Chapter 574 Identity
The emperor chuckled but didn't speak. He glanced at his son-in-law and asked, "Sixth son?"
Lin Changning stared intently at Lin Changqing. In truth, Yungui Group just needed an excuse, an excuse to temporarily bring her down. The evidence for those two charges was not easy to find, and it was not enough to do anything to her.
After receiving a look from his father, Lin Changning cupped his hands and looked at the Marquis of Loyalty with hostility: "What Lin Changqing said is true. His father was indeed punished because of me, and his younger brother's leg was indeed broken by me."
A hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of the Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness, seemingly not expecting Lin Changning to agree with him.
Before he could speak, he looked at Lin Changning and sneered: "However, my lord, when you investigate something, don't just do it half-heartedly. Why don't you ask Lin Changqing why his father was punished with caning? Why don't you ask him why I broke his brother's leg?"
Marquis Zhongyi was naturally aware of this, but he lacked an excuse at the moment. They couldn't produce any evidence, and Marquis Wu'an probably couldn't either.
It's just a matter of smearing people. Once the reputation spreads, there will naturally be officials to speak up for them. At that time, even if the emperor wants to appoint someone, he will have to think twice.
Lin Changning chuckled softly: "Does the Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness think I have no evidence?"
After saying that, he looked at Li Mingxiu and said, "Brother, please bring the person up."
A few days ago, my uncle sent a message from home saying that a group of people had been asking around the village recently, and the clan chief immediately became suspicious.
After detaining the man, someone sent a message to Lin Changning.
After Lin Changning was granted the title of Marquis, the village also benefited greatly. Lin Changning allocated a lot of money to the village to repair the ancestral hall, distributed rice and flour to every household, and doubled the size of the clan school.
Nowadays, anyone in the village, even those not surnamed Lin, can study at the clan school. The Lin family has produced a prodigy who married a princess at a young age, was granted the title of Marquis, and is highly regarded by the Emperor. He is famous throughout the region.
The clan chief was a sensible man. He knew that the changes in the clan were all caused by Lin Changning, so he paid special attention to the safety of the surrounding area. The people sent by the Yun Gui had been discovered long ago.
After the clan chief spread the news, he remained inactive, but secretly sent someone to follow them. He copied the address and gave it to Lin Changning, and then came to the capital in person.
The Lin family's prodigy must not be lost.
Therefore, Lin Changning knew a few days earlier that someone in the court was going to make trouble for him. Coincidentally, the clan leader was also in the capital, so he left him there.
Hearing the clan leader's voice behind him, Lin Changqing felt a tightness in his heart.
After kneeling and bowing respectfully to the emperor, the clan chief glanced at Lin Changning, who nodded to him.
"This humble subject pays homage to Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"
The emperor coughed lightly: "Elder, please rise. Please present any evidence you have."
Lin Changning stepped forward and gently helped the clan chief up. The clan chief patted Lin Changning's hand lightly, giving him a reassuring look, and took out two letters from his pocket, handing them to the eunuch beside the emperor.
"Your Majesty, a few days ago, some people near the village kept asking about the Lin family. As the head of the clan, I paid attention to it. What Lin Changqing said is indeed true, but he has omitted some facts."
This is the magistrate's handwritten letter, along with the dossier of Lin Changqing's father at the time. Both are here. The Marquis of Wu'an's abuse of power for personal gain and his immoral words are utterly baseless. I beg Your Majesty to see the truth.
I, a humble citizen, have evidence and can be considered a witness. Back then, Lin Changqing's father bribed the officials to give the quota to the father and elder brother of Marquis Wu'an because of the matter of land and wealth. Marquis Wu'an's father and elder brother died on the way. After the Marquis found out about the matter, he went to report it to the authorities.
This matter is recorded in the county government's files. As for why the Marquis broke Lin Changqing's brother's leg back then, he must have known in his heart that Lin Changqing's brother was resentful because of his father's death and was holding a weapon at the entrance of the village, intending to attack the Marquis.
The Marquis was a centurion at the time, and he had no choice but to break the man's leg in self-defense. The commoners and villagers are all witnesses and are available to be summoned at any time!
Lin Changqing sighed inwardly. He had originally planned to catch Lin Changning off guard, but he hadn't expected that even the clan leader would come.
The clan leader turned to look at Lin Changqing, feeling a pang of regret. If he hadn't gone astray, he would have been a fine young man in the Lin family, one scholar and one warrior, a perfect match.
What a pity...
The emperor took the document, glanced at it casually, and then threw it in front of the Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness: "Read it yourself!"
Marquis Zhongyi was surprised that Lin Changning had prepared so thoroughly, with evidence and witnesses. His expression turned somewhat grim. He exchanged a glance with Marquis Qin Ying beside him, and then the two of them knelt down together.
"Your Majesty! Your humble servant is guilty; it was our oversight that led to this!"
Lin Changqing listened to the two kneeling figures behind him, closed his eyes, and a ruthless glint flashed in his heart as he looked at the clan leader's disappointed eyes.
He understood that he had just been abandoned by the two marquises behind him, and it seemed that he could no longer rely on their help.
Seeing that the dust had settled, the emperor at the head of the table looked at the two kneeling men with an unfriendly expression: "Lord Zhongyi and Marquis Qinying, you two have falsely accused Marquis Wu'an. As marquises, instead of serving the country, you have framed him with false accusations, failing in your duties as subjects! I will spare your lives in consideration of the merits of our ancestors, but I will deduct one year's salary and revoke your imperial edicts!"
The emperor's gaze slowly shifted to Lin Changqing, his eyes narrowing slightly. He glanced at Xiao Liu, who was coldly watching Lin Changqing. After all, this person was related to Xiao Liu. Although the two families did not get along, it would not be appropriate to just kill him.
After pondering for a moment, the emperor looked at Lin Changning and asked, "Sixth Brother, what do you think about this cousin who falsely accused you?"
Before the words were finished, Lin Changqing, as if having made up his mind, straightened his back, looked at the emperor above, and said loudly:
"Your Majesty! This humble subject accuses Marquis Wu'an of deceiving the emperor, disguising herself as a man to join the army, and marrying a princess—a heinous crime deserving of death!!!"
Upon hearing this, Li Mingxiu and Qi Rong stared wide-eyed at Lin Changqing in disbelief, then turned to look at Lin Changning beside them.
Lin Changning's heart skipped a beat.
The Marquis of Zhongyi and the Marquis of Qinying below were unaware that Lin Changqing would file such a lawsuit. After a flash of their eyes, they looked up at the emperor, whose face was not friendly, and their hearts sank.
"You mean? I can't even tell if the person I'm sleeping next to is male or female?"
Li Mingshu changed into a gorgeous palace dress and stormed in from outside the Qin Zheng Hall.
Upon entering the Hall of Diligent Governance, Li Mingshu first bowed to the Emperor: "Father."
Then look at Li Mingxiu and Qi Rong next to Changning: "Big brother, second brother."
After exchanging nods and greetings, Lin Changning stepped forward, reached out to support Li Mingshu, and asked with a somewhat unpleasant expression, "A-Shu? What brings you here?"
After gently pulling the person into his arms, Lin Changning said with slight concern.
Li Mingshu leaned against Lin Changning's chest, her beautiful eyes fixed on the kneeling Lin Changqing: "If I hadn't come over, I'm afraid my husband would have been wronged to death by these people!"
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