Chapter 68: Quarrel
When Xie Tingzhou walked out of the hall, he felt that this court and this Great Zhou were rotten to the core.
He stood there and didn't move, because he didn't know how to explain to her that all his efforts had resulted in such a result.
Chen Yu didn't sleep all night. Xi Feng kept urging her to go back and wait, but she didn't listen and kept waiting outside Yongning Street.
The court officials gradually dispersed, and after a long time, Xie Tingzhou appeared at Guanghua Gate.
Xie Tingzhou never showed his feelings, but Shen Yu could tell from his expression that things were not going well today.
Xie Tingzhou approached, "Why didn't you go back?"
"I'm worried." Shen Yu said.
Xie Tingzhou nodded, "Let's talk in the car."
"I handed Liang Jianfang's confession to Wan Ruixian, who impeached the Minister of Revenue Ge Liangji for colluding with Liang Jianfang and causing the defeat."
Chen Yu looked at Xie Tingzhou's expression, "Did something go wrong?"
Xie Tingzhou looked at her and said after a while: "Liang Jianfang is dead."
"What?" Shen Yu was shocked.
Xie Tingzhou said coldly: "After hearing the impeachment, Emperor Tongxu was ready to bring Liang Jianfang to trial on the spot. The person who went to bring him back reported that Liang Jianfang committed suicide in prison out of fear of punishment."
"That's nonsense!" Chen Yu said angrily, "Liang Jianfang is so afraid of death, who would believe that he committed suicide out of fear of punishment?"
"Someone will believe it," Xie Tingzhou frowned, "The most important thing is that before he died, he left another confession letter, which is completely different from the one you gave me."
Chen Yu's mind exploded with a bang, and she said anxiously: "Someone forced him to write a confession, and then killed him and pretended that he committed suicide out of fear of crime."
Xie Tingzhou said: "The two testimonies came from the same person, but they were completely contradictory. Emperor Tongxu was extremely worried and had no choice but to detain both groups of people for further investigation."
These two testimonies came from the same person, and it would be unreasonable to accept either one. It seems that the confession can no longer be used as evidence, and we have to find another way out.
As soon as she left the Dali Temple Prison, someone went to kill Liang Jianfang. It seemed that someone in the Dali Temple was always keeping a close eye on her, and perhaps her movements were also noticed by someone.
Chen Yu pondered for a moment, and suddenly said: "I want to go to Lu's clothing shop."
Seeing Xie Tingzhou staring at her, Chen Yu asked, "Why are you looking at me?"
"Nothing." Xie Tingzhou looked away.
But Chen Yu tilted her head to look at him.
There seems to be something wrong with this prince recently. When they were on the road before, he would always argue with her, but now he seems to be much calmer.
The carriage stopped in front of the tailor shop.
Before Chen Yu got off the carriage, she turned back and said, "Your Highness and Xifeng go back first. I will go back to the palace by myself."
Xie Tingzhou didn't get out of the car, and watched Chen Yu walk into the store.
Xi Feng leaned back, tilted his head slightly and said, "He is no longer avoiding Your Highness. I think he has begun to trust you."
Xie Tingzhou lifted the curtain a little with his index finger, and through the gap he saw the shopkeeper welcoming Shi Yu into the inner room.
Chen Yu asked, "Any news about Green Medicine?"
The shopkeeper shook his head heavily, walked to the table and opened the drawer, "But there is a letter from Hezhou, which was just delivered this morning."
Shen Yu nodded, opened the letter and asked as she read it, "Any news from the Shen family?"
"This..." The shopkeeper hesitated to speak.
"Go ahead."
"Yes," said the shopkeeper, "I delivered the letter myself, and reminded the Second Miss by the way. She said..."
The shopkeeper said cautiously, "She said that the eldest daughter of the Shen family had died in Yanliang Pass. How could such a scoundrel dare to pretend to be the eldest daughter of Shen? Could it be that he wanted to defraud money?"
After Chen Yu finished reading, her hand holding the letter dropped to her knees.
"Would you like me to send another one now?" the shopkeeper asked tentatively.
"No need," Chen Yu said, "I'll go find her myself."
When I walked out of the store, Xie Tingzhou and Xifeng had not left yet, and they had parked the carriage to the side so as not to block the customers entering the store.
Shen Yu got on the carriage. She was a smart person and would not ask embarrassing questions.
You can't ask him why he hasn't left yet and then wait for him to say "I'll wait for you".
The carriage was driving on the noisy street.
Chen Yu thought of Hong Qiao's letter, so she asked Xie Tingzhou, "It is said that the grain transport officer died on the way, and the grain is missing."
Xie Tingzhou hummed, "It is said that the grain and grass were robbed by bandits in Qichang Prefecture."
The situation in Da Zhou has been getting worse in recent years, with corrupt officials rampant and people living in poverty. Some farmers work hard to grow crops for a year, but the grain they pay is still not enough to feed themselves.
There were more and more disaster victims, and many who had no food to eat simply became bandits, at least to have a meal.
This has also led to the rampant banditry in the Great Zhou today.
"Which bandit dares to rob food and grass on the front line?" Chen Yu snorted coldly.
"So I said it was heard." Xie Tingzhou said slowly: "The court is short of people now, and we haven't been able to figure out a plan to suppress the bandits yet."
"Can't we let the local princes suppress the bandits?"
Xie Tingzhou shook his head. "Emperor Tongxu is suspicious by nature. Would he dare to let the princes lead their troops to leave the country?"
"That's true."
As for candidates, isn't there one ready-made one? When Xie Tingzhou was escorting him, he only dared to bring two thousand Qingyun Guards, and he turned back to Beilin fifty miles away from the capital, for fear of being caught by Emperor Tongxu.
Chen Yu thought about it, and an idea suddenly came to her mind, "Qi Chang, Qi Chang."
"What's wrong?" Xie Tingzhou asked.
Chen Yu suddenly grabbed his hand and said excitedly: "The location of Qichang Prefecture! Why did the food and grass have to be lost in Qichang?"
Xie Tingzhou didn't say anything, just stared blankly at the hand that was holding his.
It felt like something gently touched my heart.
Why do her hands look so small? How can such a small hand wield such a long knife?
He stared for too long, causing Shen Yu to instantly notice something was wrong, and quickly retracted her hand, saying, “Your Highness, I’m sorry for the offense.”
Seeing the hand retracted, Xie Tingzhou felt a slight sense of loss in his heart.
"No problem."
Xifeng suddenly heard the word "offensive" outside the car, but he didn't know how Shiyu offended His Highness.
"What did you just say?" Xie Tingzhou concentrated.
Chen Yu said: “If I remember correctly, the location of Qichang Mansion is very special.”
Xie Tingzhou thought for a moment and nodded, "Qichang Prefecture is adjacent to the two vassal states, and the official road on the other side leads directly to Shengjing."
"Yes," Chen Yu was a little excited, "In a place like this, if something is lost, it will be difficult for the three parties to send troops, so they have been unable to formulate a rule. Which state should the food and grass be transferred from? Why was it lost in Qichang Prefecture?"
Xie Tingzhou was silent for a moment, "I'll have to ask the Ministry of Revenue about this."
Chen Yu thought of Jiang Lianzhi. This case must be related to the Ministry of Revenue. Then, as the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, was Jiang Lianzhi involved in it?
Seeing her thoughtful expression, Xie Tingzhou asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking about Jiang Lianzhi." Chen Yu replied subconsciously.
Xie Tingzhou raised his eyelids to look at her, then pursed his lips and turned his head away.
Chen Yu could now barely understand Xie Tingzhou's temper. He seemed unhappy, but she couldn't figure out why.
After thinking about it, it was probably because of Jiang Lianzhi. Could it be that they were political enemies?
"What I mean is," Shen Yu said after thinking for a while, "He is the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. I am wondering if he is involved in this matter."
"No need to explain to me." Xie Tingzhou said lightly, then leaned against the wall of the car and closed his eyes to take a nap.
Chen Yu looked at his silent face. Why did she suddenly feel that he seemed to be in a bad mood?
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