Phi-Fic Chapter 53 asks the Empress Dowager, "What is the meaning of the four words 'disregarding
Chapter 53 asks the Empress Dowager, "What is the meaning of the four words 'disregarding
As a second-rank official, Du Duan, though a local official, still wielded real power in his region. Therefore, his residence in the capital was located in a neighborhood relatively close to the imperial city.
Even so, it took Lin Shiming nearly 15 minutes to ride his horse after leaving the palace gates before he arrived at the Du residence, which had already been surrounded by the military command yesterday.
At the entrance of the Du residence, Lin Shiming pulled on the reins and dismounted nimbly.
"Are they all inside?"
"Your Highness, there are 237 family members and servants in Du Duan's household."
Older officials sent to posts outside the capital usually left their wives and children in the capital, where conditions were better, and they could take a few concubines with them to serve them at their posts. Therefore, Du Duan's family and relatives all stayed in his residence in the capital.
Lin Shiming nodded, tossed the reins in his hand to Yuan Ye, and walked to the gate of the Du residence, where he addressed the soldiers and officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Revenue who were ready to go.
"Once we're inside, gather everyone in the mansion in front of the courtyard and register their information one by one, verifying each other's details. Don't kill anyone yet, and don't make any mistakes like switching people. If anyone resists and refuses to listen to advice, bring them to me first."
After all, at this stage, even if they raid the houses, it's only to find the whereabouts of the stolen money. Before a conviction is reached, these people cannot be killed arbitrarily.
"Also, today's search is to inventory assets and find stolen money. His Majesty has not yet issued a decree to convict, so you all need to be careful. The outcome of the case is still pending, so don't ruin the dowry of the women in the family."
"I obey your orders."
"Go."
The crowd filed in in an orderly fashion, and amidst shouts and noise, the masters and servants of the mansion were gradually gathered in the front courtyard.
Confiscating property is not a task that can be completed in a day or two. It requires thoroughly searching every house in the mansion, inventorying and cataloging all the assets, and separately cataloging and sealing up the dowries of female relatives, all while awaiting imperial decree.
For a high-ranking official like Du Duan who embezzled hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, it would take at least ten days to investigate.
Lin Shiming naturally wouldn't sit here and watch them ransack the house for more than ten days in a row. He only came to keep an eye on things on the first day to keep things under control, and after that, he would only come to take a look every day at most.
Of course, he didn't need to do anything himself, so as soon as he entered, Yuan Ye led people to move a recliner to the corridor of the main hall, and then served tea and fruit platters, so that Lin Shiming could sit there and relax leisurely.
Yeah, mainly to catch up on sleep.
"...Let me go! You servants, how dare you touch me? Do you even know who I am?"
A sharp shout came from afar. Lin Shiming impatiently took out an account book that he had been using to block out the light from his head, and sat up with a frown.
"what happened?"
I finally managed to fall asleep amidst the chaos of the ransacking, and then you come out and disturb my peaceful sleep. Aren't you annoying?
"Your Highness, this is Qin, the second daughter-in-law of Du Duan. I was ordered to bring her to the front courtyard, but she refuses to cooperate."
Qin family?
"Let me go!" Qin struggled to break free from the soldiers' control, shouting at Lin Shiming, "Do you know who I am?"
Lin Shiming raised his chin, signaling them to release the person first.
"Who are you?"
Let me hear it, and I'll tell you how many times I'll beat you.
Qin straightened her disheveled clothes and stood tall with her head held high.
"I am the Empress Dowager's own grandniece! Who do you think you are, daring to confiscate my property!"
Lin Shiming's eyes lit up. "The Empress Dowager's grandniece? A member of the Qin family?"
When the Qin family fell into trouble, the Empress Dowager protected them, and the entire clan was exiled to the northern desert. Such punishments generally did not affect married women, but it was common for families to divorce their wives to avoid suspicion.
However, judging from the manners of this Qin family member, Du Duan was probably still mindful of the Empress Dowager, which is why he was treating this Qin family member to such good food and drink.
No wonder that less than a year after Crown Prince Hua Min's incident, Du Duan had already pledged allegiance to Prince An and was working for him. It seems that he had originally planned to curry favor with the Empress Dowager and the Qin family, which is why he arranged for his second son to marry a woman from the Qin family. However, once the Qin family and the Third Prince fell from power, he felt that he would be punished, so he chose Prince An, who offered himself up as a master.
That's truly an unwavering commitment.
Lin Shiming looked at the woman before him with some excitement; she was dressed in luxurious clothes and had an arrogant air about her. Ever since hearing about Crown Prince Hua Min, he had been curious to see what kind of people the Qin family were, and now, by sheer coincidence, one of them had delivered themselves right to his doorstep!
Some people with a mischievous streak are getting restless.
Standing in the courtyard, Madam Qin was unaware of Lin Shiming's thoughts. She simply assumed that he was afraid of the Empress Dowager's name and was so excited because he wanted to please her and leave a good impression on her.
Qin raised her chin arrogantly, "Indeed, I am the granddaughter of the Empress Dowager's own brother! Even His Majesty cannot refuse the Empress Dowager's request. You'd better tell all these people to get out of here, or I will definitely report you to the Empress Dowager and make you regret it!"
Lin Shiming laughed upon hearing this, "I don't have any other faults, except that I'm bold and curious. Today I'm going to teach you a lesson, and I'd like to see what the Empress Dowager can do to me!"
LOL, I have a bad temper. If you piss me off, I'll assassinate the Empress Dowager.
Anyway, I'm skilled in martial arts, so I won't leave any evidence.
"You! How dare you!"
At this moment, Qin realized that the person in front of her was not like the Du family, who respected the Empress Dowager and would not flatter her or give her face. She immediately panicked, her thoughts racing.
"No, you can't touch me! Even if my father-in-law has committed a crime, no one can take private measures without an imperial decree!"
Wow, you even know a little about the law!
She's so knowledgeable about the law. I don't know where the Empress Dowager got the nerve to use filial piety to coerce the Emperor and disregard the law of the country.
Lin Shiming snorted coldly, his expression gradually darkening.
"First, take him to the courtyard to kneel and wait. Once everyone in the mansion has gathered, then in front of them... give him forty strokes of the cane."
If a warning stick is delivered to your door, you might as well use it.
The soldiers nearby stepped forward and restrained Qin, who immediately struggled and roared, "How dare you! You arbitrarily beat and scold a female relative of an official who has not been convicted! You disregard the law, aren't you afraid of going to jail!"
Disregarding the law!
What a blatant disregard for the law!
"Shut her up." Lin Shiming's initial mischievousness gradually subsided, replaced by a rising anger. "Not to mention that my punishment of you is reasonable, it is a violation of the law. How dare you, a member of the Qin family, use this as a basis for your actions!"
Lin Shiming didn't want to argue with her anymore, so he suppressed his anger, turned around, sat back in the recliner, and closed his eyes to rest.
But after only a few breaths, he couldn't hold back any longer and stood up, calling Yuanye over.
"Go, send someone to Buddha Mountain to deliver a message. Tell them I don't quite understand, and I'd like to ask the Empress Dowager what the meaning of the phrase 'disregarding the law' should be."
Ha, I won't take this kind of treatment!
*
At the end of Shenshi (3-5 PM), Lin Shiming, seeing that the search of the Du family's residence was proceeding smoothly, rode back to the East Palace with a stack of testimonies.
The tactic of making an example of someone to deter others was indeed effective; as soon as the Qin family's punishments began, someone jumped out to report them.
Unfortunately, despite asking all day, and even having a quick and easy lunch, Lin Shiming still couldn't find out where Du Duan had hidden the stolen money. These people knew nothing, only spouting a bunch of trivial details, at most some bullying and harassment, but none of them dared to cause any death.
All that effort of his wasted.
Seeing that he couldn't get any more information, Lin Shiming had no choice but to make arrangements for the rest of the trip and head home, stopping by a famous shop in the capital to buy two roast ducks, intending to have dinner with Lu Yuxi.
But before he could even dismount after entering the palace gates, Li An's familiar, fawning face appeared before Lin Shiming once again.
"Your Highness, His Majesty requests your presence at the Xuanzheng Hall!"