"Your subordinate is here!"
Qin Hui smiled calmly, then bowed to Nie Shan again.
"Present it!"
Seeing the inexplicable glances cast by the surrounding crowd, Qin Hui couldn't help but smile bitterly. He understood that this was his pledge of allegiance.
The reason Wang Fu wanted him to deliver this item was nothing more than to cut off his retreat, branding him completely with Wang Fu's mark from then on.
"Yes!"
Several bailiffs immediately stepped forward and took a large bundle from Qin Hui's hand.
The moment this bundle appeared, Bai Shizhong in the crowd felt every inch of his muscles trembling. If the contents of this bundle were what he guessed, then today would likely be the last day of his political career.
"Is this the evidence you mentioned?"
In the courtroom, Nie Shan had no room to retreat.
He didn't even look at the contents of the bundle before ordering it to be passed directly to Xu Changhao.
After carefully examining the contents of the bundle, Xu Changhao nodded.
"That's right, it's these things!"
"Present it!"
Seeing his confirmation, Nie Shan then ordered it to be brought up again.
Upon opening the bundle, a large brocade box was revealed.
However, just as he was about to open the box, a clamor suddenly erupted from outside again.
"Who is making noise? Don't you know this is the Kaifeng Prefecture's courtroom!"
Nie Shan, who was already in a foul mood, became even more upset at this moment.
Although his position as the Young Official of Kaifeng Prefecture was indeed very frustrating, he shouldn't be bullied like this by these people.
However, at this moment, an official dressed in purple robes swaggered in.
Upon seeing the man's face, Nie Shan almost jumped up.
"Grand Commandant Gao, what brings you here?"
Why would Gao Qiu, the Commander of the Imperial Guard, come to his place?
"His Majesty has decreed that Nie Shan, the Young Official of Kaifeng Prefecture, is to enter the palace immediately to see the Emperor. No delay is permitted. By imperial order!"
Gao Qiu simply smiled, cupped his hands towards the Crown Prince, and then unfurled the apricot-yellow scroll he was holding, beginning to read Emperor Huizong's imperial edict.
This time, not only Nie Shan was stunned, but even Crown Prince Zhao Huan was bewildered.
What was going on?
Although Grand Commandants were indeed not worth much nowadays, with as many as nine Grand Commandants for just the Imperial Guard alone, having Gao Qiu issue the decree seemed a bit too exaggerated.
"Your Highness, please do not be offended. This is all His Majesty's will. Let's put the interrogation aside for now, and Lord Nie, we shouldn't keep His Majesty waiting. Please!"
Gao Qiu just smiled, then handed the imperial edict in his hands to Nie Shan with both hands.
Nie Shan respectfully took it, opened the imperial edict, and read it carefully. He then looked at the Crown Prince with some confusion.
"Since Grand Commandant Gao is here, you should go with him first!"
Although Zhao Huan didn't know what had happened, since even Gao Qiu, the Commander of the Imperial Guard, had appeared, it was likely that something had developed.
"Yes!"
Nie Shan responded and was about to get up and leave, but was stopped by Gao Qiu again.
"Grand Commandant Gao, what is it?"
"His Majesty has decreed that you must take this with you!"
Gao Qiu smiled and then pointed to the box placed in front of him.
"Yes!"
Nie Shan left like this, and a perfectly good trial turned into a farce.
In a restaurant outside the Kaifeng Prefecture, Wang Fu's face turned extremely grim.
The Emperor had suddenly sent someone to take Nie Shan away at this moment and also brought all the evidence into the palace. This matter clearly seemed to have encountered some new variable.
Could it be that something had gone wrong somewhere?
Various thoughts flashed through Wang Fu's mind. He suddenly had a bad premonition that his plan this time might fail again.
"Prime Minister!"
"Enough, don't say anything more. Let's leave first, let's go back and discuss it!"
Just as Wang Chaoan was about to say something, Wang Fu suddenly raised his hand to stop him.
On the other side, seeing that the Emperor had suddenly transferred Nie Shan away at such a critical juncture and had also brought the evidence into the imperial palace, Bai Shizhong became even more uneasy.
At this moment, he could no longer be sure whether this matter was good or bad.
"Grand Commandant Gao, what exactly does His Majesty want to see me about? You see..."
In Gao Qiu's carriage, Nie Shan looked at Gao Qiu with a wry smile.
"Lord Nie, you know the rules. I cannot speak about such matters. However, isn't it a good thing for you to get rid of such a hot potato?"
Gao Qiu smiled, as if he had said everything, yet as if he had said nothing.
Seeing that he remained silent, Nie Shan could only start to speculate for himself...
An hour later, Nie Shan finally met Emperor Huizong again.
"Your subordinate, Nie Shan, the Young Official of Kaifeng Prefecture, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
"My dear minister, there is no need for formalities. Come, be seated, and have some tea!"
Zhao Ji seemed to be in a very good mood. Instead of the furious reaction Nie Shan had imagined, his face carried a faint smile.
This made Nie Shan feel somewhat bewildered.
However, when he looked up again and saw the Imperial Son-in-law Han Jiayan sitting beside him, he immediately seemed to understand something.
Compared to other court officials, although Han Jiayan held no specific substantive position, his relationship with Emperor Huizong was even closer because of this.
On one hand, he came from a renowned family, and he often discussed matters of food, drink, and entertainment with Huizong. Therefore, at many crucial moments, his words could influence Huizong's thoughts more than those of the prime minister.
"How is the case proceeding?"
After Nie Shan sat down, Zhao Ji asked.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the case has just begun. This is the evidence presented by Qin Hui, the Scholar of the Imperial Academy, on behalf of Xu Changhao!"
Nie Shan's heart sank. He immediately stood up and handed over the box he was holding.
Zhao Ji did not refuse. He signaled the young eunuch beside him to take the items, and then personally reached out and opened the box.
He took out the contents and examined them one by one. As he looked, the smile on his face slowly began to fade...
Unlike Nie Shan's unease, Han Jiayan acted as if nothing had happened.
He drank his tea to his heart's content, occasionally reaching out to tend to the potted orchid placed beside him.
After examining all the items, Zhao Ji unhurriedly opened the burning incense burner on the nearby table and poured the burning incense sticks into the box...
"There is nothing in this box. Do you understand?"
Only after seeing the paper inside begin to emit white smoke and finally turn into ashes did Zhao Ji say leisurely.