“He is merely a merchant. Does Lord Bai intend to investigate his entire ancestral lineage?”
Before Bai Shizhong could speak, Cai You directly interjected.
“Scholar Cai, is this your understanding of hierarchy?”
“My lord, that is an unreasonable statement. When presenting arguments before the emperor, should one not express their opinions freely? How can this matter be related to hierarchy?”
“All of you, shut up!”
Seeing them arguing further and further off track, Zhao Ji, growing impatient, slammed the table.
“You claim these words were passed down in your family, and they bear a hidden seal. Do you know the whereabouts of this seal?”
After scolding Li Bangyan and Cai You, Zhao Ji turned his gaze back to the old man kneeling beside him.
“Replying to Your Majesty, if one scorches the lower left corner of these ancient paintings with a candle flame, the seal left by my ancestors will appear!”
“Guards, bring a candle!”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji immediately instructed a young eunuch beside him.
“Yes!”
Soon, a young eunuch carrying a candlestick and a candle approached and carefully placed it on the imperial desk before Zhao Ji. After lighting the candle, he quickly retreated to the side.
As Zhao Ji was about to retrieve the ancient paintings, he was directly refused by the eunuch.
“Let me do it myself!”
Although this action carried some risk, Zhao Ji himself was a master of calligraphy and painting, and naturally had some knowledge in such matters.
“Yes!”
Seeing Zhao Ji unfurl the painting of ladies with flowers, Bai Shizhong’s heart tightened.
He knew in his heart that if a seal truly appeared on this item, he would have a difficult time escaping unscathed today.
Li Bangyan’s attitude, however, was different. He was genuinely looking forward to it now.
As everyone’s gaze was fixed on Zhao Ji, Cai You subtly took a few steps back.
Though these were inconspicuous steps, they precisely positioned him in an unnoticeable corner of the hall. He silently made a gesture of request to Xin Zhuo.
Xin Zhuo, amidst the crowd, his pupils constricted. He looked at Cai You, then at Bai Shizhong, and immediately understood Cai You’s intention.
He instantly realized that Cai You was asking him to die in place of Bai Shizhong!
Xin Zhuo’s heart felt a pang of bitterness. If Bai Shizhong bore this charge, he might only be demoted to an external post. However, his own fate was uncertain.
Yet, he was not only Bai Shizhong’s confidant but also one of Cai You’s.
If he did not act, the position of Young Grand Secretariat, which Cai You had finally obtained, might be completely lost today.
Although his position as Director of the Bureau of Personnel was also very important, it was a far cry from being Minister of Personnel and Young Grand Secretariat.
“It’s here! It’s here!”
As Zhao Ji made his move, a deep crimson seal slowly emerged on the paper, which had initially appeared slightly yellowish.
“Half Mountain Hermit’s Appraisal…”
“My ancestor, in order to show his refined taste, gave himself a pen name, Half Mountain Hermit. The remaining paintings have the same seal in the same location.”
The old man opportunely added another sentence…
“Lord Bai, do you have anything more to say?”
Zhao Ji asked Bai Shizhong, looking at him indifferently.
“Your subject…”
Bai Shizhong was now filled with bitterness. At this moment, he was utterly unable to argue.
The item was taken from his study, bearing his own seal. Now, this seal appearing on the paintings, he couldn’t clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River.
“Where is Xin Zhuo?”
Seeing Bai Shizhong sweating profusely, Zhao Ji sneered, did not press further, and shifted his attention to Xin Zhuo beside him.
“Your humble servant is here!”
Matters of life and death were not that simple.
Even though Xin Zhuo knew he had to take the blame for Bai Shizhong today, he still needed some time to prepare himself mentally.
However, Zhao Ji did not grant him that time. He merely glanced at Bai Shizhong before focusing his attention entirely on him.
“I ask you, where is the transfer document for General Zhong’s official promotion that you handled today?”
As Zhao Ji spoke, he stood up and slowly walked towards Xin Zhuo.
“This…”
This time, even if Xin Zhuo wanted to step forward, he had no way to respond.
“Replying to Your Majesty, General Zhong’s transfer document is with this humble servant!”
Just as Xin Zhuo was at a loss for words, a disheveled runner, his face covered in soot, bravely stepped forward and produced a document from his sleeve!
“You!”
Seeing Old Man Liu, who was usually timid, Xin Zhuo was truly stunned for a moment.
He had personally watched this item being stuffed into the furnace, had even helped to mash the paper ash with his own hands before leaving.
How could this item possibly appear here now?
——————————————————
“This is the five hundred taels of gold your master promised you. Travel south continuously after leaving the city. Once you are out of the Bianliang prefecture, someone will meet you!”
“Thank you, young sir! Thank you, young sir!”
Shen Yicheng, after receiving the bundle, busily thanked the burly carriage driver.
Although he possessed the family skill of restoring ancient paintings, earning five hundred taels of gold in this era was akin to a fool’s dream.
Now, for merely restoring a document, he had received five hundred taels of gold. Such an opportunity was truly a godsend to him.
“Alright, you understand the gravity of this matter. Take the money, keep this a secret, and get as far away as you can. If this matter is leaked, you know the consequences!”
Hearing the carriage driver say this, although Shen Yicheng quickly pledged his loyalty, he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.
Since the other party had spoken like this, it meant they did not intend to take his entire family’s lives.
On the contrary, if they had said nothing and simply given him the money to leave, he would truly have reason to fear they would silence him.
“Alright, it’s getting late. Hurry and get on your way.”
“Thank you, young sir! Thank you, young sir!”
Only after watching Shen Yicheng board the carriage and disappear outside Bianliang city did the carriage driver turn towards the official road behind him.
“The person has been sent off?”
“Sent off!”
“Then let’s head back too! The matters in court should be nearing their conclusion soon!”
After receiving a positive answer, Yuan Xingchi stretched his back with a long sigh and leaned back against the soft cushion inside the carriage.
“Master, why didn’t you kill him?”