Chapter 68.1: Everyone Come Put on a Play

The matters of the inner manor, even if more than one person died, in those mens eyes, it was still just small quarrels. If it touches something he cares about, then perhaps he might get involved, and the method was usually just simple and crude. If there were certain restrictions, then perhaps he would even speak some truths, but if he had absolute authority at home, then sorry, whoever his heart leans towards is who hell unscrupulously help. Even if the others stomp their feet in anger, they could only just swallow their grievances.

In their eyes, important matters only resided in the imperial court. Aside from those that truly harbored the common people of the world in their hearts, the rest, even the matters of their own jobs, all may not necessarily be put to heart. Eagerly seeking fame and profit, climbing on this one, and making friends with that one, all for the sake of gaining benefits for their own clan, attempting to climb even higher, and obtain unparalleled power. They didnt have the ability to open up new territory, expand the battlefield, and get conferred into n.o.bility. So they just hope to rise a level higher from their merits to the throne.

Todays important matter of the imperial court was none other than yesterdays fire at the flower market. Because the fire wasnt put out in time, and not dealt with properly, the entire flower market was practically all destroyed, with severe casualties. If it were said to be an accident, then the most unfortunate was probably the fire rescue army, and perhaps also the city defense squad. But it was very obvious that this was an arson case, because at the scene of the fire, there were too many corpses. Because of the severity of the matter, after the large fire was extinguished, the task of arresting the perpetrator was handed over to the capitals local magistrate, Right Fu Feng

[1]

, and Left Feng Yi

[2]

, these three officials to jointly investigate and handle.

Just, in this short 24-hour period, even if all three of them took all the people of Jing Zhao Fu

[3]

and worked strenuously day and night, by the morning court session, they still didnt have the slightest lead. In fact, they couldnt even figure out the ident.i.ties of those that died.

The capitals magistrates eyes were filled with blood veins, as he knelt upon the palace hall, while being violently berated by Le Cheng Emperor.

The capitals magistrate was also very helpless. The corpses burns were truly too severe, even the coroner couldnt get too much information out of it. Its unknown whether they were burned to death, or thrown into the fire after they had died. And they couldnt find any other clues at the scene of the crime either, very much like everything was purposefully erased. Everything all pointed towards having been caused by someone, but they just couldnt find any evidences. The more it was like this, the more confusing it became.

However, in actuality, there was quite a few people in the palace hall that actually knew the truth of the matter. However, because there was no evidence, each and every one all kept silent, yet inside, perhaps theyve long given their regards to the other partys ancestors a few hundred times already.

Thats right, the third prince, Rui Qinw.a.n.g was determined that it was the eldest prince, Kang Qinw.a.n.gs doing. And Kang Qinw.a.n.g was also determined that it was Rui Qinw.a.n.gs doing. And as for the p.a.w.n who still didnt even know he was a p.a.w.n, the poor bug, fourth prince Gong Qinw.a.n.g, he also was determined that it was one of the two, or even both temporarily working together only to trap him. Inside, he hated that he couldnt have their skins stripped and their tendons cut. The power in his hand was already relatively weak in itself. The damage this time, to him, wasnt considered small at all.

(T/N: .dont these three all have the same ancestors though)

Besides these three, the second prince died young, fifth prince was sickly, hardly ever going out, and sixth prince Li Hong Yuan didnt concern himself with anything. For him to be able to come to morning court once or twice out of ten times was already pretty good in itself. Right now, he was also not present. The remaining princes that have already reached age 16, all stood in their respective spots, looking down to their noses with their heads lowered. Regardless whether theyve secretly casted themselves under a certain powerful brother, or also had their own ambitions, and regardless whether they knew the inside story of this matter, or completely didnt know anything, they all do not intend to get involved. After all, one misstep, and they might bring disaster upon themselves. Being pushed out to be the scapegoat was light, but losing their little life would be too much of a loss.

The people of each faction naturally werent idle. Even if they didnt have anything to do with matter, they would make something up. Otherwise, theyd bring out any teeny tiny trifling matter to attack the opposite party, mutually digging pitfalls for one another. If the master they vowed loyalty to on the surface and in secret werent the same person, then they were even more unbridled in pulling hate with all their might. In any case, the one that would actually suffer would only be their master on the surface anyways.

Because there were rarely wars, the military generals compared to the literary officials were even more weak in influence. But that bunch of old crude man, among them with Qin Tian Ming being the first to stand out, directly used their fist as soon as they got into a disagreement. Even if hed once been dragged out and beaten with the rod by Le Cheng Emperor before, he was still unrelenting.

Le Cheng Emperor felt a splitting headache from the quarreling. The important matters still werent getting taken care of, and the matter was getting more and more off track. Enough!

The palace hall that was originally noisy like a marketplace instantly quieted down.

Ministry of Justice and the Judicial Court will coordinate with Jing Zhao Fu to investigate this matter. Time limit is three days, if you cant give this emperor a satisfying outcome, all related personnel will forfeit their salary for three years. If theres someone thats slacking and not putting in the effort, their official rank will be demoted by one rank, then sent back to reflect for three month. End of court. Le Cheng Emperor finished saying this with a cold face, and then directly stormed off.

Respectfully seeing off your Majesty.

Those that werent involved all cupped their hands towards their colleagues and appropriately retreated out of Feng Tian Hall.

As for the head officials of the Ministry of Justice, Judicial Court and Jing Zhao Fu, they all headached. Just what was all this? The most innocent was Head Magistrate Diwu. As the head magistrate of the Judicial Court, hed just happened to be present at the scene yesterday, and just happened to belong to the neutral faction too. Regardless who the masters behind the Head Minister of Justice and the Capitals Magistrate were, there was not the slightest pressure in going to him. In short: Sir Diwu, not only were you present at the scene, your investigation abilities are also top notch. The most capable people do the most work, if theres anything you need, feel free to say.

Never mind the capitals magistrate, who occupied a fourth ranked position, his position itself was lower than the Judicial Courts Head Magistrate to begin with, so for him to speak a bit flatteringly, couldnt be faulted. But you, the Head Minister of Justice, dont you feel shame in saying something like this? Head Magistrate Diwu looked to him with a cold eye. Unfortunately, the other partys face was super thick, not feeling ashamed in the slightest, and his entire face was written full of the words thank you for your trouble.

Head Magistrate Diwu coldly snorted. It wasnt false that he was a hard bone to pick, but he wasnt the kind that liked to take complete charge either. He was clearly aware that if this matter isnt taken care of properly, it wont be as simple as just losing ones salary and getting demoted. If it really was the battle of the princes behind this, might even lose ones life. Who would be so stupid as to take on that responsibility alone? Its better to respectively take action on our own today, then gather to report tomorrow. Naturally its for the best for the matter to be taken care of well. If not, then continue investigating. If theres nothing then everyone will all be fine. If theres something, then everyone will shoulder it together. Circling around the two, he quickly caught up to Luo Pei Shan. Although Luo Pei Shan only resided over the Ministry of Rites, Head Magistrate Diwu never underestimated his abilities. He was also present yesterday. Perhaps by asking him, he can get some relatively useful suggestions.

The two met up, and Luo Pei Shan just knew what he wanted to do. He waved his hand, blocking all his words, and just meaningfully gave the Head Magistrate Diwu the words: His Majesty wants a result hes satisfied with.

Head Magistrate Diwu blanked. A result that his Majesty is satisfied with might not necessarily be the truth of the matter. Head Magistrate Diwus complexion darkened. He more or less wasnt able to give what his Majesty wanted. Then, he only needed to work according to his own methods, and just have the matter investigated and cleaned up. Whether or not he was able to get results all didnt matter. Besides, for him, even if he just went through the motions, his Majesty simply wouldnt care. In contrast, if he were to dig up some things his Majesty didnt want to see, like brothers of the imperial family fighting one another and disregarding human life, then that would be a major scandal. With this method, at most he would just be punished by forfeiting his salary for three years. This punishment neither hurt nor tickled.

After thinking things through, Head Magistrate Diwu naturally didnt worry anymore, and went to do what he needed do.

At the same time, Gong Qinw.a.n.g had stopped his two older brothers, and spoke with a fake smile, Two imperial brothers rather makes this younger brother feel all the more impressed.

Kang Qinw.a.n.g and Rui Qinw.a.n.g naturally knew what he was talking about. After all, in this game of mantis stalking the cicada with the oriole coming from behind, Gong Qinw.a.n.g, from the start, was precisely that unlucky cicada. It was obvious he just didnt know who had attacked him. In a flash, Kang Qinw.a.n.g and Rui Qinw.a.n.g both thought of pus.h.i.+ng the matter onto the other party, and join hands with this fourth younger brother to bring down the other. Then, it would be much easier to turn around and bring down this good fourth brother afterwards. Their true acknowledged opponent was each other. Fourth brother was nothing more than a tool to balance and ease the tension when they were fighting to no end.

Kang Qinw.a.n.gs thoughts were particularly bold. After all, Rui Qinw.a.n.g still had misgivings towards the Left Commander-in-Chief, Qin Tian Ming, behind Gong Qinw.a.n.g, but Kang Qinw.a.n.g knew that the Left Commander-in-Chief was actually loyal to himself, and this fourth brother was just a dancing clown, not worth a cent. Towards this, Kang Qinw.a.n.g can be said to be extremely pleased with himself. How would he know that he himself was also a clown played around by someone else.

Fourth brother Kang Qinw.a.n.g and Rui Qinw.a.n.g practically spoke at the same time. Subsequently, at the same, they also looked to one another. Cant say they understood a hundred percent, but seventy to eighty was still there. They didnt need to say much to already know the others intention. Very good, now they cant say anything. Then, they can only just take care of it privately, just see who has the ability to drag fourth brother to their side. One smiled boldly and ostentatiously, and one smile reservedly and elegantly.

Gong Qinw.a.n.g was so angered his liver hurt. That kind of mutual understanding between these two, completely not taking him seriously and casting him aside, made him hate that he couldnt directly have them torn apart alive. Belittling him, looking down on him? On what basis? Just where was he worst than them? Just wait and see, there will be a day, where hell viciously stomp them under his feet and watch them wag their tails begging for pity.

[1] Right Fu Feng name comes from fu zhu feng hua, which means to a.s.sist public morals; along with the other two similarly is in charge of law enforcement, just each presided over different jurisdictions.

[2] Left Feng Yi name comes the phrase meaning to a.s.sist the capital

[3] Jing Zhao Fu Jing Zhao is just another word for capital of a country, and Fu means seat of government. This is the office of the Magistrate.

T/N: Every time Gong w.a.n.g is referred as a poor bug, I laugh. Though I really love the politic side of this novel. Its really amusing to see the princes fight each other and completely ignore ML.