Chapter 575: Wearing a Saber Before the Emperor

The Azure Mountain

Chen Ji followed behind Trouble-Resolving Guard Wang Zhao and entered the palace through the East Brilliance Gate.

Passing by the Hall of Literary Brilliance, he saw the hall doors wide open, but there was not a single person inside. It seemed all the cabinet ministers of the Hall of Literary Brilliance had gone to Renshou Palace.

The twilight was sinking into the distance bit by bit. Chen Ji's eyes were dark and difficult to read. He subconsciously wanted to grip the Whale Blade tightly, only then remembering that the Whale Blade had been left with Xiaoman for safekeeping.

Passing through the long palace pathways, even before reaching Renshou Palace, Chen Ji heard a resonant voice from afar: "Your Majesty, yesterday in front of the Six Ministries' yamen, in front of over a hundred people, Zhang Zhuo gifted a total of four hundred thousand taels of Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency to Viscount Wuxiang. This matter is absolutely true!"

"Lord Zhang holds a Main Second Rank Official Position, with an annual salary of five hundred and seventy-six shi, which converts to four hundred and sixty taels of silver. Lord Zhang would have to serve the public for eight hundred and seventy years to save up four hundred thousand taels of silver!"

"Lord Zhang, please don't say it's the legacy of your ancestors. This lowly official heard that your ancestors held low Official Positions, your father was merely a county Registrar, and the family had no surplus property. How could you accumulate such a massive family estate?"

Chen Ji stood beside the Filial Piety and Fraternal Duty Stele, listening to the censors speaking one after another, blocking every path of retreat for Zhang Zhuo.

This was definitely not a spur-of-the-moment impulse, but rather the resentment accumulated from the Capital Evaluations some time ago, and the anger built up recently from the implementation of the new policies, all erupting together.

Zhang Zhuo had once told him outside the Meridian Gate that the capital city's officials and nobles rarely did things on ordinary days, because doing more meant making more mistakes, and everyone was waiting for others to make mistakes.

Zhang Zhuo also didn't want to make mistakes, but those who reform policies are bound to clash with the old faction until their heads are broken and bleeding. Out of ten thousand reformers, nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine do not have a good end.

Zhang Zhuo clearly knew what he would encounter along this path, but Zhang Zhuo didn't care.

Chen Ji looked up and saw that the Emperor Ning on the imperial throne revealed no joy or anger, while the censors were fired up with righteous indignation.

As for the cabinet ministers, as well as the Chief Surveillance Bureau Left Censor-in-Chief Qi Xianzhun, who held the most power in the Chief Surveillance Bureau, they stood in the front row and had not spoken from beginning to end.

Right at this moment, a Pure Stream Faction advising censor turned the spearhead again: "Your Majesty, Chen Ji relies on Your Majesty's favor and holds a noble title, yet he acts like a cruel official, absolutely lawless. He has three crimes."

"First, torturing and killing a court official in the street. Even if Regional Investigating Censor Yang Zhong had faults, he should have been judged according to the law by the Three Judicial Offices. Chen Ji actually dragged him by horse through the market, causing Yang Zhong's blood to splatter across the long street and dying a tragic death on the spot. So cruel and tyrannical, it is horrifying to hear."

The censor paused, his voice rising higher: "Second, contempt for the palace prohibition, blaspheming the Court Flogging. He bound himself to plead guilty at the Meridian Gate, relying on his Practitioner Cultivation Base to endure ninety strokes of the Court Flogging without changing his expression. The Court Flogging is tied to Your Majesty's Heavenly Might, an exemplary punishment to chastise disloyal subjects. How could this child be allowed to show off his martial prowess?"

"Third, extorting nobles and disturbing the marketplace. In order to raise silver and money, he successively coerced the Qian Family of the Eight Great Merchant Guilds and the Duke of Cheng's Estate, using verbal threats, acting just like a bandit. This caused a State of Anxiety among the merchants and nobles in the capital, with boiling criticisms."

Another censor stepped out of the ranks: "Your Majesty, Chen Ji's various actions are no longer ordinary arrogance and unruliness; they are truly omens of political chaos. We implore Your Majesty to investigate clearly and severely punish this scoundrel, to rectify the court discipline and calm the hearts of the people!"

"We implore Your Majesty to severely punish Chen Ji!"

"We implore Your Majesty to severely punish!"

Verbal condemnations and written attacks came overwhelmingly.

Wang Zhao looked at Chen Ji, only to see the other party's face was calm, as if the censors were talking about someone else.

At this time in Renshou Palace, Qi Xianzhun took a step forward: "Your Majesty, today the crimes of Zhang Zhuo and Chen Ji should be tried together. I implore Your Majesty to summon Chen Ji into the palace for a face-to-face confrontation."

The map was unrolled, revealing the dagger; what was meant to come had finally arrived.

The Three Mountains Bell sounded on the imperial throne. Wu Xiu strode out of the palace doors and announced loudly: "Summon, Viscount Wuxiang, Secret Spy Division Gyrfalcon, Chen Ji, for an audience!"

Chen Ji strode through the palace doors, prostrated himself on the ground, and said loudly: "Subject, Chen Ji, respectfully answers the summons for an audience."

Whispers Private talk came from both sides. It seemed everyone's gazes were gathered on his back, wanting to break his spine.

On the imperial throne, Emperor Ning slowly spoke, "Rise. You have heard everything the censors just said. I allow you to defend yourself."

Chen Ji slowly stood up. Under dozens of gazes, he said in a Resounding and Forceful voice: "Reporting to Your Majesty, it is all slander."

Qi Xianzhun's gaze was suddenly nailed onto Chen Ji's face: "Chen Ji, do you dare say you didn't drag Yang Zhong to death?"

Chen Ji lowered his eyelids: "I dragged him to death, but Your Majesty has already handed down a Court Flogging, and I have also repented. Why does Lord Qi still cling to this and not let it go? Does Lord Qi feel that Your Majesty is unjust in handling matters, and want to make the decision for Your Majesty?"

Qi Xianzhun hastily cupped his hands toward the imperial throne: "Your Majesty, this subject is in charge of discipline and customs, and must report when encountering matters. Do not listen to this child's unreasonable pestering."

Having said that, he turned back to look at Chen Ji at the palace door: "Viscount Wuxiang, this is not a place for you to act wildly. Let me ask you, did Zhang Zhuo gift you two strings of Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency, with two hundred thousand taels of silver in each string, in front of the outer gate of the Feathered Forest Army Commander's Mansion?"

The leading officials in Renshou Palace all held their breaths together.

It's coming!

Previously bringing up Yang Zhong, the Eunuch Faction, and extorting nobles and merchants were all just a lead-in. These four hundred thousand taels of silver given by Zhang Zhuo were the real meat of the show, the thing that could put Zhang Zhuo to death.

The leading officials all knew that Zhang Zhuo was the person amassing wealth for His Majesty. The so-called selling of Official Positions and titles and accepting bribes were actually all collected for the Inner Treasury.

But the crux of the problem was also here: those four hundred thousand taels, although it was His Majesty's silver, His Majesty would never admit to it.

As long as this matter was nailed down, no one would protect Zhang Zhuo. For Emperor Ning, without Zhang Zhuo there would be Li Zhuo; he could always find the next person to help him amass wealth.

Moreover, this sum of silver wasn't Zhang Zhuo's. Either Zhang Zhuo had quietly misappropriated His Majesty's silver, or Zhang Zhuo had secretly intercepted His Majesty's silver. The Majesty on the imperial throne would not be able to tolerate Zhang Zhuo either way.

No one liked others stealing their money, let alone stealing four hundred thousand taels.

This was a dead end for Zhang Zhuo and Chen Ji.

Regarding this matter, seeing Chen Ji remain silent, Qi Xianzhun once again severely interrogated: "Did Zhang Zhuo gift you two strings of Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency, totaling four hundred thousand taels of silver?!"

Chen Ji said calmly: "Reporting to Censor-in-Chief Qi, no."

The crowd was stunned. They hadn't expected that with so many pairs of eyes watching yesterday, Chen Ji would still dare to deny it.

Qi Xianzhun sneered: "May I trouble the Trouble-Resolving Guard to take off the Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency on Chen Ji's wrists and truthfully verify them."

Wang Zhao took a step forward and took off the bracelets from Chen Ji's wrists, but as soon as he touched them he noticed something was wrong: "Incorrect, these are just ordinary rosewood bracelets, not Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency."

Qi Xianzhun stepped forward, snatched the bracelets, and rubbed them with the pads of his fingers, immediately knowing they were fake.

He looked at Chen Ji: "Zhang Zhuo gave these to you?"

Chen Ji cupped his hands and said: "Reporting to Censor-in-Chief Qi, they were indeed given by Lord Zhang."

Qi Xianzhun asked again: "Zhang Zhuo didn't give you four hundred thousand taels?"

Chen Ji cupped his hands again: "No."

Qi Xianzhun said in a deep voice: "I see you won't give up until you see the Yellow River. Your Majesty, I request that the witness be brought into the hall!"

The Three Mountains Bell sounded on the imperial throne. Wu Xiu strode out of the palace doors: "Summon, Li's Pawnshop Appraiser, Zhang Yunze, for an audience."

Qi Xianzhun stared dead at Chen Ji's expression, trying to see some clues, but Chen Ji's expression was exceptionally calm, which made him sense a trace of something wrong.

A moment later, the old appraiser followed the Trouble-Resolving Guard, trotting with small steps through the palace doors, and prostrated himself on the lapis lazuli tiles: "Commoner Zhang Yunze, begs for Your Majesty's divine grace."

Qi Xianzhun asked: "Zhang Yunze, this official asks you, did this person pawn things at your pawnshop the day before yesterday?"

The old appraiser answered loudly: "Reporting to Censor-in-Chief Qi, this is indeed true. This child came to my pawnshop the day before yesterday and pawned Gufu Pavilion, Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, five hundred mu of fertile land in Changping, and Baoxiang Bookstore, taking a total of forty thousand taels of silver. Yesterday, this child brought a string of Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency worth two hundred thousand taels and redeemed all the house and Land Deeds."

Having said that, the old appraiser presented the pawn ticket with both hands.

Qi Xianzhun looked at Chen Ji: "What else do you have to say?"

Chen Ji slowly straightened his body, completely losing his previous submissiveness. The Qilin Rank Robe on his body was stiff and upright.

A trace of unease suddenly flashed through Qi Xianzhun's heart.

But Chen Ji didn't look at Qi Xianzhun; instead, he looked at the imperial throne: "Your Majesty, according to the laws of our Great Ning, private lending interest rates among the common people cannot exceed three percent per month. However, when I visited the marketplace, I discovered that the pawnshops in the alleys do not act according to the law. For example, this Li's Pawnshop, the monthly interest is not only as high as nine percent, but they also compound the interest. Many pawnshops extort and exploit, acting with Reckless Abandon at the foot of the Son of Heaven, drinking the blood of the common people. I implore Your Majesty to issue a decree for a thorough investigation... The physical evidence is right on that pawn ticket in Censor-in-Chief Qi's hands, written completely clearly in black and white."

The old appraiser's face changed, and his body began to tremble.

Qi Xianzhun took a deep breath: "We will talk about the matter of private lending later. Viscount Wuxiang, first explain where your two hundred thousand tael Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency came from. Do you still dare to say it wasn't a gift from Zhang Zhuo?"

Chen Ji said slowly and methodically: "Reporting to Censor-in-Chief Qi, that string of Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency belongs to me. I have businesses like Heavenly Treasure Pavilion and Gufu Pavilion, and have saved up some savings in my hands. Because it was messy and disorderly, making it inconvenient to keep safe, a few days ago, I dispatched my maidservant Yao Man to go to Eminent Fortune Temple to convert all the silver into a single string of Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency worth two hundred thousand taels."

He shot a sidelong glance at the old appraiser: "The micro-carvings on the Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency all have traces to follow. There are a total of eighteen beads. The first six are engraved with when it was produced and from which temple; the middle six are engraved with who it was first given to; the last six are engraved with the amount. Furthermore, when silver enters a pawnshop's vault, it all must be registered in the ledger. By comparing the two, you will know whether what I am saying is the truth."

Qi Xianzhun stood stunned on the spot. The micro-carvings on Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency would not lie. In that case, the Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency Chen Ji took to Li's Pawnshop really wasn't a gift from Zhang Zhuo?

He said severely: "The Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency Zhang Zhuo gave you must have been hidden by you!"

Zhang Zhuo said Calm and Composed: "Censor-in-Chief Qi, do you censors and advising officials not need to speak with evidence nowadays? Previously you all slandered this official, and this official didn't want to defend himself since the innocent are self-evident. Now that Chen Ji has already explained it clearly, you still want to commit slander? There never was any matter regarding those four hundred thousand taels."

Blood surged on Qi Xianzhun's face: "Since Lord Zhang didn't have those four hundred thousand taels of silver, why did you have to lie in broad daylight before the masses yesterday?"

Chen Ji picked up the conversation: "While investigating the chaotic phenomena of pawnshops, I discovered that Li's Pawnshop issued Loan Shark Money to suck the blood of the common people. They frequently forced commoners to the point of family ruin and death, yet no one questioned it. I surmised there must be big shots secretly protecting them from behind. IN order to find the person behind Li's Pawnshop, I invited Lord Zhang to accompany me in putting on a play... Censor-in-Chief Qi has witnesses, and so do I."

Speaking to this point, Chen Ji said loudly: "Your Majesty, I request that the Secret Spy Division's Jin Zhu and Tian Ma bring the witnesses Cui Qinghe and Qi Zhenwu into the hall under guard!"

Qi Xianzhun's eyelids twitched.

On the imperial throne, Emperor Ning said calmly: "Granted."

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Jin Zhu and Tian Ma brought Cui Qinghe and Qi Zhenwu under guard into the hall. Jin Zhu said loudly: "Your Majesty, this inner subject and Tian Ma apprehended these two people outside the Imperial Music Bureau. We found over ten strings of Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency on their persons, totaling six hundred thousand taels of silver. Among them is one string that Chen Ji exchanged at Eminent Fortune Temple a few days ago."

Saying this, he handed a wooden box to Wu Xiu. Wu Xiu carried it and walked toward the imperial throne.

Chen Ji took a deep breath and asked in a deep voice: "Dare I ask Bureau Director Cui and Censor Qi, why is this string of Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency, which should be in Li's Pawnshop, in your hands? Could it be that you are the ones protecting the pawnshop and aiding villains to do evil?"

Qi Xianzhun suddenly looked at Chen Ji. He only saw that within the great hall, that red-clothed figure had one hand resting on his leather belt. He clearly didn't have a saber on his body, yet it felt as if he had brought a saber with him!

...

Third release (End of Chapter)