Chapter 78: Something

Zhang Heming glanced at him, sneered, and said, "Who do you think you are? This official has already explained clearly—Duke Zhang was mistakenly seized by soldiers. As for that memorial, it was not written by me, so how can it serve as evidence!"

Zhang Guoji watched from below, sneering inwardly. Clearly Zhang Heming had long since colluded internally and externally, prepared his defense, and probably had the final charges already set, merely waiting to fool them into walking this path.

But no matter how they schemed, Zhang Heming would not escape easily this time, because His Majesty and the Empress both had their suspicions—his crimes would not be light.

That Vice Bureau Director of the Ministry of Justice glanced at Zhu Xu again and said in a deep voice, "Then what about those goods in the Ministry of War's storehouse—how do you explain those?"

Zhang Heming's expression was indifferent as he said, "The yamen runners just collected them and brought them back; they have not yet been inventoried. Once they are tallied, they will naturally be reported to the Grand Secretariat and turned over to the state treasury. With your rank, you are not qualified to interrogate this official!"

The Vice Bureau Director of the Ministry of Justice seemed momentarily stunned, then turned and raised his hands to Zhu Xu, saying, "Your Highness, this lowly official is of humble rank—I must ask Your Highness to conduct the interrogation personally."

Zhu Xu widened his eyes and said, "Then how should I interrogate?"

"Hahaha…"

Outside the hall, laughter erupted. At some point, a large crowd of common folk had gathered, all watching this rare and comical scene at the Ministry of Justice's main hall.

The Vice Bureau Director of the Ministry of Justice looked embarrassed, stepped closer, and said, "Your Highness, you should send someone to summon a Censor from the Censorate for confrontation, while simultaneously sealing the goods and finding the yamen runners who originally detained Duke Zhang, in order to gather evidence."

Zhu Xu looked at him, quite pleased, and said, "Good, well said. What is your name?"

The Vice Bureau Director of the Ministry of Justice bowed and said, "This lowly official is Liao Tianyong."

"Liao Tianyong, you're not bad." Zhu Xu was very satisfied, then slapped the gavel and announced loudly, "Someone! Do as Liao Tianyong said!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Cao Wenzhao acknowledged the order and left hurriedly with an imposing bearing, leading the imperial guards.

Liao Tianyong was startled and said, "Your Highness, won't you use the Ministry of Justice's own men?"

"No need for that many people." Zhu Xu waved his hand.

Liao Tianyong thought about it—that made sense. His Highness Prince Hui had brought a hundred imperial guards; that was more than enough to seal the Ministry of War's goods.

In truth, not far from the Ministry of Justice, the high-spirited imperial guards and the brightly armored Embroidered Uniform Guard had gathered together. Cao Wenzhao and Luo Yangxing stood at the front. Cao Wenzhao said with a stern expression, "Lord Luo, I will head to the Shuntian Prefecture, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Right Guard Office. The other five ministries I leave to you."

Luo Yangxing had already received Zhu Xu's instructions. His gaze hardened and he said, "Good—I will not fail His Highness's great undertaking!"

Before long, on every major street in the capital, one could see men on horseback, leading groups of Embroidered Uniform Guard or imperial guards, rushing urgently toward some destination.

"Who are you people? This is the Ministry of Works!"

"Out of the way! The Embroidered Uniform Guard is on official business—anyone who dares obstruct us will be executed on the spot!"

"Bastards! Even the Embroidered Uniform Guard cannot barge in without an imperial edict—ah!"

"By order of His Highness Prince Hui, we are sealing the Ministry of Works' storehouses! Anyone who dares obstruct us will be killed on the spot!"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard's blades gleamed coldly as they charged through the Ministry of Works' gates, heading straight for the storehouses. Some people tried desperately to block them, but after two were cut down, the path became completely clear.

"Who dares to storm the Court of Judicial Review!" The Court Director strode out from the inner courtyard, shouting at the imperial guards rushing in.

"The imperial guards are carrying out their duties by decree—anyone who obstructs us will be dealt with as defying the imperial will!" The leading guard, without further ado, pressed a blade against his neck.

The Court Director's face turned pale, but he still stiffened his neck and said, "Where is the decree?"

"Hmph." The leading guard kicked him aside and said in a deep voice, "If you have doubts, have your superior enter the palace and ask His Majesty. This officer has no time for your nonsense. We are sealing the storehouses—if anyone plots treachery, report it immediately, and I will mobilize the imperial army to suppress the rebellion!"

At these words, the soldiers and runners of the Court of Judicial Review, who had been itching to act, were all struck with fear. The imperial guards already killed without blinking—if the imperial army were mobilized, they might not only lose their own lives but also implicate their families.

The Shuntian Prefecture, the Court of Judicial Review, the Right Guard Office, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Personnel—including the Ministry of Justice where Zhu Xu sat—none escaped. The storehouses of every office that had participated in this "robbery" were all seized and searched.

Those in their offices, those out of their offices, those in the capital, those out of the capital—the heads of every office were going mad.

Meanwhile, Zhu Xu sat in the Ministry of Justice's main hall, still waiting for reports to come back. With him were Liao Tianyong, the Vice Bureau Director of the Ministry of Justice, the Registrar of the Court of Judicial Review, and Duke Zhang Guoji. Even now, none of them knew the true purpose of Zhu Xu's actions—they only thought he had sent people to arrest those who had written the memorial at the Censorate and to seal the Ministry of War's storehouses.

"We must see His Highness Prince Hui! Let us through, let us through!"

Suddenly, someone outside the hall tried to force their way in—dressed in official robes, looking frantic, shouting at the top of his lungs.

Zhu Xu naturally knew who it was. He shot Feng Zhu a look, and Feng Zhu nodded, turned, and shouted shrilly, "His Highness Prince Hui is conducting a trial by decree—no one may barge in! Someone, take him to the side chamber!"

"Let me in! Let me in! I am the Vice Minister of Revenue!"

Feng Zhu knew at once this would spell trouble. He hurried outside while shouting, "What are you yelling about? Take him aside—this eunuch will interrogate him personally!"

"Release me! I must see His Highness Prince Hui—mmph!"

Soon, the man was gagged by the imperial guards and escorted to the side chamber.

But no one here was foolish—on the contrary, they were all extremely shrewd. Liao Tianyong, the Vice Bureau Director of the Ministry of Justice, and the Registrar of the Court of Judicial Review both looked at Zhu Xu with expressions of suspicion.

Zhang Guoji had known all along that Zhu Xu was playing dumb. He had assumed the prince simply didn't want to stir up more trouble, but when he saw that man just now, his heart sank—he recognized him. It really was the Vice Minister of Revenue.

He thought of the repeated admonitions from the Empress's people, and a bad premonition rose in him. He stood up, walked behind the judge's table, and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, what exactly are you doing? Can you give me a hint?"

Zhu Xu tilted his fair, clean face up and said with a grin, "Duke, I'm just doing exactly what that Lord Liao said to do."

Zhang Guoji looked at Zhu Xu's demeanor, and the unease in his heart only grew. After a moment's thought, he still advised, "Your Highness, Her Ladyship has repeatedly urged you—please don't stir up any more trouble."

"Of course, of course." Zhu Xu nodded repeatedly.

Zhang Guoji frowned slightly. Recalling the Empress's words—that this young prince was extremely clever for his age—and now hearing how watertight his words were, he couldn't help but feel as if the sky were about to collapse and the earth to split apart.

Liao Tianyong looked at Zhang Guoji, then at Zhu Xu. Suddenly his heart stirred, and he signaled to a yamen runner not far away.

That runner nodded, and while no one was paying attention, slipped quietly out.

The Registrar of the Court of Judicial Review did much the same.

All of it fell within Zhu Xu's sight, yet he just smiled amiably and said nothing, waiting together with everyone else.

The two runners had barely gone a short distance when several imperial guards quietly followed them out.

"Hey—what are you doing…"

"His Highness Prince Hui wants to ask you some questions. Behave!"

The two runners were quickly knocked unconscious and silently escorted back.

Zhang Heming had remained in the center of the hall the whole time. He was an old hand who had weathered decades of officialdom. Though he looked down on the little brat Zhu Xu, he vaguely felt that something was not right.