Wang Jinglong was shocked and angry. He only knew that he was handsome, had a romantic personality, and that his family status was much higher than that of a general. A beauty like Yutang Chun, who was as enchanting as a painting, was a perfect match for him. He never would have thought that she would confess in front of everyone.
Wang Jinglong pointed at Yutang Chun and said angrily: "You lowly servant, this gongzi was kind enough to save you, but you slander me. I am the son of the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, why would I do such a thing? Do you think that you can harm me by confessing? "
Wang Jinglong took out the contract that he got from Yichang Jin from his sleeve and sneered: "Is there anyone in this world who would spend ten thousand taels of silver to buy a girl to be a servant? If you say that Yang Ling didn't even touch you, who would believe it? "
Everyone looked at this incomparably charming beauty and thought to themselves: "Unless this Mister Yang suddenly contracted a hidden illness, otherwise why would he spend ten thousand taels of silver to buy such a delicate little beauty to be his servant."
Emperor Zhengde was extremely moved when he heard this from behind the hall. If it wasn't for the fact that the seepage case of the imperial tomb was like a thorn in his heart, he would have immediately issued an edict to pardon Yang Ling. This is what a loyal official should be like! Working for me, taking on the blame for me, not revealing the truth even when he was about to be beheaded. If this kind of person wasn't a loyal official, then who was?
Xu Guan quickly moved to Zhengde's side and said: "Your Majesty, don't believe that woman's nonsense. Your Majesty, think, even if the Minister and Third Gongzi wanted to frame Yang Ling and bribe this servant to frame him, why would they say such taboo words to a servant they just bought?"
This kind of words was almost rebellious. Even if Wang Qiong really had ambitions, he wouldn't mention it to anyone, much less let Yutang Chun know. So not only did Xu Guan and Hong Zhong not believe it, even Liu Jian, Xie Qian and the others did not believe it. These people had been in the officialdom for many years, how could women like Han Youniang and Yutang Chun hide from their schemes?
But these people did not believe it, but there were others who did. Emperor Zhengde was the mastermind behind this matter. Just now, Yutang Chun had been instructed by Wang Jinglong to frame Yang Ling. There were too many untruths in her words. After Zhengde heard these fabricated 'accusations', how could he believe Xu Guan?
Emperor Zhengde cast a sidelong glance at Xu Guan and Wang Qiong. He only sneered disdainfully and didn't even reply. At this time, there was a commotion outside. The Minister Counsellor of the Ministry of Punishments, Guo Weitong, hurriedly came in to report: "Sirs, imperial envoy Duke Cheng Zhu Gang, the Minister of War Wang Shouren, and Hanlin Academy's scholar Yan Song have already taken the soil sample of the Golden Well and have arrived at the main hall of the Ministry of Punishments."
Zhengde was dressed in casual clothes and had not revealed his identity. This Minister Counsellor only knew that the two Grand Scholars and several Ministers held the highest positions here. Liu Jian waved his hand and said: "I know, you may leave." After the Minister of Punishments left, he turned to look at Zhengde and said: "Your Majesty, what do you think..."
As soon as he heard that the soil sample of the Golden Well had arrived, Zhengde's emotions calmed down. After all, no matter what, this matter was the most important. He glanced at the Minister of Dali Monastery and the Left Imperial Messenger and said: "This case will be put aside for now. Immediately bring it to a three-division joint hearing."
Wang Qiong was secretly accused of spying on his power, but he was unable to defend himself and was secretly resentful. As soon as he heard that the imperial envoys had returned, he was naturally very happy. As long as this major case was confirmed, who would care about Yutang Chun's nonsense?
He immediately cheerfully said to Zhengde: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject has already issued a strict order that other than this subject, no one else is allowed to touch the soil in the golden box. Therefore, this subject must immediately return to the Ministry of Rites and retrieve the sealed soil sample of the Golden Well."
Right now, no matter how Zhengde looked at Wang Qiong, he found him to be an eyesore. He always felt that this father and son pair were not genuine. Therefore, when he heard this, he only snorted coldly and said: "Grand Scholar Xie, accompany Wang Qiong to the Ministry of Rites to retrieve the soil in the golden box. Go quickly and return quickly."
Xie Qian accompanied Wang Qiong and left in a hurry. In front of them, Hong Zhong ordered people to escort the group of criminals, witnesses, and informants out of the hall, and personally welcomed the three imperial envoys into the main hall. Wang Shouren carried the golden box in his hand and followed behind Duke Cheng. The Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Works, Li Jie, also followed them back to the capital and followed closely by his side.
The three imperial envoys, accompanied by Hong Zhong, came to the rear hall to pay their respects to the Emperor. Only then did the officials of the Ministry of Punishments know that the young man in embroidered robes in the rear hall was the current Emperor. The Emperor personally interrogating a case was a rare occurrence. These yamen runners and officials were all trembling with fear, afraid that they would lose their etiquette. They did not expect that a mess would occur instead.
Wang Qiong returned with the golden box. The Minister of the Ministry of Punishments, the Left Imperial Messenger, and the Chancellor of the Dali Monastery sat on the main seats. Hong Official shouted: "Bring in the criminals!" The Commissioner of Punishments, who was frightened by the Emperor's arrival, did not dare to be negligent. He immediately brought in the seven gentlemen, a group of beautiful women, as well as the four criminal officials, Yang Ling, Li Duo, and the witness, Centurion Lu.
Hong Official was so angry that he almost fainted. They were currently interrogating the Emperor's Mausoleum water seepage case. What was the meaning of bringing all the unrelated people to the court? Hong Zhong suppressed his anger and said: "Take the unrelated criminals away first. Now I, the Inspectorate, and the Dali Monastery will be interrogating the Emperor's Mausoleum water seepage case."
Gao Wenxin saw a military officer standing under the "Silence" sign on the left side of the hall. She recognized the military officer's uniform as the Centurion from the army. She immediately realized that he was the low-ranking military officer who reported on Mr Yang. Gao Wenxin quickly moved closer to Han Youniang and whispered: "Sister, that military officer is the Centurion who reported on His Excellency. Think of a way to get close to him. I have a way to prevent him from being a witness!"
Han Youniang heard that the military officer was the villain who almost caused her husband's head to roll on the ground. She glared at him so hard that her eyes were almost spitting fire. However, the hall was bustling with witnesses, criminals, and people who reported on His Excellency. They were squeezed to the far right. How could they get close to him without making a sound?
Han Youniang was anxious. Sheridan heard that the opportunity was fleeting. She hurriedly whispered into Han Youniang's ear: "Sister, don't make a scene!" As she said this, she suddenly pounced on the Centurion and cried and scolded: "You traitor, why did you frame my Excellency?"
Han Youniang suddenly came to her senses and immediately rushed forward. Lu Enlu was caught off guard and was pulled into a difficult situation by them. However, he was a man and it wasn't appropriate for him to use his fists and feet. He could only use his hands to protect his head and face and dodge everywhere.
The Division Commissioner saw that the criminal women were crying and scolding the witness and hurriedly led several bailiffs to arrest them. Gao Wenxin saw that everyone's attention was diverted by Han Youniang and Sheridan. She quickly pulled out three fine silver needles from her hair and put them in her sleeves. She quickly rushed over and said: "Madam, don't offend His Excellency. Let's go down to the hall."
Sheridan and Han Youniang waved their large sleeves like ordinary women fighting. Their slender fingers were either slapping or scratching. Other people couldn't see Centurion Lu's face clearly. Gao Wenxin took this opportunity to backhandedly take out three silver needles and quickly pricked several acupoints on the back of Centurion Lu's head.
When the fine silver needles pricked the acupoints, even the feeling of numbness and itchiness was negligible. Centurion Lu's head and face were burning hot from the slaps of Han Youniang and Han Youniang, but he didn't feel the slightest bit strange.
Gao Wenxin's medical skills were superb. In her life, she had only used it to save people. This was the first time she was using it to harm someone, so she was extremely nervous. Fortunately, although she was panicking, her skill in identifying and pricking acupoints wasn't affected at all. Her silver needles were as fine as silk. Even if they damaged the acupoints on the head, there wouldn't be any abnormalities for the time being. However, the acupoints would be blocked and the blood would stagnate. In the time it takes to drink three cups of tea, the person's five senses would be damaged. He would have auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations, and his mind would become muddled.
When Gao Wenxin succeeded, she hurriedly gave Han Youniang and Sheridan a look. The two understood and pretended to cry and curse as they were escorted away by the magistrate and a group of yamen runners.
Sitting on the side, Duke Cheng rolled up his sleeves and smiled as he watched the bustle. Seeing the three women and Wang Jinglong being escorted away from the court, he turned his gaze back to Hong Zhong's face. In a loud voice, he said, "Hong daren, please open the court for questioning. This old man has received His Majesty's edict. The other two imperial envoys and I have already obtained the soil sample of the Golden Well from the Imperial Mausoleum. I hope that Shangshu daren can verify it in court so that this old man can report to His Majesty!"
Hong Zhong bowed his body and smiled apologetically, "What Laoye said is correct. This official will open the court for questioning!" He returned to his chair and smiled coldly at Dai Yi, Yang Ling, and the other two. He said, "For your own personal gain, you concealed the matter of water seeping from the Imperial Mausoleum. After you were reported, this official, together with the Left Imperial Messenger of the Inspectorate, Lord Di, and the Dali Monastery's Official Zheng, will conduct a joint trial. The Deputy Supervisor of the Observing Sky Officials, Ni Qian, has already confessed due to fear of the law. However, all of you were hoping for a fluke. What are you doing here?"
In the rear hall, when Emperor Zhengde heard the three words' Observing Sky Officials', he suddenly remembered that when all the officials were greeting him, it seemed that the Supervisor of the Observing Sky Officials had also come. Emperor Zhengde looked around and saw the Supervisor of the Observing Sky Officials, Mo Daowei, furtively hiding behind a group of Shangshu. Zhengde hurriedly pointed at him and said, "You, come here. What are you doing here?"
Supervisor Mo Daowei saw that Emperor Zhengde had called for him. He eagerly rushed forward and knelt down. He said, "Your Majesty has ordered this official to calculate the lightning strike on the Chi Wen Ji beast. This official has calculated and now there is a result …"
Mo Daowei had just said this when Hong Official, who was in the hall, said in a loud voice, "Human life is of the utmost importance. Your Majesty is benevolent and has ordered the three Imperial Envoys to go to the Imperial Mausoleum to collect soil. Now compare it with the soil sample sealed by the Ministry of Rites. If the soil sample is wrong, your crime of deceiving the Emperor will be increased. According to the law, you will be executed by a thousand cuts! Someone, please bring up the golden box! "
When Emperor Zhengde heard that they were going to test the soil sample of the Golden Well, he nervously said, "Be quiet!" As he said this, he suddenly stood up from his chair. He nervously walked to the wall at the back of the hall and listened attentively.
The Supervisor of the Observing Sky Officials opened his mouth, but seeing that the Emperor had already run to the wall to listen, he had no choice but to keep his mouth shut. But before the Emperor told him to stand up, he did not dare to move; he had no choice but to kneel there and listen.
Following Hong Zhong's order, the Left and Right Deputy Imperial Censors of the Inspectorate, each holding a golden box, walked into the hall. As Ni Qian, Dai Yi, and the others saw the golden boxes, they could not stop their bodies from trembling uncontrollably. At that time on the execution ground, with a sharp blade on their heads, they wished that they could find all sorts of excuses to live a little longer. But this time, thinking about retracting their confessions and crying out that they were innocent, and the terrible consequence of being found guilty by the investigation, they could not stop their faces from turning ashen.
Hong Official, the Left Imperial Messenger of the Inspectorate, and the High Priest of the Dali Monastery, three people, stood up and respectfully bowed three times toward the two golden boxes. The Left Imperial Messenger removed the seal and opened the golden box sealed in the Ministry of Rites. The High Priest of the Dali Monastery also opened the golden boxes brought back by the three Imperial Envoys from the Tailing Mausoleum, and pushed the two golden boxes toward Hong Official.
For a moment, there was a solemn silence in the hall, so quiet that even the sound of a pin dropping on the floor could be heard. Hong Zhong saw the ashen faces of Ni Qian and the others and could not help but smile. He deliberately wanted to tease them, so he was not in a hurry to retrieve the soil. First, he raised his cup and took a sip of tea, then slowly put it down. Only then did he stretch out his hands and took out a handful of soil from each golden box. He held the soil in his hands and examined it carefully.
Dai Yi, Ni Qian, and the others stared at his face, their expressions extremely terrified. But after a long while, they saw Hong Official's eyes widen and his face gradually turn pale. That trace of a smile froze on his face and his eyes revealed an expression of disbelief and astonishment.
Hong Official stared blankly for a long time before he stammered, "This Golden Well soil … this … this …" Duke Cheng suddenly stretched out a hand to cover his ear and shouted loudly, "Hong Official, how is the soil test going?"
Hong Zhong's arm trembled and the soil flowed through the gaps of his fingers onto the table. His legs turned to jelly and he fell back onto his chair. The Imperial Messenger of the Left and the Dali Monastery officials were of lower rank than him and had been waiting for him to announce the results. But now, seeing him sitting on his chair as if his soul had left his body, the Imperial Messenger of the Left could only cough and say, "Lord Duke Cheng, this Golden Well soil is no different from …"
Just as he said this, Hong Zhong suddenly regained his senses and stood up in a daze. He grabbed the gavel and with a 'bang', the Imperial Messenger of the Left was so frightened that he immediately swallowed the rest of his words. Hong Zhong waved his hand and pointed at Centurion Lu, saying angrily, "Insolent Lu Enlu, didn't you say that the Golden Well seeped water with your own eyes? Do you know how serious a crime it is to frame an official of the Imperial Court? "
In his haste, he hurriedly waved his hand and the teacup was swept away by his sleeve. It fell to the ground and with a 'bang', it shattered into pieces.
Poor Centurion Lu had felt waves of nausea ever since Hong Official had spoken to the four offending officials. The scenery in front of his eyes had started to drift, as if he was drunk. Hearing Hong Official's loud roar, he panicked and wanted to loudly defend himself. But as soon as his blood rushed to his head, he felt his head become heavy and his feet become light. The world spun around him and he staggered two steps before falling to the ground.
After this fall, his mind was completely muddled. His cheek was cut by the shards of the teacup on the ground and blood flowed down his cheek, but he did not feel any pain. As soon as his lips touched the tea on the green brick, he excitedly climbed up, his hands futilely trying to hold the traces of water on the brick. He excitedly said, "Daren, I did not lie, I did not lie. Look, look, so much water, everywhere … hahaha … I'm going to be promoted, I'm going to be rich. Daren Li, I've found the water, I've found the evidence. Where's the Emperor? Didn't you say His Majesty was going to promote me? "
Seeing this, Hong Zhong fell back down on his chair with a 'thump': this time it's all over; he did not go crazy earlier or later, he just had to go crazy this time. Who would believe that he only went crazy now? The grand Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishments, listening to a madman's rumor, he tortured and beat four important officials of the Imperial Court into confessing; this … this …
Centurion Lu crazily hugged Dai Yi, treating him as Li Jie, who was standing on the side, and kept on begging for more money. In his mind, he suddenly fantasized that after he was promoted and became rich, he would marry several wives like those several beauties just now. He hugged the old eunuch, kissed and nibbled and said with a silly smile, "Little wife, don't follow Yang Ling anymore, he was beheaded by His Majesty. His Majesty has promoted me, you can be my wife."
Dai Yi's face was full of saliva, he could not bear not to throw him away. Straightening his back, he looked at Li Jie and laughed aloud, looking very proud of himself. Although he did not know who did it, he knew that he had safely passed the dangerous test of the soil test. The domineering and arrogant aura he had when he was in the Department of Rites in the past immediately returned to his body.
Li Jie's face was wet with sweat, his complexion was like the ground. "How can this be? How can this be? "
Pushed away by Dai Yi, Centurion Lu still mumbled, "Little wife is so rude, don't you believe that His Majesty will promote me? His Majesty? His Majesty, tell Little Wife, are you going to promote me to a high-ranking official? Hee, hee, hee … "
Behind him, Emperor Zhengde was already seething with anger: "What a bunch of officials, unexpectedly they took a madman's words seriously, causing me to have to massacre the loyal officials, move the Emperor's tomb, stir up opposition among the court officials, make the common people uneasy. These muddle-headed crimes are all put on Zhen."
Emperor Zhengde was furious; he jumped down from his chair and had only taken two steps when he saw that Observing Sky Officials Supervisor was still kneeling in front of him. Zhengde could not help but angrily said, "Why are you still kneeling here? What urgent matter do you have to report to me? "
Mo Daowei racked his brains to think of a wonderful hexagram, which was similar to the fortune-telling saying, 'Three sworn brothers in Taoyuan, one lonely branch'. His eight characters were: 'Lightning strikes the palace, should be in the Tailing Mausoleum.' At this time, the case was clear. Fraud Mo adapted to the situation and immediately reported: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I observed the sky at night and deduced the sixteen words: 'Lightning strikes the palace, should be in the Tailing Mausoleum.'
Hearing this, Emperor Zhengde's face turned livid. He gritted his teeth and chuckled, then flew straight to the front hall. Seeing this, a group of officials hurriedly followed him.
With an ashen face, Emperor Zhengde ascended to the main hall. Ignoring the three chief judges who hurriedly threw themselves to their knees to welcome him, he rushed to the main seat, grabbed the gavel and slammed it on the floor. With a stern voice, he roared: "Take him away, help him up, bring them here, get out of here!"
The crowd of officials below did not know who the emperor was talking about, and the main hall immediately became a mess.
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