Chapter 193: Unmasking the Traitors and Punishing Them...
"You..." Ning Sheng's throat felt like it was being choked by an invisible hand, his voice terribly dry, "You knew all along?"
In a flash, he understood everything. No wonder the high-ranking official in charge had run into trouble, yet Yinzhou Prefecture remained orderly. From beginning to end, it was clearly a trap set by the other side.
"This was all... a setup by you?" He took several steps back, staring at the woman in front of him with horror.
"I am grateful for your help these past few days, young master." Zhang Ting, having gained an advantage, feigned innocence, took two cups and poured tea, putting on the airs of a humble gentleman.
He practically ground his teeth to powder. "You deliberately made me send back false information! You bastard!"
Zhang Ting shook his head and sighed: "Why do you have to say it so harshly, young master? If someone wants to harm me, am I just supposed to stand by and watch them persecute me?" Young people these days are so impatient.
He pushed one of the cups of tea toward the other person, saying, "Young master has said so much, why don't you have some to soothe your throat? This tea is a new Longjing tea from Huzhou Prefecture this year, with a lingering and sweet flavor."
What time is it now? They are clearly facing off, they are obviously enemies, how can Zhang Ting say such a thing so calmly!
The calmer and more indifferent she was, the more horrified Ning Sheng became, and his mind was on the verge of collapse from the torment.
He felt as if he had bumped into a ball of soft cotton; his attack failed, and he ended up getting trapped instead.
Completely unable to fathom the other's thoughts, he cautiously took a half-step back, his nerves on edge. "Since you already know, what does this mean? Are you flaunting your victorious stance?"
Zhang Ting was amused by him, "Show off? What's there to show off to you?" Her gaze even carried a hint of pity.
Ning Sheng was both angry and annoyed, feeling as if he had a fishbone stuck in his throat, but he was indeed just a lowly spy.
"I want to save your life." She blew on the tea, took a small sip, clicked her tongue, and almost burned her tongue.
Ning Sheng scoffed, almost laughing his head off: "Save me? You've offended Prime Minister Gao, and instead of considering whether you can save your own life, you have the audacity to say you'll save me?"
"Leaving aside other matters," Zhang Ting said calmly, "after spreading so much false information back, how do you think you could possibly survive?"
The other person scoffed, gritting their teeth as they stared at her.
"I'll inform Lord Gao and explain..." He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence, a gloomy look settling over his face.
They clearly knew that this reason was too weak and untenable.
Moreover, is Gao Qiu the kind of person who understands the greater good? On the contrary, she is extremely calculating.
At this moment, Zhang Ting dropped another bombshell: "Yesterday, Prime Minister Gao impeached me on the grounds of lax defense and the resulting harm to the common people. All of Prime Minister Gao's right-hand men are in agreement with her."
She curled her lips into an innocent smile, "If Lord Gao knew that you had given her false information, causing her to lose face in court, how would she treat you?"
Ning Sheng's face turned a deathly pale, and he wanted to open his mouth to refute, but he couldn't say anything.
Given Gao Xiang's methods of torturing people, he probably won't even have a complete corpse...
Seeing that the fish had taken the bait, she continued, "So, I'm here to save you."
Ning Sheng didn't believe her words; he felt that his current predicament was entirely her fault, but now he had no choice.
With a hint of disbelief: "How will you save me?"
Zhang Ting pointed to the seat opposite her, "Please."
Ning Sheng sat down cautiously, a bowl of tea sitting in front of him, steaming hot. His tense heart immediately calmed down, and he awkwardly held the bowl in his hands.
“Since things have come to this point, there’s no turning back. Why don’t you turn the tables and join my ranks, young master?” She extended an olive branch. “What Gao Qiu can give you, I can not only give you, but also save your life. Besides, I have a good reputation and will not let you do anything underhanded.”
She looked at him with a playful and teasing expression. "So, young master, would you rather be her bloodstained, broken scimitar, or my clean, flawless blade?"
Zhang Ting gave him the choice, but it was clear that he only had one option.
After a long silence, he finally licked his lips and asked, "What benefits can you promise me?"
Zhang Ting smiled, her eyes narrowing.
...
In Kyoto, Gao Qiu held a grand banquet to celebrate his youngest son's tenth birthday, and the entire mansion was filled with laughter and joy.
But everyone who attended the banquet knew in their hearts that today was a farewell party held in advance for Zhang Ting.
Celebrating her becoming a cripple, destined to live a miserable life like a dog, hahaha.
"We can't even begin to comprehend Lord Gao's strategies. We admire him! We admire him!" Flatterers and sycophants constantly clamored for a good impression on their superiors.
Even on the day Gao Qiu passed the imperial examination with flying colors, she was not as happy as she was today. She was immersed in the excitement of crushing her political enemies and toasted everyone one by one, her face wrinkled from smiling so much.
But she drank little today because she had something more important to do tomorrow—to write a joint petition to completely ruin Zhang Ting's reputation and nail her to the pillar of shame.
Chen Liu originally didn't want to lower himself to celebrate the child's birthday, but he was very happy that Zhang Ting had fallen from grace, so he decided to make an exception.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but smile sinisterly. The matter wasn't over yet; she spent the night devising countless tortures to inflict on her, ensuring she would weep and beg for mercy on her knees.
The following day, as winter dawned, the sun shone brightly on the earth—a beautiful day, and a good omen.
Gao Qiu and his entourage strode into the Golden Palace with their heads held high and chests puffed out, their very hair radiating schadenfreude.
They held their breath, waiting for the palace servants to call out, "If you have something to report, speak up; otherwise, the court is adjourned!"
Zhao Xi took the lead, bowing deeply. "Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present. Zhang Ting, the prefect of Zhangzhou, failed in his duties, allowing a plague to spread throughout the city, resulting in countless deaths and injuries. This is his first crime—dereliction of duty; second, his indiscriminate killing of officials, intimidation of the people, and tyrannical and capricious behavior. Never before in history, in China or abroad, has such a villain been heard of. I implore Your Majesty to punish him severely to ensure the stability of the nation and the well-being of the people!"
Afterwards, officials from the Ministry of Personnel also came forward to impeach Zhang Ting, and many censors were not to be outdone. For a time, the entire court was focused on impeaching Zhang Ting.
With so many people present, the Qingliu faction had no chance to interject, or they would be pulled back by those around them.
All the neutral officials kept their heads down and remained silent.
Overjoyed, Gao Qiu stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the crimes committed by this subject Zhang Ting are appalling. I am heartbroken and restless with fear and anxiety. I implore Your Majesty to severely punish this official!"
After he finished speaking, the hall became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Just then, a mocking voice rang out: "Lord Gao, you're all too impatient."
"Who dares to be so bold!"
Who's so clueless?! Gao Qiu felt a surge of anger and turned his head to look.
The woman was tall and slender, dressed in a blue official robe. She came with her back to the light, and her walk exuded an air of commanding authority, instantly captivating everyone's attention.
Everyone stared blankly as she stood still, bowed deeply, and said, "Your humble servant Zhang Ting has come to report on his duties. Long live the Emperor!"
Zhang Ting! Isn't she dying of illness?
Gao Qiu's face was grim as he stared intently at her. Suddenly, he stepped forward and shouted, "You audacious criminal! You are afflicted with the plague, yet you dare to come before His Majesty? Do you intend to assassinate the emperor? Her crimes are heinous and she shows no remorse. Guards, throw her into prison at once!"
Zhang Ting replied, "This humble official is in good health and has not contracted the plague. Lord Gao, you must have mistaken me for someone else." His face was slightly pale, and his eyes darted around, as if he had something to hide.
Gao Qiu was certain that Zhang Ting knew she was going to convict her today. Although she didn't know who had leaked the information, she was not afraid.
He strode forward, his words sharp: "There's a plague raging in Zhangzhou Prefecture right now, and I've heard you're seriously ill in Yinzhou Prefecture, vomiting blood and covered in rashes, with even the doctors saying there's nothing they can do. Ha! Zhang Ting, do you dare say you haven't contracted the plague?"
Zhang Ting feigned ignorance, "Zhangzhou Prefecture has never experienced an outbreak of plague, so why do you say that, Lord Gao?" He continued, "A few days ago, I touched a nettle branch and was misdiagnosed by the doctor, but I only reported it to His Majesty as a joke. How did you know that, Lord Gao? And how could you know such details?"
The implication is that Lord Gao even knows about the letters his subjects send to His Majesty? That's a bit too much of a stretch.
The civil and military officials were trembling with fear and filled with remorse. Had they known things would turn out this way, they would have pleaded illness and stayed home.
Gao Qiu's face was ashen, and he exuded a menacing aura.
Enraged, he blurted out, "You little brat!"
Zhang Ting casually reminded her, "Before His Majesty, Lord Gao, please do not behave improperly in front of the Emperor."
"You!" Gao Qiu, a high-ranking official, had never been treated so maliciously before. He wished he could strangle this person to death and then cut him into a thousand pieces to vent his hatred.
Being targeted by a venomous and cold-blooded snake, Zhang Ting showed no panic whatsoever. Instead, he pressed on relentlessly, "Lord Gao, you have not yet answered my question. How did you learn of my conversation with His Majesty?"
At this moment, Emperor Chengtai narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze turning cold as he looked at Gao Qiu, waiting for her answer.
Could Gao Qiu really say that she planted spies in Yinzhou Prefecture and even infiltrated the residence of a high-ranking official with the intention of murdering him? But no matter how she answered or what excuse she made up, it wouldn't make sense.
The problem raised by Zhang Ting is an unsolvable dilemma.
Under Cheng Taidi's gaze, she was anxious and flustered, her words incoherent, trying to steer clear of the topic.
“If Lord Gao doesn’t want to say it, then let me speak for you,” Zhang Ting said with a slight smile and a wave of his hand.
The next moment, four people entered. One was a handsome man, another was holding a letter, and the other two were tied up and thrown onto the Golden Palace.
How could you do that!
Gao Qiu's pupils dilated in shock, he was speechless, a chill ran down his spine, and his mouth trembled, his breath almost turning into mist.
Of these four people, three were instructed by her to murder Zhang Ting, and they were all caught!
Faced with irrefutable evidence, Gao Qiu panicked like a headless fly, saying, "I don't know them, Lord Zhang, please don't frame me."
"Master Gao said you don't know them, but they all know you." Zhang Ting clicked her tongue lightly, as if lamenting Gao Qiu's poor memory.
Turning to the four men, she said, "Doesn't Lady Gao recognize you? Why don't you remind her?"
Ning Sheng knelt on the ground and confessed the truth: "I was instructed by Lord Gao to poison Lord Zhang in order to seize Yinzhou Prefecture. I have a letter to prove it."
The bound woman in black was drenched in cold sweat, but she remained defiant, shaking her head and saying nothing.
Prefect He, standing beside her, yielded, weeping bitterly, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this old minister was confused for a moment, following Lord Gao's advice to poison the people's porridge. Your Majesty, this old minister was foolish! Please, in consideration of my years of devoted service, show leniency..."
"Shut up!" Gao Qiu shouted, but her words were so weak. "You...you're talking nonsense!" However, her shouts were less for others to hear and more a last futile attempt to hold on to her own mental breakdown.
Zhang Ting shattered the status quo she was desperately trying to maintain, and ruthlessly attacked the fallen dog, saying, "With witnesses and physical evidence, if Lord Gao continues to be so stubborn, does he intend to deceive the emperor?"
Even at this moment, she remained utterly calm, without making a fuss or scoffing, simply watching her enemy fall step by step into the abyss, never to recover.
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