Free Web NovelChapter 377: Chapter 379: Exploitation
Xianfei specially summoned Prince Dongyang.
"Go to the Imperial Censor’s home yourself, right now. Since he is ill, pay him a visit and offer your apologies.
Just say that you were young and ignorant before and that you only said those unpleasant things in a moment of pique.
Ask him not to lower himself to your level."
Li Hao was very displeased to hear this.
"Why should I have to apologize to that old fool? I didn’t do anything wrong!"
Xianfei slammed her hand on the table and chided him sharply.
"What nonsense are you spouting? He is the Imperial Censor, the head of the officials, and also the grandfather of your future nanny.
You should respect him. How can you be so arrogant and rude?!"
In the past, Li Hao might have complied with his mother’s wishes, but things were different now.
After sitting on the Dragon Throne, his ego had become completely inflated.
Now, his status was the highest in all of Shangjing. Everyone should listen to him. He was the one to give orders, and there was no way he would take them from anyone else.
Li Hao stuck his neck out and retorted.
"Even if he is the head of the officials, he’s still just a subject.
If anyone should be apologizing, it’s him to me. I won’t lower myself to apologize to him."
With that, he flicked his sleeve and left, giving Xianfei no chance to speak again.
Watching her son’s departing figure, Xianfei was both furious and anxious, but there was nothing she could do.
...
When the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice found Prince Dongyang, he was sparring with someone at the Training Ground.
Li Hao had watched the spars for several days in a row, and his hands were itching for a fight. Today, he finally couldn’t resist and stepped into the ring himself.
The guards, afraid of injuring Prince Dongyang, all held back.
This resulted in Li Hao having the upper hand, winning several matches in a row, which felt immensely satisfying to him.
Because he was in a good mood, Li Hao even offered a smile when he saw the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice.
"What do you need from me?"
The Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice said respectfully.
"The Saint ordered me to investigate Zijuan’s case. After a careful investigation, I’ve recently found something amiss."
Li Hao took the teacup from a serving girl. He had to think for a moment before remembering who Zijuan was.
He paused mid-sip, the smile on his face gradually fading.
"Hasn’t that case already been solved? The Fourth Prince did it. What could possibly be amiss?"
The Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice noticed the change in Prince Dongyang’s attitude and felt very uneasy.
But he had a duty to perform, so the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice could only brace himself and continue.
"I’ve discovered that the traveling merchant was not actually Zijuan’s brother. He’s an impostor.
Zijuan’s family passed away many years ago.
Additionally, I had my men find the human trafficker who originally sold Zijuan.
What the human trafficker said differs greatly from the testimony of the brothel’s Madam.
I suspect there’s more to this case. It’s very likely someone deliberately set a trap to mislead us.
This case must be reinvestigated from the beginning."
When he finished, the expression on Li Hao’s face had turned quite ugly.
Li Hao asked coldly.
"I was the one who had my men find the traveling merchant and the brothel Madam.
Are you implying that I found two false witnesses to deliberately smear the Fourth Prince?"
The Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice quickly bowed his head. "I wouldn’t dare! That is not what I meant!"
Li Hao forcefully threw the teacup in his hand to the ground.
"Don’t give me that! Aren’t you just suspecting me?!"
The teacup hit the ground, shattering with a CRASH as tea splashed everywhere.
Everyone on the Training Ground was scared into a deathly silence.
The Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice hastily knelt and kowtowed, apologizing profusely.
Li Hao said, enunciating each word clearly.
"I found both of those witnesses, and I can tell you with certainty.
There is nothing wrong with their identities or their testimonies. You are the one who has been misled."
The Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice didn’t dare to refute him again and could only stammer, "Yes, yes, you are absolutely right."
Looking at the shattered porcelain on the ground, Li Hao had completely lost his good mood.
"I’m leaving."
With that, he walked away, his face devoid of expression.
Only after he was far away did the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice dare to stand up.
He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. ’Prince Dongyang’s temper is just as volatile as the rumors say,’ he thought. ’He flies off the handle at the slightest disagreement. It’s truly terrifying.’
The Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice walked back the way he came, planning to have someone deliver his investigation’s findings to the Emperor after he left the palace.
Although Prince Dongyang was currently the regent, the one who truly made the final decisions had always been the Emperor.
For instance, the memorials were actually sorted before they reached Prince Dongyang. The truly important ones were sent by express horse to Yuqing Mountain for the Emperor to handle personally.
Only the remaining memorials were sent to Prince Dongyang.
Of course, Prince Dongyang himself was unaware of this, and no one would explain it to him.
As the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice walked back, he mulled over how to report this matter to the Emperor.
Just then, the Fifth Prince, Li Yan, suddenly appeared and blocked his path.
The Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice was very surprised. "Fifth Prince, what are you doing here?"
Li Yan’s injuries had healed well, and he no longer needed a crutch.
As long as he walked slowly, his limp was barely noticeable, but if he quickened his pace, the limp would become very obvious.
Li Yan said, "I heard you’re still investigating Zijuan’s case. Have you found any new leads?"
The Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice asked in astonishment.
"How did you find out about this?"
Li Yan had "accidentally" overheard it from someone else.
After being taught so many lessons, Li Yan knew this "accident" was likely arranged by someone. Otherwise, it would be too much of a coincidence for him to be in that exact place at that exact time to hear a conversation relevant to him.
But none of that mattered.
What Li Yan cared about most right now was who the true mastermind behind Zijuan was.
As long as he could get the answer, he didn’t care if he was being used or plotted against.
The Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice knew in his heart that, given the Fifth Prince’s demeanor, he wouldn’t give up until he had an answer.
Besides, Zijuan’s case wasn’t a secret, so there was no harm in telling him.
So, the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice revealed the results of his investigation.
"This is all I’ve found so far. Although I can’t yet be certain who the true mastermind behind Zijuan was...
...based on the current clues, it’s highly likely the Fourth Prince was framed. Someone deliberately used him as a scapegoat."
Li Yan recalled the scene of him confronting Li Ying in the Ministry of Justice’s prison, and he suddenly felt like a fool.
Used time and time again.
And he’d been completely oblivious, even thinking he had found the truth.
The Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice noticed something was off about the Fifth Prince’s expression and quickly asked.
"Fifth Prince, are you alright?"
Li Yan gave a self-deprecating smile. "It’s nothing. Thank you for telling me this."
The Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice replied, "It’s a small matter. No need for thanks."
He watched the Fifth Prince turn and walk away, noticing that he took each step very slowly.
He guessed the Fifth Prince must be deliberately walking slower than usual to hide his limp. ’He’s a pitiful one, too,’ he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
