irrefutable evidence
News of Zhao Kai and Anping Marquis Liu Mingde's imprisonment spread like wildfire, spreading through the capital's streets and alleys overnight. Everywhere, in the streets and alleys, in the teahouses and taverns, everyone was discussing this shocking case. "Collaboration with the enemy and treason!" These four words weighed like a thousand pounds, suffocating the officials and nobles who had previously interacted closely with Zhao and Liu. They all closed their doors to visitors, fearing the consequences of attracting further calamity.
Deep within the Imperial Prison, a chill chill bit the bone. The three chief officials—Zheng Qian, Minister of Justice; Zhou Zheng, Minister of Justice; Li Wenyuan, Chief Censor; and Cao Jin, the Governor of the Imperial City Division, representing the imperial power—were gathered together. The four men sat at their desks, their faces solemn, the air frozen. Below, Zhao Kai and Liu Mingde, clad in prison uniforms and shackles, looked utterly miserable.
At the outset of the interrogation, Zhao Kai stiffened his neck, insisting that Han Mingyuan had framed him and flatly denied all accusations. Liu Mingde, on the other hand, collapsed into tears, repeatedly crying out "injustice" and "ignorance," blaming everything on his subordinates and "collusion with gangsters."
"Zhao Kai!" Zheng Qian, the Minister of Justice, slammed the gavel in a resounding voice. "Censor Han impeached you for abusing your authority in the spring of the third year of Tianyou to divert 500 suits of armor and 3,000 dan of military rations, which were supposed to be sent to Heishui Town in the northern border, by falsifying the documents. These were then diverted to Yunzhou, where they were then taken over by the Ruichanglong caravan and ultimately flowed into the Northern Di. What else do you have to say?"
"That's absolutely not true!" Zhao Kai raised his head and retorted, "In the spring of the third year of Tianyou, military equipment and food supplies did pass through Yunzhou, but that was allocated to the border patrol mission in accordance with the Ministry of War's order! There is a document from the Ministry of War to prove it!" He was well prepared and tried to cover up the smuggling in the name of official business.
"A document?" Dali Temple Minister Zhou Zheng sneered and pulled a copy of the official document from the case file. "You're talking about this transfer document stamped with the seal of the late Minister of War, Wang Huan?" His eyes were as sharp as a hawk. "After investigation, it was found that Wang Huan had suffered a stroke in the winter of the second year of Tianyou, and was bedridden. He could neither speak nor write! This document is a forgery!"
Zhao Kai's face suddenly changed, but he forced himself to remain calm. "Even if the document is forged, it was forged by someone else. What does this have to do with me? I am only following orders!"
"According to orders?" Chief Censor Li Wenyuan interjected, his tone slow but pressing. "Then why was it the Ruichanglong Caravan, not the Border Patrol, that received this batch of military equipment and fodder? And why, three months later, did the caravan leader use the proceeds from selling these supplies to purchase large quantities of purple trembling wood and fine horses, both strictly prohibited by Daliang, in Northern Di territory? This is all supported by records from the Northern Di border markets and reports from our spies! How do you explain this?"
As evidence was presented one after another, linking one to another, veins popped up on Zhao Kai's forehead, sweat streamed down his face, and his rebuttal voice grew fainter.
Elsewhere, the interrogation of Liu Mingde was more direct. Imperial City Supervisor Cao Jin, a close aide to the emperor known for his brutality, said little, simply laying out before him stacks of original account books and secret letters seized from the Ruichanglong headquarters and the secret chamber of Liu Mingde's study. These clearly documented several "large-scale transactions" with the Beidi tribe. The dates, quantities, categories, and even the code names of some of the individuals involved perfectly matched Han Mingyuan's memorial and the records seized from the Beidi.
"My Lord," Cao Jin's voice was cold and venomous, "were these also framed by others? Your steward and your 'friends in the underworld' have all confessed. You instructed them to collude with the Northern Di people, reselling military supplies for a huge profit. Seventy percent of the proceeds went to you, and thirty percent was used to bribe people... This included bribing General Zhao Kai and... certain important figures in the palace."
The last sentence hit Liu Mingde like a hammer, hammering down on his heart. His flabby body trembled violently, and he finally collapsed, wailing on the ground. "I confess! I confess everything! It was... it was Zhao Kai who pulled the strings! He said the Northern Di people were offering exorbitant prices, far exceeding the profits from the court's purchases... The palace... the palace's share was... was for Noble Consort Lin of Yonghe Palace... He said it was the Duke's idea, asking Noble Consort Lin to speak well of him to His Majesty..."
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole room fell silent!
Although speculation had already begun, the words "Noble Consort Lin of Yonghe Palace" and "Duke Cheng'en" clearly uttered by Liu Mingde still had a profound impact. This meant that the nature of the case had escalated again, from corruption among border generals and collusion between imperial merchants to directly involving the favored concubine in the harem and the current emperor's father-in-law!
A gleam flashed in Cao Jin's eyes, and he quickly wrote down the confession. The three chief officers exchanged glances, each with a different expression. Zheng Qian's face was livid, Zhou Zheng's eyes were complex, and Li Wenyuan's expression was filled with heartache.
The news spread quickly throughout the court and the country, and naturally also reached Yonghe Palace.
Lin Wanru was putting on her makeup in front of the mirror when she heard the news. The gold and jade hairpin with a butterfly-shaped pattern inlaid with flowers in her hand fell to the ground with a "snap" and broke into two pieces. Her face turned pale, and the beautiful face in the mirror instantly lost its color.
"Waste! Idiot!" She slammed the rouge and powder on the dressing table to the floor, her chest heaving violently. Her father was so careless! He'd let an idiot like Liu Mingde get a hold of her! And Zhao Kai, he was more of a nuisance than a help!
"Your Majesty, what should we do now?" The trusted palace maid fell to her knees, trembling with fear.
Lin Wanru forced herself to calm down, her nails digging deep into her palms, leaving a few bloody marks. She couldn't panic, absolutely couldn't panic! Her father had only been implicated, and His Majesty, out of consideration for their old friendship, might not investigate further. As long as... as long as Liu Mingde and Zhao Kai kept their mouths shut...
A crazy idea started growing in her mind. The Imperial Prison… With Cao Jin, the King of Hell, in the Imperial City, it would be difficult for outsiders to interfere, but… what if someone was inside?
A hint of ruthlessness flashed in her eyes, and she whispered to the palace maid, "Find a way to pass the message to our people in the imperial prison... At all costs, make sure that Liu Mingde... never speaks again!" Zhao Kai is a military general and may be able to hold on for a while, but a spineless person like Liu Mingde will definitely be a disaster if he is kept alive!
However, what Lin Wanru didn't know was that, from the moment Liu Mingde revealed his identity, Cao Jin had already ordered Liu Mingde and Zhao Kai to be held separately. He also assigned trusted guards, and his food and medicine were strictly inspected, eliminating any possibility of information leaking inside or outside the palace. The Imperial City Administration, this hell, was now truly unshakable.
The ironclad evidence was as solid as frost, freezing any hope and revealing the wickedness of human nature. The confession, pointing to the inner sanctum of the palace, was like pouring a bucket of ice water into a boiling pot of oil, triggering a devastating explosion. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the highest point of the nine-story palace, awaiting the emperor's final verdict.
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