He changed Tiwat

Gan Yu thus discovered that some of Yue Haiting's secretaries, who came from wealthy families, were not very reliable and were prone to leaking secrets due to family ties. Therefore, she decided to promote a group of more reliable Yue Haiting civil servants—no one can say that Gan Yu's decision was unreasonable.

A confidential document that complies with confidentiality regulations, a perfectly reasonable transmission process, and a very ordinary routine leak—created the perfect opportunity for Haiting's reforms in a month.

With a smile on his face, Han Fulai, the screenwriter behind the scenes who had written a perfect script for the first time, knocked on the door of Gan Yu's office.

He knew that from this moment on, Yuehaiting had completely become Ganyu's independent kingdom.

Chapter 103 Nothing to do today

This was not Maocai Gong's first visit to Dali Hall.

According to the system of the Supreme Court of Dali, when high-ranking officials or serious crimes are interrogated, there is usually a "three-party joint trial" system, that is, one person from Dali, one person from the eight relevant departments, and one person from the Seven Stars Permanent Deliberation Committee.

When he served as the director of Baishui Hall, if a major economic crime was encountered, Dali Hall would usually invite him to attend as a deputy judge.

Back then he sat on the dock, but now he waits for questioning in a side room next to the Supreme Court.

Before long, he will be sitting in the defendant's seat.

The room was small, no more than ten steps to the left or right. Inside were two wooden chairs, no windows, only a door, which was guarded by the Thousand Rock Army.

Mao Cai Gong then slumped down in one of the chairs.

The other chair next to him was empty, and his son, Sheng Jinyong, was pacing anxiously back and forth in the room.

"What right do they have? What right do they have to arrest me!"

“…Jin Yong.” The voice of the Duke of Maocai was slightly lisp, lacking his usual imposing manner.

Sheng Jinyong seemed not to hear him. After taking a few steps, he suddenly banged on the door, shouting, "I want to see Director Jiang! Did you hear me?! I want to see Director Jiang!"

"Jin Yong!" Mao Cai Gong's voice was much louder.

“Father!” Sheng Jinyong turned around with a wronged look on his face. “Even if they want to interrogate us, according to the laws of Liyue, we have the right to see a legal advisor first! They took us directly to the courtroom, which is not in accordance with procedure at all!”

Mao Cai Gong shook his head, “...Sit.”

Sheng Jinyong stamped his foot and sat down next to Maocai Gong.

"Don't you understand? No one is protecting us anymore."

When Bai Xiao, the executive vice minister of the Dali Hall, personally led the team to escort them to the court, Mao Cai Gong understood.

According to procedure, once someone is arrested, they must first undergo a preliminary review by the General Affairs Department. Only after the preliminary review by the General Affairs Department will the case be reported to the Dali Hall for further investigation based on the results of the preliminary review.

The Dali Hall is a place where final conclusions are reached on major cases.

The fact that they went straight to the Supreme Court of Dali Prefecture speaks volumes about the outcome.

Regardless of whether the two Seven Stars behind Maocai Gong and the Fools were willing to protect him or not, they could no longer do so in the current situation.

"Are we just going to let them pin the blame on us? If it's about leaking secrets, there are so many people involved, why single us out? We're not the only ones doing business with Zhidong Kingdom!" Sheng Jinyong was furious.

“No one is protecting us anymore,” Mao Cai Gong repeated. “We have to rely on ourselves. Think of your brother, your mother. For the sake of our families, we must save ourselves.”

"Save ourselves? How can we save ourselves? They're already prepared to sentence us! It must be that foot-washing maid Ningguang!" Sheng Jinyong said bitterly.

"Enough!" Mao Cai Gong spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva. He had several teeth knocked out by Xing Qiu, and his mouth still tasted of blood.

Sheng Jinyong knew that making a scene was useless now, so he nodded and said, "Father, what do you think we should do now?"

Mao Cai Gong glanced at his son and slowly said, "...Do what needs to be done."

"What do you mean?" Sheng Jinyong asked, puzzled.

Mao Cai sighed, whether with emotion or disappointment, it was unclear.

A moment later, a ruthless glint appeared in his eyes.

"They asked me anything, and I answered them. They implicated me in whoever they asked."

"What if we involve the Seven Stars?"

"Then name the Seven Stars. Tianxuan, Tianji, Kaiyang—whoever they ask, you answer. Whoever you recognize among the fools, you name them, understand?"

"Father, how can this be..." In Sheng Jinyong's view, this was tantamount to courting death. If they insisted on keeping quiet, these important figures might still try to help them out. If they confessed everything, they would only be severed ties and kicked when they were down. Even when he shouted earlier, he only dared to call up to the level of the Eighth Hall Director, precisely because he had this in mind.

"Fool," Mao Cai Gong hissed. "The fact that we're imprisoned here means we've been abandoned! To save ourselves, we have no choice but to drag them down with us. We dare to answer, but we're afraid they won't dare to ask! The Liyue Seven Stars are colluding with foreign powers; this is something that could rip the heavens apart."

"...So if they don't ask, the case won't be decided. The longer it drags on, the more advantageous it is for us!" Sheng Jinyong looked at Maocai Gong's sinister eyes and finally realized.

"The reason they're skipping procedures and interrogating us directly is to get our confessions. We're like two knives now. If Ningguang uses us as knives to stab others, she'll have to be careful not to hurt herself!"

Mao Cai Gong shook off his dejected look, straightened his back, and raised his goatee, as if he had returned to his old days, back to the arrogant and disdainful Director of Baishui Hall under the Seven Stars.

The wealthy families who could live in Yujingtai for generations, who had the leisure to listen to storytelling at Yu Tea House while plotting and murdering for money, would never lack courage in dire straits.

Sheng Jinyong looked at his father, slowly knelt down, and respectfully kowtowed: "Your son submits. I will follow Father's arrangements in everything."

Above the screen wall of the Supreme Court of Dali Hall, there is a scale, with diamonds hanging on the two scales on the left and right, and a rock pattern in the center, symbolizing that Dali Hall, under the will of the Rock King Emperor, safeguards the fairness and justice of the law.

Above the scales hangs a plaque inscribed with the four characters "Heavenly Principles Run Fast," left behind by the Rock King Emperor.

Three people were sitting under the plaque: two women and one man.

Sitting to the left is Bai Xiao, the executive vice minister of Dali Hall.

To the lower right sat a woman with short, masculine hair, dressed in men's robes. Even while seated, she slightly raised her chin, as if she were always looking down on something.

At the head of the table sat a handsome young man dressed in blue robes, with a jade pendant at his waist and long, flowing hair. He wore a gentle smile, as if he were attending a gathering of friends rather than a serious trial.

Qianyan Army brought Maocai Gong and his son to the dock and had them stand on either side.

Mao Cai Gong's pupils contracted slightly as he recognized the young master in the main seat—the owner of the Pearl Pavilion, one of the Seven Stars of Liyue, and Rou Ran of Tianji Star.

Sheng Jinyong also noticed the woman on the right, who was the only daughter of the Jiang family of Kaiyang Star, and the director of Baishui Hall, Jiang Lingjun, whom he had previously asked to see. A slight smile appeared on his face, but when he heard his father, Maocai Gong, cough, his expression immediately turned solemn.

Rouran held the gavel in front of her and tapped it gently, announcing the start of the court session.

With his hands tucked into his sleeves, Mao Cai Gong, along with Sheng Jin Yong, bowed and greeted the others, appearing fearless.

Jiang Lingjun snorted softly, but Rou Ran ignored him, picked up the case file beside her, and began to question him.

“Sheng Maocai, these are the communications between you and the Fatui found in your home, proving that you served the Fatui and betrayed Liyue.”

"This is the testimony of your servants, saying that you ordered them to steal Master Chang's amber to supply the needs of the fools."

"This is the confession of the Fools, who say that they followed orders from their superiors and cooperated with you. Moreover, according to the indictment, this is not the first time you have acted for the Fools."

“Sheng Jinyong, this is a record of your conversation with two secretaries of the Moonlit Pavilion in the Glass Pavilion three nights ago. It proves that you assisted the Fools in stealing Liyue's secrets.”

"And these too." Rouran took out an even thicker stack of files. "These are evidence of the evil deeds and oppression of the people committed by you and your son over the years. This is evidence that you helped the Northern Bank seize the De'an Gong Money Shop. These are the lawsuits of several of your family's servants who were bullied and maimed by you. And these are the lawsuits of the deceased's families, saying that after doing business with your family, they not only went bankrupt, but their relatives also committed suicide."

"The facts are undeniable, what else do you have to say?" Rouran asked, a smile still on his face even as he read out the charges.

"If we follow your advice, what crime should we be charged with?" Maocai Gong countered.

"According to the Liyue Penal Code, you are guilty of multiple crimes and should be sentenced to death, with your property confiscated."

"Lord Rouran, do you still remember when we served together in Yujingtai?" said Maocai Gong.

"Defendant, you are not allowed to discuss matters unrelated to the case in court!" Bai Xiao made a face and tried to stop Mao Cai Gong, but Rou Ran waved her hand, indicating that it was alright.

"Of course I remember."

"Then I have something to say to Lord Rouran." Mao Cai Gong narrowed his eyes slightly, as if trying to see into Rouran's heart through his face, but he still couldn't see through Rouran's smiling face.

He had assumed that Ningguang would preside over the case, but for some reason, Ningguang only assigned her secretary, Baixiao, and the other two were Rou Ran from Tianji Star and Kong Lingjun, the director of Baishui Hall. Both of them had close ties to his Sheng family, and logically, even if they wanted to do something behind the scenes, they should have avoided suspicion in public.

But no matter what, he had to say what he needed to say.

"Lord Rouran, since we once served as co-governors, it is as if we were on the same boat. When the storm comes, we will all fall into the water, and no one can escape it."

Mao Cai Gong gave Rou Ran a meaningful look, then shifted his gaze to Miss Jiang.

"If you treat me like this today, others will treat you like this tomorrow."

"Insolence!" Jiang Lingjun slammed his gavel down with a thunderous roar.

Mao Cai Gong seemed not to hear him. "Do you adults think we did these things willingly? Besides the letters from the Fools, I should also have letters from several other adults in my possession, which are kept by trusted friends. If something happens to me, these letters might end up in someone else's hands."

Sheng Jinyong then spoke up, saying, "I have a wide circle of acquaintances and know far more than the two secretaries mentioned by Lord Rouran. I wonder if you would like me to identify them one by one?"

Rou Ran smiled and shook her head. "You two are free to speak your minds here. Even if you want to say that I instigated this, that's fine too. Please have Miss Bai Xiao record their statements."

A look of astonishment flashed across Mao Cai Gong's face, then he said resentfully, "Since that's the case, I'll tell you everything I know. Jin Yong, say whatever you know."

The father and son, Mao Cai Gong, seemed to have come to the Dali Hall specifically to report and expose wrongdoing. They rattled off the names of important figures and recounted numerous incidents, both new and old, causing Bai Xiao's pen to tremble slightly. However, Rou Ran's face remained unchanged, bearing that same unchanging smile, and he showed no emotion even when hearing matters related to his Pearl Pavilion.

Jiang Lingjun's face gradually contorted, but he ultimately remained silent.

After the two finished speaking, Rouran turned to Baixiao and said, "Has everything been recorded?"

Bai Xiao nodded.

Rou Ran smiled and said, "Then please have Miss Bai Xiao seal the confession according to the laws of Li Yue and send it to Miss Ning Guang for review."

After saying this, he picked up a brush and wrote the judgment, then read aloud the charges against Mao Cai Gong and the other man.

"Upon investigation, the crimes of Sheng Maocai and his son Sheng Jinyong were found to be irrefutable, and they confessed without hesitation. They are sentenced to death, and all their property is confiscated. The execution will be carried out on a later date."

Having said that, he lightly tapped the gavel, ending the trial.

Sheng Jinyong's legs gradually went weak, and he could barely stand by holding onto the railing of the defendant's dock.

Mao Cai Gong stared wide-eyed in disbelief, his voice trembling as he asked, "Is that all?"

Rou Ran, still wearing a gentle smile, nodded and said, "It's over. Court adjourned."

The soldiers of the Thousand Rock Army escorted the bewildered Sheng Jinyong away, intending to take Mao Cai Gong back to his cell. Mao Cai Gong gripped the bars of the dock tightly, seemingly unable to believe the outcome.

Rouran stepped down from the judge's bench, stopped in front of Maocai Gong, and said softly, "You used to be able to stir up trouble because someone above wanted you to. Now, they won't allow it anymore."

He leaned close to Mao Cai Gong's ear and whispered something only Mao Cai Gong could hear. Then he gently patted Mao Cai Gong's shoulder and left the courtroom.

Mao Cai Gong heard her gentle words echoing in his ears, and finally collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down his face.

"Your beautiful wife and young children will live on the Pearl-adorned Boat forever. Do not worry."

Inside the Northern Bank, manager Andrei hurried up to the second floor and knocked on a door.

“Lord Pantalone, one of our pieces has been captured by Ningguang. This is the letter that piece left in the villa.”

"Leave it as is." The one who spoke was none other than the ninth seat of the Fools' Executive, "The Rich Man."

He fiddled with a bag of Mora in his left hand, tapped the table with his right hand, and gestured for Andrei to leave with his eyes.

The "rich man" flipped through the letters, a joyful smile gradually spreading across his face as he gripped the Mora bag in his hand.

He turned north, towards the direction of the Winter Queen, and softly repeated the oath he had taken when he became the executor of the Fools.

"People in these places where gold coins originated attach great importance to the concept of 'contracts'."

“In the name of money, I will abide by our ‘contract’.”

"Use every means to make us the heart of the money in the world."

"Then, when necessary, let the heart stop at our will."

Five people were sitting in a meeting room at the Moon Sea Pavilion in Yujingtai.

The star Tianquan condenses its light.

The Tianji star is gentle.

Tianxuan Star Zu Tao.

Kaiyang Xingziyuan.

Gan Yu, Executive Secretary of Yuehaiting.

Ningguang held the confession of Maocai Gong and his son in her hand. The confession was sealed with vermilion lacquer and marked with the words "Top Secret".

"Colleagues, this is Sheng Maocai's confession. Please examine it and confirm that the ink seal is intact," Ningguang said, passing the confession to everyone.

The other four people present confirmed that the statement had not been opened.

“I heard from Bai Xiao that Sheng Maocai and his son made inappropriate remarks and made baseless accusations in court. Mr. Rouran, is this true?” Ningguang asked.

Rouran smiled and nodded.

"That's true."

Ningguang withdrew the statement and said, "Since it is a fabricated story, it is naturally unreliable. I think there is no need to review this statement. What do you all think?"

No one spoke.

Ningguang smiled, picked up the candlestick beside her, and held the document close to the flame.