Chapter 191 Better to kill three thousand innocent people than let one guilty person go free.
"Your Majesty, Lord Zhou requests an audience."
"Announce."
Zhou Congxian strode into the Hall of Diligent Governance, carrying the wooden box.
"Your Majesty, I respectfully wish you good health."
His Majesty looked up at him, his gaze falling on the wooden box beside him.
"What is this? When did Zhou Qing start thinking of giving me things?"
Zhou Congxian looked up and smiled, "Your Majesty, I am too stingy to buy such an expensive item."
He opened the wooden box. "This is a gift from Gao Zhian. He knows that Her Majesty the Empress has been feeling down lately, so he specially bought this to cheer her up."
Exquisite and luxurious ivory and jade carving crown.
It is beautiful, but it is also very heavy.
His Majesty paused for a moment as he looked at the crown, then turned and ordered, "Eunuch Tian, send it to the Empress."
Zhou Congxian said, "Your Majesty, I thank you on behalf of Gao Zhian."
"Don't be so quick to thank me. I stripped Gao Zhian of his official hat in front of all the officials. If I put it back on him now, wouldn't that be a slap in my face?"
"His Majesty is naturally magnanimous and will give him a chance to reform. General Cheng of the Southern Army claimed to be ill, and Gao Zhian's martial arts are no less than mine. He is the most suitable candidate."
His Majesty nodded. "What Minister Zhou said is absolutely right."
"In that case, I will draft an imperial edict."
"Zhou Qing, take a look at this."
After briefly explaining Gao Zhian's matter, he handed a memorial to the eunuch beside him, who immediately passed it to Zhou Congxian.
"this……"
Zhou Congxian frowned. "The Khan of Ulehan is dead?!"
"Princess Yalan has been married for two years, and now they want to send her back?"
His Majesty's lips tightened. "The Khan of Ule is dead, and now the other banners are stirring."
"They said they wanted to send Yalan back for her safety, but in reality they wanted us to send troops to help the Khan's younger brother, Prince Bucha, ascend the throne."
Zhou Congxian had never heard of Prince Bucha. “Princess Yalan has given birth to a son. If we send troops, it will naturally be to support the young prince.”
His Majesty's expression was also solemn. "This Prince Bucha seems to have appeared out of nowhere."
"This is a memorial; it's using Princess Yalan to threaten me into sending troops."
Zhou Congxian pondered for a moment, "The closest army to Ule is the Biannan Army. With such a big incident happening in Ule, it's impossible that they didn't hear about it at all."
His Majesty looked at Zhou Congxian, "So, Zhou Qingyi, what do you think is the best way to break this deadlock?"
Sending troops might just create an enemy.
Without sending troops, the Uruguayan civil war will inevitably be reshaped.
Zhou Congxian lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment, "Since the Khan of Ule has passed away, and Dasheng has become the monarchy, it is natural to send an envoy to offer condolences."
"We need to find out Princess Yalan's situation now, and also who Prince Bucha is."
Your Majesty, "Then, in Zhou Qing's opinion, who is the most suitable to send?"
Zhou Congxian slowly raised his head.
A glint flashed across his eyes.
"Your subject humbly recommends King Cheng, Xiao Shu."
His Majesty met his gaze, and the corners of his lips slowly curved upwards.
“What you have said, Minister Zhou, is exactly what I have been thinking.”
His Majesty closed the memorial before him with a faint smile on his face.
At this moment, the monarch and his subjects were in harmony.
The imperial edict from the palace reached the Gao residence.
Eunuch Tian personally proclaimed the imperial decree.
Apart from Gao Zhian himself, everyone else wore expressions of joy.
With a smile, Eunuch Tian accepted the silver ingot from Madam Wu's hand. "Congratulations, General Gao."
"Her Majesty the Empress asked us to tell the General that the crown is very exquisite, and the General is very thoughtful."
Crown.
Gao Zhian suddenly opened his eyes.
After Eunuch Tian left, Madam Wu turned around and said, "My husband had already planned this all along."
That night in the study, what she saw was that crown.
It turns out that her husband was to be presented to the Empress.
There's still something Gao Zhian can't figure out.
The crown must have been sent to the palace by Zhou Congxian, so that His Majesty would send him far away.
His lips trembled slightly, and the fire in his eyes burned even more intensely.
Marquis Xingyang seemed to have sensed his son's reluctance.
He began, “Although the southern border army is somewhat remote, its generals are seasoned warriors whose achievements are unmatched by ordinary military officers in the capital.”
Gao Zhian glanced at his father, and finally could only whisper, "Yes."
Some are sad, some are happy.
Upon learning that Gao Zhian was going to the southern border army, Shuang'er immediately said.
“The person is about to be sent to the border, how can you not release him, sister?”
Green Willow glanced at Shuang'er subconsciously, and when she looked up, she saw Shuang'er staring straight at her.
She stammered, "Miss Yao, why...why are you looking at me like that?"
Shuang'er snorted softly, "Since you don't forget your former master, to avoid you being separated by the ends of the earth and spending every day in tears, I naturally want to grant your wish."
"This servant does not understand what Miss Yao is saying."
Green Willow felt she hadn't left any trace, so she couldn't possibly recognize it now.
Shuang'er said, "Alright, stop hiding it. People will follow you as soon as you go out."
“My sister knows perfectly well what you said and did to Prince Gao.”
"After watching your performances for so long, you really think you're the mainstay of the stage."
Green Willow's face turned deathly pale instantly. "You all knew all along..."
Meng Shilan said, "I am not a stepping stone for you to return to the Gao family. Just settle your monthly salary and leave."
With one less person in the courtyard, Shuang'er felt much quieter.
"Sister, I think the janitor in the outer courtyard is quite clever."
Meng Shilan locked the important ledgers in a box. "If you like, take them to the trading company and train them properly."
Shuang'er sat down next to her sister. "Don't wealthy families all have their own trusted maids? Just like in those storybooks, they are loyal to their masters and would never betray them even if it meant death."
She reached out and poked her forehead. "Read less of those storybooks."
"Now I'm thinking of finding a good day to marry you off, so you won't bother me every day."
Shuang'er: "I've made up my mind. My sister and I will have double happiness."
"If you don't marry me, I won't marry you either."
Wei Xun sneezed several times as soon as he met Zhou Congxian.
Meng Shilan, "..."
So she straightened her sleeves and said with a serious expression, "That's perfect. I don't plan to get married. Let's find husbands together."
Shuang'er stroked her chin, seemingly considering the feasibility of this matter.
"Well, it's not impossible."
"..."
As the two were talking, a servant from the jewelry store rushed over in a hurry.
"Miss, something terrible has happened!!"
"Pah! What's wrong with us! We're perfectly fine!"
Meng Shilan frowned as she looked at his panicked face. "Don't rush, tell me slowly!"
"My aunt from the Princess's residence said that our hair ornaments were made of poisonous stones, and now the Princess has been poisoned!"
"The officials from the Dali Temple have come to the shop to arrest the person!"
"How could this happen!" Shuang'er suddenly stood up.
"Shouldn't we check what the food and drink consumed be for poisoning? What does it have to do with the crown?"
Meng Shilan stood up. "Let's go take a look first."
The shop had only been open for business for a little over ten days.
The journey was fraught with difficulties.
The soldiers surrounded the shop, and a group of soldiers ransacked the place, making a mess of it.
They are searching for evidence.
All the shop's managers and maids were kept outside.
Especially Zhang Niangzi, this shop was set up by her and Shuang'er with the help of people over several days and nights!
"Our boss hasn't arrived yet! What are you doing!"
A box of pearls was scattered all over the ground.
It rolled out of the shop, and the crowd immediately began to scramble for it.
Shuang'er rushed into the shop anxiously, for every brick and tile here was the result of her hard work!
"Stop!"
"Are you officers investigating a case, or robbers?"
The leading officer glanced at her, his eyes full of suspicion. "You're the boss?"
Shuang'er said, "I am the owner of the trading company! All the gold, silver, and jade items in my shop are genuine! Half of the high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital have bought from me!"
The officer sneered, "The Imperial Physician has determined that the headdresses you purchased from your shop are contaminated with poison."
Meng Shilan also rushed over.
"After the crown left our shop, it passed through countless hands. Isn't it too hasty for the Dali Temple to conclude that we poisoned it so quickly?"
The officers and soldiers believed, "We would rather kill three thousand innocent people than let one guilty person go free."
“Everyone who handled the crown has been arrested, and you are no exception.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than soldiers came up and tied Shuang'er up.
"Then we'll have to trouble the owner of the jewelry shop to come with us."
The soldiers, who had found nothing in the shop, also came out.
"Sir, we found nothing."
The leading officer glanced at Meng Shilan, then turned away.
"withdraw troops!"
Without anyone restraining her, Zhang Niangzi stumbled and rushed over.
"Miss Meng, they rushed in and ransacked the place!"
The shop is now a complete mess.
Meng Shilan couldn't care less about the shop now; she quickly gave instructions.
"Close the door now. Take your people and pack everything up. Make a list of anything that is damaged or lost."
The eldest princess was poisoned; this is a capital offense.
It's obvious to anyone that this is something a newly opened shop couldn't possibly do.
This matter is likely aimed at the Meng family.
Shuang'er, however, suffered an undeserved misfortune.
Meng Shilan climbed onto the carriage. "Guo Fan, can we go into the Princess's residence?"
Guo Fan, who had been sitting on the carriage frame like a clay sculpture, pretending to be asleep, opened his eyes.
"able."
"Go and find out what happened."
Guo Fan silently jumped off the carriage, seemingly unhurried, but quickly disappeared into the crowd.
Meng Shilan bit her lip; the only person she could turn to now was Zhou Congxian.
She patted the side of the carriage, "To the Imperial Household Department."
The capital's yamen (government office) was located in another district.
The guard at the gate said that Lord Zhou had left the capital and his return date was uncertain.
Sweat beaded on her forehead, but unfortunately, she wasn't there at this crucial moment.
She gritted her teeth and returned to the carriage, "Back to the manor!"
The Meng family ancestral hall.
Meng Shilan only came once, on the day she was included in the score.
However, Meng Yushan told her where the secret book that could save her life was hidden.
High position and high weight.
Along with this comes the loneliness of being at the top.
The thing that saves lives is the ability to have His Majesty's decree revoked at crucial moments.
Meng Shilan did not take the imperial edict.
Her gaze fell on the sword tassels on another shelf.
Just then, the eldest princess sent out the book she had woven years ago, and Meng Yushan's eldest son died in battle.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
