My Lord, your wife is spreading rumors about you again.

Chapter 58 Ming Boyuan Returns to Beijing

Was it a failure to come to welcome you in person?

So this guy thinks the Kyoto government office is already in his pocket?
The next moment, Shen Ke smiled again and said, "I heard that a big case happened in the Kyoto government office, and Lord Sui Zheng is personally trying the case. Second brother, this matter involves the Ming, Mo, and Zang families, all of whom are your disciples. Second brother, you are not worried, right?"

"What are you talking about, my prince?" Shen Heng was horrified and said anxiously, "I have always respected my father and brother. The most taboo thing in the court is forming a clique for personal gain. Prime Minister Ming, Lord Mo, and Lord Zang are all court officials who are loyal to our father. How can they be my disciples? Please don't say that again, my prince. It really scares me to death!"

Shen Ke secretly sneered twice in his heart, but his face did not change at all: "Then it is indeed my elder brother who made a mistake in speaking. I hope my second brother will forgive me and be lenient to me!"

The two of them exchanged pleasantries as usual, and Shen Ke stopped smiling and walked into the hall. Shen Heng's face darkened as well, and he took out a white handkerchief that he had prepared earlier from his sleeve and wiped all the skin that had come into contact with Shen Ke.

The moment he stepped into the lobby, Shen Heng threw the white handkerchief to the ground and was trampled on by the guards behind him.

"Your Highness, I pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. May He live a thousand years and be blessed with good health! Your Highness, I pay my respects to His Highness the Second Prince. May He live a long and healthy life!"

The Crown Prince and the Second Prince have always been at odds with each other.

Although the Crown Prince was not favored by His Majesty, he was the eldest son, and he had the support of the Lin and Zhang families, one civil and one military, as well as a group of veteran officials in the court. As for the Second Prince, being a bastard and having foreign blood was his biggest stain, but he had the support of the Imperial Consort Yun and the power of the Western Yun Kingdom. Even if he could not be crowned as an emperor in the future and could only be made a king, I am afraid Shen Ke would not tolerate him.

They are natural enemies, and it's a fight between you and me.

The two of them appeared here together, and they must have their own agenda, so Sui Zheng did not wait for them to ask, and took the lead to say: "Your Highnesses, the trial of this case has been completed. Do you want to hear the results of the trial?"

"What did Lord Sui say? Is the trial over?" Shen Heng frowned. He pointed at Mo Zhao who was already in shackles and asked, "Lord Mo is the Imperial Censor of Lianghuai Salt, and his rank is equal to yours. It's not appropriate for Lord Sui to try this case."

As he spoke, Shen Heng looked at Cheng Wusi, who was cowering on the side, and smiled harmlessly, "Sir Cheng, you are the governor of Kyoto, but why are you sitting in the audience seat? Are you tired of being the governor and want to take off your official hat and retire to your hometown?"

Cheng Wusi was terrified and knelt down quickly: "Second Prince, please understand! I dare not die, but...but Lord Sui is the chief judge of the salt transport case appointed by Your Majesty, and he said that Lord Mo's case involves salt transport, so..."

"Oh." Shen Heng dragged out the last word: "Master Cheng, what you mean by this is that you are using my father to pressure me as his son?"

Cheng Wusi kowtowed repeatedly: "No, no! I have absolutely no such intention!"

"Second brother." Shen Ke spoke up to help, "Lord Cheng is also following the law. Lord Sui is the head of the Inspectorate. If it is related to a case designated by the emperor, he does have the right to intercept and personally examine the case. Don't scare Lord Cheng."

Shen Heng smiled sweetly: "Look how anxious you are, Prince. I was just joking with Master Cheng, how could you be so serious?"

Shen Ke ignored him.

He glanced at Mo Zhengfeng who was lying unconscious on the ground, Mo Zhao who was sitting on the ground like a dead ashes, and the command arrows scattered on the ground. He then exchanged a glance with Zhang Zhi, and when he saw him raise his eyebrows, he knew that their goal had been achieved.

Shen Ke cleared his throat and said, "Sir Sui, has the case been sorted out?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, all matters here have been concluded. I am preparing to write the memorial and submit it to Prime Minister Lin, and then your majesty will approve it." Sui Zheng briefly recounted the general details of the three cases.

Shen Ke felt relieved after hearing this. The Mo and Zang families had encountered troubles one after another, and Mo Zhao and his son had caused such a scandal. Even if His Majesty still had selfish motives to transport the salt to the second son, he could not withstand the pressure from the ministers.

The power of salt transportation can finally be taken back.

He turned to look at Shen Heng, whose face was dark, and said in a relaxed tone: "I didn't expect that Mo Zhao would be such a pest to the country. Second brother, you have always been close to the Mo family. Didn't you see anything before?"

"People's hearts are hidden. Brother Crown Prince, I am not a god, and I don't know how to read minds, so how can I know?" Shen Heng had fallen so hard that he was naturally in a bad mood. "However, if Brother Crown Prince is sure that Mo Zhao's behavior is related to me, I can also plead guilty under the pressure of the Crown Prince."

Shen Ke sneered when he heard this: "Are you trying to make me appear unkind, unjust and disloyal with what you said? If you are innocent, you should find a way to prove your innocence. Or is it that I am guilty and you really know what Mo Zhao did? Or are you also involved in the salt transport case?"

"Your Highness is joking." Shen Heng's face immediately darkened and he said through gritted teeth.

“Hahahahahahaha” Shen Ke laughed with his head raised, and patted Shen Heng on the shoulder, “I was just talking casually, don’t take it seriously!”

Shen Heng could not swallow this humiliation even if he died. He hunched his shoulders and shook off Shen Ke's hand.

"Sir Sui, I have heard of your reputation for being upright. But you are the head of the Inspectorate. The order of examining the case, proposing the case, and reporting the case is really inappropriate."

"Not right?" Sui Zheng was puzzled. "What's wrong? Please enlighten me, Your Highness."

Shen Heng said confidently, "My father appointed two prime ministers. Prime Minister Lin Weilin is the right prime minister, in charge of the three ministries of Zhongshu, Shangshu and Menxia, ​​as well as the three ministries of Works, War and Households. Prime Minister Ming Boyuan is the left prime minister, in charge of the three law departments, the Salt and Iron Department, as well as the three ministries of Personnel, Punishment and Rites." Shen Heng folded his hands across his chest and paced back and forth in the lobby of the Kyoto government office, his eyes always inadvertently sweeping over Mingli and Zhang Zhi.

He smiled and said, "The salt transport case is under the jurisdiction of the Salt and Iron Department, and the investigation and handling of the case is under the jurisdiction of the Three Law Departments, so this case should be handed over to the Prime Minister."

Sui Zheng nodded: "Your Highness is right. According to the rules, it is indeed necessary to report to Prime Minister Ming first. But Your Highness should know that Prime Minister Ming has been ordered by the Emperor to leave the capital for work and has not returned yet. His Majesty has issued an oral order that after Prime Minister Ming leaves the capital, all reports from various departments should be submitted to Prime Minister Lin first."

"Yes."

The smile on Shen Heng's face deepened.

"Sui sir also said that it was after the prime minister left the capital. But now, the prime minister has returned. Whether it is the Kyoto Prefecture, the Dali Temple, or the cases handled by your Inspectorate, they all need to pass the hurdle of the prime minister."

Not only Sui Zheng, but everyone present was stunned. Ming Boyuan is back?

Shen Ke immediately gave a look to a guard behind him, and the guard understood and quietly retreated to find out the news.

(End of this chapter)