The Empress pondered for a moment and understood Chu Chen's intention, giving him a look of admiration.
She then turned to Princess Xinyue and asked, "Xinyue, you've been reading a lot of books lately and have made progress. I shall test you. Do you know why Chu Chen advised me to do this?"
Princess Xinyue was stunned, not expecting the Empress to test her.
After a difficult analysis in her mind, she said with some uncertainty, "Mother, Chu Chen's advice... is it because arresting Zhang Guojin would implicate too many court officials, leaving no one useful in the end?"
"Good. Your recent studies were not in vain. It shows you've been paying attention, Xinyue," the Empress nodded with satisfaction. She then asked with interest, "Do you know the deeper meaning?"
"Hmm~ Let me think."
Is there? Is there a deeper meaning? Damn it, why can't I think of it? Or is the gap in intelligence between me and that scoundrel Chu Chen so vast?
Why is this guy so smart, yet still gives advice in riddles? Why not just say it all at once? Princess Xinyue pondered with distress, casting a sidelong glance at Chu Chen, which amused him.
After a moment, Princess Xinyue said, "Mother, I truly cannot think of it."
"Experience, their experience in handling state affairs, and to demonstrate my magnanimity and willingness to employ talent," the Empress said, shaking her head slightly as she revealed the answer.
"Although most of these court officials were corrupted during Chen Yuanliang's tenure as Prime Minister, they have all been in politics for over a decade. If these officials were implicated now, even if replacements could be found, the court would grind to a halt due to their lack of experience."
"Secondly, their wrongdoings committed because of Chen Yuanliang, and with everyone being wrong and Chen Yuanliang's downfall, I am willing to show leniency and employ them during a time of need. Naturally, I should not hold grudges but rather admonish them and continue to use them. Perhaps some of them will repent."
"If they do not change, it matters not. If they err again, it will not be because I lacked the willingness to employ talent. By then, when talents emerge from the imperial examinations, I will deal with them, and no one in the world will have anything to say."
"Do you understand?"
"Your humble daughter understands," Princess Xinyue nodded blankly, somewhat surprised that such a simple matter held so many implications.
"Chu Chen."
"Your servant is here!"
The Empress said calmly, "With my decree, hand Zhang Guojin over to the Court of Diplomatic Relations for record. All his family members are to be imprisoned."
"Understood!"
"Xinyue, you haven't been out of the palace much lately. This time, you will learn from Chu Chen."
"Hehe, I know, Mother!" Princess Xinyue happily left with Chu Chen.
With the Empress's decree, Chu Chen first returned to the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) office to retrieve Zhang Guojin.
"Prime Minister Chu! You must save me! I don't want to die!" Zhang Guojin, upon seeing Chu Chen, was in tears and knelt at Chu Chen's feet, clutching his leg and crying.
"Lord Zhang, when you opposed me before, I warned you. But you didn't listen and have fallen to this state. I can do nothing," Chu Chen said, shaking his leg, not wanting to be held by a grown man.
But Zhang Guojin refused to let go! A frail civil official, he clung on, refusing to release his grip. Chu Chen feared he might accidentally kick the man to death, so he reluctantly allowed him to hold on.
"Prime Minister Chu, I was wrong, I was truly wrong! I will never oppose you again. I beg you to be magnanimous and let me go like a fart!" Zhang Guojin's old face was streaked with tears that flowed to his lips, showing he was genuinely crying and deeply distressed. To save his life, this man in his fifties, disregarding his dignity, clung to the leg of a young man in his twenties, calling him "you old one" as he begged for mercy.
Chu Chen sighed inwardly, thinking, "If you knew this day would come, why did you act like that in the first place?" On his face, however, he said, "Alright, Lord Zhang, rise. I am here to take you home."
"I was wrong, wait, Prime Minister Chu, did you say you're taking me home?" Zhang Guojin, about to continue his apologies and pleas, paused and looked at Chu Chen in disbelief. Chu Chen nodded.
The ease with which he agreed made Zhang Guojin uneasy, thinking Chu Chen intended to quietly kill him. But then he considered that his crimes had not yet been judged, so Chu Chen shouldn't kill him. Yet, remembering Chu Chen's usual methods, he couldn't apply his previous understanding and felt uncertain. His dim eyes darted around. With a fawning smile, like a Peking Opera mask change, he said, "Thank you, Prime Minister Chu, thank you, Prime Minister Chu. I will surely thank you properly later and present a generous gift!"
Chu Chen said nothing more, directly pulling him up and leading him out by the hand. Stepping out of the Jinyiwei office and onto the street, Zhang Guojin realized Princess Xinyue was waiting outside. He was shocked by Chu Chen's audacity, thinking, "Princess Xinyue is right here, and Prime Minister Chu is still protecting me? His courage is truly admirable."
Princess Xinyue glared at Zhang Guojin with annoyance, snorted, and turned her head away, disdaining to look at this degenerate parasite lest her eyes be soiled. She couldn't quite understand why Chu Chen was taking him back to the Zhang mansion instead of directly ordering him to be transferred to the death row prison to await trial by the Grand Court of Revision. Fortunately, Princess Xinyue had seen too many of Chu Chen's incomprehensible actions and asked no further questions, following silently.
They returned to the Zhang mansion with Zhang Guojin and met his wife, the noble lady. Seeing her husband return unharmed, the noble lady burst into tears. The couple embraced and wept bitterly. After a while, their emotions calmed down. At this point, the noble lady remembered how she was supposed to thank her husband for his return. However, she was unsure if the Prime Minister Chu before her expected her to offer herself as repayment.
"My dear, what's wrong?"
"No, nothing," the noble lady shook her head, not revealing her inner thoughts to Zhang Guojin.
"Prime Minister Chu, I truly don't know how to thank you." Zhang Guojin glanced at Princess Xinyue, took Chu Chen's hand, and whispered.
Chu Chen's expression was impassive. He asked, "Have you seen your wife, children, and elders?"
"Huh? Seen, seen them? Prime Minister Chu, what's wrong?" Zhang Guojin felt a bit panicked by Chu Chen's expression, and the noble lady beside him was also uneasy.
Chu Chen took out the Empress's decree and read it aloud. It stated that Zhang Guojin was guilty, and his entire family was to be imprisoned in the death row to await sentencing.
After the decree was read, Zhang Guojin cried out in disbelief and shock, "No, Prime Minister Chu, didn't you promise to let me go home? Why?!"
"Presumptuous! When did I ever promise that? I only promised your wife that you could go home to reunite with your family, and that's all!" Chu Chen rebuked coldly, then waved his hand. The Jinyiwei behind him skillfully stepped forward, bound them, and stuffed their mouths to prevent them from speaking. They were then taken away, muffled and wailing.