Chapter 52: It's better to have the three judicial departments jointly try him than to accept him for trial.

In contrast, there was no rush to deal with Zhang Mianzhi.

The newly appointed Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, Sun Shucheng, spoke in a booming voice: "I hereby impeach Grand Secretary Zhang Mianzhi and his adopted son Wang Minzhi for accepting huge bribes, manipulating the appointment and removal of officials, selling official positions, treating public resources as private property, controlling channels of communication, persecuting loyal officials, and allowing their family members to seize farmland and bully men and women. Such corrupt officials should not be allowed to remain at the top of the ranks! I have some irrefutable evidence, and I implore Your Highness to investigate thoroughly!"

After saying this, Sun Shucheng took out the memorial and evidence from his sleeve and held them high above his head.

When Feng Gou went to intercept Lu Wensheng, Feng Yi took his place. He immediately walked down the steps, steadily took the memorial and evidence, and bowed to present them to Shen Hegui.

The crisp sound of turning pages could be clearly heard in the hall. Most officials had a look of pleasure and excitement on their faces, while only a very few remaining members of Zhang's faction were sweating profusely and trembling almost imperceptibly.

The memorial was newly written, but Shen Hegui had already seen the evidence, and even had more detailed evidence. Therefore, he only glanced at it briefly and then set it aside.

He glanced at the dragon head in his palm, his sharp, chilling gaze landing on Zhang Mianzhi's hunched back. Shen Hegui asked in a deep voice, "Lord Zhang, do you have anything to say in your defense?"

Zhang Mianzhi slowly stepped out of the ranks, raised his head and turned around, his face calm, and even a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: "This old man has a question that I would like to ask Lord Sun."

Zhang Mianzhi continued speaking without waiting for Sun Shucheng's reply. His voice was not loud, but it pierced the hearts of everyone in the court.

"The salary given by the court is meager. May I ask, Lord Sun, when you were an official, did you truly rely entirely on that meager salary to support all internal and external expenses, and never embezzle a single penny of the regular allowance? You pride yourself on being an upright and honest official. Can you swear that you have never sought any benefit for your family from beginning to end? Have you never purged dissidents due to political differences? In your harem, did you only have one virtuous wife and never take in eight beautiful concubines?"

Zhang Mianzhi took a slow breath, no longer looking at Sun Shucheng's extremely ugly face, and calmly faced Shen Hegui.

“I, Zhang, admit that I am no longer a good person. Opportunities are always fleeting. As long as I seize them at all costs, I can live with my head held high. There are countless talented people in the world, but there is only one position of prime minister. It is a position second only to the emperor. Talent and intelligence alone are not enough to get me a seat! I have lived to the ripe old age of eighty. It was worth it. I admit all my sins!”

Zhang Mianzhi solemnly held up the black gauze hat on his head and placed it neatly on the cool floor tiles in the hall before kneeling down.

Shen Hegui's eyes were deep and dark, as black as night: "Order the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Court of Judicial Review..."

"Wait!" Lu Wensheng, panting, pushed Feng Gou aside and rushed to the front of the hall, shouting, "The Grand Secretary has both faults and merits. Over the years, seventy percent of the silver he handled was used to fill various deficits, support emergency supplies for border towns, and even for the Emperor's birthday celebrations and imperial construction..."

"Insolence!" Shen Hegui suddenly stood up and shouted, "Guards, drag Lu Wensheng away immediately!"

He's such a worry! There's nothing he can't discuss in private!

Seeing the guards outside the hall move in response, Lu Wensheng quickly took half a step back, drew the dagger hidden in his sleeve, and pointed it at his own neck: "Let's see who dares!"

Feng Gou got up and asked tremblingly, "Lord Lu, why are you doing this?" He had never seen anyone use themselves to blackmail others before.

Looking around at the guards, seeing that they dared not approach, Lu Wensheng turned to Shen Hegui, who had somehow stepped down from the throne and was quietly approaching her: "Your Highness, I will accept any punishment you may give, but can you let me finish what I have to say?"

Shen Hegui stretched out his hand, his gaze falling on the sharp, white blade pressed against his skin: "Fine, I'll grant your request. Give me the dagger first." What a fool! Who points a dagger at themselves?

"No, I must speak first." She glanced warily at the guards beside her and the eager military officer opposite her. "Your Highness, could you please have the guards withdraw and all civil and military officials stay away from me?"

Shen Hegui compromised and waved his hand.

In an instant, a large area in the solemn center of the hall was emptied, leaving only Shen Hegui, Lu Wensheng, and Zhang Mianzhi, who stood up shakily.

Lu Wensheng's eyes shone brightly as he raised his voice: "Three years ago, a heavy snow fell in the north, killing countless livestock. The border troops, lacking food and clothing, nearly mutinied. The Ministry of War requested 100,000 taels of silver to purchase provisions and clothing, but the Ministry of Revenue held it up for two whole months! It was Lord Zhang who misappropriated the funds intended for His Majesty's repair of the Western Garden and personally wrote to the salt merchants of Jiangnan to 'borrow' money, finally managing to scrape together another 50,000 taels and send it to the front lines, stabilizing the morale of the troops! He did sell official positions, but most of the money from those sales went to the front lines. His actions were wrong!"

Lu Wensheng looked around at the officials: "But where were you all back then! Did you offer even the slightest useful advice?"

"Two years ago, there was a severe rainstorm and flood in the south, which blocked both the canal and land transport. The nearby granaries were damp and moldy, and the stored grain was only enough for ten days for the disaster victims. It was Lord Zhang who forced the officials of the two lakes to requisition the stored grain. Despite the infamy, he managed to transport the grain over the day before the grain ran out."

Zhang Mianzhi took two shaky steps forward and slowly shook his head at Lu Wensheng: "Stop talking, I am indeed guilty! What they said is true!"

“I know.” Lu Wensheng’s voice was soft and gentle, but each word was clear. “But things in this world are never just black and white.”

Zhang Mianzhi choked up, his hunched figure appearing even older and thinner beneath his wide official robes: "But it's not worth arguing for an eighty-year-old man, stained with sins, and risking your future! Child!"

Lu Wensheng's long eyelashes trembled slightly, her eyes filled with determination: "The law has its rules, and so does the world. But in my heart, there is a scale that has grown from the law and the rules. What I believe is worth doing, even if it is condemned by a thousand people, it is still worth doing!"

The golden rays of the rising sun streamed through the windows into the hall, climbing onto Lu Wensheng's stubborn face, making her squint involuntarily.

Seizing the opportunity, Shen Hegui strode forward and skillfully snatched the extremely familiar dagger from Lu Wensheng's hand. He then half-embraced Lu Wensheng with one hand and angrily said, "You actually used the dagger I gave you to point at yourself! Who taught you that?!"

"Nobody taught me!" Lu Wensheng struggled in Shen Hegui's arms, but his iron-like arms held her even tighter. Fearing that Shen Hegui would gag her, she quickly pleaded in a low voice, "Please let Zhang Mianzhi go, I have something to give Your Highness in exchange."

Shen Hegui's gaze shifted and unconsciously fell on Lu Wensheng's lips.

“I guarantee that Your Highness will be satisfied.” Noticing the wavering in Shen Hegui’s eyes, Lu Wensheng quickly added.

A secret expectation rose in his heart, and Shen Hegui said irritably, "Whatever you say!" In any case, that old man won't live for many more days, and he has already eliminated most of his cronies in the court.

"Thank you for your mercy, Your Highness!" Lu Wensheng slowly exhaled the breath that had been stuck in his chest.

Shen Hegui carefully sheathed his dagger, released Lu Wensheng, and walked to the imperial steps. He then solemnly ordered, "Commander Lin Shoubai of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is to interrogate the criminal Zhang Mianzhi in the Imperial Prison. Lu Wensheng behaved improperly before the palace, showing no respect for the rules and order, and roaring in the court. He should be severely punished, but considering his youth, vigor, and sincere heart, he is to be fined one year's salary, given twenty strokes of the cane, and temporarily detained in the palace to copy the law one hundred times! It is hoped that he will deeply reflect on his actions, purify his mind, and from now on be cautious in his words and deeds, and uphold the duties of a subject. Do any of you have any objections?"

A brief silence fell over the Fengtian Hall, before a voice rang out: "Your subject has no objection!"

No objections!

"As Your Highness commands!"

The law must be copied a hundred times; how many years would that take? Working during the day and then having to copy the law under His Highness's nose at night—this life is worse than no life at all!

Who knows which unlucky guy's daughter will marry Lu Wensheng in the future, and she'll probably be spending every night alone in her empty room!

Shen Hegui surveyed the assembled officials: "Court adjourned. Lu Wensheng, stay behind!"

After the officials left, Lu Wensheng immediately lifted his robe, knelt down, took out a bright yellow imperial edict from his sleeve, and presented it with both hands.

"This is the imperial edict establishing Prince Su as the crown prince, and it is now handed over to Your Highness."

Zhang Mianzhi, standing behind her, was deeply shocked and in disbelief.

Shen Hegui glanced at Zhang Mianzhi, took the imperial edict, unfolded it and examined it closely. At the same time, he said to Feng Gou beside him, "Go and get the kerosene and brazier."

Lu Wensheng looked up at Feng Gou and pleaded, "Please stop, Master. I am currently unable to leave. Could you please send someone to the Hanlin Academy to inform Huo Qian, the compiler, that you would like him to go outside the city to fetch my mother after his shift?"

Feng Gou hesitated for a moment, then looked at Shen Hegui. Seeing Shen Hegui nod almost imperceptibly, Feng Gou bowed and replied, "This old servant will send someone immediately. Lord Lu, please rest assured!"

For a moment, the hall fell silent, with only the ticking of the water clock remaining.

After about half a cup of tea, Feng Gou soaked the imperial edict in kerosene and threw it into the copper basin. Flames suddenly shot up, breaking the silence.

Shen Hegui reached out and helped Lu Wensheng up: "I didn't expect you to take it out."

Lu Wensheng: "Things that don't belong to me will have to be handed over sooner or later. Besides, His Highness already knew that I had this imperial edict. Things that can't be kept for long are better put to good use."

Looking down at Lu Wensheng, who was much shorter than him, Shen Hegui keenly sensed that Lu Wensheng's mood was a bit off today.

His brow furrowed.

Lu Wensheng is always unreliable and unpredictable. According to his usual habits, he would never act so impulsively. Although he is not afraid of this imperial edict, with Lu Wensheng's intelligence, if he uses it at a critical moment, whether it is to seek wealth, official position or life, he will surely succeed.

Using this imperial edict to exchange for Zhang Mian's life is a huge loss!

"Tell me, is there something insurmountable happening at home, or have you gotten into trouble outside these past few days?"

Unexpectedly, Shen Hegui was so perceptive. Lu Wensheng's emotions surged, his eyes reddened, and tears fell uncontrollably, one drop after another, seemingly without end.

She pursed her lips tightly, knowing she shouldn't talk about family matters with Shen Hegui, but somehow she did.

“I have several good friends who live in Linhai. The day I accidentally entered His Highness’s secret chamber, I entrusted them to find clues for His Highness. As a result, news came last night that they seem to have found my biological father.”

Shen Hegui carefully wiped away Lu Wensheng's tears, his eyes overflowing with an unconscious heartache: "But I remember, you only have your mother."

Lu Wensheng nodded emphatically, tears rolling down his cheeks with each movement: "When I was ten years old, he went to sea to do business and was shipwrecked. His body was never found. His household registration was indeed cancelled on the Yellow Register of Taxes and Labor."

Shen Hegui's palms were calloused, which made Lu Wensheng's face slightly sore, but since thunder and rain were both imperial favors, she was too embarrassed to stop him and tried to endure it.

The more he tried to hold back, the more his tears flowed, as if he were possessed.

With his palms and the backs of his hands constantly soaked with tears, Shen Hegui had no choice but to lift the corner of his crimson sleeve to wipe Lu Wensheng's tears. He said, "Isn't it a good thing that he's not dead?"

"No!" She pressed down on Shen Hegui's forearm, her bloodshot eyes wide open: "I'd rather he were dead, that he had married someone else behind my and my mother's back, and had a son and a daughter!"

Shen Hegui paused slightly, then grasped Lu Wensheng's hand, which was much softer than a man's. "Have you told your mother yet?"

Lu Wensheng shook his head and said in a low voice, "I haven't figured out how to tell my mother yet."

Shen Hegui: "How confident are you that that person is indeed your biological father?"

Lu Wensheng: "Ninety percent."

His eyes darkened. When it came to serious matters, Lu Wensheng was always conservative and cautious; if he could say 90% certainty, it was probably pretty close to the truth.

Gently patting Lu Wensheng's hand to comfort him, Shen Hegui said calmly, "The marriage is a matter between your mother and your father, and your mother has the right to know the truth. How about this, we'll postpone the punishment for now. I'll grant you a day off to go home and talk to your mother properly."

Lu Wensheng was slightly taken aback. He had never been indebted to the court for the beating, and in his emotional state, he unexpectedly burst into tears of joy.

Perhaps it was the comical expression on her face that made Shen Hegui laugh. He pulled Lu Wensheng into his arms and explained with a light laugh, "Copying the law a hundred times and being flogged twenty times are just for outsiders. How could I bear to hit you or punish you?"

Zhang Mianzhi, who had just found a clean handkerchief on his person, looked up and suddenly saw Shen Hegui and Lu Wensheng embracing like lovers in the hall. He lost his balance and slipped to the ground, straining his back.

"Ouch—"

If I had known I would see such a secret, I would have preferred to have the three judicial departments jointly interrogate him!

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Author's Note: [doge]