In the past three days, Li Mu had developed a feeling that life was more beautiful than this.
He even thought of resigning from his position and living in seclusion. Returning to Baiyun Mountain, he could focus on cultivation and enjoy the happiness of having two wives. Wouldn't that be perfect?
The reason why he gave up on this idea was because he thought of the Empress.
Even if he were to leave, it would be after helping the Empress clear all obstacles and repaying her for recognizing his worth.
Of course, he also wanted to take revenge on his father-in-law.
Although the case had caused a stir and the whole country knew about it, the outcome was not satisfactory.
The main culprits were all pardoned by the death exemption medallion. Only one of them received the punishment he deserved.
As for the other accomplices, the three provinces only fined them a few months of their salary to maintain the stability of the court. It seemed that the price of framing a fourth-rank official was only a few months of salary.
As far as they were concerned, this matter was already over.
But for Li Mu, it was just the beginning.
He stretched out his hand. The ring on his finger flashed and a booklet appeared in his hand.
It was the evidence of the crimes of some of the officials of the old party that Zhou Zhong had collected over the years. Most of these people were the ones who joined forces to frame Li Yi. As the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice and deeply trusted by the old party, it was easy for him to use his position to collect the evidence.
The crimes of these people varied. Li Mu took out a piece of paper and wrote down a series of names. After thinking for a while, he circled one of them.
Wang Lun, who was the minister of the Ministry of Personnel at that time, was the one who submitted many memorials asking for Li Qing to be severely punished.
Li Mu was not holding a grudge, but there were so many people that he had to start with.
He left the Secretariat, walked out of the palace gate, and walked toward the Ministry of Justice.
In the assistant minister's office of the Ministry of Justice, Yang Lin leaned comfortably on a chair and sighed in his heart.
He had thought that he would have to endure for many more years to reach the position of assistant minister before he retired. But who would have thought that the Ministry of Justice would undergo such a great change? Countless people were eyeing the position, but in the end, he took advantage of it.
Yang Lin's gaze inadvertently looked out of the window. A figure flashed by outside the window.
Yang Lin immediately stood up from his chair and walked to the door. "Lord Li, do you have any instructions for the Ministry of Justice?"
Although his rank was already higher than Li Mu's, in the Imperial Court, rank did not represent everything. In front of Li Mu, he still maintained his respect and humility.
Li Mu handed him a document and said, "There is a case here. The Ministry of Justice should deal with it as soon as possible."
The Central Secretariat had to do with national policies or important decisions. They needed to be reviewed by the Minister of Ceremonies and the Minister of Ceremonies to guide the Six Ministries in their implementation. For such small matters, the Central Secretariat officials had the power to directly order the Ministry of Justice.
Yang Lin took the document. After reading it, he said in shock, "This is the Ministry of Personnel's Physician, Lord Wang Lun …"
Li Mu looked at him and asked, "Why? Does the Ministry of Justice's handling of cases vary from person to person?"
Yang Lin quickly replied, "Of course not."
Li Mu said, "I believe that Lord Yang will be a good official. Otherwise, I wouldn't have urged His Majesty to let you be the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice."
Yang Lin was stunned. He had thought that his appointment as the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice was due to the efforts of the old faction. He was still puzzled as to why the old faction did not get a single official position in the Ministry of Personnel, but he succeeded in the Ministry of Justice …
Only now did he know that his promotion was not because of the old faction, but because of Li Mu.
He immediately clasped his hands and said, "Thank you, Lord Li …"
Li Mu waved his hand and said, "No need to thank me. His Majesty felt that Lord Yang was not too far off the path and wanted to give you a chance."
Yang Lin stood where he was. His gaze gradually became hesitant. He knew that at this moment, he was faced with an important choice in his life.
Should he continue to work for the old faction, or should he completely side with Li Mu?
The old faction was controlled by the Xiao clan, and the Xiao clan was the legitimate royal family of Great Zhou. Even though the Zhou clan was extremely powerful, they were not the legitimate royal family. Many officials in the court and the people of Great Zhou were inclined towards the Empress returning the throne to the Zhou clan. Therefore, even though the old faction had been suppressed by the new faction in recent years, they were still powerful and did not lack supporters.
He worked for the old faction because he believed that the Xiao clan would regain power sooner or later.
However, what reason did he have to work for Li Mu?
His Majesty could not pass the throne to Li Mu, or Li Mu's children …
Yang Lin did not dare to make a rash decision when it concerned his future and even his life. He looked at Li Mu and probed, "Lord Li, may I ask if His Majesty intends to pass the throne to the Zhou clan in the future?"
Li Mu glanced at him and asked, "Is this something that you and I, as subjects, can discuss?"
Yang Lin looked troubled. Li Mu knew what he was worried about. He said, "Are you afraid that the Xiao clan will come after you if His Majesty passes the throne to the Xiao clan?"
Yang Lin said, "Lord Li, I have elders and children to take care of. I cannot afford to gamble. If I gamble wrongly, the lives of my family …"
Li Mu asked, "When do you think His Majesty will pass the throne to the Xiao clan?"
Yang Lin shook his head and said, "I don't know."
Li Mu said slowly, "His Majesty is a powerhouse of the seventh realm. He can live for at least three decades. She is in her prime now. Even if the throne is to be passed, it will be decades or even centuries later. Do you think you can live until then?"
Yang Lin thought for a moment and felt that Li Mu's words seemed to make sense. By that time, he would have retired and returned to his hometown to enjoy the rest of his life. It would have nothing to do with him who would inherit the throne.
However, he still did not dare to gamble. He asked Li Mu nervously, "His Majesty won't pass the throne early, right?"
Li Mu glanced at him and said, "Do you think His Majesty will suddenly pass the throne?"
Yang Lin looked at Li Mu in a daze, seeming to understand something.
If it was said that His Majesty had such thoughts in the past, he would not find it strange. In the past, His Majesty did not care about the court at all. He did not care about the struggles between the old and new parties. He let nature take its course.
However, the appointments of the officials from the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Justice showed that His Majesty was already deliberately suppressing the old and new parties and taking back power. Could it be that His Majesty had other thoughts?
Li Mu looked at him and said, "I know that it is very difficult for Lord Yang to make a decision. I will give you three days to think about it … after three days, whether we are friends or enemies will depend on your choice."
Yang Lin's expression was bitter. Did he have any other choice?
Although Li Mu did not have many friends in the court, he was really good to his friends.
In just half a year, Zhang Chun had been promoted from the Divine Capital Commandant to the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. He was a real minister with real power. The residence he lived in also went from two, three, and now four. He was about to live in a large residence with five entrances.
For Yang Lin, who lived in a small house with two entrances for three generations, a residence with five entrances was an unattainable dream.
On the other hand, Li Mu's enemies were either dead or demoted. Those who were lucky enough to survive lost their positions and reputation. Yang Lin did not doubt that if he became Li Mu's enemy, he would not even be able to live in a small house with two entrances in less than a month.
The prison of the Ministry of Justice was perhaps the best outcome. If it was a little worse, he might only have a few coffin planks to block the dirt.
After careful consideration, Yang Lin let out a long sigh. Then, his expression gradually turned solemn. He looked at Li Mu and said seriously, "From now on, this humble official will follow Lord Li's lead …"
Li Mu did not misjudge him. The person he supported did not disappoint him.
Not long after, a few constables from the Ministry of Justice hurried out of the Ministry of Justice's main gate. They came to a certain entertainment market and grabbed a certain noble from a brothel.
"Which yamen are you from?"
"How dare you arrest me? Do you know who I am? Do you know who my father is?"
"The Ministry of Justice … the current Assistant Minister of Justice is my father's friend. Let me go. Once you get to the Ministry of Justice, you will suffer!"
…
The noble made a lot of noise along the way. The constables from the Ministry of Justice could not take it anymore and used a rag to gag his mouth. The people along the way found out that the noble had been summoned by the Ministry of Justice because of an old case.
"This is the son of Lord Wang of the Ministry of Personnel. Why is the Ministry of Justice arresting them?"
"Aren't the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Justice on the same side?"
"That was in the past. Now, the Minister and Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel have changed."
"The Ministry of Personnel's Assistant Minister hasn't changed. He has some ties with the current Assistant Minister of Justice. Could it be that their relationship has broken …"
…
The people always liked to watch the drama between officials and nobles. They followed along the way.
Ministry of Personnel.
It was lunchtime. A few officials from the Ministry of Personnel walked out together and prepared to eat at a restaurant.
When they passed by the Ministry of Justice, they saw a large group of people gathered outside the Ministry of Justice. They were discussing and pointing inside.
One of the officials from the Ministry of Personnel lamented, "The Ministry of Justice is really busy. They can't even rest during lunchtime."
Another official from the Ministry of Personnel said, "When we were on our way here, we heard from the people that some official's son was arrested. The Ministry of Justice took him out of the brothel directly. It seems like the crime is not small."
When they heard that some official's son had committed a crime, the officials from the Ministry of Personnel were instantly interested in watching the drama.
The Ministry of Personnel's Physician Wang Lun chuckled and said, "I wonder which family's son is from. He keeps causing trouble for his elders. It's time to teach him a lesson …"
He looked into the Ministry of Justice's main hall and saw a figure kneeling in the hall. The figure looked so familiar.
One of the officials said in surprise, "Lord Wang, isn't this your …"
Wang Lun was stunned for a moment. Then, his face gradually darkened.
He did not expect that he would be involved in the drama …
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