The case of the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites being instigated by his mother-in-law to frame his colleague had attracted widespread attention, both among the people and in the imperial court.
Everyone's attention was on the Ministry of Justice as they paid close attention to the progress of this matter.
Using despicable means to frame a colleague had crossed the bottom line of the imperial court. According to the law, both the Zhou family's wife and the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites would be severely punished.
However, in the end, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites was only demoted from his position, while the fourth wife of the Zhou family only lost her status as a madam.
This was because the Zhou family had taken out the two death exemption tokens bestowed by the late emperor. Although it was a bit wasteful to use death exemption tokens to absolve the crime, they had no choice but to do so.
According to the law, as the mastermind, the fourth wife of the Zhou family would not only be stripped of her status as a madam, but she would also be demoted to a lowly status. If the Ministry of Justice was more ruthless, it would not be impossible for her to be classified as an official prostitute.
The Zhou family was now considered a royal family. If the Zhou family's wife became an official prostitute, the Zhou family's face would be trampled on. The Zhou family would also become the laughing stock of the entire Divine Capital.
The Zhou family had used the death exemption tokens to absolve the two of their crimes. However, the Old Party, especially the Xiao royal family, did not feel good about it.
The Zhou family had seized the late emperor's empire, and now they had to use the death exemption tokens bestowed by the late emperor to absolve the Zhou family of their crimes. To the Xiao family, this was more disgusting than swallowing a hundred flies.
Fortunately, these two tokens would not appear in the future. Sooner or later, they would be disgusted. It was better to be disgusted sooner rather than later.
A grand banquet was being held in a luxurious mansion in the Southern Court.
At the banquet, everyone from the Old Party gathered. Apart from the officials of the imperial court, there were also many members of the Xiao royal family. The table was filled with delicacies. Everyone toasted and laughed.
The Ministry of Justice's Zhou Zhong was undoubtedly the main character of this banquet.
His position in the Old Party was extremely high. This time, he had made the Zhou family suffer such a huge loss and made a great contribution to the Old Party.
"The Zhou family scoundrels tried their best to curry favor with the late emperor when he was still alive and obtained two death exemption tokens from the late emperor. Every time I think of this in the past few years, it feels like a fishbone is stuck in my throat. Now that I've finally spat out this fishbone, it feels great!"
"This is simply satisfying. The Zhou family's two death exemption tokens are gone. We have one less worry."
"Lord Zhou, let me toast to you."
"Lord Zhou, let me toast to you!"
…
Zhou Zhong was the main character of today's banquet. Even the original members of the royal family of the Xiao clan gave him enough respect. This also made the other officials present envious. Zhou Zhong held a high position, had the ability and the means, and was also highly regarded by the Xiao clan. After today, he would probably come into contact with even more secrets of the royal family. His future was limitless, and definitely would not be limited to the position of assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice.
Once the Xiao clan regained power, his position in the court would be even higher than it was now.
Imperial Palace, in front of Changle Palace.
A palace maid on duty was on duty. A few figures came from afar and stopped beside her.
She looked up and immediately bowed. "Greetings, Commander Mei."
Mr. Mei glanced at her and said, "Take her away. Slap her 100 times and flog her 20 times. Send her to Fushou Palace."
The palace maid seemed to realize something. Her face paled and her body trembled uncontrollably.
Mr. Mei asked calmly, "Do you know why I punished you?"
The palace maid knelt on the ground and said in a trembling voice, "Commander Mei, I know I was wrong. I know I was wrong!"
Mr. Mei glanced at her one last time and said, "As a servant in the palace, you have to abide by the palace rules. Don't listen to what you shouldn't hear, and don't say what you shouldn't say. Take her away and flog her outside Fushou Palace …"
Fushou Palace.
Fushou Palace was located in the West Palace. It was originally the residence of the imperial concubines. The current Empress didn't have any imperial concubines, and she didn't drive the former Emperor's imperial concubines out of the West Palace. Fushou Palace was the residence of the old Empress Dowager.
In the West Palace, the Empress Dowager was the leader, followed by the old Empress Dowager. Since the death of the former Emperor, the old Empress Dowager had basically been in a state of seclusion. The West Palace was usually very quiet.
Today, the silence of the West Palace was broken by a series of screams.
A palace maid was escorted to the entrance of Fushou Palace by two internal guards. First, she was slapped 100 times. Then, she was pressed to the ground and flogged 20 times. Her miserable screams could be heard clearly in the West Palace.
The West Palace was a quiet place. The internal guards didn't have the guts to do this. It must be the Empress' order.
The palace maid was not tortured in the Empress Dowager's Everlasting Palace, nor in front of the other old Empress Dowager's palaces. It couldn't be a coincidence that she chose the old Empress Dowager's Fushou Palace.
It must be that the old Empress Dowager did something that displeased the Empress Dowager and touched the Empress Dowager's reverse scale. That was why she changed her respect for the old Empress Dowager and didn't give the old Empress Dowager any face.
This was an obvious warning.
In Fushou Palace, an old palace maid was angry. She said loudly, "There are so many places in the palace, but she chose to do it in front of our palace. Isn't this a show for the old Empress Dowager to see …"
The old Empress Dowager sighed and said, "Yes, this is her warning to me. I didn't expect her to be so protective of that person. I was negligent …"
Not long after, a palace maid came in and said, "Old Empress Dowager, that palace maid fainted. Should we send her out of the West Palace?"
The old Empress Dowager shook her head and said, "No matter what, she is still one of my people. Bring her into the palace and let her work in Fushou Palace."
Then she looked at the old palace maid and asked, "How is Yunyang?"
The old palace maid sighed and said, "The prince consort's accident was a big blow to the Princess. She locked herself in the Princess Residence all day and didn't see anyone …"
The Imperial Concubine said, "No one would have thought that the one surnamed Cui was actually a spy from the Devil Sect. Go to the Princess Mansion and say that it was Aijia's order to let her come to Fushou Palace and stay with Aijia for a few days …"
Princess Yunyang's Residence.
After Cui Ming's identity as a spy was exposed and he escaped from Luoyang, Princess Yunyang locked herself in the residence. She didn't see anyone except for her personal maid who brought her food every day.
At this time, in Princess Yunyang's room, she looked at a woman who suddenly appeared and asked in shock, "Who are you?"
The woman smiled at her and said, "It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is that I am here to help you."
Princess Yunyang said warily, "Leave quickly or I will shout for help."
The woman shook her head and said, "Go ahead. I have sealed this place with an array. Even if you shout until your throat breaks, no one will hear you."
Princess Yunyang said with a pale face, "What do you want?"
The woman looked at her and said slowly, "Didn't I say that I am here to help you? Do you want to see the prince consort again? Do you want to sit on the highest position?"
The woman's voice was bewitching. Princess Yunyang asked blankly, "What is the highest position?"
The woman said, "Of course it is the supreme position. The position of the Emperor."
Princess Yunyang was shocked and said, "How is that possible?"
The woman smiled and said, "If other women can sit there, why can't you? Don't forget that you have the blood of the Xiao Royal Family and are the daughter of the late Emperor. You are more suitable to sit on that position than her …"
In the room, Princess Yunyang pondered over her words and the wariness on her face gradually disappeared …
Li Residence.
Li Mu already knew that the Zhou Clan had used two death-exemption gold medallions to save the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites and Zhou Chu's mother.
He did not expect that the Zhou Clan would have death-exemption gold medallions. Although the two culprits were not severely punished by the law, it was not like they did not gain anything.
Things like death-exemption gold medallions should not exist in the first place. Using them meant one less piece. After he was done with this, Li Mu would find a way to destroy them sooner or later.
But right now, he had more important things to do.
The imperial examination was just around the corner. Even if he wrote the outline, the examination questions were set by the various ministries. He had to prepare. If he failed, not only would he lose face, he would also lose face for the Empress.
In addition, Cui Ming's matter had a great impact on the imperial court. The most direct impact was that the officials in the imperial court thought that everyone was a spy from the Demon Sect, especially those who were good-looking. They were especially suspected.
After all, even the emperor's son-in-law, a fourth-rank official, had been infiltrated by the Demon Sect. They had set up a trap on Cui Ming for twenty years. Who knew if they had infiltrated other places?
But for this kind of thing, besides soul searching, it was almost impossible to find out the other party's identity after the spy was exposed.
The imperial court was now in a state of panic. It made the officials panic and was not conducive to the stability of the situation. Li Mu had to advise the Empress to stop investigating the Demon Sect's spies. Historical experience showed that this kind of heavy pressure was very disadvantageous to stability.
In addition to what had just happened, many officials of the old and new parties were directly dismissed. There was already some turmoil in the imperial court. The imperial court could not be allowed to continue to be chaotic.
The director of the Ministry of Rites, the vice-director of the Ministry of Revenue, and the deputy minister of the Taichang Temple were dismissed. Those empty important positions were quickly filled. Many officials were promoted, and their original positions were left empty. It was just right to fill them after the imperial examination.
The biggest winner of this framing storm was not Li Mu, but someone else.
The assistant director of the Ministry of Rites had ruined his own future. His position was replaced by another director of the Ministry of Rites.
This director Liu did not go along with the assistant director of the Ministry of Rites and participate in the impeachment of Li Mu. It just so happened that the Ministry of Rites was seriously short of people this time. He took advantage of this matter and rose up the ranks. From a director to an assistant director, he took the step and saved at least ten years of suffering. He was probably the biggest winner of this matter.
Shen Du, a mansion in the North Courtyard.
The new assistant director of the Ministry of Rites, Liu Qing, opened the door. Two children playing in the courtyard threw away their toys and ran over quickly. They opened their arms and said happily, "Daddy is back …"
Liu Qing picked up the two children, a boy and a girl, and played with them for a while. Then he put them down and said, "You two play by yourselves. Daddy is busy with official business …"
Because of the imperial examination, the officials of the Ministry of Rites were busy. Even after he went to the yamen, he still had many things to do.
He walked into the study and habitually glanced at a bronze mirror on the table. His eyes narrowed slightly.
A strange rune appeared on the bronze mirror.
Liu Qing set up a soundproof formation and picked up the bronze mirror. After activating it with his spiritual power, a man's face appeared on the bronze mirror.
Liu Qing's face darkened. He said, "You finally contacted me. How long do I have to stay in the Shen Du?"
The man said, "Three years."
Liu Qing's face was filled with anger. He said sternly, "Three years again. That's what you said three years ago. Three years ago, three years ago, you still said the same thing. I've been in the Shen Du for ten years. In order to not arouse suspicion, I bought a house, married a wife, and even had two children. I went from an eighth-rank official to an assistant director of the Ministry of Rites. Now you're telling me three years again. How many years has it been?"
The man frowned. "Watch your attitude. Don't forget who helped you avenge your parents."
Liu Qing snorted coldly. "If it weren't for this matter, do you think I would listen to your nonsense here? Tell me, you haven't contacted me much in the past ten years. What do you want me to do this time?"
The man said, "I didn't contact you for your safety. Now, there's something important that I need your help with. The imperial examination is coming soon. I've arranged for some of our people to participate in the examination. You have to help them pass the examination."
"That's impossible."
Liu Qing flatly rejected him. "I don't need to say more about the importance of the imperial examination to the imperial court. This is the first year that the imperial court is free from the four academies. There must be countless eyes watching. The Ministry of Personnel, the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and the Internal Guards. No matter who has the ability, they can't do anything to the imperial examination."
The man said lightly, "As far as I know, the imperial examination is organized by the Ministry of Rites. You are the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites. Isn't it easy to help a few people?"
Liu Qing shook his head. "The risk is too great. I can't do it. Who knew that Cui Ming was also your spy and accidentally exposed himself. Now the imperial court is investigating spies very closely. People like me are the main suspects. Every day, I go to the imperial court in fear. Do you know how much pressure I'm under?"
The man's voice was unquestionable. "This is an order. I'm not discussing it with you. Don't forget who avenged your parents. If I didn't send you to the academy, you wouldn't be where you are today. You should know the consequences of disobeying orders. Your wife, your children, and you will all die without a burial place …"
Liu Qing looked out of the window at the two children who were laughing and playing in the yard. After a while, he withdrew his gaze and asked, "Aren't you afraid that I'll be exposed?"
The man said lightly, "Cui Ming's identity was accidentally exposed. You are different from Cui Ming. You are my spy. Only I know your identity. As long as I don't say it, no one will know."
Liu Qing was silent for a moment and said, "Okay."
The man said, "I'll give you the list as soon as possible."
Liu Qing asked, "Do they know my identity?"
The man said, "No. The fewer people who know about your identity as a spy, the better."
Liu Qing nodded and said, "I'll do my best to help them. But I can't guarantee that I won't be exposed. Over the years, I've been undercover in the imperial court and found a lot of secrets. Just in case, I have to give these things to you first. You need to come to Luoyang …"
The man was silent for a moment and said, "Three days later, three hundred miles northwest of Luoyang …"
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