Chapter 130: Brothers United (Part I)

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At last, it had begun. Everything would be decided in this one move!

The court erupted in uproar, yet Li Xian remained utterly calm. He paid no heed to the wild speculation behind him, nor did he look at Emperor Gaozong’s astonished face, his eyes instead fixed like knives upon the beaded curtain before the steps. Though he could not see the Empress Dowager Wu’s expression behind it, he keenly noticed the faint ripple in her seated figure as Xiao Ming presented his memorial. He immediately knew that the surprise attack had achieved its purpose. A surge of excitement swept through his heart, and his hands clenched instinctively.

“Minister… ahem, does your statement rest upon any evidence?”

Gaozong had clearly been stunned senseless by Xiao Ming’s memorial. Only after staring blankly for a long while did he stammer out the question.

“Your Majesty, I would never dare deceive you with falsehoods. The evidence is here.”

Xiao Ming bowed stiffly, without the slightest hint of a smile. Then he opened the memorial in his hands and read aloud in a ringing voice:

“According to the investigation, the Court of Judicial Review currently has four thousand five hundred and thirty-six unresolved cases. Of these, three thousand three hundred and twenty-one date from before last year. The oldest can be traced back to the third year of Xianqing, when the three sons of the Pan family disputed their inheritance. Seven years have passed since then. The Pan family’s immense fortune has been exhausted, yet the case remains unsettled. The irregularities involved are too numerous to summarize in a few words.

“This official has confirmed that Qiu Shenfu and Wang Quan, the presiding and deputy presiding judges, accepted bribes from the three Pan brothers amounting to several thousand strings of cash.

“Furthermore, the case of the Liu family woman accused of murdering her husband was reported to the Court of Judicial Review in the first year of Linde, yet to this day no verdict has been reached. This official has ascertained that the accused was Wang Quan’s kinswoman. Her family was wealthy, and they bribed Wang Quan with several thousand strings of cash, thereby ensuring that the case remained unresolved. As a result, the plaintiff, the Liu family, was ruined.

“Such wicked conduct is commonplace within the Court of Judicial Review. Your Majesty must not overlook it. This official risks death to bring the matter before you!”

“Boom…”

As soon as Xiao Ming finished speaking, the ministers, who had only just fallen silent, erupted once more. Countless eyes turned toward the beaded curtain beside the imperial couch, glittering with apprehension. Clearly, every official understood that this court session was destined to become an unavoidable battle to the death between the Empress Dowager Wu and the Crown Prince. At this point, neither side could afford to lose.

“Your Majesty, the Court of Judicial Review is a vital instrument of the state, entrusted with criminal justice. That it has decayed to such an extent is truly alarming. This old servant humbly begs Your Majesty to issue an edict for a thorough investigation!”

Amid the uproar, Yan Liben strode out of the ranks and spoke in a ringing voice.

“Your Majesty, Minister Yan is absolutely right. This matter must not be treated lightly. I humbly beg Your Majesty to render a just decision!”

“Your Majesty, the corruption within the Court of Judicial Review is the result of corrupt officials running rampant. I believe the matter must be investigated thoroughly!”

“Your Majesty, such depravity is rarely seen throughout history. It must be investigated in full!”

…

Once Yan Liben had stepped forward, the officials close to the Crown Prince naturally dared not lag behind. Though none of them knew exactly where Xiao Ming’s memorial had come from, they could not possibly fail to offer the necessary support. In an instant, a great mass of them had risen to their feet, creating an imposing spectacle.

“This… this…”

Gaozong had never been a man of firm convictions. Faced suddenly with such a grave matter, he naturally grew flustered. He instinctively turned toward Empress Dowager Wu behind the beaded curtain, but received not the slightest hint from her. With no alternative, he turned back and stammered helplessly. For a moment, he had no idea how to untangle the knot before him.

Though Gaozong was weak, he was not foolish. How could he fail to understand that most of the officials in the Court of Judicial Review belonged to Empress Dowager Wu’s faction? The Crown Prince had now made it clear that he intended to dig up the very foundations of her power, and Gaozong was caught in an agonizing dilemma.

If he refused a thorough investigation, Empress Dowager Wu would be satisfied—but how could he appease the Crown Prince? The affair involving Helan Minzhi had yet to fade, and that very morning Gaozong had supported Empress Dowager Wu’s assumption of authority from behind the curtain. In his heart, he already felt he owed the Crown Prince a great deal.

Besides, if the Court of Judicial Review was truly as corrupt as Xiao Ming claimed, failing to reform it would be impossible to justify. The ministers would never accept it, and Gaozong himself could scarcely bear to see such a state of affairs. Yet how was he to deal with Empress Dowager Wu?

Confronted by one contradiction after another, Gaozong was genuinely lost.

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“Imperial Father, I believe that clear rewards and punishments are the foundation upon which the court wins the people’s trust. The Court of Judicial Review has now failed in its duty, becoming a great scourge upon the realm. If the matter is not investigated thoroughly, the people’s faith may be shaken. This is not something that can be treated lightly. I beg Imperial Father to render a wise decision!”

Seeing that Gaozong had been unable to reach a firm decision after so long, the Crown Prince could no longer remain seated. He rose, turned toward Gaozong, bowed, and made his appeal in a loud voice.

“We humbly beg Your Majesty to render a wise decision!”

The moment Li Hong finished speaking, Yan Liben and the other ministers hurriedly joined their voices to his. Their cries surged through the great hall and echoed without end.

“My ministers, I—I…”

After stammering several times with a pale face, Gaozong looked helplessly toward the officials of the Court of Judicial Review, who were now in a state of utter panic among the ranks. Gritting his teeth, he called out:

“Where are Yuan Gongyu and Hou Shanye?”

“Present!”

The two men had known beforehand that the Crown Prince intended to move against the Court of Judicial Review, but they had never imagined that he would proceed in a manner so different from what they expected. The figures he had presented, and even the cases he had cited, were astonishingly accurate. How could they fail to realize that the identity of Qiu Shenfu, the spy they had planted, had been exposed?

Naturally, they were thrown into turmoil. Yet at such a moment, retreat was impossible. They had no choice but to step forward, bracing themselves.

“Yuan, Hou—Censor Xiao has accused you both. Are his claims true?”

Gaozong looked at the two men and asked through an iron-gray expression.

“Your Majesty, we have been wronged! We have always performed our duties with the utmost diligence and never dared make the slightest mistake. How could we possibly have engaged in corruption on such a scale? There are indeed cases awaiting judgment, but nowhere near so many as he claims. Besides, the cases handled by our court are all major and important matters. How could they be disposed of hastily? When cases accumulate, some delay is only natural.

“As for the corruption and abuse of justice alleged by Censor Xiao, it is pure fabrication. We beg Your Majesty to render a clear judgment!”

Hearing the conciliatory note in Gaozong’s words, Yuan Gongyu immediately began crying out that he had been grievously wronged. Tears and mucus streamed down his face, and he appeared the very picture of utter misery.

“Your Majesty, we have always served the public good. How could we have committed such vile acts? Censor Xiao has baselessly slandered men of spotless reputation. His conduct constitutes the grave crime of deceiving the sovereign. I humbly beg Your Majesty to decide the matter!”

Yuan Gongyu had merely protested his innocence, but Hou Shanye went a step further and turned the accusation back upon Xiao Ming. Whatever happened, they could not admit guilt before the court.

“The evidence is all here. A proper investigation will reveal the truth at once. I beg Your Majesty to issue an edict for a thorough inquiry!”

When Xiao Ming heard the two men deny everything before the entire court—and even counterattack—his anger flared. Before Gaozong could say a word, he stepped forward and shouted.

“We humbly beg Your Majesty to issue an edict for a thorough inquiry!”

The moment of truth had arrived. Yan Liben and the other officials aligned with the Crown Prince could not possibly let slip such an opportunity to strike a fallen enemy. One after another, they raised their voices in support.

“Imperial Father, please see the matter clearly. The two sides are offering conflicting accounts; no truth can be established through argument alone. An investigation, however, will reveal the facts. I am willing to undertake this responsibility. I beg Imperial Father to grant me permission!”

Seeing that Empress Dowager Wu remained silent, the Crown Prince felt that he had gained control of the situation. If he did not press the advantage now, when would he? He stepped forward and volunteered himself for the task.

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“Ahem… Hong’er, what you say… what you say…”

Seeing that all the ministers were calling for an investigation, Gaozong was somewhat moved. Yet because he was wary of Empress Dowager Wu, he hesitated and dared not make a final decision.

“Your Majesty.”

Just as Gaozong was about to agree to the Crown Prince’s request, Empress Dowager Wu finally spoke from behind him, cutting him off mid-sentence.

“Ah… does the Empress have an opinion on this matter?”

The instant he heard her voice, Gaozong swallowed the words he was about to utter. Turning toward the beaded curtain, he asked with a trace of panic in his voice.

“Your Majesty, I believe the Crown Prince speaks with considerable reason. Further dispute will accomplish nothing; the matter may simply be investigated. However, I believe that the court must act according to the principle of neither wronging the innocent nor allowing the guilty to escape.

“Since the Crown Prince believes the Court of Judicial Review to be corrupt, he will inevitably be partial in the course of the investigation, which may compromise its fairness. Moreover, this case is shrouded in mystery and involves far-reaching consequences. No one lacking experience and gravitas could bear such a responsibility.

“In my view, the matter should be placed under the direction of Chancellor Xu.”

Empress Dowager Wu spoke in an even voice, but her intentions were obvious. She was doing everything in her power to recommend Xu Jingzong as the presiding investigator.

“Your Majesty, this old servant is willing to undertake the task. I shall not fail Your Majesty or Her Majesty the Empress in the trust you place in me.”

The instant Empress Dowager Wu finished speaking, Xu Jingzong stepped forward in perfect coordination and loudly volunteered himself.

“Boom…”

The moment Xu Jingzong appeared, the ministers erupted once more. Yet not one dared to stand up and say no. Everyone knew that Xu Jingzong was Empress Dowager Wu’s most trusted confidant, but in terms of seniority and position, there was truly no one in the entire court who could surpass him. Even those aligned with the Crown Prince were deeply dissatisfied, but they could do nothing against Xu Jingzong’s shamelessness.

In the space of a few breaths, the situation that had been firmly controlled by the Crown Prince’s faction had shifted entirely into Empress Dowager Wu’s hands.

Impressive—truly impressive. With a mere turn of her hand, the old harpy had dissolved all the Crown Prince’s efforts into thin air. She was no easy opponent. There was no other way now; it was time for me to enter the ring!

The instant Li Xian saw the Crown Prince’s face turn ashen, he knew that the Crown Prince had exhausted every move at his disposal. If he did not step forward now, this grand drama would soon come to an end—and that was a conclusion Li Xian absolutely could not accept.

No matter how unwilling he was, he had no choice but to strike first.

In all the years Li Xian had spent in the court, he had rarely appeared in person to present petitions. Yet whenever he did, his attacks were invariably sharp and unstoppable; he had never once failed. The moment he stepped forward, the ministers, who had been arguing among themselves, fell silent. Every eye turned toward his not particularly imposing figure, eager to see how he would resolve this seemingly hopeless deadlock.

In an instant, the atmosphere seemed to freeze. The vast hall sank into absolute silence. The only sound was the soft echo of Li Xian’s measured footsteps…

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