Chapter 658: The Sound of Drums and an Unjust Case (3)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Besides, even if the emperor really couldn’t hear it, wouldn’t the palace servants remind him?
Empress Dowager Wei’s words were also interesting. It sounded like she came here casually and indifferently, but she didn’t even go out in formal attire when she went to the Hidden Spirit Temple to pray for blessings. Today, she was wearing a phoenix robe. No matter how one looked at it, she didn’t seem to be walking around casually.
The emperor was not stupid. The ministers could naturally think of something.
He frowned and said, “Mother.”
“Emperor.” Empress Dowager Wei interrupted him. “Let’s set aside the fact that Old Master Song was Great Xia’s trusted aide.”
“The obligation to listen to anyone who beats those drums is a promise your father made to the world. It’s a rule he set. If you don’t follow it, what will the world think?”
How was this any different from saying that the emperor was guilty? The ministers quickly lowered their heads, wishing they could cover their ears.
The emperor’s face alternated between green and red from anger. He closed his eyes and waved. “Bring her in.”
Fifteen minutes later, the eunuch who had gone out to deliver the message returned alone. He knelt there trembling and did not dare to speak.
“Speak,” the emperor snarled.
“That old woman said that her death is not worthy of pity, but she can’t let good people continue to be wronged.”
That sentence seemed to insinuate that the emperor wanted to kill her to silence her.
Needless to say, it was possible.
It was so logical. Who would believe that no one had reminded them in advance?
The word “insolent” almost slipped out of his mouth, but the emperor gritted his teeth and swallowed it in the end. However, his face darkened.
In the end, it was Empress Dowager Wei who suggested it. The emperor personally brought the ministers to the palace door, and Lin Mu protected them with the imperial guards.
Standing on the white jade steps and seeing the situation outside, everyone gasped in unison. The internal supervisor who said that the palace gate was filled with several commoners was too humble. It was clearly surrounded by people. From afar, there was no end to it.
“Is everyone in the capital here?” they thought.
It nad to De said tnat tne person wno nad tn1S tnougnt was telling tne trutn. The formerly mute woman had started from Chang’an Avenue and talked about what Old Master Song had done for the people of Great Xia along the way, but in the end, he died unjustly.
Her words were sincere, and her voice was a little hoarse. Everyone’s eyes turned red.
By the time they reached the palace gate, wouldn’t the team be huge?
Even when the mute woman knocked on the drum for the first time, the burly man volunteered to knock on it for her.
When she was tired of knocking, the people would take turns. At this moment, there were already a few people standing beside the drum.
Seeing the emperor come out with his men, someone advanced and shouted, “His Majesty has come out!” Immediately after, everyone knelt down. “Long live our emperor.”
The last time he saw this scene was when he first ascended the throne.
The emperor was shocked and glanced at Qi Shou.
Qi Shou understood. He cleared his throat and asked in a sharp voice, “Who beat the drum? What grievances do you have?”
Everyone immediately fell silent.
Zhong Cheng helped the mute woman walk between the burly men who were helping to beat the drum and knelt down.
“I’m Madam Zhou. I’m here today to plead for Old Master Song.” The mute woman leaned down and kowtowed heavily on the ground. “Your Majesty, Lord An Le was framed. Old Master Song is also innocent. Your Majesty, please give
Old Master Song justice.”
The emperor narrowed his eyes and did not ask her what evidence she had. He said in a low voice, “Do you know that you have to be flogged 30 times for this?”
These words sounded like a reminder to the mute woman, but they were actually all threats.
If she still insisted on complaining and refusing to leave, it was likely that she wouldn’t survive the beating.
Nothing could be done without rules. He was just following the rules.
The mute woman kowtowed again. “I know.”
The emperor’s face darkened. She did not know what was good for her.
He glanced at the imperial guards waiting at the side. They immediately went forward and grabbed the mute woman.
“Wait.”
A cold voice sounded from among the civil and military officials behind the emperor. Everyone looked in the direction of the voice.
Song Jingchen walked to the mute woman’s side and knelt down. “Since it’s the Song family’s injustice, I should be the one to receive these 30 strokes.”
The emperor was about to say that there was no such rule when Song Jingchen continued, “This old granny can be considered my witness.”
The mute woman was stunned. “Lord Song, you..
That wasn’t what he said last night.
Her subconscious reaction made everyone feel that these two people probably weren’t working together.
The emperor felt the same way. However, he didn’t want this old woman to speak again.
He was about to refuse when Empress Dowager Wei spoke again. “I think what Earl Zhongyi said makes sense. Let’s do that.”
The emperor was speechless.
In the crowd, Madam Li was also kneeling there with Brother Hao and Sister Huan. Seeing the wooden sticks as thick as an adult man’s arm land on Song Jingchen one after another, their eyes turned red.
“Mother, Big Brother…”
Madam Li closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. “Look at the face of the person in the middle. He’s the one who killed your father and grandfather.”
On the other side, Shen Yijia had just sent An Xiu’er to the hired carriage. Song Jingchen had specially instructed her to do this before leaving.
In order to make it easier to take care of An Xiu’er, she even hired a female escort to accompany her.
“Alright, it’s time to go home.” Shen Yijia patted An Xiu’er’s shoulder.
She still had to rush back to watch the show.
An Xiu’er held a pearl flower in her hand and chuckled foolishly. “Flower, it’s beautiful.
“Let’s go home and give it to Mother.”
Shen Yijia was speechless. She waved her hand, indicating that the escort in charge of driving the carriage could leave.
She did not see a tear fall from the corner of An Xiu’er’s eye as the curtain of the carriage was lowered..
