It's also just in case - if this matter is dug up by someone with ulterior motives one day, he can push the child out and make the Wei family shut up.
Not only that, Mrs. Liu also pointed out that Liu Biping colluded with his brother-in-law in Dongchang Prefecture, inquired about the whereabouts of the imperial envoy in advance, and bribed another brother-in-law, Jinyiwei Luo Yuan, to kill the imperial envoy Shen Chen to prevent Shen Chen from going to Fujian to build the Maritime Customs and share his power.
The one who came out to testify against him was his bedmate. Although Madam Liu had not yet produced any evidence, Meng Jiming had already believed it halfway. He interrogated Liu Biping's trusted clerk and then Madam Liu overnight. He also prepared the document overnight and had it sent to the capital city at an express speed of 400 miles.
After receiving the report, the cabinet immediately sent it to the Imperial Study for Emperor Longqing to review.
Emperor Longqing was furious and ordered Meng Jiming to send Liu Biping to the capital in prison. The three courts would make a final decision after a joint trial.
Twenty-seven officials from Fujian who were Liu Biping's vassals, including those who had committed serious crimes and had close ties with Liu Biping, were escorted to the capital, and more than fifty other officials were dismissed.
With the permission of Emperor Longqing, Shen Chen and Meng Jiming recruited suitable candidates from the Zhejiang and Fujian officialdom to temporarily replace the officials who had committed the crime.
The post of Governor of Fujian was also temporarily taken over by Shen Chen.
On the one hand, Shen Chen urged the four major families to unite, select the location of the Maritime Customs Office, and prepare for the affairs of the Maritime Customs Office in full swing. On the other hand, he did not forget to seize time and opportunities to investigate the mountains that had fled after failing to rob food and salaries.
At the end of November, Shen Chen's confidant captured Luo Yuan, the former commander of the Jinyiwei, in Qinghe County, and learned from Luo Yuan about Qunshan's plan to attack Shijia Village. They made defenses in advance, and after more than half a month of fighting, they finally put down the pirate rebellion that had been invading for many years.
Qunshan and others were captured alive.
Shen Chen ordered his confidants to rush to the capital to report, and he personally escorted the looted food and wages to Zhejiang, where he successfully handed them over to the Zhejiang general.
The Japanese invasion that had plagued the coastal areas for many years was finally quelled. The Japanese pirates were defeated and retreated back to Japan. From then on, they no longer invaded the coastal areas.
Emperor Longqing was overjoyed when he received the report and urged the three courts to speed up the trial of Liu Biping's case.
With the correspondence and account books between Liu Biping and the Peng and Yi families presented by the Liu family members, as well as the testimony of Mrs. Liu and the corroboration of Luo Yuan who later escorted him to the capital, Liu Biping's crime of colluding with Japanese pirates was confirmed, and Emperor Longqing personally ordered him to be sentenced to death by slicing.
The other members of the Liu family were not implicated by Liu Biping because of their meritorious service in reporting and their contributions to the construction of the Maritime Customs and the eradication of pirates.
The other officials, both high and low, were punished differently according to their crimes.
The case of the orphan of the Ming family involved in this incident was also taken seriously by Emperor Longqing. After Meng Jiming and the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple presented the testimonies of the Lu family and Liu Biping, Emperor Longqing confirmed the identity of the orphan of the Ming family.
In mid-December, Emperor Longqing issued an edict to return the Ming family's mansions and properties that had been confiscated that year to the Ming family. Because the Ming family had a male heir to inherit the incense, he specially rewarded the Ming family's orphan and allowed him to return to his ancestral home. He also gave the child a name, named Jing, and let him inherit the title of Marquis of Huaian.
The entire court praised Emperor Longqing for his great grace.
Old Mrs. Wei who was far away in Fujian also received the news.
She was not too excited, but she could not help but set up an altar and burn incense for the ancestors of the Ming family, and took Ming Jing to kneel down and kowtow to the ancestors.
For so many years, the affairs of the Ming family have been weighing on her mind.
Even though the Ming family was later rehabilitated, the regret of having no heirs always gnawed at her bones, leaving her unable to rest in peace.
Now Ming Jing is still alive and can live again as a child of the Ming family. She pursed her lips and thought about everything, not knowing how to get rid of it. In the end, she could only kowtow heavily to the altar.
Ming Jing is about the same age as Wei An, and even his personality is similar to Wei An. He does not have any of the youthful spirit. Even when faced with such a big event, he still looks calm and does not look like a child of the appropriate age.
Madam Wei quietly told Mrs. Wei: "He has been like this for so many days, quiet and never willful. He also speaks very little, I don't know what he is thinking..."
It is normal for him to behave like this after his past was overturned and he was taken to live with strangers. Zhu Yuan and Zhu Huan hurriedly said beside Mrs. Wei: "But he knows our good intentions..."
After spending so many days together, Zhu Yuan and Zhu Huan, who are of similar age to him, have some feelings for each other.
Old Mrs. Wei smiled, held their hands tightly, and nodded lovingly: "I know, I know, anyone who encounters such a thing will inevitably feel confused and at a loss..."
Wei An looked at her with a smile on his face, feeling a little sigh and relieved in his heart.
Old Mrs. Wei's health is really getting worse day by day.
After this serious illness, she lost weight at a visible rate, and recently she was out of breath even after saying a few words.
She felt sad, scared and panicked. After all, Mrs. Wei had been with her for so long. The old princess had passed away. She was the person who had been with Wei An the longest and was closest to him.
But she also felt vaguely fortunate - fortunately, when Mrs. Wei was still alive, she finally resolved the Ming family's affairs and found Ming Jing back.
No matter what, the regret and resentment in Mrs. Wei's heart were finally reduced.
Ming Jing always felt a little strange in front of Old Lady Wei, but strangely he got along very well with Shen Chen.
Perhaps Shen Chen also had the experience of living under someone else's roof, so he had a lot in common with him. Whenever Shen Chen came, Ming Jing felt much more at ease, and he could even stay longer at Mrs. Wei's house.
Wei An saw this and was looking forward to Shen Chen coming over.
Shen Chen originally liked to come to Wei An's place. Since then, except when he went out to do business, he basically stayed with Old Lady Wei and Wei An.
After some time, the construction of the Maritime Customs was completed. Shen Chen arranged the four major families to perform their respective duties step by step, and successfully resolved the issue of the Japanese envoys coming to seek peace and offer tribute.
His mission in Fujian came to an end from then on.
The Ministry of Personnel also issued a document, and the new Governor of Fujian took office.
However, it would take at least a month for him to come and take over from Shen Chen. This year, Shen Chen and Wei An would not be able to return to the capital.
Although they could not return to the capital to celebrate the New Year, the festive atmosphere was not diminished at all. Madam Wei had people start preparing New Year's goods early and started making new clothes for Zhu Yuan, Zhu Huan, Ming Jing, Wei An and others. The inn was completely new from top to bottom, and there was a strong sense of New Year's atmosphere.
Old Lady Wei was also in high spirits. Without the constraints and schemes of Liu Biping and others, she was obviously very happy. She led Ming Jing and others to the temple outside the city to burn incense and pray for blessings.