There is a god in the sky

Chapter 337 Revenge 6

When the petition reached Minister Zhao, he didn't rush to hand it to the emperor; instead, he scanned it himself first.

He knew nothing about what the Tong family had done.

Therefore, when he saw the contents of this petition, he felt it was utterly absurd. How could this be the Tong Shanzhang and Tong Xiuqing that he knew?

He was convinced that this was a conspiracy orchestrated by Xiao Ji, and as for why he wanted to harm the Tong family, it must be aimed at the Crown Prince.

Perhaps because of their break with the Zhao family, the Xiao family has come to stand against the Crown Prince.

"Shen Lan, is it? Do you know what crime it is to falsely accuse an official of the court? Just now someone spoke up for you, and the Emperor reduced your punishment. If it is proven that you made a false accusation, you will be punished twice as severely. Can your body withstand it?"

You'd better think carefully before you speak!

"My family has practiced medicine for generations. My grandfather was a royal physician in the palace. His original name was Shen Yujing. Later, he left the palace and lived in seclusion in Guli Town, Qingmu County."

My Shen family has a family-inherited prescription that can cure most of the world's ailments of weakness, prolong life, and preserve youth forever!

"Ridiculous! How could such a thing exist in this world? Do you think your Shen family is the Jade Emperor?"

Unbeknownst to everyone, the emperor sitting on the dragon throne had a deep and terrifying look in his eyes as he stared at Shen Lan, as if trying to discern something false from her face.

Are they descendants of the Shen family?

So that's how it is. Then she wasn't wrong to sue the Tong family.

The emperor would certainly not use a prescription of dubious origin, so he thoroughly investigated everything the crown prince and the Tong family had done.

But so what? The people of a small town are nothing compared to his dragon body.

Unexpectedly, Liu Engui was not prudent in his actions, allowing the Shen family and their orphans to survive.

Officials raised numerous questions.

Some people questioned whether Shen Lan exaggerated the Shen family's medical skills.

Some people questioned whether Shen Lan had forged her identity. If what she said is true, how could she, a five-year-old child at the time, remember so many things?

Some people suspect that Shen Lan was a scapegoat pushed out by Xiao Ji.

Her identity may be real, and this incident may also be true, but after Xiao Ji embellished and adapted it, it became the story in Shen Lan's mouth of killing, stealing treasure, and then silencing witnesses.

"The elders present must have heard of the medical skills of my Shen family. My grandfather's medical skills were recorded in the palace."

"I've heard of Imperial Physician Shen, but back then it was rumored that he killed a noblewoman and her unborn child in the harem and was sentenced to death. If what you say is true, that he faked his death and escaped, it would be a crime punishable by the extermination of his entire clan. How can he be wronged?"

An elderly official with a white beard stepped forward and spoke.

It's been a long time, and those present had only heard about it, not seen it with their own eyes. But if anyone denies it, Shen Lan's words will not stand.

Another veteran official recalled: "I also remember that my father was once greatly indebted to Imperial Physician Shen, who saved his life. I also heard him mention that Imperial Physician Shen was ostracized in the harem and left on his own initiative, but no one knows where he went."

Later, when my father fell seriously ill, this old minister even spent a large sum of money to find Imperial Physician Shen, but to no avail.

He looked up at the emperor and said what he wanted to say.

"Your father has mentioned that Imperial Physician Shen possesses a miraculous medicine that can prolong life, which is why I wish to find him."

The officials were in an uproar.

Some people think he's talking nonsense.

Some people say he is in cahoots with Shen Lan.

Minister Zhao retorted directly, "Scholar Fang, you are old and perhaps your memory is failing. Have you forgotten what a serious crime it is to deceive the emperor?"

Scholar Fang ignored him and bowed to the emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, I believe this is true. Although this matter happened decades ago, it is still possible to find some clues if we investigate."

"Oh, how does Minister Fang intend to investigate?"

“The imperial physicians’ outpatient visits are all recorded. Even if they are from a long time ago, it is impossible not to find the records. Moreover, the Imperial Medical Bureau should have records of the life and deeds of each imperial physician.”

The emperor's lips curled slightly, and he waved his hand, saying, "Steward Wu."

"The slave is here."

"Go to the Imperial Medical Bureau and order all the imperial physicians to search through the archives and find out the life story of this Physician Shen."

"promise."

After Eunuch Wu left, the emperor nodded to Zhao Kaizhi: "You may continue."

Minister Zhao, though not angry, exuded authority and questioned Shen Lan: "Such a major case cannot be fabricated by you with just your words. Can you produce any evidence?"

For example, the Shen family's prescription you mentioned, and the evidence that the Tong family was the culprit.

"I have come today to beat the drum of petition, not knowing whether I will live or die, and dare not bring evidence or witnesses with me."

Tong Xiuqing suddenly remembered something and pointed at her, asking, "Was it you who arrested Minister Liu?"

Without waiting for Shen Lan's reply, he immediately pinned a crime on her.

"You deliberately arrested Vice Minister Liu, forced him to be your witness, and made him give false testimony to frame me. Isn't he the witness you're referring to?"

It was easy to guess. It just so happened that Liu Engui had disappeared, and it just so happened that she came to beat the drum to appeal for justice, and even said that she had witnesses.

Back then, the only person who truly knew about this was Liu Engui, and he didn't dare to implicate the crown prince, only himself, which explains the reason.

He was probably coerced.

Shen Lan remained calm and answered, "I arranged for Vice Minister Liu to go out. The Shen family's affairs and the affairs of Guli Town cannot be erased no matter what. Lord Tong doesn't need to rush to clear his name. He is not the only witness."

"If His Majesty permits, he may summon witnesses and evidence at any time."

At this moment, a middle-aged civil official at the back of the procession stepped forward, bowed his head, took a few steps forward, and said, “Your Majesty, I was transferred back to the capital from Jianzhou Prefecture. I still remember that plague back then. It came on fiercely, with Guli Town as the source. People fell ill one after another, and they still ran away without knowing their own mortality, infecting many people outside.”

To prevent the spread of the epidemic, the government had no choice but to seal off Guli Town. The prefect of Jianzhou agreed to this, and the soldiers sent out were also soldiers from the prefecture, not just the magistrate of Qingmu County.

Later, due to the uncontrollable epidemic, Guli Town was completely burned down. Although I was saddened for the local people, it was a last resort to sacrifice a small number of people to save the majority.

This Miss Shen may have been unable to accept this fact and thus harbored resentment towards the government, while it was inevitable that Vice Minister Liu, who was the magistrate of Qingmu County back then, would also be held hostage.

"To be fair, as an orphan of Guli Town, the imperial court should provide her with a pension and compensation for Miss Shen's losses over the past eleven years. However, any other official would have made the same decision."

These words were spoken with great passion and enthusiasm, and many officials nodded in agreement.

If they were in their own village or town and an epidemic broke out, they would certainly prioritize the greater good over the lesser good.

Shen Lan struggled to her feet, limped over to the official, and carefully examined his face.

Over the past two years, she has investigated the officials who served in those positions and knows the whereabouts of almost every one of them.

Why had she never heard of this person who could stand in the court assembly, who was at least a fifth-rank official?

At this moment, Xiao Ji suddenly spoke up and said, "Lord Lin, I heard about you when I was working in Jianzhou Prefecture. Your experience of rising from a lowly clerk to the position of prefect of Jianzhou Prefecture was all thanks to the promotion you received from Prefect Liu back then. You are indeed a kind person who knows how to repay kindness."