The doctor suffers from amnesia, but not complete amnesia.

"Good idea, simple and direct."

Qiao Yelan nodded approvingly.

"Has Young Master Yu found out yet?"

"We should have news soon."

"Then let's have some tea first. This is Zhuyeqing tea, a precious tribute from Shangshu, bestowed by His Majesty."

Qiao Yelan leisurely picked up her teacup.

Yu Cheng's heart sank.

In fact, he shouldn't have been so aggressive in trying to trick Qiao Yelan—because there was no evidence to connect the Zhu Ronghui family massacre case with the previous two family massacre cases, and even the connection between the Wang Shopkeeper family massacre case and the Wang Vice Minister family massacre case was not strong at present.

However, Qiao Yelan appeared in both cases, and the last person to visit those two families before they were wiped out was also Qiao Yelan.

Is it just a coincidence?

Yu Cheng didn't believe in coincidences, or at least, there must be some kind of connection between them.

So he came deliberately to interrogate Qiao Yelan, and was aggressive in his words, just to see if Qiao Yelan would show any weakness under pressure.

After all, the other party was just a young man in his twenties who had been promoted directly from a commoner to a third-rank official. His shrewdness and cultivation were far from sufficient.

But Qiao Yelan was completely discreet—either this matter really had nothing to do with him, or Qiao Yelan wasn't worried at all about finding evidence.

It seems that the money Zhu Rong Hui mentioned was not related to Qiao Yelan...

Just as he was pondering, an official from the Court of Judicial Review hurried in and whispered something in Yu Cheng's ear.

"What did you say?"

Yu Shaoqing blurted out this question almost without thinking.

It wasn't that the other person was slurring their words, nor that he was daydreaming—it was the shock these words brought him that made him involuntarily ask the question.

The official repeated his words, without a single deviation from the previous statement.

The silver notes used by Zhu Ronghui for withdrawals bore the stamp of the Wangji Trading Company.

The Wangji Trading Company, which was wiped out ten days ago.

"It seems you've obtained the results you sought—have you uncovered some crucial evidence and are you now planning to take your leave?"

Qiao Yelan slowly put down his teacup, and Yu Cheng then realized that she had stood up without even realizing it.

"...This humble official takes his leave."

After saying this, Yu Cheng hurriedly left the Shaofu with the officials.

Qiao Yelan watched Yu Cheng leave, listening to the sound of the front door opening and closing.

"Now, there's enough fire—even the frogs in the lukewarm water should be starting to sense something's wrong."

The man smiled slightly.

"Let's go, Eunuch Wang, we should go to the palace to pay our respects to His Majesty."

----------------------------------------------------------

"The Court of Judicial Review has fallen into their trap. They have found evidence that can connect these three cases of family extermination. Next, the officials of the Ministry of Revenue will have to face real pressure."

"Just relying on that sum of money from Zhu Rong Hui Ti?"

"Yes, it's all thanks to that sum of money."

Qiao Yelan held the hot water bottle and analyzed the emperor's words and sentences one by one.

"In the case of the massacre, the two possibilities to consider first are revenge and silencing. However, both Manager Wang and Vice Minister Wang have a messy account that cannot withstand scrutiny. In addition, the murderer did not intend to torture the victim, so the Dali Temple will inevitably lean towards the direction of silencing."

"That's why they kept investigating along the money exchange and the flow of money. And at this time, the last sum of money that Zhu Ronghui mentioned before his death was actually paid in the form of a bank note from Wangji Trading Company. With such a big suspicion, it's impossible for Dali Temple not to investigate further."

Following Qiao Yelan's words, the emperor also realized what was going on.

"Therefore, they would believe that this silver note was given to Zhu Ronghui by Manager Wang before his family was wiped out, which would mean that Zhu Ronghui was at least involved in the secret business between Manager Wang and Vice Minister Wang."

"Your Majesty has keen insight—the Dali Temple had already uncovered evidence of Wangji Trading Company's smuggling activities. Smuggling means that many people who cover for them will be implicated. Therefore, Wangji Trading Company will definitely share the money with these people. So, at this time, when Zhu Ronghui was about to leave Dayan, he took away this large sum of cash, which seemed like he was feeling guilty and wanted to run away with his money."

Qiao Yelan flattered.

"So that's how it is. No wonder when the two families were wiped out, you only killed people and forbade arson, but this time you ordered the bodies of the Zhu Rong family to be burned beyond recognition and deliberately reduced the number of corpses."

The emperor now understood what Qiao Yelan was trying to do—he wanted the Dali Temple to believe that Zhu Ronghui, after discovering that Vice Minister Wang and Manager Wang's families had been wiped out, was worried that he would be next, so he wanted to slip away and leave the Great Yan.

"That's why I asked Your Majesty not to announce the appointment publicly in court, but instead to have me deliver the imperial edict—it looks like Zhu Ronghui privately asked Your Majesty for permission to escape in order to achieve his goal."

"Good means."

The emperor praised it.

Qiao Yelan did not use any lies, but rather solid evidence, which led the Dali Temple down a completely wrong path.

In the eyes of the Dali Temple, these three cases have completely changed in nature—the people who organized the smuggling wanted to silence every unstable insider so that no one could find out about the matter.

"What is your next step, my dear minister?"

"The key to the next step is Your Majesty's reaction. If a commoner family dies, Your Majesty will give an explanation to the commoners; if an official family dies, Your Majesty will give an explanation to the court—but if Your Majesty's retainers are wiped out, then it is up to others to give Your Majesty an explanation."

Qiao Yelan's voice seemed to possess an innate allure of power, tempting every ambitious person to follow his words involuntarily.

"You need to be angry, you need to be furious, absolutely furious—that way you can justifiably bring down the forces you have overtly controlled, such as the Secret Service or the Imperial Guards."

"No matter how much the court officials outwardly comply with your wishes while inwardly opposing you, they dare not go against your opinion on this matter—because they also know that the royal family must get an explanation for this matter, and before they get an explanation, anyone who opposes it may become the one who gets that explanation at any time."

The emperor nodded in satisfaction. If the Imperial Guards and the Secret Service also joined the fray after the Dali Temple was involved, then he would indeed be able to execute the final stage of Qiao Yelan's plan before Cai Yan and his cronies could react.

"I will be furious at tomorrow's court assembly—and what about you, my dear minister?"

"Your Majesty, I will naturally help you resolve this last worry."

The man raised his head, revealing a confident smile.

"Your subject is going to pay a visit to the Grand Tutor."

"Grand Tutor?"

"Your Majesty, although Zhu Ronghui is dead, the mission you entrusted to him is not yet over—Zhu Ronghui went on a mission to Lungmen regarding the emergence of the bloodline of the orphaned descendant of Drak. And who is involved in this matter?"

who is it?

Of course, it's his "good older brother".

"Now that Zhu Rong Hui is dead, the cause of his death is unknown. However, the Grand Tutor will certainly be eager for you to send another special envoy so that this 'rumor' can be definitively proven. Therefore, he will certainly not mind speaking up for you at this time."

“Once the Grand Tutor speaks, the Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of Rites will surely follow suit—and in the eyes of outsiders, there is no doubt that the largest neutral force in the court has already sided with Your Majesty.”

Qiao Yelan bowed respectfully.

"Furthermore, my plan has reached its final stage. At that time, the balance of power between you and Prime Minister Cai will be reversed."

Even the emperor could not suppress his joy at this vision.

"Minister Qiao, you are truly a national hero."

"Your Majesty flatters me. I am humbled."

Qiao Yelan remained humble as always.

With the emperor's eyes and ears following him, it's not appropriate to go to the Imperial Household Department to discuss matters with others.

Then just go openly and honestly in front of the emperor.

Chapter 88 The first day without char siu, so refreshing!

"Thank you, father-in-law."

"You're too kind, Lord Qiao."

Wang Zhi bowed respectfully to Qiao Yelan and the Grand Tutor, and then left on his own.

"I feel like I've seen this person before."

“There are only a handful of fourth-rank Grand Eunuchs in the palace, so the Grand Tutor naturally knows them.”

The old man remained silent for a while, without responding.

Qiao Yelan had only been in the capital for half a month when the palace sent a fourth-rank eunuch, who was arguably the emperor's most trusted man, to push Qiao Yelan's wheelchair. Even when the emperor came to see him, someone he was always wary of, the eunuch didn't even mention the need for surveillance before leaving.

This guy... his methods and abilities are as astonishing as ever.

"So, you were the one who murdered these three families, weren't you?"

"【As expected】—Are you really that confident?"

"People only started dying after you arrived in the capital, and besides—if it were you, wouldn't it be normal to kill your entire family?"

The Grand Tutor snorted coldly.

"I only kill those who have a reason to die."

Qiao Yelan picked up the teacup and took a small sip.

"—Zhu Rong Hui isn't dead?"

"No wonder you were able to keep the Second Phase in check forty years ago. There aren't many people in this world who can keep up with my thinking."