gnovel Chapter 321 Even with overwhelming power, there are still things one cannot do.
Chapter 321 Even with overwhelming power, there are still things one cannot do.
The Hall of Attendants.
A place specifically for entertaining superiors and envoys.
When Lin Chen returned, it was already dark.
Lan Fenghuang and the others were talking together when they saw Lin Chen enter. Lan Fenghuang quickly stood up:
"Are you done with your work?"
Lin Chen nodded and walked over to sit down.
Yao Yao immediately came over, massaging Lin Chen's shoulders while asking curiously:
"Husband, husband, how many did you kill today?"
Lin Chen smiled helplessly: "We haven't killed them yet."
This girl truly lives up to her reputation as a product of Mei Jiu Niang's tutelage.
Yao Yao blinked: "Haven't killed them yet? Why?"
Lin Chen explained helplessly, "We're going to kill him tomorrow. He's a second-rank provincial governor; we need to have a legitimate reason for it, otherwise, wouldn't things get chaotic?"
"Oh!" Yao Yao said thoughtfully.
At this moment, Yagyu Yuki spoke up, asking, "Have you found out?"
"The investigation is complete." Lin Chen nodded: "The Zhou family's affairs involve seventeen officials, as well as dozens of smaller families and local gentry."
Liu Shengxue did not ask any further questions.
Liu Sheng Piaopiao huddled in the corner and asked softly:
"Brother-in-law, that old lady's son... is it possible to overturn the case?"
Lin Chen glanced at her and smiled, "Yes, we can turn it over tomorrow."
Liu Sheng Piaopiao murmured to herself, "Then... can he come back to life?"
Lin Chen paused for a moment.
Then he reached out and ruffled Liu Sheng Piaopiao's hair:
"No, but those who are alive must live well."
Liu Sheng Piaopiao lowered her head and said nothing more.
……
the next day.
The area in front of the government office was packed with people.
The people who were crying out for justice arrived early in the morning and stood there in a dense crowd.
Lin Chen sat in the main hall of the government office, holding the dossier compiled by Yan Da in his hand.
Each and every single incident is crystal clear.
He looked at the Zhou family members kneeling below and said calmly:
"Zhou Shiren has committed forty-seven major crimes, including embezzlement, oppression of the people, condoning of his clansmen's violent acts, and harboring criminals. According to the law, he shall be executed immediately."
Zhou Shiren collapsed to the ground, unable to utter a single word.
Lin Chen continued reading:
"Zhou Erhu, the second son of the Zhou family, has committed 23 counts of forcibly seizing farmland, killing three people, and abducting five women. He shall be executed immediately."
"Zhou Sanbao, the third son of the Zhou family, ran a casino and lent money at exorbitant interest rates, driving seventeen people to their deaths. He shall be executed immediately."
"Wang Mazi, a relative of the Zhou family, bullied and monopolized the market, killing four people. He shall be executed immediately."
……
Lin Chen recited more than thirty names in one breath.
For every word read, another person was brought forward and pressed to the ground.
After finishing reading, Lin Chen looked at the remaining Zhou family members and said calmly:
"As for the others, the Zhou family's property will be confiscated, and their clansmen will be exiled three thousand miles away, never to return to the Southwest Region."
The Zhou family members cried and shouted, and some even fainted on the spot.
Lin Chen ignored them and waved his hand.
A flash of light.
More than thirty heads fell to the ground.
Blood was everywhere.
The onlookers were initially silent, then erupted into thunderous cheers.
"Long live the Prince of Zhenbei!"
"Lord Tianyuan!"
Lin Chen stood up, walked to the door, and looked at the cheering crowd.
He raised his hand and pressed it down.
The people quieted down.
Lin Chen said, "It was His Majesty who killed them. If you want to thank someone, thank His Majesty."
The people were stunned for a moment, then someone shouted, "Long live the Emperor!"
Then a chorus of shouts followed: "Long live His Majesty!"
Lin Chen smiled, turned around and walked back.
After taking a few steps, I suddenly saw an old lady in the crowd.
It's the one who cried foul yesterday.
She stood there, looking at the heads of the Zhou family members, tears streaming down her face.
Lin Chen walked over.
The old woman saw him and knelt down with a thud.
Lin Chen helped her up: "Grandma, get up."
The old woman wouldn't get up; she clung to his legs and cried.
"Your Highness, my son... my son can rest in peace now..."
Lin Chen paused for a moment, then said:
"Old woman, I have overturned your son's case. He is innocent. The government will compensate you and provide for your old age."
The old lady cried even harder.
Lin Chen squatted down, looked at her, and said softly:
"Grandma, if you ever need anything in the future, just go to Magistrate Zhang, he will help you."
The old lady nodded, tears streaming down her face.
Lin Chen stood up and glanced at Yan University.
Yan understood, stepped forward to help the old lady up, and led her out of the crowd.
Lin Chen stood there, watching the old woman's figure disappear into the crowd.
Lan Fenghuang walked over and stood next to him.
"Husband, have you softened your heart?"
Lin Chen shook his head: "It's not that I'm soft-hearted, it's just..."
He paused, then didn't continue.
Lan Fenghuang didn't ask any more questions, but simply held his hand gently.
……
three days later.
Lin Chen's group left the provincial capital and continued westward.
As they left the city, people on both sides knelt on the ground, their cries shaking the heavens.
"Take care, Prince Zhenbei!"
"The Prince of Zhenbei must come again!"
Lin Chen sat in the carriage, listening to the shouts outside, and a smile curled at the corner of his lips.
Yao Yao leaned against the window, her eyes red: "Husband, they don't want you to leave."
Lin Chen rubbed her head: "It's hard to bear, but there's nothing we can do. We can only rely on ourselves."
Liu Sheng Piaopiao asked softly, "Brother-in-law, where are we going next?"
Lin Chen thought for a moment: "Next stop, the border."
Liu Sheng Piaopiao blinked: "The border? Are there corrupt officials there too?"
Lin Chen laughed: "Whether there are corrupt officials or not, I don't know, but there are definitely others."
Yao Yao asked curiously, "What other?"
Lin Chen said, "Border garrisons, roaming bandits, and those lurking Western Region kingdoms..."
Lin Chen leaned back on the cushion, picked up a grape, and popped it into his mouth.
The carriage swayed and wobbled forward.
Behind us, the provincial capital receded further and further away.
……
Beijing.
The Imperial Palace.
The Empress stood by the window of the Imperial Study, looking at the memorial in her hand.
The details of Lin Chen's affairs in the Southwest Region are all recorded in the document.
After she finished reading it, she remained silent for a long time.
Then he laughed, and the laughter echoed throughout the hall.
Qingluan cautiously asked from the side, "Your Majesty, what are you laughing at?"
The Empress remained silent, simply sensing the surging true energy within her body.
He was in the late stage of the Celestial Realm.
And it's still rising.
The spiritual power of the common people, and the new dynasty's fortune generated by the corrupt officials Lin Chen had eliminated, were continuously flowing into her body.
She turned around and looked at the sky outside the window.
"Lin Chen, just how many surprises do you intend to give me?"