Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 410 Is it a blessing or a curse?
Upon hearing Cai Zheng's words, the constable realized that the problem lay elsewhere and that anything he said would be of no use, so he simply shut his mouth.

At times like these, saying more is just asking for trouble. Anyway, it's not just him who's involved. As long as the higher-ups are safe, nobody knows what really happened in the case. It's like how Lord Xu just imprisoned Xia Wulang, and then Xia Wulang was immediately taken out of prison. As long as Minister Xia doesn't fall, the Ministry of Justice has to listen to his orders.

Seeing the constable's state, Cai Zheng was not in a hurry. Instead, he instructed the yamen runner beside him: "Send him to Xiangfu County for detention."

Upon hearing this, the constable immediately became anxious again: "This... sir... this is against the rules... I should..."

"Should we lock you all up in the Ministry of Justice's prison? So you can collude on your testimonies? The Emperor has ordered this case to be tried separately by three counties and two courts. You think you can hold out until the end and change your tune? You'd better think twice before you have the chance."

The trials are conducted separately. As long as someone confesses, they may be convicted even if they remain silent.

The constable's emotions, which had just calmed down, began to race again.

The government? The government knows about this case?

“Sir,” the head constable hurriedly said, “we are all acting under orders. It was Lord Weng who ordered us to go to the South City Wharf to arrest people. We are duty-bound and dare not neglect our duties. Please investigate thoroughly, sir.”

Cai Zheng had anticipated this and said calmly, "When we get to Xiangfu County, someone will naturally take your statement."

The constable and others were taken away, and the yamen runners came forward to help Guo Chuan and the others untie their ropes. Guo Chuan was freed from his restraints and was immediately at a loss. He just stared blankly at Cai Zheng. He had seen this Lord Cai before. This Lord Cai was with Lord Xu during the last gambling case involving the He family.

"What are you still standing there for?" Cai Zheng said to Guo Chuan. "Go do what you're supposed to be doing!"

Guo Chuan and the boatman were both surprised and delighted to hear this, as were the hired laborers who had come with them. They had never seen anything like it before. The people had been taken to the gate of the government office, but they were released, while the yamen runners were thrown into jail.

Cai Zheng was about to head into the yamen when Guo Chuan hurried a few steps forward and called out to him, "Sir, my brother is still in the yamen and has not returned home yet."

Cai Zheng nodded: "If you haven't broken the law, you'll naturally be safe and sound. Just go back and wait for news!"

Guo Chuan immediately bowed to Cai Zheng and said, "Thank you, sir."

It was only after Cai Zheng had been gone for a while that Guo Chuan finally came to his senses. Madam Xie was truly prescient; they were really alright.

……

The Ministry of Justice.

Holding a thick stack of documents in his hand, Weng Yi could finally breathe a sigh of relief at the current state of the case.

With these testimonies, Xu Huaiyi can be convicted. Now it depends on the Minister's methods. If he does well, Xu Huaiyi can be exiled. With more "lookouts" along the way, Xu Huaiyi will die before he even reaches his place of exile.

"The Guo family boatmen and that woman haven't been brought here yet?" Weng Yi asked the clerk.

The clerk said, "I'll go take another look; they might have already arrived."

Now, only Guo Xiong's mouth remains unopened. This man is incredibly stubborn; even under torture, he refuses to change his story. However, there's no rush. Since the Guo family boatmen are willing to sign their confessions, the evidence in his possession corroborates each other, enough to handle any interrogation.

"They're here." The clerk, who had just stepped out, suddenly turned back quickly.

"Then send the person to prison, and I will interrogate him immediately," Weng Yi said while flipping through the documents.

"no……"

The clerk's voice stopped abruptly. Weng Yi sensed a figure walking in from outside the door, and whether intentionally or unintentionally, the figure blocked the light from above his head.

Weng Yi looked up and saw Cai Zheng.

Cai Zheng stared at Weng Yi for an unknown amount of time, a hint of mockery in his eyes: "Lord Weng, you seem quite busy. What important case requires your personal interrogation?"

Knowing the relationship between Cai Zheng and Xu Huaiyi, Weng Yi immediately became wary. He stood up to greet him, saying, "It's just an urgent case; the higher-ups are eager for a result..." He thought he could get away with it that way, but Cai Zheng continued, "What kind of case is it? Can you reveal a little bit?"

“This…” Weng Yi immediately became troubled. “The case is still under trial, and the details cannot be disclosed. I hope Lord Cai will understand.”

Cai Zheng smiled slightly and walked forward. Weng Yi thought he would look for a chair at the lower end, but to his surprise, he went straight to the main seat, lifted his robe, and sat down.

Weng Yi was completely stunned. After a moment, he put on a stern face and said, "What do you mean by this, Lord Cai? This is the Ministry of Justice, not the Court of Judicial Review."

Cai Zheng ignored Weng Yi and instead picked up the documents on the table.

Weng Yi's expression immediately changed, and he stepped forward to snatch the document: "Put down the Ministry of Justice's documents! You have been reading files and documents privately, and I will impeach you to my superiors."

Cai Zheng quickly slipped the document into his sleeve, then looked up.

“Lord Weng wants to impeach me…” Cai Zheng said, pointing to the pen and ink on the table. “That’s your business, you don’t need to inform me.”

"But before that, you have to tell me, where is Xu Huaiyi?"

Weng Yi was certain that Cai Zheng had come to rescue him. His gaze was icy: "Lord Xu has been accused of framing others and deceiving the court. Until this case is investigated, he can only remain in the Ministry of Justice. Even if someone from the Court of Judicial Review comes, he cannot leave unless there is an imperial decree."

"I advise Lord Cai to put down the documents from the Ministry of Justice and leave immediately."

"Considering we've known each other, I can pretend this never happened..."

Before Weng Yi could finish speaking, Cai Zheng said, "I can't."

Weng Yi frowned: "What do you mean?"

“With the evidence in hand,” Cai Zheng said, “how can we pretend it never happened? I share the same thought as Lord Weng: we should personally handle this case and conclude it as soon as possible.”

After saying this, he reached out and took out the document: "The imperial edict you want is right here."

Weng Yi was startled and gasped. He stared intently at the document, which bore the official seal of the Secretariat.

The document also clearly states: all cases involving the above-mentioned matters shall be submitted to the Dali Temple.

Cai Zheng said, “Since the case is to be transferred, all case files and evidence of the crime should be recorded, sealed in a lacquered box, and escorted to the Dali Temple by soldiers.”

As Cai Zheng spoke, a servant immediately brought over a lacquer box.

With someone guarding him, Cai Zheng no longer needed to fear being robbed. He leisurely took out the document and slowly put it into the lacquer box. Naturally, he would flip through the contents along the way before finally closing the lacquer box and sealing it.

After the soldiers left, Cai Zheng went to see Weng Yi again.

At this moment, Weng Yi was pale and covered in cold sweat, still unable to recover from the transfer of the case documents.

Why was the case suddenly transferred?
A little thought reveals that the Emperor doesn't trust the Ministry of Justice.

The stack of documents he had just completed, which was supposed to pave his way to promotion, had now become evidence of his crimes. Thinking of this, Weng Yi turned to chase after the clerk, but was stopped by the yamen runners at the gate.

Cai Zheng's gaze turned serious: "Weng Yi, Assistant Director of the Ministry of Justice, someone has accused you of framing others and deceiving the court."

Weng Yi trembled. This was the crime he had fabricated for Xu Huaiyi, but now Cai Zheng was using it on him.

“Guards,” Cai Zheng said, “take Lord Weng to prison.”

There are still some tonight