strictlysupreme Chapter 243 The Marquis Has No Clever Heart 20
Chapter 243 The Marquis Has No Clever Heart 20
"I can save your lives, but... you know what to do, right?"
"I know."
Without any further explanation, the group immediately began to memorize the text, and the only sound in the interrogation room was their silent recitation.
The gentleman sat opposite Wen Yan, picked up one or two pieces of paper to look at, and became more and more horrified as he looked at them: "Scum, scoundrel, worse than an animal."
After calming down, I realized it wasn't a good idea.
"Yuanjun, is what's written in this letter true?"
"Really." That was a confession outline she had written after thoroughly studying the plot and staying up all night. It couldn't be more real, and it was incredibly detailed, down to the smallest detail, like recording even the bad things she said about the emperor.
Coincidentally, Wang Feng happened to be reciting this passage.
"In the tenth month of the Yuan calendar, the eldest prince failed to collect agricultural taxes. The emperor reprimanded him for his poor performance. He then returned to his residence and flew into a rage, cursing the emperor as an old bastard thirty-two times."
Wang Feng: ...You can memorize this too?
After leaving a few people to guard the treacherous individuals, Wen Yan and Mr. Wen returned home to discuss their next steps.
"Does the Yuanjun intend to bring down the eldest prince in one fell swoop?"
"We do have that plan, but there's no rush. Let's first clear out his underlings and make him panic for a few days. The more clues he reveals, the easier it will be to find him."
On his fifth day after being promoted, Wen Yan uncovered five serious corruption cases and one murder case.
The eldest prince's faction has four members, while the other princes each have one.
The henchmen were seething with hatred, their eyes fixed on Wen Yan like hyenas, wishing they could tear a piece of flesh from him, especially the eldest prince.
Although those who were removed from their posts were not trusted ministers, the loss of many low-ranking soldiers and officers was enough to cause heart attacks, and Wen Yan was the only one who could be dealt with.
Assassinations came wave after wave, and they were all dead.
Those were people he had carefully cultivated, yet they weren't even enough for Liang Jinglan to warm up. Killing them was as easy as chopping melons.
The eldest prince was so angry that he cursed, "You, the dignified Marquis of Zhenbei, have just returned to the capital. Instead of going out to check on things, what kind of person are you, following Wen Yan around like a shadow every day!"
Does it lower its value?
The eldest prince went to court before dawn every day, hoping to hear the news of the two dying outside, but he never expected to see their increasingly rosy faces every time.
I almost threw up.
She even greeted him; how could she be so shameless?
The eldest prince was so angry that he had to pinch his philtrum for a while to prevent himself from fainting.
On another day, Wen Yan, as usual, flipped through the case files, reported the latest developments, and named so-and-so who had done what dirty deeds.
The eldest prince scoffed inwardly, "You think you can bring me down?"
Just as I was preparing to lose a young general, I heard Wen Yan say, "I must report someone for embezzling military funds, buying and selling children, and colluding with the Xiongnu."
He was startled, and his heart skipped a beat.
I thought it was just some trivial murder case involving lowly people, but it turns out to be a case that concerns the entire country.
Hearing that they were colluding with the Xiongnu, he knew something was wrong.
Before he could speak, Wen Yan beat him to it.
Her face flushed red with anger, and her thin body trembled with rage: "That person is the First Prince. This is physical evidence, a real list of witnesses. The people are outside, and His Majesty can summon them at any time."
"Injustice!"
The eldest prince's legs trembled, and he slid to his knees, the bones cracking as he hurriedly explained:
"Your subject is a prince of Liu, how could I be so foolish as to harm the people of Liu? Moreover, the accusation that he colluded with the Xiongnu is utterly baseless!"
The incident happened suddenly, and the eldest prince was clearly unprepared. He spoke incoherently, but he shouted the word "wronged" loudly.
Damn it, he did have contact with the Xiongnu, but it was only once, and only two trusted confidants knew about it. How did that bitch Wen Yan find out?
There are both physical evidence and witness testimonies.
I bother!
I don't have any!
"The evidence presented by the Wen Research Institute is absolutely problematic! I implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"
His head slammed heavily against the cold stone floor, his forehead skin breaking into a congealed red patch, with blood dripping onto the floor.
The emperor coldly examined the evidence, while the eldest prince knelt below. The officials acted like quails, with only a few following the eldest prince in pleading for justice.
calm down.
After so much infighting in the court, the panic was only temporary. Once his mind calmed down a bit, the eldest prince immediately started looking for loopholes in the evidence.
The eyeballs were stuck to it, spinning like marbles.
A few breaths felt like centuries, then he suddenly stopped…
He actually found it.
“Father, the time is wrong, and the items are wrong too. On the twelfth, I was investigating a case in the capital. I have Minister Liu as a witness, and the date is definitely different from the date on the letter!”
After finishing his speech, he looked at Wen Yan with a smug expression.
Wen Yan:……
Why did you have to choose this of all things? Don't blame me then.
She said calmly, "Who knows if you're lying? What if you write a fake date?"
"How can the date and signature on a communication be falsified!"
Wen Yan looked at him like he was a three-year-old: "You can frame someone for murder, but changing the date on a letter is just a matter of a few strokes of the pen."
The eldest prince was speechless.
He looked at the emperor, not at Wen Yan: “Father, there is also this item. This jade pendant does not belong to me, but to the fourth prince. The jade pendant I usually wear at my waist is bluish-white and engraved with green bamboo patterns.”
He thought he had found the key point and was smug. He glared at Wen Yan, only to see Wen Yan flip through the evidence at the back and point to the jade pendant, saying, "So, this jade pendant does indeed belong to the First Prince?"
The eldest prince looked at the jade pendant; it was bluish-white with bamboo patterns, and it was indeed his, but this was also evidence.
He gritted his teeth and decided to give up.
Even the most serious offense is treason; it's just evidence of embezzling military funds. They can simply admit to embezzling a little bit later.
After weighing the pros and cons, he readily agreed, saying, "It is mine, but I lost it a long time ago. I fear that a thief took it to frame me."
The words "framed" were uttered through gritted teeth, as if afraid of not knowing who they were referring to.
"But this embezzled military funds were found in the hands of the Xiongnu, weren't they?"
Buzz!
The sound of tinnitus.
The eldest prince felt as if he had been instantly pierced through, and stiffly turned around slowly: "Is...is that so?"
Liang Jinglan seized the opportunity to add insult to injury: "Yes, I found it in the Xiongnu's main camp when I raided them. I even have evidence."
The entire story was presented to the emperor.
The Crown Prince was incredulous. "Why didn't you bring the evidence sooner? Are you making a fool of me? Are you happy to see me begging and screaming here?"
Some officials who had been threatened by Wen Yan during the investigation also produced evidence, not daring to look at the Crown Prince's expression as he killed someone.
Some of them were even his subordinates.
Waaah, I'm so sorry, Master. The lives of my entire family, dozens of people, are beyond our power to fight back.
Most importantly, his most, most, most, most important prime minister actually betrayed him and came forward to testify.
God wants to kill him!
The emperor's eyes blazed with fury. After reviewing dozens of pieces of evidence and learning what his eldest son had done, he disregarded procedure, sent him to prison, and had him beheaded at the palace gate.
She was so angry that she closed her eyes and fainted.
The situation in the court was briefly out of control.
Some were supporting the emperor, some were calling for the imperial physician, some were cleaning up the blood, and some were arguing. It was a chaotic and lively scene.
Wen Yan is satisfied: Hmm, enemies -2, two left.
Thinking it over, he returned a smile to the Second Prince and the Third Prince.
The smile of death.
Oh, there are exactly two here!
The second and third princes both shivered.
With each position filled, and the two factions of the First Prince and the Fourth Prince losing, many positions in the court became vacant. After a few days of peace, the court became lively again as people vied for these positions.
The families fought tooth and nail, arguing whenever they met, arguing with superiors, arguing every day, every moment.
Either you gossip about his family, or he praises yours.
Even trivial matters are worth mentioning.
For example, which family has taken a beautiful concubine and indulges in nightly revelry.
"I believe that a subject should prioritize the country and its people, devoting himself to the cause until his dying breath. Unlike xxx, whose sexual affairs are known to everyone."
The person being mentioned blushed deeply. "You even pry into other people's sex lives, yet you haven't investigated many cases."
The man was about to retort.
The emperor sighed and rubbed his forehead, then scolded, "Alright, alright, stop arguing. I won't use any of your people."
He spoke slowly, his expression becoming kind and approachable: "Minister Wen, the selection of officials through the imperial examinations is now entrusted to you."
What the hell!
The sound of the sky collapsing.
The ministers turned around in disbelief.
We've been arguing until our saliva is dry, and you're telling me this was left to those who just watched and slack off?
They not only gained nothing, but also got themselves into trouble.
No!
“Your Majesty, Wen Silang is not from the imperial examination system. Selecting her would not only be difficult to convince the public, but the difference in systems is also a huge gap. I am afraid it is inappropriate.”
"That's easy, Minister Wen. Pack your things and head to the Ministry of Personnel."
The courtiers cried out in despair, "Your Majesty, that's not what we meant! We only asked you to replace someone, not to promote you!"
Their eyes, like hungry wolves eyeing meat, fell on Wen Yan; they were envious!
Wen Yan remained calm, expressed his gratitude, and that same day packed up all his belongings and moved them all to the Ministry of Personnel in one go.