Gao Qiu felt a chill run down his spine as he saw the murderous intent flash in Zhao Ji's eyes, even though he had seen many storms in his life.
"Replying to Your Majesty, this old servant did not inquire closely, but that person has now been apprehended..."
"Bring him to me at once. Also, take my token and leave the palace. Immediately gather men and detain everyone who knows about this matter. No one is to let any word leak out without my command!"
After taking several deep breaths, Zhao Ji stared intently at Gao Qiu and said, enunciating each word.
"Yes!"
Although Gao Qiu was very curious about what was written in the memorial, he dared not show the slightest curiosity at this moment.
Having served in the imperial palace for so many years, he understood that knowing too much was not a good thing for him, especially at such a critical juncture!
He did not want to be quietly poisoned one dark night!
"Stop!"
Just as he was about to walk out of the palace gate, Zhao Ji suddenly called out to him again.
"I ask you, how did Chancellor Cai die?"
As Gao Qiu was about to turn to bow again, the emperor suddenly asked again, his voice filled with killing intent.
"Chancellor Cai... Chancellor Cai suddenly fell ill tonight, and all medicine was useless. He has departed for the West!"
After a moment of silence, Gao Qiu quickly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and stammered again.
"Very good. After you have finished what needs to be done, go and notify the relevant authorities!"
Zhao Ji's gaze lingered on Gao Qiu for a long time before he nodded with satisfaction.
"Yes!"
Only when he left the palace gate with the token and his subordinates did Gao Qiu reach out and wipe the cold sweat from his forehead in the darkness. He had been so terrified. If he hadn't reacted quickly enough, he might have already been taken down by the emperor on some charge!
However, the more afraid he was, the more curious he became. What exactly was written in that memorial that could have made Cai Jing, a prime minister, commit suicide out of guilt? How serious could it be?
"My lord! My lord! An envoy has come to deliver an imperial decree. They are already at the main gate!"
In the Kaifeng Prefecture yamen, Zhang Shaoyou was drinking tea with his subordinates when he suddenly heard the report.
"An imperial decree?"
Looking at the dark sky outside, Zhang Shaoyou asked with some surprise.
"Yes, the person is already at the gate, my lord. You should prepare to receive the decree!"
Seeing the puzzled expression on Zhang Shaoyou's face, the messenger hurried to say in a low voice.
"Let's go. It seems this matter has escalated. We should go out to receive the decree!"
Although he knew that things might get serious tonight, Zhang Shaoyou did not expect the emperor to issue an imperial decree tonight!
"Yes!"
Since it was impossible to sleep tonight anyway, the subordinate officials of the Kaifeng Prefecture could only follow Zhang Shaoyou to the main gate. However, after hearing the imperial decree, everyone was stunned on the spot.
"My lord, the decree has been read. When will you release him?"
After reading the imperial decree, the young eunuch quietly asked Zhang Shaoyou.
Before coming, the emperor had explicitly instructed him to report back to the emperor after inquiring about Zhang Shaoyou's decision.
However, he knew that although this imperial decree was personally written by the emperor, it had neither the prime minister's seal nor the seal of the Central Secretariat, nor the approval of the Ministry of Personnel. In short, it was a legitimate decree without any official endorsement.
If Zhang Shaoyou insisted on not recognizing it, then he would have no recourse.
Seeing Zhang Shaoyou standing there in a daze, he could only force a smile and ask.
"May I ask what happened? Cai Tao is currently fully convicted. If I release him just like this, I'm afraid I'll be impeached by the censors tomorrow morning!"
After a moment of silence, Zhang Shaoyou finally looked up again and looked at the young eunuch beside him.
"This..."
The young eunuch said this with a look of difficulty. He did know some information, but he also knew that if this news were to spread, and the emperor were to investigate, he would be in serious trouble!
"You all step aside!"
After dismissing his subordinates, Zhang Shaoyou leaned closer to the young eunuch.
"Esteemed Eunuch, I am not trying to make things difficult for you, but you should also know the rules. This imperial decree has nothing on it. If I release the person just like this and he escapes, then the responsibility will all be mine!"
Although Zhang Shaoyou had some faint guesses, he still lowered his voice and said to the young eunuch.
"My lord, aren't you making things difficult for me? There are some things I truly cannot say. You only need to know that something happened to the Cai family, and His Majesty could not do anything, so he allowed him to return to care for his family. No one will pursue this matter. When dawn breaks, you will know everything! If you are still worried, you can send a few people to follow him..."
Looking around to make sure no one could hear their conversation, the young eunuch lowered his voice and said.
"Something happened to the Cai family. Could it be Chancellor Cai?"
"You guessed that yourself. I didn't say anything!"
After hearing Zhang Shaoyou's words, the young eunuch nodded silently and said in a low voice.
"Hoo—"
Upon receiving this answer, Zhang Shaoyou's heart couldn't help but pound. He never expected Han Mo to actually succeed!
Moreover, in just a few days, he had actually forced the prime minister of a country to his death!
Although almost everyone in the court knew that Cai Jing's health would not last long, this old fellow had been in the same state for six years, and he was still in the same state!
They say that evil lingers for a thousand years, and this was truly verified in Cai Jing's case. With such a half-dead appearance, this old scoundrel had somehow managed to survive for so many years!
To say that this fellow died of his own illness, even Zhang Shaoyou didn't believe it?
"Go back and tell His Majesty that since Chancellor Cai has met with misfortune, Cai Tao should naturally be by his side to serve. I will release him now!"
Since Cai Jing was already dead, whether Cai Tao was alive or not was no longer important.
After all, this fellow was far inferior to his elder brother, not by a small margin!
To call him an incapable A Dou would be no exaggeration!
With his father behind him to support him, this fellow could still mess up a good hand, let alone now that even his father was about to be gone!