I Became the Devil Queen's Heart Demon-Chapter 75 - 60: A Verbal Clash in the Court, Chen Mo Cracks the Case! (Please follow!)
Chapter 75: Chapter 60: A Verbal Clash in the Court, Chen Mo Cracks the Case! (Please follow!)
Golden Water Bridge.
A white jade arch bridge spans the babbling river below, glistening like a brilliant jade belt in the sunlight, linking the inside and outside of the Imperial Palace.
Beyond the Golden Water Bridge lies the Fengtian Gate.
This is the mandatory path for all civil and military officials to attend the court.
According to the laws of Great Yuan, there are court assemblies at the beginning and middle of each month.
Ever since Emperor Wu Lie was plagued by serious illness, unable to manage court affairs and leaving discipline relaxed in mere formality.
After the Empress announced she would listen to court affairs from behind a curtain, she revitalized court discipline and increased the court assemblies to three times a month, every ten days.
On the day of the court assembly, civil and military officials must arrive at the Imperial Palace before 5 a.m. They wait in front of the Golden Water Bridge for the bell to ring, and then enter the grand hall through Fengtian Gate.
There is a quarter of an hour left before entering the hall; officials gather in groups, chatting and laughing in high spirits.
The scene seems harmonious but is distinctly divided.
On the left, there is the group of officials led by the Imperial Examination Hall and the royal censors.
They oversee officials and impeach misconduct, mockingly called "Vulture Hyenas" by the enemy party, hinting that they feed on rotten flesh and once they bite, they do not let go.
To the right is the real power group led by the Six Ministries.
Among them, the Ministry of Personnel stays out of party strife, notably led by both the Ministry of Criminal Justice and the Ministry of Revenue, powerful and wealthy, with strong backbones.
...
"Did you hear about what happened at Drunken Moon Restaurant?"
"I heard, the entire place was dismantled... I even had fifty pounds of top-grade peach blossom brew stored there."
"They say it was Chen Mo’s doing, not only did he kill people, but he also cut down a Sky Scale Guard Hundred Households!"
"Hiss, him again?"
"Not only that, but the Lin Family and Zhou Family were also involved; Young Master Zhou was even forced to publicly kneel..."
"Nonsense! Vice Minister Zhou is not weaker than Chen Zhuo in power, how could Zhou Jing’an be brought to such a state?"
"Just listen to me, it wasn’t Chen Mo who knelt, it was the Gold Token! That kid somehow had a Flying Phoenix Order..."
The crowd whispers amongst each other.
Zhou Chuanbing in a purple robe stands not far away, with faint gray hair at his temples, exuding an aura of unspoken authority.
Currently, his face is dark and unpleasant to look at.
Although the matter had been suppressed, there is no wall in the world that doesn’t let wind through.
That Zhou Jing’an was forced to kneel has spread in their circles; this undoubtedly is a stain on the Zhou Family’s honor!
Yan Peizhi, standing beside him, frowns and says: "What is Her Majesty the Empress really thinking? Slashing a mere demon is one thing, elevating someone to the rank of Hundred Household Officer is already an exceptional reward, and she even gave him a Flying Phoenix Order?"
Zhou Chuanbing replies in a deep voice: "What’s there to guess? Naturally, it’s to curry favor with Chen Zhuo!"
In his eyes, Chen Mo had no worth, merely a Barbarian Slave; how could he possibly receive the favor of the Empress?
"The Empress is confused, with the Chen Family and Consort Yu tightly bound together, how could they possibly switch allegiances?"
Yan Peizhi shakes his head.
Zhou Chuanbing’s expression grows fierce, "In today’s court, I will demand an explanation!"
Yan Peizhi’s gaze turns cold, too.
He has been frustrated in front of the Empress three times, all because of Chen Mo.
Now with Yan Liang still imprisoned in the Imperial Prison, many officials are implicated.
Although Yan Liang is his nephew, all he wishes now is for Yan Liang to die quickly, lest the fire burn himself.
"The corruption case in the Ministry of Revenue, I have already compromised, and yet they still don’t know what’s good for them..."
"Do they really think I can be easily manipulated?"
...
Dong—
The bell tolls.
The bustling atmosphere instantly becomes solemn.
Officials line up according to their grade, civil servants on the left, military officers on the right, crossing the Golden Water Bridge in order.
Zhou Chuanbing happens to be behind Chen Zhuo.
He deliberately clears his throat, drawing the attention of those nearby, and scoffs, "Mr. Chen, you sure have raised a fine son!"
Chen Zhuo glances back at him, his eyes complex, "Mr. Zhou, you... also have a fine son."
?
Zhou Chuanbing’s eyebrows knit together slightly.
Based on Chen Zhuo’s usual character, after such a sarcastic comment, he normally would have cursed Zhou Chuanbing’s ancestors eighteen generations back.
This time, his attitude is somewhat abnormal...
Is he softening?
Right, Chen Mo is in charge of the Demon Clan case, with no progress and the deadline looming, he is unable to deliver the results!
"Now you know fear? Hmph, too late!"
"This matter is not over yet!"
Vice Minister Zhou revealed a hint of a cold smile.
Chen Zhuo shook his head and said no more.
Passing through Fengtian Gate, stepping into the Golden Throne Hall.
Upon looking up, they saw the dragon throne was empty, with a bamboo curtain standing beside it, which was as thin as a cicada’s wing and resembling a piece of brocade, faintly revealing a bright yellow figure sitting behind it.
"Long live, long live, long live our Emperor!"
The officials faced the throne and performed the ritual of kneeling and bowing three times.
Then they bowed to Her Majesty the Empress, "Your Highness, thousand years, thousand years, ten thousand years of longevity!"
A cool voice came from behind the bamboo curtain: "Everybody rise."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
The officials stood up.
Eunuch Jin, dressed in a python robe, declared loudly, "Those with matters may report; those without, the court is dismissed."
"Your servant has a report to make!"
Before the echo subsided, Minister of the Ministry of Justice Xu Lin, holding a ruler, stepped forward vigorously.
"This humble official wishes to accuse the Sky Scale Guard households Commander Yun He!"
"The case of ’nurturing barbarian slaves’ has seen the accused imprisoned for over a month, yet the case remains unresolved and has repeatedly refused summons for interrogation by the Three Departments!"
"This humble official suspects that Yun He is sheltering the criminal, deceiving superiors and subordinates alike! I hope Your Highness discerns his deceit, demands his resignation in favor of the worthy, so the truth can be heard clearly!"
Xu Lin’s loud voice resonated in the hall.
"This official seconds the motion!"
"This humble official seconds the motion!"
"What Mr. Xu says is reasonable!"
Following a cue from Yan Peizhi, several Ministers of the Ministry of Criminal Justice spoke up in agreement.
As the atmosphere settled down, the Empress’s indifferent voice rang out, "Yun He, is this the case?"
From the back, a middle-aged man in a crimson official robe stepped out and bowed, "Reporting to Your Highness, the barbarian slave case is not as simple as it appears, it involves a broad scope..."
Upon these words, many officials’ faces subtly changed.
At this moment, Zhou Chuanbing spoke up, "Commander Yun, I’m afraid that’s something Mr. Chen taught you to say, right?"
"As far as this official knows, Chen Mo privately interrogated Yan Liang, and ever since then, Yan Liang has clamped his mouth shut, denying guilt to death."
"Could it be that the two have reached some sort of deal? Intending to frame and bite others?"
The ministers nodded in agreement.
Without conclusive evidence, all were deemed slander!
Yun He said indifferently, "The Sky Scale Guard’s internal affairs seem to be quite clear to Assistant Minister Zhou."
Zhou Chuanbing squinted slightly, and coldly snorted, "This official is concerned about the case and wishes to relieve Your Highness of worry. Is there a mistake in that?"
"Furthermore, this official has long heard of Chen Mo’s reputation, of being arrogant and domineering because of his merits in slaying demons, acting recklessly, and irresponsibly!"
"Holding a position for formality’s sake, neglecting his duties, responsible for investigating the Demon Clan case but has made no progress to this date!"
"And misusing the Gold Token, impersonating Imperial Power, committing the heinous crime of high treason!"
The Empress granting the Gold Token does not mean it can be used at will.
In theory, the Flying Phoenix Order Chen Mo held was only for entering and leaving the Imperial Palace.
Publicly displaying it was indeed an act against regulations.
Hearing this, the officials became displeased.
"Nonsense!"
"Mr. Zhou, do not confuse the public!"
"Words should be backed by evidence, how can slanderers stir up trouble on the court floor?!"
"How dare you, who are you calling a slanderer?"
"You, bird person, &*%￥#..."
Both sides started yelling at each other, red-faced and necks swelling, various vulgar street expressions came flying out.
Eunuch Jin’s eyelids twitched wildly.
Party strife within the Great Yuan was fierce, and scenes of "hair-pulling" also occurred from time to time.
But having such a commotion over a Sixth-Rank minor official was indeed a first...
Behind the bamboo curtain, the Empress rubbed her temples.
"I granted him the token to take a stand, but instead, he goes around flaunting power?"
"He’s not taking the Demon Clan case seriously... let’s see how you explain yourself when the deadline comes!"
She couldn’t help feeling more dissatisfied with Chen Mo.
At this time, the previously silent Chen Zhuo straightened his official robes, stepped forward, and bowed, "Reporting to Your Highness, according to this humble official’s knowledge, the Demon Clan case has been cracked!"
Upon this declaration, the hall immediately quieted down.
