Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 498

498 /815

Chapter 498: 495 Chapter: Bloodline_1

The sound of the Dengwen Drum echoed. Gao Demao felt a chill in his heart, not knowing what significant event was about to unfold. Hearing the Emperor call for him, he hurriedly entered with his dusting whisk: "This old servant is here! Your Majesty, your command!"

"What is going on?! The Dengwen Drum sounded again?!"

From the Emperor’s raised voice, it was clear how furious he was.

"Your Majesty, please calm down! This old servant has already sent someone to inquire. There should be a response soon! Please, Your Majesty, do not worry. This old servant will wait outside, and I will report back as soon as there is any news!" Gao Demao knelt and repeatedly tried to appease the Emperor.

Watching Gao Demao jog out, the Emperor clenched his teeth, his face turning ashen. He couldn’t help but harbor resentment towards Bai Qingyan once again. If it weren’t for Bai Qingyan, how could the Dengwen Drum be struck again!

Outside Wude Gate, crowds of people from Dadu City had already gathered.

The woman and the man cried as they walked along the long street, struck the Dengwen Drum, and stated their grievance against the Wang family in Jiuqu Alley and King Liang for negligence of human life. They claimed that using children to make elixirs was no better than beasts, pleading for the Emperor to save their child, who had been captured and taken to King Liang’s residence!

Rumors about missing children had been increasing lately. Initially, it was small beggars who went missing. Later, the bodies of those missing small beggars were found at the Burial Mound. Eventually, children started going missing outside Dadu City. But as the official government tightened security near Dadu City, these incidents ceased there. Instead, child abductions by mountain bandits began near Shuoyang.

This couple, who had lost two sons outside Dadu City, were now bringing a tightly bound man to strike the Dengwen Drum, loudly crying their grievances. They claimed he was a witness, and the evidence was in King Liang’s residence, begging the Emperor to send someone to investigate immediately.

Unable to read or write and without a written petition, they kept crying out loud, pleading for the Emperor’s intervention to save their two children. They feared that if it was delayed, their children would be made into elixirs.

Fang Lao had already made arrangements. The matter of King Liang using children for alchemy was too shocking. As the farmers accused the Wang family in Jiuqu Alley and King Liang at Wude Gate, the news spread through Dadu City like wildfire.

When this was reported to the Emperor, he was stunned. His expression turned unpleasant. Feeling guilty, his anger subsided significantly.

Upon hearing that the man who struck the Dengwen Drum had been flogged and was now bloody and battered, the Emperor gritted his teeth and said, "Send an order, stop the flogging!"

There was no need for an investigation. The Emperor knew clearly what was happening.

King Liang was making elixirs for the Emperor. But...the Emperor truly did not know that children were being used for the elixirs.

"Summon King Liang!" the Emperor said, pursing his lips tightly.

"Yes!" Gao Demao immediately sent people to summon King Liang.

However, before King Liang arrived, the Imperial Censor and Minister of Judicial Review Lu Jin had already entered the palace.

Lu Jin stated that the matter was known widely among the people. If not dealt with swiftly, the people might suspect the Imperial Family and the imperial authority, with unimaginable consequences.

The Imperial Censor also knelt, knocking his head on the ground, asking the Emperor to investigate the matter thoroughly. If true, King Liang must be severely punished, not shown leniency.