Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 378 It's all about obeying the emperor's orders!

Yan Song emerged from the dark and damp prison, exhaled a long sigh of relief at the sunlight streaming in, and then said to Pang Zhi, the second prime minister who was following behind him, "The Li family has been loyal to us. Once the case is closed, let's give him a proper burial. We should also take care of his wife and children."

Pang Zhi said, "Your Excellency, rest assured, as long as these people do not change their original intentions, we will have someone handle the aftermath properly."

Yan Song nodded and stepped forward: "Once we get through this, everything will be fine."

Two or three zhang away from the gate, a group of constables came running towards the prison.

"What happened this time?"

Those nearby would naturally step forward to inquire. They returned and reported, "Reporting to Your Excellency, Minister Lu is handling the case of Zhou Sheng in Tanzhou Prefecture. Just now, Minister Lu sent someone to bring Zhou Sheng for trial!"

Yan Song's expression changed.

Pang Zhi exclaimed in surprise, "Wasn't this case supposed to be kept under the cabinet? How come Lu Jie is handling this matter? Besides, he's only the Minister of Revenue, not a cabinet minister. What qualifications does he have to preside over this case?"

Yan Song had no reply. After glancing at him, he strode off toward the Dali Temple courthouse next door!
The court was now in session. All those who had been arrested and imprisoned, except for Zhou Sheng, had been brought before the authorities. Lu Jie, accompanied by the Chief Justice and Vice Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, sat upright at the head of the courtroom, looking dignified. The hall was filled with officials from relevant government departments and constables from the Court of Judicial Review.

"It really is him!"

Pang Zhi, who was following closely behind, was even more shocked!

He glanced at the courtroom and then at Yan Song beside him, his mind filled with surprise and doubt, but he didn't know which issue to raise!

Yan Song strode into the courtroom with a cold face. At that moment, the constables and yamen runners below immediately parted to make way for him.

"Lord Lu, what are you doing here?" Yan Song looked directly at Lu Jie behind the desk.

"Grand Secretary Yan!"

Lu Jie hurriedly rose from behind his desk, bowing slightly as he walked around the desk and said, "I was unaware of your arrival, Your Excellency. I apologize for not welcoming you properly!"

"What are you doing here?!"

"Don't even mention it, Your Excellency. The Emperor has ordered me to handle Zhou Sheng's case, and I'm already at my wit's end!" Lu Jie cupped his hands again, his face full of worry. "The Ministry of Revenue is extremely busy. Yesterday, someone brought up Zhou Sheng's case again at this critical moment, and even made a scene in the palace, saying that the case is just one step away from being resolved, but there has been no further progress!"
"The Emperor is angry, perhaps because I did something wrong, and that's why he's made me handle this case!"
"Oh, Your Excellency, are you done with your work there?"

Yan Song looked at his serious face, and he could no longer suppress the shock and anger on his face!
He said he was acting on imperial orders?
Was this case ordered to be handled by the emperor himself?
Ever since they began to guard against Lu Jie, the Yan family had kept him away from all matters, big and small. Now, however, after keeping him at bay, he actually went to get close to the emperor! And he quietly took on this task!
Lu Jie was originally very promising. Otherwise, he would not have instructed Yan Shu to try so hard to win him over. He himself originally planned to ask the emperor to allow him to join the cabinet next year.

But now he has been directly favored by the emperor. With such special attention, how far is it from him being admitted to the cabinet?

At that time, not only will he not owe the Yan family any favors but he will also achieve his goal and become the only person in the cabinet who can oppose the Yan family!

Yan Song stared intently at Lu Jie, his heart pounding, then looked down at the group of people kneeling on the ground being questioned, and asked, "So what do you plan to do?"

His gaze returned intently to Lu Jie's face.

The Yan family had always treated him with great respect. If he had any sense, he would know how to handle the situation at this moment!
"Just do as the Emperor says!" Lu Jie spread his hands with a worried look on his face. "No one can disobey the Emperor's decree. If I, Lu Jie, lose my head, then the Lu family's eldest branch will be cut off! To be honest, I'm not that old yet, but I've had bad luck. Neither of my two wives met a good end. So, to avoid being alone in my old age, I'm planning to stay alive and remarry!"

As he spoke, he clasped his hands together, looking dejected. If Yan Song hadn't already been wary of him faking it, she would most likely have taken it seriously! "Zhou Sheng has been brought!"

Just then, a constable's loud announcement came from outside the door. The group squeezed in, forcing Yan Song and Pang Zhi to make way.

Yan Song glanced at Lu Jie several times, and finally gritted his teeth and said, "Then take your time!"

After saying that, he lowered his hands, which were behind his back, and walked out.

Lu Jie saw him off a few steps: "Please take care, Grand Secretary!"

He stood on tiptoe to watch them walk away, then turned around, returned to his desk, and slammed his gavel: "Kneel down!"

……

Pang Zhi followed Yan Song out of the courtroom and immediately asked, "If Lu Jie refuses to let things slide, the Zhou Sheng case will have far-reaching implications, which will be another blow. We need to find a way to give him a warning!"

Yan Songhan stood frozen at the door, not having a chance to speak, when someone came running up from the front: "Reporting to Grand Secretary Yan! Yesterday, Li Sheng's family, who were imprisoned, suddenly started fighting amongst themselves. The official who sent people to the Li family to take their statements came back and said that some members of the Li family refused to cooperate and would rather die than sign the statement as we instructed!"

Yan Song's expression changed again: "Were the people we sent dead? Why did they cause trouble at this critical juncture?!"

The man wiped his sweat and said, "Lord He has been trying to mediate and persuade all morning, but he has no other choice but to send me to report to the Grand Secretary!"

Hearing this, Pang Zhi looked anxiously at Yan Song: "Three days have passed in half a month, and there are still several people to clean up afterward. This can't be delayed! This matter is more important..."

Yan Song glared at him, his teeth grinding together, and then headed to the cabinet at an even faster pace!

It's hard to believe he's over seventy and still has to jump around like that.

……

Lu Jie needed to save time, so the trial didn't end until midnight that day.

During this time, Shen Qingzhou sent several notes, all informing Yan Song that he was looking for various ways to find out the inside story of the case.

However, when Zhou Sheng's trial began, Lu Jie ordered the courtroom to be closed, barring outsiders, whether from the cabinet or elsewhere, from entering. Cabinet members frequently visited, only to be turned away.

The next morning, Lu Jie took a thick stack of case files to the palace.

Upon hearing of his arrival, the emperor, who was meditating, came out of the outer hall to wait.

"The case in Tanzhou Prefecture has been fully investigated. This is the case file that I personally wrote this morning after the case was closed. Please take a look, Your Majesty!"

Lu Jie presented the paper with both hands, and then took out several more sheets of paper covered with writing and handed them over: "These are some opinions that I have presumptuously offered on my own initiative, and I dare to present them to Your Majesty for your reference."

The emperor glanced at him, took them all in his hands, and opened them one by one: "The trial was completed in one night, why the rush?"

Lu Jie bent down: "This case was already almost finished, but the cabinet was too busy with its affairs to make a judgment. Now that I have taken on the task, I will naturally pay attention to it no matter how busy or difficult it is."