69: Li Chengqian, do you have a pig brain? (45

Chapter 69 Li Chengqian, do you have a pig’s brain?! (45)

Kyoto Prefecture Yamen.

The Crown Prince and the Second Prince scurried away, no longer hesitating.

Mei Zhili looked up, and Fan Xian noticed that the spot where the old man was kneeling was wet. This official position was truly frustrating!

“Detain all plaintiffs and defendants, interrogate them separately, and I want to obtain both sides’ testimonies before dark!”

“Chief Zhang, take your men to investigate the vicinity of Qing Temple. You must follow proper investigative procedures; there must be no omissions!”

“Clerk Li, record all proceedings of this case. Do not miss a single word or action of the two princes.”

“This case will be handled strictly according to regulations. No one, no matter who, can intercede!”

Fan Xian was very tactful at this moment. He cupped his hands and bowed, saying, “Lord Mei is truly an upright official! This commoner is filled with admiration!”

Mei Zhili snorted coldly, “Stop your glib flattery! Take him to the prison and interrogate him thoroughly!”

Night fell.

Mei Zhili, holding a stack of dossiers, knelt outside the Imperial Study.

He had just knelt down, preparing to wait for an hour or two as usual, when Eunuch Hou came with a message.

“Lord Mei, Your Majesty requests your presence!”

Mei Zhili felt a decade younger. In recent years, he had never been granted an audience with His Majesty so quickly.

It seemed that the one who came to warn him last night was, nine times out of ten, an Inner Court secret agent!

However, he knew the rules; such matters absolutely could not be spoken of!

After Fan Xian revealed the details about the Red Armor Army and the vicinity of Qing Temple, Mei Zhili became even more confident. Fan Xian was someone His Majesty valued.

“Your Majesty, this case is likely not simple. It’s certainly not Fan Xian insulting a common woman in the street.”

“At the time, nearby commoners saw that Fan Xian was also subdued by several women, and the plaintiff indeed possessed martial arts.”

“It now appears this case is a frame-up against Fan Xian, intended to ruin his reputation!”

Looking at the stack of dossiers before him, Emperor Qing had no interest in flipping through them. “Mei Zhili, if this case is thoroughly investigated, can Fan Xian’s innocence be restored?”

Mei Zhili replied, “Legally, he can certainly be found innocent. However, one plaintiff committed suicide.

The deceased is paramount, and rumors are fearsome. Fan Xian’s reputation will likely be difficult to salvage.”

Emperor Qing asked again, “What if both plaintiffs die? Will Fan Xian’s reputation be completely ruined then?”

Mei Zhili quickly said, “Your Majesty, the other plaintiff is personally detained by the Chief Constable of Kyoto Prefecture, guarded by ten seventh-rank constables…”

Emperor Qing sighed, “The most venomous heart is a woman’s… Mei Zhili, this matter is not your fault.”

Then, Emperor Qing’s tone shifted, and he angrily rebuked, “Your performance today has greatly disappointed Us!

You disregarded the dignity of the princes; this is simply disrespect to the imperial family!”

Seeing Emperor Qing’s anger, Mei Zhili hurriedly knelt down, “This old official is terrified!”

“This old official governs the capital region. In my eyes and heart, there is only Your Majesty. The capital region only obeys Your Majesty alone!”

“No one else, not even princes, imperial consorts, dukes, or kings, can interfere with the judicial judgments of Kyoto Prefecture!”

Emperor Qing was very puzzled. How did this old man suddenly become enlightened and so compliant?

He had originally thought that Mei Zhili would openly flatter the Crown Prince, which would give him an opportunity to eliminate him.

Now that Mei Zhili had openly broken with the Crown Prince, he could be kept under observation, just like Gong Dian.

“Enough. This case was handled passably. You may withdraw.”

Mei Zhili picked up the dossiers, and as he left, he whispered, “Your Majesty, this case…”

Emperor Qing sighed again, “Give everyone a dignified end.”

Not long after Mei Zhili left, Li Yunrui, with tears in her eyes and full of grievances, walked towards the Imperial Study.

Just now, because she said she did not want Wan’er to marry Fan Xian, the Empress Dowager had ordered Hong Sixiang to slap her.

The marriages of imperial women could only be decided by His Majesty. Since His Majesty had made an autocratic decision, she had to obey.

This was both state law and family rule.

Therefore, although the Empress Dowager was greatly angered by the rumors about Fan Xian, she still punished Li Yunrui.

Entering the Imperial Study, Li Yunrui gracefully bowed, then, with tears in her eyes, looked at the man before her, full of grievance.

She had been able to manage the Imperial Treasury for so long because of Emperor Qing’s absolute trust and indulgence.

This trust stemmed from her childhood admiration for Emperor Qing, an admiration that surpassed sibling affection.

She knew that His Majesty, her brother, was moved, but he restrained himself, which was why he indulged her so much.

Emperor Qing’s face was grim as he slowly walked towards Li Yunrui.

If anyone else had done this, Emperor Qing would never have been so lenient and indulgent.

“Do not resent the Empress Dowager for slapping your face.”

Li Yunrui looked up, her delicate face filled with grievance, “Your Majesty, brother…”

“I just don’t want Wan’er to marry a country bumpkin, and a dissolute, debauched country bumpkin at that!”

Emperor Qing, who had been somewhat soft-hearted, instantly flew into a rage upon hearing these words.

“Slap!”

He turned and slapped Li Yunrui, sending her to the ground.

“Li Yunrui, you are too presumptuous!”

Emperor Qing’s furious outburst greatly surprised Li Yunrui!

Fan Jian’s illegitimate son had his reputation ruined, so why was Emperor Qing so enraged?

She didn’t understand, nor was she convinced.

Could it be that her, Li Yunrui’s, position in His Majesty, her brother’s, heart was actually inferior to that of Count Sinan’s illegitimate son?

“Whether Fan Xian is dissolute and debauched, and how this reputation came about, you know full well!”

“To ruin Fan Xian’s reputation, you even dared to kill Imperial Guards!”

“Imperial Guards! They protect Us! Li Yunrui, are you trying to rebel?!”

Hearing Emperor Qing’s words, Li Yunrui, whose lips were bleeding from the slap, was truly shocked!

She truly didn’t know about the killing of Imperial Guards. Those palace maids indeed all possessed martial arts, and the leading Female Official was even a seventh-rank master.

Li Yunrui had given the idea, the Female Official led the palace maids out of the palace, and two assassins cooperated in the execution.

Even if the other palace maids who ambushed Fan Xian were caught, they would at most implicate the leading Female Official.

The two assassins trained by the Junshan Society would absolutely not confess.

After the matter was accomplished today, the leading Female Official, surnamed Han, came to report.

Li Yunrui was very satisfied and immediately ordered her confidant to silence her.

The act of rushing into an Imperial Guard-controlled area to cause trouble was tantamount to rebellion. Li Yunrui had to ensure no loose ends.

However, Female Official Han didn’t say they killed Imperial Guards. They were too bold; couldn’t they have just knocked them out?

Jing Ni’s actions left no special traces, so the blame for killing the Imperial Guards could only fall on Li Yunrui.

“What is Your Majesty saying? This younger sister does not understand.”

Emperor Qing angrily said, “Of course you don’t understand. Where is the leading Female Official? She must have been silenced, right?”

“That Female Official, she must be Female Historian Han, who was in charge of procurement today!”

Li Yunrui insisted, “Your Majesty, this younger sister truly knows nothing of this matter!”

Emperor Qing paced back and forth in the room but did not speak again.

Although this matter was serious, it was not yet to the point where they, as siblings, would fall out.

After all, their relationship was special, and Li Yunrui had helped Emperor Qing with many things over the years.

“Then kneel, and wait!”

An hour later, the Crown Prince, flustered, sought an audience. Upon entering, the Crown Prince immediately knelt and kowtowed.

“Your Majesty, the palace maids ambushing Fan Xian was entirely Your Son’s doing. Please forgive Your Son, Your Majesty!”

Emperor Qing looked at the panic-stricken Crown Prince and shook his head, “Crown Prince, you’ve grown, haven’t you?”

“To ruin Fan Xian’s reputation in an Imperial Guard-controlled area and even kill a squad of Imperial Guards.”

“Li Yunrui hasn’t admitted anything, and the important parties involved are all dead, with no witnesses!”

“Killing Imperial Guards, this is rebellion! Why are you so eager to confess?!”

“Li Chengqian, do you have a pig’s brain?!”

“How can you admit to an act of rebellion?!”

Hearing Emperor Qing’s words, the Crown Prince immediately broke out in a cold sweat, his forehead drenched!

Wasn’t it just palace maids attacking Fan Xian? How did it involve the serious matter of killing Imperial Guards?

The Crown Prince thought it was merely a matter of palace maids ruining an illegitimate son’s reputation, which was why he dared to take the blame.

“Your Son was momentarily confused and made a grave mistake. Now, Your Son deeply regrets it… But Your Son never instructed anyone to kill Imperial Guards… nor did Your Son ever think of rebelling!”

Emperor Qing looked coldly at Li Chengqian. He had long ago attributed this matter to Li Yunrui in his heart; he simply didn’t want to genuinely pursue Li Yunrui.

He was certain the Crown Prince would come and wanted to use this opportunity to reprimand and warn the Crown Prince. This was Emperor Qing’s imperial stratagem and his way of managing his subordinates.

He believed that Li Yunrui’s actions were not true rebellion, but merely a mishap during the operation, leading to the accidental killing of Imperial Guards.

Li Yunrui smiled faintly. She knew that for such a small matter, her imperial brother would not fall out with her.

The blame for ruining the reputation and killing the Imperial Guards had now been shifted to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince continued to kowtow and confess his mistakes, “The matter of the Imperial Treasury’s financial power should be decided solely by Your Majesty!

Your Son should not have acted recklessly and vied for it wantonly!”

Hearing the Crown Prince’s words, Emperor Qing became even angrier, “The Imperial Treasury controls the financial power of the world. You, as the Crown Prince, don’t even contend for the Imperial Treasury’s financial power. What kind of Crown Prince are you?!”

“How noble is the imperial Bloodline, and the rites and laws are the Foundation of the nation’s protection. But look at what you’ve done?”

“You actually used the reputation of inner palace women to ruin someone else’s reputation. Isn’t this making the world laugh at the imperial family?!”

“When there are too many jokes, reverence disappears. Your actions this time are self-destructive of the Foundation!”

The Crown Prince continued to kowtow and admit his mistakes, “Your Son is terrified, Your Son knows his mistake, Your Son is foolish!”

Emperor Qing angrily rebuked, “You are indeed utterly foolish. Reflect well.”

Then, Emperor Qing picked up a few papers from the table, “We were also a Crown Prince, but there must be a limit to contention!”

“This is the list of officials to be dismissed recently. Look carefully yourself to see if any of your retainers are on it.”

The Crown Prince tremblingly took the list. Emperor Qing continued to scold, “The Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of War, the Imperial Guards—the Crown Prince has quite a few people there!”

“No wonder the Crown Prince received the news so quickly. Your reach is truly long enough!”

Emperor Qing used this incident to purge a group of the Crown Prince’s forces, to reprimand and warn the Crown Prince. This was his ultimate goal.

As for Fan Xian’s reputation, since the Crown Prince dared to take the blame, then let him clean up the mess.

“Crown Prince, since Fan Xian’s reputation was ruined by you, then you are responsible for helping him restore it.”

“We are tired. You may leave!”

The next day.

In the afternoon, Jing Ni flashed into Li Chang’an’s room.

“Your Highness, in Fan Xian’s case, the other plaintiff committed suicide in prison last night. This case no longer even has a victim.”

“Mei Zhili’s verdict was very ridiculous. The two women suffered from hysteria, and Fan Xian did not ruin anyone’s innocence in the street.”

“Kyoto Prefecture collected and buried the two women, and Fan Xian was released without charge.”

“However, there is much discussion about this in the capital. The commoners all say that officials protect each other, and Kyoto Prefecture shielded Fan Xian. Fan Xian’s reputation is truly ruined.”

Li Chang’an also expected this muddled outcome, “How else could it be judged? Mei Zhili also doesn’t have the guts to expose the Crown Prince and The Eldest Princess.”

“As long as the mastermind isn’t dug out, no matter how much it’s glossed over, Fan Xian’s reputation won’t improve. It’s better to close the case quickly.”

“The upper echelons all know what happened, but the commoners don’t. The rumors are probably very nasty, aren’t they?”

Jing Ni frowned and said, “The biggest news in Kyoto City today is that Count Sinan’s illegitimate son forced women to engage in public debauchery and even caused deaths…”

Li Chang’an couldn’t help but grin, “That’s truly quite serious.”

Jing Ni continued, “Someone also fanned the flames. The initial rumor was that Fan Xian hugged and kissed several scantily clad women in the street.”

“This was already exaggerated, and in the end, it became more and more outlandish, turning into what your subordinate just described.”

“Your Highness, Fan Xian is, after all, Young Miss Ruo Ruo’s brother. Should we control the rumors?”

Li Chang’an said, “Control them a bit. Try to make the rumors stop at Fan Xian alone, and don’t implicate the Fan Manor.”

“News came from the palace today that the Crown Prince took responsibility for the palace maids ambushing the carriage and killing Imperial Guards.”

“That idiot admitted it, which is equivalent to admitting that Fan Xian’s reputation was intentionally ruined. That’s why His Majesty didn’t cancel the imperial marriage decree.”

“Fan Xian’s reputation is ruined, and the Prime Minister’s Manor has an even worse impression of Fan Xian, which can also delay His Majesty from formally issuing the imperial marriage decree for Wan’er and Fan Xian.”

Having finished the serious matters, Li Chang’an looked down and saw Jing Ni’s long, slender legs.

More than half of Jing Ni’s height consisted of her fair, long legs, wrapped in alluring fishnet stockings.

“Xiao Ni, didn’t this prince tell you not to wear these?”

Jing Ni’s expression was unperturbed, “If your subordinate heard correctly, Your Highness said not to wear them outside. In front of Your Highness, it doesn’t count as outside, does it?”

Li Chang’an chuckled to himself. Jing Ni was indeed much more adorable and interesting. “You’re clever. You handled this matter well.”

Jing Ni slowly approached, teasingly saying, “Does Your Highness want to reward your subordinate?”

Li Chang’an reached out and wrapped his arm around Jing Ni’s slender waist, pulling her to sit on his lap.

“This prince’s reward is to silence you.”

Jing Ni, a former assassin, felt a sudden chill in her heart, her small mouth slightly agape in surprise.

“Your subordinate is loyal to Your Highness…”

Only after her cherry lips were completely blocked and thoroughly explored did Jing Ni understand the meaning of Li Chang’an’s “silence.”

Fan Manor.

Fan Xian spent a night in the Kyoto Prefecture prison and finally entered the Fan Manor gate, taking a seat at the Fan Manor dining table.

Fan Jian said to Liu Ruyu and his children, “Don’t listen to the gossip outside.

Kyoto is full of troubles, and many things are not as simple as they appear.”

“Fortunately, the Governor of Kyoto Prefecture was not swayed by the overwhelming public opinion and insisted on finding Xian’er innocent.

This matter will pass eventually. You must believe in your family.”

At this moment, only Fan Ruoruo nodded readily, “The rumors are too absurd!

They are merely exploiting people’s curiosity to ruin Fan Xian’s reputation.”

Fan Xian felt a mix of emotion upon hearing Fan Ruoruo’s words—some gratitude, some disappointment.

Grateful that Fan Ruoruo was intelligent and wouldn’t be deceived by such absurd rumors.

Disappointed that Fan Ruoruo used to call him “brother” when she was little, but as she grew up, she became somewhat distant and no longer even called him brother.

Fan Jian also frowned, but since Fan Ruoruo was speaking up for Fan Xian, he couldn’t criticize his daughter further.

After all, the two didn’t grow up together when they were young, and Fan Ruoruo didn’t stay in Danzhou for long afterward, so it was understandable that they weren’t close.

After dinner, Fan Jian met with Fan Xian alone.

“Xian’er, it’s inevitable to encounter some setbacks. Kyoto Prefecture was fairly impartial and didn’t leave you with a criminal record.”

“Your future prospects won’t be greatly affected. As for your reputation, try to salvage it gradually.”