Chapter 1181: 1178: News

Chapter 1181: Chapter 1178: News

He didn’t think highly of Madam Tang, but he was afraid that his father’s continued esteem for her would lead to a disadvantage for their own family.

“It’s nothing but a few small tricks. You must understand, instead of imprisoning her, it’s better to give her hope. Compared to the former, she will be more proactive in keeping secrets, and we will be able to obtain useful information from her,” he said.

“Such a good weapon, if used well, can be a lethal tool. Look, haven’t spies from the Ministry of War found their way in smoothly?”

“As for her little schemes,” Liu Yanzhen said with a cold smile on his face, “her networking is all under our control. Her making herself more useful is a good thing.”

Young Master of the Liu Family’s eyes lit up upon hearing this. “Father, are you saying that everything she does is essentially making a wedding dress for us?”

Liu Yanzhen sat down, his gaze falling on the rice paper in front of him, and he narrowed his eyes and said, “Indeed.”

His confidant suddenly understood, “The minister is indeed powerful. That woman does have some abilities, but she can’t hide anything from the minister’s eyes.”

“By the way, minister, now in the capital, more and more people are spreading rumors about you…” The confidant hesitated to continue, and even the Young Master of the Liu Family didn’t dare to look any further at Liu Yanzhen’s expression, for fear of angering him.

Liu Yanzhen’s face bore a smile that was not quite a smile. “Are they saying an old man like me still dotes on beauties?”

“Such matters need not be minded, who doesn’t have a hobby? If I love beauties, the Emperor might feel more at ease,” he said casually, picking up his brush to practice calligraphy.

It had to be said, Liu Yanzhen was truly a Powerful Minister. To have risen to this position, his understanding of the Emperor’s character was at its peak; every action of his was deeply meaningful.

“Father, do we need to have the ladies yield a bit to Tang Beauty?” the Young Master of the Liu Family tentatively asked.

The prosperity or decline of the entire Liu family depends on each other; any action must prioritize the Liu family,” Liu Yanzhen said indifferently, looking at him.

The Young Master of the Liu Family shivered and quickly bowed his head in agreement. He really had been too indecisive, but it was better to ask when unsure than to risk offending his father afterward. At most, he would be considered too slow-witted but would not make a serious mistake.

In the palace.

Ye Muyu was left behind and stayed in the side hall of Kunning Palace.

Meanwhile, Huo Zhengming went straight into the palace to see Emperor Xuanming in Yangxin Hall.

Emperor Xuanming had just returned from Kunning Palace and, hearing of his arrival, raised an eyebrow but did not summon him immediately. He waited for about two quarters of an hour before allowing Huo Zhengming to come in.

Upon entering the hall, Huo Zhengming quickly knelt down and kowtowed: “Your humble servant greets the Emperor.”

“What brings my trusted official here today?” Emperor Xuanming asked, laying down his writing brush with a casual tone.

“Answering the Emperor, I come today to accuse Vice Minister of Revenue Minister Song of embezzling Disaster Relief Silver!” Huo Zhengming said with resonance, disclosing how the Vice Minister exploited his authority to embezzle silver and to where the silver was sent, among other things.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Xuanming’s expression turned unsightly, “Is this true?”

“I dare not lie,” Huo Zhengming raised his hand to present evidence: “Please, Your Majesty, discern the truth.”

Emperor Xuanming nodded, and He Dequan hurried to lay the evidence on the royal desk. After a while, the Emperor became furious, calling for Minister of Punishments Zhang Zhonghai to thoroughly investigate the matter, and at the same time, Vice Minister Song was imprisoned in the dungeons.

When other officials heard of this news, it was already an hour later.

The arrest of Minister Song and his imprisonment was a significant event, and the news quickly spread throughout the entire capital.

And in Duke Zheng’s Mansion, they received the news earlier than expected.

In the study of the Liu family.