She Holds the World After Being Reborn
Chapter 228: Eunuch Zhang, You Take Care of It

Chapter 228: Chapter 228: Eunuch Zhang, You Take Care of It

The Emperor sat on the dragon throne with an expressionless face, while the court below was abuzz with noise.

In the middle, Xie Qun knelt in white clothes, having shackled himself to plead guilt and ask for punishment.

Eunuch Zhang watched as His Majesty’s brows furrowed tightly, so much so they could almost kill a fly, and he discreetly stepped back.

At a time like this, it was better not to step forward, lest one gets caught up in trouble when the city gate catches fire.

"That’s enough!" the Emperor suddenly shouted.

In an instant, the wailing ministers in the court fell silent.

"Has the Dali Temple been following procedure in conducting and investigating cases?" the Emperor asked, looking at Xie Qun.

Xie Qun knelt on the ground, the chains on his hands clanging as he spoke resolutely, "Since taking up the post of Minister of the Ministry of Justice, I have handled thousands of cases, large and small, and have acted strictly according to Dawei’s laws."

"I am asking about Chief of Staff Cao’s matter."

"I have enforced the law impartially and without negligence!" Xie Qun declared loudly.

The Emperor calmly watched him: "If there is no negligence, why then do you dress like this and come before the court? Are you trying to entertain me with a performance of a guilty minister, thinking I am tired from the court session?"

Xie Qun’s mouth twitched, "Your Majesty jokes. This attire is by necessity. Last night, I received a secret letter detailing many of the misdeeds of Cao Man during his tenure, and considering he was supposed to leave the Capital City today, I had no choice but to order his arrest overnight. However, before dawn, Dali Temple had many ’distinguished guests’ visit, demanding I release Cao Man and even threatened me, saying I would not be able to mix in the Capital City..."

"Xie Qun, you really dare say anything!" Chief Wang, standing aside, rebuked loudly: "At the foot of the Emperor, do not fabricate problems, Xie Qun!"

"Your Majesty—" Xie Qun looked up at the high seat, his eyes fervent: "With nothing but loyalty, everything I do is for Dawei. How could I dare to deceive the Emperor in such a sacred hall! I had no other choice. Here is a list of the charges against Cao Man during his tenure. If Your Majesty also believes Cao Man to be innocent, then I am willing to accept any punishment from Your Majesty!"

Xie Qun took out a memorial from his chest.

Everyone held their breath.

Nobody knew what the memorial contained.

A group of ministers who had previously threatened Xie Qun now began to turn pale.

The Emperor’s gaze met Xie Qun’s in the air, and after a long silent moment, he finally nodded to Eunuch Zhang to bring the memorial over.

Eunuch Zhang jogged down the steps and took the memorial from Xie Qun’s hands.

"Your Majesty." Eunuch Zhang placed the memorial in front of the Emperor.

The Emperor placed his hand on the memorial, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall, and as he opened it, one could faintly hear someone inhale sharply.

It seemed many did not want him to see this memorial.

The Emperor flipped through the memorial and then suddenly snapped it shut.

Just when Chief Wang and the leading ministers breathed a sigh of relief, they heard the Emperor say in a deep voice.

"The Dali Temple has enforced the law impartially; what crime have they committed? The Dali Temple is mine, and Xie Qun is my Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Aside from me, the Dali Temple has no duty to obey any of you."

"After all these years, ask yourselves, if you’ve accomplished anything? You can’t shoulder burdens or lift responsibilities; all you know is to follow me around asking me to do this and that. If things don’t go your way, you threaten to hang yourselves in my Imperial Study! You think you can sit on this dragon throne!"

"Calm your anger, Your Majesty—" the ministers knelt in a rush.

He was obviously speaking about the courtiers led by Chief of Staff Cao.

By now, Chief Wang had completely given up any hope of pleading or arguing any further.

"A bunch of useless creatures! Court dismissed!" the Emperor left with a sweep of his sleeve, leaving the memorial on the table. Eunuch Zhang glanced at everyone, took the memorial, and quickly followed the Emperor out.

Above the great hall, everyone wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads.

Only the sound of clanking chains was heard, followed by the leisurely rise of Xie Qun.

"Exhilarating!" He moved his limbs and neck around, his face full of vigor.

"Xie Qun, you scoundrel!" Chief Wang muttered under his breath, his beard bristling and eyes glaring.

Xie Qun cupped his ear, "What? Speak up, Chief Wang, you were much louder earlier in Dali Temple than you are now."

Wang gritted his teeth in anger, "Don’t be smug, this matter has not been settled by the Emperor yet. Chief of Staff Cao has served many years with hard work and significant achievements. You must prioritize people when enforcing the law impartially!"

"Your Majesty has just said that Dali Temple is Your Majesty’s Dali Temple, and I, as Your Majesty’s Minister of the Ministry of Justice, amongst all civil and military officials in court, need only take orders from Your Majesty alone. Minister Wang, your memory seems to be failing you in your old age. Perhaps I should take you to inquire once again at His Majesty’s side?"

Minister Wang was so angry that he thumped his chest and stomped his feet.

Xie Qun let out a cold laugh and began to walk toward the outside.

He had already submitted the memorial, and he had sent his secretary to prepare the witness testimony overnight.

However, last night’s secret letter also mentioned another person.

From afar, Xie Qun looked in the direction of the deep palace, his eyes filled with wariness.

If that person were to make a move, then he truly would have no room to resist.

There was a glimmer of hope in Xie Qun’s heart.

After so many years, that person shouldn’t take actions on behalf of Cao Man again, right?

His subordinates removed the handcuffs and shackles from Xie Qun. He put on his robe, mounted his horse, and as he watched the court officials exit the main gate in small groups, his eyes were full of sarcasm.

The Dawei dynasty was already thoroughly rotten.

If the Cao Man clan could take this opportunity to fall from power and thoroughly cleanse the court official forces, then there would be hope for salvation.

The key was still what the Emperor thought.

Alchemy Room.

Amidst the curling smoke, the Emperor sat on a straw mat, his gaze fixed on the crucible.

Eunuch Zhang stood not far away.

The only sound in the room was the slight noise from the crucible, and it was extraordinarily silent.

Eunuch Zhang didn’t even dare to let out a heavy breath.

Who knows how much time had passed.

The Emperor suddenly spoke.

"How many years has it been since I’ve seen the Empress Dowager?"

Eunuch Zhang’s heart quivered as he stepped forward, bowing: "To respond to Your Highness, it should have been two or three decades."

"That long?" The Emperor seemed to fall into contemplation.

Eunuch Zhang dared not speak and stood by like a quail.

Then, the Emperor continued, "You go on my behalf to the harem, bring the memorial to the Empress Dowager."

"Does Your Majesty wish to send along any message?" Eunuch Zhang continued to inquire.

The Emperor reached out to touch his face, his eyes narrowing, "It’s been two or three decades since we last spoke. I don’t even know what to say. Eunuch Zhang, you decide."

Eunuch Zhang quickly nodded his understanding, bowed to the Emperor, and retreated from the room.

When the main gate closed, Eunuch Zhang realized his spine was covered with chills.

The tense relationship between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager was just from that incident two or three decades ago; at that time, he was still a Little Eunuch.

"This memorial, I’m afraid it’s going to stir up a raging storm. I can only hope that person doesn’t intervene again." Eunuch Zhang lifted his feet and walked toward the deep palace.

The Empress Dowager had not interfered in worldly affairs for many years.

Eunuch Zhang felt apprehensive, unsure of how the temper of the Empress Dowager had changed after all these years.

The Empress Dowager was not the Emperor’s birth mother but had been posthumously honored by the previous Emperor after his death. At the time, the former Empress had already been interred, and given that this Empress Dowager was young, she was never interred according to the Imperial Family traditions and was instead kept secluded in the palace, signifying the benevolence of the Emperor’s heart.

These were the official explanations given to the outside world.

Eunuch Zhang knew the truth.

The reason she was not interred was a scandal of the Imperial Family.