After failing the imperial examination, he began to wield immense power after entering the palace!

"Master Supervisor..."

Zhao Fu's voice was a little dry, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

"So, what should we do next?"

For the first time, he realized that this young, newly arrived eunuch was a difficult person to deal with.

Feng Bao leaned back in his armchair, a sinister smile curving his lips.

"Doesn't he enjoy investigating cases?"

"Then we'll give him another case to investigate."

"Have him investigate the case of Princess Jincheng's husband."

"Ask him if he dares to investigate?"

Zhao Fu was taken aback, then a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

Princess Jincheng, the youngest sister of the Chu Emperor and the late emperor's daughter, was pampered and cherished from childhood.

After Emperor Chu ascended the throne, he showed even greater favor to this younger sister, showering her with gifts. Even the concubines in the harem treated her with utmost respect.

Princess Jincheng's husband, a military officer named Sun Jizong, came from the Pingyang Sun clan, a branch of a prominent family in Guanzhong.

This person, relying on the princess's power, acts arrogantly and does all sorts of evil.

He seized farmland, lent money at exorbitant interest rates, oppressed the people, and amassed wealth... Qian's misdeeds were too numerous to list, and he was the subject of widespread resentment.

Several censors had impeached him before, and what was the result?

One of them was slapped in the face by Princess Jincheng in the street.

One of them was ambushed and beaten by Princess Jincheng and her servants at the entrance of the yamen, and his old bones almost fell apart.

From then on, no one dared to impeach the Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant.

This case is more than ten times more difficult than Zhou Wenyuan's case.

Because behind the Imperial Son-in-Law was not Consort Xie, nor Empress Yang, but the Chu Emperor's most beloved younger sister.

At that point, not only will Consort Xie be unable to protect him, but even if Empress Yang intervenes, she might not be able to save him.

"The Grand Eunuch is brilliant! If he investigates, he'll just be waiting to be killed by Princess Jincheng!"

Feng Bao grunted in response and waved his hand.

"Go, find that case file and deliver it to him."

"yes!"

Zhao Fu turned and left, his steps much lighter than when he came.

……

The East Depot, front yard.

Li Fan, along with Chen Tie and Zhang Miaozhen, was preparing to leave the Eastern Depot.

"Admiral Gao!"

A voice suddenly came from behind.

Zhao Fuzheng strode over, holding a thin file in his hands, with a polite smile on his face.

"The Chief Supervisor said that there is a long-standing unsolved case at the Eastern Depot, and he would like to ask Admiral Gao to help investigate it."

As he spoke, a slight smile curved his lips, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible smugness.

"The chief supervisor even specifically instructed his subordinates to say that only Admiral Gao dares to investigate this case."

Oh?

Looking at Zhao Fu's forced smile, Li Fan sneered inwardly.

That old fox Feng Bao is setting a trap for him again.

We just got rid of Zhou Wenyuan, and now another one is coming?

But can he refuse?

No.

He killed Zhou Wenyuan today, establishing a formidable reputation in the Eastern Depot.

If I refuse to take cases now, my prestige today will be greatly diminished.

What will those foreigners think of him?

"Admiral Gao doesn't even dare to take on a case?"

"In the end, he's nothing but a bully who picks on the weak and fears the strong."

Once such words spread, the prestige he had painstakingly built up in the Eastern Depot would crumble like sand.

Therefore, no matter what case Feng Bao brought him, he had to accept it.

"OK."

Li Fan reached out and took the case file, speaking casually as if he were accepting an invitation.

"We were just worried about not having any cases to investigate, and Supervisor Feng is truly a godsend."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Fu's lips twitched slightly.

Charcoal in the snow?

Once you've read this case file, you won't say that anymore.

"Then I'll take my leave. Admiral Gao, please investigate thoroughly."

Zhao Fu cupped his hands in greeting, then turned and left.

His steps were light and quick, and his back view revealed an undisguised smugness.

Li Fan lowered his head and opened the case file.

On the first page, a few large words immediately catch the eye:

"The case of Sun Jizong, the Imperial Son-in-Law and Commandant, who forcibly seized farmland, harmed the people, and amassed wealth."

Li Fan's brows furrowed instantly.

He turned the pages one by one, and the more he read, the more somber his expression became.

This prince consort, relying on the princess's power, ran rampant and committed all sorts of evil deeds in and around the capital.

They forcibly seized more than 3,000 mu of fertile land, forcing dozens of farmers to become homeless.

They lend money at exorbitant interest rates, sometimes as high as 50%, and if the borrower can't repay, they arrest and beat people, even driving some to their deaths.

They oppressed merchants; any shop that refused to pay "protection money" would be smashed to pieces within three days.

He amassed wealth, and within just five years, the land, shops, and estates under his name were worth hundreds of thousands of taels of silver.

The case file also included several letters written in blood by ordinary people, each word filled with tears and lamentations.

"Wang, a woman from the countryside, had her husband beaten to death by Sun Jizong's men simply because he refused to sell the land..."

"This humble citizen, Li Daniu, had both legs broken by Sun Jizong's henchmen, simply because he owed him thirty taels of silver and couldn't pay it back..."

"I, Zhang Afu, and my family of five were evicted from our ancestral home simply because Sun Jizong had his eye on that piece of land..."

Li Fan closed the case file, his face so gloomy it could drip water.

"Grandpa Gao, what's wrong?"

Zhang Miaozhen leaned closer and glanced down at the case file.

She turned a few pages, and anger gradually welled up in her phoenix eyes.

The more I look at it, the angrier I get.

The more I look at it, the more I hate it.

By the time she finished reading the last page, her phoenix eyes were already red.

"That scumbag!"

Her voice was squeezed out from between her teeth, trembling slightly.

"They forcibly seized farmland, drove people to their deaths, and oppressed the people..."

"People like that deserve to be torn to pieces!"

His wheat-colored face was filled with anger, and the two full curves beneath his tight-fitting clothes rose and fell violently with his breathing.

Chen Tie stood to the side, his expression also not very good.

But he was much calmer than Zhang Miaozhen and quickly figured out the danger behind the case.

"Admiral..."

His voice was low and tinged with worry.

"Princess Jincheng, that is His Majesty's youngest sister."

"The late emperor's youngest daughter was pampered and cherished from childhood."

"After His Majesty ascended the throne, he showed even greater favor to this younger sister, showering her with gifts."

"Her temper is comparable to Princess Anle's, or even worse."

"Admiral, this case is far more complicated and difficult than Zhou Wenyuan's case."

"If you investigate, it will be tantamount to offending Princess Jincheng."

"Offending Princess Jincheng is tantamount to offending His Majesty."

"At that time, don't say that Consort Xie couldn't protect you."

"Admiral, you can't investigate!"

Li Fan fell silent.

He looked down at the case file in his hand and tapped the cover lightly with his fingers.

Chen Tie is right.

This case is indeed ten times more difficult than Zhou Wenyuan's case.

Behind Zhou Wenyuan stood Consort Xie, and he and Consort Xie were in the same boat. Abandoning Zhou Wenyuan was merely cutting off an arm to save the whole body.

But behind Princess Jincheng stood the Emperor of Chu.

To offend her husband is tantamount to stirring up a hornet's nest in front of the Chu Emperor.

Feng Bao, that old fox, was indeed up to no good.

but……