My father Zhao Kuangyin

Outside the Dali Temple, Ma Shi paced back and forth incessantly while waiting, feeling as if each day was an eternity.

It should be noted that he is only forty years old this year, and his beard and temples were originally half gray and half black, but now they have turned white overnight, showing his deep sorrow.

"Ma Shiyi, please stop."

As Su Xiao entered the courtroom, she glared at the judge with an air of superiority.

"You didn't utter a sound when we investigated you yesterday, but now that your father-in-law has just died, you know to turn yourself in?"

Seeing this, Zhao Dezhao was somewhat surprised. He wanted to say something, but after thinking it over, he ultimately swallowed his words.

"I was the top scholar in the third year of the Jianlong era, but I came from a poor family. My appointment to the position of Zhongshu is entirely due to the Emperor's promotion..." After a long pause, Ma Shi, as if holding back for a long time, finally spoke: "However, I have misjudged people and married the daughter of a disgraced official, forming a marriage alliance with her..."

"I summoned you here, not to hear you recount your entire life," Su Xiao said irritably.

Don't be fooled by Su Xiao's current position as Transport Commissioner. During the Later Zhou Dynasty, he served as Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and later as Director of Agricultural Settlement.

Well, he entered officialdom through the influence of his father, Su Zan, unlike Ma Shi, a pedantic scholar who obtained his official position through examinations. He was pragmatic in his work.

The law is impartial, and this was a task that would offend many people. Countless eyes in the court were watching, and if there was the slightest mistake, memorials would likely pile up like snowflakes on the emperor's desk.

Ma Shi sighed, took out a crumpled piece of paper from his sleeve, and handed it over.

"What is this?"

"Things left behind by my father-in-law, Li Shouxin."

Upon hearing this, Su Xiao immediately perked up.

"Where did it come from?"

"We came by... a wooden raft."

Su Xiao was taken aback for a moment, then said.

"The letter came from a raft?"

"No," Ma Shi said with difficulty. "Last year, when my father-in-law embezzled timber, he also secretly gave my family a raft... He informed us of this in a letter."

After he finished speaking, the hall remained silent for a long while.

Su Xiao regained her senses, reached out and took the letter, read it carefully, and then fell silent.

The news of Li Shouxin's death was relatively good, but it was a coincidence that Ma Shi was able to surrender himself to the authorities under the pretext of "fear" and receive leniency.

Zhao Dezhao didn't even need to look to know that this was probably related to the story of identifying Zhao Pu.

That's all. Isn't this the old story of how Zhao Pu ordered his personal officials to go to Shaanxi to buy timber and send it to the capital by raft?

Using rafts to cross logs—is this gradually evolving into a story of corruption?

Thinking about it more carefully, who exactly is Ma Shi, the Right Remonstrator?

The fact that the remonstrating officials of the Central Secretariat could cross boundaries and establish this connection is plausible.

If it's something everyone already knows, then what else is there to say?

Even if Zhao Pu didn't understand, Xue Juzheng was still guilty of dereliction of duty for allowing Li Shouxin to be promoted to a local position.

Once this matter was settled, Zhao Pu, as the chief official and sole prime minister, could not escape blame.

Now that the case is clear and there are witnesses and physical evidence, Su Xiao would probably confess and use the evidence to close the case with the authorities. But today is different, because Erlang is sitting right next to him...

"Is what you're saying true?"

"really."

Perhaps because the matter had been settled, Ma Shi had no desire to say anything more and simply nodded in agreement.

"It's on record."

At this point, Zhao Dezhao could no longer sit still.

"Could Lord Su please postpone this?"

"Slow down what?"

"Ma Shi's wife, Li, has not yet been interrogated," Zhao Dezhao said solemnly. "And there is also Jia Huangzhong, the Left Remonstrance Official. Although the former is subordinate to Ma Shi, he is a close colleague. If these two people are not investigated, and based on his one-sided testimony, Father..."

"This is not a one-sided account," Ma Shi quickly denied. "The raft is hidden in a warehouse in the suburbs. The transport commissioner and the censor can send someone to bring it over for verification. This matter was also told to me by my wife, and it has nothing to do with Wa Min (Jia).

Zhao Dezhao was unwilling to argue with him, and made a move to lead the officials and soldiers to his residence to find Li.

At this point, Ma Shi could no longer contain himself and stepped forward to persuade him to stay.

"Why is Erlang doing this to himself?!"

Zhao Dezhao stopped and turned his head to look.

"As your son-in-law, and with the help of your father-in-law, this is a proven fact. I am willing to admit my guilt and hope that you will not torment my wife any further."

Seeing that Ma Shi was about to burst into tears, Zhao Dezhao's heart clenched, but he stopped going out and sat back down.

What's the point of investigating this matter further?

The matter is settled, the chain of evidence is complete, Li Shouxin himself is dead, and the previous investigation and confiscation of a number of corrupt officials involved have been confirmed. Uncle Hao's attack was premeditated and meticulously planned.

Regardless of whether he was passive or not, the bribery was real, and the crime was real. If he wanted to cover it up or act out of personal gain, it would be too late, not to mention his father's previous teachings.

He wasn't here to sit in the judge's seat, but rather... in the audience, looking at Minister Zhao and Prefect Zhao, who were seated to his left and right.

………………

Yingchun Garden.

As Zhao Kuangyin watched his eldest son approach with a solemn expression, he, having already learned the truth, felt both annoyed and amused.

"I already know."

"Didn't Grandpa find it strange?"

Zhao Dezhao asked in a murmur.

"There are too many strange things, I can't worry about them all, I only need to find the answer."

Upon hearing this, he wanted to say that if Ma Shi was "wronged" or that a certain prefect had deliberately framed him, but he felt that he was too naive and ultimately did not say it.

Zhao Kuangyin glanced at Zhao Dezhao and said sternly.

"What I abhor most is corruption, and it is true that Ping shields the faults of his subordinates. If I condone this, all officials in the land will follow suit, and what kind of order will that create?"

The implication is simply that Zhao Pu has violated laws and regulations too many times, and even if he can tolerate it, there are limits.

As for claiming it was a mistake, that would be laughable.

One person may be corrupt, but a group of people can all be corrupt.

This wasn't an individual crime; it was organized crime. Those who were imprisoned, even if not because of Li Shouxin, had certainly embezzled a considerable amount of public office.

As the saying goes, it's like having an insect in your house. Once you see one, you've already found its nest. If you don't go straight for the root of the problem, it will keep coming back, and you can't get rid of it completely.

Because of this case, what right do those corrupt officials who were dragged out of the muddy mess deserve to be forgiven?

It should be understood that the Secretariat and the Chancellery are controlled by the prime ministers. Even though Zhao Guangyi has the ability to get the prime ministers to speak directly to the emperor, he has no right to interfere. The reason he launched this attack is entirely to "correct" corruption, which is in line with the emperor's wishes.

Whether Li Shouxin committed suicide or was stabbed to death is insignificant.

Therefore, when Zhao Dezhao said he wanted to investigate, Zhao Kuangyin compassionately reminded him not to disregard justice and help Zhao Pu.

In fact, Zhao Dezhao was just listening in and did not go into the water; Su Xiao did all the dirty and tiring work.

Seeing that Zhao Dezhao did not respond for a long time, Zhao Kuangyin chuckled.

"Stunned?"

"I'm pondering this. Many of those who embezzled and broke the law were officials from the Secretariat and the Chancellery. I don't think these people should be forgiven, but they've been in the central government for many years. Now they're all being removed from office. Does Father intend to dismiss Zhao Gong from his position as Chancellor?"

"It's not that I want to dismiss him, but since Zeping became prime minister, this has happened year after year. I don't care whether he's corrupt or greedy. If even the officials in the capital and surrounding areas are so unrestrained, how can I be at ease in the provinces?" Zhao Kuangyin said slowly. "Although the case is settled, Minister Su still has to catch rats for me. You shouldn't be running around these days. Whether you're practicing martial arts, reading literature, or participating in government affairs at the Secretariat, you should spend your time on the campaign."

"I understand."

To be honest, it's hard to say that Zhao Dezhao, who has only been here for a short time, has any scheming. In this respect, he is a true nephew compared to Zhao Guangyi, and cannot be disrespected.

With things having come to this point, even Zhao Pu himself had no choice but to confess his crimes like Ma Shi. If the Grand Secretary was in such a predicament, Zhao Dezhao was naturally powerless to reverse the situation and could not help but think of even greater dangers while already in a precarious situation.

The immediate danger is that Zhao Pu's position as prime minister is unstable. If this towering tree of the Song Dynasty falls, and the attitudes of the remaining vice prime ministers are unclear, who can help this prospective crown prince?

Whether the Crown Prince or the younger brother belongs to the Eastern Palace is a matter of even greater danger.

Is this manipulation of power a way to bring Emperor Taizong back to his comfort zone?