Chapter 16
While Shen Yao was interrogating Han Yu, the ministers Liu Zhengxin and Wei Yi entered the cabinet to handle some business.
The two jointly submitted a memorial stating: "The treacherous officials have stirred up trouble and spread heretical rumors, which is truly an outrage to both gods and men. We are deeply grateful for Your Majesty's wrath and your stern and powerful presence. As your trusted advisors, we share your joys and sorrows and are determined to find the true culprits to uphold the law and appease Your Majesty."
Along with this memorial, two other documents were also presented to the emperor for his perusal.
First, Grand Secretary Liu Zhengxin recommended Xu Xuan, a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, to serve as a sixth-rank official in the Ministry of Justice.
Secondly, Wang Zhen, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, submitted a memorial accusing the monk Daguan of being elusive and possibly the author of a seditious book, and requested the emperor's permission to arrest him and interrogate him thoroughly.
Da Guan was a renowned high-ranking monk who traveled extensively throughout the capital, trying to persuade the court to stop levying mining taxes, thus offending many people. He was also a close friend of Liu Shen, the Vice Minister.
Wang Zhen's purpose was obvious: to drag Liu Shen down with her.
The Emperor's decree: Approved.
With the emperor's approval, the people below naturally had no more scruples and began to act in a grand manner.
At the gate of the Northern Garrison Command, the Embroidered Uniform Guards gradually gathered. After the imperial edict was issued, almost all of them had arrived. Just moments before, someone had reported that Daguan was hiding in Liu Shen's residence, so Shen Fan had received orders from his superiors to go and arrest him.
"Sister, an official mission has arrived, so I can't go today."
Since Shen Fan couldn't go to Jiangnan Hutong, Shen Yao didn't plan to go alone either. Without her Jinyiwei brother accompanying her, it would be extremely difficult for her to investigate the case as a woman. Moreover, the area was a mixed bag, and her personal safety couldn't be guaranteed. So, she planned to go home first.
Shortly after Shen Yao left by carriage, Governor Wang Zhen finished mustering his troops. A large number of Imperial Guards rode on fine horses and carried cages towards Liu's residence, making a grand spectacle that attracted many onlookers to stop and discuss.
"With so many living devils, I wonder which family is going to be unlucky?"
A few streets away, in a grand mansion, Liu Shen was completely unprepared for the impending storm and was instead hospitably entertaining an important guest—Crown Prince Wei Luo.
Wei Luo's teacher was Guo Zheng, the Vice Minister of Rites, and Guo Zheng's teacher was Liu Shen, the Second Grand Secretary. Therefore, Wei Luo came today specifically to visit Liu Shen, in secret.
Although Wei Luo is the crown prince, he only has the qualification to observe politics, not the power to participate in politics. As for privately making friends with ministers, that is called forming a faction, which is something the emperor is very wary of.
However, after the incident involving the seditious book came to light, Wei Luo was very worried. In addition, the emperor ordered the suspension of lectures at the Wenhua Hall, so he could not contact his teacher and had no source of information. Therefore, he decided to risk visiting Liu Shen in private.
Liu Shen did not report for duty today. In fact, when Liu Zhengxin and Wei Yi were at home, he also took leave on the grounds of feeling unwell, and the emperor, for reasons unknown, granted his request.
Inside the main hall, Liu Shen dismissed the maids and servants, led Wei Luo to a seat, placed a cup of early spring tea buds on the table, and said in a gentle tone, "Your Highness, please try it. Can the tea from the common people compare to the tribute tea from the palace?"
Inside the porcelain white teacup, the emerald green tea soup rippled gently. Wei Luo took a sip, and the tea was fragrant and had a long-lasting sweet aftertaste. He then said, "It's no worse than the tea in the palace."
Liu Shen smiled and said, "This is tea that I personally picked and processed in the tea garden with my wife, children and grandchildren when I returned home for Qingming Festival. The tea is not famous tea and the water is not spring water, but the value lies in the hands-on experience."
"Take leisure as wealth, early to bed as riches, a leisurely walk as a carriage, and a late meal as meat." Wei Luo stood up, looked at the proverb hanging in the high hall, and smiled, "I didn't expect you to appreciate Mr. Su Dongpo's philosophy of life."
When talking about his idol, Liu Shen's eyes were full of longing and admiration. "Scholar Su's official career was full of ups and downs, and he was always on the move. Yet he was content with his lot and found joy in poverty. I am ashamed to admit that I do not have such a magnanimous spirit."
"I am but a mediocre person. I am fortunate to have received the Emperor's favor and served as an official for decades. By all accounts, I should have developed a heart that is impervious to all vices by now. However, lately, I have come to realize that cultivating oneself is difficult, but cultivating one's mind is even more difficult."
With a sigh, seventy-year-old Liu Shen's eyes suddenly aged. In the turbulent world of officialdom, he was undoubtedly fortunate, deeply trusted by the emperor, serving as the empire's prime minister, with the potential to achieve great political success. But in terms of happiness, he might not have been as joyful as the blacksmith on the street.
People who hold high positions for too long may lose their most primal emotion – happiness!
Liu Shen spoke these words to himself, and also to Wei Luo, who was only nineteen years old. No matter what situation one is in in life, open-mindedness and optimism are the most important things; this essential life lesson is a lifelong journey.
"Your Highness, please have a seat." Now that the preamble is over, it's time to get down to business, which is also the reason why Wei Luo risked coming here!
"Sir, who do you believe is responsible for this 'demonic book'?"
"I don't know." Liu Shen looked at Wei Luo, his expression very calm.
"I heard a rumor yesterday that this matter seems to be related to the capital inspection—"
Before Wei Luo could finish speaking, the gate was kicked open with a bang, and a middle-aged man rushed out and shouted, "Master, something terrible has happened! Hundreds of Imperial Guards have arrived outside. They've surrounded the mansion!"
"What?" Liu Shen's expression changed drastically, and his back instantly broke out in a cold sweat. He looked at Wei Luo, whose face was as white as a sheet, standing there frozen in place, as if petrified.
"Your Highness, you must leave quickly, or you will be discovered by the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
Liu Shen reacted quickly, disregarding the formalities between ruler and subject at this critical moment. He grabbed Wei Luo's sleeve and rushed out the door, saying, "Go out the back door."
Are they here to arrest me?
Wei Luo's voice trembled slightly. If he were discovered to have secretly left the palace today and met with foreign officials, his reign as crown prince would be over.
The middle-aged man replied, "No, they say they are acting on imperial orders to arrest the author of the 'seditious book.' Our people are still trying to stop them, but they outnumber us and will be able to break in soon."
Liu Shen made a quick decision and said to the middle-aged man, "You take His Highness and leave quickly. I'll go to the gate to stall for time."
Wang Zhen went to great lengths to capture Da Guan and search Liu's residence, so he not only led a large force to guard the front gate, but also transferred a lot of Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) to the back gate.
"We can't get out through the back door." The middle-aged man paced around frantically, like a trapped beast struggling in its death throes. Suddenly, he looked at the high wall and said to Wei Luo, "Your Highness, climb over the wall."
Stepping on the man's shoulders, Wei Luo gripped the uneven wall tightly with both hands. His slender white fingers were cut by the sharp stone bricks, but he felt no pain at all.
In times of crisis, people will do anything to survive. A dozen Imperial Guards were approaching from not far outside the wall. Wei Luo gritted his teeth, made up his mind, and jumped off the wall, which was several feet high.
The moment he landed, the Imperial Guards in the distance spotted him, their embroidered spring knives flashing as shouts rang out: "Who goes there? Halt!"
Wei Luo turned and ran away.
At this moment, tensions were high at the front gate of the Liu residence.
Wang Zhen, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, stood amidst a sea of flying fish robes, appearing exceptionally excited. He had already ordered his subordinates to completely surround the Liu residence, ensuring that not even a fly could escape.
He specifically sought the emperor's permission for this arrest operation, and the emperor issued a decree; otherwise, given Liu Shen's status as a cabinet minister, he wouldn't have dared to act rashly. However, what he didn't tell the emperor was that the person they wanted to arrest was at Liu Shen's house.
First, capture the person and put them in the imperial prison. It's our territory; we're not afraid we can't harm you.
Liu Shen, you're dead this time!
Wang Zhen was smug, his eyes gleaming with the light of a victor. He was expecting Liu Shen to arrive, only to see his surprised, angry, and helpless expression.
Finally, under the watchful eyes of hundreds of wolves, Liu Shen appeared. "Who gave you permission to act so recklessly here?"
The deep, angry voice was exactly what Wang Zhen had been expecting. He stepped forward and shouted, "I am acting on the Emperor's orders to arrest the suspects involved in the seditious book."
"Who is this criminal?" Liu Shen asked angrily.
"The monk Da Guan is secretive in his movements, speaks cryptically, and slanders the imperial court. We suspect he is the author of a seditious book. Grand Secretary Liu, do you still have any doubts?"
"Nonsense! I think you are the ones who wrote this demonic book. I am right here. If you want to get in, you'll have to step over my dead body." Liu Shen's chest heaved violently as he plopped down on the threshold to intimidate.
Wang Zhen had anticipated Liu Shen's obstruction, so he wasn't in a hurry. He simply sat down and said slowly, "Your Excellency is too kind. You are a minister assisting the state, how dare we be disrespectful? Just wait here, and the person will be caught in a moment."
Liu Shen was startled and quickly stood up. The Imperial Guards had entered through the back door. He gritted his teeth and cursed, "Despicable villains."
By the time he entered the inner courtyard, it was too late. The Liu residence was completely surrounded by Wang Zhen. Except for Wei Luo, who jumped over the wall to escape, everyone else was trapped.
Da Guan had already been tied up by the Imperial Guards, and the doctor Lin Yu was also subdued for allegedly holding a private gathering, suspected of being an accomplice. The steward Mao Wen was also implicated.
Liu Shen was so angry that he jumped up and down, pointing at Wang Zhen and cursing, "You treacherous villain, I will definitely write a letter to impeach you."
However, no matter how Liu Shen resisted and cursed, Wang Zhen, who had the advantage of numbers, did not care at all, and even provocatively mocked, "I look forward to the Grand Secretary's impeachment memorial."
"Take them away!" With that order, Da Guan and the other two were escorted into the prison van.
When Wang Zhen left, he did not take all the Imperial Guards with him. He left behind dozens of people, including Shen Fan, to guard the front and back gates of Liu's residence all night. He said this was to prevent the suspect from escaping and to facilitate subsequent evidence collection and verification of confessions.
So Liu Shen, the Grand Secretary who wanted to impeach Wang Zhen, is now in such a sorry state that he can't even leave his own house!
It was black, absolutely black!
Fortunately, Wei Luo left. Liu Shen looked at the majestic imperial city to the north and silently prayed that he would escape danger and be safe!
On the wide stone-paved road, Wei Luo ran until he was covered in sweat and panting heavily. Behind him, several Imperial Guards were very dutiful, chasing him like mad dogs for several blocks.
At this moment, they are not chasing people, but wealth and status. If Wei Luozhen is related to the demon book, then they can get promoted and receive a raise based on it, ushering in a turning point in their lives.
A carriage gradually approached on the stone-paved road. The carriage was about to go straight ahead, but it suddenly stopped when it passed a tired man.
A voice as melodious as a nightingale's rang out, tinged with a hint of playfulness: "Your Highness, would you like a ride?"
"Shen Yao?" Wei Luo couldn't believe it.
"Stop right there!"
The Imperial Guards were still hot on their heels. Wei Luo was exhausted from running and had no choice but to jump onto Shen Yao's carriage.
Four legs are always faster than two. The Imperial Guards weren't stupid either. Seeing Wei Luo escape in a carriage, they stopped chasing and only cursed behind him: "You little thief, don't try to run away!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
