The next day, Fengtian Palace.
When Zhu Yuanzhang came to court, the ministers shouted long live.
"Everyone is safe."
Zhu Yuanzhang slowly sat on the dragon chair, looking down at the ministers with an indifferent expression.
Xiao Guizi knew that the emperor was in a bad mood, so he raised his fly whisk and said, "Every official has his duty and will leave the court if nothing happens."
"I have this report!" The head of the Household Department was the first to stand up.
Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at him lightly and said, "It's accurate."
"Your Majesty, your Majesty has always been in good health, but now she suddenly passed away..." As he spoke, he sobbed and sobbed, "The imperial doctor who treated your Majesty must have neglected his duty, which is why this happened."
He didn't say who it was, but everyone present knew who he was talking about.
For a moment, everyone looked at Zhu Yuanzhang.
There was no sign of anger on Zhu Yuanzhang's face, his expression was quite calm and he did not make any statement.
Guo Huan saw this and was delighted in his heart. He glanced at Zeng Tai.
But Zeng Tai ignored him. It was too early to speak at this time and further observation was needed.
Being in a high position, understanding the Sacred Heart is a compulsory course. Even if the opponent commits a mortal sin, he must seize the opportunity to speak, otherwise, it is easy to make the emperor unhappy.
The queen had just passed away, and it was still unknown whether the emperor was willing to kill someone immediately. He would not speak before the holy will was clear.
"I second my opinion."
Zeng Tai could keep his temper, but some people couldn't. Wai Lang, a member of the Ministry of Etiquette, left his job.
"Your Majesty, your Majesty is only fifty years old. If it wasn't for the misdiagnosis by quack doctors, how could she have... I ask Your Majesty to conduct a thorough investigation."
"Thorough investigation?" Zhu Yuanzhang said slowly, "Thorough investigation of who?"
"The person who diagnoses the Queen's illness." Wailang, a member of the Ministry of Etiquette, replied with a sob.
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, "The person who treated the queen is Li Qing. Do you mean to investigate him thoroughly?"
Wailang, a member of the Household Department, hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Your Majesty is wise."
"Haha..." Zhu Yuanzhang had a strange smile on his lips, and just as he was about to speak, the general standing in the palace hurried in and reported: "Your Majesty, Li Qing, the envoy of Jinyi Town, said that he has one hundred thousand urgent matters to report."
Guo Huan didn't expect that Li Qing would dare to come at this juncture. He quietly looked outside the palace and felt even more excited inside.
Li Qing, Li Qing, if you dare to come at this time, it’s really hard for you not to die.
"Everyone can't bear their temper!" Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head slightly, "Let him wait first."
"yes."
The general standing in the palace cupped his hands and retreated slowly.
Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at the ministers and said, "If you think Li Qing is guilty, step forward."
The ministers were stunned. The head of the Household Department and the member of the Rites Department, Wai Lang, were the first to react and immediately took a step forward. Immediately, someone followed.
Zhu Yuanzhang counted more than 20 people who came forward, and there was a minister among them, which surprised him.
Logically speaking, people of this rank should not be so aggressive.
"Zeng Tai, do you also think Li Qing is guilty?"
"The Emperor's warning!" Zeng Tai cupped his hands and said, "Li Qing abused his power for personal gain and embezzled tens of thousands of taels of stolen money. I have conclusive evidence of his guilt."
"corruption?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes narrowed, "You have embezzled tens of thousands of taels, and the evidence is solid?"
"Exactly." Zeng Tai said righteously, "If I frame you falsely, I am willing to suffer the crime of rebellion."
"Wei Chen can testify for Zeng Shangshu." Guo Huan came out and said, "If what I said is untrue, I am willing to share the same guilt with Zeng Shangshu."
A minister and a minister all insisted that Li Qing had used power for personal gain, embezzled tens of thousands of taels, and was willing to suffer the untrue consequences. Zhu Yuanzhang also became suspicious.
This Li Qing...did we make a mistake again?
Zhu Yuanzhang's face became increasingly ugly, and he said in a deep voice: "Let that bastard come in."
Guo Huan almost laughed out loud when he heard that the emperor had even changed his title.
Xiao Guizi sang in a high voice: "Xuan Li Qing goes to court."
Li Qing strode into the main hall, lifted his robe and bowed: "Long live my emperor, Li Qing!"
After a pause, seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang did not give up, he had to say: "The emperor ordered me to investigate corrupt officials. I dare not slack off. Now it has been found..."
Zhu Yuanzhang interrupted, "Li Qing, the Minister of Household Affairs and the Minister of Finance have all accused you of abusing power for personal gain and embezzling tens of thousands of taels of stolen money. What do you have to say?"
He hated that iron could not make steel, "Isn't the money we give you enough?"
Li Qing was stunned, looking at the murderous Lao Zhu, and murmuring in his heart: Damn, this wave... was the prediction wrong?
Lao Zhu really wants to kill me?
Wait, corruption?
When did I ever commit corruption?
Li Qing cupped his hands and said, "The money given by the emperor is enough, and I still have a lot at home."
"Then you are still greedy?"
"I'm not greedy." Li Qing shook his head.
After a pause, "May I ask Your Majesty, where did I become greedy for money?"
Lao Zhu hesitated and glanced at Guo Huan and Zeng Tai.
When Guo Huan saw that the opportunity had come, he immediately ignored Master Shangshu and rolled up his arms to get in himself.
"Li Qing, when you raided the Zuixian Tower, you auctioned off all the mortal women inside to the prostitutes, right?"
Li Qing said calmly, "Zui Xian Tower is Ouyang Lun's embezzled money, and so is the mortal woman inside. I am auctioning it off to fill the national treasury. What's wrong with it?"
"It's not inappropriate." Guo Huan smiled slowly.
He enjoyed the feeling of squeezing his opponent to death bit by bit in front of the emperor and all the civil and military officials.
"Please answer my question head-on!"
"Not bad." Li Qing nodded.
"Your Majesty, he is lying." Guo Huan cupped his hands and said, "Li Qing secretly detained one of Zuixian Tower's top servants and two courtesans, and took them directly for himself."
He took out the 'evidence of guilt' and said, "This is the evidence he left behind when he changed the household registration of several women. Please give it a preview, Your Majesty."
Li Qing was stunned.
Zhu Yuanzhang also looked strange.
Neither of them expected that this was what the embezzlement of tens of thousands of dirty money was talking about.
Are you stupid?
Guo Huan looked at the astonished Li Qing, and his mood couldn't be better.
Xiao Guizi walked down the jade steps, took the evidence and presented it to Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang only glanced at it and put it aside, "Guo Huan, is this what you are talking about?"
"Your Majesty, the shepherd detained by Li Qing is the number one among the shepherds in Zuixian Tower. She alone is worth at least eight thousand taels. Together with the two oirans, it is worth tens of thousands taels!"
Guo Huan said quickly, "I have the transaction prices of other Qinghuang people here. Those unknown ones can be sold for four thousand taels."
With that said, he handed over another letter of accusation.
Xiao Guizi presented it, but Zhu Yuanzhang didn't even bother to look at it. He was the one who rewarded people, so what else could he say.
But he didn't expect that a brothel prostitute could be so valuable.
Guo Huan replied that Lao Zhu didn't believe it, and immediately said, "Your Majesty, that Qinghuan is the woman in Li Qing's song "Gift to Wanling". She is really worth that price."
"Li Qing used his power for personal gain and took possession of prostitutes in a brothel under the guise of confiscation of their homes. I beg your Majesty to deal with this severely." Guo Huan knelt down heavily.
As soon as he knelt down, more than 20 people, including the head of the Household Department and Wai Lang, a member of the Rites Department, also knelt down.
However, except for the twenty or so of them, everyone else chose to remain silent.
They were all experienced people, and they were keenly aware that the Queen's attitude was somewhat unusual.
Based on our usual understanding, the witnesses and material evidence are all there, and the person under impeachment has no excuse. They should all be dragged out by now, and their heads will be on the ground before the next court.
But Li Qing was still fine, and he looked confident.
They don't dare to speak carelessly if they don't know the holy will.
Zeng Tai also noticed that something was wrong, but he was already riding a tiger and could only walk all the way to the dark side.
"I implore the Emperor to judge!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was embarrassed. It was a good deal for the emperor to grant marriage to his ministers, but it was too cheap for the emperor to reward his ministers and prostitutes.
Otherwise, he would not use secret decrees to reward people.
"Li Qing, do you have something to say?" Zhu Yuanzhang stared at him with an unkind look.
Li Qing understood Lao Zhu's meaning and immediately took the blame: "I am guilty, please punish the emperor."
Assuming you know the truth... Zhu Yuanzhang said calmly, "We will discuss the punishment later. Let's talk about your urgent matters!"
"emperor……!"
Guo Huan was shocked. He had embezzled tens of thousands of taels, but he was allowed to discuss it later?
Is this still Zhu Yuanzhang?
Zeng Tai's heart sank. He was a level higher than Guo Huan and knew that Li Qing would not die.
Damn it, are you even going to die?
The officials were also shocked. Queen Ma passed away, but Li Qing was not implicated at all, and was not even scolded.
It's nothing. They embezzled tens of thousands of taels, but they just said, "Let's discuss it later." It simply subverted their three views.
What is the origin of this Li Qing?
Zeng Tai was so devastated at this moment that he regretted that his intestines were green. If he didn't accept Guo Huan's one hundred thousand taels, he would have been beheaded at most, but now... I'm afraid he is not going to exterminate the clan.
Guo Huan also came to his senses at this moment, but he was really unwilling to give in. He risked Zhu Yuanzhang's anger and asked again:
"Your Majesty, please deal with Li Qing strictly!"
Zhu Yuanzhang ignored him and said to Li Qing, "Tell me about your urgent matter!"
"I obey the decree."
Li Qing cupped his hands, glanced at Guo Huan, and secretly sneered: Is it finally my turn this time?
