White Moonlight of Powerful Officials at large

Chapter 166 Are Anniversary Candles Ready?

General Hussars returned to Beijing with several important witnesses from the Southern Expeditionary Army.

In an instant, Beijing Central's attention shifted from Rui Wang's party to the case of "fraudulent military rations" that had been discussed before.

Fake military orders, forged military seals, and defrauded military rations have caused a lot of quarrel among the people.

When it comes to the emergency situation of the epidemic, special circumstances and special handling, Prince Pei risked the world's disapproval for the sake of the people. If there is no such batch of military rations, wouldn't the people wait to starve to death?Not counting the losses caused by the spillover of the epidemic caused by the people fleeing in panic.

It is said that the law is like a mountain, falsely passing military orders, forging military seals, and defrauding military rations, no matter which one is taken out, it is a fatal crime. Circumstances” openly challenge the law?
There are also some people who utter nonsense, mocking Prince Pei's actions, just to gain fame, if there is no profit, how could he commit such a serious crime just for the common people?

While arguing, everyone was staring at Dali Temple.

Hussar General Shen Jin, Wu Gang, the commander in charge of transporting grain at that time, and Yan, the grain guard of the Southern Expedition Army, entered Dali Temple early in the morning, and together with Pei Shizi, the four were interrogated separately.

At noon, the news came out.

It is said that the grain escort officer surnamed Yan insisted that he released the grain with the document at that time, but later found that the document was wrong. After careful verification, he found that the military seal on the document was fake, and then submitted a grain adjustment document.

Commander Wu, who was in charge of transporting the grain, only said that he took the grain according to the documents and delivered them according to the documents.

But Prince Pei was so indifferent to this, as if it had nothing to do with him, he only had one sentence: He has no objection to the court's sentence.

"So, the crux of this problem falls on General Shen!" In the teahouse, people who did not know where to get the news were surrounded, "The military seal on the document is indeed fake, as long as If he doesn't know anything about this matter, Pei Shizi's crime is a certainty, and there is no way to shirk it!"

"Guess what General Shen said?" The man acted like a storyteller.

There were boos from around, telling him to speak quickly, and some people murmured: "General Shen and Prince Pei still have some disagreements? Didn't the wife of the prince of the Duke's Mansion have a marriage contract with General Shen before?"

The surrounding people discussed even more, only the person who knew the inside story took a sip of tea, and then said: "This case is being interrogated by the Minister of Dali Temple, and His Majesty came to listen in person. General Shen was upright, and immediately bowed down to His Majesty, saying He personally signed and issued the food transportation document, and he also knows that Prince Pei has neither a handwritten order nor an oral order from His Majesty, and that 'fraudulent use of military rations' is not true, but 'misappropriation of military rations' is true, and he is willing to share the punishment with Prince Pei!"

"Cheat food" is actually fake!
But "misappropriation of military rations" is also a serious crime according to the law!

Inside the Shen residence, Mrs. Liang was yelling curses.

"Didn't you say that this matter will not implicate Jin'er? Why did he confess the crime in front of His Majesty?" Hearing this, Mrs. Liang couldn't even wait for the next officer, so she immediately asked the housekeeper to go to the yamen to urge Shen Gaolan back. "Misappropriation of military rations! The death penalty is the most serious and the lightest is exile. Jin'er is still a general of the Southern Expeditionary Army. If he knows the law and violates the law, guards and steals himself, the crime will be aggravated! You don't want my son to live, and you don't want the Shen family to live!"

She was not a lady from a famous family, so Liang yelled as she tore Shen Gaolan's clothes.

Shen Gaolan did not expect things to develop like this.

It is true that he had surrendered to Prince Pei before, and it was he who cooperated with Prince Pei to lead Wen Lan to find the evidence that King Rui introduced the epidemic from northern Xinjiang.

King Rui tried to use military rations to lure him into the game, and he had already known that he would give it to his son.

At that time, the prince only asked him to act according to what King Rui said, and he said that he would not implicate Shen Jin, nor would he implicate the Shen family.

When Shen Jin came back last night, he was the first to ask about this matter. Shen Jin also said that when the elder son asked him to adjust the grain, he should just put the grain in and then blame him for all the crimes.

After all, Prince Pei is the only legitimate son of the Duke's Mansion, the eldest princess's son, and His Majesty's nephew. This matter has been handled by him alone, and there is always room for change, but their Shen family...

"Father, even if you didn't tell me in advance, I will release food."

"The war in the south has just ended, and the southern barbarians have not recovered from the heavy damage. It is impossible to attack again in the near future. However, the people in the front are in dire straits. When the food is late, the thirteen cities in Lingnan will be short of rations for a day. Why stick to the old rules and let the army rations lie down Sleep in the granary, and let the people suffering from the epidemic starve to death?!"

Thinking of Shen Jin's words last night, Shen Gaolan raised his forehead heavily.

He should have thought of it, he should have thought of it a long time ago!

His son is the most upright and selfless, upright, how can he slander others and push everything to others in order to avoid guilt?

Even if this person married the girl he was thinking of.

Wen Ning was also very surprised when she heard the news.

But what surprised her was not that Shen Jin would step forward to share the blame, but that...Pei You actually went to find Shen Jin and cooperated with him.

Didn't he not want to see Shen Jin, and didn't want to have a good talk with him?
After all, she thought him narrowly.

It was night, Wen Ning went to look for Wen Lan again, this time Wen Qi was also there.

"How? What countermeasures do you have?"

In fact, after returning from Lingnan, Wen Ning realized belatedly that from the moment she decided to marry Pei You, the Wen family and her two older brothers had joined Pei You's camp.

After the epidemic, Wen Lan became the backbone of the group. He probably knew more about Pei You than she did.

"Ah Ning, you come here so often, why don't you pack up some things and live in my yard." Compared to yesterday, Wen Lan's expression is obviously much more relaxed today.

Wen Ning was not in the mood to joke with him, so she kicked him, "Say it!"

It was Wen Qi who spoke first: "Sister, don't worry, although Shen Jin's move made him unavoidable, it also made the situation much lighter."

Fake military orders and forged military seals are two major crimes, and only embezzlement of military rations is missing. Although it is a major crime in normal times, compared with the combined punishment of the three crimes, there is much more room for maneuver.

"What's your majesty's attitude?" Wen Qi asked Wen Lan.

"On the first night after the son returned to Beijing, he confessed the matter to His Majesty. His Majesty naturally understood the reason and was unwilling to pursue it. In addition, Shen Jin was involved. Both of them are great heroes in Lingnan. How could they be together And punish the crime?" Wen Lan said slowly, "But the iron law comes first, and we can't make exceptions for nothing, so that people can take the law lightly."

"That's...just missing a step." Wen Qi took a sip of tea and put down the cup, "Isn't that easy?"

Wen Ning blinked, oh, her second brother's easy-to-use brain is finally going to be put to good use?

Wen Ning listened to Wen Qi's suggestion with her face in her hands, but it was actually an old routine used by King Rui and the fourth prince.

Water can carry a boat and overturn it. "Water" means public opinion.

Who will benefit the most from the embezzlement of military rations?Naturally, it was the people of the Thirteen Cities in Lingnan.Who will benefit the most when the epidemic is brought under control, or even disappears completely?It is still Lingnan, and even the people of Dayin.

According to Wen Qi's wishes, the people were led to plead for the eldest son Pei who invited Yingying to the epidemic area alone, and for the young general Shen who disregarded the law and righteousness to distribute military rations to the people. The public opinion was brewing to a certain extent, and the imperial court saw it. Down.

An old routine is an old routine because it works so well.

Wen Lan started writing the letter immediately after listening.

During those days in Lingnan, he traveled all over the thirteen cities and met many people.In order for the people to build momentum, there must be a leader.

Wen Ning also hurried back to Xiangti Garden.If we talk about "public opinion", if troubles arise, can anyone be more powerful than scholars?

The group in Jiangnan knew many of Pei You's die-hard loyalists, and they exchanged addresses before parting. Although she stayed in Wen's house in order not to reveal her identity, she even wrote "Wen's house" as "Wen's house", but other She has the person's address.

Those people who were able to follow Pei You around were all rich and free, and their families were quite famous in the local area. If they could be encouraged to bring Jiangnan students to build momentum for Pei You, wouldn't things progress faster?
This is the letter...

It took Wen Ning two full days, almost scratching her head, to finally write such an letter that she didn't appear to be so ignorant.

But things are often not as expected, her letterhead has not been sent out, and even Wen Lan's news should not have arrived in Lingnan, the situation has already changed.

It was the fourth day when Shen Jin arrived in Beijing. At noon, thirteen scholars from Lingnan beat the Dengwen drum outside the palace.

When Dengwen drums sounded, the people had great grievances, and at any time, the emperor should return to the court.On that day, the officials of various ministries couldn't take care of their lunch, so they rushed to the Golden Luan Hall.

Thirteen scholars submitted petitions from the Thirteen Cities in Lingnan.

Petition for Prince Pei.

Pei Shizi saved Lingnan from fire and water, what's wrong?

The military rations that Mr. Pei "deceived" saved the lives of nearly ten thousand people in Shisancheng, what is the crime?
Probably when the petition was written, the latest news had not reached Lingnan, so they thought that Pei Shizi's military rations were "deceived".

The thirteen scholars also brought public opinion in the capital to a peak, no matter teahouses, restaurants, or restaurants, there were voices discussing this matter everywhere.

It is not involved in "cheating", but just misappropriation. Under extraordinary circumstances, is it really not possible?
If the imperial court's food can be delivered in time, why should the son embezzle the military food at the risk of the world?

If this "extraordinary situation" has to be punished, who will dare to come forward to do practical things for the people in the future and take great responsibility?

In the afternoon of the same day, Wen Ning received a letter from Jiangnan with the words "Mr. Wenfu's personal letter", saying that a group of them had led a group of Jiangnan students to the north to petition for Prince Pei, and they would soon arrive in Beijing. All together.

In this situation, of course Wen Ning would not openly go out to "meet friends".But I heard that on the day when a large number of Jiangnan students arrived in Beijing, she was still wearing unremarkable clothes, nestled in an unremarkable teahouse, and took a few sneak peeks.

Seeing that no matter the students or the common people, they were all making impassioned speeches on his behalf, speaking out indignantly, and their eyes couldn't help but feel a little hot.

I really want to ask Pei You to take a look.

There is no need for artificial instigation, students and common people spontaneously petition for him.

His dedication, what he did silently, have all been seen.

Never again would he say something like no one had planned for him.

On the day when Jiangnan students arrived in Beijing, Chu Heng also watched the excitement in Jufeng Pavilion: "Fan Liu, what do you think of the current situation?"

Fan Liu beside him whispered with a smile: "King Rui is no longer, and the position of crown prince must belong to His Royal Highness, but Mr. Pei should be a friend, not an enemy."

"Sending charcoal in the snow can't be done, Your Highness, you might as well be the icing on the cake."

In the court hall on the second day, the fourth prince, Chu Heng, took the lead and spoke out for Pei Shilang and General Shen, saying that both of them are common people, if there is no general Shen in Lingnan, after Pei Shilang settles down, his life would already be ruined.The law cannot be changed, but the law should be merciful, begging Emperor Jiahe to punish them lightly.

All the ministers in the court knelt down with him, asking Emperor Jiahe to punish them lightly.

In accordance with the aspirations of the people, the Emperor Jiahe issued an order that Pei Shilang and General Shen should each be fined for half a year, with minor punishments and major punishments, and release them from Dali Temple.

Usually the news from the court would reach the market in the afternoon at the earliest, but today, in less than an hour, it has already spread all over Chang'an Avenue. Prince Pei and General Shen are only fined their salaries, and Dali Temple has released them!
The students who had not yet left on Chang'an Avenue rejoiced. When Wen Ning heard the news in Xiangti Garden, she almost jumped up from the reclining chair.

"Linglan, hurry up! Go pick some roses and come back!"

Roses bloom in two seasons, one spring and one autumn.It was just autumn when they came back from Lingnan, but now it is golden autumn.

Knowing that even if Pei You came out of Dali Temple, he would probably go to see Emperor Jiahe first, and then go to the Duke's Mansion to meet the eldest princess, and maybe he would have to go to the Ministry of Industry, and he might not be free today, Wen Ning still couldn't help but move The courtyard and bedroom were newly decorated, and I took out a cabinet of skirts and shirts to choose from, and even put on a good makeup for myself.

Sure enough, in the evening, Shiliu appeared in her yard, like the previous two times, with a note in his hand.

Tsk, Shiliu isn't dumb, so it's fine if he can't come and let him pass on a message. Everyone has come out, so why pass a note?

Thinking so, Wen Ning happily took it and opened it.

There was only one line of writing on the paper, and when Wen Ning saw it, her face burned red.

——"Night is approaching, are the flowers and candles ready?"

(This article is first published in Xiaoxiang Academy, please go to Xiaoxiang Academy for updates.)

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