Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Whatever you say, you must get it done

The noise from the warm room soon alarmed Chen Ling'an.

"Ning'er!" He pushed open the door and came in to see his sister lying on the ground, tied up with silk ribbons, her hair disheveled, her clothes askew, and there were even signs of them being torn.

"Brother..." Chen Yanning called out weakly, and then fainted.

Chen Ling'an's mind buzzed, and he almost flinched as he rushed to his sister's side. He subconsciously shouted at Xiaoman, "What did you do?"

Xiaoman was just bumped by him and managed to steady herself, but when she heard him questioning her in a bad tone, she immediately felt very aggrieved.

Then he slammed the medicine bowl onto the table and said, "What did I do? Are you blind?"

When Chen Ling'an saw the empty bowl, a trace of regret flashed across his face, but he was too embarrassed to say a word. He just lowered his head to untie the silk ribbon, carefully picked up his sister and put her on the bed.

Xiaoman reminded in a muffled voice: "Hurry up and find a doctor or midwife. The maids and old women are taking care of her here."

Chen Ling'an responded and left in a hurry.

Half an hour later, he came back like a gust of wind, holding the imperial physician in one hand and the midwife in the other.

Today is a sunny day. The sun hangs in the sky like a big red ball. A gentle breeze blows through the courtyard, and the branches sway slightly without making any sound.

The maids and old women carried hot water and cotton towels into the house one after another, their steps hurried but not in a hurry.

One or two moans came from behind the closed window and quickly dissipated in the silent air, and Chen Ling'an's heart tightened.

At this time, he could not help at all and could only stand outside and wait.

As the sun began to set, the warm room became quiet.

The midwife came out, lowered her head and peeked at his face, then said carefully, "Sir, the fetus was aborted very quickly. The young lady didn't suffer much, but she is weak. It's best to have a full two-month confinement."

Chen Lingan's tense expression relaxed a little as he handed over the red envelope, "Thank you, Auntie."

The red envelope was very thin, and one could tell it contained silver bills with a pinch. The midwife was flattered: "Of course, of course." But then she thought about it and felt wrong: "I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it."

Chen Ling'an rarely smiled.

At this time, the imperial physician came out slowly with a medicine box. Chen Ling'an hurried forward to ask how his sister was doing.

The imperial physician also said that there was nothing serious. "The abortion pills were prescribed by our Lord Judge. They are mild and harmless to the body. I prescribed a warming and nourishing prescription. Take three doses first, and I'll come back to check."

Chen Ling'an finally let go of the worry in his heart.

The warm room had been tidied up. Since the windows could not be opened for ventilation, the maids placed freshly picked flowers there. The fragrant scent overwhelmed the faint smell of blood.

Chen Yanning was sleeping soundly, his face was pale, his lips were not very rosy, and his brows were still slightly furrowed, as if he had some unrelieved sorrow.

Chen Ling'an stayed silently beside his sister until the maid came in and asked him softly if he wanted to eat. Only then did he realize that it was already time to light the lamps.

The maid was quite understanding and served dinner in the small flower hall next to the warm room.

Chen Ling'an picked up the chopsticks, paused for a moment, and put them down again.

I always feel like something is wrong.

The maid said: "Don't worry, my lord. All of this has been prepared according to the young lady's instructions."

Chen Lingan noticed something was wrong, "Where's your girl?"

"I've returned home, and the adults don't know?"

"When did it happen?"

"She left at noon. After the master left, the girl left."

Chen Ling'an was stunned for a moment, then felt inexplicably upset and waved his hand to let her go.

The little maid took out a letter and put it on the table, "The girl left it for you." Then she turned and ran away.

The letter paper was spread out, and the handwriting was a little sloppy, as if it was written in a hurry.

"I'm going home. I've been staying at your house all these days and haven't seen my mother. It would be really outrageous if I didn't come home soon. I'll take Jinxiu with me, and the others will stay. When you find suitable people, you can send them back - you'll pay for their wages.

Speaking of Yan Ning, if she blames me or hates me after she wakes up, don't speak for me, just listen to her. Take good care of her during the confinement period, speak softly, and don't come to see me recently."

The last sentence was crossed out. Chen Ling'an held up the paper to the light and vaguely made out the words "You haven't looked for me either." Xiaoman's mumbling and complaining face appeared in front of him.

He smiled.

The flame on the candlestick flickered, the shadows in the house swayed, and the letters on the table were warm. Even though I was alone facing the lonely lamp, I didn't feel cold and lonely.

The moon rises in the east and sets in the west, and a new day has come.

Chen Yanning's complexion looked better than yesterday, and his lips had some color, but his eyes were dull. When he saw Chen Ling'an coming, he said nothing more than "I'm fine."

Chen Lingan really wanted to talk to her, but he didn't know what to say.

Let’s talk about the old childhood memories, but Dad, Mom, and Big Brother… those pains hidden deep in his heart, even thinking about them makes him feel breathless.

He simply couldn't find a topic to talk about.

A long separation is a terrible thing. Vivid memories will fade, and even the closest people will become strangers.

Chen Ling'an sat silently for a while, and then left quietly, just like when he came.

He really wants to see Xiaoman.

I didn't talk to her properly yesterday.

Before he even left the door, Wu Yong rushed in with a serious expression, "Sir, the joint memorial impeaching you by those civil officials has been submitted to the emperor."

Chen Ling'an narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Hand over the card and enter the palace."

-

Imperial study.

Emperor Hongde put down the impeachment letter and smiled slightly at Liu Jinshu, a smile that was a bit playful. "Your name is not on it."

Liu Jinshu said calmly, "Your Majesty, I do not believe that Chen Ling'an is innocent, but Zhao Zhen and his mother are not innocent either. The impeachment letter seems to exonerate them. I do not agree with it, so I did not sign it."

Emperor Hongde's eyes flickered slightly, and he ordered Lu Liang to send the impeachment letter to the cabinet. "Let the cabinet judge this case and call all the people involved. You will watch from the front and do not express any opinions."

Then he smiled at Liu Jinshu and said, "Follow me to the back and listen."

Wenyuan Pavilion, where the cabinet was located, was adjacent to Wenhua Hall. Originally the place where the emperor lectured, it was very close to the Imperial Study. Perhaps out of fear of disturbing the emperor, the people here spoke in low voices and walked on tiptoe, making it as quiet as a secluded forest.

Now they are about to quarrel!

There were more than a dozen people standing in the room, and another twenty or thirty people standing outside. All the people who signed the impeachment letter had arrived.

The young censor had the loudest voice. He pointed at Chen Ling'an and cursed him so fiercely that no one else could interrupt.

Finally, he had no more strength left. He gasped for breath and uttered his last words through gritted teeth: "Traitor, you deserve to be killed!"

Chen Ling'an's empty eyes finally focused, "Who are you?"

After cursing for a long time without knowing who he was, it was like punching cotton, making the censor almost suffocate. "I am from the Censorate—"

"You're from the Censorate," Chen Ling'an interrupted him. "The Emperor ordered the Cabinet to make the judgment, not the Censorate. You've overstepped your authority, disregarded the Emperor's orders, and defied His Majesty. The evidence is irrefutable, and you deserve death. Come, drag him away!"

"Understood, sir!" Wu Yong came in happily with two Jinyiwei to lock the man up.

The censor was horrified. "How dare you act so recklessly in the cabinet! You traitor, you framed a loyal and honest person... Let me go, let me go! Help... Help, Lord, help me!"

Everyone's eyes were focused on Chen Shao.

Chen Shao leaned back in the armchair, his eyes slightly closed, his half-white beard trembling slightly, and he was snoring softly, as if... he was asleep?

Chen Lingan snorted and waved his hand lightly.

Wu Yong lifted the censor like a chick and shouted, "Execute him at the Meridian Gate!"

The imperial censor was so frightened that his soul was about to fly out of his body: "Lord Liu!"

"Wait." Liu Fang stepped forward. "Master Chen's case is not over yet. Don't create unnecessary complications. If you incur public wrath, the Emperor won't be able to protect you even if he wants to."

"As if I haven't offended the public now." Chen Ling'an sneered and nodded to Wu Yongwei, asking him to let the man go.

Once your ears are cleared, you should know when to stop.

Liu Fang pondered for a moment and said softly, "Master Chen, what do you think?"

Without waiting for Chen Shao to respond, Chen Lingyi said sarcastically, "Why are you asking my father? Does his opinion matter?"

Someone spoke up: "What do you mean by that, young minister? The emperor ordered the cabinet to handle it, so of course he has to ask Minister Chen's opinion."

"Tsk, why didn't you ask my father's opinion when you submitted the impeachment letter? You're asking him now. Let me tell you, it's pointless!"

For a moment, the house was silent.

Chen Lingyi: "Can't answer? Ha, who can you hide your little tricks from? Since you want my father to avoid suspicion, then it's simple. Elder Liu, you will take over my father's power as Prime Minister."

Liu Fang smiled calmly, "Lord, if I were to take over the power, I'm afraid the Emperor wouldn't be able to accept it."

"Hmm?" Chen Shao's eyelids twitched, and he looked at everyone in the room blankly, "What are you talking about?"

Liu Fang smiled and said, "We're talking about the lawsuit between Chen Ling'an and Zhao Li."

Chen Shao seemed to have just woken up from a dream, "Oh, I remember now. The old man is old and gets sleepy all the time. I don't know how many more years he can work."

He opened the impeachment letter and read it carefully for a long while. "Why was Zhao Zhen imprisoned?"

Chen Ling'an: "He engaged in corruption and corruption. He accepted bribes from local officials and the head of the imperial estate. In the case of the fake corpse and theft of property, he helped the criminals frame the innocent, stealing money and killing people."

"Where's the evidence?"

"According to the confessions of the Huai'an local officials and the head of the Huangzhuang manor, Zhao Li also owns two manors of unknown origin and 30,000 taels of silver."

Chen Shao looked at Yu Deshui, "What did the Ministry of Justice say?"

Yu Deshui considered his words carefully. "Because they were born in the same year or from the same hometown, Zhao Zhen did have some contact with the Huai'an local officials. He was also one of the officials handling the case of the fake corpse and stolen property. However, he was not responsible for the interrogation, only for taking notes. As for the property under his name, I have no idea."

Chen Shao: "Northern Pacification Division, have you ever tortured Zhao Li?"

Chen Ling'an: "That's inevitable. Upon entering the prison, there must be a beating to intimidate the prisoners. During the interrogation, torture is also inevitable. This is not just a rule in the Imperial Prison, it applies to all government offices."

"Since they were tortured, why did they also castrate Lord Zhao?"

"My hand slipped."

Everyone present was shocked. How far would it take for the hand to slip to reach that point? He's treating us like fools. That's just a sophistry!

Chen Ling'an's gaze drifted towards a certain indignant person. "If you don't believe me, I'll show you now."

The man felt a chill in his lower body and subconsciously closed his legs.

Chen Shao: "In other words, during the interrogation of Zhao Zhen for corruption, the Northern Pacification Office made a mistake and resulted in Zhao Zhen's castration?"

"Exactly."

Liu Fang frowned slightly, "We can't just listen to one side of the story. Someone, go to the Imperial Prison and fetch Lord Zhao."

Chen Lingan: "He can't come."

"Could it be that people have already..."

"What are you thinking, Mr. Liu? Of course he's still alive. I mean, it's an eyesore."

Liu Fang was stunned. What does that mean?

He didn't understand, but Lu Liang, who was standing in the background, understood.

Judging from Chen Ling'an's personality, he would definitely uproot it completely and would never use any medicine. He would definitely throw it into the dungeon and leave it there.

That is gone, but the urine still has to go the same way, plus the blood and feces. Even if we wash it clean and carry it up, I am afraid the stench in this room will not go away for three days.

This is Wenyuan Pavilion, and the emperor's study is just a few steps away. Even if Chen Ling'an agreed, he could not agree.

Lu Liang looked at Liu Fang.

Liu Fang understood, and a hint of annoyance flashed across his eyes, but it disappeared in an instant. He smiled bitterly and said, "I have no questions. Please make your decision, Lord."

Chen Shao: "The Northern Pacification Office reports directly to the Emperor. Please let the Emperor make the final decision. The Cabinet only needs to report the facts."

Chen Lingyi took the clerk's notes. Chen Shao read them over, signed his name, and handed them to Liu Fang, "Master Liu, take a look too."

Liu Fang read it, signed it, and handed it to another university scholar.

So, everyone in the cabinet signed.

The people who implicated Chen Ling'an were dumbfounded. Once the transcript was handed in, it was clear that Chen Ling'an was innocent. What were they doing?

Someone couldn't understand why, relying on their friendship with Chen Lingyi, asked him privately, "Even if you felt sorry for your niece, you wouldn't have just stood by and watched Zhao Zhen die. He's a disciple of the Grand Master. Isn't that chilling to everyone's heart?"

Chen Lingyi curled his lips in disdain. "You know he's my father's protégé. If it weren't for my father's cultivation, how would he be where he is today? But how has he repaid my father?"

"There's suddenly an extra child in the house, notices posted all over the city, and you're telling me he didn't know? Back then, he often came to my father for advice on writing, and his mother always paid her respects to my mother. What on earth could they be thinking of coming to my house? And they say they're innocent? No one in the Zhao family is innocent!"

The man stammered, "Perhaps, because the child is the daughter of Chen the Convict, he doesn't want to embarrass the Lord..."

Chen Lingyi: "No one can make decisions for my father. Hiding the truth is betrayal."

This is the reason why Lord Chen gave up Zhao Zhen!

The man was shocked, remembering that officials who bypassed Lord Chen to submit a joint impeachment letter would also be regarded as "betrayers."

Lord Chen was warning them.

-

The cabinet's minutes and impeachment letter, as well as the Northern Pacification Office's conviction letter against Zhao Zhen were all sent to the Dragon Case, and the emperor kept them all without issuing them.

A few days later, Zhao Zhen died in the imperial prison.

Old Mrs. Zhao also died because Chen Ling'an and Chen Lingyi had both said that no doctor dared to treat her, and she died of pain.

On the night of the funeral, the Zhao family was robbed, all their property was looted, and the house was burned down.

Mrs. Zhao hanged herself, and her daughter was adopted by a distant relative and never returned to Jinling City.

In this regard, some people think that the Zhao family deserves it, some people sigh and feel sorry for the Zhao family, and some people visit the Chen family less often and prefer to visit Liu Fang.

No matter how the world changes, time keeps moving forward, and in the blink of an eye it is already the end of August.

Xiaoman was getting ready to go out. "Aunt Lin is finally here. I'm going to see her. I have something to ask her for help."

Mrs. Jiang readily agreed, "I'll send a carriage to take you to where she lives."

"It seems to be called Lin Yuan."

"where?"

"Lin Yuan, He Ping told me that he would go with me."

Mrs. Jiang was stunned for a moment. Linyuan was the manor of the current teacher and great scholar Lin Weiqian.

"Who is Aunt Lin and what is her relationship with Lin Weiqian?"

"Aunt Lin is Mr. Lin Ting's wife. Who is Lin Weiqian?" Xiaoman wondered. "What's wrong, mother? You look so shocked."

It took Madam Jiang a while to come back to her senses, forcing herself to hold back her pounding heart. "How could I not be shocked? Lin Weiqian, also known as Mr. Lin Ting, was the Emperor's tutor, the most prestigious scholar! Madam Lin's ancestors can be traced back to the Xia Pi Lin family, a prominent family that existed since the Western Jin Dynasty! Oh my God, you actually have connections with them!"

Xiaoman slowly opened her mouth, "Emperor's tutor? So, He Ping and the Emperor are brothers, and I'm He Ping's sister, so I can barely be considered the Emperor's junior sister? This is hilarious."

Mrs. Jiang burst into laughter, then wiped away her tears. Then, she slapped Xiaoman on the back and said, "You really are... Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Xiaoman deliberately pretended to be in pain and said, "I mentioned them before, but you didn't care."

Mrs. Jiang laughed. Yes, who would have thought that the imperial teacher would stay in such a poor place where no one can afford to live!

"The gifts I prepared earlier were too meager. Open the storeroom and I'll pick out some good things."

"No, Aunt Lin doesn't care about these things. Just keep doing what she used to do. If you suddenly give her a bunch of expensive things, she'll be angry."

"real?"

"Believe me, I know what she likes. They used to quarrel and ignore each other, but I was the one who talked them out."

"Look what you can do." Mrs. Jiang tapped her forehead.

Xiaoman chuckled and rubbed his forehead. "So they have such a strong background. I used to wonder why Chen Ling'an came all the way to Xuanfu to find Mr. Lin Ting. Well, well, today I'm going to ask Aunt Lin for something, and I'm going to do it no matter what!"