The Zhongli Bridge stampede made the emperor furious, but he simply put it aside for the time being and did not punish the officials involved.
On the Dragon Boat Festival, the boat races and disaster-dispelling ceremonies continued as usual, only at a different location. Furthermore, the Emperor and Empress appeared in the Imperial City and spoke words of dispelling the famine, wishing for good weather and peace for the country and family in the coming year.
Only by keeping everything as usual can the people be appeased, not to mention that the emperor and empress came out in person despite the rumors, which made the people feel more at ease.
The collapsed Zhongli Bridge was being expedited by the Ministry of Works, and rumors of plague vanished after the Dragon Boat Festival. After the festival, a series of seemingly plausible rumors began to circulate, claiming that the current emperor's accession to the throne was illegitimate, and that the constant natural disasters and border conflicts during the nine years since the founding of the Jin Dynasty were a punishment from heaven.
After hearing this, Shen Huaixu suddenly realized that it seemed that those who coveted that position could not wait any longer. Now the disaster relief efforts in various places have gradually shown results, the disaster situation has eased a lot, and the Nanxia side has stopped its movements. The reason why the emperor attached so much importance to the Dragon Boat Festival was to boost the morale of the people.
Someone wanted to stop all this, but he happened to discover the clues himself.
I just don’t know who this person who is hiding deeper is, apart from the deceased Prince Duan?
Those who paid close attention would have noticed that for the next few days, the capital was under full martial law, with people entering and leaving the city subject to strict screening. Furthermore, whenever a patient with plague-like symptoms appeared in the capital's major medical clinics, they would, as if facing a major threat, isolate the patient within the clinic until their condition improved.
The punishment for Shen Su was delayed. He was fined for three months and ordered to find out the mastermind behind the incident and make meritorious contributions.
This result was considered light, as can be seen from the number of impeachment memorials from court officials. Many officials believed that it was Shen Su's incompetence that led to the deaths of 18 civilians and the injuries of more than 50 people.
Logically, Yi Zishu should have stepped on Shen Su at this point, but seeing the ministers' indignation, he stepped forward, holding his tablet and saying, "Your Majesty, I believe that Lord Shen's merits and demerits in the Zhongli Bridge stampede are balanced. As the Jingzhao Yin, Lord Shen failed to detect the hidden dangers of Zhongli Bridge in time, which was a mistake. However, the matter was discovered in advance by the Princess Mingyi, who promptly sent a letter to Lord Shen. Lord Shen's swift dispatch of troops can be considered a remedy."
On the other hand, the magistrate of Tanyuan County not only failed to take preventive measures beforehand, but also arrived late afterwards, neglecting his duties. I believe he deserves punishment."
The capital was named Tanyuan. Like other cities, Tanyuan was divided into several counties, and Zhongli Bridge was under the jurisdiction of Tanyuan County.
This scene left the ministers in the court dumbfounded. Did Chen Su give Yi Zishu a gift? Before, Yi Zishu looked at Chen Su like a rooster with red eyes, so why did he suddenly speak up for him?
The emperor, sitting upright on the dragon throne, showed satisfaction on his face, "Lord Yi, what you said makes sense."
In the end, the matter was temporarily resolved with a fine of three months' salary on Chen Su, while the magistrate of Tanyuan County was demoted and fined another year's salary.
After leaving the court, Shen Su walked over to Yi Zishu as if unintentionally, "Thank you, Lord Yi, for speaking up for me in the court today."
Yi Zishu glanced at him and said coldly, "Master Shen, you are overthinking. I am just clear about the distinction between public and private affairs and have no prejudice. Besides, Master Shen has a good daughter."
After saying that, he turned away.
Shen Su nodded in agreement, and immediately rushed to Jingzhao Prefecture to investigate the Zhongli Bridge case.
For several days in a row, the father and daughter went out early and came back late, and sometimes they did not see each other at all.
Every day after seeing patients at Jishidiang, Shen Huaixu would change his clothes and try to get close to the beggars in Changyufang, where the largest number of beggars were, and then ask them about some things.
She looks cute and well-behaved, but she is easy to deceive. Many people with bad intentions approach her on purpose, just to kidnap and sell people, but they all get beaten up by her in the end.
In just a few days, she became a little famous in Changyufang.
“Chen Jiu, I don’t think you are the type to deal with people like us, so why do you come to Changyufang every day?”
The person who spoke was a little beggar whom Shen Huaixu had rescued two days ago. His name was Ying Changming. He was a native of Beijing and was twelve years old this year. Ever since he could remember, he had been following an old beggar in Changyufang to beg for a living.
His parents left him nothing except a decent name. He was very young and had very little flesh on his body.
Two days ago, he received half a leftover chicken from a wealthy businessman. He was so happy that he wanted to go back and eat it with the old beggar. As soon as he returned to Changyufang, he was targeted by other beggars. He held the chicken in his arms tightly and let the fists rain down on him without shouting or letting go.
At this moment, Shen Huaixu rescued the man.
Ying Changming was silent and introverted, and not good at speaking. For a beggar, not being sweet-mouthed was a big taboo, so he was often beaten. He was used to it. In Changyufang, everyone only wanted to protect themselves, and no one would meddle in such matters. However, a young lady named Shen Huaixu fought off so many people and saved him.
He didn't know how to thank her, so he could only follow Shen Huaixu when she came to Changyufang to prevent someone from bullying her. Although it was unnecessary, it was the only thing he could do.
Chen Huaixu said, "Don't all people have two eyes, a nose, and a mouth? How are you different?"
Ying Changming was silent for a moment, "You and I are different."
Shen Huaixu turned around and looked at him, then smiled and said, "Yes, I'm different. I look better."
Ying Changming was speechless and could only continue to follow in silence.
"I came to Changyufang to look for someone." Chen Huaixu suddenly said, "Changyufang is a mixed bag, with all kinds of people. Maybe if I come here every day to stroll around, I can see him."
In fact, Shen Huaixu just wanted to use the beggars all over the city to find someone, but when she actually did it, she found that it was not easy to get into the beggar group. This group of people was very clique-like and extremely xenophobic, as slippery as loaches. Even if she received the money, they might not help her find the person seriously.
After working for several days, she only collected some insignificant clues.
Ying Changming didn't reply immediately. After a while, he asked, "Who are you looking for?"
"A very ordinary person, who cannot be recognized in a crowd." She always thought that the man who spread rumors in the crowd on the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival was very strange. There was nothing memorable about him. In modern terms, he had an ordinary face, except... there was a strange black mark behind his ear.
Unfortunately, I took a quick glance at it and couldn't see clearly what the mark was.
As her thoughts raced, she casually asked, "Why, can you help me?"
"As long as you ask."
Shen Huaixu was stunned. He didn't expect Ying Changming to answer so straightforwardly.
She stopped and looked at Ying Changming. After a while, she said, "Follow me."
She took the man to a teahouse and, before the waiter could say anything, threw a piece of silver ingot over and said, "Prepare a private room, bring tea and snacks, and prepare some paper."
The idea of kicking Ying Changming out was immediately blocked, and the clerk could only nod and bow, agreeing repeatedly.
Ying Changming was shocked by Shen Huaixu's generosity. When he arrived at the private room, he couldn't help but remind him, "The tea and snacks here are not expensive."
Shen Huaixu nodded, "The extra money buys his respect for us."
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