Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 1147 The Guilt Has Been Determined
In the palace,

With the civil officials' side back down, a semblance of calm finally emerged.

Chen Hui sat on the high platform, his eyes filled with anger. He hadn't expected that these civil officials would band together at the last minute. He couldn't continue the trial. There was only one person who could strike at the heart of the matter and kill the enemy in one blow. Thinking of this, he shouted sharply.
"Where is Xu Dong, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Revenue?"

The buzzing in the hall was abruptly stopped by the sudden, sharp shout. Xu Dong, sitting at the end, tensed up, his hand unconsciously reaching for the memorial in his robes. It was a document sent by the Ministry of Justice the night before, containing the Ministry's case closure documents, as well as his own notes on the case of the jade mines in the five counties of Jiangnan.

Looking inside the hall,

Honorable sirs, may this be the last time I serve in office.

"What's wrong? Did the person not come, or are they too scared to get up?"

Seeing that none of the officials sitting below the hall stood up, Eunuch Chen was a little surprised. However, his godson had already reported that Xu Dong was sitting at the very end. After glancing at him, he confirmed that Xu Dong was indeed there, and continued his sarcastic remarks.

"Your Excellency, how could I dare not rise? I was merely frightened by your reprimand."

With a reply
Xu Dong's expression was calm, and his official robes were spotless. Coupled with his resolute face, he was indeed the top candidate in the imperial examination.

"Hmph, it's good that you're here. Xu Dong, let me ask you, how did you two discuss and plan the memorial that Xu Changwen submitted? What were your intentions?"

Hearing Eunuch Chen's question, Xu Dong felt a pang of pain in his heart. That night, and in the days before, he had been the only one who stayed up late with Xu Changwen. Especially on the last night, as he wrote the memorial, with the coffin in the room, he was already determined to die. Today, by asking him this question, he was essentially labelling him as part of Changwen's faction. In that case, Brother Changwen would surely die.

He concentrated and took a deep breath;

"In response to Eunuch Chen, Xu Changwen did not discuss this congratulatory letter with me. The things we talked about before were nothing more than disaster relief matters in Jiangnan."

His eyes turned cold, and he neither cried nor uttered a sound, but it was precisely because of this appearance that Chen Hui suddenly burst out laughing;
"Haha, interesting, very interesting. I like people who are loyal and righteous the most, but the only person I despise is a petty person like you."

"Eunuch Chen has misspoke. I, Xu Dong, am an official of the Great Wu Dynasty. I have no need for you to look up to me or look down on me. There are so many officials in the Great Wu Dynasty. It's not that Eunuch Chen can call someone a villain just by saying so!"

"Ha ha ha ha"

Unexpectedly, Xu Dong's defiant words elicited laughter from the officials of the six ministries in the hall, which infuriated Eunuch Chen, who immediately slammed his fist on the table.

"Shut up!"

With a furious shout, the hall fell silent once more.
"What are you laughing at? This is the main hall of the Ministry of Justice. If any of you can answer the questions on his behalf, then step forward. Xu Dong, you certainly have a silver tongue. In your memorial, how did you describe Xu Changwen's crimes?"

Xu Dong extended his hands and bowed in greeting.
"Reporting to Eunuch Chen and to all the presiding officials, my memorial concerns the recent case concerning the jade mines in the five counties of Jiangnan. It was caused by corruption among local officials, the supervisory eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department, and corruption in various bureaus of the Imperial Palace. This memorial, along with previous and subsequent account books, confessions, case files, and the Ministry of Justice's case closure documents, are all here. Please present them to His Majesty, esteemed presiding officials."

He casually pulled a wooden box from his pocket and held it in his hands.

Chen Hui's expression changed, and he immediately replied,

"Aren't you going in circles? You've shown your true colors, haven't you? When the officials were presenting their congratulatory memorials, Xu Changwen submitted that memorial that insulted the emperor and father. Yesterday, the imperial decree ordered everyone to submit memorials refuting Xu Changwen, while you submitted a memorial accusing the five counties of Jiangbei of embezzlement in the jade mines. You two worked together quite well, didn't you? Of course, at the end, you added a few irrelevant sentences. In the days before that, you ran to Xu Changwen's house every night. As the world saw, Xu Dong, I'll ask you again, how did you two discuss that memorial that Xu Changwen submitted? And explain it. How can you not be a villain?"

"Eunuch Chen."

Xu Dong withdrew his arm, his eyes gradually turning cold, and he raised his head and stood up.

"It's because every time I went to Xu Changwen's house, all the things we talked about were the disaster relief in Jiangnan. Xu Changwen was worried about how many disaster victims had not been properly taken care of, how many fields had not been planted, and how much money and grain had not been delivered. He didn't mention anything about the memorials to the emperor to the emperor. Just for these two points, Xu Changwen truly has the demeanor of an ancient gentleman."

He let out a long sigh of relief and walked straight up to the high platform in front of the hall.
"Eunuch Chen, compared to him, I'm willing to admit that I'm a petty person, but not the kind of petty person you're talking about. Or rather, some people are even worse than petty people, going to great lengths to scheme!"

These words shocked everyone present. Many officials felt a tremor in their hearts when they thought of officials with the surname Xu. Could it be that all the honest and upright officials and advisors in the world came from the Xu family?

"You, you, what did you say? How dare you speak to me like that? Today is the day of judgment. He is a criminal official. Where does he get the demeanor of an ancient gentleman?"

"Xu Changwen is a man of action who dares to take responsibility for his actions and a man who doesn't involve others. Even the ancient gentlemen were no more like him."

Xu Dong's face flushed red, but his momentum remained undiminished, and his words astonished everyone present. Chen Hui also refused to back down.
"Alright, you all heard that. Since you are so protective of him, even though you are not his clansman, such protection, regardless of the emperor or father, and only considering friends, makes you a crony. Guards, arrest all of Xu Changwen's cronies and convict them according to his words. For speaking ill of the emperor and father, treason, and having colluded with cronies, the mastermind Xu Changwen deserves to be executed immediately."

The Imperial Guards immediately swarmed over, but Xu Dong paid them no heed, holding the wooden box high.

"Wait, Your Honors, here are the closing documents of the major case in Jiangnan, as well as confessions, ledgers, and other items. Among them are information on the embezzlement by people from the Directorate of Ceremonial, namely Eunuch Chen's subordinates, as well as the Twenty-Four Directorates, the eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department, and the eunuchs in charge of the wells. I hope that Your Honors will forward this to His Majesty."

At this moment, all the Imperial Guards who had surged forth stopped in their tracks.

After a while,
Chang Zuo, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, got up, walked over, took the wooden box in his hand, and when he returned, he forcefully shoved the box into Eunuch Chen's hands.

"Very well, this case report should be presented to the Emperor. Eunuch Chen, since Xu Changwen has already been convicted, let's not trouble ourselves with this matter. You will personally deliver it to the Emperor. As for your explanation, that's up to you. We'll take our leave now."

Without returning to his seat, he flicked his sleeves and walked out of the main hall first. In an instant, the civil officials sitting on both sides stood up in unison, turned around and left without saying a word. The remaining people from the Directorate of Ceremonial, even Eunuch Ma Fei, had their faces turn purplish-red.

As soon as they left, Xu Dong was also taken away, but Zhang Jinyu, at an inopportune moment, interrupted with a comment.

"Eunuch Chen is indeed efficient in handling cases, resolving them in just a few words. This Xu Dong, in my opinion, is the one with true loyalty. In this world, who doesn't have one or two close friends? If even these are considered cronies, then what are Eunuch Chen's adopted sons in the palace?"

He stood up and patted his court robes. Sitting for so long had indeed made him a little uncomfortable. Chen Hui's face darkened, and he suppressed his anger, speaking in a high-pitched voice.
"I disagree with what you say, Lord Marquis. If it were just a visit to a friend in the common people, that would be fine. But in the imperial court, factions are unacceptable. I understand that you are concerned about your students and reputation, Lord Marquis. But the Emperor Emeritus ordered all the officials to write rebuttal memorials, but you alone did not write one. What is the reason for that?"

With a sarcastic tone, Zhang Jinyu smiled slightly.
"If Eunuch Chen hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten about this matter. I didn't write the memorial because I returned to the manor too late and was too tired to remember. This morning, I came here early to hear Eunuch Chen discuss the matter. Eunuch Chen has already finished his work, so what am I supposed to write? Could it be that the eunuchs of the twenty-four palace offices are corrupt and abusive, and that they are all controlled by Eunuch Chen, Eunuch Wang, or Eunuch Li's adopted sons, who control both inside and outside the palace? And that the jade mines that entered the capital were directly divided up by someone? Xu Changwen is too ignorant. How could he spout such nonsense, saying that the Emperor Emeritus used them? Really, sigh."

He deliberately sighed, and the other presiding judges, suppressing their laughter, watched as Young Master Li quickly waved his hand.

"My lord, you are mistaken. In the palace, Eunuch Chen is now in charge. It is not accidental that he was fooled by his subordinates. Since Xu Changwen has been convicted, we cannot afford to cause any further trouble. If Lord Nan finds out and convicts Xu Dong of being a member of a faction, some things will be hard to take back."

He then sneered and, without giving Chen Hui a chance to speak, the presiding officials left the hall one by one, leaving the officials from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs inside.

"They've rebelled! They've all rebelled! I, I will definitely go to the palace and impeach them! Ma Fei, let's go back to the palace together!"

"Yes, Eunuch Chen, but Eunuch Chen, I think that after reporting to the two Sages, we should go to the Imperial Prison and have Xu Changwen confess. That way, the case will be airtight."

Ma Fei hesitated slightly. After all, today's court hearing was a one-man show by Eunuch Chen. Although he had forced a charge against him, the officials of the Six Ministries clearly disagreed. There was also the attitude of Marquis Luoyun and the words of the eldest son, Li Chaosheng. Those people in the Wuying Hall and the Grand Secretary of the Southern University were not easy to deal with.

“I have considered what you have said, but no one in the court is a match for Xu Changwen. Those who can argue with him do not speak up, and those who cannot argue with him are useless to speak up. Now that things have come to this, the Emperor Emeritus and the Emperor both need to maintain their dignity. You and I are eunuchs. If we do not share the burden of our masters, what use are we?”

Chen Hui looked worried. He was not only saying these things to them, but also to himself. Thinking of Xu Changwen in the prison, he continued.

"Let's go to the palace to report first. Then, tonight, the two of us will go and persuade Xu Changwen. Whether it's a real killing or a fake killing, the answer lies not outside, but inside." Last night, Eunuch Chen gathered people to analyze the situation, but with so many people, everyone had their own opinion. The old patriarch and Chief Steward Xia wanted to ask but dared not.

“Eunuch Chen, whether it’s a real execution or a feigned one, the crimes determined by the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs must be punished. I’ll take the things with me and go together.”

Although Ma Fei was worried, once he entered the Directorate of Ceremonial, there were some things he had to do even if he knew he couldn't overcome them.

"Okay, let's go together."

And so, after Eunuch Chen and his group left, not a single person remained in the main hall of the Ministry of Justice.

Only a minor official outside the courtyard hurriedly ran back to the side hall in the back courtyard, entered the warm pavilion, and knelt on one knee.
"Grand Secretary Song, the officials of the front courtyard, and several presiding judges have all left."

"Well, get up."

A hoarse voice rang out. Song Zhen, the Minister of Justice, shifted his body. His pale face held a hint of relief. At least he had fainted that day; otherwise, how would he have handled this situation today?

"Yes, Your Excellency,"

The junior official got up, quickly came over to help him up, and filled the Grand Secretary's bowl with tea.

"Did the Vice Minister say anything in court today?"

Remembering that Chang Zuo had taken his place as presiding judge, and wondering if he could handle it, the clerk bowed slightly, not daring to be negligent.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, today in the main hall, Eunuch Chen of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs fought against the Vice Ministers of the Six Ministries all by himself. If it weren't for the eldest son's intervention, everyone except Vice Minister Shen of the Ministry of Revenue would have been suppressed by Eunuch Chen."

"Hmph, that's for sure. It shows that the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs came prepared. How could they back down so easily? Although the Vice Ministers of the Six Ministries are talented, they are still a bit lacking in dealing with these well-hidden people. By the way, what crime did the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs charge Xu Changwen with?"

Thinking of the important matter, since the officials were unwilling to convict him, the retired emperor in the palace would certainly not let it go. Therefore, the only option was to use the people from the Directorate of Ceremonial to forcibly convict him. The clerk was astonished when he heard this.

"Your Excellency, you are truly a prophet. Today, the officials almost broke off relations with the Directorate of Ceremonial, but in the end, Eunuch Chen insisted on labeling Xu Dong, the head of the Ministry of Revenue, as a member of a faction and exiling him three thousand miles away. Then, on charges of speaking ill of the emperor and committing treason, Xu Changwen was sentenced to immediate execution. That head of the Ministry of Revenue probably won't live for many days."

In the end, there was even a hint of regret. Even Song Zhen, who had picked up the teacup, was still hanging in mid-air. If he was truly sentenced to death, why didn't the officials and Marquis Luoyun stop him? Or was there something else going on?

"Oh, the other presiding judges didn't intervene?"

That's the strange thing. The clerk shook his head, somewhat puzzled.

"Your Excellency, the officials in the hall did not stop it. I find this rather strange. Their attitudes are inconsistent, which is quite odd."

"Hmph, it's not strange at all. It's just a desperate measure to survive. We'll see how the retired emperor approves it, or how the emperor himself will react."

Thinking about the Emperor's intentions these past few days, a chill ran down my spine. Could it be that His Majesty is planning something?
Outside the Ministry of Justice,
As the officials departed, the number of carriages and sedan chairs parked at the gate decreased significantly. Zhang Jinyu stood beside the carriage, feeling slightly annoyed, and bowed slightly to the eldest son.
"Brother Li, give me the truth. Based on today's conviction, Xu Changwen can really save his life."

Zhang Jinyu lingered, still worried, and decided to get to the bottom of things. The eldest son, Li Chaosheng, stopped, slightly cupped his hands, and nodded and shook his head.

"What you asked, Lord Marquis, is also what we want to know. However, based on the news that has been circulating in the palace these past few days, Xu Changwen's life should be spared, but whether he can still keep his official position is uncertain."

The relationship between ruler and subject is a subject of sage wisdom; who could possibly like a truly upright minister, one of the few in the world?

"Sigh, it's good that he survives. It's just a matter of not returning to officialdom. If that doesn't work, give him a job as a copyist and let him live a good life. It's better than losing his life in officialdom."

Zhang Jinyu didn't care about these things. If he wanted to become an official after he got out, he would rather go to the border region. If he wanted to be a wealthy man, he could marry into the Feng family. With the Feng family's wealth, he would be able to live a life of comfort and ease.

"Very well, after the trial and sentencing today, news will surely come from the palace. Your Excellency can just wait to enter the palace; there's no rush."

The eldest son smiled, but inwardly he was unconvinced. Even if the court didn't use Xu Changwen, a talented and incorruptible minister, the people outside the Great Wall might not. But his words didn't reflect this.

"Alright, then I'll take your kind words, Brother Li. Please."

Zhang Jinyu cupped his hands in greeting and strode away, taking a single step back into the carriage.

"Ningbian, go to the Feng family."

"Yes, Lord Marquis."

As the convoy departed, the area outside the Ministry of Justice's main hall immediately became deserted.

Only the various markets and wards of the capital city remained bustling with people, a scene of peace and prosperity. Ningrong Street, near the East Market, had become a gathering place for many small vendors. Many members of the Jia family, taking advantage of the excitement of the construction of the gardens in the Ning and Rong mansions, would come to their stalls to eat a few snacks. As time went on, the liveliness at the entrance grew stronger and stronger. This place even attracted business people from the surrounding wards to come here, rent a few houses on the south side, knock down the walls, and convert them into shops.

Inside the Rongguo Mansion,

Wang Xifeng, accompanied by Ping'er and a few servants, hurriedly entered Rongqing Hall with food boxes. As soon as they entered, they saw that the room was already full of people. The three maids, along with Shi Xiangyun and Baoyu, were sitting together, eating snacks and discussing something, their laughter never ceasing.

On the kang (heated brick bed) in the main room, Grandmother Jia sat cross-legged. Several old women stood to the west, fanning themselves and bringing a cool breeze to the room. Even the First Madam, Madam Xing, and the Second Madam, Madam Wang, stayed in the room with their maids to keep her company.

"Oh dear! So everyone is here with the Ancestor. I was just saying earlier that we should invite Sanchun to come over and have a chat with the Ancestor."

After lifting the curtain, Wang Xifeng, dressed in an apricot-yellow silk skirt, walked in with her hands on her hips. Her steps were large and her footsteps were heavy, attracting the attention of everyone in the room. Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia smiled and said;
"You monkey, come on in, why are you saying such offensive things? Come in now."

Before the words had even finished, Tan Chun raised her head, cleared her throat, and repeated a line.
"Hey, you monkey, you're here now, why are you saying such rude things? Come on in."

The imitation was so lifelike that it delighted the old lady, bringing tears to her eyes. Wang Xifeng raised an eyebrow, immediately rushed over, and started teasing Tan Chun.
"Well, you even dare to joke with me now,"

Amidst the commotion, Jia Baoyu's mood instantly improved, and the weariness he had shown yesterday vanished.

"Second sister-in-law, why are you bullying people like this? It's just that you're a little late. I wonder what delicious food Ping'er is holding."

Changing the subject, Tan Chun smiled, her face flushed, and she raised her hand to block her second sister-in-law's hands. She peeked over and saw that Ping'er was indeed carrying two food boxes.

"Alright, I'll let you off this time. It's quite a coincidence. Ping'er took some people out of the manor to buy brocade from Jiangnan. It just so happened that Yaoji Shop in the East Market had made a new pastry called something like Jiangnan Misty Rain. Ping'er found it interesting, so she bought a few packs and sent them over for the old lady to try."

Zhuan Tou glanced at Ping'er and gave her a meaningful look. Ping'er understood and distributed the food box to the maids behind her. Then she served it to the old lady and the others. As soon as it was opened, a fragrant aroma wafted out, and Grandmother Jia remarked with delight.
"This is?"

(End of this chapter)