Rebirth of the eldest daughter

Chapter 1309: Your Highness, please be sure to save half a day.
the other side.

Fan Zhizhou completed the tasks Liu Yao assigned to Fan Zhizhou ahead of schedule.

All seven officials on the list were taken to Licheng for trial.

However, Liu Yao did not start the trial directly, but ordered people to strip off the clothes of the seven officials, leaving only a ragged piece of clothing to cover their shame.

They were thrown into cells.

Liu Yao ordered several buckets of mud to be poured into the originally dark and damp cell.

The seven detained officials had no dry place to stay.

Even they themselves were poured down by bucket after bucket of cold water.

In the bone-chilling cold cell, they shivered and fainted several times.

But Liu Yao ordered someone to hang him up with a mouthful of ginseng soup.

You can't live well, you can't die well.

They lived in such a life that was worse than death for three full days, during which time they did not eat even a grain of rice.

Of course, in order to prevent them from dying in prison for no reason, Liu Yao gave Fan Zhizhou an order——

"If anything happens to one of them, I will put the blame on you."

Fan Zhizhou just smiled and didn't say much.

However, the officials in Licheng complained quite a bit, thinking that Liu Yao did not act in accordance with the regulations.

Liu Yao said nothing about this.

He holds the power to kill first and report later. It is not impossible to kill and then convict when necessary.

It's just that he is currently unwilling to make things so extreme, because this can only be used when necessary.

During these three peaceful days, Fan Zhizhou asked Liu Yao several times for instructions to start the trial.

However, Liu Yao always excused himself by saying he was busy.

Early that morning, as soon as Liu Yao got up, he received a message from the secret guard: "Your Highness, Prince Yu has been found!"

Liu Yao stood up with excitement.

But then, he slowly sat down again, and his expression of surprise also returned to calmness: "Found it? How is he?"

The secret guard reported in a low voice: "The general found the prince last night, but the prince was involved..."

The secret guard methodically reported back the whole story of what happened in Jin Mansion.

Finally, he said: "Master Bai led his troops secretly just to avoid alerting the enemy. Fortunately, the result was good. Prince Yu was rescued and the Jin Mansion's conspiracy was revealed."

"The general blocked the news in time, but he is not sure whether the revelation of Jin Mansion has been leaked. It is found that Lord Bai is escorting important people of Jin Mansion to Licheng for trial."

"And the general stayed in the town to protect Prince Yu and dig out the forces behind the Jin Mansion."

"The general has said that Lord Bai has something very important to do this time in Licheng. Your Highness, please hold off Fan Zhizhou and others for the time being to buy half a day for Lord Bai."

Liu Yao listened silently and slowly closed his eyes: "I understand, please go down."

After the secret guard retreated, Liu Yao let out a long sigh of relief.

Yu Jianling is his cousin and his childhood friend.

The friendship between the two has long surpassed the relationship between monarch and minister.

Knowing that his friend was still alive, he finally felt relieved.

But then, he slapped his palm on the bed again.

In those eyes, endless anger rolled.

It took a moment for the anger to subside. He did not rush to find Fan Zhizhou, but had breakfast slowly.

As soon as Cheng Bibi put away the bowls and chopsticks, Fan Zhizhou came as usual: "I pay my respects to Your Highness."

Before Fan Zhizhou could speak, Liu Yao preemptively said, "I have my own opinion on the matter of those seven officials, so Fan Zhizhou doesn't need to worry."

Fan Zhizhou glanced at Liu Yao cautiously, and then said:
"Your Highness, several officials have never encountered such a situation, and some officials are already old. If this continues, I am afraid they will be unable to bear it."

Liu Yao looked him up and down without leaving any trace: "Fan Zhizhou, you are somewhat benevolent. If these people's charges of corruption and disregard of human life are proven, will Fan Zhizhou still feel sorry for their situation?"

Fan Zhizhou quickly explained, and his attitude was not insincere: "Your Highness, I forgive you. I am not worried about their situation."

"I am doing this for His Highness's consideration. If it goes on for a long time, I am afraid that Your Highness will be criticized and accused of being tortured to extract a confession."

Hearing this, Liu Yao leaned towards Fan Zhizhou with a look that was half a smile but not a smile: "Fan Zhizhou has been honest and forthright in admonishing you. Aren't you afraid that the king will be annoyed and then take your head?"

Liu Yao raised his voice deliberately for the last sentence.

Fan Zhizhou kowtowed quickly: "I know that Your Highness is not that kind of person, so I dare to say a few more words. Everything I said is carefully thought out. If Your Highness wants to blame me, I am willing to accept the punishment."

Liu Yao chuckled lightly, and then smashed the tea cup in his hand in front of Fan Zhizhou.

His face was stern: "I hate people who are ignorant of themselves and people who are self-righteous. Fan Zhizhou, don't overstep your bounds."

After saying that, Liu Yao stood up and left Fan Zhizhou kneeling on the spot.

Fan Zhizhou's face was hidden in the shadows, and his emotions and anger could not be seen clearly.

But soon, he stood up and trotted behind Liu Yao.

Liu Yao still was not in a hurry to interrogate the seven officials.

In the backyard of the government office, he looked at the surrounding environment with interest.

Suddenly, he pointed at Fan Zhizhou: "Come here, I have something for you to do."

Fan Zhizhou bowed in front of him and received his order: "Please give me your instructions, Your Highness."

Liu Yao said: "This land is good. I will dig out some earthworms for you. I will also peel off the bark of the trees. I will also dig out the grass roots of this grassland."

Fan Zhizhou's eyes flashed, as if he guessed what Liu Yao was going to do.

He said nothing and did as he was told.

Quickly, he took matters into his own hands and prepared what Liu Yao wanted.

Looking at the earthworms in the pottery plate and the prepared bark and grass roots, Liu Yao slowly spoke:
"Fan Zhizhou, do you know why everyone praises you as an official who asks for orders for the people, but this king looks down on you?"

Fan Zhizhou held up his hands and said, "I don't know, please make it clear, Your Highness."

Liu Yao raised his lips: "The eighteen counties in Jiangbei are all under your jurisdiction. As the governor of a state, you only care about this three-acre area of ​​Licheng."

"Corruption is rampant today, and disaster relief in some counties is a mess. How much responsibility do you have to bear! Every official under you has a problem, and you are to blame!"

When Fan Zhizhou heard this, he lowered his head and said, "I know I was wrong."

Liu Yao did not mention anything about Fan Zhizhou's corruption by name.

Because he knew that he could accuse Fan Zhizhou of dereliction of duty, but he could not accuse Fan Zhizhou of being complicit unless he got evidence.

Liu Yao didn't say much to him, but just told his confidants: "Boil the bark and grass roots, and sprinkle a few grains of rice into them. After cooking, give them to a few adults together with these earthworms to satisfy their hunger."

The confidants immediately took orders to do it.

When Liu Yao saw that Fan Zhizhou did not show any surprise, he withdrew his expected gaze, picked up the official document, and began to process it silently.

This is no different than usual.

Then, Liu Yao suddenly threw a document in front of Fan Zhizhou: "Look, what is this?!"

(End of this chapter)