Chapter 31: Yang Lian's Answer

Hearing Yang Lian's answer, Zhu Youxiao immediately smiled. Staring at Yang Lian for a long while, he knew that the trap he had dug today had taken effect.

No matter what Yang Lian truly thought in his heart, the fact that he had said such words was enough, because his words differed from Gao Panlong's.

Gao Panlong's statement could clearly cater to many people's sentiments, but Yang Lian's statement was exactly the opposite of Gao Panlong's — this was what Zhu Youxiao wanted.

With Yang Lian saying this, Gao Panlong would certainly be dissatisfied. You're merely a junior member of the Donglin Faction — what are you playing at, acting like a big shot?

You say the punishment should be severe — then what about what I said? You are a man of loyalty and integrity — then what am I? A despicable villain? If Gao Panlong is a man of loyalty and integrity, then what is Yang Lian?

This is the art of political maneuvering — very simple political maneuvering.

In his previous life, Zhu Youxiao had studied the Jiajing Emperor — that man was a master who played the game of political maneuvering his entire life.

Although the Jiajing Emperor ultimately played the Great Ming into a complete mess, there was one thing he accomplished: as a prince without any foundation whatsoever, in the end, he firmly grasped imperial power in his own hands.

Looking at Yang Lian, Zhu Youxiao gently nodded, then spoke: "Minister Yang truly lives up to the influence of Master Gu Xiancheng. Good, very good."

"Your Majesty flatters me. Your servant has merely fulfilled the duty of a subject." Yang Lian hurriedly bowed in humility — this was what a subject ought to say.

Zhu Youxiao nodded, then said: "Then in your opinion, Minister, should this case be handed over to the Eastern Depot for continued thorough investigation, or changed to trial by the Three Judicial Offices?"

The so-called Three Judicial Offices were in fact the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate.

In fact, in the investigation of a case, unless the Eastern Depot truly could not find anything more, only then would the Emperor transfer it; or after the Eastern Depot finished investigating, leaving the sentencing and conviction, only then would it be handed to the Three Judicial Offices. Sometimes the Emperor would also directly issue an edict to pronounce guilt.

Hearing these words, Yang Lian's head also ached. If the Eastern Depot continued the interrogation, that would not align with the civil officials' thinking — in Wei Zhongxian's hands, the situation would be hard to control.

But if it were changed to a joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices, if nothing could be found in the trial, he feared it would be hard to account for it before His Majesty.

After pondering for a long while, Yang Lian still gritted his teeth and said: "Your servant believes it should be handed over for joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices. Wei Zhongxian conducts himself as a powerful eunuch; these people had previously submitted memorials impeaching Wei Zhongxian, and your servant worries that Wei Zhongxian might seize the opportunity to frame and implicate others. Since the case has already been confirmed, changing it to a joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices would also be good — it can quell public discussion. Therefore your servant feels it should be handed to the Three Judicial Offices for interrogation."

Zhu Youxiao looked at Yang Lian, gently nodded, then said: "That is fine as well. Then this case shall be handed to you, Minister, to preside over, with the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review assisting."

Yang Lian was startled — he had not expected His Majesty to hand this case to him to handle. But after the moment of shock, Yang Lian hurriedly bowed: "Your servant receives the decree!"

Watching Yang Lian's departing back, Zhu Youxiao lightly tapped the armrest of his wheelchair, turned his head and instructed Chen Hong: "Go to the Eastern Depot and tell Wei Zhongxian — don't interrogate the case for now. Have those few treated for their injuries; don't let anyone die in the Eastern Depot's prison. Tell him this case has been handed to Yang Lian, and have him go listen to the trial. Remember — just listen to the trial, then come back and report to me."

Chen Hong hurriedly said: "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Having said this, Chen Hong immediately turned and went out, his steps very fast — if he walked any slower, he felt his heart would leap out of his chest.

As the only one who had witnessed everything with his own eyes, Chen Hong's heart was beating extremely fast at this moment. In his view, something big was about to happen this time.

Yang Lian walked out of the imperial palace, his mood somewhat heavy. He knew that this matter was likely to bring trouble.

After returning to the Censorate, Yang Lian sat in his seat and thought for a long while, then finally stood up and walked toward the office of Left Censor-in-Chief Zou Yuanbiao.

Toward this superior of his, Yang Lian still felt trust and admiration — he intended to go ask Zou Yuanbiao's opinion.

Zou Yuanbiao was also one of the leaders of the Donglin Faction. Together with Zhao Nanxing and Gu Xiancheng, they were known as the "Three Gentlemen" — he was Yang Lian's idol and superior.

Seeing Yang Lian walk in, Zou Yuanbiao smiled and said: "You've come? I was just about to look for you."

Hearing Zou Yuanbiao's words, Yang Lian was startled, but still hurriedly asked: "Sir, is something the matter?"

"You went into the palace?" Zou Yuanbiao looked at Yang Lian, then asked.

Yang Lian nodded: "Yes, His Majesty summoned me."

"Did you happen to run into Gao Panlong?" Zou Yuanbiao's expression was very grave.

"I did." Yang Lian nodded again: "But nothing was said. His Majesty summoned Senior Official Gao first; by the time I came out, he had already left."

Nodding, Zou Yuanbiao leaned back, his expression growing even more solemn: "Did you discuss the case of those men?"

Yang Lian nodded once more: "How did you know, Sir?"

"Can news from within the palace really be kept from people?" Speaking of this, Zou Yuanbiao was somewhat indignant — but such words could only be said up to this point. Privately speculating about matters within the palace — if this were overheard and impeached, Zou Yuanbiao would have to go home.

Of course, this was only because he was facing Yang Lian — Zou Yuanbiao had no such reservations. Staring intently at Yang Lian with burning eyes, Zou Yuanbiao asked again: "Did His Majesty say how he would handle it?"

"His Majesty asked for your servant's opinion. Your servant said it should be severely punished, and moreover that the Three Judicial Offices should hold a joint trial. His Majesty has already handed this case to our Three Judicial Offices for joint trial, with your servant as the chief presiding officer." Yang Lian had already realized something was wrong, so he spoke with considerably more caution.

Hearing Yang Lian's words, Zou Yuanbiao fell into silence. Only after a long while did he let out a sigh: "This matter is likely to be troublesome."

"Why does Sir say this?" Yang Lian looked at Zou Yuanbiao, asking with slight hesitation.

One should know that Yang Lian understood Zou Yuanbiao's character well — for this gentleman to say such words, the matter was truly not a small one.

"His Majesty summoned Gao Panlong to inquire about this matter as well. Gao Panlong answered His Majesty that this matter should be turned from big to small, from small to nothing — it should not be stirred up too greatly. Li Ruzhen is a renowned general of Liaodong; the Li family has accumulated great prestige in Liaodong. If Li Ruzhen were dealt with, Liaodong might become unstable. Liaodong is currently in a troubled season — we should not create more disturbances, and stability should be the priority." Zou Yuanbiao said this while raising his head to look at Yang Lian.

Yang Lian's face darkened again. He raised his head and looked at Zou Yuanbiao: "What does Sir think should be done?"

Zou Yuanbiao's heart sank. He knew the meaning behind Yang Lian's question — this was asking whose side he stood on, whether he supported Gao Panlong or supported him.

Zou Yuanbiao looked at Yang Lian, not directly answering his question, but instead asking again: "Is it confirmed?"

Nodding heavily, Yang Lian said bluntly: "Confirmed. All of it was personally confessed. There may have been torture, but it was not extracting confessions by coercion. They colluded with Li Ruzhen, with Liu Guojin acting as the intermediary — for that memorial impeaching Xiong Tingbi, they received three thousand taels of silver."

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