Urgent Issuance

Countless thoughts flashed through Cui Shifan's mind in an instant, but right now, Luo Zhao's attitude was resolute, and her reasoning was sound.

He had no choice but to suppress his doubts and immediately declare his stance:

"Everything shall be as Your Highness says. The Cabinet will issue an order immediately, requiring each of the Six Ministries to dispatch a special envoy."

"They will jointly station themselves in the Qingli Department of the Ministry of Personnel to supervise the entire investigation and interrogation process of Gu Chengyin's case, ensuring fairness and transparency."

"There is no time to lose. Get this done first." Luo Zhao gave a slight nod, her tone carrying a hint of urgency.

Cui Shifan did not dare to neglect this and immediately raised his hand to signal.

A well-prepared Cabinet clerk quickly presented a drafted Cabinet decree.

Cui Shifan took it, rapidly scanned it to confirm the contents were correct, and then pushed the document to Hu Juzheng and Yuan Zhengqing beside him for their review.

Hu Juzheng read it carefully, and Yuan Zhengqing also browsed through it with a solemn expression.

Neither of them raised any objections and nodded successively in approval.

Only then did Cui Shifan take out the great seal of the Cabinet from a brocade box nearby, dip it in bright red ink, and solemnly stamp it at the end of the document.

"Issue this urgently! Require all ministries and departments to select their special envoys within half an hour of receiving the order," Cui Shifan commanded in a deep voice.

"Yes, sir!"

The clerk received the stamped official document with both hands and jogged out of the council hall to handle the urgent dispatch procedures.

Seeing this scene, Luo Zhao, who was sitting upright in the seat of honor, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The harsh words about executing nine generations of kin spoken in the Palace of the Heir Apparent were more about expressing her stance and deterring anyone from crossing her bottom line; they belonged to the private domain.

But this formal document stamped with the great seal of the Cabinet was a powerful public guarantee.

With this explicit Cabinet order, if the Qingli Department wanted to play any tricks, they would have to consider the consequences of simultaneously offending the Cabinet, the Censorate, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Justice, the Imperial Household Department, and even the Golden Feather Guard.

Under this dual pressure, if the other party still dared to take a desperate risk and act recklessly, the nature of the matter would completely change.

At that time, even if the Golden Feather Guard were ordered to surround the entire Ministry of Personnel, not a single person in the court or the public would say it was wrong.

With this, Luo Zhao's most urgent goal for this trip was finally achieved.

"Since that is the case, I have no further official business to discuss."

Luo Zhao spoke slowly, but although she said this, she showed no intention of getting up to leave.

This posture made the hearts of the three Grand Secretaries skip a beat.

Official business was done, so next, they were going to talk about private matters?

But with whom? And about what?

All three were veterans of the political sea and immediately understood Luo Zhao's intention.

She wanted to use this occasion to have separate, private conversations with those she needed to communicate with.

As for who could stay and who should leave, that depended on their respective stances and Luo Zhao's needs.

Hu Juzheng was the first to cup his hands toward Luo Zhao:

"Your Highness, this old minister still has some urgent official duties to handle and dare not delay."

"Since Your Highness has no other official orders, this old minister will take his leave first."

Luo Zhao nodded, granting him permission.

Hu Juzheng casually patted Yuan Zhengqing's shoulder beside him, then strode out of the council hall.

Cui Shifan closely followed, cupping his hands toward Luo Zhao: "Your Highness, if there are no other orders, this old minister will also return to the Cabinet office to be on duty."

"This week, it is this old minister's turn to be on duty in the Cabinet."

Cui Shifan originally thought Luo Zhao would nod and let him leave, just as she did with Hu Juzheng.

However, just as he was about to turn around, Luo Zhao suddenly spoke.

"Mhm."

It was just a short, single-syllable word, but it made Cui Shifan's footsteps freeze abruptly in place.

He turned back to look at Luo Zhao in astonishment.

Luo Zhao, however, did not look at him; her gaze fell on the empty space ahead.

Countless calculations flashed through Cui Shifan's mind in an instant. Ultimately, he gave a slight nod to Luo Zhao, then turned and continued toward the door, leaving the council hall.

Inside the council hall, only Luo Zhao and Yuan Zhengqing remained.

Without waiting for Luo Zhao to speak, Yuan Zhengqing took the initiative to break the silence.

"Your Highness, regarding the consolidation of the Left Vice Minister's corruption case, I have already heard a detailed report from my subordinates."

"This matter concerns the integrity of the imperial court's administration. Striking down corruption is the inescapable duty of the Censorate."

"Originally, I planned to find an opportunity to have a chat with Junior Preceptor Gu."

"I just didn't expect things to change so quickly, and Junior Preceptor Gu..."

Luo Zhao directly interrupted him, speaking crisply and neatly:

"Grand Secretary Yuan, my time is limited. I still have to enter the palace to seek an audience with my imperial father later."

"So, let's keep this brief."

Yuan Zhengqing's heart skipped a beat. Enter the palace to see the Emperor? At this critical juncture?

It definitely wasn't for Gu Chengyin, otherwise she wouldn't have come to the Cabinet first.

Then it must be for Xiao Song. Clearly, Her Highness could no longer tolerate it and was preparing to lay her cards on the table with His Majesty, pushing for the final showdown.

"I can tell you very clearly that although Gu Chengyin has entered the Qingli Department,"

"It does not mean the Palace of the Heir Apparent will halt its steps."

She looked at Yuan Zhengqing, her gaze burning:

"On the contrary, I will personally push this to the very end. I wonder, what is the Censorate's stance?"

These words were both a declaration and a final ultimatum and invitation.

The Heir Apparent was personally taking command. Would the Censorate follow, or watch from the sidelines?

Yuan Zhengqing made his decision in an instant.

Although Gu Chengyin was temporarily trapped, the Heir Apparent personally stepping onto the field carried far more weight.

Moreover, Luo Zhao explicitly stated she was going to see His Majesty, which meant she held crucial evidence sufficient to sway the Emperor.

If he didn't follow now, when would he?

He immediately cupped his hands, his voice firm:

"Your Highness acts with the speed of thunder and the force of the wind, which commands my utmost admiration. Please rest assured, Your Highness, the Censorate agrees to consolidate the cases!"

"After I return, I will immediately arrange capable personnel to directly interface with the Palace of the Heir Apparent and establish a fixed communication channel."

"We will share all clues and evidence, cooperate synergistically, and exchange information. We must investigate this case until the truth is brought to light, absolutely not allowing the traitors of the state to remain at large."

Seeing Yuan Zhengqing state his position so decisively, Luo Zhao nodded, but then, remembering something, she suddenly said:

"Grand Secretary Yuan, before Junior Preceptor Gu left, he mentioned something to me. He said... you guys are joining the latest, so...'"

An understanding smile appeared on Yuan Zhengqing's face, and he said candidly:

"Your Highness, this old minister understands. Joining at this time does carry the suspicion of reaping the fruits of others' labor."

"Therefore, we will do exactly as Junior Preceptor Gu said."

"Our humble scholar faction has no extravagant demands. We only seek to rid the imperial court of pests and vindicate the scholars of humble origins; that will be enough."

"What should be ours, we will take; what should not be ours, we will absolutely not take a single bit more."

These words were spoken with a very humble posture, both expressing obedience to the distribution framework set by Gu Chengyin and highlighting the core demands of the humble scholar faction, appearing candid and pragmatic.

However, stormy waves surged in Luo Zhao's heart.

Yuan Zhengqing, or rather the humble scholar faction he represented, was actually following the exact script pre-designed by Gu Chengyin.

How on earth did that guy Gu Chengyin calculate things to this step?

"Mhm, I have no other matters."

Forcing down the shock in her heart and maintaining superficial calmness, Luo Zhao said indifferently.

Yuan Zhengqing tactfully stood up immediately and solemnly cupped his hands toward Luo Zhao:

"This old minister will make the arrangements immediately upon returning. Your Highness need only wait for good news."

"Thank you for your trouble, Grand Secretary Yuan." Luo Zhao nodded.

Yuan Zhengqing said no more, turned around, and left the council hall with steady steps.

Now, Luo Zhao was the only one left in the vast assembly hall.

She remained seated upright in the seat of honor, her gaze calm, as if waiting for something.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, steady footsteps echoed from outside, drawing closer from a distance.

"Your Highness, your subject Cui Shifan has an important matter to report."

"Granted."