For such injustice, although Cao Rui had already had psychological preparation, the anger was still inevitable when it appeared in front of him.
How could such a large city as Luoyang and so many people in the imperial court all be completely clean, even if the 'bright and clear' concept is in full swing?
It's just that when high-ranking officials do things like using power for personal gain, it's about exchanging interests, but for lower-level officials, it becomes squabbling and dishonesty in pursuit of personal gains.
Cao Rui nodded and asked, "Zhuge Dan, Yuan Kan, Xu Yun, right? What are their backgrounds?"
Just as Xin Zhi was about to speak, Wei Zhen spoke out first: "Your Majesty, Zhuge Dan is from the Longxiang Zhuge family, and he is of the same clan as Zhuge Liang and Zhuge Jing."
"Yuan Kan is the son of the former Censor-in-Chief Yuan Huan, and Xu Yun was also a renowned scholar from Hejian Commandery."
Cao Rui humphed lightly: "Scholar, the one thing that the emperor dislikes most is the so-called scholar. The emperor's memory is a bit vague. Is Yuan Huan from the Yuan family in Ruyang? How could he become Censor-in-Chief?"
Wei Zhen explained, "After the late emperor ascended the throne, he changed the position of Censor-in-Chief to that of Grand Minister of Works. Wang Shu is known as the Grand Minister of Works before it was renamed, and his original position was that of Censor-in-Chief, which he inherited from Yuan Huan."
"This Yuan Huan is not from the Yuan family in Nanyang, but another branch of the Chen County Yuan family."
Looking at Wei Zhen, who answered seriously, Cao Rui was thinking about something unrelated to the case.
Before assigning Wei Zhen as the Right Minister of Works and entering the palace to serve in the Eastern Study, it was mainly to delegate some powers and responsibilities from Sima Yi, who held the position of Prime Minister responsible for the Book of Rites.
According to the general case as described by Xin Bi and Wei Zhen, it should be that these people like Zhuge Dan, Yuan Kan, and Xu Yun privately committed illegal acts, and inadvertently involved Wei Zhen.
Is there any way to get rid of the responsibility on Wei Zhen's shoulders?
"Come, let's go back to the study with me." Cao Rui tossed the inlaid gold and carved bow he was holding to the eunuch standing by, clapped his hands, and walked ahead.
Xin Bi and Wei Zhen looked at each other, and then followed.
As they were approaching the study, Cao Rui glanced at both the West Wing and East Wing, but suddenly thought of a new perspective.
If Wei Zhen is to be held responsible, then as the Prime Minister responsible for the Book of Rites, Sima Yi should also be held accountable. Theoretically, in terms of powers and responsibilities at the Secretariat, Sima Yi's position is higher than that of Wei Zhen, so both of them should suffer together!
Cao Rui gradually came to a stop, standing at the steps in front of the courtyard, turned to look at Xin Bi and Wei Zhen.
"Xin Zhongshu, Wei Laoshi, the emperor has already roughly come up with an idea. Please listen to it."
Wei Zhen spoke first, bowing and saying, "Please, Your Majesty, give your orders."
Cao Rui whispered, "Does Wei Zhen want to investigate as the Inspector of the Circuit?"
Wei Zhen said bluntly: "Your Majesty, Zhuge Dan, Yuan Kan, and Xu Yun are all the subjects of the humble servant. If the humble servant investigates it by himself, it may provoke criticism from both the court and the world."
"The humble servant requests to step aside to avoid any suspicion. Let the Minister of Justice Gao Wenhui investigate this matter," Wei Zhen said, looking up at the emperor. "Furthermore, I believe that the School Affairs Office should not interfere any further. The School Affairs Office can be used to investigate officials, but it is better not to involve it in the interrogation process after a case has occurred."
"What do you think, Xin Qing?" Cao Rui looked at Xin Bi.
Xin Bi replied with a bitter smile, "Your Majesty, I am merely fulfilling your commission to oversee the School Affairs Office. How could I have any intention of taking on the role of a large-scale event?"
"What Minister Wei said is extremely appropriate. The School Affairs Office is meant to assist Your Majesty and the court in investigating various matters, and it should not interfere with trial procedures. Moreover, this should be established as a precedent in the future."
Cao Rui nodded: "Alright, let's entrust this matter to Gao Ruan. According to the usual procedures for the Minister of Justice's Office, can these three be put in the Imperial Jail?"
Xin Bi replied, "In the realm of possibility and impossibility."
Cao Rui said, "These people are truly detestable. Let them all be imprisoned in the Imperial Jail, but remember not to use any coercion, and leave some face for the Secretariat."
"Your servant will comply with the order," Xin Bi replied. "I also have something to report to the emperor."
Why are there so many things happening today?
Cao Rui looked up at Xin Bi: "Xin Qing, you may speak."
Xin Bi bowed and said: "Your servant has been very busy recently. He wishes to recommend someone for a position and help the humble servant divide some of the trivial matters."
This was the first time that Xin Bi had recommended someone in front of him. Cao Rui smiled and said, "Has Xin Zhongshu discovered any promising young talents? Please tell the emperor what you've found."
Xin Bi also smiled and replied, "Indeed, it is a young talent. The one I wish to recommend is Du Yu, the son of Du Ji, known as Du Wu Bo. He is thirty years old, serving as a clerk at the Ministry of Rites, and has just returned from an inspection visit to Wuchang with Sima Zihua. He has gained some insights."
Cao Rui closed his eyes and said, "I seem to recall that before serving as the Prime Minister responsible for the Book of Rites, Du Ji was serving as a governor in the Yellow River Delta."
Xin Bi bowed and said, "Your Majesty is correct. Du Ji served as a governor in the Yellow River Delta for sixteen years, and his achievements were always among the best in the country. As the son of Du Ji, Du Xu is sincere and modest, and he is a person who can get things done."
Cao Rui clapped his hands: "Good, then let Du Xu become an Assistant to the Prime Minister. This way, he can also assist Xin Qing in the palace."
Xin Bi said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Cao Rui shook his head slightly: "Xin Zhongshu is recommending talent for the country. What does he have to thank me for? Go and hand over these three to the Minister of Justice's Office."
"By the way, it's been a long time since I last went to the Cultural Observatory. Tomorrow morning, Xin and Chen, the two ministers, along with Wei Laoshi and the Grand Minister of Works, will accompany me to the Cultural Observatory."
"Your servant will comply with the order," Wei Zhen and Xin Bi said in unison, bowing.
Xin Bi recommended Du Xu, and according to common sense, Cao Rui had no reason to refuse.
In this era, ministers not only have the power to govern but also the power to recommend officials. If a minister is refused when recommending subordinates for positions, it would indeed be like slapping their face.
At dusk, the Ministry of Justice's Office.
The School Affairs Office could make the news spread throughout the city or do things quietly, depending entirely on the instructions from their superiors.
Xin Bi and Wei Zhen naturally did not want to spread the news, so when Zhuge Dan, Yuan Kan, and Xu Yun were taken out of the Secretariat and onto the carriage, few people knew about it.
The carriage naturally headed for the Imperial Jail, and it was not necessary for Xin Bi to personally go to inform the Minister of Justice Gao Ruan about this trivial matter.
Du Xu, who had just taken up the post of Assistant to the Prime Minister, was assigned this task, along with School Affairs Office Lieutenant Dou Shao, to head to the Ministry of Justice's Office.
From the lieutenant up to the chief of guards and squad leader at the School Affairs Office, each one is a skilled person.
Pan Xiao and Du Xu rode together in a carriage to the Ministry of Justice's Office. Pan Xiao talked to Du Xu for a long time about Wu, and occasionally mentioned some secrets that the School Affairs Office had learned about Wu. It was clear that they had a great rapport.
When they arrived at the Ministry of Justice's Office, Pan Xiao exited the carriage first and, with a smile, pulled back the curtain to invite Du Xu inside: "Please enter, Du Regent."
Du Xu is just sincere, practical, and not overly concerned with worldly matters. It does not mean he is unaware of human nature and social etiquette.
Du Xu had already realized that Pan Xiao was being polite to him, mostly because he had helped Xin Bi, and Xin Bi was Pan Xiao's immediate superior.
Du Xu remained seated without moving, bowing and saying, "Please, Lieutenant Pan, don't be so polite to me in the future. You are a senior officer with a salary of two thousand measures of grain, and your respect is something that Mr. Xin can bear. How could I, a junior official with a salary of six hundred measures of grain, dare to accept it?"
Pan Xiao smiled and said, "What you said, Du Regent, is correct. I was over-polite."
After Pan Xiao had pulled the curtain down, Du Xu got out of the carriage by himself and opened the curtain again to walk out. He walked alongside Pan Xiao into the Ministry of Justice's Office.
Gao Ruan had already prepared to leave work and go home, but upon hearing about this matter from Du Xu, he felt a sudden and inexplicable surprise.
Du Xu reached into his bosom and pulled out a stack of documents, presenting them with both hands: "Respectfully, Minister Gao, the case has been explained in detail. Here are Mr. Xin and Mr. Wei's handwritten documents."
"I estimate that the carriage carrying the three has almost arrived at the Imperial Jail. Please arrange for their reception there, Minister Gao."
The Ting Yavel supervisor Wang Guan, who was sitting on the side, slowly stood up and took the documents from Du Xu and handed them to Gao Ruan.
After a quick glance, Gao Ruan said: "Since it is Zaozhi Brother and Gongzhen together who have instructed, the old man will personally go to the Imperial Jail."
"Du Wu Bo? When your father was still alive, he and I had a good friendship. Come along with me."
After a look at Du Xu, Gao Ruan looked over at the respectful School Affairs Office Lieutenant Pan Xiao standing by the side: "As for the people from the School Affairs Office, you should not come with me. Go and find other things to do."
Pan Xiao looked at Gao Ruan and bowed deeply: "Thank you, Minister Gao. I will take my leave."
Gao Ruan waved his hand in a dismissive manner, as if he were trying to shoo away a pest: "Go on, go on!"
After bowing, Pan Xiao turned and left. Du Xu, who had witnessed the whole scene, could roughly understand the thoughts of Minister Gao Ruan.
After all, the last time he angered the emperor, kneeling in the North Palace study room, was because he wanted to reduce the power of the School Affairs Office, thus displeasing the emperor.
Well, it's fine in the North Palace, but at the Ministry of Justice, a place where you're supposed to have some power, are you going to be frightened by a lowly school officer?
Minister Gao and Du Xu arrived together at the Imperial Jail in a carriage, and as the Minister of Justice personally attended, things were naturally dealt with quickly.
From the moment they entered the Imperial Jail, through the completion of the transfer from School Affairs Office officials and court officials by Gao Ruan and Du Xu, to the confinement of Zhuge Dan, Yuan Kan, and Xu Yun in the same cell, everything was observed by Gao Ruan and Du Xu together.
As all the trivial matters were settled and they were about to leave, Gao Ruan turned to Du Xu and said, "Today's matter is resolved. Starting tomorrow morning, we will begin the interrogation. If there are any results, I will send someone immediately to notify Minister Xin and Minister Wei."
Du Xu understood, this was Gao Ruan, indirectly, expressing goodwill towards Xin Bi and Wei Zhen through himself.
Du Xu bowed and said: "It's getting late, thank you for your trouble, Your Excellency. I will certainly explain to Mr. Xin and Mr. Wei when I return."
"Very good," Gao Ruan replied, stroking his beard, and then turned around and left.
As Gao Ruan walked out two steps, Du Xu was about to follow, but finally got the opportunity to turn and look into the right-hand cell.
Just now at the Ministry of Justice, Gao Ruan said that he had a good relationship with Du Xu's father Du Ji. It was nothing but polite talk.
It was Yuan Kan's father Yuan Huan and uncle Yuan Ba who had a genuinely deep friendship with Du Ji!
At this time, Yuan Kan's eyes were wide open, staring at Du Xu outside the cell, mouthing the two words repeatedly silently: "Save me!" (End of this chapter)
