“Zhaoting doesn’t dare,” Li Zhaoting immediately replied.
Lian Yu’s gaze swept around, and he said slowly, “Since this is the ministers’ opinion, I naturally should consider it. Thus… this case of true versus false achievements shall be jointly supervised by both vice ministers.”
“Yes.”
Li Zhaoting and Gao Chaoyi stepped forward separately to respond.
“You shall immediately proceed to Minshan Prefecture to thoroughly investigate everything, and must restore justice for Minister Huang and even more so for the people of Minshan.”
“Your ministers obey the command!”
“Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live!”
All ministers knelt in worship. Suzhen also knelt with the crowd, secretly glancing at Quan Feitong at the head of the ranks. Throughout the entire session, he hadn’t said much, let alone defended Li Zhaoting. He kept a smile on his lips, maintaining his usual graceful demeanor. This Prime Minister understood better than anyone that the more one argued, the more conflicts would intensify, and he had great confidence in Li Zhaoting.
Another fierce contest was beginning, and this time it involved Li Zhaoting. Suzhen hoped he could win, but couldn’t help wondering: was this Huang Tianba actually a good official or a cruel magistrate? If by chance he was the latter…
Feng Meiren had once said that although the previous emperor’s father, Emperor Taizong, had his own governing methods, because he was a virtuous and righteous person, he left many hidden troubles in officialdom, such as local false reporting of achievements and concealing situations. The previous Emperor Dejing was exactly the opposite—too harsh and brutal. The literary case that created her false identity for the Xia family came from this… In short, there were many complications among officials.
She had clearly told herself not to meddle, yet couldn’t help overthinking… Just as she was sighing and frowning, she heard Yan Da step forward to report, “Your Majesty, during the construction of the new imperial mausoleum and heaven-worshipping tower in Chuhe Prefecture, there’s a funding shortage. The Ministry of Works requests the court to allocate 500,000 taels.”
On the dragon throne, Lian Yu’s brows suddenly furrowed, then he looked indifferently at Minister of Works Cai Beitang, “Minister Cai, I remember the court previously allocated a large sum for the new mausoleum and heaven-worshipping tower project. How is more funding needed so soon?”
Cai Beitang’s eyes shifted, and he quickly replied respectfully, “Your Majesty, the mausoleum is being built for the Empress Dowager’s future use. The various construction supervisors below naturally don’t dare be careless in the slightest—stone materials, timber, craftsmen… every process uses the best materials and the best personnel. Precisely because of the Empress Dowager’s previous words about not being too extravagant and wasteful, all cost calculations were made as tight as possible. Now that actual implementation has begun, it’s insufficient! But we absolutely cannot reduce expenses on materials—wouldn’t that be disrespectful to the Empress Dowager? This minister could only boldly report again.”
“Mm, since it concerns Mother Empress’s eternal enterprise, this is indeed appropriate.”
Lian Yu raised his eyebrows and smiled at Cai Beitang. Cai Beitang was startled and immediately said, “Everything… everything awaits Your Majesty’s approval.”
Lian Yu bent his five fingers and tapped the table, saying, “Very well, I’ll approve this funding first. I’ll also go to Chuhe Prefecture to inspect the construction progress myself—after all, it concerns the Empress Dowager.”
Cai Beitang was obviously shaken, “Naturally… naturally we’ll follow Your Majesty’s instructions. This minister will immediately accompany Your Majesty south.”
Suzhen thought that imperial mausoleum construction was the most profitable project for officials at all levels, and this was under the banner of Xiao’an. Half a year ago, several regions of Great Zhou had suffered droughts again. Lian Yu was concerned about the treasury but absolutely couldn’t refuse Xiao’an’s dignity. After Huang Congyue, this Minister Beitang was another important neutral faction high official. True versus false officials—Lian Yu had just recovered some neutral party members, but now encountered such major matters, and two cases at once, related to fighting corruption. He couldn’t avoid confronting them directly. This really was…
Seeing him encounter difficulties, she felt both happy and somewhat stuffy, momentarily unsure which emotion was correct. Her body and mind restless, she slightly clenched her fists.
At this time, Lian Yu selected people, “Minister Cai should remain in the capital. There are many construction documents from various places—it’s inappropriate to leave. Minister Yan, Seventh Brother, Ninth Brother…”
He pondered slightly and didn’t select more, “You’ll accompany me on this trip. After I leave the capital, court affairs will be temporarily managed by Third Brother and Fourth Brother, assisted by Prime Minister Quan and Minister Wei. The security of the capital region will be overseen by General Murong, Marquis Huo, and General Chao. Thank you all for your hard work.”
Everyone responded in unison, their voices echoing through the courtyard.
Suzhen had been somewhat apprehensive, fearing Lian Yu would select her to accompany the inspection. Now knowing she was overthinking, she felt a strange sense of loss.
Later, Lian Yu handled some other matters reported by officials, but none were as significant as these two matters. Suzhen listened with great interest. Lian Yu seemed prepared for almost every issue in court discussions, and his answers mostly convinced the ministers, with few arguments or protests. She knew he must have carefully reviewed memorials beforehand. If it were her, sitting in such danger daily, she would probably go mad.
Listening to these seemingly dry but world-encompassing court affairs, Suzhen found time passed easily, feeling that in a blink it was time for court to end.
Unexpectedly, before leaving, Lian Yu dropped another boulder into the lake, saying, “Ministers, have you considered that the next imperial examination might also select women as officials?”
For a moment, the entire court fell silent. Lian Yu, the instigator, acted as if nothing had happened, smiled, and left first.
When leaving, she faintly heard several officials discussing in low voices, saying the Son of Heaven was an iron-blooded person and would likely have a thorough cleanup of official administration. They also said the Son of Heaven actually wanted to select women as officials—wouldn’t this be letting hens crow at dawn? Their tone was both fearful and excited, and they speculated whether this idea of women as officials came from Xiao’an.
Suzhen thought about what Lian Yu had proposed and her heart also jumped, but she had urgent matters and temporarily couldn’t concern herself with this gossip. She was about to chase after Ministry of Justice Minister Xiao Yue when Lian Qin and Lian Jie walked past in front of her. Lian Qin also frowned and asked, “Seventh Brother, why do you think Sixth Brother would propose this?”
Lian Jie smiled and said it was probably something Miaoyin had mentioned to him previously—that young lady had always had great ambitions.
Lian Qin was stunned, then laughed heartily, “That woman is quite bold indeed. Does this Wei Kingdom daughter want to become a female official of our Great Zhou?”
Lian Jie said, “As long as Sixth Brother is willing, why not?”
Suzhen listened and paused slightly, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. Then she thought she should feel sorry for Wuyan—the harem would probably have another formidable rival.
After thinking this through, she quickly resumed chasing Xiao Yue, who was walking alongside Li Zhaoting, Chao Huang, and others. Their leader, Quan Feitong, was nowhere to be seen.
She was about to approach and make conversation when she was intercepted by someone who suddenly emerged from a diagonal corner.
It was precisely Quan Feitong, whose whereabouts she had just been wondering about.
The man looked at her and asked with a smile, “How about going for drinks?”
Suzhen had already been startled by him, and hearing this was even more shocked. Thinking “no good deed goes unpunished,” she quickly said, “Brother Mu, unfortunately I have business right now. I’ll treat you another day.”
Quan Feitong made an “oh” sound, smiling but not warmly, and said softly, “Dear brother really has so many affairs, always when I extend invitations.”
Suzhen looked around and indeed saw many officials watching them, so she said in a low voice, “Brother, I only went to your residence last night. His Majesty probably knows about it too. If today again… this isn’t good. Brother, please be kind, another day I’ll…”
Last night was unavoidable, and she was already worried about how to explain to Lian Yu.
“Fine, you owe me three meals.”
“Yes, yes, yes.”
Suzhen was both wary of him and somewhat apologetic. Quan Feitong had indeed shown her favor three times: taking care of her food before the examination once, in the courtroom once, and when she was pursued by Pei Qinshou on the street once.
She thought she would have to repay him someday and bowed, “Certainly.”
Quan Feitong naturally saw through her perfunctory attitude. His eyebrows slightly raised, and he suddenly reached out to grasp a strand of hair by her temple.
Suzhen immediately widened her eyes, remembering what Li Zhaoting had told her last night, secretly alarmed. This person should also know her gender.
Her expression made Quan Feitong laugh heartily.
“I’ll definitely treat you later, Brother.”
Suzhen bid farewell and fled like a bird.
Quan Feitong watched the retreating figure, his smile like a flower, but his eyes slowly showed a trace of fierceness.
On the other side, Suzhen intercepted Xiao Yue. Li Zhaoting, not being one to meddle, bid farewell with Chao Huang first.
At lunch time, Suzhen went to the Ministry of Justice.
She said she was following Lian Yu’s command to examine some case files—case files of criminal cases from all counties nationwide within twenty years, including the recent Feng family case, Fu Jingshu case, and General Liu’s case materials. She wanted to see if there were any wrongful cases to overturn, because His Majesty, having newly ascended the throne, hoped to implement some measures beneficial to the people.
Xiao Yue nodded, “Appropriate, appropriate. His Majesty is wise, and Lord Li has also worked hard.”
He generously personally led her to the records room, showing no negligence. Although the Emperor had shown no indication in today’s court, this Li Huaisu had clearly become a great favorite before the Emperor. How many people had the Emperor personally carried when injured for medical treatment?
Suzhen’s real purpose was naturally the Feng family execution case. She had previously been worried about how to come to the Ministry of Justice to request case files, but after the Fengjiqiao case, she seemed to have become Lian Yu’s confidant, making things convenient.
Requesting so many case files was to avoid suspicion. Lian Yu should have already investigated her identity as “Miss Xia” by now. Among the nationwide cases from twenty years, it perfectly included the Xia family case from Ji County.