Outside the imperial city gate, Jiang Sheng was somewhat worried, "Big brother, can we really succeed? Won't there be any problems?"
After so many failures, facing success made her feel unreal.
Not just little sister, Xu Mo himself also felt a little dizzy.
But he was still adamant, "We can."
This time it was not an ambush, not even a plot, it was the Fang family's own fault, they could at most reveal the truth.
"I'm always worried there are still traps, still calculations." Jiang Sheng scratched her head.
Zheng Ruqian laughed beside her, "You silly girl, if Fang Yuan died, it would be good for us, and if Fang Yuan didn't die, it would be even better for us."
It was rare to find something that could bring benefits whether it succeeded or failed.
Even if Fang Yuan really died, Xu Mo's act of filing a complaint would incur the displeasure of the Imperial Court, but it would only be displeasure.
As a victim of the civil service examination fraud, was he not even allowed to raise a question?
Moreover...
Did Fang Yuan really die?
Jiang Jizong had not finished reading the memorial when the entire Golden Sacred Hall was in an uproar.
The Imperial Court's eyebrows were tightly furrowed, with inscrutable joy or anger in his eyes.
Fang Huairen was extremely angry, "Nonsense, Jiang Jizong what are you talking nonsense about, Your Majesty, this man is slandering your minister, he has ulterior motives, he wants to sow discord!"
Under normal circumstances, the entire Golden Sacred Hall would have agreed, jumped up, and worked together to condemn him.
But today, whether because the matter was too big, or there were other thoughts, no one spoke except for the Fang family master.
The Imperial Court easily spoke up, "Minister Fang, don't get excited, let's talk it out first."
"Replying to Your Majesty, this kind of filthy water is too premeditated, as if wanting to take the lives of my whole clan!" Fang Huairen's face was covered in tears, "I cannot tolerate my family's reputation being slandered, I feel wronged, I do not accept it!"
It seemed that everyone knew the severity of deceiving the emperor.
The Imperial Court imperceptibly raised his eyebrows.
Jiang Jizong was instructed by Xu Mo to just convey the plea, without saying much.
In politics, many things could be big or small, serious or trivial.
To put it bluntly, it still depended on how the Imperial Court thought about it, whether it could be smoothed over, whether there was a way out.
With tears streaming down his face, Fang Huairen first talked about grievances and then merit, obviously also realizing the severity.
He finally knelt on the ground, his tone sonorous, "I would never dare to deceive Your Majesty, let alone tamper with criminal law. I have been framed and slandered. I ask Your Majesty to investigate clearly."
Under normal circumstances, the Zhu family, Tao family and other vassal families should have knelt down together and echoed in unison.
But now, only the He Family master lent a helping hand, "Please investigate clearly, Your Majesty."
In the huge Golden Sacred Hall, dozens of courtiers, only one knelt down, one bent down.
Silence, deadly silence.
Jiang Jizong finally understood why Xu Mo wanted him not to say much, not to intervene, not even to worry.
It turned out that the Zhu family, bringing the Tao family with them, had already colluded with the Fang family.
Without a large group of supporters, the He family's assistance was like pouring oil on the fire. The rise of the He family made the Fang family no longer unique.
There had been fraud in the civil service examination before, and losing the support of military generals handed them a big handle.
The Fang family, flourishing to decline.
There was complex emotion in the Imperial Court's eyes, hard to say whether it was sentiment or sigh. He gently tapped the dragon case with his right hand and said after a long pause, "Truth and lies, won't we know after an autopsy?"
As soon as these words came out, even Fang Huairen, who did not know about Fang Yuan's private arrangements, understood that the trend had gone.
The Zhu family and the Tao family had betrayed the Fang family, perhaps it was the rebellious son's operation behind the scenes.
Fang Huairen finally realized it. He stood up and was about to clamor, about to go down fighting.
But when the Zhu family master stepped forward and secretly delivered three jade pendants, he was completely stunned and dared not speak.
These three jade pendants were worn by the Fang family's three illegitimate sons. They should have been controlled now and could lose their lives at any time.
Humans valued inheritance, and the continuity of offspring was the most important thing.
The legitimate son was already out of control, if the illegitimate sons lost their lives again, what was the point of his efforts for half a lifetime.
Fang Huairen completely gave up, collapsing on the floor of the Golden Sacred Hall, both crying and laughing.
Exhuming the coffin for an autopsy was not difficult. The recently buried corpse had not yet decayed. An experienced undertaker could carefully peel off the disguise on the facial skin.
The Fang family tampered with the death penalty, which was an unforgivable crime of deceiving the emperor.
According to the law, the whole clan of nine generations should be implicated.
But the Zhu family was among the nine generations, the Tao family was among the nine generations, and the He family was also among the nine generations, covering almost half of Fengjing. It would be too much if they were really all beheaded.
The Imperial Court deliberated for a long time before deciding on a full-gate ransack.
This full-gate included the Fang family's main and second branches, illegitimate sons and daughters, legal wives and concubines.
One family's glory could protect the second branch, and the second branch's failure could also destroy Fang Heng.
It sounded very unfair and outrageous.
But the situation had to be considered in light of the actual circumstances.
Whether it was Fang Huairen or Zhu's family, except for the guest Wang Yuyan, almost the entire second branch of the Fang family was imprisoned, and assets were checked and transferred to the national treasury.
When the minister of the Court of Judicial Review was looking for fish that slipped through the net, he discovered Fang Heng who was on the border.
Do you still remember the slightly martial general mentioned in the letter? In the Dayu Dynasty he was a fifth rank military general who needed more than 30 victories, large and small, to be awarded the title.
Moreover, according to the record, this young general was only fifteen years old, but exceptionally brave. The third brigade where he was located had beaten the surrounding Tartars to be terrified and not dare to get close.
In troubled times, who would dare to harm a general.
The minister of the Court of Judicial Review stopped his subordinates who were about to arrest Fang Heng. He personally entered the imperial city and sent Fang Heng's service record to the Imperial Court.
The Imperial Court was stunned for a long time, and only said, "Quite like his father's style."
"Then, Your Majesty, what about the previous full-gate ransack..." The minister of the Court of Judicial Review asked tentatively.
The Imperial Court turned back and coughed twice, "The distance is far, detained slowly."
It would take at least another year from the Fang family's death sentence review to the autumn execution, and there was more than a month's distance between Fengjing and the northern border. It was normal that they could not directly catch and imprison him.
As for whether to catch him in the future, it would depend on whether his military exploits were great enough.
The minister of the Court of Judicial Review understood the implication and respectfully withdrew.
When the news was sent back to the small courtyard of the second palace, Jiang Sheng heaved a long sigh of relief, "Thank goodness, there really wasn't implicating nine generations, and no immediate arrest of third brother. Big brother really predicted things like a god."
"Not that amazing either." Xu Mo smiled, "The country is in troubled times now, the Tartars and barbarians are eyeing the Central Plains greedily. Even if the Imperial Court is muddle-headed, he can't bear to behead generals. At most he would postpone it and exchange merits for crimes."
"Then isn't it unfair to third brother?" Jiang Sheng pouted again, "The battle merits he worked so hard for will be lost because of the hateful second branch."
"Don't worry." Xu Mo sighed lightly, "The grievances of the main branch will be told to the world eventually."
By then it would not be punishing Fang Heng, but righting the wrongs for Fang Heng.
The current exchanging merits for crimes was just buying time.
"Buying time for what?" Jiang Sheng asked casually.
Xu Mo paused slightly, "Aren't you curious where Fang Yuan went?"
