My father ordered me to kill the emperor, but His Majesty bestowed a princess upon me instead.

Not just anyone can beat the Dengwen Drum.

Since the founding of the Great Liang Dynasty, the Dengwen Drum has been placed on the east side outside the palace city, with a red lacquered drum stand and a drumhead with copper nails, and the Imperial Guards have been standing next to it all year round.

If the people have grievances, they can appeal.

If an official has been wronged, they can also appeal.

However, if the accusation is found to be false after the accusation is made, the punishment ranges from exile to beheading.

So this thing is usually very quiet.

It was as quiet as a decoration.

But once it rings, half of the entire capital city will wake up.

When I arrived at the palace gate, the drumming had already stopped.

Before dawn, torches lined the palace walls, and the imperial guards stood in formation, their armor gleaming. The wind carried the scent of iron and cold dew.

Deng Huai knelt under the drum.

He was wearing the blue robe of a clerk in the Ministry of Revenue, his hair was half disheveled, his forehead was cut open, and blood was flowing down his brow bone.

It looks terrible.

It was just the right amount of tragic.

If I didn't know what he did behind the scenes at Qinghe Yicang, Nanyaopeng, and Ci'en Temple tonight, I would almost think he was a loyal but petty official who had been driven to the brink of despair.

The most expensive thing in the capital is not gold.

That's how it looks.

If the act is done correctly, the dead can become loyal subjects, thieves can become victims, and relief funds can become acts of charity.

Ah Liu followed behind me, so tired he could barely stand, but he still whispered, "Young Master, he looks more like a victim than we do."

I glanced at him.

"Would you like to do one too?"

Ah Liu immediately shook his head: "I'm stubborn, but I don't want to prove it."

Xiao Lingyi got off the carriage and looked coldly at Deng Huai.

She hadn't changed out of her palace dress yet; the hem was stained with ash from the granary, and there were cigarette stains on her cuffs.

The princess should have been sitting cleanly in the palace to receive the rites.

But tonight she investigated from the palace to the granary, from the granary to Ci'en Temple, and from Ci'en Temple to the Southern Medicine Shop.

She didn't seem to be there to express her gratitude.

They look like they've come to collect a debt.

When Deng Huai saw us, he suddenly looked up.

His eyes held both tears and hatred.

"Shen An!"

That shout was very loud.

The imperial guards inside and outside the palace gates all looked over.

I stopped in my tracks.

"Clerk Deng, you have a good voice."

Ah Liu looked at me with admiration.

Praising someone's voice at a time like this is indeed a skill.

Deng Huai hissed, "You forced me to falsify the Qinghe Granary account books, forced me to hide disaster victims in Ci'en Temple, and forced me to poison people at the South Pharmacy, all to frame Minister Zheng and disrupt the Ministry of Revenue's disaster relief efforts!"

After listening, I nodded.

"Quite comprehensive."

Deng Huai was taken aback.

I asked, "How long did you memorize it?"

His expression changed.

"You still want to argue?"

"I just think you have a good memory."

I took a few steps closer and looked at the blood on his forehead.

"Qinghe Granary, Ci'en Temple, Southern Medicine Shop, Vice Minister Zheng. Not a single one was left out. If no one had listed the items for you beforehand, it would be a real pity that a mere clerk in the Ministry of Revenue, being chased like a dog in the middle of the night, could still recite the words so fluently while banging a drum."

Deng Huai gritted his teeth: "Shen An, don't try to distort the truth!"

"I'm not usually the type to do things backwards."

I looked at him.

"I like to split the bill evenly."

Just then, Wei Zhi's voice came from inside the palace gate.

"Your Majesty summons Princess Zhaoning, Shen An, Zheng Huaien, and Deng Huai to the Xuanzheng Hall."

I looked up.

Xuanzheng Hall.

The emperor did not allow us to go to the side hall.

Instead, they opened the main hall.

This is no small matter.

This is to make tonight's situation crystal clear and laid bare on the central axis of the imperial court.

Zheng Huaien walked slowly from behind.

He had changed his outer robe, and his face was devoid of any trace of worldly warmth; he remained gentle and composed.

It felt as if what had just happened at Qinghe Yicang, Ci'en Temple, Nanyaopeng, and the underground warehouse was just a nightmare I had.

He bowed to Xiao Lingyi, then looked at me.

"Lord Shen, I never expected it to escalate to the point of petitioning the emperor."

I smiled.

"The way you're saying that, Minister Zheng, it's as if you didn't order the drum to be played."

Zheng Huaien's expression remained unchanged.

"Lord Shen, you must have evidence to back up your words."

"So I went into the hall to speak."

He looked at me and sighed softly.

"It's good that Lord Shen is young and has a sharp mind. But to investigate a case to the point that a minor official has to beat the petition drum to appeal for justice, perhaps you should think about whether you're moving too fast."

"I've always been walking in a hurry."

I looked at Deng Huai.

"Because you're in a hurry to kill people."

Zheng Huaien didn't say anything more.

The quieter he was, the more I knew he had something to say.

Tonight, he sent Deng Huai to the palace so that he could be the first to claim the title of "wrongfully accused".

He said that the Ministry of Revenue had failed to supervise the Qingheyi Granary because sandbags of moldy rice had been found.

Ci'en Temple is holding disaster victims; he said it was a private account of the Buddhist temple.

The medicine sold at the southern medicine sheds was used to kill living people; he said the shed doctors were misusing the medicine.

The underground warehouse contained the bodies of the dead, and he said Deng Huai and Ma Cheng were using the names of the dead.

But when Deng Huai struck the drum, things changed.

What started as a disaster relief case involving the Ministry of Revenue has now become a case of Shen An framing the Ministry of Revenue.

All the evidence I found became evidence that could be questioned.

If even one piece of evidence proves that I tampered with the documents, Zheng Huaien can turn things around.

They even turned around and accused me and Xiao Lingyi of using the Princess's Mansion's power to open a public granary without authorization, break into a Buddhist temple at night, and force confessions from officials of the Ministry of Revenue.

In a case, the worst thing is not the lack of evidence.

The evidence had its provenance written down in advance.

The Xuanzheng Hall was brightly lit.

Emperor Xiao Jingheng sat on the dragon throne, dressed in a black robe, his face even paler than during the day.

He looks like he's gotten even sicker.

But those eyes remained clear.

He was so lucid that you wouldn't dare treat him like a patient.

Gu Xingzhi stood to the side of the hall.

Wei Zhi was below the dragon throne.

Besides us, there were several important officials in the hall who had been urgently summoned in the middle of the night.

Zhao Guanlan was present.

Pei Shen was also there.

Grand Secretary Wang also came.

When I saw Pei Shen, my heart skipped a beat.

That "Pei Shen's Private Letter" is still in the document box.

The real person is also in the hall now.

The scene was getting more and more lively.

Unfortunately, I'm so tired I just want to sleep.

It would be best if, after waking up, Zheng Huaien confessed to his crime.

Of course, such good things usually only happen in Ah Liu's dreams.

Deng Huai was escorted into the hall and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Your Majesty! Your humble servant Deng Huai, a clerk in the Disaster Relief Department of the Ministry of Revenue, risks his life to beat the drum today, begging Your Majesty to investigate!"

The emperor looked at him.

"explain."

Deng Huai's voice trembled, but it was very clear.

"Shen An, in order to investigate the Ministry of Revenue's disaster relief funds, forced me to cooperate in forging Qinghe Yicang rice coupons, Ci'en Temple donation accounts, and Nanyao Shed medical records. I initially refused, but Shen An then threatened me with the power of the Censorate, saying that if I did not comply, he would include me in the list of remnants of the Qingzhang Society."

He kowtowed, and blood stained the bricks of the palace.

"The so-called moldy rice in the sandbags at Qinghe Granary was actually replaced by someone sent by Shen An in advance."

"The firewood shed victims of Ci'en Temple were secretly infiltrated by Shen An's men, who were there to create a scene of carnage when he broke into the temple at night."

"The medicine that caused the disaster victims to fall ill at the southern medicine shed was also prepared by Shen An, who asked me to prepare the medicine."

"The underground warehouse was a place where the dead were swallowed up, a scheme deliberately orchestrated by Shen An to force the warehouse workers to swallow the forged documents!"

Ah Liu stood behind me, trembling with anger.

"How could he say that!"

I whispered, "Don't rush."

"Young master, he's turned all the good things you did into bad things!"

I paused for a moment.

"Ah Liu."

"what?"

"What you're saying doesn't quite sound right either."

Ah Liu was stunned, then became even more anxious.

Deng Huai continued, "This humble subject has proof!"

As he spoke, he took a piece of paper from his pocket.

The imperial guards presented it to Wei Zhi, who then passed it on to the emperor.

The emperor glanced at it.

"Shen An".

Wei Zhi handed the paper to me.

I took it.

The paper contained a transfer order.

It is written as:

At midnight tonight, the ashes of Qinghe Granary will be cleared, the old incense at Ci'en Temple will be burned, and the witnesses at the South Pharmacy will be kept in rest. All of this will be arranged by Lord Shen.

The signature did not include the name Shen An.

There is only one seal.

Private records of Shen An, Censor of the Censorate.

I stared at the mark for a moment.

Ah Liu also came over, and his face turned pale after seeing it.

"Young master, this seal..."

Does it look like it?

"picture."

He quickly added, "But it's definitely fake!"

I looked at the corner of the seal.

It really does look like it.

They even replicated the missing part on the edge of the print.

I don't usually use this personal seal; I usually keep it in a small box in my duty room.

Not many people know about missing corners on printed edges.

Someone in the Censorate has touched my things.

I looked up at Zhao Guanlan.

Zhao Guanlan's face was very grim.

He had obviously thought of that too.

Deng Huai added, "This humble servant can also testify that most of the accounts Shen An investigated tonight were fabricated by Bai Zhi. Bai Zhi is the daughter of Bai Song, a criminal accountant in the Ministry of Revenue, and has a long-standing grudge against the Ministry. Shen An used her to falsify accounts in an attempt to settle a personal score!"

Bai Zhi, standing among the witnesses outside the hall, turned cold upon hearing these words.

I'm a little worried for Deng Huai.

If Bai Zhi really holds a grudge, he'll never get away with it in his next life.

Zheng Huaien stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, I was reluctant to believe that Lord Shen would act in this way. However, tonight Lord Shen opened the Qinghe Granary without authorization, broke into Ci'en Temple, and privately detained officials of the Ministry of Revenue, which does indeed seem to be an overreach of his authority. I dare not say whether what Deng Huai said is true. I only request that Your Majesty temporarily seal all the evidence and allow the three judicial departments to conduct a joint trial."

That's beautifully said.

He didn't say I was guilty.

He said he wanted a joint trial by the three judicial departments.

That sounds fair.

In fact, as soon as the evidence is resealed in the three judicial departments, the initiative we gained all night will be gone.

With the Ministry of Revenue, the Secretariat, the Ministry of Justice, and the Censorate all involved, it's impossible to say whether the evidence will remain intact or whether the witnesses will survive.

Grand Secretary Wang finally spoke.

"Your Majesty, Minister Zheng's words are sound. The disaster relief fund case involves the people's hearts, and Shen An is also the imperial son-in-law, a special status. If he were to preside over the trial alone, it would inevitably be unfair."

Pei Shen also said slowly, "Lord Shen has made meritorious contributions to the investigation and is also sharp-witted. However, excessive sharpness can easily damage the case. Joint investigation by the three judicial departments can not only protect Lord Shen's innocence, but also protect the Ministry of Revenue from unwarranted accusations."

I glanced at Pei Shen.

These words truly reflect Pei Shen's words.

Every word is like lukewarm water.

But you can be boiled to death in lukewarm water.

The emperor did not speak immediately.

The hall was so quiet that you could hear the lamp wick pop once.

Xiao Lingyi suddenly spoke up: "Father, I saw with my own eyes that there were indeed sandbags of moldy rice in Qinghe Granary, that disaster victims were indeed being held in Ci'en Temple Woodshed, and that there were indeed people unconscious in the Southern Medicine Shelter."

Grand Secretary Wang said, "Your Highness witnessed it firsthand, so naturally you wouldn't speak recklessly. However, Your Highness has only seen the outcome. As for who arranged the outcome, we still need to investigate carefully."

Xiao Lingyi looked at him.

"Are you saying, Grand Secretary Wang, that I too was deceived by Shen An?"

Grand Secretary Wang lowered his head.

"This old minister dares not."

I stood to the side, thinking silently.

He dares.

He just said he didn't dare.

The emperor finally looked at me.

"Shen An, what do you say?"

I stepped forward and bowed.

"I confess to one crime first."

Many people in the hall looked over.

Ah Liu almost cried out.

The emperor's eyes flickered slightly.

"What crime?"

"Tonight, I opened the Qinghe Yi Granary without authorization, entered Ci'en Temple at night, investigated the Southern Medicine Shop, and entered the underground warehouse. This was indeed an overreach of my authority."

Zheng Huaien's eyes flickered slightly.

A hint of joy appeared on Deng Huai's face.

I continued, "But Your Majesty, please investigate thoroughly. I overstepped my authority in order to save lives."

I looked up.

"Before the Qinghe Granary was opened, the disaster victims had no food. After it was opened, there was fake grain, moldy rice, and sandbags in the granary."

"Before the fire broke out in the woodshed of Ci'en Temple, fourteen disaster victims were tied up inside. If I hadn't broken into the temple, they would have been burned to death."

"Thirteen people from the southern medicine shed were force-fed acacia benzoin and datura powder. If I hadn't pursued the matter, they would have already died and been recorded."

"Seven survivors in the underground warehouse were drowned. If I don't go down, the bodies of Zhao Ji, the disaster victims, and the warehouse workers will all be cleared away as evidence."

I looked at Deng Huai.

"Clerk Deng accused me of fabricating evidence. I would like to ask a question."

"If these people were all arranged by me, then why should I rescue them before they die?"

Deng Huai gritted his teeth and said, "You're just putting on an act!"

"put on a show?"

I smiled.

"I have a real penchant for acting. First, let the disaster victims starve to death, then lock them in the woodshed, set it on fire, and finally rush in to rescue them. Then, have the pharmacy give people strong medicine, making them look like they're about to die, and then have Doctor Song save them. Then, have the underground warehouse flooded, and I almost drowned myself."

I looked at him.

"Deng Huai, if I were really that good at acting, why would I need to investigate cases? I could go to the Ministry of Rites to direct plays and maybe live a little longer."

Someone in the hall lowered their head, as if suppressing a laugh.

Ah Liu almost laughed too, but halfway through, he remembered that this was the Golden Palace and quickly held it in.

Deng Huai's face was grim.

I turned to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, I am not surprised that Deng Huai beat the drum to protest. What truly surprises me is that he beat it too hastily."

The emperor asked, "Why?"

"Because many pieces of evidence haven't been examined yet tonight."

I pointed to the certificate box.

"The grain in Ding Mancang’s belly, the calming powder in the medicine shed, the rice coupons in Qinghe Yicang, and the general register of Ci'en Temple can all be said to be forged by Cheng Chen."

Zheng Huaien said calmly, "Lord Shen himself has admitted it."

"I admit that they can be questioned."

I looked at him.

"But there's one thing Deng Huai can't fake."

Zheng Huaien's eyes flickered slightly.

I raised my hand.

"It is said to be the work of a Song Dynasty physician."

When Physician Song was brought into the hall, his face was even paler than before.

He was nearly exhausted from saving lives tonight, and was even dragged into the Golden Hall to testify. The look in his eyes when he looked at me was full of a physician's dissatisfaction with the patient.

I pretended not to see it.

After Physician Song bowed, I asked, "Physician Song, what medicine are the thirteen disaster victims in the southern medicine shed taking?"

"Excessive amount of Albizia julibrissin and a small amount of Datura powder."

"Are the prescriptions in Yu Chen's fake illness file from the same source?"

The Song physician said, "The medicinal properties are similar, and the methods of avoiding wind, keeping quiet, and dimming the lamps at the end of the prescription are the same."

I then asked, "What will happen to a person after taking this medicine?"

"Drowsiness, weak breathing, and sluggish response. Higher doses can be fatal."

"Can it be faked?"

"cannot."

I looked at Deng Huai.

"Clerk Deng, you said I arranged for the South Medicine Shelter. Then I want to ask you, when did I arrange for those thirteen disaster victims to take the medicine beforehand?"

Deng Huai's face turned slightly pale.

I continued, "They moved from the woodshed of Ci'en Temple to the South Pharmacy, where you recorded them as patients in a state of recuperation. The medicine has been taken, and their pulses are felt. You can forge documents, steal seals, and write fake transfer orders."

I pointed at him.

"But you can't temporarily fabricate the pulse readings of thirteen people into the same medical record."

The hall fell silent again.

This is living proof.

The pulse of a living person is harder than paper.

I added, "What's even more coincidental is that when I entered the palace today to express my gratitude, the Changning side hall also prepared the same kind of calming tea for me. I didn't drink it and spilled it. The tea and the medicinal powder from the Southern Medicine Shop are from the same source."

The emperor looked at Wei Zhi.

Wei Zhi immediately said, "The teacups, wet clothes, and dregs of medicine in the side hall of Changning have all been sealed."

I looked at Zheng Huaien.

"Minister Zheng, now the problem arises."

"If I wanted to frame you, would I prepare a cup of calming tea for myself in the palace beforehand?"

Zheng Huaien remained silent.

Deng Huai's face grew paler and paler.

But that's not enough.

These facts prove that the medicine is real and the person is real.

However, it cannot be proven that Zheng Huaien was definitely the mastermind.

I took a deep breath.

"Your Majesty, I request that another person be summoned."

The emperor looked at me.

"Who?"

"Qinghe Yicang accountant, Zhao Ji."

When Zhao Ji was brought into the palace, he was supported by two palace guards.

He had just been pulled out of the underground warehouse, still wet, his face bruised and swollen, and his right knuckles covered in blood.

His body was trembling after he knelt down.

I asked, "Zhao Ji, Deng Huai said the evidence against Qinghe Granary was fabricated by me. Do you know Deng Huai?"

Zhao Ji looked up at Deng Huai.

There was fear and hatred in his eyes.

"I recognize it."

Did he go to the charity granary tonight?

"I've been there."

"What are you doing?"

"Clear the accounts and silence them."

Deng Huai said sternly, "Zhao Ji, you were coerced by Shen An!"

Zhao Ji suddenly burst into tears.

"Who coerced me? I was locked in the underground warehouse and almost drowned! Ding Mancang swallowed the debt to hide his true intentions! Tell me, who coerced me?"

Deng Huai wanted to say something more.

I interrupted him.

"Zhao Ji, Deng Huai took an iron box away tonight. What's inside?"

Zhao Ji said, "Zheng Fang's medicine vouchers, the total amount of rice coupons for the public granary, and..."

He suddenly stopped.

I looked at him.

"What else?"

A very complex expression appeared on Zhao Ji's face.

"There's also a booklet."

"What booklet?"

"A disaster relief account book personally written by Minister Zheng."

The hall fell silent.

Zheng Huaien's expression finally changed.

It's not very big.

But that's enough.

I looked at Deng Huai.

"Clerk Deng".

"Where is that iron box now?"

Deng Huai's lips moved, but he didn't speak.

I laughed.

"You wouldn't have come to the palace empty-handed to file a complaint. If I'm not mistaken, you should have handed the iron box to someone in the palace and made it disappear."

"But you're in too much of a hurry."

"Once the drum of petition sounds, the palace gates are sealed. You may have entered, but the iron box may not have been delivered."

I turned to look at the emperor.

"Your Majesty, please seal the palace gates and search the carriages and entourage that Deng Huai used when he came here."

Deng Huai's face turned deathly pale instantly.

Zheng Huaien suddenly looked at him.

That glance didn't look like it was directed at a witness.

Like looking at a useless person who failed to hide his knife properly.

The emperor slowly said, "Gu Xingzhi."

Gu Xingzhi finally made a move.

He only said one word.

"search."