After the emperor read her mind, the salted fish concubine effortlessly won the title of empress.

Chapter 192 The harem must not interfere in politics

Cao Ruiyuan realized what was going on and accused the father and daughter, "You...you lowly people are from the charity?"

Only someone from the charitable organization would protect Consort Chen like this.

Therefore, the person behind the charity is Consort Chen.

This... many people who don't understand it find it unbelievable.

Shen Shixi hadn't expected that the father and daughter would be from a charity. They only gave the little girl some pointers because she was cute.

"So what if it is, and so what if it isn't?" Shen Shixi knew perfectly well what was going on, and said to Prime Minister Pei, "Could it be that the court affairs you were discussing with His Majesty just now were related to charitable institutions?"

Pei Xiangdao said, "Your Highness, the women of the inner palace are not allowed to interfere in politics!"

"That's true, but if the matter being discussed is indeed about the charity, then it concerns me. I know that the charity is run by me and has infringed on the interests of some people."

"Now that I am here, please speak your minds freely, in front of the Emperor and me!"

Yingguo Gongdao said, "Your Highness, as a palace concubine, how can you associate with these lowly people? The people in the charity hall are from all walks of life, as lowly as grass. If the world knew that you were their boss, wouldn't that damage the royal family's reputation?"

"Losers?" Shen Shixi sneered. "What did they do? Did they drive their wives to their deaths, or seduce women? Did they sell their daughters for personal gain, or engage in promiscuous behavior during mourning periods?"

All the matters mentioned in these accusations were done by the State of Ying on official business!

Immediately, many people felt ashamed.

The Duke of Ying was speechless.

Shen Shixi said, "The people are like water, and the ruler is like a boat. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it! The common people are the most grateful people. Everyone in the charity hall is His Majesty's subject. The one who gives them a way to live is not me, but His Majesty!"

Alright, now no one can tell whether the person running the charity is the Emperor or Consort Chen.

The drum for appealing grievances was struck, each beat like a blow to the heart, making people dizzy and disoriented.

Li Fude entered to report, "Your Majesty, Xu Xiang, the head of the charitable institution, requests an audience, saying he wishes to file a lawsuit against the Emperor!"

Pei Xiang's heart skipped a beat. Seeing Cao Ruiyuan's face turn ashen, he knew things were going badly.

That's how it is. Every time they just unleash their moves, Shen Shixi's killer move comes crashing down, making it impossible to defend against or avoid.

Pei Xunli said, "I am but a commoner, yet I wish to appeal to the Emperor. Your Majesty, I believe this unruly commoner should first be given sixty strokes of the cane!"

Shen Shixi said, "Oh my, Young Master Pei, you're so arrogant! You keep calling people 'commoners,' do you think they've eaten or drunk anything from the Pei family? How dare you look down on people like that!"

Pei Xunli felt a headache coming on whenever he saw Shen Shixi, and angrily said, "Your Highness, this is the imperial court; the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics! Please, Your Highness, leave!"

Shen Shixi plopped down on the chair next to him, which was originally prepared for Prime Minister Pei.

She was practically crossing her legs. "If you're so capable, tell me out. If you're not, you can be my grandson!"

Li Yuanke glanced at her helplessly, "Summon them!"

Xu Xiang and the others were summoned in. They first glanced at Shen Shixi and saw their boss sitting leisurely in a chair with a relaxed expression.

After the guests had performed the proper courtesies, Li Yuanke asked, "What kind of complaint do you intend to file? Explain in detail!"

Xu Xiang kowtowed, holding the petition and prostrating himself on the ground.

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants Xu Xiang and others, present evidence that Cao Ruiyuan, the Governor of Bingzhou, has committed sixteen major crimes. We humbly request that you present it!"

Before anyone could speak, Li Yuanke exclaimed, "Granted!"

"Firstly, Cao Ruiyuan, as the governor of a prefecture, plundered the people's property, raped their wives and daughters, and disregarded human life, causing the people's resentment to boil over."

Secondly, as a regional governor, he colluded with Bei Sha, forged letters to frame Xu Qing, the former Sima of Bingzhou, for treason, and without reporting to the court or going through the three departments, privately executed Xu Qing's entire family.

Thirdly, Cao Ruiyuan intercepted taxes, monopolized the salt and iron monopolies, and privately established commercial taxes that were not subject to royal taxes or registered in the imperial register. His ambition to establish a separatist regime was obvious.

……

Sixteenthly, Cao Ruiyuan, as an official responsible for the people's welfare, failed to care for the common folk and indulge his son's atrocities. He allowed nearly thirty men to commit adultery, murder, and torture. In broad daylight, their vengeful spirits linger. Your Majesty, you are the father and father of all people; please seek justice for these humble commoners!

The yamen was completely silent.

Pei Xiang closed his eyes and sighed inwardly.

This plan is truly flawless!

Cao Wenlan dared to snatch back even the imperial concubines, so who would doubt that this petition was fake?

"Bring it here!" Li Yuanke said, suppressing his anger.

The indictment, the evidence of collusion with the Left Wing King of Beisha, the evidence of framing the Sima of Bingzhou, the lawsuits from the families of the young women and wives who were killed by Cao Wenlan, and the evidence of separatist rule... are all conclusive and true.

After reviewing everything, Li Yuanke asked, "Cao Ruiyuan, what else do you have to say?"

Cao Ruiyuan was pale and sweating profusely. "Your Majesty, I am innocent! The charitable organization has wronged me. This evidence is all false and slanderous. Your Majesty, please see the truth!"

Shen Shixi laughed and said, "Then tell me, which one or which one is slandering you? Just name one, and I'll give you a chance to plead your case before the Emperor!"

There are sixteen articles; it's impossible that none of them are valid.

At this point, Cao Ruiyuan could only downplay the seriousness of the matter. "The Shantang has committed many evil deeds. Under the instruction of Bei Sha, it incited the people to besiege the state government office. Today, I am requesting Your Majesty to order the elimination of Shantang. However, Consort Chen is dissatisfied with me, and I have nothing to say."

"But to say that I have committed such a grave crime, I dare not admit it. My loyalty to Your Majesty is as clear as day. If you ask me to bear the crime of treason, I am willing to die to prove my innocence!"

Shen Shixi said, "Then you can't just die like that. If you die, my innocence will be tarnished! Xu Xiang, you speak up!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Xu Xiang said, "On the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the autumn of the third year of Yongxi, Lord Cao and the Left Wing King of Beisha drank and made merry in the first private room of Fengle Tower in Bingzhou."

In the third month of spring in the fourth year of Yongxi, Lord Cao became a groom again, marrying the sister of the Left Wing King of Beisha as his thirteenth wife, whom he doted on immensely.

In the tenth month of winter in the fourth year of Yongxi, the Sima of Bingzhou discovered that the Grand Master Cao was colluding with the Northern Sands. The Grand Master Cao ordered men to forge letters of treason against the Sima, and with the Left Wing King's men providing false testimony, he single-handedly accused the Sima of treason and exterminated the entire Sima family.

Xu Xiang pointed at Cao Wenlan on the ground and said, "If Lord Cao has no collusion with Beisha, why does Young Master Cao come and go from Beisha as if it were his own backyard? Young Master Cao raped women in Beisha and was captured by the Wolf King of Beisha, yet he was able to return safely. What is the reason for this?"

Cao Ruiyuan cried out, "Your Majesty, as the governor, how can I bear to be under the watchful eyes of the common people? Is it possible that nothing we, the officials of the Great Zhou, do can escape the notice of the charitable organization?"

Xu Xiang broke out in a cold sweat.

The officials were all taken aback.

Shen Shixi smiled, "Lord Cao, you don't need to make such a fuss! And you gentlemen don't need to be afraid either. The charity is just a group of orphans and elderly people. As for why they know these things, you can just go out and ask around on the street. Do you know if the common people know about Lord Cao's family's illegal and disloyal acts?"

It seems Lord Cao thinks Bingzhou is his domain, believing the court's reach is limited, or perhaps he has powerful backers, leading to his unbridled, arrogant, and rebellious behavior, leaving behind a trail of misdeeds. Didn't you just say that the charitable organization was a spy from Beisha?

The ministers finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Yuanke asked, "Prime Minister Pei, have you heard about these things?"

Prime Minister Pei bowed deeply, "Your Majesty, I am utterly ignorant!"

Pei Xunli was extremely disappointed. He had even accused Cao Ruiyuan of crippling Shen Shixi. Unable to contain himself, he stepped forward and kicked Cao Ruiyuan, shouting, "How could you do such a thing? You have utterly wasted... wasted the court's trust!"

With the situation hopeless, Cao Ruiyuan, like a dead dog, cried out, "Your Majesty, I deserve to die a thousand deaths! I beg you, Your Majesty, to spare my life, considering that I have rendered some service!"

"Arrest Cao Ruiyuan and his associates back to the capital for joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices, and bring them to justice! Bingzhou is a vital border town, and its people's livelihood and military affairs cannot be handled by one person alone. I have decided that civil affairs, judicial affairs, and military affairs will each be led by three different people..."

Before Pei Xiang could object, he called out, "Pei Xunli!"

"Your subject is here!"

"You are hereby appointed to oversee the judicial affairs of Bingzhou, and are hereby appointed as the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner of Bingzhou, a fourth-rank official!"

Pei Xunli was overjoyed. He was a seventh-rank official, a position that was practically insignificant, but suddenly he was given the authority to handle criminal cases and impeachments in an entire prefecture. This was real power!

What immense trust!

Pei Xunli disregarded his father's opinion and hurriedly said, "Your subject accepts the decree and thanks Your Majesty for your great favor!"

Prime Minister Pei was powerless to object; his son was the beneficiary.