Indeed, things unfolded much as Fang Er had surmised.
In less than the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, Qin Hui was summoned.
The moment he stepped across the threshold, two steel sabers were pressed against his throat.
Then, Fang Er was seen staring at him, asking, "Audacious Qin Hui, as Prime Minister, instead of serving the nation with loyalty, you perpetrate evil and frame the loyal. Do you know your crime!"
Though Qin Hui was in the Imperial Hospital, he had always had people gathering information for him, so he knew something of what was happening here.
These people, despite apprehending the Emperor and even beating him soundly, had not taken Yue Fei away immediately.
Clearly, they intended to clear Yue Fei's name!
He forced a composure and said, "Though I know not your origins, the matter of Yue Fei has long been settled. Conspiracy to rebel is a crime punishable by the extermination of one's entire clan!"
"I, considering his past distinguished military achievements, specifically requested the Emperor's mercy, arresting only him and Yue Yun. Is that not enough?"
"Nonsense!"
How could Yue Yun bear to hear this? He immediately roared at Qin Hui.
"My Yue family has fought for the nation for decades, with countless brothers fallen!"
"Our loyalty is unwavering, witnessed by heaven and earth!"
"What evidence do you have to slander my father!"
Yue Fei stood aside, though silent, the bulging veins on his forehead were proof enough of his simmering rage.
Qin Hui said, "A military man who is skilled in war, yet not greedy for wealth, nor lustful, nor clinging to power, this is not at all the disposition a man should have!"
"Unless, he harbors greater ambitions!"
"Under the heavens, if there is something that can make a person restrain their desires to such an extent, it must surely be that chair!"
With that, he pointed to the dragon throne beneath Zhao Guangyi's buttocks.
"Pfft~"
Hearing this, Yue Fei immediately spat out a mouthful of reverse blood.
"Father!"
"Marshal Yue!"
Yue Yun and Zhang Xian were startled and quickly supported him.
"I'm fine!"
Yue Fei pushed away the hands supporting him, letting blood drip from the corner of his mouth, and pointing at Qin Hui, he questioned.
"A civil official who is incorruptible, and a military man who does not shy away from death, this is the very foundation of a prosperous nation."
"Since when has a military man's integrity become a fault?"
"Could it be that all the officials in this court should be the kind who abuse their power and are corrupt and decadent?"
Qin Hui, being skilled in debate, immediately retorted, "Integrity is not a fault, but excessive integrity is problematic."
"Your reputation for years of campaigning is known throughout the land, winning the hearts of the common people. Given time, even if you have no such intentions, your soldiers will force you to repeat the event of being draped in a yellow robe."
Yue Fei was about to say more, but Fang Er stopped him, stepped forward, and with a backhand slap, struck Qin Hui across the face, leaving five distinct finger marks.
Few people can endure being publicly slapped and pretend nothing happened.
Yet, Qin Hui was a master of this. He rubbed his face with his remaining left hand and then said calmly.
"Is this your innermost thoughts being revealed by my words, sir?"
Fang Er merely gave a faint cold laugh and then looked at the officials in the hall.
"Who can tell me about the character of this Prime Minister Qin in his daily life?"
The officials in the hall looked at each other, but none spoke. Finally, Han Shizhong stepped forward.
"Qin Hui is not lustful, but greedy for wealth, power, and status. His family members are also often those who abuse their power!"
Fang Er nodded at him and turned to look at Qin Hui.
"May I understand this to mean that your greed for wealth and power is a form of self-sabotage?"
Qin Hui, momentarily confused, answered instinctively, "That's right."
As soon as he finished speaking, a huge shoe sole gradually magnified before him.
Fang Er kicked him in the face, sending him flying back two or three meters before he landed heavily on the ground.
Before he could get up, Fang Er had already rushed over and stepped on his chest.
"If that is the case, then I have reason to believe that you employed self-sabotage to lull all the officials in court, so that you might seek even greater power, such as the throne!"
"Or perhaps, you had long surrendered to the Jurchens, and returned from the north merely to act as a spy for them!"
Upon hearing this, the gazes of everyone in the hall towards Qin Hui changed.
The matter of being a Jurchen spy was something some people had privately speculated about, and some had cursed Qin Hui as a Jurchen dog behind his back.
However, no one dared to speak of such a thing openly.
Now, it was starkly laid bare by Fang Er.
Qin Hui panicked. He had never considered the throne, so he could face that with equanimity.
But the words "Jurchen spy" threw him into utter disarray.
Seeing the looks directed at him from everyone in the hall, he struggled and shouted loudly.
"You are slandering me!"
"Your Majesty! You must not believe his ghostly words, he is framing me!"
Zhao Gou, already in a precarious situation, dared not speak up for him.
"Hahahaha~~"
Fang Er laughed heartily, then after a moment, he suddenly bent down and snarled at Qin Hui, word by word.
"Then, what about Mo Xu You?!"
"Boom!"
Qin Hui was struck as if by lightning. Only then did he realize that everything Fang Er had said earlier was merely a prelude to these three words, Mo Xu You!
Mo Xu You!
Yue Fei could be accused of rebellion and treason on the basis of Mo Xu You!
Then his claim of being a Jurchen spy could also be Mo Xu You!
If Yue Fei's fabricated charges were not cleared, then he too would face a similar fate.
He quickly retorted, "The Dali Temple should indeed not have used Mo Xu You to convict Yue Fei, but that was Zhang Jun's doing, and it has nothing to do with me."
"Yes, all of this was Zhang Jun's doing!"
In fact, Zhang Jun had been among the officials all along. Seeing how things had escalated to this point, it was clear the fire was about to reach him.
Seeing Han Shizhong looking at him, and his identity no longer able to be concealed, he stepped forward voluntarily.
"I am Zhang Jun, the Grand Councilor of the Bureau of Military Affairs!"
"Furthermore, as far as I know, Yue Fei and Zhang Xian exchanged private correspondence and embezzled public funds. As a military man, this is evidence of his rebellion."
"Not only that, there is someone who can prove all of this, and that person is Yue Fei's former subordinate, Wang Gui!"
ps: Guess how these scoundrels will die?