Chapter 478: Fury

After returning to the palace, the Emperor scrutinized the Yue family husband-murder case and the He family husband-murder case even more closely, querying three times in a single day, leaving the Three Judicial Departments and the Grand Secretariat feeling as if thorns pricked their backs.

The next day, the Emperor asked again, and the Three Judicial Departments still argued incessantly.

After Wang Wen returned to the capital, he joined the Three Judicial Departments' investigation team; he insisted the original verdicts were correct: "In those years, these two cases were my fault for failing to discipline my subordinates, allowing Pan Hong and Xue Xuan to collude, causing the cases to reverse and destroying much evidence—this is my error. I humbly request Your Majesty impose severe punishment."

Xue Shao: "Your Excellency Wang's tactic of retreating to advance is masterfully executed, but tell me—when you claim Pan Hong destroyed evidence, what specific evidence did he destroy? Do you have proof?"

Wang Wen's face was stern and upright: "Your Majesty, Xue Shao is Xue Xuan's nephew; by law, he must recuse himself from this case. I beg Your Majesty to remove him from the Three Judicial Departments' investigation team."

Xue Shao immediately stepped forward: "Your Majesty, Your Excellency Wang speaks truly—I indeed must recuse myself from this case. By law, Your Excellency Wang must also recuse himself."

He said: "In those years, my uncle once impeached Your Excellency Wang for dereliction of duty and favoritism toward the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which led to the wrongful convictions of the Yue and He families. It was precisely after that impeachment that the Censorate obstructed investigations into these two cases; Pan Hong even submitted a memorial impeaching this matter, which later led to the framing."

Xue Shao lifted his head to meet the Emperor's gaze: "Your Majesty, I suspect that Your Excellency Wang was among those who framed my uncle. Therefore, I beg Your Majesty to order Your Excellency Wang to recuse himself from this case."

Wang Wen was furious: "You—you're spouting nonsense, maliciously speculating about me!"

He had exerted tremendous effort to squeeze into the Three Judicial Departments' investigation team after returning to the capital; Wang Zhen had secretly used many connections. If he were pushed out, wouldn't all those connections be wasted?

Zhu Qizhen turned to Yang Pu: "What does Grand Secretary Yang think?"

Yang Pu's face was grave: "I concur."

As soon as Yang Pu spoke, three others stepped forward in unison: "We concur."

Others voiced opposition: "Your Majesty, Your Excellency Wang is the Left Grand Censor of the Censorate—how can the Three Judicial Departments possibly bypass him?"

"Indeed, I trust Your Excellency Wang will administer justice impartially."

Zhu Qizhen: "I ask once more—when will the results of the Yue and He family cases be delivered?"

The ministers fell silent again.

Zhu Qizhen's gaze swept over their faces; he sneered: "Bring up the case files!"

Wang Wen's heart trembled uneasily—this was not what they had anticipated.

Shouldn't the Emperor now be furious with those people?

He had already released Wang Zhen and imprisoned Xue Xuan and Pan Hong, newly arrived in the capital—this clearly signaled continued purging. Why then was the Emperor acting this way?

Yang Pu and the others also didn't understand the Emperor's intentions, but swiftly submitted the case files.

The Emperor flipped through them.

Xue Shao and the others had reorganized the case files.

Perhaps to help the reviewing officials grasp the entire case more clearly, Xue Shao had attached numerous sheets of paper, meticulously highlighting the case's inconsistencies, contradictory testimonies, and flawed evidence.

Their clarity was so stark that even the Emperor, unfamiliar with the two cases, could understand them at a glance.

Thus, he felt more directly the injustice suffered by the Yue and He families.

Especially in the Yue family case: her testimonies contradicted each other, and the testimonies of Qiu Yong, the neighbor Hao Shi, and the alchemist Shen Rong—all examined simultaneously—failed to align, riddled with errors.

As he read these depositions, Zhu Qizhen's mind involuntarily flashed with the faces of Zhao Da Niang, Yang Shi, and others.

Anger surged instantly from his chest; he rolled up the case file and slammed it against Wang Wen's face: "How could such a clear injustice have gone unnoticed back then?"

He furiously rebuked Yang Pu and the others: "These case files have long been reviewed; all relevant witnesses have been apprehended—why is there still no resolution?" The Emperor rose, slammed his fist on the table, strode to the steps, and pointed at them, roaring: "Is it that my Three Judicial Departments are incompetent, unable to uncover such injustice—or are they corrupt, turning a blind eye to it?!"

The ministers were startled and knelt together.

The Emperor coldly regarded them: "Within three days, if the truth is still not uncovered, replace the entire Three Judicial Departments."

Saying this, the Emperor swept his sleeve and left.

Thereafter, the Emperor personally issued an edict reprimanding the Censorate, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Ministry of Justice, specifically naming the Three Judicial Departments' investigation team—including Yang Pu.

Being publicly reprimanded by the Emperor was a severe blow to both department and official, a great loss of face.

Even Yang Pu felt profound shame—how much more so Wang Wen?

As he exited the Imperial Study, he never lifted his head.

He secretly went to see Wang Zhen.

Although Wang Zhen had been released from the Imperial Prison, he had not returned to serve beside the Emperor; instead, he had been "rested."

Wang Zhen knew that to regain favor, he could not rely solely on the Emperor needing him as a blade—he must rekindle the Emperor's affection and dependence upon him.

In understanding the Emperor, if Wang Zhen claimed second place, no one dared claim first.

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Even the Emperor himself understood him less than he did.

So after hearing Wang Wen's account, Wang Zhen picked up scissors and snipped off a small branch from the pine tree, speaking slowly: "To gain, one must first give. Qianzhi—flip these two cases."

Wang Wen's courtesy name was Qianzhi; he gasped in shock: "Grand Supervisor, if we flip the Yue and He family cases, then I—"

"What crime do you have?" Wang Zhen cut him off. "At most, dereliction of duty. But as Left Grand Censor, you oversee countless major cases; the Yue and He family cases were minor. You delegated them to subordinates—they erred in judgment; your fault is merely inadequate supervision. You'll lose some salary or be demoted slightly."

He handed him the clipped branch, whispering softly: "The Emperor's will is what matters most. If the Emperor wants the cases reversed, reverse them; if he does not, leave them alone."

Temporary gains and losses are like this branch—mere twigs. Cut it, and it's gone. As long as the Emperor's heart remains with us, the main branch endures; the clipped leaves will grow back."

Wang Wen took the small branch, lost in thought.

Wang Zhen's lips curled slightly: "Go. Except for Pan Hong, discipline all the censors who investigated these cases—send a signal to the Emperor."

Wang Wen bowed his head: "Yes."

Yet he still did not understand: "If the Emperor wants to reverse the Yue and He family cases, won't Xue Xuan and Pan Hong be released? What of the Jiangnan cases…?"

"You think too narrowly," Wang Zhen said. "The Yue family husband-murder case and the He family husband-murder case can be two separate cases. Xue Xuan and Pan Hong's case can naturally be two other separate cases."

Wang Wen frowned: "But these cases are inherently interlinked—how can they be separated?"

Wang Zhen: "If the Emperor says to separate them, they can be separated. Remember—follow the Emperor's will."

"But…" Wang Wen still didn't understand: "Why? Why would the Emperor do this?"

Wang Zhen walked to the window, set down the scissors, and stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the green outside, a smile curling his lips: "Because our Emperor is kind-hearted and sentimental—he saw the families in the Yue and He cases."

A cold gleam flashed in his eyes, his voice barely audible: "Unexpectedly, it was Xue Shao—he saw this trait in the Emperor, and used it…"

"Sacrifice Xue Xuan and Pan Hong, but reclaim the Yue and He family cases… what does he want?"

(End of chapter)