The Great Bandit of Journey to the West

Chapter 70 The Case of Chen Shimei

Terrified, Li Jing felt as if he had been walking on thin ice his entire life.

First, Yang Su said he had the talent of a prime minister, which aroused the suspicion of his colleagues and made his career difficult. Then Jiang Feng said that his achievements overshadowed the emperor and wanted to kill him.

What merit or ability did Li Jing possess that none of these important figures wanted him to live?!

Filled with sorrow, Li Jing looked at Jiang Feng almost pleadingly and said, "Master Jiang Feng, please spare me. This humble servant truly had no intention of rebelling..."

Jiang Feng was puzzled and said, "Who said you were planning a rebellion? It's just not the right time yet!"

Li Jing: "@#￥%￥#@……"

Stop explaining! If you keep explaining, I'll really have to execute your entire family!

In a moment of quick thinking, Li Jing hurriedly said, "My uncle, Han Qinhu, is a truly unparalleled military genius. I believe he is more suitable to be the commander-in-chief than I am!"

Jiang Feng angrily said, "This concerns the lives of all people, yet you still shirk your responsibilities like this. How is there any difference between you and Erlang Shen, who shaves his head and buries his uncle every January?"

Stop talking! I will immediately have the Prince of Jin submit a memorial appointing you as the Great General Protector of the Salvation Ceremony, giving you full authority to resist the evil spirits!

If you are unwilling to share His Majesty's burdens, then go before His Majesty and explain your reasons yourself!

Li Jing: "..."

Who is Erlang Shen? Does it have anything to do with me whether he shaves his head or not?

Yang Jian, who was secretly observing, was also feeling frustrated: "..."

Be careful, or I'll sue you for defamation! I haven't shaved my head in all these years!

Is it true that getting your head shaved in the first month of the lunar calendar can really bring misfortune to your maternal uncle?

Under Jiang Feng's insistence, Li Jing and the more than twenty guards he brought with them all left and never returned, instead staying in Nanshi to train the Demon-Suppressing Army and the Longevity Army.

Jiang Feng bathed and changed his clothes, put on the cassock bestowed by the emperor, dressed in black clothes with a red robe over them, and with his hair disheveled, he arrived in front of Empress Dugu's Jiaofang Palace.

In the open space in front of the main hall, Jiang Feng saw a group of ministers waiting outside the hall, among them was Liu Shu, the consort of Princess Lanling, whom he suspected was the main character of today's banquet.

Liu Shu comes from a noble family in Hedong and is deeply favored by Emperor Yang of Sui. He was married to Princess Lanling when he was young and is now the governor of Yongzhou, in charge of the government affairs in the capital region. He is a staunch supporter of the Crown Prince's faction.

Jiang Feng scrutinized him carefully for a few moments. He saw that this man was handsome and refined, even more so than the portraits he had seen before. His looks were no less striking than his own, and he already knew he was courting death...

Ugh, how did I suddenly get possessed by Snow White's stepmother? It must be Mara causing trouble in the dark!!

Jiang Feng's expression turned serious. He carefully examined Liu Shu again and saw that the man's face was dark. He knew that Liu Shu was definitely in big trouble today. He must be the Chen Shimei of the Sui Dynasty!

Jiang Feng stepped forward with a sigh, saying, "Your Highness, look at what you've done! Someone has even complained to His Majesty."

Upon seeing that the visitor was Jiang Feng, Liu Shu couldn't help but sneer: "Is today a trap you've set for me? I, Liu Shu, am upright and honest. No matter what your schemes are, I'll accept them!"

Seeing his upright and gentlemanly demeanor, Jiang Feng clicked his tongue and said, "He's putting on quite a convincing act."

As they were talking, a palace servant came out and led them into the Jiaofang Palace. After taking their seats, Jiang Feng happened to sit next to Liu Shu.

Liu Shu frowned slightly and looked at Jiang Feng with some doubt.

Jiang Feng rolled his eyes and said, "What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen such a handsome monk before?"

Liu Shu: "..."

He had never seen such a handsome monk before, much less a monk who could become a prince consort!

What's the meaning of you sitting among us princes?

Could it be that he intends to kill a prince consort and take his place? Has the Prince of Jin become so reckless?

Just as the two were looking at each other in silence, the music in the hall suddenly stopped, and all the guests in the room stood up, bowed their heads and held their breath.

With a soft rustling of the beaded curtain, Empress Dugu emerged from behind it, accompanied by a young girl wearing a pink veil.

The Empress wore a golden phoenix crown with pearls, and a white jade hairpin was slanted into her hair. She stepped across the green jade steps, her cloud-patterned shoes lightly touching the ground. She was silent but exuded majesty. Behind her, palace maids followed in turn, holding gilded palace fans and carrying vermilion lacquer boxes. Their postures were dignified and their steps were synchronized.

The Empress, with her gentle features yet calm gaze and a faint smile on her lips, walked to the main seat in the hall, took her seat, and raised her hand lightly, saying, "Gentlemen, you may rise."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Feng and the others slowly took their seats.

She glanced at everyone in the hall, her gaze lingering on Jiang Feng for a moment, her eyes filled with a hint of resentment, but mostly with helplessness.

Jiang Feng killed Dugu Tuo, and the child she had raised, the one who called her "elder sister" with a snotty nose.

But she also knew that Dugu Tuo truly deserved to die. He treated human life like dirt and amassed wealth without restraint; such a person should die no matter what.

Previously, Dugu Tuo had escaped punishment only because of her protection.

Now that Dugu Tuo is dead, it's hard for her to express her feelings about Jiang Feng.

Was Jiang Feng right?

That should be right, but he killed the younger brother he had raised!

Empress Dugu's eyes sharpened, and she said, "A few days ago, I went to the Guanyin Temple to offer incense and met a pitiful woman who had come to the capital to find her husband. Today, I will take her in as my goddaughter, and I ask you all to be my witnesses."

"Tomorrow, quickly step forward and greet the officials of the court! Tell them the name of that heartless and unfaithful man!"

Empress Dugu had just been murdered by Crown Prince Yang Yong a few days ago, and she was utterly disillusioned with the kinship within the royal family.

Yesterday, she went out of the palace to relax and offer incense at the Guanyin Temple, where she encountered Zhao Ming'er, the woman she had dreamed of being her mother. Overjoyed, she immediately wanted to adopt Zhao Ming'er as her goddaughter.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Ming'er claimed to be Jiang Feng's fiancée, which made her realize that her chance for revenge had come.

Jiang Feng, aren't you a virtuous monk who shows no mercy under the law?

Then I'll let you get married and have children, and see how you'll still be a high monk then!

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ming'er immediately lifted her veil and rushed towards Jiang Feng with a joyful expression, arriving in front of him like a swallow returning to its nest.

"My husband, I miss you so much!"

Jiang Feng reached out a hand and held her head down, preventing her from waving her arms and hugging herself.

He looked around warily, then said to Zhao Ming'er, "Ming'er, don't move yet. Let me check if there are any guillotines lying in ambush in the main hall."

I'm afraid a judge like Bao Zheng will suddenly appear and behead me!

As Jiang Feng spoke, he glared angrily at everyone in the hall.

The situation is exactly as he had guessed; this is a genuine case of the execution of Chen Shimei.

However, the one to behead in this case of "Zha Mei" was not the imperial son-in-law Liu Shu, but Jiang Feng!

What the hell did I do to deserve this? You can't just accuse me of something like that!

As for Zhao Ming'er... well, Ming'er really doesn't seem to have any flaws!

If she is adopted by Empress Dugu, it wouldn't be so bad for me to be her husband.

No, Ming'er won't trick me. There's obviously something wrong with this!