Chapter 202: Huo Guang Has Returned

Your Majesty, I have an important matter to report!

And just then, in this atmosphere so oppressive it was almost suffocating, Zhang Tang suddenly stood up.

He tightly gripped a thick stack of documents, then raised them high above his head and shouted, "Your Majesty, wait! I have grievances to air and truth to present!"

That shout rang like a bell across the court, instantly breaking the deadlock as everyone's gaze snapped to him.

Zhang Tang spoke with fervor: "Your Majesty, Chen Wenjin and Li Xiangtian's faction has formed cliques for personal gain, persecuted the loyal, and piled up crimes. This is the ironclad evidence I have secretly gathered over the past months!"

While speaking, he handed the documents to the attendant beside him, who passed them to Liu Ju.

Then Zhang Tang turned to face the assembled officials and began to speak clearly: "Please look, this is the detailed ledger of the massive bribes they received from merchants, each entry recorded plainly; also these letters prove they secretly altered orders, suppressed dissent, and stopped at nothing for their own gain." he said.

At this point, Zhang Tang paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over Chen Wenjin and Li Xiangtian, whose faces instantly turned ashen.

Immediately afterward, Zhang Tang looked at Su Wu and the others, his eyes full of respect, and said: "Su Wu, Wei Xiang, and Xu Wei are all loyal servants who have devoted themselves to the peace and prosperity of the Great Han, yet they have been framed—this is truly heartbreaking. Chen Wenjin and his ilk have fabricated evidence to try to put them to death, masking their own crimes—a heart deserving of punishment!"

Zhang Tang's voice rang strong and clear, echoing through every corner of the court.

When Huo Guang was mentioned, Zhang Tang's expression grew even graver: "General Huo Guang has rendered magnificent service to the Great Han, guarding the frontiers and keeping the people safe. He is utterly loyal, yet Chen Wenjin and his ilk have maliciously framed him, landing him in prison on false charges. Today I pledge my own office as surety to vindicate General Huo Guang."

Zhang Tang's denunciation rekindled the hope in the eyes of the hitherto despairing Su Wu and his companions.

Su Wu looked at Zhang Tang, his eyes brimming with gratitude and admiration, his lips trembling as if he had a thousand words to say but could not find them.

Wei Xiang and Xu Wei were likewise stunned, then quickly turned to delight and relief.

The officials at court were also startled by this sudden reversal and began to murmur amongst themselves.

Liu Ju's hitherto indifferent face finally showed a flicker of emotion.

He took the scroll from the attendant and examined it carefully, his brow now furrowing, now smoothing.

The entire court fell silent, everyone awaiting Liu Ju's verdict, and this court dispute, thanks to Zhang Tang's intervention, ushered in a new turning point full of possibilities.

Upon hearing Zhang Tang's impassioned words, Su Wu's eye sockets reddened, tears welling up.

His lips quivered violently, his throat as if choked, leaving him unable to speak for a long moment.

Recalling the earlier misunderstanding that Zhang Tang had colluded with Chen Wenjin, he was filled with guilt.

He staggered forward a few steps, clasped his fists, and bowed deeply to Zhang Tang, his voice earnest: "Sir Zhang, we previously misunderstood you, thinking you had abandoned the righteous path and allied with villains. Only now do we realize you bore humiliation, secretly gathering evidence to clear our names and rid the court of harm. We have judged a noble heart by a petty mind—we are utterly ashamed, and we beg your forgiveness."

Having said that, he lifted his head, his eyes full of sincere apology and endless gratitude.

Wei Xiang, too, was overcome, his face flushed as he hurried to Zhang Tang, gripped his hand firmly, and shook it vigorously:

"Sir Zhang, this righteous act of yours is nothing short of pulling us from fire and water. We earlier doubted your loyalty, which was wrong. You disregarded your own safety to fight for justice, making us feel ashamed. We will keep this favor in our hearts and someday repay it with our lives."

Xu Wei slightly bent his knee in salute and said: "Sir Zhang, we were blind to Mount Tai and wrongly blamed you. Now seeing you turn the tide, we recognize your strategy and courage. Our earlier mistake was mere foolishness; we hope you will overlook it. For vindicating General Huo Guang and restoring order to the court, such achievements will surely be recorded in history."

Everyone looked at Zhang Tang, their respect deeper than before, secretly regretting their earlier misjudgment of him, yet also feeling fortunate to have a colleague who steadfastly upheld justice in the shadows.

In the court, Zhang Tang's denunciation struck like thunder from a clear sky, startling everyone awake.

Those officials who had long upheld justice but dared not speak out under the power of Chen Wenjin's faction now gathered around in droves.

"Sir Zhang, you've done a tremendous service to the court! These days, watching Su Wu and the others suffer false accusations, seeing the court thrown into chaos by villains, we have been anxious yet powerless. Today you stepped forward alone and exposed the ugly faces of Chen Wenjin and his ilk—truly most satisfying!"

The other officials beside them nodded repeatedly, their eyes full of praise and gratitude for Zhang Tang.

And just then, another announcement came from outside the Proclamation Chamber, delivered by the Ritual Official.

"Huo Guang, Imperial Secretary Huo Guang requests an audience!"

As the Ritual Official's announcement rang out, the Proclamation Chamber erupted once more.

"The criminal Huo Guang? Wasn't he exiled? How dare he return?"

The officials whispered to one another, their eyes full of surprise and doubt.

Huo Guang strode into the Proclamation Chamber head high, posture straight, gaze resolute, showing no trace of the dejection from his exile.

Chen Wenjin reacted instantly, shooting up from the ranks with a furious face, his finger pointed like a spear at Huo Guang and shouting in a voice like a bell:

"Huo Guang, you have gall! As a condemned man, you ought to obey the Son of Heaven's edict and be exiled far away, yet you secretly slipped back—this is open defiance of the imperial command; what punishment fits! Your Majesty, if such disloyal and unjust men are not severely punished, where is the authority of state law, and where will court order stand?"

"Feathered Forest Guard, why not execute the criminal Huo Guang on the spot!"

Li Xiangtian and the others also stepped forward to denounce him.

Huo Guang remained calm, slightly turned aside, and gave Chen Wenjin a dismissive glance, as if looking at a clown.

Then he stepped forward, knelt on one knee before Liu Ju, and spoke in a steady, powerful voice: "I have received the Son of Heaven's grace, knowing that villains run rampant in the court and the state's foundations are dimmed. To protect the Great Han's realm and restore clarity to the court, I have not failed my mission and have returned to offer thanks."

Saying this, he produced a thick dossier from his bosom, held it aloft, and declared: "Your Majesty, this contains the evidence I have painstakingly gathered, sufficient to prove who truly defies the imperial edict and throws the court into chaos!"

Having said that, Huo Guang glanced askance at Chen Wenjin, his eyes full of mockery.

"Good!"

Liu Ju on the Dragon Throne showed a faint smile, then nodded to indicate that the eunuch should present the dossier.

The officials in the Proclamation Chamber then suddenly understood what was happening.

Some also noticed that the Ritual Official had just announced, before everyone's eyes, "Imperial Secretary Huo Guang requests an audience!"

Could it be that Huo Guang has been restored to his former post?

And is all of this at the Son of Heaven's behest?