Green Mountain-Chapter 720 - 574: Carrying a Blade before the Imperial Court

Chapter 720: Chapter 574: Carrying a Blade before the Imperial Court

Chen Ji followed Wang Zhao of the Jiefan Guard into the palace through the Eastern Hua Gate.

As they passed the Wenhua Palace, he noticed the palace doors were open, but there was no one inside. It seemed the ministers of Wenhua Palace had all gone to Renshou Palace.

The evening twilight was gradually descending into the distance. Chen Ji’s expression was inscrutable. He instinctively wanted to grip his Whale Blade, only to remember he had entrusted it to Xiao Man for safekeeping.

As they walked through the long palace path and hadn’t yet reached Renshou Palace, Chen Ji heard from afar someone speaking loudly: "Your Majesty, yesterday Zhang Zhuo gifted a total of forty thousand taels of Buddhist Treasure to Marquis Wu Xiang in front of hundreds of people at the gate of the Six Ministries. This matter is indisputable!"

"Lord Zhang holds a position of the Second Grade and his annual salary is five hundred seventy-six shi, which converts to four hundred sixty taels of silver. It would take Lord Zhang eight hundred seventy years to save up forty thousand taels of silver!"

"Lord Zhang, don’t claim it’s ancestral fortune. I’ve heard that your ancestors held humble positions, your father was merely a county chief clerk, and your family has no surplus wealth. How could you amass such a vast estate?"

Chen Ji stood by the Filial Piety and Brotherly Love Stele, listening to the Imperial Censors articulate every point, effectively blocking Zhang Zhuo’s every exit.

This was not a spontaneous act, but rather the eruption of resentment accumulated from the recent inspections and anger built up from the implementation of new policies.

Zhang Zhuo had once told him outside the Imperial Palace Gate that the officials in the Imperial Capital rarely did anything because the more they did, the more mistakes they made, and everyone was just waiting for someone else to make a mistake.

Within others’ mistakes lay opportunities.

Zhang Zhuo didn’t wish to make mistakes either, but as a reformer, he was bound to clash severely with the old party. Out of ten thousand reformers, nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine wouldn’t meet a good end.

Zhang Zhuo clearly knew what he would encounter along this path, but he didn’t care.

Chen Ji looked up and saw Emperor Ning’s expression on the throne was unclear, but the Imperial Censors were all agitated.

Meanwhile, the cabinet ministers and Qi Xianzun, the most powerful Left Imperial Censor of the Imperial Inspection Office, stood in the front row without a word.

At this moment, a Clean Flow Official turned the spearhead: "Your Majesty, Chen Ji, relying on Your Majesty’s favor, with a noble title, behaves like a tyrant, ignoring the law, and his crimes are threefold."

"First, he brutally killed a court official in the street. Although Imperial Censor Yang Zhong had faults, he should have been judged according to the Three Judicial Departments. Yet, Chen Ji dragged him by horse through the city, causing Yang Zhong to die a gruesome death with blood splattered on the streets."

The official paused, then spoke louder: "Second, he defied palace prohibitions and mocked the imperial punishment. He surrendered himself at the Imperial Palace Gate, endured ninety lashes without flinching, by relying on his official’s cultivation. The imperial punishment is tied to Your Majesty’s royal authority, a canonical penalty for disobedience—is it right for this person to flaunt his strength?"

"Third, extortion of nobles, disrupting the market. To gather funds, he has repeatedly intimidated the Eight Great Merchants and the Duke Cheng Mansion, using threatening words, akin to banditry. This has caused unease and turmoil among the Imperial Capital’s merchants and nobles."

Another official stepped forward: "Your Majesty, Chen Ji’s actions are not merely arrogant and insane; they are a sign of political chaos. I implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and punish this beast severely, to set the court right and reassure the people!"

"Please, Your Majesty, punish Chen Ji severely!"

"Please, Your Majesty, punish him severely!"

The oral denunciation came overwhelming like a tidal wave.

Wang Zhao looked at Chen Ji, only to find his expression calm, as if the Imperial Censors were speaking of someone else.

At that moment in Renshou Palace, Qi Xianzun stepped forward: "Your Majesty, the crimes of Zhang Zhuo and Chen Ji should be reviewed jointly today. I request Your Majesty summon Chen Ji to the palace for a confrontation."

The hidden dagger revealed itself; what was bound to come had finally arrived.

The Three Mountains Bell resounded from the throne, and Wu Xiu walked out of the palace gate with great strides, saying loudly: "Summon, Marquis Wu Xiang, Hai Dongqing of the Spy Department, and Chen Ji to the audience!"

Chen Ji strode into the palace gate, prostrating himself and loudly declaring: "Your subject, Chen Ji, answers the summons."

Whispers came from both sides, and it seemed everyone’s eyes were fixed on his back, ready to break his spine.

On the throne, Emperor Ning slowly began to speak: "Rise, you heard what the Imperial Censors said earlier; I allow you to defend yourself."

Chen Ji slowly stood up, and amidst dozens of gazes, replied firmly: "Reporting to Your Majesty, all are slander."

Qi Xianzun’s gaze suddenly anchored onto Chen Ji’s face: "Chen Ji, do you dare say you did not drag Yang Zhong to death?"

Chen Ji lowered his eyelids: "I dragged him to death, but Your Majesty has already decreed imperial punishment, and I have repented. Why does Lord Qi still refuse to let go? Does Lord Qi feel that Your Majesty is unjust and wishes to make the decision for him?"

Qi Xianzun hurriedly bowed to the throne: "Your Majesty, I oversee the Wind and Discipline, I must report matters as they arise, do not listen to this one’s unreasonable arguments."

Then, he turned to look at Chen Ji by the palace gate: "Marquis Wu Xiang, this is not a place for your insolence. I ask you, did Zhang Zhuo gift you two strings of Buddhist Treasure, each containing twenty thousand taels of silver, in front of the gate of the Yulin Army Commander’s Mansion?"

The officials within Renshou Palace held their breath collectively.

Here it is!

The earlier talk of Yang Zhong, the Eunuch Party, and oppressing merchants were just preludes. The forty thousand taels of silver from Zhang Zhuo was the centerpiece, the thing capable of destroying Zhang Zhuo.

The officials all knew Zhang Zhuo was the one who accumulated wealth for Your Majesty, and the so-called selling positions and taking bribes were actually collected for the Inner Treasury.

However, the crux also lay here: those forty thousand taels, despite being the emperor’s silver, would not be acknowledged by him.

Once this was confirmed, no one would protect Zhang Zhuo, and to Emperor Ning, if there’s no Zhang Zhuo, there’s a Li Zhuo; there will always be someone else to collect wealth for him.

Moreover, the money wasn’t Zhang Zhuo’s. Either Zhang Zhuo secretly misappropriated the emperor’s silver, or he secretly withheld the emperor’s silver, and the one on the throne wouldn’t tolerate Zhang Zhuo anymore.

No one likes others to steal their money, especially when it’s forty thousand taels.

This is the deadlock for Zhang Zhuo and Chen Ji.

At this event, Qi Xianzun saw Chen Ji remain silent and sternly demanded: "Zhang Zhuo has possibly given you two strings of Buddhist Treasure, totaling forty thousand taels of silver!"

Chen Ji calmly replied: "Replying to Qi Fengxian, he did not."

Everyone froze, unexpectedly seeing Chen Ji dare to deny it even after so many eyes watched yesterday.

Qi Xianzun sneered: "Please ask Jiefan Guard to remove the Buddhist Treasure from Chen Ji’s wrist for a truthful examination."

Wang Zhao stepped forward, removing the hand string from Chen Ji’s wrist, but immediately sensed something was wrong: "This is just an ordinary sandalwood hand string, not Buddhist Treasure."

Qi Xianzun approached and snatched the hand string, knowing at a touch that it was fake.

He looked at Chen Ji: "Is this what Zhang Zhuo gave you?"

Chen Ji bowed: "Replying to Qi Fengxian, it was indeed given by Lord Zhang."

Qi Xianzun asked again: "Zhang Zhuo did not give you forty thousand taels?"

Chen Ji bowed again: "He did not."

Qi Xianzun said solemnly: "I see you won’t be convinced until you encounter the Yellow River, Your Majesty, I request the witness be brought before the court!"

From the throne, Three Mountains Bell rang, and Wu Xiu walked out of the palace: "Summon Li Ji Pawnshop clerk, Zhang Yunze, to appear."

Qi Xianzun scrutinized Chen Ji’s expression, trying to discern some clues, but Chen Ji was extraordinarily calm, causing him to sense something amiss.

Moments later, the old pawnbroker hurried into the palace through small steps with Jiefan Guard and prostrated on the green gold brick: "Commoner Zhang Yunze, beseeching for Your Majesty’s mercy."

Qi Xianzun asked: "Zhang Yunze, I ask you, did this person come to your pawnshop the day before yesterday?"

The old pawnbroker loudly answered: "Replying to Qi Fengxian, indeed, this person came to my pawnshop the day before yesterday, pawning Gufu Building, Tianbao Pavilion, five hundred acres of good land in Changping, Baoxiang Bookstore, totaling four thousand taels of silver. Yesterday, he came again with a string of Buddhist Treasure valued at twenty thousand taels, redeeming all the property deeds."

After speaking, the old pawnbroker presented the pawn ticket with both hands.

Qi Xianzun looked at Chen Ji: "Do you have anything more to say?" 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Chen Ji slowly straightened up, losing his previous submission, his Qilin Embroidery standing tall.

A sudden unease flashed across Qi Xianzun’s mind.

But Chen Ji did not look at Qi Xianzun, instead looking up toward the throne: "Your Majesty, according to our Da Ning Law, the monthly interest on private loans cannot exceed three percent. However, I investigated the marketplace and found pawnshops in town are not abiding by the law. For example, Li Ji Pawnshop not only charges nine percent monthly interest but also compounds it. Many pawnshops exploit and oppress people, arbitrarily act under the Emperor’s nose, drinking the blood of the people. Please decree a thorough investigation... the evidence is in the pawn ticket in Qi Fengxian’s hand, written in black and white."

The old pawnbroker’s complexion changed, his body trembling.

Qi Xianzun took a deep breath: "The matter of private housing loans can be discussed later, Marquis Wu Xiang first explain where your twenty thousand taels of Buddhist Treasure came from, still daring to say it wasn’t given by Zhang Zhuo?"

Chen Ji answered leisurely: "Replying to Qi Fengxian, that string of Buddhist Treasure is my own. With my businesses like Tianbao Pavilion and Gufu Building, I’ve saved some money. Because it’s messy and inconvenient to manage, I sent my maid Yao Man to Longfu Temple a few days ago to convert all silver into a string of twenty thousand taels of Buddhist Treasure."

He glanced sideways at the old pawnbroker: "The micro-engraving on the Buddhist Treasure is traceable, totaling eighteen beads, the first six engraved with where and when they were made, the middle six engraved with whom they were originally given to, and the last six engraved with the amount. Silver entering the pawnshop’s treasury must be registered, cross-reference the two and it will be clear if what I say is true."

Qi Xianzun was stunned, the micro-engraving on Buddhist Treasure wouldn’t lie, with this revelation, was the Buddhist Treasure Chen Ji took to Li Ji Pawnshop truly not given by Zhang Zhuo?

He sternly said: "The Buddhist Treasure given to you by Zhang Zhuo must have been hidden by you!"

Zhang Zhuo remained calm: "Qi Fengxian, now even Imperial Censors don’t need to provide evidence when they speak? Earlier, you slandered this official, and though I prefer not to defend myself, Chen Ji has now explained clearly, yet you still wish to slander? There was never any matter of forty thousand taels."

Qi Xianzun’s face surged with redness: "Since Lord Zhang did not have forty thousand taels of silver, why did you lie in front of the crowd yesterday?"

Chen Ji quickly took up the conversation: "While investigating pawnshops, I discovered that Li Ji Pawnshop lends usury money, drinking the blood of the people, repeatedly driving families to ruin without any inquiry. I thought there must be someone of significance quietly sheltering it behind the scenes. To uncover the person behind Li Ji Pawnshop, I asked Lord Zhang to help stage a scene... Qi Fengxian has witnesses, and I have them too."

At this point, Chen Ji spoke loudly: "Your Majesty, I request the Spy Department’s Jin Zhu and Heavenly Horse to escort the witnesses Cui Qinghe and Qi Zhenwu to court!"

Qi Xianzun’s eyelid twitched.

From the throne, Emperor Ning calmly said: "Approved."

In less than a thirty minutes, Jin Zhu and Heavenly Horse escorted Cui Qinghe and Qi Zhenwu to court, with Jin Zhu loudly reporting: "Your Majesty, the Court Minister and Heavenly Horse captured two people outside the Imperial Music Bureau, finding over a dozen strings of Buddhist Treasure on them, totaling six hundred thousand taels of silver. Among them, one string was recently exchanged by Chen Ji at Longfu Temple."

With that, he handed a wooden box to Wu Xiu, who carried it to the throne.

Chen Ji took a deep breath and solemnly asked: "I dare ask Mr. Cui and Imperial Censor Qi, why would this Buddhist Treasure, which should have been at Li Ji Pawnshop, be in your possession? Are you sheltering the pawnshop and aiding the wicked?"

Qi Xianzun abruptly looked at Chen Ji, seeing the red figure in the hall single-handedly resting on his leather belt, clearly without a knife, yet appearing as though he had brought one!

...

Third watch