The first assistant of the poor family

Chapter 560 Ripped Face

Li Tai, the prefect of Linqing Prefecture, was sitting in the yamen office, looking at a report from the imperial court, when a minor official saluted him respectfully and said, "Second Master, the Imperial Envoy is here to invite you."

"Uh?"

Li Tai was slightly surprised.What did the imperial envoy summon him for?
As the second official, Tongzhi is completely Zhizhou's deputy, without any real power.Even if the imperial envoy wants to hear the opinions of other people besides Zhizhou, he should also listen to the judge. Why would he ask about his spare tire?

Could it be that the little official who reported Zhao Zhizhou slipped his tongue?
No, this is absolutely impossible!That petty official acted very cautiously, and it was impossible for Li Tai's confidants to make such a low-level mistake.

So why did the imperial envoy ask him to question him?

Although Li Tai couldn't understand it, he still had to go to see the imperial envoy.

He straightened his clothes, followed the little official out of the office, and turned to a courtyard.

This is where Gu Dingchen, the imperial envoy, works and lives in Linqing. Normally, Li Tai is not eligible to enter.

Entering the hall, Li Tai looked around and found that the imperial envoy was not there, so he couldn't help but asked suspiciously, "Where is the imperial envoy?"

"Reporting to the second master, the imperial envoy only said to bring you here to wait."

"Understood, let's go!"

Li Tai felt upset for a while, and waved his hand to send the little official away.

Li Tai had something on his mind, so he was naturally restless.After a long time, the imperial envoy Gu Dingchen came down to the hall surrounded by a crowd of people.

"I pay my respects to the imperial envoy!"

Li Tongzhi hurriedly got up to greet him, bowed deeply and had a very respectful attitude.

The corners of Gu Dingchen's mouth curled up slightly, and he poked his right hand forward and said lightly, "Li Tongzhi, sit down, I came to ask you a few things."

Li Tai hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said: "Your Imperial Envoy, just ask, and the lower officials will know everything without saying anything."

"Ah."

Gu Dingchen was very satisfied with Li Tai's attitude. He lifted the hem of his robe, sat on the chair, tapped his fingers and said, "Actually, I came here for Zhao Zhizhou's affairs."

Li Tai had just sat on the official hat chair with half of his buttocks, and almost stood up when he heard this.

Come on, it's really for this
"I'm afraid it's not easy for an official to speak nonsense about this matter, right?"

Gu Dingchen said indifferently: "I am acting on behalf of the imperial court. I am asking you on behalf of His Majesty. You don't have to worry about it."

"Yes..." Li Tai was in a cold sweat, the imperial envoy's aura was so strong that he was led by the nose.

"Recently, a small official reported that Zhao Mengqing, the magistrate of Linqing Prefecture, robbed the women of the people, raised singers, and was extravagant and lustful. Is there such a thing?"

Uh.

"You don't have to be nervous. I'm not just asking you. I just want to seek evidence from multiple sources so as not to misjudge the case."

Li Tai's heart sank, it turned out that the imperial envoy was just asking casually, and happened to ask him!
It's not hard to understand if you think about it carefully. After all, Tongzhi is Zhizhou's deputy, and they are under the same yamen roof. If Zhizhou makes any major moves, it is impossible to hide it from Tongzhi.

Li Tai thought about his words, and said respectfully: "I have reported to the imperial envoy, and the officials only heard some rumors that Master Zhizhou kept more than a dozen beautiful concubines in the backyard, but he didn't see it with his own eyes."

I have to say that Li Tai is very good at talking, and what he said is just right!

Although he wished that Zhao Mengqing would be removed from office immediately, he couldn't show it.

The reason is very simple, he is Zhao Mengqing's deputy, if he shows a posture of wanting to swallow Zhao Mengqing alive, the imperial envoy may suspect that Li Tai deliberately framed Zhao Mengqing because of personal grievances.

In this way, it will be counterproductive.

But if he doesn't mention it at all, there will be problems. The imperial envoy may classify him as Zhao Mengqing's party, thinking that he is a nest of snakes and rats, and they are all in the same boat.

Most importantly, Li Tai will not be reconciled.

How could I miss the opportunity to report Zhao Mengqing in front of the imperial envoy?
Therefore, Li Tai expressed his attitude towards Zhao Zhizhou very euphemistically, and I believe that the imperial envoy will understand.

Gu Dingchen frowned after hearing Li Tai's words.

Rumor?

These two words are really meaningful.

Since even Zhizhou's deputy has heard about Zhizhou's style of work, it seems that it is not groundless.

But precisely because of the rumors, Zhao Zhizhou could not be directly interrogated without evidence.

Gu Dingchen pays great attention to evidence, and will not jump to conclusions without conclusive evidence.

"Does anyone else know about this?"

"The lower officials don't know about it now. But the lower officials think that since there are small officials reporting it, there should be quite a few people who know about it, right?"

Li Tai said rightly.

"Okay, I understand, you should step back first."

What Li Tai was talking about was getting excited, but Gu Dingchen directly interrupted it, making Li Tai very frustrated.

"The subordinate retire."

Li Tai made another salute to Gu Dingchen, and then exited the hall respectfully.

After leaving the courtyard, Li Tai walked all the way to the office.I thought to myself, what kind of tricks is this imperial envoy up to, why don't you ask half of it?

Walking and walking but hearing a bang, Li Tai hugged his head in pain and shouted: "Which one doesn't have eyes?"

He looked up and saw that the person bumping into him was none other than Zhao Mengqing, the magistrate of the state, and he couldn't help but took a deep breath.

Hey, it's really a narrow road for enemies, they can bump into each other wherever they go!
Li Tai secretly thought it was bad luck, but he had to put on a kind look on his face, and apologized: "I offended Lord Zhizhou, and I will die as an official."

"Humph."

Zhao Mengqing rubbed his crooked nose, and snorted coldly: "Isn't it intentional for me to see Li Tongzhi? Did you really not see me?"

He didn't have a good impression of Li Tai at all, and he suspected that he was the man behind the scenes who ordered the little official to report him, so Zhao Mengqing wished he could strip Li Tai alive.

Now Li Tai knocked him half to death again, the combination of old and new grudges really made people burst into anger.

"Look at what Master Zhizhou said, even if you lend ten guts to the subordinate officials, you don't dare to offend Master Zhizhou."

It was as if honey had been smeared on Li Tai's mouth, and he didn't blush when he lied.

"I see that you are in a hurry, why? Hey, isn't the imperial envoy's residence over there?"

Zhao Mengqing suddenly realized something, and looked at Li Tai with anger.

Okay, this Li Tai didn't want to stay in the Yamen Office, but he even touched the imperial envoy.It's really Sima Zhao's heart, everyone knows it!
Li Tai was a little hairy from Zhao Mengqing's stare, and he defended: "Master Zhizhou, don't misunderstand, the reason for the lower officials to go is because the imperial envoy wants to ask something."

"whats the matter!"

Zhao Mengqing gritted his teeth and clenched his fists angrily.

Seeing that Zhao Zhizhou was about to eat people, Li Tai shuddered subconsciously, and said with a smile: "It's inconvenient to tell Master Zhizhou about this."

(End of this chapter)