Chapter 418: Killing without Pardon
Hearing this, everyone knelt down on the ground.
"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims:
The shocking case that was uncovered recently is truly a shame for the country and a pain for the military.
Former Wangshu Hou Lin served in the army and stationed at the border for a long time. He was known for his loyalty and prudence in the court and the public.
Unexpectedly, Zhenyuan Marquis Jiang Yunhe, Tongyi Doctor Liu Mang, and the Minister of War and others harbored evil intentions and colluded with each other.
Either due to personal grudges or for personal gain, they fabricated charges and falsely accused Lin Congrong of collaborating with the enemy and treason. They even secretly intercepted the army's food supplies, causing the border troops to suffer from hunger and cold and their morale was crushed.
Such behavior betrays the emperor's grace, harms loyal and good people, and shakes the foundation of the country. The crime is unforgivable!
After the joint trial by the three courts, the evidence was irrefutable and the treacherous plot was exposed.
I am furious and hereby impose severe punishment according to the laws of the country and the constitution of heaven: Jiang Yunhe, Marquis of Zhenyuan, the Minister of War and other masterminds and accomplices shall be stripped of their titles and official posts, taken to the city government, and executed immediately. Their property shall be confiscated by the government to compensate for the crime of embezzling food and fodder.
All his accomplices and collaborators in the rebellion must be strictly investigated and punished, and no one should escape.
Nian Lin served his entire military life in loyalty and bravery, and I feel deeply sorry for him being framed and dying unjustly.
His title of Marquis Wangshu was specially restored to him, and his name was cleared and redressed to honor his loyalty and heroism.
The remains were moved back to their homeland, buried with proper ceremony, a temple was built and a monument was erected, and sacrifices were offered at all times.
Jiang Liuyun, the son of Jiang Yunhe, although he is of treacherous blood, he has not been involved in his father's rebellious plot, and I feel pity for him.
Now I have granted you a special decree to exempt him from implicated persons and to pardon him without further questioning.
Once this decree is issued, everyone inside and outside the government should take it as a warning.
Anyone who is loyal and serves the country will be treated with great grace by me; anyone who forms a clique for personal gain and frames loyal and good people will be severely punished by me, no matter how high or low their rank!
Announce it to the world and let everyone know.
So ordered! "
With this imperial decree, the dust settled.
Dali Temple Minister Zhou Chongzheng respectfully accepted the imperial edict, while the other officials had different expressions.
Lin Zhiqing observed carefully and found that except for Wang Yuan, the others were not surprised by the outcome of this matter.
To be more precise, everyone was surprised when Eunuch Wang read out the results of the handling of the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion.
But when it came to the fact that Lin Congrong was innocent, no one reacted much.
This incident further confirmed Lin Zhiqing's previous thoughts.
Most officials in the court should know that Lin Congrong was wrongly accused.
But for various reasons, they did not speak.
It may be because Lin Congrong touched the interests of the marquis system, or it may be because he was envied by some people.
But when it comes down to it, the root of this matter lies with the emperor.
If the emperor had not tacitly approved, the court officials would not have remained silent.
In the end, the Lin family is just a victim of the power struggle.
After understanding this, Lin Zhiqing felt like he had fallen into an ice cave when he looked at the Dali Temple again.
This should be the most just place in the world, but who knows how many innocent souls are buried under that plaque.
Compared with Lin Zhiqing's emotion, the other members of the Lin family looked extremely happy, and Lin Congli almost couldn't stand still.
"Your Majesty is wise, Your Majesty is wise!" His eyes were red. "Congrong, you are innocent, innocent!"
"So many years have passed, so many years have passed!"
His posture is really touching.
Lin Zhiqing glanced sideways, and Lu Huai saw this and spoke softly:
"Aqing, come here."
Yes, they are all here.
Lin Zhiqing smiled faintly. The Lin family could finally gain a foothold in Shengjing City with a clean record.
She looked at Jiang Yunhe beside her.
Instead of begging for mercy or crying out for justice as expected, Jiang Yunhe just closed his eyes and stopped talking.
Is this accepting your fate?
Lin Zhiqing doesn't think Jiang Yunhe is such a person.
Looking at Jiang Liuyun again, he was staring at Lin Zhiqing with a complicated look in his eyes.
Lin Zhiqing turned his head indifferently.
Lu Huai took a step forward and blocked Jiang Liuyun's sight.
Seeing this scene, Yan Yu raised his eyebrows and smiled, then leaned over to Lin Zhiqing and whispered:
"How did you get involved with your lover? Weren't their names forbidden to be mentioned before?"
"cough."
Before Lin Zhiqing could answer, Lu Huai coughed lightly and calmly put his arm around Yan Wu's shoulders.
"My father has dealt with Yan Yuanpan before. Brother Yan, I have some questions for you."
Yan Yu saw through it but didn't say anything, and followed Lu Huai's footsteps.
Lin Zhiqing didn't have time to pay attention to these small details.
Her attention was focused on the imperial edict just now.
A simple imperial edict actually contains a lot of information.
After returning to the Lin family, Lin Zhiqing was still thinking about the imperial edict.
In comparison, the other members of the Lin family looked happier.
The wind direction in Beijing is changeable.
The Lin family suddenly received many more visiting cards.
But now the Lin family has no intention of receiving guests.
Lin Shian immediately sent a letter to Bianliang.
The brothers Lin Congyan and Lin Congli went to the ancestral hall.
Lin Yangyang didn't care about the pain of being beaten with thirty boards and went straight to Shuqing Pavilion.
Lin Zhiqing's Shuqing Pavilion has never been so lively.
"Hiss!" Lin Yangyang lay on the bed, her face wrinkled like a bitter melon:
"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, Asagao, please be gentler."
Chao Yan suddenly slowed down the action of covering Lin Yangyang with the quilt:
"Miss Yangyang, the doctor clearly told you to rest well. It must be painful for you to run over here now."
"What do you know? I want to hear my sister answer my questions!" Lin Yangyang looked beyond the screen.
Across the screen, Lu Nanyue shook her head: "Yangyang, it hurts just looking at you."
"Sister is a little impulsive." Lin Shian shook his head slightly, without any blame in his tone.
Yan Wu covered his mouth with his fan, gloating: "This is the first time I've seen such a scene. It really broadens my horizons."
"You playboy, you are laughing at me again! I...hiss, it hurts!" Lin Yangyang pulled the wound.
Unlike the others who had smiling expressions on their faces, Lin Zhiqing took a deep breath and silently recalled what Lin Shian had just said.
Lin Yangyang was beaten because Jiang Yunhe confused right and wrong, and the person who gave the order was Zhou Chongzheng.
These two now rank high on her list of people she hates.
Others didn't notice her little expression, Lin Shian couldn't help but speak:
"Yan Wu, luckily you arrived at the right time today and delayed us a little, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to wait for Jiang Liuyun to come."
Upon hearing this, those who didn't know the inside story also realized that Yan Yu's disappearance didn't seem to be that simple.
Lu Huai and Lu Nanyue looked at Lin Zhiqing.
Yan Wu curled his lips: "What do you two think of her? I did all the work."
"Nonsense!" Lin Yangyang was the first to complain: "Sister Qing clearly gave you three magic bags."
When it comes to the three brocade bags, even Yan Yu is speechless, and he himself is even a little curious:
"Lin Zhiqing, how did you know they set a trap in advance to lure me into it?"
When he opened the third brocade bag that day, there was only one sentence written on it:
If something goes wrong, the best strategy is to run away. Don't go back to the Lin family. Pretend to be missing and return after the trial.
"Just these few words?" Lin Shian was a little surprised:
"I thought Sister Qing had discussed this with you in advance."
"No." Yan Wu said with a hint of complaint in his tone:
"You, a skeleton spirit, clearly sensed something was wrong. Why didn't you discuss this with me sooner?"
As soon as these words came out, before Lin Zhiqing could speak, Lu Huai raised his eyebrows and said:
"Aqing naturally believes in your strength."
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