Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 284 Blackmailing the Sovereign and Father
Half a month later, before the morning frost in the capital had even melted, two sudden deaths threw the city into turmoil.

The case shocked the court and the public, temporarily overshadowing the uproar caused by the collapse of the Duke of Zheng's mansion.

The first murder occurred in the second branch of the Xue family.

Xue Qinglian, the second master of the Xue family, was found dead in his study.

He was discovered by an old servant on night duty in the manor.

According to the old servant's trembling description, after dinner, the second master went into his study alone, saying that he wanted to sort out the old files of the case involving the transport commissioner of grain and fodder.

At midnight, the old servant, on his night patrol, passed by and saw that the study was brightly lit by candlelight yet completely silent, and a suspicion arose in his heart—

Upon opening the door, one could see Master Xue lying motionless on the large sandalwood desk.

A sweet, fishy smell wafted over.

The old servant mustered his courage and approached, only to be horrified to find that the man was bleeding from his mouth and nose and had already died.

The wolf-hair brush fell to the ground, and the "Military Supplies Allocation Record" spread out in front of him was blurred by dark red bloodstains...

The old servant was so frightened that he nearly lost his mind and scrambled out shouting.

"Second Master...Second Master has passed away!"

The Xue family was thrown into chaos.

Upon hearing the news, Old Madam Xue fainted on the spot and was carried back to the main room by several old women. Xue Qingzhi, the eldest son of the Xue family, struggled to maintain order, his face ashen. Xue Yuechen, upon hearing the news at the Prince Duan's residence, wept bitterly, clutching Li Huan's sleeve and begging him to seek justice for her second uncle.

The Prefect of Jingzhao personally led his yamen runners to the scene.

The coroner examined the body and found that the patient had been poisoned, bleeding from all seven orifices, and was in a very pitiful state.

When the news spread, rumors spread like wildfire among the common people, and the entire court was filled with unease.

however--

Before this case could cause any further commotion, a second case followed closely behind.

On October 14th, just as dawn was breaking, Zhang Minda, a senior official in the Ministry of Revenue, drowned in the boudoir of the top courtesan at the "Ruanyu Tower" in the south of the city.

The person who found him was a pimp who brought him hangover soup.

It is said that Dr. Zhang hosted a banquet for several "grain merchant friends" here last night, and after drinking and getting carried away, they stayed overnight.

When the pimp pushed open the door, he saw Zhang Minda with most of his body submerged in the sandalwood bathtub that was reserved for distinguished guests. Wine cups and pots were scattered around the tub, and a few fresh mint leaves for sobering up floated on the surface of the water.

The person was soaked until they turned white, and their mouth and nose were full of water.

The coroner's examination determined that the victim, while intoxicated, slipped and fell into the bathtub, drowning.

A high-ranking official of the imperial court died in such an absurd and undignified manner, and in a brothel no less...

The news spread like wildfire throughout the city.

This case immediately became the hottest topic of conversation among the common people...

The Zhang family was filled with shame and indignation. Consort Zhang fainted from crying at the Prince Duan's residence, privately blaming her in-laws, the Wang family, for instigating her father to host a banquet for the grain merchants...

In just a few days, two important ministers from Prince Duan's faction...

One was the second uncle of the principal wife of Prince Duan, and the other was the biological father of the concubine of Prince Duan. One died from poisoning, and the other died from debauchery. Their deaths were different, but both were filled with a strong sense of humiliation.

The spearhead, though subtle, was pointed sharply at the Crown Prince, who was currently enjoying great power and influence.
-
Inside the Linde Hall, a warm and inviting atmosphere prevailed.

The emperor couldn't stand the autumn chill, and before the winter solstice, the underground heating was already on. Unfortunately, even though it made people's cheeks burn, it couldn't dispel the chilling aura that permeated the throne.

"boom--"

A fine Ding kiln white porcelain cup was slammed to the gold brick floor by the emperor, shattering into pieces.

The scalding hot tea splashed everywhere, shattering directly on the hem of Prince Duan Li Huan's dark-patterned python robe as he knelt in the hall... Emperor Chongzhao's chest heaved violently, his face turned ashen, and his voice was filled with unprecedented rage and coldness.

"Good! Very good! My good son! You've really made something of yourself! Xue Qinglian! Zhang Minda! One was just promoted to Vice Minister of Justice, and the other was a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Revenue... and they've been dealt with so inexplicably. Is this still my empire?"

Li Huan lay prostrate on the ground, his forehead touching the cold gold bricks, his voice steady: "Father, please calm your anger. I believe that this matter may not have been done by the Crown Prince."

"Not necessarily?" Emperor Chongzhao sneered, his anger erupting.

"Tell me, in this land, in this court, besides the Crown Prince, who else has such methods and such audacity? You just took down the Duke of Zheng, and now you can't wait to eliminate your rivals? It seems you've been sitting on this dragon throne for too long and can't wait to come up and show off your power..."

The hall was eerily silent.

Li Huan's whole body was tense, and his back was soaked with cold sweat.

The palace servants standing at the corner of the hall were all pale-faced, wishing they could bury their heads in the ground.

"Speak!" Emperor Chongzhao slammed his hand on the imperial desk, making the pen holder jump. "Are you mute? I appointed you as acting head of the Ministry of Justice to quell this mess, not to have you commit two more murders and create such a shocking scandal..."

Li Huan lowered his eyelids, his posture slightly bent, not looking at the broken teacup, his Adam's apple bobbing, as if he was carefully considering his words.

"Your Majesty, I am filled with fear and trepidation. I am also shocked and saddened by the deaths of Vice Minister Xue and Physician Zhang, but... I would like to implore Your Majesty to suppress your anger for the time being and allow me to explain..."

Emperor Chongzhao said coldly, "Speak!"

Li Huan slowly raised his face.

Looking directly at the enraged emperor on the throne, his voice was clear and steady, "May I ask if Your Majesty still remember... the massacre at the Old Mausoleum Swamp?"

The words "Old Mausoleum Swamp" swept into the Linde Hall like a cold wind. Emperor Chongzhao's roar abruptly stopped, and the color drained from his face instantly.

He stared intently at Li Huan, as if a long-forgotten taboo had been touched.

Why ask that?

"Father, two hundred thousand lives, lost forever. Buried in the frozen earth, their remains gone. Who sent them to their doom?"

Li Huan's voice was not loud, but every word struck the emperor's heart clearly.

"Father, it seems someone doesn't want the court to let this debt go so easily... They won't stop until the old debts are thoroughly dug up and cleaned up completely..."

Emperor Chongzhao's eyes sharpened. "Are you saying that these two cases aren't aimed at Zhang Minda or Duke Zheng? But at the bloodshed at the Old Mausoleum Marsh?"

“Indeed!” Li Huan knelt slightly and kowtowed heavily to the ground. “Ever since I took over the Ministry of Justice, I have felt something was amiss. I always felt that a mysterious hand was stirring things up behind the scenes, maliciously manipulating things…”

He paused, then continued, "Xue Qinglian was ordered to escort a key witness to the capital regarding the grain shortage, and was exceptionally promoted by the Emperor to Vice Minister of Justice... Everyone says that he was promoted for investigating corruption and offended someone. But I believe that those insignificant officials can't cause any real trouble. Rather than someone taking revenge on him out of personal grudges, it's more likely that someone wants to cut off the investigation's leads..."

Emperor Chongzhao frowned. "Explain in detail."

Li Huan said, "That grain transport commissioner is someone involved in an old case from many years ago..."

Seeing that Emperor Chongzhao's expression softened, he continued, "Zhang Minda was in charge of the finances and provisions... Your Majesty, I have discovered that the military supplies allocated to General Xiao, who died in the old imperial mausoleum, were embezzled layer by layer through his hands, and very little of it actually reached the soldiers. Is his violent death today a sign of divine justice? Or is it a mastermind cleaning house?"

Li Huan's gaze was calm and profound.

He scrutinized the hidden worries that the emperor was trying so hard to conceal in his eyes.

"Father, the key lies in this old case stained with blood..."

Emperor Chongzhao nodded with difficulty, his fingers trembling slightly.

"In your opinion, how should we proceed?"

Li Huan raised his head, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Your Majesty, I leave all actions to your decision. I have come here today to ask, with all due respect, whether Your Majesty intends to cover up the case forever, or to investigate it thoroughly and prevent those corrupt officials from continuing to bleed our Great Liang dry..."

"Be bold!"

Emperor Chongzhao's voice suddenly turned deep, and veins bulged on his face.

"Are you going to join the Crown Prince in blackmailing the Emperor and Father?"