Chapter 817 Internal Conflict
The truth about Guo Changming's affair cannot be hidden. At the Queen's current rate of investigation, he will be the one to be found sooner or later.
If you want to protect him, you must take action to eliminate the trouble and clean up his mess. But once you take action, it means that the entire Shi family, and even all the noble families and court officials who help will be dragged into the muddy water of the Ministry of Justice.
Liang Guangyi looked hesitant.
Guo Changming was anxious: "Prime Minister Liang, I really know I was wrong. It was my momentary confusion that led to such a big mistake. No one expected that the Queen would be so disregarding of feelings as to investigate He Cheng. I really didn't mean to cause this situation today..."
Although the He family has no relationship with the queen, the Wenxinhou Mansion does.
Marquis Wenxin supported the new emperor's ascension to the throne. The women in Marquis Wenxin's mansion had a close relationship with Lady Rongguo and the Queen. The Queen once said publicly that she regarded Lady Wenxin as half a mother and the girls from Marquis Wenxin's mansion as her sisters. The He family was the in-laws of the girls from Marquis Wenxin's mansion, and He Cheng was her future father-in-law. The two mansions had a close relationship.
When the Queen first said she wanted to investigate the Ministry of Justice, Guo Changming didn't take it seriously. He thought she just wanted to warn the people below. If there was anything, He Cheng would stand in front and the Queen would never disregard the He family's reputation. Who would have thought that the Queen would not even let He Cheng go and would not give the officials of the Ministry of Justice any face?
If he had known this would happen, Guo Changming would have definitely resolved his own issue long ago. Why would he have dragged it on until today?
Seeing that Liang Guangyi did not respond to him and even the head of the Shi family had a cold expression on his face, Guo Changming blurted out what he was thinking.
"Prime Minister Liang certainly sacrificed me for the greater good today, but will the Empress let it go? How do we know if she ordered the investigation of the Ministry of Justice because she had noticed something, and was targeting me and the aristocratic families? How can we be sure that if she targeted the Ministry of Justice today, she wouldn't target others tomorrow?"
"Master Min, Master Liu, are the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Works where you are located really so clean? Master Feng, the Minister of Central Secretariat, have you not had any of your tails fall into the hands of others?"
"And everyone, do you really think you don't have any leverage at all?"
Guo Changming asked everyone one by one, his eyes sweeping over everyone present, and the faces of those he asked changed slightly.
Feng Qiuli, who had been sitting quietly to the side, responded coldly when asked, "When the water is too clear, there are no fish. Everyone here may not be so clean, but I can guarantee that few of you are as short-sighted as Lord Guo."
The Shi family patriarch was also very disappointed: "Do you think everyone is as greedy as you?!"
Guo Changming shut up instantly.
Wang Huailu, who was in the crowd, suddenly said, "Lord Guo is indeed wrong, but the most important thing right now is the Ministry of Justice."
"The Black Armor Guards and the Privy Council were all personally trained by Your Majesty. I don't need to elaborate on how formidable they are. I'm afraid that given the current situation, they'll be able to track down Lord Guo within two days. If the evidence falls into the hands of the Queen, Lord Guo will undoubtedly be killed."
Guo Changming's face was pale. He knew the seriousness of the crime he had committed. Once the truth was revealed, not only would he be killed, but the entire Guo family would be buried with him.
Everyone present knew it well.
"If it were before, as long as we shut up the people below, we would have been able to keep him safe. The Queen couldn't do anything to us without evidence, but now..."
Everyone was hesitant. At this time, the people from the Privy Council and the black-armored guards were keeping a close eye on the Ministry of Justice. If they tried to "shut up" those people at this time, they would be caught red-handed. Not only would they not be able to protect Guo Changming, but they would also have to pay the price themselves.
Is it worth it for Guo Changming?
Guo Changming naturally noticed their hesitation, and Liang Guangyi's indifferent and silent look made him feel even more chilled.
Guo Changming suddenly stood up from the ground and wiped the blood and tears from his face: "So you are planning to give me up?"
"I did take some money, but who among you hasn't done that? And how many of you are truly clean?"
He looked at Liang Guangyi,
"How much did you embezzle from the grain tax back then? How many people died at your hands? How did those people in the Jiangnan Governor's Office die? How did the Salt Inspector die unexpectedly? And how many years have you been able to smuggle salt and iron ore to the north..."
Bang!!
The Patriarch of the Shi Family slapped him hard in the face before he could finish his words, and shouted angrily: "Shut up!!"
“Are you crazy?!!”
The head of the Shi family was furious, and when he looked closely, there was a hint of panic in his eyes.
Guo Changming was hit and turned his face to the side, his ears buzzing, but he just sneered.
"I am crazy, but you guys forced me to do that!"
"Aristocratic families are inherently corrupt. They've occupied the imperial court for so many years and have done so many filthy things. Who has the right to laugh at who is despicable? And brother, there's no need to act so angry. Are you really ignorant of everything I've done over the years?"
"you……"
"Me what?"
Guo Changming looked up at the Shi family's patriarch, whose eyes were filled with shock and anger. "Don't you know what my family background is? How much wealth do I have to squander? But how much are the gifts I've given to the old lady and my brothers over the years worth? Just the few saddles Qin Mo gave to us during last year's New Year's holiday alone could have drained the entire Guo family's wealth. Don't you know that, big brother?"
"If I hadn't gone along with the corrupt, how could I have gained a foothold in the imperial court and climbed up the ranks to become a doctor?"
"If I hadn't protected the people below me and earned some money to smooth over the gaps, how could I have stayed in the Ministry of Justice when His Majesty was purging the court, and become the Right Vice Minister today?"
Guo Changming hated the cold faces of these people from the aristocratic families and said expressionlessly:
"We are all people rolling in the mud in the stinking ditch. No one should blame anyone else. If you can protect me, it's fine. If you don't..."
Oh!
"Then no one will have an easy time!!"
The Shi family's patriarch was shocked, and then he flew into a rage: "Guo Changming, how dare you threaten us?"
Guo Changming said coldly: "So what if it's a threat?"
"you!!"
The head of the Shi family raised his hand and wanted to slap him.
Guo Changming no longer waited obediently to be beaten like he had just done. Instead, he dodged backwards and grabbed the wrist of the Shi family patriarch: "Big brother, you'd better think it over carefully. If you have the guts, kill me now. Otherwise, we're all in this together, and if the boat capsizes, you'll be buried with me."
He suddenly shook off the hand that was holding him and watched the head of the Shi family stagger with a smile on his face.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you guys, if you want to kill me, you have to be careful."
"I'm not as noble as you, nor am I as smart as you, so I've developed a love for writing and drawing since I was young. I might leave something behind when I die, but when that happens, I'll have to go ahead and wait for you all down below."
Everyone in the room felt extremely aggrieved as they watched Guo Changming, who was desperate and wanted to drag everyone down with him.
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