Chapter 57 A Man of High Moral Character, I've Come to See You Off.

Gao Zhizhen's eyes flashed with surprise and doubt. He looked at the somewhat unfamiliar Zhen Yongming and asked, "How can a death row inmate be exonerated?"

“Make a contribution.” Zhen Yongming looked at the haggard and dejected young man, his eyes concealing a shrewd calculation he dared not reveal. “There is a law in the Dahuang Penal Code that allows prisoners to make contributions while on the side of guilt. If a prisoner exposes another’s crime or provides important clues, and if the information is verified and leads to the solving of other cases, he can be exempted from the death penalty and exiled instead.”

Gao Zhizhen was momentarily stunned, then suddenly realized what was happening. He slowly backed away, his lips trembling, pointing at Zhen Yongming, and shouted incredulously, "Zhen Yongming! As a son, no matter how disloyal or unfilial I am, I can never identify my own father!"

Zhen Yongming remained silent in the cell, uttering no more words. He calmly watched as Gao Zhizhen's eyes gradually hardened with lust, and Gao Zhizhen retreated step by step to the wall, crouching down and clutching his head in anguish.

He slammed his head against the hard wall repeatedly, as if he were going mad. His mental defenses were completely collapsing. He pulled at his hair as he stood up, walked back to Zhen Yongming, and asked, "Is this my father's will?"

Zhen Yongming said, "No."

"...So Uncle Zhen wanted me to do this?" Gao Zhizhen seemed to understand something, grinning and becoming increasingly manic. Having been immersed in the power struggles for many years, he wasn't stupid. Pointing at Zhen Yongming's nose, he questioned him, his face flushed, "I know, Zhen Yongming, you want to bring down my father so you can take the position yourself, don't you?!"

"Is that right?!" Gao Zhizhen stared in disbelief, his shackled fingers gripping Zhen Yongming's shirt tightly as he questioned him.

"Yes." Zhen Yongming watched him gradually break down and said calmly, "But the initiative is in your hands. Whether you tell him or not is entirely up to you."

Psychological games are all about playing with human nature.

Human nature cannot withstand the test.

When a boat capsizes, one sees a fugitive; when a building collapses, one sees a dead ghost.

When trapped in a dead end, one must destroy to build; only by abandoning one's closest relatives can one survive.

So, should we give it up or not?

Gao Zhizhen's moral defenses crumbled, and a wavering look appeared in his eyes. After a long while, he suddenly laughed, but tears welled up in his eyes. Although his voice was low, the veins on his eyebrows bulged, "The wicked minister Gao Zhizhen impeached my father Gao Yu for colluding with the Japanese to steal silver and plotting to plunder the country."

Zhen Yongming sighed inwardly, turned and walked out of the cell. He had calculated human nature clearly. No, to be precise, Feng Tan had calculated the selfishness and cold-heartedness that were deeply buried in the bones of the Gao family father and son, who shared the same lineage.

Behind him, Gao Zhizhen's voice grew increasingly mournful.

"The wicked minister Gao Zhizhen has impeached my father Gao Yu for colluding with Japanese pirates to steal silver and plotting to seize the country!"

"The wicked minister Gao Zhizhen has impeached my father Gao Yu for colluding with Japanese pirates to steal silver and plotting to seize the country!!"

"The wicked minister Gao Zhizhen has impeached my father, Gao Yu, for colluding with Japanese pirates to steal silver and plotting to seize the country!!!"

He repeated it over and over, like a cuckoo crying blood and a gibbon wailing, tears streaming down his face. Suddenly, he was overcome with anger and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The voice continued, as if deliberately seeking revenge, "The wicked minister Gao Zhizhen impeached my father Gao Yu for colluding with Japanese pirates to steal silver, plotting to seize the country..."

Blood stained Gao Zhizhen's lips, tears streaming down his face, his smile maniacal. The Imperial Guards guarding the prison were shocked by his appearance and shouted, "Quickly, summon a doctor!"

......

The case of the princess's murder was finally closed. After a second review, the Dali Temple sentenced Gao Zhizhen to death, but later, considering his meritorious service in reporting the crime, the sentence was reduced to exile in the snowy northern frontier, never to return to the capital.

The murder of the princess had far-reaching consequences. In addition to amending some articles of the Dahuang Penal Code, it also implicated the high-ranking official Gao Yu in a treason case. The case began with Gao Zhizhen accusing his own father, and later, Feng Tan, a senior official in the Ministry of Justice, obtained testimony from Liang Baoquan, the magistrate of Kangjiang County, during his interrogation. Furthermore, the assassins sent by Gao Yu were indistinguishable from the assassins of Yongle Temple, further solidifying Gao Yu's guilt.

After Gao Yu lost power, the officials he had offended in the past gathered more evidence of his actions that violated the interests of the state and the ancestral temple. Together with officials from the Six Ministries and Thirteen Circuits, they submitted a memorial impeaching him. By this time, the Gao family's fate was sealed.

As spring transitioned into summer, the sky was filled with sparse stars and a bright moon. The marble floor in front of the Taiji Hall shimmered with fluorescent light. Gao Yu paused as he walked toward the hall, looked up at the starry sky, and said to Sheng Honghai, "Eunuch Sheng, will I ever see such a beautiful starry sky again?"

Sheng Honghai knew that Gao Yu was asking him about Emperor Chongming's opinion, and replied, "Whether or not it can be seen is a matter of imperial authority."

“Yes, thunder and rain are both manifestations of Heaven’s power.” Gao Yu took two steps and then stopped, asking, “Did His Majesty send any Imperial Guards to interrogate me tonight?”

Sheng Honghai said, "Your Excellency is comforting; the laws of Dahuang do not apply to cabinet ministers."

Upon hearing this, Gao Yu exhaled and slowly pushed open the vermilion doors of the Taiji Hall. The towering dome was painted with...

The scene is a lifelike depiction of the sky, with a smooth, mirror-like marble floor and gold and silver reliefs carved on the four walls. Emperor Chongming stands with his hands behind his back in front of a phoenix totem, gazing at the sea of ​​clouds ahead with a distant look in his eyes.

Gao Yu looked at the emperor's figure, knelt down, and kowtowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Upon hearing the voice, Emperor Chongming remained standing without moving, and only his majestic voice rang out, "Sheng Honghai, help the Grand Secretary up."

This was considered a very high level of courtesy upon meeting. The chief eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial held the power of approving imperial edicts, and could rival the cabinet members. Sheng Honghai helped Gao Yu up, and Gao Yu thanked him again, then said to Emperor Chongming, "Your Majesty, I am innocent! I have been honored by Your Majesty's grace for over thirty years, serving you with utmost devotion! Among the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers of the Great Emperor, I have resolved all those difficulties and troubles for you! Why don't you believe me, but instead believe the one-sided story of that young brat? If I can fabricate evidence, so can he, Your Majesty! I have been wronged by him!"

Overcome with emotion, Gao Yu suddenly knelt down, crawling to Emperor Chongming's side. He raised his head to look at the heartless monarch he had served for half his life, tears streaming down his face, each word dripping with blood, "Liang Baoquan's confession is false, and I did not send the Jiaosi assassins. As for my son's accusation against me... it was because my son wanted to save his life, Your Majesty! Please believe me, how could I have done such a treasonous thing!"

Emperor Chongming looked down at him, his aura as an emperor, which he had maintained for many years, was restrained and not outwardly displayed. "Gao Yu, do you feel that I have no successor and that my fate is sealed?"

Gao Yu was caught off guard by those words. He had a bad feeling and for the first time felt a deep fear of the emperor who had ruled the country for many years. He kowtowed hard and said, "Your subject has no such intention!"

Blood splattered from the ground stained Emperor Chongming's golden dragon robe, the crimson seeping into the embroidery and disappearing. He heard Emperor Chongming's voice descend from above, as if the might of heaven were pressing him into the earth: "You come from a humble background, and you have used any means to seize power. I promoted you because I value your cunning and ruthlessness, but more importantly, because of your unique loyalty to me."

Emperor Chongming leaned down, meeting Gao Yu's trembling pupils, and pressed his finger to his heart, saying slowly, "But is your loyalty still intact? The Eastern Depot, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Imperial Censors have spies all over the capital... Do you want me to make it clearer?"

Gao Yu collapsed onto the palace floor, his eyes filled with a desperate blankness. The charge of treason and collusion with Japanese pirates was only part of the pretext Emperor Chongming used to kill him; another reason was that he knew Gao Yu was not entirely impartial. Had Emperor Chongming actually found out who Gao Yu truly served?

Thinking even more alarmingly, Emperor Chongming might have already realized the true culprit behind the theft of the national treasury, but remained silent due to the prevailing circumstances. The emperor's mind is unfathomable; cold sweat trickled down Gao Yu's back.

Therefore, he had to die no matter what. Moreover, if he refused to die and insisted on being wronged, then his son's accusation would be false, and both father and son could be saved.

Gao Yu closed his eyes in despair. When he looked up again, he saw Wei Shengxian leading the Imperial Guards into the hall. He slowly stood up from the ground, his demeanor becoming calm. He bowed three times to Emperor Chongming and said, "Your Majesty, I have climbed to this position by forming cliques and secretly ruling, simply because this world only recognizes people by their clothes. I am willing to die to fulfill Your Majesty's wishes, but I only beg you to show mercy and give my son Gao Zhizhen a way out. Do not let him be assassinated during his exile."

After a long while, Emperor Chongming's voice came from above, "Granted."

With tears welling in his eyes, Gao Yu exclaimed, "This sinful subject thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!"

Wei Shengxian gestured for the Imperial Guards to take him to the imperial prison. After they disappeared from the main hall, he clasped his hands in a salute and asked, "Your Majesty, what should be done with Lord Gao?"

Emperor Chongming said, "Let the three judicial departments jointly try the case, and determine the crime according to the established rules."

Since Emperor Chongming ascended the throne, the Court of Judicial Review, the Ministry of Justice, and the Censorate had only jointly tried one case: the shocking case of the woman who caused the disaster. At that time, Gao Yu was the presiding judge; now, their roles have reversed, and he is a prisoner. It's truly a cruel twist of fate.

Wei Shengxian accepted the order and left, but Jiang Lili hurriedly ran into the hall, his usually steady whisk fluttering in the wind. He stopped in front of Emperor Chongming and said urgently, "Your Majesty, please go and see the princess. The day after the Consort's birthday banquet, the princess began to feel unwell. Her personal nanny just came to report that the princess has not woken up since she fell asleep last night, and she cannot be woken up no matter what she does!"

Emperor Chongming's calm expression suddenly changed, and he strode out of the hall.

***

The case of Gao Yu, Minister of Justice, who colluded with Japanese pirates and committed treason, was jointly tried by the three judicial departments on July 3rd of the seventeenth year of Chongming. The result of the trial was that Gao Yu, Minister of Justice, was sentenced to death, all his property was confiscated, and the sentence was to be carried out immediately.

Gao Yu was in the imperial prison, surrounded by the incessant screams of prisoners. The air was thick with the stench of blood, rust, and sweat. He remained calm and resigned amidst it all. A shadow fell over him, and Gao Yu slowly opened his eyes, meeting Zhen Yongming's gaze.

Now that things have come to this, who contacted the officials from the Six Ministries and Thirteen Circuits to jointly impeach him, and who instigated Gao Zhizhen? Looking at Zhen Yongming's crimson pheasant official robes, a second-rank official, he understood.

Zhen Yongming gazed into Gao Yu's eyes, gave a final bow, and said, "Lord Gao, I've come to see you off."

“Today, the county magistrate is adorned with a red ribbon, which is stained with the blood of countless lives.” Gao Yu recited a line of poetry, looked back at Zhen Yongming, and said, “I have thought of every civil and military official in the court, but I never thought it was you.”

Zhen Yongming sighed and said, "Yes, I didn't expect it to be me either."

Gao Yu said, "Can you tell me the reason?"

“I entered the court as an official in the thirty-seventh year of the Jianming era. At that time, my family was poor, and I was fortunate enough to pass the provincial examination. As a provincial graduate, I became an official. Without the foundation of academic qualifications, my career path was difficult. But that was alright. I came from a poor family. I was not from a prominent family. How could I have a path to high office? In the eighth year of the Chongming era, you were promoted to Minister of Justice because of your merit in judging the case of the female calamity. It just so happened that the Minister of Justice retired. You became my superior.”

Recalling his triumphant rise to the rank of a second-grade official in the Ministry of Justice years ago, Zhen Yongming's tone suddenly changed. Years of resentment surfaced in his eyes and mouth. "Lord Feng once said it well: officials are nothing more than upright and honest officials, but you, lacking even the basic principles of a commoner, are a rotten minister. We both come from humble backgrounds, so we should both know the hardships of scholars from poor families. In the imperial examination fraud case of the third year of Chongming, you executed thirty-two successful candidates to curry favor with powerful families! Hah, you didn't act like a human being, but you forced me to do the same! It was you! You turned me into a demon with the blood of countless innocent people on my hands! Am I still an official? Are the two mouths under the character for 'official' just for swallowing lives?"

It was Feng Tan's words in prison that day that made Zhen Yongming, who had always kept a low profile, waver. The young man said that since the injustice had been committed, they should repent and turn back from their wrong path. Now was the perfect opportunity to bring down Gao Yu. Were they willing to fight him? Success would lead to a promotion to Minister; failure would ensure his safe retreat. Having served under Gao Yu for over a decade, did the lofty ambition he had when he first entered officialdom still remain? Was he willing to seek justice for the wronged? To seek justice for himself, whose hands were stained with the blood of countless innocent people?

Feng Tan posed several questions in succession, and Zhen Yongming, who had always chosen to protect himself, chose to fight back this time.

Gao Yu sneered and said, "It's just that a few criminals were executed, but you didn't miss out on any of the benefits you deserved. You always cooperated with me in everything, and now you're turning around and blaming me for being ruthless. Zhen Yongming, you're really a hypocrite!"

Zhen Yongming closed his eyes and said, "I haven't touched any of the embezzled money you gave me... But you're right, I was indeed hypocritical. I'm not a good official, and I also have desires for power... But I'm not as rotten as you. Gao Yu, from now on, we'll be separated by life and death. You... take care."

After saying that, Zhen Yongming opened the cell door and said to Feng Tan, "Lord Feng, if you have anything to interrogate, go ahead and ask."

Author's Note: Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2024-08-21 21:44:48 and 2024-08-22 21:10:10!

Thank you to the little angels who watered with nutrient solution: Moonshadow Forest Creek and Yilu. 1 bottle;

Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!