Chapter 25 Liu Tiefeng The
Queen raised her eyes and glanced at Xia Miaoyuan's anxious face, and whispered: "On the way back to Beijing, I met a group of people who were being chased by the government."
"After careful questioning, it turned out that the leader was Liu Tiefeng, the county magistrate of Kuqiao County, and the few people following him were all victims of the disaster in the county."
[Ah, Liu Tiefeng, I remember him! ]
Xia Miaoyuan was instantly excited when he heard this.
[He died miserably in the book. 】
The Queen paused, and seeing that her daughter was no longer reminiscing, she continued to read: "I heard from Liu Tiefeng that Kuqiao County suffered a severe disaster, but local officials embezzled the relief funds and did not care about the lives of the people. In order to prevent the truth from being exposed, the government actually guarded the official roads and prohibited the victims from fleeing the famine, and a large number of victims died."
The Queen felt her blood boiling and was extremely angry.
【Yes, that's what the book says. Kuqiao County is as bitter as its name, and it is really as bitter as buckwheat. 】
【The plot arranged in the book is that the prince Guoguo went to provide disaster relief. Under the instruction of Master Jiang, the deputy envoy of disaster relief colluded with local officials to make fun of the prince. 】
【They picked two or three counties, provided thick porridge and money, and properly resettled the victims, just to show the prince how well they had done. The prince was young and thought that the disaster relief situation was the same in all the disaster-stricken areas. 】
Xia Zhengqi's eyes bulged like bells. They actually dared to fool the prince like this. They really didn't take the emperor seriously.
【How could he have imagined that most places in Jiangxia Province were like Kuqiao County, and the victims could only wait to die in despair on the spot. 】
【Liu Tiefeng was upright and unyielding, and was unwilling to associate with corrupt officials. He investigated the inside story of disaster relief regardless of his own safety, and found out that it was the power of Master Jiang that deceived the prince, who was the special envoy for disaster relief. 】
【So he took a few strong young men with him to find the prince to report the news. 】
【Along the way, they were chased and blocked by soldiers and encountered many difficulties. 】
【When they finally arrived at the prince's disaster relief command post, they found that the prince had already returned to the capital. 】
【Liu Tiefeng refused to give up and continued to rush to the capital. They wanted to see the emperor in Beijing and tell him the truth in person. 】
【Along the way, they did not go around, but lived by begging on the streets and walking day and night for more than a month before they arrived in the capital. 】 When
the queen heard this, she was moved and tears welled up in her eyes. She was afraid that her daughter would notice, so she hurriedly raised the letter higher.
Xia Miaoyuan was immersed in his own memories, and continued to narrate without noticing.
【But when they arrived in the capital, they found out that the prince had been framed by Master Jiang and his gang for embezzling disaster relief grain. The crime was confirmed and he could not defend himself. 】
【Liu Tiefeng understood the situation and knew that the prince was deceived. He wanted to expose the truth that the prince was framed. 】
【But by then, Master Jiang's people had found him. 】
【He and several fellow villagers were beaten to death with sticks, put into sacks, and thrown into the moat. 】
【Liu Tiefeng was a rare good official in a century, but he died miserably, even worse than a beggar on the street. 】
【What's even more hateful is that after his death, his superiors actually impeached him. When the disaster struck, he left his post without permission and fled back to his hometown. 】
【The emperor, who didn't know the truth, dismissed him. 】
【A good official lost his life for the people and got a bad reputation that will be infamous for thousands of years. 】
Ah... It's really hateful, Xia Zhengqi's face showed ferociousness.
Afraid that his daughter would find out, he turned his face away quickly.
This time, I must save Liu Tiefeng.
Xia Zhengqi made a solemn decision in his heart.
"Liu Tiefeng is upright and unyielding. He is unwilling to be manipulated by his superiors. He secretly investigates the inside story of disaster relief and decides to go to Beijing to meet the emperor with a few fellow villagers." The queen quickly sorted out her emotions and continued to read the letter.
"The government surrounded them, and I helped them out by chance. Now I am leading them on the road. But the people who found Master Jiang have not given up hunting them down."
"Your Majesty, isn't Cheng Wan very dangerous now? What if Master Jiang goes crazy and kills Cheng Wan as well?" The queen looked worried.
"Yes." Xia Zhengqi sighed.
"Ruoyu, I have decided to send two hundred imperial guards to meet them."
"Whether it is the crown prince or Liu Tiefeng, I will protect them. I cannot lose such a good official as Liu Tiefeng."
The queen was relieved after hearing this and nodded gently.
[What? Dad, you want to send the imperial guards? The commander of the imperial guards is Jiang Taishi's man! ]
[You sent the imperial guards to meet them, but it is better to say that you helped Jiang Taishi to destroy them. ]
Xia Zhengqi: ...
Queen: ...
What? The commander of the imperial guards, Wei Jianzhong, is actually Jiang Taishi's man? !
He is in charge of 100,000 imperial guards!
Xia Zhengqi felt his head buzzing and his head suddenly became big.
The Minister of War, the Minister of Revenue, the Commander of the Imperial Guards, and the governors and governors of many provinces are all Grand Tutor Jiang's men!
How can they let people live?
Oh, heaven and earth, please give me a way out!
Xia Zhengqi was so confused that he froze while holding Xia Miaoyuan.
"Your Majesty, I think it's inappropriate to send the Imperial Guards. When I was in danger before, I felt that there was something fishy about the Imperial Guards who were in charge of protection. I'm afraid that Grand Tutor Jiang's men have been planted in the Imperial Guards." The Queen was worried that her daughter would notice something was wrong with Xia Zhengqi, so she quickly found an excuse.
"Although this is just my guess, it is a serious matter and we have to act with caution."
[Mother is so smart and sharp! Daddy, you must listen to my advice.
Xia Miaoyuan looked up at the emperor, her big eyes blinking, so soft and cute.
"Well, Ruoyu, what you said makes sense." Xia Zhengqi let out a long sigh and cast an approving look at the empress.
"The secret guards are still reliable. They only come into contact with me and only obey me. I will immediately send a hundred secret guards to travel day and night to escort the prince back to Beijing safely."
[Yes, yes, the secret guards are reliable.]
Xia Miaoyuan's heart was finally at ease when he heard this.
Late at night, the palace was dark and silent, with only a few lights on along the palace road.
Two shadows sneaked into Qiuyue Pavilion.
Qiuyue Pavilion is located in an inconspicuous corner to the west of the palace. It is a small courtyard that has been abandoned for many years. There are dead branches and rotten leaves in the courtyard, which make rustling sounds when stepped on
. A dilapidated three-story wooden building stands alone in the courtyard. The wooden building has been in disrepair for many years. Whenever someone walks, the stairs and floors will make harsh creaking sounds.
At this time, Jiang Qiqiu, wearing a coarse cloth shirt and with a haggard face, was lying in the three-story attic, thinking wildly in her mind, as if she was half asleep.
The creaking sound of the stairs woke her up completely.
"Qiqiu, I'm here to see you." A familiar old woman's voice came into Jiang Qiqiu's ears.
Her eyes lit up, she jumped up, knelt on the bed and kowtowed: "Aunt, you are finally here. I knew that you love Qiqiu the most and would not abandon Qiqiu."