Chapter 57
At this moment, in Tingyun Cottage.
Song Qianzhao was leisurely enjoying her lunch. She was picking up a piece of steamed sea bass with her silver chopsticks when she heard hurried footsteps outside the door.
Mingjue hurried in, sweat dripping from his forehead. "Young Master, there's a poor man outside claiming to be the Imperial Censor, trying to force his way in. I told him I wasn't seeing anyone today and asked him to come back another day, but he started swearing and insisted on forcing his way in. I couldn't stop him..."
Song Qianzhao paused slightly with the silver chopsticks in her hand, and the fish fell silently back onto the plate. She frowned slightly, her face filled with surprise.
Just as he finished speaking, a sudden commotion erupted from outside the courtyard, followed by an angry shout that came from far away: "Who dares to stop me? I'm an imperial censor appointed by the Emperor, and I can come and go freely in the palace of the Grand Councilor. How can a mere official like Sizhi be so arrogant?"
The man pushed aside the servants who tried to stop him and barged in. He was dressed in a faded blue gown with patches on his trouser legs. He was thin, but he held his head high. Beneath his thick brows, his round eyes shone brightly, his short beard tilted slightly, his chin held high, and his face was filled with arrogance. Despite his humble attire, he exuded an air of authority.
Du Zhan rushed in, his robes whipping up a gust of wind. He slammed his fist on Song Qianzhao's desk, making the dishes and chopsticks clink. "What's going on with this Liu family's injustice? You don't want to intervene, so you push it onto me? If I have to intervene, I have to get to the bottom of it!"
After hearing what he said, Song Qianzhao knew that the matter was probably not concealed, but he was not in a hurry. "Alas... It's not that I don't want to take care of it, it's just that I'm powerless."
"But first of all, I don't know the Jinyiwei. I just asked them to collect evidence."
"Secondly, I'm not a censor. If I rashly submit a memorial, I'll definitely be criticized."
"Three..."
As she spoke, she looked up to observe Du Zhan's expression. She said sincerely, "How can I compare to you, sir? My grandfather often said that you are upright and unyielding, a true model of the literati. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have dared to rashly entrust this matter to you."
Song Qianzhao's words were mixed, but Song Jian's praise really touched Du Zhan's heart. His expression eased slightly, and he continued, "I also know that you are in trouble. You can't do this, but I can!"
Du Zhan moved a chair and sat down. When his eyes swept across the food and wine on the table, his Adam's apple moved up and down. This fleeting detail was naturally noticed by Song Qianzhao.
Song Qianzhao raised his glass and said loudly, "Excellent! Lord Du is very understanding and righteous. I toast to you on behalf of the people of Liaodong!"
Song Qianzhao's words left Du Zhan no choice but to pick up the wine glass and take a sip. As soon as the wine entered his throat, he heard Song Qianzhao order the attendant: "Switch the table for wine and food. Today, I must apologize to the adults."
"No way!" Du Zhan waved his hands quickly. "Such extravagance and waste is simply against the will of heaven and earth."
Song Qianzhao quickly changed his words: "Then... just make three dishes and don't waste anything."
Du Huoran stood up and said, "I'll leave now. No need to bother you!"
Seeing that he couldn't stop him, Song Qianzhao knew that Du Zhan was stubborn, so he had to take a step back and said, "Since you insist on leaving, I dare not force you to stay. But you still have to pay for this crime. I can't let you complain for nothing. I have a small gift for you. Don't refuse it."
"How can this be allowed!" Du Zhan said sternly, "It is my duty to investigate and punish lawbreakers. Moreover, this kind of dealings are extremely unacceptable. Please ask Song Sizhi to withdraw them."
Song Qianzhao said sincerely, "It's just a bar of soap. It's not worth much. It's made by the charity fund founded by my good friend Wang's family. A portion of the money from each bar sold will be added to the fund to help the people. If you still insist on refusing, my efforts will be in vain!"
The servant had already presented the small package to Song Qianzhao. Du Zhan glanced sideways and saw it was a small, flowery paper package, stamped with a certain business's seal. It certainly looked worthless. Hearing it was from a charity, he relented. "Since it's a charitable act, I'll make an exception and accept it this time. It won't happen again."
Song Qianzhao smiled when he heard this, and turned to tell his followers, "Prepare the sedan chair and send the censor back to his palace."
Without waiting for Du Zhan to refuse, two attendants pulled and pushed Du Zhan into the sedan chair. After the sedan chair went away, Song Qianzhao showed a meaningful smile.
When Du Zhan arrived home, he saw his wife busy at work. Seeing her husband return, she immediately frowned, threw the rag on the table, and said angrily, "We're running low on food, and today we had to borrow half a liter of grain from Granny Zhao next door. If this continues, we won't even be able to keep the pots open! Look at your job, your rice jar is almost empty, and you're still looking for trouble. What can I say about you?"
Although He was good at talking, she was as kind-hearted as Du Zhan. She often helped her neighbors and was a sensible person. People often offered bribes to her family, but she would return the money without accepting it.
Du Zhan was well aware of the hardships his wife faced in managing the household, and he took great care of her and tried to please her in every way possible.
With a smile on his face, he took out the colorful paper bag from his arms and waved it in front of his wife.
"Look, my lady," he said softly, "I have found a rare gift today, and I'm leaving it specially for you. I've troubled you with the daily necessities of life these days. I'll think of a way tomorrow. We can't let an official go hungry."
He took the soap handed to her by Du Zhan and looked at it. Her eyes suddenly turned red and tears rolled down.
Du Zhan's heart tightened when he saw this, and he asked hurriedly, "My wife, what's wrong with you? Why is your husband still sending things out?"
He wiped her tears and smiled tearfully, "How long did it take you to save up enough money to buy this? It's nice that you thought of it, but why did you spend so much? When you married me, you only paid me two liters of flour."
Seeing his wife burst into tears of joy, Du Zhan was too embarrassed to tell her the true origin of the item. He could only say, "This item is not worth much, my lady, please keep it for yourself."
"How can it not be valuable? This is not an ordinary coarse soap that costs a few dozen coins. This is high-quality soap that only the ladies of wealthy families can afford. I have never even seen it, but you are willing to buy it." He looked at the soap in her hand for a moment and was about to open it.
Du Zhan felt a little regretful when he heard this. "I am a little confused. How about I return this soap and exchange it for some rice and flour, so that we can have food at home?"
He retracted her hand: "Don't even think about it. You want to take back something you gave away? How can you ask for a gift back? Since you've already bought it, I might as well enjoy it!"
As he opened the cover, a piece of white, delicate soap with a faint fragrance appeared.
"Wash your hands. I heard they can keep you smelling good for a long time." He said with a smile.
He put down the soap and spread out the colored paper. She had only unrolled halfway when she excitedly shouted, "Oh, we won! We won the lottery! Tiger head lottery, first prize!"
He's exclamation startled Du Zhan, who quickly asked, "What did you mean by winning the lottery? How come you still have a gambling business?"
Seeing Du Zhan's dazed expression, He said cheerfully: "What kind of business is this, it's a way for the Wang family to benefit customers. All the wrapping papers used to package the goods are secretly printed with pictures. Twenty pieces of wrapping papers with chicken head marks can be exchanged for a bar of soap; thirty pieces of wrapping papers with ox head marks can be exchanged for a bar of soap... The best thing is that the first prize of the one with tiger head pattern can be exchanged for one hundred taels."
"What! One hundred taels! We can't take this money! Absolutely not!" Du Zhan said in shock.
He immediately raised his eyebrows: "You are crazy! Why can't I use the lottery I won by luck? I didn't steal or rob, so what law of yours, the Lord of Justice, has I violated?"
Du Zhan was speechless after hearing his wife's words. He couldn't honestly say that someone else had slipped money into his pocket to buy the soap. If he did, it would probably cause unrest in the family. He couldn't tell whether Song Qianzhao had ulterior motives, and since he wasn't a treacherous person, there was no need to keep him at a distance.
That evening, meat was rarely seen on the Du family's dinner table. The next morning, the wife paid off the rice debt she'd owed during the food shortage. Du Zhan knew he owed the favor. He figured he might as well use the opportunity of investigating the Liaodong case to repay it.
But Du Zhan had no idea that the hardest debt to repay in this world was the debt of favor owed to Song Qianzhao.
…
In the court, civil and military officials stood on both sides, silent and solemn.
Minister of War Liu Yan's face was livid, his gaze fixed sullenly on Du Zhan, who had suddenly appeared in the courtroom. This censor, who should have been recuperating at home, was now radiant and full of energy. His vibrant energy must have meant someone was about to suffer misfortune—and that person was Liu Yan himself. Liu Yan clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, his eyes brimming with rage.
Du Zhan knelt before the emperor and, in a clear voice, enumerated Liu Ming's crimes one by one. From occupying civilian farmland to concealing the reclamation of wasteland, falsely reporting a famine, falsely claiming military merit, condoning subordinates, and corrupt practices—each and every one of them was presented with irrefutable evidence. This exposition lasted for half an hour, until Emperor Yongshou's eyes widened and his face was filled with rage.
"Asshole! I was wondering why we couldn't wipe out the Di people year after year, and why we couldn't feed the people even after distributing grain year after year. So this is the problem!"
"I allocated hundreds of thousands of taels of silver for disaster relief, and Wang Yan dared to embezzle half of it. The Di people killed thousands of border residents, and Wang Yan dared to hand over their heads to falsely claim military merit!"
"This official is worse than a dog, and Liu Ming is even more of a den of snakes and rats. If it weren't for Mr. Du's report today, I would have thought it was my own incompetence that caused the suffering of the people at the border!"
"Hmph, where is Minister of Justice Yang Yuan?"
His Highness and all the ministers had already knelt in unison. How could the emperor's wrath be a joke? Even if some people wanted to watch the excitement, they had to act in fear and awe at this moment.
Yang Yuan trembled as he stepped out from the ranks of civil officials and knelt before the altar. "Your humble servant, Yang Yuan, the Minister of Justice, is at your service."
"According to the laws of Dasui, what crime should Wang Yan be charged with?" Emperor Yongshou asked coldly.
Yang Yuan replied, "Your Majesty, once Wang Yan's crimes are verified, he will be executed along with his entire clan according to the law."
"Then investigate!" Emperor Yongshou slammed the table and stood up. "Investigate thoroughly for me! Anyone who shields us will be considered an accomplice!"
After a pause, the emperor asked sternly, "Where is the Minister of War?"
Liu Yan hurriedly stepped out of the group and knelt heavily on the ground, kowtowed. "I have failed to discipline my subordinates and deserve death! I beg to resign and return home!"
"It's time for you to reflect on your actions." Emperor Yongshou snorted coldly, "Immediately dismiss you from your post as Minister of War, waive your salary, and take back your carriages and ceremonial guards!"
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace." Liu Yan kowtowed again, his voice choked with sobs.
Turning to Du Zhan, the emperor spoke in a more relaxed tone, "Censor Du Zhan, for your meritorious service in submitting memorials to the emperor, I will reward you with double your salary for three years and grant you an imperial rhinoceros belt."
Du Zhan kowtowed excitedly: "I thank your majesty for your grace!"
Emperor Yongshou suddenly changed the subject, "Lord Du, besides these two, do you have anyone else you want to impeach?"
"Your Majesty, these are the only two people I want to impeach." Du Zhan's eyes were a little vague.
Glancing at Du Zhan's expression, Emperor Yongshou suddenly chuckled, tapped the armrest of the dragon throne, and said with a smile, "Pass on my oral order: Grant two pieces of brocade to Song Qianzhao, the Chief Justice of the Silver Bureau. Now that this case is concluded, his worries should be over. Have someone send them to your residence."
The people all saw Song Qianzhao tearing up the petition paper of the common people in public. The matter had spread widely among the people, so the emperor naturally heard about it.
Du Zhan, who hated evil and could not tolerate any sand in his eyes, would have impeached Song Qianzhao since he took over the case and knew about this matter. But now Du Zhan remained silent, so it must be that this matter must be related to Song Qianzhao.
When the words fell, everyone was stunned. They didn't expect that Song Sizhi was behind this!
Liu Yan knelt before the emperor, his forehead resting on the cold gold brick, his heart churning. Suddenly, he heard Emperor Yongshou say he would reward the Silver Palace Secretary with two pieces of brocade. He was shocked: So he was secretly sabotaging my plans!
"What a jerk surnamed Song..." Liu Yan gritted his teeth in his heart, with a cold look in his eyes.
…
The next day, Song Qianzhao sat bored at home, staring at the two pieces of brocade on the table in a daze. He had never expected Du Zhan to be so stubborn. He was too embarrassed to report him for such a small favor, which made the emperor see the flaw.
"Brother! You've been staring at this brocade for an hour, and you still can't see any patterns?" Fan Zhiyu picked up the two pieces of imperial brocade and said with a smile, "I'll ask the embroiderer to make you a new robe tomorrow. This is the material given by the emperor. It will look so elegant when you wear it!"
Song Qianzhao frowned and pushed it away: "No, it will burn if I wear it."
"How can you still be so anxious?" Fan Zhiyu was confused. He scratched his head and smiled, "If big brother doesn't want to wear it, just put it away for now. We can wear it when big brother wants to."
As they were talking, Mingjue rushed in in a panic, beads of sweat on his forehead. "Young Master! Another family has come to the door to protest. Five of them are kneeling, refusing to leave until they see you!"
Song Qianzhao said with a bitter face, "Just say I'm not at home, and ask them to go to the Yintai Division to file a complaint on the 15th of the month. Then give them some silver and let them go on their own."
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