The emperor looked at Xiao Zimu with a surprised look on his face. His words suddenly changed to: "Oh? According to what you see?"
"I just heard from my fourth brother that Mr. Zhu is an upright official. But the people in the capital are now spreading rumors that he has been plundering people's wealth and affronts for a long time and ruthlessly killing people. The people of Jiangzhou are suffering unspeakably."
"Those are all market rumors, how can they be taken seriously?" Prime Minister Du glanced at Xiao Zimu and refuted.
Everyone echoed one after another: "Yes, how can it be taken seriously? It cannot be taken seriously! It cannot be taken seriously..."
Xiao Zimu smiled when he heard this and did not argue with them. He said to Xiao Yanjun: "Since Qi Hai Zhou is under the law, Mr. Zhu, as the second-rank governor of our Xiao Kingdom, cannot continue to be detained and slandered. Then, our third-rank governor, Mr. Lu, until now, no one has raised the issue. Should he be acquitted first?”
Xiao Zimu has always been gentle and gentle in dealing with others, and he has never even spoken loudly. At this moment, the words suddenly became fierce. There was silence all around, and the words made everyone speechless.
After a long while, the officials came back to their senses and agreed obediently: "It's time to let Mr. Lu go first."
"As for the case of embezzlement of official funds, I agree with Taifu Wu. Rumors are everywhere in the capital and songs are spreading. A strict investigation is also to restore Mr. Zhu's innocence." Xiao Zimu took back his sharpness and resumed his usual expression. Gentle and gentle, speak slowly.
After hearing this, the officials on Taifu Wu's side spoke excitedly: "What His Majesty the Seventh Highness said is true. I hope that His Majesty will see it clearly..."
Prime Minister Du immediately expressed his support: "Since Master Lu wants to be released, Master Zhu must be released even more. Otherwise, the official reputation of Master Zhu will be even worse by spreading rumors..."
The emperor's face turned red as he watched the ministers arguing below, and they were quarreling fiercely. Like a shrew in the market, gesticulating and shouting at the top of her lungs. With a dark face, he smashed a purple-end stone canal inkstone and said angrily: "Above the court, you are shameless, but I still want it."
Everyone was silent and lowered their heads in fear.
"According to my decree, Zhu Chenlin and Lu Mingxi are acquitted. Qi Hai will be executed at three o'clock on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month."
"Your Majesty is wise." All the officials bowed.
One of the officials wanted to stop him, but Wu Taifu stopped him.
The emperor shook his sleeves and left angrily. As soon as he got off the throne, he thought about it and asked Eunuch Li to arrange a house for Lu Mingxi to stay, and then sent an imperial physician to take a look.
Eunuch Li said yes and followed the emperor down to the palace to go on errands.
The officials in the palace helped each other to their feet, surrounded Prime Minister Du and His Royal Highnesses and left.
Mr. Xu also took several people with him, bowed to Taifu Wu and His Highness Seventh Prince, and then left.
The remaining Taifu Wu and Xiao Zimu smiled at each other and walked out of the palace together.
"Your Majesty the Seventh Highness really impressed me today." Taifu Wu praised as he walked.
"Where, Master Zhu is finally allowed to come out." Xiao Zimu said with regret.
"Master Lu has finally been released, so it's not a waste of effort."
"Yes, my father also rewarded me with a house and sent an imperial doctor there, which can be regarded as appeasing Mr. Lu."
"First of all, the emperor comes to be kind to loyal ministers, and secondly, he also warns Du Hanfei. In fact, the emperor understands as well as Ming Jing, but because of the pressure of hundreds of officials to jointly sign, he gave Du Hanfei face." After Wu Taifu finished speaking, he snorted coldly. Then he spat in the direction where Prime Minister Du and the others disappeared: "It's hard for the emperor to protect each other even if the officials protect each other..."
Xiao Zimu laughed when he saw Taifu Wu's indignation.
I thought to myself, why didn’t I realize that Taifu Wu was so cute before
At the end of the year, there were two groups of people standing at the entrance of Dali Temple. A group of people led by Du Kun came to take Zhu Chenlin back home. First, Eunuch Li brought the imperial doctor Xiang Chengfang to take Lu Mingxi to the house given by the emperor.
The two sides were waiting for each other, but it was Hu Yingmao, the minister of Dali Temple, who was in trouble. He was caught in the middle, not knowing who to talk to. On the left is Prime Minister Du's eldest son, who cannot afford to offend. On the right is Eunuch Li, a celebrity beside the emperor, who cannot be left out in the cold.
Hu Yingmao's head was as big as a bucket. He could only take a few steps back and raised his hands to bow to everyone.
"Everyone has been waiting for a long time. It's windy outside. Why don't you go in and have a cup of hot tea?"
"No, this old slave is on an errand, so he doesn't dare to ask for this cup of tea." Eunuch Li bowed slightly, but his tone was quite cold.
After hearing this, Du Kun naturally wouldn't go in for a sip of hot tea.
Hu Yingmao was alone in the wind, feeling that his smiling face almost froze. He hurriedly asked the people around him to urge them, and carefully helped the two adults out.
After about two cups of tea, Zhu Chenlin and Lu Mingxi finally walked out one after another amid Hu Yingmao's great expectations.
Zhu Chenlin didn't know the specific situation yet, he just thought that Prime Minister Du simply fished him out. Therefore, when he just walked out of the gate of Dali Temple and saw Eunuch Li, he thought that the emperor had sent him to comfort him. Then he came to Eunuch Li wailing all the way, put on an expression of being wronged and humiliated, and said: "Your Majesty, please give me justice. I have troubled Eunuch Li to come and take over the job in person. I am grateful to you."
Du Kun, who was standing aside, twitched the corner of his mouth as if he had toothache, his expression was extremely ugly, and he was about to speak.
Eunuch Li's sharp voice sounded first: "Master Lu has suffered so many injuries without saying a word. Master Zhu, why are you crying like this with your intact body? The one who picks you up is Prime Minister Du's young master. This old slave is here. To pick up Mr. Lu, you’d better return to the Prime Minister’s Mansion as soon as possible to express your loyalty.”
Zhu Chenlin looked at Eunuch Li awkwardly, then turned to look at Du Kun, who looked dark.
His mind was a little hard to turn around for a moment. He wiped away the tears that were about to burst out of his eyes just now, and was dragged to his side by Du Kun, who was full of anger.
Lu Mingxi was supported by Hu Yingmao and walked to Eunuch Li. When she heard that the emperor had sent him to pick him up, she was so excited that she bowed to Eunuch Li.
Eunuch Li immediately changed his face and smiled. He helped Lu Mingxi and said: "Master Lu, you are so polite. The emperor knows that you have suffered, so he specially ordered Dr. Xiang to come for your diagnosis and treatment. He also rewarded you with a house and asked the old slave to take you to live there so that you can have a good life and take care of yourself." "
Du Kun on the other side couldn't stand the scene of such a sage and virtuous minister, so he said goodbye to Hu Yingmao and Eunuch Li, and left with Zhu Chenlin.
Lu Mingxi watched their departing figures, and it took a long time to confirm that he had really seen the light of day again. He remembered what Eunuch Li had just said, and turned around to kneel down to thank the Lord for his kindness. He was stopped by Eunuch Li and said: "The Emperor knows that you are injured, so he will not be polite. Let's go to the house first, right?"
Lu Mingxi nodded with tears in his eyes, and was helped onto the carriage by Imperial Physician Xiang and Eunuch Li.
(End of chapter)