The officials of the court all raised their heads, only to see an unfamiliar face. The man wore a crimson official robe and a gold belt, his expression grave.
Some of the officials, naturally curious, began whispering among themselves, asking who this man might be.
When they learned that he was Fan Xiuwen, the newly transferred Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, they could not help but look at him twice.
The Emperor looked up, his gaze settling on Fan Xiuwen.
“Former third-place palace graduate Fan Xiuwen.”
Fan Xiuwen held his court tablet and replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, “This humble servant is present.”
Dantai Ji said, “You have only just entered the Censorate. What matter do you wish to present?”
Fan Xiuwen tucked his court tablet into his belt, raised his clasped hands in salute, and said, “This humble servant is the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate. It is my duty to oversee the officials of the realm. So long as I hold this post for even a single day, I cannot neglect that duty for a single day. Therefore, today I wish to impeach Vice Minister Xu of the Ministry of Personnel for accepting bribes and perverting the law for personal gain, thereby preventing those of genuine talent from being promoted while allowing officials who pay bribes to rise through the ranks step by step!”
The entire court erupted in an uproar at Fan Xiuwen’s words.
Clearly, no one had expected this Fan Xiuwen, newly arrived in the capital and not yet firmly established there, to dare impeach his superior before the imperial court.
He truly had the audacity of one who had eaten a bear’s heart and leopard’s gall.
Dantai Ji was equally startled. He had not expected Lord Fan to possess such courage.
The moment he arrived, he sought to purge the court and impeach a high-ranking official.
“Do you have evidence?”
Fan Xiuwen immediately drew a memorial from his sleeve and raised it above his head.
“The evidence is all here.”
Wang Zhong hurried down, accepted Lord Fan’s memorial, and presented it to the Emperor.
Dantai Ji took the memorial. After only one glance, his expression darkened as he looked down at the court.
“Where is Xu Zhenyi, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel?”
A man with a goatee staggered forward from among the officials. With a thud, he fell to his knees, pressed his forehead to the ground, and cried, “Your Majesty, I have been wronged! I do not admit to these accusations! I have devoted myself wholeheartedly to selecting worthy officials for Great Zhou. Never have I accepted so much as a single copper coin from anyone!”
Dantai Ji’s face had turned utterly grim. He flung the memorial at Xu Zhenyi’s head.
“Never accepted a bribe, have you? Then where did all this evidence come from?”
Trembling from head to toe, Xu Zhenyi picked up the memorial beside him. It recorded in meticulous detail when and where he had accepted bribes, and by what means. There was even a list of names...
How could it be? How could Fan Xiuwen have uncovered this?
Xu Zhenyi sprawled on the floor, kowtowing frantically as he said in a shaking voice, “I would never dare, Your Majesty, never dare! In all my dealings, I have a clear conscience before Heaven and Earth. How could I toy with the futures of my fellow officials? These are all fabrications—someone is framing me!”
“I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and restore my good name! I truly have done nothing!”
Before long, someone stepped forward to speak on Xu Zhenyi’s behalf. It was Minister of Works Han Xuan.
Minister of Works Han Xuan knelt on the floor, cast Fan Xiuwen a frown of suspicion, and said, “I beg Your Majesty to investigate this matter carefully. Fan Xiuwen fell ill as soon as he returned to the capital, and he has served in the Censorate for only a few days. How could he possibly know of the secret dealings by which any official accepted bribes? I fear he may be seeking merit and has fabricated these accusations.”
No sooner had the Minister of Works finished speaking than Fan Xiuwen lifted his head once more. His gaze was resolute. Raising his clasped hands before him, he declared in a sonorous voice, “This minister wishes to impeach the Minister of Works’ son!”
The great hall fell silent again.
Only a few sharp, hurried breaths could be heard.
Everyone turned to look at Fan Xiuwen, only to see him draw yet another memorial from his sleeve. Holding it aloft above his head, he spoke clearly and without a trace of servility. “The evidence is in this minister’s hands!”
Wang Zhong froze for a moment before finally coming to his senses. He hurried down, took the memorial, and respectfully presented it to the Emperor.
Fan Xiuwen’s unwavering voice echoed through the hall. “The Minister of Works’ son has forcibly abducted women in broad daylight, run rampant with impunity, and committed every manner of evil! In the past two years alone, Han Tingyi, the Minister of Works’ son, has tortured and murdered seven people!”
“The families of those young women were all threatened and bought off by Han Tingyi. Too afraid to report the crimes to the authorities, they could only endure the agony of losing their daughters!”
Minister of Works Han Xuan’s eyes went wide. Pointing at Fan Xiuwen, he roared, “Nonsense! My son is cultivated and diligent, filial and proper—how could he possibly abduct women by force? Or murder them so cruelly? This is outright slander!”
Fan Xiuwen did not so much as glance at Minister of Works Han Xuan. Still calm and unyielding, he continued to address the Emperor. “Furthermore, Han Tingyi, the Minister of Works’ son, now serves as a seventh-rank Secretary in the Secretariat. That appointment was secured by the Minister of Works through bribery and collusion with Vice Minister of Personnel Xu Zhenyi!”
Minister of Works Han Xuan’s face twisted with fury. “You shameless wretch! How dare you frame this old minister! My son earned his jinshi degree and now serves as a Secretary in the Secretariat—what is so unusual about that? He has studied since childhood and has always understood propriety. How could he commit the disgraceful acts you describe? You have barely arrived in the capital, yet you are already so eager for merit that you make wild accusations and bite at anyone you please. You are utterly despicable!”
“Your Majesty! This old minister has been falsely accused! I have never bribed the Vice Minister of Personnel, nor has my son ever committed any cruel or wicked deed!”
Dantai Ji studied the memorial, his expression darkening. He raised his eyes to the assembled officials and said coldly, “Where is Han Tingyi, the Minister of Works’ son and a Secretary in the Secretariat?”
Wang Zhong called toward the entrance, “Summon Han Tingyi, the Minister of Works’ son and Secretary in the Secretariat, to appear before His Majesty!”
Today was the Grand Court Assembly. As a seventh-rank official in the capital, Han Tingyi was permitted to attend the assembly held twice a month. Because his rank was low, he stood outside the hall, though he could still hear what was being said within.
After Eunuch Wang Zhong issued the call, Han Tingyi stumbled in from outside the hall and dropped to his knees in panic.
“This minister, Han Tingyi, Secretary in the Secretariat, pays his respects to Your Majesty!”
Looking down at Han Tingyi from on high, Dantai Ji asked icily, “Have you ever murdered innocents or forcibly abducted women?”
Han Tingyi’s pupils abruptly constricted. His entire body trembled, and his legs gave way beneath him as he collapsed forward, prostrate on the floor. In a shaking voice, he said, “This minister... this minister has not! I have been falsely accused! Since childhood, I have been steeped in the classics and understand propriety, righteousness, benevolence, and goodness. How could I ever commit such heinous acts? This minister has been wronged!”
Dantai Ji slammed his palm onto the desk, flung the memorial onto Han Tingyi’s body, and thundered, “The evidence is conclusive! Crime after crime—several lives lost—and you still dare deny it!”
Han Tingyi’s face twisted with fright as he repeatedly slammed his head against the floor before the emperor. “No! I did nothing! What murder? I know nothing! I didn’t do it!”
“The body of A-Xiao of the Xie family is still buried beneath the flowerbed in your backyard! I saw it with my own eyes! How dare you deny it? Aren’t you afraid that the wronged souls of those you murdered will come to claim your life?” Fan Xiuwen glared at Han Tingyi, his voice icy.
Han Tingyi was so terrified that his soul seemed to leave his body. His pupils dilated as he abruptly turned to look at Fan Xiuwen beside him. He stood rigid and motionless, as though he had seen a vengeful ghost come to take his life.
“No! No! Impossible... Impossible...”
Anyone who saw the terror and utter panic on his face would suspect that he had something to hide.
Minister of Works Han Xuan naturally noticed that something was wrong with his son. Staring at him in disbelief, he scrambled to his feet and rushed over to him. Grabbing his son by the collar, he demanded, “You... why are you so terrified? Did you truly commit such a heinous crime as abducting innocent women by force?”
