Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1525 Commitment

"Madam, what are you doing here?" As soon as Dugu Ming's voice came out to question, Dugu Linxiu's gaze followed, but he was hesitant to speak.

"What am I doing here?" Fang Zilan looked at Dugu Linxiu meaningfully, "My cousin Lihui was imprisoned by Fu Congnan and was seriously injured. Shouldn't I settle this account?"

Dugu Ming's expression froze, but before he could speak, he heard Dugu Linxiu say, "It's time to settle the matter."

Fang Zilan nodded slightly and said, "With Madam Fu's words, I feel relieved."

She deliberately emphasized the title "Mrs. Fu". Dugu Ming felt his heart sink when he heard it. She had called him "Miss Dugu" before, but today she changed her name.

If she knew something, it would be that today's scene was closely related to her.

Thinking of this, Dugu Ming's face became even darker, but Fang Zilan seemed unaware of it and instead exchanged greetings with Zhuge Yu who was striding towards her.

"The document announcing Fu Congnan's transfer to the position of commander of the Jiangnan Camp has disappeared." Zhuge Yu leaned close to Fang Zilan's ear and whispered, "Someone has taken action before us."

Fang Zilan remained calm, but her eyes fell on Dugu Ming. Zhuge Yu followed her gaze and asked, "Do you suspect him?"

"Before the truth is revealed, I have reason to suspect anyone." Fang Zilan retracted her gaze, "What do you think, Master Zhuge?"

"If your suspicion comes true, the Dugu family will be doomed." Zhuge Yu's voice was so soft that it was barely audible, but Fang Zilan still heard it, but did not answer.

No one was in the hall for a long time, and the people around were all whispering. Xie Chen in the back hall was calm, but Li Qiyou looked depressed. "Mr. Xie, have you really thought about it? Do you want to put cousin Lin Xiu and the Dugu family behind her to trial?"

"Since the drum has been struck, there is no reason not to investigate." Xie Chen said calmly: "Your Highness Prince Yucheng, even if you call her cousin, I cannot do you this favor."

Li Qiyou clenched his fists, "Fu Congnan has been imprisoned. What crime has Cousin Lin Xiu committed as a woman in seclusion? What crime has the Dugu family behind her committed?"

Xie Chen looked at Li Qiyou steadily, "Your Highness Prince Yucheng, I think Madam Fu knows exactly what she is doing, and so do the Dugu family behind her."

The implication of his words was obvious. At this critical juncture, the one who didn't know what he was doing was Li Qiyou in front of him.

"I..." Li Qiyou's lips moved, and his face turned pale and blue.

"I understand your desire to protect me." Xie Chen took the initiative to give her a way out and said, "But please trust Madam Fu and the Dugu family behind her and don't intervene rashly."

Xie Chen looked at Master Ranzhu, who had caused an uproar as soon as he appeared in the hall. "Master, this blood letter clearly states that Zhongling Temple occupied land and bullied the people, and committed numerous evil deeds. It was also signed and sealed by the people..."

Before he finished speaking, there was an uproar outside the hall. Fang Lihui in the hall also changed his expression slightly. He looked at Fang Zilan, but saw that she was silent, like a puppet.

Did she already know this? Fang Lihui was stunned for a moment, and then realized that if she borrowed the identity of Zhen from Qianjinfang, it wouldn't be surprising if she knew that the temple was misbehaving.

However, when Li Shengxuan ascended the throne, he had the help of Master Yuan, so after he ascended the throne, he continued to be favored, making the prevalence of Buddhism almost at its peak. However, there must be a shadow under the glory, and as long as it can be hidden, it is an indulgence of turning a blind eye.

But now, Jiangnan Zhongling Temple, which is as famous as Baiye Temple in the west of Beijing, has been exposed to a scandal. Naturally, the world will have doubts. Master Liaoyuan is the first to bear the brunt. How can the Zhuge family behind him escape unscathed? In addition, before the assassin committed suicide, he called out not only King Yucheng, but also Lord Zhuge...

Fang Lihui felt a chill all over his body and didn't dare to think any further. Sister Lan, is this really how you protect the Fang family?

Fang Zilan noticed Fang Lihui's gaze, but kept her eyes down, as if she was unaware.

She knew that now that things had come to this, in Fang Lihui's eyes, she was the instigator behind the scenes. This move was tantamount to abandoning the pawns to save the pawns, just like a reckless man.

Not only Fang Lihui, but also Zhuge Yu might hate her. Even if she said she had no idea, no one would think she was innocent.

Zhongling Temple... How could Qianjinfang not know about such a case? I think they were just trying to hide it from her. The only ones who could hide it from her were Zhen Mier or Wan Jun.

Qianjinfang was isolated between the court and the underworld, and it was not easy to maintain her status, and social interactions were inevitable. Even if she concealed one or two shameful things, she didn't care.

But how did Murong Qing know this? Today was only the second day of the public trial, and Master Ranzhu, who was far away in Zhongling Temple, was brought to court by Mr. Canghai Liu, who even arranged an assassination, pushing the case to a climax...

This was not a day's work, Murong Qing's plan came much earlier than she expected. It is very possible that the so-called keeping the promise and protecting the Fang family for her is just a part of his plan.

Fang Zilan was uneasy, but she was in court and could not act rashly. She could only force herself to focus on the case.

"All land owned by the temple can be exempted from taxes for three years." Xie Chen said in a dignified manner, "Zhongling Temple used this as a convenience to confiscate the land of thousands of households nearby as the temple's property, and then sublet the land to make huge profits."

These two sentences are so sharp. Let's not talk about the reasons why the temple requisitioned the land, and whether it was done to any extreme. Just think about how the thousands of families make a living after losing their land. If they don't leave their homes, they will inevitably have to rent the land requisitioned by the temple.

Under layers of exploitation, not only did they lose their land, but they also lost the people's hearts. After the war and plague, those who thought they had waited for peace, instead waited for another kind of persecution.

It is true that when a country prospers, the people suffer. When a country perishes, the people suffer.

"This..." Pei Xiaoze said after careful consideration: "There are regulations on the process of expropriating land for temples..."

"What do you mean, Master Pei?" Another master wiped the sweat off his forehead and said, "All the land of Zhongling Temple is legal..."

"Are they really all legal?" Su Yun's expression turned cold. The man gritted his teeth and said, "Master Su, even if Zhongling Temple really has a few pieces of land that are not legal, they might be donated by believers..."

"Let's not talk about whether the source of Zhongling Temple's land is legal or not, let's just talk about its use." Zhuge Yu said coldly: "According to the laws of Dajing, the rent for subleasing land cannot exceed 30%. Zhongling Temple's 60% is already far more than..."

"Master Zhuge, what you said is wrong!" Another master couldn't help but interrupt, "Temple land is different from other land. Even if it is subleased, the rent is decided by the temple. The laws of the capital don't have clear provisions..."

"That was in the past." Xie Chen interrupted the argument and said in a deep voice, "Among the new laws that His Majesty ordered Lord Mo Han to implement, there is one - to treat temples equally, whether in taxes or rent."