Chapter 485

Was Zhao Mingqiao's request correct?

Too correct!

Incomparably correct!

Even though Li Liangcheng wished he could strike the other party to death, he had to pinch his nose and admit that Zhao Mingqiao's request was beyond reproach, correct to a mess.

The old Emperor was injured and in a coma due to the explosion case, and eventually passed away. Should the explosion case be investigated?

Of course it should be investigated!

Not only should it be investigated, but it should be investigated to the end, and the mastermind should be caught. No matter who was involved, there was no room for sentiment. Even if it were nobility, imperial relatives, every single one of them, whoever was involved should be arrested and thrown into prison.

As the Prime Minister, he had to strike this pose.

Moreover, this matter should not have been proposed by a subordinate official; it should have been him, him, the Left Prime Minister, taking the lead in doing this.

Zhao Mingqiao proposing an investigation during the funeral rites, before the new Emperor was determined, was clearly wanting to be a stirrer of shit again.

In fact, investigating the explosion case should be done by the new Emperor. When the new Emperor ascends the throne, he must be busy with funeral rites, burying the old Emperor, and giving the world an explanation. Investigating the explosion case is that explanation.

Zhao Mingqiao taking the first step was breaking the rules.

Could Li Liangcheng not know to send someone to investigate the explosion case? He just restrained himself, sending this opportunity to the new Emperor to release goodwill.

"Zhao Mingqiao, the imperial court has its own rules for doing things. You are now destroying a good situation and adding trouble for everyone. I ask you, what is more important right now than the new Emperor's ascension? You are clearly intentionally causing trouble."

"Minister Li's words are wrong. The Emperor has passed away, and I am just as sorrowful as Minister Li. However, can one just be sorrowful without doing anything? The people under heaven are all watching. The Emperor died unclearly; shouldn't there be an explanation? Who exactly did the explosion case; shouldn't there be an explanation to the people under heaven?"

"When did this official say not to investigate the explosion case and not give the people under heaven an explanation? This official is reminding you that everything has its order of priority, and doing things requires methods, not just rushing forward blindly. You rush and crash; tell me, how much trouble have you caused during this period? If it weren't for seeing that you are young, energetic, and talented, and everyone is cherishing talent like this official, according to your actions, you would have been sent to the Imperial Prison long ago!"

Li Liangcheng was heartbroken!

Teaching the young man as someone who had been through it all. It could be considered benevolent and righteous, and earnest.

It looked like the young man hadn't listened.

Zhao Mingqiao snorted coldly, very disdainful of Li Liangcheng's teaching. "May I ask Minister Li, are you investigating the explosion case or not?"

"Presumptuous! You are a subordinate; who allowed you to speak to this official so presumptuously? Do you understand the rules?"

"This official only wants to know, are you investigating the explosion case or not?"

"Of course it must be investigated! But it is not your turn to question this official, and even less your turn to investigate this case. The relevant departments will naturally investigate the explosion case and give the people under heaven an explanation."

"Since it must be investigated, why is that scum Jiang Tu still wailing at the mourning in the mourning hall? The first person to investigate in the explosion case is Jiang Tu. As the person most directly related to the explosion case, he actually appears openly at the Emperor's funeral rites; may I ask, how does this make the people under heaven view the court's laws, and how do they view the court's officials? Could it be that the officials don't even have the ability to dispose of a treacherous official? When the Emperor was alive, you didn't have the ability, that's fine; now that the Emperor is dead, you still don't have the ability. Then don't blame this official for taking the lead to question the officials: can you still be the masters of this world and this imperial court?"

Zhao Mingqiao's words were very dense, just like setting off firecrackers, smashing down with a crackle, smashing heavily on Li Liangcheng's forehead.

Li Liangcheng only felt his forehead buzzing, in a mess.

He rubbed his brow and both temples, barely relieving the symptoms of his headache, and said impatiently, "In the end, you are just targeting Jiang Tu."

"Yes, this official is targeting Jiang Tu. That scum Jiang Tu is clearly a treacherous official, flattering and bewitching, causing the Emperor to commit many mistakes; it can be said that everyone shouts to beat him. This official really cannot understand why the officials continue to indulge this beast? The Emperor has passed away; it should be decisive to throw this beast into the prison and give the people under heaven a clear signal: the sky is going to change!"

Li Liangcheng gritted his teeth; he wanted to scold Zhao Mingqiao for messing around.

However, after a second thought, he rejected this idea.

No, this cannot be done.

Jiang Tu is a rat crossing the street, everyone shouts to beat him. How could he stand up for Jiang Tu? Although his original idea was to leave Jiang Tu to the new Emperor, letting the new Emperor deal with him, so as to leave a good impression in front of the new Emperor.

However, Zhao Mingqiao and his lot were pressing step by step, clearly wanting to disrupt his arrangements.

If he didn't clean up Jiang Tu now, dirty water would be splashed on his head tomorrow.

After weighing it, he decisively made a decision. "Regarding the explosion case, as the person in charge of the sacrificial altar project, Jiang Tu should be watched. Like this, first detain Jiang Tu, and after the new Emperor ascends the throne, arrange for the relevant departments to investigate. Zhao Mingqiao, this official has already made a compromise; don't push your luck. If you ruin a good situation, this official will not spare you."

This was a typical case of giving a sweet date and then hitting with a stick.

Dealing with people like Zhao Mingqiao, one cannot just be hard, but one cannot just compromise, lest the other party gets a taste of it, pushes their luck, and doesn't know when to advance or retreat.

Necessary knocking is essential.

Zhao Mingqiao was a smart person; he understood the subtext. The key was whether he was willing to accept it.

This time, he was silent for a moment and chose to accept. He also knew that he couldn't force it too much; since he hadn't died, there was no need to go to the Imperial Prison again and delay major events. Especially at this critical moment of the new Emperor's selection, he absolutely could not leave the Imperial Palace.

Therefore, he chose to accept, accepting Li Liangcheng's suggestion.

He immediately bowed, doing full etiquette. "Thank you, Minister Li, for standing up for the people under heaven, seeking justice for the Emperor, and returning a bright and clear world to the people."

Li Liangcheng laughed in anger, looking at the other party's attitude of being arrogant before and humble after. So, in the officialdom, no one is truly a greenhorn. A choice by an official to be a greenhorn is either a disguise, or they must have something to ask for, or both.

Zhao Mingqiao was a typical disguise; in fact, he understood everything in his heart.

"Mingqiao, you must cherish the opportunity, understand? You finally came out of the Heavenly Prison; don't continue to mess around and ruin major events. This official can indulge you once or twice, but will not indulge you three or four times. Many people have already complained in front of this official, accusing you of wrongdoing. Go back and think carefully, do you really want to change?"

"How does Minister Li think I should change?" Zhao Mingqiao made an attitude of humble instruction.

Li Liangcheng stared at him and pondered for a while. "Understanding when to advance and retreat, knowing the measure, is the only way to do big things. Your way of doing things will never be able to do big things. The nation has its own rules; it is impossible to tolerate a crazy person in a high position, corrupting the court's discipline."

The implication was that if Zhao Mingqiao continued to play crazy methods, don't blame him for sending him to the local area to be an official, to be a local official for a lifetime. Don't even think about entering the capital until death.

Without entering the capital, don't even think about being in a high position.