Chapter 18 Conferment
"Is it all resolved?"
He Congshu sighed again, looking quite helpless.
"Not yet. His Majesty summoned us back yesterday, and we don't know why."
"Since we're here, let's make the best of it, don't you agree, Lord He?"
He looked at him, his expression indifferent.
"Lord Duan is right."
He Congshu smiled and nodded, his behavior exceptionally humble in front of him.
As the two entered, he realized that all the important officials of the court had gathered here that night, and it seemed that they were either being granted titles or being questioned.
I hope His Majesty won't call on him later.
Duan Gan walked over as if strolling in a garden, and amidst the suspicious, hostile, or ingratiating gazes of everyone, he calmly nodded to Crown Prince Qi Heng.
The court was divided into two camps. The civil officials were led by the Secretariat and Crown Prince Qi Heng. The position of Grand Secretary was vacant and was temporarily held by Qi Heng. The person who was originally the most likely to become Grand Secretary was already lying in a coffin in the Qiu family's mourning hall.
The Left Chancellor was the head of all civil and military officials in the court, and also served as an elder in the cabinet. He did not participate in court disputes.
An elderly man with gray hair stood below the emperor and above the officials, his hands tucked into his sleeves, watching everything in silence.
There should have been a Right Chancellor position. Duan Gan's grandfather was the Grand Tutor and concurrently held the Right Chancellor position, but the emperor temporarily abolished this position because he retired to his hometown.
The military officers are headed by the Privy Council. The chief envoy was assassinated in public some time ago, so the current deputy envoy, Duan Gan, is the one who is in charge of the Privy Council.
Although the imperial court was divided into two camps, civil officials and military officials, there were many people from aristocratic families and those from humble backgrounds among the civil and military officials.
Moreover, although the Duan family was an aristocratic clan, they were also the leading group of scholars. Duan Gan's grandfather not only had many disciples in the imperial court, but also throughout the country. The same was true for other clans. With their branches and leaves flourishing, they were secretly deeply rooted.
The Emperor was furious at the assassination attempt on the Chief of the Privy Council and ordered the Court of Judicial Review to thoroughly investigate the case.
Instead, one problem after another arose: the Vice Minister of Works was brutally murdered at home. The dead were all high-ranking officials, which meant that someone was challenging the authority of the imperial power in the capital.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
The eunuch's shrill voice came from the gate.
Except for Crown Prince Qi Heng and Privy Councilor Duan Gan, who were granted special pardons, all other officials knelt down to pay homage.
The Emperor wore an ochre-yellow wide-sleeved court robe and a twenty-four-beam crown. His age of nearly forty had given him several wrinkles on his face.
He smiled faintly, his affable demeanor revealing the unique grandeur and majesty of an emperor.
"My beloved subjects, rise."
The emperor sat on the dragon throne, looking down at the crowd with an expressionless face and piercing eyes, like a giant dragon awakening and surveying its territory.
He slowly asked, "Where is Wang Suyi?"
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, standing among the civil officials, closed his eyes, his face showing a look of resignation to death, but his heart felt heavy and suffocating, as if a large stone was pressing down on it.
He quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your subject is here."
"What is the progress in the case of the assassination attempt on Qiu Yanling, the Grand Councilor?"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I have ordered people to do their utmost to investigate thoroughly, and there will be progress soon."
Wang Suyi lowered her head, her forehead beaded with sweat, and her face paled under the scorching gaze from above.
He glanced up at the head of the military officers, the Vice-Chancellor of the Privy Council who seemed indifferent to the matter, and then looked at the Crown Prince Qi Heng in front of him.
He licked his dry lips and said, "There was also... there was also the Vice Minister of the Privy Council on the street that day. I suppose, I suppose the Vice Minister knows more about this than we do."
In an instant, the court fell silent, everyone lowering their heads, not daring to look up at the slightest thing.
Only Qi Heng turned to look at the man who, even in front of the Emperor, was somewhat casual in demeanor.
Duan Gan lowered his head slightly, his eyes downcast, seemingly lost in thought, and offered no rebuttal.
In the silent hall, the emperor's gaze fell upon him, and he asked in a deep voice, "Minister Duan, what is going on?"
Duan Gan cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I was indeed behind the entourage that day."
"Your Majesty, I am incompetent and failed to protect the envoy in time. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."
Upon hearing this, many people exchanged glances, especially some of the civil officials, who silently sneered.
If he is incompetent, then there is not a single capable person among the military officers of this court.
Unlike the position of chief envoy, the position of deputy envoy was something Duan Gan earned himself on the battlefield. At the age of sixteen, with a silver spear, he was unrestrained and invincible on the battlefield.
He used the Ping Rong Wan Quan formation with great skill, annihilating countless enemy armies and causing enemy generals to tremble in fear and retreat without a fight.
Such a high position may be partly due to Duan Gan's grandfather, but it is undeniable that Duan Gan was invincible at the age of sixteen, and only five years have passed since then.
"You can't blame yourself. Who could have predicted that in public?"
"However... Minister Wang..."
"And what was the reason for the death of the Vice Minister of Works? The Celestial Empire has lost two important court officials in succession, and you, as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, have made no progress whatsoever. Are you neglecting your duties?!"
His angry rebuke sent tremors through the entire imperial court.
The crowd knelt in fear, crying out in unison, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Your Majesty, please calm your anger..."
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, in particular, kowtowed repeatedly, crying, "Your subject is incompetent, please forgive me, Your Majesty..."
Crown Prince Qi Heng stepped forward, bowed his head and cupped his hands: "Father, please calm down. The two cases in succession are indeed bizarre and sudden. The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review just needs some time. Given time, he will surely be able to give the Heavenly Dynasty and Father an explanation."
Left Chancellor Xie Ruizhang stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is right. The Court of Judicial Review does indeed need some time."
Duan Gan glanced sideways at Wang Suyi and said calmly, "Lord Wang, why don't you tell me how the case of the Vice Minister of Works came about? I've heard that the Court of Judicial Review arrested the women of the Chen family for interrogation?"
Wang Suyi slowly raised her head, looked at him, then glanced at Sheng Yan, and then quickly lowered her head, blood dripping from her forehead onto the ground with a soft thud.
Despite being in excruciating pain, he paid no heed and began to recount the whole story.
"The traces were cleaned up, and the body was washed, so besides the women of the Chen family, the first people to come into contact with the bodyguard were the funeral directors?"
Duan Gan's words surprised everyone present, who wondered why this evil god was being so kind today, even giving others advice.
Wang Suyi suddenly looked up at Duan Gan and hurriedly nodded: "Yes, yes, tomorrow I will send word to the funeral director for interrogation, and I believe we will get some results."
"Very well, I hereby order you to thoroughly investigate the true cause of death of the Vice Minister of Works within a month, to see whether it was due to an incurable disease or someone challenging the majesty of the Celestial Empire."
After he finished speaking, Gao Liangui, the chief eunuch beside the emperor, stepped forward and said, "In addition, His Majesty has issued an edict."
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The assassination of Qiu Yanling, the Grand Councilor of the Privy Council, has caused the nation to lose an important minister, a great loss to the country. Now, Duan Gan, the Vice Grand Councilor, is brave and skilled in battle, possessing both talent and virtue. He has devoted himself to the cause and made outstanding contributions to the Celestial Dynasty. Therefore, I hereby appoint him as the Grand Councilor of the Privy Council, award him ten thousand taels of gold, ten mansions, and a thousand acres of fertile land, so that he may continue to serve the Celestial Dynasty diligently and conscientiously, working together for the prosperity of the nation."
Duan Gan bowed deeply, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, and said, "Your subject receives the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude for Your Majesty's grace."
For a moment, the people below couldn't help but have different thoughts, wondering how Duan Gan could be promoted when the case hadn't even been solved yet?
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