"Someone! Come here!"
This matter had truly exceeded the Emperor's expectations. After such a short time, Han Mo, who had been utterly suppressed, had now managed to take down all three of them with just a few words.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance. Perhaps this old subject should personally make a trip to the Ministry of Justice!"
Compared to an official of the Kaifeng Prefecture, Liang Shicheng naturally held no regard. However, facing the Minister of Justice was a different story!
Judging by Han Mo's self-assured demeanor, it was clear this fellow had already dug a pit, waiting for others to fall into it.
If the opportunity could be seized to bring down Fan Zhixu, the Minister of Justice, it would indeed be a pleasure for Liang Shicheng!
Regardless of whether he could ultimately secure that position for himself, simply causing trouble for Cai You and his faction was enough to satisfy him.
Furthermore, Cai Jing, the watchful observer, was also present!
If Cai Jing didn't seize this sudden windfall, Liang Shicheng would even look down on him!
"Just as you say! Lord Gao, take my imperial token and make a trip to the Kaifeng Prefecture!"
After nodding, Zhao Ji once again looked at Gao Qiu beside him.
"Yes!"
Seeing the two of them exit the great hall, Cai You quickly cast a questioning glance at Fan Zhixu.
With both Liang Shicheng and Gao Qiu personally involved, it was virtually impossible to falsify any documents. At this moment, he only wanted to know what was written on that document!
However, to his despair, Fan Zhixu was also completely bewildered.
Not only Fan Zhixu, but even Du Chong beside him looked utterly lost.
With both of the involved parties not understanding what was happening, let alone Cai You, an outsider.
If they weren't on the Golden Hall right now, he really wanted to grab Han Mo by the neck and ask this fellow if he could speak properly!
After a full half-hour, Liang Shicheng and Gao Qiu returned to the hall, each holding a document.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this is the document retrieved from the Ministry of Justice according to the receipt. It is a directive from Han Mo, the Commissioner of Coastal Defense for Liangzhe and Fujian circuits, sent to the Ministry of Justice a month and a half ago, requesting an investigation into the assets of the Pu family."
After hearing Liang Shicheng's words, Fan Zhixu was completely stunned.
Heaven and Earth as his witness, he had truly never seen this document from beginning to end!
"The document I hold, Your Majesty, is also from Lord Han, sent to the Kaifeng Prefecture a month and a half ago!"
After Liang Shicheng finished speaking, Gao Qiu also raised the document in his hand high.
"Your Majesty, this humble official has never seen this document before!"
Du Chong, his face pale with fear, immediately knelt on the ground with a thud.
"Lord Du, are you implying that I, this Grand Marshal, am framing you? This document was retrieved from your Kaifeng Prefecture's filing system, and it bears your prefecture's seal. Would you like to verify it yourself?"
Although Gao Qiu had no idea what was happening, he, as the Grand Marshal of the Palace Guards, had always had a less-than-cordial relationship with the Kaifeng Prefecture. Now that he had an opportunity to step on Du Chong, he naturally wouldn't show any politeness!
"This, this..."
"Fan Zhixu, Du Chong, you two explain these two documents!"
After examining the documents they presented, Zhao Ji turned to Fan Zhixu and Du Chong with a cold smile.
"I, I..."
Taking the document from the Ministry of Justice, Fan Zhixu was now truly speechless.
Clearly, he hadn't seen this document at all from beginning to end, yet it bore his seal. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
After all, this document was personally retrieved by Liang Shicheng, and it also carried his seal. Now, even if he jumped into the Yellow River, he couldn't clear his name!
"Lord Fan, Lord Du, would you two tell me that you have never seen these two documents?"
Seeing their bewildered expressions, Han Mo asked with a cold smile.
"This, this..."
"What is this? Would the two esteemed lords say that I am also framing you?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject truly has not seen this document. I implore Your Majesty to grant me an opportunity to investigate myself!"
In just this short while, Fan Zhixu's forehead was already covered in cold sweat.
He still hadn't figured out what was going on, but Cai You, who had been watching from the sidelines, suddenly seemed to understand something when he saw Cai Jing's smile that was neither a smile nor not a smile…
Letting out a long sigh, Cai You closed his eyes in despair.
The position of Minister of Justice would be forever out of his reach from now on…
Having been father and son for many years, he thought he understood his father well enough, but only now did he realize how far he still was from his father…
"What exactly is going on?"
Taking advantage of the uproar among the court officials, Zhao Kai, who had been standing beside him, lowered his head and asked in a hushed voice.
"The old man made his move…"
After uttering these words, Cai You lost all interest in continuing to watch.
Although he didn't know how Cai Jing had managed it, thinking about all the things his father had done over the years, his heart was filled with bitterness.
Cai Jing had sat in the position of Prime Minister for so many years, and the number of mid-to-high-ranking officials he had suppressed and bullied was truly countless.
The number of people who cursed him in this world could also be said to be countless, but among those who cursed him, there were very few low-ranking officials!
This was because during Cai Jing's tenure, he had consecutively raised the salaries and treatment of these low-ranking officials by several levels!
This method, which Cai You had initially considered beneath notice, made him realize now that compared to these high-ranking officials, the minor clerks in these government offices were the most chilling power in Bianliang City…
Just like now, even in places like the Ministry of Justice and Kaifeng Prefecture, Cai Jing could, without anyone noticing, place these two fatal documents where they belonged, without Du Chong and Fan Zhixu having any knowledge of it…
"Minister Fan, Lord Du, such important documents have been accumulating in your respective offices for such a long time, and you both claim not to have seen them? Moreover, they bear your personal seals. Do the two esteemed lords believe such words yourselves?"
Before Zhao Ji could speak, Liang Shicheng stepped forward with a cold smile, adding another blow…