Chapter 94 Chapter 94 “Whatever I say is what it is?
After the situation in the capital and Taiji Palace stabilized, the first people to gather in Liangyi Hall were officials from the Three Departments.
Under the astonished and shocked gazes of the ministers, Zhou Jingzhi and Shangguan Xu walked hand in hand from outside the palace gate.
Some senior officials who had served in the capital for many years turned their heads back and forth and exchanged glances with other people in the hall.
"My Lady."
After reaching the top position, the two turned around and the officials in the hall bowed in unison.
During the silence, many officials would occasionally flick their fingers while saluting.
Because they were really embarrassed and at a loss.
They had indeed heard of the identities of the two people who came in, but the rules for many things had not yet been decided, so they really didn't know how to address them. Even for Shangguan Xu, they didn't know whether to call her the Queen Mother or the Empress, so they just called her "Empress" for now.
The people standing in the front row were considered veterans of the Three Departments. They had served in the capital during the Xining reign, and they had seen the Emperor Xining before. And the one currently standing with the Empress of Lizheng Palace...
They raised their eyes and quietly looked at the person at the top several times.
The temperament is indeed somewhat similar, but the appearance...
Zhou Jingzhi caught all their little movements and thoughts from the corner of his eye, and couldn't help but lower his eyes and smiled softly.
Shangguan Xu turned to look at him.
But as soon as his eyes met hers, he looked innocent again.
Shangguan Xu's brows twitched, and then he shifted his gaze, looking calm and composed.
She seemed to have gotten used to his little posturing tricks.
She turned to the crowd and said, "I have asked you all to come here because I have an important matter for you to attend to immediately. Regarding the shipwreck case of four years ago, in the seventh year of the Xining reign, all other cases implicated by this incident must be reexamined. Those who have been wronged must be redressed, their innocence restored, and their reputations rehabilitated."
Zhou Jingzhi said solemnly, "All witnesses and evidence have been escorted to the Sansi Yamen. I ask you gentlemen to clarify the case and restore the truth of what happened back then."
After that, Shangguan Xu took over again, saying in a gentle voice, "Of course, the purpose of retrialing this case is to restore the truth, give an explanation to the wronged, and punish the real culprit who escaped. However, this matter is aimed at the person who has committed evil. As for others who may be implicated, due to the current situation and perspective, they may have more or less no choice. Therefore, during the investigation, if you encounter such people involved, as long as they have not committed any evil, you should not blame them harshly."
Although the words were directed at those who did evil, many officials present felt relieved after hearing them.
Shangguan Xu and Zhou Jingzhi looked at each other tacitly upon seeing this, and the corners of their lips raised at the same time.
After hearing the arrangements, the officials of the three divisions bowed and left. People in the hall walked out one after another, but the first few people in the line looked at each other and did not move.
"Are there any other matters, sir?"
The few who stayed behind were all veteran officials who had served in three dynasties. Seeing their hesitation, Zhou Jingzhi looked at them with a smile.
A few people began to stammer and hesitate to speak.
Their eyelids raised and lowered, their gazes repeatedly moving back and forth on the face of the young man who looked familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar.
Zhou Jingzhi smiled faintly, stepped forward, and lowered his voice to speak meaningfully, "In the 21st year of Emperor Zhuang's reign, you were invited here to review the imperial examination papers with His Majesty the Emperor. Among them, there was a piece of writing that was novel and eye-catching. You immediately sent someone to find the author's information. However, after searching the Ministry of Rites's register, you couldn't find the author's name at the beginning of the scroll. Then, after carefully checking the end of the scroll, you deciphered the characters and found the word 'scenery'."
After he finished speaking, the two leaders could no longer hide their astonished expressions.
"His Majesty……!"
He raised his hands above his head and was about to kneel down. The other officials behind him also followed suit.
Zhou Jingzhi quickly supported the two of them, and called out to the people who were following behind him, telling them not to be polite. What he said was just to help them resolve their doubts. Now that they had the answer, they wouldn't be stuck in such a dilemma.
However, the two leading ministers burst into tears for a while, especially one of them, who was the one who presided over the trial of Zhou Jingzhi in the Liu Chang case.
After a while of comfort, he finally calmed down. Zhou Jingzhi watched them leave. While watching, he could hear the warm voice again.
Shangguan Xu: "What did you just tell them? How come they were so convinced of your identity the moment they heard it? And I didn't even know that."
Zhou Jingzhi looked away and smiled at her, "Do you remember how I used to collect copies of the examination papers of newly minted Jinshi candidates?"
Shangguan Xumu recalled: "Well, I remember you said that you wanted to use those articles to better understand some of the obscure parts of the book."
Zhou Jingzhi nodded briskly. "Yes, but just reading without writing would also make me feel inadequate. So I secretly added my own to the examination paper sent to Liangyi Hall that year. I didn't tell anyone before, wanting them to think that the paper was just written by a scholar. But I was young at the time, and I had some thoughts that I couldn't hide, so I added the riddle at the end of the paper."
Shangguan Xu recalled the two words he had emphasized earlier: "Scenery?"
Zhou Jingzhi nodded lightly, "Yes, I couldn't just write my name in and out directly, so I changed it to a word with a similar pronunciation, and then used the content before and after the article to help hint at it, so that it would be my name that was actually written on the test paper."
Shangguan Xu couldn't help but laugh when he heard this: "So you showed some signs of being a bit cunning even back then."
He raised an eyebrow and defended himself, "It's nothing, right? I just slipped a paper in, so it shouldn't be a big deal." He smiled sheepishly, "Although my father did issue an order not to let this matter get out, I think he definitely wanted to keep the imperial examination intact, not because he thought I was being naughty and causing him to lose face."
Shangguan Xu hissed, feeling he couldn't find any grounds for rebuttal: "Forget it, whatever you say is what it is."
"Whatever I say is what it is?" Zhou Jingzhi repeated meaningfully.
Shangguan Xu immediately realized what he was referring to, and opened his lips, as if he was laughing at his helplessness.
However, she nodded in affirmation and responded with his words: "Yes, whatever you say is what it is, but it's you who says it, not me!"
She would not be coaxed or seduced into calling him Brother Jing again.
Zhou Jingzhi felt wronged.
He sighed.
Shangguan Xu turned to look at him and saw that his brows were slightly raised and his lips were tightly pursed. He really looked like he was being bullied.
And after she looked at him, he kept that expression for a while, then under her gaze, he raised his eyebrows little by little and smiled.
Shangguan Xu couldn't help it either.
He calmed down and said, "Anyway, I'll remember what you said. It will come in handy in the future."
After saying this, he took another deep breath and said seriously, "The most important thing right now is to stabilize the situation and thoroughly investigate the cases of those who were implicated because of me, and overturn their innocence."
Shangguan Xu: "Just before entering the palace, the last sentence you asked me to add was to tell them that you would not clear them out just because they had shown goodwill to Su Wang or obeyed his orders. This way, they can feel at ease, and the situation will stabilize faster."
Zhou Jingzhi nodded. "If they committed no evil while in office, then they are innocent, and should not be punished. Furthermore, forming a faction to attack dissidents will only undermine the foundation of the state and the vitality of the nation."
"And just as you said, their previous choices were forced by the situation, and also because of perspective. Under Su Wang's disguise, others simply couldn't see what kind of person they chose, so many things can't be blamed on them."
As he spoke, he slowly raised his eyes to look at her, and then his eyes suddenly flashed, and he asked, "By the way, where is your brother? Why haven't I seen him until now? Hasn't he been taken into the palace?"
"He was still stabilizing Taiji Palace with the Imperial Guards the past two hours." Shangguan Xu frowned suddenly. "Yes, as for him, I haven't seen him for two hours either."
——
On a mountain outside the capital, Su Wang and Su Shang found a place where they could rest for a while. Protected by their personal guards, they sat down to recuperate.
"Defeated again."
Su Wang closed his eyes and listened to the news brought out from the palace.
He had originally sent those Jinwu Guards to secretly bring the little emperor out, but he ended up hearing the news that they had all been killed.
But Su Shang said as if nothing had happened: "If we catch a fake emperor, there will be hope."
Su Wang glanced at him and said: "It doesn't matter whether he is true or false, as long as we insist that he is real, there will be a day when we can make a comeback."
Su Shang sighed softly, "Where should I start? From Jiangnan? But your foundation in Jiangnan isn't stable anymore. Besides, his 800-li express is much faster than other messengers. By the time you get there, the situation there might have changed."
Su Wang then asked, "What do you think?"
Su Shang said indifferently, "You boasted about your achievements before the world, but now you have to bear the backlash. And the people you faced before were all the subjects of Dajin, so you can no longer stay on the land of Dajin."
Su Wang frowned: "So where do you think is better to go?"
"It's close, Xiyan." Su Shang said, "I left some forces there during my previous mission to Xiyan. The new king of Xiyan is not a peaceful ruler. He will definitely protect us when we go there."
"No!" Su Wang said bluntly, "If I go to Xiyan, I will be sentenced to death. All my reputation will be ruined, and I will only be cursed in the future."
Su Shang: "But do you think they have no evidence?"
The cold words were like a bucket of cold water. Su Wang was silent for a moment, but still said: "No, I won't go."
"Reputation is that important?"
"It's important. When it comes to the final battle, I can't bear the charge of treason again."
Su Shang stopped talking. He turned his head and looked into the distance ahead. He saw dust flying on the road and someone riding a horse towards him.
He said coldly: "Look, they are here to arrest you."
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