Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 143 Tail Docking
Pingle clapped his hands lightly, and two Xizi merchants were brought into the hall.

They bowed slightly, their steps were a little awkward, and their expressions were very nervous.

"May His Majesty the Emperor of Daliang live in peace!"

Ping Le said anxiously, "Father, these two Xizi merchants can prove that the woman in the painting is the Xizi spy who stole the divine arm crossbow diagram from the Ministry of War."

Emperor Chongzhao narrowed his eyes slightly, looking extremely sharp.

"Are you Sizi merchants?"

"Your Majesty, that's right."

"Do you know the woman in this painting?"

The two Siz traveling merchants were none other than Alim and his follower Hasan.

The two looked at each other.

Alim swallowed, an embarrassment appeared on his face, and he spoke in a hesitant voice.

"Your Majesty, I... I don't know the woman in the painting."

Pingle's face changed, his eyes full of disbelief.

"You don't know her, so where did you get the map of the divine arm crossbow in your hands? Didn't you say with certainty that you bought it from the old mausoleum?"

"Your Highness Pingle... didn't you send a gentleman named Gu here, saying that you wanted to do spice business with me, but you gave me a strange blueprint instead?"

Alim's voice was hoarse, with the unique accent of Siz, and he sounded very honest.

"You told me that the blueprints came from the old mausoleum swamp and were related to Madam Ping'an of Prince Duan's mansion. I have thought about it carefully... I am a citizen of the Holy Mountain and a devout believer. I cannot lie..."

Ping Le's eyes widened with anger. "You—you are talking nonsense!"

Alim took out the black iron order from his arms.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness. Although I have an old grudge against the old Ling Marsh, I respect the gods and cannot go against my conscience."

The ministers were greatly surprised.

Zhou Zhongping took the token and his expression changed.

That token was Pingle's privately minted certificate and belonged to her personally.

Pingle gnashed his teeth and his eyes were bloodshot.

Gu Jie clearly told her that he had already made an agreement with the Xiz merchants and promised them a large sum of money to let them proceed according to the plan.

She also took out three thousand taels of silver from her private treasury and gave it to Gu Jie.

Gu Jie swore solemnly and guaranteed everything, so why would the Xizi people go back on their word on the spot?

Also, why did Gu Jie hand the token to them?
Gu Jie, this idiot!

If the work is not done well, there will be many loopholes!
Pingle suppressed his anger, and every word he spoke seemed to be poisoned.

"Did you accept money from Xue Liu and the prince to cover up their lies?"

Alim sighed again, bowed his head and said to Emperor Chongzhao: "Your Majesty, please understand. Ten years ago, I came to Shangjing to do business. I was robbed and killed by Jiulingzhao along the Bingshui Ancient Road. My brother also lost a finger... How could I trade with Jiulingzhao?"

He pointed at the dazed Hassan and looked at his mutilated finger.

"I hate the Old Mausoleum Swamp, but I would rather die than give false testimony! Besides, I am a merchant who abides by the laws of the Daliang court and makes a living. Why would I buy such confidential drawings? Isn't this a disaster for the tribe?"

Alim put his hand on his chest and said to Emperor Chongzhao sincerely:

"If your Majesty doesn't believe it, send someone to Tianshui Inn to check and you will know..."

Emperor Chongzhao looked over coldly.

Ping Le saw that things were not going well and shouted, "Father, I have evidence! The Ministry of War tortured the Naxizi spy and left a mark on her lower back. We just need to call Xue Liu to the palace and we will know the truth."

Li Zhao sneered, "Is your intention, my sister, to bring my brother's wife, who has been canonized, to the main hall, strip her clothes, and use this as evidence of your absurd words and deeds?"

When Li Huan heard the voice, a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes.

Ping Le was so angry that he said without thinking: "If we can't verify it on the spot, we can ask the palace maid to check it in a secret place in the side hall..."

"Pingle!" Li Huan frowned, his eyes piercing, "Stop talking nonsense."

If Xue Sui is not Xue Sui, then Li Huan, who originally had nothing to do with this matter, will also be implicated.

And this was one of the reasons why Xue Sui insisted on going to Prince Duan's Mansion.

Li Huan didn't want to make the situation worse.

Pingle was so angry that he just wanted to vent his anger...

"Brother, how could you be so foolish, so easily deceived by beauty, and unable to distinguish right from wrong?"

Li Zhao glanced at Li Huan's ashen face and couldn't help but smile.

"Father, my sister has gone insane and her mind is not clear. If we cause more trouble, I'm afraid it will only do more harm than good to my sister's illness."

Li Huan also stepped forward, bowed and spoke.

"Father, Pingle has always acted on impulse and has not considered her words and actions. We must not let her continue to talk nonsense here and disrupt the order of the court."

"Brother!" Ping Le looked at Li Huan in disbelief. "Why are you speaking for outsiders? You are confused and foolish, and you are blinded by personal feelings. You will regret it!"

Outsider, how is Li Zhao an outsider?

Li Huan waved his hand to signal the guards: "The princess is sick, take her away!"

"Father——" Ping Le's cheeks turned red with anger and his voice was sharp and piercing.

Emperor Chongzhao looked at her and suddenly started coughing violently.

Ping Le struggled, "Father, I am not sick, and I did not lie. Everything I did was for the sake of Daliang..."

Amid the uproar in the court, Pingle suddenly had a blank look in his eyes and rushed towards the Panlong pillar regardless of everything.

Bang! Blood splattered on the Panlong Pillar.

Emperor Chongzhao looked stern and stood up suddenly.

"Pingle——"

After a low cry, he watched Ping Le fall to the ground limply, looking at him with his eyes open, his eyes full of madness and unwillingness. He suddenly sighed and sat back, "Call the imperial physician!"

"Call the imperial physician--" Wang Chengxi's shrill voice broke the silence.

However, before the palace maids could come forward to carry the person away, a commotion broke out outside the palace again.

"Your Majesty, the Grand Princess has carried her coffin to the outside of Taiji Gate, crying for an audience!"

Emperor Chongzhao took a deep breath and looked at his ministers with different expressions.

"Xuan!"

After a while, the eldest princess, with her hair full of pearls and jade, came in tremblingly, leaning on a phoenix-head cane, supported by two maids.

Behind her was Xiao Zhengyuan, who was tied up.

The eldest princess is seventy-eight years old this year. She is Xiao Song's biological mother, Concubine Xiao's grandmother, and the most senior elder in the Daliang royal family. Even when the late emperor was alive, he had to respect her and call her aunt.

All the noble ladies in the Daliang Dynasty had to respect her.

The eldest princess slammed her cane on the ground, making a dull sound.

"I have failed to teach my descendants well. Today I am carrying a coffin to take the blame. I only ask for death!"

After saying that, she bowed heavily and was about to kneel down tremblingly.

"Great-grandmother!" Li Huan called out in a low voice and hurried forward to support her.

The emperor also stood up from the dragon throne, exempted her from the formalities, and asked someone to give her a seat.

The eldest princess refused to sit down, tears streaming down her cloudy eyes.

"Your Majesty! The Xiao family has been loyal for generations, but they have produced such a rebellious descendant! I am here today to take the blame on behalf of the Xiao family and uphold the law..."

Everyone in the Xuanzheng Hall was shocked.

The corners of Li Zhao's lips curled up in a sarcastic arc.

This drama is not new, but it is exciting enough - the eldest princess threatens with her life, and Emperor Chongzhao will definitely give her a lighter sentence.

"The Grand Princess's move is indeed righteous. However, the Xiao family is the Xiao family, and the Grand Princess is the Grand Princess. How can the Xiao family get away with such a heinous crime?"

Li Zhao, the unworthy prince, said what no one dared to say.

The eldest princess's face darkened and she glared at him angrily.

Suddenly, she pulled out the sharp golden hairpin on her head and stabbed it into Xiao Zhengyuan's shoulder blade in public. "This time, I will pay back the blood debt of the thousands of wronged souls in Luohe!"

Blood splattered three feet away, and the ministers screamed and retreated.

Li Zhao looked at the eldest princess's behavior coldly, not caring whether she was sincere or not. He only knew that the Xiao family had run out of tricks this time by bringing out this old Buddha statue.

"Why doesn't the Grand Princess feel guilty? Is she reluctant to part with the millions of taels of silver in the Xiao family's salt and iron account books?"

Emperor Chongzhao shouted: "Prince!"

"My son is here."

"Don't be rude to the Grand Princess!"

Li Zhao responded and knelt respectfully, but each word he spoke was as sharp as a blade.

"Xiao Zhengyuan has committed numerous crimes and his evil deeds are too numerous to list. I don't know how many innocent people are buried under Princess Pingle's waterfall. So many wronged souls are watching from heaven. Father, as the crown prince, if I cannot eliminate the evil, how can I face the people of the world?"

Emperor Chongzhao's face turned pale.

"According to the prince's opinion, what should we do?"

Li Zhao's tone was decisive and sharp.

"Those who have secret dealings with foreign nations shall have their entire clan executed."

The golden hairpin in the eldest princess's hand fell to the ground with a clang. Her body trembled slightly as she spoke with grief and indignation, "The Xiao family has been entrenched for a hundred years, but they actually raised such an evil child. All the mistakes are my fault for not disciplining him strictly. I beg Your Majesty to grant me three feet of white silk!"

"The Crown Prince is right. This matter has nothing to do with the Grand Princess."

Emperor Chongzhao frowned and glanced at the ministers below the stairs.

"Draft decree——"

The eunuch stepped forward and lowered his head.

Emperor Chongzhao said coldly: "Xiao Zhengyuan disregarded the laws of the country, was corrupt and committed fraud, and harmed the people. His crimes are heinous. He is dismissed from office and brought to the Meridian Gate for execution. Xiao Jing is an official appointed by the court, but he indulged his children and committed evil. He is to blame and will be exiled to Lingnan. Princess Pingle has hysteria in her brain. She acts erratically and repeatedly breaks the rules, causing unrest in the court and shame for the royal family. From now on, she is confined to the princess's mansion and strictly guarded. Without my order, she is not allowed to step out of the mansion."

"As for Prime Minister Xiao Song..."

After saying this, he looked at Xiao Song, closed his eyes and sighed, "Prime Minister Xiao is old and confused. He knew about the incident but did not report it, which caused unrest in the country. He will be fined one year's salary and will reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors."

Li Zhao's eyes suddenly turned cold.

After all, the emperor was afraid of the Xiao family's foundation, so he only cut off its branches and leaves without damaging the roots.

There was a sound of rustling clothes in the hall.

Several ministers shouted in unison: "Your Majesty is wise. This ruling not only demonstrates the majesty of national law, but also takes into account the overall situation of the court. It is indeed a blessing for Daliang."

The eldest princess sobbed and knelt down to express her gratitude.

Emperor Chongzhao glanced at Li Zhao and suddenly spoke when no one expected it.

"The prince remained calm in the face of danger, performed meritorious service in the rescue, and was loyal to the emperor. He deserves to be rewarded."

Emperor Chongzhao suddenly coughed loudly a few times to calm himself down.

"The importance of the crown prince is the foundation of the country. I hereby order the crown prince Li Zhao——"

He paused briefly.

The hall was silent.

The ministers were all nervous and held their breath, waiting for the emperor on the dragon throne to speak.

After a while, Emperor Chongzhao, who was sitting at the imperial desk, slowly spoke.

"Order Crown Prince Li Zhao to assist the Ministry of Revenue from today onwards, to review the taxes and grain transport throughout the country, and to review the yellow books of money and grain from the fifth to the eleventh year of Chongzhao."

The copper clock in the corner of the hall suddenly rang, breaking the dead silence in the hall.

Civil and military officials were whispering to each other, with different expressions on their faces.

"Your son obeys your command." Li Zhao lifted the hem of his robe, knelt on his knees, and his voice was like the sound of metal falling to the ground.

"I will live up to my father's trust and perform my duties conscientiously for the country."

Li Huan's python robe moved without wind, his fingers curled up involuntarily, and his eyes were cold.

The Ministry of Revenue is the foundation of Daliang's operation, and this power is entirely given to the East Palace...

I’m afraid my father’s intentions are not as simple as wavering.

If Li Zhao takes action this time, I wonder how many heads will be sacrificed.
-
Xishan Palace.

The setting sun shines in through the window, and the tea on the desk smells fragrant.

Wen Jia was holding a rhinoceros horn comb and combing his mother's hair.

Concubine Wan's long gray hair fell down, resting softly on her shoulders.

"Grandma's hairpin is so bright!" Niu Niu was brought here by her wet nurse in the morning. It was the first time she saw her grandmother and she was very excited to play around. She stood on tiptoe to reach the hairpin in the dressing table, and the silver bell on her wrist jingled.

The child didn't know what the cold palace was, and just thought that her grandmother who came back from the cold palace had been on a long journey, and kept asking questions.

Wan Zhaoyi just smiled, her eyes full of love, "Niuniu, be good. Wait until grandma is well, and I'll talk to you in detail..."

Niu Niu was very obedient. She slid down from the stool and sat aside quietly.

Xue Sui picked up a green date from the fruit plate and handed it to her with a smile.

Niuniu shook her head, "Niuniu wants to eat Fuling cake..."

Xue Sui gestured to Xiao Zhao, "Take Niuniu out to play, and ask the kitchen to cook something."

Xiao Zhao responded and took Xiao Niuniu away.

Xue Sui then straightened his expression and lowered his voice to say, "Someone from the palace just now came and brought a bunch of nourishing and recuperating herbs. He said that His Majesty had instructed Consort Wan to take good care of herself."

Wen Jia’s cold face was reflected in the bronze mirror.

"Why are you suddenly so nice to my mother?"

Xue Sui said: "The Xiao family's matter is settled."

Wen Jia's fingertips paused slightly, and there was a hint of worry in his eyes.

"The Xiao family and Hepingle...are they still safe and sound?"

Over the years, she had gotten used to the Xiao family's overwhelming power and how difficult it was to shake it, and to Pingle being able to escape danger every time, so she never held out much hope.

Xue Sui smiled and said, "Not really safe and sound."

Seeing that Wan Zhaoyi was also looking at her with concern, she smiled a little more obscurely.

"Noble Consort Xiao has been demoted to Zhaoyi and moved to Suiyu Palace. From now on, when Zhaoyi Wan sees her, she no longer needs to perform formalities and pay respects."

Wan Zhaoyi stroked the hair on her cheek with her old fingers and suddenly sighed.

"Noble Concubine Xiao has always been good at scheming, but I didn't expect that she would end up in such a miserable way..."

"It was just a sacrifice to save the emperor. The eldest princess carried the coffin to the palace and used the self-torture tactic to force the emperor to death. Except for Xiao Zhengyuan who was executed and Xiao Jing who was exiled, the others were only fined and confined."

In fact, Xue Sui had guessed it from the beginning. Whether based on political risks or checks and balances in the court, the emperor would not act rashly to eliminate the Xiao family.

This time, being able to cut off the bloodline of his limbs is already a victory.

Wen Jia was horrified when he heard this: "Xiao Zhengyuan was once so glorious and had made great contributions to the Xiao family, but he was also treated as an abandoned child and ended up with his head and body separated. They are so cruel to their own family."

Xue Sui smiled slightly.

The scorching sun shone through the window, staining the hem of her skirt red.

"Cutting off one's tail to survive is also in line with the style of the aristocratic families to assess the situation..."

Wen Jia smiled bitterly, his expression complicated.

"It turns out that even if the noble families ripped off their gorgeous brocade robes, they would find blood-sucking lice inside. Under the glamorous appearance, there is nothing but filth."

Xue Sui said calmly: "Isn't everything in the palace like this?"

Wen Jia asked, "How is the prince?"

Xue Sui's mouth curled up slightly, "The prince has made great contributions and has been entrusted with an important task to check and balance the Xiao family..."

Seeing that Wen Jia seemed to understand, she chuckled softly and smiled meaningfully.

"The emperor's mindset is just right. Your Majesty is the biggest winner in this game."

This chapter is two-in-one, a bit long~

Li Zhao: What do you think? Has the huge stone in my chest been broken?