Chapter 567: Shaanxi Qingli Division
After signing his name in the register, Zhu Ping’an immediately noticed a dramatic change in the attitude of the official stationed at the Ministry of Justice entrance. Moments ago, the man had been all smiles and courtesy; now his manner had turned cold and dismissive, as though he were dealing with an entirely different person.
Zhu Ping’an paid it little mind.
The powerful were flattered, the weak were trampled upon—what could be more ordinary than that? It seemed to be human nature. Since ancient times, there had never been a shortage of people who bowed to those above them while stepping on those beneath them. This official was hardly unique.
If you wanted others to look up at you, you had to stand on higher ground.
And if you happened to be standing below, there was little point in dwelling on the footprints left by those who stepped over you.
Maintain your composure and walk your own path—that was enough.
Holding the Ministry of Justice summons in hand, Zhu Ping’an entered the ministry compound. Following the “helpful directions” provided by the registration official, he turned left and headed toward the second doorway.
The Ministry of Justice was far larger than the Hanlin Academy.
Rows of side buildings stretched along both sides of the courtyard, each remarkably long. These housed the Thirteen Qingli Divisions of the ministry. Seven divisions occupied the buildings on the right, while six were located on the left. Each division occupied a separate room, and outside every doorway hung a crimson-red lantern bearing the division’s name in bold black characters.
The divisions on the left side, in order, were:
Zhejiang Qingli Division, Shaanxi Qingli Division, Jiangxi Qingli Division, Huguang Qingli Division, Guangdong Qingli Division, and Shandong Qingli Division.
The “second door on the left” mentioned by the registration official could only refer to the Shaanxi Qingli Division.
According to the administrative system of the Great Ming, the Shaanxi Qingli Division was responsible for criminal and judicial affairs concerning Shaanxi and Gansu Provinces. It also oversaw matters involving the Rear Military Commission, the Office of Transmission Officials, eleven imperial guards stationed in the capital including the Rear Guard of the Capital Prefecture Army, as well as the Hedong Salt Transport Administration and various other institutions.
Zhao Daying’s forces belonged to Gansu.
That placed the matter squarely within the jurisdiction of the Shaanxi Qingli Division.
“That should be the place.”
After a moment’s consideration, Zhu Ping’an strode toward the room.
The sun was shining brightly overhead.
As he stepped through the doorway, his figure blocked the sunlight streaming through the windows. A long, broad human-shaped shadow immediately stretched across the floor, casting part of the room into darkness.
There were six people inside.
They sat scattered throughout the room at various desks. Some were studying case files and official records, while others bent over documents, writing neat rows of small regular-script characters with brushes in hand. All appeared deeply absorbed in their duties.
Yet the moment Zhu Ping’an’s silhouette dimmed the room, all six instinctively paused.
Brushes were set down.
Documents lowered.
Six pairs of eyes turned toward the newcomer standing in the doorway.
“Forgive the interruption.”
Standing just inside the entrance, Zhu Ping’an smiled faintly and cupped his hands in greeting.
“This humble official is Zhu Ping’an, Reader-in-Waiting of the Hanlin Academy. I have come specially to present a petition before the Ministry of Justice.”
Under the Ming administrative system, the staffing of each Qingli Division generally consisted of one Director (Langzhong, fifth rank), one Vice Director (Yuanwailang, subordinate fifth rank), and one Secretary (Zhushi, sixth rank), in addition to several subordinate officials.
In terms of official rank, everyone formally assigned to the division outranked Zhu Ping’an.
Thus, it was entirely appropriate for him to refer to himself as “this humble official.”
“Who?”
“Zhu Ping’an?”
The six men stared.
Their gazes immediately focused upon him.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Instead, they simply looked him up and down as though they had just discovered some exceedingly rare creature.
A rare creature?
Indeed.
In their eyes, Zhu Ping’an was exactly that.
They had seen people impeach Yan Song before.
Although such individuals were few, the Ministry of Justice had handled many of them over the years. Men such as Shen Lian, Zhao Jin, Zhou Mian, and others had all submitted memorials attacking the Grand Secretary.
But someone who had only been an official for a handful of days and had already submitted a memorial indirectly impeaching Yan Song?
That was a first.
Who was Yan Song?
The Chief Grand Secretary of the empire.
A man second only to the Emperor himself.
Ever since Elder Yan had assumed control of the Grand Secretariat, anyone who dared challenge him had met a miserable fate.
Not a single exception.
Imprisonment was practically the most common outcome.
Being stripped of office and reduced to commoner status was already considered extraordinarily fortunate—as though one’s ancestors had personally risen from their graves to offer protection.
Many had simply vanished from the world altogether.
The lessons of the past were countless.
The warnings could not have been clearer.
Yet Zhu Ping’an—
A young man who had endured ten years of arduous study, crossed the perilous single-log bridge of the imperial examinations, and emerged as the champion scholar.
Not just any champion scholar.
The top scholar of the entire empire.
The youngest champion scholar in the Great Ming.
A man whose future should have been limitless, whose prospects should have shone brighter than the morning sun.
And yet, mere days after entering officialdom, he had submitted a memorial that pointed directly at Yan Song.
Could he possibly not understand the consequences?
Impossible.
No one capable of becoming the Zhuangyuan could be so ignorant.
He knew.
He understood perfectly.
And still he did it.
Knowing there were tigers in the mountains, he had chosen to walk straight toward them.
Why?
Being an official was wonderful.
After overcoming countless rivals, surviving examination after examination, crossing that narrow bridge over a sea of competitors, he had finally earned his official robes.
Power.
Status.
Influence.
A secure livelihood.
Freedom from worries about food, clothing, or money.
The promise of wealth and beauty alike.
Even if he personally viewed gold as dirt, what about his own future? His own value?
The six officials could not help but think:
Incredible, brother.
You’re really throwing all of that away?
If this was your plan, why spend ten years studying your heart out in the first place?
Thus, in their eyes, Zhu Ping’an truly resembled some rare and incomprehensible creature.
He was still so young.
What grievance did he have with life that he felt compelled to provoke Grand Secretary Yan?
What a waste.
What a terrible waste.
“Ahem.”
The Director of the Shaanxi Qingli Division, Zhai Juntao, broke the silence with a light cough.
“Ping’an, don’t stand there. Sit down and speak.”
He gestured for a clerk to bring over a chair before smiling warmly.
“Our Ministry of Justice and your Hanlin Academy are practically neighbors. There’s no need to stand on ceremony here.”
“I would not dare trouble Your Excellency.”
Zhu Ping’an politely declined.
“This humble official will stand.”
“Enough of that.”
Zhai Juntao deliberately frowned.
“Sit and talk. Or must this official stand here and accompany you?”
His tone carried a trace of mock annoyance.
Zhu Ping’an could only smile helplessly.
“In that case… thank you, Your Excellency.”
He rose and cupped his hands in gratitude before taking the offered seat.
His behavior was neither servile nor arrogant.
Calm.
Measured.
Respectful without being obsequious.
The impression he left upon those present deepened considerably.
And with that growing respect came an even greater sense of regret.
Such a promising young man.
Such a pity.
Once seated, Zhu Ping’an was served a cup of tea at Zhai Juntao’s instruction.
Another clerk was dispatched to the office of Minister of Justice He Ao to report Zhu Ping’an’s arrival.
After all, a matter like this was far beyond the authority of the Shaanxi Qingli Division.
Only the Minister himself could decide how to handle it.
The clerk hurried away.
Less than ten minutes later, he returned.
Walking up beside Zhai Juntao, the clerk leaned close and whispered into his ear.
Minister He had not even been at the ministry that morning.
Instead, he had been summoned to the Yan residence by Yan Shifan himself and had yet to return.
The clerk’s voice was barely louder than a mosquito’s buzz.
But for Zhu Ping’an, the volume was irrelevant.
Having long mastered the art of reading lips, he needed only to see the movement of the man’s mouth.
The message was perfectly clear.
“Ping’an.”
After hearing the report, Zhai Juntao cleared his throat and turned toward him.
“Minister He is currently occupied with important affairs. Please wait here for a while. Once he has finished his business, we shall seek an audience on your behalf.”
“Everything shall be arranged according to Your Excellency’s judgment.”
Zhu Ping’an replied with an unchanged expression.
Yet inwardly he could not help sneering.
Important affairs?
Going to the Yan residence to curry favor and strengthen personal ties has somehow become an important affair now?
At a time like this, for Yan Shifan to summon He Ao to the Yan residence…
There was an eighty or ninety percent chance it had something to do with his memorial.
A faint smile appeared in Zhu Ping’an’s heart.
It seemed that this petitioning session was going to be very lively indeed.