With Censor Tie’s declaration, the matter was essentially settled.
Among the people of the capital, he was synonymous with an honest official and a loyal minister.
If even he was willing to swear such a vicious oath, then the problem certainly lay elsewhere.
At first glance, Ren Zhong carrying his own coffin and smashing himself to death against it had indeed seemed awe-inspiring.
But upon closer thought, why did he have to die?
Couldn’t he simply have returned to the capital and filed a formal accusation before the Emperor?
Would the Emperor really have protected the Lu family?
Surely not.
The Emperor was no tyrant.
When Duke Chu’s estate had committed crimes and Cheng Wang had died disgracefully, the Emperor had never taken out his anger on innocent people. He had merely punished those useless officials who occupied positions without fulfilling their duties.
Ren Zhong had said nothing and gone straight to his death.
That really was suspicious.
And where in this world was there such a perfectly flawless person?
Someone who had never done a single bad thing from childhood to adulthood, who hated evil with a passion, and was even willing to die to remonstrate.
What kind of ordinary person was that?
That was a sage reborn, a saint descended to earth!
But how many saints were there in the world?
When a person seemed too good, it started looking fake.
The crowd began shouting:
“Censor Tie, we believe you!”
At the very least, Censor Tie had always lived in the capital.
A person could pretend for a year or two.
But no one could maintain a façade for decades.
For all these years, Censor Tie had spoken for justice and never feared the powerful.
Glancing at the still-protesting Ren Shuquan, Censor Tie barked: “Fine! Didn’t you say you wanted to petition the throne? Let’s go! You don’t need to carry Confucius’s statue. This old minister will personally take you there! Let’s stand before His Majesty and make everything clear!”
Ren Shuquan immediately panicked.
He scrambled up from the ground and tried to run.
But with people packed around him three layers deep inside and out, he couldn’t move an inch.
As he lunged forward, Xie Ying calmly stuck out a foot and kicked him.
Ren Shuquan fell right back down.
Chang An’s eyes widened.
Clicking his tongue, he turned to Xie Ying.
“Where did you go just now?”
Xie Ying resisted the urge to glance toward the bookstore upstairs and merely raised an eyebrow.
“Nowhere. Just went to see what was happening outside.”
Chang An accepted the explanation and leaned closer to whisper: “I think Censor Tie must be telling the truth. He’s never been someone who talks nonsense.”
Xie Ying couldn’t help glancing at Lai Chenglong.
Of course it was true.
The information had come from the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s investigations.
How could intelligence gathered by the Embroidered Uniform Guard possibly be false?
This time, Ren Zhong was destined to become a rotten piece on the chessboard.
Nearby, Lai Chenglong was listening to a panicked Vice Minister of Rites who looked ready to jump off a building.
When the official requested that the statue of Confucius be escorted safely back to the temple, Lai Chenglong merely nodded.
“Chunlin. Take a squad and return the Sage’s statue to its proper place.”
Chunlin let out a disappointed “Ah.”
The show wasn’t even over yet.
It was obvious things were only going to become more exciting.
Why did he have to be the one transporting the statue?
Chunsheng got to stay and watch!
Pretending not to notice his companion’s misery, Chunsheng quietly asked: “My lord, should we arrest these students who caused the disturbance?”
Lai Chenglong nodded.
“Arrest them.”
If they enjoyed joining riots, they should also be prepared to face the consequences afterward.
By then, Censor Tie had already begun dragging Ren Shuquan toward the Imperial Palace.
Lu Mingan nodded briefly toward Qi Yuan and Old Marquis Qi in greeting before mounting his horse and leading the Patrol Bureau officers as an escort.
The crowd had not yet recovered from its shock.
When they saw Censor Tie leading the procession away, they immediately surged after him.
People pushed shoulder to shoulder, packed together like sardines.
Not one of them wanted to fall behind.
Meanwhile, inside the Imperial Study, the Grand Secretaries were arguing fiercely over the matter.
Vice Grand Secretary Li spoke first without hesitation: “This affair has already aroused public outrage. As the ancients said, water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. Preventing the people from speaking is harder than controlling a flood, Your Majesty!”
Emperor Yongchang rested his chin on one hand and asked mildly: “And what does Minister Li propose?”
Grinding his teeth, Vice Grand Secretary Li replied: “Your Majesty, the only option now is to cut through the knot with a swift blade. The Lu family case must be concluded immediately, allowing the court and the public alike to suppress the matter and move on as though it never happened.”
He knelt down heavily, his expression pained.
“Your Majesty, even for the sake of His Highness the Crown Prince’s reputation, decisive action is necessary!”
The Emperor neither agreed nor disagreed.
“How should I cut through the knot?”
Vice Grand Secretary Li hardened his heart and spoke plainly:
“Convict the Lu family immediately. If Lu Ting cannot be found, punish the rest of the family instead. Execute all adult males. Confiscate the women and underage boys into the Music Bureau. Then issue an imperial decree honoring Ren Zhong…”
Chu Bo lowered his head and remained silent.
A faint smile played across Emperor Yongchang’s lips as his gaze swept around the room.
“And the rest of you? Do you agree?”
The Grand Secretariat consisted of seven members in total: one Chief Grand Secretary, one Vice Grand Secretary, and five additional Grand Secretaries.
All seven were among the Emperor’s most trusted confidants and the court’s most capable ministers.
Ordinarily, once Vice Grand Secretary Li spoke, the others would naturally follow his lead.
But this time something was different.
An unusual silence filled the room.
Even Chu Bo kept his eyes lowered, as though he had heard nothing.
Then Eunuch Xia’s voice came from outside the curtain: “Your Majesty, Censor Tie requests an audience.”
Everyone visibly stiffened.
Why had that old bull come here?
The moment he entered, Censor Tie knelt and shouted the customary greetings.
Then he lifted his head and demanded: “Your Majesty, are you still a wise ruler or not?!”
“…?”
Everyone stared at him in disbelief.
Especially Vice Grand Secretary Li.
Had Censor Tie gone mad?
Was that something a person was supposed to say?
Had he grown tired of living?
Even Chu Bo frowned.
The entire affair had unfolded so suddenly.
Practically overnight, Ren Zhong had become a minister for the ages.
It had left men like them unable to express their true opinions.
Some had even secretly felt pleased.
After all, they were all civil officials.
Colleagues.
Examination peers.
Members of the same scholarly class.
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