Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 332 Distinguishing Truth from Falsehood

At the end of March in the fifteenth year of Chongzhao, continuous spring rain fell for several days, and the capital city was shrouded in a damp and cold gray haze.

Rain dripped from the glazed tiles of the Zichen Palace, creating a low, oppressive atmosphere...

Emperor Chongzhao held the blood-stained military report in his hand, the veins on the back of his hand throbbing.

The military report was concise and to the point.

"General Lu You'an, the General Who Conquers the West, colluded with the new King of Xizi, Turgutai, and raised the banner of rebellion at Chishui Pass, with his army advancing directly towards Longxi... Xiao Yan, the military governor of Longxi, led his troops in a desperate resistance, but was surrounded by the rebel army. He implored the court to issue an edict to punish them and urgently order the Longyou army to rush to their aid and quell the rebellion..."

"Rebellion...rebellion?"

Emperor Chongzhao, breathing heavily, suddenly slammed his fist on the imperial desk, causing the paperweight to slip off.

His cloudy eyes churned with shock and anger.

"That old scoundrel Lu Jing was crying and begging for military supplies in front of me just a few days ago, and now he's raised a traitorous grandson!! The Lu family... what a family of loyal martyrs..."

Wang Chengxi bowed deeply, not daring to breathe loudly, only secretly glancing at Prime Minister Xiao Song.

Xiao Song and several other important court officials rushed to the palace after receiving the news.

He was kneeling before the emperor, his heart filled with grief and indignation.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Lu Youan, relying on his military achievements, has become arrogant and self-important. Such wolfish ambitions... are not the result of a momentary impulse..."

Xiao Song glanced meaningfully at Li Zhao standing to the side.

"As far as this old minister knows, His Highness the Crown Prince and Lu You'an are very close, and General Lu's family in the capital also receives much care from His Highness..."

"Enough! The military situation is urgent, do not make unfounded speculations..." Emperor Chongzhao raised his hand to interrupt him, coughing, his chest heaving violently, his eyes sweeping over the ministers below the steps.

Where is the Crown Prince?

Li Zhao slowly walked out, his jade belt gleaming coldly in the golden hall.

"Your subject is here." His face was ashen as he bowed deeply.

"This is the pillar of the nation that you... have been protecting? Tell me, how should this matter be handled?" Emperor Chongzhao coughed lightly, his throat filled with heavy phlegm.

Li Zhao smiled, meeting the emperor's scrutinizing gaze, his posture upright, like a lone pine tree on a cold peak, as if he had already foreseen everything.

"Lu Youan was the top scholar personally selected by Father Emperor, a brilliant talent promoted from the Golden Hall. Moreover... he was also personally bestowed the title of Imperial Son-in-Law by Father Emperor... His journey to the Western Frontier was also ordered by Father Emperor... Your son is foolish and cannot understand how someone whom Father Emperor personally promoted, trusted, and relied on could betray the Emperor's favor in a single day? Furthermore, you cannot understand why such a shocking change should be used to punish your son?"

"..."

The ministers lowered their heads and held their breath, pretending not to understand the veiled meaning.

Emperor Chongzhao's facial muscles twitched slightly.

Are you accusing me of being blind and unable to judge people? Or are you blaming me for asking you the wrong question?

"I don't dare."

Li Zhao bowed again, his posture respectful, but his words were firm and unyielding.

"Your Majesty, I do not mean to question Your Majesty's decision, but war is a matter of vital importance to the nation, a matter of life and death, a matter of survival or destruction. The military reports from the Western Frontier are of dubious authenticity. To hastily accuse Lu You'an of treason at this moment would likely demoralize the soldiers on the border—if this weakens the enemy and the Western Frontier seizes the opportunity to counterattack, the consequences would be unimaginable..."

He paused briefly, then his voice suddenly turned cold.

"Therefore, I have a question that I would like to ask the brave warrior who risked his life to deliver the message over an urgent journey of eight hundred li to come to the palace and clarify it for me..."

Emperor Chongzhao looked at his son's tall and upright figure, his heart filled with doubts.

He recalled Li Zhao's intelligence when he was five years old and was made the Crown Prince, and he recalled that before the late emperor passed away, he did not see any of the civil and military officials, the princes of the imperial clan, or the other princes. Instead, he summoned the young Li Zhao to his sickbed and carefully gave him instructions...

Emperor Chongzhao's face turned cold: "Summon them."

"Summon the envoy from Chishui Pass to the palace."

The long, drawn-out chant echoed throughout the main hall.

A moment later, an injured courier staggered in, knelt down at the foot of the steps, and kowtowed to pay his respects.

Li Zhao stepped forward, his voice neither hurried nor slow.

"Did you send the message that General Lu has rebelled? Raised his flag and led his troops straight towards Longxi?"

The messenger trembled under his gaze, instinctively kowtowing and bowing his head, his voice weak.

"Your Highness, I... I dare not lie. Every word I have spoken is true, absolutely true..."

Li Zhao's voice was calm and unhurried, resounding throughout the hall.

"May I ask, brave warrior, when did you receive Governor Xiao's report? And when did you set off from Longxi?"

The messenger stiffened slightly. "Your Highness, I departed from the Longxi camp at dawn four days ago..." "Four days ago at dawn?" Li Zhao interrupted him, his eyes almost overflowing with sarcasm. "That would be March 26th, at dawn. Is that correct?"

"Yes Yes!"

"I remember..." Li Zhao turned his gaze to the throne, his expression one of confident composure, "According to the regulations of the Great Liang postal system, even traveling day and night from Longxi to the capital, changing horses but not riders, it would still take at least five days to arrive..."

A fine layer of cold sweat seeped from the courier's lowered forehead.

His tone betrayed an undisguised panic.

"Your Highness, I have been traveling day and night, without stopping for a moment, and I dare not slacken my pace. Fortunately, Heaven has protected me, and five of my post horses died along the way... only then, only then did I manage to... fulfill Your Majesty's grace and arrive in the capital on schedule..."

“Very good.” Li Zhao nodded, raised his hands above his head, and bowed deeply to the emperor. His voice was firm and resonant, like the clash of metal and stone, carrying an unquestionable air of authority.

"Your Majesty! Unfortunately, this morning at 3:45 AM, in the Eastern Palace's document signing room, I received a secret memorial from the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner of Longxi—the date marked on it was also March 26th, at 5:00 AM. The matter reported was exactly the opposite—"

He paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping across the tense messenger with lightning speed, each word clear and distinct.

"Xiao Yan, the military governor of Longxi, disregarded the imperial decree and brazenly detained Lu You'an, the general appointed to lead the expedition to the west, along with more than three hundred of his personal guards, imprisoning them in the water dungeon of Shaquan Fort..."

"What?" Emperor Chongzhao sat up abruptly, his cloudy eyes widening in disbelief.

The whole hall was in an uproar.

The Xiao family members exchanged glances.

Li Zhao gave no one a chance to breathe, continuing to speak with firm conviction.

"The secret report from the Provincial Surveillance Commission arrived far faster than ordinary postal services. The time when Military Governor Xiao accused Lu You'an of treason and the time when he detained General Lu were both on the same day and at the same hour..."

He chuckled softly, a cold sneer in his voice.

"Is it possible that Lu Youan has the ability to be in two places at once, so that while imprisoned in the water dungeon, he can also collude with Xiz, ambush his comrades, and raise the banner of rebellion? Or is this urgent report, delivered by the Eight Hundred Li Express, simply a carefully crafted and fabricated frame-up by Governor Xiao after detaining General Lu? It is difficult to determine who is right and who is wrong, who is telling the truth and who is lying."

He paused slightly, then looked up.

"Your Majesty, I request permission to lead officials from the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate to the Western Frontier to thoroughly investigate this case. Within a month, I will surely provide Your Majesty with a clear answer!"

"You?" Emperor Chongzhao, having caught his breath, squinted and scrutinized him.

"The situation in the Western Frontier is unclear and extremely dangerous. As the Crown Prince, how can you lightly venture into such a perilous place?"

Li Zhao saw through the emperor's concerns and resolutely bowed, saying, "For the sake of the nation, I would gladly die ten thousand times. If there is evidence that Lu You'an has indeed rebelled, I will personally lead troops to quell the rebellion and present his head to the emperor. But if anyone falsely accuses a loyal official..."

He glanced at Xiao Song and spoke coldly.

"Your subject will also find the mastermind behind this and uphold the law!"

"Your Majesty!" Xiao Song immediately stepped forward, his voice filled with urgency and worry.

"Your Highness's sincere heart is as clear as the sun and moon. However... Your Highness and Lu You'an have a very close relationship, which is known throughout the court and the public. Now that the traitor Lu is plotting a rebellion, if Your Highness were to personally go to the Western Frontier, I fear... I fear it would be difficult for you to prove your innocence and would easily give others grounds for criticism. This old minister believes that the most urgent task is to stabilize the court, first wipe out the remaining members of the Lu family in one fell swoop, and then select a capable general to take over military affairs, capture and kill the traitor, and eliminate future troubles."

His words were all for the sake of the country, yet every single one was designed to sow discord between father and son.

Furthermore, it implies that Li Zhao is suspected of being an "accomplice".

The hall was silent for a moment.

Emperor Chongzhao's gaze swept back and forth across his surroundings.

"My esteemed ministers, do you have anything to add?"

The ministers stood with their heads bowed, shaking their heads in silence.

Xie Yanzhan stepped forward, cupped his hands, and opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty! His Highness the Crown Prince is concerned about the country and its people, and what he says is reasonable and well-founded. However… Prime Minister Xiao is loyal to the emperor and the country, and his concerns are not without merit. The situation in the Western Frontier is complicated and confusing. The best course of action now is to act quickly rather than delay. Before the truth is found out, the Lu family should be temporarily placed under surveillance, and a decision will be made on their next course of action.”

The old fox skillfully maneuvered between the two sides.

Emperor Chongzhao pondered for a long time, rubbing his temples, before making a deep and resolute decision.

"The case of Lu Youan's alleged rebellion is rife with doubts. Crown Prince Zhao is hereby given full authority to investigate. To avoid any unforeseen complications, the entire Lu family and their associates shall be arrested."

After a moment's hesitation, he coughed lightly and said in a deep voice, "I consider that Lu Jing is a veteran of two reigns and has made great contributions to the country. Moreover, he is old and frail. Therefore, I will exempt him from imprisonment, and his women and children will be temporarily detained in the inner quarters of the Lu residence for safekeeping, pending further instructions."

This imperial decree, seemingly giving Li Zhao an opportunity and trust, actually pushed him into the eye of the storm.

They must not only investigate the shocking treason case, but also protect the lives of the entire Lu family, while simultaneously facing the frenzied counterattack of Xiao Song's faction. A single misstep could lead to utter ruin.

"Your subject..." Li Zhao took a deep breath, suppressed the surging emotions in his eyes, and bowed deeply.

"I accept the imperial decree and express my gratitude!"

(End of this chapter)