A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 94 Pairs
"In broad daylight, who dares to break into the residence of the Minister of Ceremonies? Aren't you afraid of death?"

"We are acting on orders from the Minister of Justice to search for witchcraft and sorcery. We have orders to keep, so get out of the way immediately!"

"What does investigating witchcraft have to do with the Minister of Ceremonies?"

"Whether or not we do it is not up to the Grand Master of Ceremonies. Anyone who dares to block our way again will be killed without exception!"

"Anyone who dares to take a step closer will be killed without mercy!"

At the entrance of the Grand Master of Ceremonies' residence.

Officials from the Court of Justice and guards from the Marquis's residence stood facing each other in a tense standoff, their swords flashing, the air thick with tension, as if a conflict was about to erupt.

"Zhang Tang!"

Just then, the voice of Wei Buhai, the Grand Master of Ceremonies and Marquis of Dangtu, came from inside the mansion gate: "With their rank, they have no right to search my mansion. I know you are here, so come out!"

The Grand Master of Ceremonies was the head of the Nine Ministers.

The Marquis of Dangtu was a hereditary marquis.

With both documents combined, without an imperial edict, a decree from the Prime Minister's Office, or a decree from the Censor-in-Chief, no one could be ordered to search the Marquis's residence.

For those of the same rank, only Zhang Tang's personal presence can conduct a search.

The officials of the Court of Justice made way for Zhang Tang, who slowly walked out without the slightest arrogance. He stepped forward respectfully and said, "Greetings, Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices."

"Zhang Tang, do you suspect that I cursed the Empress or the Emperor?" Wei Buhai said ruthlessly.

"Why does the Minister of Ceremonies say such a thing?"

Zhang Tang nodded, then shook his head and smiled, "I am acting on the Emperor's orders to investigate the witchcraft case in Weiyang and Changle Palaces. However, some evidence has implicated the Minister of Ceremonies. Entering the palace to search is merely an act of obedience. I hope the Minister of Ceremonies will understand my difficulties."

"What evidence?"

"This matter is of great importance, and I cannot disclose it. If the Minister of Ceremonies does not believe it, he can inquire with the Prime Minister's Office afterward. If the Minister of Ceremonies has any doubts or dissatisfaction at that time, he may submit a memorial to the throne."

"If you cannot find any dolls in my residence, what shall we do?" Wei Buhai said sternly.

The group of founding heroes had declined, but they were not dead. As the nominal head of the ministers and marquises, he was not worried about Zhang Tang framing him.

That would only start an unnecessary massacre, something Your Majesty might do, and Emperor Xiaojing might do too, but rulers like Emperor Xiaowen and the Supreme Emperor would not do.

Have you not seen the deaths of hundreds of powerful families in Chang'an? Although it was due to witchcraft, Zhang Tang obtained concrete evidence of their crimes. Whether or not there were dolls used for incantations was irrelevant; the extent of their crimes was enough to lead to their deaths and the extermination of their entire clans.

However, Wei Buhai believed in his and his clan's innocence, and that even if they occasionally violated the laws of the Han Dynasty, they would not be subject to death.

As for witchcraft, he had never been exposed to it!
If Zhang Tang insists on searching the Marquis's residence and fails to find the witchcraft puppet, he will contact the other marquises of the Han Dynasty to put Zhang Tang to death.

Let me warn you beforehand.

“I also wish for the Grand Master of Ceremonies to be clear of wrongdoing, so that I can give an account to the Emperor,” Zhang Tang said with his smile unchanged.

These words were grand and impeccable. Wei Buhai ordered the guards of the Marquis's residence to make way, and the officials of the Court of Justice filed in and began digging around the Marquis's residence.

They searched the master bedroom three feet deep, but found no witchcraft or sorcery items.

Wei Buhai felt increasingly at ease and mocked, "I have always been meticulous and do not believe in secret incantations. Since the Minister of Justice does not believe, then let's search carefully. If we can't find it underground, we can demolish this mansion and search every brick and tile."

"Thank you for your leniency, Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices." Zhang Tang smiled and glanced at the panicked women in the Marquis's residence. He said meaningfully, "Isn't there a back garden? If you still can't find it, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices will bear all the losses of the Marquis's residence. I can even give my life to the Marquis."

For some reason, Wei Buhai suddenly felt uneasy. Following Zhang Tang's gaze, he looked at his flustered wife, children, and elderly relatives, especially his wife who had been through thick and thin with a pale face, and seemed to have thought of something.

My wife, my wife, you can't be that confused, can you?
As the officials of the Court of Justice headed towards the artificial hill, Wei Buhai closed his eyes and thought, "My old wife, how could you be so foolish?"

"Your Excellency, six human figures have been unearthed beneath the artificial hill in the Marquis's residence, each inscribed with His Majesty's name..."

The officials of the Court of Justice lined up six effigies in a row. The person who performed the incantation was neither the Empress nor the Emperor, but Emperor Liu Che of the Han Dynasty!

Wei Buhai's wife fainted on the spot.

Zhang Tang glanced at her, then at Wei Buhai, "Minister of Ceremonies, may I ask about this..."

"I'll leave it to the Minister of Justice to decide," Wei Buhai said, gradually calming down.

“I admire the deep affection between the Marquis and his wife. I will report the truth to the Emperor. But before that, please accompany my officials to the prison,” Zhang Tang said solemnly.

The Grand Master of Ceremonies is an upright man and would not engage in secret prayers, but those around him who are overly concerned and prone to making mistakes are another matter entirely.

The Grand Masters of Ceremonies of this dynasty have all met tragic ends. When Wei Buhai was finally appointed Grand Master of Ceremonies, the most excited person was not Wei Buhai himself, but his devoted wife.

As a marquis of the Han Dynasty, Wei Buhai had no concubines, only his wife by his side until the end, and their affection for each other was stronger than gold.

After learning that her husband had been appointed Grand Master of Ceremonies and was a man destined for death, the old lady hatched a plan and asked a sorcerer to secretly pray for the emperor.

I hope His Majesty will pass away soon, thus relieving the inevitable death of the Minister of Ceremonies and solving the problem at its root. It must be said that the old lady has insight and has done what countless subjects of the Han Dynasty wanted to do but dared not.

But this is ultimately the source of all trouble!

At the beginning of the witchcraft case, Zhang Tang arrested all the witches in Chang'an. From the witches, he learned one familiar name after another, and the wife of the Minister of Ceremonies was the highest-ranking one.

The couple's relationship was so perfect that it was truly enviable, even moving the cruel official Zhang Tang. But from the moment the Minister of Ceremonies listened to Dong Zhongshu and did something that benefited His Majesty, it became a life-or-death struggle.

The Grand Master of Ceremonies was a high-ranking official in charge of the ancestral sacrifices of the Han dynasty. He had considerable authority over the interpretation of rituals and could be a great help or a great obstacle on the path to the throne. It was important not to let the emperor's or empress's people have control over it.

"Madam, Madam..."

When Wei Buhai's wife woke up, she glanced at Wei Buhai and then resolutely jumped into the lake!

"My wife, my wife!"

Wei Buhai wanted to save her, but was firmly stopped by the officials of the Court of Justice. Zhang Tang sent people into the water to rescue her, but Wei Buhai's old wife was determined to die. She pushed away the people from the Court of Justice, swam to the deep water, and drowned herself.

When the old lady was pulled from the water, Wei Buhai knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly.

Zhang Tang remained silent.

After a long time, he ordered his subordinates to bring Wei Buhai into the Tingwei Minister's prison and secretly pray to the emperor. He reasoned that neither the emperor nor the empress would be able to make a decision, so he presented the case to Ganquan Palace.

In the end, death is inevitable.

Zhang Tang walked out of the Taichang Minister's residence, neither sad nor happy. He touched the spot where his heart was; it was beating, but he felt nothing. Perhaps it was because he had killed too many people.

Love and affection are meaningless, next.

(End of this chapter)