Cui Ming hurried out of the Secretariat.
He walked straight out of the palace and headed to the South Court.
The South Court and the North Court were located on both sides of the palace. The North Court was mostly occupied by officials, while the South Court was occupied by nobles. The Royal Family, Dukes, Marquises, and Viscounts all lived in the South Court.
The Prince Consort's Residence and the Princess' Residence were also in the South Court.
Cui Ming did not go home, nor did he go to the Princess' Residence. Instead, he went to another high gate.
This was an extremely luxurious residence. Two stone lions were lying in front of the gate. They were huge and lifelike. When Cui Ming approached, the two stone lions turned their heads at the same time. Their eyes shone brightly.
Cui Ming snorted. The two stone lions trembled and turned their heads away, not daring to meet his gaze.
At this moment, the gate of the residence opened. A man who looked like a servant walked out. Before he arrived, his voice was heard. "Who dares to be so presumptuous in front of Prince Shou's Residence?"
Cui Ming looked at him coldly. When the man saw him, his expression changed instantly. "Prince Consort, is there anything I can help you with?"
Not many people in Fairy's Capital did not know the prince consort of Princess Yunyang. Not only did he have a high cultivation, but he also held a high position as the Assistant Minister of the Secretariat. He was one of the pillars of the old party. Although he was the butler of Prince Shou's Residence, he did not dare to slight him.
Cui Ming asked, "Is His Highness in the residence?"
The servant said, "His Highness is here. Prince Consort, please. I'll bring you to him."
With Cui Ming's status, he naturally could not let him wait here. He had already sent a message to the servants in the residence. Then, he brought Cui Ming into the residence.
In the back garden of Prince Shou's Residence, a fat man dressed in luxurious clothes was sitting on a chair, shaking his head.
He was not light, and his status in the imperial court was also very high.
This man was Prince Shou, a member of the Great Zhou's royal family. He was the half-brother of the late Emperor and also the Minister of Imperial Ancestral Temple.
In the garden, there was a stage set up. The performers of the Prince's Mansion were singing, "Deceiving the Emperor, defying the Emperor, breaking off marriage, a man is sent to bed, killing his wife and son, losing his conscience, forcing Han Qi to die in the court …" It was the most popular play in Luoyang recently, Chen Shimei.
While Prince Shou was listening to the performers' performance, the maid who was pouring tea couldn't help but be engrossed in the performance. She accidentally spilled the tea on the table.
A housekeeper saw this and said angrily, "How can you pour the tea like that?!"
The maid came back to her senses and bowed her head. When she saw the tea stains on the table, her little face turned white. She immediately kneeled on the ground and said in a panic, "Wangye, I'm sorry …"
King Shou waved his hand and said, "Stand to the side if you want to listen, don't disturb me …"
The maid heaved a sigh of relief. After wiping the tea stains off the table with her sleeve, she quickly retreated to the side.
When another housekeeper came in with Cui Ming, Prince Shou rubbed his round belly and said, "Why is Lord Cui free to come to my mansion today? Men, bring a chair for Lord Cui, let's watch the show together …"
"I have something important to discuss with Wangye," Cui Ming walked to the stage and looked at the performers and said, "You all can leave now."
The performers paused and looked at Prince Shou.
"Aiya, I'm just in the mood. That ungrateful Chen Shimei who abandoned his wife and son is about to be struck to death …" Prince Shou's face showed that he wanted to continue but he still waved his hand helplessly and said, "You all can leave now."
The performers in the garden hurriedly left. Cui Ming looked at the guards behind Prince Shou and said, "You all can leave as well."
The guards were hesitant. Prince Shou waved his hand again and said, "You all can leave now. Lord Cui is one of us."
The leader of the guards said, "I'm worried that there might be other changes."
Prince Shou said, "What changes can there be? With Lord Cui's cultivation, he can protect me. You all can leave now."
Only then did the guards leave.
After they left, Cui Ming formed a seal with his hands and threw out a few spiritual jades to set up a soundproof array formation.
Prince Shou was surprised, "What is it that made Lord Cui so cautious?"
After setting up the soundproof array formation, Cui Ming looked at Prince Shou and said, "I'm in a bit of trouble and I need your help."
Prince Shou looked around and said, "Since Lord Cui is so cautious, I'm afraid the trouble you're in isn't small, right?"
Cui Ming said, "Whether the trouble is big or small, it depends on the attitude of the Imperial Clan Temple. Do you know that there's a new deputy in the Imperial Clan Temple?"
Prince Shou was surprised, "There's such a thing?"
Cui Ming knew that with Prince Shou's status, it was impossible for him to go to the Imperial Clan Temple often. He explained, "The imperial court has restructured the Imperial Clan Temple. Since then, there are two Vice Ministers and two Deputy Ministers in the Imperial Clan Temple. The new Deputy Minister has brought me some trouble …"
Prince Shou asked, "What trouble can a mere Deputy Minister bring to Lord Cui?"
Cui Ming said, "Twenty years ago, when I was the county magistrate of Yangqiu County, I once punished a family that colluded with the Heretical Cultivation. In the end, the Deputy Minister of the Imperial Clan Temple came back and accused me of killing my wife and exterminating the family …"
"Wait, wait, wait …" Prince Shou was puzzled, "You punished a family that colluded with the Heretical Cultivation? Why did you accuse them of killing their wife and exterminating the family?"
Cui Ming's expression froze, then he said, "In that family, there was a woman who was once my fiancée. However, they colluded with the Heretical Cultivation, which was not allowed by the law of the country. Thus, I decided to kill them for the sake of justice. However, I didn't expect to be framed …"
"Why does this story sound so familiar …" Prince Shou scratched his head as if he remembered something, then he said, "I remember now. When the Jiujiang Prefectural Governor colluded with the Demon Sect, it was also Lord Cui who decided to kill his wife for the sake of justice … That's strange. Why does Lord Cui's father-in-law's family always do such things? If I didn't know that Lord Cui is a just and impartial person who doesn't even show mercy to his wife, I would have thought that the story of Chen Shimei was based on you …"
Cui Ming's expression was unnatural, "How is that possible …"
Prince Shou smiled, "I'm just saying. However, Chen Shimei's story is quite interesting. Lord Cui, you can watch it with me later."
"There's no need for that. I still have matters to attend to in the yamen." Cui Ming looked at Prince Shou and said, "This matter is related to my reputation. I'll leave it to you, Your Highness."
Prince Shou nodded and said, "It's my duty. Lord Cui is one of us. I can't let anything happen to you. I'll go to the Ancestral Temple now …"
Cui Ming cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Half an hour later, at the entrance of the Ancestral Temple.
A new steward at the entrance saw a fat man walking towards them from afar and asked, "Who is this fat man? How dare he walk around the palace so casually?"
"Are you blind? That's the head of the temple!" Another steward kicked his butt and ran over. He said flatteringly, "Head of the temple, what brings you here today?"
Prince Shou looked at him and asked, "I heard that there's a new head of the temple. What's his name and where is he now?"
The steward said, "He's in the yamen."
Prince Shou entered the Ancestral Temple and was led into a yamen by the steward. He looked at the person sitting in the yamen and asked, "You're Zhang Chun?"
Zhang Chun raised his head and asked, "Who are you?"
The steward quickly explained, "Lord Zhang, this is the head of the temple. He's also Prince Shou. Why aren't you greeting him?"
Zhang Chun stood up and cupped his hands, "Greetings, head of the temple."
Prince Shou went straight to the point, "You're the one who wants to sue Assistant Minister Cui. What is it? Do you have evidence?"
Zhang Chun said, "It's been more than twenty years. It's hard to get evidence. However, there's justice in this world. Cui Ming might be able to hide what he did from the world, but not from the heavens!"
Prince Shou frowned, "Did Assistant Minister Cui really commit the crime of killing his wife and exterminating his family?"
"Not just once." Zhang Chun said, "He was originally from Yangqiu County in the North Region. Not long after he was engaged to a woman from Yangqiu County, he got to know a woman from the local wealthy family. Before the marriage, the daughter of Jiujiang County's Prefectural Governor came to the North Region and he got to know the daughter of Jiujiang County's Prefectural Governor. For his own future, he killed the woman from the wealthy family and framed her. A few years later, Jiujiang County's Prefectural Governor colluded with the Demon Sect and it was Cui Ming who exposed it. Jiujiang County's Prefectural Governor was executed. I now suspect that Jiujiang County's Prefectural Governor was also framed by him. What Cui Ming is best at is killing his wife and framing others so that he could have a meteoric rise in his career …"
"He's worse than a beast! He's worse than a beast!" Prince Shou's face turned red and he couldn't help but curse, "Isn't a beast like him worse than Chen Shimei? He should be hacked into a thousand pieces and die a thousand times …"
After cursing, he was panting heavily and only then did he realize that the chief and Zhang Chun were looking at him in shock.
King Shou was stunned for a brief moment before he realized his position. Coughing lightly, he replied, "That's just your guess. I'm the son-in-law of the Lin Family, a Fourth Grade official. How can I allow myself to be framed by you?"
Zhang Chun said, "It's easy to determine if it's a framing. As long as a Level Seven expert interrogates him, the truth will be revealed."
Prince Shou glanced at him and asked, "Do you think Level Seven experts are as common as cabbages? There are only a few Level Seven experts in Fairy's Capital. Do you want to disturb the deans or trouble His Majesty to interrogate the Prince Consort and a Rank Four official for no reason? Where's the dignity of the imperial court? Where's the dignity of the imperial court?"
Zhang Chun said, "Are you protecting Cui Ming?"
Prince Shou said angrily, "How dare you doubt my fairness? You have no proof. If you want to accuse Assistant Minister Cui, then show me proof. Falsely accusing an official of the imperial court is a serious crime!"
Zhang Chun asked, "What if I have proof?"
Prince Shou's gaze turned and he scoffed, "I'll tell you the truth. No matter what crime Master Cui committed, the Imperial Clan Temple will protect him. You can give up."
Zhang Chun gritted his teeth and said, "Officials protect each other. Darkness. Your Imperial Clan Temple is f * cking dark!"
Prince Shou looked at him in disdain and said, "The Imperial Clan Temple belongs to Xiao, not Zhang. As long as you're here, you have to listen to me. Unless you have the guts to go to the imperial court and report to His Majesty and let the entire Fairy's Capital know about this …"
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