Chapter 144: The Scandal Spreads
At the end of the fourth year of Shengyuan in Great Xia, as the Festival approached, the already noisy Capital City experienced a major event.
Censor Li Bu entered the Imperial Study holding bloody clothes, after which the Emperor summoned several high ministers.
Immediately after, several teams of soldiers escorted different officials rushing out of the Capital City, while at the same time Dali Temple runners surrounded Ji Ying’s residence.
In just one day, the news that Inspector Ji Ying had met with disaster spread throughout the Capital City.
Some said Ji Ying had encountered mountain bandits, others said he was murdered by local government officials during an inquiry.
Restaurants and teahouses were filled with all sorts of discussions.
“Is the under heaven going to be in chaos again?”
“The Inspector holding the tally was killed, this is undoubtedly plotting against the Son of Heaven!”
“Oh heavens, the officials outside are rebelling again!”
“Everyone, everyone, do not discuss court politics recklessly! Do not speak nonsense! Wait for the government conclusion.”
Shop assistants had to stop the chaotic rumors.
Compared to the civilians in the lobby who knew no details and were speculating wildly, the people sitting in the private rooms knew a bit more.
“Only bloody clothes, no corpse.” One person said in a low voice.
“So is he dead or alive?” Another person frowned and asked, “What did the Censor say?”
“Li Bu said he doesn’t know.” Another person said.
These words made the several people sitting indoors all look toward him.
Doesn’t know?
Wasn’t it Li Bu who presented the bloody clothes at court audience?
How did it become Li Bu not knowing Ji Ying’s life or death?
“Zhang Erlang, your uncle is at the Censor’s office.” The others hurriedly urged, “You must know clearly, tell us quickly.”
Zhang Erlang picked up his teacup and took a sip, looking at everyone meaningfully: “Actually, you are focusing on the wrong thing. What Li Bu really said was not about Ji Ying meeting with disaster.”
What does that mean? Didn’t Li Bu take the bloody clothes to tell the Emperor that Ji Ying was dead?
No one knew the news that Ji Ying was dead, not even Ji Ying’s family knew, otherwise they would have reported to officials long ago.
Zhang Erlang put down his teacup: “Have you forgotten what identity Li Bu has?”
Not forgotten, he’s a Censor.
“Exactly, a Censor. Censors do not investigate life and death, they oversee the impeachment of officials and the trial of cases.” Zhang Erlang said, “Li Bu was actually impeaching and reporting Ji Ying.”
Impeaching and reporting Ji Ying? Several people looked shocked, it was actually like this?
Reporting Ji Ying for what? Isn’t the person dead?
Zhang Erlang said in a low voice: “In the White Horse Town mountain bandit robbery case, death row prisoners were used in place of mountain bandits, the case was perfunctorily closed.”
White Horse Town mountain bandit robbery case?
What case is this? Where is White Horse Town?
“This White Horse Town is located within Lu County in Yuzhou.”
“In late June this year, it was robbed by mountain bandits, and almost everyone in the town was killed overnight.”
A whole town? That’s at least a hundred people, all killed, this is a major case!
Why no impression? Never heard of it.
The several people indoors were greatly shocked.
“Because this case was handled by Ji Ying. He used death row prisoners to impersonate mountain bandit robbers, had them decapitated and publicly displayed, concluded the case within days, deceiving the civilians, so it didn’t spread and become big.”
As Zhang Erlang’s voice continued, everyone indoors instantly became furious.
“Outrageous!”
“As an inspector, to do such an outrageous thing!”
“He deserves to die!”
“Deserves to die, deserves to die!”
The private room instantly became noisy, shop assistants had to come to dissuade, but compared to the ordinary civilians in the lobby, these people who were either reading or had background couldn’t be stopped.
“Such evil deeds must be made public!”
“Let the world know Ji Ying’s wicked deeds!”
“He deserves death!”
“So, did Censor Li learn of Ji Ying’s crimes and kill him?”
Hearing this question, Zhang Erlang standing in the hall shook his head: “No.”
“Then what happened?” Someone outside in the corridor asked urgently, “Which hero or good man eliminated harm for the people?”
Because of the noise, shop assistants opened the door to stop it, drawing people from other private rooms and even the lobby, now all standing in the corridor listening and discussing.
Shop assistants were completely unable to stop them.
With the questions, everyone’s gaze converged on Zhang Erlang.
Zhang Erlang hesitated a bit: “Ji Ying seems to have committed suicide.”
Suicide?
Everyone was stunned for a moment, then burst into noisy discussion again, mixed with angry shouts.
“Suicide? That’s too easy on him!”
……
……
The reason for the rumor that Ji Ying might have committed suicide was that Li Bu also presented Ji Ying’s bloody letter.
Chai Yuan stood indoors, his expression grave, picking up a sheet of paper to examine it.
“Ji Ying’s bloody letter?” He let out a sneer.
This paper had no blood, naturally it wasn’t the bloody letter presented by the Censor, it was a copy.
The handwriting was indeed Ji Ying’s.
But that didn’t mean it was real; imitating handwriting is simple.
Chai Yuan skimmed it quickly, the content confessing that in White Horse Town death row prisoners were used to impersonate mountain bandits, deceiving civilians to falsely close the case for achievements, then feeling guilty day and night.
“The tragic state of those disaster victims is before my eyes day and night, for doing such a thing, I will surely die badly…”
The words on the letter paper stopped abruptly here, as if unable to bear writing further, or as if interrupted by someone.
If he guessed right, the real bloody letter had a patch of blood here.
Chai Yuan crumpled the letter paper and smashed it into the brazier.
“What the hell is this, as if he Ji Ying robbed White Horse Town!”
Marquis Yichun sitting in the chair smiled: “Fortunately, what was presented was only the bloody letter in Ji Ying’s handwriting, not the letter I wrote to Ji Ying, otherwise I might still be in the Imperial Palace today.”
At this point he thought again.
“Or perhaps locked up in Dali Temple.”
Right, previously Marquis Yichun had written a letter asking Ji Ying to return, then Ji Ying disappeared on the way back.
If the letter in Marquis Yichun’s handwriting had been submitted, with Ji Ying dead and missing without trace, Marquis Yichun who wrote to Ji Ying would definitely be questioned.
Ji Ying’s disappearance was also their long-standing puzzle.
Now suddenly it popped up…
Bloody clothes and bloody letter, but Ji Ying still nowhere to be seen alive or dead.
“Li Bu said it was during ancestor worship back home, the bloody clothes and bloody letter were stuffed under the tombstone, he didn’t know when or who put them there.”
“Li Bu and Ji Ying were both officials in court with no dealings, but they studied together in their youth, so he recognizes Ji Ying’s handwriting.”
“Although the matter was somewhat absurd and strange, after seeing the content and knowing it involved something major, Li Bu took advantage of visiting family to go to White Horse Town in Lu County to personally investigate.”
“Upon checking, he confirmed death row prisoners were used in place of mountain bandits, then checked on Ji Ying and found he had been missing for a long time, so without further hesitation he immediately reported to His Majesty.”
Marquis Yichun recounted what Li Bu had told in the Imperial Study at the time.
At this point he laughed again.
“Truly flawless, a perfectly reasonable process.”
Chai Yuan didn’t find it funny, only frowned: “How did this Li Bu pop up? Who is behind it?”
As he spoke, an old servant entered from outside.
“Marquis.” He said in a low voice, “His Majesty has summoned Duke Ding’an into the palace.”
Chai Yuan’s face darkened: “His Majesty is actually seeing him.”
Except for festivals, the Emperor almost never summoned Duke Ding’an.
Marquis Yichun’s expression was indifferent: “With Ji Ying’s matter blowing up so big, the fact that Duke Ding’an’s younger sister was a victim in White Horse Town can’t be hidden anymore, the Emperor will personally inquire about it.”
Chai Yuan’s expression changed, suddenly thinking of something: “The Emperor wants to use this matter to reveal that Lady Yang’s identity!”
At this point he sneered.
“See, I guessed right!”
From the Emperor not driving this Yang woman out of the National Academy, he felt something was off.
Then letting this Lady Yang become the Libationer’s disciple, indeed building momentum.
Now finally using the White Horse Town matter to let Lady Yang recover her true identity!
“I’m going to the palace right now!” He shouted.
“Enough.” Marquis Yichun stopped him, “Things are already chaotic, don’t make more trouble.”
Chai Yuan was annoyed: “Then just watch helplessly like this?”
Marquis Yichun said indifferently: “When have we ever just watched helplessly? Back then we didn’t let Deng Shan bring that woman into the palace, now that woman’s daughter won’t get her wish either.”
With that he gestured to Chai Yuan.
“Be quiet, watch carefully first, the matter isn’t concluded yet, don’t panic yourself.”
Chai Yuan took a deep breath: “Truly outrageous!” With that he sat down.
Outrageous, Marquis Yichun thought, indeed outrageous.
Is this the Emperor’s handiwork?
Otherwise what, it couldn’t be that Lady Yang Yang Luo’s handiwork.
This thought flashed by, Marquis Yichun couldn’t help laughing at himself.
