Several ministers forced themselves to remain composed.

Thinking to themselves: It’s not me!

It definitely isn’t me!

Prince Rong is definitely not talking about me!

Wei Yi’s hand resting on his thigh tightened slightly. He understood Jingrong’s meaning in his heart, but his face maintained the bearing of an emperor throughout.

He said, “With Prince Rong here, naturally no one in court would dare act presumptuously, so how could there be people harboring scales and armor in their chests?”

It would be best if there weren’t!

Jingrong clasped his hands and did nothing else.

All the ministers knew this well in their hearts.

But no one broke the stalemate.

Until—

Lord Li bowed and stepped forward, proceeding before the hall, and said with lowered head, “Your Majesty, this minister has a matter to report.”

Wei Yi said, “Speak.”

“It concerns Master Yu’s case.”

“Oh? Has there been progress? We heard that this case has already been handed over to Lord Ji.”

“Yes.” Lord Li said, “Lord Ji has already found new evidence, and there is witness testimony to prove it. The case file has also been reestablished. Please review it, Your Majesty.”

“Quickly bring it for Us to see.”

Lord Li took out the case file from his sleeve. A young eunuch received it and delivered it before Wei Yi.

Wei Yi opened it and read through.

After reviewing everything, he was pleased.

Closing the case file, he said, “Worthy indeed of the Inspector of Criminal Justice personally appointed by the late Emperor. After Lord Ji took over this case, everything has come to light, proving that the person who killed the deceased was not Master Yu, but rather a cook in the Yu residence.”

Lord Li clasped his hands. “This minister requests Your Majesty’s decree.”

“Since it has been proven that the murderer is not Master Yu, then We decree that Master Yu be released immediately.”

“This minister obeys the decree.”

Just as Lord Li was preparing to withdraw—

“Wait!” Wei Yi called out to stop him.

“Your Majesty?” Lord Li waited quietly.

Wei Yi frowned and sighed, saying, “Although this time we can prove that the murderer is not Master Yu, in the end it still involves someone from the Yu residence. Master Yu, as Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, is also implicated in this case, which is inevitably somewhat inappropriate. After all, the Court of Judicial Review is an important office of our Da Lin, connected to the Three Judicial Offices. If Master Yu continues to serve as Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, it would probably not be very suitable.”

Huh?

The officials looked at each other in dismay.

The Emperor’s meaning was…

Others didn’t understand, but Jingrong did.

Wei Yi had used his authority to secretly pressure Minister of Justice Lord Li to close the case quickly and execute Master Yu. Who knew that Ji Yunshu would return to the capital in time to stop it, disrupting his plans? Now that Master Yu could escape, his plan had failed, so naturally he had to take another route. And this so-called “other route” was nothing more than—

Dismissal!

Lord Li was startled. “Your Majesty’s meaning is?”

Wei Yi said, “Master Yu is an upright person. Since becoming Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he has been devoted to his duties and investigated quite a few cases. However, as We understand it, Master Yu reached his current position in just a few short years, relying not on ability but on this person’s smooth tongue and flattery, climbing up all the way. Even if he is upright as a person, we cannot disrupt official law. If everyone were like this, wouldn’t it create chaos? Adding to this recent affair, We must temporarily remove him from office. If he can behave properly and serve as an official dutifully, We will naturally grant him another official position. During this period, consider it as him resting and recuperating at home.”

His tone brooked no objection.

Everyone was in an uproar.

The Emperor was indeed decisive.

To remove the official hat from Master Yu’s head, he truly used extraordinary measures.

With many tricks.

Of course, no one could oppose an order issued by the Emperor.

Jingrong also didn’t speak, listening quietly from the side.

A minister asked, “Your Majesty, if Master Yu’s position is removed, then who should succeed him as Minister of the Court of Judicial Review?”

“Do any of you ministers have recommendations?”

“If following convention, it should be Master Yu’s son, Yu Sizheng, who succeeds him.”

Wei Yi thought for a moment and rejected this. “That Yu Sizheng is indeed a proper and dutiful person, not as smooth as his father, but… since We have removed his father from office, We cannot promote him. Otherwise, what difference would there be between removing and not removing?”

Lord Li asked, “Then does Your Majesty have a candidate?”

Wei Yi said, “We do have a good candidate—Right Vice Minister of Works, Wang Ye.”

Ministry of Works?

Wang Ye?

This…

Someone immediately said, “Your Majesty, the Ministry of Works and the Court of Judicial Review have never been connected. Even if there were to be a transfer, it should be from the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate, or personnel selected from the Ministry of Personnel. Right Vice Minister Wang from the Ministry of Works is probably not suitable.”

But Wei Yi ignored this. He said, “Ministers of the Court of Judicial Review throughout history have always been transferred from the Six Ministries, and moreover the Six Ministries are interconnected—what’s wrong with the Ministry of Works? Before Master Wang entered the Ministry of Works, he spent several years at the Hanlin Academy and also served in the Ministry of Justice for several years. He is experienced and has even reviewed case files from the Court of Judicial Review. We find such a person very suitable.”

After these words were spoken, several ministers chimed in agreement. “What Your Majesty says is extremely correct.”

“This minister believes that having Master Wang assume this position would be most suitable.”

“This minister also recommends Master Wang.”

…

These ministers were all promoted to court by Wei Yi.

Seeing that the Emperor’s mind was made up, no one dared object further.

As Lord Li withdrew, he glanced at Prince Rong. He didn’t understand why Prince Rong hadn’t spoken.

Perhaps if Prince Rong had said something, the Emperor would have rescinded the order.

Couldn’t figure it out!

Finally—

The Emperor issued an imperial edict, appointing Wang Ye as Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

After court was dismissed.

Jingrong didn’t leave the palace but went directly to Fuyang Hall.

The young eunuch outside the hall stopped him. “Your Highness, the Emperor has ordered that he will see no one.”

“Go and announce me.”

“Your Highness…” He was somewhat troubled.

“Just say this prince has urgent business to discuss.”

The eunuch hesitated for a long moment. In the end, he still didn’t dare offend Jingrong.

So he hurried inside to announce him.

However, quite a while passed before he came out and said with a bow, “The Emperor summons Your Highness to enter the hall.”

Only then did Jingrong enter.

Inside, Wei Yi was writing characters, very earnestly.

A long piece of silk paper was spread out on the long table.

A line of characters had already been written on it.

Unexpectedly, Wei Yi’s calligraphy was written so beautifully.

Not only beautiful, but even the force of his brushstrokes was just right.

The weight, speed, and rhythm, with spirit within the brush.

Jingrong stood there, watching silently, his hand inside his robe unconsciously clenched into a fist.

Wei Yi finished writing the last character and raised his head, greeting him with a smile.

He put down the brush.

He accepted the cloth handed to him by the eunuch and wiped his hands.

“Jingrong, your timing is perfect. Come look at the characters I wrote.”

Like a child, he walked before Jingrong and ordered the eunuchs to pick up that piece of paper.

The paper was very long, held by four eunuchs.

Standing before Wei Yi and Jingrong.

It was an extremely brief poem.

Wei Yi recited, “Falling snow knows not what year or month, at that moment, no one wore garments.”

Fourteen characters, concise and comprehensive.

Written very beautifully.

“Jingrong, how is it?” he inquired.

But Jingrong looked at him coldly.

“Your Majesty’s calligraphy is certainly good, but unfortunately…”

He paused in his speech.

Wei Yi’s brow furrowed as he asked, “Unfortunately what?”

Jingrong didn’t speak. After a moment of silence, he walked to that table, picked up the brush Wei Yi had put down, and dipped it in ink.

Then—

He added several strokes on that paper.

Adding several characters.

Looking at it—

Uh!