Chapter 344 Impossible!

Qingling frowned deeply: "Madam, speed is of the essence in war. If we don't act now, will we still have a chance tomorrow?"

Imperial Censor Cao said, "What Lady Yao says is true. Those people are probably also working on a plan overnight to shirk responsibility... You should go and find the roster."

"Oh, oh..." The censor's wife didn't have time to think and hurriedly went to find the booklet.

Imperial Censor Cao turned to face Qing Ling, his eyes seeming to see through something.

He lowered his voice: "Since Madam Yao is in such a hurry, is the person buried underground... Minister Lin?"

Qing Ling pressed down her lips, while Imperial Censor Cao's gaze was piercing.

He wasn't as careless as his wife.

He then asked, "Is Vice Minister Lin at Cha Yongning Temple?"

“Madam Yao, there’s no need to hide it from me. A few days ago, Vice Minister Lin privately approached me and talked about this matter, saying that there was iron ore hidden inside.”

“Since the reconstruction of Yongning Temple, a large amount of stone has been transported in every day, but the construction is progressing very slowly. Minister Lin suspects that the reconstruction is not being carried out there, but rather that the reconstruction is being used as a pretext to conceal the purpose of smelting ore. And what is the iron being smelted being used for?”

At this point, Qingling decided not to hide anything anymore. She trusted Imperial Censor Cao and needed someone to support her at this crucial time.

Qing Ling nodded, her voice low: "Since Imperial Censor Cao knows, please help me and him, Your Excellency."

Imperial Censor Cao took a deep breath: "You guys..."

He nodded and said, "I, Cao, am determined to serve the country and its people. How can I stand idly by at this time?"

The Censor's wife came out with the booklet and saw Censor Cao and Yao Qingling whispering to each other. She asked in confusion, "What are you talking about?"

Yao Qingling forced a smile: "Predict what excuse those people will use to suppress this matter in court tomorrow, and how the Censor-in-Chief will break through their defenses."

The censor's wife had no interest in the verbal battles in the court; she always believed that her husband would win.

"Let's go, let's hurry and find someone."

Thus, Yao Qingling and the censor's wife knocked on the doors of various households overnight, demanding a denunciation of the collapse of the Yongning Temple, which was under construction.

Since all these noble ladies survived the massacre by bandits, they donated large sums of money to seek peace of mind. However, the temple was not rebuilt but collapsed again. How can their hearts be at peace?

Therefore, Qingling persuaded them relatively smoothly.

Qingling and the Imperial Censor's wife worked all night.

At dawn, the sky was a mix of blue and black, just like last year at Yongning Temple, the air was filled with smoke and dust, and a sense of tragic grandeur.

The difference was that there was no heavy rain, and soldiers were guarding the collapsed Xin Yongning Temple.

Their knives were not pointed at the thugs who were slaughtering; this time, they were pointed at the people who were demanding the truth and asking for help.

Qingling and the Imperial Censor's wife arrived at the scene first, followed by carriages from various families.

As dawn broke, the morning light shone on the ruins, like a hopeful soul wandering and circling in the desolation, finding a sliver of light to shine down.

When the guards saw so many people coming, and they didn't look like they were easy to mess with, they didn't dare to do anything reckless.

Qingling stepped forward and demanded that people be allowed in to expedite the rescue.

"...Everyone here has donated money and contributed their labor to the reconstruction of Yongning Temple. Do you think we can ask the imperial court to conduct a thorough investigation? If more people die or are injured inside, who will take responsibility, you or your superiors?"

The crowd hesitated, but Qingling was dressed in the robes of a noblewoman, and the other ladies also announced their names. With so many people, they couldn't possibly hold them off.

Several people stepped back, making way for each other.

Qingling immediately waved her hand, ordering the people she had brought to go up and dig.

As soon as there was movement, a large number of people rushed in.

Yao Qingling herself also joined in.

A war of words also broke out in the imperial court.

To absolve himself of responsibility, the Minister of Works shamelessly claimed that it was the lingering resentment of the wronged souls of Yongning Temple that caused the newly built temple to collapse, thus serving as a warning to everyone that Yongning Temple could not be rebuilt until the bandits were caught.

Others say that it's just a temple that collapsed, and there's no need to make a big fuss about it; we should focus our attention on other things.

After rambling on for a long time, no conclusion was reached.

Finally, Prince Xin stepped forward and agreed with the Minister of Works' statement, demanding an investigation into the Yongning Temple case from last year.

"Last year, there was a massacre at Yongning Temple, in which more than 300 monks and guards died, and hundreds more were seriously injured. This major case remains unsolved. I have also heard of another major event: a fire at the dock warehouse that burned for three days and three nights."

"I believe that these two major events occurred around the same time as the Yongning Temple case last year. This is because the wronged souls are seeking help from us, the living. This is a warning."

Imperial Censor Cao was so angry that his beard stood on end: "Nonsense! The bandits are still being tracked down, and Madam Yao has also invited a Taoist priest to perform a ritual to help the souls of the dead and to rebuild Yongning Temple. What they have done is enough to let the souls of the dead rest in peace."

"In my opinion, some people are trying to exonerate this major case, preventing an investigation and beating around the bush. Could there be something hidden here?"

Prince Xin curled his lips and walked towards Imperial Censor Cao: "Imperial Censor, as far as I know, your wife was also at Yongning Temple last year, wasn't she?"

“From then on, your wife and Madam Yao became close, and she even invested in her shop.”

Imperial Censor Cao, wary, frowned and said, "Why are you bringing this up? My wife and Madam Yao went through a crisis together and became friends. What's wrong with them having some contact?"

Prince Xin's lips curled up even higher, his smile becoming wicked.

"I would like to say that since this concerns your wife, Imperial Censor Cao, you should speak with caution."

“You—” Imperial Censor Cao was speechless with anger. Prince Xin turned to the emperor and performed a courtly salute, saying, “Since there are differing opinions in the court, why not proceed with both sides simultaneously?”

"We must catch the bandits from last year quickly; and we must excavate the collapsed Yongning Temple as soon as possible."

As soon as he made the suggestion, the Minister of Works gave him a meaningful look, nodded slightly to both sides, and looked smug, as if he was waiting to watch a big show.

After the court session ended, Prefect Gao went to the scene of the incident with people from the Court of Judicial Review.

Seeing a large group of people moving stones inside, Magistrate Gao could barely make out the woman digging in the ground with her bare hands: "Isn't that Yao Qingling? Why is she so enthusiastic?"

Even the ladies and young women who felt guilty only watched from the sidelines, but Yao Qingling disregarded the filth and her own safety and took to the field herself.

"Madam Yao, we've brought men to rescue them. You may leave now." Magistrate Gao stepped forward to persuade Yao Qingling to come down. "Why are you doing this?"

Yao Qingling had no choice but to resort to her old excuse, saying that she had reverence for Yongning Temple and would not feel at ease if she did not personally take charge.

Prefect Gao was skeptical, but said nothing more.

After clearing the ruins all day, they finally dug a passage by evening, allowing them to go inside.

Yao Qingling couldn't get in, but there were many people participating in the rescue, and the scene was chaotic, so Yao Qingling sent someone to sneak in.

They went inside and searched around, then returned to report that they had not found Lin Shiyuan.

Inside were the bodies of craftsmen crushed to death, their flesh mangled and bloody.

"...Also, there is no iron ore or iron smelting equipment inside."

It was so chaotic inside that there wasn't much that could be identified, and those who went in could only give a rough account.

"Impossible!" Qingling's face turned pale, and she swayed, almost losing her footing.