Inside the Imperial Study.
Shen Hui knelt before the Emperor, his black robe accentuating his straight back.
The Emperor gripped the secret memorial Shen Hui had submitted, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter, before finally slamming it onto the desk.
“The soldiers in the Northern Territory are shedding blood and sacrificing their lives on the front lines, and these people, they dare to embezzle military funds.”
The memorial stated that nearly a million taels of military funds had been withheld from the Northern Territory in two years, with sand mixed into winter clothing and moldy grain. Last December, dozens of border soldiers had died of cold and starvation.
After speaking, the Emperor looked at Shen Hui, his gaze softening slightly, his tone filled with concern.
“You and Prince Dongjing have been stationed in the Northern Territory for many years; it has been hard. I didn't expect that your first return to the capital in years would be for such a troublesome matter.”
Shen Hui looked up, his voice steady and calm.
“As the Heir of Prince Dongjing, it is my duty to defend the territory, and it is also my duty to investigate corruption. However, I was pursued several times on my way back to the capital, and I fear the news has already leaked. As the Minister of War, I believe Duan Gehong is inextricably linked to this matter, and I wish to use him as an opening.”
The Emperor tapped his finger lightly on the desk: “So that village woman is the knife you used to create the opening!”
Shen Hui knew that the Emperor would eventually discover his actions in front of the court to help Su Xiuer, so he had already confessed to asking Su Jinghan for help.
Shen Hui raised his eyes, his gaze clear: “Yes, in the capital, officials protect each other; it's a solid block, and it's too difficult to find a flaw.”
“Duan Gehong allowed his daughter to commit murder and steal another's husband. Wei Mingze is ungrateful. Su Xiuer is indeed a victim. Fortunately, she has a fearless courage, so I took the opportunity to help her.”
“Duan Gehong has been favored in court for many years and has never experienced the taste of losing power. If Your Majesty punishes him slightly through Su Xiuer's case and chills him for a few days, then if someone in his mansion makes a mistake, a flaw will surely be revealed. I will then continue to investigate, and not a single one of those corrupt officials will escape.”
A hint of approval flashed in the Emperor's eyes as he looked at Shen Hui: “Then I will allow you to continue hiding the fact that you have returned to the capital and secretly investigate the corruption case.”
“Your subject obeys.” Shen Hui kowtowed and rose.
This matter was thus openly approved by the Emperor.
In fact, even without Su Xiuer, he had planned to enter the palace to see the Emperor these past few days.
It was just a little earlier than planned; it didn't disrupt the plan.
Shen Hui's furrowed brow relaxed slightly.
However, he hadn't returned to the capital in many years, and upon seeing the Emperor this time, he found the Emperor's face very familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before.
But when he tried to recall, he couldn't remember...
Just then, a eunuch outside the door announced: “Your Majesty, the Drum Court Envoy requests an audience.”
The Emperor's face showed a hint of interest, and he picked up the amethyst prayer bead bracelet on the desk: “The brave warrior who dared to strike the Dengwen Drum has arrived. Yan Hui, since Su Xiuer has earned your praise, I am eager to see her. Why don't you stay and observe the case together!”
Shen Hui paused, then replied in a low voice: “Since I am to investigate secretly, it is not advisable for me to linger in the palace for too long.”
“You are quite confident in this Su Xiuer.” The Emperor chuckled and waved at Shen Hui.
As Shen Hui was led out of the Imperial Study by a eunuch through another door, the Drum Court Envoy was also led to the Emperor by a eunuch.
Emperor Su Mingyuan, his expression unreadable, sat majestically on the Dragon Throne.
The Drum Court Envoy dared not look up. After entering, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed, holding the memorial high above his head.
The Emperor took the memorial handed to him by the Head Steward Fu Delu, quickly read it from beginning to end, and then sneered: “They truly think this is their Duan family's world.”
The Drum Court Envoy trembled in fear.
Fu Delu stepped forward, his expression unchanged, and loudly announced: “Prepare the imperial carriage for the Hall of Supreme Harmony.”
Outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the execution ground had been set up.
The Imperial Guards were lined up on both sides, the atmosphere solemn.
Su Xiuer was carried to the spot and moved from the stretcher in an extremely difficult and awkward posture.
From a distance, hidden in the shadows, Su Jinghan and Shen Hui witnessed it all.
Su Jinghan glanced at Shen Hui: “It looks quite convincing.”
He had reduced the force by half; the Drum Court Envoy would absolutely not dare to disobey. Fifteen heavy planks would leave some injuries, but not this exaggerated.
Shen Hui's smile was as faint as if nothing had happened, and he said seriously: “Fifteen heavy planks are indeed too much for a young lady!”
Su Jinghan was unconvinced and suddenly turned his head to look at Shen Hui: “Are you speaking up for this little village woman?”
“Stating a fact.” Shen Hui didn't even look at Su Jinghan and turned to leave: “Su Xiuer!”
“What?” Su Jinghan didn't react immediately. It was only after Shen Hui had walked a distance that he suddenly realized.
Shen Hui was correcting him, saying that the little village woman had a name.
He was protecting her.
Su Jinghan didn't believe Shen Hui when he said he had no intentions.
He shouted at Shen Hui's retreating back: “Not staying to observe the case? There are still thirty heavy planks waiting. Even if halved, it's still the force of fifteen heavy planks. Aren't you afraid your little village woman won't be able to endure it?”
Shen Hui ignored him, not even looking back.
Now it was Su Jinghan's turn to be confused again.
If you say Shen Hui doesn't care about Su Xiuer, he still defends her.
If you say he cares, he's not even willing to stay and observe the case.
Men's thoughts are truly hard to guess.
Moreover, he had never had a girl he liked before.
He didn't know what would happen if a man developed improper feelings.
Su Jinghan poked his chin with his White Jade Bone Fan.
Zhou Chang stood beside the supervising official, his gaze sweeping over the execution bench.
Cotton wadding soaked in black dog blood had been secretly tied to the inside of the bench legs.
As long as a little force was applied when the plank fell, the dog blood would seep out.
The supervising official loudly asked: “Madam Su, thirty heavy planks to be administered before the Emperor. Do you submit?”
The palace was not like the Dengwen Drum Academy; it was resplendent with golden palaces and ornate pavilions, solemn and majestic.
It was Su Xiuer's first time in the palace, and she couldn't help but feel intimidated. She tensed her body, relying solely on her unyielding spirit to endure.
The political enemies of the Duan Mansion could extend their reach to the Dengwen Drum Academy, but they likely lacked the ability to reach before the Emperor.
Su Xiuer had already prepared herself to be beaten, thinking that the thirty heavy planks at the Dengwen Drum Academy were equivalent to not being beaten at all.
Sixty heavy planks had already been halved, and now she only needed to endure these thirty heavy planks before the Emperor.
No matter what, she could get through it.
Su Xiuer pursed her lips, knelt towards the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and shouted loudly: “This commoner submits! This commoner wishes to accuse the Duan family of violating the law by marrying illegally and Wei Mingze of breaking his promise!”
After Su Xiuer finished speaking, a sharp, high-pitched voice called out from within the Hall of Supreme Harmony: “Agreed!”
Su Xiuer stood up and moved to the execution bench, positioning herself to lie down.
On the Dragon Throne in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Emperor watched Su Xiuer's unwavering demeanor from afar, recalling Shen Hui's words about her fearless courage.
A village woman who had just arrived in the capital and managed to reach the Emperor's presence was indeed courageous.
This brought back memories of his youth.
At that time, the Former Emperor had already passed away, leaving behind a broken situation, with officials coveting power within and strong enemies harassing them from without.
He was only nine years old then, and his Eldest Sister was only fourteen, yet his Eldest Sister had protected him all the way, clearing internal strife and quelling external threats.
When his Eldest Sister first went to battle, he clearly felt that his Eldest Sister was also afraid, but she just relied on that unyielding spirit.
“A'Yuan, the children of our Su family are not cowards. If the enemy wants to invade our Great Sheng, they will have to see if I, Su Luanfeng, agree. A'Yuan, just wait and see your Eldest Sister go and help you drive away those enemies.”
He... missed his Eldest Sister.
The Emperor, remaining calm, twirled the amethyst bracelet in his hand once more.
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