SFS Chapter 473 Wronged Souls Under the Blade
Chapter 473 Wronged Souls Under the Blade
The sedan chair had only traveled a mile when it was blocked by an oncoming carriage.
The Minister of Personnel lifted the curtain, about to ask what had happened.
A woman stepped down from the carriage and anxiously approached the sedan chair, introducing herself: "Your Excellency, my husband is the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Please, I beg you, save his life."
The Minister of Personnel was somewhat surprised, not expecting that Lian Yanqing's wife would come to him for help.
"I've heard about Lord Lian's matter. He's an official appointed by the court, and the Prince of Guangling can't handle him without authorization." The Minister of Personnel advised, "Go back to your residence and wait for news. Don't act rashly and give others a handle to use against you."
Madam Lian said in a panic, "My lord was taken away from the government office for most of the day. Just now, someone came to the mansion to inform me, and I immediately sent someone to find out what happened."
“I heard that the Prince of Guangling arrested not only my master, but also several other upright officials. My master and the other officials were wronged and demanded to see His Majesty to seek justice. Who knew that the Prince of Guangling would kill the censor in front of them, trying to torture them into confessing.”
“This is right under the Emperor’s nose. The Prince of Guangling dared to arrest people without being able to produce any evidence of their crimes. He clearly has no respect for His Majesty. Minister, I beg you to save my master and prevent him from becoming a victim of the knife.”
The Minister of Personnel was not easily fooled: "The Prince of Guangling was ordered to Yongqing County to quell the rebellion and investigate Feng Zhihuan's case. The censor he killed today not only protected Feng Zhihuan's crimes but also colluded with him."
He asked, word by word, "Madam Lian, tell me, was his death unjust or not?"
Madam Lian's face turned deathly pale.
The Minister of Personnel's words were merely a ploy to deceive Lady Lian.
The reaction of Lady Lian reveals whether Lian Yanqing is innocent or not.
The Minister of Personnel said, "The Northern Qi empire belongs to His Majesty; it is not up to the Prince of Guangling to make decisions. Your father is innocent, and all will be well."
When Madam Lian saw that the Minister of Personnel was unwilling to help, she panicked completely and dared not hide it any longer. She stammered, "My...my husband was doing things for Prince Xian, appointing and dismissing a few officials."
The Minister of Personnel continued, "Officials from Yongqing Commandery?"
Madam Lian pursed her lips and remained silent.
The Minister of Personnel understood; it seemed that more than just Yongqing County had been affected.
"I understand." The Minister of Personnel waved his hand. "Go back to your residence and wait for news."
Lady Lian's heart sank, and she said urgently, "If I hadn't had no other choice, I wouldn't have come to you and put you in such a difficult position. It's just that today's matter has blown up and alarmed His Majesty."
“His Majesty sent someone to summon the Prince of Guangling to the palace. I thought there was still room for maneuver in this matter. After all, my husband is a third-rank official in the court. The case of buying and selling officials is neither a big deal nor a small one. It all depends on His Majesty’s mind.”
"But I waited until nightfall, and there was still no news. I was worried that His Majesty would punish my master for buying and selling official positions."
At this point, Madam Lian burst into tears: "Minister, please, for the sake of my husband being your subordinate, beg the Prince Xian to save my husband's life. Our Lian family will remember your and the Prince Xian's life-saving grace."
As soon as she finished speaking, she knelt down.
The Minister of Personnel had a complicated expression.
Madam Lian's words completely confirmed his suspicions from earlier that day.
As expected, the Prince of Guangling had seized upon the incriminating evidence against the officials.
They are not innocent.
At most, it was just that the Prince of Guangling used official business as a pretext to eliminate his political enemies who were standing in his way.
“This is a difficult matter.” The Minister of Personnel sighed. “I will pass on your message to Prince Xian. As for the outcome, it depends on Lord Lian’s fate.”
Madam Lian thanked her repeatedly.
The Minister of Personnel looked at the once pampered noblewoman, now with disheveled hair, kneeling on the ground begging for his help, her clothes filthy from the mud and water, a far cry from her usual elegance and glory.
In an instant, a sense of crisis surged into my heart.
He feared that the fate of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel today would be the fate of the Ministry of Personnel in the future.
The Minister of Personnel lowered the curtain of the sedan chair.
The sedan chair bearers carried the Minister of Personnel to the Prince Xian's residence.
The wise prince was confined to his residence; those inside could not leave, and those outside could not enter.
There is a secret escape passage in the Prince Xian's mansion.
Back then, when the Minister of Personnel met with Prince Xian in private, they entered Prince Xian's residence through this secret passage to avoid being seen.
This time, the Minister of Personnel once again entered through the secret passage.
After passing through a long, narrow passage, we arrived at a spacious, dark room. Two luminous pearls were embedded in the walls of the room, their shimmering light illuminating the entire space.
The Minister of Personnel knocked on a hidden door three times long and two times short.
A moment later, the hidden door opened.
When the wise prince saw the Minister of Personnel, a bad feeling welled up in his heart, and he hurriedly went into the secret room: "Why have you come? Has something happened?"
The Minister of Personnel came to see the Prince Xian at night, hoping to glean some important information from him.
It now appears that the wise king was completely unaware of what was happening outside.
The Minister of Personnel succinctly told the Prince Xian what had happened outside: "The Prince of Guangling has arrested the Vice Minister of Justice and the Vice Minister of Personnel, among others. Their families have come to me, begging me to pass on a message to you, asking you to save their lives."
After saying this, the Minister of Personnel stared intently at the Prince, as if trying to discern his true thoughts and whether he truly wanted to save the ministers who supported him.