The Great Tang Dynasty: The Celestial Master Descends the Mountain, Starts by Being Deceived into Ma

Chapter 49 Eating Too Many Red Beans

Specific examples?

After thinking for a moment, Zheng Wenyuan had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "Your Majesty, I have heard that Cheng Chumo has seized control of mines in Lantian, not only driving out the miners but also raping and murdering their relatives..."

Before he could finish speaking, a cheerful and clear voice suddenly came from outside the hall.

"Seizing the mines? Evicting the miners? Raping and murdering relatives? How come I know nothing about this?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a young man standing at the entrance of the hall.

He wore a dark moon Taoist robe with a jade green ribbon hanging from his waist, exuding an otherworldly and otherworldly air, like a banished immortal.

Behind him followed Princess Gaoyang and Princess Jinyang, the two sisters smiling as they looked at the civil and military officials in the hall.

Li Shimin's eyes lit up, and his stern expression instantly vanished, replaced by a kind and approachable demeanor.

"Jinghe! You're back!"

Lu Jinghe walked to the center of the hall, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "This humble Taoist, Lu Jinghe, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Emperor Gao Yang placed the baby on the ground and bowed, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

The little boy, in his childish voice, imitated, "Your subject greets Your Majesty!"

"Dad, Persimmon's back! I had so much fun with Guoguo!"

Li Shimin smiled and waved, "Sizi, come here quickly, let your father give you a hug."

Then, he waved his hand and called out, "Someone, bring me a seat."

Two eunuchs quickly moved two chairs over and placed them to the side.

Lu Jinghe and Gao Yang sat down side by side, while Xiao Sizi ran into Li Shimin's arms, her big eyes darting around.

It was her first time visiting the Taiji Hall, and she curiously observed the adults dressed in their brightly colored official robes.

Zheng Wenyuan was dumbfounded. Who was this person?

How could this Taoist priest be so close to the two princesses? Li Shimin's attitude towards him was also quite unusual.

He opened his mouth, wanting to question them, since he was now being held hostage and had no choice but to ask.

The entire court was watching him, waiting for him to expose Lu Jinghe's true identity.

Before he could even open his mouth, Lu Jinghe spoke first: "When I came in just now, I think I heard you slandering Cheng Chumo for seizing mines in Lantian, driving out miners, and raping and murdering his relatives?"

Lu Jinghe looked at Zheng Wenyuan with a smile, his tone was very calm and his demeanor was very gentle.

This gave Zheng Wenyuan the illusion that he was one of their own, which made him honestly agree: "That's right, the Taoist priest is right."

"Is that the mine north of Lantian County?"

"That's right."

"Whose mountain is that?"

Zheng Wenyuan was taken aback, then straightened his back: "Naturally, it belongs to the Zheng family of Lantian!"

"Oh? I've heard of the Zheng family of Xingyang, but what kind of roadside family is this Zheng family of Lantian? I've never even heard of them."

Lu Jinghe's words were a reminder to the Zheng family of Yingyang not to interfere, although the words were not very friendly and the reminder was not very clear.

But how many fools are there in this officialdom? They'll definitely understand.

Lu Jinghe stood up, cupped his hands in greeting to Li Shimin, and said, "Your Majesty, this man claims that your mines belong to his family."

Zheng Wenyuan's face darkened. When did the mines that their ancestors had run for generations become Li Shimin's?

Lu Jinghe continued, "As for what you said about seizing mines, driving out miners, and raping and murdering relatives, isn't that what your Lantian Zheng family did?"

He chuckled: "Your Zheng family of Lantian owed wages, almost causing a major disaster that led to the destruction of those miners' families."

"It was Magistrate Zheng Rentai of Lantian County who invited them back, paid them wages, and provided them with food and lodging!"

"You! You're talking nonsense!"

"What nonsense are you spouting? Could it be that this mine doesn't belong to His Majesty but to your Lantian Zheng family?"

Zheng Wenyuan opened her mouth to explain, but was met with Li Shimin's fierce gaze and immediately dared not speak.

"Jinghe, you continue talking, don't worry about him."

Lu Jinghe looked at Zheng Wenyuan, his gaze sharp: "I want to ask you, do you know a businessman named Zhao Qing?"

Zheng Wenyuan's heart skipped a beat, and she said something contrary to her true feelings: "I...I don't know him."

Most of the clothes in his house were given to him by Zhao Qing.

Could it be that something happened to Zhao Qing?

"Don't you recognize him?" Lu Jinghe chuckled and said, "Then how come the charges you brought against Cheng Chumo are almost identical to those against Zhao Qing?"

"You! You're spouting nonsense!"

"Slanderous accusations?" Lu Jinghe stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "Zhao Qing is a believer in evil magic and drinks human blood."

"He kept an eye on the widows in Lantian County all day long, and would follow them whenever they went out to pay their respects to their deceased husbands."

He raped and murdered her in the mountains and then drank her blood.

"Even now, many widows' corpses lie exposed in the mountains!"

"Guess why such a terrible thing wasn't reported?"

"Your Zheng family of Lantian has been rooted in Lantian for many years and has almost controlled everything. Although Magistrate Zheng Rentai is willing to redress the grievances of the people, he is powerless to fight against the Zheng family of Lantian and has now been expelled from the family genealogy."

"Your impeachment today is essentially an attempt to replace the magistrate of Lantian County with one of your own family members."

The imperial court erupted in chaos.

The military officers seized the opportunity almost instantly and started shouting.

Cheng Yaojin was even more agitated, jumping up and pointing at Zheng Wenyuan's nose, cursing, "You bastard! Framing my son is one thing, but that kid deserved it! And you dare to harbor a murderer? Do you want to turn Lantian of the Tang Dynasty into your own home?"

"I'm going to beat you to death today!"

"General Cheng, you mustn't!"

"His Majesty is here; you must not be rude. General Cheng, please calm down!"

Li Shimin sat on the dragon throne, watching quietly.

Only after the commotion had subsided did he cough lightly, "Ahem."

The imperial court fell silent instantly.

Li Shimin looked at Zheng Wenyuan and said calmly, "Zheng Wenyuan, do you know your crime?"

"Your Majesty, spare my life!" Zheng Wenyuan knelt down on the ground with a thud, his head hitting the ground so hard that it bled.

"I have more to say than these things, and perhaps they are false... I hope Your Majesty will investigate thoroughly."

"Gaoyang." Li Shimin beckoned.

Gao Yang quickly stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Your subject is here."

"You've been in Lantian for several days. Is what Jinghe just said true?"

"Reporting back to Father Emperor, there is absolutely no falsehood."

"it is good."

Li Shimin nodded and said to Zheng Wenyuan, who was kneeling on the ground, "Zheng Wenyuan, do you plead guilty?"

"Your Majesty, you are wronged! I was just confused for a moment and believed the slander. I have been away from home for many years and did not know that they had changed and were able to say such lies."

"A moment of folly?" Li Shimin sneered. "To frame the son of a duke and protect a criminal, is that what you call a moment of folly?"

"My lord...my lord..."

Zheng Wenyuan opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.

He never imagined that an ordinary impeachment could lead to such a big incident.

It could even cost you your life!

Li Shimin ignored him and waved his hand: "Take him away and execute him the next day."

"Here you go!"

Two Imperial Guards stepped forward, lifted the limp Zheng Wenyuan off the ground, and dragged her away.

The court fell silent again, and everyone looked at Lu Jinghe, wondering who this person was.

His Majesty actually allowed the princess to go to Lantian with him, and he believed his words so much.