The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 649: Chapter 649: Blood Kin

At last, the officials understood why Emperor Muwu had flown into such a rage.

For such treasonous acts—colluding with the enemy and betraying the nation—even death by a thousand cuts would be letting him off easy!

The imperial court was a tangled mess of saints and sinners, each official with their own agenda. To claim any of them were completely innocent was an impossibility.

But this time, Zheng Baosu had truly caused a cataclysmic disaster.

”How could he be so audacious!”

Chen Songshi cupped his fists and declared in a somber voice,

”I implore Your Majesty to pass judgment swiftly! A traitor of this magnitude must not be shown any leniency!”

Emperor Muwu, of course, had no intention of letting the matter rest.

He took a deep breath. ”Relay my decree—strip Zheng Baosu of all official titles and immediately dispatch men to escort him back to the Capital City! Remember! I want him alive!”

A chill ran through the assembled officials.

’He wants him alive! Emperor Muwu is going to interrogate him personally!’

For a man guilty of so many crimes, dying out on the frontier would have been a blessing. Once Zheng Baosu set foot in the Capital City, he would face a fate worse than death—a state of being unable to live and forbidden to die.

”Yes, Your Majesty!”

Emperor Muwu’s eyes were dark as he slowly scanned the officials. ”This Zheng Baosu has been running rampant for years, yet his crimes are only coming to light today. I suspect there are people, both high and low, who have been covering for him, are there not?”

The officials fell deathly silent.

Emperor Muwu hadn’t expected a direct answer. He simply called out, ”Miao Sheng!”

”Your servant is here!”

Emperor Muwu raised his hand and began pointing to the officials, one by one.

All of them bowed their heads, not daring to move a muscle.

The atmosphere seemed to freeze over.

”Such fine officials... all of you! On a matter of this magnitude, I refuse to believe you were all completely in the dark! How many in this court have accepted favors from Zheng Baosu, helping him conceal his many sins... You all know perfectly well! COUGH, COUGH COUGH—”

Overcome with agitation, Emperor Muwu erupted into a violent coughing fit.

Eunuch Li stepped forward in concern. ”Your Majesty—”

Emperor Muwu waved a hand dismissively. As the coughing subsided, a feverish flush appeared on his face, yet his lips were unnaturally pale.

Only his eyes, though old, remained sharp and brimming with a formidable authority that no one dared to meet.

”Investigate! I want to see just how many people on his ship we can capsize with this one push!”

...

After the court session was dismissed, the officials began to file out.

They gathered in small groups, their expressions a mixture of emotions.

Naturally, the sole topic of their conversations was Zheng Baosu.

”I mean, what was that Zheng Baosu thinking? If he didn’t have the skills to lead troops into battle, he should have just been content as a minor official. Why was he so desperate to climb the ladder?”

”Haha, is that even a question? The higher you climb, the greater the rewards!”

”True enough. If Lord Mou hadn’t exposed him today, he’d still be living his charmed life! He accumulated a mountain of military honors without ever setting foot on a battlefield, rising through the ranks with ease and grasping immense power. Who wouldn’t want a deal like that?”

”It was all just a series of cheap tricks. Did he really think he could get away with it forever? Hmph. This time, Lord Mou has blown the whole thing wide open. I bet Zheng Baosu won’t even know what hit him when the time comes!”

”Tell me about it. The man had some nerve! Forget everything else, he actually dared to trade with Master Wa—and selling military weapons, no less! He must have had a death wish! Doesn’t he understand the principle that some money is worth earning, and some will get you killed? Well, this time his greed has finally been his undoing.”

As the men were talking, Xu Fengchi caught a familiar figure in the corner of his eye and immediately called out.

”Lord Fan!”

Fan Chengzhuo, who had been hurrying away, froze. He turned, cupped his fists toward the group, and forced a smile. ”Lord Xu, is something the matter?”

Xu Fengchi sized him up, pretending not to notice his troubled expression, and smiled. ”Oh, nothing important. I just saw that you looked rather anxious, Lord Fan. Is there some emergency at home?”

Court had just been dismissed. They hadn’t even left the palace gates. How could he possibly know about trouble at home?

Xu Fengchi’s question was clearly loaded.

Fan Chengzhuo naturally picked up on the implication, but with his guilty conscience, he had no energy for a repartee.

”It’s nothing.”

His tone made it clear he didn’t want to discuss it further.

”If there’s nothing else, Lord Xu, I’ll be on my way.”

”Ah—”

Xu Fengchi took a step forward, subtly blocking his path, a smile still fixed on his face.

But it was a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

”We were just discussing Zheng Baosu’s case. Although you are no longer the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Lord Fan, we are all officials of this court. We ought to share His Majesty’s burdens. I was wondering, what are your thoughts on the matter?”

Fan Chengzhuo suppressed his feelings, his voice flat and cold. ”His Majesty will render his own judgment. It is not our place to offer excessive commentary.”

”How could this be considered commentary? We’re merely chatting. Besides, once he is escorted back to the Capital City, he will surely face a joint trial by the Three Judicial Departments—”

Xu Fengchi served in the Imperial Supervision Office, so of course he was deeply involved in this case.

It was only natural for him to show such concern.

Fan Chengzhuo found this difficult to refute, which only added to his vexation.

However, just as he was about to excuse himself and leave, Xu Fengchi’s next sentence nailed him to the spot.

”By the way, I recall that Zheng Baosu... he’s related to you in some way, isn’t he, Lord Fan?” Xu Fengchi asked, as if the thought had just occurred to him.

Every nerve in Fan Chengzhuo’s body went taut.

Xu Fengchi continued thoughtfully, ”As I recall, he’s a younger member of your clan, isn’t he? I believe... he’s supposed to call you his cousin-uncle?”

As his words fell, the other officials stared, stunned.

”Is that true?”

”So Lord Fan and that Zheng Baosu are related? How come we’ve never heard anyone mention it?”

”Indeed...”

In an instant, the way the others looked at Fan Chengzhuo changed.

Fan Chengzhuo was internally seething, but he dared not let it show. In a measured tone, he said, ”My clan is large, but our family branches separated long ago, and we have little contact with one another. I have met this Zheng Baosu only a handful of times, let alone had any deeper connection. You, on the other hand, Lord Xu... you seem to take a special interest in such things?”

”Of course I am.” Xu Fengchi’s smile was unwavering. ”His Majesty is greatly troubled by this affair. As his ministers, it is our duty to ease his burdens. Moreover, His Majesty himself decreed today that everyone connected to Zheng Baosu’s interests, from top to bottom, is to be thoroughly investigated... Family ties are of particular importance in such an inquiry. Wouldn’t you agree, Lord Fan?”

Fan Chengzhuo felt the air catch in his throat, and his expression turned frigid.

”I, Fan Chengzhuo, have always conducted myself with integrity! If you must investigate, then do so! In fact, I hope you act quickly, so that my name may be cleared all the sooner!”

With that, he flung his sleeve in a sharp gesture, turned, and strode away.

Xu Fengchi watched his retreating back, let out a soft, mocking laugh, and called out while cupping his fists,

”Then—we shall take you at your word, Lord Fan!”

Fan Chengzhuo stumbled, nearly tumbling down the steps.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to regain his balance. Glancing down, he discovered his palms were slick with cold sweat.