Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment jointly deployed defenses, and after four days of rigorous investigation, Bailiren was finally caught on a cargo ship. Before the arrest, this man was being attacked and almost silenced by the killer. Fortunately, Qi Yue arrived in time and managed to save his life.
However, the other 70,000 taels of stolen silver that was transported away with him were searched to no avail and disappeared without a trace on the river.
In desperation, he scrawled and closed the net.
Unexpectedly, on the second day after Bailiren was brought back to the Dali Temple prison, he suddenly fell ill and died inexplicably in prison.
Liu Shantang, the minister of Dali Temple, was a cowardly master. Seeing that the case could not be handed over, he hurriedly asked his subordinates to prepare a false confession, saying that Bailiren had confessed, admitting to robbing money, breaking into prison and killing people, smelting silver into pieces to enrich his own pocket, and forging letters to frame humerus. and many other crimes, all of which were placed on a dead man.
The case files and documents have been reviewed by Yue Muze and Qi Yue. The two of them knew that the mastermind behind this was definitely not Baili Ren, but they were unable to stop Liu Shantang from submitting the case closing document.
This case has a wide range of implications. If the investigation is carried out carefully, not only the responsibility of Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment will be investigated, but also many high-ranking military generals in Jinling City will suffer. Therefore, it urgently needs a culprit who can bear the blame to calm the ripples in the court.
Baili's house was ransacked, and not even a plaque was left.
The group of robbers in the prison who kidnapped Princess Huaicheng from Nanqiu and became the cause of the incident initially insisted that the Su family instigated the incident. Later, they heard from the jailer that Su Shaoqi had proved his innocence, so they changed their theory and said that it was the Su family who had instigated the incident. Bailiren instructed.
Qi Yue interrogated them day and night, but couldn't pry anything out of their mouths.
This group of people really didn't know anything. Just like the silversmiths who were burned to death, they just used people's money to do things for others.
Under the urging of the situation, they were quickly convicted and went to the guillotine in full view of the public. They did not know who they died for until they died.
The case is settled. Once there are people who take responsibility, the storm will naturally calm down.
However, the 70,000 taels of silver taken away by Bai Liren had not been accounted for. Emperor Zhou was extremely annoyed and still ordered Qi Yue and Yue Muze to be punished. Su Shaoqi was also accused of improperly controlling his subordinates.
All three were fined for one year and received twenty canes, which finally appeased the emperor's anger.
The disaster relief money was stolen, and loopholes appeared in the court's relief regulations. Most of the money expenditures of the Ministry of Household Affairs were spent on rebuilding the dams. The national treasury transferred 120,000 shi of grain to the disaster-stricken counties as backup. Copper mining in Shangyunzhou and wars in northern Xinjiang broke out frequently, and the Ministry of Household Affairs really had no extra money to fill the hole.
So the task of collecting 70,000 silver fell on Qi Yue and Yue Muze.
Emperor Zhou ordered the two of them to make up for their mistakes and solve this urgent problem.
The General's Mansion.
Xiao Yuehuai read the news in the residence newspaper and couldn't help but sigh: "Really, my father can make things difficult for others? These are troubled times, where can my cousin and Qi Yue come up with such a large sum of money?"
Alu looked worried: "Princess. Your Majesty is so angry. I'm afraid you can't solve the problem just by asking for mercy. You'd better not go back to the palace today, right?"
Xiao Yuehuai refused: "How can that be done? Besides, I'm not only returning to the palace for this matter, I have other things to worry about."
"You and I should sort out these things quickly and order people to move them to the chariot. If it's a little later, I'm afraid the palace gate will be unlocked."
Alu nodded bitterly, staggering over with a pile of clothes in his arms.
Looking around her figure to the right side of the room, a low couch was covered with things. Clothes, pendants, cosmetics, and bamboo scrolls were arranged in a disorderly manner. These Xiao Yuehuai will be taken away. When people who don't know the inside story see this, they may think that she will never return to the Su residence after returning to the palace this time.
Su Ying was entering the Guanhe Pavilion because of the matters reported in the residence. When he walked to the princess's house, he happened to see this scene. He stopped and stood on the corridor one meter away from the door, lowering his eyes.
Xiao Yuehai was immersed in sorting out the books. Suddenly she remembered the bamboo slips left in the front hall last night, so she got up to look for them. The moment he raised his eyes, he happened to see Su Ying's lonely turning back, so he stepped forward and called: "General Su?"
Lang Jun paused, turned his shoulder and looked back, then turned around and saluted her, saying respectfully: "Princess."
Seeing him like this, Xiao Yuehuai felt a little disgusted and couldn't help but said to him: "Why do you always feel like a servant and master when you come to see me? General, even though you and I are not romantically involved, in the end it was agreed upon by a marriage contract. Husband and wife. You don’t have to do this to me.”
Su Ying whispered softly: "Since the princess has no intention of me, I naturally dare not go beyond the thunder pond."
Xiao Yuehai stared at him with a frown: "If I had known this, why did you marry me in the first place? You know that I don't like you, and the days after marriage will be deserted and withered. Why do you need to cause this trouble?"
Su Ying was slightly startled and raised his eyes to look at her. This look was long and far-reaching.
Indulging in this blazing gaze, Xiao Yuehuai's heart felt an inexplicable pain, and it felt even more familiar.
"Princess. What I said to you on the wedding night will be forever. No matter what the princess does in the future, I will fully support it. If the princess finds a true destiny in the future, I am willing to let it go. I... .I only wish the princess a healthy life."
He spoke extremely calmly, even his tone was emotionless. But somehow, Xiao Yuehuai heard a sense of sadness and desolation from it.
She didn't understand why there would be such an irrelevant person who sincerely told her every word that he only wanted her to be healthy throughout her life?
Xiao Yuehuai held her breath and said attentively: "You came just to talk to me about this?"
Su Ying tilted his head and glanced into the room and asked, "Princess is packing her bags...are you going to move out?"
Xiao Yuehuai shook her head and said, "No. I want to go back to the palace to stay for a few days."
When she said this, Lang Jun was obviously relieved, and the mournful atmosphere dissipated.
Su Ying was silent for a moment and asked: "Can I go with the princess? There has been a lot of discussion in the court recently. I am afraid that someone who wants to impeach the princess will make His Majesty unhappy..."
Recently, there have been more and more rumors about her and Lu Pingsheng. The rumors are pervasive and have indeed aroused a lot of discussion.
Xiao Yuehuai closed her eyes and thought for a while, feeling that Su Ying returning to the palace with her might help her conceal the true purpose of her trip, so she agreed: "If you are willing, I have no problem."
Seeing her promise, Su Ying quietly curled up the corners of his lips, then stepped forward and said: "I came here today to discuss with the princess the amount of disaster relief money that needs to be filled. I know that the princess is worried about this matter. I would like to intercede for Master Qi and Master Yue."
"But at this time of year, there are many people who are interested in delving into this matter to impeach the Yue family and the Qi family. If the princess really asks for mercy from your majesty, she will definitely be found guilty. To avoid trouble, it is best to find another way."
