desk and paced back and forth in the imperial study. After a while, he stopped, looked at Prince An, and asked, "Who could it be?"

Prince An: "There are quite a few families in the capital with secret guards; I can't guess."

The emperor gave him a deep look and then asked, "You've found the Marquis of Jiangling and the second son of the Xie family. Are they the masterminds?"

Prince An raised his head, met the emperor's gaze for a moment, and said, "Your subject believes that Marquis Jiangling is not the mastermind, and the Xie family... it's hard to say."

"Why is it hard to say?" the emperor asked.

Prince An: "Such a large-scale smuggling of salt must mean that salt mines have been discovered. The Xie family's influence has always been in the capital, and the capital and the surrounding counties are all under your control. Where are the salt mines?"

The emperor nodded. "Then where would the salt mines be?"

“Your Majesty is investigating,” Prince An said. “However, based on all the information, your Majesty’s analysis suggests that the salt mine should be located in…the Southern Ridge.”

The words "Nanling" made the emperor clench his fist even tighter. He walked back behind his desk, looked down at the evidence submitted by Prince An, and then asked, "If it were the Prince of Lingnan, what would happen?"

Prince An lowered his head, "Your subject does not know."

He understood perfectly well how the emperor viewed him: a cruel official, and he could not and should not participate too much in court affairs.

The emperor gave him another deep look. Prince An remained bowed, appearing respectful. The emperor withdrew his gaze and said, "Regardless of whether the Xie family was the mastermind, they were all involved. However, the Xie family's influence is deeply entrenched..."

"Your Majesty," Chief Eunuch Zhao Fuquan entered and reported, "Lord Xie has arrived."

The emperor's eyes flashed with a dangerous light, then returned to calm. After a moment, he said, "Let him in."

Zhao Fuquan withdrew, and the emperor said to Prince An, "Confiscate the property of the Marquis of Jiangling. Go and carry it out."

"Yes." Prince An bowed and left. As he exited the imperial study, he ran into Xie Yun.

Xie Yun was taken aback, then immediately bowed and said, "Your subject greets Your Highness Prince An."

Prince An gave a faint "hmm," said nothing, and walked away. However, Xie Yun felt that the one whom the Duke of Chu was using to kill was Prince An.

Without a second thought, he bent low and stepped into the imperial study, then knelt down, saying, "Your subject is guilty."

The emperor sat behind his desk, watching him in silence for a long time. He hadn't expected Xie Yun to react so quickly; he had thought that even if he didn't completely eradicate the Xie family this time, he could at least skin them alive. But now it seemed that wouldn't be possible. He just didn't know what Xie Yun would say.

"What crime have you committed, my dear minister?" The emperor's voice was calm, as if he controlled everything.

Xie Yun knelt on the ground, not daring to raise his head. "I have failed in my duty to educate my son, and he has become a stupid and foolish son. He was tricked into buying several boats, but who knew that the boats were carrying smuggled salt."

The emperor remained silent after hearing this, sitting there in silence for a long time until Xie Yun's forehead was covered in cold sweat. Only then did the emperor say, "Smuggling salt, Minister Xie, this is a crime punishable by the extermination of your entire clan."

The emperor spoke the words "extermination of the clan" with a slightly heavy tone, and Xie Yun immediately kowtowed, "Your Majesty, I know my crime. I have already brought that rebellious son here. Please, Your Majesty, decide his fate."

"Minister Xie, are you trying to exchange the life of one son for the life of your entire clan?" The emperor's voice remained calm, but sweat was already dripping down Xie Yun's forehead.

He knew that for a family like the Xie family, which had operated in the capital since the previous dynasty, the emperor couldn't simply confiscate their property. That would have far-reaching consequences. However, the Qin family now held the throne, and their hold was very secure. Who knew if the emperor might act impulsively and, even at great personal cost, confiscate their property?

At this point, he felt some regret, regretting his involvement in that matter. But there was no turning back now.

He touched his forehead to the ground and said in a sorrowful voice, "I know that he has committed a crime that could lead to the extermination of his entire clan. I beg Your Majesty to spare the Xie family, considering their years of hard work and dedication."

"Diligent and conscientious".

The emperor pondered these four words in his heart, his fists clenching tightly under the table once more.