nashuaworldcup Chapter 100 Abandoning the Car to Save the Commander
Chapter 100 Abandoning the Car to Save the Commander
The emperor accepted the cloth presented by the commander of the Imperial Guards.
After glancing around a few times, his brows furrowed, his eyes darkened to almost black, and a faint, almost imperceptible flame flickered within them.
The performance at Choushan Lake had already stopped, and no one dared to speak; the atmosphere was heavy.
Jiang Zhi felt a dull ache in her abdomen. She leaned back in her chair and calmly watched the commotion at the banquet, her gaze occasionally falling on Gu Liang.
The emperor read the contents of the cloth from beginning to end again.
He suddenly laughed, "Okay."
He tossed the cloth in his hand to the Imperial Noble Consort, staring at her and saying, "Nai'er, your son is intelligent and truly remarkable."
The Imperial Noble Consort's expression suddenly changed. "Your Majesty, this..."
"Do you know anything about what's going on here?" the emperor asked.
The Imperial Noble Consort lowered her head and glanced quickly at the cloth that the Emperor had thrown at her.
"This, this is absolutely impossible!" she denied.
"Your Majesty, Yuan'er would never do such a thing."
"Oh?" The emperor raised an eyebrow and looked down at Gu Yuan. "Zilan, I ask you, what is your relationship with Qiao Weixian?"
Gu Yuan was caught off guard by his question and didn't know how to answer for a moment. He subconsciously said, "Father, I don't understand what you mean?"
The emperor looked at him sharply, "Where is Qiao Weixian?"
When Marquis Zhongjing Qiao Weixian, who was not far away, heard his own name, he paused in surprise.
He quickly rose from his seat, saying, "Your subject is here."
The emperor's gaze fell upon him. "Lord Zhongjing, I appointed you to govern Qingzhou. How have you governed it?"
Marquis Zhongjing turned his eyes and said, "Your Majesty, I will certainly act in accordance with Your Majesty's will and manage Qingzhou properly."
"Appropriate?" The emperor scoffed, his voice rising. "Then what about the iron mine in Yu County, Qingzhou?!"
Marquis Zhongjing was terrified and immediately knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty, this humble subject was unaware."
"Don't know? Then I'll ask someone else." He turned his head. "Where is Wen Xiangyu?"
Minister of Revenue Wen Xiangyu, who was sitting not far away, quickly stood up and said, "Your subject is here."
He became secretly wary the moment he heard the name "Qiao Weixian".
As expected, the emperor called out his name.
The emperor looked at Minister Wen and said, "Minister Wen, I've heard that you have a very good relationship with Marquis Zhongjing?"
Wen Xiangyu quickly knelt down, "Your subject dares not. Your subject has only drunk with Marquis Zhongjing a few times at other people's banquets, and has no private dealings with him."
The Marquis Zhongjing, standing to the side, dared not raise his head.
"No dealings?" The Emperor snatched the cloth from the Imperial Concubine's hand, rose, and walked down the steps. "If you have no dealings, why is he interfering in mining and corvée labor in Yu County? Shouldn't that be the Ministry of Revenue's business?"
Wen Xiangyu lowered his head, "Your Majesty, I am innocent!"
"Injustice?" The emperor's face darkened as he threw the cloth in front of Wen Xiangyu. "If you truly had no personal relationship, how could you be unaware of the matter concerning the Yu County iron mine?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Yuan's eyes widened.
He stared intently at the piece of coarse cloth beside Wen Xiangyu.
He remembered.
Yes, that piece of coarse cloth was left over from when Qingzhou reported the disaster. After Marquis Zhongjing gave it to him, he didn't care about it and told Marquis Zhongjing to destroy it. So how could it reappear?
The petition from the people accused Marquis Zhongjing of abusing his power, forcibly conscripting laborers, and forcing the people to quarry stone.
Moreover, the Marquis of Zhongjing was forcibly conscripting laborers on his orders, because he...
Gu Yuan hesitated for a moment, not daring to look the emperor in the eye.
Just as he was wondering whether he should defend himself, he saw the Imperial Noble Consort stand up.
She walked down and knelt beside Wen Xiangyu. "Your Majesty, although I do not know why this 'Book of Ten Thousand People' exists, I believe that my brother would never do anything against Your Majesty."
She didn't even glance at her son, as if this matter had nothing to do with Gu Yuan, and that it all stemmed from Wen Xiangyu.
Wen Xiangyu remained expressionless, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye without saying a word.
The emperor looked down at the two men, his tone icy, "What a fine example of trust."
The Imperial Noble Consort knew the Emperor's temperament well, so she did not defend herself, but simply said, "Your Majesty is wise, but this petition from the people is suspicious, and there is no evidence in it. I hope Your Majesty will investigate carefully."
"So, according to you, the story of the forced conscription in Yu County is false? And the Marquis of Zhongjing didn't mine?"
"Your Majesty, I am not knowledgeable about court affairs." The Imperial Noble Consort took two steps forward, standing at the Emperor's feet. "However, Minister Wen has served in the court for many years and has never betrayed Your Majesty. If he had truly discovered the iron mine in Yu County, he would have reported it immediately. How could he dare to conceal it, Your Majesty?"
The emperor snorted coldly. "He wouldn't dare, but he's blinded by greed."
He raised his head and his gaze swept across the entire room.
The expressions of everyone present changed when they heard about the iron ore.
In Yanjing, gold, silver, copper, and iron were all state-run. Any mining of these materials had to be reported, and private mining was strictly prohibited.
Iron ore is extremely important for smelting weapons, and if it is discovered that iron ore is being mined illegally, it is no different from treason.
Jiang Zhi was seated at the front, and the conversation between the Imperial Noble Consort and the Emperor reached her ears clearly.
She calmly picked up her teacup, took a sip, and her expression was solemn.
Hearing about the iron mine in Yu County, Qingzhou at the birthday banquet, she remembered what Lu Nianqiu had told her about the problem with the purchase price of medicinal herbs.
Since the Marquis of Zhongjing was acting on Gu Yuan's orders, he naturally obeyed them.
The import and export of medicinal herbs are probably also related to this matter.
If that's the case, then Wei Zhuo tonight wasn't the new emperor of the Northern Di in his previous life, but is now the new emperor of the Northern Di, which is definitely related to Gu Yuan.
Jiang Zhi's gaze unconsciously drifted towards the cloth.
Although she couldn't see the words clearly, she could guess that this was the reason why Wen Xiangyu was reprimanded by the emperor.
Since Wen Xiangyu is Gu Yuan's uncle, he naturally sides with him.
She subtly withdrew her gaze.
The emperor was furious, but someone bravely stepped forward.
He was a censor.
The official, who had been listening for a long time, guessed the reason for the matter and said, "Your Majesty, iron ore is the foundation of the country. The country cannot lose its foundation. I hope Your Majesty will ask the relevant authorities to investigate this matter thoroughly."
"Your Majesty," another official stood up, "I believe that the matter of corvée labor in Yu County is a matter concerning the people. If it is not thoroughly investigated, it may damage Your Majesty's reputation."
"That's right. Whether Marquis Zhongjing and Minister Wen have a private relationship is another matter, but Marquis Zhongjing has been seen having close private interactions with Prince Jing's guards."
Upon hearing this, not only the emperor, but everyone present exchanged slightly different glances.
Jiang Zhi glanced at Gu Liang subconsciously.
Gu Liang picked up a candied fruit, staring at it as if he were thinking about something.
Upon hearing the official's words, Gu Yuan immediately retorted angrily, "What do you mean by that?"
The official bowed fearlessly and said, "Your Majesty, I am only speaking the truth. If Your Highness is displeased, you may ask Your Majesty to punish me."
"Your humble servant will have no complaints whatsoever."
“You…” Gu Yuan stared at the censor with wide eyes.
He struggled to suppress his anger and looked up at the emperor. "Father, I have no private dealings with Marquis Zhongjing. Please investigate this matter thoroughly."
"Father, I swear, I know nothing about the Yu County iron mine, nor do I know why there is a book for all people. I have absolutely nothing to do with what is said in this book!"
Gu Yuan held up three fingers, her expression agitated, her face full of grievance.