Chapter 117

Chapter 117

Upon entering the main chamber, Meng Die found, as expected, Marquis Yongyi and his wife, along with Third Master and Lady Zhou. Lady Zhou was clutching her handkerchief with reddened eyes, her anxiety plain to see.

Meng Die greeted everyone, but Marquis Yongyi waved it off. "No need. I called you here because there's something I'd like to ask of your family."

Meng Die asked, "Grandfather, what is it?"

Marquis Yongyi let out a long sigh. "Your Third Aunt's family has, for some reason, been surrounded by troops sent by Lord Fu, the Inspector General of the Nine Gates. We're hoping that you can help us inquire about the situation." As in-laws and fellow aristocrats, if the offense wasn't too grave, he intended to present a petition for clemency.

Meng Die approached Marquis Yongyi and Lady Yongyi. "Grandfather and Grandmother, my brother from my maternal family just sent word through a messenger that there's a smuggling operation involving weapons," she said delicately.

Marquis Yongyi and his wife's eyes widened in an instant, their mouths agape, unable to utter a single word.

Madam Zhou's body swayed, her eyes rolling back. Li Zhen caught her, pinching her philtrum and shouting toward the outside, "Quick, go find a physician!"

Madam Zhou desperately clutched at Li Zhen's sleeve, "No, don't search..." Tears were already pouring down her face like rain. While she might not be well-versed in other matters, as the daughter of a family with a military title, she was all too aware of the severity of smuggling arms – it was tantamount to treason, a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family.

Lady Hou broke the silence in the room, "This is a crime that warrants the extermination of nine generations. Butterfly, has His Majesty given any instructions on how to handle this situation?"

Meng Die shook her head. "My brother from my natal family only sent a servant boy to deliver this news." Pausing, Meng Die lowered her voice by a third. "At this time, His Majesty should be summoning all the ministers to discuss how to handle it."

Madam Zhou's tears flowed even more rapidly, but she dared not make a sound. With trembling hands, she cautiously tugged on Li Zhen's sleeve. Li Zhen pulled his sleeve away from her grasp, and a flicker of panic crossed Madam Zhou's eyes as he took her cold hand in his.

Meng Die observed their subtle interactions with a hint of admiration in her lowered gaze. The Marquis Yongyi's family indeed had strong morals – their sons were conscientious, and even Third Lord didn't consider divorcing his wife to distance himself at this crucial moment.

Seated in his chair, the Marquis Yongyi's brows were knitted tightly. Given the severity of the crime – smuggling weapons – pleading for mercy was out of the question. Instead, he needed to figure out how to fully extricate the marquis household from the situation. Especially since there was still his third son to consider; if the punishment were to extend to nine generations, the marquis household might be spared, but as the legitimate son-in-law of Count Yongping's residence, Third Son would likely be deeply implicated. "Butterfly, what's your take on this matter?"

Meng Die pondered. "In a broader sense, this is treason. In a narrower sense, it's smuggling prohibited goods."

Marquis Yongyi nodded in agreement. Traitors were punished with the extermination of their entire clan, while those involved in smuggling forbidden items would face the execution of the ringleaders alone.

Meng Die spoke up, "Speculating about the outcome is pointless now. For now, Grandmother, you should compile a list of all the gifts exchanged between our two households. This could serve as evidence of our innocence."

Lady Yongyi nodded vigorously. "I'll immediately gather all the records of gift exchanges between our two families with your mother-in-law." With that, she rose from her seat and left the main hall, instructing the servant waiting outside, "Fetch your ladyship and Lady Zhou. I'll be waiting for them in the warm pavilion."

Turning to his third son and Zhou, Marquis Yongyi said, "You two should also return home. Seek a physician's advice for your health. Don't let worry consume you before any actual trouble arises."

Zhou hastily wiped her face and said, "Thank you, Father. Thank you very much."

Meng Die: "Uncle Li and Aunt Li." Stopping the couple, Meng Die approached them. "I apologize for overstepping. It's not the time for Aunt Li to be grieving. It would be best to sort out the gifts and exchanges from the past years when you return. Not just here with Aunt Li, but also with others in the capital. The more we can ensure everyone is above suspicion, the more it will highlight that the problem lies solely with the Count Yongping and his son."

A look of confusion appeared on Madam Zhou's face; her mind was foggy, and she didn't understand Meng Die's suggestion.

Li Zhen, however, grasped the meaning after some thought. The Count Yongping's household had indeed grown exponentially over the years, resulting in an abundance of relatives through marriage. If all these relatives were untainted, the emperor's anger would be mitigated. One person's wrongdoing would provoke less fury than an entire family's. Moreover, not sticking together would emphasize that it was solely the Count Yongping and his son who committed this heinous act for money, not out of genuine intention to betray the country.

"Thank you for your advice. I'll make the necessary arrangements."

Meng Die: "There's no need to be so formal, Uncle. We're all one family. It would be best if the person sent to notify others is one of Aunt Li's ladies-in-waiting."

Li Zhen nodded, it was absolutely imperative not to implicate the marquis's household at this moment.

Meng Die bowed to Marquis Yongyi, "Grandfather, if there are no further instructions, your granddaughter-in-law will take her leave."

Marquis Yongyi nodded in approval, "Go ahead."

Upon returning to the courtyard, Nurse Fan immediately approached, "Well? What did they say?"

Meng Die shook her head, "Grandfather and the others have no idea what crime Count Yongping's household has committed. Today, when you return, go back to our own residence. If there are any updates...”

"Second Lady," Ah Xue entered, lifting the curtain. "The servant at the back gate has conveyed a message that a young lad named Buman claims to be from the Meng residence and wishes to pay his respects to Second Lady."

Nanny Fan instructed, "Go back immediately and bring him here." She then turned to Meng Die and said, "Buman is a new pageboy added by our late Matriarch this spring to serve at the second gate. The original Zhu Xi has come of age and is now learning to manage affairs."

Meng Die furrowed her brow slightly. "Does our family have any connection with Count Yongping's residence?"

Nanny Fan looked puzzled. "I don't believe so."

Buman was nine years old, with a delicate and fair appearance. Upon being led in, he bowed to Meng Die. "Greetings, Miss. The Old Lady has sent me to deliver a letter to Miss."

Meng Die took the letter and unfolded the slip inside. She couldn't help but cover her forehead as she said, "I understand. You may leave first."

"Yes."

Nanny Fan asked, "Second Lady, what's the matter?"

Meng Die threw the slip of paper along with the envelope into the charcoal brazier. "Do you still remember Cousin Zhi Yun?"

Nanny Fan replied, "Yes, I do. After our household was demoted, she was immediately repudiated by the county magistrate's family. Didn't she later become engaged to a merchant named He?"

Meng Die: "Indeed, her mother's family surname is Zhou."

"Ahh?"

The matter was straightforward yet intricate. Unlike Marquis Yongyi, Li Erzhu, who had only one heir, Li Bao, the first Count Yongping, Zhou Yong, had three sons – two legitimate and one from a concubine. When he passed away, according to the law, the hereditary title, permanent land, and sacrificial fields were inherited by his eldest legitimate son, the current Count Yongping, Zhou Zhuo. The remaining assets were split into thirds, with each son receiving an equal share.

Zhou Zhuo inherited the title, permanent land, and sacrificial fields, but these weren't solely for his benefit. He was responsible for providing necessities during ancestral rituals and had to distribute some of the annual income from these lands to his two brothers during festive seasons. Even if he or his siblings were no longer around in the future, their children would continue this arrangement.

The second legitimate son, Zhou Jue, and the illegitimate son, Zhou Zhen, might have seemed fortunate to receive a portion. However, with Zhou Zhuo marrying and having numerous children, barely able to provide for his own family, how could he truly care for them?

The two of them would sooner or later starve to death relying solely on the meager provisions granted by the Marquis household during festive occasions. Starvation was not an option, so since they had separated from the family, they became the heads of their own households and naturally sought ways to earn silver, hoping to secure a legacy for their own sons in the future.

Zhou Jue wasn't a man of extraordinary talents, but he was practical. As a legitimate son, he inherited a portion of his father's estate and also received a substantial inheritance from his mother. With money in hand, he purchased numerous estates and assigned his sons to take turns overseeing them. He comfortably remained in the capital, collecting rent annually and living as a contented wealthy gentleman.

One year, one of his sons happened to be away when a flood struck. Fortunately, he was rescued by a merchant, which led to a blossoming relationship between the two families. His wife and the merchant's wife grew as close as sisters. Thus, Zhou Jue, disregarding social status, married his legitimate daughter to the merchant's eldest son.

This wealthy merchant's surname was He!

In other words, Hu Zhiyun's mother-in-law was a cousin to Lady Zhou, the third lady of the Marquis Yongyi household. However, due to Zhou Jue's long-standing feud with his older brother, Count Yongping Zhou Zhuo, the two families had minimal interaction. Hence, it was only until today, when Lady Hu dispatched someone to deliver a letter to Meng Die, that Meng Die learned about this familial connection.

Meng Die reclined on the couch, lost in thought. The Count Yongping's family had an abundance of marital ties, so much so that it was not an exaggeration to say they were intertwined throughout the entire capital. If the entire clan were to be exterminated, few noble families would escape unscathed. Besides, she recalled that the Count's household had numerous sons and daughters, one of whom was even in the emperor's harem, albeit not a favorite. She had only given birth to a princess with a low rank.

Meng Die turned to Nurse Fan, "Return to the estate and convey my words to Grandmother. Please reassure her. The Count Yongping and his son committed such an immoral act for money. How can their distant nieces, who have already established their own households, be implicated? Especially since they are married women."

Nurse Fan nodded repeatedly, "I'll leave right away."

Meng Die was certain that the emperor wouldn't accuse them of treason. Instead, he would sentence the Count and his son under the charge of smuggling.

In the evening, when lamps were lit, Nurse Fan came again with news, "Second Lady, His Majesty and the ministers have temporarily decided that the Count Yongping and his son will be convicted of smuggling prohibited items. They will be stripped of their titles, executed immediately, and those in their household who haven't broken the law must leave the capital within three days to return to their ancestral homes. Without imperial decree, they shall never enter the capital again. Now, they're awaiting the examination by the Supreme Court to determine if there are any accomplices."

Meng Die released a long sigh, as expected, "They say it's temporary, but unless there are any unforeseen issues during the interrogation at the Ministry of Justice, this will most likely be the final outcome."

Nanny Fan: "Yes, that's what Lord Elder said. He also mentioned that His Majesty, out of respect for the late Count Yongping who was a founding hero, wouldn't want his descendants to disgrace their ancestor. Moreover, the title was bestowed by the Great Ancestor. Thus, His Majesty has the intention of letting the late Count's legitimate second son inherit the title. That would be our Lady Cousin's father-in-law."

Meng Die waved her hand dismissively. "At this moment, a noble title is more of a hot potato than a privilege."

Nanny Fan was perplexed.

Meng Die didn't offer an explanation; matters concerning others were none of her business now. "Meihong, come brush my hair. Hulu, follow me to the main chamber."

Upon arriving at the main chamber, it was indeed still brightly illuminated, indicating that their minds were preoccupied with the matter at hand. Upon hearing that Meng Die sought an audience, the elderly couple immediately granted her entry.

Meng Die made no small talk. "I've just received word from my family. For now, the consensus is that it involves contraband smuggling."

Marquis Yongyi and his wife both heaved a sigh of relief. Tonight, they would finally be able to sleep soundly.

The following morning, Marquis Yongyi and his son were summoned to the imperial palace. No sooner had they left than the Commander of the Nine Gates arrived with his troops, surrounding the marquis's residence. The frightened gatekeeper trembled uncontrollably, hurriedly scurrying inside to deliver the alarming news.

Meng Die and the others happened to be in the main chamber paying their respects when they heard the news. The normally somewhat spirited Madam Zhou turned as pale as a sheet.

Lady Hou managed to steady herself. "Did Prefect Fu inquire about anything?"

The servant boy trembled. "N-No, he didn't ask."

Madame Ning couldn't resist scolding, "Useless! Why didn't you ask?"

Meng Die interjected, "Grandmother, Mother, it's likely regarding the rice and grain. Our manor has been selling our excess to their household for years. This constitutes significant financial transactions. The Supreme Court will certainly investigate the accounts when examining the case."

Upon Meng Die's intervention, the tense atmosphere in the room eased significantly.

Lady Hou nodded in agreement. "You're right; they were involved in smuggling, so the Ministry of Justice will certainly audit their accounts."

Madam Ning immediately responded, "I'll immediately go through the accounts with Yun-er."

Wen: "Mother, the transactions with their family have been kept separate. If Admiral needs them, they can be readily provided."

Madam Ning's face lit up with satisfaction. "You always think of these details."

As they spoke, a servant came in to report, "Madam, Lord Fu has arrived with several soldiers."

Lady Marquis stood up. "I'll go greet him."

Lady Marquis led a group of female relatives to the secondary gate to await Fu Yanxiu. In reality, Fu Yanxiu had already arrived and was also waiting at the same gate with his entourage. As there was no concrete evidence of wrongdoing in the Marquis Yongyi's residence, he couldn't simply barge in.

Upon seeing Fu Yanxiu, Lady Marquis gave a half-bow. "Inspector Fu."

Born into the House of State Guardian, one of the three founding duke houses of the Great Yi Dynasty, Fu Yanxiu's family enjoyed an hereditary title that remained unchanged. Unlike Lady Marquis, who hailed from the House of Glory, his status as the heir of the State Guardian Duke was higher than the now-downgraded Marquis Yongyi, and thus, higher than hers.

Fu Yanxiu returned a respectful bow, acknowledging his junior position. "Please don't stand on ceremony, Elder Lady. I'm here on an official matter and need your esteemed household's assistance."

Lady Hou: "Vice-Director Fu, please proceed."

Fu Yanxiu: "During the investigation of Count Yongping's residence, we discovered account books indicating substantial financial transactions with your esteemed household. The Ministry of Justice wishes to audit these accounts. May I request, Lady Elder, that you provide me with your records of these exchanges and also send someone to respond to inquiries at the Ministry?"

Lady Hou nodded. "Please wait a moment, Vice-Director Fu." In front of Fu Yanxiu, she instructed Wen Shi, "You personally go and retrieve all the records of our transactions."

"Yes, ma'am."

Wen Shi promptly returned, accompanied by an attendant carrying a small box. With both hands, Wen Shi presented the box to Lady Hou. "Grandmother, all the account books detailing our transactions over the years, including lists of gifts exchanged, are here."

Lady Marquis took the letter and passed it to Fu Yanxiu. "Well then, let me..."

Meng Die stepped forward. "Grandmother, these past years, it's been Eldest Sister and I who've managed the household. Why don't we accompany Governor Fu to the Ministry of Justice? I was just there recently, so I'm familiar with the place."

The initially solemn and oppressive atmosphere dissipated significantly at Meng Die's words. Lady Marquis chided with a smile, "You're still as impertinent as ever. But alright, the two of you go then."

"Indeed."

Wen Shi and Meng Die entered the same carriage, following Fu Yanxiu to the Ministry of Justice. Wen Shi was a little scared and held onto Meng Die's hand tightly. "What will they ask us when we get there?"

Meng Die firmly held her hand in response, "We have nothing to hide. We haven't engaged in any illicit activities. Whatever they ask, Elder Sister should answer truthfully. Besides, suspicion towards our household is the lowest to begin with. If not for this rice trade, I doubt they would have bothered summoning us at all. They might have just glanced over the gift lists from both households."

The fear on Wen Shi's face subsided, replaced by surprise. "Why is the suspicion towards us the lowest?"

Meng Die replied, "They're smuggling weapons. Where do you think these weapons end up?"

Wen Shi's eyes widened in realization. "Second Brother."

Meng Die nodded. The weapons smuggled by the Count Yongping's estate would inevitably end up in the hands of enemy forces on the frontlines. With their own men fighting there, how could they possibly be involved in such treachery, smuggling weapons that could potentially be used to kill their own sons?

Wen's anxiety and fear vanished, replaced by her usual composure.

The carriage rolled into the depths of the Supreme Court before finally coming to a halt. Lady Song supported Wen and Meng Die as they alighted, heading straight for the inner chambers.

Dong Hongjie had already received word and was aware that Meng Die was also present. His nerves instantly tightened. Upon seeing the two women enter, as it wasn't an official court session, he promptly bowed in greeting, "Greetings, County Princess."

Meng Die replied, "Prime Minister Dong, please don't stand on ceremony. Usually, our household is managed mainly by my elder sister, and I assist her. If you have any questions, feel free to ask; we will certainly cooperate fully."

Wen pointed at the box that Lady Song was holding, "This contains the account books and gift lists from transactions made over recent years."

Dong Hongjie took his seat at the head of the table and instructed that two more chairs be brought for Meng Die and Wen Shi to sit. Wen Shi was well aware that her seat was solely due to Meng Die's presence; otherwise, without any official title, she wouldn't have been offered one.

Flipping through the gift list briefly, Dong Hongjie, being an official responsible for auditing officials and noble descendants, had a keen understanding of customary gifts among the aristocracy. From a glance, he could tell that the relationship between Marquis Yongyi's and Count Yongping's households was merely average. The items listed were ordinary, likely only due to their familial connection as in-laws; otherwise, such gifts would not have been exchanged.

The substantial part of the transaction involved grain trade. The ledger wasn't thick, revealing that Count Yongping's estate primarily bought wheat and rice, engaging in this trade only once a year.

Looking over the ledger, Dong Hongjie commented, "It seems the price of the grain is slightly lower than the market rate?"

Wen Shi promptly responded, "Indeed, after all, they are relatives. Plus, it saves us quite a bit of trouble to sell directly to them. Thus, we sold at a 10% discount from the market price."

Dong Hongjie flipped to the last page. "Why is this year's payment one-third less than previous years?"

Wen: "Your Excellency, please look at this year's records. In the past, they always gave an advance payment, but they didn't this year. Moreover, they were late with their silver settlement last year. Therefore, I was reluctant to sell them our grain. Besides, our household has expanded, and our needs have increased. In the autumn, I delayed for a few days. They then offered a third of what they usually pay in silver to buy grain. I couldn't refuse too strongly, so I only sold them two-thirds of what they usually get."

Dong Hongjie reviewed the ledger, noting the time of last year's silver entry. He nodded. "So they still owe you a third of the rice payment."

Wen: "Yes, that's right."

The accounts were clear, and Wen Yunxi's response was equally straightforward. It didn't take long for Meng Die and her to leave the Supreme Court and board the carriage back to the Marquis's residence. The soldiers surrounding the estate dispersed, much to the relief of everyone inside. The Marquis Yongyi and his son also returned from the palace.

Only then did Lady Marquis realize the scheme. She had deliberately summoned Marquis Yongyi and his son to the palace, and Fu Yanxiu's troops arriving at the door was a deliberate attempt to catch the womenfolk off guard. If there were any issues, it was likely that they would be exposed by their fear. Fortunately, Meng Die was in the household. With just a few comforting words, she calmed everyone down. No one was overly anxious, let alone revealing anything – even if there were actual problems, they wouldn't be able to pry anything out of them.

At the Marquis Yongyi's residence, there was no disturbance, and life quickly returned to its tranquil rhythm. However, in many households across the capital, chaos ensued. Some overly timid souls, even before Fu Yanxiu could take any action, nearly frightened themselves to death.

Take the Wen family, for instance. They specially invited Wen Shi back to inquire about the situation, but she herself didn't fully grasp the intricacies of the matter. Besides, back when the marriage was arranged, she had been a hundred percent unwilling. Seeing her parents deeply worried, she couldn't bear to add salt to their wounds. Thus, she tried to reassure everyone, "Yesterday, I accompanied my younger sister to the Supreme Court for questioning. The official seemed quite amiable. From his tone, it seems that their family was involved in embezzlement and smuggling prohibited goods, rather than genuine treason. It's highly unlikely that they would face the extreme punishment of decimation."

The entire Wen family sighed in relief. The elderly Patriarch Wen, despite his weakening state, scolded the third couple fiercely, "Yun'er warned us all along that their family was disreputable. Yet, you two insisted on this marriage, demanding a substantial dowry. You claimed that since Yun'er was marrying into a marquis household, Fang'er's marriage to an earl's family shouldn't be too far behind in terms of dowry. Did you ever consider if she had the fate to support such extravagance?"

The third couple had actually regretted their decision long ago. Soon after their daughter was married into the Count Yongping's residence, they realized that the household was rotten to its core. Unfortunately, it was too late, and now with this incident occurring, they were filled with remorse, wishing they could turn back time.

The Wen family's case was merely a false alarm due to their cautious nature, but there were indeed genuine issues at hand.

Count Yongping's involvement in arms smuggling was a major problem, as the procurement of pig iron was strictly controlled by the imperial court. Furthermore, the forging of weapons was explicitly prohibited – both activities required a network of accomplices. As his activities were investigated, his web of connections began to unravel.

Almost daily, residences in the capital were surrounded by soldiers and subsequently raided, with entire families being thrown into prison. Not only were the dungeons of the Supreme Court filled to capacity, but the Ministry of Justice's prison was also overflowing. The tranquil atmosphere of the city was shattered, replaced by heartbreaking cries echoing through the streets.

During the interrogations and investigations, it was revealed that the noble and wealthy had been indulging in baths of fresh milk, enraging the emperor. He now understood why the censor had not sought verification before denouncing Meng Die – such practices were apparently widespread in the capital.

Meng Die's rhetorical question to the censor had been a subtle warning, but unfortunately, he failed to grasp its meaning. The more the emperor reflected, the angrier he became. From the highest ranks to the lowest, those who usually escaped with mere scoldings were now punished with salary deductions – if they were wealthy, their income would be reduced. As for those whose offspring had proved unworthy, the heads of their households were demoted.

A series of harsh punishments left everyone reeling, giving them a glimpse of the terror that befalls when the Son of Heaven's wrath is unleashed, resulting in countless casualties. The Tian Ding Emperor, known for his benevolence since ascending the throne, unexpectedly revealed his iron-fisted side.

Almost every influential family in the capital felt a looming sense of peril. Civil servants were somewhat spared, but the nobility were particularly affected. Each household conducted rigorous self-examinations daily, as all those exposed were found to be deeply engrossed in gambling, nothing but gamblers.

Families with sons involved in gambling were dealt with severely; they were first lashed with saltwater-soaked whips. If they didn't mend their ways, their legs would be broken. Servants found gambling were promptly expelled from the estate. Those who dared to plead for mercy, oblivious to right and wrong, were also subjected to cold-water lashings.

One by one, the gambling dens in the city shuttered their doors. Only a few, now cowed, managed to cling to existence.

The entire capital was on high alert. Apart from the strict House of the Guardian Duke, which remained unaffected, all other manors and official residences underwent a tumultuous period. Almost everyone lived in constant tension, under an oppressive atmosphere day after day.