The Imperial Guards found twenty-three bodies in total within the Southern Prefecture. The lake in the backyard had frozen over, preventing underwater searches, so it was unknown if more bodies lay beneath the ice. However, the twenty-three bodies, arranged neatly on the ground, were shocking enough.
"My lord, we found no evidence to accuse the Chancellor of colluding with the enemy and selling out the country. We only discovered these twenty-three corpses."
The teams that had dispersed to search different parts of the Southern Prefecture reconvened in the backyard. Although they had discovered a secret chamber in the Chancellor's study, it was small and contained only daily necessities. While the simplicity of the items within gave them an unsettling feeling, they had indeed found no evidence in the chamber.
However, even if the Chancellor was not guilty of colluding with the enemy, the fact that his mansion had swallowed twenty-three lives like a demonic lair was enough to cause an uproar if it were to spread.
The Grand Judge of Dali Temple and the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice wore grim expressions. The discovery of so many bodies in the Southern Prefecture meant that, by law, Lady Liu should have been torn apart by chariots. They had previously thought that the Prince's accusations against Lady Liu were exaggerated; now, it seemed he had held back.
As for the Chancellor, his claim of ignorance was utter nonsense.
Was not Lady Liu's behavior so wicked precisely because of the Chancellor's protection and indulgence? If Lady Liu deserved to die, then the Chancellor deserved to be flogged!
"I request that the Vice Minister bring a team to remain and protect the people of the Southern Prefecture. I will now proceed to the palace to report the details to His Majesty!"
The Commander of the Imperial Guards cupped his hands towards the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. The Vice Minister naturally accepted the responsibility, stating that protection was essentially surveillance, to prevent the people of the Southern Prefecture from destroying evidence after they left.
The Grand Judge of Dali Temple and the Commander of the Imperial Guards led a detachment back to the imperial city.
...
The court officials were famished. Some of the weaker civil officials were seeing stars from hunger. Court sessions began quite early, and they always returned home to eat after the session. Although they were to impeach Ji Jinmo today, according to normal procedure, after His Majesty and the Prince engaged in a war of words, the morning court would conclude, regardless of whether they achieved their objective.
But who would have thought that a straightforward impeachment would turn into a search?
And the search was not of the Regent's mansion, but of the mansion of the 'victim' this time, Chancellor Nan!
The accuser had become the accused, the victim the villain. It was a complete 180-degree turn, nearly causing their old waists to twist.
Liu Wanjun, advanced in years and having recently been poisoned, could not withstand such a ordeal and was already unsteady on his feet.
Ji Hong, seated in his elevated position, saw this clearly. Let alone standing, the dragon throne beneath him, though appearing ornate and precious, was hard and cold, making him deeply uncomfortable.
He turned and said to the chief eunuch, "Go and fetch chairs for the Grand Secretary Liu and the esteemed elders and important officials!"
"Yes, this servant obeys!"
"Your subject thanks His Majesty for his benevolent grace!"
Liu Wanjun and the others knelt to express their gratitude, shouting "Long live His Majesty!" After the eunuchs placed chairs beside the elder officials, they quickly retreated.
Wang Langji supported Liu Wanjun's arm and helped him to sit down.
Regarding the military officials, Ji Hong glanced at them but paid them no mind.
The military commanders who had fought alongside his father on the battlefield were long gone from the court. Those standing in the court today were all people promoted by his uncle over the years. They were in good health and did not need to sit!
Silence, still silence.
"Oh, right, Chancellor, you may rise!"
Ji Hong spoke as if he had just remembered that Nan Chaoyin was still kneeling on the ground, gesturing for him to get up.
"Your subject thanks His Majesty!"
Nan Chaoyin placed his hands on the ground, attempting to stand. Having knelt for nearly an hour, his legs had long gone numb. Even with all his might, he struggled to get up. After several attempts, it was only when his left leg regained some sensation that he slowly managed to stand.
However, his body still trembled, unable to stand steadily.
At this moment, the eunuch announced that the Grand Judge of Dali Temple and the Commander of the Imperial Guards were seeking an audience outside.
"Announce them!"
"Announce the Grand Judge of Dali Temple and the Commander of the Imperial Guards to attend the audience!"
The eunuch's voice grew louder and louder. As one announcement finished, another followed, voices overlapping and echoing outside the Golden Chariot Hall, creating a grand and authoritative presence.
The Grand Judge of Dali Temple and the Commander of the Imperial Guards quickly entered the hall and knelt to pay their respects.
"Rise!"
After Ji Hong permitted them to stand, he eagerly inquired, "How was it?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, we found no evidence in the Chancellor's mansion to accuse the Chancellor of colluding with the enemy and selling out the country." The Grand Judge of Dali Temple and the Commander of the Imperial Guards exchanged glances. The Commander of the Imperial Guards stepped forward, answering Ji Hong's question.
"Good, good, good!"
Ji Hong uttered "good" three times, his tense nerves finally relaxing. The face that had not shown a hint of a smile was now graced with a smile of relief!
The court officials also breathed a sigh of relief. Although they did not believe the Chancellor would collude with the enemy and sell out the country, they could not help but feel a little worried. What if? Before there was a definitive answer, who could be certain that someone was truly innocent?
Nan Chaoyin's face finally showed some indignation, but he still said nothing.
"Your Majesty!"
The Commander of the Imperial Guards' words were interrupted by Ji Hong. Seeing His Majesty so joyful, his tongue felt a pang of bitterness. Your Majesty, you rejoice too soon; I haven't finished speaking yet!
Seeing the Commander of the Imperial Guards hesitate, Ji Hong paused slightly, his smile fading a little. "What, could it be that you discovered something else?"
The Commander of the Imperial Guards nodded and then shook his head. Ji Hong's brow furrowed, and as he was about to fly into a rage, the Commander of the Imperial Guards no longer hesitated and quickly said, "Your subordinates discovered twenty-three corpses in the Chancellor's mansion. Judging by the degree of decomposition, the time of death for the first victim and the last victim is approximately twenty years apart."
"How many did you say?" Ji Hong exclaimed in shock and anger.
The Commander of the Imperial Guards replied, "Twenty-three. Because it is currently deep winter and the water surface is frozen, I cannot confirm if there are more bodies under the lake in the Chancellor's backyard."
Upon hearing that the Imperial Guards had found twenty-three bodies in the Chancellor's mansion, the officials erupted in an uproar, with gasps of disbelief echoing one after another.
It wasn't one or two, but a total of twenty-three. Every household had some unsavory matters, and there were instances of maids being forced to death or servants beaten to death, but these were ultimately few. Even upright families would never resort to killing their household servants at the slightest provocation.
Twenty-three bodies, even spanning twenty years, was simply too many.
And these were only those that were found; how many were not? Could so many people have met their end at Lady Liu's hands?
Perhaps not!
The Chancellor had repeatedly claimed ignorance. If he truly knew nothing all these years, then he should have resigned on his own accord. If he didn't even know what was happening within his own household, then how could he be the leader of the officials?