"Minister Xing!"
Xun Qi hurriedly stepped forward and solemnly said, "My adoptive father is loyal to the Emperor and loves the country, always thinking of the people’s welfare. For years, he has served diligently and adhered to the laws, never acting out of self-interest or bending justice. Today, based solely on Lu Yuan’s words and a piece of evidence that nobody knows where it originated from, you’re attempting to fra my adoptive father with baseless charges. Such behavior, does it not chill the hearts of officials and the people across Great Zhou?"
Liu Qingyun scoffed, "Here we go again. Clearly, it’s your adoptive father who’s guilty, yet you insist on accusing everyone else. Instead of lanting how his cris tarnished the hearts of the people, you’re blaming those who apprehended him and tried to bring him to justice. Don’t twist words, and don’t treat the officials and the people as fools. They have eyes and can see for themselves, ears and can hear for themselves. You claim the evidence has an unknown origin, but you seem forgetful. Let remind you — it was found during the search conducted by your own Pri Minister’s Mansion!"
Xun Qi hadn’t expected Liu Qingyun’s words to be so sharp, deftly exposing his rhetoric and countering him with his own logic.
With a sigh, ng Qianqian murmured, "Mother, please stop speaking further; otherwise, he’ll likely accuse us of planting the evidence in their mansion ourselves!"
Liu Qingyun responded coldly, "Would he dare?"
ng Qianqian replied, "Why wouldn’t he? Wasn’t he just now suggesting the abdication request to Grandfather, trying to make Grandfather dismiss his own title? He’s already acting as though he can dictate the Emperor’s decisions. Judging from his audacity, he might even claim Grandfather slipped it into their courtyard during the search!"
"Ridiculous!"
The Miao King waved his large hand, hands on his hips, and declared, "I wasn’t the only one conducting the search! The Great General Han, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and nurous governnt officers were present. Is he attempting to insinuate that the court’s generals and judicial officers are all incompetent drunkards?"
These remarks left Xun Qi speechless.
It was Xun Qi’s common tactic, but now being used against him, how would he respond?
Xun Qi clenched his fists tightly.
The family worked in concert, shutting down all avenues for his verbal maneuvering. If he persisted in questioning the evidence, it would amount to doubting the capabilities of the Great General Han and the Ministry of Justice.
Still, they underestimated his adoptive father’s reputation.
Even if it ant making enemies, what did that matter?
"Even lions have monts of weakness. Miao King, you searched over and over—who dares to say you weren’t rely waiting for the right mont to strike?"
The Miao King, unsurprised, stated, "I anticipated you’d say this!"
Xun Qi furrowed his brow.
What did the Miao King an by this?
The Miao King turned to Great General Han and said, "General Han, I’ve heard your household has a remarkable hunting dog. It’s said this dog can identify slls even from ten miles away—so it should have no problem tracking down scents. Is that true?"
General Han replied, "It’s not as exaggerated as you say, but it does possess so ability in distinguishing scents."
Dogs have a keen sense of sll, but not all are adept at tracking. There’s a difference between detecting a scent and following it, the latter involving specialized training.
Coincidentally, Han’s dog had undergone such training.
Few were aware of this fact.
However, considering Han Ci’s frequent interactions with the Governor Mansion, General Han imdiately surmised where the Miao King had learned of this.
The Miao King spoke with resolve, "General Han, I ask that you bring forth your hunting dog to clear my na!"
General Han hesitated.
Yet he was soon undermined by a ddling younger family mber.
Han Lin, who had just been escorted back to the Han household, stealthily returned, leading the hunting dog.
The dog sniffed the dicine bottle and jumped towards several individuals—all of whom had recently touched the bottle. As for the Miao King and Liu Qingyun, the dog entirely ignored them.
"Isn’t she also among them?"
Xun Qi pointed toward ng Qianqian.
"?"
ng Qianqian pointed to her own nose, "I just examined the bottle earlier, everyone clearly saw that!"
"Enough!"
Zong Zhengxi coldly declared, "Xun Qi, you’ve repeatedly obstructed the Ministry of Justice’s investigation. Were it not for your position as the Pri Minister’s adopted son, I would punish you imdiately!"
Xun Qi protested in grievance, "Your Majesty..."
Zong Zhengxi firmly replied, "The Pri Minister is rely cooperating with the investigation. Should he be innocent, I trust Minister Xing will ensure justice prevails!"
Earlier, when dealing with the Miao King, the young Emperor was far less decisive.
Xun Qi gazed solemnly at his adoptive father.
The Pri Minister remained composed and stated plainly, "Xun Qi, cease your commotion. I’ll go to the Ministry of Justice myself."
ng Qianqian silently remarked: Yes, yes, go in—and don’t think about coming out!
As he passed Xun Qi, the Pri Minister whispered discreetly, "Locate Chen Long and Luo San."
Xun Qi’s eyes glead sharply, and he replied quietly, "Understood, adoptive father!"
Outside the Pri Minister’s Mansion.
The citizens had waited all day, watching one official after another enter, clear evidence that sothing significant was happening.
The Pri Minister had served for many years, spanning three dynasties. Despite his low profile, the last ti his mansion was this bustling was when Xun Yu earned the top scholar title.
"Look! The gates are opening!"
"The Pri Minister is coming out!"
"Who’s accompanying him?"
"The Minister of Justice!"
Minister Xing walked to the carriage and said to the Pri Minister, "Please."
The Pri Minister boarded the Ministry of Justice’s carriage.
Minister Xing rode his horse alongside it, and commanded, "To the Ministry of Justice!"
The citizens were stunned.
What was happening?
Was the Pri Minister being taken to the Ministry of Justice?
"Officer, could you tell us...what has occurred?"
A middle-aged rchant grabbed a Ministry of Justice officer.
"Don’t trouble him. He’s just a low-ranking official who can’t afford the wrath of the Pri Minister’s mansion! Ask !"
"Who are you?"
"I’m the legitimate son of the Han family! Han Ci is my brother, the Great General is my uncle!"
"Then tell us why the Pri Minister is going to the Ministry of Justice?"
"He arrested the Grand Commander—caught red-handed, with indisputable evidence, and now he’s off to prison!"
"Han—Lin—"
The Great General arrived only monts later but found the mischievous brat had already begun spreading rumors!
Liu Qingyun stepped out of the Pri Minister’s mansion and expressed her gratitude to the gathered masses, thanking them for defending her son and providing her father the opportunity to search the mansion alongside governnt officials.
"Every one of you has blessed my son with a second life..."
With her tearful beauty and the imagery of a fragnted empire, the citizens’ hearts broke.
"Waaah... I also want to cry... Awoooo—Let cry, then I’ll leave—"
Han Lin was thrown onto a horse’s back by his enraged uncle.
"Each of you has beco my son’s rebirth parents... Please accept my deep bow—"
Liu Qingyun, tear-streaked yet graceful, bowed to the citizens.
The Goddess bends down.
Who could resist this?
Once despised and hunted down rcilessly, Lu Yuan, the Great Traitor, was now the community’s cherished child. Their emotions shifted drastically.
Gripping her handkerchief, Liu Qingyun spoke with heartfelt sincerity, "I cannot thank you all enough! I’m an ordinary woman, raised in Miaojiang and unaccustod to grandeur. I have little to offer as repaynt, only so modest silver—I hope you won’t hold this against !"
Liu Qingyun handed out gold to each citizen outside the Pri Minister’s Mansion.
"Thank you for saving my son."
"Thank you for saving my son."
"Thank you..."
"We misunderstood the Grand Commander before. He’s just a poor boy, lost at such a young age..."
"From now on, each of you is his second family. Should he do anything wrong, please discipline him well!"
"Oh, Madam Lu, don’t say such things! Upon reflection, the Grand Commander’s actually quite wonderful! He even helped Great Zhou win battles in Beiliang!"
"Yes, yes!"
ng Qianqian watched as her mother-in-law orchestrated an elaborate display of winning public sympathy, utterly astounded. She raised her thumb in admiration: "Brilliant, truly brilliant!"
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