The Famous Detective of the Red Mansion

Chapter 445

“Please make a decisive decision and quickly verify the truth. We must not lose the bloodline of the state or destroy the foundation of the Zhou dynasty due to a moment of carelessness.”

Indeed, it was terrifying for later generations!

Looking at Sun Shaozong's impassioned expression, Cabinet Xu couldn't help but let out a deep sigh in his heart.

At first glance, this might sound like just following Liu Luanwei's instructions, but in reality, it blocked the opportunity for Cabinet Xu to shift the blame onto Emperor Guangde in advance.

Although the greatest reliance on imperial power to complete this plot of turning a deer into a horse was the deterrence of imperial power, if imperial power was directly used to promote this plot, the pattern would have been properly completed, and there was even a possibility of being defeated as a result!

Due to the mutual restraint between Emperor Guangde and the Supreme Emperor, as well as the inherent anomalies, they have been relegated to a weak position in terms of power and couldn’t cover up the sky with one hand.

If the ”pregnancy test” was presided over by Emperor Guangde, the ”anti-imperial faction” would likely take the risk again and try their best to break through the fraud that was personally carried out by the Emperor.

At that time, the prestige of Emperor Guangde would inevitably plummet. It could be said that the future imperial system couldn’t control it, and even the throne might be on the brink of collapse. How could they deter those who exposed the scam?

On the contrary, if the officials below find out the ”truth” and then report it to Emperor Guangde and the Supreme Emperor, even if someone risked the world's great injustice and successfully exposed this scam, Emperor Guangde was just being ”deceived” by the petty criminals. Perhaps his reputation would decrease, but he would not endanger the throne.

Except for those like the Niu Family and Prince Beijing who have the support of the Supreme Emperor, who could resist this thunderous anger?

Such a loss-making business naturally won't have many people willing to participate.

How many storms could arise with just a few powerful individuals at that time?

So this conspiracy to turn a deer into a horse must rely on the deterrence of imperial power, but it was not suitable for imperial power to lead and promote. At least until it was confirmed that Li-Shi was pregnant, it couldn’t be related to Emperor Guangde.

In this way, the person who was pushed to the forefront of the storm became Cabinet Xu, who was in charge of this case!

No wonder he looked at Sun Shaozong's impassioned expression and couldn't help but feel a feeling that the ”younger generation will surpass the older” in his heart.

In Cabinet Xu's heart, he didn't mind taking some risks. With his current power and reputation, even if these ulterior motives were punctured in the end, it would only result in losing his position and being dismissed. Anyway, he was supposed to take the blame, so why not fight?

So Cabinet Xu sighed in his heart, but a look of awe rose on his face. He slowly got up from the Grand Master's chair and loudly ordered, "Attendant Xu.”

“Yes Sir.”

“You immediately mobilize people to isolate both inside and outside. Without my order, no word or phrase can be spread outside.”

“I will not fail to fulfill your trust, Cabinet Xu.”

“Governor Sun.”

“Yes Sir.”

“Hurry up and bring Li-Shi here; there must be no mistake.”

“I'll take your orders.”

Sun Shaozong neatly arched his hand and turned his head before leaving the living room.

Outside, looking at the stars on the horizon, he couldn't help but take a deep breath. Although the start was quite smooth, the most important thing to complete this big lie was the next ”pregnancy test” process.

Once the eunuchs concluded that Li had not been pregnant, this so-called strategy naturally would end without success.

However, in this major drama, the most troublesome ones might not necessarily be the few Imperial Doctors, but the undisclosed Right Metropolitan Governor Zhao Rongheng and the Shaoqing of the Supreme Court, Liu Fang.

The former was the recommendation of Wei Ruolan, who has always had a good relationship with Prince Beijing. He was also a second-level official leader, and even compared to Cabinet Xu, he didn’t lack the strength to compete.

Although the latter's official position was only of the fourth rank, he was the current head of the Liguo Prefecture, both of whom were among the Eight Nobles and have always been closely related to Niu Jizong!

These two people were also affiliated with the Noble Party of the Supreme Emperor, who deliberately mixed in the sand of the task force to avoid any mischief in this case.

Therefore, to uncover the ”truth,” there might still be a tough battle to be fought.

But then again, if they could break through the obstruction of these two people and would come to the conclusion that ”Li is really pregnant” under their witness, it wouldn’t be so easy for some people to raise questions again.

It was said that Sun Shaozong had called Yang Licai and a dozen Dragon Guards from the front yard to escort Li-Shi back from the secret room. As a result, the living room was already overcrowded.

Xu Furen sat alone in the center, with Zhao Rongheng wearing a purple robe and jade belt on the left, Liu Fang with a face as heavy as water on the right, and then Xu Liang and Qin Ming, the Imperial Physician. Although Liu Fang's official position was only fourth grade, he was above Xu Liang.

In addition to these five people, there were also more than ten blue and green officials standing on both sides, all standing in silence like cicadas.

Sun Shaozong strode into the hall and arched his hand to report, "I would like to inform you that the offending woman, Li, has arrived.”

Xu Furen only nodded and pointed to the space at the end. Just as he was waiting to greet Sun Shaozong to take his seat, he heard someone in the hall loudly say, "Wait a minute.”

The person who spoke was Liu Fang, the Young Minister of the Supreme Court. He stood up and looked critically at Sun Shaozong, then raised his chin and asked with a hint of contempt, "Are you the Governor of the Central Judicial Office, Sun Shaozong?”

According to common sense, when a lower-level official asked a question, they should respectfully report their family background. However, Sun Shaozong knew that he was going to have a fight with him today, so how could he show his weakness?

Immediately, he arched his hand again and said, “Yes, and no.“

Liu Fang couldn't help but be taken aback and frown. "What do you mean by that?”

“If you were asking about the official duties of the Central Judicial Office, I’m naturally the Governor of the Central Judicial Office. However, when asked about this case, I’m the Dragon Forbidden Guard Inspector who was ordered to assist in the investigation.”

“What's the difference?”

Upon hearing that he was only trying to emphasize this point, Liu Fang immediately sneered and then spoke harshly, asking, "Someone accused you of visiting Li-Shi twice after coming to the Crown Prince's Residence and having a private conversation with her. Is this true?”

Since Liu Fang asked in person, he had already received a definite letter.

However, Sun Shaozong still shook his head firmly.

“What's wrong?”

Liu Fang sneered and said, "Do you still want to sophistry? Someone, let Su Ning, the steward of the Crown Prince's Residence, come in.”

With this greeting, a plump steward of the Royal Residence immediately flashed out of the room. He knelt and said, "Reply to Your Excellences, I have witnessed with my own eyes that Lord Sun, under the leadership of Magistrate Liu, has entered the secret room twice, each time alone with the lowly maid Li-Shi.”

“Haha... Haha.”

Liu Fang chuckled a few times proudly and asked, "Governor Sun, what else do you have to say now? Like you, there shouldn't be any hidden conspiracy among them, right?”

No wonder Liu Fang was so proud. Originally, he had thought up some tricks to force Sun Shaozong to show off his skills. However, in the end, it was so easy and effortless.

“I naturally have nothing to say.”

However, Sun Shaozong remained calm and even the corners of his mouth slightly turned up, showing a hint of disdain. He then raised his finger to Steward Su and shouted, "Yang Licai, what are you waiting for?! Hurry up and take this person with me.”

As soon as this was said, Liu Fang was shocked. Even Yang Licai was momentarily stunned. In front of so many high-ranking officials, how could Inspector Sun remain so calm?!

“How dare you, Sun Shaozong?”

Liu Fang immediately angrily scolded, "How dare you speak recklessly in front of Cabinet Xu and Officer Zhao? Is it because you want to rebel?”

“I'm afraid it's you who speak recklessly, right?”

Sun Shaozong also sneered repeatedly. "The Dragon Guard is an internal guard directly under His Majesty, and I'm appointed to investigate this case. According to the law, I only need to report to His Majesty. Don't say that you, Lord Liu, are just a Young Minister of the Supreme Court. Even if you are promoted to a high official in the Ministry, you shouldn't ask me about my actions in a random manner.”

“And this person!”

As he spoke, he reached out his hand and pointed at the Steward Su, saying, "Without any official position, he secretly spied on the internal guards who were ordered to investigate cases. He was clearly a malicious person, so I ordered someone to take him down and interrogate him. Why, is there any mistake?”

At this moment, Yang Licai finally realized this and quickly brought someone forward to hold down the fat man tightly, then dragged him out like a beast.

“Lord Liu, Lord Liu, help me! Lord Liu, help me! Liu... Help…”

Until the pig-like voice gradually faded away, Liu Fang finally regained his composure and gritted his teeth, pointing at Sun Shaozong. He was so furious that he couldn't say a whole sentence for a while.

After a long period of stalemate, Zhao Rongheng finally came out to make a comeback, and he sat back with a pale face.

This guy was really working hard; he tried to get ahead of others, but fortunately, he had the upper hand in the subsequent pregnancy test. This idea couldn’t be said to be wrong, but unfortunately, he picked on the wrong opponent and overestimated his abilities, resulting in a disheveled face.