Imperial King of the Spirit Rice immediately seized a handful of spirit rice grains. The fragrant aroma was refreshingly pleasant, almost dispelling some of the toxemia.
"Good, indeed a top-grade spirit rice of the middle grade..."
The Imperial King of the Spirit Rice seemed to recall something at that moment, and he promptly picked up that pale purple spirit rice grain at the top of the basket.
"Indeed, this is an upper-grade spirit rice grain."
Emperor Wu Chang muttered to himself.
It took him a while before he looked at Chu Xingren and asked, "Flag-bearer Spirit, who planted this spirit rice grain?"
Chu Xingren was startled, and he was about to speak up with a random response, but he immediately noticed the cold and harsh gaze of Emperor Wu Chang.
He knew that if he dared to lie, his life might very well be lost right here today. Moreover, any lie he told would be easily exposed.
"Great Emperor, this is a new Spirit Farmer I've brought to help me atone for my mistake. This Spirit Farmer has completed a month-long planting task of spirit rice grains, and they have produced five acres of middle-grade spirit rice grains."
"What's his name? Where is he?" Emperor Wu Chang said coldly.
"This person is named Lu Renjia, he should still be at the Spirit Farmer Department..." Chu Xingren's forehead was sweating.
Emperor Wu Chang ridiculed, "You, Chu Hand Flag, truly formidable. You can turn the sky and earth with a flick of your wrist, and your eyes don't even blink."
If I hadn't gone deaf, you just said that Lu Renjia used some forbidden technique that killed all the spirit rice grains in the fields of the Spirit Farmer Department.
How come? Now it's turned into a newly recruited one, who has also successfully grown spirit rice of middle grade? How did the scapegoat suddenly become a hero?"
Chu Xingren's forehead was sweating profusely. He wanted to throttle Ji Tie.
Why couldn't this bastard have sent the message just a breath earlier?
"Great Emperor, Your Subject Chu Xingren lied out of worry about punishment. Please, Your Majesty punish me." Chu Xingren couldn't even stand and had to kneel down.
"Speak." Emperor Wu Chang was surrounded by killing aura and didn't conceal it at all.
"Yes," Chu Xingren hurriedly said, "Your Subject was desperate due to the withering of all the spirit rice in the Spirit Farmer Department. In a panic, I followed the advice of my subordinates and found a scapegoat to take the blame."
"The person you found is Lu Renjia?" Emperor Wu Chang said coldly.
"Yes, it is Lu Renjia. He came to take the blame. I never expected him to actually grow middle-grade spirit rice grains, Your Majesty, Your Subject has sinned." Chu Xingren knew that he was doomed.
"Bring Lu Renjia here," Emperor Wu Chang commanded.
"Great Emperor, Lu Renjia has left the Spirit Farmer Department. I don't know where he went," Ji Tie hurriedly said.
Emperor Wu Chang's voice grew even colder: "I ordered you to bring people to bring Lu Renjia. Just go and bring him. If you can't bring him, go and guard the mineral veins underground."
Ji Ti and Chen Guan shivered, then quickly retreated.
Several Spirit Court martial artists followed without hesitation, clearly to bring Lu Renjia as well.
Emperor Wu Chang picked up the pale purple spirit rice grain: "All Esteemed Fairy, is it true that an Spirit Farmer who can cultivate such top-grade spirit rice grains only planted one grain?"
"Great Emperor, that is absolutely impossible. For a top-grade spirit rice grain, if one grain appears, it means an entire plant will be of this variety."
That means there must be at least a pound of this spirit rice. To submit just one grain and commit such a sin is an act of disrespect."
Xian Xiang Bu Yue was the first to step forward and speak.
Emperor Wu Chang nodded as well, "I agree. Come forward."
A black-clad man stepped forward.
"Go and check Lu Renjia's fields in the Spirit Farmer Department to see how many top-grade spirit rice grains he has actually grown," Emperor Wu Chang commanded.
"Yes," the black-clad man replied and then vanished instantly.
Emperor Wu Chang looked at the 300 pounds of spirit rice grains in front of him and thought about how much to distribute to the officials.
Not a single grain is to be kept, as this spirit rice is bound by the five elements and exudes a refreshing Daoist essence. Everyone present would definitely covet it.
Just as Emperor Wu Chang was about to speak, Luo Yu stepped forward again, "Great Emperor, Luo Yu has something to say."
Emperor Wu Chang immediately ordered the martial artists to set the spirit rice grains aside and spoke in a gentle tone, "Ping Wei, my brother, speak freely."
Although Wu Chang is the supreme emperor of the Spirit Court, Ping Wei is also one of the four emperors, theoretically on the same level as Emperor Wu Chang.
However, in practice, the four emperors are also under the dispatch of Emperor Wu Chang. Here, it's about dispatching rather than appointing.
Luo Yu inhaled deeply and said, "Great Emperor, I have come today for a case of injustice."
Emperor Wu Chang was also a bit stunned, wondering what injustice could warrant the personal involvement of Emperor Ping Wei.
"A little over a year ago, the husband of Xian Xiang's daughter, Bu Yin, named Xiu Lun, suddenly died. The Standard-Bearer Spirit of the Kui Shui Department, Xiu Xu, reported this incident to the Spirit Court."
As there was no one to handle the case, the Spirit Court handed it over to the master of Qianyuan Immortal Mansion, Lu Chongdao. Just as he took over the case, he was falsely accused and imprisoned in the dungeon...
Hearing Emperor Ping Wei Luo Yu's words, Emperor Wu Chang's gaze fell on Xiao Yue. He had never heard of this matter before.
Xiao Yue quickly stepped forward and said, "At that time, the Great Emperor was in seclusion. The Standard-Bearer Spirit of the Xianfa Department, Ying Fang, wanted to avoid any suspicion and was not suitable to handle this case."
It was just that at the time, my fellow officials all had urgent matters on hand. I had to ask Lu Chongdao of Qianyuan Immortal Mansion, as an independent official, to handle the case in the name of the Great Emperor."
Emperor Wu Chang understood what Xiao Yue meant. It seemed that no one wanted to offend Bu Yue, so no one wanted to handle this case.
This case being assigned to an independent official like Lu Chongdao, does make sense.
Being in seclusion himself, it was understandable for the Minister of Left Echoing to act on his behalf and appoint Lu Chongdao as the lead judge.
Luo Yu coldly said, "However, Lu Chongdao was just assigned to handle this case and had not even had a chance to verify the evidence when he was falsely accused of disobeying orders and embezzlement, which is entirely unfair."
I had no idea about this matter until recently when Lu Chongdao's companion He Lianao Dong came to me. I only then realized that the Spirit Court could be so lawless and ridiculous."
Emperor Wu Chang's gaze turned towards Xiao Yue.
Xiao Yue's heart swore, "How could He Lianao Dong, who had vanished, appear here in front of Emperor Ping Wei?"
Emperor Ping Wei Luo Yu, this thorny character, wouldn't care whether Bu Yue was an official of the Xianxiang Department or not.
At this moment, Xiao Yue could only step forward and say, "There is solid evidence of Lu Chongdao's embezzlement and disobedience; there are records in the crystal ball that prove it. This case does not involve injustice."
Luo Yu shouted loudly, "Great Emperor, all of this is hearsay. During Your Majesty's seclusion, there have been countless such incidents that I, the Xian Court, have not known about. If this continues for a long time, our Xian Court will be in danger."
Emperor Ping Wei Luo Yu's words were all directed at Xian Xiang, and Xiao Yue was filled with rage but dared not retort.
Don't look at him as the Xian Xiang; Emperor Ping Wei Luo Yu is really bold enough to scold him.
Emperor Wu Chang was also cursing Bu Yue in his heart, why did he have to mess with the Xianming Emperor?
If Bu Yue knew about this, he would definitely come out to protest his innocence. He really doesn't want to offend Emperor Ping Wei. This is Emperor Ping Wei's fault, isn't it?
Emperor Wu Chang knew that since Emperor Ping Wei had brought up this matter, he had to give an explanation:
"In that case, let's rehear this case now. I will personally serve as the lead judge and bring all those involved up here."
With the Great Emperor personally overseeing the case, the officials below quickly expedited their work.
In a short amount of time, He Lianao Dong, Lu Bu Shi, Bu Ying Yin, Xiu Xu, and others all arrived.
Lu Chongdao looked somewhat weary, his eyes filled with regret, regretting that he shouldn't have taken on this case.
When he saw He Lianao Dong, his mouth twitched several times, but he didn't say a word.
He didn't expect that the woman who came to speak up for him after he was imprisoned in the dungeon would be her.
"Grandfather..."
Lu Bu Shi called out.
Lu Chongdao was taken aback. He thought that all the people of Qianyuan Immortal Mansion had been killed, but he didn't expect his direct grandson to be alive.
"Bu Shi..." Lu Chongdao couldn't help but let his eyes reddened.
At this moment, he realized that compared to the Tao, kinship is more important.
At the time when he knew that Qianyuan Immortal Mansion had been massacred in prison, he almost wanted to rush out to kill Bu Yue's family.
But that was just a fantasy. He wouldn't have been able to get out, let alone if he did, he wouldn't be a match for Bu Yue.
Xiao Yue wouldn't even need to lift a finger. He could have any servant quickly eliminate Lu Chongdao.
"Thank you for bringing out Xiao Shi," Lu Chongdao said trembling, thanking He Lianao Dong.
He Lianao Dong didn't pay him any attention.
Emperor Wu Chang saw that everyone was present and slowly said, "The cause of this matter is about the son of Commander Xiu, Xiu Lun. Therefore, it should be Commander Xiu who explains the specifics."
Xiu Xu's eyes were reddened, he had once reported the matter to the Great Emperor, but at that time, the complaint was submitted by Xian Xiang Bu Yue, who was in seclusion.
He reported the case of Xiao Yue's daughter, Bu Ying Yin. Xiao Yue submitted the complaint, which implies that the result wouldn't have been positive.
As a matter of fact, there was no one to take up his son's case.
Resultantly, Lu Chongdao foolishly took on the case, and he couldn't help but shed tears in his heart.
Xiao Yue was grateful for Lu Chongdao's intention to help, but since Lu Chongdao had taken on the case, it meant that there would be no outcome.
The facts were exactly as he had guessed; Lu Chongdao had gotten himself into trouble.
Today, the Great Emperor has emerged from seclusion with important matters to declare, and he has decided that he must once again sue for a ruling.
To his surprise, Emperor Ping Wei Luo Yu took the initiative to intervene first. Although it was for Lu Chongdao's sake, it was bound to involve his son's case.
Compared to filing a complaint himself, the success rate of filing a complaint with Emperor Ping Wei Luo Yu is undoubtedly many times higher.
