Zhuang Ruoyun quickly recounted what happened that day when a few local gangsters and officials forced vendors to collect money.
Ling Tianyin's expression looked even darker and colder than that of Fang Cai.
The anger in his eyes seemed almost uncontrollable.
Ling Tianyin stood up and walked slowly towards the officer, a sneer with murderous intent on his brows.
"Extortion, asking for money, bullying and scolding at every turn, with such skillful techniques, you officials are all old gangsters from that street, right?"
He walked up to the official and after saying these words, he immediately kicked him in the heart.
The official was kicked backwards by Ling Tianyin and fell over. He lay on the ground whining in pain and kept begging for mercy.
Ling Tianyin sarcastically said: "Every month, the imperial court only maintains a large number of officials who do nothing, and gives away a lot of money. What I want is people who protect the people and abide by their duties, not worms!"
Concubine Lu, who had been silent until now, said in a clear and elegant voice, "Your Majesty, I have a doubt."
"According to what Miss Caizhuang just described, if this official officer plunders five taels every three to five, there are so many stalls on the street. Suppose he only collects from ten vendors, there will still be fifty taels."
"This is not a small sum. You can get so much money in two or three days. What does a small official do with so much money?"
"According to what I saw, you might as well send someone to thoroughly investigate his current address, as well as who he has met and had good relations with in the past few days or so many days."
"At that time, we will naturally know the whereabouts of the money."
Ling Tianyin looked at the Imperial Guards and signaled with his eyes that the Imperial Guards took the order and went out.
When Empress Zhong saw this, she couldn't help but clenched her fingertips in her sleeves.
If the emperor had conducted a thorough investigation, he would have discovered that most of the money collected by the officials was given to her father, Mr. Zhong!
This is not good...
She kept thinking about how to deal with it.
Ling Tianyin found the officer crying and begging for mercy troubled, so he had his mouth blocked and his hands tied.
Silence returned to the room.
Gu Nuoer looked at Queen Zhong and suddenly said: "He didn't say anything just now, but I forgot to ask. I haven't seen the fourth princess sister for several days. Does the Queen know where she went?"
Queen Zhong suddenly came back to her senses, a perfunctory attitude appearing on her face.
"How do I know this? That child Qingge has always been playful. Maybe he went to live with a good lady."
Gu Nuo'er lowered her head and fiddled with the tassels on her dress with her little hands.
"That's it~ I thought you were her mother, so you would at least know where she is."
Queen Zhong's breath was suffocated upon hearing this.
Doesn't this blame her for being incompetent as a mother?
But now Queen Zhong has no intention of arguing with Gu Nuoer.
There were more serious problems before her.
How should she stop Ling Tianyin from finding out that official duties have a close relationship with the Zhong family?
Suddenly, a message from the palace came from the door.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is here."
Ling Tianyin was furious and said coldly: "If anything happens, ask him to wait for me in the imperial study. I don't have time to see him now!"
The palace attendant hesitated a little and then said: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has also brought the Fourth Princess. He said that he has something to report, and your Majesty must meet him."
Everyone present, especially Queen Zhong, was suddenly shocked.
She raised her eyes and looked towards the door. Her originally dignified and stern expression had a crack at this moment, and panic showed in her eyes.