Chapter 47
Noticing Li Lin'an's gaze, Jiang He spoke as expected.
"This dream story is quite unusual." Jiang He's gaze shifted between the frail woman kneeling in the hall and Li Lin'an, and he said with a half-smile, "Since this young lady has said so, if we don't verify it, it will be bad for Master Li's reputation if more gossip spreads about supernatural powers."
Li Lin'an's eyes darkened slightly.
He couldn't tell whether Jiang He's words were genuinely for his own good, or if they had other motives. But in any case, this would push him into the most unfavorable situation.
"I appreciate Eunuch Jiang's kindness, but mobilizing such a large force over a fleeting dream will only invite further criticism. Making a fuss over nothing is truly inappropriate." Li Lin'an remained calm and composed. He turned to Zhao Tinglan and said, "Miss Zhao, if you have any concrete evidence, please bring it to me. If you continue to be so unreasonable, I will not be able to accompany you."
Zhao Tinglan sneered: "What? Feeling guilty?"
It's really rare to see this beast looking anxious.
Li Lin'an pursed his lips and sneered, "Rumors are spreading all over the city right now, and I don't want to add to the rumors at this juncture."
He Jizhong immediately understood - this was referring to the incident of Qianyuan Hall being struck by lightning yesterday.
There was always a faint smile on Jiang He's face.
Young Master Li's words hit the nail on the head. If the rumors in the city hadn't intensified, he wouldn't have had to leave the palace in person.
There is a saying that goes, if you want to quell rumors, you have to create a bigger incident to divert everyone's attention.
"Mr. Li, you are worrying too much. This move is just to clear your name. The result is right in front of us. It is better to open it than to block it." Jiang He said with a smile.
Seeing his insistence, Li Lin'an's heart sank. Just as he was about to say something, Jiang He spoke in a gentle yet unquestionable tone, "We are here on the orders of the Emperor. We are committed to fairness and justice. We must not leave even the slightest room for suspicion."
This is clearly an attempt to use the emperor to pressure others.
Li Lin'an felt heavy in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face. "Since that's the case, I'll leave everything to Eunuch Jiang and Lord He."
Jiang He smiled and nodded: "Then I'll have to trouble Lord He to take people to the Li Mansion to investigate."
Listening to the conversation between the two, He Jizhong looked confused.
He really couldn't figure out the current situation.
But as a tool, I have no choice but to nod and cooperate.
After He Jizhong had gathered the people, Jiang He straightened his sleeves and stood up, saying casually, "I have nothing to do today, so I'll go with you."
He Jizhong was stunned when he heard this.
He wants to go too!
Why did he leave the palace today? Doubts once again arose in He Ji's heart.
I glanced at Jiang He secretly, but only saw a faint smile on his face, and no other emotions could be seen.
As Jiang He led the officials away, the crowd became more and more agitated.
Who would have thought that the eunuch in the palace was so kind and actually brought people to Li's house to check it out.
Some people stayed at the yamen waiting for news, while more people followed the officials to Li's residence. The yamen was not far from Li's residence, and people along the way were talking about it, and more and more people knew about it.
"Lao Wang, what's going on?" A man grabbed someone he knew and asked.
"Oh, you don't know, let me tell you..." The other person came over with a beaming expression and told him what happened in the yamen.
The man was stunned. Why was it that all the excitement in the capital was like a market, one event after another? If you weren't careful, you'd miss it!
If he hadn't witnessed the fire in Qianyuan Hall yesterday and hadn't dragged a few friends to chat until dawn, he would have definitely been able to catch the first show at the yamen today - after all, listening to the excitement is also a strenuous job!
…
Inside the Li Mansion, Li Shufeng's face gradually turned pale as he listened to the Taoist's reply.
The Taoist recounted what he had said yesterday. Facing this powerful elder, he felt even more apprehensive. If he hadn't silently remembered the Crown Prince's support, he would have fainted from fear.
"Master, please make a decision!" Wang urged anxiously. The family had just received news that the palace had sent Jiang He to attend the retrial, without even Master knowing. What was going on with all these unexpected events?
"Thank you, Taoist priest, for casting a spell to exorcise the evil spirit." Li Shufeng put down the teacup and said in a deep voice.
"It's just..." The Taoist hesitated for a moment, "Before I cast the spell, I need to understand the cause and effect, so that I can resolve this disaster."
"I understand." Li Shufeng's eyes were deep. "Every cause has its consequences, and every injustice must be redressed. This is the law of nature."
Wang was startled when she heard this. What did the master mean by this?
It is still unknown what is hidden under the rockery. If this cause and effect is really exploited by someone with ulterior motives, how can it be easily uncovered?
The Taoist bowed his head and said, "Before you cast the spell, you need to let the things in the rockery see the light of day again."
"Liu Ming." Li Shufeng called the attendants outside the hall, "Take ten guards and follow the Taoist priest."
The followers accepted the order solemnly.
When the Taoist left, he glanced at Li Shufeng inconspicuously - he had met a tough guy today!
After the Taoist priest left, Wang couldn't help but whisper, "Master, what should we do next?"
"Do you think we still have any choice?" Li Shufeng asked coldly.
Wang's heart tightened.
What do you mean, sir?
Li Shufeng's eyes were like knives. "Evil spirits are here, and you've forced me to stay at home. I'll definitely learn about this when I return home this morning. I even witnessed the lightning strike at Qianyuan Hall with my own eyes. If we continue to cover up for him now, what do you think will become of the Li family? Furthermore, even if we cooperate with the investigation, those court officials will never miss the opportunity to impeach us..."
He sighed again, "Our Li family is in danger..."
Wang's pupils shrank: "You mean... His Majesty already knows?
How is this possible? She deliberately detained the Taoist priest to prevent the news from leaking out!
…
Li Shufeng's heart sank to the bottom.
It was already very obvious - the emperor knew everything long before the thunder struck Qianyuan Palace.
There are only two possibilities at the moment.
Although he didn't know how someone could predict that Qianyuan Hall would be struck by lightning, he knew there must be someone plotting against their Li family behind the scenes.
Or maybe Your Majesty sent someone to monitor the entire Li Mansion.
And more likely, it's a combination of both.
Thinking of this, Li Shufeng's eyes became even colder.
At this moment, a servant hurried into the hall. Unaware of the situation, he calmly reported, "Master, Madam, Eunuch Jiang from the palace has arrived with officials."
As servants of the Li Mansion, they naturally had more confidence than others. Even when dealing with unexpected events, they appeared calmer than servants of ordinary families.
Wang's face turned pale when she heard this.
Jiang He actually came in person! His arrival was like a personal visit from the emperor!
"Master, the Taoist priest just passed by. Should we send someone to stop him?" Since this matter concerned her most beloved second son, she was extremely anxious.
"Stop?"
Li Shufeng sneered in his heart.
He specifically asked the Taoist to go there just to show it to Jiang He.
What's more, can it be stopped?
Instead of waiting for Jiang He to speak, it is better to be sensible yourself, at least you can leave some room!
When Wang's heart was boiling and her soul was in turmoil, Jiang He led a group of officials into the hall.
Jiang He bowed to Li Shufeng and said, "Let's do this according to the rules. It's just a formality. Soon you and your son will no longer be troubled by this matter."
Wang's eyes were red and she was about to cry.
Li Shufeng's expression was solemn, and he said in a deep voice, "To be honest, I just returned home today and learned that a Taoist priest came to the mansion and claimed that my son's residence was filled with evil spirits and was haunted by demons."
"How could such a thing happen?!" Jiang He was so shocked that he covered his mouth and exclaimed.
The young eunuch standing by lowered his head tightly, sighing in his heart: My godfather’s acting skills are really amazing, no wonder he said this morning that he wanted to take me to broaden my horizons!
"That's not all," Li Shufeng's expression grew increasingly serious. "The Taoist also said that if this evil isn't eliminated, chaos will ensue. And this omen... I'm afraid it was fulfilled by what happened in Qianyuan Hall yesterday."
Having already taken this step, why should we avoid the important issues in our words? Anyway, the Taoist's words had already reached the emperor's ears.
Jiang He's face darkened upon hearing this, his shrill voice trembling. "So, there's actually someone... who could have predicted the lightning strike at Qianyuan Palace yesterday?"
Li Shufeng glanced at Wang Shi beside him and frowned, saying, "It's my fault that my wife didn't know the seriousness of the matter and didn't fully believe what I said. Furthermore, I stayed in the palace last night, so I was unable to report this to His Majesty in time."
"This...what should I do..." Jiang He said in a trembling voice.
"It's not like there's no room for maneuver," Li Shufeng said. "The Taoist said that as long as the evil spirit is driven out, there will be no more trouble."
Jiang He's eyes lit up, and he said loudly, "Sir Li, please hurry up and handle this important matter!"
"It's natural."
Li Shufeng said solemnly, "If I had not known about this matter, it would have been fine. But now that I know, I will do my best to deal with it. I have already ordered the Taoist priest to go to the place where the evil spirit is hiding and find out the source."
After a slight pause, his expression grew even more stern. "I've heard a little about the case at the Beijing yamen. If it's truly related to my son, I will not show favoritism."
Jiang He sighed softly, "Lord Li's loyalty to the court and His Majesty is evident to us all."
Li Shufeng didn't respond, but simply raised his hand and gestured for invitation: "Eunuch Jiang, why don't you come with me to the garden to take a look?"
Jiang He nodded in agreement. The two of them walked ahead, and the others followed closely behind them into the garden.
Under the guidance of the Taoist priest, several followers began to take action.
However, due to the obstruction of the rockery, it needed to be moved, which would not be completed in a short time. Li Shufeng asked Jiang He to rest in the study nearby.
In the bedroom opposite, Wei was making noises from time to time. First she cried and shouted, then there was the sound of porcelain breaking.
Wang, who was standing guard outside the bedroom, looked even uglier. Even at this hour, this woman was still causing trouble.
If she hadn't been pregnant, the old woman wouldn't have been so harsh.
If anything happens to Lin An, she doesn't care whether the baby in her belly is a boy or a girl... She's afraid that the baby in her belly will be a disaster!
Thinking of this, Wang's eyes turned cold and she winked at the maid beside her. The maid understood and walked quickly into the bedroom.
After a while, there was no more sound from the inner room.
…
As the sun sets, the number of people watching outside the capital government office increases instead of decreases.
Because Jiang He hadn't returned yet, He Jizhong had to adjourn the courtroom for a moment, drinking tea and resting in the backyard. Li Lin'an was also invited to wait in the back hall. Only Zhao Tinglan remained in the hall, his thin but straight back facing away from the crowd of onlookers who were pointing and talking behind him.
Suddenly, a noisy discussion suddenly sounded -
The appearance of a young man instantly attracted everyone's attention.
"Sir, someone in the front hall wants to see you. They claim to have important evidence in Li Lin'an's case."
Important evidence?
This drama is one after another.
He Jizhong thought for a moment, put down the half-eaten pancake, wiped the oil stains from the corner of his lips, straightened his clothes and walked to the front hall.
I originally thought that this was a way for the Li family to exonerate Li Lin'an, but unexpectedly the person who came was a familiar face.
Son of Lu Zhong.
"Lu Ming, the son of the guilty minister Lu Zhong, has physical evidence to present to you, Your Excellency."
The young man kneeling in the hall was dressed in white, his pale, exhausted face radiating determination. Having experienced many hardships, he had lost his former playfulness, and a more composed expression now lingered between his brows.
"In the case of Miss Zhao, it was only after seeing this letter that I, Lu, learned that my father was indeed involved. He is undeniably guilty of being an accomplice, but it is also true that my father was coerced into taking the blame!"
He kowtowed heavily, his words resonating as he said, "My father's guilt must be borne, but the real murderer must not go unpunished! I am a mere scholar, the son of a convicted official. I know my voice carries little weight, but I cannot sit idly by and watch the truth go unpunished, leaving the victim to suffer injustice!"
He wanted to obey his father's order and burn the letter, but when his mother heard that his father was convicted and imprisoned, she was so sad that she hanged herself.
Now, with both his parents dead and the stigma of being the son of a traitor, even his eligibility for the imperial examinations stripped, his entire life felt over. What was the point of living alone in this world, living in obscurity? He couldn't bear to watch the true culprit who had destroyed his family go unpunished, continuing to wield his power. He was alone anyway, his life and death were beyond his reach. Even if the Li family retaliated, what was there to fear?
Li Lin'an in the back hall turned pale when he heard this.
The two hours he spent waiting in the government office felt like an unprecedentedly long time. This invisible torture had stripped him of his usual composure and patience.
Looking at the weak scholar who was speaking passionately in the hall, he could hardly suppress a sneer. Although he only communicated with Lu Zhong through letters and had no intersection with Lu Mingsu, he didn't believe a word that the young master of the Lu family was completely unaware of it!
He's a good actor.
How dare you accuse him in court and go against the Li family? Do you think your life is too long?
There are more and more crazy people doing bad things!
"What? You're taking the blame for someone else?"
"If that's true, this Mr. Lu is a sensible scholar!"
"I heard that Master Lu was going to take the imperial examination this year, but now that this has happened, his future is ruined!"
“What a pity!”
While everyone was discussing this, He Jizhong had already ordered someone to present the letter. The content of the letter was exactly as Lu Ming said, confirming that Lu Zhong had taken the blame for someone else. However...
"Your Excellency, please be aware that I have never done such a thing, let alone written this letter. Please ask someone to compare the handwriting." Li Lin'an said coldly.
He Jizhong had anticipated this statement.
So does Lu Ming.
He wasn't so naive as to think that a ghostwritten letter alone could incriminate Li Lin'an. Ever since Zhao Tinglan's imprisonment in the mansion was exposed, he had sensed that someone must be behind this.
So he thought, if he couldn't do something, the people behind the scenes would definitely be able to do it. Even if he misjudged the situation, what would it matter?
Now that you are in a desperate situation, why not give it a try?
The sun sets in the west, and dusk gradually fills the sky.
In the backyard of the Li Mansion, a high mound of earth had formed in the empty space left by the removal of the rockery. A sweat-drenched attendant suddenly paused with the tip of his shovel, his expression changing.
"Manager Wang!" he said nervously, "There seems to be something buried underneath!"
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