Chapter 502: Cruel Evidence
The glass-making craft belongs to Huang Ying'er, but she doesn't give anyone much money, and still expects them to work loyally.
The emperor felt embarrassed when he said this.
How did the Third Brother have the nerve to control Huang Ying'er in such a defiled way? It's too despicable!
After this incident, no one dared to offend her anymore.
Huang Ying'er knelt down happily: "I am willing. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."
Huang Ying'er really wants to make money.
But after traveling for so long, Huang Ying'er had already seen it clearly.
She is just a peasant girl and she can't keep any money she makes.
It even brought about fatal disasters.
For her now, power is more important than money.
She is the first female official of the fourth rank in Dayong. This title is very prestigious. Plus with the emperor's protection, no one in the capital should be so stupid as to mess with her again.
She and her family can finally live a rich and stable life.
Seeing Huang Ying'er being so sensible, the emperor was very satisfied.
With a wave of his hand, he gave her a mansion with two courtyards and a shop.
After Huang Ying'er and her family prostrated themselves in gratitude, he waved his hand, indicating that Huang Ying'er could take her family away.
After Huang Ying'er and her family left, the emperor's face suddenly darkened.
Then he said to Manager Liu: "Bring everyone in."
"Yes." Manager Liu responded and went out to bring people.
After a while, Manager Liu came in with Pei Qiuchen and Lan Tingxue.
After entering the hall, Lan Tingxue was the first to kneel on the ground, her knees hitting the white jade tiles with a dull "thump" sound.
She kowtowed heavily: "Rui Xue greets the Emperor."
When she raised her head again, tears were streaming down her face.
"Why are you still crying, child? Defu, quickly help Ruixue up, and bring her a small stool so that she can sit and talk." When the emperor looked at Lan Tingxue, his eyes were full of the kindness of an elder for a younger generation.
"Thank you, Aunt...Your Majesty." Lan Tingxue quickly wiped away her tears and sat down obediently.
The kneeling just now was just a test.
Test how much the emperor believes in the water transportation matter.
to be honest.
Pei Qiuyan did not try her, and she did not know the full story.
All she knew was that something happened in the village at the foot of the mountain that supplied her with water.
As for what happened and to what extent the matter has developed, she has no idea.
She pretended to be pitiful first.
She just stole some water from the peasant. I don’t think the prince-in-law would do anything to her.
After Pei Qiuyan greeted him, he began to talk about the case.
He presented the case to the emperor: "Your Majesty, Princess Ruixue Lan Tingxue, greedy for pleasure, disregarding the lives of the people, privately enclosed land and occupied water sources.
Princess Ruixue ordered the villagers to be enslaved and carry water to the outside of the capital for her, and the servants of the Lan family often beat and insulted the villagers.
Not only did it cause the crops at the foot of the mountain to die of drought, but it also left the people with nothing to harvest.
Because she monopolized the water source, two children and three elderly people died from lack of water."
Someone died!
Princess Ruixue was suddenly panicked.
She quickly stood up and cried out, "Your Majesty, what Pei Shaoqing said is all false. He is slandering me! That piece of mountain land is originally under my name. I transported water from my own mountain. Is this wrong?"
As for asking the villagers to carry water, I pay them wages. Whether they want to earn this money is entirely up to them.
I'm also sad when someone dies in the village, but for such a large village, why don't they dig a well in the village and rely entirely on the spring water on my mountain for survival? Do you think this is reasonable?
Princess Ruixue's explanation was well-reasoned.
The emperor looked at Pei Qiuyan and said, "Ruixue's words make sense. Pei Shaoqing, do you have any concrete evidence? Otherwise, this is a false accusation."
"Without evidence, how dare I personally come to arrest the princess?" Pei Qiuyan was not afraid at all. He immediately took out a deed and handed it to His Majesty through the hands of Liu Zongguan. "That piece of mountain land was purchased from the government ten days before Princess Ruixue returned to Beijing.
This is the deed I obtained from the local county government office."
Lan Tingxue's face turned pale and blue.
It was only after she received Concubine Lan's letter that she sent someone on horseback to rush back to the capital to find and buy some clear mountain spring water for her own enjoyment.
Pei Qiupan is not finished yet.
He then took out a county annals and handed it to the emperor: “This village has a special geographical location and the soil cannot hold water.
If it is a year of good weather and good harvest, it is no different from any other village.
But if there is even a slight drought, all the wells in the village will dry up.
All the villagers depend on the mountain spring for their livelihood, because the spring is sweet and clear, hence the name "Ganquan Village".
He changed the subject and added, "Your Majesty, I have physical evidence. It may be a little unsightly."
"Since you know it's unsightly, you shouldn't have taken it out and polluted the emperor's eyes." Concubine Lan scolded loudly.
Pei Qiuyan ignored him and just waited for the emperor's orders.
The emperor hesitated for a moment, and Concubine Lan wanted to persuade him again.
The emperor raised his hand to interrupt: "Present the evidence."
He comforted Concubine Lan with a few more words: "As long as Ruixue has not done such evil things, no amount of evidence will be of any use."
Concubine Lan: “…”
Despair flashed in her eyes.
As her aunt, she knew very well what kind of person Lan Tingxue was and what she would do.
The incident in Ganquan Village was 100% caused by Lan Tingxue.
But her eldest brother's whole family was imprisoned, and Lan Tingxue was the only child left. She had to protect her and not let anything happen to her again.
Concubine Lan was extremely anxious, but to no avail.
soon.
The officer came in with a dozen men.
Their clothes were patched, and they wore worn-out straw sandals, with their dark toes exposed.
After entering the hall, at Pei Qiuchen's signal, they knelt down awkwardly and kowtowed, shouting "Long live the emperor".
"Stand up." The emperor's tone was very kind. "If you have any grievances, just tell me the truth. I will make the decision for you."
A middle-aged man came out first.
If Wen Yan were here, he would be able to recognize that he was the man who was whipped by the Lan family servants outside the city.
He remained calm, knelt down and recounted their experience.
The same thing, when said from different angles, will have different effects.
Previously, Pei Qiuyan spoke of this case in a blunt and objective manner.
When the villagers spoke from the perspective of the victims, every word was heartbreaking and every sound was filled with tears.
Because the mountain spring was occupied, their entire village was almost unable to survive.
"Your Majesty, I have four brothers, all of whom are boys, and I am the only one who has a little girl. My whole family is afraid that she will melt if I hold her in my mouth, and afraid that she will break if I hold her in my hands.
When there was a shortage of water, my wife, mother, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law took turns cutting their wrists to feed her blood.
She was just over a month old, skinny, with only skin covering her bones, and her little face was not even as big as my palm. When she slowly took her last breath in my arms, my heart was broken with pain.
Caomin's wife couldn't bear the blow of losing her daughter and fell ill.
If it weren't for the kind-hearted people who came to help, my wife would probably not have survived.
I, the common people, wish I could take his place."
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