"What's going on? Why all the commotion?"
Zhao Ji, already frustrated, asked impatiently upon hearing the noise from outside.
Upon hearing the voice from the main hall, Liang Shicheng could only brace himself and walk back in.
This matter had already escalated to the Kaifeng Prefecture. There was no way to suppress it. At this point, he had no choice but to face the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, Cai Xiangong's son was teaching his servant a lesson in front of the Kaifeng Prefecture. His subordinate accidentally beat someone to death. That person was a free man..."
"What did you say?"
After hearing Liang Shicheng's words, Zhao Ji's expression turned peculiar. Beating someone to death in front of the Kaifeng Prefecture...
Why didn't this bastard go and beat someone in front of the Imperial Palace!
"Your Majesty, look..."
Seeing Zhao Ji's face darken like the bottom of a pot, Liang Shicheng quickly asked in a low voice.
"How is Zhang Shaoyou handling this?"
At this moment, Zhao Ji truly hated Cai Tao. This scoundrel was really good at causing him trouble!
If it were just this scoundrel, he would probably deserve to die ten times over.
Among Cai Jing's sons, this one was the most worthless. If he didn't resemble Cai Jing by eighty percent, Zhao Ji would have doubted if he was Cai Jing's biological son!
Cai Jing had navigated the officialdom his entire life, wielding power with unparalleled skill. Regardless of how he was judged by the common people, his mastery of political maneuvering was undoubtedly top-tier in the realm!
Even when he was obscure, he had repeatedly switched between the New and Old Factions, carving out a path for himself in the cracks between them within a few short years.
From then on, he became even more unstoppable. Describing him as peerlessly intelligent and almost demonic in his schemes was no exaggeration!
While his other sons might not have possessed Cai Jing's political acumen, they had inherited some of his strengths in other areas to varying degrees.
But when it came to Cai Tao, Zhao Ji couldn't find any redeeming qualities in the young man.
Greedy, reckless, and stubborn. If he weren't Cai Jing's son, given his actions, he wouldn't have survived in the officialdom, let alone the business world.
Now, Cai Jing had been so angered by him that he vomited blood, yet this scoundrel still had the audacity to provoke people in front of the Kaifeng Prefecture and beat someone to death at its entrance. This was clearly a blatant challenge to the Kaifeng Prefecture!
"The person is being held at the Kaifeng Prefecture, and all the servants he brought with him have already been thrown into prison..."
When the Emperor inquired, Liang Shicheng could only relay the information he had.
"Summon the imperial decree!"
"Cai Tao is cruel and reckless in his actions, deeply disappointing me. Stripped of his Jinshi title, he shall be handed over to Zhang Shaoyou, the Junior Assistant of the Kaifeng Prefecture, to be dealt with justly!"
"Your Majesty!"
Upon hearing Zhao Ji's decision regarding Cai Tao, Liang Shicheng was greatly alarmed. Punishing Cai Tao at this juncture would signify that the Emperor had completely abandoned Cai Jing!
"Doesn't he deserve punishment?"
As Zhao Ji spoke, a murderous glint began to appear in his eyes.
"Your Majesty, Cai Xiangong is currently bedridden. If his son is punished at this time, it might cause..."
Liang Shicheng trailed off, sensing the Emperor's increasingly grim expression. He quickly swallowed the rest of his words.
"There's no need to discuss this further. Draft the imperial decree and send it directly to the Central Secretariat!"
With a cold snort, Zhao Ji flicked his sleeve and strode out of the hall.
Only after the Emperor had departed did a cold smile appear on Liang Shicheng's face.
Having served Zhao Ji for so many years, he understood the Emperor's temperament thoroughly. If he hadn't intervened to advise against it, Zhao Ji would likely have resented him later when he realized the implications.
With his words, even if Zhao Ji regretted it later, it would have nothing to do with him.
"Tong Guan, Tong Guan, don't blame me for being ruthless. Although we are both men without roots, you are simply too greedy..."
After muttering softly, the cold smile on Liang Shicheng's face slowly faded.
Although Liang Shicheng no longer aspired to climb higher, he was unwilling to see Tong Guan soar unchecked and trample on him.
If Tong Guan returned safely from Hebei and took possession of those cities, according to Emperor Shenzong's decree, he would undoubtedly be granted the title of a Prince of a different lineage.
In that case, Tong Guan's status would completely crush Liang Shicheng, which was something Liang Shicheng absolutely did not want to see!
"Grand Commandant Liang, should this imperial decree truly be drafted?"
Seeing the Emperor leave in a huff, Du Yiannian, a Secretary serving in the hall, hurried over and asked in a low voice.
"Didn't His Majesty already say it? Just do as His Majesty wishes!"
Since his objective had been achieved, Liang Shicheng saw no need for further discussion. He uttered a sentence and then followed in the direction the Emperor had gone.
With his pronouncement, Du Yiannian had no choice but to hand the drafted imperial edict to a eunuch waiting nearby as per procedure.
"Brother Ziyi, why have you come at this hour? Weren't you on sick leave?"
As Zhang Bangchang pondered how to extricate himself from the current political storm, he suddenly saw Fan Zhengguo enter from outside.
"I've been resting at home for these past few days and finally feel much better. I thought with so many matters in court and Cai Xiangong reportedly ill, I couldn't leave everything to you alone! Feeling a bit better, I returned today to at least share some of your burden!"
Although Fan Zhengguo looked down on Zhang Bangchang, that two-faced individual, he still maintained the basic courtesy.
"Don't laugh at me, Brother Ziyi. These past few days when you were away, I was truly overwhelmed. Look at this pile of memorials; how could I possibly handle them all alone!"
As Zhang Bangchang spoke, he gestured to the memorials in front of him.
"Your Excellencies, this is an imperial decree just issued by His Majesty. Please review it!"
As the two were speaking, a eunuch hurried in, holding a scroll of imperial yellow.
"Oh? Brother Ziyi, why don't you handle this? I still have a few memorials that need my attention over there!"
After merely glancing at the eunuch, Zhang Bangchang spoke directly.
Hearing his words, Fan Zhengguo couldn't help but curse the old fox inwardly. However, this matter was exactly what he had come for. If his guess was correct, this imperial decree was most likely the very thing he had been waiting for!