Chapter 1807: Each Day Passing Like a Year, Imperial Son-in-law Zhang Jing

"Your Highness!" Outside Chuigong Hall, Wang Ji'en and Wang Xuanzhen, arriving together, saw the Crown Prince looking dejected and bowed in unison.

Liu Yang stopped, tilted his head to glance at the two men, his gaze carrying little emotion, which made their scalps tingle. Still, Liu Yang did not vent anything at them—he merely acknowledged them with a sound, flicked his sleeve, and walked off, the motion gentle and silent.

Both were somewhat taken aback, standing frozen, gazing at the Crown Prince's retreating back. Wang Xuanzhen's expression remained unchanged throughout, while Wang Ji'en wore a grave, worried look, a hint of deep thought showing in his eyes.

The Princes of Jin and Zhao emerged from the hall, and the two bowed again—likewise receiving no friendly faces. Clearly, due to their actions over these past months, the Palace City Office and the Wude Office had earned the deep loathing of every court official. In the past, the aversion may have been kept in their hearts; now the disgust was written on their faces, fearing them like snakes and scorpions. Even the princes of the realm, though perhaps not afraid, kept their distance.

Inside the hall, the emotions stirred by the Crown Prince had settled. Emperor Liu had resumed his vermilion-brush approval work. The two entered and bowed in audience. Emperor Liu set down his brush, swept a glance over them, and immediately snapped at Wang Ji'en: "Who told you to arrest Xin Zhongfu?"

Feeling Emperor Liu's anger, Wang Ji'en trembled inwardly and quickly replied with care: "I was just about to report to His Majesty! Xin Zhongfu shielded a convicted official and bent the law for personal gain—this is fact! I have already submitted a memorial for His Majesty's perusal!"

Yan Tuo presented Wang Ji'en's memorial. Emperor Liu glanced through it without reading too closely—the matter was not complicated to begin with. He thought for a moment, then said coldly: "A third-rank court minister—do you think you can just arrest him whenever you please? Do you truly have no regard for the consequences? These past days, rumors have been flying inside and outside the court. With the keen ears of your Palace City Office, can you not hear them, or are you simply turning a deaf ear?"

"My actions were improper—I beg His Majesty's forgiveness!" Hearing Emperor Liu speak thus, Wang Ji'en hastily knelt: "But the matter arose suddenly, and to avoid any mishap, I had no choice but to detain Xin Zhongfu first!"

"Don't give me all this nonsense!" Emperor Liu said coldly: "I truly had you clean up officialdom and root out corruption for the sake of the state and the people, to purify governance—not so you could run wild, throw the court into chaos, and flaunt your power! I gave you the authority to arrest, not to arrest indiscriminately!"

"Yes! Yes! I will be careful from now on!" Wang Ji'en kowtowed. Beside him, Wang Xuanzhen also knelt and made the same pledge. Both could not help but feel some trepidation. What they had done was already condemned by all; if they also displeased Emperor Liu, that would be truly dire.

"Your Majesty, please hear me!" Seeing Emperor Liu's anger subside somewhat, Wang Ji'en spoke again: "My arrest of Xin Zhongfu had another reason!"

"Speak!" Emperor Liu's face showed not a trace of emotion.

Wang Ji'en said: "Three days ago, Xin Zhongfu privately told others that the current court situation is chaotic, people's hearts are unsettled, and officials at every level are anxious and fearful, each day passing like a year."

"A fine 'each day passing like a year'!" Emperor Liu smiled faintly: "Though it smacks of criticizing the government, he is after all a senior court minister with the right to discuss policy. This remark, though ill-timed, warrants no more than a reprimand. I will not hold it against him."

Hearing this, Wang Ji'en's face turned grave, and he said: "Your Majesty, the Book of Wei records: 'Meritorious veterans and imperial relatives were slaughtered almost entirely; the princes and dukes who remained went home claiming illness, and one day passed like ten years.' This describes how, during the reign of Fu Sheng, emperor of the Former Qin, his cruelty and violence led him to slaughter meritorious ministers and nobles wantonly, so that all within and without were terrified, and each day passed like a year.

Xin Zhongfu was using the past to mock the present—he actually compared Your Majesty to that tyrant Fu Sheng! This is truly contempt for the sovereign, slander of His Majesty—his heart is most venomous!"

Hearing Wang Ji'en's words, Emperor Liu was momentarily stunned, then slowly realized, a trace of recollection appearing on his face. He said: "No wonder I felt it sounded familiar—so the allusion comes from that! You, Zhang Dejun—since when did you start studying scholarship? You even know 'each day passing like a year,' and you can spin such a damning interpretation."

"Your Majesty, I—I am merely loyal to Your Majesty! I cannot bear to hear such treacherous ministers, relying on their talent to defy their superiors and slander His Majesty!" For some reason, facing Emperor Liu's calm question, Wang Ji'en felt his heart flutter with unease and hurriedly pledged his loyalty.

Emperor Liu paid him no mind, pondered for a moment, then said in a cold voice: "If I am Fu Sheng, then who would be Fu Jian? The histories heap slander upon Fu Sheng, judging him a cruel, murderous tyrant. Thinking on it now, I suspect it was rebels and traitors like Fu Jian who, to legitimize their usurpation, deliberately defamed him!"

"Xin Zhongfu! Xin Zhongfu!" Emperor Liu muttered the name, his gaze growing ever colder, looking very much like he was about to kill.

However, after a pause, Emperor Liu ultimately reined in his killing intent. He looked down at the two men kneeling before him and waved his hand: "Rise!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Emperor Liu deliberated briefly, then instructed: "I have never punished people for their words! Xin Zhongfu's offense does not warrant death. Since he finds the court uncomfortable, each day passing like a year, I shall give him a different post. Yan Tuo, transmit the edict: strip Xin Zhongfu of his post as Minister of Justice and send him to the northern circuit of the Yan Mountains to serve as Prefect of Dading!"

"Yes!"

Raised high, set down lightly—when all was said and done, Emperor Liu genuinely appreciated Xin Zhongfu's talents and intended to leave some capable ministers and worthy scholars for Liu Yang.

Turning his gaze back to the two directors, Emperor Liu said sternly: "From now on, officials of the third rank and above may not be arrested at will without my decree. Remember this: restrain yourselves, be cautious in your work. You have already killed so many treacherous ministers and corrupt officials—my blade is still sharp. Do not test it lightly!"

"Yes!" Hearing this, both showed fearful expressions.

With Xin Zhongfu's matter settled, Emperor Liu asked why they had come. The two had arrived together, clearly bearing something important. After a moment's hesitation, Wang Xuanzhen said cautiously: "Your Majesty, we have received a report—concerning Imperial Son-in-law Zhang Jing!"

At these words, Emperor Liu's expression immediately darkened. He fixed his gaze on Wang Xuanzhen and said: "Zhang Jing! What has he done?"

Wang Xuanzhen quickly produced a memorial from his sleeve and handed it to Yan Tuo. Perhaps because the person involved was different, Emperor Liu's movements were quicker. After a brief scan, he slammed it hard on the desk and demanded sternly: "Are these all true? Zhang Jing really committed these offenses?"

"In reply to Your Majesty!" Though somewhat tense, Wang Xuanzhen calmly stated: "We initially did not believe it either, so we sent subordinates to investigate, and ultimately confirmed it without error. Imperial Son-in-law Zhang Jing indulged his household slaves in lawless behavior—for the sake of a single inkstone, he persecuted an honest merchant and treated human life like grass. To protect a relative, he forcibly stormed a county office to take a prisoner. Last year, when his household slaves were trafficking private salt and were questioned by the salt inspectors of Huainan, they actually killed the salt officer..."

Wang Xuanzhen, cold sweat streaming, recounted the deeds of Imperial Son-in-law Zhang Jing, including witnesses and confessions. The more he heard, the uglier Emperor Liu's expression became. This time it was Wang Ji'en who remained silent beside him—in fact, it was Wang Ji'en who had secretly arranged for someone to tip off the Wude Office about Zhang Jing's affairs.

His original plan had been to use this matter to see if he could get some leverage on Wang Xuanzhen. He never expected Wang Xuanzhen to be so "upright"—he directly reported back to Wang Ji'en, and after investigation and gathering evidence, decisively dragged him along to face the emperor and report the truth.

This matter was not easy to handle, after all—it involved Emperor Liu's own son-in-law. The slightest hesitation might mean pleasing neither side. But being pragmatic like Wang Xuanzhen seemed, in fact, to be the best approach.

"We do not know whether this matter should be pursued, and if so, how. We beg Your Majesty for instruction!" Wang Xuanzhen said respectfully.

Emperor Liu showed almost no hesitation at all, saying coldly: "How to handle it? Arrest him first, interrogate him for me, find out clearly whether this beast has committed other crimes, and nail down the evidence!"

"Yes!" Feeling Emperor Liu's resolve, Wang Xuanzhen no longer hesitated.

"You may withdraw! Continue your duties!" Emperor Liu said.

"I (We) take our leave!" The two, as if pardoned from a death sentence, fled the hall.

Imperial Son-in-law Zhang Jing referred to the husband of Princess Huaiyang Liu Xuan, Emperor Liu's fifth daughter. This man was handsome in appearance, excellent in learning, and had passed the imperial examinations. He came from a poor background but was diligent and studious. When he passed the examinations that year, Liu Xuan had taken a liking to him.

Liu Xuan was the daughter of the late Pure Consort Zhou. Perhaps out of guilt toward the Pure Consort, Emperor Liu had always doted on Liu Xuan afterward, showering her with favor without end—but Liu Xuan did not seem particularly grateful.

But Emperor Liu only did what he wanted to do, seeking a bit of comfort for his own heart. He even did not interfere in her choice of husband, letting her pick whom she liked. In the end, she chose this Zhang Jing of unremarkable origins.

Of course, Emperor Liu had also sent people to investigate. Zhang Jing was handsome, of good reputation and talent, a jinshi graduate—a true carp leaping over the dragon gate—and could be considered a fine match, so he did not stop it.

But you can know a person's face but not their heart. In just a few years, the promising young man of before had revealed his true nature—how could this not enrage Emperor Liu?