Chapter 406: Minister of Criminal Affairs >

st of each piece is around nine hundred wen. This is because the master is not yet skilled in production, and there are waste products during the process. If it stabilizes, the cost can be compressed...Chapter 406: Minister of Punishment

"My lord, shall I accompany you"

Su Zhenning also sensed the seriousness of the situation and asked.

Shaking his head, Li Chen said, "No need. You already have enough on your shoulders. Focus on finishing what you're currently working on."

Su Zhentig, upon hearing this, no longer insisted and stood up to send Li Chen out of the General's Mansion all the way.

As Li Chen went back, Su Zhen Ting felt increasingly uneasy on his way home.

What happened to Xu Changqing, anyone with discernment can see it's something unfounded.

But precisely because it was groundless, it became easy to make a solid case. Someone deliberately intended to put Xu Changqing to death and cut off the Donggong's finger.

Back in his study, Su Zhetong let out a long sigh. He decided not to meddle in this matter any further; he would leave it up to the prince to decide how things should be handled.

Even though he and the Crown Prince are currently in a close alliance, the Crown Prince is still the main one, and he is secondary. If he interferes too much, it would be unwise.

And on this end, after Li Chen returned to the East Palace, sure enough, the documents from the Ministry of Justice had arrived.

Li Chen just glanced at it and threw it in front of the three treasures, coldly smiling: "What a solid evidence! From someone reporting to finding the evidence and then immediately arresting Xu Changqing and putting him in jail, and now the official documents have been sent over, it only took half a day's work!"

"If the Ministry of Justice continues to operate at this efficiency, no one in the Qin Empire will dare to break the law!"

Sān Bǎo squatted down and picked up the official document, respectfully presenting it to Li Chen's desk. He sighed with a wry smile: "Your Highness, anyone with eyes can see this is a deliberate frame-up. They didn't intend to hide it from you at all. No matter how elaborate their scheme, there will always be loopholes. They simply decided to make it public and swift, taking away Xu Changqing as a pawn."

The immediate concern is how to handle it.

"Is a pawn, or an exchange."

In just one sentence, the three treasures hit the nail on the head.

Li Chen sat in his seat, his expression cold and aloof.

After a moment's thought, he said: "Go summon Qian Shiyan."

Qian Shiyan, the newly appointed Minister of Punishment, is Zhao Xuanji's comrade. However, he also has another identity: he is the student of Wang Tenghuan, who was demoted to the position of Prefect of the Capital by Li Chen.

Within the imperial court, relationships are intricate and complex.

The cabinet, led by Zhao Xuanji and a few others, has painstakingly cultivated their influence over the years. Many crucial positions in various departments and mid-level roles within the imperial court's central institutions are held by their disciples. Their power base is vast and deep, something the current East Palace simply cannot match.

And these are precisely the roots by which powerful officials, when they have grown to a certain extent, can resist imperial power.

Even Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty, who was a great ruler, couldn't completely eradicate it. Let alone Li Chen in this day and age.

Just like this Ministry of Punishments, the previous Minister of Punishments Teng Huaiyi was also beheaded by Li Chen. But so what Zhao Xuanji and others could easily find someone to replace him, while the East Palace had finally secured a few positions but still worried about who to send.

We are really short-staffed.

This drawback becomes glaringly obvious in this situation.

Soon, Qian Shiyan was brought over.

"The humble official Qian Shiyan pays his respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Long live the Crown Prince, long live the Crown Prince, ten thousand years!"

Qian Shiyan seemed to have expected Li Chen's summons long ago, so he remained calm and collected, with a plan in mind.

Li Chen raised his eyes to look at Qian Shiyan and said softly, "You're welcome."

When Qian Shiyan straightened his waist, Li Chen spoke up, "Mr. Qian, do you know the inside story of Xu Changqing's case"

"Qian Shiyan calmly replied: “Because this matter involves imperial officials, a high official of the third rank, and Xu Changqing, who has been in charge of the Ministry of Finance for a long time, I dare not neglect it. I personally investigated and found irrefutable evidence, so I personally ordered the arrest of those involved. Therefore, I know everything about this.”t surged with an indescribable sense of exhilaration. He was so excited that he trembled with anticipation."You wait for me! Tomorrow, I will expose your affair to all the civil and military officials...