Peasant Woman's Decreed Life as a Wife

Chapter 1499: Chapter 1496: Game of Strategy

Not to mention, when Old Madame Li heard about the matter, she was first enraged, then found an opportunity to reprimand Li Chun’er for being reckless.

After being scolded, Li Chun’er still did not give up on her thoughts, though she dared not cause a scene in Cining Palace.

Meanwhile.

Outside the Imperial Study.

Upon arriving, Li Chongjin waited outside the Imperial Study.

After waiting quietly for a while, he saw Old Madame Huo and the head palace guard Xiao Tianhao come out together.

Ordinarily, when there was a case, it would be handed over to the Ministry of Punishments or the Court of Judicial Review.

But this time, it was entrusted to the Imperial Household Court, indicating Emperor Xuanming’s firm stance.

After Xiao Tianhao and Old Madame Huo left, Li Chongjin was called in. Upon entering, he paid his respects and saw that the hall was empty apart from himself.

“Prince Rong, receive the decree!”

He Dequan proclaimed loudly, standing at the forefront to deliver Emperor Xuanming’s verbal edict.

Without hesitation, Li Chongjin knelt down.

The verbal edict was simple, instructing Li Chongjin to be responsible for guarding the Ministry of Punishments’ prison and to assist Xiao Tianhao and the head, along with Minister of Dali Temple Yan Nan and Minister of Punishments Zhang Zhonghai, and six other ministers in interrogating Duke Zheng.

As the Grand Secretary of the current dynasty, Duke Zheng’s mouth was not easy to pry open. The officials in charge this time were mostly political rivals of Duke Zheng. Despite this, the chief court official was Xiao Tianhao, which made the officials below ponder deeply.

This was a contest between the monarch and his ministers, and no one knew who would ultimately emerge victorious.

Prince Rong was responsible for guarding the Ministry of Punishments’ prison, while King Qi was tasked with finding a doctor for the Dowager Empress.

Once the news spread, each faction was at a loss, some even suspecting that Emperor Xuanming was preparing to pass the position to Prince Rong, given that Prince Rong seemed to be in favor.

Li Chongjin himself led a team to quickly surround the Ministry of Punishments.

Afterwards, the Liu family went to the Ministry of Punishments’ prison daily, trying to visit Duke Zheng under the pretense of delivering food, but always ended in failure. The entire prison was so tightly guarded that not even a mosquito could fly in.

After Ye Muyu came out of the palace with Chu Ziluo and Nuanbao, she clearly noticed that there were palace guards at the residence.

Since she had already instructed the servants at the residence, no trouble broke out, and things only became increasingly quiet. Not only the Chu family, but the Huo Residence also had guards arranged.

This showed Emperor Xuanming’s regard.

Ye Muyu did not understand nor did she inquire about the struggles among the imperial court officials. It was not the time she could investigate, and the Scout Team could only glimpse surface-level news.

This day.

A message came from the Ministry of Punishments that Duke Zheng fell ill in prison, and it was heard that he could no longer get up.

The Liu family was in a frenzy, with the Great Master of the Liu Family leading, kneeling at the palace gate to beg the Emperor for imperial physicians, followed by many officials, while Duke Zheng submitted a petition to retire and return home.

This move triggered much public discussion.

There were even rumors in the streets that Duke Zheng was wronged and was petitioning to retire to prove his innocence. The reason this rumor held ground was mainly because the Ministry of Punishments consistently failed to produce conclusive evidence to prove Duke Zheng’s crimes.

Many officials were implicated, including those from the Ministry of Revenue who had gone with Chu Heng last year to deliver military provisions, as well as the accompanying deputy general.

Even the Magistrate of the Northern Region was escorted to the capital and had just been sent to the Ministry of Punishments.

Ye Muyu knew that Chu Heng must have gone secretly to seek evidence, and the Envoy of Peace was merely a pretense.

She hoped the Ministry of Punishments could pry open Duke Zheng’s mouth, which would greatly improve Ah Heng’s situation.

Keeping a constant eye on the news left her with a poor appetite.

And later that afternoon, Emperor Xuanming dispatched imperial physicians to the Ministry of Punishments’ prison to examine Duke Zheng.

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