Chapter 178: Request the Imperial Edict

Chen Guanlou instructed Xiao Jin and Chen Quan to escort the guests to the Yu residence.

"Hand the letter personally to Yu's chief steward and tell them: Lord Yu's life hangs by a thread—they must act quickly."

Chen Quan readily agreed.

Xiao Jin hesitated, "Chief Chen, are you really going to help Yu Zhaoan?"

"Just this once. Regardless, civil officials still dominate the court—we cannot offend the Jixia Academy. We don't have the stubbornness of Jiang Tu, do you understand?"

"Understood!" Xiao Jin was decisive; he took the letter and left the yamen with Chen Quan, hurrying off to deliver it to the Yu residence.

Lu Datou slipped away and sneaked into the side room, peering toward the official office like Chen Guanlou, "Can you hear anything?"

"Of course not."

"So you're just staying here to watch the show?"

"I'm here in case the Warden needs me—I'm ready to relieve him of any burden," Chen Guanlou declared solemnly.

Lu Datou gave a thumbs-up. "You're impressive! No wonder you've always gotten ahead of everyone else. If your father had your wit and adaptability, he wouldn't have been stuck on the cold bench all those years."

"Don't bring up my father. You're openly slacking off—doesn't Xu Fugui care?"

"Xu Fugui's too busy watching people starve to bother with me. Do you think they'll release grain? What if everyone dies and the grain never shows up?"

"Relax—it'll definitely end in results."

"So sure?" Lu Datou didn't believe it.

Chen Guanlou nodded toward the opposite official office. "Inside, it's not just two departments fighting—it's the Tianlao's chance to prove its existence. Handle it right, and grain will be allocated within three to five days."

"Really that miraculous?"

Lu Datou stopped moving and sat with Chen Guanlou to drink tea, imagining the spectacle he couldn't see.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard insisted on taking the prisoner; Sun Daoning refused to budge an inch.

Even when the Embroidered Uniform Guard presented official documents, Sun Daoning simply said: "This violates protocol," and rejected them outright.

Xiao Jincheng laughed bitterly. "Sir Sun, you should know: anyone the Embroidered Uniform Guard wants to take, we will take—no one can stop us. Even if Prince Jin were here, I'd say the same. The Embroidered Uniform Guard are the Son of Heaven's hounds; no one may obstruct our investigations."

"What case? Whose case? How am I supposed to know? As Vice Minister of Justice, I have every right to inquire. Yu Zhaoan's case has already been reviewed by the Ministry of Justice, settled, and awaits only the Emperor's pardon. Your Embroidered Uniform Guard are stirring up trouble and forcibly seizing a man—you clearly don't respect the Ministry of Justice. Others may fear you, but we don't—and the Censorate and the Court of Judicial Review won't either!"

Sun Daoning slammed his fist on the table in furious retort.

Xiao Jincheng slowly set down his teacup and said coldly, "Even you, Sir Sun, have no authority to inquire into Embroidered Uniform Guard cases. Recently, during our investigation, we uncovered matters linked to Yu Zhaoan and need to summon him for questioning—is that unreasonable?"

"Why can't you ask him right here in front of me? Bring him now. You question him—I'll observe, and I won't speak a word. How's that?"

"Will you insist on this?"

"I'm not being difficult—it's you who have overstepped. Unless you can produce the Emperor's edict, the Tianlao will not surrender any prisoner."

Sun Daoning's stance was firm—he intended to escalate this to the Taiji Palace and rouse the old Emperor. He was certain Jiang Tu's targeting of Yu Zhaoan was personal, never approved by the Emperor.

Yu Zhaoan was detestable—his tongue was sharp, his words cruel. But to claim he committed crimes serious enough to warrant imprisonment in the Imperial Prison was pure nonsense.

Yu Zhaoan came from a prominent family; he had no financial need and was not corrupt—at least not personally. As for selling offices and titles, Yu Zhaoan had principles—he despised such acts.

If members of the Yu family were abusing his name, that would be a separate case.

The Emperor never ordered an investigation into Yu Zhaoan or the Yu family. On what grounds, then, do the Embroidered Uniform Guard seize him? Just because Jiang Tu said so? Just because Jiang Tu wants revenge?

As Vice Minister of Justice, if Sun Daoning let the Embroidered Uniform Guard succeed today, the moment he stepped out that door, his reputation would be ruined—he'd become the target of scholarly condemnation and official denunciation.

Even if he had to risk his official robe, he must fight for principle today—that's the integrity of a civil official, the example of a scholar, the duty of a noble descendant.

Reputation in life and after death!

What was the point of years of lonely study? To earn reputation in life and after death! Reputation is invisible, intangible, yet undeniably real—it seems useless daily, but once lost, you'll find yourself abandoned by the entire world, unable to take a single step forward.

Reputation is built bit by bit; destroying it can take only one word, one action.

Sun Daoning would not allow the Embroidered Uniform Guard to trample his reputation and take Yu Zhaoan away.

His battle with the Embroidered Uniform Guard would spread through the entire bureaucracy and scholarly circles—he would gain far more than he lost.

Xiao Jincheng clearly saw Sun Daoning's intent. He sneered, refusing to engage in a petty power play and letting Sun gain the upper hand. With anyone else, the Embroidered Uniform Guard would have seized the man by force long ago.

But Sun Daoning…

He was Vice Minister of Justice, a third-rank official, a high-ranking court minister—some courtesy was due.

He bowed slightly and smiled, "Sir Sun, don't rush. I'll go to the palace and request the edict. Then I'll see who dares to stand in our way!"

Sun Daoning's eyes narrowed slightly. "Will you insist on this, Sir Xiao?"

Xiao Jincheng's expression was half-smiling, half-sneering. "Sir Sun, instead of blaming me, you'd better think about how to resolve this crisis. The Emperor has been very displeased these past days."

Sun Daoning's face turned grim, his expression icy, yet he said nothing.

Fan Yucheng's heart pounded, his legs trembling—he understood only half of what was said. Again, they were trading veiled words he couldn't follow. His head ached. He didn't know how to interject—how awkward! He just wanted to be invisible and vanish.

Moments later, Sun Daoning snorted coldly. "Fine. I'll await the imperial edict. If you can obtain it, take Yu Zhaoan away."

Xiao Jincheng smiled with quiet confidence. "I'll take my leave then, Sir Sun. You might as well move too—see whether your actions are faster than mine."

With that, he led his Embroidered Uniform Guard away from the Tianlao—directly toward the imperial palace.

Fan Yucheng finally regained his voice and his wits. "Sir Sun, what do we do now? What if the Embroidered Uniform Guard really get the edict—do we still stop them?"

Sun Daoning suddenly stood up. "I have matters to attend to—I'm going to the palace. You guard the Tianlao. Even if they bring the edict, as long as I'm not here, they won't take Yu Zhaoan."

"Th-this-this…" Fan Yucheng was utterly distressed! How could the Tianlao possibly stop the Embroidered Uniform Guard carrying the imperial edict?