A knowing and smug smile appeared on Cao Ding's face. He leaned closer, his voice barely audible:

"Don't worry, sir."

"My lord will handle things with the Empress Dowager."

"The Marquis and the Empress are a close brother and sister. Some things the Marquis says carry more weight than what others say."

"There is no need to worry about the Empress Dowager."

"As for Your Majesty, Your Excellency is in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, with eyes and ears all over the court and the country. If you can make the public opinion in the capital say that Prince Ning is virtuous and the heir apparent is suitable, and then submit a few timely memorials, Your Majesty will have to consider the opinions of the people even if you have any doubts."

A sly glint flashed in his eyes.

"Moreover, His Highness Prince Ning is well aware of the Commander's hard work and great achievements, so how could he be stingy with rewards?"

"After this is accomplished, there will be hereditary wealth and honor, ensuring your family's prosperity for a hundred years!"

Qian Ning sneered inwardly, but her face showed excitement as she raised her glass to clink with Cao Ding's:

"Steward Cao is indeed quick-witted and outspoken!"

"With the Marquis mediating in the palace, with His Highness Prince Ning providing strong support, and with a capable person like Steward Cao working tirelessly, this matter has great potential!"

"I, Qian, am willing to follow in your footsteps and serve Your Highness, the Marquis, and the future of my Qian family with utmost loyalty!"

Just as Qian Ning and Cao Ding were feigning "close cooperation" and trying to extract more specific details of the collusion between Prince Ning and Zhang Heling, as well as their next steps, they were...

An unexpected variable suddenly disrupted the turbulent situation.

Early that morning, before dawn, an old man covered in wounds staggered and collapsed on the stone slabs of the imperial road in front of the palace gate.

He was emaciated, his face was covered in bruises, and there were traces of dried blood at the corners of his mouth.

With his last ounce of strength, he raised his head and, facing the imposing, tightly closed palace gates, let out a hoarse, mournful wail, like the cry of a cuckoo piercing blood:

"I'm innocent!!"

"Your Majesty! This humble subject has been greatly wronged!"

"We must beat the drum to appeal and denounce Cao Ding, the steward of the Marquis of Shouning's mansion! We must denounce Marquis Zhang Heling of Shouning! We must accuse them of plotting against the state, colluding with the vassal kings, and intending to overthrow the country!"

The piercing screams instantly alerted the palace guards and the imperial guards patrolling nearby.

The guards drew their swords and spears instantly and surrounded the old man.

"Where did this crazy old man come from! Talking nonsense! You dare to slander the Marquis of Shouning? Seize him!"

The leading officer shouted sternly.

"No! I'm not crazy!"

The old man struggled, his murky tears mixed with blood streaming down his face.

"This humble citizen, Cao Zu, is the biological father of that heartless Cao Ding! Your Majesty, I have evidence, I have evidence!"

He screamed and ripped open his tattered shirt, revealing a hideous, not yet fully healed knife scar on his chest.

"This is that rebellious son. He sent men to kill me to silence me in order to curry favor with the Marquis and to prevent me from ruining his plans!"

"His Majesty!"

"I know everything about the gold, jewels, and secret letters that Prince Ning gave to Zhang Heling, as well as the evidence of their plot to have the heir apparent serve as incense master and to seize the throne... I've hidden them all! I beg Your Majesty to have mercy, to do justice for this humble subject, and to rid the Great Liang of these traitors!"

"Cao Zu? Cao Ding's father?"

The officer's expression changed drastically.

Cao Ding was the head steward of the Marquis of Shouning's mansion and was quite a figure in the capital. Yet this old man claimed to be his father and made such a shocking accusation!

This is far more than just ordinary madman causing trouble.

He dared not delay and immediately shouted, "Keep an eye on him and report to the authorities immediately!"

The news spread like wildfire, instantly reaching both inside and outside the palace and reaching Lu Xingjian's ears at top speed.

"Cao Zu? Cao Ding's father?"

Upon hearing the report, Lu Xingjian abruptly looked up, his eyes flashing with a sharp light.

He immediately thought of Cao Ding, the steward of the Marquis of Shouning's mansion, who was the middleman and played both sides in Qian Ning's secret report!

Father and son turned against each other?

To hunt them down and silence them?

Are you plotting something?

This is simply a divinely bestowed weapon!

"Bring him in!"

Lu Xingjian's voice was as cold as iron.

"Send word to Qian Ning! Immediately seal off all personnel related to the Marquis of Shouning's residence, especially that Cao Ding. Don't let even a fly escape!"

Before the shadow of the fire at the Qianqing Palace had even dissipated, an even greater political storm had already begun in the Ministry of Justice.

The chief officials of the three judicial departments—the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate—along with Xiao Jing, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, who represented the inner court with a gloomy expression, and Gu Dayong, the Director of the Eastern Depot, together formed an unprecedented joint trial team.

The air was so heavy it seemed you could wring water out of it. The plaque with the inscription "A Bright Mirror Hangs High" hanging in the hall emitted a cold and heavy light under the glow of countless candles.

Cao Zu was helped up by two yamen runners and knelt in the center of the hall.

He changed into a clean prison uniform, but the scars on his face and the fear and despair in his eyes were still shocking.

He laid bare everything he knew, like beans spilling from a bamboo tube:

"That unfilial son, Cao Ding, has become increasingly lawless, relying on the Marquis's trust!"

"Behind the Marquis's back—no, perhaps with the Marquis's tacit approval—he has been maintaining close ties with people from Jiangxi!"

"This old servant witnessed it with his own eyes: people from the Prince Ning's residence entered the manor late at night, bringing whole chests of gold, pearls, and jade artifacts! There were also secret letters!"

"This old servant cannot read the contents of the letter, but I overheard that rebellious son's drunken ramblings, such as 'the prince entering the capital to serve as an incense master is the first step,' 'waiting for the opportune moment,' and 'the Jiangxi army is well-trained and well-supplied'..."

"This old servant was horrified when he heard this and advised him to pull back from the brink and not do something that would exterminate nine generations of his family! Who knew... who knew that this beast!"

Cao Zu was overcome with tears, his body trembling violently with fear and anger.

"He actually found the old servant an eyesore and feared that the old servant would leak secrets. First, he provoked the old servant and drove him out of the Marquis's mansion, leaving him to wander the streets... Later... Later, he even sent assassins to kill the old servant!"

"This knife wound in my chest is from that night! If it weren't for my good fortune in being saved by a passing peddler, I would have... I would have become a wandering ghost in the mass grave long ago!"

"I have secretly written down all the tokens exchanged between that rebellious son and Prince Ning, as well as the list of gold, silver, and valuables he received, and hidden them under the Buddha statue in the dilapidated temple outside the city! I beg you, my lords, to investigate this matter, to seek justice for this old servant, and to rid the Great Liang of this scourge!"

Cao Zu's confession was filled with tears and shocking details, clearly outlining the conspiracy between Prince Ning and Zhang Heling to use the heir apparent Si Xiang as a springboard to seize imperial power.

The judges in the courtroom, including Zhang Zilin, Minister of Justice; Zhou Lun, Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review; Chen Jin, Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate; as well as Xiao Jing, Gu Dayong, and others, all had ashen faces and were breathing heavily.

This is no longer a simple case of embezzlement and bribery; it is treason!

This is shaking the very foundation of the nation!

"Someone come here!"

Minister of Justice Zhang Zilin slammed his gavel and said sternly:

"Quickly do as Cao Zu said, go to the dilapidated temple outside the city and retrieve the evidence!"

"Arrest all those involved in the case, especially Cao Ding, the steward of the Marquis of Shouning's residence, and keep him under strict guard. No one is allowed to have contact with him!"

The order was quickly relayed.

The atmosphere in the entire Ministry of Justice prison instantly became extremely tense.

As the most crucial survivor and witness in the case, Cao Zu was held in solitary confinement in a heavily guarded death row cell.