Ink Burns

Chapter 217 Retribution for the Instigator

Emperor Yongping slightly lifted the beaded curtain in front of him, revealing his completely somber and cold face.

Why did the emperor wear a nine-tassel crown? The crown has twelve tassels on the front and back, and each tassel has twelve jade beads in red, yellow, blue, white and black. This concealed the emperor's expression and prevented his officials from easily guessing his mood and preferences.

At this time, Emperor Yongping openly displayed his joys and sorrows for others to consider.

Most of those who were outraged fell silent.

Chang Lin, however, was a resilient monkey, never satisfied, and continued to provoke Xiao Po. His words were nothing more than two points: first, to belittle Xiao Po's low rank and uncouth behavior; and second, to belittle the Censorate as useless officials.

"Alright—" Emperor Yongping said in a deep voice. Although his voice was low, it was not as hoarse and sinister as Xue Xiao's. Instead, it was clear and calm: "There is no need for the Censorate to remonstrate or impeach me. I will make my own decision. It was the Marquis of Guanbei who went too far. The court assembly has its own rules. The Marquis of Guanbei will be fined three months' salary and confined to his residence for one month. He will be allowed to leave his residence on the days of the court assembly."

The punishment was carried out.

However, the intractable dispute in the imperial court persisted.

On one hand, there are the elders who helped him rise to power; on the other hand, there is an old case with suspicious details. In any case, a solution must be decided at today's court meeting.

To investigate or not to investigate?

Emperor Yongping lowered the tassels and beaded curtain of his crown, shutting out his joy and anger once again, seemingly caught in a dilemma.

Amid the chaos, Cui Bainian subtly raised his eyes, his gaze landing precisely on Yuan Wenying, the second-ranking Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, who sat in the first row of civil officials.

Yuan Wenying withdrew her gaze, cleared her throat, and coughed lightly: "Ahem—"

The situation gradually calmed down in both the court and the public.

Yuan Wenying stepped forward, holding a jade tablet, and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should say it or not."

When someone says something like this, it usually means, "I really want to say this."

Emperor Yongping raised his hand slightly: "Please speak, teacher."

Yuan Wenying nodded obediently: "According to the laws of the Great Wei Dynasty, the retroactive period for a case should not exceed twenty years."

The court and the public fell completely silent, with only Yuan Wenying's voice speaking softly.

"The Duzhou dike breach occurred in September of the twenty-third year of Zhaode, nearly twenty-one years ago. According to the laws of the Great Wei Dynasty—" Yuan Wenying shook his head with a slight smile: "It should not be investigated."

Xiao Po's eyes widened, and his short, thin body seemed to have been struck by lightning: it was as if he never expected that Yuan Wenying would argue from this point!
Who can say the law is wrong?!

Who can say the law is wrong?!

The foundation of a nation is the law!
All his previous persuasive guidance, assertion, accusation, and traps were wasted!

"So, according to the teacher, we won't investigate further?" Emperor Yongping asked in a low voice from his throne.

"Whether you investigate or not, it's all up to you." Yuan Wenying bowed deeply, his attitude humble: "You are the emperor. Even if you dig up old bones for the coroner to examine and overturn the case, it would be a divine favor."

Top-tier civil officials are so eloquent that their words carry weight. Every word or phrase they utter is a trap, perfectly designed to trap the person they wish to implicate.

Yuan Wenying's words implied that while an emperor could certainly wield power and do whatever he wanted, including violating the law, if he actually did so, he would only have power, not credibility.

Emperor Yongping fell silent.

Both the government and the public remained silent.

In the silence, under the blazing sun, nearing noon, ice cages and ice jars were placed in the four corners of the Qian Yuan Hall, and the dissipating white ice mist swirled around the jars.

In the long silence, a hesitant voice sounded behind Xiao Po. "The case of Su Shen, the former Minister of Works and Commissioner of River Transport, was closed in September of the twenty-third year of Zhaode. However, the case of Su Yu, the former Left Commander of the Five Armies and Commander of the Northern Frontier, was closed in September of the twenty-fourth year of Zhaode, which is still three months away from the twentieth year."

Xiao Po suddenly looked back.

The chubby, fair-skinned Xiong Laowu, dressed in a newly made dark green official robe with cormorant patches for a fifth-rank civil official, looked like a fresh green dumpling. He timidly spoke with his neck hunched over. Before Xue Xiao's mourning period, he had just promoted Xiong Laowu from a sixth-rank provincial governor to a fifth-rank right vice censor, thus gaining the right to attend court assemblies.

He didn't even know what he had done right. He just kept talking to Yao Zaozheng about some things. Oh, and he was even fighting with the scumbag from the Jingzhao Yin at Tianxiang Tower for the sake of their aloof and refined Lord Xue!

It's definitely the latter.

Lord Xue remained silent, but he was actually watching him closely.

Lord Xue's loyalty is evident to the Fifth Prince; how could the Fifth Prince bear to let him lose!
Ying Ying Ying.

Xiong Laowu lowered his head, awkwardly raised his pinky finger, and tucked the beard next to his official hat. He knew that everyone in the court and the country was watching him, but he had to be brave!
“We can start our investigation from the northern frontier,” Xiong Laowu said, twisting his body slightly inside his official robes.

Cui Bainian looked away, his hands gripping the jade tablet tightly inside his sleeves, his gaze seemingly glancing backward.

Who is this person from the Censorate?

He had never even heard of this fat man before!

Once he became brave, Xiong Laowu's thoughts flowed freely, and he spoke eloquently: "This case is clearly suspicious. If we suppress it and do not investigate, wouldn't that chill the hearts of loyal ministers!"

Their hearts belong to Lord Xue!
The main problem was that it broke Lord Xue's heart!

“If the law forbids something, then we shall do what is permissible! The Su family is one entity. If we cannot investigate Su Shen, then we shall investigate Su Yu!” Xiong Laowu suddenly remembered that there were also loopholes in the ledgers: “This humble servant remembers that there was a payment in that ledger that was a year late! It was a transaction between the Zhen family, salt merchants from Songjiang Prefecture! The painting was purchased in August of the twenty-third year of Zhaode, but the payment was delayed by a year, that is, in August of the twenty-fourth year of Zhaode! As of today, there are still two months left to reach the twenty-year mark!”

Xiao Po immediately lowered his head, knelt on both knees, and bowed his head to plead: "Please, Your Majesty, thoroughly investigate this old case!"

There were no more than three officials of the fifth rank or above in the Censorate.

But the sound of these three people was enough to stop hundreds of restless butterflies from fluttering their wings.

"We beg Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate this old case!"

"We beg Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate this old case!"

Cui Bainian and Yuan Wenying exchanged a glance, silently closed their eyes, and felt a turbulent surge of emotions within them.

"check."

The young emperor made the final decision: "The Censorate shall conduct a thorough investigation, with Xiao Po taking the lead and the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief assisting, to rigorously investigate the case of the Guanzhai account books in accordance with the imperial decree."

Cui Bainian finally strode out with an air of dominance.

"Does Marquis Wuding have any suggestions?" Emperor Yongping asked.

Cui Bainian respectfully lowered his chin and bowed deeply: "Your humble servant is apprehensive. This is not a suggestion, but rather a remonstrance."

"speak."

"Since there's a beginning and an end, a thorough investigation is necessary. My Northern Frontier Army will fully cooperate. There's only one point—" Cui Bainian paused slightly, "The Grand Princess's recent heart palpitations and chest tightness have flared up again. Your Majesty, you naturally know that when the late Emperor passed away, the Grand Princess cared for him tirelessly for nearly ten days and nights, which is why she has accumulated this ailment. Sealing off her residence is far too much for her. If there is even the slightest mishap, the Grand Princess's situation is minor, but Your Majesty's reputation is of utmost importance."

Emperor Yongping remained silent for a long time, his crown swaying, and the five-colored beaded curtain swaying.

"The Grand Princess's residence must not be sealed off. Start the investigation from Jiangnan, and once you have gathered evidence, proceed all the way north to Shanhaiguan. You must thoroughly investigate and verify this case!"

"To clear the name of the wronged and to bring retribution upon the instigator."