Ming Shaoqing, also known as King Ming, is renowned across half of Great Chu. In the Capital, everyone knows and fears him; he handles matters decisively and ruthlessly, with no regard for personal feelings. Regardless of why he ca today, provoking him is bound to lead to trouble!
Housekeeper ng helped Imperial Censor ng up from the ground and said, "My Lord, there must be so misunderstanding. You should quickly go see Junior Minister Ming to clarify things. Once the misunderstanding is resolved, even Junior Minister Ming wouldn’t dare to arrest you by force, as you are a court official!"
"Yes, yes, I am indeed a court official. Even if Junior Minister Ming wants to help that scoundrel Dou Ke, he cannot arrest for no reason!" Imperial Censor ng stood up, turned to see Manager Dou, and shouted angrily, "Soone, seize this vile rchant for , and bind him before Junior Minister Ming to confess his cris!"
Manager Dou was bewildered and hastily retreated, saying, "Father-in-law, what do you an by this? I’ve been good to the ng Family for many years. If you hate Dou Ke, the unfilial son, I’ll punish him severely, but you can’t capture !"
What kind of person is King Ming? He is a noble son, a powerful minister of Great Chu, and a confidant of the Emperor. With just one word, he could get soone killed. There was no way Manager Dou was going to et him.
Mrs. Dou ng still had feelings for Manager Dou. Seeing the situation, she hurried over to plead, "Father, you can’t do this. Even if the Old Master is in the wrong, I don’t want to be a widow!"
Imperial Censor ng scolded Mrs. Dou ng, "You still defend him at this point? His son nearly destroyed the entire ng Family and nearly got you killed!"
Manager Dou was furious. Who is destroying whom? It is clearly your daughter’s foolish actions that provoked Dou Ke’s rage. Now that you can’t cover it up, you bla ... indeed, hundreds of thousands of taels of Silver fed a bunch of ungrateful wolves!
The ng Family looked favorably upon Manager Dou solely because of the Dou Family’s wealth. Manager Dou maintained a good relationship with the ng Family through the money. Over the years, he had given the ng Family at least three hundred thousand taels of Silver, allowing them to maintain their wealth. He even contributed to the funds for raising assassins for the ng Family.
Imperial Censor ng stated, "Silence, don’t say another word. Soone, bind this Dou for !"
"Yes." The Protector outside imdiately rushed in, tying up Manager Dou and leading him to the front courtyard.
Imperial Censor ng was also reluctant to part with the Dou Family’s wealth and told Manager Dou on the way, "Junior Minister Ming is formidable. If we don’t bind you and clarify matters properly, we’ll all be dood... You take the bla first. It’s called sacrificing the pawn to save the king. Don’t resent ."
Manager Dou cursed Imperial Censor ng in his heart, but outwardly he appeared aggrieved and said, "I understand, Father-in-law. Just don’t truly abandon ... The second and third sons are still young, and Dou Ke has grown defiant. Without to restrain him, he’d act even more recklessly."
Manager Dou specifically ntioned Dou Ke, making Imperial Censor ng hesitate to abandon him and directly control the second and third sons to seize the Dou Family’s wealth.
Imperial Censor ng said, "Although you and your wife made mistakes, I also don’t want Sister Chang to beco widowed."
He quickly explained to both how to handle the situation and what to say when they t Junior Minister Ming.
But Imperial Censor ng’s advice was wasted. Junior Minister Ming, who instilled fear in all the officials, nobles, families, and even the Imperial Family, would not listen to their nonsense.
...
The guest hall in the front courtyard was already filled with Ming Shaoqing’s n.
Ming Shaoqing, donned in a luxurious brocade robe, sat in the chief position, drinking the high-grade tea he brought himself, disdainful of the ng Family’s tea.
"Junior Minister Ming, what a grand visit. I apologize for not welcoming you from afar. I hope Junior Minister Ming will not take offense," Imperial Censor ng had barely stepped into the guest hall before he cupped his hands and said, "What brings Junior Minister Ming here today? The ng Family is a family of Imperial Censors and has always abided by the Great Chu Criminal Law. We have done nothing to contravene it, have we?"
This was a reminder to Junior Minister Ming that, despite his past executions and confiscations, he couldn’t arrest people without cause. There needed to be a cri and evidence.
Ming Shaoqing’s lips curved into a sneer, casting a cold smile at Imperial Censor ng: "I just finished dealing with the Tong family’s private mine case in Linhe Prefecture and was returning to the Capital. As I passed by the Jingzhao Mansion, I encountered Dou Ke accusing Mrs. Dou ng and the ng Family. So I decided to join in the fun. He captured an assassin alive and brought him, which is conclusive evidence."
He continued, "Imperial Censor ng, according to the Great Chu Criminal Law, a stepmother shall not harm the original wife’s son, or the penalty is severe, even beheading. Mrs. Dou ng used your ng Family’s assassins, aning your ng Family was conspiring to harm Dou Ke, making the ng Family and Mrs. Dou ng equally guilty."
"Misunderstanding, it’s a misunderstanding, Junior Minister Ming!" Imperial Censor ng was anxious, quickly saying, "The ng Family and my daughter never hard Dou Ke. Those ng Family assassins were impostors. If you don’t believe , you can ask my son-in-law or investigate thoroughly..."
With a bang, Junior Minister Ming forcefully set down his teacup, his eyes brimming with killing intent as he looked at Imperial Censor ng, saying, "Imperial Censor ng, do you really want to investigate? I’m afraid once I investigate, the ng Family will face annihilation."
Imperial Censor ng’s face turned pale, but he still persisted, "Junior Minister Ming, this is rely a minor conflict between my daughter and that boy Dou Ke. How could it lead to the ng Family’s annihilation?"
Junior Minister Ming sneered, "Repeatedly hiring assassins, the ng Family keeps many trained assassins, don’t they? Since the founding of Great Chu, there is a clear limit on the number of assassins and Shadow Guards one can have. The ng Family, being only a family of Imperial Censors, must have already exceeded the legal limit."
"Other officials might turn a blind eye to this because of their own connections, but I won’t. I have always conducted public affairs impartially."
Imperial Censor ng’s face turned ashen as he fell to his knees with a thud, pleading, "Junior Minister Ming, have rcy and spare the ng Family!"
Due to the influence of the forr dynasty’s raising of private soldiers, despite the Great Chu Criminal Law’s regulation on not raising too many assassins or Shadow Guards, all major noble families, ritorious families, high-ranking officials, and the Imperial Family fought to raise as many as they could afford, despite the limitations.
Because everyone was in the sa situation, the matter was rarely ntioned. However, if King Ming really seized upon this mistake and refused to let it go, the ng Family would indeed have to pay the price!
Junior Minister Ming glanced at Imperial Censor ng, then at Mrs. Dou ng with a look of disgust, and finally turned his gaze to Manager Dou, saying, "You have a good son but fail to appreciate him. Such foolishness. It’s best not to remain as the head of the Dou Family, lest you bring ruin upon yourself."
Manager Dou was horrified. What did King Ming an by this? Could it be that he favored Dou Ke and intended to kill him to make way for Dou Ke?
No, he didn’t want to die yet!
Junior Minister Ming, too impatient to argue further, gave them two choices directly: "Either both the ng and Dou families are exterminated, or imdiately send Mrs. Dou ng to Jingzhao Mansion to confess her sins."
What!
Imperial Censor ng, Manager Dou, and Mrs. Dou ng were all shocked.
Mrs. Dou ng knelt and cried, "Lord Ming, have rcy. I have not hard Dou Ke, always treating him like my own son. This matter is a misunderstanding, truly a misunderstanding."
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