In the Imperial Study, the Emperor, whose mood was already poor, became furiously enraged after reading a memorial and swept three tall stacks of documents to the floor.

“I didn’t know I’d raised so many officials who kick people when they’re down—parroting each other, knowing nothing, yet joining the clamor to force me to convict Yuan Cheng of treason. Most detestable of all, they’ve even dredged up my late mentor’s case, saying that Prince Li was framed by surviving remnants of the Yuan family, demanding that I clear Prince Li’s name.”

Eunuch Liu quickly signaled the young eunuchs with his eyes. They gathered up the memorials and were dismissed.

“Your Majesty, please take care of your dragon body and calm your anger.” The Great Zhou strictly forbade eunuchs from discussing politics, even Liu Ning who had served the Emperor for decades.

After venting his temper, the Emperor calmed somewhat. “Among all the civil and military officials, there are hardly any who view this matter impartially. And those who see clearly either don’t dare step forward, or once they do, are accused of being accomplices covering up for their faction. Yang Ling is one such person. Does the Secretariat think I don’t know they’re isolating him now?”

Eunuch Liu only listened without speaking.

“That girl Mo Zi too—I already had someone give her a hint, so why hasn’t there been any movement? Could it be that I overestimated her?” Seven or eight days had passed since Mo Zi last entered the palace.

Speaking of Mo Zi, Liu Ning opened his mouth. “Miss Mo Zi is intelligent and wouldn’t fail to understand. She most likely has her own plan. Your Majesty should wait a bit longer.”

The Emperor gave a scoffing laugh. “Indeed, she has plenty of her own ideas—I have to wait for her.”

Hearing there was no reproach in those words, Liu Ning closed his mouth again.

At this moment, a young eunuch outside reported, “Your Majesty, General Geng requests an audience.”

“Summon him.” The Emperor sat back on the dragon throne, no longer glancing at those memorials demanding severe punishment for Yuan Cheng and the release of Prince Li.

Geng Wo strode in with great strides and knelt in report. “Your Majesty, this subject has been entrusted by Official Mo Zi to deliver a memorial.”

The Emperor was immediately delighted and said to Liu Ning, “Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives. This girl knows my mind too well. If she were born a man, I would certainly appoint her as Prime Minister. Both Li Ren and Wang He would have to make way for her.”

Of course, no one would take these words seriously.

After reading just the beginning of Mo Zi’s memorial, the Emperor frowned darkly and said with a voice full of reproach, “Nonsense.”

Liu Ning broke into a cold sweat there, wondering privately what Official Song had written to suddenly displease His Majesty again.

“I asked her to submit a memorial with righteous and stern words to sound an alarm for those without any backbone, telling them there’s still more to investigate in this matter. Even if Yuan Cheng truly intended to assassinate me, it’s still a separate matter from Prince Li’s case and cannot be discussed together. But what does she do? She uses such soft and weak language—she practically says she herself is also an accomplice.”

Liu Ning had originally intended to maintain silence, but after receiving several glances from the Emperor, he said with a bitter smile, “Perhaps, perhaps Miss Mo Zi has another intention.”

“Another intention?” The Emperor opened the memorial and continued reading. The further he read, the more his brow relaxed, until finally he laughed heartily. “Not bad, not bad. Liu Ning, you’re right—this girl truly has another intention. Although the opening passages are soft in tone, the latter part shows resolute intent. In the end, I didn’t misjudge her. Immediately summon Prince Su, Prince Liang, Prince Shun, Prince Jing, the two Prime Ministers, the Chief Secretary, the Six Ministry Directors, and have them come see me.”

Liu Ning hurried off to relay the verbal decree.

Naturally, none of the important ministers delayed. Within an hour, they all stood in the Council Hall.

The Emperor said, “It’s been over a month since the case of my assassination. Officials have continuously submitted memorials and petitions, yet I’ve left the matter unresolved because I don’t want to act rashly. Liu Ning, read this memorial to everyone.”

Liu Ning reverently received the memorial with both hands, opened it, and read: “Regarding the case of Secretariat Drafter Yuan’s suspected involvement in assassination—the witness has confessed him as the mastermind, yet with no physical evidence whatsoever, using only his aunt-nephew relationship with the assassin to prove Minister Yuan’s role as chief conspirator is quite weak. This subject has deep friendship with Minister Yuan and is willing to vouch for him. If the matter is true, this subject may be convicted of the same crime.”

“Your Majesty, one person vouching means declaring that person innocent—this makes no sense at all.” Prince Liang had a straightforward temper. He was the Emperor’s fourth brother and had an extremely good relationship with Prince Li. After returning to the capital, he and fifth brother Prince Shun became leaders of the Loyal Imperial faction, attacking Yuan Cheng and pleading for Prince Li’s exoneration most fiercely.

“Prince Liang, first let Liu Ning finish reading the memorial.” The Emperor’s facial expression was mild.

Liu Ning hastily continued reading, though he began to be stunned. “Some may object, saying that one person vouching proves innocence is truly laughable. By the same logic, if the assassin says the mastermind is Minister Yuan, then assuming Minister Yuan should be convicted is truly absurd. Rich people also have poor relatives; good people also have evil brothers. This subject has heard that the maternal family relatives of a certain prince’s consort used the prince’s name to forcibly seize farmland from peasant households, beating to death or injury over ten farmers—this case was handled impartially by local authorities. However, when the case occurred, the local tyrant spoke wildly, claiming he acted on the prince’s orders. Naturally, no one paid attention to such baseless claims. Nevertheless, if Yuan Cheng’s case convicts him indiscriminately without distinguishing right from wrong, then doesn’t this prince also bear guilt? Doesn’t the prince’s consort bear guilt? Doesn’t the prince’s entire family bear guilt? Once this precedent is set, it’s like the Yellow River bursting its banks—impossible to stop. Furthermore, looking at Prince Li’s case, even if he were truly innocent, with both witness and physical evidence present, the crime of rebellion is even more inescapable. Then shouldn’t all who spoke on his behalf be suspected of conspiracy? This subject petitions Your Majesty: if one person’s word can arrest and convict, then one person’s word should also temporarily release. Have the Ministry of Justice investigate this matter with full effort. Until the matter is completely clear, temporarily relieve Minister Yuan of all official duties and forbid him from stepping outside his residence gate. In this way, all under heaven will know that national law is impartial, the court possesses magnificent righteousness, and the people’s hearts will turn in loyalty.”

Liu Ning was stunned as he read, and those listening were also stunned, all thinking—can a memorial be written like this? It’s entirely in plain language.

Prince Shun felt most uncomfortable. That “certain prince” was himself. The matter had already been suppressed, yet he hadn’t expected the news to spread so quickly.

Reading their confusion, the Emperor smiled and said, “Official Song has never written a memorial before, but at least she expressed her meaning clearly—she wants me to release the person back home while simultaneously conducting a thorough investigation. What do you ministers think?”

Prince Shun simply played the mute gourd, but Prince Liang said, “Since Your Majesty wants to release Yuan Cheng, Prince Li should also be released back to his mansion.”

Li Ren disagreed. “Minister Yuan’s case still lacks conclusive evidence, but Prince Li’s rebellion has complete witness and physical evidence—the two cannot be mentioned in the same breath.”

Prince Liang shot Li Ren a cold sideways glance. “What that Official Song said is also utter nonsense. Just because she says to release people means we release them? Are we grown men supposed to listen to a woman’s words?”

“This memorial isn’t just one person’s opinion. Liu Ning, why do you keep stopping halfway through reading?” The Emperor indicated there was more.

“This memorial has a total of two hundred and forty-two scholars’ signatures, including seventy-two students from the Imperial Academy and one hundred and thirty-eight candidates who ranked high in last year’s examinations, with the remainder being officials from various ministries, either retired or currently serving.” In other words, it was a joint memorial.

In the Great Zhou, joint memorials were the petitions that absolutely had to be taken seriously, especially those from young scholars or examination candidates, because they were the court’s future hope.

No one had expected Mo Zi could mobilize so many people for a joint signature. Though she alone vouched for him, she had the support of over two hundred names behind her—this could no longer be lightly dismissed or scorned.

“Prince Liang, if you can also produce a joint memorial pleading for Prince Li, I can also consider releasing him back to his mansion under house arrest.” The Emperor’s smile faded. “Ministers, I’ve decided to allow Minister Yuan to return home, guarded under confinement by the Qianniu Guard. Wang He, Li Ren—you two shall preside over Prince Li’s case and the assassin case. Do you have anything more to say?”

Everyone knelt to receive the decree.

As the Emperor left the hall, he said to Liu Ning, “Finally cooled down this hot potato. Otherwise, they would have forced me to truly hand Yuan Cheng over to the Ministry of Justice.”

Liu Ning lowered his head. “Your Majesty is wise.”

“Wise about what? Being Emperor isn’t easy for me, but I also can’t be like Father Emperor, acting without distinguishing right from wrong.” The fate that befell his mentor’s family made him determined to be a reasonable emperor. Even when the Qianniu Guard searched Prince Li’s mansion and found contracts with Daqiu, in his anger he still had no thought of killing. However, perhaps because of his soft nature, the situation of factional cliques forming for private gain in the court had become increasingly severe, with open strife and covert maneuvering as both sides tried to constrain his imperial authority. He’d discovered it, but too late—it required gradual rectification. Valuing Yuan Cheng, Yang Ling, Mo Zi and others was because he wanted to find people outside both factions who would truly work for him. But unexpectedly, Yuan Cheng—

With a sigh, the Emperor felt helpless. “I only hope Yuan Cheng can prove his own innocence and not waste all my painstaking efforts.”

Back to Prince Liang’s side—he vented his anger at Prince Shun. “We agreed to oppose His Majesty to the end, yet you didn’t even let out a single fart.”

“Fourth Brother, watch your language.” Prince Su descended the white jade steps.

“Watch what bird. In that godforsaken place of mine, not even vegetable leaves will grow. If I don’t curse people, who am I supposed to curse?” He jutted his mouth toward the great hall behind them. Prince Liang’s attitude was unfriendly. “Acting like such a good person toward one or two insignificant minor officials, yet sending us brothers off to desolate uninhabited places. The common people still praise him as a mild and gentle sovereign—I’m the first to refuse to accept it. Look at him, that vicious energy he shows toward Third Brother, who’s his own full-blooded brother from the same mother. In the future, who knows how he’ll treat the rest of us.”

“My dear brother—” Prince Shun wished he could cover that mouth.

“That’s enough from you. If you have grievances, vent them before His Majesty. What’s the point of showing off your sharp tongue behind his back?” Prince Su said in a heavy voice. “Whether Third Brother committed rebellion or not isn’t for the few of us to decide. If you and Fifth Brother want to help him, you need to produce evidence first.”

“Second Brother, I see you’ve lived in small places too long and become a gentle prince yourself.” Prince Liang snorted forcefully through his nose, then strode away with large steps after speaking.

“Second Brother, don’t blame Fourth Brother. His territory is poor, and there’s been drought in recent years. When he requests support from His Majesty, it’s ineffective—no wonder he’s angry. I’ll go talk to him. Tonight, let’s brothers go drink some good wine. A new place called Wangqiu Tower opened in the city—I hear it’s quite good.” Prince Shun went after Prince Liang.

Prince Su stared intently at his two brothers’ retreating figures.

“Your Highness.” Someone called him from behind.

Prince Su turned to look and nodded slightly. “Prime Minister.”

Wang He walked alongside him at equal pace. “Your Highness must be weary from rushing all the way to the capital. This humble official has prepared modest wine and simple fare at my humble residence. Would Your Highness be willing to honor us with your presence?”

“If you’re not afraid people will say our two families form cliques for private gain, this prince will go. Speaking of which, your father had me bring you several dozen cages of game and over ten boxes of local specialties—this prince has been eyeing and craving them for quite a while. The old gentleman even said that Tenth Miss loves venison and told you to be sure to specially reserve and raise a few deer for her.” Prince Su stroked his beard and smiled.