Five Years After My Death, the Mad Emperor Still Summons My Spirit

Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Killing Three Birds with One Stone

"Boss Ming, please count it," said Ma Dali.

Ming Lingyi took a step forward and confidently opened the small box prepared by Guotai Silver Bank.

A row of glittering gold came into everyone’s view.

Ming Lingyi took out the gold from inside. "Manager Wang, please count this as well. If there’s no problem with the gold, then this set of Dongzhu Jewelry is ours."

The shopkeeper of Treasure Pearl Pavilion immediately stepped forward. ’This was gold the patrols from Jingzhao Mansion just retrieved from Guotai Silver Bank. What could possibly be wrong with it?’

After counting, the shopkeeper nodded repeatedly. "That’s right, that’s right! Exactly twenty-five taels of gold, not a bit less!"

After saying this, the shopkeeper had a shop assistant quickly wrap up the entire set of large, lustrous Dongzhu Jewelry and present it to Ming Lingyi.

Ming Lingyi was very direct, handing the jewelry to Cai Jie with almost no hesitation.

"Just as I promised, this is a dowry gift for you."

Cai Jie hesitated to reach out. This wasn’t a mere three taels of gold, but twenty-five—more than eight times the price set by the Treasure Pearl Pavilion’s shopkeeper.

She had never seen so much gold in her entire life, yet now it was a gift to her from Ming Lingyi.

"What are you waiting for? Take it. It’s all yours," Ming Lingyi urged with a smile.

Cai Jie looked uneasily toward Jiang Yuchuan.

"Take it. Since it’s a dowry gift from Boss Ming, you can’t let her good intentions go to waste," said Jiang Yuchuan.

Meanwhile, Hu Yuwan and Qin Lingzhi, who had just watched Ming Lingyi actually produce the gold and hand the Dongzhu Jewelry to Cai Jie, were both stunned.

"How is that possible?" Qin Lingzhi murmured.

She had wanted to stay and watch this scene unfold before going to the Ministry of Justice precisely because, until Ma Dali and the others returned, she didn’t believe Ming Lingyi actually had the means to withdraw twenty-five taels of gold from Guotai Silver Bank, let alone use it to buy such a set of Dongzhu Jewelry.

Hu Yuwan was just as surprised.

No matter how confident Ming Lingyi had appeared before, in her eyes, it had seemed more like a bluff.

But now, those twenty-five taels of gold had actually appeared right before her, and it was handed over to Manager Wang right under her nose.

’Having managed my household’s finances for many years, how could I not know how difficult it is to produce dozens of taels of gold on a whim? Even when withdrawing from a bank, without prior notice, the bank wouldn’t necessarily agree to release such a large sum.’

But Ming Lingyi had done it.

When Hu Yuwan looked at Ming Lingyi again, her eyes clearly held more apprehension.

As soon as the transaction with the Treasure Pearl Pavilion’s shopkeeper was complete, Jiang Yuchuan turned to Qin Lingzhi. "Miss Qin, let’s go."

Outside the Treasure Pearl Pavilion, an officer from the Ministry of Justice had already been waiting for some time.

Qin Lingzhi subconsciously looked at Hu Yuwan. The latter, catching her gaze, patted the back of her hand reassuringly. "Go on. It’s not a big deal."

Hu Yuwan did not say this quietly; perhaps she had no intention of hiding it from anyone.

The prestige of their General Huaihua was not something to be trifled with. By speaking out like this, she wanted everyone to know that not just anyone could do anything to someone from their General Mansion.

For ordinary people, a trip to the Ministry of Justice was a harrowing ordeal they’d be lucky to survive. But for the family of a General Mansion like theirs, it was merely a formality.

"Mrs. Hu may not have heard my earlier words clearly." Had it been anyone else, Jiang Yuchuan might not have said more. But since she was from the Qin Family, he felt that as the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice, it was necessary to educate the common people about the laws of their Dayan Dynasty.

"In a case of intentional injury like Miss Qin’s, even if no one died today, her actions were extremely malicious and will certainly be punished." Jiang Yuchuan stared at Hu Yuwan as he spoke. "The laws of the Dayan Dynasty show no favoritism. The Ministry of Justice protects every citizen of Shangjing City, every citizen of the Dayan Dynasty—not just a certain class of powerful officials and aristocrats."

Jiang Yuchuan did not lower his voice when he said this.

His words were a warning to Hu Yuwan not to mislead the public and disregard the fair and just judgment of the Ministry of Justice.

However, when his words reached the ears of the common folk present, it drew cheers from many of them.

"Well said, Your Excellency!"

"I was born and raised in Shangjing City, and I believe in the Ministry of Justice! The officials of the Ministry will surely bring justice for what happened today!"

"If someone can commit violence on the street and escape the law’s punishment, then how can we, the common people who have lived in Shangjing City for generations, dare to leave our homes in the future?"

"That’s right! I also believe this official from the Ministry of Justice! We are subjects of the Dayan Dynasty. On the soil of the Dayan Dynasty, why should we be bullied by others? Is there any justice? Is there any law?"

If Jiang Yuchuan’s earlier words were a resounding slap to Hu Yuwan’s left cheek, then the words of the crowd were another slap, landing squarely on her right.

The power she thought she possessed was now shattered by Jiang Yuchuan’s words.

Jiang Yuchuan hadn’t expected his words to Hu Yuwan would attract so much attention from the common people.

He raised his hand slightly, signaling for everyone to be quiet.

"Everyone, please rest assured. Since the current Emperor ascended the throne, a law was passed in the First Year of Jing’an. For heinous crimes, widely known cases, or cases of particular public concern—regardless of whether the case is handled by the Jingzhao Mansion, our Ministry of Justice, or the Ministry of Punishments—the final verdict will be posted publicly for all to see. The entire sequence of events will also be clearly explained," Jiang Yuchuan said. "At that time, I invite you all to hold our Ministry of Justice accountable."

As soon as Jiang Yuchuan finished speaking, Ming Lingyi smiled.

She had to admit, Jiang Yuchuan’s move was a masterstroke that killed three birds with one stone.

’It pacified the restless crowd, put pressure on Hu Yuwan, and burnished the Ministry of Justice’s reputation for impartiality. Truly impressive.’

Hearing Ming Lingyi’s laugh, Cai Jie couldn’t help but tear her gaze away from Hu Yuwan’s exceptionally nasty expression. She turned to Ming Lingyi and asked, puzzled, "Miss Ming, what are you laughing at?"

Ming Lingyi replied, "The matter of Qin Lingzhi’s assault today certainly won’t end well for her."

She didn’t actually know if Jiang Yuchuan was acting with some personal motives.

"With so many citizens of Shangjing City watching, even if someone in the Ministry of Justice wanted to do the General Mansion a favor, they would have to think twice about whether they could withstand the public outcry. With things blown up like this, how could the Qin Family possibly intervene on Qin Lingzhi’s behalf?"