Chapter 273 Marquis of Jiangling Commits Suicide Out of Fear of Punishment
Li Yuying, who was wearing a veil, lit up when she heard the words "imperial edict". She lifted the veil and looked at Yun Yanzhe opposite her with bright eyes. "Imperial edict, the imperial edict has arrived. It must be because my husband has become the son-in-law of the Marquis of Jiangling. The emperor has learned of this and pardoned your crime of exile. You can stay in Jiangling. You don't have to be exiled. We don't have to go to Lingnan."
Yun Yanzhe had a feeling that this matter was not so simple, and his worried gaze turned to Li Chonghe, who was in the main seat, "Uncle..."
The last time I heard the three words "imperial edict" was on the day someone's house was confiscated and they were exiled.
Li Yuying scolded, "Husband, what time is it? You still call him uncle-in-law. You should call him father-in-law. Only then will the eunuch who announces the imperial decree think more highly of you. The Yun family has declined. You are now the son-in-law of the Li family."
Her parents wanted to send her to the godforsaken Lingnan, but she didn't want to go. She planned to stay at the Li family home after the wedding and refused to leave, refusing to believe that her parents would be willing to kick her out.
Sitting to one side, Madam Wang rarely showed a smile: "Ze'er, Ying'er is right, hurry up and start calling him father-in-law and mother-in-law."
People from the second and third branches of the Yun family also came to witness the ceremony.
Yun Jiaoyue made a mistake by driving the convicts out of the manor for the sake of her family, and was subsequently confined by Zhao Xuan.
Yun Yanzhe obediently addressed them as "Father-in-law, Mother-in-law".
Uncle Yun said, “Ze’er, if you become rich and powerful, don’t forget us. We are all family. We have been through thick and thin together, and we should share the wealth as well. Now that you are being pardoned, don’t forget your uncles, your second and third uncles.”
Uncle Yun also said, "Yes, I also contributed a lot to your wedding banquet with your niece-in-law. Today, I've brought the whole family to attend the ceremony. In the end, when you are reinstated and your marquisate is restored, and you return to the capital, don't forget to promote Rong-ge'er."
"And my son, Jie."
"And my An'er..."
The Yun family was misled by Li Yuying's words. They thought that something that hadn't even happened yet had already been pardoned, and that the Marquis's family had already returned to the capital. They couldn't wait to flatter her and seek benefits for their descendants.
Marquis Jiangling's right eyelid kept twitching, and he had a bad feeling. He had to go out and see what was going on, so he hurriedly led his family to the door to greet him.
As soon as they stepped out of the main hall, the imperial eunuch, accompanied by the imperial guards, rushed in and blocked the doorway.
Li Chonghe lifted his robe and knelt down, followed by his family and officials who all knelt down in unison.
Eunuch Liu reached out and took the imperial edict from the young eunuch behind him. "Marquis of Jiangling, receive the edict!"
He bowed deeply, head bowed, and said in a low voice, "Your humble servant receives the decree!"
By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:
Marquis Li Chonghe of Jiangling was previously ordered to suppress bandits, but he returned empty-handed time and again. Recently, it has been discovered that banditry persists in the Jinghu area. Your repeated attempts to suppress and pacify the bandits have not only failed, but have also led to their growing strength. Furthermore, according to a secret report, you are secretly colluding with the bandit leaders, allowing them to run rampant and harboring traitors, which is tantamount to conspiring with them.
Such conduct deeply betrays my grace and tarnishes the dignity of the nation. His marquisate is hereby revoked, and he is to be escorted to the capital for joint investigation by the Three Judicial Offices. All members of the marquis's household are forbidden from leaving the territory without imperial decree, pending further judgment.
So be it!
Li Chonghe was shocked when he heard the contents of the imperial edict.
Both the Wang and Qin families have members serving as officials in the court, and the three families are related by marriage. Why wasn't he notified in advance? Also, none of the spies he planted in the capital to gather information have sent back any news.
"Colluding with bandits? Your Majesty, I am innocent! It is my dereliction of duty that I failed to suppress the bandits, but those bandits thrived in their place. They always hid when we sent troops to suppress them. But colluding with bandits? How could that be? I hate those bandits so much that I want to get rid of them as soon as possible! How could I possibly collude with them? I beg Your Majesty to investigate and clear my name."
The Li family members also kowtowed, "Injustice! Your Excellency, the Marquis is loyal to the Emperor and would never collude with bandits. We are all innocent. Someone must be framing us. We beg Your Excellency to investigate thoroughly, clear our master's name, and restore the Li family's century-old reputation..."
Liu Gonggong remained expressionless and said in an official tone, "Marquis Jiangling should save these words for when you get to the capital and report them to the Three Departments. I am only responsible for conveying imperial decrees and cannot overstep my bounds to investigate cases."
Li Yuying rushed forward to block Jiangling Hou's path, preventing the imperial guards from arresting him. "What are you doing? My father would never collude with bandits. My father is a good official. Let him go. Don't arrest him. Let him go."
Although Li Yuying is domineering, she is not stupid. All her current glory comes from the Marquis of Jiangling.
Her life as a pampered young lady has come to an end; she might even be convicted and reduced to a lowly status, forced into the brothel and forced into prostitution where she is ridden by thousands and slept with by tens of thousands.
She doesn't want to!
No one can take her father away, and no one can take away her wealth and status.
Li Chonghe scolded his daughter, "Ying'er, don't be willful, get out of the way!"
He cupped his hands in the direction of the capital and said, "I, Li Chonghe, have acted uprightly and honestly, and have no shame before the people of Jiangling or the Emperor. Once the Three Departments have investigated the truth, they will surely clear my name."
"father……"
"I told you to get out of my way!"
The imperial court wanted to take him away; how could a weak woman like her possibly stop it?
The Imperial Guards showed no mercy, shoving Li Yuying aside and ordering, "Take her away!"
Two imperial guards lifted the Marquis of Jiangling off the ground and carried him away.
The wives and concubines of the Marquis chased after him, calling out, "Master, Master, the Marquis..."
"My lord..."
"Father, Father..."
Li Chonghe turned around, "Madam, I'll leave the Marquis's residence to you for now..."
"Rest assured, my lord, I will certainly uphold the rank of the Marquis's mansion and await Your Highness's return!"
"Um!"
The wedding went wrong and couldn't proceed.
The second and third branches of the Yun family quickly made an excuse to slip away, a stark contrast to their obsequious demeanor before they arrived, as if they were afraid of having any connection with the Li family.
Wang and Yun Yanzhe stayed at the Marquis's residence to devise strategies with Lady Li.
Wang went to find Zhao Xuan, while Madam Li was responsible for contacting her maternal family in the capital, the Wang family, her brother-in-law, and the Qin family.
They were asked to lobby the court to help clear the Marquis of Jiangling's name and, ideally, get him released without charge.
When Wang was about to leave, she wanted to take her son with her, but Li Yuying stopped her, saying, "Aunt, where are you taking my husband?"
"I want to go back with Ze'er to plead with His Highness Prince Xuan to save your father."
“Aunt can go back alone. You are His Highness Prince Xuan’s mother-in-law. Your words already carry enough weight. Why would your husband need to go back? Tonight is our wedding night…” Li Yuying’s gaze swept over Yun Yanzhe Dong without any attempt to conceal it, her eyes carrying a hint of frivolity and amusement.
Yun Yanzhe frowned slightly, a hint of disgust flashing across his lowered eyes. "My mother is, after all, a woman confined to the inner quarters. She doesn't understand matters of the court. With me here, I can better persuade Your Highness, so I must go back."
He suddenly felt somewhat relieved that the wedding was interrupted due to the Li family's misfortune, and as long as the couple had not yet bowed to each other, they could not be considered husband and wife.
“No, you can’t go back. You are my husband. I will consummate our marriage tonight and carry on your family line.” Li Yuying’s tone was unquestionable.
Halfway through their wedding ceremony, trouble struck the Li family.
If they back out of the marriage and sever ties with the Li family, the Li family will lose a powerful ally. Her father will be isolated and helpless in the court. Who else can help them?
Only by binding them firmly to one another will they do everything in their power to save her father.
Tonight, Li Yuying forcibly kept Yun Yanzhe in her room, but did not force him to share a room with her.
They even asked people to treat them well.
Several high-ranking officials from the Jiangling Prefecture government were all arrested and imprisoned.
That night, the cell where they were being held caught fire, and they were all burned to death in the prison.
The officials transferred from the capital were changed from temporarily serving in their positions to being formally appointed.
Those officials were all the Second Prince's men.
Zhao Xuan had already received the news that the iron mine was gone and that the Marquis of Jiangling was of little use to him. He could use the Second Prince to get rid of him, the man who had betrayed him.
While secretly plotting and scheming, he launched a counterattack against the Second Prince.
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