Chapter 45

Chapter 45

The fire dragon scorched the plaque, and the censorial officials jumped into action, shouting for water to put out the fire!

The censors had never seen such a sight; they hurriedly ran around calling for people to extinguish the flames.

The plaque at the entrance of the Censorate had been bestowed by the late emperor—it was the very foundation of the Censorate's establishment, the embodiment of the people's expectations for the institution. And now, a fire dragon had risen, spontaneously combusting before everyone's eyes in broad daylight. The raging flames spread, causing a commotion at the entrance of the government office!

The scholars and commoners stared fixedly at the heights above. Even those "scholars and commoners" who had been stirring the pot were struck dumb, unable to utter a single word.

The remnants of the flames fell to the ground, igniting the complaints that the people had been eagerly submitting. The red light mingled with the grievances; the red characters on the complaint papers were etched into everyone's eyes, like blood-written documents wrung from the heart. The scholars were horrified, and the voices of the people suddenly rose:

"Heaven's punishment! Even the heavens cannot stand by!"

The censors, witnessing this omen, went pale with fear. Xiao Yao's censors, seeing this anomaly, couldn't sit still. They hurried to inform those inside the hall, but at that moment, officials from within the Censorate ran out, believing the situation outside had already been stirred up. Before they even reached the gate, they loudly shouted the verdict of Censor Xiao's trial.

When the censor heard the declaration that there were no corrupt officials, his legs went weak: "Quick, stop him from speaking!"

But it was already too late. The commoners' eyes went red, and voices of complaint filled the air.

"I said it before—the Censorate and the Ministry of Justice are covering for each other! That time I saw Lord Xu's carriage passing by the Shuntian Prefect’s house outside the capital, and then the Shuntian Prefect fell, but Lord Xu got off scot-free, claiming it was official business!"

"Official business? Who conducts official business at a house outside the capital? Ridiculous!"

It was only then that the censors and officials managed to extinguish the fire on the plaque. The roar of the crowd couldn't be held back.

"Hurry and get this under control!" said a censor. "Don't let what happened in the court leak out."

Just as the officials were about to suppress the agitated scholars, a messenger came galloping in, reporting that a disturbance had erupted at the gates of the Ministry of Justice, a few streets away. People had gathered to appeal for justice, and all the commoners and scholars watching had seen it. Now, not only the Censorate but also the Ministry of Justice was in turmoil. The people were all fixated on the spontaneous combustion of the plaque and the appeals for justice, claiming that both the Censorate and the Ministry of Justice had conducted unfair trials. Already, many commoners and scholars were heading toward the Censorate.

Inside the Censorate, the noise from outside had already reached the government offices. The court was still hearing cases.

Xiao Yao, hearing the growing clamor outside, was slightly surprised. Was the effect really that good?

Several senior ministers in the hall looked outside, puzzled by what was happening, when their subordinates hurried in and whispered in their ears.

The senior ministers' expressions changed drastically. "Really!?"

Sensing something amiss with the commotion below, Xiao Yao finally turned around and saw Ying Fusheng looking at him with a faint, almost mocking smile. The Censorate censor rushed in, pale-faced, and told Xiao Yao about the spontaneous combustion of the plaque. Xiao Yao rose in shock: "Stop the news from spreading!"

"It's too late! There are too many scholars and commoners outside; the news has already spread!" The censor was at his wit's end.

At that moment, the officials at the gate could no longer hold back the crowd. Several scholars and commoners burst in, running toward the court and shouting: "Collusion between officials! Heaven's punishment! The heavens are about to send down punishment!!!"

"Disrupting the court! Drag them out!" Xiao Yao exclaimed, alarmed.

Chaos erupted. Officials came forward to drag the people away.

Just then, Ying Fusheng stepped forward and stopped them. "Hold on."

"Before they've even spoken their piece, Xiao Lao is in such a hurry to suppress them?" Ying Fusheng turned around. Several commoners were pinned to the ground by officials, unable to lift their heads, but their eyes were filled with hatred.

The commoners glared at Xiao Yao, their eyes wide with fury.

Xiao Yao avoided their gaze and said bluntly: "Disturbing court order is a serious crime in itself. If everyone does this, where will the laws of Dayuan stand?"

"Who dares?" Ying Fusheng stepped forward, and the guards he had brought immediately positioned themselves in front of the officials.

The officials were caught in a dilemma. They looked to Xiao Yao.

The Vice Minister of the Grand Court stepped forward: "Are you all disobeying the orders of the Sixth Prince?"

With the Sixth Prince present, disobedience would be an act of defiance against imperial power.

The officials withdrew their hands one by one, and the commoners surged in, their voices rising and falling in waves:

"I accuse the censors of the Censorate of taking bribes and shielding each other!"

"The laws of Dayuan—even the plaque of the Censorate has burned! Even the ancestors cannot stand by!"

By now, news of the spontaneous combustion of the Censorate's plaque had spread inside. When the officials heard of this spectacle, a strange look crossed their faces. This was beyond bizarre—the plaque was the very foundation of Dayuan's legal system! The censors and officials of the Censorate were frantic, trying to block the endless stream of commoners pouring into the Censorate. Meanwhile, in every corner of the capital, upon hearing the news of the plaque's spontaneous combustion, the people all headed toward the Censorate.

"What are you standing there for? Go to the prefecture office and get this situation under control!" Xiao Yao ordered.

His trusted aide hurried off to carry out the order, but no sooner had he left than another person came in: "My lord, there are many commoners and scholars outside, all presenting different testimonies..."

The commoners and scholars who poured in carried their complaints with them. The commoners wept, and the scholars read out the grievances. Inside and outside the Censorate, there were nothing but voices of accusation.

The officials of the Grand Court restrained the commoners who were trying to charge into the court, held back the other officials, and all eyes turned to Ying Fusheng, who stood in front. Seeing that the Sixth Prince was backing them, the commoners hurriedly poured out their grievances to the prince.

"Take your time. Speak slowly," Ying Fusheng said, helping up an old man who was kowtowing repeatedly.

The old man was too distraught to speak coherently, but fortunately, a scholar nearby had a clear head and quickly relayed the story. The senior ministers who had been ordered by the emperor to be present listened to the impassioned words in the complaint, their expressions darkening. These grievances—how were they different from what they had heard before?

The witnesses summoned in the court suddenly seemed ridiculous. Outside, a flood of commoners presented completely different testimonies, contradicting the people who had been carefully selected inside.

"What's going on!?" a senior minister demanded.

One of the witnesses, upon hearing that the plaque had spontaneously combusted and that Heaven was about to send down punishment, turned pale on the spot. Under pressure, he blurted out: "I lied, I lied! That day, Lord Yu did not go to the outskirts... Don't punish me, don't punish me!"

His sudden change of testimony made Xiao Yao's expression shift dramatically. He immediately looked at Ying Fusheng.

Ying Fusheng looked surprised, frowning slightly as he said: "It seems there are discrepancies in the testimonies in this court."

"Xiao Lao, is this the result of the Censorate's investigation? How is it that the people have such grievances?"

"Vice Minister," Ying Fusheng turned around. "Were the confessions just now recorded?"

The Vice Minister of the Grand Court stepped forward: "Reporting to Your Highness, they have all been recorded."

At this, all the senior ministers who had come to observe the trial showed strange expressions. According to the laws of Dayuan, written by the Xiao family, any investigation by the Censorate must first go through the voices of the people. The procedure was meticulous: the local authorities investigated, the Grand Court reviewed, the Censorate examined, and finally, the Ministry of Justice passed judgment. All this was to prevent miscarriages of justice. As everyone knew, the Grand Court had submitted volumes claiming that officials were corrupt, but after the trial just now, every single one had been deemed innocent.

And now, new witnesses had appeared outside the court—which meant there was a problem in the procedure. Someone had given false testimony.

"Since the Censorate is supposed to conduct a thorough review, it must listen to all the testimonies and judge the truth before closing the case," Ying Fusheng mused. "If I recall correctly, that's the rule, isn't it, Xiao Lao?"

Xiao Yao's expression had already changed. "There is something irregular about this; we need to sort out the situation and adjourn for another day."

He now just wanted to end this and figure out what was really happening! He signaled his subordinates to hurry to the Xiao residence and summon the head of the Xiao family.

"Why is that, Lord Xiao?" Ying Fusheng looked at the bright sky outside and said meaningfully: "We have new witnesses and new testimonies. Right now, the three judicial bodies are all present, and the senior ministers of the court are here. If there is corruption, let's bring everyone up and confront them face to face. With so many lords watching, who would dare to lie?"

All eyes in the court fell on Xiao Yao. He was in a bind.

Just then, a shout came from outside the court:

"Commander Qi of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is here—"

Hearing the name of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the senior ministers perked up. The Guard's informants were spread throughout the capital. If he had come, it meant news of the Censorate's plaque's spontaneous combustion had reached the emperor's ears. The crowd in the court stepped aside. As Qi Hanzhou walked in from outside, several officials followed behind him: Lord Li, the Minister of Justice; Xiao Yan, the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate; and Lord Liu, the Grand Court President...

Ying Fusheng sat with an innocent expression, watching the bustling courtroom, his sleeves folded. "So many people have come."

"Isn't this just perfect? The Three Judicial Offices and the Embroidered Uniform Guard are all here."

When Qi Hanzhou entered, he bowed slightly to Ying Fusheng. Their eyes met briefly, then they looked away as if strangers. After the bow, Qi Hanzhou turned to face the assembly and presented an imperial edict. The officials fell to their knees, and he declared, "By imperial decree, I am here to investigate the suspected misconduct of Left Vice Censor-in-Chief Xiao Yao and his ten censors. Their authority over the Censorate is hereby revoked, and all cases are to be retried."

The censors, faces pale, turned to look at Xiao Yao.

Before they could react, several Embroidered Uniform Guard officers stepped forward and subdued the involved censors, along with Xiao Yao, before the court. The commoners stared in shock. The high-ranking officials who had been seated just moments ago were now pinned down as suspects.

"Where is the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review?" Qi Hanzhou asked.

"Your Servant is here," the Vice Minister replied, presenting case files and transcripts of testimonies. "One file was submitted by Left Vice Censor-in-Chief Xiao Yao of the Censorate, another by the Court of Judicial Review, and the remaining one is a transcript of the court testimony recorded at the behest of His Highness the Sixth Prince. Please review them, Commander."

Xiao Yao hurriedly signaled Xiao Yan, hoping he had brought a solution. He needed to calm the Embroidered Uniform Guard before the head of the Xiao family arrived. But no matter how Xiao Yao gestured, Xiao Yan ignored him and instead had some case files brought forward. "Left Vice Censor-in-Chief Xiao Yao is suspected of secret dealings with many in the court. These are the evidence of their communications."

Hearing the word 'evidence,' Xiao Yao's eyes widened. What was he saying?

What was Xiao Yan doing?!

"Xiao Yan!" Xiao Yao yelled.

Qi Hanzhou's gaze turned cold. "Silence."

Not only Xiao Yao, but the other officials and commoners were all staring at Xiao Yan with unusual expressions.

Weren't these two censors both members of the Xiao family? How could they be impeaching each other!

Xiao Yan faced the scrutiny calmly. After presenting the evidence, he stepped back to stand among the officials.

"Isn't this man from the Xiao family?" Shen Yunfei whispered. "He's directly submitting incriminating evidence?"

"Because he saw his chance," Ying Fusheng said, sipping tea. His gaze briefly fell on Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan was still in his official robes, suggesting he had rushed to the palace right after receiving the news.

Xiao Yan stood diagonally opposite Ying Fusheng. When he looked up, Ying Fusheng met his gaze calmly, even returning a smile. He liked working with clever people. Some things didn't need his push; when the time came, someone would naturally step in. This piece of evidence that Xiao Yan had handed to Qi Hanzhou was likely already presented to the Emperor.

The moment this evidence reached the Emperor, the conflict between the Xiao family and the imperial house would be laid bare.

Even if the Xiao family had once been the eyes of the royal family, once they crossed the line, those eyes could be plucked out in an instant.

The Censorate was filled with many censors, divided into left and right factions. As a senior member of the Xiao clan, Xiao Yao held great prestige, naturally making the censors look to him for guidance. Under these circumstances, for Xiao Yan to rise to a position equal to his showed that this man was just as cunning as the rest.

In Ying Fusheng's memory, after the Empress Dowager's death, Xiao Yan had single-handedly restructured the Censorate.

He had long been biding his time, holding evidence of Xiao Yao's and even the Xiao family head's crimes, but he lacked the opportunity. So when Xiao Yan appeared at the Court of Judicial Review to get Xiao Yao out of trouble, Ying Fusheng knew this man was already searching for his chance.

"Your Highness, someone from the Xiao family has arrived," Song An said, approaching from behind and whispering.

Ying Fusheng remained composed. "He won't come himself. He's probably thinking about how to protect himself."

Xiao Yao's move to bribe scholars and commoners to create a public disturbance was foolish, drawing public opinion to him. But he didn't consider that the court hearing was a directive from the Emperor. If he tried to steer public opinion toward Ying Fusheng, he would only offend the royal family. Within half a day, the Embroidered Uniform Guard would present the whole story to the Emperor.

Bribery and corruption, combined with contempt for imperial power, would double his punishment.

The head of the Xiao family did not arrive; instead, a messenger from the Xiao family came.

The letter was handed to Qi Hanzhou, who didn't even glance at it and tossed it aside.

He quickly scanned the evidence submitted by Xiao Yan. The details were even more thorough than what the Embroidered Uniform Guard had investigated, sufficient to ensnare Xiao Yao and his censors completely—indisputable evidence.

He passed it to Ye Xuanjiu, who immediately read it aloud to the officials and commoners present—

The officials who had previously colluded privately with Xiao Yao had been acquitted, but with this evidence read out, the testimonies they had falsely given in court—recorded at the Sixth Prince's request—became new evidence of their crimes. Even if they tried to defend themselves, their perjury alone, under the laws of Dayuan, made them equally guilty.

Ying Fusheng's sharp gaze swept over the censors. They knelt, drenched in cold sweat, not daring to lift their heads. Xiao Yao's face was ashen, speechless. "By His Majesty's command to rigorously investigate corruption and fraud in the court, the Censorate is suspected of concealing cases and committing perjury. Xiao Yao, you have audacity! Had it not been for the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief's keen insight, how long would you have continued to deceive both above and below!"

Xiao Yan stood with downcast eyes in the court. Hearing this, he looked at the righteous Sixth Prince, his lips moving slightly but saying nothing.

Qi Hanzhou turned to Ying Fusheng, then briefly glanced at the silent Xiao Yan.

Hearing the Sixth Prince's words, the commoners understood. His Majesty, thinking of the people's welfare, was investigating corruption and fraud, even holding open trials to give the people a chance to air grievances. But there were too many moths in the court, deceiving both the ruler and the people. Even heaven could no longer tolerate it, sending down a divine punishment to condemn the Censorate!

The fault lay entirely with the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate!

"Take the suspects to the Imperial Prison and await trial," Qi Hanzhou said, turning to the commoners. "All cases will be tried publicly by the Court of Judicial Review. Complaints and evidence may be resubmitted. If anyone tries to suppress evidence, you may report directly to the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Brocade Guard Office."

The commoners were moved. His Majesty was clearly discerning, even taking action against the Censorate.

Although the cases were postponed, no one complained; all were moved to tears.

The Censorate was in chaos, while the Court of Judicial Review worked to calm the situation both inside and outside the court. As the Embroidered Uniform Guard escorted the senior officials away, Ying Fusheng was waiting for Qi Hanzhou as he approached.

"Young General arrived just in time," Ying Fusheng said.

Qi Hanzhou looked at his confident, wily demeanor. "Allow me to escort Your Highness back to the palace."

Without further words, they left through the back door amidst the crowd.

Xiao Yan watched Ying Fusheng depart. Behind him, the commoners buzzed with discussion. He suppressed his thoughts, watching Ying Fusheng vanish into the distance. In the court just now, Ying Fusheng had spoken only a few times, but each time he skillfully steered the situation. Xiao Yan had presented the evidence right there, but since he was from the Xiao family, the commoners would hate him just as much. At that moment, the Xiao family's public credibility would be destroyed.

But at the critical moment, he shifted the blame to Xiao Yao and his faction of censors... The commoners didn't grasp the subtleties of court officials, but they remembered that Xiao Yan of the Xiao family had presented evidence to expose corrupt officials. This raised his standing.

"Lord Xiao Yan, the family head has sent a message," a Xiao family member said, hurrying over. "He orders you to do whatever it takes to protect the Censorate."

It was the symbol of the Xiao family's power.

The gentleness in Xiao Yan's eyes disappeared, replaced by a cold, aloof demeanor. "Uncle Xiao still hasn't understood. If he wants to preserve the Xiao family, the only way is through me."

His voice deepened, sending chills down the messenger's spine.

"If he wants to enjoy his retirement in peace, he'd better keep his mouth shut, understand?"

...

"That child really said that?" the Emperor asked, looking at the confidential report submitted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. It described how Ying Fusheng had upheld royal dignity in court, which now led the commoners to praise His Majesty. They said the flames on the Censorate plaque were like a fire dragon, which was a sign of the true dragon—the Emperor—and a divine condemnation from heaven and His Majesty.

"So-called divine retribution, and no one raised any objections?" the Emperor asked the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Qi Hanzhou lowered his eyes. "After detailed investigation, it was determined to be caused by the hot weather."

The Emperor looked at the submitted files. "This child is truly a lucky star."

He had only intended for Ying Fusheng to gain some experience, but who would have thought that after he visited the Three Judicial Offices, things would develop like this.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Court of Judicial Review had only given a slight push, yet he had managed to eliminate such a major threat as the Censorate.

The Censorate was the foundation of Dayuan's legal system, and the Xiao family was a prominent clan. The Embroidered Uniform Guard had repeatedly submitted evidence of Xiao Yao's misdeeds, but they had never found the right moment to deal with it. How to remove this rot without shaking Dayuan's foundations was something the Emperor had long pondered. Now, with public opinion aligned and heaven's will clear, those senior ministers and elders who sided with the Xiao family dared not utter a word.

"The Censorate indeed needs reform. Uncle Xiao is getting old, no longer fit to handle such trivial matters," the Emperor said, a sharp glint in his eyes. Since Uncle Xiao is old, there's no need for him to hold so much power in the court. Some old relics should be pushed aside. "Then draft the decree."

There are indeed some rotten elements in the Censorate that need to be rooted out, but the task of overseeing the officials still requires someone to carry it out.

Fortunately, the Censorate is not entirely useless now.

All the censors involved in the case were arrested and imprisoned. Not long after, the previous case files were retried, and no one at court dared to express dissent; now, public sentiment is surging, and whoever defies it incurs heavenly wrath. The Censorate underwent a major purge. The censors led by Xiao Yao were either dismissed or demoted, and the chief culprits like Xiao Yao were even publicly subjected to severe punishment.

The emperor, considering the Xiao family's contributions in stabilizing the dynasty, did not extend the purge to the family, only allowing the head of the Xiao family to retire voluntarily.

The authority of the Censorate fell upon Xiao Yan of the Xiao family. He was promoted from the former Right Vice Censor-in-Chief to the Right Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate. Who is Xiao Yan? Everyone knows his reputation at court; he was personally promoted by the emperor and is the emperor's trusted confidant.

Now that the power has fallen into his hands, it means the Xiao family's status remains.

When the news from the court reached Ying Fusheng, he was having a meal with the Empress Dowager.

After that, he let the court and the country fall into chaos, with factions distancing themselves from each other. These were not matters for a powerless prince like him to consider; instead, they were to be decided by the emperor.

In recent days, Old Madam Xiao was frantic, trying every means to enter the palace to plead with the Empress Dowager, but the Empress Dowager ignored her completely. Now that the dust has settled, the Empress Dowager's mood has actually improved a bit.

She looked at Ying Fusheng standing by her side, and her eyes couldn't help but soften. "These past few days, why haven't you gone out of the palace?"

Ying Fusheng hesitated slightly. "Grandmother, are you still angry?"

He stopped short, not having thought about these things during the task; he only considered the harm caused by the Xiao family. If Xiao Yao and others were not dealt with, the court's oversight would be in vain, and the Xiao family was closely related to the Empress Dowager, so any misstep could endanger her.

He could afford to offend the Xiao family and many others, but his assessment of the Empress Dowager was entirely based on personal judgment. The Empress Dowager's relationship with the Xiao family had indeed grown distant, but the blood ties were there; moving against the Xiao family would also grieve her.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager looked at him. The two had known each other for a long time. Last year, when she first saw this child, he was kneeling in front of the hall defending his mother. Initially, she thought he was weak, but later she saw a tenacity in him.

Despite his frail health, his behavior and mannerisms outside never lacked royal dignity. When she was ill before, this child stuck close to her, even having her daily meals checked multiple times. The day she fainted in the palace, the expression on this child's face as he stood in front of her is still vivid in her memory.

Now, with so many things happening outside, if it were other princes who had completed the task, they would already be acting spoiled and seeking favor from their mothers. But this child is still worried about whether she is angry.

The Empress Dowager didn't speak. Ying Fusheng couldn't help but ponder.

Suddenly, he heard a sigh, and then the elderly lady's hand fell on his forehead.

"My child... have you been thinking about this these past few days?"

Ying Fusheng was taken aback. It was the first time he had felt such closeness.

"You did a great job on this task. When the emperor ordered you to do it, as a prince, you didn't need to worry about others' opinions. The imperial family is behind you." The Empress Dowager patted him gently, as if whispering comfort. "You did very well."

"Grandmother is overjoyed for you—how could she be angry?"