C163 Guilty(2)

Shi Zhenfeng said, "That's right. We, the merchants, write down the promissory notes. We are all willing to do good deeds for our fellow villagers."

At this moment, another squire stepped forward and said, "The two hundred stones this subject has donated are due to the miraculous hands of Princess Mo's Imperial Concubine Godly Doctor, as well as the many years of medical treatment for my mother's illness.

Following that, a few merchants came forward one after another. Their explanations were similar to that of the squire, and the situation suddenly reversed.

Zhu Wei An and You Chen Guang's faces were pale white, and You Chen Guang pointed at them angrily: "You two …. You petty people, before you entered the capital, you were so sure of yourself. Just what kind of benefits did you receive … Or was it forced by others to change their words at the last minute? "

Shi Zhenfeng laughed, "I do. Isn't it because of you and Zhu Ci Shi, forcing us good citizens to work together to frame Prince Mo?"

At this moment, someone rushed to the palace, dressed in the garb of a personal guard. Judging from his title, he was probably the leader of the personal guards, but he was not aware of what was going on inside. He only claimed that he came under the orders of the Minister of the Civil Service, Ling Yuanzhang, to collect evidence and present it to the emperor for his personal inspection.

The two hundred thousand banknotes as well as the promissory notes from the various merchants were all there.

However, it was already too late when he delivered the letter. The Emperor only glanced at it once, and the rise and fall of his chest had yet to be settled. He no longer looked at it a second time.

"On the day that I left Chi Yue, I clearly transferred these accounts a few days before I left. The banknotes and promissory notes should have been in the hands of Zhu Chi Shi, but why did they end up in my mansion? It's a little strange, could it be that they've grown legs and followed me for a thousand miles?"

Zhu Wei An's face was still pale and unsightly, but he was relatively calm. "Your highness is joking. I've never seen such officials before. Is it really that strange to say that the delivery is in your hands?"

Xiao Yi Xiu nodded, "That's right. Whoever finds it will be considered as his. However, since this king has yet to be convicted, why does Minister Ling want to go ahead and search this prince's manor? "

"This official has the responsibility of investigating a hundred officials. Even if it were Your Highness, since you are an official of the court, you would not be an exception."

I am a prince, and Minister Ling is only a third-grade official. No matter what, he has to have an imperial decree. If any third-grade officials from the imperial court were to come to my mansion and search, what's the use of being subservient to the rules of the imperial court?

Ling Yuanzhang could not answer.

Qin Bi gave a sharp laugh, "Prince Mo, please do not talk about this and that. Minister Ling might have overstepped his boundaries, but you should at least explain the two hundred thousand taels of silver banknotes and the indebtedness of the food, right?"

Since Zhu Wei An had said that he hadn't seen it before and had indeed found it in the Residence of Mo King, Xiao Yi Xiu was speechless.

Xiao Yi Xiu was still smiling calmly, "The token is ridiculous. I can't explain it clearly, shouldn't Minister Ling be the one to explain it? He sent his men to search for it. There was no imperial edict, and it was also unverified. There must be something that he suspects in his heart, or he might have gotten it from somewhere. "

Ling Yuanzhang was quite calm as he said, "Zhu Chi mentioned this to this official before he entered the capital. I am the one who should decide the business, but if King Mo hears any news, I'm afraid he will transfer the stolen money …"

"Wait a minute, does Minister Ling think that this is stolen money?"

Ling Yuanzhang glanced at him indifferently, his eyes full of the meaning of this.

"What does royal father think?" Xiao Yi Xiu looked towards the person in the throne room who was supposed to be in charge of everything but had not said a word since the beginning.

The emperor's face was unfathomably dark, as if he was just watching a play in silence. He didn't say anything about anyone who sang brilliantly or sang as far as he could.

"Since the truth has not been revealed, it is premature to say that the stolen money is stolen. However, Ling Deities' actions were indeed inappropriate. Could it be that if we think that King Mo is a prince, we will side with him and go against the laws of the country? " The Emperor's voice was cold and calm, but it intimidated everyone into not daring to speak.

"Alright, Mo King, it's about time you explain. These banknotes that are in arrears and whether they are stolen or not actually depends on their origins and uses. At most, the words of the merchants of the Crimson Yue Chamber of Commerce can only prove that you didn't use your tyranny to collect them, but these things were always found in your house. You have already left for the capital to report on your work, so no matter what, it doesn't make sense for you to bring back the funds for the disaster relief. "

Xiao Yi Xiu nodded his head. "That's right. Actually, none of these merchants here can prove my innocence. However, I have also said that only Minister Ling knows about this matter." Since he was unwilling to speak frankly, he could only find a convincing witness to speak in his place. book token, may I trouble you to go outside the hall and request for This King's witness. "

He had always been an eunuch, and had only been an attendant of the Emperor. He had been favored by the Emperor to be promoted to the rank of High Scholar, but in the end, he was still an eunuch. When Xiao Yixiu called him up, he still treated him as a lowly eunuch, and disdain could be seen in his eyes.

He took a deep breath and controlled his temper as he walked out of the hall with his head held high. Following this, a young woman turned around.

The officials and court officials were all staring at the woman slowly walking over on the red felt. She was dressed in an apricot-colored wide sleeved immortal dress, and her gait was graceful, neither servile nor overbearing. Even while walking on the golden hall, she did not lose the bearing of a lady, and they were all wondering who she was.

Only Ling Yuanzhang's expression changed slightly. He had not expected her to be here.

Ling XinNing knelt down, her cherry lips slightly parted, her canine teeth slightly parted. She spoke without looking sideways: "This subject's daughter Ling Xinning greets the Emperor. May the Emperor live forever."

The emperor felt that she looked unfamiliar as well. With a slight smile, he said, "Stand up. "Whose lady is this? I feel that she is very unfamiliar with."

"This subject's daughter, Ling Xinning, is a concubine born of the four daughters of the Minister of Public Administration, Ling Yuanzhang."

The emperor's inquiring gaze landed on Ling Yuanzhang.

Ling Yuanzhang's face turned ugly, but he could not deny it. He had no choice but to admit it.

"This subject's been staying at Prince Mo's mansion for the past few days. Today, the Ministry of Public Affairs sent someone to the mansion to search for 200,000 silver notes and 1,000 stone bills. This subject's only here to seek justice for Prince Mo."

"Fair?"

"This subject knows best where these notes are coming from. Because she was born into a concubine, her birth mother had been born into a poor family and had passed away earlier. She had never grown up beside her father since she was a child. Three months ago, when he heard that King Mo had entered Chi Yue to provide assistance, his father entrusted his daughter to the president of the Chi Yue Chamber of Commerce, You Chenguang, and told him to treat his daughter as if she was … as a gift to King Mo. " Ling Xinning's voice was slightly lowered and her eyes seemed sad.

"Xinning! Do you know what you're talking about? " Ling Yuanzhang said sternly.

Ling Xinning, on the other hand, softly nodded in grievance, and said: "Don't tell me that father thinks that what my daughter said was half a lie? Is it a glorious matter for you to be treated as a gift? "

The emperor waved his hand, "Ling Yuanzhang, shut up."

Ling Xinning continued: "Originally, this subject believed that as long as I could please King Mo, I would be able to marry into the palace as a concubine. Perhaps this is Father's thought of becoming a dragon and a phoenix, but in reality, it isn't strange at all. However, this subject absolutely did not expect that Father would want more than that. He had Zhu Chi to secretly bring these silver notes and promissory notes back to the capital and hide them in the Prince's Mansion. "