Chapter 114.1
A short while later, Li Linfu hurried over after being summoned.
Your Majesty, long live the emperor!
Minister, dispense with the formalities!
Lin Beifan said with a stern face, The matter of the imperial examination is of great importance! Now, a student has lodged a complaint to us, accusing you of nepotism and leaking examination questions. Is there any truth to this?
Li Linfu looked up at Lin Beifan and said very calmly, Absolutely not, Your Majesty. I ask for your discerning judgment!
Your Majesty, his words are complete nonsense and cannot be trusted! the scholar lying on the ground wailed.
Li Linfu flicked his sleeve, very displeased, and said, You say Im spouting nonsense? I could say youre spewing lies and slandering the loyal and good!
The scholar exclaimed, Do you dare say you havent done it? Do you dare say you havent taken any bribes?
There is none, absolutely none! Ever since I entered the court to serve as an official, I have strictly demanded myself to be loyal to His Majesty and to seek welfare for the people. How could I possibly commit such a despicable act?
You treacherous villain, your words sound better than a girl singing!
Lin Beifan waved his hand: Enough, stop arguing. I will judge this matter fairly myself!
As Lin Beifans voice fell, both parties closed their mouths.
Lin Beifan then continued: The matter of the imperial examination is tied to the very foundations of our society and government! Whoever it is, if they engage in nepotism and commit fraud, I will ensure they clang their way into prison, paying the price for their greed!
With these words, all the candidates present burst into cheers.
But, the slanderous words of others will not sway me, nor will I allow my loyal and good subjects to be framed! Since Minister Li joined the court, he has been utterly loyal, tirelessly serving me. Therefore, I truly cannot believe that he would commit such an act!
Your Majesty is wise! Li Linfu exclaimed loudly.
Therefore, Ziping, do you have any evidence to prove that your claims are not false?
Ziping was the name of the scholar.
Your Majesty, I have evidence, a great deal of evidence! the scholar said excitedly.
What evidence do you have? Present it at once! Lin Beifan demanded.
The evidence I speak of is all within Li Linfus household!
The scholar exclaimed excitedly, Before the imperial examination, our esteemed sir Li Linfu had already been frequently interacting with people from all walks of life, accepting bribes! I estimate that he might have amassed several million taels!
The entire street erupted into an uproar.
He actually accepted bribes amounting to several million taels?
Such greed, he is a massive corrupt official!
We implore His Majesty to punish him severely; such behavior cannot be tolerated!
If His Majesty does not believe it, a search of Li Mansion can be conducted, which will quickly prove that my accusations are not unfounded!
Lin Beifan turned his head to look at Li Linfu and loudly demanded, Minister, do you have anything to say?
Your Majesty, your humble servant has nothing to say!
Li Linfu bowed and said, For one who stands upright need not fear a crooked shadow, your humble servant has been innocent from the beginning to the end. If you do not believe, you are completely welcome to send someone to search my residence!
Lin Beifan declared loudly, Very well! Then we shall go to Lis residence for a thorough search! Right and wrong will be clear after a public judgment!
Thus, Lin Beifan made his way to Lis residence with many people following behind.
Especially the examinees, as the imperial examination had just ended, they were idly waiting for the results to be posted and were quite bored, so they came to join in the excitement.
The scions of the noble families naturally followed as well.
They exchanged a glance, secretly pleased with themselves.
Li Linfu, youre done for!
Dare to covet our money?
Lets make you pay with your life!
After about the time it takes half an incense stick to burn, everyone arrives at the Li residence.
Your Majesty, this is your humble servants residence!
Lin Beifan waved his hand dismissively, Search for me, leave no inch of land unchecked!
As soon as Lin Beifans words fell, the Imperial Guards by his side swiftly surged into the Li residence to conduct a thorough search.
Report to Your Majesty, nothing in the west wing!
Report to Your Majesty, nothing in the east wing!
Report to Your Majesty, nothing in the master bedroom!
As one Imperial Guard after another returned without success, the scholar was dumbfounded, Why is there nothing?
Li Linfu spread his hands and sneered, Because I, the official, have not engaged in favoritism or corruption, nor have I embezzled or bent the law. How could anything be found?
Just then, someone brought out a chest.
Upon opening it, to everyones surprise, it was filled with gold, silver, and jewels.
Your Majesty, this was found in the study, with a total value reaching 200,000 taels of silver! exclaimed the scholar with a hearty laugh, puffing up with pride.
Li Linfu, oh Li Linfu, you still dare to claim you havent engaged in favoritism or corruption? Do you still dare to say you havent embezzled or twisted the law? As far as I know, youve been an official for less than a year, and all your salaries combined dont even amount to 10,000 taels of silver! Now, explain to me, where did these 200,000 taels come from?
Li Linfu simply gave the other party a cold look, offering no answer.
The scholar grew even more arrogant, Speak up, why dont you speak! Explain, where did this money come from? If you cant explain, it just shows youre guilty!
At that moment, Lin Beifan said expressionlessly, Enough, no more words. This money is a reward from me to Minister Li!
The scholar was taken aback, This money is a reward from Your Majesty?
Lin Beifan nodded, Thats right!
The scholar pressed on, Your Majesty, why do you reward him with so much money?
Lin Beifan smiled and said, Because all this time, Minister Li has been working tirelessly for my affairs, running around, spending who knows how much money! Thus, I couldnt bear it in my heart and rewarded him with 200,000 taels! On one hand, this is a reward for the Minister; on the other hand, I hope it can alleviate his financial troubles!
Your Majestys grace is profound, your humble servant is deeply grateful, Li Linfu said, wiping away a tear.
The scholar was even more dumbfounded.
But what I didnt expect
Lin Beifan said surprisingly, was that after I ordered people to search the house inside and out, all they found was this one box of gold, silver, and jewels! None of the other valuable items could be found!
Li Linfu was secretly pleased with himself.
In fact, his residence had originally contained many valuable items obtained through corruption, but he had already packed them up and sent them to the emperor before.
In doing so, he completely cleared his own name.
Minister, you are too hard on yourself!
Lin Beifan reprimanded.
Li Linfu replied with righteous indignation, Your Majesty, your humble servant is not a man who covets luxury! As long as I can serve Your Majesty with loyalty, attending day and night, your humble servant would be content even with spoiled water and swine feed!
Lin Beifan was deeply moved, Excellent! I need such pillars of the state like you! Someone, fetch another 50,000 taels of silver from my private treasury and reward it to Minister Li!
Li Linfu exclaimed loudly, Thank you for your great grace, Your Majesty!
Everyone was dumbfounded!
Goodness, they turned his mansion upside down and not only failed to prove his guilt but also led to him receiving a hefty reward from the emperor!
What kind of divine twist was this?
Things were not supposed to unfold like this!
Watching Li Linfus smug expression, the scions of the noble families were so angry their faces were distorted!
At this moment, Lin Beifan turned his head to look at the stupefied scholar, Ziping, now that the facts have proven that Minister Li is innocent, do you have anything else to say? Or do you have any evidence to prove that my Minister is guilty?
The scholar Ziping cried out in agitation, Your Majesty, if it cant be found here, it must have been hidden elsewhere by that treacherous villain!
Lin Beifan asked expressionlessly, Then tell us, where has he hidden it?
This I I dont know!
The scholar hurriedly said: However, if Your Majesty interrogates him severely and employs torture, the truth will surely come to light!
Absurd!
Lin Beifan was visibly displeased, Minister Li is currently innocent and not proven otherwise, yet you want me to interrogate him severely and even resort to torture. Isnt that forcing a confession? All these years of reading the sages books, where has it all gone?
Your Majesty, please calm your anger, I was confused for a moment
Considering its your first offense, I will not hold it against you. Lets return to the previous question, do you have any evidence to prove that Minister Li is guilty? If you cannot produce evidence, then you are slandering a court official, and you must consider the consequences!
Toward the end, Lin Beifans tone became harsh.
This I Im at a loss for words, he stammered.
His gaze stealthily shifted towards the young members of the noble families outside the door, hoping they would come to his aid.
***
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