Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 275 A Gift from an Old Friend
The entire Suzaku Avenue suddenly cooled down.

The faces of the group of officials froze, turning to astonishment.

Li Zhao pulled on the reins, and the black horse reared up, letting out a long neigh.

He looked down at the "beggar" who was pinned to the ground, still struggling and screaming, and remained silent.

"Outrageous! Who dares to make such a disturbance and disturb the imperial procession? And to slander a high-ranking official of the court?" A Ministry of Rites official in a scarlet robe shouted sternly from the front of the ceremonial procession, veins bulging on his forehead.

"Take him away and make sure he doesn't disrupt the ceremonial procession!"

The "beggar" seemed to have risked his life. Even with his face pressed to the ground, he still struggled to stand up and stared intently at Li Zhao, who was high on his horse, repeating his blood-and-tears accusations with all his might.

"Your Highness! Guo Zhaohuai, the eldest son of the Zheng State Duke's family, abused his power and colluded with unscrupulous merchants to smuggle military supplies... During the snow disaster at Heifeng Pass, soldiers on the front lines froze and starved to death, and epidemics raged... Those life-saving rations... warm cotton clothing and medicine... were all embezzled by these parasites... and exchanged for mountains of gold and silver..."

He had a bloody mark on his forehead.

During the struggle, he pulled out a bloodstained ledger and a secret letter from his bosom, and with all his might, ran to Li Zhao's horse.

"This humble citizen possesses written evidence of crimes committed by Guo Zhaoxuan, the fourth young master of the Guo family, as well as ledgers showing the Guo family's embezzlement of military supplies! I request Your Highness to review them."

"The evidence is there, and there is no denying it—we beg Your Highness to see the truth! We urge you to seek justice for the soldiers who died unjustly..."

"Wow—"

The crowd erupted in chaos!

"Utterly depraved! Beast! Bloodthirsty beast!"

The roar was deafening. The previous silence was replaced by an even more surging roar.

The ledger and secret letter were left on the bluestone slab in front of Li Zhaoma.

A thread-bound booklet, its pages yellowed and its edges curled.

The surroundings were deathly silent.

All eyes were focused on the crown prince on horseback.

At this moment, Guo Pi suddenly realized what was happening and screamed in a fit of rage.

"Seize him! Seize this madman who slandered an imperial official and disturbed the imperial procession!"

Several fierce soldiers immediately pounced on him, pinning down the still struggling and screaming "beggar," covering his mouth, and silencing him.

Two other soldiers quickly stepped forward to pick up the account books from the ground.

"Wait!"

A deep and imposing voice rang out.

Li Zhao slowly raised his hand.

The hands, clad in black iron arm guards, were as cold and hard as ice in the sunlight.

The lifting and lowering of the object was done without a trace of smoke or fire.

"Guanya".

"My subordinate is here!"

"Send it up."

The man who had been following closely behind Li Zhaoma had a long sword at his waist. He solemnly clasped his hands in a fist and accepted the order, dismounted, bent down, and respectfully presented the account book.

Li Zhao lowered his eyes, took the book, and flipped through it, his knuckles turning bluish-white from the force.

"Duke of Zheng, what do you have to say?"

Before Guo Pi could even open his mouth to refute, Guo Zhaohuai's expression changed.

But he knew what he was doing, so he straightened his back and remained relatively calm.

"Your Highness, this matter is pure slander. Since the beginning of the war in the Western Frontier, some people have colluded with traitors to maliciously frame us, attempting to destroy the Guo family and destabilize the court. The account books are fake. The so-called secret letter is also undoubtedly a forgery."

"Whether it's fake or not, you'll know once you check it."

Li Zhao's voice was cold and indifferent, without any inflection.

"Yuan Cang".

"Your subordinate is here!" Yuan Cang immediately stepped forward.

"Summon the officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review, along with their clerks and recorders who are well-versed in documents and finances, to come and examine the handwriting and quantities against the archives of the Ministry of War and the military supplies files, verifying each item one by one." Li Zhao's voice was clear and cold.

"Yes, sir!" Yuan Cang accepted the order and left.

Before long, several officials dressed in civil servant attire hurried forward.

They were all officials in charge of judicial and criminal matters, responsible for document examination and evidence verification, and were proficient in criminal law, finance, and document authentication.

Seeing this, Li Huan frowned slightly, stepped forward, lowered his voice, and bowed.

"Your Highness, it would be better to return to the palace first and then send someone to investigate thoroughly... There are too many people on the street, and it's bound to cause a disturbance and lead to trouble..."

"Let's examine it here in public."

Li Zhao's tone was cold and hard as he looked at the account book in his subordinate's hand, and there was still only one word.

"Verification."

The officials dared not delay and immediately gathered around Guan Ya.

"Your Highness!" Duke Guo Pi of Zheng could no longer remain silent.

His hair and beard stood on end as he stepped out from the crowd, bowing deeply to Li Zhao, his voice trembling with grief and indignation.

"What happened today is clearly a frame-up plotted by the traitors! My Guo family has been loyal for generations, and I myself have guarded the western frontier for the court for more than ten years... How could I have ever had the slightest intention to collude with the enemy? Your Highness, please investigate carefully! You must not listen to such mad words and chill the hearts of loyal ministers and generals!"

He spoke with righteous indignation, tears streaming down his face, as if he had suffered a great injustice.

However, before he could finish speaking, a more furious and hoarse roar erupted from the crowd, drowning out his lament:

"Bullshit! You old dog Guo! Open your dog eyes and see! What your grandson embezzled was my son's life-saving grain! It was the money meant for the lives of our brothers who were dying from the incurable plague... Heaven has eyes... Your Highness, when you return victorious, you must avenge our fallen soldiers..."

The one who shouted these words was an elderly farmer with white hair who was pounding his chest and stamping his feet in grief over the loss of his beloved son.

His eyes were bloodshot, and if he hadn't been held back by those around him, he would have rushed out and torn the Duke of Zheng apart!

"Yes! Kill them!"

"Avenge our fallen soldiers!"

"You corrupt official! Pay with your life! You must pay for this debt in blood!"

Public anger was ignited, and resentment was instantly aroused.

Suppressed anger erupted like a volcano, and the roars of condemnation converged into a towering wave. Those nobles who were usually high and mighty were now filled with fear and tension.

This was the first time since the founding of the dynasty that commoners had stormed the imperial procession in the streets.

These people appear to be spontaneous victims, yet they also seem to be manipulated.

Choosing such an occasion is clearly an attempt to force the imperial court to make a statement.

"Duke Zheng, do not interfere with your subordinates' investigation and evidence collection."

Li Zhao sat on his horse, his cold gaze sweeping across the entire scene, finally settling on the deathly silent figures of the imperial family and officials.

He paused for a moment, then let out another cold laugh.

"The Right Guard Commander of the Eastern Palace, listen to my command: Anyone who obstructs the inspection or destroys evidence will be investigated as an accomplice."

"As ordered!"

The rustling sound of turning pages was particularly clear and jarring in the deathly silence.

The officials occasionally whispered among themselves, their expressions growing increasingly solemn.

After repeated comparisons, the Director of the Ministry of Justice finally nodded slowly but with absolute certainty to Li Zhao.

"Your Highness: After careful comparison, we have found that the handwriting in this book is completely consistent with the handwritten signatures and annotations in the archives of the Ministry of War, and there is no doubt that it was written by the same person."

The registrar then added, "The quantities, times, and transfer parties of military rations, cotton clothing, and medicines recorded in the register match the verified deficit amounts in the case file of the military supplies corruption case in many places."

The proof is like a mountain!

No verdict is needed; this statement says it all.

"thump!"

Guo Zhaohuai, who had been forcing himself to stay upright, finally lost all color in his face.

His lips trembled, and large beads of sweat rolled down his face.

“Impossible, there’s no such thing as a military supply ledger. It’s fake. Grandfather, it must be fake.”

Duke Guo Pi of Zheng felt a sudden darkness engulf him, staggered a step, and was only prevented from falling by the support of the guards beside him.

He pointed at his grandson, who was lying limp on the ground, his fingers trembling, and then he choked on his breath and fainted.

"My lord!"

"grandfather!"

The crowd suddenly became commotion.

Li Zhao coldly observed the chaos before him.

After a long while, he slowly raised his hand and made a downward pressing gesture.

The surging noise subsided, leaving only suppressed sobs.

All eyes of the common people were fixed on the crown prince, filled with longing...

"Guo Zhaohuai of the Duke of Zheng's Mansion—" Li Zhao finally spoke, "As an Assistant Director of the Ministry of War's Treasury, he embezzled military supplies, sold them illegally, and misappropriated grain and salaries, causing soldiers on the front lines to freeze, starve, and die from disease. The evidence is conclusive, and his crimes are unforgivable." His voice was not loud, but every word was like a hammer blow, as if it would resound in every corner of the Imperial Street.

"Immediately escort him to the Ministry of Justice prison and place him under strict guard. He will be thoroughly investigated and convicted after I have an audience with the Emperor!"

After saying that, he looked at Guo Pi, who was about to faint.

"Duke Guo Pi of Zheng has failed in his duty to educate his grandson and has been lax in managing his subordinates; he cannot escape blame! From this moment forward, he is to be confined to his residence and reflect on his actions. No one in the residence may leave without imperial decree! Anyone who disobeys will be treated as an accomplice..."

Li Zhao executed the powerful Duke of Zheng in the street without seeking an imperial decree.

Because he possessed an imperial sword, which Emperor Chongzhao had personally granted him permission to "act expediently," the power bestowed by the emperor was akin to a royal decree, and no one dared to question his decision at that moment.

"Take him down!" Guan Ya repeated sharply. With a wave of his hand, the fierce Imperial Guards immediately stepped forward and dragged Guo Zhaohuai up like a dead dog.

Guo Zhaohuai was limp all over, his eyes unfocused and lifeless.

He couldn't understand why he had ended up in such a predicament...

The account books had long been destroyed, so how could they have fallen into the hands of a courier?

And that bastard Guo Zhaoxuan, why would he betray his family and write down his crimes?

He was filled with doubts, but had no way to refute them.

The streets were completely silent, save for the fluttering of the flags in the wind.

No one expected that the Crown Prince would actually hold a public reprimand on the Imperial Street.

Decisive and ruthless, with thunderous methods.

There was no room for the Duke of Zheng's family to breathe or maneuver...

"Your Highness is wise!" After a brief silence, someone took the lead, and many officials, especially those from the Crown Prince's faction and those with grudges against the Guo family, bowed and echoed.

Li Huan looked at Guo Pi, whose face was ashen, with a complex and unreadable expression.

"Your Highness is insightful and decisive; we are deeply impressed."

"Your Majesty flatters me. I was merely sharing the burdens of the Emperor and Father. It's nothing to boast about."

Having dealt with this earth-shattering change, Li Zhao's gaze once again turned coldly to the half-rolled bamboo curtain on the second floor of the teahouse.

Behind the curtain, the figure still stood quietly, the light veil on her hat fluttering in the breeze, as if she were just an inconspicuous one among the thousands of onlookers on the Imperial Street. The storm that she had personally ignited and that almost burned down a top nobleman had nothing to do with her.

A hint of coldness appeared in Li Zhao's eyes.

A silent, raging storm suddenly exploded in the void.

The entanglement of Gu poison, the heart-wrenching process to cure it, the flames of war in the Western Frontier, the undercurrents in the capital...

Countless images flashed by like fragments, finally settling in each other's eyes—

One is a cold-blooded avenger under the ancient Buddha and the dim lamp.

One is a ruthless crown prince who has been tempered in the crucible of death.

What lies between them is the hustle and bustle of the Imperial Street, the chasm of power, and an abyss that can never be bridged.

Li Zhao took a deep look, then suddenly pulled on the reins.

"drive!"

The black horse let out a long neigh and reared up on its front hooves.

The chaos, cries, discussions, and even awe behind him were all left far behind by his armored back. His cloak billowed wildly like a burning banner, relentlessly pushing him toward the open Chengtian Gate, toward the majestic imperial city that symbolized supreme power, as he sped toward it...

The gray-clad nun and the black-armored crown prince completed a silent handover in this battlefield of power and hatred.

Xue Sui handed over the knife that served as "evidence," and Li Zhao, with the coldest of ruthless authority, personally beheaded her enemy...

In this vast and complex world, she won this round with a ruthless and perfect victory.

The dust has finally settled.

However, the storm has only just begun.
-
On the second floor of the teahouse, bamboo curtains swayed gently.

Jinshu stepped forward, her voice carrying a barely perceptible breathlessness.

"Young lady, it's done. But your injury..."

Xue Sui did not respond.

She slowly raised her left hand, which she had been clenching tightly, and opened her palm.

The prayer beads on her wrist were broken, but the thin string was still there.

"It's a superficial wound, nothing to worry about."

After a long silence, he sighed very softly.

"Go back."

She turned around, her skirt brushing past a few sandalwood beads that had rolled to the ground, without pausing.

In the back alley of the teahouse, a slightly worn-out carriage had been waiting for a long time.

The driver was a kind-looking old man. When he saw them come out, he silently put down his footstool.

Xue Sui stepped onto the carriage using a footstool, with Jinshu and the other two following closely behind.

The carriage curtain was drawn, shutting out everything outside.

The clear, rumbling sound rolled over the bluestone slabs, heading towards the Shuiyue Temple outside the city.

Ahead, the crowd was slowly dispersing, buzzing with discussion.

The carriage that Xue Sui rode in was as inconspicuous as a drop of water flowing into a river.

The carriage was dimly lit, and the atmosphere was somber.

She removed her veil, revealing a face so thin it was almost transparent.

"The murky waters of the Duke of Zheng's mansion have finally been stirred up."

The letter should be.

"The Crown Prince's methods were more efficient than expected."

Xiao Zhao couldn't understand the subtle meaning in their conversation. She stared at the wound on Xue Sui's arm, feeling quite dejected.

"It's all my fault for being so inconsiderate. I was too busy watching the Crown Prince's triumphant return... I'll be more vigilant next time and won't let you get hurt again..."

Xue Sui's lips curled slightly, as if he were smiling, but he wasn't.

Wasn't she also distracted by the spectacle?

However, the assassination attempt against her was suspicious. Was it really Ping Le's doing, or was someone deliberately creating a diversion to drag her into the vortex of conflict?
She leaned against the wall of the room, her eyes closed, her long eyelashes casting tired shadows beneath them.

That thrilling scheming and confrontation from afar seemed to have exhausted her strength.

Jinshu dared not disturb them, so she lifted a corner of the carriage curtain to let in a cool breeze carrying the scent of dust after the rain.

The carriage slowed down after leaving the city.

The wheels rolled over the loess soil, raising fine dust.

In the distance, the outline of the mountains where Shuiyue Temple is located can be faintly seen under the clear autumn sky.

The bluish-gray mountain ridges were silent and serene.

Just as they were about to turn off the official road...

The carriage jolted violently.

From outside the carriage curtain came the driver's nervous voice.

"Miss, there's someone blocking the car ahead."

Xue Sui slowly opened his eyes and lifted a corner of the carriage curtain.

On the shaded side road, there stood a blue-draped carriage, unmarked but of impressive design.

Sitting on the carriage shaft was none other than the ever-smiling Grand Eunuch, Lai Fu, who always stood beside Crown Prince Li Zhao.

"May Master Miaozhen be well."

When Lai Fu saw the carriage curtain being lifted, he quickly walked to Xue Sui's carriage window and bowed deeply.

"His Highness the Crown Prince decrees: The Imperial Street was disturbed today, and Master was frightened. His Highness has prepared some tea at Youhuang Residence to calm Master's nerves. Please come and have a chat with Master."

Xue Sui looked up, the dim light from the car window falling on her thin face, her eyes calm and undisturbed.

"Please tell Your Highness that I am a nun who lives outside the secular world and it is inappropriate for me to get involved in worldly affairs."

"Master Miaozhen—"

Lai Fu paused, lowered his voice, and grinned so wide his eyes disappeared.

"His Highness said, 'It is imperative to reciprocate the courtesy of an old friend.'"

No room for compromise, no room for resistance.

It is Li Zhao.

The original Li Zhao.

　Laifu: Sigh, why make things difficult for someone like me who has been castrated...

　　Li Zhao: Drag him away and punish him severely... He will be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver.

　　Laifu: I can do it, I can do anything! Please torture me as much as you like.

　　(End of this chapter)