Chapter 535 Reward for Reporting
Before Emperor Zhaowu's funeral, his body was to be kept in state for forty-nine days. According to the laws of the Great Xia Dynasty, this period was a time of national mourning, during which alcohol and music were prohibited. All brothels and taverns were closed, which caused teahouses, which were usually quiet places, to be packed every day.
"Have you heard? The prince born to Consort Liu is a monster!"
"Really? Mr. Kong, you can't just say things like that!"
"Would I, a scholar of the highest rank, spout nonsense? Let me tell you! A distant niece of mine is a maid in Lord Xiao's household, and she saw with her own eyes that the prince's limbs were all different lengths..."
The more private a family is, the more it can ignite people's gossip. In addition, Old Kong was dressed very well and had a dignified appearance. His confident tone added to the credibility of his words!
"Hiss... So, according to you, Consort Liu is possessed by an evil spirit?"
"It's not that Consort Liu is possessed, it's that the late Emperor... is unwell?" Old Kong said cryptically before falling silent, picking up his teacup and sipping slowly.
"What do you mean by that? Mr. Kong, just say it! Why are you keeping me in suspense? Waiter, bring a pot of good tea!" By this time, a number of tea drinkers had gathered around, all listening intently. Royal secrets! Who wouldn't be itching to hear half of this and wait for the next update!
Do you know Li Ji?
"Grand Steward of the Imperial Treasury, we all know this. Quickly tell us about the late Emperor!"
"Li Ji not only selected a large number of beautiful women for the late emperor, but also presented him with many... forbidden drugs!"
"Hiss..." A collective gasp filled the teahouse.
Old Kong looked smugly at the crowd gathering around him, and continued in a low voice, "This forbidden medicine can induce childbirth, but... it is a method of stealing from the heavens. If you are not careful, you will be punished by the heavens. At best, you will be born with congenital deficiencies, and at worst, you will look like a monster! The late emperor had no children for more than ten years after his marriage, but three of his consorts gave birth to babies within a year. Do you know why?"
"Oh..." Everyone suddenly realized.
"I have received reliable information that Chief Steward Li Ji has been... silenced!"
"Oh..." Everyone exclaimed in surprise.
"So, the dragon prince born to Consort Han and the Empress... will most likely also be a monster!"
The once noisy teahouse became so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and everyone's face was blank.
"Everyone, be careful what you say...be careful what you say...do not talk about state affairs...do not talk about state affairs."
The teahouse owner was the first to come to his senses and quickly came out to stop them. Emperor Zhaowu is already dead. You can say that his privacy is no big deal, but the Empress is still here. She is now the regent. Talking badly about her will only bring trouble.
"Oh, Mr. Hu, we're just having a casual chat here, we're not discussing state affairs at all! Don't make a fuss!"
"Mr. Kong, you look unfamiliar. You probably don't come to this teahouse often, do you?"
"Sigh... How can you talk like that? I didn't shortchange you on your tea, are you trying to bully a new customer?" Old Kong was immediately displeased, straightened his clothes, and moved the mutton-fat jade pendant at his waist to a conspicuous position.
"No, no, I'm just a straightforward person, Mr. Kong, please don't mind. A few days ago, the yamen runners sent word that we are not allowed to make any rash judgments or speculations about national affairs in this teahouse. If you were to read and explain official documents from the government, that would be fine, but what you just said... be careful what you say!"
"Hey... what did I do back then! The government is meddling in this and that, why should they care about our breathing and talking? They're just talking, who actually cares about this nonsense? Let me tell you... I have connections in the government!" Old Kong lowered the last half of his sentence, but just enough for the people around him to hear it. His unfathomable appearance startled everyone.
"Clang!"
The teahouse door was kicked open, and the early winter wind rushed in, causing all the tea drinkers to shrink their necks and feel a chill.
"Who is spreading rumors and slandering the royal family's reputation?" A group of constables with knives at their waists barged in, their fierce appearance sending chills down the spines of the tea drinkers.
"No, no, we're just chatting... chatting, right, Manager Hu?" Mr. Kong, who had connections in the government, immediately looked embarrassed and tried to wink at Manager Hu.
"Stop winking. We received... intelligence that the superior said only the mastermind will be arrested, and the innocent will not be wronged. Manager Hu, you are also a mastermind, aren't you?"
"No, no, Chief Liang, you know how timid I am, how could I dare!" Manager Hu usually paid tribute to the yamen, and Chief Liang was a familiar face to him. Seeing the stern look in his eyes, Manager Hu quickly distanced himself from the situation.
"Hey, you there, come up here and point it out!" Liang, the squad leader, shouted towards the door, and then everyone saw a strangely dressed person walk in.
The man was dressed in nothing unusual, just an ordinary cotton robe, but he wore a silk hood over his head, covering his face and only revealing his eyes.
"It's...it's him!" The strange man pointed at Mr. Kong as soon as he entered the room, identifying him in a muffled voice.
"You cowardly scoundrel, how dare you slander me? I, Kong Lingchuan, am a scholar from the second year of the Zhaowu era. How can I allow you to frame me..."
Liang, the squad leader, frowned and shouted sternly, "Guards! Take everyone back; we can get to the bottom of this!"
"It was him...it was him, he was the one talking about the royal family's secrets just now..."
"That's right, he also said that the prince born to Consort Liu was a monster..."
“............”
“.......
Liang, the head constable, dealt with the city's hooligans and thugs all day long. With just a little effort, he forced Mr. Kong out. Two constables went up and tied him up tightly with shackles and ropes, then dragged him outside and he was silent.
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