One after another, people in the hall spoke up, their faces filled with astonishment as they looked at Cao Dejiang. Emperor An also stared at him in shock.
Cao Dejiang was actually speaking in his defense?
Meeting Emperor An’s suspicious gaze, Cao Dejiang said gravely, “Back then, Your Majesty was an unremarkable prince. Though I don’t know why the late emperor sent you to the south to oversee disaster relief, selling offices was beyond your capability.”
“The south is not some remote, barren land. It’s a wealthy and prosperous region, where even minor positions with real power were highly coveted.”
“When vacancies arose, those eyeing them would have noticed immediately. Minor roles filled by local prefectures might pass unnoticed, but key positions like county magistrates, which affect people’s livelihoods, required the Ministry of Personnel’s approval. Military positions like regional commanders or chief historians in the Governor’s Office would certainly have been known to the Ministry of War.”
His face was full of righteous indignation. “Back then, Your Majesty was a prince with a weak maternal clan and no favor from the late emperor. Before the flood, you had never entered the court or handled state affairs.”
“Your ability was less than the Crown Prince’s, your background inferior to Prince Cheng’s, and your support among courtiers paled compared to Prince Huan or Prince Yu. Even the Grand Tutor mentioned that Your Majesty was unremarkable in the study room before entering the court. If not for your achievements during the flood, few in the court would have known your capability. How could you have had the power to influence the key ministries?”
Though Cao Dejiang appeared to be defending Emperor An, each word made the emperor’s face grow paler.
Even the others in the hall felt his words sounded like mockery. Yet, with his solemn and earnest expression, full of concern for the emperor, no one could find fault. After finishing, he concluded righteously, “If it’s said that the Crown Prince colluded with courtiers, I’d believe it. But Your Majesty? Back then, you absolutely couldn’t have done it. This old minister trusts Your Majesty!”
Emperor An: “…”
Should he thank Cao Dejiang, this old fool, for believing he was inferior in every way?
Emperor An’s face flushed red, then turned ashen. He wanted to curse, but faced with Cao Dejiang’s trusting gaze, he swallowed his words.
Qian Baokun looked at the usually upright Cao Dejiang in astonishment. Was Cao doing this on purpose, on purpose, or ON PURPOSE? His knack for sarcasm was almost as sharp as Qian’s own nephew’s venomous tongue…
Seeing Emperor An on the verge of exploding and the courtiers’ strange expressions, Qian Baokun cleared his throat lightly.
“Lord Cao is right. If someone truly sold offices and kept it hidden from the court, those in power at the Ministries of Personnel and War must have known. Your Majesty indeed had no ties to the Six Ministries back then. But Minister Xi, I recall you were in the Ministry of War twenty years ago, weren’t you…?”
Whoosh—
All eyes in the hall turned toward one direction.
Court promotions followed strict rules. No one could simply ascend without proper documentation stamped with the official seals of the Ministries of Personnel or War, otherwise, the position wouldn’t hold.
The Minister of Revenue was new, appointed only four years ago, unrelated to the events of twenty years past. The Ministry of Personnel might have harbored some involvement, but that was someone else’s affair.
However, Xi Weifang, the Minister of War, had been in his post for sixteen years and was set to retire this year. Though four years separated his tenure from the disaster relief, the key point was that Xi Weifang had risen from the powerful position of Left Vice Minister of War. The reassignment of southern military officials wasn’t a one-day affair, and with his authority, he couldn’t have been unaware.
If he hadn’t been involved, the true masterminds would have marginalized or harmed him, and the matter couldn’t have been concealed in the capital for so long. Yet, the news stopped at the south, and Xi Weifang not only rose to Minister of War afterward but held the position for sixteen years…
Even if he didn’t participate, he must have known.
Xi Weifang, under the scrutiny of the crowd, turned deathly pale, nearly collapsing. Those standing near him quickly stepped aside, leaving a wide empty space around him.
“She’s clearly spouting nonsense!”
Xi Weifang’s hands trembled, his aged face showing traces of panic, but he forced himself to remain calm and shouted, “The Ministry of War isn’t controlled by one person. Major movements couldn’t be hidden from others. I never heard of southern affairs back then, nor did I know about bandits posing as officials. Besides, I was only a vice minister at the time. All military promotions in the regions required Minister Wang’s approval…”
Minister Wang, Wang Chongyu, was the previous Minister of War.
Xi Weifang tried to shift all blame onto him, but few in the court were clean of political enemies. Someone in the crowd suddenly spoke up.
“Everyone knows Minister Wang was sidelined by Vice Minister Xi back then. You married the legitimate daughter of the Mo clan, Old Madam Liang’s family, gaining the Liang family’s support. As a vice minister, you overstepped the minister, practically controlling the entire Ministry of War. Come to think of it, you’re also Minister Liang’s brother-in-law.”
“You relied on the Liang family’s influence to render Minister Wang’s position a mere figurehead. After he retired, he died in obscurity. Now you push the blame onto a dead man, how laughable!”
Xi Weifang’s face turned green.
Liang Guangyi’s eyebrows shot up in fury.
“Who’s spouting nonsense?!”
Liang Guangyi glared at the crowd opposite, but with everyone packed together, he couldn’t tell who had spoken.
Trembling with rage, he felt cursed with bad luck. He had never been involved in those events, yet he kept being dragged into them. First, Cui Lin had framed him, and now they were tying him to the Ministry of War’s corruption.
Blood rose in Liang Guangyi’s throat as he gritted his teeth and said coldly, “My Liang family is clean and upright. I haven’t had dealings with Minister Xi in years. Who’s slandering the Liang family?”
The crowd fell deathly silent, no one speaking.
“What, you dare to slander and frame, but not admit it?!” Liang Guangyi roared.
Those opposite him paled slightly under his gaze, but still, no one spoke.
As Liang Guangyi was about to demand again, Cao Dejiang frowned and interjected, “Minister Liang, we’re investigating the southern case now. If you have personal grudges, can’t they wait?”
“Someone is slandering my Liang family!”
“It was just a passing remark about Minister Xi and the Ministry of War. Why must Minister Liang take it to heart?”
“…”
Liang Guangyi nearly laughed in anger at Cao Dejiang’s shameless words. Take it to heart? Just a passing remark?!
If he didn’t refute, would he just let them dump this mess on the Liang family’s head?
Cao Dejiang, this old fool, was practically talking without a care.
If someone accused the Cao family of harboring corruption and debauchery, would he tear the speaker’s mouth apart?
Liang Guangyi’s head spun with rage, but before he could retort, Cao Dejiang turned to the woman who had spoken earlier.
“You’ve seen it yourself, selling offices is a crime punishable by execution, and it involves high-ranking courtiers. Do you dare take responsibility for your words? If there’s even half a lie, forget His Majesty, neither Minister Xi nor Minister Liang will spare you…”
“Cao Dejiang!!”
Liang Guangyi glared furiously. Was this dog done digging pits for him or what?
You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
Comments
Post a Comment