jdhmnovel Chapter 336 Revenge 5
Chapter 336 Revenge 5
The drumbeats sounded nine times, reaching the ears of Heaven.
"Your Majesty, someone outside has struck the Dengwen Drum and submitted a petition accusing Minister Tong of the Ministry of Revenue."
The Imperial Guard's words caused an uproar among the court officials.
Xiao Ji clenched his fists and glanced outside with concern.
He couldn't see it, but he could imagine how resolute and determined Shen Lan would be as she knelt outside Xuande Gate.
Although the Dengwen Drum allows people to beat the drum to appeal their grievances and appeal from lower to higher levels, it is still an appeal that bypasses the proper channels, and according to the law, the person should be flogged fifty times.
Although she was physically strong, she was still just a mortal, how could she withstand fifty strokes of the cane?
"Who has accused Minister Tong? Who is so audacious?"
"The Tong family hasn't done anything heinous, has they?"
"I don't know if they're officials or commoners; they probably won't even be able to get into the main hall."
"Alas, fifty strokes of the cane would be fine, but a hundred strokes would kill even a soldier."
The Dengwen Drum has stood there for years, but why has no one dared to beat it and appeal for justice? Is it because there are no grievances in the world?
Of course not, because striking the drum to petition the emperor means losing at least half your life, and even if you survive, you may not see a good outcome.
Tong Xiuqing was extremely surprised. She looked around but couldn't figure out who would want to harm her.
Could it be related to Liu Engui's disappearance?
He felt a slight chill and realized that this was a scheme aimed at him.
But at this moment, he absolutely could not afford to lose his composure.
"Your Majesty, I am upright and have no fear of being falsely accused. I request that the person who beat the drum be brought to the palace so that we may confront each other face to face!"
Another vice minister from the Ministry of Revenue chimed in, “Your Majesty, Minister Tong is an honest and upright official. He would never do anything immoral. There must be a misunderstanding.”
In the imperial court, the Crown Prince's faction stood up to support Minister Tong.
The emperor listened quietly, propping himself up with one hand, and did not stop them.
Xiao Ji was anxious.
According to procedure, the execution may have already begun outside.
When he stood up, everyone assumed that he, like everyone else, was speaking up for Minister Tong.
The young and handsome chief judge lifted the hem of his official robe and knelt in the center of the hall, shouting: "Your Majesty, since you are beating the drum to appeal for justice, you must have a great injustice. However, beating the drum to appeal will result in being flogged. Given Minister Tong's reputation, no one will believe that he would do anything wrong. Why not invite the plaintiff to the hall and hear his story?"
If someone were killed by the Imperial Guards outside Xuande Gate, then Minister Tong would be suspected of committing some heinous crime.
Even if Minister Tong was feeling uneasy inside, he had to maintain a calm demeanor on the surface.
"Your subject agrees with Lord Xiao's proposal."
The Minister of Rites disagreed, saying, "How can the rules be changed at will? If everyone can beat the petition drum to appeal to the court officials without being punished, then this drum will probably be sounding from morning till night."
"Yes, if someone deliberately fabricates false evidence to frame an official of the court, then the drum becomes a weapon that aids and abets evil!"
"What you say makes sense, and the rules cannot be disregarded."
The emperor was disheartened.
Given the power and influence of the Tong family, the Imperial Guards will likely kill the person who beat the drum.
He waved his hand, "Stop arguing, just wait."
Xiao Ji couldn't wait any longer. "Your Majesty, I have a suggestion. If the officials are worried that the people outside are making false accusations against Minister Tong, why not invite someone to the palace to verify the truth? If it is a false accusation, then it's not too late to increase the punishment."
"Xiao Ji, you've been speaking up for that person in every way. Could it be that you arranged for the people outside who are beating the drum to appeal for justice?" Minister Zhao asked suspiciously.
Tong Xiuqing also had her doubts, but she had not offended Xiao Ji.
He turned his gaze to Xiao Zhengyang, suspecting that he was behind it, but then again, there was no deep-seated hatred between the two families.
Xiao Ji was not intimidated at all and said loudly, "I did not arrange the people, but I can roughly guess who is beating the drums."
"Oh, who is it?" the emperor asked with interest.
"Shen Lan, Eighth-Rank Coroner of the Provincial Judicial Commission."
"What?" Everyone was shocked.
If you only mention the name Shen Lan, some officials may not have heard of her, but there is only one eighth-rank coroner in the whole country.
"Isn't that your trusted and beloved general, Lord Xiao?" Minister Zhao laughed loudly upon hearing this, his smile full of sarcasm.
"You still say it wasn't someone you arranged? Your subordinates beat the drum to protest their innocence, how could you not know?"
"What does Lord Xiao want to accuse Minister Tong about? Why not just say it here? Why sacrifice the life of a subordinate in such a roundabout way?"
"Speaking of which, that coroner Shen was only sixteen years old. It would be a real pity if he died like that."
"No wonder Lord Xiao was in such a hurry, perhaps he's just being chivalrous?"
The princelings attacked Xiao Ji relentlessly; someone with a short temper would have already started arguing with them.
But Xiao Ji did not refute a single word they said; he simply looked firmly at the emperor.
The emperor seemed to have just remembered that this was a coroner he had personally appointed, and a woman at that. Although she was an official, fifty strokes of the cane would suffice, but judging from her frail body, she probably couldn't withstand it.
"Guards, bring the drummer to the main hall first, and I will make a decision after questioning him."
Eunuch Wu immediately accepted the order and left, followed by a troop of imperial guards.
One of the pretty young flag bearers hurried past Wu Gonggong.
Eunuch Wu gave him a wink, signaling him to calm down.
On the way, he instructed a young eunuch to inform Steward Li, while he and his men quickened their pace toward Xuande Gate.
Xiao Ji was anxiously waiting, but this was already the best possible outcome.
Taking advantage of the chaos in the court, Xiao Zhengyang walked to his son's side and quietly asked him, "What's going on?"
Xiao Ji sighed, "You'll hear it in a moment, Father. I'm afraid this matter can't be resolved peacefully. You should also prepare for battle."
Xiao Zhengyang glared at him. "What do I, a civil official, have to fight for?"
Xiao Ji smiled at him, "Of course it's a battle to save people."
A moment later, Eunuch Wu returned with his men, and the Imperial Guards carried a stretcher into the main hall.
Xiao Ji rushed over and saw Shen Lan lying on a stretcher, dressed in white with bloodstains on her clothes.
She nodded to Xiao Ji, her eyes revealing no emotion.
When the stretcher was placed on the ground, she struggled to get up and knelt on the cold ground, dragging her injured body.
"This humble servant, Shen Lan, greets Your Majesty with long life!"
When Eunuch Wu reported to the emperor, "When I arrived, Coroner Shen had already received twenty strokes of the cane."
The emperor nodded, neither pleased nor saddened, and said, "I pity your injuries. You may rise and speak."
Shen Lan was in so much pain that she was covered in sweat. "Thank you, Your Majesty. However, my legs are injured and I cannot stand steadily. I am afraid that I will lose my composure in front of Your Majesty. I beg you to allow me to kneel and speak."
The emperor still had some affection for her. He gave Eunuch Wu a wink, and the latter understood, ordering someone to bring a soft cushion to place under Shen Lan's knees.
"Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty for your grace!" Shen Lan asked, bending down to make herself feel more comfortable.
Zhao Kaizhi, the Minister of Justice, walked up to her and began to question the emperor on behalf of the emperor.
"Was it you who beat the drum to appeal for justice just now?"
"Yes."
"Reveal your true identity. If you dare to deceive the emperor, your crime will be compounded."
"This humble servant is currently a coroner in the Criminal Investigation Department, surnamed Shen, named Lan, from Aoki County."
"Whom do you want to sue? Do you have a complaint?"
Shen Lan handed over the preserved petition, saying, "The people I am accusing are Tong Xiuqing, the Minister of Revenue, and Tong Yiwen, the headmaster of Yishan Academy. I accuse them of murdering people to seize the Shen family's treasures, slaughtering thousands of people in the town, and being utterly wicked and inhuman!"