Chapter 54: Overturn the verdict! The edict of redress will be promulgated to the whole nation immediately! ...
"Aqiao, you really are a tough enemy," Wen Xuechi sighed. "Luckily, I'm not on your side."
Lou Wanqiao took his words as a compliment. After listening to Wen Xuechi's past few years, she felt quite touched.
Times are tough. Some people may just go with the flow, some may feel powerless, and some may fight in their own way.
When you can't change your surroundings, you can only change your behavior.
"The rumored Marquis Pingyuan is also a formidable opponent," Lou Wanqiao praised sincerely. "And today, if it weren't for your help, I'm afraid it would have taken even longer."
Wen Xuechi came over with a smile: "I didn't expect A Qiao would coax me like this."
He nuzzled into her neck affectionately, and Lou Wanqiao was imbued with the faint scent of snow lotus. Looking at him, she couldn't help but think of the big white dog next door many years ago. Its big, round, watery eyes seemed to speak, and its soft ears would wag its tail wildly and cling to her arms whenever it saw her.
She looked at Wen Xuechi who was now beside her, with a complicated expression.
Wen Xuechi had no idea what she was thinking. He looked so cheerful, just like a marshmallow at that time.
Lou Wanqiao couldn't help but reach out and gently rub his hair. "Okay, it's getting late, we should go back. I'm so glad you brought me here today. The scenery is beautiful. I love it and I admire your aunt very much."
Wen Xuechi's eyes lit up. "I'm glad you like it. This is the place in the palace I'm most familiar with. If you need anything in the future, you can always come here."
As she made her way downstairs, she once again took in the surroundings. Weapons hung on the walls: bows and arrows, longswords, short knives, daggers—everything was visible. A teacup sat on the table, and beside it stood a bookcase, neatly arranged with a row of ancient books.
"When I was young, I often came here to read books, learn swordsmanship, military tactics, and Confucianism." Wen Xuechi introduced her softly, "If there are any books you want to read, you can also come here to find them."
Lou Wanqiao nodded and said thank you.
"No need to thank me..." Wen Xuechi muttered softly.
"I didn't tell you." Lou Wanqiao smiled and looked at the long sword hanging highest on the wall. "I was talking to my aunt."
He touched his nose and coughed lightly, somewhat unnaturally: "In the future... cough, there will be a chance to see you."
After walking out of the pavilion, fresh air hit them in the face. Lou Wanqiao didn't really want to ride in a carriage, so he and Wen Xuechi walked on the road.
I have to get up early tomorrow to attend court, and there are important things to do, so I need to relax my body and mind first.
They ordered two bowls of wontons on the roadside, ate them all, and then walked slowly on the way home.
"I started thinking about it a while ago, and now you have given me a lot of inspiration." Lou Wanqiao suddenly spoke.
"Hmm? What inspiration?"
She smiled as usual: "Inspiration for catching the traitor."
…
It was already nightfall when Lou Wanqiao returned to the mansion. He first asked Ying about Li Yulan's condition. She looked a little strange, "She was very quiet and didn't struggle. She was just mumbling something in a corner. It seemed a bit like she was... mentally disturbed."
Lou Wanqiao raised his eyebrows, disagreeing with this conclusion.
Li Yulan had fought his way to this position in an enemy country for so many years; it was impossible for him to go mad or become depressed over something like this. If he was mentally disturbed, Lou Wanqiao would rather believe that he was trying to adjust himself and prevent a mental collapse.
Li Yulan is a tough opponent and we must not be careless.
"Add some more people to watch him. If anyone is seen approaching to break into the prison, kill them without mercy."
Ying's spirit trembled: "Yes!"
"Also, have you found out anything about Li Jin and Li Lianhan?"
"Not yet. Our men found nothing in the inn."
Lou Wanqiao pondered, "Then why not go to Prince Yun's Mansion and have a look? There might be some clues there... Oh, and remember to send more people to keep an eye on Li Su. If anything happens, his safety comes first."
"yes."
"Go ahead."
Watching the shadow disappear from his sight, Lou Wanqiao walked to the window and blew out the candle.
It’s a peaceful night, a good sleep.
The next morning, Lou Wanqiao put on his official uniform and got on a carriage with Wen Xuechi to go to the court.
Wen Xuechi had been staying at her residence recently, under the pretext of helping her change her dressings. Lou Wanqiao wasn't used to sharing a bed. Not to mention the cramped conditions and heat, the body's reactions, built up over the years, were enough to make Wen Xuechi shudder. Sleeping peacefully was fine, but she was afraid of a nightmare in the middle of the night, opening her eyes to see someone lying next to her before her consciousness could react and her body whipped out a dagger.
But Wen Xuechi was also very difficult to deal with. It took a lot of persuasion to persuade him to go to the next room. He came early this morning with a flattering face, saying that he wanted to take good care of her wound so that it would not affect her knife grip in the future.
Well, just for the sake of not affecting her knife grip, she endured it.
In the carriage, Lou Wanqiao closed her eyes and took a nap, leaning casually on Wen Xuechi. He was also happy to do so. He stretched out his arms and took her into his arms, happily acting as a human pillow.
After a while, the wobbly carriage stopped in front of the palace gate. Lou Wanqiao and Wen Xuechi got off the carriage and saw several officials not far away.
Li Su had cleared out the court in the past few days, and she and Wen Xuechi also left some of their men in the palace for him to use.
For over a decade, Li Su had been isolated from the outside world within the Taoist temple, let alone the imperial court. Now that he had returned, without his own power in the short term, it would be difficult for him to gain the respect of the court officials. Based on Lou Wanqiao's years of experience as an official, he still had to resort to drastic measures.
She and Wen Xuechi both have power and roots in the court, and now they can cover the sky with one hand in the court and the country. Letting their people follow Li Su can make many things more convenient for him, and he can have people to send to do some things. If there are people who are dissatisfied, the servants they leave behind are enough to deal with them.
Li Su did not disappoint her. In just a few days, she carried out a major reshuffle in the court. Now most of the people in the court and the country are her people, including many new officials.
Not only that, Li Su also issued an imperial decree that the imperial examination would be held soon. Regardless of status and money, all talented common people could sign up to participate in the imperial examination and have the opportunity to become officials in the court.
Lou Wanqiao also understood that this was exactly the kind of talent that was lacking in the government and the country.
Although it was Li Su's wish that she could push her people forward, this was not a long-term solution and was not her original intention.
As long as Lou Wanqiao wanted, he could seize the throne at any time, but what would that do? Another bloody storm was inevitable.
That was not in line with her moral principles.
Her morality belongs to everyone in the world and to millions of people.
She is decisive in killing, and over the years, she has been thinking more about killing moves. In contrast, Li Su is cultivating his character in the Taoist temple, where he can benefit the people and predict the future. It would be best for him to heal the wounded Dali.
Li Su is a well-known and rare wise ruler who can give more opportunities to more people.
What she has to do now is to make people in the court support Li Su's throne.
As she was thinking about this, someone saw her bowing respectfully. Lou Wanqiao nodded and walked into the court.
Li Su arrived very early. There was already a faint dark spot under his eyes, but he did not look haggard. Instead, he looked very energetic, with even a faint smile at the corners of his lips.
Lou Wanqiao was the first to salute: "Long live the emperor!"
Then everyone bowed and said, "Long live our emperor, long live our emperor, long live our emperor!"
"My dear ministers, please stand up." Li Su said gently, "I have something to tell you today."
Everyone looked at each other, waiting for Li Su's next words.
"I imagine you've all heard of this before. Today, I want to discuss an old case. It's been over ten years since today. I've looked through the case files at the Ministry of Justice and see numerous loopholes, clearly a hastily covered up case by someone with ulterior motives. This case involves many people, harming many, and has far-reaching consequences. Thinking of this, I can't sleep at night." Li Su stood up, his words becoming serious, each word ringing loud and clear. "In the past, Liu Fengchuan of the Runan Liu family was a high-ranking official in our dynasty, but he was murdered by a traitor. I've had the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple conduct a night-long investigation into this case and recover both physical evidence and witnesses from that time."
The hall suddenly fell silent, and the air seemed to freeze.
"How can the name of a loyal minister be tarnished by traitors and traitors! The evidence is overwhelming, and the traitors' intentions are clear. The deposed emperor even allowed his men to murder loyal officials, causing Lord Liu to suffer injustice and bear hatred even in his grave! The Liu family was almost completely wiped out, and Lord Liu has been burdened with infamy for many years."
He looked at the people in the hall and slowly exhaled, "I have investigated this matter. This is a failure of the court and a disgrace to the royal family! My heart is truly broken. The laws of a country are the foundation of its foundation. Today, I am determined to redress Lord Lu's injustice. This edict of exoneration will be promulgated to the entire nation immediately!"
When these words were spoken, everyone was shocked.
Lou Wanqiao raised his head and met Li Su's eyes.
His eyes were still calm and gentle, as firm as ever, holding the bright yellow edict in his hand.
Ah, this is... what she has been working for...
Her eyes moved slightly, she lowered her head, lifted her robe, knelt on the ground, and slowly kowtowed deeply to the edict.
"Thank you, my lord!"
Seeing her like this, everyone in the court knelt down and shouted in unison: "Our emperor is wise!"
"Is there anything else you would like to report? If there are no other important matters, I will adjourn the court today."
Everyone lowered their heads and said nothing more.
…
The redress went smoothly, not only because of Lou Wanqiao's current power, but also largely because the newly appointed officials, after the bloodshed at court, were all talented minor officials who had once been oppressed. They were all ministers in commoner rank, rising from the common people, and had endured much hardship and injustice over the years. Now, His Majesty was not only redressing the injustices of the Liu family, but also demonstrating through his actions that tyranny and oppression would no longer exist.
When Lou Wanqiao walked out of the court, it was already dawn outside. She looked up at the sky and exhaled heavily and slowly.
All the hard work over the years has finally paid off.
Mother, Father.
It has been a difficult and bumpy journey, but fortunately I have achieved what I wanted.
Jiaojiao killed her enemy and washed away the stigma.
I really hope you can see it.
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