Chapter 158 The End [The Third Case Concluded] Daylight broke, and the sky was bright with vibrant colors…
Yue Yining released her hand, and the smile slowly faded from her face.
She stared intently at Xie Qingyu, her slender, beautiful fingers caressing his face, her thumb pressing against his lips.
Warm air wafted onto her fingertips.
Yue Yining said softly, "Is it that you really lack confidence, or are you just playing the victim again?"
Xie Qingyu let her tease his lips, even slightly parting them as if enticing her to probe inside.
As he spoke, his lips moved slightly, “How dare I presume to be clever?”
Yue Yining remained silent. She could also sense that Xie Qingyu's words were seven-tenths sincere; his statement that he was unworthy was not empty rhetoric, but a heartfelt exclamation.
She suddenly felt a little sad.
Yue Yining opened her mouth, as if to say something, but then a soft knock came from outside the door.
The newcomer spoke, his voice clear and cold, it was Yin Yi: "Young Master, the people we sent to monitor have returned with intelligence. They say that the Eldest Princess, the Third Prince, and the Fourth Prince have all prepared carriages and horses and are heading towards the palace."
The two, who had been clinging to each other, separated slightly, and both of them became serious.
There is only one possibility that the three princesses entered the palace together at this time.
Yue Yining sat up straight. Xie Qingyu said in a deep voice towards the outside, "Take men to the Seventh Prince's residence and ask the Seventh Prince to prepare carriages and horses to enter the palace for an audience immediately."
"when--"
The distant and deep sound of bells and chimes filled the palace, making it solemn and majestic. Phoenix pavilions and dragon towers reached the heavens, and jade trees and coral branches formed a misty canopy. The clouds that had been pressing down on the eaves seemed to be shaken apart by this heavy and ethereal sound.
Inside the Liangyi Hall, a dozen or so court officials stood silently on either side, heads bowed. The Grand Secretary, Zuo Yingfeng, stood at the very front, his face calm and serene, as if this were merely a routine audience. The Minister of War, Xue Rui, lagged slightly behind, his brows furrowed deeply, his demeanor mature and composed. Beside him, the Vice Minister of War, Zhao Xizhi, appeared somewhat agitated, his fingers unconsciously stroking his jade belt.
Standing on the other side were Princess Wei Yihua and Imperial Censor Lin Yuan. A little further behind, a female official in a dark blue robe held a stack of documents, her expression aloof and cold; she was Zhou Congyi.
At the head of the procession stood two princes: the third prince, Wei Ye, dressed in pale yellow brocade, was loyal and quiet; the fourth prince, Wei Jing, was adorned in scarlet and purple, bright and flamboyant.
The censer emitted wisps of sandalwood incense, its deep, somber scent almost tangible, lingering in the solemn atmosphere of the hall.
Suddenly, a high-pitched, drawn-out voice of a palace eunuch came from outside the hall:
"The Emperor has arrived!"
The people inside the hall knelt down and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"
The emperor, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe and wearing a crown, strode up the hall and headed straight for the central dragon throne.
As if those few steps had exhausted him, Wei Tianxuan half-closed his heavy eyelids, raised his hand slightly, and said in a voice that was clearly tired: "Rise."
"I have summoned you all today for the matter of the border army reform." Wei Tianxuan spoke slowly and in a low tone, yet his voice was powerful and imposing, deep, cold, and heavy, making it hard to breathe. "I have read all the memorials submitted from both sides."
"Today, I want to hear the truth, and for you all to speak for yourselves."
After a brief silence, the emperor's cloudy eyes shifted, "Let's start with the Censorate."
"yes."
Censor-in-Chief Lin Yuan stepped forward first, holding a jade tablet, his voice steady: "Your Majesty, I recently reviewed the case file of Yue Yining, the Director of the Ministry of War, for treason. I found that there are many discrepancies in the amounts and batches between the accounts involved in the case and the border munitions transfer documents issued by the Ministry of War last year."
"I believe there are many suspicious points in this case, which may be related to the deployment of military equipment on the border. I humbly request Your Majesty to make a decision and allow a thorough investigation to find out the truth."
Before the emperor could react, Zhao Xizhi, the vice minister of the Ministry of War, could no longer contain himself.
He took a sudden step forward, his voice booming with barely concealed anger: "Your Majesty, Imperial Censor Lin's words are utterly absurd. Yue Yining's treason and collusion with the enemy are irrefutable. Now, he has fled to avoid punishment, and the Imperial Guards have searched everywhere without success. Such actions only confirm the case! How can the traitor's sophistry be believed? Instead of trying to apprehend the real culprit, Imperial Censor Lin is advocating for him, implying that there is more to this case than meets the eye. What is his purpose?"
His words were sharp and incisive, and his gaze secretly swept over the princess in her magnificent attire.
Wei Yihua felt the gaze directed at her, but remained unmoved.
Zhao Xizhi's outburst was within her expectations, followed closely by Xue Rui, the Minister of War.
He first glanced at Zhao Xizhi, seemingly blaming him for his impatience, then bowed to the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, I also agree with Vice Minister Zhao's words. The evidence chain for Yue Yining's crime has been clear and complete after the preliminary investigation by the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review."
"As for discrepancies in accounts and documents, the Ministry of War has a vast amount of documents, and occasional discrepancies with the records archived by the Ministry of Personnel are merely minor flaws in routine official duties. How can we speculate on matters of national importance based on such discrepancies? We understand Censor Lin's concern for the country, but in my opinion, the most urgent task is still to apprehend Yue Yining and bring him to justice."
Xue Rui's words sounded reasonable, both calming Zhao Xizhi's impulsiveness and downplaying the "discrepancy in accounts" as a "minor flaw in routine official business."
Grand Chancellor Zuo Yingfeng calmly bowed to the emperor, his tone sincere: "Your Majesty, I too have failed in my duty of oversight. Yue Yining is my brother's subordinate, yet he has committed such a heinous act. I am deeply grieved. Minister Xue's words are absolutely correct. Once Yue Yining is brought to justice, the truth will come to light."
The princess's fingers, hidden in her sleeve, twitched slightly, and her clear voice finally rang out: "My lords, you are mistaken."
She stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over Xue and Zuo: "What Imperial Censor Lin reported were points of doubt in the case file. According to the law, verifying them is precisely the duty of an Imperial Censor. Why is there any trouble? The two of you have been making excuses in your words. Are the documents from the Ministry of War and the Secretariat forbidden zones that cannot be touched or questioned?"
Before the other party could refute, she directly raised the core issue: "Moreover, what I said is not a minor detail with occasional discrepancies."
"Last year, the Ministry of War allocated military equipment to the border regions, with an account value of three million taels of silver. However, the actual receipt records at the border regions show a value of less than one million taels. How does Minister Xue explain this discrepancy of over two million taels? Is it merely a minor oversight in routine official duties?"
Two million taels!
This is no small sum, and Wei Tianxuan's gaze towards the crowd changed slightly.
Xue Rui's expression hardened, and Zhao Xizhi beside him immediately retorted, "Your Highness is unaware of the fact that the border regions are mountainous and far-reaching, with harsh climates, resulting in significant losses during the transport of military equipment. Furthermore, the acceptance standards in the border areas differ from those in the capital, leading to substantial price reductions—this is common knowledge!"
"The Ministry of War's accounts are clear, and every expenditure is traceable. Could it be that Your Highness has listened to the slander of some people with ulterior motives?"
Zhao Xizhi was clearly prepared, and Xue Rui also calmed down, then added: "Your Majesty, Vice Minister Zhao is anxious and clumsy with words, but what he said is not without reason. The loss of military equipment during transportation is beyond the control of the Ministry of War."
“The border generals also have signed receipt documents, which can prove that the Ministry of War has allocated the funds in accordance with the amount. If there is a discrepancy, the problem is probably in the transportation process or at the border receiving point.” Minister of War Xue Rui spoke in a calm tone, but his words were witty and he appeared magnanimous. “If Your Highness has any doubts, why not retrieve all the files for the relevant authorities to check?”
Wei Yihua narrowed his eyes, realizing that Xue Rui was cleverly shifting the blame to transportation and the border, completely absolving himself and other key officials in the Ministry of War in the central government, and even putting on a show of active cooperation.
Before she could speak, Zuo Yingfeng spoke again, still composed and unhurried: "I believe Minister Xue's considerations are thorough. In matters of military and national importance, evidence is paramount. Since Your Highness has doubts, and Minister Xue has proposed making the accounts public, then the Ministry of Revenue, the Censorate, and the Ministry of War should be appointed to jointly audit them. If there is any concealment, it will be discovered immediately. This will clarify the facts and demonstrate the fairness of the court's actions."
The proposal to investigate the Ministry of War's accounts, while seemingly fair, could actually be a protracted process and easily manipulated. Wei Yihua was well aware of the Ministry of War and the Grand Secretary's intentions; the fact that they dared to make the proposal meant that the fabricated accounts had already been prepared, and even if someone were to investigate, it would be difficult to find anything.
As long as they continue to delay, they have plenty of ways to downplay the issue and make it disappear. Even if corruption is eventually discovered in the Ministry of War, there are plenty of scapegoats. They can simply shift the blame to their subordinates, to the officials in charge of military equipment at the border and along the route, and escape unscathed.
Minister of War Xue Rui looked at Wei Yihua, who was standing silently with his eyes down, and felt reassured.
Early this morning, Wei Yihua and Censor-in-Chief Lin Yuancai submitted the impeachment document. Xue Ruian's mole in the Censorate informed him that he had memorized every word in the document.
Wei Yihua did not mention the defeat at Black Tiger Gorge. The main impeachment in the document was that a group of officials from humble backgrounds, led by the Ministry of War and the Grand Secretary, took advantage of the border army reform to embezzle national funds and manufacture substandard weapons. It also mentioned that there were other hidden stories behind Yue Yining's case, and that someone had framed her.
It's fair to say that they all breathed a sigh of relief upon receiving this news.
The defeat at Black Tiger Gorge resulted in the deaths and injuries of the city's inhabitants, and the death of the leading general who advocated the war. This was the most devastating event for them.
Because once this matter comes to light, firstly, their actions of cutting off border documents and concealing military intelligence will be confirmed, and the first person to bear the brunt will be Zuo Yingfeng, who was in charge of the Political Affairs Hall at the time, and his crimes will be heinous.
Secondly, the Ministry of War embezzled funds to manufacture substandard military equipment for the border, indirectly causing the defeat at Black Tiger Gorge and the deaths of an entire city's inhabitants, making him utterly wicked.
The nature of the matter changed dramatically.
If it's just about impeaching them for corruption, then there's nothing to worry about. Corruption that doesn't lead to serious consequences is a minor matter for these veteran officials.
Moreover, they all concluded that Wei Yihua had no evidence.
The death of General Sun Cheng was kept secret even from the Sun family. How could she, a royal princess who had never left the capital, possibly obtain evidence of crimes committed far away on the border?
Now that things have come to this point, if they don't agree to the proposal and can't provide more evidence, then they're just being unreasonable.
If this case is truly just a simple corruption case, then Wei Yihua's side has completely lost.
Just as the emperor was lost in thought, a cold voice rang out:
"Your Majesty, your subject Zhou Congyi has overstepped his bounds and humbly requests a word."
For the first time, everyone's eyes were on this young Lord Zhou.
The emperor's gaze also turned to her.
He opened his mouth and said, "Approved."
Zhou Congyi stepped forward calmly, bowed slightly to the emperor and his ministers, his bowing posture resembling a green bamboo bearing frost, and when he raised his head, his figure was as straight as a cliff.
She said, “Your Majesty, Your Excellencies, while the claim of losses regarding the huge discrepancy just discussed is understandable, the amount of two million taels is certainly beyond what can be concealed by mere circumstances. This matter will be thoroughly investigated by the Ministry of Revenue and the Censorate, and I dare not make a hasty judgment.”
She then changed the subject: "But I have another matter to report today. I believe that the channels for transmitting border documents back to the capital are blocked. There are people in the court who are manipulating power and concealing military intelligence, making it impossible for them to reach the Emperor."
Zhou Congyi's words were forceful and clear, causing Zuo Yingfeng and the two ministers of war to change their expressions slightly.
Without pausing for a moment, her voice echoed clearly in the center of the hall as she continued:
"I have two reasons. First, last autumn and winter, several routine military intelligence documents from border garrisons such as Black Tiger Gorge arrived at the Ministry of Works with unreasonable delays compared to the regular schedule of the post roads."
"Secondly, there were undue interruptions and jumps in the signing process of these documents before they were filed. Someone briefly detained them for examination before they were presented to the Three Departments and the Emperor."
Zuo Yingfeng frowned, but remained composed, his tone even carrying a hint of helplessness as he responded: "Lord Zhou's meticulousness is admirable. However, the affairs of the Secretariat are vast and complex, with numerous links in the document circulation process. It is not uncommon for clerks to make mistakes in their haste, or for officials at a certain stage to be negligent, resulting in delays or omissions in document signing. While this is not in accordance with regulations, it is not uncommon. To conclude from this that someone is concealing military intelligence is rather hasty?"
Zhao Xizhi agreed: "What Lord Zuo said is correct. If there are any oversights, we will strictly supervise and prevent such oversights in the future."
Faced with Zuo Yingfeng's impeccable defense, Zhou Congyi remained unmoved. She bowed slightly again and said, "Lord Zuo is right. If that were all, I would not dare to disturb His Majesty's ears."
"I dare not take credit for this. The person who discovered the discrepancies in the documents sent back from the border was the Yue Dushi. She noticed it because she had just taken office as the Dushi of the Ministry of Personnel and was dealing with a backlog of old reports. However, she did not complain and still carefully reviewed them, thus discovering the discrepancies in the contents of the documents."
"First, there were contradictions in the military intelligence reports from the same town. Then, there were reports of a large number of weapons being worn out and the need for replenishing military equipment was for elite troops. Yue Du was very meticulous and immediately noticed that the documents from the border to the court had been concealed and altered. She began to look for evidence and finally found a clue in the records of the generals - among them, the records of General Sun Cheng had obvious gaps."
"Yue Dushi came from the Tian Guan Temple and was a Celestial Master. She used divination to investigate and learned that Sun Cheng, the commander of Black Tiger Gorge, had died in battle as early as last autumn. This news has been concealed until now, and there has been no news of him."
"Absurd!!" Zhao Xizhi interrupted Zhou Congyi loudly, his brows furrowed with anger. He began by gruffly rebuking, "When has our Dongxi Dynasty ever had a precedent for fortune-telling to solve a case! Can she really frame someone so convincingly based solely on her own words and talk of gods and ghosts?!"
"Lord Zhou, don't forget that Yue Yining committed the crime of treason and collusion with the enemy. The evidence is conclusive. Now, Lord Zhou is using her past words to spread rumors. Isn't that just making a fool of yourself?"
Zhao Xizhi spoke fiercely, his eyes wide as if they were copper bells, but Xue Rui, who was more astute, already had a bad feeling and his face began to turn pale.
"Lord Zhao, please calm down." Zhou Congyi spoke clearly and remained unmoved. "This humble official naturally has evidence."
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Zhou Congyi took out a silk book from his sleeve. Its dark color seemed to carry the scent of blood, but otherwise it looked unremarkable.
But it was precisely this ordinary silk scroll that caused even the usually composed Zuo Yingfeng's expression to change drastically when it was revealed!
Xue Rui's legs trembled, and his vision went black. At over fifty years old, he nearly collapsed at the sight.
He never expected this.
They had been searching for the blood letter left by Sun Cheng for so long, and it had actually fallen into Zhou Congyi's hands!
Zhou Congyi held up the silk scroll in his hand and said coldly, "To be honest, after the Yue Dushi reported this matter to Her Highness the Princess, Her Highness made a decisive decision and immediately arranged for people to go to the border. First, to collect evidence; second, to communicate military intelligence; and third, to rush to the aid of the border, doing her best to ensure that government affairs are handled smoothly."
"After our people arrived at the border, they not only learned the truth that the court had concealed from them, but also went to great lengths to obtain the blood-written plea for help from Sun Cheng, the general who died in the Battle of Black Tiger Gorge. They were burdened with heavy responsibilities and could not leave the border, so they sent a ten-year-old girl all the way back to the capital to deliver this irrefutable evidence to Her Highness the Princess."
"What I hold in my hands is the most powerful evidence."
"Please take a look, Your Majesty."
The emperor gestured to Luo Hong, the eunuch in charge of the palace, who then carried a golden tray to Zhou Congyi.
Zhou Congyi placed the silk scroll on the golden plate. Luo Hong lowered his eyes and slowly ascended the jade steps, presenting it to the emperor's portrait on the dragon throne.
Wei Tianxuan raised his hand and opened the silk book. After only a few glances, he gripped the edge tightly, waved his hand, and threw it back into the plate!
Luo Hong, who was holding the golden plate high, immediately knelt down with a thud, and Xue Rui below almost knelt down as well.
The silk scroll contained only a few large, blood-red characters.
—Black Tiger Gorge City is about to fall, Cheng Si Kingdom begs for help!
Wei Tianxuan's face was gloomy, and his brows were already showing obvious anger.
Since the death of the crown prince, the emperor has become increasingly melancholy over the past two years, remaining silent and expressionless most of the time, making it impossible for anyone to discern his thoughts.
But after all, he had held power in the court for many years and was once a wise and capable ruler, skilled in both literature and military affairs, and dedicated to governing the country. Now, when he unleashed his thunderous wrath, he still possessed the power to cleave through the clouds and his awe-inspiring presence was as strong as ever.
Zhou Congyi said, word by word, "At almost the same time, the routine filing document sent by the Ministry of War to the Secretariat still stated: 'The defense of Black Tiger Gorge is stable, General Sun has suffered a minor illness, but is still handling military affairs.'"
"I have brought this document with me today. I am but a humble subject and dare not speak without evidence; I will speak only based on facts!"
Zhou Congyi's voice was not loud, but its momentum was overwhelming; his thunderous words resounded continuously above the Liangyi Hall:
"I have three questions for you, my esteemed ministers: First, which is true, the blood-soaked final words of the soldiers at the front or the whitewashed peace of the court at the rear? Second, are General Sun Cheng and his thousands of soldiers still in office, or have they died for the country, their names buried at sea in vain? Third, who has deceived the emperor and the country, covering up this heinous crime and treating the laws and regulations of our Eastern Xi as nothing?"
The questions came one after another, each one more incisive than the last, especially the last one, which was almost a direct naming of names!
Censor-in-Chief Lin Yuan also shouted from the side: "Your Majesty! This matter is of great importance. It is not just about embezzlement in the Ministry of War, nor is it just about concealment in the Secretariat!"
"Border officials colluded with each other, and high-ranking officials in the court, in order to cover up their serious crimes of corruption and dereliction of duty that led to the fall of the city and the death of people, joined forces to falsify military reports, deceive the court, and mislead the emperor. This is a disaster for the country and the people!"
"Excellent! Absolutely excellent!" Wei Tianxuan slammed his hand on the armrest, his brows furrowed with frost, and said in a cold voice, "Zuo Yingfeng, Zhao Xizhi, Xue Rui."
"Do you have anything else to say?"
Zhao Xizhi felt a chill run down his spine under the emperor's intense gaze.
But he knew that retreating at this moment would mean utter destruction.
He knelt down first, not to confess, but to plead guilty: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger! This...this blood letter is of unknown origin! How can we be sure it is Sun Cheng's own handwriting? With war raging on the border and the Di and Rong tribes being cunning, forging documents and creating confusion are common occurrences! How can we know that this is not the work of a spy, or yet another conspiracy by Yue Yining's accomplices? This is disrupting the court, I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"
Xue Rui knelt down as well, and compared to Zhao Xizhi's loud shouts, his sophistry was more sophisticated: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Your Majesty, I... Your Majesty, I deserve to die ten thousand times! I failed in my management of the Ministry of War, allowing such a horrific thing to happen. I deserve to die ten thousand times!"
"However, the Ministry of War strictly follows regulations in issuing weapons and recording records. All documents are signed by the officials in charge, and there are also written confirmations from the border officials receiving the generals! I...I really don't know why the recorded documents are so different from the actual situation!"
Xue Rui raised his head, looking both enlightened and furious: "Unless... unless the officials at the border receiving the weapons and the clerks responsible for drafting the registration documents have already been bribed and are colluding to deceive their superiors!"
"Your Majesty! Your subject humbly requests that Your Majesty immediately arrest the relevant officials in the Ministry of War and the border commanders, and subject them to severe interrogation. This will surely reveal who is so audacious as to frame loyal officials and deceive Your Majesty!"
With each word and action, he skillfully shifted the blame to his subordinates, portraying himself as a pitiful, deceived old minister.
Zuo Yingfeng took a deep breath. He knew that the appearance of the blood letter had pushed the situation to its most dangerous edge, but he couldn't panic.
He slowly stepped forward, knelt down, maintaining an astonishing composure; only upon close listening could one detect a hint of dryness in his voice.
"Your Majesty, I am also guilty."
“My fault lies in my oversight. The State Affairs Hall oversees all documents in the country, and I failed to discover in time that there was a huge discrepancy between the Ministry of War’s records and the actual situation on the border, which has led Your Majesty to be deceived until now. This is my inescapable fault, and I beg Your Majesty to hold me accountable.”
He began his real defense, his words filled with deep sorrow for the affairs of the state: "Your Majesty, the Council of State handles hundreds of documents and reports every day. Even if I were to exert all my efforts, it would be impossible for me to verify the details of every single document. As is customary, I and the officials of the Secretariat review whether the document format is compliant and whether the procedure is complete, and verify the authenticity of the content stated in the document."
"If the Council of State had to send people thousands of miles to verify the authenticity of every military report claiming to come from the border, the government would be paralyzed and the court would be unable to function. This is a limitation of the system, not a lack of my diligence."
He looked at Zhou Congyi and Wei Yihua: "Lord Zhou just mentioned that there were gaps and interruptions in the signing of documents. This is indeed an oversight in the internal management of the Secretariat, which I have already admitted. But to conclude from this that I intentionally withheld and concealed the report on the defeat at Black Tiger Gorge, I... find it hard to accept."
"If I truly intended to conceal such a shocking matter, why not erase all traces completely, instead of leaving behind so many so-called clues for Lord Zhou to discover? Isn't this contrary to common sense?"
"I would like to ask further, if the Prefect of Yue had already discovered the clues and even used divination to confirm Sun Cheng's death, why didn't he report it then? Instead, he waited until today for Lord Zhou to produce this... blood-written letter with a complicated origin?"
Perhaps not expecting that Zuo Yingfeng would turn the tables on her, Zhou Congyi, who was by nature strong-willed, could not help but feel angry, no matter how calm and composed she was.
Just as she was about to speak and continue her rebuttal, a figure stepped in first.
Wei Yihua exuded an imposing aura. Facing several cunning and shrewd senior officials, this eighteen-year-old princess remained unmoved, standing firm as a pine tree and as steadfast as a rock.
Her voice was clear and cold, yet like the sharpest needle, it precisely pierced the illusory bubble the other person was trying so hard to build:
"I find three points about what Lord Zuo said unclear."
"Firstly, the officials claim that the Council of State Affairs only checks the format, not the content. However, last autumn and winter, documents from Black Tiger Gorge were not only delayed, but their contents were also contradictory, and the demand for military equipment had surged abnormally. Such anomalies have gone beyond the scope of the format, and even a little careful review would raise doubts. Why is the entire Secretariat collectively blind and silent on this? Is this merely a matter of oversight?"
"Secondly, Your Excellency asked why it wasn't reported earlier. It was precisely because the Yue Du official realized that this matter was very serious and feared alerting the enemy, that he chose to secretly report to me and secretly collect evidence."
"It was precisely because Yue Yining touched upon this unspeakable truth during her investigation that she was framed and imprisoned! Who was so eager to frame her for treason? Who wanted to silence her? Who exactly wanted to ruin her reputation as the original discoverer and completely sever the source of the investigation?"
"I'm actually glad she's cautious by nature, otherwise she might have already been framed, imprisoned, or even died an unexplained death, just like she is today!"
"Thirdly, and most importantly," Wei Yihua said, his demeanor dignified, but his eyes flashed with a cold light as he spoke, his expression already possessing the ferocity and sharpness of a tiger or leopard. "It seems that you have forgotten that it is not something that a few clerks or border generals could do to simultaneously cause the Secretariat to fail to investigate, to make the Ministry of War issue a false record in accordance with regulations, and to suppress all dissenting voices at the border."
"This person must be able to control the flow of documents in the Secretariat, influence the affairs of the Ministry of War, and keep the officials at the checkpoints and border posts silent!"
"Looking throughout the court, who else could possibly meet all the requirements, please tell me, Left Chancellor?!"
The Third Prince, Wei Ye, spoke up at the opportune moment, his tone indignant: "Lord Zuo, even now, are you still going to use the word 'oversight' to fob off the Emperor? Was it truly an oversight, or was it because you proposed reforming the border troops, cooperating with the Ministry of War, and intending to gain a share of the spoils, only to end up playing with fire and getting burned? After realizing things were out of control, in order to preserve your power and position, you had no choice but to grit your teeth and cover it up, even at the cost of framing loyal officials?!"
Zuo Yingfeng clenched his fist into a fist, his feigned composure finally crumbling, revealing a hint of panic.
He opened his mouth, but found himself speechless. He could only grit his teeth and continue searching his mind for words to try and distance himself from the situation.
Zuo Yingfeng still refused to give up: "Your subject... Your subject..."
Just then, someone arrived outside the palace. The eunuch Luo Hong, with his sharp eyes, immediately went outside the palace, then turned back and reported to the emperor: "Your Majesty, Zuo Xulin, the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, has arrived and is requesting an audience outside the palace."
Wei Tianxuan frowned subconsciously, then relaxed his brow. He nodded thoughtfully and said in a low voice, "Summon him in."
"Summon—Zhongshu Sheren Zuo Xulin to the palace for an audience!"
Zuo Yingfeng suddenly looked up at the direction of the palace gate, his eyes filled with shock, panic, disbelief, and a trace of fear.
He finally lost his composure.
The heavy palace doors opened again, and a slender, upright figure walked into the hall.
The newcomer was dressed in a plain official robe, not formal court attire. He was none other than Zuo Xulin, a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat. His face remained cold, but his brows were filled with melancholy.
He looked straight ahead, went directly to the emperor, lifted his robe, knelt down, and kowtowed.
"Your subject, Zuo Xulin, pays his respects to Your Majesty."
His voice was clear and crisp, and although he tried his best to suppress it, a faint hoarseness could still be heard.
Zuo Yingfeng looked at his younger brother who had suddenly appeared there and had a premonition of his purpose. His body trembled, and he opened his mouth, but all the words he wanted to say were stuck in his throat.
Wei Tianxuan spoke up: "What brings you here, Minister Zuo?"
Zuo Xulin raised his head, his voice deep and heavy: "Your Majesty, I dare to plead guilty on behalf of my elder brother."
Upon hearing this, everyone present changed their expressions drastically, especially Xue Rui and Zhao Xizhi, whose eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
No one expected that Zuo Xulin would suddenly appear and, as a close relative, deliver the final blow to Zuo Yingfeng.
Zuo Yingfeng knelt on the ground, his face deathly pale.
Zuo Xulin paused briefly, as if he needed to gather all his courage to continue: "Your Majesty has committed an unforgivable crime, which deserves to be punished. I have no face to argue against it."
"I have come here today at the risk of my life not to exonerate my brother, but to implore Your Majesty to consider that his initial intentions were not evil, that he genuinely repented afterward and even made futile attempts to make amends, and that he devoted himself wholeheartedly to promoting people from humble backgrounds during his more than ten years in officialdom... Could Your Majesty grant him leniency and spare his life?"
His words were clear, calm, and even carried the same orderliness he used when handling official business.
But it is precisely this restrained plea that is more powerful than any wailing.
He did not expose Zuo Yingfeng, but every word he uttered sealed Zuo Yingfeng's guilt before the emperor.
Zuo Yingfeng felt as if he had been struck by a heavy blow, and his body swayed violently. He looked at the pain hidden on that usually cold and expressionless face, and at his younger brother, whom he had always protected so much, pleading for him so humbly before the emperor. Shame and despair overwhelmed him in an instant.
Zuo Yingfeng was deeply distressed, his throat tightened, and he let out a very soft wail before bowing his head deeply.
Upon hearing that sob, Zuo Xulin's fingertips trembled slightly, but he still kept his back straight.
He took out a book from his bosom and presented it with both hands: "Your Majesty, please be wise. My brother is well aware of his sins. He secretly sold off ancestral property and land to raise funds and secretly cast a batch of fine military equipment, attempting to send it to the border as a small compensation."
"This is a travel log personally written by the person in charge of the transport at the time, which details how the weapons were subjected to layers of extortion along the way. Although they ultimately failed to deliver the weapons and accomplished nothing, this...this may prove that he was not a person who abused his power for personal gain and disregarded the people's livelihood."
Wei Yihua, Zhou Congyi, and the others remained silent.
At this moment, the dust has settled.
Luo Hong presented the booklet again. The emperor slowly flipped through it from beginning to end, finally rubbing his temples, closing his eyes, and letting out a deep sigh.
He looked at Zuo Yingfeng, who was on the verge of collapse, and asked in a deep voice, "Is what you said true?"
Zuo Yingfeng slowly raised his head, his face contorted with despair, his eyes filled with tears. The once gentle, shrewd, and dignified Grand Secretary was gone, leaving only a soul utterly crushed.
“It’s true, Your Majesty.” His voice was hoarse. “Your Majesty, I… deserve to die a thousand deaths, but my death is not enough to atone for my sins.”
His gaze was vacant, and in a daze, he seemed to see his own ups and downs in officialdom over the past ten years.
The year he entered the court as an official happened to be the first year of the civil service examination system.
Born into a humble family, he surpassed all the scions of noble families due to his extensive reading and became the top scholar of that year.
Those were the most beautiful memories of his life. Heaven and earth celebrated, and he was filled with ambition. He rode his horse through the streets and saw all the flowers of the capital in a single day.
At that time, looking at the magnificent imperial palace walls in the distance, he thought that he must become an important minister in the court, help the country, and bring about a peaceful and prosperous era for the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, so that all children from poor families could have a way to serve the country.
But he was wrong.
The imperial court is not merely a place of political intrigue and power struggles; it is also a place of factionalism, infighting, and the clash of interests. Powerful families are deeply entrenched and wield absolute power, while those from humble backgrounds face constant hardship and walk on thin ice.
He vaguely understood that something had changed, but some things could never be changed no matter what.
He found himself unwilling to accept this.
Many of the world's endless sorrows and resentments stem from a single act of unwillingness to accept defeat.
"I promoted the reform of the border army because I wanted to change the situation where aristocratic families had always firmly controlled military power, and I wanted to fight for an opportunity for us commoners to make a name for ourselves," Zuo Yingfeng said, his voice trembling as he spoke. "But I was wrong... I was terribly wrong! The reform of the border army has its drawbacks. It has not only failed to benefit the people on the border, but it has also harmed them!"
"Among these people are many who ostensibly seek personal gain, claiming to come from humble backgrounds and understand the hardships of the people. But once they take office, they change completely! They outwardly comply but inwardly defy the law, embezzle and pervert justice. Once they gain power, their exploitation of the common people and their formation of cliques are even more ruthless than those of the aristocratic families!" Zuo Yingfeng clenched his fists. "...I, your subject, wish to rectify this, but the accumulated problems are too deep-rooted and too powerful to be controlled. Even if I have the will to clean up, it is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, and there is no way to reverse the situation."
Those who once lived in luxury now resent the depths of those luxury homes.
Even though he was the most from a poor family, he was powerless to help and was also mired in the mire, with dirt and filth seeping into his body day by day.
It wasn't until the devastating news of the fall of Black Tiger Gorge arrived that he realized he was beyond redemption.
"Your Majesty, I have failed you, and I have failed the millions of students from humble backgrounds who truly cherish ideals and are dedicated to the country and its people... My concealment of this from Your Majesty was entirely due to my cowardice and incompetence, and my own selfish desires."
"I fear that my humble family's years of hard work will be destroyed in an instant, I fear Your Majesty's wrath will cause my family to never recover, and I also fear that I will become a sinner for all time... It was I who chose the most foolish method, sinking deeper and deeper, until I am doomed to eternal damnation."
"Forging those weapons was a futile and laughable struggle fueled by my agonizing conscience. Now it seems nothing but self-deception. I even blocked the path to redemption with my own hands—how ironic, how absurd..."
"It's all my fault... I deserve this punishment."
Zuo Yingfeng seemed unable to hold on any longer and collapsed to the ground, weeping bitterly, his body curling up in extreme pain.
Zuo Xulin turned his face away, unable to bear to look any longer, but his fists trembled uncontrollably as they hung at his sides.
Emperor Wei Tianxuan remained silent for a long time, looking down at Zuo Yingfeng, who was lying at his feet with tears streaming down his face. The anger on his face had long since dissipated, leaving only deep weariness and desolation.
In the end, only a sigh remained.
"...I understand." The emperor's voice was filled with endless weariness. He propped his forehead up with his hand, closed his eyes, and called out, "Guards."
"The Left Chancellor, Vice Minister Zhao, and Minister Xue, among others, are to be taken to the prison to await their fate."
The imperial guards entered in response, their heavy, hurried footsteps breaking the deathly silence in the hall.
Amidst the chaos, Princess Wei Yihua felt a great weight lifted from her heart. Relieved, she looked at the scene before her and couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions.
Her rouge-colored skirt swirled gently as she turned to look outside the palace.
The heavy, dark clouds that had shrouded the palace all day quietly parted at some point.
Through a crack in the clouds, a ray of sunlight, like a golden axe piercing the sky, suddenly poured down, casting countless rays of clear light before the white jade steps of the main hall. The world was as clear as if it had been washed clean, just as the sky had cleared after a rain.
The old light returns to the earth, the landscape is lush and beautiful, and the colors shine brightly across the region.
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Author's Note: There are a few more chapters left to conclude Volume 3, all of which are major events. I'm working hard to write them.
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