Chapter 610
Entering the Game
late at night.
A convoy was slowly traveling on the official road north of the capital.
The caravan was small, consisting of seven or eight horse-drawn carriages piled high with sacks and wooden crates, resembling an ordinary merchant caravan that had traveled a long distance. None of the drivers spoke, and even the horses seemed gagged, remaining completely silent.
Only the sound of wheels rolling over the official road was particularly clear in the silent night.
A burly coachman sat in the first carriage.
The coachman was frighteningly large, sitting on the carriage shaft like a small mountain. He casually rested the whip on his knees without cracking it, while the horses walked steadily on their own.
Because of the coachman, the carriage required two horses to pull it.
The convoy bypassed Changping County and turned west onto a side road.
The fork in the road narrowed further, while the trees on both sides grew denser. Towering pines and cypresses blocked out the moonlight, making the path dark and cramped. After walking for an unknown amount of time, the trees suddenly receded to both sides, and the view opened up before us.
Under the moonlight, a majestic stone archway stands at the end of the road.
It is a five-bay, six-pillar, eleven-story building, carved from white marble, and stands three zhang tall. The column bases are carved with dragon patterns, and the lintels are engraved with auspicious clouds. When the moonlight shines on it, it gleams with a cold white light.
Behind the archway is a long sacred path, flanked by two pairs of lions, xiezhi (mythical beasts), camels, elephants, qilin (mythical creatures), and horses, some standing and some crouching. Further back are four statues each of military officials, civil officials, and meritorious officials, holding tablets and solemn faces.
At the end of the sacred path is a stele pavilion. Behind the stele pavilion lies the imperial mausoleum of the Ning Dynasty.
The convoy stopped in front of the archway.
The burly coachman turned around and whispered to the person in the carriage, "Godfather, we've arrived."
The person inside the car said slowly, "Wait a little longer, we can't go in yet."
The burly coachman grunted, "Do we have to wait until 1-3 PM?"
The person in the car casually remarked, "It doesn't need to take that long."
The burly coachman scratched his sideburns with his thick fingers. Without his armor, the mountain ox no longer appeared solemn and dignified, but rather somewhat simple and honest: "Will the Qi family act according to plan?"
Inside the carriage, Xiang Shanniu's questions continued relentlessly: "Do you know why the Three Judicial Offices have been able to obstruct His Majesty and our Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs for so many years?"
Shan Niu thought for a moment and said, "Because the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate are all in the hands of the Qi family."
The Grand Chancellor leaned against the carriage wall, gently lifting the curtain to look out over the spirit path of the imperial mausoleum, which stretched as far as the eye could see: "Now that His Majesty has used Chen Ji as a weapon to tear apart the Three Judicial Offices, he was able to place Chen Lizun in the position of Left Censor-in-Chief. From now on, the Three Judicial Offices will no longer be the Three Judicial Offices of the Qi family."
Shan Niu asked in confusion, "But the Qi and Chen families have always been of one mind; if one is gone, the other will be gone."
The inner minister sneered, "Even fathers and sons cannot be of one mind, so how can the Qi and Chen families be of one mind?"
Shan Niu suddenly realized: "So the Qi family dragged Chen Ji into this, making Chen Lizun avoid suspicion due to kinship. Is this the Qi family's last chance to control the situation? Even if the Qi family suspects that you want to use them to get rid of Wu Xiu, they won't miss this opportunity to establish their authority... But why Wu Xiu?"
The Grand Secretary smiled and said, "Because he is the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial. Whoever is the Grand Eunuch represents the eunuch faction. Overthrowing the eunuch faction is the long-cherished wish of all scholars in the world. Although the Grand Eunuch who once bullied them was Xu Wenhe, it is enough for them to be overthrown now that another Grand Eunuch has been brought down."
Mountain Bull scratched his head: "Is taking us down that important?"
The Minister patiently said, "Do you know that the founding military heroes are destined to be replaced and suppressed by civil officials?"
After a moment's thought, the mountain ox said, "Because they aren't as clever as scholars."
The minister explained with a smile, “Because there are too few opportunities to make meritorious contributions, while the imperial examinations are held only once every three years. Military positions are earned by risking one's life, while civil positions are ever-present. Ox, where does power come from? Power comes from people. If you have capable disciples and former officials to guard Ji Province for you, then Ji Province is truly yours. You can implement policies that others cannot in Ji Province, and that is your power.”
Shan Niu said, "I understand, but what does this have to do with bringing down our eunuch faction?"
The Prime Minister smiled and said, "There are only so many students with real talent in the world, and everyone is vying for them. The more prestige and power one has, the more students one will have. Once the Qi family overthrows the eunuch faction, there will always be poor students whose blood is still hot who will join their ranks. The Qi family's sons are the bones, and the poor students are the blood. As long as the blood is still flowing, the Qi family will not fall anytime soon."
Shan Niu got out of the car and waved to the back of the car.
At the back of the convoy, Golden Pig took a water bag and jogged over to deliver it. Mountain Ox took the water bag, took a sip, and carefully savored the taste of the water.
The golden pig looked at the mountain ox displeasedly and said, "The water I brought could be poisonous?"
Mountain Buffalo glanced at him and said, "Get lost."
After saying that, Shan Niu handed the water bag into the car: "Godfather, have a drink of water."
The inner minister stared blankly into the depths of the imperial tomb: "I won't drink anymore, I'm not thirsty."
After hesitating for a long time, Jin Zhu cautiously asked, "My lord, will Chen Ji and Xi Feng survive this time?" The Inner Minister sat in the carriage and said calmly, "I don't know. Let's start a fire and cook. We'll have to wait a few more hours at the foot of the mountain."
The golden pig exclaimed "Eh!" and turned away.
Shan Niu whispered beside the carriage, "What if they realize this is your work?"
The inner minister lowered the carriage curtain: "Niu'er, everyone in this world is half-blind, only able to see the world they want to see. They have a whole night to calculate, and then they realize that as long as they keep moving forward, they can get what they want. Naturally, I will get what I want too."
Mountain Ox hesitated: "But today's outcome may not be what His Majesty wanted."
The Grand Chancellor slowly closed his eyes in the carriage: "He has devoted himself to the court for decades, and this is his only wish. His Majesty should be able to understand."
……
……
At 3:45 AM, the main hall of the Ministry of Justice was empty and dark.
Qi Zhong sat under the plaque that read "A Bright Mirror Hangs High" with his eyes closed, resting. The Qi family assassins outside the hall looked in, but the moonlight only shone on the steps, while Qi Zhong's body was completely submerged in darkness.
In the darkness, only the sound of Qi Zhong's fingers tapping on the official desk echoed in the main hall of the Ministry of Justice.
A member of the Qi family, a loyal follower, hurriedly entered the Ministry of Justice, stepped over the threshold, and knelt on one knee below the hall. He looked up at Qi Zhong in the darkness and said, "My lord, the old censor has already carried the coffin to the Meridian Gate and is about to sound the petition drum."
As soon as he finished speaking, a heavy drumbeat came from outside the Ministry of Justice's main hall.
Qi Zhong opened his eyes: "Probe again."
A moment later, another assassin entered the Ministry of Justice's main hall: "My lord, the censors have all arrived at the Meridian Gate."
"Explore again."
The Meridian Gate is open!
"Explore again."
"His Majesty has issued an oral decree that Wu Xiu, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, shall come to the main hall of the Ministry of Justice for trial."
Qi Zhong said in a deep voice from the darkness, "Speak in detail."
The Qi family assassin who came to report recalled: "After the old censor sounded the Dengwen Drum, the commander of the Jiefan Guard, Chang Xiu, who was on duty, did not dare to act on his own and ordered someone to report to Renshou Palace. Half an incense stick's time later, the Meridian Gate opened. A little eunuch came out of the palace and conveyed an oral decree: if Wu Xiu was guilty, he would be severely punished according to the law; if he was innocent, the person who made the false accusation would be executed along with his entire clan."
Qi Zhong sat behind the desk and pondered for a long time before waving his sleeve and saying, "Go and bring Wu Xiu to the Ministry of Justice."
After the Qi family assassins left, he closed his eyes and carefully reviewed each of She Dengke, Xifeng, and Chen Ji.
He didn't open his eyes again until he heard footsteps outside the hall. He saw Wu Xiu, dressed in a black python robe, step across the threshold and stand in the half-bright sunlight.
It was getting light.
Wu Xiu stood in the main hall of the Ministry of Justice, wearing a python robe and standing with his hands behind his back. He looked into the darkness of the hall and took the initiative to speak: "I know someone who likes to sit in the dark, but he sits in the dark so that he can see the light outside. You sit in the dark because you are afraid that I can see through your expression."
Qi Zhong remained unmoved and slowly said, "I have heard that those who are close to a true dragon for a long time will also have the aura of a dragon. Today, having met Lord Wu Xiu, I deeply believe this to be true."
Wu Xiu said calmly, "I hold His Majesty's seal, and I approve memorials, edicts, decrees, imperial decrees, investitures, and troop deployments. I am the Emperor's close attendant. Before the Three Judicial Offices convict me, I represent His Majesty. How can I be so subservient? On the contrary, how dare you, Zhong'er, the adopted son of the Qi family, sit in the position of Minister of Justice and speak to me?"
Qi Zhong was not surprised to hear Wu Xiu pronounce the nickname that Grand Secretary Qi often used to call him. He remained seated behind his desk and said, "Lord Wu Xiu, you have been in the palace since childhood and have tasted all the joys and sorrows of life. Now that you have just taken office, the Poisonous Minister has been scheming to hand a knife to my Qi family. Tell me, should my Qi family... use it or not?"
Wu Xiu raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"
Qi Zhong did not answer directly: "Lord Wu Xiu, the Three Judicial Offices are a powerful instrument for controlling the inner court. The Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate have the authority to make decisions directly, except for immediate executions. It is precisely because of these Three Judicial Offices that the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs has to act in accordance with the laws of Da Ning and dare not act arbitrarily. If it weren't for this, I'm afraid the Qi family, the Chen family, the Hu family, the Yang family, and the Xu family would have fallen long ago."
Wu Xiu smiled and said, "The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs serves His Majesty and naturally must act in accordance with the law."
Qi Zhong suddenly changed the subject: "According to the laws of our Great Ning, if the three judicial departments jointly sentence a death sentence, a death sentence with reprieve, or a three-thousand-mile exile, the case documents must be submitted to the inner court for His Majesty's approval. At that time, Lord Wu Xiu might still have a chance to overturn the verdict by virtue of His Majesty's favor. But if today Lord Wu Xiu is only sentenced to military service, once the three ministers stamp their seals, you will have no chance to turn the tide and will be immediately escorted to Chongli Pass to repair the Great Wall."
Wu Xiu suddenly sighed, "His Majesty has been hampered by the Three Judicial Offices for many years. He finally managed to separate them with the help of Viscount Wu Xiang and place Chen Lizun in the position of Left Censor-in-Chief. Unexpectedly, the Qi family only dragged Chen Ji into the mess and easily made Chen Lizun avoid suspicion due to kinship. In the end, the Three Judicial Offices are still the Qi family's Three Judicial Offices. Grand Secretary, you have quite the methods... What does Grand Secretary want?"
Qi Zhong stood up: "A mere Viscount of Wuxiang is not worth the Qi family's great effort. As long as Lord Wu Xiu is willing to hand over the evidence of Zhang Zhuo's crimes of selling official positions and embezzling public funds over the years, as well as the evidence of the Xu and Chen families' collusion with pirates, the Qi family can give you a chance to overturn the case."
Wu Xiu sneered, "Grand Secretary Qi is aiming for the position of Grand Secretary, yet he only gives me a chance to overturn the verdict? If I really hand it over to you, how am I supposed to conduct myself? Let your master talk to me instead."
Qi Zhong remained silent for a long time: "Put Lord Wu Xiu in jail and wait for the court session at dawn." (End of Chapter)