Chapter 320: So, being a peacemaker in the middle is this tiring!

The court was dead silent, everyone holding their breath, secretly glancing at Luo Hui.

The Minister of Personnel's face was so gloomy it could drip water, but unexpectedly, he calmly straightened his sleeves and stepped out with composure.

Luo Hui said in a steady voice: "Your Majesty, I have long been aware of what Minister Pang said. In fact, these bribed officials were all bait I deliberately set."

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole court was in an uproar.

Luo Hui took out a booklet from his bosom: "This is the record of all the illicit money they handed over, totaling eighty-seven thousand taels of silver, all of which has been deposited into the national treasury. As for those officials who offered bribes, I have already ordered people to record them secretly and am preparing to present them to Your Majesty for disposal."

He turned to Pang Jin and sneered, "I can understand Minister Pang's eagerness to investigate cases, but you are a bit too hasty."

A cold light flashed in Pang Jin's eyes: "Minister Luo, I have the right to suspect that you deliberately did this to make up for it."

Luo Hui did not argue with him about this, continued to take out a booklet, and said: "According to my investigation, seven of the thirteen case-handling officials under Minister Pang of the Ministry of Justice are criminals, two of whom are even major murderers! They often use torture to extract confessions when handling cases. Last year, three innocent people were beaten to death! In the process of handling cases, they also often destroyed the property of the people and harmed the innocent."

Pang Jin said calmly: "Those are people who have committed crimes and are making amends. The imperial court specially pardoned them to work for the government, which can also prevent them from committing crimes again. This has been the principle since ancient times. As for torture and case handling, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. If not, how could those worms be dug out?"

Luo Hui retorted: "What a good 'extraordinary measures'! Then I used bribed officials to fish for law enforcement; isn't that also eliminating harm for the imperial court? Isn't that also an extraordinary measure? You can suspect me, why can't I suspect you of shielding criminals?"

The two argued more and more fiercely, their spit almost splashing onto each other's faces.

Other ministers were as silent as cicadas in winter, fearing being drawn into this struggle.

Minister of Revenue Liu Minghan quietly stepped back half a step, thinking it's better to stay away from these two lunatics.

He is upright and honest, but that doesn't mean that if other ministers are pushed into a corner, they won't use some extraordinary means.

No way, the power of these two is truly very great.

Li Chen looked at the two important ministers arguing until their faces were red, feeling a bit puzzled.

Why do they have such a big temper? Could it be that something happened? However, mutual supervision between departments is indeed a good thing, but if it gets too big, it will make the imperial court foul with smoke and miasma. Zhao Wenyuan even thought Li Chen was going to shift the blame again this time.

As a result, Li Chen said: "The two ministers have worked hard to handle affairs, and I am deeply gratified. Give me all your investigation results, and I will personally review them."

Li Chen's words were the final word; no one could question him.

He stood up, his gaze sweeping over the ministers, "Dismiss the court."

When walking out of the main hall, Li Chen gave a wink to Guo Guo Po Yun.

The Guardian General understood and followed silently.

Inside the Imperial Study, Li Chen threw the two memorials on the table and rubbed his temples: "Speak, what on earth happened while I was away these days?"

Guo Guo Po Yun smiled bitterly: "Your Majesty, this matter is absurd. The cause is that Xiao Ming, a director of the Ministry of Justice, and Fang Qian, a registrar of the Ministry of Personnel, had a conflict, leading the two ministers to start targeting each other."

They are both new favorites of the two departments, with powerful strength and outstanding ability, and have gained the appreciation of the two ministers. Seeing their own capable subordinates being targeted, the ministers naturally could not endure it.

The reason Li Chen asked Guo Guo Po Yun was because when Guo Guo Po Yun was following the previous emperor, he also held some intelligence work on the side; he could certainly find out information in this regard.

And this guy Zhao Wenyuan just does his own work seriously and doesn't touch anything else. Even if Li Chen asked him, he would only play dumb.

Doing this is just telling His Majesty that he doesn't have too much ambition.

Li Chen could understand, so he didn't make things difficult for him on this kind of matter.

Even if Pang Jin and Luo Hui knew it was Guo Guo Po Yun who said it afterwards, so what? Guo Guo Po Yun is the Great General who shook the country with great military exploits.

Hearing Guo Guo Po Yun say this, Li Chen asked: "Why did they have a conflict?"

As for Xiao Ming, Li Chen didn't know him; he had truly never seen him.

Of course, Li Chen felt he hadn't seen him, but he had actually seen him a few times; it was just that at the time, Li Chen and Xiao Ming didn't know each other's identities.

As for Fang Qian, Li Chen had seen him; he performed well at the Sword Discussion Assembly.

If he hadn't met the cheating Luo Yong, he would probably have been the first place.

At the time, Li Chen also felt that Fang Qian was indeed a talent; he didn't expect he had already entered the Ministry of Personnel.

Hearing this, Guo Guo Po Yun sighed and said: "It seems to be for a woman."

Li Chen raised his eyebrows: "Just for a woman? Truly young and vigorous."

Actually, he wanted to say, are these two sick?

Making up his mind, Li Chen decided to go see what was going on himself when the time came.

After all, he intended to handle this matter personally; he couldn't wait for the investigation results of Pang Jin and Luo Hui.

They are indeed relatively qualified ministers, but they are also human; some things will be brought into private feelings.

The reason Guo Guo Po Yun knew Xiao Ming and Fang Qian were because of a woman was also because they had a fight yesterday, and the matter was very big.

Yesterday, Wei Manying said goodbye to Xiao Ming at the teahouse, left Lin Mo's residence, and went to find Fang Qian.

Wei Manying is not the type to have a clear goal; she investigated Fang Qian's necessary path after work and had a chance encounter.

Fang Qian is also a son of destiny, taking the initiative to greet Wei Manying.

No way, he had just dealt with Xiao Ming, and he felt happy inside. At the time, he was still thinking, if he could still get Wei Manying's favor, that would be even better.

Who knew he would meet her on the way home.

This kid soon became intoxicated in Wei Manying's gentleness and beauty.

Wei Manying can show the feeling of "I think she might like me" to everyone she comes into contact with.

Fang Qian became happier and happier, and in order to perform well, he took Wei Manying to Zui Xian Lou for a drink.

He had just arrived in the Imperial Capital and only knew this place had the highest specifications.

He had been doing things well recently, and the bonus was not small, so he could afford to treat her.

But coincidentally, Xiao Ming also likes to come to this place.

Xiao Ming's mood today was mixed; he was made difficult by Fang Qian, but he met Wei Manying and wanted to go drink to relieve his boredom.

On the way, he met Xu Zifeng, the Heir of Prince Zhennan; the two were familiar with each other, so they went to Zui Xian Lou together.

As a result, as soon as he arrived, Xiao Ming discovered Fang Qian and Wei Manying were also there.

Enemies are especially jealous when they meet; it's one thing for you to make things difficult for me in the morning, but now you want to snatch my woman.

Xiao Ming's violent temper went directly up and told Fang Qian to get lost, and Fang Qian didn't get used to him either.

These two went from having a verbal dispute to directly fighting.

Xu Zifeng was a bit confused; I used to be the one causing trouble, and you stopped me. How did it become me stopping you this time?

So, being a peacemaker in the middle is this tiring!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 321 =====