Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Secret Room
More than half a month later, the team assigned to inspect the major case finally arrived in Jiangnan, where they were greeted by officials. As soon as the disaster struck, the imperial court immediately dispatched a large amount of food and fodder, and arranged for the arrival of an imperial physician skilled in treating plague.
However, due to the severity of the disaster and the raging plague, a large number of people were unable to survive the summer and died on the land that gave birth to them.
Those who died of the plague were different from ordinary victims; they had to be cremated outdoors to prevent the plague from spreading to others. As soon as I got off the boat and walked along the pier, I saw an open-air crematorium in the distance.
Thick black smoke rose into the sky. Souls buried within the piles of firewood, scattered by the wind as the flames burned, were scattered. The air carried the heartbroken wails of the deceased's loved ones, mournful and heartbreaking, like a sharp knife striking a heart.
Li Cheng clenched and unclenched his fists, using his immense internal strength to force himself to calm down. He was now only a small sixth-rank judge beside Wei Zhaosheng, and he couldn't reveal his whereabouts.
A group of officials came forward. Leading the group was a thin official wearing a scarlet official uniform and a futou. He had prominent cheekbones and a pair of small eyes. He smiled obsequiously and organized the officials to kneel down. His movements were quick and decisive.
However, his official uniform was disheveled and he looked exhausted, which showed that he, as the governor of the state, was also very uneasy after such a thing happened.
After all, although the emperor had not ordered them to be escorted back to the capital, they were still guilty. Whether they could turn things around depended on the cooperation of the provincial governors sent by the court.
Beside Inspector Liu, a young man in green official uniform snorted coldly, his eyes filled with disdain. This was Zhu Changshi, a clerk from the Zhu family of Shangjing. He had just been exiled to Jiangnan for a year. His family was prominent, so he naturally disdained fawning figures like Liu Yi.
It was also because of the family power behind him that even if the governor was dissatisfied with him, he would not dare to make things difficult for him. Therefore, he had to endure it until now.
Wei Zhaosheng, a censor temporarily dispatched by the emperor, was tasked with supervising the officials of Jiangnan Province and investigating the whereabouts of the missing government silver, reporting the truth directly to the emperor. His high position and power gave him the right to act at his own discretion. Naturally, this scene had not escaped his notice.
He laughed out loud and personally went over to help the Governor of Jiangnan up, his voice gentle and polite: "Governor Liu, there is no need to be so polite. You and I have the same position and are colleagues. Please stand up quickly."
Governor Liu's real name was Liu Yi. He and Wei Zhaosheng had been classmates, having taken the imperial examinations and served in government together. They already had a special bond, especially since Wei Zhaosheng had served as Governor of Jiangnan, and Liu Yi had served as his chief secretary. The two had indeed worked together for quite a while.
This is why Liu Yi was relieved when he heard that the court had sent an inspector to inspect the loss of official silver, floods and plagues, and that the inspector was Wei Zhaosheng.
Wei Zhaosheng was a gentle, easygoing, modest, and polite man, his manner of action unhurried, like a high-minded monk who had attained the Great Dao, oblivious to the affairs of the mundane world. Furthermore, he valued friendship and loyalty, and had taken good care of Wei Zhaosheng, the Chief Secretary, during his time as an official in Jiangnan.
Liu Yi was secretly happy. The court sent such an inspector, perhaps because they didn't know his relationship with Wei Zhaosheng, or they didn't know Wei Zhaosheng's abilities.
No matter what, as long as he operates properly, he doesn't believe Wei Zhaosheng will thoroughly investigate the Jiangnan incident.
Liu Yi's green eyes rolled around for a while, then he stood up with a smile, bowed and thanked him, "Thank you, Censor." Wei Zhaosheng saw that the other person had a smile on his face and was not worried at all about losing the official silver.
Did he think His Majesty would not punish him, or had he already thought of a way to deal with it? Wei Zhaosheng couldn't explain why, but he always felt that the man opposite him was behaving strangely.
He suppressed his thoughts and introduced him, "This is Judge Cui, who is traveling with me. He is assisting in the investigation of Guan Yin's disappearance." Not wanting to arouse suspicion, he introduced the accompanying officials one by one.
As His Highness's superior, he was reluctant to act presumptuously, but His Highness repeatedly insisted, saying he had served in Jiangnan for a long time and would be suspected if he did not reveal his true identity. He could only reluctantly agree and let the Crown Prince be his accompanying judge.
Before the Censor had finished speaking, Judge Cui, who was very perceptive, immediately bowed and said, "Greetings, Governor Liu." Only then did Governor Liu notice that there was a man in a green official robe standing next to him.
Although this person was tall, his features were not particularly striking. His eyebrows slanted down to his temples, adding a touch of sharpness to his gentle features. Standing nearby, his voice clear and piercing, like a diabolo in a deep valley, his aura was undeniable.
Although those deep black eyes were deliberately concealed, they still couldn't hide the contemptuous look from top to bottom.
Governor Liu was too blind to see it, but Chief Clerk Zhu saw it clearly and was secretly puzzled. It was a shame that the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, a third-rank official entrusted with the imperial mandate, still felt respectful towards the young man in green robes beside him.
I'm afraid that the young people around me are from powerful backgrounds.
The magistrate was only a sixth-rank official, several levels lower than the governor. Furthermore, Jiangnan was a prime province, blessed with outstanding people and abundant resources. The governor's position was even more prestigious. Liu Yi looked down on the other party, even though he was sent from the capital.
However, seeing the other party's tact, his favorable impression of him increased immediately. He chuckled, his eyes narrowed to a slit: "It's Judge Cui. Although I am far away in Jiangnan, I have heard of the Cui family's young master's reputation. After meeting him today, I am sure he is extraordinary."
They are all officials, and when it comes to speaking polite words, they are all veterans.
After a few brief pleasantries, Wei Zhaosheng asked about various matters in Jiangnan. "How were the refugees resettled after the flood?"
"In reply to the Censor, most of the houses were destroyed after the floods, and now we can only temporarily build straw huts to accommodate the people. Taking advantage of the good weather these days, I have ordered people to build houses for the people as soon as possible."
"Can the plague be effectively contained?" Judge Cui next to him suddenly asked.
Seeing that such a lowly official dared to ask him a question, Liu Yi's face turned sour. He said sarcastically, "I'm answering the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner. What do you think, Judge Cui?"
To say he's handsome and has a good reputation is flattering him. He really thinks he can handle such a heavy task with ease. He's simply arrogant.
Judge Cui smiled, not angry, nor did he feel embarrassed to be scolded by his superior. He said gently: "It is my fault, I hope the governor will forgive me."
Wei Zhaosheng glanced coldly at Governor Liu, with a warning in his eyes: "Although Judge Cui is only of the sixth rank, he is the emperor's disciple and has been accompanying the emperor for many years. The emperor loves him very much. Governor Liu, you should leave some room for others and don't be so aggressive."
When being scolded in person by the Censor, Liu Yi's old face turned red and he said embarrassedly: "It is my fault. The superior is right in teaching me a lesson."
He reported carefully: "It's strange. I have clearly placed those infected with the plague and those who are not infected in two places, east and west, dozens of miles apart, and have taken strict precautions according to the advice of the imperial physician. However, the plague situation has not been alleviated at all, but has become more serious."
He pointed to the black smoke coming out of the burning not far away and said, "More and more people are dying now, and this crematorium can hardly keep up."
"Alas, the people under my rule have suffered such an unprovoked disaster. As an official, I am helpless to do anything. It is really shameful." As he said this, he squeezed out two tears from his eyes.
Zhu Changshi, who was standing next to him, saw this and snorted again. Liu Yi glared at him without leaving any trace.
Li Cheng looked at the witty exchanges between the two and had a hunch that there was something wrong with Zhu Changshi.
"Can the imperial physician find the source of the epidemic?" When the Censor saw the black smoke from the burning not far away, a look of pain appeared on his face and his voice became anxious.
At this point, Liu Yi almost jumped up and cursed: "I was just about to report this to my superiors. Liu from the Imperial Hospital said that in order to completely curb the plague, we must find the source of the epidemic. However, we have been searching for so long and there is no clue at all."
The loss of government silver was an unavoidable crime, but fortunately, the emperor showed mercy and did not immediately escort them to the capital. He had hoped to quickly relieve the difficulties in Jiangnan and increase his leverage for his dereliction of duty.
Anyway, it is impossible for him to be reinstated, but at least the emperor can remember his contributions to fighting disasters and epidemics and reduce his punishment a little, for example, not exiling him to a too remote place.
The situation in Jiangnan was far more serious than what had been described in the memorial. Just looking at the starving people everywhere and the people's miserable lives, Li Cheng's face was solemn.
"Didn't the imperial court order the transportation of food and fodder for disaster relief? How could so many people still starve to death?"
Speaking of this, Governor Liu's face changed drastically, and he said in a mosquito-like voice: "This, this..."
Wei Zhaosheng snorted coldly: "Speak!"
Liu Yi was startled by the other person's loud voice and secretly complained in his heart. He had thought that the court had sent Wei Zhaosheng here, and he would make some excuses for him because of their past relationship. He didn't expect that he would be blinded by the wealth of the capital and look down on his old classmate.
How dare you yell at him? It's outrageous! However, he was rational and didn't dare to argue in public. He just said in an unclear tone: "For some reason, the grain allocated by the court has not been successfully transported to the south of the Yangtze River. It accidentally capsized in Mingyue Lake a few dozen miles away."
He also sent people to salvage the fish, but the river was vast and deep, so how could it be easy to salvage anything? After much effort, they only managed to salvage a few hundred dan. Some of the fish, which had been caught too late, had completely turned black and sprouted, making them inedible.
As soon as these words fell, not only the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner and Judge Cui, but also the other officials accompanying them were furious. Wei Zhaosheng coldly asked, "Why didn't you report it?" His face was visibly darkening. He had never heard of any reports of grain and fodder ships capsizing and sinking in the Jiangnan region.
"I think there are still a few hundred dan left. If the people eat less, they can get through it." After all, these are troubled times, and less trouble is better than more.
Knowing that this was not a fair thing to do, he spoke in a low voice and did not dare to raise his head.
His official position was already in jeopardy, and now so many things happened one after another. He was afraid that if he reported it again, the news would come back in a few days that he would be dragged to Goujiling in Dongshi and beheaded.
He doesn't want to die.
Hearing his casual remark, "It will pass if you just persevere," Wei Zhaosheng snorted coldly, his weathered face devoid of any warmth as he swung his sleeves and walked away, "You act so absurdly, daring to deceive your superiors and subordinates and defraud the emperor. Even if you can escape the death penalty, you can't escape the punishment of life. Take care of yourself!"
Liu Yi suddenly realized that the other party was no longer the humble and peaceful boss and colleague he had once been. Seeing how he seemed to be enforcing the law impartially, was he trying to take advantage of the situation and add insult to injury?
Bah, he had placed his hopes on Wei Zhaosheng before, but he didn't expect that the other party was so ruthless and ungrateful. Since the other party is ruthless, don't blame him for being ruthless!
Liu Yi looked at the other person's gradually receding back, his expression becoming more and more ferocious.
The group entered the city and stayed there.
In the governor's mansion, every word and action was under surveillance, but it was different outside. For the sake of convenience, the provincial governor and his companions finally decided to rent a courtyard outside.
Liu Yi offered some token persuasion, but seeing the provincial governor had made up his mind, he obediently shut up. It was already getting late, and if they wanted to investigate the case, they would have to wait until tomorrow.
Li Cheng sat on the armchair, his palm stroking the tea bowl, and said in a cold voice, "There are more termites in Jiangnan than I imagined." And the incident of the boat capsizing in Mingyue Lake, he didn't believe it was a coincidence, it must have been deliberately caused.
Who exactly wants to stir up trouble in Jiangnan, and what is their purpose?
Wei Zhaosheng sat next to him and asked, "Your Highness, have you guessed who it is?" Li Cheng pinched his fingertips, and a certain figure flashed through his mind, but he forced it down. He shook his head and said, "No."
"So, Your Highness, what are you going to do next?" Jiangnan, from top to bottom, is full of corrupt officials like Liu Yi, and the officials are in cahoots with each other. Having just arrived, I really don't know how to start.
Li Cheng pondered for a long time, then suddenly asked, "Do you think Liu Yi is the mastermind behind this?"
Wei Zhaosheng had a private relationship with Liu Yi. When he heard the prince ask this, he thought it was the suspicion of his superiors, so he immediately knelt down and said: "Your Highness, although Liu Yi was my classmate in the past, we only have a shallow relationship. I will definitely not bend the law for personal gain or deliberately conceal it."
Although the prince now has the face of a stranger, his temperament as a superior is still evident.
Li Cheng looked at the person on the ground, a smile in his eyes like a spring breeze: "I just said it casually, I don't mean to doubt you." He paused, "Besides, if I doubted you, why would I bring you out?"
As the saying goes, trust the people you employ, and don't employ them if you don't trust them. Since he has decided to employ someone, he will never be so fickle.
Wei Zhaosheng then realized that he was a little excited. He stood up with the help of his knees and began to think about the prince's question: "Although I don't know much about Liu Yi, he would not be able to be so meticulous without someone instructing him."
What's more, that person has never had any great ambitions, so why would he go against the court?
For some reason, Wei Zhaosheng recalled his conversation with Liu Yi at the pier and felt that something was wrong. He couldn't put his finger on what it was.
"Did you notice that there was something wrong with Zhu Changshi next to Liu Yi?" Li Rong did not answer him, but gently blew away the foam on the tea.
"I have also noticed that every time Liu Yi spoke, his expression was quite indignant, as if he knew something inside."
The prince rose from his armchair and walked to the couch under the south window. He opened the window and looked out at the courtyard outside. He said with his hands behind his back, "Since we have just arrived, our most urgent task is to contain the plague."
He seemed to have thought of something, turned around and ordered: "Tell someone to call Liu Yuan and others, I want to ask them in person."
"Also, since Zhu Changshi knows something, please invite him here."
At night, under the candlelight in the main hall, Liu Yuanzu and others knelt down tremblingly and said, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to the Censor."
Since the prince had decided to remain incognito on this trip, he would not let anyone see his identity. He wore a mask that bore the features of a young man from the Cui family, so unless the other party was someone close to Cui Erlang, they would definitely not be able to tell.
He stood quietly aside, as if he was really just a subordinate of the Censor, with his brows lowered and his eyes closed, not saying a word.
Wei Zhaosheng was a rough man with a long beard on his chin. He put his hands on the armrests of the armchair and said in a voice that was unrecognizable: "I called you here today to ask you about the epidemic."
"Why haven't we found a way to contain the plague after being in Jiangnan for so long?"
The leading officer, Liu Yuan, straightened up and shook his head while saying, "I am also puzzled. This epidemic is not uncommon. It has occurred many times in all dynasties. As long as we take precautions and find the source of the disease, it will not be a problem to completely contain it."
"But we old ministers have been in Jiangnan for so long, and we have tried many methods and racked our brains, but we still cannot find the source of the disease. Without the source of the disease, it will be extremely difficult to completely contain the epidemic."
"But the officials here are not cooperating?" Li Cheng couldn't help but ask when he thought of the scene he saw today.
Liu Yuanzu didn't know why the judge standing next to him suddenly interrupted, but when he saw that the Censor was not angry at all, he didn't think much about it.
He replied respectfully: "It's not that I'm not cooperating, but last time I asked for a thorough investigation of the water source, Governor Liu didn't agree. It was only after Zhu Changshi beside him persuaded him that Governor Liu arranged people to assist us."
It was Inspector Liu and Chief Clerk Zhu again. Li Cheng frowned as he listened. He questioned them again before letting them go.
Not long after the imperial physician left, an attendant came to report that Zhu Changshi had arrived.
Li Cheng didn't intend to stand by directly, so he went around to the adjacent compartment before Zhu Changshi entered. The curtain was lifted from the outside, and a tall, slender man in a green robe walked in. He walked with a square step, his body steady, and his appearance handsome, giving a very good first impression.
As soon as he entered the room, he knelt down in front of Wei Zhaosheng and said, "Your humble servant pays respects to the Censor." Wei Zhaosheng leaned forward slightly and said gently, "Changshi Zhu, please stand up."
"I asked Zhu Changshi to come here late at night. Can you guess why?"
Zhu Fang paused for a moment, then frowned: "I don't know."
Seeing his reaction, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner didn't rush him and asked him to come over for tea. "This pre-rain Longjing tea is specially brought from the capital. Your Majesty gave me a pound of it a while ago. I was afraid that I wouldn't be used to the tea from Jiangnan, so I thought of bringing some from home. It also reminds me to never forget the Majesty's grace."
After being urged several times, Zhu finally dared to come over, holding the teacup in both hands, and said stiffly: "Your Majesty is showing great favor to you. I believe that you will not disappoint your expectations."
Wei Zhaosheng sighed and shook his head: "No. You see, things in Jiangnan are so tricky. I'm new here and unfamiliar with everything. I'm really afraid that I won't be able to catch the fox and get into trouble."
He leaned back, his expression relaxed, as if he had invited Zhu Fang here just to reminisce about the past. "You don't know, serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. If I don't do this job well, I'll end up in pieces. It's because I'm stupid and don't know how to please others, so His Majesty chose me to come here."
"Zhu Fang, do you understand my distress?"
Zhu Fang glanced at the other person, then quickly lowered his head and said, "I don't know." As if realizing he had said something wrong, he immediately corrected himself, "No, I do know. If you don't mind, I'm willing to serve you with all my heart."
Wei Zhaosheng looked at the other person and laughed.
He stroked his beard and asked casually, "I was at the port today and noticed that you and Governor Liu have a subtle relationship. I wonder if the Chief Secretary could clarify this for me?"
Zhu Fang's thick eyebrows were twisted together, as if he was extremely conflicted. He clenched his palms again and again, and beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on his forehead.
Wei Zhaosheng laughed, "Look at you! I was just saying this casually, and you're so nervous! Anyway, I have some friendship with your father. I wonder what your plans are for your future career?"
Zhu Fang is the second legitimate son. Although his family is prominent, he is not eligible to inherit the title. He volunteered to be the Chief Clerk of Jiangnan, which shows that he is a man of great potential.
Zhu Changshi hesitated for a long time, and seemed to have finally made a decision. He suddenly raised his head and said in a sonorous and powerful voice: "Your Excellency, I have something to report."
Then he told Liu Yi everything he had done in Jiangnan over the years, including how he had been idle in office and slaughtering innocent people in recent months. The provincial governor was horrified after hearing this.
"You said he doesn't allow anyone to check the water source, but drinks snow water shipped in from other places every day?"
"That's right. I am also puzzled. But Lord Liu said that he often suffers from headaches, and the doctor said that the best thing for him to drink every day is snow water collected from the Tianshan Mountains. But he drinks water from outside and doesn't let anyone check the water source. I think there must be something fishy here."
"But when I dared to ask a question at that time, Governor Liu scolded me for a long time, saying that I was usurping my authority and committing treason. I was dissatisfied but could do nothing. Seeing the people in Jiangnan falling down in large numbers every day, I felt extremely tormented."
He cried as he spoke, tears streaming down his face. Men don't cry easily, but only when they're heartbroken.
Wei Zhaosheng was also touched, and his heart was filled with emotion. The look in his eyes when he looked at Zhu Fang also changed. He personally stepped forward to help him up and said: "Master Zhu, it is rare for you to have such a deep concern for the country and the people. Don't worry, I will report the truth to His Majesty after I return to the capital."
Zhu Fang's eyes were red and he choked up as he said, "I do not seek a successful career, I only seek peace in the world and a safe life for the people."
Naturally, Li Cheng heard every word of this conversation. He glanced through the screen at the loyal and brave chief secretary in the main hall. His eyes were dim, and he stood in front of the Duobao Pavilion with his hands behind his back, wondering what he was thinking about.
Soon after, Zhu Fang said goodbye. The Crown Prince emerged from the compartment. Wei Zhaosheng asked, "Your Highness, what should we do now?" Things in Jiangnan were constantly happening, one after another, making it hard to relax.
"Zhu Fang said that the incident of the grain and grass sinking into the river was intentional by Liu Yi?"
Wei Zhaosheng was not sure what the prince meant, so he nodded and replied, "That's right."
"What exactly does Liu Yi want to do? What good will it do him to stir up trouble in Jiangnan?" After all, he's a high-ranking official, a provincial governor. Why would he ruin his future by getting involved in this mess? Could it be that he's a rebel against the Liang Dynasty?
"I, too, am baffled by this." Wei Zhaosheng had been working in the Ministry of Works for years, and was certainly not good at investigating cases.
The prince used tongs to stir the candle flame, his eyebrows and eyes hidden in the darkness, thinking for a long time. Suddenly turning around, his eyes were cold and intimidating: "I can probably guess it."
"Now that the emperor is unwell, the crown prince is acting as regent. I make the decisions on allocating food and fodder, and providing disaster relief to the people. If the food and fodder sink into the river, it will inevitably affect the crown prince's reputation in Jiangnan. By then, public resentment will boil over, and with the guidance of some people with ulterior motives, even if I sit firmly on the throne of the crown prince, it will eventually be affected."
"Besides, the news I've spread now is that I'm ill and recuperating in the Eastern Palace. The rebels will certainly use this as an excuse, saying that I'm condemned by heaven, that heaven is wrathful and people are resentful, and that this is my retribution." This was the method he used to deal with Yan Guang before, but he didn't expect that the other party would use it on him again.
It seems that Yan Guang is weak and can only do such desperate things.
After hearing what the Crown Prince said, Wei Zhaosheng suddenly realized what was going on. He also felt that the other party was probably planning this. He couldn't help but worry, "What should we do then? If the people are angry, where will Your Highness's reputation be?"
Li Cheng disagreed: "I have been sitting on the throne of the crown prince for so long, can a small rumor push me down?" He sneered, "Since Zhu Fang said that Governor Liu is up to something, let's visit the Governor's Mansion tomorrow."
…
Governor's Mansion. When Liu Yi heard his subordinates report that the provincial governor summoned Zhu Fang late at night, he could not help but get angry: "I have wanted to get rid of this Zhu Fang for a long time, but I was too hesitant to do it. Now he has ruined my plan."
He then asked, "Any news from the capital?" The others shook their heads, "No." Liu Yi threw the golden duck incense burner to the ground, "Useless thing! Are you so strong-willed that you can't stop talking to me?"
Upon hearing the voice, the subordinates knelt on the ground and advised: "Sir, the situation is restrictive. Please don't get angry and hurt your health."
Liu Yi supported himself on the table with both hands and sat down in front of the armchair. He let out a deep groan from his throat, his eyes as cold as a poisonous snake spitting out its tongue: "It's okay, just kill the disobedient beast."
He paced the hall, pondering for a long time, then raised his eyebrows and asked, "I always feel something is wrong with Judge Cui who was beside the Censor today." He was just a small judge, but although he had been by the emperor's side for years, he exuded such a domineering aura, which was truly astonishing.
He pondered for a long time but still had no clue. He had no choice but to order his subordinates: "Send someone to guard the secret room carefully and make sure no one finds it."
"yes".
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