"Have you written down everything he said?"
Zhang Runde turned his attention to the subordinate official who was responsible for recording the confession and asked.
When the subordinate official heard this, he quickly stood up from his seat and respectfully handed the paper with the confession to Zhang Runde.
"Sir, everything he told me has been written down word for word!"
Zhang Runde reached out to take the confession and checked it carefully again. After confirming that it was correct, he felt relieved and immediately gave instructions.
"Let him sign and pledge it."
"Yes, sir!"
Soon, Xu Zhengping's confession was delivered to Yan Song by Zhang Runde.
Yan Song looked at the confession in front of him and remained silent for a long time, as if he had made up his mind before giving instructions.
"Let's go, take this confession with you and come with me to meet His Majesty!"
When Zhang Runde heard this, he immediately looked stern and responded respectfully.
"Yes, Mr. Yan Ge!"
…
Forbidden City, Hall of Nourishing Heart.
Lu Fang, who was previously sent by Jiajing to investigate the situation, was now kneeling on the ground, reporting to Jiajing the situation investigated by Jin Yiwei and Dongchang.
"Your Majesty, Jinyiwei and Dongchang, based on the confessions of the students who gathered to make trouble, have discovered a lot of situations, and many officials are involved."
"In addition, many officials who have retired are also involved. Here is the specific list!"
After Lu Fang finished speaking, he immediately took the list out of his sleeve and presented it to Jiajing.
Jiajing took the list in silence, and after briefly browsing it, he looked at the ground casually and said slowly.
"Let's deal with them all. Catch those who deserve to be arrested and kill those who deserve to be killed."
"As ordered, Your Majesty, I will do it now!"
When Lu Fang heard this, she immediately looked away and responded in a deep voice.
Just when Lu Fang was about to go to implement Jiajing's instructions, he saw the guiding eunuch hurried in and reported to Jiajing.
"Your Majesty, Mr. Yan Ge and Zhang Runde, the Minister of Punishment, are asking for an audience outside the palace!"
When Jiajing heard this, a look of surprise appeared on his face, and he immediately stopped Lu Fang who was about to leave, and then spoke.
"Oh, will you get the results so soon?"
"Lu Fang, you go back later. I want to see what Yan Song has discovered after investigating!"
Hearing this, Lu Fang immediately stopped, turned around, and said respectfully to Jiajing.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Then, Jiajing looked back, waved his hand, and gave instructions to the guiding eunuch.
"Let them come in and there will be no need to report them."
After receiving Jiajing's instructions, the guiding eunuch turned around and left quickly without any hesitation.
After a while, Yan Song and Zhang Runde entered the Nourishing Heart Hall.
As soon as they entered the Yangxin Hall, the two of them knelt on the ground respectfully and said in unison.
"I bow to your majesty, long live my emperor!"
"Well, get up."
Jiajing raised his eyebrows and ordered rather casually.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After getting Jiajing's permission, Yan Song and Zhang Runde slowly stood up from the ground. Perhaps because they were too nervous, Zhang Runde kept his head down the whole time after standing up.
Then, Jiajing's plain voice was heard in the Yangxin Hall.
"Yan Song, what I asked you to investigate has the result so soon?"
Yan Song heard this, and after considering his words, he responded cautiously.
"Yes, Your Majesty, before this, Wei Chen has already controlled all the students participating in this palace examination!"
After a pause, Yan Song continued to add.
"In addition, Wei Chen has also compiled this detailed confession from Xu Zhengping, and please ask your Majesty to check it!"
As soon as Yan Song finished speaking, Zhang Runde knelt down on the ground, took out the confession from his sleeve, and raised it high above his head.
Seeing this, Lu Fang immediately stepped forward, took the confession, and then handed it into Jiajing's hands.
"His Majesty!"
"Um."
Jiajing nodded and began to browse the contents carefully.
After a long time, Jiajing put his confession aside, turned his eyes to Yan Song, and spoke words of encouragement.
"Well, Yan Song, you did a good job in this matter!"
When Jiajing said this, the topic suddenly changed and he spoke immediately.
"But you don't have to participate in what happens next!"
Hearing this, an ominous premonition suddenly flashed through Yan Song's heart. Then, as if he had thought of something, a look of horror appeared on his face. He suddenly raised his head and confirmed to Jiajing.
"Your Majesty, don't you want to..."
Jiajing looked Yan Song up and down with a rather playful look, and then issued an order to expel him.
"Yan Song, you can go back!"
After hearing this, Yan Song had no choice but to bow his head and say yes, even though he felt extremely unwilling to do so.
"It's your Majesty, I'm sorry, please leave!"
When Zhang Runde on the side saw this situation, he quickly reacted. After saluting Jiajing, he and Yan Song left the Yangxin Hall.
Jiajing looked at Yan Song's leaving figure and handed the previous confession into Lu Fang's hands and gave instructions.
"Let him do it too!"
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
Lu Fang took the confession from Jiajing's hand and responded in a deep voice.
After the two of them walked out of the Yangxin Hall, Zhang Runde also expressed his doubts to Yan Song in a timely manner.
"Mr. Yan Ge, what do you mean by what you just said? Is it possible that your Majesty will take any measures?"
When Yan Song heard this, he suddenly stopped, then turned around and turned his eyes to Zhang Runde.
At this moment, Zhang Runde's figure was reflected in Yan Song's cloudy eyes. After a long time, Yan Song looked back, sighed helplessly, and explained.
"Just wait, His Majesty will take action soon. No one involved will be able to escape!"
After Yan Song finished explaining, he walked forward on his own.
Seeing this, Zhang Runde quickly followed Yan Song's pace in three steps and two steps at a time, with a flattering look on his face.
"Mr. Yan Ge, do you want to go back? I happen to be free now, so I might as well see you off..."
…
At this moment, Xu Jie's mansion.
Since the announcement of closing the door and thanking guests, Xu Jie has become much more leisurely, and even his loyal subordinates cannot see him for a while.
At this moment, Xu Jie was sitting at the top, carefully playing with the pair of celadon that Jiajing had given him before, and praising them from time to time.
"Well, it's good, it's indeed better than the gift from His Majesty!"
At this moment, there was a rush of footsteps coming from outside. Xu Jie suddenly lost all interest and could not help but frown.
After a while, the housekeeper hurried in and reported to Xu Jie.
"Master, something bad is going on, outside..."
Before the housekeeper finished speaking, he was impatiently interrupted by Xu Jie.
"Didn't I say before that there's nothing important, so don't bother me?"
When the housekeeper heard this, he was stunned for a moment, and then continued with a look of eagerness on his face.
"Master, something really big has happened. The people from Jinyiwei and Dongchang are looking for people everywhere!"
When Xu Jie heard this, he was immediately shocked. His resentment at being disturbed earlier quickly disappeared, and he continued to ask.
"Go on, what happened outside?"
After hearing the words, the housekeeper organized the words in his mind and immediately narrated the whole story to Xu Jie.
After listening to the butler's narration, Xu Jie became quite angry. He put one hand on the chair to support his body and cursed through gritted teeth.
"These idiots are all finished now!"
(End of chapter)
