Chapter 151 Gu Dexing
"A generous gift?" Xie Sangning's voice suddenly rose, clear enough for the surrounding people who had pricked up their ears to hear clearly. "What generous gift? Could it be that Lord Gu has been lining his own pockets and plundering the people's wealth all these years by taking advantage of the abundant salt tax revenue from Jiangnan?!"
Gu Dexing's smile froze instantly!
Xie Sangning stood up, her voice filled with anger:
"Gu Dexing! How dare you! As an official of the imperial court, you condoned your daughter's violent acts, treating human life as worthless! After the incident, instead of severely punishing her to uphold the law, you attempted to bribe this county princess and the former Grand Tutor to cover up your family's lawless crimes! Do you still have any respect for the law?! Do you still have any respect for the imperial court?!"
"Guards!" Xie Sangning shouted sharply!
"Yes, sir!" Chen Feng led his guards in a chorus of response, their voices echoing down the long street!
"Take down this audacious Gu Dexing, who openly bribes imperial officials and disregards the law! Make him kneel here and sober up!"
"yes!"
Chen Feng, like a tiger unleashed from its cage, stepped forward! The guards behind Gu Dexing instinctively tried to stop him, but were too frightened to move by a sharp look from Chen Feng!
Gu Dexing was terrified: "You...you dare?! I am an official appointed by the imperial court! You...you have no right to arrest me! Let me go!" He struggled desperately.
But under Chen Feng's iron grip, his resistance was like an ant trying to shake a tree! Chen Feng didn't waste any words and kicked Gu Dexing in the back of the knee!
"Thump!"
Gu Dexing screamed and fell heavily to his knees, his knees slamming onto the bluestone slab with a dull thud! His official hat was knocked aside, and he looked utterly disheveled!
"Father!" Gu Zhenzhu screamed in fright, finally completely panicking! Her father had been beaten! And forced to kneel down!
The surrounding crowd, witnessing this scene, were so excited they almost cheered! They clenched their fists, their eyes gleaming with satisfaction! Karma! It truly was karma!
Xie Sangning didn't even glance at Gu Dexing struggling on the ground, and said to Chen Feng, "Go to the government office immediately! Tell the Prefect of Jiangnan to come see me! Tell him I only have time to drink a cup of tea! If he's late, he'll have to bear the consequences!"
"Yes!" A guard accepted the order, mounted his horse, and galloped away.
Lin Ziyuan and Lin Wantang were so excited that their faces turned red, and their eyes were filled with unparalleled admiration as they looked at their cousin!
Old Master Lin nodded slightly, his eyes full of appreciation. If Xie Sangning had agreed to speak at the mansion, regardless of whether she had accepted bribes or not, it would have given rise to gossip. By exposing the matter directly in front of the people, he would not only have a witness to clear his name but also gain a good reputation. As for the powerless county magistrate taking down a fifth-rank official... wasn't there still him, the Grand Tutor? As a veteran of three reigns, helping the emperor remove this cancer was out of loyalty and patriotism!
Before the time it takes to drink a cup of tea is over, an official dressed in the robes of a fourth-rank official with a crooked hat can be seen running over from afar, accompanied by a group of yamen runners, sweating profusely and panting heavily. It is Zhang Hai, the prefect of Jiangnan.
He was terrified when he received news that Gu Dexing, the Assistant Salt Commissioner, had been arrested in the street by a county princess who had even ordered him to come over! Especially when he heard that it involved the former Grand Tutor Lin of the previous dynasty! He didn't even bother to take a sedan chair and ran all the way there!
When he saw Gu Dexing, who was being held down by two burly guards and kneeling in the middle of the street, his official hat askew and looking disheveled, and Gu Zhenzhu, who was being guarded and looked pale, his legs went weak and he almost knelt down on the spot!
"Your humble servant, Zhang Hai, Prefect of Jiangnan, pays respects to the County Head! Pays respects to the Grand Tutor!"
Zhang Dehai knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling with tears, large beads of sweat dripping from his forehead.
Xie Sangning looked at him coldly: "Prefect Zhang? Under your rule, I have certainly witnessed some impressive sights! Fifty coins for city entry fee, a hundred taels for a table of ordinary food, a wicked woman who runs rampant in the streets, insults the pillars of the imperial court, threatens the lives of the county magistrate and her family, and orders her servants to kill without mercy, and this salt official who lets his woman commit violence, disregards the law, and openly bribes his superiors! Zhang Hai! You are truly a competent prefect!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Hai broke out in a cold sweat and kowtowed repeatedly, pleading, "This humble official has failed in his duty! This humble official deserves to die! This humble official deserves to die! I beg the county magistrate for mercy! I beg the Grand Tutor for mercy!"
"Have mercy?" Xie Sangning's tone was icy. "You've turned Jiangnan Prefecture into a mess, with soaring prices, widespread poverty, and rampant bullies! And you still have the nerve to ask for mercy?!"
She pointed at Gu Dexing and his daughter, who were kneeling on the ground trembling: "These two! First, they allowed their daughter to commit violence; then they insulted the Grand Tutor, threatened the County Princess, and ordered their servants to commit violence. Gu Dexing even dared to bribe me in public! Their crimes are unforgivable! I order you to immediately detain them! Seize their mansion and property! Keep them under strict guard! Await further punishment!"
Zhang Dehai's heart skipped a beat, knowing the Gu family was finished. He dared not hesitate for a moment: "Yes! Yes! Your humble servant obeys! Men! Seize Gu Dexing and Gu Zhenzhu! Throw them into the government jail! Seize the Gu residence!"
The constables rushed forward like wolves and tigers, dragging up Gu Dexing, whose face was ashen, and Gu Zhenzhu, who finally broke down in tears from fright.
"No! Father! Save me! I don't want to go to jail!" Gu Zhenzhu cried out in anguish. Only now did she truly realize the terrible disaster she had committed! Her father could not save her!
Gu Dexing was completely limp, too weak to even struggle, his eyes filled with despair.
As the father and daughter were dragged away, the onlookers finally couldn't hold back their long-suppressed cheers!
"Well done!"
"Thank God!"
"Thank you, Your Excellency! Thank you, Your Honor, for ridding the people of this scourge!"
Xie Sangning ignored the cheers and turned her gaze to Zhang Hai, who was still kneeling on the ground trembling: "Zhang Hai."
"Your...your humble servant is here!" Zhang Hai stammered.
"As the prefect of Jiangnan, your administration is in such a chaotic state; you cannot escape your guilt!" Xie Sangning's voice was icy. "I, the county magistrate, give you three hours to write your performance report! Write down exactly how you have governed Jiangnan over the years, the outrageous city entrance fees, the soaring prices, and why the likes of the Gu family can run rampant. Write it all down clearly and in detail! There must be no concealment whatsoever!"
She glanced at Ru Dong: "You personally lead a team, take his report, and on horseback, in the name of Grand Tutor Lin, deliver it directly to the capital and hand it over to Xie Ji to present before the Emperor! Please make your judgment, Your Majesty!"
"yes!"
When Zhang Hai heard that the message was sent directly to the Emperor in the name of Grand Tutor Lin, his vision went black and he almost fainted!
Xie Sangning's willingness to intervene here was not truly out of concern for the country and its people. If Gu Zhenzhu hadn't been so arrogant and domineering, insulting her great-grandfather, she wouldn't have stepped in, much less helped the emperor resolve this trouble.
Although that's what she thought, the people didn't know! In their hearts, Xie Sangning was like a goddess descended from heaven. Some even dared to ask about Xie Sangning's title. She wasn't the type to do good deeds anonymously, so she naturally tacitly allowed her subordinates to tell the people that she was the Princess of Jianing, Xie Sangning.
These people should remember her kindness.
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