"Yes, the prince has done a lot of good things and is deeply loved by the people of Jiangnan. They came here today to report what the prince has done there."
Gu Yunni nodded and answered politely.
The emperor also gave the chief eunuch a wink, and the chief eunuch quickly signaled, and then someone ran to call for help.
Sheng Mingyu looked at Gu Yunni with confusion in his eyes. How come he didn't know about this drama?
Gu Yunni looked at Sheng Mingyu and reassured him.
He couldn't say anything more and could only go back home and ask again.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May Your Majesty be well and safe!"
After a while, the chief eunuch came in with a large group of people.
The second prince's face turned ugly, while the third prince looked confused.
What's going on? Why is he so much more powerful than her?
"So many people? Are they all here to testify for the Crown Prince? The Crown Prince is truly beloved by the people, to the point where so many people have come all the way from Jiangnan."
"You are so high-profile, you really don't take His Majesty seriously. I don't think His Royal Highness is favored much either. After all, His Majesty can't find so many people."
"Stop talking! Aren't you afraid that your words will reach His Majesty's ears? Although I don't know how His Majesty will treat the prince, I know how His Majesty will treat you."
Taking advantage of the time when the people were making noise, the court officials below also started discussing.
There are many people who are targeting Sheng Mingyu and hope that he will die at this stage.
They have been wronged for many years under Sheng Mingyu's control, and now they finally get the chance. If another accident happens, it will be really frustrating.
"So many people?"
Not only the court officials were surprised, even the emperor was very surprised and looked at Sheng Mingyu with admiration.
"Mingyu, you must have done a lot in Jiangnan, right? Otherwise, so many people wouldn't have spoken up for you. I was right about you, and you didn't disappoint me."
The emperor didn't care at all and was very pleased.
The princes below were gritting their teeth in hatred. If this happened to them, their father would have been on guard long ago!
"Your Majesty, there are indeed too many people. I was so anxious at the time that I wanted to bring everyone here, but I forgot that this was not proper etiquette. Please don't blame me, Your Majesty."
Looking at the people who occupied half of the hall, Gu Yunni's mouth twitched.
How could the governor be so unreliable? If this were to go out, how much would it cost her to treat them to a meal?
"Nothing. The number of people involved is not important. Proving your innocence is the most important thing. Tell us what happened quickly. Don't waste time."
The emperor waved his hand and didn't care much. Gu Yunni gave a wink and the leader came forward.
"Your Majesty, I am Li Dagui, the head of Lijia Village. I live near the Jiangnan Dam. When His Highness the Crown Prince implemented reforms, our village benefited the most, and many fewer people died this year."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Although the dam was built every year in the past for the benefit of the people, many of our people died. Fortunately, His Royal Highness has come. This reform not only ensures the safety of the people, but also saves several lives."
With one person taking the lead, the others were no longer afraid and began to join in.
All he said were praises of Sheng Mingyu, and the smile on the emperor's face never faded from beginning to end.
Why had he been so confused before, always thinking Du Changming was better? It was obvious that Sheng Mingyu was more qualified for this position.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince helped us with the dam incident, and also helped us review the previous wrongful convictions."
"Yes, I have the most say in this matter. My wife's brother was once falsely accused of raping a commoner woman, but the Crown Prince, after a trial, found it to be a complete injustice, so he was released and has already started farming at home."
"Yes! My family is in the same situation. His Highness the Crown Prince really saved our family."
…
Several people had different opinions, with smiles on their faces. If they were to praise Sheng Mingyu, they could talk about it for three days and three nights without repeating themselves.
"Ahem."
The emperor listened like this for a long time, and the eunuch couldn't stand it anymore and had to remind him.
The emperor coughed, and Gu Yunni also began to stop him.
"Alright, stop talking about these useless things. Your Majesty mainly wants to ask, has the Crown Prince done anything bad in Jiangnan? For example, oppressing the people, seizing fertile land, accepting bribes, and raping women..."
Gu Yunni listed all the charges one by one.
I don’t know who is so shameless as to dare to frame Sheng Mingyu like this. He is really blinded by greed.
"What? How can His Highness be accused of so many crimes? Who is so blind as to dare to say such things about His Highness?"
"Yes, you said I accepted bribes and even raped women. Your Highness would never do such a thing!"
When the people heard Gu Yunni's words, they were very surprised and refuted them all.
Seeing this, the emperor was more satisfied, and they were not ungrateful.
"Then do you recognize these people kneeling there? They are the ones who are suing the prince. If you can recognize them, I will believe that the prince is innocent."
When the people heard that they could clear Sheng Mingyu's name, they hurried to the front.
The previous wave of people avoided his gaze and wished they could bury their faces in the ground.
"Isn't this some street thug? I remember he molested his own daughter a few years ago and was thrown in jail. Did he just get out recently?"
"Yes! I heard it was his wife who reported it herself. She hit her head against the wall and died because of this. He ruined the whole family!"
Village chief Li pointed at the man with a pointed chin and yelled.
Then he looked at the people behind him and was very surprised.
"These guys aren't good people either. They've committed crimes in Jiangnan and even robbed Lijia Village and taken food from the people! If they want to sue His Royal Highness, it's a complete joke!"
"Yes, I remember he was a thug, right? He even helped the son of the previous governor to rob women on the street. What he did was abhorrent to both humans and gods, yet we dared not speak out."
After a while, the identities of several people were exposed one after another, and none of them was not a criminal.
The emperor was so angry that his face turned blue.
Even if you want to slander Sheng Mingyu, you should find some normal people!
I wonder how Jiangnan was governed? Why were there so many mistakes?
"Your Majesty, please make the decision and imprison them! The Crown Prince is in Jiangnan to solve problems for the people. Some time ago, they ran away inexplicably. I didn't expect them to come to Kyoto."
"Yes! Your Majesty, please make the decision and don't let them return to Jiangnan!"
As soon as the charges against a few people were mentioned, the people below would kneel down and plead for their lives.
Their Jiangnan is in a good time now, and they can't take these people back.
"Your Majesty! We are truly innocent! Don't listen to their nonsense. When have we ever done anything wrong in Jiangnan? If we had done anything wrong, wouldn't we have been arrested long ago?"
"Yes! Do you really think that just by standing on the side of the Crown Prince you can freely molest us? Even if His Highness is favored, His Majesty will not be indiscriminate!"
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