met free Chapter 188 Complaint Before the Emperor
Chapter 188 Complaint Before the Emperor
Madam Shen's expression changed, and she hurriedly went to the door to ask the servant who had delivered the message, "Are you sure it was the old lady who went to report the Marquis?"
The servant stammered, "The old lady went to the Meridian Gate to beat the drum for petitioning the emperor and report the marquis to the emperor."
Madam Shen did not go to Shuntian Prefecture, nor to Dali Temple or the Ministry of Justice, but to beat the Dengwen Drum.
Madam Shen felt dizzy and exasperated, saying, "What kind of mother would report her son? She completely disregards the bond between mother and son and is trying to kick someone when they're down!"
At this moment, the steward hurried over: "Madam, someone from the palace has come to summon you to the palace for questioning."
This fire has now landed on her head.
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Madam Shen instructed Shen Shaohuai: "Huai'er, keep the longevity lock safe. If your father is convicted, we will be implicated. You should take the longevity lock to the Emperor and beg him to have mercy and spare our lives."
Shen Shaohuai gripped the longevity lock tightly in his hand, offering no response.
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royal palace.
Madam Shen, dressed in her official robes, knelt in the middle of the main hall.
Marquis Chengen and Madam Shen knelt anxiously to one side, frequently glancing at Old Madam Shen, wondering what crime she had accused them of.
Emperor Jing'an glanced at Marquis Cheng'en with a dark look in his eyes. He was quite surprised when he heard that Madam Shen had struck the Dengwen Drum at the Meridian Gate earlier that day, wanting to sue him.
It wasn't until Emperor Jing'an saw the petition submitted by Madam Shen that he understood why she was willing to endure twenty strokes of the cane to appeal to Marquis Cheng'en.
"Your Majesty, today I beat the Dengwen Drum to accuse my unfilial son, Shen Wenxian, of conspiring with Shen Liu to bribe bandits to murder his elder brother and sister-in-law in order to seize the title." Old Madam Shen, having received the Emperor's grace, was spared the twenty strokes of the cane for beating the Dengwen Drum by Emperor Jing'an. She kowtowed and said, "Shen Wenxian has committed numerous crimes and has failed the Emperor's grace. I humbly request Your Majesty to strip him of his title."
Emperor Jing'an thought of the Marquis of Cheng'en's elder brother, who was mature beyond his years and very steady in his official duties. He had once heard that Shen Wenxuan had died at the hands of bandits on his way back to the capital after being transferred, and he had felt very sorry for him.
It's truly unbelievable that such a kind and benevolent person would die at the hands of his own beloved younger brother.
"I'm innocent, Your Majesty! I've been wronged!" Marquis Chengen cried out, pledging his innocence.
He broke out in a cold sweat, never expecting that his own mother would bring up an old case from many years ago and even file a complaint with the emperor.
Marquis Chengen looked wronged and said with grief and indignation, "If I had bribed the bandits to murder my brother and sister-in-law, they wouldn't have wanted my life. If someone hadn't happened to pass by, I would have already been a victim of the bandits' blade."
Before entering the palace, Madam Shen thought that Old Madam Shen was going to expose the case of Marquis Chengen's corruption and bribery, but who knew that she was seeking justice for her eldest son and daughter-in-law.
"The Marquis has always been close to his elder brother. Upon hearing the news of his brother's return to the capital to take up his post, he personally went to welcome his brother's family, nearly losing his life in the process. His good intentions have now become evidence against him for plotting against his brother! Is there any justice in this world?"
Madam Shen said with tears streaming down her face, "As Heng'er's aunt, I pity him for losing his parents when he was still an infant, and I treat him as my own son. I would rather wrong my own children than let him suffer the slightest grievance. I never ask for credit, nor do I complain about the hardships. I only hope that this family will be harmonious and prosperous."
She recounted the hardships she had endured over the years, almost breaking down in tears.
"So many years of hard work and toil, and in the end, all I get is a lawsuit from my own mother-in-law. This is heartbreaking!" Madam Shen pounded her chest, her face streaked with tears, and looked at Old Madam Shen. "If you want the lives of the Marquis and your daughter-in-law, just say so. The Marquis and I will give you our lives. It's a hundred times better than being branded as unrighteous, fratricidal, and usurping power. At least we'll keep our innocence."
From the moment Madam Shen decided to report Marquis Chengen, she no longer cared about family scandals.
"You spoiled Heng'er to death, ruined him, and used tricks to get the girl he liked into Shen Wenxian's household. You also maliciously plotted to have Heng'er have an affair with Aunt Mei. If Heng'er hadn't been vigilant and hadn't fallen into your trap, he would have been ruined long ago."
Madam Shen sneered: "Your great kindness and virtue, not to mention Heng'er and me, even our ancestors in the afterlife would not dare to forget."
Madam Shen's face turned deathly pale.
"Mother, I truly did not murder my elder brother. He treated me very well. If I were to harm him for the sake of a title, wouldn't I be worse than a pig or a dog?" Marquis Chengen was certain that Madam Shen had no evidence, and continued to defend himself: "You have listened to the words of a villain and are convinced that I killed my elder brother. Today, you have come before the Emperor to accuse me, and you have already fallen into the villain's trap. It brings pain to our loved ones, and it brings us pleasure."
As Emperor Jing'an listened to the arguments, he looked down at the petition in his hand, which listed the crimes of the Marquis of Cheng'en. Any one of these crimes alone would be enough to strip the Marquis of Cheng'en of his title.
Emperor Jing'an asked, "Do you have any witnesses to prove that Shen Wenxian murdered Shen Wenxuan?"
Madam Shen said, "I have witnesses."
Upon hearing this, the Marquis of Chengen and his wife's expressions changed drastically.
They quickly calmed down.
After the incident, they had already covered it up and left no trace.
It's impossible for Madam Shen to have any evidence.
Emperor Jing'an instructed Eunuch Cao: "Summon the witnesses."
Eunuch Cao accepted the order and left.
Emperor Jing'an closed the lawsuit in his hand and looked at the old and frail Madam Shen.
Her eyes were filled with sorrow and grief, revealing her inner struggle and helplessness.
Both sons are her flesh and blood; she has already lost one son, and even knowing the truth, she can't bring herself to report them.
More importantly, in order to preserve the title of Marquis.
Now that Marquis Chengen has committed a crime, he is destined to suffer a terrible fate. However, the severity of his crime will have to wait for the results of the investigation in Qingzhou before a decision can be made.
Did Madam Shen realize this and then take the initiative to report Marquis Chengen?
According to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, one can avoid being implicated in the serious crimes committed by relatives.
In addition to accusing their elders of treason and plotting rebellion, juniors can also be punished for accusing their elders of other crimes, even if the accusations are true.
It was precisely because of this that Madam Shen did not bring Shen Shaoheng along to expose the crimes of Marquis Chengen.
After an unknown amount of time, Eunuch Cao led the witness into the hall.
The newcomer, dressed in coarse cloth and short brown clothes, walked with a hunched back and a limp to the center of the main hall.
When Marquis Chengen saw the person who had arrived, his pupils contracted.
This person was his former confidant, Ma Mingyuan.
He entrusted Ma Mingyuan with the task of bribing bandits to murder his brother and sister-in-law.
After the deed was done, it was Ma Mingyuan who delivered the silver notes to the bandits.
Before hiring someone to kill his brother and sister-in-law, Ma Mingyuan was extremely loyal to him.
Ever since Ma Mingyuan got hold of the evidence against him, he has become somewhat arrogant and has been secretly doing things that harm the interests of the Marquis's mansion behind his back.
He subtly warned Ma Mingyuan, who verbally admitted his mistake but showed no remorse.
If this continues, Ma Mingyuan will become a major threat sooner or later.
He couldn't tolerate Ma Mingyuan, so he arranged for someone to silence him.
Who knew... Ma Mingyuan was still alive.
Ma Mingyuan knelt on the ground and kowtowed. He took out two letters from his sleeve and held them above his head with both hands: "Your Majesty, the letters in my hand can prove that Marquis Chengen bribed mountain bandits to murder his own brother and sister-in-law."
When Marquis Chengen saw the two letters, his face turned deathly pale, and he collapsed to the ground like a rag doll.