Golden Branch

"Xian'er, are you really going to Jiangnan?"

Wang Mian was a little worried, "It's not just floods over there, there's also epidemics—"

Li Mingtang smiled. She had known Wang Mian and Wang Heng for several years and they had already become close friends.

They have similar ideas and work closely together.

Li Mingtang is a Taoist priest, but she is not a monk in the true sense.

She is otherworldly yet attached to the mundane world.

She loves to enjoy herself and is greedy for matters between men and women.

Therefore, she will not really live a life of luxury, but needs the support of money and status.

Li Mingtang has shares in some of Wang Mian’s businesses.

Li Mingtang also tried his best to help Wang Heng and Lou Yu with their official duties.

Li Mingtang was a nun, but she was rich and had high status.

She is a powerful nun among the nobles and a monk among the powerful.

It seems complicated, but it has an inexplicable purity.

For example, after a natural disaster, the enjoyable Li Mingtang was able to take a large group of people including medicine boys, followers, admirers, etc. and go to the disaster area without hesitation.

It was like this in the southwest before, and after returning to Beijing, she was also like this when there was an earthquake in Yin County and an epidemic in Yang County.

This time, there was another serious flood in Jiangnan, and Li Mingtang was about to set off again!

"I went to Jiangnan because I was worried about a large-scale epidemic!"

Li Mingtang is not very beautiful, but his charming face is full of confidence and indifference.

She said softly, "Over the years, I have experienced several epidemics and have accumulated a lot of experience in treating different epidemics."

"Not to mention that curing illnesses and saving lives is my duty, even if it's just to improve my medical skills and conquer the epidemic, I should go!"

Li Mingtang made his stance clear. Seeing that Wang Heng and Wang Mian still looked worried, he added, "Don't worry. Even if I go to the disaster area, I will protect myself well!"

Others called her "goddess" and "miracle doctor", as if she was sitting on the shrine, showing compassion to the world and saving all living beings.

However, only Li Mingtang herself knew that she was a "vulgar" person.

It's really quite shocking.

Although she was a nun, she never followed the rules and regulations.

She loves money, delicious food, fine clothes, and she is also greedy for matters between men and women.

Some of her words and actions may make her look like a slut in the eyes of the world.

Even those who were in awe of her medical skills, or even had their lives saved by her, would not dare to say it to her face, but would secretly tell her with disdain or even contempt that she was a lewd and lowly woman.

Li Mingtang never cared.

A person's life is just a few decades.

When she became a nun to practice Buddhism, what she practiced was not superficial precepts, but a heart.

She saves the world and the people.

She has a clear conscience, she is worthy of the world and even more so of herself!

That's enough!

As for what others think or how future generations evaluate her, it has nothing to do with her.

"……treasure!"

Wang Heng did not try to persuade him too much, as she knew that Li Mingtang was a man with a strong and determined heart.

She won't change her decision easily.

Moreover, going to the disaster area thousands of miles away is not a bad thing for Li Mingtang.

The possible outbreak of an epidemic in Jiangnan is indeed terrifying, but the storm that is about to arise in the capital is also enough to take lives.

Especially Li Mingtang...she is the only one who can control Queen Li's illness.

But Queen Li’s illness is really incurable.

There are some things Wang Heng cannot tell others.

After all, it is too sensitive and involves too many issues.

She is the noble Princess Langya, but she dare not speak carelessly on certain matters.

She couldn't do it even if it was just a subtle reminder!

The capital city is a place of trouble, so it’s better for Li Xianer to stay away from it to avoid being blamed for no reason!

Wang Mian couldn't persuade him, and Wang Heng didn't dissuade him. Li Mingtang quickly planned his itinerary and selected an auspicious day for departure.

What Wang Heng and Wang Mian, the two best friends, have to do is to help Li Mingtang prepare supplies and arrange manpower as much as possible!

Cartloads of food and medicinal materials, and nearly a hundred soldiers drawn from the Lou and Xiao families. Li Mingtang sat in a spacious two-horse carriage, with handsome men, some masculine and some feminine, beside him. The group marched straight to the south of the Yangtze River.

No new natural disasters occurred in July.

It was as if the curse of the seventh year of Yuanzhen was broken.

However, before the powerful people in the capital could breathe a sigh of relief, a strange phenomenon appeared in the sky.

On a midsummer night, several meteorites fell more than ten miles away from the capital.

The meteorites fell in the open wasteland and did not cause any casualties.

However, it caused speculation and panic.

The court, and even the entire capital, were in unrest: the stars fell and disaster was imminent.

I just don’t know whether this meteorite will bring natural disasters or man-made disasters.

An invisible haze shrouded the sky above the capital.

There were even some rumors circulating among the common people:

The saint killed his brother and imprisoned his father, plotted treason and usurped the throne, which aroused the displeasure of heaven, and that is why disasters frequently befell him!

Others said that God knew the injustice suffered by the emperor, so he sent down the stars to warn the world.

If the saint does not repent, there will be even greater disasters!

These outrageous remarks began to intensify as an epidemic broke out in a certain province in the south of the Yangtze River.

In the court, someone actually submitted a memorial, subtly reminding the emperor that the emperor was still alive and that as a son, the emperor should be filial and respectful to him.

As a war god general with great military achievements and a broad mind, the saint would naturally not take these rumors seriously.

He was not at all like some people expected, either guilty and frightened, or angry and embarrassed.

He did not even refute it in the court, nor did he tyrannically block the "channel of speech".

It was as if those rumors were just low-level jokes.

And those who spread rumors behind the scenes are just clowns jumping around!

At least, on the surface, the saint behaves like a noble emperor who does not bother with villains.

Secretly... the Hundred Cavalry Division is still there, and the famous cruel official and lone minister in the capital has been promoted to the second-in-command of the Hundred Cavalry Division.

Even if the saint doesn't say anything, as a good dog who wants to work hard for the saint, Zhou Jiming will actively and proactively attack!

Yes, Zhou Jiming moved.

He controlled the Dali Temple in one hand and the Baiqi Division in the other.

Officials and secret agents, one in the open and one in the dark, began to go deep into the 108 districts of the capital, trying to catch all the snakes, insects, rats and ants hiding in the dark!

The capital city seemed stable, but in fact, it was in turmoil again.

Zhou Jiming not only arrested people in the marketplace, he also did not let certain powerful officials go.

He was also brave. He completely ignored the power of the prime minister and pulled Wei Lingfu off his horse with the courage of a newborn calf that is not afraid of a tiger!

"Zhou Jiming really has some tricks up his sleeve. He has no family, no relatives, and with just his business over the past few years, he's managed to uncover the Wei family's secrets."

Lou Yu sat cross-legged in the main room, drinking tea and chatting with Wang Heng face to face.

He played with a teacup, his eyes fixed on a corner, and said softly, "He actually discovered the conspiracy between the Wei family and the Fourth Prince, and their connection with the Turks!"

"In fact, the Wei family was in crisis long after the Turkic Khan and the princes were escorted to Beijing!"

After all, they did collude with the Turks.

Wei Lingfu exchanged letters with the Turkic Khan several times.

Wei Lingfu could destroy the letters written by the Turkic Khan, but he could not guarantee that the letters he wrote to the Turkic Khan would not be "self-destructed" by the Turkic Khan.

Wei Lingfu took advantage of various opportunities to "remind" the Turkic Khan.

He guessed that this person was not a fool.

The Turks have been destroyed, and the Khan has become the mascot of the Dayu Dynasty. If he wants to live peacefully in the capital, he must learn to shut up!

Wei Lingfu was the chief minister, second only to the emperor and the head of all officials!

The Saint and the Crown Prince cannot be offended, and Wei Lingfu is not someone who can be easily offended either.

The Turkic Khan knew very well that even if he exposed Wei Lingfu, his situation in the capital would not improve much.

On the contrary, if he had protected Wei Lingfu, relying on Wei Lingfu's power and the strength of the Wei family, he and his concubines and children might have lived a better life!

Facts show that the Turkic Khan was indeed smart.

He was escorted to Beijing for more than half a year, but his previous connection with Wei Lingfu was not exposed.

As for Wei Lingfu, although he did not show it on the surface, he more or less protected the Khan and his family in secret!

The conspiracy was quietly covered up.

Wei Lingfu thought that the matter was over, and the Wei family was still as ostentatious and high-profile as before.

For example, Wei Shilian, after divorcing Princess Jincheng, not only did he not restrain himself, but he took his concubine into the house.

And his concubine's son was also written into the family tree by him personally.

You should know that according to the Dayu Law and the current Dayu Law Commentary, concubines' sons were not recognized by etiquette and law.

Just like the rule that a concubine cannot be married, a son born out of wedlock is also not allowed to recognize his ancestral roots, let alone inherit the family business.

As the former son-in-law of the emperor, Wei Shilian had just divorced the eldest princess and brought his concubine and her daughter back home.

This is not only a slap in the face of the eldest princess, but also a provocation to etiquette!

But no one in the Wei family tried to dissuade him.

From this we can see that the Wei family is indeed so rampant that they have forgotten their identity and have no scruples!

At that time, Wang Heng sneered at Lou Yu and said, "Brother, the Wei family is finished!"

Being so presumptuous, do you really think you are the number one foreign relative of Dayu?

Moreover, even the top-level relatives are just relatives by marriage.

If you are not a royal family, where does the courage come from to be so presumptuous?

Lou Yu replied: "If God wants someone to die, he will make him crazy!"

No one can save you from your own mistakes.

Just then, while the echoes of the couple's casual conversation were still ringing in my ears, something happened to the Wei family.

Zhou Jiming was very brave. Not only did he dare to bring down the dignified Wei Pushe, he also produced detailed and conclusive evidence.

He colluded with the Turks, secretly connected with vassal kings, took bribes and perverted the law, causing chaos in the court.

Letters, account books, and many witnesses... Zhou Jiming used irrefutable evidence to firmly prove Wei Lingfu's guilt.

Except for Wei Lingfu, Wei Shilian and other Wei family members did not escape.

From treason to killing slaves, dozens of Wei family men were thrown into jail on various charges.

boom!

The huge Wei family collapsed overnight.

Those implicated included not only the Wei family members but also the daughters who married out.

According to the laws and customs of Dayu, the disaster will not affect married women.

However, if the married woman herself is part of the evidence of the crime, it is not appropriate to follow this rule.

For example, Wei Prajna.

She was the prince's consort, a daughter married out of the Wei family, and a new bride to the royal family. She should not have been implicated by the Wei family.

However, Zhou Jiming got the correspondence between the Fourth Prince and the Turkic Khaganaten.

Kehe Dun was born a princess of the previous dynasty and instigated the Turks to attack Dayu several times.

After the Turks were destroyed, she resolutely committed suicide and burned many letters, books, etc.

She seemed to want to take everything away and leave no hidden dangers.

Unfortunately, the Fourth Prince was not as decisive as her and destroyed the evidence in time.

The letter was found by a spy planted by the Hundred Cavalry Division next to the Fourth Prince and presented to Zhou Jiming.

Zhou Jiming was unambiguous——

He was the saint's henchman, not a slave of the Yang royal family.

As the son of a saint, the Fourth Prince is indeed of noble status.

But, he was always just a prince, not a saint.

I am not afraid of being called rude, but for Yu Zhou Jimin, even if it is the crown prince, if he makes a mistake that endangers the saint, he will never let him go!

What’s more, he is just a bastard son born to a concubine?

In the court, in the capital, who doesn’t know that the emperor and empress have a deep relationship?

Everyone knows that the throne will only be passed on to the legitimate son born to the queen!

The Crown Prince is the eldest and the most virtuous of the two, and his position as the Crown Prince is as solid as a rock.

The Fourth Prince, huh, is neither the legitimate son nor the eldest, and there are vague rumors that he has the blood of the royal family of the previous dynasty... Even if the Queen's sons are all dead, the court would rather choose a prince with a lowly mother than let the Fourth Prince take the throne!

The Fourth Prince and the Wei family could not see through this fact and even had delusions!

Zhou Jiming sneered inwardly, and without any hesitation, he presented the evidence of the Fourth Prince's connection with the Turks to the emperor!

Within a few days, the Fourth Prince's mansion was surrounded by heavy troops.

The angel who came to deliver the decree listed the four princes' various illegal acts and read out the saint's verdict:

The fourth prince was demoted to a commoner and exiled to Fangzhou along with his family members including Wei Prajna.

The Wei family's conspiracy lasted nearly a month from beginning to end.

In August, the floods in the south of the Yangtze River subsided, but the epidemic continued to spread.

Li Mingtang continued to stay in Jiangnan. She led a large group of people and went deep into the epidemic area regardless of danger to save the dying and the wounded, bringing happiness to thousands of families.

The capital city seemed to have returned to its former tranquility.

The fall of the Wei family was not a big deal for the court.

The aristocratic families and nobles would not be affected by the saying "lips and teeth are cold". They even helped secretly, and at the critical moment, they rushed up to bite and share the food.

With the fall of the Wei family, all the other families benefited to varying degrees.

Wei's in-laws and others were implicated.

On the other hand, Jincheng, as the eldest princess, was not implicated and secretly annexed many of the Wei family's industries and forces.

Jincheng: He's just a man, and since he's rotten, just divorce him decisively.

She would never put herself and her daughter in danger for Wei Shilian.

Wei Wuyou is already married, and Lu Jue’s surname is not even Wei.

However, whether Jincheng was willing or not, Lu Jue was still affected to a certain extent.

This influence was even more reflected in his marriage.

However, these are all later stories, as far as the current capital is concerned.

Another layer of haze shrouded the sky above Taiji Palace—

Queen Li fell ill and fell into a coma.

The sage and the crown prince were anxious, shocked and angry, and summoned the imperial hospital and famous doctors in the capital to see Empress Li.

He even sent a shadow guard to rush 800 miles to Jiangnan to ask Divine Doctor Li to return to Beijing...