Wei Ning Becomes Minister of Punishments

At those words, Du Chengji shuddered as realization dawned on him.

"You heard everything that day!"

"That's right. Otherwise, why would I have taken the initiative to report your crimes to His Majesty? I don't have proof that you committed murder seven years ago, but I do have proof of your embezzlement. As long as I provided it, His Majesty promised not to kill me."

He was the one who had been tied up in the tower opposite the Du residence that day and made to watch Du Chengji put justice above family.

Because of what Di Qingyu had said that day, Zhu Juxuan had immediately advised Di Yunqian to use Du Yutao as a breakthrough. With the emperor's approval, he had deliberately spread word of Du Yutao's attempt to assassinate Di Qingyu, forcing Du Chengji to take action to abandon his son. That had given Zhu Wuyang the perfect chance to hold Du Yutao down and make him witness his father abandoning him.

They would let the dogs bite each other.

Du Yutao had thought his father would save him no matter what, but he had never expected him to be so heartless. In that case, he couldn't blame Du Yutao!

Du Chengji, who had never expected to be betrayed by the son he had always doted on, was so furious his eyes nearly split.

"You beast!"

Du Yutao ducked behind Zhu Wuyang and taunted him. "Father, when it comes to being a beast, I can't compare to you. That day, you taught me to turn black into white and claim I'd offended the sixth princess because I admired her. You said His Majesty wouldn't be able to hold me accountable if I did! You were also the one behind what happened seven years ago. To protect you, Her Majesty the empress dowager sent people to set fire to the Ministry of Punishments and burn all those case files!"

"And another thing! Our family's grain shops also rake in wealth for Her Majesty the empress dowager. When the sixth princess gave out free porridge during the Mid-Autumn Festival, you must have hated her for proposing it and blocking your path to riches, right? Otherwise, you wouldn't have told me to claim I'd behaved improperly because I admired her, hoping to use the chance to have an imperial princess marry down into our Du Family and bring glory to your house!"

At those words, many of those present silently lowered their eyes, not daring to look at the man seated in the hall. Du Chengji had even dared to set his sights on the sixth princess. The empress dowager really had nurtured his greed.

Seeing that just about everything that needed saying had been said, Zhu Wuyang, who had been protecting Du Yutao, promptly turned aside and left him exposed to Du Chengji.

"Ah, Young Master Zhu, save me!"

"I'll beat you to death, you unfilial beast!"

Du Chengji charged straight at him, biting and beating him. The two fought like wild beasts in the great hall, and Du Yutao's father bit a chunk clean off his ear.

It truly was a fine spectacle of dogs biting each other.

The group standing at a distance watched with mocking expressions.

Di Yunqian merely sat on his elevated seat, watching coldly. He had promised not to kill Du Yutao, but he had said nothing about protecting him. With someone as vicious as Du Chengji laying into him, Du Yutao would suffer for the rest of his life.

Only after Du Chengji had beaten him until he could no longer move, with a pool of blood on the floor, did the guards step forward to restrain him.

"Du Chengji, although there is no physical evidence of what happened seven years ago, there is witness testimony. Do you confess? Do you confess to the attack on Wei Ning and his family?"

At those words, Du Chengji, kneeling on the floor with disheveled hair and bloody fists, sneered. His words were slurred.

"Does Your Majesty still need evidence? Isn't it all a matter of a word from you?" He had finally understood: His Majesty meant to make an example of the Du Family.

By sheer accident, he really had taken the blame for the attack on the Wei Family.

Seeing that he had given up and would argue no further, Di Yunqian glanced impassively at the deputy minister of the Court of Judicial Review below.

"You all heard him. He has confessed. Throw him into prison at once; the date of his execution will be decided later. Draft an announcement tomorrow so the people know the truth. Have men search and confiscate the Du Family's property tomorrow. Imprison every one of them."

The truth-naturally, the truth would be backed by both witness testimony and physical evidence, not only for the embezzlement but also for what had happened seven years ago, so as to quell the rumors of a heavenly calamity and steady the people's hearts.

That was what Di Qingyu had meant when she said, "Whatever Heaven says is true or false is what's true or false." If the emperor said there was evidence, who would question it?

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Afterward, Du Chengji was led away, while the gravely wounded Du Yutao was thrown out of the palace to fend for himself. From that day on, the residence of Du, Minister of Punishments, was no more in Xiling Royal City.

Once the two had been dealt with, Di Yunqian looked at the others.

"With Du Chengji's death, the position of minister of punishments will be vacant. Tell me, who at court is fit for it?"

At that, Zhu Wuyang made himself scarce.

Neither Zhu Juxuan nor the deputy minister of the Court of Judicial Review spoke. Neither of them should say anything on the matter.

Gao Qian, whose temples were streaked with gray, silently glanced at Wei Ning and spoke frankly.

"If Your Majesty wishes us to recommend someone, this minister believes Lord Wei Ning is the right choice. He has served as vice minister of punishments for many years, always faithfully carrying out his duties and handling cases for the people. Had a villain not interfered halfway through this matter, he would likely have been promoted to the position."

His son Gao Shen had a different view. "This minister believes Lord Xu Songyan is suitable."

He merely made his recommendation, without elaborating on his reasons.

Empress Zhang's elder brother, Zhang Lingshen, remained silent for two seconds before finally speaking.

"This minister recommends Wei Ning."

He too only named his candidate and said nothing more.

Hearing this, Di Yunqian frowned slightly and remained silent, his gaze lowered so that no one could see the expression in his eyes. The great hall fell quiet as well.

"Zhu Juxuan, what about you?"

Called upon, Zhu Juxuan could no longer pretend to be dead. He simply chuckled. "Whoever Your Majesty considers suitable is the one this minister recommends."

"You certainly know how to avoid the question," Di Yunqian said with a laugh.

Silence fell again as they pondered, and none of them spoke further. Then Di Yunqian lowered his head, waved his sleeve, and gave an order.

"Li Peian, pass down my decree. Wei Ning has faithfully performed his duties and worked tirelessly on the case from seven years ago ever since. Now that the criminal has been brought to justice, his contribution cannot be overlooked. He is to be promoted to minister of punishments as of tomorrow."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The decree stirred different thoughts among those in the hall, but none showed anything on their faces.

"Enough. It's late at night. Go back and rest. Whatever else there is can wait until tomorrow's morning court."

Di Yunqian turned the thumb ring on his hand and issued the order in a deep voice.

"Yes, Your Majesty. We take our leave."

"Master, aren't you waiting for news?"

In Yaohua Hall, Di Qingyu, freshly bathed, walked barefoot across the snow-white carpet to the bed, ready to retire.

"What is there to wait for? Once tomorrow's morning court is over, everything will become clear. The game is almost over, so why worry about the result?" She had no way to plant an informant in Xuanzheng Hall. If one were discovered, it would be a capital crime!

Chunzhi was puzzled. "Master, didn't you want Du Chengji dead?"

Di Qingyu's crimson lips curved slightly. "What does it matter to me whether he lives or dies? What I want is to use him as a chess piece, the key to helping me move this game forward."

Du Chengji was merely her opening move, not her objective.

Chunzhi didn't understand, but she knew better than to ask further. "Yes, Master. I'll help you prepare for bed."

Di Qingyu sat down sideways, and Chunzhi immediately took a dry towel and dried her long hair. Di Qingyu slept extremely well that night.