A wave of outrage swept through the crowd below the palace walls. The commoners, disregarding the guards' obstruction, attempted to storm into the imperial palace.
Naturally, the imperial guards stationed to protect the palace would not allow them to succeed so easily.
However, Lu Qingwan and Wen Rusong had warned the soldiers below beforehand not to act without their command.
Thus, the imperial guards could only block them with all their might, but were forbidden from attacking.
Perhaps this forbearance, in consideration of the bigger picture, led the opposing side to believe the court was truly afraid of them, further emboldening them.
On the palace walls, the ministers were paralyzed with fear. The Prefect of the Capital, seeing such chaos erupt within his jurisdiction, wiped beads of cold sweat from his brow. "Wangfei, if this is not stopped soon, I fear a great disaster is imminent!"
He couldn't comprehend how Lu Qingwan, despite being the target of so much condemnation, remained so composed, watching the spectacle unfold.
Clearly an insider, Lu Qingwan remained silent, like an observer, watching with cold detachment.
The Prefect of the Capital was at a loss.
Minister Nan, standing nearby, also expressed his helplessness. "Wangfei and Elder Wen, if you have a brilliant plan, please reveal a portion of it to us. If this continues, the imperial guards outside the palace may be unharmed, but we ministers will surely die of anxiety!"
The other ministers nodded in agreement. Such chaos was a severe test of their fragile hearts. Regardless of whether Lu Qingwan's plan was beneficial or detrimental to them, knowing it sooner would bring them peace of mind.
Lu Qingwan did not prolong the suspense. She asked with measured cadence, "According to all your excellencies, what is the ultimate objective of Lin Tianmu's instigation of this disturbance?"
The officials of the Three Judicial Offices were most adept at discerning people's motives and were fearless. As soon as Lu Qingwan finished speaking, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, blunt and forthright, stated, "Lin's Commerce forcefully contracted numerous construction projects in the New Capital, yet everywhere they cut corners and used substandard materials..."
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was merely a civil official, possessing no internal strength whatsoever.
Yet, when he spoke, his voice echoed like a valley's response, resounding both inside and outside the palace walls. The commoners outside the palace and the civil and military officials on the battlements looked at him in astonishment.
Especially the ministers, who were utterly surprised, as if they were meeting him for the first time.
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review himself was startled.
Lu Qingwan calmly remarked, "Minister Gu, why do you stop? Please continue. Today, so many citizens have gathered here, and civil and military officials are present. All your excellencies may speak freely. Right from wrong, everyone can see clearly."
As she spoke, she silently picked up a bow and arrow from a nearby soldier. "However, it is good for those who speak to be heard and those who listen to listen. If anyone seeks to sow chaos amidst this disturbance, then do not blame this consort for being impolite."
The moment her words fell, the arrow in her hand flew out. Amidst the horrified cries of the crowd, the arrow directly pierced the arm of an inconspicuous man within the throng.
Lu Qingwan raised her voice, "Drag this person forward, strip him bare, and hang him up for everyone to see what sort of monstrous entity it is that incites you to riot!"
Just like the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Lu Qingwan's voice was amplified to be clearly audible in every corner of the palace and its surroundings.
The crowd immediately became agitated.
Lu Qingwan returned the bow and arrow to the guard and said calmly, "Minister Gu, please proceed."
Gu Cien was so startled by Lu Qingwan's audacious actions that he momentarily lost his words. He stammered slightly before regaining his voice.
"Some days ago, a fire broke out in the Ministry of Revenue's warehouse. The grain seeds stored within, meant to be distributed to the people next year in exchange for draft animals and a variety of silks, gold, silver, jade, and precious medicinal materials from the northern regions, were all turned to ash. The Ministry of Rites' storage racks were infested with insects within half a year... If the materials and craftsmanship had been up to standard, a firebreak would have been established around the Ministry of Revenue's warehouse. With anti-insect equipment added to the Ministry of Rites' storage racks, even if the national treasury encountered problems, the goods stored within would not have been affected, nor would the Ministry of Rites' storage racks have been infested with insects. If Lin's Commerce dares to treat even the six ministries this way, it is not difficult to imagine the situation in other places they have undertaken construction. Perhaps out of guilt for their wrongdoing, they sought to force the court to abandon its investigation into Lin's Commerce through such means?"
Lu Qingwan smiled faintly. This Minister of the Court of Judicial Review possessed a certain talent for subtle manipulation. His words, while ostensibly presenting his view on the day's events to Lu Qingwan, had also inadvertently informed the commoners below that the grain seeds, draft animals, and silks that were supposed to be distributed to them for free had vanished due to Lin Dongye's shoddy work.
Indeed, people only become truly clear-headed when their own interests are at stake.
Soon, the verbal barbs of the crowd shifted direction, aimed squarely at Lin Tianmu. "Young Master Lin, is what the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review says true? Did your Lin's Commerce truly cut corners during the construction of the national treasury?"
...
"Nonsense! Lin's Commerce has been in Jincheng for so many years. Don't you know the reputation of Lin's Commerce? That official is a servant of the court, of course he speaks for his master! Have you forgotten? It has been Lin's Commerce that has supported you all these years. But now that they have arrived, you must pay taxes, be governed by them, and live alongside the barbarians of Northern Wei, Yunqiang, and Xiliang! Think about how many of you have suffered at the hands of these barbarians..."
Lin Tianmu, though appearing foolish and brainless, could spout a torrent of words when angered. Soon, the fickle commoners were swayed by him once again.
Lu Qingwan watched Lin Tianmu eloquently incite the people to turn against the court. She turned and gave Li Su a significant look. The latter quickly retreated.
Before Lin Tianmu's brainwashing efforts were concluded, a heart-wrenching cry interrupted his ceaseless speech.
"The black-hearted prince, disregarding the lives of the common people, abducted my son to please the Great Qin! He has brought ruin to our family! Heavens, open your eyes and see what this pair of scoundrels have done!"
The crowd turned their heads. They saw an elderly couple, appearing to be nearly eighty years old, carrying a blood-stained banner. The banner bore the words "Black-hearted court, give us justice!" in large characters. They wailed and cried as they walked. Blood stained their bodies, and pedestrians gave them a wide berth.
Behind the elderly couple followed many people, all appearing to be middle-aged or older men and women. Carrying baskets, they hurled rotten eggs and spoiled vegetables forward, shouting slogans like "Black-hearted court, give us justice, return my son!" and other nonsensical cries, their voices even drowning out those brought by Lin Tianmu.
This group arrived with fierce momentum, even confusing Lin Tianmu. He asked suspiciously, "Didn't you say you would act on my command? Why are you acting on your own initiative? And you dare not tell me, are you trying to get me killed?"
Unexpectedly, the person beside him was even more bewildered. "Don't you dare slander us! Our leader is still in the hands of that wretched woman Lu Qingwan! You say I want to harm your father, I say you want to harm our leader!"
...
The two sides were too busy accusing each other to bother investigating where these suddenly appearing individuals had come from.