Pressure

"This is outrageous!"

Zhang Xuezhou had the authority of a "Censor-in-Chief" and could directly enter the palace, while Zheng Dangshi could only apply to enter the palace.

When he arrived at the main hall of the Weiyang Palace, Zhang Xuezhou was already standing obediently below the hall.

Several sets of porcelain were smashed on the ground, their fragments scattered everywhere. A bronze wine pot rolled a long way, and bamboo slips and documents were scattered all over the ground.

It's clear that everything that could be thrown away has been thrown away from the table in the main hall of the Weiyang Palace.

"Minister Zheng, tell me how despicable these thieves are! As long as my sword isn't kept in the palace, they can steal it immediately. What in this world wouldn't they dare to do? If I were to step out of the palace, wouldn't they take my head?"

The emperor in the main hall of the Weiyang Palace is throwing a tantrum.

Zheng, who had already resigned himself to a hopeless situation, felt as if he had been stabbed in the heart once again.

This is no longer simply about the Red Empyrean Sword, nor is it just about high-ranking officials and imperial relatives who might be investigated. The new emperor has also gotten involved.

If no explanation can be given, this may be far more serious than just a demotion.

Zheng felt sweat instantly pour down his forehead.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. That scoundrel is nothing but a petty thief; he has absolutely no power to attack Your Majesty," Zheng Dangshi replied with a half-bow.

"Does Minister Zheng mean that if I were weaker, they could kill me at will?" the new emperor asked solemnly.

"Your Majesty, that's impossible," Zheng Dangshi said.

"Zheng Qing seems capable of guaranteeing this," the new emperor said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "It seems my safety rests in Zheng Qing's hands. If I had discovered Zheng Qing's talent sooner, why would I have to hide in this Weiyang Palace every day!"

"His Majesty..."

Zheng kept his head down at the time.

He had met the new emperor before, but at that time the new emperor was quite reserved in front of the Empress Dowager and treated the officials almost as if they were just going through the motions, so he didn't have any deep memories of him.

At this moment, Zheng Dangshi felt mortally pressured.

Almost every word he uttered treaded on the edge of death; many things were neither permissible to do nor permissible to do.

When the questioning reached this point, Zheng only had one response that could temporarily put an end to it.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty will do everything in your power to find out the origin of these villains and restore peace to Chang'an City," Zheng Dangshi said through gritted teeth.

"See, I told you Zheng Qing is quite capable," the new emperor said. "If he says he can find the sword, then he definitely can!"

"Your Majesty Sagacity!"

Before Zheng could explain, Zhang Xuezhou, who was standing to the side, shouted, as if he had been absolved of all responsibility, and many things were now attributed to Zheng.

Zheng was not an unsophisticated person; he felt things shouldn't be this way.

But the process took him completely by surprise.

Even after he had been thinking outside Zhang Xuezhou's residence for a long time, he had not anticipated that the situation would be this bad.

What if we can't find that sword?

"Chop off heads, chop off suspects one by one, until someone is willing to hand over the sword. That sword must never fall into the hands of petty thieves!"

"Your Majesty Sagacity!"

The voices echoing the sentiments acted as if nothing had happened, and Zheng really wanted to jump up and knock them on the head.

Why is it that Zhang Xuezhou is the one who lost the sword, while someone else is responsible for investigating and beheading him?

Normally, the first person who should be beheaded in this kind of situation would be that reckless Dongfang Shuo.

Hearing the other party repeatedly praising his Sagacity, Zheng felt that the new emperor had been completely brainwashed by this young advisor.

Of course, he had to admit that the new emperor's close advisors did not hold high official positions, but their relationships were indeed much stronger than those of other officials. Even such a major matter was suppressed, and the blame was shifted onto others.

Zheng stood solemnly below the hall until the new emperor drove people away, at which point he slowly withdrew until he stepped out of the Weiyang Palace.

"My dear minister Dongfang..."

The voice of the new emperor speaking kindly to Zhang Xuezhou could be heard, but was then shut out by the closed door.

"Well!"

Zheng sighed deeply and took heavy steps away, when he heard footsteps approaching.

With a quick glance, Zheng spotted Li Guang, the head of the Weiyang Palace guards, and Li Cai, who needed to be checked.

The two approached each other, and Zheng knew immediately that the other person had come to find him.

There are many minor matters happening in the capital, which is normal because people don't hear about them, but they will definitely know about important matters concerning themselves.

"Lord Zheng, it seems you've been ordered to investigate the theft of the Red Empyrean Sword," Li Guang stepped forward and said, "My cousin was injured in the battle at the border and has been recuperating all these years. He only wants to recover from his injuries and then serve the court; he has never had any other thoughts. Lord Zheng, please don't use my cousin as a cover when you investigate!"

"If Lord Zheng wishes to investigate my three acres of land, you will need to have the Imperial Guards accompany me one-on-one," Li Cai said. "I, Li Cai, am not afraid of being investigated, but I will not suffer the consequences of being falsely accused!"

Li Cai was awarded an official position based on his military merits and was very straightforward.

He indicated that Zheng could lead the many expert investigators from the Jingzhao Prefecture to investigate thoroughly, but he needed to be wary of anyone framing him.

Regardless of whether this disaster was caused by people from the Prefectural Governor's Office, or by other high-ranking officials or imperial relatives, he did not want to get involved.

"I understand what you two gentlemen mean. If verification is needed, Lord Li can arrange for personnel to do so. Our Jingzhao Prefecture will absolutely not touch your residence in the slightest," Zheng Dangshi said politely, cupping his hands in greeting.

"That's good!"

As long as the investigation is fair and transparent and malicious people are prevented from causing trouble, Li Cai doesn't care if his mansion is turned upside down. After all, he only realized the seriousness of the matter belatedly. He wasn't involved at all and doesn't want to be implicated in this affair.

When Jian Dan and Zheng met, Li Cai and the others only saw Zhuang Qingdi's figure appear in the distance.

This former Imperial Censor was equally astute. Although he was demoted and no longer included among the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, Zhuang Qingdi still held the status of a marquis, a powerful official position, and even retained the right to enter and leave the palace.

When the new emperor and the empress dowager were fighting, Zhuang Qingdi was just a nobody running around in the middle, not attracting anyone's attention at all.

This high-ranking official, who was forcibly promoted by the Empress Dowager, was truly capable, but lacked a strong enough backer. At this moment, he was also worried about being implicated and held accountable, so he hurriedly came to find Zheng Dangshi.

"Lord Zheng..."

Zhuang Qingdi's opening remarks were not much different from Li Cai's.

As long as the clues are investigated fairly, Zhuang Qingdi is not afraid of having his residence searched.

Of the four households adjacent to Zhang Xuezhou's residence, two have already expressed their support. Compared to Princess Dou and Marquis Pingyang, Li Cai and Zhuang Qingdi are easy targets.

The easy targets were dealt with flawlessly, not to mention the two tougher ones.

Zheng felt he was doomed. Everyone else had ways to protect themselves, but where could he find such a way?

"This Lord Dongfang resolved the major conflict between the Weiyang Palace and Changxin Palace in the Imperial Palace. It's not a big deal for him to use the Red Empyrean Sword for protection, so why doesn't he carry it with him...? That's right, his cultivation level isn't high enough. The Empress Dowager and others are wary of the Red Empyrean Sword, but others don't have such concerns. Perhaps Dongfang Shuo would be killed in Maoling within two days of taking the sword on his inspection tour, thus seizing the Red Empyrean Sword."

Zheng mentally made several complaints.

But when he moved to Zhang Xuezhou's place, Zheng realized that he seemed to have no choice but to keep the Red Empyrean Sword in the mansion.