SFS Chapter 476: Conferring the title of King Zhao and welcoming back his widow
Chapter 476: Conferring the title of King Zhao and welcoming back his widow
Unable to bear the pressure of being roasted on the fire, Lu Sui signed the receipt form of Yuelai Escort Agency with trembling hands.
A huge amount of silver is right in front of them, but with so many people around, no one dares to have any bad thoughts. This is the goods of Yuelai Escort Agency, and it is in front of the Dali Temple. Who would be so bold as to touch it?
Zhang Yuan was very enthusiastic and efficient in finding someone to count the silver. After taking inventory of the silver, it was found that it was indeed 300,000 taels. Moreover, the inscription on the silver was exactly the same as the inscription on the batch of military pay that was recorded as "embezzled" by the Zhaoping Marquis Mansion!
Things have developed to this point, and the truth is already on the table.
After clearly listing all the witnesses and evidence, Zhang Yuan, who was responsible for publicizing the case, made a summary statement to the onlookers.
"The case of treason in the Zhaoping Marquis' Mansion and the case of embezzlement of military pay were all framed by traitors!"
"Zhaoping Marquis Mansion is innocent!"
When the people who had been waiting from dawn to afternoon heard the verdict, many of them shed tears of excitement.
"Mr. Zhang, you are truly a fair and selfless official who speaks up for the people. We will always remember you!"
"Master Zhang, if you make this case public, I don't know how many people you will offend. You must be extra careful!"
Everyone has witnessed the efforts made by Zhang Yuan at the scene today, and the voices of the disabled can be heard everywhere.
Zhang Yuan listened to the thanks from the crowd in front of the Dali Temple, his eyes were red, he looked in the direction of Linlang Street, his eyes were a little confused, he didn't know what his fate would be after the case was made public, but at least now he had a clear conscience, worthy of his master's teachings, and worthy of the trust and entrustment of the people!
Just as the crowd was leaving the West Gate, someone suddenly ran all the way to the front of the Dali Temple. He was out of breath, but he couldn't hide the excitement in his tone: "Master Zhang! The snow on Linlang Street has stopped!"
Zhang Yuan was shocked when he heard the news, then nodded excitedly: "That's great!"
The strange June snow on Linlang Street stopped immediately after the injustice of Marquis Zhaoping's Mansion was cleared. There couldn't be a more coincidental thing in the world than this.
Even those who did not believe in the theory of retribution from ghosts and gods were shocked after hearing the news. They began to believe that the snow was God speaking up for the loyal and good people in the Zhaoping Marquis' Mansion!
The news that Marquis Zhaoping's mansion was innocent and the snow on Linlang Street had finally stopped spread quickly in the capital and to all parts of Dasheng.
The pressure came to Emperor Qingning.
In the imperial study, Emperor Qingning summoned his confidants, and Zhang Yuan and Xue Wei's father, Grand Tutor Xue, were excluded.
Jiang Lili's father, the Minister of Personnel Jiang Zhoulin, kept his head down, feeling uneasy. The news that Marquis Zhaoping was innocent had already spread, and the evidence was irrefutable. The emperor could not come down now, and if he wanted to stop the people from gossiping, he had to clear Marquis Zhaoping's name and bring his widow back to the capital to compensate her.
Doesn’t that mean Jiang Lili will come back alive?
Will she make public the fact that she and Jiang Wanyue set up a trap for her to lure a wolf to kill the people in Marquis Zhaoping's mansion?
Originally, people thought that the Zhaoping Marquis Mansion could not be any more doomed, but unexpectedly, Zhaoping Marquis and his two sons were all dead, and there was an inexplicable snowfall to reverse their fate.
No one expected things to develop to this point.
There are already rumors circulating in Dasheng that the Zhaoping Marquis Mansion is blessed by God and this is the destiny!
There is no way to find out why it is snowing, so there is really only one explanation: it is all God's will.
This was what most upset Emperor Qingning. What was he, the emperor who was revered as the Son of Heaven?
His face was gloomy, and it was hard to tell whether he was happy or angry. "What do you think of the reversal of the case in Zhaoping Marquis' Mansion?"
The Right Prime Minister stroked his beard and stepped forward to say, "Your Majesty, now that things have come to this, we can only follow the will of the people, punish the murderer who framed the Zhaoping Marquis Mansion, welcome the widow of the Zhaoping Marquis Mansion back to the capital, and restore the reputation of the Zhaoping Marquis Mansion and clear their name."
"When Marquis Zhaoping and the Crown Prince returned to the capital, didn't Your Majesty issue an imperial edict and a token to confer the title of King Zhao on Marquis Zhaoping? But before the title was officially conferred, something happened in Marquis Zhaoping's mansion."
As the Right Prime Minister spoke, he did not forget to take into account Emperor Qingning's thoughts: "Anyway, the three of Zhaoping Marquis and his son have already died, and posthumously conferring the title of king on the dead man in the coffin will not affect the situation in the court. We are doing all this for outsiders to see."
Emperor Qingning felt a throbbing pain in his temples when he heard this: "Punish the murderer who slandered Zhaoping Marquis' Mansion? Now the spearhead is pointing at Yao Chengping. Do I have to deal with him, the fierce tiger general guarding the northwest?"
"He and Xue Wei are in a situation of checks and balances. If he is dealt with, won't Xue Wei be the only one in the northwest?"
Emperor Qingning was so angry that he almost died. The 30 taels of silver were hidden so deep, but Xue Wei actually found them. Moreover, Xue Wei was usually very cautious in everything he did and would report to him in advance. This time, it was really unexpected.
"Xue Wei's move to directly send 30 taels of silver to the capital is really inappropriate. It is hard for me not to suspect that he is a remnant of Marquis Zhaoping! This is the day I have been waiting for."
"To be honest, the person to be punished is not Yao Chengping, but Xue Wei!"
"You guys quickly come up with an excuse to remove Xue Wei from the position of Governor of the Northwest!"
Upon hearing this, the ministers looked at each other in embarrassment. What Xue Wei had done in the northwest was so great that it was impossible to find fault with it. As for the emperor sending silver in anger, the people thought that Xue Wei had provided evidence in time to clear the name of Marquis Zhaoping's Mansion. It was a manifestation of justice and enthusiasm, and there was nothing wrong with it no matter how they looked at it.
The Right Prime Minister smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty, if you want to punish Xue Wei, there are many ways to do it in the future, but what we need to solve right now is the matter of Zhaoping Marquis's Mansion. We must quickly stop the people from complaining."
"With Xue Wei's influence, if he has any evil intentions and wants to make a fuss about the matter of Marquis Zhaoping's Mansion, things will become more and more troublesome."
Emperor Qingning was silent for a long time.
Then Zhou Jushan was called over.
"Zhou Jushan, pass on my order!"
Zhou Jushan walked into the imperial study slowly and calmly: "Your Majesty, what do you want?"
"The Marquis of Zhaoping's mansion was framed by traitors and suffered injustice for three years. I feel deeply distressed and guilty. I hereby posthumously confer the title of Zhao Wang, the first-rank official, on Xin Chong, the Marquis of Zhaoping. His rank is second only to the Regent. I posthumously confer the title of Zhao Wang's Crown Prince and the first-rank general. I posthumously confer the title of the second-rank Grand Protector General on Xin Cheng."
Emperor Qingning suppressed his dissatisfaction and comforted himself as he spoke, thinking that it was a posthumous title for a dead person, so all he needed to do was build a better tomb for him and add some burial objects.
"Renovate the Marquis Zhaoping Mansion according to the highest royal palace regulations."
"We have chosen the nearest auspicious day and have led the First-Rank Prince's procession to Haizhou Island to bring back the coffins of Prince Zhao and his son and the widow of Prince Zhao's mansion."