After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

The next morning, the court session was held in the Fengtian Hall.

Just as Grand Secretary Liu Jian was about to speak, a voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Your humble servant, Zhang Shi, the Imperial Inspector and Supervising Censor of Shuntian, has something to report!"

Liu Jian frowned. What's wrong with this guy? He's so rude!

Even if we need to present a memorial, we have to do it in order. I haven't even spoken yet, what's the rush?

The Hongzhi Emperor raised his hand: "Bring it here!"

Zhang Shi declared loudly, "I impeach Wang Hua, Grand Master of the Palace, Yang Tinghe, Junior Grand Master of the Palace, and Wang Shouren, Right Director of the Left Spring Palace and concurrently Magistrate of Wuqing County!"

The assembled officials in the hall immediately perked up and turned to look.

Liu Jian already understood; so they were here to fight, no wonder they were so impatient.

Wang Hua and Yang Tinghe stood in the train, exchanged a glance, and their brows twitched slightly.

The Hongzhi Emperor's expression changed, and he asked, "Impeach what?"

Zhang Shi straightened his back and raised his voice: "I impeach Wang Hua for abusing his power to transfer his son, Wang Shouren, to the Left Spring Palace, despite holding the position of Grand Master of the Palace! I impeach Wang Shouren for misappropriating treasury funds under the guise of road repairs, while actually enriching himself! I impeach Yang Tinghe for using his official position to protect his son, Yang Shen, in business, thus engaging in collusion between officials and merchants for personal gain!"

The courtiers in the hall began to whisper among themselves, and a buzzing sound filled the air.

Zhang Shi continued, "Wang Hua and Yang Tinghe, as the Grand Master and Junior Grand Master of the Palace respectively, should be assisting His Highness the Crown Prince in handling state affairs and studying the classics, but instead, they've devoted all their energy to business! As a result, His Highness has neglected his studies, spending his days researching strange and ingenious techniques, and even personally going to Wuqing County to open a kiln and fire bricks! How can he inherit the throne if this continues?"

These words sparked even more discussion in the hall.

The Hongzhi Emperor's expression grew increasingly grim.

Wang Hua finally couldn't hold back any longer. He stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I have something to say!"

The Hongzhi Emperor nodded: "Since this is an impeachment against you, I'd like to hear your thoughts!"

Wang Hua turned to Zhang Shi, his gaze piercing: "Censor Zhang, you accuse me of abusing my power to transfer my son to the Left Spring Palace? My son, Wang Shouren, was a legitimate Jinshi who passed the imperial examinations. He was first appointed to the Ministry of Political Works, and then by His Majesty's personal appointment to serve as Right Director of the Left Spring Palace! From beginning to end, I haven't uttered a single word or written a single character! If you don't believe me, you can check the Ministry of Personnel's records!"

Zhang Shi lowered his head and remained silent.

Wang Hua wasn't originally the main focus; he was just mentioned incidentally.

Wang Hua continued, "As for my son's appointment as magistrate of Wuqing County, it was personally decreed by His Majesty! Before Censor Zhang impeached us, did he even consult the imperial edict?"

Zhang Shi, without changing his expression, said, "Even if your son's entry into officialdom was compliant with regulations, what he did in Wuqing County couldn't be faked, could it?"

Yang Tinghe also stepped forward, his expression calm.

"Censor Zhang just said that I, as an official, protected my son's business dealings, thus engaging in collusion between officials and merchants. I would like to ask, the Junior Chamberlain of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices is responsible for assisting the Crown Prince, managing the Eastern Palace's documents and records, and teaching the Crown Prince the ways of being a ruler. Since taking office, have I ever neglected my duties for a single day? Have I ever overlooked a single official matter?"

Zhang Shi said, "I didn't say you were negligent in your duties, but that you went astray, even leading the Crown Prince astray!"

Yang Tinghe raised an eyebrow: "Went astray? May I ask, Imperial Censor Zhang, what wrong path have I taken?"

Zhang Shi was prepared and said in a deep voice, "Recently, His Highness the Crown Prince has not been studying or practicing martial arts, but has been spending his days researching biogas digesters and brick kilns. May I ask, Minister Yang, are these proper matters? The Crown Prince is the heir apparent to the throne and will be the one to govern the country in the future! What kind of conduct is it to associate with these strange and frivolous skills all day long?"

Yang Tinghe laughed after hearing this.

"Imperial Censor Zhang, I ask you, do you know what a biogas digester is?"

Zhang Shi casually replied, "It's just collecting excrement, fermenting it to produce gas, and using that gas for cooking..."

Yang Tinghe nodded: "Then let me ask you another question: Fermented excrement produces gas, which can replace firewood and charcoal, allowing the people to cut less firewood and burn less charcoal, saving a lot of money. The residue after fermentation can also be used as fertilizer to fertilize the fields. Have you ever thought about these things?"

Zhang Shi opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know how to respond.

Yang Tinghe continued, "His Highness the Crown Prince studies these things so that the people have food to eat and firewood to burn. Isn't this the way of a ruler? Imperial Censor Zhang, you keep talking about important matters, but do you mean that it's important for the Crown Prince to spend all his time reading books, oblivious to the world and the people's plight?"

Zhang Shi's face flushed red, and he angrily said, "Young Master Yang, this is just sophistry!"

Wang Hua then spoke up, "Imperial Censor Zhang, you say my son, Wang Shouren, abused his power for personal gain and lined his own pockets in Wuqing County. Do you have any evidence?"

Zhang Shi perked up, took something out of his sleeve, and presented it with both hands.

"Your Majesty, I have evidence!"

Xiao Jinglai took it and presented it to the emperor.

Zhang Shi proclaimed loudly, "This is a joint letter from the gentry of Wuqing County, bearing the fingerprints of thirty-seven local gentry! The letter bitterly criticizes Magistrate Wang Shouren, who, under the guise of road construction, is actually wasting the people's money and resources! There is an official road from Wuqing County to the capital, which, though somewhat bumpy, has been used for over a century without problems! Wang Shouren insists on building a new road, estimated to cost thirty thousand taels of silver! All of this silver is borrowed from Zhu's Trading Company! Who is in charge of Zhu's Trading Company? It's Yang Shen! And who is Yang Shen? He's the son of Yang Shaozhanshi!"

He turned to Yang Tinghe, his gaze sharp: "Thirty thousand taels of silver—how much was borrowed, how much was spent, and how much is left—it all depends on Wang Shouren's word! Who knows how much he embezzled? Who knows how much Yang Shen pocketed?"

The hall erupted in uproar once again.

The Hongzhi Emperor unfolded the joint letter and saw a piece of coarse cloth covered with densely packed red handprints—there were indeed thirty-seven of them.

He looked up at Zhang Shi and said in a deep voice, "Imperial Censor Zhang, where did this joint letter come from?"

Zhang Shi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, it was sent to the Censorate by a local gentry from Wuqing County! I have verified that the messenger was indeed a local gentry from Wuqing County, and the matter he stated is verifiable! I implore Your Majesty to uphold justice for the people of Wuqing County!"

The Hongzhi Emperor did not speak, but simply looked at the joint letter.

The hall was still noisy, but gradually the noise subsided until finally there was complete silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Wang Hua and Yang Tinghe stood in the classroom, their expressions calm, but each was making their own plans.

Zhang Shi knelt and bowed his head: "Your Majesty, I humbly request that you thoroughly investigate this case to set an example and deter others from repeating it!"

The Hongzhi Emperor looked at him and said, "How do you intend to investigate?"

Zhang Shi said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to go to Wuqing County to verify the relevant accounts. Whether Wang Shouren abused his power for personal gain will be known immediately!"

After deliberating for a long time, the Hongzhi Emperor said, "In that case, I appoint you as the Imperial Inspector to audit the accounts of Wuqing County. However, I must say this beforehand: local government affairs cannot be delayed because of the investigation. You must give me a time limit."

Zhang Shi hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, I obey! I will give you a reply within ten days!"

The Hongzhi Emperor nodded and said, "I await your reply!"