Ministry of Justice.

"Old Minister, old Minister, great joy!" Zhang Wei, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, walked quickly into the Shangshu's official residence, but did not find anyone in the room with the door wide open.

"My father is behind us." A young man's voice sounded from behind the house. It should be Hai Zhongping.

Zhang Wei went around to the back of the house and saw Hai Rui and his son, wearing only jackets and shorts, barefoot, wielding hoes to open up wasteland.

"Uh, are you going to plant flowers, old minister?" Zhang Wei didn't react for a moment.

"Why plant flowers? Can they be eaten? Green vegetables are too expensive this spring. It's a pity to leave this vacant land idle. Let's plant some vegetables." Hai Rui threw the hoe to his son, walked to a pile of bricks at the foot of the house, sat down, and slapped his feet against the dirt. "What's the matter?"

"Oh, I almost forgot something." Zhang Wei slapped his head, bowed and smiled, "Congratulations, old minister. Just now someone from the palace came and said that you should make a speech on the platform tomorrow! This is the first time the emperor has met with the ministers after the New Year! It is a treatment that the previous ministers have not received!"

"This is not worth boasting about." Hai Rui said calmly, "Besides, didn't you resign and go home? Why are you still in the government office?"

"Haha, there was an important case, so I came back to work overtime." Zhang Wei smiled awkwardly, "I was just about to ask the old minister for instructions."

"Go ahead." Hai Rui nodded, not dwelling on the fact that he had not yet received the seal.

"Last month, Gao Wuben, the son of Gao Wenxiang, filed a complaint with the Southern Criminal Department, alleging that Changzhou bookseller Zhao Bojian had obtained his father's manuscript by fraud, and then distorted Gao Wenxiang's original text, fabricated many false charges, and published a fake book to ruin his father's reputation. After the Southern Criminal Department received the case, it arrested and summoned the defendant, tried the case, and concluded a pledge. Because the matter was of great importance, they did not dare to make a judgment on their own. Therefore, the files and the criminal were sent to Beijing together."

Zhang Wei said slowly, "I have reviewed the report and I think it is necessary to ask the Ministry for instructions."

Hai Rui wiped off the mud, put on his clogs, stood up and asked, "What did the Southern Ministry of Justice find out?"

"When Zhao Bojian was arrested, he initially denied everything. However, the interrogator from the Southern Criminal Department found boxes of Gao Xinzheng's manuscripts from his home and bookshop, but he couldn't find the original manuscript of the book." Zhang Wei said in a deep voice:

"But I found several drafts written by Zhao Bojian, which were repeatedly revised. There are also letters between him and his friends, which mentioned that he got Gao Xinzheng's manuscript and planned to publish it to make a fortune during the anti-Zhang trend. Unfortunately, the content was too conservative and even praised Zhang Jiangling. Publishing it in this way would be risky and would not sell well. So he decided to write a hot-tempered "Last Words on the Sickbed" based on Gao Gong's manuscript to entertain readers."

"Last Words on the Sickbed?" Hai Rui's gray beard trembled slightly. He looked at Zhang Wei with interest. After a while, he asked, "And then?"

"Now the evidence is irrefutable. To avoid physical pain, Zhao Bojian can only confess and admit that he forged Gao Wenxiang's will in order to make huge profits." Zhang Wei felt scared, but he had to pretend nothing had happened.

"I have already interrogated Zhao Bojian and he has also made a confession. After comparing the previous and the latter, there is no discrepancy. The case can indeed be closed."

"Oh." Hai Rui teased, "When did the Southern Criminal Department act so quickly? They received the report last month, and this month they have completed the trial and sent the criminal to Beijing?"

"The person was interrogated directly in Suzhou at the governor's headquarters. It would be faster to escort him to Beijing by sea." Zhang Wei said embarrassedly, "It's mainly because the fake book involves the transfer of power between Longqing and Wanli, as well as the subsequent case of Minister Wang, which involves Zhang, Feng and the palace. The fabricated details are so vivid that it's as if they were witnessed in person, which has caused a very bad influence."

"Yes, that makes sense." Hai Rui nodded and asked quietly, "Then do you want to ask me how to judge this case?"

"Yes. Do you want to ask the emperor for instructions?" Zhang Wei said in a low voice.

"You are mainly worried that the Imperial Household Department will overwhelm the memorials from the Ministry, so you want me to report to the Emperor in person tomorrow, right?" Hai Rui said with a teasing smile, "Hong Yang, you are really worried about your noble classmate."

"Haha, nothing can be hidden from the old minister." Zhang Wei could only say embarrassedly: "It's not just for the prime minister, but now there is a severe drought in the north, and the risk of crop failure is getting bigger and bigger. The court is paralyzed and the government orders are not working. Everything is caused by the "Last Words on the Sickbed" fabricated in the name of Gao Xinzheng..."

"You still remember the drought. That's remarkable." Hai Rui half praised and half mocked, "Bring all the files here."

"Hey, I'll get it right away." Zhang Wei hurried outside and asked his officials to bring in the files.

Watching his hurriedly departing figure, Hai Rui whispered, "I never expected that he was really the Yang of Yangchun Baixue."

However, he agreed to help not for Zhao Hao's sake, but because he wanted to resolve the current deadlock.

In fact, a while ago, Hai Rui was about to go to Dengwen Drum Court to play the drums, but Wang Xijue blew himself up first. Once the chef exploded, the situation was actually open, so there was no need for him to make a decisive move.

All we need to do is give the emperor a way out...

~~

The next day, Emperor Wanli summoned Hai Rui to the platform.

The so-called platform refers to the two small gates on the left and right of Jianji Hall that separate the outer court from the inner palace, named Houzuo Gate and Houyou Gate respectively. Because it is on the three-story base of Jianji Hall but under the Yuntai of Jianji Hall, it is called a platform.

According to the custom of the imperial court, when the emperor was not in court, if he needed to summon cabinet ministers or other officials, he would do so through the rear left gate.

This is the famous "Platform Summons". After Yongle and before Jiajing, all the emperors summoned their prime ministers here to discuss state affairs.

The Chenghua Emperor was quite special. Because Emperor Xianzong had the same language barrier as Gao Wu, he often suddenly thought of something and called the cabinet ministers to the platform to discuss. But after everyone came, he remained silent for a long time and could not say a word, so he had to ask the cabinet ministers to go back, which was very embarrassing. Therefore, when there was something, they usually communicated in writing and rarely met on the platform.

During the Jiajing period, Emperor Shizong moved to the Western Garden to cultivate his immortality, and naturally stopped summoning ministers. Emperor Muzong was too lazy to go out of the palace, so he asked ministers to go to the Qianqing Palace to discuss matters. In fact, this was against the rules, but Emperor Longqing did not see any foreign ministers except Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng, his teachers...

When Emperor Wanli came to power, Zhang Juzheng re-established the rule of summoning the emperor to an audience. And with his majesty, as long as he asked for an audience, no matter whether it was morning or night, cold or hot, the little emperor had to put down everything, dress neatly, and come out to see his teacher Zhang.

This left rear door left a very painful memory for Emperor Wanli. He felt that this low palace gate and every floor tile were full of Zhang Juzheng's aura, so as soon as Zhang Juzheng died, Wanli immediately stopped summoning people to meet with him and stayed at home. Even Prime Minister Zhao could not see the emperor on weekdays and could only communicate through emails.

Therefore, Hai Rui's platform meeting this time really made all the officials jealous and made the Prime Minister cry...

In fact, Wanli didn't want to see Hai Rui. To be honest, he was quite afraid of this old man. He was a living door god. He even dared to scold his grandfather whom he admired the most. Wouldn't it be like scolding his grandson? He didn't even dare to talk back...

Hai Rui is like a burning fire, which can warm the world, but you can't get too close to him, otherwise he will burn away all your disguises, revealing your inner unbearableness and darkness.

Unless you are real gold, you are not afraid of fire.

Wanli was very self-aware. What kind of real gold was he? He was just a piece of pork belly. If Hai Rui was right in front of him, wouldn't he be roasted until it sizzled?

As for the door gods, of course they should be placed on the door with their faces facing outwards to ward off evil spirits, but they should not be invited into the house to scare you.

To put it bluntly, Hai Rui was just a cover for him to prove the legitimacy of his overthrow of Zhang. Wanli did not really intend to use him to govern the country, and he did not want him to be the Wei Zheng of the Ming Dynasty.

Wanli felt that all his enthusiasm and energy had been used up by Zhang Juzheng. Now he just wanted to stay in the harem and live a life of debauchery...

So at first, Wanli wanted to arrange for Hai Rui to go to Nanjing, but the old man was very stubborn and refused to do it. Wanli thought, since he didn't plan to see anyone anyway, he would just stay at home. So what difference did it make whether Hai Rui was in Nanjing or Beijing?

Actually, there is a difference. For example, when Hai Rui beat the Dengwen drum in Nanjing, he could not hear it. The problem is that Wanli did not know that there was such a thing as Dengwen drum outside the Forbidden City...

So he was "confused" for a while and let Hai Rui be the Minister of Justice. Little did he know that this was the most wise decision in his imperial career...

Originally, Wanli had no plan to summon Hai Rui. He thought that after this period was over, he would issue an imperial edict to tell him that he did not need to see the emperor and could take office directly, just like he did to the other ministers.

He didn't expect that the old Xi'er he wanted to win over would become a coward. The Paw Patrol he relied on turned out to be a bunch of weaklings, who were beaten to a pulp by the cabinet ministers in just a few rounds and were completely defeated.

This made Wanli extremely distressed. Was he going to bow to the civil officials like this? He said, "Okay, okay, I'll listen to you and won't overthrow Zhang."

If that happens, Grandpa's coffin won't be able to hold it down...

Anyway, the situation couldn't get any worse, so Wanli had no choice but to open the door and release Hai Rui.

Even if I die, I can't be hit by a Xiali. I have to find a Bentley!

Even if I have to bow my head, I cannot bow to scum like you. I have to find someone worthy to accept my surrender...

Looking across the Ming Dynasty, only the Ming Dynasty sword that once stabbed his grandfather and escaped unscathed is qualified.

Under the left rear door, Wanli sat on the dragon throne with a tragic mood, looking at the living door god, and walked up the levels of the platform with his head held high.

"It's OK to let him curse a few times. Grandfather has let him curse before." Wanli muttered subconsciously: "Just bear with it, just treat it as listening to the door god singing..."

Zhang Hong, who was standing behind him, was secretly shocked and wondered who was summoning whom?

Soon, Hai Rui came to the platform and kowtowed to the emperor.

After the ceremony, Wanli quickly asked Zhang Hong to help the old man up and gave him a seat.

He also asked Hai Rui in a friendly manner about his old age, his health, and when he came to Beijing.

Hai Rui answered all the questions one by one, saying that he had been here for more than two months...

Wanli explained that he had not been in good health since the beginning of spring and had not been to court. He was sorry for delaying the summons to see Hai Gong. He had just recovered and was going to see the world-famous Hai Qingtian.

After patiently listening to the emperor's greetings, Hai Rui went straight to the point and said that he was here to see the emperor today and had brought a case to report to His Majesty.

Wanli's heart skipped a beat, thinking that something big was about to happen.

ps. It’s gone tonight.