Chapter 1296: Two Choices

Ming Shaoqing, also known as King Ming, is renowned across half of Great Chu. In the Capital, everyone knows and fears him; he handles matters decisively and ruthlessly, with no regard for personal feelings. Regardless of why he came today, provoking him is bound to lead to trouble!

Housekeeper Meng helped Imperial Censor Meng up from the ground and said, "My Lord, there must be some misunderstanding. You should quickly go see Junior Minister Ming to clarify things. Once the misunderstanding is resolved, even Junior Minister Ming wouldn’t dare to arrest you by force, as you are a court official!"

"Yes, yes, I am indeed a court official. Even if Junior Minister Ming wants to help that scoundrel Dou Ke, he cannot arrest me for no reason!" Imperial Censor Meng stood up, turned to see Manager Dou, and shouted angrily, "Someone, seize this vile merchant for me, and bind him before Junior Minister Ming to confess his crimes!"

Manager Dou was bewildered and hastily retreated, saying, "Father-in-law, what do you mean by this? I’ve been good to the Meng Family for many years. If you hate Dou Ke, the unfilial son, I’ll punish him severely, but you can’t capture me!"

What kind of person is King Ming? He is a noble son, a powerful minister of Great Chu, and a confidant of the Emperor. With just one word, he could get someone killed. There was no way Manager Dou was going to meet him.

Mrs. Dou Meng still had feelings for Manager Dou. Seeing the situation, she hurried over to plead, "Father, you can’t do this. Even if the Old Master is in the wrong, I don’t want to be a widow!"

Imperial Censor Meng scolded Mrs. Dou Meng, "You still defend him at this point? His son nearly destroyed the entire Meng Family and nearly got you killed!"

Manager Dou was furious. Who is destroying whom? It is clearly your daughter’s foolish actions that provoked Dou Ke’s rage. Now that you can’t cover it up, you blame me... indeed, hundreds of thousands of taels of Silver fed a bunch of ungrateful wolves!

The Meng Family looked favorably upon Manager Dou solely because of the Dou Family’s wealth. Manager Dou maintained a good relationship with the Meng Family through the money. Over the years, he had given the Meng Family at least three hundred thousand taels of Silver, allowing them to maintain their wealth. He even contributed to the funds for raising assassins for the Meng Family.

Imperial Censor Meng stated, "Silence, don’t say another word. Someone, bind this Dou for me!"

"Yes." The Protector outside immediately rushed in, tying up Manager Dou and leading him to the front courtyard.

Imperial Censor Meng was also reluctant to part with the Dou Family’s wealth and told Manager Dou on the way, "Junior Minister Ming is formidable. If we don’t bind you and clarify matters properly, we’ll all be doomed... You take the blame first. It’s called sacrificing the pawn to save the king. Don’t resent me."

Manager Dou cursed Imperial Censor Meng in his heart, but outwardly he appeared aggrieved and said, "I understand, Father-in-law. Just don’t truly abandon me... The second and third sons are still young, and Dou Ke has grown defiant. Without me to restrain him, he’d act even more recklessly."

Manager Dou specifically mentioned Dou Ke, making Imperial Censor Meng hesitate to abandon him and directly control the second and third sons to seize the Dou Family’s wealth.

Imperial Censor Meng said, "Although you and your wife made mistakes, I also don’t want Sister Chang to become widowed."

He quickly explained to both how to handle the situation and what to say when they met Junior Minister Ming.

But Imperial Censor Meng’s advice was wasted. Junior Minister Ming, who instilled fear in all the officials, nobles, families, and even the Imperial Family, would not listen to their nonsense.

...

The guest hall in the front courtyard was already filled with Ming Shaoqing’s men.

Ming Shaoqing, donned in a luxurious brocade robe, sat in the chief position, drinking the high-grade tea he brought himself, disdainful of the Meng Family’s tea.

"Junior Minister Ming, what a grand visit. I apologize for not welcoming you from afar. I hope Junior Minister Ming will not take offense," Imperial Censor Meng had barely stepped into the guest hall before he cupped his hands and said, "What brings Junior Minister Ming here today? The Meng Family is a family of Imperial Censors and has always abided by the Great Chu Criminal Law. We have done nothing to contravene it, have we?"

This was a reminder to Junior Minister Ming that, despite his past executions and confiscations, he couldn’t arrest people without cause. There needed to be a crime and evidence.

Ming Shaoqing’s lips curved into a sneer, casting a cold smile at Imperial Censor Meng: "I just finished dealing with the Tong family’s private mine case in Linhe Prefecture and was returning to the Capital. As I passed by the Jingzhao Mansion, I encountered Dou Ke accusing Mrs. Dou Meng and the Meng Family. So I decided to join in the fun. He captured an assassin alive and brought him, which is conclusive evidence."

He continued, "Imperial Censor Meng, according to the Great Chu Criminal Law, a stepmother shall not harm the original wife’s son, or the penalty is severe, even beheading. Mrs. Dou Meng used your Meng Family’s assassins, meaning your Meng Family was conspiring to harm Dou Ke, making the Meng Family and Mrs. Dou Meng equally guilty."

"Misunderstanding, it’s a misunderstanding, Junior Minister Ming!" Imperial Censor Meng was anxious, quickly saying, "The Meng Family and my daughter never harmed Dou Ke. Those Meng Family assassins were impostors. If you don’t believe me, you can ask my son-in-law or investigate thoroughly..."

With a bang, Junior Minister Ming forcefully set down his teacup, his eyes brimming with killing intent as he looked at Imperial Censor Meng, saying, "Imperial Censor Meng, do you really want me to investigate? I’m afraid once I investigate, the Meng Family will face annihilation."

Imperial Censor Meng’s face turned pale, but he still persisted, "Junior Minister Ming, this is merely a minor conflict between my daughter and that boy Dou Ke. How could it lead to the Meng Family’s annihilation?"

Junior Minister Ming sneered, "Repeatedly hiring assassins, the Meng Family keeps many trained assassins, don’t they? Since the founding of Great Chu, there is a clear limit on the number of assassins and Shadow Guards one can have. The Meng Family, being only a family of Imperial Censors, must have already exceeded the legal limit."

"Other officials might turn a blind eye to this because of their own connections, but I won’t. I have always conducted public affairs impartially."

Imperial Censor Meng’s face turned ashen as he fell to his knees with a thud, pleading, "Junior Minister Ming, have mercy and spare the Meng Family!"

Due to the influence of the former dynasty’s raising of private soldiers, despite the Great Chu Criminal Law’s regulation on not raising too many assassins or Shadow Guards, all major noble families, meritorious families, high-ranking officials, and the Imperial Family fought to raise as many as they could afford, despite the limitations.

Because everyone was in the same situation, the matter was rarely mentioned. However, if King Ming really seized upon this mistake and refused to let it go, the Meng Family would indeed have to pay the price!

Junior Minister Ming glanced at Imperial Censor Meng, then at Mrs. Dou Meng with a look of disgust, and finally turned his gaze to Manager Dou, saying, "You have a good son but fail to appreciate him. Such foolishness. It’s best not to remain as the head of the Dou Family, lest you bring ruin upon yourself."

Manager Dou was horrified. What did King Ming mean by this? Could it be that he favored Dou Ke and intended to kill him to make way for Dou Ke?

No, he didn’t want to die yet!

Junior Minister Ming, too impatient to argue further, gave them two choices directly: "Either both the Meng and Dou families are exterminated, or immediately send Mrs. Dou Meng to Jingzhao Mansion to confess her sins."

What!

Imperial Censor Meng, Manager Dou, and Mrs. Dou Meng were all shocked.

Mrs. Dou Meng knelt and cried, "Lord Ming, have mercy. I have not harmed Dou Ke, always treating him like my own son. This matter is a misunderstanding, truly a misunderstanding."