In the grand hall, everyone turned their gaze toward Li Qingmu.
Opening an iron mine privately is no small matter; if mishandled, it might lead to a major case, perhaps even resulting in a massacre.
Chen Fang’en, both angry and fearful, wondered what Wang Ren had done. Although he wasn’t clear, he suspected dereliction of duty.
"Mr. Chen, don’t be anxious. Listen to him finish his statent first; otherwise, you might end up confessing inadvertently."
Chen Fang’en’s rival, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Liang Wenyuan, sneered.
These two, one serving the Third Prince, the other the Crown Prince, both eager to see each other fall. Though the Crown Prince’s side didn’t like Li Qingmu either, using him against the Third Prince was beneficial.
Chen Fang’en’s face turned ashen, he snorted coldly and retreated.
"Imperial Censor Li, please continue!"
"Thank you, Mr. Liang!"
Li Qingmu bowed slightly to Liang Wenyuan and handed over the morial.
"Emperor, I inadvertently heard the Wang Family stationed people at Bai E Mountain, so my wife and I went to investigate under the guise of spring outing..."
Li Qingmu began recounting the details of the whole incident.
"...There were over fifty craftsn in the cave, but the perpetrators cruelly blew up the exit, trapping us inside. Falling rocks from the cave killed more than ten craftsn. I protected my wife, sustaining multiple injuries on my head and body! I apologize for my offense!"
Li Qingmu spoke while rolling up his sleeves, revealing bruises all over his arm, so bandaged and slightly bleeding.
"This...this is simply inhumane!"
An elderly man in his fifties slowly stepped out from the ranks, pointing at Li Qingmu’s arm with grief, then asked the Emperor, "Emperor, please imdiately investigate this matter. If true, severe punishnt must be ted out!"
It was Vice Minister Cui Yuanhe who stepped out.
This man’s character was upright and intolerant of evil, fair in his dealings, and considered the most honest among many ministers, but his temper was quite foul, stubborn, often contradicting the Emperor. Although such matters were of principle, rubbing the Emperor the wrong way...no matter his experience, he was only a Vice Minister, and the most junior one at that.
Yes, this Emperor was that petty!
Cui Yuanhe was older now; he didn’t often step out to express opinions on minor matters. But seeing Li Qingmu in such a sorry state, bandaged head, he thought of the more than ten craftsn trapped or killed, and he was enraged.
That’s more than ten lives!
They were ministers; the Emperor sat above, controlling the whole country. If lives weren’t valued, it would be known externally as tyranny!
Cui Yuanhe’s response marginally pleased Qi Yun, who waved his hand, and a little eunuch imdiately ran out, presumably to investigate.
"Then what happened next? How did you escape?"
Qi Yun found the young man intriguing, so he curiously asked.
"It was a stroke of luck; the craftsn familiar with the terrain led us to a place with an underground river. However, the entrance was sealed off, intending to cut off our exit. But all united efforts pried open the stone blocking the cave entrance bit by bit..."
Li Qingmu spoke lightly, but everyone knew it was hardly easy.
To pry open those rocks one by one...
The grand hall fell silent, even Chen Fang’en, who previously clamored to take on Li Qingmu, closed his mouth and sheepishly returned to the ranks.
After a long pause, Qi Yun slowly said, "Mr. Li barely escaped death, only to thoroughly investigate this matter. I shall rember this! However...have you discovered where they are transporting the iron ore?"
"To respond to the Emperor, I have investigated everything, and even had General Cao’s n watch over it. This was done on my initiative; please penalize , Your Majesty!"
Utilizing personnel from the General Mansion, though they were guards, Li Qingmu still asked the Emperor’s forgiveness, showing his stance—Your Majesty, I harbor no rebellious intent, it was an ergency action. If you bear a grudge, feel free to punish !
Yet, these were minor matters—calling a few guards wasn’t significant. Qi Yun waved his hand.
At this point, a man in black drifted in like a breeze, silent and ghostly.
Li Qingmu jumped instinctively but quickly composed himself, realizing so officials nearby appeared uneasy.
Could this be...
A thought arose in Li Qingmu’s mind—this was the Emperor’s intelligence agency, Yulong Pavilion?
Was this a man from Yulong Pavilion?
"Your Majesty, the matter is confird!"
The shadow handed over a letter and disappeared again.
Silent throughout, he only spoke those words to Qi Yun, ignoring the court officials entirely.
Quite audacious!
Li Qingmu bowed his head, ntally branding Yulong Pavilion.
Qi Yun opened the letter in hand, gradually his gaze chilled.
"Hmph!"
He snorted angrily and tossed the letter onto the grand hall.
"Chen Fang’en, look at the ss your subordinate has created!"
"I...I..."
Chen Fang’en was thoroughly shaken, trembling as he picked up the letter from the ground, then knelt, banging his head remorsefully: "Emperor, I am...inept at supervision! I am guilty!"
Qi Yun’s manner was simple—if you argued, he’d deal with you harshly. So if there’s fault, admit it promptly; otherwise, there’d be bitter consequences.
Qi Yun’s gaze turned cold as he sternly commanded, "Go ho and reflect; thoroughly investigate those officials under you. I don’t want to see another Wang Ren!"
These words were harsh, but it was lenient. Chen Fang’en hurriedly kowtowed in gratitude.
"Additionally, Wang Ren opened the mine illegally, deserving death. Guards, head to Wang Ren’s house imdiately, confiscate his properties, and execute him at the ridian Gate to make an example!"
Those words stirred the assembled court slightly.
Typically, such matters required trial by the Three Departnts, as opening a mine might involve treason. Yet the Emperor directly ordered execution?
People’s minds were subtly stirred, realizing the Emperor was protecting the Third Prince.
This matter ends here; further investigation might reveal a larger conspiracy, uncontrollable.
The Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Liang Wenyuan, considered requesting a review, but upon exchanging glances with colleagues, decided against it.
Though only Wang Ren, Minister of the Ministry of Justice, was unfortunate, Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice, one of theirs, was also punished.
It’s wise to stop when the situation favors you!
After this incident, the Third Prince’s standing with the Emperor would likely diminish, coupled with previous rumors from the harem...
Oh, so this was the couple’s handiwork?
Liang Wenyuan hadn’t thought much of Li Qingmu, but now felt he could recomnd him to the Crown Prince and bring him into the fold.
Underneath the court, many engaged in similar thoughts, when Pang Wenzheng stepped up.
Holding the ceremonial tablet, with a solemn expression, unwavering gaze, yet his words dripped with sarcasm: "Imperial Censor Li, you are indeed remarkable!"
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