Chapter 240 This is a good move
The emperor was about to deliver his decree when Fu Qingyin saluted again.
"Your Majesty, please let me finish what I am saying."
"allow."
"Your Majesty, the Cheng family intended to force the original owner to death and wanted to kill the two families to silence them. This was witnessed by the prefect of Wangfu. Cheng Ziheng, the son of the Cheng family, has been taken to Jingzhao Prefecture for interrogation."
"He seized the land for no other purpose than to hand it over to the imperial court."
The emperor's face darkened: "Why is that?"
"They were trading with unknown forces. I caught them, but they turned out to be dead soldiers. They died of poisoning."
"I have failed in my duty. I have not yet caught the mastermind behind this."
The emperor was furious: "How can this be possible!"
"I thought that although the Cheng family's morals were a little poor, they were at least loyal to the emperor and patriotic. Now it seems that they are just ambitious and wicked!"
"Come here, pass on the order."
"Search the Cheng family, imprison all of them, and execute them in ten days!"
When the emperor gave the order, the supervisor beside him felt his heart tremble and his legs went weak.
"Your Majesty," Fu Qingyin continued, "I was not the first to investigate this matter. Someone risked his life to report it to me, so I was able to seize the opportunity and find the iron mine."
The emperor's tone softened: "Who is it?"
"Your Majesty, it's Princess Ruiyang."
"Oh? It's her?" The emperor's eyes flashed with surprise, "Where is she?"
"I dare not take credit for anything. Please follow me into the palace. I am outside the door now."
"pass!"
Yu Shengsheng walked into the Shangshu room with his head lowered and paid homage to him.
Her heart was pounding. The last time she came here was because she was involved in the case of Concubine Yu's death and was considered one of the suspects.
But this time, it was completely different.
The emperor nodded: "Stand up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Yu Shengsheng stood up and stood properly.
The emperor praised: "I heard from Qingyin that it was you who discovered the affairs of the Cheng family?"
Yu Shengsheng was surprised. When Fu Qingyin said he wanted to bring her into the palace, he only said that she was to be a witness in order to prevent him from saying something that would arouse the emperor's suspicion.
But she didn't say she would report it to the emperor. It was she who discovered it.
But now that things have come to this, she nodded and said, "Your Majesty, it was this servant who discovered it. This servant also discovered it by accident."
"You are brave enough to risk your life to report. You are not cowardly and will not waste your time. You have some courage. That's good."
"Your Majesty, I am ashamed to praise you."
The emperor smiled heartily and looked at her meaningfully.
Yu Shengsheng felt that this gaze was real, full of inquiry, suspicion and scrutiny. The oppression from the emperor was like a mountain pressing down on her head, causing her to involuntarily hold her breath and sweat break out.
Fu Qingyin stood aside without even moving his eyebrows.
The emperor glanced at him from the corner of his eye, then looked at Yu Shengsheng, and then spoke slowly: "I remember that you are a relative of Su Cheng, and you should have some relationship with the Cheng family. Aren't you afraid of being blamed when you go back?"
Yu Shengsheng's heart was pounding. She forced herself to calm down and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I came to Beijing to seek refuge with Madam Su, and I am grateful to the Su family for taking me in. Even for Madam Su's sake, I should report this matter to avoid irreparable disaster in the future, which would affect Madam Su. That would be the greatest sin of my life."
The emperor nodded in satisfaction: "Not bad, you are a sensible child. You have done a good job. I want to praise you and give you a reward. Tell me, what do you want?"
"I dare not. Although I am a woman and stay in seclusion, I know how important iron is to the court and the country. Only with iron can weapons and arrows be forged, and only with iron can soldiers at the border fight the enemy and protect the country."
"It is my honor to be able to do a little bit of work and contribute my little bit. I dare not ask for a reward."
The emperor laughed loudly: "Well said! If all my sons and daughters were like you, why wouldn't we be able to dominate the world?"
"I have just decided to search the Cheng family and behead them in public in ten days. This is the Cheng family's crime, and you have made a contribution, so you must be rewarded."
Yu Shengsheng bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me for my behavior. The Cheng family committed this crime, so they should be executed, but the person behind the scenes has not been arrested yet. The matter of the iron mine should not be made public yet. It is better to exile them instead."
The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking: "Qing Yin, what do you think?"
"Your Majesty, I think what Princess Ruiyang said makes sense. If everyone in the Cheng family dies, the people behind the scenes will be relieved. If they stay, maybe they can lure the snake out of its hole."
"Besides, Duke Rong had served the emperor well in the past, and the late emperor praised him highly and even gave him a manor. If we kill all of them, it will inevitably make those who are on good terms with him feel dissatisfied."
The emperor's face darkened: "I am still afraid of them? They did something wrong, and they blame me for being cruel?"
"If you hadn't mentioned the manor, I would have forgotten about it," the emperor looked at Yu Shengsheng, "Let's put it this way, the Cheng family is already a criminal and no longer has the right to enjoy the manor. Princess Ruiyang has made great contributions, so the manor will be given to you."
Yu Shengsheng's heart was shocked, and she didn't know whether she was surprised or happy, and she felt a little dizzy.
In a word, such a big manor is hers?
Fu Qingyin reminded: "Princess, why don't you thank me quickly?"
When Yu Shengsheng heard this, she knew she could accept it.
Quickly bow and express gratitude.
The emperor thought for a moment and said, "Well, let's do as Princess Ruiyang said and exile the Cheng family instead."
"Seize their property and return it to the national treasury. After the investigation is complete, have them set off immediately to Lingnan!"
"Yes." Seeing that the situation had been settled, Eunuch Wei immediately went down to convey the order.
Fu Qingyin glanced at the chief supervisor and said, "Master Wu, this is the good news you mentioned. However, as you have just heard, the iron mine matter cannot be leaked. Please keep your mouth shut."
Does the supervisor want to hear how miserable he is? He doesn't want to hear the secret just now!
Now, he has to promise in front of the emperor that he will not reveal a single word. If the news leaks out, he will be the most suspicious.
Besides, the good thing he wanted to say was not this, but now he couldn't say no, nor could he mention the prince's matter again.
But this was the Queen's order, and now it has not been done. How can I explain this to the Queen?
It didn't work out, and I can't tell the real reason.
Ah, the pain!
"Your Majesty, I will never reveal a single word."
The emperor waved his hand and said, "Okay, I'll give you a hundred taels of gold. Go away."
He was not at all happy about the reward and turned away.
The emperor glanced at Yu Shengsheng, and Yu Shengsheng immediately said, "Your Majesty, I will take my leave first."
The emperor waved his hand, and Yu Shengsheng retreated outside the hall and let out a long sigh.
It feels like I'm walking on clouds, but my soul is still floating in the air.
There was not much joy, but mostly fear.
The emperor's thoughts and imperial decrees can decide the life and death of a person or a family.
She was penniless before and couldn't even afford a plain hairpin or a brocade dress. She worked day and night to paint in order to earn a little money. She saved up a few hundred taels to buy a small courtyard, which was a great change for her. Now she owns the Yuda Manor.
She was dazed and uneasy, but had no regrets.
Not to mention walking on clouds, even if you are on the edge of a knife or on a sea of fire, you have to move forward.
The emperor asked in a low voice: "Do you have any clues about the person behind this? Is he the same person you went out of the capital to investigate before?"
"Your Majesty, from what I have seen, it is 80 to 90 percent correct."
The emperor's eyes were as sharp as a knife: "How is the progress of the secret map?"
"The ones we got have been restored, but there are still two missing."
The emperor nodded slowly: "Do you think this matter has anything to do with Nan Shun?"
"Your Majesty, Kong Dezhao is under my surveillance. If he makes any unusual moves, I will know about it, unless he completely cuts off contact with Nanshun, or unless the King of Nanshun abandons his son."
"I wanted to arrange a marriage between Yu Shengsheng and Kong Dezhao before, but now it seems that my original plan may not have been correct."
"Your Majesty," Fu Qingyin lowered his head, his eyelashes hiding the emotions in his eyes, "Su Huaiyuan has some strategies and prestige in the army. If he marries Nanshun..."
"There's no guarantee that he won't become the second Nanshun someday."
"Now that Yu Shengsheng is in the Su Mansion, showing her some favor would be a good move."
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