The other party understood immediately.
He then glanced at Rong Luchuan.
If he couldn’t get out, old Rong was the Chief Minister—naturally it would be better for him to go out and take charge of the overall situation.
But Rong Luchuan didn’t meet his gaze. Instead, he looked at the ministers still arguing, looked at those who hadn’t stepped forward earlier, said nothing, and just followed the Emperor.
Xiao Liheng hadn’t expected him to simply ignore the situation like this, and felt secretly resentful.
This old dog who sways with the wind!
Rong Luchuan gave him a light glance.
The people valued the doctrine of the mean. The Xiao family had been riding the winds of success for years—naturally they wouldn’t understand.
The current situation had obviously changed. Ridiculously, Xiao Liheng still couldn’t see that these people’s sudden change of heart, choosing neutrality, indicated that the imperial family—or rather Tie Ci—held certain leverage over this group, or had conditions that forced them to compromise.
Whichever it was, being able to make so many high officials simultaneously yield showed Tie Ci’s abilities were not to be underestimated.
After all, her ability to leave the palace immediately under last night’s circumstances said everything.
She was even more formidable than imagined.
With such a person out of the palace, the Xiao family’s desired confessions would definitely be unobtainable.
With so much time, Tie Ci could accomplish many things.
The Xiao family would likely struggle to get their way this time.
Under these circumstances, he couldn’t get involved anymore. On the contrary, preventing Xiao Xueya’s power from further expanding was what he urgently needed to do.
Firstly, this concerned the Rong family’s future safety and position. Secondly, he could use this to curry favor with the Crown Princess. If the Crown Princess ultimately won, he could use this matter to seek reconciliation with her.
After all, though he had acquiesced to the Xiao family’s arrests and Cabinet alliance, he wasn’t the main instigator jumping up and down.
No matter what, the Rong family would remain undefeated, wouldn’t they?
Chief Minister Rong smiled and walked away with sleeves gathered.
Xiao Liheng had no choice but to follow. With old Rong there and him absent, Xiao Xueya could forget about going to Yannan.
The Censorate officials walked out with several other censors, quickly catching up to the Minister of Justice and chatting casually with him.
In Meridian Gate plaza, by the Minister of Justice’s carriage, shadows flitted by quietly.
After a while, someone quietly signaled the Chief Censor, who laughingly ended the conversation and watched the Minister of Justice board his carriage.
Other censors followed the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, patiently watching the old man sway back and forth, swaying while saying to the Minister of Court of Imperial Banquets beside him: “Ah, this old bag of bones, my back pain’s acting up again. I won’t go to the office today—going home to lie down.”
The Minister of Court of Imperial Banquets said: “You should rest well, elder. The young ones can handle office matters—nothing to worry about.”
Hearing this, the censor gave a slight signal outside, and someone moved away from the Minister’s carriage.
The Minister was helped into his family carriage by servants. From far away, people could still hear him chuckling: “Home!”
The carriage rolled along when a pair of snow-white small hands stuffed a pastry into the old man’s mouth. The old man chewed happily, satisfied with his granddaughter’s filial devotion.
The young girl asked curiously: “Grandfather, why were you speaking so loudly just now?”
“To put their minds at ease. Otherwise, our carriage might overturn in a bit.”
The girl was startled: “Ah, I saw someone pass by our carriage earlier and thought it was someone’s servant. Grandfather, who did you offend that they want to harm us?”
“Grandfather didn’t offend anyone. It’s that some people offended others, and they don’t want grandfather getting involved.”
“Is it the Crown Princess? All of Shengdu is talking about it today—the Crown Princess went to the Court of Judicial Review to strike the drum and file grievances! Worthy of the Crown Princess, so passionate! Grandfather, grandfather, the Crown Princess must be wronged! If she really committed fraud, she absolutely wouldn’t personally strike the drum! Grandfather, grandfather, you promised me you’d help the Crown Princess!”
“Alright, alright, I know. Help, help—heading to the Court of Judicial Review now… I know you’re being attentive for no reason, all for the Crown Princess… stop shaking, shake anymore and grandfather’s old bones will fall apart…”
…
The Minister of Justice’s carriage rushed quickly toward his office.
Joint trials by the Three Legal Departments, without specifically naming personnel, in Great Qian meant the highest-level joint trial by the Minister of Justice, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and Chief Censor. As half a student of He Zi, he naturally cared deeply about this matter.
Who knew that just as the carriage left the plaza, the wheels suddenly tilted and the entire vehicle flipped to one side.
The frightened horses’ piercing whinnies were ear-splitting. The Minister watched half the carriage crash down on him and thought it was over.
The next instant came several thudding sounds, the carriage shook, and iron-black points pierced through the carriage walls showing cold gleams. The overturning carriage stopped, then crashed to the ground with a thunderous sound.
The Minister was shaken and bounced in place, his heart pounding like drums.
He lifted the carriage curtain and saw several riders had appeared beside the carriage at some unknown time, wearing red armor. The red wasn’t extremely bright—rather it appeared somber, like blood.
With several whistling sounds, the grappling hooks that had been shot into the carriage walls to stabilize it were retrieved. The lead rider reached out and tapped the carriage wall, saying: “Minister Jiang, sit tight. Someone wants your legs.”
The Minister understood what had happened, anger flashing in his eyes as he straightened up.
…
In the open area before the Court of Judicial Review, several scholars and Cabinet secretaries approached under military escort, protected in three layers inside and out, as if afraid Tie Ci would suddenly attack to kill witnesses.
But such theatrics were useless, because Tie Ci’s smile was calm and benevolent, her imperial aura radiant, making viewers only admire the Crown Princess’s royal bearing, absolutely not thinking of bloody things like killing or beating people.
When it came to maintaining an image, Tie Ci was never afraid.
Several Cabinet secretaries stepped forward. They were Cabinet academicians of fifth rank who worked daily in the Cabinet, assisting the Grand Secretaries with government affairs and copying memorials. After approaching and bowing, they said: “That day we were on duty, following Assistant Minister Xiao on night duty in the office beside Chengqian Hall, and saw the Crown Princess hurrying over while the chief and deputy examiners were still in the hall.”
This statement caused an immediate uproar—didn’t this prove the Crown Princess had contacted the chief and deputy examiners?
According to regulations, at that hour, everyone would avoid suspicion by not appearing in Chengqian Hall.
The Crown Princess deliberately appearing when exam questions were being drafted—what was her intent?
Tie Ci laughed once and said: “Why don’t you mention that drafting the exam questions was slow that day, supposed to end at the end of the yin hour but unexpectedly dragged until the beginning of the mao hour? I pay respects to Father Emperor every day at the beginning of mao hour, daily without exception—why should that day be different? And why don’t you mention why drafting was slow that day—because Duan Yande’s carriage broke down halfway, making him a quarter-hour late?”
The Cabinet academician bowed his head and said: “Your Highness, forgive me. This humble subject is terrified and only spoke what I witnessed with my own eyes. I didn’t notice the time, nor knew Minister Duan had such an incident.”
His voice trembled, appearing extremely frightened, making Tie Ci seem all the more aggressive.
Among the scholars who came to testify, someone couldn’t help but sneer: “Your Highness needn’t pressure others with your position. Who knows if accidents are really accidents? After all, Chief Examiner Duan is also considered Chief Examiner He’s disciple—you’re family.”
Tie Ci remained calm, looking at him and nodding: “Sir speaks with such righteous indignation—are you also here to testify?”
Those scholars stepped forward and said: “Indeed. Regarding Shen Mi’s question earlier, we can testify that Shen Mi actually had contact with Chief Examiner He that day.”
Shen Mi frowned, remembering what incident this was about.
The scholar said: “That day when the examiners entered the examination compound, we were all watching from the side, standing right next to Shen Mi. During this time, Shen Mi suddenly fell, falling right in front of Chief Examiner He. Chief Examiner He personally helped him up. We witnessed this with our own eyes and are willing to swear by our futures.”
That day the spectators were like a mountain of people, most saw this scene, and hearing this, many nodded.
Assistant Minister Li said: “Where did Shen Mi fall in front of He Zi? How long was the delay? Are you certain He Zi personally helped him up?”
“He fell directly in front. Shen Mi seemed to pause slightly from pain, and Chief Examiner He personally helped him up.”
The Vice Chief Censor said: “They must have secretly exchanged things then.”
Everyone changed color.
Shen Mi said: “I didn’t let Chief Examiner He help me up, and someone pushed me hard from behind!”
The scholar said: “Then did you catch that person or see who it was?”
“I fell forward—how could I catch anyone?”
The scholar snorted disdainfully, his face full of contempt.
Murong Yi suddenly said: “Maybe you pushed him out of jealous hatred and are now here testifying? Otherwise, why is your attitude so vicious, looking constipated as if you haven’t moved your bowels for three days?”
The crowd: “Pffft.”
The scholar flew into rage: “Who are you, sir? Without witnessing personally, how can you fabricate lies and make slanderous accusations!”
“Oh, without witnessing personally, one cannot make slanderous accusations.” Murong Yi nodded. “Then just now regarding Chengqian Hall matters you also didn’t witness personally—how can you make slanderous accusations against the Crown Princess?”
The scholar was speechless.
“I said this to let you know what injustice feels like when casually condemned by others!” Murong Yi said. “The Crown Princess has a delicate constitution and gentle temperament, not arguing with you, but I cannot bear to hear it!”
Everyone looked at the “delicate constitution” Crown Princess.
“Oh—”
Sir, what fine dog eyes, yet they’re completely blind.
The “delicate constitution” Crown Princess: …Ugh.
The scholar was left speechless by the rebuke, but the crowd’s emotions were stirred up. The Justice Ministry Vice Minister had remained silent throughout. Assistant Minister Li and the Vice Chief Censor exchanged glances, looking troubled as he said: “This seems to involve the fraud case trial. Your Highness just said we haven’t received orders and cannot try this case…”
Tie Ci found this amusing—why didn’t they say it concerned the fraud case when presenting witnesses?
Wasn’t this laying out evidence unfavorable to her then blocking her mouth?
“No need for such theatrics,” she said lightly. “My three complaints—the first accuses Xiao Liheng of fabricating charges and framing examiners and candidates to falsely accuse the Crown Prince. Now with all these people jumping out, isn’t this perfectly helping me list evidence of his blatant framing?”
The Vice Chief Censor coughed and said: “Your Highness, forgive this subject’s reminder—the witnesses just now all spoke of what they personally saw, the latter confirmed by countless people. You cannot use this as evidence for Grand Secretary Xiao’s crimes.”
Tie Ci didn’t even glance at him and waved her hand.
Dan Shuang dragged someone out from the cavalry behind and threw him on the ground.
“Come, tell us how you accepted bribes, deliberately didn’t remind Her Highness, and proactively opened the door for Her Highness at Chengqian Hall!”
The person wore blue robes and black boots—a low-ranking palace eunuch’s attire. He cowered on the ground trembling. After a long while he finally raised his face. Assistant Minister Li and others’ eyes constricted as Tie Ci said unhurriedly: “Distinguished ministers are all high officials who regularly enter and leave Chengqian Hall. You should recognize this little yellow-gate eunuch who specifically handles announcements and door-pushing for you gentlemen?”
Assistant Minister Li gave a dry laugh: “Somewhat familiar.”
The little eunuch curled up on the ground and said tremblingly: “This slave… this slave is Wang Xi, third-rank door-greeting eunuch of Chengqian Hall… This slave, this slave once received silver from second-rank managing eunuch Liu Datong of Chengqian Hall, telling this slave that on exam question drafting day, when seeing the Crown Princess enter, don’t announce—immediately open the door…”
Dan Shuang threw out another person—this time Liu Datong: “…This slave has relatives with Manager Niu who oversees West Street shops for the Xiao residence. Following his instructions, I arranged for Wang Xi not to announce. Manager Niu manages the carriage shop and also arranged for people to damage Minister Duan’s carriage…”
“Understand this chain scheme? They had someone damage Minister Duan’s carriage, delaying exam question drafting time, calculated my morning respects timing, arranged this little eunuch to guard the door without announcing and hurriedly open it, not reminding me exam questions hadn’t been sent away yet—the purpose was to make me encounter them, establishing the possibility of my ‘glimpsing exam questions’ to conveniently splash dirty water on me afterward.” Tie Ci pointed at Shen Mi. “Do the subsequent methods seem familiar? Pushing someone to fall, lenient searches, arranged booth assignments—everything providing evidence of preferential treatment to establish fraud accusations… Identical patterns, aren’t they?”
“However,” she said, “if truly committing examination fraud, secrecy would be paramount. Such theatrics would be counterproductive.”
Someone said: “What you say has logic, but lacks evidence.”
Murong Yi suddenly stepped out, waved his hand, and a scholar-looking person was thrown on the ground.
“This is the person I caught pushing from behind on the day examiners entered the examination compound,” Murong Yi said. “I know Shen Mi, and that day seeing him carrying a cat on his back, I wanted to play a prank and steal his cat. But when I approached to steal the cat, I saw this person push him from behind.”
Mu Si lifted the person up. Everyone saw that though wearing scholar’s robes, he was powerfully built, with dirty clothes, dispirited appearance, dirt under his nails, and facial scars—completely lacking scholarly air, looking more like a street thug than a scholar.
After Murong Yi caught this person, he’d been imprisoned for nearly a month, fed poorly daily, never seeing sunlight, looking utterly wretched. Being brought out for confrontation now, as if granted amnesty, he hurriedly said: “Yes, yes, yes, it was me. Someone paid me to push this person…”
Listening to everyone, this person was indeed an idle rogue, the type who’d do anything for money. According to him, a hooded person gave him silver to do this simple task. For rogues like them, such things were common. Employers hiding their identities wasn’t unusual—they wouldn’t even ask questions, just take money and work.
Tie Ci glanced at Murong Yi, not expecting him to have kept this card hidden. Regarding Shen Mi being pushed, she’d originally thought the perpetrator definitely pushed and ran, impossible to find like a needle in a haystack, yet Murong Yi happened upon him.
This man was quite idle, but his idleness was often useful.
This rogue’s manner was so roguish that when he spoke in such a sleazy, slippery way, most people believed him.
At this time, several more scholars hesitantly poked their heads out, saying: “We remembered—that day when Shen Mi fell in front of Chief Examiner He, he got up quickly and avoided Chief Examiner He’s assistance. The two never actually made contact.”
Ma Hetong looked at those scholars in shock and said bitterly: “Fellow candidates, have you also been bought by those in high positions!”
“Brother Ma, what are you saying! You would slander us just because testimony doesn’t favor you!” The scholars were indignantly displeased. “We sympathize with your situation, but we scholars should have hearts like bright mirrors and upright character, speaking what we see. How could we be the type of shadowy dogs who give false testimony!”
The Justice Ministry Vice Minister said: “In that case, if Shen Mi’s fall was designed, then the alleged deliberate falling for secret exchange becomes questionable.”
“That’s not how you put it.” Someone suddenly interjected.
Everyone turned back, all with complex expressions, but regardless of expression, they hurriedly rose and bowed: “Assistant Minister.”
The crowd parted as Xiao Liheng approached with his entourage.
Seeing him, Tie Ci’s eyes flashed, thinking Father Emperor should have tried to keep him, but obviously still couldn’t keep this old fox too long.
Xiao Liheng stopped before the crowd, bowed meticulously to Tie Ci, and smiled: “Didn’t expect Your Highness to be here.”
Tie Ci raised her hand and smiled slightly: “Didn’t expect the Assistant Minister to arrive so quickly.”
“I hurried over when I heard someone was accusing me,” Xiao Liheng turned and walked toward the three officials. “Ah… no need, no need, that’s not my seat—don’t you see Her Highness is still standing… get me a small stool, I’ll sit to the side… I say, Your Highness, why are you standing there?”
Tie Ci had been standing not because the court wouldn’t give her a stool, but firstly, sitting down would make her actions invisible to the crowd; secondly, her standing could pressure the Three Legal Departments, making them sit even more uneasily.
She smiled faintly: “I stand to see certain people’s true faces more clearly.”
Xiao Liheng acted as if he didn’t understand and smiled: “Sitting comfortably lets one watch the winds and clouds with a smile.”
“Not necessarily,” Tie Ci said. “Sitting in prison isn’t comfortable. Don’t you think so?”
Xiao Liheng’s eye wrinkles slowly accumulated as he drawled: “This old subject wouldn’t know—does the Crown Princess know?”
“Ask your family members and you’ll know, Assistant Minister,” Tie Ci said melodiously.
Everyone: “…”
Weren’t court figures supposed to be diplomatic and harmonious? Even if they hated each other enough to stab backs, they’d be all smiles and drink together when meeting face to face?
How did these two start going at each other like needle points and wheat awns upon meeting, with gunpowder smoke shooting to the clouds?
But those who understood court situations knew this back-and-forth was perfectly normal between these two.
Dongming Xiao family members had been accused with solid evidence and imprisoned. Fourth Master Xiao and several others were still in jail.
Though reportedly arguing fiercely with decent prison treatment, they hadn’t gotten out yet, had they?
The Crown Princess exposing scars to his face—quite ruthless.
After a while, Xiao Liheng smiled again and asked casually: “What is Your Highness doing so early this morning?”
“Accusing you.”
“…”