“Deputy Secretary Luo Longwen, receive the decree.” The voice of the eunuch proclaiming the decree reached Luo Longwen’s ears in the respectful field.
Upon hearing this, Luo Longwen could not help but show a face full of wild joy. Great, great, the immense wealth and honour has finally come to me.
Just now, Zhu Ping’an received the decree and was rewarded with a golden crane robe, plus an increase in salary by one level. Then Hu Zongxian received the decree. Oh, Hu Zongxian was even more impressive, directly promoted seven levels to become the governor of Suzhou and Songjiang. Now, it is finally my turn.
“Your servant, Luo Longwen, receives the decree.” Luo Longwen’s mouth corners could not be suppressed no matter how he tried, he excitedly stepped forward and knelt to receive the decree.
His face was full of triumphant spring breeze, happy as if he had won something extraordinary.
“The Deputy Secretary of the Secretariat led the inspection of the Ministry of Works, was negligent in his duties, inaccurate in verification, wronged the innocent, punished with eighty strokes of the staff, fined one year’s salary, ordered to continue the inspection while wearing his guilt, must not fail in duties, if offended again, severe punishment without mercy!”
The eunuch proclaiming the decree read it with ups and downs, like thunderbolts one after another that stunned Luo Longwen. The spring breeze on Luo Longwen’s face had not yet dissipated when shock and horror gripped his throat, and the whole person almost collapsed to the ground on his buttocks.
What is going on?!
Was it not supposed to promote me and increase my salary?! Why does my ear hear that it is to cane me eighty times and fine me one year’s salary?! Negligent in duties, inaccurate verification, wronged the innocent?! Is this talking about me?!
It must be an illusion!
It must be a dream! Yes, I must be dreaming! Thinking of this, Luo Longwen gave himself a slap!
Damn, it hurts!
It’s bad!
This is not a dream!
Luo Longwen panicked instantly, looked up and saw the eunuch proclaiming the decree with a face of astonishment, and a crowd of officials equally surprised.
Damn, this is the first time encountering someone who receives the decree and first slaps himself?! This person must have a serious problem, right?!
It could be said that Luo Longwen also had some quick wits, in this critical moment, Luo Longwen began to perform, “Your servant Luo Longwen receives the decree, your servant is ashamed of the trust of the Emperor and the court, your servant has no face to see the Emperor… what use does your servant have for this face.”
With that, Luo Longwen forcefully gave himself two more slaps, then respectfully knelt on the ground, raised his hands to receive the decree.
“Alright, Lord Luo, knowing your mistake and correcting it is the greatest good, hope Lord Luo takes this as a warning, wears his guilt to achieve merit.”
The eunuch proclaiming the decree recovered from his astonishment, said the usual two sentences to Luo Longwen as per routine, then waved his hand to issue the “reward”.
Two guards from the factory came over, amiable but unquestionable, said to Luo Longwen, “Lord Luo, offence taken, please come with us.”
Can I say no?!
Luo Longwen’s legs were a bit soft, at this time his eyes saw Zhu Ping’an who was leisurely appreciating from the side.
He opened his mouth to himself, silently mouthing.
Instantly, Luo Longwen seemed to be able to read lips, understood Zhu Ping’an’s silent words, told you earlier, let you find a good staff injury doctor, how is it, did not listen to my words, suffer the consequences right now.
Damn Zhu Ping’an!
I finally understand, what you said about finding a staff injury doctor refers exactly to today, damn, I thought you were threatening to send soldiers to beat me up… hehe, indeed, the dignified top scholar, how could he be so crude and lacking in elegance, hehe, turns out it landed here, damn Zhu Ping’an!
Just showing off that you are the smartest, right!
Damn!
Luo Longwen hatefully and unwillingly glared at Zhu Ping’an, he had no way to complete the task assigned by Donglou!
Zhu Ping’an had long known that he impeached him, long known that he would be caned because of this impeachment!
Hehe, no wonder, he impeached him, he knew but was not panicked, not hasty, did not settle accounts with him, turns out he had long known his impeachment memorial had problems, long known he would be punished for impeaching him!
Damn Zhu Ping’an!
Luo Longwen unwilling and fearful was taken downstairs by the two factory guards, in a mosquito-like voice pleading, “I have one thousand taels of silver to offer, please two generals show mercy, I and Donglou, oh, Donglou is Yan Shifan, son of Grand Secretary Yan Song, I do not speak empty words, I have silver, also have influence, will surely repay the two generals’ mercy well.”
“If it is too little, as long as the two generals name a number, I certainly will not disappoint the two generals.”
Luo Longwen kept pleading in a low voice, but heard no response from the two factory guards holding him, after being taken to the position, only heard “offence taken”, he was pressed on a long bench, official robe lifted, wooden staff swung, wind whistled out, then “bang” a sound, bone-piercing severe pain came.
“Ah!”
Luo Longwen could not help but let out a miserable scream.
“Bang bang bang…” one heavy staff strike after another came, “ah ah ah” one miserable scream after another followed like shadows.
Eighty strokes, not one more, not one less, Luo Longwen’s screams became smaller and smaller, his rear a mess of blood and flesh…
After Luo Longwen’s punishment, the eunuch proclaiming the decree continued to proclaim, after Luo Longwen, several more people received imperial decrees.
The governor of Yingtian was dismissed from office.
Generals like Lu Dang, Tang Kuan, Yu Dayou, Li Fengshi, Zou Jifang, who were promoted and reused by Zhang Jing, were all implicated in Zhang Jing’s case, reprimanded and fined one year’s salary, ordered to wear their guilt and achieve merit.
They could be considered lucky, did they not see Li Tianchong and Zhang Jing together arrested and sent to the capital for judgement? They were just reprimanded and fined one year’s salary, already beyond their expectations, a big stone fell in their hearts.
At this point, the proclamation ended, the eunuch proclaiming the decree closed the proceedings.
Zhao Wenhu looked at the eunuch proclaiming the decree, saw he had no intention to proclaim more, then looked at the little eunuch behind the eunuch proclaiming the decree, the tray he held was already empty, no more imperial decrees.
No, is this it?! This is the end?!
Zhao Wenhu was stunned, there is still one imperial decree not proclaimed, the appointment of the governor, you have not proclaimed it yet!
“Cough cough, Your Excellency, are all the imperial decrees proclaimed?”
Zhao Wenhu saw the eunuch proclaiming the decree closing the proceedings, really could not hold back, stepped forward one step, cupped hands and asked in a reminding manner.
You finished proclaiming the imperial decrees, and just closed the proceedings.
“Replying to Lord Zhao, proclaimed all, this humble one has proclaimed all the imperial decrees brought.” The eunuch proclaiming the decree cupped hands and replied.
Ah?!
You proclaimed all the imperial decrees brought?!
No imperial decree appointing the governor?!
After hearing this, Zhao Wenhu could not help but frown, disappointment overflowing on his face, how is there no imperial decree appointing the governor, Zhao Wenhu had done so much preparation work this time to receive the imperial decree, all for this imperial decree appointing the governor, waiting to receive the position of governor. But unexpectedly, this time there was actually no such imperial decree.
The next second, Zhao Wenhu comforted himself in his heart again, this time no imperial decree appointing the governor, perhaps because the governor appointment is too important, not announced with them, should still be behind, the finale, wait a bit more, wait a bit more, probably in a few days, this imperial decree should arrive.
