There are many major events happening in the capital today.
First, news came from the palace that the emperor wanted to hold the selection early.
This news quickly spread throughout the three prefectures of Kyoto.
The princes and ministers whose families met the requirements were all planning to select suitable girls from their families and send them to the selection.
However, at night, the guards from the East and West Factories suddenly broke into the homes of some officials and arrested people with great efficiency.
Wan Chao led his men to the residence of Jingzhao Yin Liu He.
They came with such force that the guards at the gate couldn't stop them, so Wan Chao and the others just broke in.
"Search for me!" Wan Chao said coldly.
When Liu He's wife Liu Wei and two sons heard the news, they came out and saw the group of men in black who had broken into their mansion searching everywhere.
They still didn't know what had happened, and they didn't even know that Liu He had left the house in a hurry before.
Liu He's two sons stood up and scolded him angrily.
"Who are you?! This is the residence of the Jingzhao Yin! How can you run wild here?!"
Before Wan Chao could speak, the deputy governor of the East Factory who had come with him smiled and answered first:
"I am the Deputy Supervisor of the East Factory, and this is Deputy Supervisor Wan of the West Factory.
We are here by order of the Emperor. Lord Liu is implicated in a corruption case, and we have specially summoned him to assist in the investigation."
The emperor ordered the East Factory to cooperate with the West Factory to arrest officials suspected of corruption, but Chen Daming was still injured and unable to get out of bed, so the task fell on the less seriously injured Deputy Governor Wang Zhi.
After what happened with Wang Jin, Wang Zhi and Chen Daming decided to serve the emperor well.
This is the first mission assigned to them by the emperor, so they must complete it beautifully to satisfy the emperor.
Wang Zhi and Wan Chao were not familiar with each other, but they were ordered to arrest people along the way. Wang Zhi found that Wan Chao's style of action was ruthless and direct, and he didn't care at all about not offending anyone.
Wang Zhi had some complaints about his style of doing things.
The emperor does not have much power now and has been suppressed by Cui's party.
As servants, they shouldn't cause trouble for the emperor when they are doing things for him, right?
However, Wan Chao was so worried that he would not be able to bring hatred to the emperor.
Now they have come to the residence of Jingzhao Yin Liu He. It would be enough if they could take the person away. Why should they be so tough and offend him?
Wang Zhi and Chen Daming have been immersed in the harem and officialdom for so many years, and they have been able to protect themselves and survive. They are actually very smart people.
Although they have no power or influence, they adhere to the principle of doing things without offending anyone.
Liu He's eldest son became even more angry when he heard this. It turned out that they were a group of eunuchs!
This damn Deputy Governor Wang spoke politely, but he arrogantly ordered his lackeys to search everywhere in the mansion.
When did these eunuchs become so bold?
How dare you ignore the Liu family?
He sneered sarcastically, "What kind of corruption case could my father be involved in? You eunuchs are really good at slandering me!"
Get out of Liu's house right now! Otherwise, I'll report you to the emperor tomorrow!"
Wan Chao glanced at Wang Zhi with a half-smile:
"Did Vice Admiral Wang see that? Even if you're polite to them, they won't take you seriously."
Wang Zhi's face stiffened slightly.
Wan Chao said coldly, "Where on earth did Liu He go? If he doesn't tell me, I'll arrest him!"
Madam Liu said angrily, "You're accusing my master of corruption with all your might. Where's the evidence?"
"Mom, don't waste your time talking to these eunuchs. They're tired of living and are here to cause trouble! Tomorrow, let Dad file a complaint against them in front of the Emperor. Let's see how long these eunuchs can keep their arrogance!"
Although he said he was complaining to the emperor, he knew in his heart that he wanted to complain to the prime minister.
Wan Chao sneered coldly, "Liu He accepted bribes and embezzled money, sold official positions without authorization, and colluded with Liu Han to smuggle salt for huge profits. Liu Han has already confessed to all his crimes, and you're still playing dumb?"
The expressions of Liu's mother and her two sons changed, especially Liu He's two sons, as they knew about their father's affairs.
Wan Chao noticed that the steward of the Liu Mansion looked a little strange, and signaled to his subordinates beside him.
The subordinate quickly stepped forward and reached out to pull the butler out.
Facing Wan Chao's cold gaze, the butler's heart tightened and his legs trembled.
"Do you know where Liu He is?"
The long sword was unsheathed and placed against the butler's neck.
The housekeeper's face turned pale and he nodded hurriedly: "Master, he...he went to the Prime Minister's residence..."
Cui Mansion.
Liu He, with a gloomy face, had just explained his purpose to Cui Cen and asked for his help when he heard someone coming to report the news to Cui Cen.
"Prime Minister, people from the palace have gone to the Liu residence and want to arrest Master Liu."
Liu He knelt down with a plop and kowtowed to Cui Cen in panic.
"Teacher, you must save me! Only you can save me now..."
Cui Cen's face was gloomy, and he scolded coldly, "I warned you long ago that your dandy nephew would get into big trouble sooner or later!
You didn't discipline him strictly, but instead protected him again and again! You deserve this result!"
Liu He, kneeling on the ground, was filled with regret and hatred. If he had known the outcome today, he would never have agreed to rescue the person with his elder brother!
But he needed his elder brother's help to sell illegal salt for profit. The two families were not only related by blood, but their interests were also closely linked.
So I usually take good care of my nephew who is always causing trouble.
Liu He had never thought that Liu Yishan had secretly bought a house and imprisoned the girl he had abducted.
This matter did become a big deal after Liang Xiping discovered it.
However, he later suppressed it and sent Liang Xiping and Ma Youjiang, who were meddling in other people's affairs, to prison as well.
Kill two birds with one stone!
He secretly rejoiced for a while about this.
But I never thought that the emperor would know about this!
What was even more unexpected was that the account book matter was also discovered!
Liu He wept bitterly and kowtowed, saying, "Prime Minister, if you don't save me this time, my whole family will be finished..."
Please save me once, considering how I have served you over the years..."
Cui Cen took a deep breath. Although he was angry, he couldn't really ignore Liu He.
Liu He was one of his confidants. If the young emperor wanted to use this opportunity to weaken his power, he would never allow it.
Cui Cen said, "You stay here for now. The account books are in their hands. Do you know what's recorded in them?"
Upon hearing this, Liu He felt a little relieved and nodded quickly.
"I have examined it. The account book records the income and expenditure from the contraband salt trade... and also... a list of correspondence with various officials."
Cui Cen narrowed his eyes, pondered for a moment, and suddenly smiled:
"So, your name isn't in that account book?"
"No... but my eldest brother and the others have been arrested. They even gave away the account books. I'm afraid they must have revealed other things as well..."
That's why he was so panicked.
Once my elder brother and the others confess, the emperor will have more than just the account books as evidence.
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