I play the role of Jiajing in Zongwu: What crime have I committed?

Only when Shi Jun no longer had the strength to struggle did Qi Min raise her hand to signal the yamen runners to stop.

"Shi Jun, I'm giving you one last chance."

"As long as you hand over the list and prove that what you said is true, I will arrest people according to the list and verify their identities, and you can spare your life."

"If you insist on concealing this, you are implicating the current Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, a crime deserving of death!"

Shi Jun collapsed to the ground, trembling all over.

His eyes were so swollen he could barely open them, and he could only peek at Qi Min through a slit.

He made a "hoarse" sound in his throat, but couldn't utter a complete sentence.

"Think carefully about whether you should pay or not."

Qi Min's voice suddenly softened, but carried a deeper threat.

"To die now, or to find a way to live?"

Upon hearing this, Shi Jun's chest began to heave violently, clearly indicating that he was engaged in a fierce internal struggle.

After a long while, he struggled to move his bloodied and mangled lips and uttered two words indistinctly.

"Oh, stir...oh, stir...(I'll hand it in...I'll hand it in...)"

Qi Min frowned when she saw that he could not speak clearly, and gave instructions to the yamen runner.

"Have him write down the locations on the roster on a piece of paper."

A yamen runner immediately brought paper and pen and stuffed them into Shi Jun's trembling hands.

Shi Jun's lower face was numb, and his whole body was trembling. It took him a lot of effort to write a few words in a crooked and awkward way.

After finishing writing, he felt as if all his strength had been drained, and he collapsed to the ground.

Qi Min took the note, glanced at it, and immediately sent a messenger from the Ministry of Justice to retrieve the register.

The people in the hall began to wait quietly, while Zhao Mengjing and Yan Song closed their eyes to rest.

About half an hour later, hurried footsteps could be heard outside.

The man from the Ministry of Justice hurriedly returned, carrying an object wrapped in oilcloth.

Qi Min eagerly took it, and after opening it, she found a roster inside.

Qi Min eagerly flipped through the roster, her fingers trembling slightly with excitement.

As he turned the pages, his pupils gradually dilated.

There are so many regulars at Lan Garden!

The names of key officials from the six ministries of the imperial court and wealthy merchants from the capital leap off the page.

It can be said that once the case of Lou Zhijing is confirmed, all the people on this list will become puppets in the hands of Prince Yu.

He suppressed his inner elation and calmly handed the roster to Zhao Mengjing.

To everyone's surprise, Zhao Mengjing didn't even glance at it, but directly took out a brocade pouch and sealed the roster, her actions swift and decisive.

"Lord Zhao, what do you mean by this?" Qi Min asked, squinting her eyes in surprise.

Zhao Mengjing calmly cupped his hands and said, "Lord Qi, you are wise. I know nothing about distinguishing paper and ink marks. Perhaps it would be better to have a professional examine its authenticity first."

"Furthermore, the case files from the joint trial by the three judicial departments need to be presented to His Majesty for review, and I'm sure His Majesty is also waiting to see the roster!"

Qi Min's expression changed upon hearing this.

Yan Song paused slightly in his teacup, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes.

Chapter 35 What a great non-stick pan!

"This humble official suggests,"

Zhao Mengjing continued, "Let's imprison Shi Jun first, and then proceed with the trial after His Majesty has reviewed the trial records and roster."

He is no fool.

This roster is a hot potato; whoever gets involved is doomed.

Some things, if you see them, will cause trouble; if you don't see them, you'll be blessed.

Zhao Mengjing was able to remain stable for many years because of his ability to "be blind when necessary".

This is the enlightenment of non-stick pans.

Compared to him, Qi Min was practically a greenhorn.

Qi Min was speechless for a moment, her expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

He couldn't very well say something as treasonous as "We can't let His Majesty see it first" in public.

If he really said that, then his position as Minister of Justice would probably be over.

Qi Min gritted her teeth inwardly, only then realizing how difficult Zhao Mengjing was to deal with.

This person was not only completely unresponsive, but also ignored Prince Yu's previous hints.

Thinking of this, Qi Min's temples throbbed with anger, but she had to suppress it.

"Eunuch Yan, what do you think should be done about this?"

Qi Min then asked Yan Song for his opinion.

Yan Song, however, slowly picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said with a smile, "Lord Qi is joking. I am just a servant, how would I know these rules of handling cases?"

You can decide for yourselves; we won't offer any further comment.

These words were perfectly worded, yet they made Qi Min feel a tightness in her chest.

He stared intently at Yan Song's old face, which was plastered with a fake smile, and cursed inwardly.

You didn't have this attitude when you interrupted earlier.

Now they're pretending to be confused.

Dead eunuch!

An eerie silence fell over the hall.

Zhao Mengjing stood with his hands at his sides, his expression calm.

Yan Song leisurely sipped his tea, seemingly detached from the situation.

Qi Min's face turned ashen, and she was caught in a dilemma.

After a moment of silence, Qi Min finally spoke with a gloomy face.

"In that case, let Shi Jun be detained pending trial, and we will go together to see His Majesty."

"Excellent!" Zhao Mengjing laughed heartily.

The group hurried to the outside of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, where they saw Chen Chun, the Grand Eunuch of the Imperial Horse Stable, waiting for them.

Upon seeing several important officials arrive together, Chen Chun quickly stepped forward and bowed.

"Gentlemen, has someone important come to us at this hour?"

Zhao Mengjing stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Please trouble Eunuch Chen to inform Your Majesty that we have obtained the list of names provided by Shi Jun. This matter is of great importance, and we have come to present it to Your Majesty for review."

"Oh dear, what bad timing."

Chen Chun looked troubled and lowered his voice, saying, "Lord Zhao, Lord Qi, Eunuch Yan, His Majesty is unwell and has specifically instructed that he will not see anyone today. Please leave!"

"Eunuch Chen!"

Zhao Mengjing's expression hardened.

"This case involves important officials of the imperial court and cannot be delayed. I hope Your Excellency will inform them again!"

Chen Chun waved her hands repeatedly, "My lords, please don't make things difficult for me. How dare we servants disobey His Majesty's decree!"

"presumptuous!"

Suddenly, Qi Min shouted sharply, "I can see you're deliberately trying to obstruct us from seeing the Emperor!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Chun's expression changed drastically, and his voice suddenly rose in pitch.

“Who is deliberately trying to stop you, Lord Qi? You may be looking at other mountains and thinking they are higher, but I can’t. There’s only one cloud above my head.”

Qi Min was so angry he almost fainted. He glared at her and shouted angrily.

"Very well, then I will wait outside this hall until His Majesty sees me."

Upon seeing this, Zhao Mengjing quickly stepped forward and gently advised him.

"Lord Qi, please calm your anger. Since His Majesty is unwell, why don't we first have someone authenticate this register, and then come to pay our respects later?"

Qi Min's expression was uncertain, but Zhao Mengjing gave him a way out, so he had no choice but to accept it and finally flung his sleeves away.

"Hmph, since Lord Zhao says so, then we have no choice but to accept it."

After the ministers left in a huff, Chen Chun hurriedly turned around and went back into the palace to report.

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Zhu Houcong was leaning against the dragon couch, playing with a memorial.

Upon hearing Chen Chun's report, a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

What a fine Zhao Mengjing, and what a fine non-stick pan!

This is like trying to pass a hot potato to me!

They want me to judge the authenticity of this register, so that the whole world will know that it is my will.

How could I possibly be fooled?

"If they come again, continue to block them from the outside."

"Yes, Master!"

On the first day, Zhao Mengjing and his team returned empty-handed.

The following day, after confirming that the paper and ink used in the roster were indeed old items from several years ago, the group went to the palace again to request an audience.

"His Majesty's condition has not improved today."

Chen Chun stood outside the palace gate and spoke respectfully but with an air of unquestionable authority.

Qi Min's face was ashen, and veins bulged on her forehead: "It's already the second day, are we supposed to keep waiting like this?"

Zhao Mengjing calmly straightened her sleeves and said indifferently, "Since that's the case, then this is the only way to do it."

He turned to Chen Chun and said gently, "Please trouble you to tell His Majesty that we will come again tomorrow."

This is clearly Zhao Mengjing's tactic of "delaying".

The case cannot be resolved until the emperor is seen.

In any case, I can't afford to offend the emperor.

The longer it drags on, the more variables there will be, which will ultimately be more advantageous to you.

Qi Min was so angry that she trembled all over, but she was helpless.

The joint trial by the three judicial departments was not something he could decide alone. Moreover, Zhao Mengjing's every word was based on His Majesty's authority, leaving him no room for rebuttal.

Amidst the ever-changing political landscape of the imperial court, the matter of the roster spread like wildfire throughout the capital.

It is unknown who leaked the news, but the news that Zhao Mengjing and others had obtained the list spread like wildfire throughout the city overnight.

The entire city of Jinling was shrouded in an eerie atmosphere.

Another day later, even more astonishing news spread like wildfire.

The emperor is ill and has not yet reviewed the register.

The news spread like wildfire throughout the city.

At the same time, Li Gang of the Jiangzuo Alliance quickly reported this series of changes to Mei Changsu.

"You mean, the Emperor is ill and has not yet reviewed the register, which is why the case has been delayed?"

Upon hearing the report, Mei Changsu suddenly coughed violently, his face turning deathly pale. He hurriedly pressed for an answer.

Li Gang nodded solemnly.