Chapter 148 Investigation
Lu Bin scanned the hall with deep eyes and said in a deep voice:
"Congratulations, Lord, for your loyalty to the country. I am deeply gratified. I order the Dali Temple, the Ministry of Justice, and the Censorate to conduct a thorough investigation of this case. We must get to the bottom of it and show no leniency!"
"My lord, I obey the order!"
He Ning bowed again, his voice resonant.
"Retreat from the court!!!"
The eunuch's shrill voice sounded again, with a barely perceptible tremor.
All the officials, as if they had been pardoned, bowed and took their leave in a hurry, as if they were eager to escape from the center of the storm.
Only He Ning and Qin Xiu's eyes met again in the air across the surging crowd.
One is determined to make progress and show his talent;
One is unfathomable and chilling.
Invisible smoke has already spread.
All the officials who were dismissed from court whispered and avoided each other. He Ning walked towards the majestic and deep palace gate with a faint smile on his face.
He walked steadily, and a cold light flashed across his scarlet robe.
However, he had not yet stepped out of the vermilion threshold that symbolized the pinnacle of power.
A eunuch dressed in the uniform of a eunuch, with a respectful demeanor but sharp eyes, had quietly stopped in front of him. He lowered his whisk slightly and spoke in a low but clear voice into He Ning's ears:
"Master He, please stay. His Majesty has ordered an audience with you in the Imperial Study."
He Ning paused, his face expressionless, but his mind as clear as a mirror.
The emperor saw clearly what happened in the court just now.
The summons at this moment is both a comfort and a control.
He nodded slightly: "Thank you for leading the way, eunuch."
The eunuch who led the way walked on the shiny gold bricks, almost silently.
Only the slight clinking of the jade belt around He Ning's waist made a regular sound in this overly silent corridor, just like his calmly calculated heartbeat.
In the imperial study, most of the light was filtered out by the thick bright yellow curtains, making it seem a little dark.
Lu Bing had changed out of his complicated and heavy court robes and was wearing only his casual ochre-yellow casual clothes, sitting behind the huge rosewood imperial desk.
Next to the mountain of memorials on the desk, there was a flawless white jade ruyi placed casually, its warm luster was particularly eye-catching in the darkness.
He Ning stepped forward and bowed meticulously: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you, Your Majesty."
"Stand up and take a seat."
Lu Bin's voice was more casual than in the court, but his eyes still looked at him with scrutiny.
"Mr. He, you gave me a good show in the court today."
There was an elusive smile on the corner of his mouth, and his fingers unconsciously stroked the cold jade ruyi.
He Ning followed the eunuch's instructions and sat down on the red sandalwood embroidered cushion he had brought. He said respectfully, "I am deeply apprehensive. I am only fulfilling my duty and would not dare to deceive Your Majesty in the slightest."
"Dutifully?"
Lu Bin chuckled softly, and the laughter seemed a little abrupt in the empty study.
"Your 'loyalty' burned directly under Qin Xiu's nose. Wang Huanzhi is the most important button on his purse. Your strike was swift and ruthless."
He changed the subject, with an unmistakable tone, "However, He Qing, I asked you to come back so that you could be the sharp blade in my hand to cut off the overgrown branches of some people, not so that you could use this blade to kill us all.
Who is Qin Xiu? He's in charge of the prisons, commanding a large army. He's the 'Jade-faced Shura' who emerged from a sea of blood and corpses. You're new here, your foundation isn't solid yet, yet you're showing off your edge like this? Aren't you afraid... your sword might break?"
He Ning met the emperor's gaze, his eyes frank, with just the right amount of sharpness and a hint of youthful honesty:
"Your Majesty, I have been in the northern border for a long time and I know that the military situation is urgent and cannot tolerate any delay or prevarication. The duty of the Censorate is to act decisively.
There is irrefutable evidence that Wang Huan embezzled grain and river construction funds. As long as this kind of pest is not eliminated, the national treasury will suffer and the people will suffer.
If I hesitate and delay reporting because I am afraid of the powerful, wouldn’t I be betraying Your Majesty’s trust? As for Mr. Qin…”
He paused briefly, then spoke in a steady tone, "I have acted uprightly and my reports are all based on solid evidence. If I offend others for enforcing the law impartially, this is my duty and the profound meaning behind your Majesty's establishment of the Censorate. I am not afraid."
"What a 'duty'! What a 'fearlessness'!"
The smile on Lu Bin's face deepened a little, but his eyes were cold.
He put down the jade ruyi, leaned forward slightly, and his eyes pressed on He Ning as if it were real.
"It's a good thing for young people to be aggressive, but in this capital, if you only have aggressiveness but don't know how to judge the situation, you will only die faster."
"I need a sword that can kill the enemy, not one that breaks itself before it bleeds."
His voice suddenly turned deep, carrying the pressure of an emperor.
"He Ning, you must remember that I can recall you from the Northern Frontier, grant you a high position, give you authority, and allow you to fulfill your wish and marry the daughter of the Jiang family.
I can also make you lose everything. Your honor, disgrace, life and death are all in my hands. Whoever holds this knife has the final say. Do you understand?"
The last few words were like an ice cone, piercing the air and reaching He Ning's heart.
He Ning immediately stood up and bowed deeply again, his forehead almost touching the ground. His voice carried just the right amount of shock and warning:
"Your Majesty's admonitions resonate like thunder in my ears. I am a dull and dull minister, and I only know how to serve my father and king with all my heart. I was not thoughtful enough and nearly made a big mistake. Your Majesty's advice is very kind to me.
This sword was given to me by Your Majesty, and I shall certainly use it and hold it in Your Majesty's hands. I will never dare to act presumptuously or selfishly. In the future, I will strictly follow Your Majesty's will, carefully plan before acting, and never act rashly again."
Looking at He Ning's crouching figure and his words that seemed like he had suddenly realized something, the coldness in Lu Bin's eyes eased slightly.
What he needed was the sharpness of the knife, but more importantly, he wanted the handle to be firmly held in his hand.
He Ning's submissive attitude at the moment made him satisfied.
"Well, I understand."
Lu Bin's voice returned to normal. He leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the imperial desk.
"Get up, I believe you are a smart person. You have completely offended Qin Xiu today.
This person is vindictive and scheming. You must be careful in your dealings with him. As for Wang Huanzhi's case, I have ordered a joint trial by the three courts.
You, the Censor, are in charge, but how should the investigation be conducted, to what extent, and when will the net be closed…"
He paused meaningfully, "You must know your limits, and even more importantly, you must act according to my instructions. Do you understand?"
"I understand. I will follow the Imperial Order, exercise due discretion, and act in accordance with Your Majesty's wishes!"
He Ning stood up, his hands hanging down, his posture extremely respectful.
"alright."
Lu Bin seemed a little tired and waved his hand.
"I have already made my promise regarding your marriage to Jiang, and it will not be changed. The decree will be issued shortly. If you can appease the daughter of the Jiang family, you will have relieved me of my worries. Now, leave."
"I will take my leave. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"
He Ning bowed and respectfully left the imperial study.
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