Chapter 34: What Exactly Does the Emperor Intend to Do?
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At once, Wang Cheng’en, standing beside Zhu Cilang, called out:
“Those with matters to report, step forward. Those with nothing to report, withdraw!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Yanru, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, stepped forward as expected.
But before he could say a word, Zhu Cilang spoke first.
“Everyone, there is something I wish to say.”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yanru’s expression froze. He could only retreat stiffly to his place.
There was nothing he could do. Surely he could not interrupt the Crown Prince?
Noticing that everyone’s eyes had turned toward him, Zhu Cilang slowly continued:
“Yesterday, all of you urged me to punish Xue Guoguan, claiming that he was involved in embezzlement and bribery.”
“However, after court yesterday, I ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate the matter thoroughly. We discovered that the accusation of embezzlement against Xue Guoguan was completely unfounded.”
“Moreover, I received confirmation from the Imperial Father that the silver Xue Guoguan was accused of embezzling had actually been bestowed upon him by His Majesty.”
“For this reason, His Majesty has decided to restore Xue Guoguan to his former office and return him to the Cabinet!”
What?
When they heard this, the Donglin faction, led by Zhou Yanru, nearly exploded.
What the hell was going on?
They had clearly wanted the Crown Prince to have Xue Guoguan executed. Yet not only had he refused to kill him, he had even restored him to office?
And had the evidence of embezzlement and bribery not been conclusive?
Could even that be washed away?
While the members of the Donglin faction stood there in utter bewilderment, Xue Guoguan staggered into the palace hall.
His face was filled with exhaustion.
There was no helping it. He had stayed up all night. He had only managed to return shortly before dawn and sleep for an hour before hurrying to court.
Had he not drunk some ginseng broth before leaving to keep himself going, he probably would have collapsed by now.
Taking a deep breath and forcing himself to look more alert, Xue Guoguan bowed slightly to Zhu Cilang.
Now that he was a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, he was entitled to appear before the emperor without kneeling.
“Your servant Xue Guoguan pays his respects to His Highness the Crown Prince! I thank Your Highness for clearing my name!”
“From this day forth, I shall devote myself to serving the nation and will not fail His Majesty or Your Highness, who have placed such trust in me!”
The moment Xue Guoguan finished speaking, a member of the Donglin faction whose name Zhu Cilang could not recall leaped forward and began berating him.
“Xue Guoguan, what exactly have you done? How dare you deceive His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince?”
The speaker’s face was livid with anger.
He was unwilling to accept this!
The old fellow had nearly been destroyed by them. How had he suddenly come back from the dead?
Xue Guoguan glanced at him. His expression remained unchanged, but deep hostility lurked in his eyes.
“Lord Li, what do you mean by that?”
“The accusations that I accepted bribes and embezzled funds were entirely baseless. His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince have now restored my good name. How can you continue to slander me here without evidence?”
“You—you—you…”
The other man was nearly driven mad with fury.
He felt that Xue Guoguan was utterly shameless!
Xue Guoguan had clearly admitted to the embezzlement and bribery before, and the evidence had been conclusive. How had everything suddenly become like this?
Before he could continue, Zhou Yanru stepped forward.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, the evidence of Xue Guoguan’s embezzlement and bribery was conclusive. It is impossible that he was falsely accused!”
“Several ministers are also aware of the matter. If Your Highness does not believe me, we may debate it here before the entire court!”
Zhu Cilang paid little attention to this and merely nodded.
“If that is the case, then let us debate it here.”
Having received Zhu Cilang’s permission, Zhou Yanru immediately said:
“Vice Minister Zhang Xian of the Ministry of Revenue can testify!”
With that, Zhou Yanru looked toward the position of the Vice Minister of Revenue.
But with a single glance, he was stunned. At that moment, where was Zhang Xian?
“Lord Ni, what is going on? Where is Zhang Xian, the Vice Minister of Revenue?”
Zhou Yanru stared at Ni Yuanlu, the Minister of Revenue, in astonishment. Zhang Xian was his subordinate.
Ni Yuanlu replied awkwardly:
“For reasons unknown, Vice Minister Zhang Xian of the Ministry of Revenue suddenly fell gravely ill last night. He has taken several days of leave and therefore did not attend court today.”
The moment he heard this, Zhou Yanru sensed that something was wrong.
But soon, he continued:
“It makes no difference that Lord Zhang is absent. Lord Wang Xiangru, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, also knows the truth.”
He then turned his gaze toward Wang Xiangru.
Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangru hurried forward and clasped his hands.
“Grand Secretary Zhou, I already stated before that there was no concrete evidence of Grand Secretary Xue’s alleged embezzlement. The accusation was entirely unfounded!”
“I have always maintained doubts about the matter. Now that His Highness the Crown Prince has proven Grand Secretary Xue was falsely accused, then he was naturally falsely accused.”
…
The moment those words left his mouth, the members of the Donglin faction, led by Zhou Yanru, were utterly dumbfounded.
This was not what the man had said before.
Why had he suddenly changed his position?
Wait…
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In an instant, Zhou Yanru seemed to realize something. His eyes filled with shock.
He understood!
He understood!
At last, he understood!
This had all been the Emperor’s doing!
The Emperor had never intended to move against Xue Guoguan. He wanted Xue Guoguan to remain in the Cabinet, which was why he had overturned all the evidence presented earlier.
But if that was the case, why had the Emperor previously tacitly allowed them to move against Xue Guoguan?
What exactly was the Emperor trying to do?
For a moment, Zhou Yanru’s thoughts were in complete disarray.
But he was, after all, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, and his mind was far sharper than that of an ordinary man. He quickly recovered his composure.
He immediately clasped his hands toward Zhu Cilang.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, it seems this matter truly was a misunderstanding. Grand Secretary Xue is indeed innocent!”
“I withdraw everything I said before.”
Though the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet wielded considerable authority, no matter how great it was, it could not surpass the Emperor’s. Who would dare defy what the Emperor wished to do?
Besides, the Donglin faction had helped fan the flames of the accusations against Xue Guoguan. If the matter were pursued any further, they would have no honor left to salvage.
Zhu Cilang sat upon the seat of the Crown Prince serving as regent, quietly watching the members of the Donglin faction leap about. Inwardly, he gave a cold laugh.
Since he intended to clear Xue Guoguan’s name, he had obviously made thorough preparations. How could he possibly allow the matter to fall apart here?
“In that case, let us proceed as I said earlier. Grand Secretary Xue will return to the Cabinet and continue participating in affairs of state.”
Zhu Cilang spoke indifferently.
But it was obvious that Xue Guoguan had no intention of letting the matter end there.
He first bowed to Zhu Cilang, then turned toward Zhou Yanru with a smile that did not reach his eyes.
“To err is human. I shall forgive Grand Secretary Zhou.”
“However, I hope that Grand Secretary Zhou will not falsely accuse anyone else in the future.”
Zhou Yanru was so furious that he nearly ground his teeth to dust. Yet he could do nothing but glare hatefully at Xue Guoguan.
Although Zhu Cilang still wanted to see Xue Guoguan continue suppressing the Donglin faction, he had to consider what was coming next. Thus, he spoke:
“Is there anything else, gentlemen? If not, court is dismissed.”
The instant he finished speaking, Zhou Yanru stepped forward once more.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, I have another matter to report!”
Just as expected!
The real spectacle was only now beginning!
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