CHAPTER 1130: CHAPTER 1109 DUST

Second Old Master Liu took a sip of tea and asked, "Big brother, should I make a trip to Yizhou City?"

Assistant Minister Liu shook his head and smiled, "No need. Yizhou City is not close, and even at the fastest, it takes half a month to go back and forth. Besides, you still have things to investigate. We just need to know the cause, there’s no need for tangible proof."

He continued, "Moreover, there’s no need for tangible proof in such matters. Once people believe something about another’s character, that’s enough."

"What if he disputes the claim?"

Assistant Minister Liu smiled and said, "It’s inevitable that he would. But just because he denies it himself doesn’t mean the officials are fools who believe anything they hear. Plus, the Censorate is watching."

He said with an unconcerned smile, "That’s just how the world works. Once the officials believe there’s a flaw in his character, he will have a hard time advancing further."

Second Old Master Liu nodded and glanced at the items placed on the table, then said, "It’s a pity for Mr. Zhuang. After he was driven out of the capital, I heard he never re-entered it. His scholastic and official examinations were all delayed."

"The matter caused such a stir back then, it certainly must have been a big deal amongst the literati. Without evidence, any further defense he gives will simply seem like a poor excuse in the eyes of others. With such being the case, he might as well leave." Assistant Minister Liu frowned slightly, "But it’s strange. At that time, one of them was a student of the Imperial Academy, and the other was trying to gain entry. There was no conflict of interest, and Chen Fulin didn’t exclusively need that poem. So why would he steal it?"

Second Old Master Liu shook his head, "I don’t know. But even now, when asking those who heard about the incident back then, everyone claims it was Zhuang Xun copying from Chen Fulin. After all, Chen Fulin didn’t really need the poem, but Zhuang Xun did."

Assistant Minister Liu fell into deep thought.

Seeing his elder brother deep in thought, Second Old Master Liu added, "Don’t worry, big brother. From what we have investigated, it is clear that Chen Fulin is the one with something to hide. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had his servants searching the city for someone after just one encounter at Primus Pavilion, and he wouldn’t have said what he did when we ran into him at Mohui Garden."

Assistant Minister Liu nodded. Although he didn’t know the reason, he could indeed guess the process.

He mused, "It’s just unclear on what basis His Majesty decided not to approve Chen Fulin’s promotion."

Second Old Master Liu coughed lightly and whispered, "Big brother, since I was checking on Chen Fulin, I also looked into Mr. Zhuang. Guess who his disciple is?"

Assistant Minister Liu lifted his eyelids and glanced at him, saying, "Didn’t you mention he accompanied his students to the capital for studies? One at the Imperial Academy, and one at the Highest Institute."

"There’s another one, a female disciple."

Assistant Minister Liu said, "Stop beating around the bush. Just say it."

Second Old Master Liu chuckled and said, "It’s the little divine doctor whose fame has spread through the capital recently. Coincidentally, she has been entering the palace frequently, reportedly to treat some noble person within. However, I haven’t been able to find out which noble it is."

Assistant Minister Liu sat up straight, "Have you found out for sure?"

"I have. Today around 1 p.m., I followed them to a place not far from the palace gates and watched her and Young Manager Zheng from Jishi Hall enter together."

Assistant Minister Liu furrowed his brow, "You’re too reckless, following someone straight into the Imperial City? Do you have a death wish?"

Second Old Master Liu said, "It’s not just me. Many others sneaked in as well."

Of course, not just anyone could enter the Imperial City, but with the Six Ministries located inside the city, families with members serving there could usually gain entry by stating their business.

After all, although it’s easy to get into the Imperial City, the Inner Palace is not as accessible. Hence, the guards at the major gates of the Imperial City are not that strict.

When Second Old Master Liu entered, he saw quite a few people quietly following behind the carriages of the Bai Family.

Assistant Minister Liu couldn’t help but massage his forehead, "Are you foolish? If you can see them, don’t you think they can see you?"

Second Old Master Liu: ...At the time, I was only thinking about my triumph and didn’t consider this.

Assistant Minister Liu was right. If the Liu family could find out about it, so could others, and some even act much quicker.

Thus, Wei Zhi and the Censorate stopped blaming the emperor. The Ministry of Personnel paid a visit to the Ministry of Public Works, and after a discussion, the Ministry of Personnel resubmitted a list of promotions, giving the emperor two candidates to choose from.

Of course, the list was accompanied by the candidates’ resumes, annual assessments, and evaluation of their character and capabilities by their superiors and colleagues.

The emperor looked through the information and eventually marked the name of Assistant Minister Liu with a pen. Then, folding the document, he set it aside. The papers will be reviewed by the Central Secretariat the next day, and if there are no objections, they will be passed down the ranks.

Regarding Chen Fulin, since there was no solid proof and the higher-ups had already guessed quite a bit, they kept silent, acting as if unaware of the incident, as if the previous promotion had never existed.

For these leading figures, this case was no longer important; the Empress Dowager’s grand celebration was approaching.

These important figures, each and every one of them, needed to attend; who would bother with a Chen Fulin then?

But the newly promoted Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Public Works, Assistant Minister Liu, cared about it. Knowing that this opportunity might have come thanks to Mr. Zhuang’s disciple, once the promotion papers came down, he let his brother discreetly spread a little rumor.

Chen Fulin liked to play these tricks, right?

He could give Mr. Zhuang a helping hand.

Chen Fulin clearly sensed the ostracism from his colleagues, and even friends who used to be close to him started to avoid him.

Although he hadn’t heard any rumors himself, he had felt uneasy ever since the position of Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Public Works had been filled, while Zhou Man continued to frequent the Imperial Palace.

He was very anxious, but no matter how hard he racked his brains, he couldn’t think of a way to deal with the situation.

The incident from years ago was long gone; Zhuang Xun would have a hard time finding evidence to clear his name, likewise, it would be difficult for him to fabricate new evidence to prove his own innocence.

Back then, he could rely on his money, connections, and family background to suppress Zhuang Xun’s defense, but not anymore.

Zhuang Xun was no longer the impoverished scholar who had to share a room with friends upon coming to the capital for the exams, barely affording to eat plain buns and porridge, and knowing only a few people in the city.

Now he seemed to have no lack of money, with one student in the Imperial Academy and another in the Highest Institute, ever ready to make connections with powerful families.

And he had a disciple who could enter and leave the palace.

So in the current situation, with regards to the past incident, all he could do was not mention, not inquire, not know, hoping the whispers would come silently and leave just as silently.

Gossip in the capital always moved quickly, and after a while, even the people around him would slowly forget.

So all he needed to do was endure for a while.

Chen Fulin always reminded himself of this, but years of feeling superior to Zhuang Xun still made it hard for him to contain his resentment, and before he knew it, he had arrived at Changqing Alley.

Manbao had gone to Yin Huo’s home to administer acupuncture to Yin Huo, then rejoined Bai Shan and the others to head home. Right when they reached their doorstep, they spotted an unfamiliar carriage parked not far from their house. The three couldn’t help but take a second glance, then saw someone standing in the shadow of the carriage.