Chapter 341 Absolutely Cannot Be Let Off Lightly

"My lord," the attendant called out as he approached Tong Taichuan.

Tong Taichuan's eyes remained fixed on the book in his hands, and he grunted in acknowledgment to speak. Chang Sui sighed inwardly and said, "Lou Qingyao is here again, and she brought a lawyer with her."

"Who?" Tong Taichuan thought he had misheard, so he looked up from his book and asked his servant.

"Lou Qingyao is here again, and she brought a lawyer with her." The servant repeated the words.

"Hmph, how does Physician Lou diagnose people? How did he let someone escape? And he even brought a lawyer with him." Tong Taichuan said impatiently, "Chase them away, then notify Physician Lou."

After saying that, his gaze returned to the book, while the servant stood there without moving, saying, "Sir, I'm afraid we can't send him away this time."

"What's going on?" Tong Taichuan's voice was even more impatient.

The attendant said, "The gatekeeper said, 'The eldest grandson of Marquis Anyuan came with Lou Qingyao.'"

"What?" Tong Taichuan was so shocked that he dropped the book in his hand. Then he heard his attendant say, "The guards at the gate said that perhaps Marquis Changsun of Anyuan has not left yet."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Tong Taichuan stood up abruptly and strode outside. Once outside, he saw the guards at the gate, carefully inquired about the situation outside again, and then strode towards the gate.

Upon arriving at the gate of Dali Temple, he saw Lu Shaocheng not far away, and Lu Shaocheng also saw him and walked towards him.

"Lord Tong." Lu Shaocheng bowed to Tong Taichuan.

"Young Master Lu." Tong Taichuan immediately returned the greeting. Although he was a fourth-rank official while Lu Shaocheng held no official position, Lu Shaocheng was very likely to become the future Marquis of Anyuan, while Tong Taichuan was a poor scholar who had worked hard for many years to achieve such success. There was no comparison.

"What brings you to the Dali Temple today, young master?" Tong Taichuan asked knowingly.

Lu Shaocheng didn't mind. He said, "My wife heard about Lou Qingyao's situation and felt very sorry for her. She insisted on helping her. I also felt sorry for her. Moreover, the emperor is subject to the same laws as commoners, so I sent her to the Dali Temple. I hope that Lord Tong can handle this matter impartially."

"Hehehe..." Tong Taichuan chuckled dryly, thinking to himself, "I don't believe your nonsense. What do you mean, 'Madam sympathizes with Lou Qingyao'? It must be your Anyuan Marquis's Mansion or the Chu State Duke's Mansion that's trying to cause trouble for the Prime Minister."

But no matter what he thought in his heart, he still had to say nice things. He said, "Of course, not long after Lou Qingyao came last time, Imperial Physician Lou also came and said that he would not sue, so I let her go back."

Lu Shaocheng naturally didn't believe what he said, but he still smiled and said, "I believe that Lord Tong is a good official who upholds justice and loves the people like his own children."

Tong Taichuan: "Hehehe..."

"I won't keep Lord Tong from hearing the case any longer. Farewell." Lu Shaocheng cupped his hands in greeting, then turned and left. Tong Taichuan watched his carriage disappear into the distance before turning his gaze to Lou Qingyao and the lawyer.

"Zhang Yue?" Tong Taichuan's face was no longer the smile he had when facing Lu Shaocheng; now he looked serious and dignified.

Zhang Yue was the best lawyer in the capital, but he came from a poor family. He came to the capital to take the imperial examination, but he missed passing by one place. He took the examination twice more, but his results were worse each time, so he simply gave up and became a lawyer.

“I am Zhang Yue.” Lawyer Zhang Yue bowed deeply to him.

"Who hired you to be Lou Qingyao's lawyer?" Tong Taichuan asked again.

Zhang Yue answered neither humbly nor arrogantly: "Young Master Lu."

Tong Taichuan stared intently at him with his small eyes, and Zhang Yue returned a respectful smile. Tong Taichuan snorted, glanced at Lou Qingyao again, then turned and walked inside, saying, "Come in."

Lou Qingyao's hands trembled with nervousness. Zhang Yue approached her and whispered, "Don't worry, leave everything to me."

Lou Qingyao hummed in agreement, but her nervousness remained undiminished. However, she entered the Dali Temple gate before Zhang Yue, who smiled slightly upon seeing her. At this point, none of them could afford to back down.

Upon arriving at the Right Prison Hall, Tong Taichuan stood before the interrogation table, looking at Lou Qingyao and saying, "Lou Qingyao, do you know that a citizen suing an official must first be flogged twenty times?"

Lou Qingyao clenched her fists tightly. "This humble subject understands."

"Hmph, I see you don't know," Tong Taichuan snorted heavily again, "Twenty strokes and you might lose your life. Are you sure you still want to sue?"

Lawyer Zhang Yue frowned upon hearing this. Tong Taichuan was clearly threatening Lou Qingyao, trying to scare her away. However, given that Young Master Lu had brought them here, Tong Taichuan wouldn't dare kill her. But Lou Qingyao was, after all, a woman, and he feared she might actually back down.

But his worries were unnecessary, for Lou Qingyao said firmly, "This humble citizen will sue."

"You still don't know the power of twenty zhang. I'll give you time to consider." Tong Taichuan didn't allow Lou Qingyao to reply before turning and leaving.

Lou Qingyao watched his figure disappear, then turned to Zhang Yue, "Zhang Yue, what should we do now?"

Zhang Yue glanced at the constables guarding the door and said, "Just wait."

Tong Taichuan must have gone to inform the Prime Minister and Imperial Physician Lou. He dared not offend the Marquis of Anyuan's residence, nor the Prime Minister. At this moment, if only Imperial Physician Lou could take Lou Qingyao away as he did last time. But judging from the current situation, Lou Qingyao is very determined, and Tong Taichuan will be disappointed.

Just as Zhang Yue had predicted, Tong Taichuan returned to his study and immediately sent messengers to the Prime Minister's residence and the Lou residence. Then, like an ant on a hot pan, he paced back and forth in his room. It wasn't that he was inexperienced, but rather that he had a premonition that this matter would definitely not end well.

Regardless of whether the Marquis of Anyuan's mansion or the Prime Minister wins, he, as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, will lose. He might even lose his fourth-rank position.

...........

The yamen runner sent by Tong Taichuan to inform the Prime Minister naturally dared not go to the Prime Minister's office, the Hall of State Affairs, to find someone. Instead, he mounted his horse and galloped all the way to the Prime Minister's residence. Upon hearing that he was from the Court of Judicial Review and had important matters to report, the gatekeeper quickly went inside to inform the steward.

But today is not a day off. Both the Prime Minister and the heads of the household are in the yamen. The only person in charge of the household is Prime Minister Changsun Pei Qitang, who is unwilling to go on duty because of the rumors that he is infertile.

After hearing the yamen runner's report, the steward broke out in a cold sweat. He stuffed a silver ingot into the runner's hand, smiled, and saw him off before splitting into several groups to report the situation.

One route was led by Pei Qitang, who stayed home and refused to go out; another by Pei Hanming, the prime minister's eldest son; and finally, he went in person to the Hall of State Affairs to inform the prime minister. He could sense that this might be a significant crisis for the prime minister's residence.

After all, Pei Qitang had indeed killed someone. If the Marquis of Anyuan's mansion and the Duke of Chu's mansion hadn't been involved, the killing would have been easily resolved. But now, it was clear that things couldn't be settled peacefully.