Green Mountain-Chapter 721 - 575: Extermination

The Renshou Palace was deathly quiet, with only the faint trails of smoke rising from the two blue-and-white cloud crane incense burners below the imperial throne, swirling and lingering under the colorful painting of the twenty-eight constellations on the caisson ceiling.

The sky darkened, as the little eunuchs carried copper-handled lanterns, lighting candle after candle inside the Renshou Palace.

The officials looked at Chen Ji, who stood proudly in the hall, and only upon closely scrutinizing his somewhat youthful face did they remember that he seemed to be just nineteen years old.

Some of the older officials, in a trance, found themselves transported back more than twenty years.

At that time, the emperor was young and distrustful, the Empress Dowager held court behind the curtain, and the relatives by marriage controlled state affairs. At that time, it seemed there was also a person dressed in a bright red official robe, standing at a tender age on the court, helping the one on the throne secure the rivers and mountains.

Their appearances were different, their builds unlike, and their voices even more so.

Yet, for some reason, when everyone looked at Chen Ji, they inexplicably thought of that person.

Prince Jing.

In just that instant, many officials suddenly felt old, as if the ambition of the other was a mirror reflecting their own aging and frustrations.

Some even felt a sense of self-abasement.

At this moment, the officials glanced at Cui Qinghe and Qi Zhenwu, who were kneeling on the ground, and inwardly sighed. The Qi family was defeated. Now the only difference lies in the price the Qi family will have to pay. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Under the complex caisson ceiling of the twenty-eight constellations, Chen Ji looked down at the Cui Qinghe beside him: "Mr. Cui, whose Buddhist Treasure is that? Speak truthfully."

Cui Qinghe gritted his teeth, refusing to speak, only looking at the reflection of himself in the green gold brick, his face filled with despair.

Chen Ji said leisurely: "Mr. Cui, do not think that by not speaking, you can bear the entire burden yourself. Nor should you attempt to lie; under the interrogation of Meng Ji from the Spy Department, lies do not exist."

Yet Cui Qinghe still remained silent.

He knew full well that once he implicated Qi Zhenwu, there would be no place for him in the Imperial Capital. No, not even a place for the Qinghe Cui Family in this vast court.

He would rather wait for Meng Ji to interrogate him; even if he said something then, it wouldn’t be his fault. Even if he were convicted for harboring, at most, only he would be punished, and it could win a future for the Qinghe Cui Family.

Seeing that he still refused to speak, Chen Ji smiled and said, "Mr. Cui, originally this matter had nothing to do with you. You neither stole nor robbed, merely did something at someone’s behest. Just name the owner of the Buddhist Treasure, and the matter will be settled. But if you refuse to confess or lie and then Meng Ji finds it out, it amounts to the crime of deceiving the emperor..."

Chen Ji lowered his voice: "If Meng Ji further uncovers something else, such as minting copper coins privately, it would result in the extermination of your entire clan."

Cui Qinghe’s face changed; he could distinguish between "the Cui Family has no future" and "the Cui Family has no descendants."

This was a blatant threat from Chen Ji, gambling that the Qinghe Cui Family had many secrets that could not withstand interrogation.

After a moment of silence, Cui Qinghe gritted his teeth and said, "That Buddhist Treasure was handed to me by Qi Zhenwu. Qi Zhenwu sought me out the other day, promising me the position of Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and asked me to bring six hundred thousand taels of silver to the Imperial Music Bureau to redeem Bai Li. Upon success, Bai Li would be at my disposal."

In the front row of officials, Mr. Qi, seated on the embroidery stool, sighed and slowly closed his eyes.

Once Chen Ji obtained the answer, he moved next to Qi Zhenwu, "Lord Qi, may I ask why the Buddhist Treasure was in your possession?"

However, the next moment, Qi Zhenwu replied in a deep voice, "This was a bribe from Li’s Pawnshop to me, and protecting Li’s Pawnshop was solely my doing; it has nothing to do with the Qi family!"

Mr. Qi suddenly opened his eyes.

Just now, Qi Zhenwu had two paths to choose from. If he revealed that Li’s Pawnshop was private property of the Qi family, and that he was merely reallocating their own treasury silver, it would indeed alienate the Qi family from the world’s scholars, but he himself would be innocent, after all, it was their own money and how they chose to spend it was their business.

Now, by taking on the responsibility alone and defining it as corruption, although Qi Zhenwu would be exiled to Lingnan, the Qi family’s reputation would be preserved.

For the Qi family, this was the best outcome. The only remaining question was whether the one on the throne would tarnish the Qi family’s name or exchange it for something useful.

Facing the throne behind the sheer curtain, Chen Ji cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, I believe Qi Zhenwu has not told the truth. I request the Spy Department’s Meng Ji to interrogate using the Official Gateway."

The officials knew Chen Ji held a grudge; he wouldn’t rest until he destroyed the Qi family’s reputation. Once Meng Ji interrogated, the Qi family would be finished.

Yet, in the next moment, Emperor Ning on the throne spoke slowly, "Mr. Qi, Qi Zhenwu is a member of your family, what is your opinion?"

Mr. Qi exhaled a long breath of relief; in the Renshou Palace, there were never deals that couldn’t be negotiated... Moreover, this emperor who had ruled for thirty-two years and was adept at imperial strategy, needed balance on the court.

He slowly rose from the embroidery stool, then lifted the hem of his official robe and kneeled down trembling, "This old official did not manage the family strictly, leading the youth to err, which is entirely my fault. Qi Zhenwu’s impetuous nature led him to accept merchant bribes and interfere with court law; I plead for Your Majesty to decree his exile to Lingnan, never to be employed again. Qi Xianzun, as the Left Imperial Censor, also failed in vigilance... kneel!"

Qi Xianzun understood and also lifted the hem of his robe, kneeling beside Mr. Qi, "Your Majesty, the Qi family has long been known for its scholarly pursuits, faithfully serving the state since our ancestors, guided by integrity and loyalty. To have such an unworthy descendant sully our family name and disrupt court discipline is shameful. I wish to resign from my position as Left Imperial Censor and return home to focus on scholarship."

The officials looked at each other in bewilderment.

Left Imperial Censor.

This is the price offered by the Qi family, and it’s Ning Emperor’s most tempting offer.

The Left Imperial Censor leads the Imperial Inspection Office; it is one of the most crucial positions for restraining imperial power.

In the 6th Year of Jianing, Ning Emperor attempted thrice to confer the title of prince upon Zhu Youxiao, who was not yet Prince Jing at the time, but each attempt was returned with the name of "inappropriate" by the Six Departments of the Inspection Office.

In the 9th Year of Jianing, Chief Eunuch Wang Bao died suddenly in the Eagle House Office. Ning Emperor wanted the case to conclude with the claim of Wang Bao’s heart disease acting up, but the Inspection Office insisted on a joint trial by the Three Judicial Departments to thoroughly investigate the cause of Wang Bao’s death.

Though the matter eventually faded away for unknown reasons, some clues surfaced, leading people to suspect that Wang Bao was killed by Xu Wenhe, who was not yet the Prime Minister at the time.

Such occurrences are numerous.

Now, the Qi family has relinquished the position of the Left Imperial Censor, which is far more important than sacrificing some silver: power is always more important than silver.

Upon the throne, Ning Emperor was silent for a moment and finally agreed: "Approved. Draft the decree, Qi Zhenwu is exiled to Lingnan immediately, Qi Xianzun will resign from the position of Left Imperial Censor, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue Chen Lizun will be promoted to Left Imperial Censor."

Ning Emperor paused for a moment and then added: "Hu Junye is reassigned as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue."

The Renshou Palace was immediately filled with uproar; these few simple words turned the situation for several families into chaos.

The Chen family would not have let go of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue’s position, but now with the greater temptation of the Left Imperial Censor, how could they miss the opportunity to lead the Inspection Office?

Yet, in this way, the families are falling apart and mutually restraining each other, leaving them no time to stop Zhang Zhuo from implementing new policies.

Just as the officials were discussing fervently, Qi Xianzun supported Mr. Qi to stand up. Today, all they seek is to preserve the family name of the Qi family, and cannot manage much else.

However, at that moment, Chen Ji suddenly declared loudly: "Lord Qi Xianzun, having earlier overseen the Wind and Discipline Office, must be well versed in Ning Dynasty’s law. I wish to inquire, how should pawnshops charging nine percent interest per month be handled according to our dynasty’s law?"

Qi Xianzun stood in place, and the officials fell silent, looking at Chen Ji with strange expressions.

The emperor had already spoken, why does this young man persist further?

Without waiting for Qi Xianzun’s answer, Zhang Zhuo declared loudly: "Regarding this, perhaps Qi Fengxian is not as familiar as myself with Ning Dynasty’s law, in the household law, money debt section, any prohibited acquisition of profit, private lending, and pawning, monthly interest should not exceed three percent, no matter how long the term, only principal and one interest are allowed. Violators will receive forty strokes. Excess profit will be calculated as embezzled, severe cases judged by embezzlement, punishable by up to one hundred strokes."

The old pawnbroker’s body trembled.

Chen Ji asked loudly again: "In the 27th Year of Jianing, Li’s Pawnshop loaned usury to the commoner Wang Youde, totaling five taels of silver. This five taels of silver turned into one hundred and ten taels over three years. Wang Youde hung himself to death, his wife sold herself to the Li Family to pay the debt. How should such an act of forcing a good man to prostitute himself be handled by our dynasty’s law?"

Zhang Zhuo echoed: "According to Ning Dynasty’s criminal law, homicide section, any act of coercion leading to someone’s death will be punished with one hundred strokes. If officials or their envoys cause the death of civilians not due to official duties, the penalty is the same, additionally, ten taels of silver must be pursued for burial costs. If accompanied by beatings, imprisonment, or forcing wives and daughters to pay debts, execution by dismemberment will be implemented as a warning to others."

Chen Ji praised: "Execution by dismemberment, I have not yet seen it."

The old pawnbroker kneeled and wailed: "I am merely the clerk of Li’s Pawnshop, normally carrying out the landlord’s instructions. The event in the 27th Year of Jianing happened because landlord Li Bing fancied Wang Youde’s wife, thus designing his demise, it has nothing to do with me!"

Mr. Qi, upon hearing this, felt his chest filled with rushing blood.

Chen Ji cupped his hand toward the throne and said: "Your Majesty, I request the emperor to issue a decree to immediately raid Li’s Pawnshop, arrest the main perpetrator Li Bing and select a date for dismemberment. Moreover, ask the Spy Department to investigate all pawnshops across the Imperial Capital thoroughly, where any monthly interest exceeds three percent, light cases should be fined and illegal profit confiscated, severe cases should be raided and exiled, returning a clear and bright sky to the people of the Imperial Capital."

The officials, each with varied expressions, knew that to open a pawnshop and lend usury in the Imperial Capital, surely there were powerful backgrounds behind them, and those backgrounds, now all present in Renshou Palace?

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

Mr. Qi’s vision suddenly turned black, only regaining clarity after a moment, Li’s Pawnshop is gone, and the Imperial Capital’s best silver treasury is probably lost as well.

Qi Xianzun supported him, whispering: "Father, just endure today, preserving the Qi family’s reputation will suffice..."

Before the words were finished, Changxiu was seen rushing in from outside Renshou Palace, holding a stack of bamboo paper and entering the palace gates, coming beside the throne, whispering: "Your Majesty, this is today’s evening report."

The officials were startled, what did today’s evening report publish that made the other party disregard the palace’s discussion to deliver the newspaper into Renshou Palace?

They turned to look at Chen Ji, trying to discern something from his face.

But Chen Ji had his hands clasped inside his sleeves, his eyes flickering in the candlelight of Renshou Palace.