The playboy county magistrate

Li Xuanzhi knew even better that the emperor was the only person he could rely on at the moment.

If I can't even handle this small matter, the emperor will definitely not give me any more important positions in the future. Then those court officials who have offended me intentionally or unintentionally will definitely seize the opportunity to make me suffer.

At this point, the best course of action is to remain calm, investigate further, and then carefully consider what can and cannot be reported. When reporting, one must determine how to do so in a way that avoids damaging the emperor's reputation, enhances his authority, and ultimately brings greater benefits to oneself.

Li Xuanzhi suddenly understood why people say that those who play politics have dirty hearts.

The current evidence is sufficient to convict Gao Huai'an of a serious crime. However, it can only convict Gao Huai'an alone of a serious crime.

This evidence suggests that the Princess's residence is involved in corruption, which cannot form a closed loop, let alone pull out the radish and bring down the other grasshoppers on the rope of the powerful.

The other side consists of cunning, powerful, and influential people who are likely to stick together and have a backup plan.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the courtyard. A guard rushed in, looking flustered, and knelt down to report urgently:

"Lord Li! A sudden fire has broken out in the warehouse of a merchant house in the southern suburbs of the city. The fire raged all night long. The guards on duty were unable to stop it, and all the stored goods and archives inside were burned!"

boom--

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone's expression changed drastically.

The warehouse in the south of the city was the central archive for Gao Huai'an's relatives' businesses. It contained years of untapped ledgers, damaged bills, and secret transaction records.

Without a doubt, it must be a secret order from the capital arriving in Jinling. The remaining agents in the shadows worked through the night to burn down the warehouses and destroy the remaining evidence.

The purpose was to completely cut off all clues, leaving Li Xuanzhi with nothing to investigate.

The opponent moved swiftly and ruthlessly, without the slightest hesitation.

Li Xuanzhi slowly raised his eyes and looked towards the south of the city.

The firelight glowed faintly red, and thick smoke obscured the dawn. The raging flames burned the account books and concealed overwhelming evidence of crimes.

The firelight was so intense that it made one's eyes feel cold.

"Well done." Li Xuanzhi said in a low voice, his tone calm but chilling.

The other party went so far as to burn years of business archives and spend countless secret arrangements to ensure that Li Xuanzhi would have no way to find out anything.

This clearly demonstrates that these account books are irrefutable evidence.

Tang Zheng hurriedly cupped his hands in greeting, "Young Master! The fire has just started; there may still be some fragments remaining. I will immediately lead men to the fire scene to search and rescue!"

"No need," Li Xuanzhi shook his head gently. "Since they dared to openly burn down the warehouse, they must have already planned everything. They would have poured plenty of oil on it, leaving not a single intact page. Going there now would only result in ashes, and we might even get injured. In the end, we would still return empty-handed."

"Gao Huai'an has been detained, all his businesses have been sealed off, and no local official dares to touch the warehouses without authorization. Apart from the person behind the scenes in the capital, no one else had the motive or the skill to set this fire."

"Arson to destroy evidence, defying the imperial envoy, deceiving the emperor, and attempting to cover up the truth with one hand."

Previously, there were only accounts and eyewitness accounts. Now, this overnight fire has directly confirmed the desperate and guilty conscience of the forces behind the scenes.

Tang Zheng instantly understood. "The fire is the confession, burning the tent is an admission of guilt!"

"All existing account books, witness testimonies, squad leader statements, and records of captured assassins, plus information on the arson and destruction of evidence, were compiled into a book."

Li Xuanzhi ordered in a deep voice, "This time, you can send it to the capital without any worries, directly to the Emperor."

"Furthermore, issue the order to impose martial law throughout the city and strictly guard the city gates. All persons who have left the city recently and merchants traveling north should be checked one by one. Anyone suspected of being a spy from the capital should be detained and interrogated immediately."

The post horse trampled the dust of the official roads running north and south, carrying a thick stack of documents, and sped from Jinling into the capital.

The horses galloped on relentlessly, changing horses but not riders. In just a few days, the testimonies, ledgers, records, and details of the arson case in Jinling City were steadily delivered to the imperial court.

It was early morning, and the sunlight bathed the Golden Palace.

On the dragon throne, the emperor lowered his eyes, his fingertips slowly turning the pages of the densely packed scrolls. He read each page carefully, his expression calm and expressionless, yet the atmosphere in the entire hall became heavy and oppressive.

The hall was silent; no one dared to speak first.

Everyone knew that this urgent memorial had been sent from Nanjing, a thousand miles away.

After a long silence, the emperor's fingertip landed on the last page. He slowly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the officials below him. His voice was not loud, but it contained immense authority.

"Corruption has plagued the Jinling River works for years, with funds being embezzled from the national treasury. Substandard materials were used to build the dikes, and water conservancy was neglected. This has caused annual flooding along the riverbanks, displacing many people. Now, the imperial envoy has investigated the case and found ample evidence, including witnesses and physical evidence. Furthermore, there have been instances of arson in the dead of night to destroy evidence and the dispatch of assassins to silence witnesses."

"What do you all think should be done about this?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense.

All the civil and military officials lowered their heads, looking down at their noses and their hearts, none daring to speak easily.

On one side lies a major case in the imperial court with irrefutable evidence; on the other are powerful and influential figures with deep roots and countless followers. A slight misstep could lead to choosing the wrong side and bringing disaster upon oneself.

In the dead silence, a figure steadily stepped forward.

Although the Left Chancellor Ren Jianxiao's temples were slightly frosted, his demeanor was still sharp and imposing.

He faced the imperial throne, bowed calmly, and appeared composed, showing no sign of panic.

"His Majesty."

He spoke, his voice steady and resonant, echoing throughout the entire Golden Palace.

"Your Majesty, I have reviewed the case files submitted from Nanjing. While they appear detailed, they are riddled with errors. They are nothing but one-sided accounts and fabricated accusations!"

The emperor's gaze darkened slightly. "Please explain in detail where the facts are untrue."

Ren Jianxiao raised his eyes, full of confidence.

"Firstly, the official involved, Gao Huai'an, has been entrenched in Nanjing for many years. He is inherently greedy, embezzling public funds and exploiting the people. This was solely due to his personal desires and has absolutely no connection to me!"

"Secondly, the so-called secret marks on the northward-bound silver are all vague speculations, with not a single one explicitly pointing to my office! Private notes circulate throughout the country, their routes are complex, how can they be arbitrarily linked to the court officials and nobles?"

"Thirdly, the claim of a fire at the warehouse in the south of the city is utterly absurd! There is no evidence of a fire, and no record of ashes. To conclude that I ordered the destruction of evidence based solely on an unidentified fire is far too hasty! It is clearly someone deliberately using this as an excuse to frame me!"

They only acknowledge their subordinates' corruption, not their own involvement. They only accept partial accounts and doubts, not irrefutable evidence. They only confirm the fire, not the mastermind behind it.

In just a few words, he reduced all the capital offenses to mere speculation and baseless evidence.

When he got to the point, Ren Jianxiao knelt down, his posture earnest and his eyes full of sincerity.

"Your Majesty! I am fortunate to have married a princess. Moreover, my family has received the emperor's favor for generations, enjoys a generous salary, and is well-off. Why would I covet the treasury's silver? This matter is clearly someone who is jealous of my high position and is deliberately using the old case in Jinling to fabricate charges, frame nobles, and undermine the court!"

"Li Xuanzhi, young and eager to make a name for himself, was impatient to investigate the case and inevitably became biased in his judgments. He was misled by local troublemakers and corrupt officials who had been convicted, leading to a wrongful conviction and the wrongful execution of loyal officials! I implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and clear my name!"

His words were perfectly tactful.

First, they absolved themselves of responsibility, then elevated their own status. Next, they turned around and accused Li Xuanzhi of being impatient and eager for quick success, misrepresenting his irrefutable evidence.

Many officials who were observing in the hall had their expressions waver instantly.

The previously irrefutable evidence was blurred and difficult to discern with just a few words from him.