Chapter 13: Okay, okay, time reversal can be used like this, right?
Liu Zhiyuan stood for a while in full view of the crowd, then stepped forward and knelt in front of the hall.
"Your Majesty, my father..."
Oh my god, Concubine Liu, you can’t call yourself “me” in front of the emperor.
Liu Dehai was as anxious as an old mother who was worried to death, and quickly gave a kind reminder.
"Empress Liu, the concubines in the palace must call themselves concubines in front of the emperor."
After giving the reminder, he glanced at Xiao Yu subtly. Seeing that his expression remained unchanged and he showed no sign of getting angry, he became more certain of his thoughts.
The Emperor really likes Concubine Liu!
Great! The old iron tree is finally blooming!
Xiao Yu snorted in his heart, doesn't he want to get angry? It's useless even if he gets angry.
The witch can get away with it cleanly by using a method of reversing time and space. If that's the case, why bother?
Liu Zhiyuan suddenly realized how could she have forgotten this.
"Your Majesty, my father has been wrongly accused. I beg Your Majesty to investigate this matter."
Before Xiao Yu could say anything, an official jumped out and glared at Liu Zhiyuan.
"This is complete nonsense! There's irrefutable evidence that Minister Liu formed a clique and embezzled disaster relief funds. How can this be an injustice?"
Another official echoed coldly, "Minister Liu's corruption case is of grave importance. The Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court, and the Censorate have investigated thoroughly, and the Emperor has already issued an order to deal with it. By raising questions now, is Concubine Liu implying that the Emperor is incompetent and wrongly murdered a loyal minister?"
This was a serious matter, as it directly escalated the conflict to the emperor.
It is a fact that the emperor is incompetent, and everyone knows it, but you, Liu Zhiyuan, said it in public, and you will not escape the death penalty.
Liu Zhiyuan choked. Is this the treacherous officialdom? Is this the political struggle? It's so insidious. She hasn't said anything yet, but such a big hat has been put on her head.
Liu Zhiyuan rolled his eyes. "Sir, there's no need to be so insinuating. Yes, that's exactly what I mean. Isn't it common knowledge that the Emperor is incompetent? He's wrongly murdered countless loyal ministers. What conclusive evidence do you have? They haven't even found the whereabouts of the two hundred taels of silver, nor how my father stole the disaster relief money. There's no witness or physical evidence, yet you dare say that the evidence is conclusive and the truth is revealed. I'm quite impressed!"
No one expected that Liu Zhiyuan was so brave that she dared to say such words in front of the emperor and all the ministers. Doesn’t she want to live?
Xiao Yu narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Liu Zhiyuan.
He was indeed incompetent, but no one dared to mention it to his face unless they wanted to die.
She is the first one!
Being stared at by everyone in shock, Liu Zhiyuan remained calm, shifted the gear back to a minute ago, and knelt on the ground with a tearful expression.
"That's not what I meant. I just wanted to seek justice for my father. Why do you have to misinterpret my meaning? I'm a weak woman, how dare I discuss state affairs, let alone question the emperor."
Her eyes were slightly red, her beautiful eyes were filled with tears, and she looked so pitiful.
It was as if someone bullied her.
Xiao Yu, "..."
If he hadn't seen her arrogant and disdainful look just now, he might have believed her lies!
A beauty's tears are the most endearing, especially when she is the most beautiful woman in Dayong. Standing there, she is like a painting of the misty Jiangnan landscape.
The two ministers who had just stood up to accuse Liu Zhiyuan felt a little embarrassed.
They can engage in verbal battles with the big men in the court, but it is embarrassing to be aggressive towards a weak woman.
One of them bowed and said, "The harem is not allowed to interfere in government affairs. Concubine Liu should return quickly."
Liu Zhiyuan ignored him and looked at Xiao Yu with tears in her eyes, "Your Majesty, I did not interfere in politics. I was just seeking justice for my father. I hope Your Majesty will understand."
"Oh? My beloved concubine wants me to know how to do it."
"My father is incorruptible and dedicated to serving the people. He would never commit any act of corruption or abuse of power. I implore the Emperor to thoroughly investigate this case and clear my father and brother's name."
"You said Liu Zhongyuan is innocent, where is the evidence?"
Liu Zhiyuan was speechless. She didn't even know the whole story, so where did the evidence come from?
But don't panic.
"In the 36th year of the Yong Dynasty, Fenzhou was hit by a snowstorm. The reported damage was clearly inconsistent with the tax reductions and exemptions. My father personally went deep into the prefecture and county to measure the land and verify the population. He nearly died in the avalanche. Facing threats and inducements from powerful officials, he remained unmoved, and enforced the law impartially. He eventually uncovered a large number of households that had hidden farmland and illegally obtained land, and severely punished corrupt officials and lawless tyrants. The people immediately rushed to tell each other, and they supported him for miles."
"In the 38th year of the Great Yong Dynasty, a thousand-mile-long cavalry arrived from Shangdong, bringing urgent news of a once-in-a-century flood. Starving people were everywhere, and refugees were surging. My father donated all his wealth to set up a porridge factory, distribute waterproof clothing, and provide medicine. He also issued a strict order: 'All relief money and food, not a single grain of rice, must reach the mouths of the starving people.' I also went deep into the people's lives to understand their real situation, which earned them immense gratitude."
"Father sympathized with the people's suffering. He built local water conservancy projects, repaired farmland damaged by disasters, and promoted advanced farming techniques and improved varieties. When the national treasury didn't allocate funds, he used the Liu Mansion's money to subsidize them. He even used it to cover my mother's dowry."
"Your Majesty, my father was wrongfully imprisoned, and the Liu family residence was raided. Were any valuables found? Everyone says my father is corrupt and perverts the law. So, where did all the money he embezzled go? The Liu Mansion is small and simple, with no fancy furnishings in the halls, and the family members dressed simply. Is this the appearance of a corrupt official?"
"My father has lived a life of integrity and honesty. It is impossible for him to embezzle disaster relief funds. I hope the emperor will see clearly."
After Liu Zhiyuan finished speaking, he looked straight at Xiao Yu.
She racked her brains to dig out these stories from the original text. It is said that people become officials only for money, and there is no official who is not greedy.
Even if you are not greedy at the beginning, if you stay in the materialistic and turbid officialdom for a long time, you will naturally be dragged down by others.
But Liu Zhongyuan was indeed an upright official.
Even if Liu Zhongyuan was not her father, such a good official who was dedicated to serving the people should not have died in vain.
The Minister of Rites sneered, "Perhaps this is your father's cleverness, using the appearance of poverty to deceive people and hide the fact that he is a corrupt official."
"My father is quite capable. He's been an official for over a decade, and he's been pretending to be one for over a decade. What's his real purpose? He embezzled money but didn't dare spend it, and he had to worry about being discovered every day. Is he just trying to endure it? The adults also said that my father is smart, but this doesn't seem very smart."
Liu Zhiyuan snorted coldly. She is a nitpicker, of course.
"The mansions of the lords cover an area ranging from dozens to hundreds of acres. Water flows around the houses, the beautiful Huating scenery, rockery and strange rocks, and the gardens are all planted with exotic flowers and plants. They spend their days enjoying poetry and wine. Such luxury has not been suspected of corruption. If father really has a private treasury, he can enjoy it openly. Why bother asking for trouble?"
"You..." The Minister of Rites was furious.
Just as he was about to point at Liu Zhiyuan and curse, Prime Minister Chen stopped him in time.
"Minister Liu, the emperor is very discerning and will make his own decision. Don't say anything more."
The Minister of Rites suddenly woke up with a layer of cold sweat on his back.
How could he forget that Liu Zhiyuan was the emperor's concubine? No matter how wrong she was, it was the emperor who would deal with her. If he, a court official, scolded his concubine in front of the emperor, the consequences would be...
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