"Cough, cough..."
Inside the magnificent Bright Hall, Emperor Xiping, Zhao Shu, a radiant middle-aged man who had grown stout, choked on a mouthful of tea.
He waved away Liu Zhen, the chief eunuch who had hurried forward to wipe up the tea, and struggled to suppress his laughter. "What did you just say? Working in a cangue?"
Bowing below the dais, Shen Fa stammered softly, "Y-your Majesty... that is indeed the case."
Emperor Xiping slapped his armrest. He did not strike hard, but the veins bulging on the back of his hand revealed... how desperately he was struggling not to laugh.
"Zhonghe."
His voice was soft, almost wistful. "You've cultivated quite a talent for me!"
His tone was warm, as though he were chatting with a friend.
Yet Shen Fa's heart gave a sudden jolt, and he hastily replied, "I am humbled and afraid, your Majesty!"
Emperor Xiping chided him with a chuckle. "I'm praising you. What are you afraid of?"
Shen Fa hastily answered, "I am slow-witted and misconstrued your Majesty's intentions. Please forgive me."
He seemed to tremble with fear and unease.
Emperor Xiping merely smiled, unperturbed, and asked gently, "Tell me, does Yang Ge have sufficient evidence against the officials he arrested in Yangzhou Prefecture?"
Shen Fa's thoughts raced as he answered cautiously, "Your Majesty, according to the statement Yang Ge sent back, the Yangzhou corruption and bribery case has both witnesses and material evidence. Quite a few of the accused officials have already confessed and affixed their signatures. There should be no mistake."
His feelings now were exactly the same as Fang Ke's had been when facing him earlier.
He wanted to excuse Yang Ge, yet dared not openly speak in his favor, nor make any absolute assurances...
Emperor Xiping nodded with a smile and said