About two weeks ago, Zhou Dongcai wasn't feeling well, but he still had a few documents to organize. Since they weren't anything important, she helped him organize them so he could go home and rest.
The next day, Zhou Dongcai sent her a packet of tea as a token of his gratitude, saying it was a specialty tea from his hometown. She accepted it only because the tea wasn't expensive.
Everyone believed that Zhang Qing was innocent, because everyone knew that Zhang Qing was the youngest daughter of Prime Minister Zhang, and that Prime Minister Zhang and his associates were not good at currying favor with her, so they all wanted to get along well with Zhang Qing.
Zhou Dong had just pretended to be sick to get closer to Zhang Qing, and they were jealous for a long time. Several officials in the Ministry of Revenue also wanted to follow suit, but before they even had a chance, Zhang Qing was about to be impeached!
Everyone couldn't help but look at Xi Wei. What are you trying to do? Are you going against the Prime Minister?
But glancing at Prime Minister Zhang, he noticed that Prime Minister Zhang's gaze towards Zhang Qing was cold. He suddenly remembered that Zhang Qing had once angered their Prime Minister to the point of fainting. The two had a grudge against each other. Now that Zhang Qing was in trouble, their Prime Minister would definitely be very happy.
Everyone had their own thoughts. Just as the emperor asked Xi Wei to produce evidence that Zhang Qing and Zhou Dongcai had colluded in the refugee issue, Chuan Wen's surprised exclamation rang out in the hall!
[There was a gold bar hidden inside that tea bag!!!]
A hush fell over the hall; everyone's eyes widened in shock. There really was a transaction involving mutual benefit!
Even the emperor looked at Zhang Qing in disbelief. It was one thing for her to be disguised as a man, but she actually embezzled money!
Zhang Qing was even more incredulous; she had no idea what gold bars were!
The Crown Prince, who had been relaxed, suddenly tensed up. Zhang Qing didn't seem like the type to embezzle or accept bribes. If she had gold bars, why was she living such a frugal life? Although he thought of Wang Shuren, who had a golden house and a golden bed, he had been to Zhang Qing's house and there was nowhere to hide anything!
"Your Majesty, I have intelligence that there's something fishy about the packet of tea Zhou Dong gave to Zhang Qing! Your Majesty can easily find out by having someone search it!"
Xi Wei, who had just been ashamed of impeaching Zhang Qing, now straightened his back, looking righteous and awe-inspiring.
The Emperor glanced at Chuanwen beside him, the informant, who was pretending to pat the little princess to sleep. He wanted to remind him that if he kept patting her, she would wake up...
His Highness Zhang Hui was surprised. Wasn't he framing someone? How come he actually uncovered a corrupt official? But then he became happy and looked at Zhang Qing with a smug look in his eyes. "Boy! I was originally just thinking of kicking you out of the capital, but since you've asked for your own death, don't blame me for using a strong medicine!"
"Your Majesty, Zhang Qing was promoted from the local level for his meritorious service in investigating disaster relief funds, but instead of serving the court, he abused his position, colluded with other officials, and leeched off the refugees. He should be severely punished!"
Zhang Hui's lips curled into a cold smile. His style was to either not act at all, or when he did, he would crush his opponent. This time, Zhang Qing was destined for imprisonment and exile.
Upon hearing Zhang Hui's words, the other officials were stunned again. Wait a minute, Prime Minister, do you know what you're saying? Zhang Qing is your daughter!
Oh, the Prime Minister didn't know Zhang Qing was his daughter...
However, the Minister of Works stepped forward at this moment, saying, "Indeed, she should be severely punished. According to the laws of the Great Jin Dynasty, one hundred strokes of the cane are given for each foot of stolen goods, one degree of punishment is added for each bolt of silk, and hanging is given for fifteen bolts of silk. Zhang Qing's case is even more serious. Not only was she greedy, but she also caused so many refugees to die or be injured in vain. Her crime should be increased by one degree!"
You've already hanged him, how can you add another crime to his punishment?
As the emperor and his ministers were filled with doubt, the Minister of Works continued, "Gather a crowd and beat them to death! Not only Zhang Qing, but also his parents and relatives should all be subjected to this punishment of being beaten to death by a crowd! As a warning to others!"
What does it mean to be beaten to death by a mob?
During the Jin Dynasty, there was once a notorious corrupt official, far more corrupt than Wang Shuren, who owned a golden house and a golden bed, and the former Minister of War, who ate 108 dishes for lunch. After he was reported and investigated, the emperor was furious. Even strangulation was not enough to vent his anger, so he added a punishment of being beaten to death by a mob on top of the existing laws.
What does this mean? It means that all the civil and military officials were given a stick each, and after the emperor gave the order, "Kill him for me!", the corrupt official was beaten to death with sticks right in front of the emperor, barely clinging to life, his death was extremely gruesome.
The emperor and all the civil and military officials were shocked by the heavy sentence handed down by the old man, the Minister of Works. What grudge could he have held against him?!
Even Zhang Hui couldn't help but look at the old man. After a deep recollection, he couldn't find any evidence that Zhang Qing had offended the Minister of Works. Not only had he not offended him, but the Minister of Works had always liked Zhang Qing quite a bit. Why was he suddenly so ruthless?
The crown prince choked on his own melon seed shells. The hall was eerily quiet, with only the sound of his violent coughing.
Chuanwen, who actually knew a bit about mob flogging and killing, was stunned. [Dude! When did Zhang Qing offend you?]
If Zhang Qing is to be beaten to death with a single gold bar, then won't Wang Shuren and the former Minister of War be dragged out for a show of force as well?
Wang Shuren and Qiu Gao, who were in prison, suddenly felt a chill down their spines, as if they were being stared at by many eyes.
The Minister of Works in the imperial court expressed his doubts: Who is Lao Tie?
Then, out of the emperor's eye, he saw the little girl, Chuanwen, wiping her forehead in fear. [That scared me to death! I thought Zhang Qing had stolen the Minister of Works's bright red underpants for his birth year...]
puff--
The prince, who had just recovered a little, choked on his own saliva again and started coughing violently once more!
The emperor looked at the Minister of Works, whose face had suddenly turned red with embarrassment, and then at Zhang Qing, whose stiffness still exuded a refined and heroic air. He suddenly understood Chuanwen's fear. He really didn't want to see such a handsome man with such a strange hobby!
The ministers also didn't want to see this, so Chuanwen asked again, "Why does the Minister of Works hate Zhang Qing so much?"
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