Chapter 251 Two Imperial Edicts! All Efforts Failed at the Last Minute?
After Prince Su finished speaking with a half-smile, many of the ladies and young women behind him were so frightened that their legs went weak.
The patriarchs of each household held the person tightly, and even whispered a few words of reprimand.
But who hasn't heard of the name of Yama, the God of Slaughter?
If they were to enter the Ministry of Justice and be personally tried by the Court of Judicial Review, would they still have a chance of survival?
"Is our Duke Pei's mansion doomed too?"
"How could this happen? We really didn't know anything about it..."
"That's right, we're innocent! We really don't know anything..."
"Waaaaah, waaaaah..."
The officials from the Court of Judicial Review acted swiftly, immediately gathering all the Pei family members together.
The servants were pinned to the ground, and the guards were restrained with swords.
The masters were all quickly bound by ropes, and then tied together one after another.
Chaos erupted behind them, and many people were so frightened that they began to sob quietly.
Duke Pei's expression was naturally very unpleasant.
If it were just a trial of himself, he would only have one life at most, and he could save the entire Pei family by remaining silent to the death.
But if the entire Pei family were truly arrested and brought to the Ministry of Justice, and given the personal instructions of Prince Su, how many would actually survive?
And how many of them truly know nothing at all?
Duke Pei suddenly looked up and glanced at Old Madam Pei.
When he saw Old Madam Pei staring at him with a sorrowful and conflicted expression, Pei Guogong cried out in anguish, "Aunt..."
Duke Pei knelt on the ground and suddenly kowtowed heavily to Old Madam Pei.
“Aunt, our family has been struck by such a calamity today. No matter how much I try to explain, it will only be sophistry in His Highness Prince Su’s eyes.”
"But we beg you, Aunt, to testify on behalf of the Pei family that we truly know nothing about these accusations!"
“Take the example of when Father suddenly ordered the entire Pei family to sever ties with Aunt. Aunt, do you know that Father personally called me to his side and told his nephew that because of his illness, sooner or later the entire Pei family would be implicated.”
"He knows that you have suffered enough, Aunt, and have endured enough, so he does not want you to be implicated by the Pei family in the future."
"That's why Father made that tough decision back then, forbidding Aunt from coming home and forbidding us from having any contact with her anymore..."
"Aunt, if Father treats you this way, how could he really drag our entire Pei family into such danger?"
"We are truly innocent. We beg Your Highness to see the truth, and we beg Aunt to testify on our behalf..."
Duke Pei suddenly burst into tears.
Madam Pei was quite startled.
She murmured in disbelief, "The truth, is this really the truth?"
"We returned from the battlefield together, but why do I know nothing about what illness my elder brother suffered from back then?"
"If he truly wanted to protect me, and that's why he cruelly severed ties with the Pei family, did he ever ask for my consent?"
“Bu’er…”
"And if that's really the case, why do your other two aunts, who married far away, still maintain regular contact with the Pei family?"
Duke Pei: "Because you, Aunt, went to the battlefield with Father, you will always be the sister he cherishes most in his heart!"
"Moreover, Father never imagined he would be so foolish as to be so hated by the world. He still clung to a sliver of hope..."
Madam Pei shook her head: "No, Bu'er."
“Aunt knows my brother’s temperament. He is the most resolute and loyal general in the world. If he could have foreseen that his illness would one day bring great disaster to the entire Pei family, he would definitely not have lived on!”
"Given his temperament, he would have ended his own life back then to prevent future troubles. Why would he harm so many innocent women just to survive?"
"unless……"
Madam Pei couldn't bring herself to say it.
Unless there is a reason why my brother absolutely cannot die.
Madam Pei turned away to wipe her tears. Seeing that Madam Pei refused to help, Duke Pei immediately changed his tune: "You really are as my grandfather and the others said, a heartless and ungrateful woman! Even though you bear the surname Pei, you would never sacrifice even the slightest bit of your own interests for the sake of the entire Pei family..."
"Haha, hahaha..."
"It was me. I was too desperate and grasped at straws, actually hoping you could do something for the Duke of Pei's mansion."
“Prince Su, if you insist on accusing the Pei family of any crime, I will bear all the blame. The children and women in my family are all innocent…”
Prince Su: "I will not wrong an innocent person, but I will never wrongly kill an evil person. As for the bloodshed in your Pei family, once I have investigated it thoroughly, it is the fate that your entire Pei family will suffer."
"Guards, take Duke Pei and everyone from his household away..."
Before Prince Su could finish speaking, a loud shout suddenly rang out from afar: "Imperial decree has arrived—Your Highness Prince Su, where is Duke Pei? Please come out immediately to greet His Majesty and deliver this imperial decree!"
Imperial edict?
Two more!
Li Qingluo looked at Prince Su.
This sudden imperial edict completely disrupted Prince Su's plans.
Everyone in the courtyard knelt down again, and this time even Prince Su had no choice but to kneel down to receive the imperial edict.
"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees."
Upon investigation, it was confirmed that Prince Su, Duan Rongshi, was handling a case at the mortuary several months ago. In order to capture a traitor, he unfortunately killed the second son of the Earl of Cangdu. As a prince and a noble minister, this was a serious dereliction of duty.
The Prince of Su is hereby punished by being suspended from his post as Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and ordered to reflect on his actions in seclusion in his residence for three months. He is also to offer his apologies to the Earl of Cangdu.
I hope you will repent in the future, live up to the expectations of the common people, and never make such a dereliction of duty again.
So be it!
"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees."
Pei Zixuan, daughter of the Duke of Pei, is dignified and elegant, possessing both talent and virtue. She is virtuous and kind, and has won my heart. I have decided to confer upon her the title of a sixth-rank official, bestow upon her the name Jing, grant her the residence of Tingyuxuan, and bestow upon her five hundred taels of silver, twelve pieces of jewelry, and twelve bolts of silk and satin.
"A date will be chosen for him to enter the palace. This is the imperial decree."
Pei Zixuan, the fourth daughter of the Pei family, is nineteen years old but still unmarried.
The Pei family kept her around for such a great reason.
Li Qingluo glanced at Pan Li, who also looked shocked.
But in fact, everyone in the Pei family except for them was also extremely shocked.
The arrival of these two imperial edicts has indeed completely changed the current situation.
The faces of everyone in the Pei household instantly lit up with joy and smiles.
Only Pei Si Niang's face was extremely ugly.
She lowered her head and used all her strength to hold back her tears. Then she stepped forward and, together with her father, Duke Pei, respectfully accepted the imperial edict and expressed her gratitude for the emperor's favor.
Prince Su received the imperial decree with a gloomy face and stood up.
In front of the Grand Eunuch Wang He, he crumpled the imperial edict in his hand.
Wang He could only pretend not to see, and tried his best to be respectful and humble: "Your Highness, please return to the Prince Su's residence as soon as possible... and reflect on your mistakes in seclusion..."
Prince Su gave a cold laugh: "Father's imperial decree has come at just the right time. I was just about to arrest him, but now I have to temporarily remove this official robe. Do you think the Duke Pei's mansion can no longer be controlled?"
Wang He unconsciously wiped the sweat from his forehead.
After all, this King Yama in front of us has killed countless people in the past, but as long as the cases are cleared up, His Majesty always turns a blind eye and never interferes with what he has done.
The fact that the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice are so clean now is closely related to the methods of this Yama King.
But His Majesty can turn on you in an instant, punish people whenever he wants, and is so clearly protecting the Pei family. No wonder Prince Su is furious.
Wang He could only force a smile.
"Your Highness, His Majesty said that you only need to accept the decree and do not need to go to the palace to see him."
Duan Rongshi suddenly calmed down completely.
He seemed to have accepted the fact, and turned to leave with all his guards and subordinates.
"Tell Father that Your Majesty obeys the decree!"
Before leaving, Prince Su glanced at Li Qingluo.
Although his gaze only briefly swept over where she was, Li Qingluo knew that he was looking at her.
For some reason, seeing him calmly and collectedly leave with the imperial edict, Li Qingluo noticed a hint of loneliness, resentment, and mockery in his departing figure.
A pang of sadness welled up in her heart, and an indescribable soreness instantly filled her chest.
Prince Su was genuinely determined to investigate the Pei family's case and to seek justice for Nan Jia and find out the real culprit.
However, with imperial power above all else, even though he was usually arrogant and domineering, and his methods of handling cases were decisive, ruthless, and fierce, he still could not withstand a single word from the emperor.
Everything was in vain at the last moment.
It's ridiculous...
After leaving the Pei residence, the Pan family members rushed over.
"Li'er—"
Pan Li's mother got off the carriage and hugged Pan Li, tears streaming down her face.
“We received a secret letter saying you were at the Pei family’s house. We didn’t believe it and didn’t understand how you could be here.”
"I never expected to find you here! Do you know we've been looking for you for a whole day?"
"Fortunately, it's better to be with the Pei family than to be kidnapped by real thieves."
"Li'er, come home with your parents..."
Li Qingluo looked at her grandmother.
Madam Pei nodded slowly; it was indeed the letter she had sent to the Pan family.
However, the Pan family arrived too late and had no idea what had happened at the Pei residence.
Pan Li shook her head, her eyes red: "Father, Mother, it was the eldest daughter of the Li family who saved me. We were both kidnapped by the Pei family. As for the rest, let's talk about it when we get home?"
It won't be easy for the Pei family to completely conceal what they've done.
Therefore, Pan Li did not intend to keep everything a secret; she would only tell part of what she could as Pan Li herself.
The Pan couple were naturally very grateful to Li Qingluo and even invited her to visit their residence.
Pan Li: "Father and Mother, of course we should personally visit the Li family to thank them for saving our daughter."
Li Qingluo quickly reminded him, "We are currently at the Xiuli General's Mansion in the south of the city."
Pan Li then changed her tune, saying, "That's right, we'll go to General Xiuli's residence in person to thank Miss Li and Old Madam Pei properly. If it weren't for them, my daughter wouldn't have been able to get out so quickly."
The Pan couple thanked them repeatedly.
After seeing Pan Li off, Li Qingluo looked at the woman squatting at her feet.
Just now, when they were about to bring this woman out, Duke Pei seemed to want to stop them.
It was Old Madam Pei who said, "Didn't you say that your entire Pei family knew nothing about the dungeon? If that's the case, then I'll take this surviving victim with me!"
The Grand Eunuch Wang He was still there, and Duke Pei could only watch helplessly as they led the people away from the Pei residence.
On the carriage back, Old Madam Pei sighed, "It seems the Pei family is protected by His Majesty."
"Luo'er, what are your thoughts on this matter?"
Li Qingluo looked at Madam Pei, but she did not answer immediately.
Instead, she suddenly slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "Oh dear, Grandmother! Your granddaughter has something important to do! Quick, out of town—"
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