newbobooks Chapter 180: Demotion Again
Chapter 180: Demotion Again
"Your Majesty, I am just... just in a hurry..."
"I think you are quite ambitious!"
After saying that, she threw the memorial and a booklet beside the bedside table at his feet: "I didn't know that you did all these good things behind my back all these years!"
Shen Qiaoping carefully opened the memorials, which were all impeachments against him by the censors. Both the content and the handwriting in the booklet were from Ren Zhihai.
He failed to force Ren Zhihai to hand over the booklet in the Ministry of Justice prison, and later when he was exiled, he sent assassins to kill him on the way. Unexpectedly, he was one step too late. When the assassins arrived, Ren Zhihai had died of a sudden illness on the way.
Ren Zhihai's death made him feel a little relieved. He also secretly sneaked into his house to find the book, but he returned empty-handed every time.
I never thought that I would see this booklet again, and it would be in the hands of the Emperor.
Shen Qiaoping was soaked in cold sweat. Even if he had a mouth full of mouths, he couldn't explain what he had done as recorded in the book.
"Ah……"
Emperor Qinglong's cold voice was filled with murderous intent: "Cheating in the imperial examinations, embezzling disaster relief funds, occupying the people's farmland, assassinating local officials... I didn't know you had done so many things that could get you killed behind my back. You are truly a good minister who has won my heart!"
"Your Majesty, I am a minister..."
Shen Qiaoping was about to defend himself, but the jade ornament picked up by Emperor Qinglong hit him accurately on the forehead. Blood instantly dyed his face red, and everything in front of Shen Qiaoping turned bright red.
"For the crimes you have committed, it would not be too much to confiscate your property and exterminate your clan!"
"emperor!"
The terrified Concubine Shen and Shen Zhikang both kowtowed and begged for mercy.
"Your Majesty, please spare my brother's life for the sake of his momentary confusion!"
"I know my father's crime is unforgivable, so I beg Your Majesty to forgive him this time for the Shen family's loyalty."
Shen Zhikang could only grit his teeth and bleed: "The bribes my father received, even if the Shen family has to give up everything, will definitely be handed over to the national treasury. In the future, we will be more cautious in our words and deeds and will never let down the emperor's grace again!"
Shen Zhikang felt heartbroken at the thought of so much wealth vanishing into thin air, but he also knew the principle of keeping the green mountains there will give you more hope.
This time it seemed that the censor had obtained evidence to impeach, but Ye Xuanqi must have been behind this... and it was even very likely that Song Yunxi was also fanning the flames. There was absolutely no way to survive without cutting off the arm.
Shen Zhikang, lying on the ground, gnashed his teeth in hatred.
[In fact, it is not impossible to let the Shen family give up all their property in exchange for life. In this way, the old man will make a profit, and the crisis of the empty treasury can be temporarily resolved. ]
[However, a cunning rabbit has three burrows. The Shen family's property is hidden in different places. There are also many in the Linhua Palace of Shen Lao Bailian. I just don't know if the old man can find it. ]
Emperor Qinglong snorted in his heart. Even at this time, Shen Zhikang still dared to treat him perfunctorily. It was obvious that the Shen family did not take him, the emperor, seriously at all.
Emperor Qinglong was just thinking about ordering An Jihai to secretly check where the Shen family hid their property, but Song Yunxi's inner voice soon gave him the answer -
[When the Shen family stored so much gold, didn't they ask who owned the bank? How could they have stored it in the third brother's bank? ]
[There is also the underground storehouse of the Shen family. It seems that I have to find an opportunity to steal it once. Otherwise, if the old man finds it, I will get nothing. ]
Emperor Qinglong: You are right. You will get nothing from me this time!
After learning where the Shen family's property was hidden, Emperor Qinglong's anger disappeared.
"Shen Qiaoping, if I didn't value Zhikang and wanted to rely on him in the future, I would have executed you for all the crimes you have committed!"
Hearing the concession in Emperor Qinglong's tone, Shen Qiaoping was afraid that he would change his mind the next moment, so he immediately knelt down and said, "I thank Your Majesty for not killing me. In the future, I will strictly discipline myself, be loyal to the court, and share the worries of Your Majesty!"
Shen Qiaoping secretly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, feeling fortunate that he had given birth to a good son who was valued by the emperor.
"But the death penalty can be avoided, but the living crime cannot be escaped!"
The Shen family, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, became anxious again.
Emperor Qinglong glanced at them coldly: "Empress Shen is incompetent in restraining her brother and she must be punished. Someone, come..."
The commander of the imperial guards, He Wenrui, who was standing outside the palace, appeared, and Emperor Qinglong ordered in a cold voice: "Take people to clear out all the property in Linhua Palace and put it into the national treasury. In the next year, Concubine Shen is only allowed to receive her salary and no additional rewards."
When she heard that they were going to move to Linhua Palace, Concubine Shen fell to the ground weakly, and the Shen family father and son felt even colder in their hearts.
But what they didn't expect was that something even more heartbreaking was yet to come.
"Behind the Linhua Palace, you must immediately take people to the Ning'an Marquis's Mansion and dig three feet deep to confiscate all the property in the Ning'an Marquis' Mansion!"
Shen Qiaoping: It’s over…it’s really over…
Shen Zhikang: How could it be? Did the emperor already know about this?
But he quickly denied this absurd idea. After all, even Concubine Shen was unaware of the Shen family's underground warehouse.
Originally they were thinking of giving up some of the wealth in the mansion. At least the big ones hidden in Linhua Palace and the underground warehouse were still there. But now it seems that this time their Shen family is going to be skinned alive.
Before He Wenrui took the order and left, Emperor Qinglong reminded him again: "Don't let go of every corner and every inch of An Ning Marquis's Mansion!"
[Hey, how come this old man suddenly seems to have a clear mind? But if you treat Old Bailian's mother's family like this, aren't you afraid that she won't let you give her bed? ]
Emperor Qinglong: “…”
What kind of image does he, her uncle-master, have in her mind?
Zhu Taifu doubted and reflected on himself, wondering if he, as a Taifu, had failed to fulfill his responsibilities back then? How...how did he teach the emperor the wrong way?
An Shiru felt that his junior uncle was really cute because of his frankness and directness.
Only Ye Xuanqi's lowered eyes were filled with darkness and uncertainty——
My father seems to have become a little different.
He had this feeling since his father asked him to join the cabinet, but it has become increasingly clearer now.
He always felt that his father's favor towards Concubine Shen and her son was more of a disguise, and he could not detect the true affection he had in the past.
As a result, even his attitude towards the Shen family changed. On the surface, he still valued Shen Zhikang, but he was gradually weakening their power in the court.
But what exactly caused this change?
No one expected that the punishment for the Shen family was not over yet. Emperor Qinglong said in a cold and low voice: "Marquis Ning'an has behaved inappropriately. From today on, he will be demoted to Earl Ning'an..."
hum...
Shen Qiaoping's mind was completely confused. He did not hear a word of what Emperor Qinglong said next. It was not until Shen Zhikang beside him pulled his sleeve that he came back to his senses.
Emperor Qinglong asked angrily, "Why, Earl Ning An is dissatisfied with my decision?"