Chapter 530: The Boastful Elder And The Bloodthirsty Third Prince
Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
In an instant, the entire yan was subrged in a freezing silence.
The imperial officials did not expect anyone to call out Elder Helian.
When Elder Helian heard his na, his tightly clasped the chair handle, trying his best to seem unbothered by the person’s accusation.
However, he knew very well that he would be infallible.
At this point, even if soone denounced him, there would not be any significant repercussions if there was no conclusive evidence.
Still, everything would be ruined if he panicked.
The wise Retired Emperor seed placid as though he was unperturbed by the news. He casually turned his head around and asked, “Elder Yun, do you want to say anything?”
“Your Highness, ever since I beca the elder, I have been slandered countless tis. The family has beco so large, I can no longer control what everyone does.” Elder Helian slowly continued, “So people are too gullible, blindly believing the gossip if my na is ntioned. Thus, the crooks used this chance to fabricate rumors about . Now that sothing has happened, so people would inevitably cast doubt on . After all, I do have a relationship with the Liao family. Therefore, I must ask this person. You claid that I am the one who is actually operating the Bayview Restaurant, do you have any evidence?”
When the person heard his question, he anxiously looked at his peers who were kneeling beside him.
However, they simply shook their heads at him.
It was clear as day that Elder Helian already knew the answer to his question.
After all, all the discussions were made at the dining table.
There were no written records that docunted their words.
Elder Helian also received the profits of Bayview Seafood Restaurant through indirect thods. If soone could imdiately get the financial records of Bayview Seafood Restaurant and the yan, it might be possible to find out that the money that was missing from the yan was in the restaurant. However, as the money was hidden safely away from peering eyes, it would be impossible.
“You have nothing more to say, right?” Elder Helian sneered, “I knew that this would be the result.” Having said that, he turned his head around and looked at Baili Jia Jue, ranting, “Your Highness, I will admit it if I have done anything wrong. It’s indeed my fault for not teaching my people properly. However, I will never cause harm to the public for re wealth. I don’t know the rules of the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs very well, but people who accused should have evidence. This lord has none, yet he believed the rumors and tried to accuse . He has severely besmirched my reputation, I hope Your Highness can punish him for !”
When the person heard it, he yelled agitatedly, “You’re lying! Your Highness! Please don’t listen to him, he’s lying! What I’m telling is true! When I ca to the provincial capital, I too wanted to beco a good imperial official. However, the roots of corruption in the provincial capital are too deep. I couldn’t afford to ss with them, so I had no choice but to join in! Elder Helian even personally promised us at Bayview Seafood Restaurant. As long as we don’t reveal the secrets of the restaurant, our future in the governnt would be smooth-sailing!”
“This lord, I have to acknowledge that you’ve put in your greatest efforts in trying to escape your punishnt.” Elder Helian eyed the surrounding crowd, taunting, “If I did threaten all of you at Bayview Seafood Restaurant as you said, why are you the only one who is calling out?”
The person hastily looked around and asked the man on his left, “Lord Li, say sothing. At that ti, you were there too, right?”
“I, I...” Lord Li was nervously eyeing around, but he looked away when he saw Elder Helian’s expression, and mumbled, “Lord Zhang, did you rember it correctly? Elder Helian did co that day, but I drank too much and had forgotten everything. Elder Helian probably... didn’t say such a thing.”
Lord Zhang was dumbfounded, retorting, “You obviously responded at that ti, how can you be drunk?”
“I really don’t rember that,” Lord Li professed, hanging his head down in sha.
Elder Helian’s smile grew maliciously cold as he arrogantly said, “Lord Zhang, we’re not close yet you tried to fra for no reason. The others said that there’s no such thing, but you still forced them to lie with you. It would benefit everyone if a vile and evil person like you are dead!”
“You!” Imperial Official Zhang did not pay any attention to Elder Helian’s words, he rely pulled at Imperial Official Li’s collar and yelled, “Why don’t you tell the truth? Why! We’re already at this point, we won’t be able to live anyway! We should just drag the people who tortured us with us, isn’t that good?”
As ntioned by Imperial Official Zhang, he had also thought of becoming a good imperial official.
However, sotis, it simply could not be helped. Once he was roped in, he would sink further and further.
Now, he wanted to do sothing right before he died. Nonetheless, he still found it incredibly difficult.
The noble families wielded too much influence on the imperial officials, they were simply unstoppable.
Imperial Official Li raised his head and looked at him, his eyes filled with regret.
He could only say so in order to save his life.
He wanted to advise Imperial Official Zhang to think about it carefully. After all, there was a reason that everyone did not speak up.
If they were only guilty of corruption, they would at most be exiled to the rural areas near the border.
However, if they ssed with Elder Helian without providing any solid evidence, their fate would be set in stone. He would likely not receive any severe consequences, but the people accusing him would simply be throwing their lives away.
The more favorable outco was simply glaringly obvious.
All the imperial officials were still kneeling on the ground, even though they could stand up to testify for Lord Zhang.
Yet, no one was willing to stir up a hornet’s nest.
Elder Helian was greatly satisfied with their obedience.
Of course, there were also so defiant individuals.
Elder Helian nacingly stared at him and said, “That’s enough, Lord Zhang. You are testing my patience if you continue with this act.”
Imperial Official Zhang clenched his fists tightly and violently punched the ground in anger.
Elder Helian mockingly laughed in his heart, while wearing an expression of being greatly wronged, saying, “Your Highness, the decision is yours to make.”
Baili Jia Jue’s eyes narrowed when they t with Elder Helian’s.
However, Elder Helian did not flinch at all, he knew Baili Jia Jue’s thods very well. Baili Jia Jue could only get so far with his thods alone. Without truly understanding the people’s hearts and the ways of politics, he too would be helpless before him.
Baili Jia Jue stared fixedly at him for three seconds, before calmly opening his mouth, “Shadow, put Lord Zhang into jail, I will interrogate him later.”
“Yes,” Shadow replied respectfully, obeying his orders.
Elder Helian smirked as he gloatingly glanced at Imperial Official Zhang.
He seed completely dispirited and despondent.
The others thought to themselves. Sure enough, things have turned out like this. Fortunately, we are not as st*pid as that Zhang person, who jumped at the chance and accused Elder Helian!
However, everyone’s expression drastically changed when they heard what Baili Jia Jue said next.
He uttered, “He may not have the evidence, but I do.”
Reviews
All reviews (0)