In the imperial garden, there were only a handful of peacock dragons.
That was why the "peacock - embroidered robe" woven with gold - threaded peacock feathers was so precious.
But now, the emperor saw with his own eyes that in the mansion of this fifth - rank weaving official, there were so many peacock dragons. What else could this be but an act of overstepping one's bounds?
Moreover, peacock dragons were extremely precious and not ordinary things. Where did he get the generous salary to buy these peacocks?
The Cao family's weaving official was a favored minister of the late emperor. At the height of the Cao Mansion's prosperity, it was on par with imperial envoys. Their food, clothing, and daily necessities were all extremely ostentatious.
Everyone knew the Cao Mansion's prominence. People understood tacitly where all this boundless wealth and the constant flow of silver came from.
The Cao family had been very cautious and tried their best to avoid showing any signs of overstepping in front of the emperor.
But now, these peacocks all over the courtyard had clearly torn apart all the Cao family's long - standing disguises!
The emperor didn't get angry but instead smiled. His voice was calm, even with a hint of playfulness.
"Minister Cao, you've really prepared quite a surprise for me."
The back of Minister Cao's robe was instantly soaked with cold sweat.
"Your Majesty, I know I've overstepped. I'm willing to accept death, but please listen to me!"
Not caring about his dignity, Minister Cao knelt down without hesitation on the long boulevard in full view of everyone.
"Your Majesty, I collected these peacocks to weave the peacock - embroidered robe for the Empress Dowager. I had no choice but to pluck their feathers to make the gold - threaded peacock feathers."
"As for keeping the peacocks in my mansion, it was not for my own amusement. It was because these peacocks had temporarily lost their feathers and were unsightly. I was afraid of offending Your Majesty's eyes, so I planned to keep them in my mansion quietly until their feathers grew back and then present them to Your Majesty!"
Minister Cao and his wife were in floods of tears. They knocked their heads on the bluestone slabs of the street, making thumping sounds.
"Your Majesty, I acted on my own and deserve to die. But please, for the sake of my filial piety in trying to make the Empress Dowager smile, show mercy!"
The accompanying officials never expected that the Cao Mansion, which had been a prominent noble family in the capital just a moment ago, had now offended the emperor's wrath.
For a moment, they all felt a sense of sorrow for the impending doom, as if the lips were gone and the teeth would be cold.
Just as the emperor was considering how to deal with Minister Cao, there was a sudden commotion not far away. A disheveled girl stumbled over.
"Guards, protect the emperor!"
Lord Pei, the emperor's uncle - in - law, was afraid that the girl was an assassin with malicious intent. He quickly ordered the imperial guards to stop her.
Whether the girl was very agile or was determined to go all out, she managed to break free from the guards' grip and staggered in front of the emperor. She banged her head hard on the ground.
"Your Majesty, I have a grievance. Please seek justice for me!"
The girl was in tears. She held a blood - written petition high in her hand. She knelt upright and kept kowtowing. Even when the imperial guards placed their long swords on her shoulders, she didn't waver.
"Your Majesty, Minister Cao has been reckless with human lives. He beat my sister to death. He has great influence and I had nowhere to turn. I've been waiting at the gate of the Cao Mansion. Fortunately, I've finally waited for Your Majesty today! Please investigate and give me justice!"
Li Ying raised her eyebrows.
Where did this girl crying out for justice come from?
She quietly glanced at Lu Xunguang. There was also a look of confusion on his face. Obviously, this was not his arrangement.
Li Ying held her breath and waited to see what would happen.
The emperor slowly took two steps forward and examined the girl who was kneeling on the ground and constantly kowtowing. A eunuch had already taken the blood - written petition from her hand and presented it to the emperor.
"Minister Cao bullied the weaving girls wantonly to rush to make the Empress Dowager's birthday gift within five days. Those who disobeyed were beaten to death on the spot?"
The emperor frowned and read the words on the petition in a low voice.
"Your Majesty, please investigate! My sister was one of the embroidery girls captured by Minister Cao to spin the gold - threaded peacock feathers. She just said that the gold - threaded peacock feathers were too complicated and might not be completed on time, and then Minister Cao ordered someone to beat her to death!"
"If I tell even a single lie, may I be struck by lightning and never be reborn!"
The girl crying out for justice was covered in blood from kowtowing. She vowed with certainty. Her eyes were fixed on Minister Cao, filled with hatred as if she wanted to spit fire. Her face was ferocious, really looking like a vengeful ghost.
Minister Cao was kneeling on the ground, shaking like a sieve.
It was too much of a coincidence!
Everything was so well - connected. It must be Lu Xunguang who had set up a trap to frame him!
But he was at a loss for words to defend himself!
Lord Pei observed coldly and suddenly said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, this girl risked her life to see you and cry out for justice. As a commoner, she was able to mention the 'gold - threaded peacock feathers'. There must be something fishy about this. In my opinion, we should take this girl back and interrogate her carefully."
His words made sense. The emperor immediately ordered Su Buchi to take the girl back to the Supreme Court for strict interrogation to find out all the details.
As for Minister Cao, he was also to be taken to the Supreme Court for questioning.
The magnificent red - lacquered gate of the Cao Mansion was about to be locked by the guards. No one was allowed to enter or leave at will. This sudden change made the onlookers sigh.
Was the emperor finally going to take action against the Cao family?
Inside the Cao Mansion, the young ladies and maids were crying and in a complete mess.
Madam Cao had never experienced such a situation. Seeing her husband being taken away by the imperial guards, she was naturally upset and at a loss.
Her hands and feet were cold. She trembled uncontrollably like a sieve for a while. But she still remembered her status as the mistress of the family. With great effort, she managed to calm down and shouted sternly, "What are you all crying for!"
"Master is an upright official with clean hands. Today's disaster must be the result of someone's deliberate frame - up. Once the emperor finds out the truth, he will surely give our Cao family justice! Why are you all so eager to cry like mourners here!"
She forced herself to put on an imposing manner and strictly ordered the servants in the mansion that if they wanted to live, they should not talk nonsense.
The servants didn't dare to say anything. They all looked dull, numbly wiped away their tears, and nodded in agreement.
As the red - lacquered gate of the Cao Mansion was about to close slowly, Li Ying watched Madam Cao's feigned bravado from afar through the crack of the door. She sneered inwardly.
Justice?
The Cao family had relied on the late emperor's favor and had been domineering in the capital for a long time. How could their family be innocent?
Such self - deceiving words as "upright official" and "clean hands" were really laughable!
Although she didn't know who had planned this "crying out for justice before the emperor" drama, since Su Buchi was in charge of the trial, she believed that there would be no mistakes.
It was time for the Cao family to honestly confess their dirty secrets and return a clean world to the people!