Fast Travel: Endangered Pup Rescue Project

Chapter 777 Epilogue: Xiao Ling's World (XV)
"This is a detailed list of bribes received by the prime minister's wife in recent years. The wife of the salt transport commissioner is the closest to her. Last year alone, she sent ten hu of pearls, two top-quality corals, twenty pieces of Sichuan brocade, two boxes of various gems, ten valuable paintings, and ten boxes of rare ancient books as gifts. Although it is normal for officials and nobles to exchange gifts during festivals, the gifts are too expensive, and the prime minister's wife did not return any valuable gifts. This is enough to report to Your Majesty as evidence."

Qi Jiejing showed everyone what she had found out, and said in a mocking tone, "I guess she thought that as long as it wasn't gold or silver, she could take it openly, so she only needed to order people to observe and study carefully, and then she would be able to find out what the ships from Jiangnan brought her every year."

The third princess looked at him with admiration, because she was fine with fighting and killing, but she never understood all these twists and turns.

"There is also this case." Zhou Yuqing also reported his results to everyone. "Two years ago, the prime minister's wife's nephew beat a singing girl to death in a teahouse. Although she was a singing girl, she was selling her art but not her body. Master Fang could not force her and took her life in anger. The singing girl had a younger brother, and the two siblings depended on each other for survival. After the sister died, the younger brother reported to the authorities for help. However, a month later, the younger brother also died mysteriously. Afterwards, Master Fang was not punished. The prefectural governor of Beijing who handled the case was a disciple of Prime Minister Xu. A minor official was willing to testify that after the incident, the prime minister's wife made a special trip to the prefectural governor's mansion."

"But all this can only prove that the Prime Minister's wife does not understand the law. When the truth is revealed, the most that can be done is to accuse Prime Minister Xu of not managing his family properly. If he deeply repents and divorces his wife, he will be demoted at most. The Xu family behind Prime Minister Xu is a century-old family with many talented children. Many of the officials in the capital are disciples of the Xu family. In addition, with the Duke of Xun as his in-law, it will still be easy for Prime Minister Xu to get promoted again, or to influence the government."

“What if I say that I have evidence that the Xu family has occupied the people’s fertile land, forced women into prostitution, mined privately, and raised soldiers?” The Fourth Princess said shockingly, and Feng Shao swallowed unconsciously.

It's no wonder that he was so shocked. There have always been rumors that the Fourth Princess was in poor health. Concubine De's background was just ordinary. How did the Fourth Princess, who had lived in the palace for many years, know so many secrets?
The fourth princess, Song Xinghe, smiled shyly, "It is precisely because my mother and I do not have much power, so in order to protect ourselves, in order to avoid being arbitrarily granted marriage by my father and controlled by the court officials in the future, I started to think of ways to increase my bargaining chips a long time ago. It's a pity that by the time I found out, I was too late to save those who were persecuted by the Xu family. Fortunately, the results have been good in the past two years. Several farmers have been protected by me in other farms."

"Then we can convict the Xu family of treason." The eldest prince looked at Song Xia, "Madam Song, when do you think it would be best to send Prime Minister Xu off?"

Song Xia smiled and said, "Since all the evidence is complete, let's do it the day after Prince Xun Si Hengnian and Miss Xu Huixin get married. We are all kind people, so we should not ruin other people's marriages. Once Prime Minister Xu is convicted, Miss Xu will not be able to marry His Royal Highness Prince Xun. How can we prevent lovers from finally getting married?"

Everyone looked at each other and laughed together, as if they had already seen the conflict between Xu Huixin and Si Hengnian at that time.

After all, if something happens in the Prime Minister's Mansion, Xu Huixin cannot sit idly by. However, the only person she can ask for help is Si Hengnian. But the evidence is conclusive. No matter how powerful Si Hengnian is, he cannot challenge the imperial power now. After all, although he is famous, 200,000 soldiers are still at the border!

Even if he went to the border now, it would be impossible for him to mobilize these 200,000 troops immediately. The timing was not right, and he had not yet reached the peak of power in his previous life.

Therefore, the fall of the Prime Minister's Mansion is a foregone conclusion. Once her biological parents die, how can Xu Huixin not have any barriers in her heart?
If Prince Xun Si Hengnian made a mistake for love and secretly sent someone to replace Prime Minister Xu and his wife with a death row prisoner, that would be even better. We can catch him in the act and bring the Prince Xun's palace together with him to justice.

The tenth day of the tenth month was the auspicious day for marriage that Prince Xun Si Hengnian had specially asked the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to calculate, hoping it would be perfect.

In order to show enough favor to Xu Huixin, the betrothal gifts were sent on October 9th, which aroused heated discussions among the people of the capital. This was because the betrothal gifts were carried into the Prime Minister's Mansion from the first one, and the last one had not yet left Prince Xun's Mansion. Each one was made of luxurious and exquisite items, which made people jealous. It was said that the betrothal gifts and dowries prepared for several princes and princesses in the palace were less than half of this. As a result, the reputation of the two began to reverse. They all talked about Si Hengnian's extreme favor to Xu Huixin and no longer mentioned their previous affair. After all, how many women don't want to be valued by their future husbands?
"There are so many, but it's a pity that their property will be confiscated in two days, and then they will become the national treasury's property." On the top floor of the largest teahouse in the capital, several princes and princesses, Zhou Yuqing, Qi Jiejing and others sat together, watching the excitement below.

"Shouldn't the Prime Minister's Mansion give away the things that Si Hengnian sent as dowry?"

"The dowry was prepared separately a long time ago. These gifts will be used as a part of the dowry, but not all of it. This is what they had discussed long ago."

"I guess the Prime Minister's Mansion has quite a lot of dowry."

"It can't be more than this. Si Hengnian has been fighting outside for nearly ten years. The gold and silver he has plundered are unimaginable to ordinary people. Wars have always been expensive but easy to make money. Add to that the tributes from his subordinates every year, and Si Hengnian is probably richer than our father's private treasury."

"The fact that he started distributing porridge a month before the wedding showed his ambition, which was to win the hearts of the people and avoid being criticized by the censors."

"What he doesn't know is that we didn't move him first. I hope that after Prime Minister Xu gets into trouble, he and Xu Huixin can still be as loving and sweet as ever."

On the day of Si Hengnian and Xu Huixin's wedding, the eldest and second princes went in person to congratulate them. The entire Prince Xun's Mansion was so crowded with civil and military officials that there was almost no room for them. There were five stewards alone to receive the gifts.

The situation at the Prime Minister's Mansion was no less favorable. After all, Qi Jiejing was the only legitimate daughter, and she married the famous Prince Xun. They were afraid that they could not establish a good relationship with Prince Xun, so they came to the Prime Minister's Mansion to send another gift. According to Qi Jiejing's spies, the warehouse was full, so they cleared two more yards to store the gifts.

On the day after the wedding, Prime Minister Xu was invited by the emperor's close eunuch to attend the court. Both Prime Minister Xu and his wife had happy faces and proud eyes.

"It's still good that Hui Xin married Prince Xun. Your Majesty relented so quickly. Isn't it just giving Prince Xun face?"

Prime Minister Xu also lost all his previous caution and walked out with his head held high. Before leaving, he told his wife: "There was a bit of a mess in the mansion yesterday. Have someone clean it up quickly. When Hui Xin returns home in two days, her son-in-law will definitely come with her."

"Do I need you to tell me that? Don't worry, sir."