Chapter 1876: Chapter 1878: Collusion Among Officials, Forcing the People to Their Deaths
"I feel this group of people is slandering me." Ye Zi’an snorted, "Slandering an imperial official, isn’t this under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Criminal Justice?" Speaking, Ye Zi’an looked at the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, "Lord Lan, I want to accuse these people of slandering me!"
The Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Criminal Justice is actually a rash youth, clearly someone from the Ministry of Criminal Justice, yet often acts like an Imperial Censor.
"Don’t worry, this matter will be thoroughly investigated by this official." Then he waved his hand, "Go, take these people back to the prison at the Ministry of Criminal Justice, investigate clearly and then release them."
"You, you officials protect each other!" the leader shouted again, "None of you officials are any good, you band together to bully us poor people, you are too much. Heaven abandons our Great Zhou, heaven abandons our Great Zhou, the Emperor is muddle-headed, favoring treacherous ministers, treacherous ministers oppress the people, leaving the poor people unable to live. Oh, Heaven, have mercy!!"
This speech made everyone present both angry and shocked, it insulted the Emperor and his ministers altogether.
"Outrageous!" The Prime Minister and the Minister of Criminal Justice had already left, but Prince Zhuang had not, and hurriedly wanted to order their arrest.
But before he could give the order, the leader suddenly pulled out a dagger from his sleeve and slashed it across his own neck, instantly collapsing to the ground, blood gushing!
The people behind seeing this, several others then shouted, "The Emperor is muddle-headed, favoring treacherous ministers! Heaven abandons the Great Zhou!" After speaking, they also slit their throats.
And although the rest did not slit their necks, they cried out continuously, "The Emperor is muddle-headed, the Emperor is muddle-headed, the imperial court is dark! Officials protect each other, forcing the people to die!"
At this, not only Ye Zi’an’s face darkened, but Lord Lan of the Ministry of Criminal Justice also had a grim expression.
He ordered the arrests, and these people committed suicide?
If accountability came down, wouldn’t he become the murderer?
But at the same time, he realized the problem, these people must have been instigated by someone, otherwise, bringing up old grievances is one thing, but joking with their own lives?
"Forcing the people to die?" Lord Lan said grimly, "I think you people are using your lives to interfere with state affairs! Investigate, this official must thoroughly investigate this matter, people, take the remaining ones away."
"Lord Lan, this issue is not just about Ye Zi’an alone; these people are clearly aiming at the foundation of Great Zhou, using Ye Zi’an as a stepping stone, you investigate, anything that happens, I will hold the responsibility for you, arrest all these people, interrogate them properly. I will report this matter to Father Emperor in the palace now!"
Saying this, Prince Zhuang went into the palace, and the silent Prince Ping followed him.
"Yes, this subordinate understands!"
Soon, the bailiffs from the Ministry of Criminal Justice came to arrest people, yet these people didn’t cry about grievances but only cursed the Emperor as muddle-headed and the court as dark.
This group of people was arrested, yet the ministers did not rush back to their mansions but instead returned to the palace, and upon entering, they were summoned to the Imperial Study by the Emperor.
As expected, some like the Prime Minister were demanding the Emperor remove Ye Zi’an from his position.
"Father Emperor, this matter clearly has someone stirring up trouble, what they want is to disrupt the court of our Great Zhou, every word those people said carries hints of slander and provocation. If such things are solely blamed on Ye Zi’an, it’s inappropriate! Moreover, bringing up the matter of Shandong, anyone in that position would be scolded."
"Emperor, although what you say is true, without Ye Zi’an holding the position of Assistant Minister of Ministry of War, how could others find a head to provoke trouble?"