Chapter 55: A Clever Move That Backfired

"Huh? Lin Wannian? We sent people to fetch Lin Shou, what are you doing here?"

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately knitted his brows.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this general went to the Lin residence to fetch someone, but Lin Wannian insisted on coming along, saying that he himself... uh..."

"Speak!"

Seeing the soldier hesitate, Zhu Yuanzhang gave a direct order.

"Yes...!"

The soldier cupped his fists and continued, "Lin Wannian said he was also beaten by the Imperial Grandson, and demanded to come to the imperial court... to file a complaint!"

Zhu Yuanzhang slapped his thigh.

Damn it!

Why did he have to ask that extra question?

Zhang Quan and Chen Ying, however, both brightened up at this.

You know, kneeling for this extra moment was completely worth it!

There was even an unexpected bonus!

"Lin Wannian was also beaten by the Grandson? Wasn't it just Lin Shou?"

"Hiss... The people around His Highness the Grandson are far too ruthless! They beat the man to a pulp! He's definitely going to be disfigured for life!"

"Needless to say...!"

The officials muttered among themselves.

Even Lan Yu looked on, not knowing how to help make excuses anymore.

The beating was simply too savage!

"Your Highness the Grandson, what do you have to say for yourself this time?" Chen Ying asked triumphantly.

With the evidence now conclusive, even if Zhu Xiongying had three heads and six arms, he could not escape his guilt.

"Hehe..."

Zhu Xiongying burst out laughing.

His laughter directly provoked Zhang Quan, "Why is Your Highness the Grandson laughing?"

"Shouldn't you first ask Lin Wannian how exactly he was thrashed by this Grandson?"

Zhu Xiongying asked, folding his arms as he stood beside the dragon throne.

Zhang Quan thought about it and realized he was right; securing the evidence would only make the impeachment stronger.

So he turned his head to look at Lin Wannian, who was lying on the floor, "Don't be afraid, His Majesty will uphold justice for you! Just state the truth!"

"The Imperial Grandson seized my craftsmen, and when I went to demand them back, he beat me into this wretched state!"

Lin Wannian endured the pain in his cheeks, trying his best to make his words clear.

"Your Majesty, you've heard it all, haven't you? After leaving the palace, the Imperial Grandson has been acting lawlessly and oppressing the common people!"

Zhang Quan cupped his fists in a report, hoping to bring this impeachment to a swift conclusion.

Otherwise, he truly wouldn't be able to keep kneeling!

"Imperial Grandfather, Your Grandson believes we should summon the craftsmen here for a direct confrontation!"

"Hmph! Granted!"

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his massive hand, and the soldiers immediately set off to execute the order.

Zhang Quan and Chen Ying instantly felt their hearts sink.

Going and returning would take another hour or more!

By the time the craftsmen were brought in, both men had dark spots dancing before their eyes and their bodies had begun to sway!

The craftsmen explained the entire sequence of events from beginning to end, and only then did everyone realize that this fellow had simply lost a wager and was beaten into this state by the Imperial Grandson as a result!

"Wait! Did I hear that correctly just now? They said the Imperial Grandson only struck him twice, and beat him into this wretched state?"

"You heard right, they really did say that!"

"Good heavens, just how immense is the Grandson's physical strength?!"

"Terrifying! Absolutely terrifying...!"

All the civil and military officials were dumbfounded.

Even Lan Yu and Xu Da rubbed their ears vigorously, suspecting they had misheard!

The Grandson was only seven years old, yet he could beat someone like this with just two slaps?

Even if they went into action themselves, it wouldn't be to this extent!

"Thud..."

No sooner had the matter concerning Lin Wannian been sorted out than Zhang Quan's vision went black, and he collapsed right on the floor of the grand hall.

The soldiers carried him back to his estate, leaving Chen Ying to fight the battle all alone!

"Even if Lin Wannian brought it upon himself, what about Lin Shou? The Grandson surely assaulted him without cause, right?"

"Oh! Right, there is also this Lin Shou...!"

The little fellow, as if suddenly remembering something, cupped his hands toward Old Zhu and said, "Imperial Grandfather, this Lin Shou was attempting to seize a citizen's daughter in broad daylight, and Your Grandson had no choice but to intervene! We can summon the Fang grandfather and grandson from the winery here for a confrontation!"

"Ah?"

Upon hearing this, the very last ounce of strength was drained from Chen Ying's body.

When the Prince of Yan passed the message to him, he hadn't mentioned that the young master of the Lin family was beaten because he tried to forcibly seize a commoner's daughter!

Had he known this earlier, he never would have filed the impeachment!

Upon learning the true reason, the officials began to point fingers and denounce him.

"In the prosperous era of the Great Ming, someone actually dares to forcibly seize a citizen's daughter in broad daylight? Beating him to death wouldn't be too many!"

"Indeed! No wonder the Imperial Grandson crippled his lower extremities, it's nothing less than what he deserves!"

"Fortunately the Grandson intervened, otherwise an innocent girl would have been defiled by this beast!"

"Quite right! Not only should this matter not be blamed on the Grandson, he deserves a reward...!"

A few officials standing close by, while hurling curses, even went up and kicked him.

Lin Shou felt the agonizing pain but dared not cry out, his face turning beet red as he forcefully held it in!

"Your Majesty, there is no need to investigate further! This old minister... this old minister hereby withdraws the impeachment!"

Taking advantage of the fact that the soldiers hadn't left yet, Chen Ying hurriedly waved his hands.

If they had to make another trip, he reckoned he would collapse before the soldiers even returned with the witnesses!

"Withdraw the impeachment...?"

Hearing this, Zhu Xiongying refused to let it go. He trotted across the steps right up to Chen Ying and said, "Are you playing games here in the imperial court? If I slap you across the face right now, can I just withdraw it later and say I hit the wrong person?"

Chen Ying cast a furtive glance at Lin Wannian beside him and shuddered violently with fright, "That... how could that be possible?"

"Why wouldn't it be? You came here to impeach this Grandson without even getting the facts straight! What's wrong with me slapping you and then withdrawing it?"

Zhu Xiongying raised his small hand, preparing to bring it down.

"Spare my life, Your Grandson..."

Chen Ying surrendered quickly, dropping straight to his knees and kowtowing repeatedly.

On the solid granite floor, he banged his head twenty or thirty times in one breath, bloodying his face completely!

"Fine! This Grandson is magnanimous and will spare you this once! The next time you impeach someone, make sure you investigate clearly first!"

"Yes, yes! Thank you, Your Highness the Grandson! Thank you, Your Highness the Grandson!"

At this moment, Chen Ying completely forgot that a censor's duty was to report upon hearsay.

If he dared to speak up again, a slap would undoubtedly land mercilessly across his face!

While there's life, there's hope!

"Ahem..."

At that moment, Zhu Yuanzhang, who had been sitting with a gloomy face and had barely spoken until now, finally opened his mouth: "Zhang Quan and Chen Ying have frivolously impeached the Grandson; dock their salaries for one year! The Lin Family Winery lacks moral virtue; strip them of their Tribute Wine plaque! Lin Shou harassed innocent women in broad daylight; hand him over to the Ministry of Punishments to investigate and punish according to the law!"

"Your Majesty... please, no... This humble subject... this humble subject knows he was wrong!"

Lin Wannian had never expected such an outcome.

His intestines were twisted with regret.

Not only was the plaque for the tribute wine gone, but his son was also going to end up in a deep prison!

"Take them away!"

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his massive hand, having no patience to listen to their whining.

The soldiers outside rushed through the doors and hauled the two men, limp as dead dogs, out of the grand hall!