bookcurios Chapter 138 He is a businessman and knows how to investigate cases?
Chapter 138 He is a businessman and knows how to investigate cases?
In fact, Xu Hongtu bit his tongue on purpose and spit out blood to gain sympathy. He woke up slowly before the imperial physician arrived.
"Your Majesty, I am innocent. The Criminal Investigation Department has slandered me maliciously. I...I..."
Seeing that he was gasping for breath, Lu Xi felt extremely disgusted. He vomited blood at every turn, so why didn't he vomit blood to death?
"Wu Kun, he said you framed him, do you have any evidence?"
Wu Kun quickly cupped his hands and said, "What I just submitted is the case file of the Criminal Investigation Department. The witnesses and evidence are still in Ruyin County. I am willing to guarantee for my subordinates that everything in the case file is true."
Lu Xi had finished reading the file. She handed it to Wei Dongxian, who was standing beside her. "Show it to him. Let him see what the Xu family has done. They dared to hunt down the imperial officials and even colluded with the magistrate of Ruyin and called on the soldiers of the patrol department. It's simply lawless. Could it be that Ruyin has already been named Xu?"
Xu Hongtu took the file tremblingly and pretended to read it. In fact, he already knew what had happened. The only thing he could do was to play the victim and act innocent.
"Your Majesty, it's unfair, it's unfair. The Xu family has been passed down for hundreds of generations and has always been loyal to Dasheng and to Your Majesty..."
Lu Xi waved his hand in disgust: "Okay, just tell me whether what is written in the case file is true."
Xu Hongtu's eyes rolled. "This file... is all one-sided, without any real evidence. No matter what, the Xu family would never do such a treasonous thing. Your Majesty, please understand."
"You mean, the Criminal Investigation Department has framed your Ruyin Xu family?" Lu Xi snorted and said, "In that case, Wu Kun will obey your orders."
"The minister is here."
"I order you to escort the suspects from the Xu family of Ruyin to the capital and hand them over to the Ministry of Justice for trial."
"I accept the decree."
Lu Xi looked at Xu Hongtu again: "If this case has wronged your Xu family, I will definitely give you an explanation, but if this case is true..."
She said the last word "real" with gritted teeth, and Xu Hongtu trembled all over when she heard it.
"Don't blame me for being merciless."
As soon as these words came out, Xu Hongtu suddenly collapsed to the ground. This time he was not pretending.
I thought that the Judicial Bureau was Prince Ning's men, and that seeking redress from His Majesty might help delay the situation, but I didn't expect that His Majesty would actually side with Prince Ning.
Before he could think about it, Lu Xi continued, "This Hall of Supreme Harmony is where state affairs are discussed. You, Xu Hongtu, came to me to complain about a case that has not even been tried by the Ministry of Justice. This time, I am also making a decision for you because you are an old minister. From now on, you are not allowed to approach the Meridian Gate without my summons."
"I... thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
Xu Hongtu kowtowed and walked out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony like a zombie.
However, although his actions seemed corrupt, his mind was working fast. Although this case was serious, it was not to the point of destroying the family and the entire clan. If it was handled properly, maybe it could be turned into safety.
Of course, the Xu family must give up some things, such as the useless thing of the third brother.
In Prince Ning's mansion, Wu Kun was listening to Prince Ning's orders respectfully.
"This old man Xu Hongtu wants to embarrass me in the court."
The folding fan in Prince Ning's hand flew up and down. "Since His Majesty has issued an order, we must naturally act according to the order. All members of the Xu family must be escorted to the capital. As for that matter, you must speed up the investigation, but remember not to let the news leak out."
"The villain understands."
Prince Ning added: "The Judicial Department still has the authority to call upon two hundred Yulin Guards. You should seize this opportunity and make friends with a few more Yulin Guard commanders."
"Yes!"
Prince Ning stood up, and the ivory fan actually circled around him as he moved, and returned to his hand: "This case is handled. From now on, the Jishisi will be the former Dongchang. You should know how powerful that old eunuch Cao Huanchun was back then."
Wu Kun immediately knelt on one knee, looking excited: "Thank you for your cultivation, Your Majesty. Everything I have is given by Your Majesty, and I will serve you like a dog and a horse."
"Very well, go ahead."
In the Cining Palace, Lu Xi was paying respects to the Queen Mother. After a few words, the Queen Mother took the initiative to bring up Ling Chuan: "Where did you hide Ling Chuan? My Shengshi Liulifang has been renovated and is waiting for him to come and plan the opening. He hasn't been seen for a month."
Lu Xi suppressed her smile and said, "Mother, Ling Chuan went out to investigate a case and hasn't come back yet."
"Investigating a case? What case would a businessman like him investigate?"
"He is now the head of the Criminal Investigation Department, a ninth-rank official. The Xu family of Ruyin was involved in a family massacre. Ling Chuan went to investigate the case but was hunted down by the Xu family..."
"What? The Xu family is so bold that they dare to hunt down officials of the imperial court?"
As soon as the Queen Mother said this, she immediately frowned: "Ruyin Xu family? They supported you when you ascended the throne, why are you still..."
"Mother, let's put things in perspective. The court's laws must be followed. Besides, this case is not that simple."
"Oh?" The Queen Mother was surprised: "Is there any hidden secret behind this?"
"When the Kingdom of Yue attacked Lingnan Prefecture, Lingchuan found out that the Xu family might have secretly sold that batch of bows and crossbows to the Kingdom of Yue."
"How brave!"
The Queen Mother slammed the table, but then was stunned for a moment. She quickly twirled the Buddhist beads in her hand and recited scriptures.
After she finished reading a passage of scripture, she looked up at Lu Xi and said, "If he has committed such a serious crime, he must not be forgiven. But he is just a businessman, how can he investigate a case?"
Lu Xi smiled and said, "He knows a lot except that he is not good at the Four Books and Five Classics..."
She counted on her fingers, "He can make sugar, and also Liuli. Those crooked ideas for disaster relief were all his. Although this is his first time investigating a case, he did a pretty good job. Oh, and he can cook. The dishes he cooks are no worse than those of the imperial chefs in the palace."
The Queen Mother looked at Lu Xi with a motherly smile on her face: "It seems that your heart has been tied to him."
"Mother~" Lu Xi acted coquettishly, shaking the Queen Mother left and right.
"You have already given him an official position. If he makes contributions this time, you can take the opportunity to promote him. If he is a promising talent, he may become the son-in-law of our Lu family."
"Mom, do you agree?"
Lu Xi almost jumped up with joy, but the queen mother's face was serious: "What do you mean you agreed? I just gave him a chance, but you have to promise me one thing."
"Please speak, mother." Lu Xi's face was full of joy.
"I have met Lu Chong, the eldest son of the Lu Hanwen family. He is quite nice. I will invite him to the palace later. You can meet him."
The smile on Lu Xi's face froze immediately: "Mother, what does this mean?"
The Queen Mother's expression also turned serious. "The Lu family of Fanyang is a noble family, and they are not involved in any noble faction. Lu Chong is a man of good character and appearance, and is no worse than Ling Chuan. If you recruit him as your consort, he will be worthy of you."
Lu Xi's mind raced and he quickly remembered who Lu Chong was. After all, his father, Lu Hanwen, was the Minister of Revenue.
"Mother, Lu Chong is a worldly-wise and slick man, and my daughter doesn't like him."
"Whether you like it or not, you can decide after you meet him once. I'm not forcing you to marry him, so what's the harm in meeting him?"