Chapter 485: The Attitude Must Be Proper

Was Zhao Mingqiao's demand correct?

Absolutely correct!

Unparalleled correctness!

Even though Li Li Liangcheng wished he could cleave the man in two, he had to pinch his nose and admit that Zhao Mingqiao's demand was beyond reproach—correct beyond all measure.

The old Emperor was injured in the explosion case, fell into a coma, and ultimately passed away. Should the explosion case be investigated?

Of course it should be investigated!

Not only should it be investigated, it must be investigated to the very end, and the mastermind dragged out into the open. No matter who is involved, there is no room for personal favors. Even if they are princes and nobles, imperial relatives by marriage—every single one of them, anyone with ties, all of them must be seized and thrown into the great prison.

As Chancellor, he had to strike this posture.

Moreover, this matter should not have been raised by a low-ranking official. It ought to have been him—him, the Left Chancellor, who took the lead on this matter.

Zhao Mingqiao raising the case during the mourning rites, before the new Emperor had even been determined, was clearly once again trying to play the troublemaker.

In truth, investigating the explosion case should be done by the new Emperor. When the new Emperor ascends the throne, first he must busy himself with the mourning rites, sending the old Emperor off on his final journey; second, he must give the people of the realm an accounting. Investigating the explosion case is that accounting.

Zhao Mingqiao stealing a march was breaking the rules.

Could Li Li Liangcheng possibly not have known to send people to investigate the explosion case? He simply held himself back, presenting this opportunity to the new Emperor as a gesture of goodwill.

"Zhao Mingqiao, the court has its own rules in handling affairs. What you are doing now is ruining a fine situation, giving everyone a headache. Let me ask you—is there anything more important right now than the new Emperor's accession? You are clearly making trouble on purpose."

"Li Xiang's words are mistaken. His Majesty has passed away, and I am just as grief-stricken as Li Xiang. However, can it be acceptable to be lost in grief and do nothing? The people of the realm are all watching. His Majesty died an unclear death—should there not be an accounting? Who truly carried out the explosion case—should the people of the realm not be given an accounting?"

"When has this official ever said he would not investigate the explosion case, or fail to give the people of the realm an accounting? This official is reminding you that everything has its priorities and order, that handling affairs requires attention to method and approach, not blindly charging ahead. You charge about recklessly—tell me, how much trouble have you stirred up during this period? If not for the fact that everyone, like this official, cherishes talent because of your youth, vigor, and gifts, given your conduct you would long since have been thrown into the Imperial Prison!"

Li Li Liangcheng was utterly grieved and indignant!

As one who had been through it all, instructing a young upstart. One could say he had done his utmost, counseled with the bitterest earnestness.

It seemed the young upstart had failed to take it in.

Zhao Mingqiao gave a cold snort, thoroughly dismissive of Li Li Liangcheng's instruction. "May I ask Li Xiang—whether or not we investigate the explosion case?"

"Insolence! You are a subordinate official—who gave you leave to speak to this official with such insolence? Do you understand the rules or not?"

"This subordinate only wishes to know—whether or not we investigate the explosion case."

"Of course we investigate! But it is not your place to question this official, and even less your place to investigate this case. The proper offices will investigate the explosion case in due course and give the people of the realm an accounting."

"Since we are to investigate, why is that scoundrel Jiang Tu still weeping before the spirit hall? In the explosion case, the very first person to be investigated is Jiang Tu. As the one most directly implicated in the explosion case, he has brazenly appeared at His Majesty's mourning rites. Tell me—how does this lead the people of the realm to view Chao Ting Lv Fa, how does it lead them to view the gentlemen of the court? Could it be that the gentlemen cannot even manage to deal with a treacherous minister? When His Majesty was alive, your inability was one thing; now that His Majesty has passed, you still have no ability. Then do not blame this subordinate for stepping forward to question the gentlemen: this realm, this court—can you still be the masters of it?"

Zhao Mingqiao's words came thick and fast, like setting off firecrackers—crackle, crackle, crackle—smashing down hard on Li Li Liangcheng's brow.

Li Li Liangcheng only felt his brow buzzing and ringing, a jumbled mess.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose and both temples, barely easing the headache, and said impatiently: "In the end, you are simply targeting Jiang Tu."

"Yes, this subordinate is targeting Jiang Tu. That scoundrel Jiang Tu is plainly a treacherous minister, one who flattered and bewitched, causing His Majesty to commit many errors—truly a man everyone wants to beat down. This subordinate truly cannot fathom why the gentlemen continue to indulge this beast. His Majesty has already passed; the moment calls for decisive action—to cast this beast into the great prison, and give the people of the realm a clear signal: the heavens are about to change!"

Li Li Liangcheng clenched his teeth; he wanted to rebuke Zhao Mingqiao for acting recklessly.

But, on second thought, he rejected the idea.

No, he could not do that.

Jiang Tu was a rat running in the street, beaten by everyone. How could he stick his neck out for Jiang Tu? Although his original plan had been to leave Jiang Tu for the new Emperor, to let the new Emperor deal with him and earn credit before the new Emperor.

Yet Zhao Mingqiao and his lot pressed forward step by step, plainly intending to disrupt his arrangements.

If he did not deal with Jiang Tu now, by tomorrow the dirty water would be splashed on his own head.

Weighing the matter, he made a decisive call: "As the explosion case is concerned, Jiang Tu, as the official in charge of the sacrificial platform works, ought to be taken into custody. Thus, Jiang Tu shall first be detained; once the new Emperor has succeeded, the proper offices shall be arranged to investigate. Zhao Mingqiao, this official has already made a concession—do not press your luck. If you ruin this fine situation, this official will not spare you."

This was a classic case of offering a date and then landing a blow.

Dealing with someone like Zhao Mingqiao, one could not be unyieldingly hard, nor could one be unyieldingly soft—lest the other taste the sweetness and press on, never knowing when to advance or retreat.

The necessary warning was essential.

Zhao Mingqiao was a clever man; he could read between the lines. The key was whether he was willing to accept.

This time, after a moment of silence, he chose to accept. He too knew he could not press too far. Since he had not died, there was no need to be thrown into the great prison again and delay important matters. Especially at this critical juncture of selecting the new Emperor, he absolutely could not leave the palace.

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

He immediately bowed, performing every courtesy to the full: "Many thanks to Li Xiang for vindicating the people of the realm, for seeking justice for His Majesty, and for restoring a clear and bright world to the realm."

Li Li Liangcheng laughed in spite of his anger—look at that attitude of arrogance before and deference after. So it is said: among those who muddle through officialdom, no one is truly a greenhorn. When an official chooses to play the greenhorn, it is either a disguise, or he must want something, or both at once.

Zhao Mingqiao was a textbook case of disguise—inside, he understood everything perfectly well.

"Mingqiao, you must cherish the opportunity, understand? You have only just gotten out of the heavenly prison—do not keep making trouble and ruining great affairs. This official can indulge you once, twice, but will not indulge you three, four times. Many people have already complained to this official, censuring your misdeeds. Go back and think carefully—do you intend to mend your ways or not?"

"What does Li Xiang think I ought to change?" Zhao Mingqiao put on an attitude of humble willingness to learn.

Li Li Liangcheng stared at him, deliberated for a moment: "Know when to advance and when to retreat, know your place—only then can you accomplish great things. Your way of doing things will never let you accomplish great things. The dynasty has its own rules; it cannot tolerate a madcap holding high office and corrupting the court."

The implication: if Zhao Mingqiao continued his madcap methods, do not blame them for packing him off to serve as an official in the provinces, a provincial official for life. Till death he need not think of entering the capital.

No entry to the capital—never any hope of rising to high office.