Chapter 485: Big Trouble
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Having successfully passed the Palace Examinations, Fan Zijin was now preparing for the lucky scholar examination. At this moment, he could no longer care about the examination. He rushed straight to the Qi Manor to look for Mu Yangling and shouted in despair, âHaoran is in big trouble!â
Mu Yangling put down the apple in her hand and asked, âWhat did he do?â
Li Jinghua rushed over and interrupted Fan Zijin. âZijin, speak slowly. Whatâs the hurry?â
As she spoke, she went forward to support Mu Yangling and patted her shoulder to comfort her. âDonât be anxious. They just like to make a fuss.â
Fan Zijinâs expression changed slightly. He looked at Mu Yanglingâs stomach with a complicated expression and took a deep breath. After taking a step back, he said, âThe rebels in Jinghu attacked the government office on a large scale. Haoran led his troops to fight them and is in a deadlock now. The policy of the court is to eliminate the bandits, but now, heâs leaning towards settling the bandits plus offering them amnesty and enlistment. Many people in the court are impeaching him.â
Mu Yangling looked at him suspiciously. âReally? Thatâs not considered causing trouble. Why are you so anxious?â
Fan Zijin forced a smile and said, âSeeing as Haoran has a short temper, Iâm just worried that the tone of his memorial is too forceful.â
Mu Yangling took a deep breath and said with a straight face, âIâm in good health. As long as he doesnât die on the battlefield, I can take it. Tell me. Otherwise, Iâll still find out when I go out. Wonât I be even angrier then?â Secretly anxious, Li Jinghua smiled and said, âYou guys should have more confidence in Fourth Brother. I think heâs only going to eliminate the bandits. What trouble can he cause? Ah Ling, youâre already eight months pregnant. The most important thing is to stabilize the fetus.â
Mu Yangling only looked at Fan Zijin. Fan Zijin stood rooted to the ground, drenched in cold sweat. He deeply regretted being too impulsive and coming here. However, seeing how persistent Mu Yangling was, he gritted his teeth and said, âThe rebels attacked the government office and various counties. The magistrates of Hengzhou, Yongzhou and five counties under jurisdiction were captured and beheaded by the rebels. None of their families survived. Now, there are 130,000 rebels in Jinghu. Haoran petitioned for the amnesty and enlistment of the bandits and redistributing land to them. He even asked for relief grain. The Imperial Court is in an uproar, with many people impeaching Haoran and saying that the deaths of the magistrates were instructed by Haoran.â
Seeing Mu Yanglingâs calm expression, Fan Zijin continued, âThe key is that they even took out evidence. It seems that the Hengzhou army is really guiding the rebels. If this matter is confirmed, Haoran definitely wonât be able to keep his life. Thatâs seven families, old and young. Three of the clans are rather influential, too. After today, Iâm afraid there will be even more memorials for impeachment.â
Taken aback by the fact that the matter was so serious, Li Jinghua sat down on the chair and said, âNo, Fourth Brother couldnât have done this, right?â
âNo,â Fan Zijin and Mu Yangling said in unison. Seeing that Fan Zijin believed Qi Haoran, Mu Yangling heaved a sigh of relief and said, âHaoran isnât like those people. Even if those seven people deserve it, the old and young in their family arenât all bad people. With Haoranâs personality, he wonât do such a thing.â
Fan Zijin nodded repeatedly. âBesides, with the Emperorâs men monitoring Haoran, itâs impossible for him to do such an immoral thing.â At this point, Fan Zijinâs eyes lit up. âThatâs right. With His Majestyâs men around Haoran, Haoran can clear his name.â
He relaxed and revealed a calm smile. âIt seems that the assistants assigned by the Emperor arenât completely useless.â
However, Mu Yangling was not so optimistic. âThen why didnât he write to us? Wasnât it said that his plea has arrived?â
Fan Zijin held his breath. Li Jinghuaâs limbs went weak and she asked with a pale face, âYouâre saying that His Majesty instructed this?â
Then, Qi Haoran could only take the blame.
Mu Yangling lowered her eyes and shook her head. âThere are many possibilities. Perhaps Minister Qin is using those lives to silence him. By doing this, he killed three birds with one stone and weakened the Emperor and the Qi familyâs power.â
âIt might also be the doing of Minister Qinâs political enemies. Not only can this make Minister Qin lose manpower, but this will also make him and the Emperor suspect each other. This was also a chance for them to get rid of Haoran.â Fan Zijin quickly followed Mu Yanglingâs thoughts. He sat on a chair at the side and pondered. Finally, he said, âThe most important thing now is to know how much Haoran knows about this matter. Then, get someone to collect the crimes of these seven people and try to calm the public opinion as much as possible.â
Mu Yanglingâs face sank. âNo matter what, Haoran canât admit to this crime. Otherwise, if he can lead the rebels once, he can also lead them a second time. Should someone bring this up one day, he wonât be able to live. The entire Qi family will be implicated, too.â
At this moment, Fan Zijin couldnât help but be suspicious. âThe Emperor really didnât send Haoran to Jinghu to get rid of Eldest Cousin?â Otherwise, why would he let someone make such a mistake under Qi Haoranâs nose?
Mu Yangling stood up and bowed. âZijin, Iâll leave the matters outside to you.â Fan Zijin waved his hand nonchalantly and said, âYou donât have to specially tell me to do that. Weâre brothers. You should take care of yourself first. Donât let Haoran be distracted outside.â
Mu Yangling nodded in agreement. At this moment, she was already eight months pregnant. In another month or so, she would give birth. Her first priority was indeed to take good care of herself.
The next day, Li Jinghua handed Little Treasure over to Mu Yangling and began to represent the Qi family in diplomacy. She had to find out more information and the attitudes of the officials so that more people would view the Qi family and Qi Haoran more kindly.
Mu Yangling also went out with Li Jinghua a few times with her big belly. Everyone pitied her when they saw her with a big belly, so this resulted in a reduction in the number of memorials impeaching Qi Haoran.
However, this was insignificant in the snow-like impeachment. As they waited for Qi Haoran to send another defense memorial, the atmosphere in the Imperial Court reached a boiling point. There was even an unyielding imperial censor who kowtowed until he bled in the Imperial Court to beg the Emperor to punish Qi Haoran. The next day, this imperial censor wrapped a white cloth around his head and went to the streets, feeling very proud.
Fan Zijin nearly wanted to hire some men to throw a gunny-sack over his head and give him a good beating.
Mu Yangling was almost expressionless now. Throughout the day, she only gave orders with a dark expression and did not speak much.
âStill no letter from Fourth Master?â
Spring shook her head. âYoung Master Zijin sent a message saying that the court hasnât received Fourth Masterâs defense yet.â
Mu Yangling sighed. âIâm just afraid that heâll be tied down now. By the time he finds the time, heâll have been convicted of the crime.â
âWhat should we do then, Fourth Madam?â
Mu Yangling smiled bitterly. If they knew more, they could refute the rumors or find someone to plead for Qi Haoran. Most importantly, news of this matter was almost sealed off now. They could not get any more information at all, and the people Fan Zijin sent to Jinghu had yet to send a message back.
Mu Yangling only hoped that those seven people were guilty of heinous crimes. It would be best if they were officials who forced the people to rebel. That way, it would explain why the rebels attacked the official residence. As for evidence such as Qi Haoranâs instigation, they would definitely be able to find evidence to refute it..