Chapter 362 Execution

The list listed several customers who borrowed money at high interest rates, including how much money they borrowed from the Lin family and the shopkeeper, and the monthly interest rate.

According to the laws of the Northern Qi Dynasty, interest could not exceed the principal, and the monthly interest rate could not exceed three percent. Anyone who violated the law would be flogged forty times, and any profit would be counted as stolen goods. In serious cases, the offender would be flogged one hundred times.

The interest they charge is several times more than the capital, which belongs to the latter. If they were hit by a hundred lashes, they would have been dead long ago.

Old Madam Lin's face turned pale. Even if the Emperor of Northern Qi wanted to save them, he would have to impose certain punishments, and this punishment would most likely be the confiscation of their property.

All the money lent out at high interest rates will be classified as stolen money.

If they were just selling illegal tea, perhaps the Northern Qi emperor would protect the Lin family.

As long as the Northern Qi Emperor said that he had approved their tea permits in private, no one dared to question it.

Now that it comes to the issue of usury, the Emperor of Northern Qi cannot make it work even if he wants to.

Old Madam Lin was afraid and unsure of the Emperor of Northern Qi's attitude.

"Your Highness, Concubine Shu and Prince Xian have received the Emperor's grace. As relatives of the emperor, the Lin family is cautious and prudent. How could they dare to lend money at high interest?"

Madam Lin burst into tears and said, "The Lin family has never offended Your Highness. Why would Your Highness force us into a desperate situation?"

When King Qi heard what Madam Lin said, he sneered in his heart.

She mentioned Concubine Shu and Prince Xian at this time, simply to tell the Emperor of Northern Qi that he was jealous of Concubine Shu and her son being favored, so he deliberately framed the Lin family and removed the stumbling block.

My father has always turned a blind eye to the princes' fight for the throne, and he is most afraid of it being brought to the surface.

Even if the emperor knew that there was solid evidence against the Lin family, he would not punish the Lin family, but would instead be suspicious of his purpose in exposing the Lin family.

Sure enough, the Northern Qi Emperor's expression changed.

"It seems this evidence is insufficient." Before the Northern Qi Emperor could speak, the King of Qi pulled out another list and asked, "What about these?"

He unfolded the list and handed it to Mrs. Lin.

Madam Lin was already beginning to feel overwhelmed by the King of Qi's relentless pressure. When she saw the list, her pupils shrank, and the calm expression on her face broke.

Because all the people on this list borrowed money from the Lin family at high interest rates and were eventually forced to death by the Lin family.

They initially borrowed ten taels of silver, but the interest eventually snowballed into dozens or even hundreds of taels.

In order to repay the interest, they were forced by the Lin family to sell their wives and daughters as slaves.

Even so, the debt is still not paid off...

The fact that King Qi was able to find this far means he has evidence in his hands.

Old Lady Lin was afraid that the Prince of Qi had more fatal evidence that would implicate the Concubine Shu and the Prince Xian in the palace.

She knew very well that if it only involved illicit tea, the Northern Qi Emperor would protect her. But if it involved the common people, the Northern Qi Emperor would not dare to protect her even if he wanted to.

Because the Emperor of Northern Qi wanted to be a wise ruler who would go down in history, and he understood the principle that water can carry a boat, but can also capsize it, so he would abandon the Lin family.

The next moment, the Prince of Qi addressed the Northern Qi Emperor, "Father, before Concubine Shu entered the palace, the Lin family was upright and honest, setting an example for all officials. You highly praised the Lin family and hoped that the court officials would emulate them. It is precisely because of your appreciation of the Lin family's character that you appointed Concubine Shu to enter the palace to assist my mother in managing the affairs of the six palaces."

"The Lin family is now guilty of numerous crimes, all of which are punishable by death."

"You praised the Lin family in front of all the officials before, and all the civil and military officials followed suit, each of them being honest and upright."

"If the Lin family's deeds were to be exposed, it would likely disrupt the government, and officials would disregard the laws just like the Lin family did."

"Therefore, I have not disclosed today's events to anyone. I have only asked Old Madam Lin to confront us."

"Whether this matter will be handled according to the law, or will there be an online leniency for Your Majesty's sake, it all depends on your father's arrangement."

The King of Qi's words directly put the Emperor of Northern Qi in a difficult position.

The Emperor of Northern Qi looked at the evidence laid out before him with a gloomy expression.

The Lin family dares to be so rampant because they rely on the emperor's grace.

Previously, in order to maintain balance, he showed leniency to the Lin family.

Who knew that the Lin family not only sold contraband tea to foreign countries, but also lent money at high interest rates and had lives on their hands.

He could suppress this matter and save the Lin family.

But there is no impenetrable wall in this world.

If it were revealed one day, it would cause a shock in the court.

The Emperor of Northern Qi didn't know how many secrets the Lin family had, and he was afraid that if he continued to dig deeper, he would implicate the wise king.

Even though the virtuous king lost the Lin family, he still had the support of other court officials.

Thinking of this, the Northern Qi Emperor said in a deep voice: "When the emperor breaks the law, he is guilty just like the common people. The crimes committed by the Lin family are proven beyond doubt, so they should be dealt with according to the law."

When Old Madam Lin heard what the Northern Qi Emperor said, her cloudy eyes became dead silent, and she collapsed on the ground like a puddle of mud.

The King of Qi loosened his tightly clenched fists, and his palms were wet.

He lowered his head to hide the smug look in his eyes.

He won this tough battle.

-

Zhaohua Palace.

Concubine Shu ordered the palace maids to go to the imperial kitchen to prepare some of the Northern Qi Emperor's favorite meals. She planned to keep the Northern Qi Emperor in her bedroom tonight and test the Northern Qi Emperor's attitude to see if she could arrange a job for her nephew. After the storm died down, she would give her nephew a promotion.

At this moment, Hong Qiao hurried in, her face pale, "My Lady, all the members of the Lin family have been imprisoned and are awaiting execution."

Concubine Shu's head was buzzing, and she had no idea what was going on. She subconsciously ran out of the palace, wanting to go to the Emperor of Northern Qi to plead for mercy, asking him to show leniency to the Lin family.