Cypress Boat Floating

If someone goes beyond his authority and knocks on the drum to report a case, he should first be beaten with forty sticks. If he is still alive after forty sticks, the government should accept the case on his behalf. If the officials do not accept the case, they will be punished.

Since the establishment of the Dengwen Drum, very few people have come to strike it, and Lin Ruoyun is the only one after the emperor ascended the throne. Naturally, she deserves the attention of the court. As early as the moment Lin Ruoyun struck the Dengwen Drum, Lu Ci Qiu sent someone into the palace to inform the emperor.

When the emperor heard this, he quickly put down the memorial in his hand and asked someone to watch over him. After the forty lashes were completed, he summoned the person into the palace.

After being beaten with forty sticks, Lin Ruoyun's back was covered in blood and his face was pale. He couldn't even walk.

In order to allow her to conserve her strength, Lu Ci Qiu had someone carry her into the palace on a stretcher. At the same time, he also entered the palace with the Dali Temple Minister, Dali Temple Junior Minister and others.

Not only people from the Dali Temple came into the palace, but also people from the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate. Lu Zhixing, who was in charge of the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple, also had to go to the palace.

The atmosphere in the palace was solemn at this time, and everyone was waiting for the emperor's summons with serious expressions.

Finally, Lin Ruoyun was carried into the palace on a stretcher.

Although her wounds had been treated simply, they were still shocking.

The emperor sat on the dragon throne, silently watching Lin Ruoyun kneeling below. At this moment, she was holding a petition in her hands, her body trembling slightly.

Lin Ruoyun lowered her head and said firmly, "I, the commoner Lin Ruoyun, beg Your Majesty to make a decision for me! My father, Lin Fanmao, colluded with officials and businessmen in the Ministry of Revenue to compete for the position of imperial merchant selection. He actually sent my sister to Yan Zhen's mansion to be humiliated by him. I have sought help everywhere but to no avail. I can only come here to beg Your Majesty to save my sister!"

The emperor stared at Lin Ruoyun, his eyes flashing with complex light. He slowly said, "Lin Ruoyun, do you have evidence to prove that your sister was indeed sent to Yan Zhen's mansion?"

Lin Ruoyun nodded vigorously, her voice slightly excited: "I saw my sister with my own eyes in the Yan Mansion. At that time, she was unconscious and lying on the bed. I begged Master Yan to let my sister go, but Master Yan claimed that my sister was a gift from my father and refused to return her to me."

Hearing this, the emperor frowned slightly, and a surge of anger surged in his heart. Robbery of women and selling them for fame are really outrageous. Lin Fanmao and Yan Zhen were so bold as to do such a heinous thing.

Officials and businessmen collude! No wonder this weak woman dared to beat the drum so desperately. The emperor raised his eyes slightly and glanced around. Everyone in the hall lowered their heads, not daring to speak, not daring to make a sound, as if they were afraid of being caught in the storm. However, in this silence, only Lu Zhixing and Lu Ciqiu stood upright like two solid rocks. Their figures were upright and firm.

"Second brother, you are in charge of the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple. Don't you handle the grievances of the people on a daily basis?" The emperor's voice was chilling and echoed in the court. His eyes were like torches, staring straight at Lu Zhixing, as if he wanted to see through him.

When Lu Zhixing heard this, his face changed slightly, but he still quickly stood up, bowed and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, if the people have grievances, as long as they come to the Dali Temple, the Dali Temple will definitely make a decision for the people. No matter who the people sue, it will be handled impartially." There was a hint of confidence and determination in his voice.

"So what's going on now?" The emperor asked, pointing at Lin Ruoyun who was kneeling on the ground.

Lu Zhixing knew very little about this matter, but when Lin Ruoyun gave his name, he thought about it and quickly figured it out. This should be Lu Ci Qiu's doing. Although he didn't know what Lu Ci Qiu was going to do, at this critical juncture he couldn't let Lu Ci Qiu take the blame, so he had to step forward himself to smooth things over.

Lu Zhixing was about to speak when he saw Lu Ciqiu standing beside him and saying, "Father, why don't you think about why Miss Lin would rather beat the drum to complain to the emperor than go to the government office?"

The emperor raised his eyebrows, said "Oh", and said: "Why is that?"

"This is the people's distrust of the law, the government, and the court. If they believed that the court was biased towards them and would not collude with officials who had committed crimes, then they would not risk their lives to beat the drum."

As Lu Ci Qiu spoke, he looked at Lin Ruoyun.

"Miss Lin, is what I said wrong?"

Lu Ciqiu made everyone present gasp for air and spoke rudely. Rude, isn't this challenging the emperor's authority? Even Lu Zhixing was frightened by his words.

When Lin Ruoyun was called out, she trembled slightly when she heard this. Although it was the young master who asked her to come to beat the drum to appeal, only she knew how much of it was her own decision. What the man said was right. She was indeed afraid. If Lin Fanmao could collude with Yan Zhen, why couldn't he collude with other officials? If she not only failed to save her sister but also got herself involved, the situation would be even worse.

And she came to beat the drum in order to be the first in the court in order to alarm the emperor. Only the emperor was absolutely fair and would not be bribed by Lin Fanmao.

Seeing that Lin Ruoyun did not respond, Lu Ci Qiu was not anxious. Instead, he smiled slightly and continued, "Miss Lin, don't worry. Now that you have come to this palace, you don't have to be afraid. As long as you tell the truth here, the emperor will naturally protect you."

Lin Ruoyun gritted her teeth, hesitated for a moment, and finally mustered up the courage to say, "Your Excellency is right. The reason why I didn't go to the government office to file a complaint is because I know that those officials are protecting each other, and I won't get a fair judgment even if I go. That's why I chose to beat the drum to complain to the emperor, hoping to get a fair judgment from your majesty."

The emperor listened and his face turned very ugly. He didn't expect such a thing to happen, and he couldn't help feeling angry.

"You will be in charge of this matter. The Dali Temple, the Ministry of Justice, and the Supervisory History will assist you." The emperor looked at Lu Ci Qiu, and a rare look of relief appeared on his face: "Investigate the Lin family's affairs, Yan Zhen's affairs, and the selection of imperial merchants. I want to know whether there are really many people who dare not report the case, and how much collusion between officials and businessmen and improper bribery exist."

The emperor stared at Lin Ruoyun on the ground with a sharp gaze. Her face was as pale as paper, as if she would faint at any moment. A trace of pity flashed in the emperor's eyes, but more of it was firmness and determination. He waved his hand and said, "Immediately send the imperial physician to treat Lin Ruoyun and ensure her safety. I hope she can live and witness the moment when the truth is revealed."

Lin Ruoyun's consciousness was already blurred, and she could only feel endless pain and despair. But when she heard that the emperor promised to help her, a surge of joy surged in her heart. She finally saw a glimmer of hope and believed that her efforts were not in vain. Tears slid from the corners of her eyes, mixed with sweat, and dripped onto the cold ground.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Lin Ruoyun used all her strength to utter these three words with difficulty. Her voice was weak and hoarse, but full of gratitude and hope. At this moment, she felt that all her efforts were worth it. As long as she could save her sister, everything would be worth it.