Volume Two: The Noble and the Ignoble Chapter Fifty-Four: Neither Enmity Nor Grudge Between Us

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Amid the astonishment of the Ministry of Justice officials and Liao Kui, Huang Ming seized the momentum and pressed on: “Honorable Deputy Minister, I still have evidence here that can corroborate the testimonies of the Zheng siblings, to firmly establish Liao Kui’s guilt!”

With that, he pulled out a thick stack of documents from his bosom and handed them over. “These are the facts uncovered by the secret agents of the Embroidered Uniform Guard after their investigations in Ruyang!”

Liao Kui finally snapped out of his shock, only to grow more panicked and furious, glaring at Huang Ming and stammering, “You…”

Yan Yishou, though accepting the documents, furrowed his brow. “Huang Ming, what is the meaning of this disturbance?”

“Because the Zheng Qian case involved the Embroidered Uniform Guard, they specially sent agents to investigate discreetly, and what they found was shocking,” Huang Ming said calmly, speaking with conviction. “According to the investigation, the family of Inspector Liao now owns over 18,000 mu of land in the local area, Sandli Town, accounting for over 80% of all arable land. May I ask, Minister Liao, how did your family acquire so much land?”

Liao Kui opened his mouth but could not utter a single word.

Huang Ming did not expect any explanation and continued: “It’s nothing but gifts and bribes. But an imperial graduate like you would only be exempt from a modest amount of land tax—then why would so many farming families willingly give up their livelihood and hand over their land to your family?”

“In my view, there must be deep problems here. You must have used every means to seize and plunder these lands to build such a vast estate. And not only the common folk’s land but also the lands of the Zheng family, whom you framed—am I right?”

“No… no!” Liao Kui cried out desperately, but aside from that, he had no words to defend himself. What excuse could he possibly conjure?

Yan Yishou’s expression grew graver. What was Huang Ming’s true intention?

Many matters in the world cannot be openly weighed or measured, but once weighed, they become immovable.

For example, the way gentry officials continuously annex land under special privileges is something that must never be publicly exposed.

Yet here was this reckless youth brazenly revealing it all.

If this matter spread, who knew what chaos it would cause?

Yan Yishou looked again at Huang Ming and noticed a deeper meaning in his gaze, as if offering a silent warning.

Could it be...

“Honorable Deputy Minister, Liao Kui is greedy in office, untrustworthy to friends, disloyal to his sovereign. His numerous crimes have been confirmed beyond doubt. I implore you to judge impartially, to uphold justice for the innocent victims, for the descendants of the Zheng family, and for the people of Ruyang!”

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Huang Ming then bowed slightly, having conveyed his intent; it was now up to the Ministry of Justice deputy minister to decide.

Unaware of the full situation, Zheng Ziyan and the others hurriedly followed, filled with sorrow and indignation. “We beg Your Excellency to stand for us and restore justice.”

Liao Kui stood there dumbfounded, finally muttering, “Your Excellency, I am being wronged by them…”

Yan Yishou’s gaze flickered between the parties, his mind racing through a difficult decision.

Huang Ming’s message was clear: there was room for deeper investigation into Liao Kui’s case—his massive land acquisitions had driven countless locals to become tenants, displaced families, and refugees.

If these facts were exposed, the consequences would be severe, far beyond what a single deputy minister could bear.

Yet Huang Ming had merely hinted at this, stopping short of full disclosure.

It was clearly a veiled threat.

If Yan Yishou refused to render a fair verdict, Huang Ming would not relent.

Their determined pursuit since hitting a dead end at Shuntian Prefecture had only grown more forceful upon arriving at the Ministry of Justice.

If Yan Yishou sided with Liao Kui, they might escalate further—filing complaints at other offices or even banging the Drum of Public Appeal.

This was not mere paranoia; with Huang Ming involved, they could indeed provoke a storm.

At that point, the entire court would be shaken, and even Yan Yishou himself would be dragged in.

Thus, even if Yan Yishou wished to shield Liao Kui out of camaraderie, it was no longer possible.

Collecting his thoughts, his expression turned grave: “What you say is indeed reasonable. Having such a malicious official wreak havoc locally is a failure of our dynasty.

“As Deputy Minister of Justice, it is my duty to punish the wicked and protect the innocent under Ming law! Bring me this corrupt official, strip him of his rank, and arrest him immediately. Once all his crimes are thoroughly investigated, we shall report to His Majesty and deliver just punishment!”

Upon hearing this, Liao Kui was terrified and shouted urgently, “Your Excellency, I am innocent! It is these unruly peasants who…”

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But the officers on both sides gave him no chance to protest further. They swiftly pounced, binding his hands behind his back and hurriedly escorting him out.

The decisiveness of the proceedings stunned Zheng Ziyan. Was this all happening too fast?

Huang Ming remained composed, knowing that his efforts had naturally led to this outcome.

Months earlier, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had already dispatched agents to thoroughly investigate Ruyang. The numerous illegal acts of the Liao family alone were enough to ruin them.

Adding to that, this entire scheme was carefully orchestrated: first using Zheng Ziyan as bait to make Liao Kui complacent, then breaking his defenses with the real Zheng Ziyan, and finally presenting overwhelming evidence of his many abuses to force the Ministry of Justice’s hand.

With such careful strategy, common citizens had toppled a somewhat renowned censor.

Even Huang Ming felt this was overkill. Were he not powerless and only a private citizen filing a complaint, dealing with Liao Kui would have been much simpler.

But Yan Yishou clearly saw it differently; at this moment, he did not want to see Huang Ming or his group again.

Arresting and prosecuting Liao Kui was easy enough. But what then?

Would this encourage others to imitate them and flood the Ministry of Justice with complaints?

And capturing a man like Liao Kui was akin to stirring a hornet’s nest—soon the Censorate would respond, and Yan Yishou would have to bear those consequences.

So he shot Huang Ming a displeased glare: “I still have matters to attend to today. You should leave now.”

Huang Ming understood his thoughts and said no more. Bowing slightly with Zheng Ziyan and the others, he departed with the officers escorting Liao Kui.

Just as they stepped outside the detention quarters, Liao Kui suddenly twisted around, glaring resentfully at Huang Ming. “Huang, we have no grudge or hatred. Why must you scheme against me so?”