Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 393: Standing out

After the morning court session ended, the officials left Xuanzheng Hall in small groups.

As Xiao Wenyi walked down the steps, a Jinwu Guard suddenly rushed towards him.

"Lord Xiao, someone is looking for you outside the palace."

"who?"

"It's the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. He says he has something very important to discuss with you immediately."

Xiao Wenyi met the travel-worn Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review outside Hanyao Gate.

The moment the officials of the Dali Temple saw him, it was as if they had seen a lifeline. They cried out, "Lord Xiao, something terrible has happened!"

"What happened? Tell me slowly."

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was extremely anxious. He quickly recounted what he had seen and heard at the Crown Prince's mausoleum the previous night. He looked at Xiao Wenyi with pleading eyes and said, "I really didn't know this matter would involve the current Emperor. Lord Xiao, please save me. What should I do?"

Xiao Wenyi lowered his voice and asked, "Besides you and Magistrate Jiang, is there anyone else who knows about this?"

"At the time, only the two of us saw that piece of paper, but judging from Magistrate Jiang's demeanor, he seemed to want to make this matter known to everyone."

Xiao Wenyi pressed further, "Where is he?"

"When I left last night, he was still at the Crown Prince's mausoleum. I don't know where he is now."

"You go back first, leave this matter to me."

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, bowed deeply to Xiao Wenyi and said gratefully, "Thank you, Lord Xiao. I will never forget this kindness. From now on, I will do anything for you, even if it means going through fire and water!"

Xiao Wenyi reminded him, "Don't tell anyone else about this."

"I understand, I promise not to say a word."

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review left with his subordinates, leaving Xiao Wenyi standing alone in the same spot.

It's a cloudy day today; the sky is overcast and looks like it's going to rain.

A member of the Imperial Guard stepped forward and asked, "Lord Xiao, would you like us to arrange a carriage to take you home?"

Xiao Wenyi waved his hand to indicate that he didn't need it.

He walked with heavy steps, step by step, to the Secretariat.

At this moment, the other five prime ministers were reviewing the memorials sent from various places that day. The more important memorials were set aside separately, ready to be sent to the emperor for review later. As for the less important ordinary memorials, they could discuss and make decisions on them.

When they saw Xiao Wenyi arrive, they all greeted him.

Xiao Wenyi gestured for them to continue with their work and not to worry about him. He sat alone in his usual chair and stared blankly at the fish in the fish tank next to him.

After a long while, he sat up straight and picked up his pen to write a memorial to the throne.

Once the ink had dried, he tucked the memorial into his sleeve, got up, and walked outside.

A young eunuch hurried over and eagerly handed over the oil-paper umbrella.

"It looks like it's going to rain outside, Master Xiao, don't forget to bring an umbrella."

"Thank you."

Xiao Wenyi walked out of the Secretariat with his umbrella. It wasn't far from there to the Hall of Reflection, but it took him a long time. More and more dark clouds gathered in the sky, and gusts of wind blew in his face, as if an invisible force was hindering his progress.

When he and Yan Ciwan came up with this plan, they knew that the first person to step forward would definitely be sacrificed.

Xiao Wenyi originally intended to be the one to take the lead, but Jiang Qiuyu insisted that he complete the task.

Jiang Qiuyu said that his parents had passed away, and he had never married or had children. He was all alone in his family, with no ties to anyone, and was ready to die at any time. But Xiao Wenyi was different. If something happened to him, it would implicate hundreds of people in the Xiao family. Most importantly, Xiao Wang needed Xiao Wenyi's help to take care of him.

Now that the die was cast, there was no turning back. No matter how unwilling he was, Xiao Wenyi still came to the gate of the Sizheng Hall.

He looked up at the tall and majestic palace before him, the wind ruffling his hair and making his robes flutter in the breeze.

"The Grand Secretary Xiao Wenyi has important business to discuss with His Majesty." A moment later, a young eunuch ran out and gestured for Xiao Wenyi to enter: "His Majesty summons you to come in for an audience."

Xiao Wenyi lifted the hem of his official robe with one hand and walked up the steps.

He handed the oil-paper umbrella to the eunuch at the door for safekeeping, then tidied his appearance and, after confirming that there were no problems, stepped across the threshold into the main hall.

"I am here to pay my respects to Your Majesty."

The emperor was sitting behind his desk reviewing memorials when he saw Xiao Wenyi arrive. He put down his vermilion brush and asked, "You said you had something important to discuss. What is it?"

Xiao Wenyi took out a memorial from his sleeve: "Please let the Emperor take a look."

A eunuch stepped forward, took the memorial with both hands, and presented it to the emperor.

The emperor unfolded the memorial and began to read it carefully.

He frowned before he even finished reading, and by the time he finished the last line, his expression had turned extremely ugly.

The eunuchs and maids serving in the palace noticed something was wrong and lowered their heads, not daring to breathe.

The emperor raised his eyes to look at Xiao Wenyi and asked coldly.

Where is Jiang Qiuyu?

"I don't know."

The emperor said to the eunuch standing beside him, "Go and call Si Buping over."

"Yes."

The eunuch hurriedly left the Sizheng Hall and soon brought Si Buping over. Si Buping was still wearing a scarlet round-necked official robe, but he did not bring a knife because he was going to meet the emperor.

"Your humble servant Sibuping kowtows to Your Majesty."

The emperor glanced at the eunuchs standing beside him and said, "You may all leave."

All the eunuchs and palace maids in the hall withdrew, leaving only the emperor, Si Buping, and Xiao Wenyi.

The emperor tossed the memorial in his hand to Si Buping, indicating that he should take a look.

Si Buping opened the memorial and read through all the contents at a glance. His expression remained unchanged, and he seemed completely unconcerned about the origin of the memorial.

He asked respectfully, "Does Your Majesty wish for me to bring Jiang Qiuyu back?"

The emperor said coldly, "No need to bring him back. Take him directly to the Imperial Guard for interrogation. I want to know if he has any accomplices."

"Yes."

Si Buping placed the memorial back on the desk, then lowered his head and silently withdrew.

Once he left, only the Emperor and Xiao Wenyi remained in the hall.

The emperor asked, "Do you believe what's written on that piece of paper?"

Xiao Wenyi slowly said, "Before Emperor Wen passed away, he personally asked me to write the edict of succession, passing the throne to the fifth prince. No matter what outsiders say, in my heart, Your Majesty is always the only heir to the great cause of the country."

The emperor stood up and slowly walked to the door.

The sky outside was covered with dark clouds, the wind was getting stronger, and there was a cold drizzle mixed in.

With his hands behind his back, he gazed at the palace complex shrouded in dark clouds and sighed softly.

"Yes, even though Father Emperor has already passed the throne to me, why are there still people who refuse to acknowledge my identity?"

Xiao Wenyi stood three steps away from him, her head slightly lowered, and replied, "That's because their vision is narrow. Thousands of years from now, the great achievements of the sage will be judged by future generations."

The emperor glanced at him sideways: "If you were to write the history book, how would you evaluate me?"

"Your Majesty is wise and mighty, a truly enlightened ruler."

The emperor laughed. He knew the other person was just flattering him, but that didn't stop him from being pleased.