Chapter 334: Earnestly request Lord Chen Yan to decide for Master Huineng!

The sun had shifted to the west, and the cold wind rolled with broken snow foam, hitting people's faces like needles.

A thin layer of ice had accumulated on the bluestone steps in front of the Mingjing Si.

Countless commoners stood under the steps with their necks shrunk, the white breath they exhaled mixed into the wind, quickly dissipating without a trace.

The bearded man stood at the very front, followed by the peddler, the old man selling tofu pudding, the vegetable-selling woman, the thin, withered old man...

Everyone's face carried a bit of nervous expectation.

"Stop!"

Two cold shouts rang out abruptly, and the Embroidered Attire Envoys guarding the two sides of the door stepped forward, the silver threads on their dark-colored martial garments flashing with cold light under the setting sun.

The envoy on the left raised his hand to press the sword at his waist, his knuckles distinct. His gaze swept over the crowd with undisguised scrutiny, and he said in a deep voice: "What are you doing coming to the Mingjing Si?"

His voice was not high, but it carried an invisible pressure.

The old man selling tofu pudding shrank back subconsciously.

The bearded man took a deep breath, took half a step forward, chose his words, and said in a rough voice: "This envoy, we commoners of Chang'an are here to seek an audience with Lord Chen Yan!"

"Earnestly requesting Lord Chen Yan to decide for the people!"

As soon as the words fell, the thin, withered old man behind him hurriedly followed with his cane, looking at the two Embroidered Attire Envoys with cloudy eyes, and said urgently: "Grand Minister of Justice Zhao Qian knowingly broke the law and brutally killed Master Huineng of Tan Hua Temple!"

"He also has ulterior motives, wanting to usurp the throne and take the Great Zhou's mountains and rivers as his own!"

The Embroidered Attire Envoy on the right heard the two names "Master Huineng" and "Old Zhao Lord," his pupils shrank imperceptibly, and his previously cold and hard expression froze instantly.

He exchanged a look with his companion on the left, both flashing a hint of gravity in their eyes, both realizing the seriousness of the problem.

Especially that "usurping the throne"...

The envoy on the left slowly released his hand pressing the sword, his fingertips tapping lightly on the hilt, and said in a deep voice: "Everyone, please wait here for a moment!"

"Allow this humble one to go and report to the Chief!"

After saying that, he turned and walked away quickly, his dark cloak drawing a neat arc in the cold wind.

The wind stirred up when he pushed the door and entered, sweeping away some fine snow foam under the steps.

The commoners stood cautiously, their frozen red hands tucked into their sleeves, even their breathing becoming lighter.

Suddenly, a clear chant came: "The Chief is here—"

Before the words fell, the vermilion door was pushed open gently, and Chen Yan walked in with his hands behind his back.

It was just that the clothes on his body had been changed into that Chief's official robe.

Seeing this, the commoners were startled at first, and then exploded like firecrackers being ignited.

The bearded man rushed forward half a step fiercely, but was stopped by the Embroidered Attire Envoy with quick eyes and hands. He didn't care, his eyes red as he roared: "It's Lord Chen Yan!"

"Lord Chen Yan has come out!" The old man selling tofu pudding shouted along.

"That traitor Zhao Qian will not be able to escape the law!" The vegetable-selling woman covered her face, her voice mixed with grief and indignation.

The cheers of the crowd rose one after another.

Chen Yan swept his gaze calmly over everyone's excited faces. After the noise subsided slightly, he spoke slowly.

His voice was not high, but it carried a strange penetrating power, falling clearly into everyone's ears: "You have come to seek an audience with this Chief, what grievances do you have to air?"

The bearded man was the first to step forward, his voice rough but every word clanging: "Answering Lord Chen Yan, this commoner wants to accuse the Duke of Chu, Grand Minister of Justice Zhao Qian, of killing the innocent, brutally harming Master Huineng of Tan Hua Temple, and committing the act of silencing!"

The thin, withered old man followed up, trembling with anger: "Also want to report that this thief has ulterior motives, wants to usurp power and seize the throne, and has evil intentions toward His Majesty!"

After Chen Yan finished listening, he swept his gaze over those excited or grieving faces without expression, and asked in a deep voice: "Do you know who you are accusing?"

"Are you clear about his identity?"

"This commoner knows!" The commoners under the steps replied in unison, their voices trembling with anger, "It is Zhao Qian, who is a Pillar of State in name but a giant traitor in reality!"

This description is not bad... Chen Yan heard this, and in his heart, he was quite appreciative of this title, but he still maintained a serious expression and asked: "Since you want to accuse the Duke of Chu, do you have evidence or witnesses?"

"Lord Chen Yan, we are all witnesses!"

Before the words fell, the bearded man fiercely tore open his cotton-padded jacket, revealing the scars on his chest, which were kicked out by Zhao Qian's private soldiers.

The commoners shouted, their voices hoarse but resounding: "We were all at the scene and witnessed the whole process of the traitor Zhao Qian brutally killing Master Huineng!"

"As the Grand Minister of Justice and a dignified Pillar of State, why would he want to kill Master Huineng, a person outside the secular world?" Chen Yan raised his head, one hand behind his back, and said loudly.

This was asking knowing the answer, and even more, it was helping the commoners sort out the logic and concentrate their anger...

"Because Zhao Qian wants to silence him!"

The bearded man smashed his fist fiercely into his palm, gnashing his teeth.

After a pause, he continued: "The Buddha entrusted a dream, and through the Master's mouth passed down a prophecy, revealing Zhao Qian's intention to rebel. In his shame and anger, he harmed the Master's life!"

"Right!"

The thin, withered old man's cane thumped on the ground, echoing: "Zhao Qian is just guilty of a guilty conscience..."

"Even destroyed that one-eyed stone statue!"

A young man leaned forward, his emotions excited, unable to hide his indignation, and added: " 'The stone man has one eye, provoking the Wei River to rebel against the world' also refers to him!"

"There is such a thing?!"

Chen Yan paused fiercely, as if scalded by these words. When he looked up, the usual coldness in his eyes had been covered by a layer of just-right astonishment, his brow slightly furrowed, his tone carrying a bit of unbelievable height: "As the Chief of the Autumn Office, how dare he..."

"Brother's demeanor is really well-handled!"

Yuwen Ze, hiding in the dark and witnessing the whole process, covered his mouth, a few muffled laughs overflowing from his throat, the corners of his eyes laughing out fine lines, and he thought in his heart: "If I didn't know the inside story, I would have almost believed it..."

That furrowed brow was "just right," and even the deliberately handled incredulity when asking questions was like the appearance of a play reaching its climax on stage.

His own brother's acting skills were truly superb!

"Moreover, for the commoners to ask for an explanation for Master Huineng, the private soldiers under Zhao Qian not only drew their swords but also fought..." The man in the blue cloth cotton-padded jacket stuck out his neck and shouted his accusation at the top of his lungs.

"Earnestly request Lord Chen Yan to decide for Master Huineng!"

The bearded man knelt on the ground with a "thump," his rough palms slapping heavily on the bricks, shaking fine dust from the ground.

His kneeling seemed to push over a domino. The commoners present knelt down one after another, a black mass occupying the open space, all shouting in unison: "Earnestly request Lord Chen Yan to decide for Master Huineng!"

The old man selling tofu pudding was old, and he knelt down a bit too hurriedly, his knees hitting the ground with a muffled sound. He didn't care about the pain, just raised his head, his gray beard trembling violently: "Also please Lord Chen Yan to take precautions early, and don't let the traitor Zhao Qian succeed!"

"Everyone coming to seek this Chief is because you trust this Chief..."

Chen Yan straightened up, his gaze sweeping over the grief and expectation intertwined on everyone's faces, his voice adding a bit of deliberately handled solemnity: "This Chief promises here, no matter how much resistance there is, I will thoroughly investigate this case and give Master Huineng justice!"

"I will not let go of any person with wolfish ambitions!"

Speaking to the point of excitement, Chen Yan also patted his chest heavily.

Not a single word mentioned Zhao Qian, but every word pointed to him.

"Thank you, Lord Chen Yan!"

"Thank you, Lord Chen Yan!"

The commoners seemed to breathe a sigh of relief instantly, bowing in unison, their voices carrying indescribable excitement.

The bearded man wiped his face, not knowing if it was tears or sweat.

The old man selling tofu pudding bowed to Chen Yan again and again, his gray head nodding like pounding garlic.

The waves of thanks rising one after another in the crowd almost blew off the roof of the Mingjing Si, and some people were even so excited that their eyes turned red.

Chen Yan raised his hand and pressed it virtually, his voice as steady as before: "Everyone, please get up quickly!"

The commoners then straightened up one after another, the anxiety on their faces dissipating a lot, replaced by solid expectation.

They bowed deeply to Chen Yan again, and then followed the guidance of the Embroidered Attire Envoys and dispersed in an orderly manner.

After the last commoner went far away, the front of the Mingjing Si finally became quiet. Yuwen Ze walked out and asked with a smile: "Brother, are you planning to use this public anger to take advantage of the situation and attack the two Pillars of State?"

"How is that possible?"

Chen Yan lifted his brow and asked back.

Immediately, he continued: "Now is not the time for a showdown!"

"Then how should the promise just now be fulfilled?" Yuwen Ze asked in confusion.

Chen Yan smiled, and replied meaningfully: "Brother has his own way!"

Using public anger to topple the two Pillars of State was too hasty.

Next, it is necessary to ferment public opinion, thereby affecting the aristocratic families. You must know that three people make a tiger... ===== CHAPTER 335 =====