Chapter 43 Vomiting Blood on the Spot
Governor Gu noticed that Censor Zheng was acting abnormally, and looked at Li Qiong with narrowed eyes without saying a word.
Li Qiong acted modestly:
"You are too kind, Censor Zheng. It is my duty to serve the people."
"I have already prepared a banquet at the restaurant to welcome Censor Zheng."
Censor Zheng: "Okay, thank you, Li Changshi."
Several people went to Hewang Tower to have a drink together. During the meal, Censor Zheng and Li Qiong drank and talked happily, as if they hit it off at first sight.
Governor Gu was watching from the side and clicking his tongue in his heart, thinking that Li Qiong had done a lot of things.
Governor Gu had just arrived in Lingnan, while Li Qiong had been an official there for many years. Governor Gu still had no idea what Li Qiong was doing.
Censor Zheng took a sip of wine and patted Li Qiong's shoulder drunkenly:
"Brother Li and I really regret that we met too late. It's a pity that time is limited. I can't stay in Xunzhou for long and can't accompany Brother Li."
Li Qiong filled Zheng Yushi's glass again:
"If Brother Zheng doesn't mind, I'll walk with you for the next few days."
“Very good!”
Censor Zheng slammed the table and drank the wine in one gulp. When he looked up, a cold light flashed in his eyes.
Last night, when he was resting at an inn he passed by, a plum blossom dart broke through the window and pierced into the pillar in the room.
There was a letter nailed to the dart. When they took it down, they found that it listed the crimes of Li Qiong, the chief officer of Xunzhou.
Every detail is clear and detailed, and does not seem to be fake.
His inspection this time was to investigate, first, corruption among officials, second, dereliction of duty, and third, abuse of power.
When I saw Li Qiong's crimes, I realized she had them all.
This was not the first time that Censor Zheng had been on an inspection tour, and he had received anonymous letters of accusation before, but not many of them were as fast as this one, and not many were written so clearly and logically.
I don’t know which expert couldn’t bear to see the injustice suffered by the people and took the initiative to take action.
After three rounds of drinking, Governor Gu, Censor Zheng and Li Qiong went to the provincial government office together.
Censor Zheng plans to take his time over the next few days and uncover Li Qiong's true identity based on the clues he has.
But he didn't expect that the people of Xunzhou acted much faster than him, which was completely beyond his plan.
As soon as they arrived at the yamen, they saw a dozen people dressed as villagers rushing over and kneeling down.
"Please, Your Excellency the Censor, make this decision! I have been wronged!"
"I'm going to sue the corrupt official Li Qiong for bullying men and women!"
"Official Li Qiong allowed his men to seize the fertile land of ordinary people and even abuse their wives and daughters!"
"Please, Your Excellency the Censor, make the decision..."
Shouts of injustice and cries filled the entire street.
Governor Gu was shocked. He had seen such a peaceful scene everywhere in Xunzhou before, but now the injustice was so deep.
Li Qiong, who was called a dog official, was sweating profusely, but she reacted quickly:
"How dare you! I never thought there would be such a traitor committing evil in my name. I will definitely bring these evildoers to justice for the people!"
He spoke so righteously and expressed his indignation for the people that he almost believed it himself.
An octogenarian, dressed in tattered clothes, stood up with the help of a cane and pointed at Li Qiong, cursing:
"Fuck you! You're a dog official who dares to do things but not to take responsibility. I've seen you before. Xiao Cuihua from our village was sent to your house!"
"What nonsense! Slandering an imperial official is a serious crime!"
Li Qiong had no impression of the old man who was cursing in front of him, but when he went to the counties under Xunzhou for business, he had to rely on the little beauty to serve him at night.
I often forget everything after sleeping for a night, let alone remember anything about green flowers or red flowers.
"Who slandered you? Xiao Cuihua told me when she came back that you have three moles on your left buttock and a mole on your right thigh. Everyone in the village knows it!"
"If you're brave enough, take off your pants and show us!"
Li Qiong subconsciously wanted to cover her butt.
Because he really has three red moles on his butt and a big mole on his right leg!
The old man continued to curse:
"I am old and have reached the end of my life. Today, I will risk my life to explain all these things to the censor..."
Seeing the suspicion in the eyes of Governor Gu and Censor Zheng deepening, Li Qiong shouted:
"You must have been deceived by the treacherous people and are disturbing the market. Come! Take them to the government office first."
The men behind Li Qiong stepped forward immediately and were about to drag the old man in to be beaten with a stick, but he seemed to be hit by something in the lower back and fell forward in pain.
When his body was about to hit the old man, the old man screamed in pain, stepped back repeatedly, and spit out blood from his mouth.
The blood from his mouth spurted three feet high, drawing a perfect arc in the air. While spitting blood, his body was still spinning, and finally he fell to the ground with a sad face.
The old man stretched out his hand tremblingly towards Censor Zheng:
"grown ups……"
Governor Gu and Censor Zheng quickly wiped the blood from their faces and approached the old man under the protection of the officials.
"What's the matter, old man?"
The old man said, "My Xu family's heirloom jade inkstone is hidden in this damn official's mansion... I beg you to do something for the people..."
After the old man finished speaking, his head drooped and he died.
A man and a woman nearby rushed over and cried, "Grandpa."
Censor Zheng was horrified.
Governor Gu ordered his men to send the old man to the clinic immediately. If he could be saved, they should do so immediately. If not, they should leave money for his burial.
The incident happened so suddenly that no one present could react for a while.
Li Qiong's men were even more panicked.
They haven't even started yet! Why is this old man vomiting blood?
Censor Zheng had originally intended to search Li Qiong's residence, so he took this opportunity to raise the question:
"Brother Li, I also hope that there is a misunderstanding. To help you prove your innocence, it would be best if I could visit your house."
Li Qiong gritted her teeth and forced a smile:
"I naturally understand Brother Zheng's good intentions."
He really didn't expect that Censor Zheng would come to his house on the first day he came to Xunzhou.
This group of untouchables had obviously heard from somewhere that the censor was coming to inspect the city, and they rushed forward to file a complaint, just like in the opera, thinking that this way someone would support them.
He did snatch some heirloom inkstone from someone, but he had snatched so many things that he couldn't remember which was which.
Fortunately, he had been prepared for this move and cleaned up everything that needed to be cleaned up in the house, so that no one could find any clues.
Li Qiong took Censor Zheng and others and walked towards Li's mansion.
On the street corner, several people in gray clothes gathered together to eat melon seeds.
Su Zhizhi and Xue Che, who were on leave, were also among them.
Su Zhizhi held a handful of sugar-coated melon seeds in her hand, which were covered with a thin layer of sugar crystals.
When the upper and lower teeth knock against each other, even the teeth feel sweet.
Wu Yingniang spat out the melon seed shells:
"Old Xu's internal strength is quite good, he can spray so much blood."
Xue Che had just learned to crack melon seeds, and he was doing it very slowly: "Isn't that a bit exaggerated?"
Hao Ren: "That's not an exaggeration. It would be better if I could vomit blood."
Su Zhizhi tilted her head back and poured the melon seeds into her mouth:
"Mom, let's fry some pork liver for Uncle Xu tonight."
…
As soon as Censor Zheng entered the room, he unceremoniously ordered the accompanying officers to go in and search.
"Brother Zheng, please come here and have some tea and take a break." Li Qiong invited Censor Zheng to the central hall and ordered the maid to serve him hot tea.
There was still traces of the old man's blood on the hems of Zheng and Gu's clothes. They were in no mood to drink tea at the moment. They just put the teacup to their lips and wet them.
Li Qiong was no longer panicked at this time.
As long as no evidence is found today, no matter what outsiders say, it will be useless. He can still accuse those unruly people of slandering the imperial officials.
And it just so happened that Governor Gu was there too.
The old man, Governor Gu, has only been transferred to Lingnan for a short time, but he has a lot of things to take care of. If this continues, people will sooner or later become suspicious of him.
It would be better to take this opportunity to dispel Governor Gu's doubts, so that it will be more convenient for me to do things in Xunzhou in the future.
Governor Gu couldn't sit still, so he stood up and said, "There's nothing wrong with sitting here. I'll just take a look around Li Changshi's house."
Censor Zheng did not leave, but his eyes kept looking at Li Qiong from time to time.
It happened that Mrs. Li was alarmed and came out to meet the distinguished guest.
"I pay my respects to Master Zheng."
Madam Li had rarely seen officials from Chang'an, so she felt awkward and didn't have her usual dignity.
She didn't know what her husband was busy with every day, but she knew that with Li Qiong's salary, she couldn't afford to wear gold and silver.
Now that so many people came to search, she was really afraid that her husband might have been found to have something.
"I have a question that I would like Madam Li to clarify."
"Master Zheng, please speak."
Mrs. Li was terrified and looked at her husband out of the corner of her eye, afraid that she had said something she shouldn't have.
Censor Zheng opened his mouth:
"Madam Li, does Li Changshi have three moles on his buttocks?"
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