The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 279 Identity
Changping, Yanyue Pavilion.

The air was filled with the fragrance of cosmetics, red sashes and white flowers adorned the mountain peaks and valleys, and Sun Guangzong was fast asleep, snoring loudly.

"Bang!" The door was suddenly kicked open, and the servant rushed in, knelt down on the ground, and shouted anxiously, "Fifth Master, something terrible has happened!"

Sun Guangzong sat up abruptly from the bed, startling the women lying on it as well. Coming back to his senses, Sun Guangzong frowned and said, "What happened? Didn't I tell you to stay calm in all things?"

"Fifth Master, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has come to arrest you. Moreover, it is said that the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Censorate, and the Court of Judicial Review have already arrested many people, saying that they are investigating corruption in the imperial mausoleum."

"what?"

Sun Guangzong shivered instantly, quickly pulled up his pants and got off the bed, asking anxiously, "What's going on? Why all of a sudden?"

Who is it…?

Before he could finish speaking, the Imperial Guards arrived at the door. Upon seeing the menacing soldiers, Sun Guangzong felt a chill run down his spine, and then immediately cried out in a panicked voice, "My sister is Consort Sun! How dare you arrest me?"

These words immediately caused the group of Imperial Guards to pause in shock. If they hadn't all been carefully selected by Li Mao, they would probably have already chickened out by now.

Consort Sun's favor with the emperor was a well-known fact throughout the court and the public.

"Go quickly and invite the chief envoy over."

Seeing that he was intimidated, Sun Guangzong became somewhat smug, and the chill in his heart lessened a bit. Now more confident, he said triumphantly, "My sister is Consort Sun. I advise you all to be sensible. Even if your superiors came here, they wouldn't dare to do anything to me!"

The crowd surrounding Sun Guangzong was furious but dared not speak out against his attitude, because he was telling the truth and they really didn't dare to take action, otherwise they would surely be retaliated against in the future.

Just as the atmosphere grew increasingly tense and hopeless, a mocking voice rang out from outside, "Is that so? I dare not do anything to you?"

"That's natural!"

"And what about me?" Li Mao walked in from outside, a knife at his waist, his expression imposing yet dignified, and swept his gaze toward Sun Guangzong.

Sun Guangzong had recovered from his previous fear and said arrogantly, "I am the Consort's younger brother and His Majesty's most beloved sister. If you leave today and kowtow to me a few more times, this matter will be over. Otherwise, I will make sure your whole family is ruined!"

"You're the Imperial Concubine's brother? That's impressive." Li Mao smiled, but there was no warmth in his eyes, only icy coldness. He looked at Sun Guangzong, making Sun Guangzong feel as if he were in an eternally frigid river. "Then do you know who I am?"

Seeing that Li Mao showed no sign of guilt or fear, Sun Guangzong was immediately taken aback. He dropped his arrogant demeanor and asked with suspicion, "Who are you?"

Li Mao sneered, "Then listen carefully, I am Li Zhongwen, son of the late Princess Lin'an, younger brother of Li Fang, Duke of Han, elder brother of Li Xianmu, Minister of Personnel and Grand Secretary, and Vice Commander of the Northern Garrison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. I am Li Mao!"

"Thump!" Before he could finish listening, Sun Guangzong's legs gave way and he collapsed to the ground, his face turning deathly pale.

Li Mao, however, did not let him off the hook. He took two steps forward and continued to ask with a smile, "Sun Guangzong, Fifth Master Sun, do you think I, with my identity, can arrest you?"

"You're welcome to try and ruin my whole family."

Sun Guangzong felt cold sweat pouring down his face and was speechless. Even if he was a playboy, he knew that there were some people he couldn't mess with.

His sister had made it clear that they should not provoke the Li family. Although they were not afraid of the Li family, they could reason with them. In this world, besides the princes, there were only a few families who could reason with the Sun family, and the most prominent and powerful of them all was the Li family.

“Uncle, I was wrong. I spoke recklessly. Please forgive me for my young age and for my sister’s sake. If all else fails, let me write a letter to my sister. She will definitely save me.”

After recovering from his panic, Sun Guangzong immediately began to beg for mercy, and then, seizing the opportunity, followed Consort Sun's lead and addressed Li Mao as his uncle.

This sudden change immediately made the atmosphere in the room strange; the kneeling was done far too quickly, not even lasting a moment.

“First he was deferential, then he became obsequious.” Li Mao shook his head and sneered, “It’s laughable to think about.”

After saying that, he walked straight into the house, sat down at the table, looked at Sun Guangzong kneeling on the ground, raised his chin, and said, "I have been ordered to come here to investigate the corruption in the imperial mausoleum. I have heard that you are quite famous in Changping. Officials of all ranks obey your orders. You are known as 'scraping the ground three feet deep.' You are really very powerful."

Sun Guangzong was shocked. He had never heard of anyone coming to investigate before, so how could they know so much about this place?

I have come here on orders.

And on whose orders?

If it were anyone else, it would be fine, but if it were on the orders of that Grand Secretary, then it would be all over. He could only rely on his sister to save his life, since he knew best what he had done.

"Please, Uncle, have mercy and let me write a letter to my sister."

Sun Guangzong believed that Li Mao would give him this opportunity, unless Li Mao was the kind of person who was completely intolerant of any wrongdoing, otherwise he would definitely give him a chance to call for reinforcements.

Could we possibly just kill him outright?

The Ming Dynasty law clearly stipulated that death sentences had to be reviewed repeatedly and approved by the emperor. As long as it reached His Majesty the Emperor, Sun Guangzong would not die.

"You want to bring down the Imperial Concubine? Did the Imperial Concubine allow you to embezzle?" Li Mao shouted sternly. "Sun Guangzong, you must take responsibility for your own actions. Guards, take him back to the Imperial Prison, interrogate him first, and prepare the case file!"

Sun Guangzong's face immediately turned extremely ugly. He did not expect that Li Mao would not give him any face at all and would take him directly to the imperial prison. Once he was in that place, how could he expect to get away with it?

"Li Mao, aren't you afraid my sister will blame you? You must know that His Majesty dotes on my sister alone, I..."

"Gag him." Li Mao rudely interrupted Sun Guangzong, angrily saying, "You spoiled brat, you deserve to die a hundred times!"

Sun Guangzong was gagged and mumbled something unintelligible as he was led away by several people.

"Your Excellency, are we really going to treat Sun Guangzong like this? What if the palace blames us later?"

Li Mao turned around coldly and glanced at the worried faces of the crowd. He said solemnly, "If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. If the Imperial Concubine blames us, my third brother will take the fall. What are you afraid of?"

He spoke with considerable confidence. Li Shi had come this far, and apart from the emperor, she was basically not afraid of anyone, not even the most favored concubine, let alone the concubine's younger brother.

(End of this chapter)