Dafeng Night Watchman

Chapter 385 - 385 Returning Home

Chapter 385: Chapter 385 Returning Home

The palace, the imperial garden.

In the pavilion with bright yellow curtains, an octagonal table made of yellow rosewood, with a man in yellow robe and a man in green sitting at it.

Wei Yuan and Emperor Yuan Jing are of similar age, one with ruddy complexion and black hair, the other with early graying temples, his eyes filled with the vicissitudes of life.

If men are compared to wine, Emperor Yuan Jing is the most glamorous and noble pot, but in terms of taste, Wei Yuan is the most mellow and fragrant.

The two talk in their hands.

Emperor Yuan Jing looked at the white pieces taken away by Wei Yuan and sighed:

"After the death of Prince Huai, the northern border lost its Optimus Prime. The barbarians can't make any waves for a while. But if the Northeast Wushen Cult bypasses the northern border and enters the pass from Chuzhou, it will go straight to the capital and slay the dragon!"

As he spoke, Emperor Yuan Jing made a move. With the crisp sound of the chess pieces hitting the chessboard, the situation suddenly changed. The white pieces formed a sharp sword and went straight to the dragon.

"Tsk, Wei Qing is a little absent-minded when playing chess today."

Wei Yuan looked gentle, picked up the black piece, and said: "The Optimus Prime is too high and too big to control. When it collapses, it will hurt others and yourself."

The move was made lightly.

The two chatted while playing chess. After four or five moves, Emperor Yuan Jing said calmly:

"The prince was assassinated a few days ago. Everyone in the harem was in danger. The queen was also frightened. She has not eaten well or slept well during this period. She is haggard. Wei Qing, catch the assassin as soon as possible and let this matter pass. The queen will not have to worry."

Wei Yuan glanced at the chessboard, resigned and admitted defeat, and slowly exhaled: "Your Majesty's chess skills are getting better and better."

Then, he stood up, stepped back a few steps, bowed and said: "It is my fault. I will do my best to catch the assassin this morning."

Emperor Yuan Jing laughed.

......

At the same time, the cabinet.

A middle-aged eunuch in a dragon robe came to Wenyuan Pavilion with two eunuchs and paid a visit to the Prime Minister Wang Zhenwen.

They did not stay for too long. In just a quarter of an hour, the eunuch led the two eunuchs away.

Prime Minister Wang Zhenwen sat expressionlessly behind the desk, not moving for a long time, like a silent sculpture.

......

The next day, at the court meeting, Emperor Yuan Jing still argued with the officials about the Chuzhou case, but it was no longer as fierce as yesterday, and the whole hall was filled with gunpowder.

Although the court meeting today still had no conclusion, it was dispersed in a relatively peaceful way.

Zheng Xinghuai, who had been in the officialdom for a long time, smelled a trace of uneasiness. He knew that the problem he was worried about yesterday had finally appeared.

At the court meeting, although the officials still refused to give in, they did not insist on convicting the King of Zhenbei like they did yesterday.

Even when the nobles proposed how to eliminate the rumors in the capital and change the views of the 20,000 soldiers in Chuzhou on this matter, some civil officials participated in the discussion in the name of scolding.

What made Zheng Xinghuai most distressed was that Wei Yuan and Wang Zhenwen remained silent throughout the whole process.

After the court was dismissed, Zheng Xinghuai walked in silence, and suddenly heard someone behind him calling him: "Lord Zheng, please stay."

He turned back woodenly and saw Duke Cao, who was wearing a duke's crown and clothes, chasing him with an obvious smile on his face.

In Zheng Xinghuai's view, this was the smile of a winner.

"Lord Zheng, you left Chuzhou privately and went to Beijing to file a complaint. You thought you were bringing a great force with you, but did you ever think that this day would come?"

Duke Cao was calm and said lightly:

"I will give you a clear path. Chuzhou City is in ruins and you are the governor of Chuzhou. At this time, you should stay in Chuzhou and rebuild Chuzhou City. As for the affairs in Beijing, don't get involved."

He turned his head and glanced at the Golden Palace behind him, and reminded: "This is also what your majesty meant."

Your majesty meant that if you stop when you see the good, you will still be the governor of Chuzhou. Go back to where you came from. Anyway, Chuzhou is tens of thousands of miles away from the capital, and I will turn a blind eye to you.

"Pooh!"

Zheng Xinghuai spitted in response.

"You don't know how to show me courtesy."

Duke Cao looked at Zheng Xinghuai's back and sneered.

......

Night watchman's office, Haoqi Tower.

Wei Yuan was the first person Zheng Xinghuai visited after the court was dismissed.

Xu Qiyan had been paying attention to what was going on in the court today. He was about to go to the post station to find Zheng Xinghuai to ask about the situation. When he heard that he was visiting Wei Yuan, he immediately went to Haoqi Tower.

But he was stopped downstairs by the guard.

"Duke Wei said that no one is allowed to disturb him during the meeting. Besides, Duke Wei didn't plan to see you during this period. He has already driven you away several times."

The guard and Xu Qiyan were old acquaintances, so he didn't have any scruples when talking.

Xu Qiyan also had no scruples when beating people. He kept slapping them on the head, beating and scolding them: "You are the one who talks too much, you are the one who talks too much..."

Seventh floor.

Wei Yuan, dressed in blue and with gray hair on his temples, sat cross-legged in front of the desk.

Opposite him was Zheng Xinghuai, whose back was gradually hunched, whose hair was also gray, and whose eyebrows were filled with unresolved depression.

"When the imperial examination was over, Lord Zheng returned to Beijing to report on his work, and I met you once. Although your hair was gray at that time, your spirit was very good." Wei Yuan's voice was gentle and his eyes were compassionate.

Now seeing him again, this person seemed to have no soul, and the heavy bags under his eyes and bloodshot eyes indicated that he could not sleep at night.

The slightly drooping corners of his mouth and the depression between his eyebrows showed that the other party had deep resentment in his heart, and it was difficult to calm down and relieve his anger.

"Are you going to give up, Lord Wei?" Zheng Xinghuai said in a deep voice.

"I admire Xu Qian'an very much. I think he is a natural warrior, but sometimes I feel headache because of his temper."

Wei Yuan answered the question irrelevantly: "I told him that when you are struggling in the officialdom, you must think twice: think about danger, think about retreat, and think about change.

"Before doing anything, you must consider the consequences of this matter, understand the pros and cons, and then weigh whether to do it or not.

"If the rolling trend is unstoppable, you must think about retreating and avoiding its sharp edge. Our Majesty has done a good job. Only when you retreat and are safe, you can think about how to change the situation.

"Xu Qian'an, this kid, answered me: I understand these principles, but I don't care... Haha, a vulgar warrior."

Zheng Xing recalled what Xu Yinluo said in the cave. He knew that the King of Zhenbei was powerful, but he still went to Chuzhou to investigate the case. He couldn't help but smile more on his rigid and serious face.

"The fact that Duke Wei can say the word "vulgar" just shows that Duke Wei can do nothing about him. "

Zheng Xinghuai understood what Wei Yuan meant, but like Xu Qiyan, he had his own bottom line to stick to and never back down.

He went downstairs alone and saw Xu Qiyan waiting downstairs.

"Sir Zheng, I'll take you back to the post station." Xu Qiyan came up to him.

"I won't go back to the post station." Zheng Xinghuai shook his head and looked at him with a complicated expression: "Sorry, I've disappointed Xu Yinluo."

Xu Qiyan's heart sank.

The two of them left the yamen in silence and got into the carriage. Baili Shentu, who served as the coachman, drove away.

On the way, Zheng Xinghuai described the whole story of the court today, pointing out that the attitudes of the officials were ambiguous and their positions had quietly changed.

"Duke Wei shouldn't have done that. When he reached his position, if he really wanted something, he could have planned it himself without going against his conscience and trying to please His Majesty."

Xu Qiyan frowned deeply, puzzled.

"Duke Wei is difficult. "Zheng Xinghuai explained for Wei Yuan, his tone was powerless:

"There is a difference between the monarch and the ministers. As long as your majesty does not touch the interests of the vast majority of people, no one in the court can be his opponent."

"Wei Gong said to think twice... Why don't you think about it, Lord Zheng? Stay away from the sharp edge for a while. The King of Huai is dead, and the revenge of the people in Chuzhou City has been avenged." Xu Qian'an advised.

Lord Zheng is a good official. He doesn't want such a person to end up with a miserable ending, just like when he was in Yunzhou, he fought against the rebels for Governor Zhang alone.

There were no rebels this time, and the fight was in the court. Xu Qian'an couldn't rush into the palace with a knife and kill people, so he didn't play a role.

I can only persuade Lord Zheng to think twice.

Zheng Xinghuai looked at him and asked, "Are you willing? Are you willing to see an executioner like the King of Huai become a hero, be honored in the Taimiao, and be recorded in history? "

Xu Qian'an did not answer, but Zheng Xinghuai saw the unwillingness in the young man's eyes.

So he smiled with relief.

"I am a second-rank governor, but I am also a scholar. Scholars only want to be true to their conscience, to be worthy of themselves, and to be worthy of their parents who have worked hard to raise you."

No words along the way.

After a long time, the carriage stopped on the street, and Shentu Baili whispered: "Sir, we are here."

Xu Qian'an lifted the curtain, and the carriage stopped in front of an extremely imposing courtyard. The plaque on the gate read: Wenyuan Pavilion.

Cabinet!

Zheng Xinghuai jumped off the carriage and said to the guards at the door: "I am Zheng Xinghuai, the governor of Chuzhou, and I want to see Prime Minister Wang. "

Seeing this, Xu Qian'an already understood Zheng Xinghuai's plan. He wanted to be a lobbyist, lobbying the officials and pulling them back into the camp.

The guard entered the cabinet to report, and after a while, he strode back and said in a deep voice:

"The Prime Minister said that Zheng is the governor of Chuzhou. Whether on duty or off duty, don't go to him, lest he be impeached for forming a party."

Zheng Xinghuai left disappointed.

In the next day, Xu Qian'an watched him running around lobbying, hitting a wall everywhere... At dusk, he returned to the post station sadly.

.......

Xu Xinnian returned home after work, but didn't see his elder brother. He walked around the yard and heard someone shouting on the roof: "Your elder brother is here. "

That was the sweet voice of a young woman.

Looking up, it turned out to be Li Miaozhen, the saint of Tianzong. She was standing on the eaves, looking down at him expressionlessly. Just by looking at her face, he could tell that she was in a bad mood.

When Xu Erlang brought the ladder, he found that Li Miaozhen was gone. His elder brother was holding a grass root in his mouth, with his hands on the back of his head, lying on the roof with his legs crossed.

The handsome Xu Xinnian climbed up the stairs to the roof holding the hem of his official robe.

"Why are you coming up here?" Xu Qian'an said unhappily, "An annoying woman left, and you come to bother me again."

"Daoist Li doesn't seem very happy." Xu Erlang said in a steady tone and sat down next to his elder brother.

"Of course she's not happy. If she had the strength, she would want to break into the palace at Mao time."

"Why wait until Mao time? "

"Because she thinks that there are beasts everywhere in the temple, and all of them should be killed, so she has to wait for the morning hour to go to court and kill a nest of them." Xu Qi'an said unhappily.

Xu Erlang shrank his head when he heard this: "Fortunately, I am just a scholar."

Xu Qi'an couldn't help laughing, and then sighed:

"Tianzong cultivates the Supreme Forgetfulness. Maybe, when she really has this ability in the future, she will no longer be the Feiyan female knight of the past. This is life, and eight out of ten things are not satisfactory."

"Brother seems to have become calmer." Xu Erlang said with relief.

"It's not calm, it's a little tired and a little disappointed." Xu Qi'an put his hands on the back of his head, looked at the sky gradually fading away at dusk, and murmured:

"Is it so difficult to admit a mistake and apologize?"

Xu Erlang turned his head, glanced at him, then cast his gaze towards the blue sky, and said:

"I have understood the affairs of the court. I came up to talk to my elder brother. Although the court has made a final decision on the Zhenbei King's massacre, the incident has been a hot topic in the capital and has long been a foregone conclusion. It is not that easy to reverse the situation.

"Even if the court forcibly portrays the Zhenbei King as a hero, this incident will leave hidden dangers. When people talk about this incident, they will never forget the Zhenbei King's massacre that shocked them at first. This is the key to overturning the case in the future. "

Overturn the verdict....Xu Qian'an raised his eyebrows and instantly remembered many cases in the history of his previous life.

Many innocent loyal ministers and generals who died unjustly were finally overturned, and the treacherous ministers who were once in the limelight finally got the end they deserved.

The most famous among them is Qin Hui.

The bronze statue of this great treacherous minister and his wife still stands in a famous scenic spot, and is despised by later generations.

To what extent is it despised - Qin Hui's wife Fake Nailiang.

Duke Wei asked Zheng Xinghuai to think twice. Is he holding the same idea.....Mr. Zheng was overwhelmed by anger and hatred, and his emotions were inevitably extreme. He might not understand what Duke Wei meant. Well, I will remind him tomorrow.

A gentleman's revenge is never too late. Since the situation is stronger than the person, just endure it.

My Erlang is indeed qualified to be the prime minister, and his intelligence is not inferior to Duke Wei.....Xu Qian'an sat up with relief and hugged Xu Erlang's shoulders.

Xu Erlang pushed him in disdain.

......

Imperial Palace.

In the luxuriously furnished bedroom, Emperor Yuan Jing leaned on the soft couch, studying the Taoist scriptures, and asked casually: "What's going on in the cabinet recently?"

The old eunuch whispered: "The Prime Minister has not seen any guests recently."

Emperor Yuan Jing nodded with satisfaction: "Where is Wei Yuan?"

"After the court was dismissed the day before yesterday, Zheng, the governor, went to the night watchman's office, and Wei Gong saw him, and then the two of them never met again." The old eunuch reported truthfully.

"Wei Yuan and Prime Minister Wang are both very smart, but Wei Yuan doesn't take me seriously." Emperor Yuan Jing was not angry. He turned a page and looked at it intently for a long time. Suddenly, his face turned cold:

"Where is Zheng Xinghuai?"

"Sir Zheng has been running around these days, trying to lobby the officials. Not many people are willing to see him. The officials are all waiting and watching. Later he changed his mind and went to the Imperial College to seduce the students. "The old eunuch whispered.

Emperor Yuan Jing smiled, his eyes were cold without any smile.

........

On the morning of May 12, eight days had passed since the body of the King of Zhenbei was transported back to the capital.

The court's announcement on the conviction of the King of Zhenbei has not been posted.

The people of the capital are not in a hurry. As residents under the emperor's feet, they have even seen a case dragging on for several years, and have seen a decree to reduce taxes, which has been circulated since a few years ago, and is still circulating a few years later, and will probably continue to circulate.

Although they are not in a hurry, the heat is still there, and it has not cooled down.

After dinner, the people of the capital will habitually carry the King of Zhenbei out and brush it three times...

Early this morning, a group of uninvited guests came to the capital.

Thirty riders rushed into the city gate, passed through the outer city, and stopped at the gate of the inner city.

The leader had a nice face, but one eye was blind. He was none other than Que Yongxiu, the commander-in-chief of Chuzhou.

This Duke of Protecting the Country wore tattered armor, had messy hair, and looked dusty.

The companions who accompanied him were all like this.

When they arrived at the city gate, Que Yongxiu abandoned his horse and entered the city on foot. He took out a blood letter from his arms and held it in his palm, shouting:

"I am the commander-in-chief of Chuzhou, Duke of Protecting the Country Que Yongxiu, and I sued the governor of Chuzhou, Zheng Xinghuai, for colluding with monsters and barbarians to kill the King of Zhenbei. He killed 380,000 people in Chuzhou City.

"Afterwards, Zheng Xinghuai deceived the envoys and hunted me down. In order to cover up the fact of colluding with monsters and barbarians, he framed the King of Zhenbei for massacring the city. His crime was extremely heinous."

He walked and talked all the way, attracting the people in the city to stop and watch, and talk about it.

"The Duke of the State? The Duke of the State in Chuzhou? The one who helped the King of Zhenbei in the massacre?"

"It's good that they're back. They've fallen into the trap. Keep a close eye on them. Don't let them get away. Let's go to the government office to report to the authorities."

"Don't worry, listen to him. The governor Zheng Xinghuai colluded with the demons and barbarians, killed the King of Zhenbei, and deceived the envoys... What's going on?"

"Could it be that the governor of Chuzhou is the culprit who caused the destruction of Chuzhou City?"

The common people are used to hearing about such reversal cases, just like the storytellers' old stories of loyal people being framed and finally getting a reversal.

They are most familiar with such dramas.

"It must be fake. Chuzhou City was destroyed by the King of Zhenbei. Have you forgotten that Xu Yinluo was in the envoys. Would Xu Yinluo wrongly accuse a good person? If that governor is a traitor, would Lord Xu not be able to see it?"

"It makes sense."

The people around him agreed.

During the Jingcha period, a series of major cases occurred in the capital, and each time the chief official was Xu Qian'an. At that time, he was known by the people from a small copper gong and became a topic of conversation.

After returning from Yunzhou, his reputation rose to a higher level, from a topic of conversation to a martyr. The real explosion was the Buddhist battle. After defeating the Buddhists, he became a hero in the capital. As the court's official reports were sent to various places, he was talked about by the people and the people in the rivers and lakes in Dafeng.

Solidified a huge reputation.

The battle between heaven and man consolidated his image and reputation. He existed in the minds of the people, in their dreams, in their hearts, and in their shouts.

Therefore, compared with Que Yongxiu's blood letter, the people watching around were more willing to believe the Chuzhou governor brought back by Xu Yinluo.

Soon, the news that Chuzhou Duzhi, Huguo Gong Que Yongxiu returned to Beijing, holding a blood letter in his hand, and sued Chuzhou governor Zheng Xinghuai along the street quickly spread with the onlookers.

For a time, the case of the Zhenbei King's massacre became more and more confusing.

........

After the incident, Que Yongxiu was immediately taken to the palace by the imperial guards to meet the emperor alone.

Not long after, the emperor summoned all the officials and held a small court meeting in the imperial study.

Emperor Yuan Jing sat behind the desk, with civil officials on the left and nobles on the right. Que Yongxiu knelt in front of the desk holding the blood letter in his hand.

"My dear ministers, take a look at this blood letter." Emperor Yuan Jing handed the blood letter to the old eunuch.

The latter took it respectfully and passed it to the royal family, and then to the civil officials.

Duke Cao stepped out and said indignantly: "Your Majesty, Zheng Xinghuai colluded with the demons and killed the King of Zhenbei. He is guilty of a heinous crime and should be executed."

The Minister of Rites frowned and stepped out, "Duke Cao's words are too arbitrary. Zheng Xinghuai colluded with the demons and killed his entire family?"

A county prince retorted: "Who can be sure that Zheng Xinghuai's entire family died in Chuzhou?"

Zhao Tingfang, the Grand Secretary of the Dongge, was furious and said sternly:

"If Zheng Xinghuai colluded with the demons, what about the mysterious master who killed the King of Zhenbei? He specifically said that the King of Zhenbei massacred the city. The delegation saw it with their own eyes and heard it with their own ears."

Duke Cao sneered, "Who is that mysterious master? Ask him to come out to testify for Zheng Xinghuai. How can we believe the words of an evil cultivator with unknown origins?"

Right Censor Liu Hong was furious, "It was the evil cultivator you mentioned who killed the barbarian leader. Duke Cao was submissive in front of the barbarians, but he fought hard in the court. He was so impressive."

Without waiting for Duke Cao to refute, Left Censor Yuan Xiong jumped out first to argue with his political enemy: "As the saying goes, those who are not of my race must have different hearts. Lord Liu, don't forget your identity."

Liu Hong sneered: "Can those who are not of my race use the sword of the state?"

"Enough!"

Suddenly, Emperor Yuan Jing slammed the table with anger in his eyes.

Seeing this, Duke Huguo Que Yongxiu immediately fell to the ground and cried, "Please Your Majesty, please make a decision for me, for the King of Zhenbei, and for the people of Chuzhou City."

Emperor Yuan Jing nodded slowly: "This case is of great importance, and I will naturally investigate it thoroughly. This matter will be tried by the three courts, Duke Cao, you must also participate."

After saying that, he glanced at his companion and said, "Give Duke Cao a gold medal, and go to the post station immediately to arrest Zheng Xinghuai. Those who violate the rules will be executed first and then reported."

Duke Cao said excitedly, "Yes, Your Majesty is wise."

......

After leaving the palace, Wei Yuan hurriedly caught up with the Prime Minister Wang. The two powerful ministers did not take a carriage, but walked side by side.

This scene, in front of the gentlemen, can be called a landscape. Many years later, it is still worth recalling.

"I advised Zheng Xinghuai, but unfortunately he is stubborn." Wei Yuan's voice was gentle and his face was normal.

"If he hadn't been so stubborn, he wouldn't have been sent to Saibei by the old Prime Minister." Prime Minister Wang sneered, "What a fool."

He didn't know whether he was scolding Zheng Xinghuai or himself.

Wei Yuan said calmly, "Last time, we almost caught Que Yongxiu in the palace, but he escaped. The next day, we searched the whole city and still couldn't find him. At that time, I knew that this matter could not be violated."

Prime Minister Wang said calmly, "It's not a bad thing. The reason why you can agree with your majesty's opinion is that the King of Zhenbei is dead. Now that Que Yongxiu is back alive, some people will not agree. This is our chance."

Wei Yuan shook his head, "It's because Que Yongxiu is back that those people see the hope of "overturning the case". As long as they cooperate with your majesty, the case can be settled. And once it is settled, Que Yongxiu is a first-class duke, and it will be difficult to deal with him after he has made great contributions to the founding of the country."

After a moment of silence, the two asked at the same time, "Did he threaten you?"

.......

Post station

A cough was heard in the room. Zheng Xinghuai was wearing a blue casual suit and sitting at the table, with his right hand flat on the table.

A white-robed sorcerer was taking his pulse.

After a long time, the white-robed sorcerer withdrew his hand and shook his head:

"It's not a big problem to have a disease caused by depression. Just take a few doses of medicine and rest for a few days. However, Mr. Zheng should relax as soon as possible, otherwise the disease will come back to you."

Mr. and Mrs. Chen Xian breathed a sigh of relief and sighed again.

The disease is a minor one and not difficult to treat. What is difficult to treat is Mr. Zheng's heart disease.

Zheng Xinghuai did not respond to the sorcerer in white, but bowed his hands: "Thank you, doctor."

"Don't take it lightly." The sorcerer in white from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau was arrogant, and always spoke his mind as long as he was not violently oppressed:

"You are not too old, and if you are heartless, you can live a few more years. Otherwise, you will have a serious illness in three to five years, and at most ten years, I can go to your grave to burn incense."

Chen Xian and his wife looked unhappy.

Zheng Xinghuai seemed to have seen the face of the white-robed sorcerer. He did not blame or get angry. Instead, he asked, "I heard that Xu Yinluo and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau are close friends."

The white-robed sorcerer sneered, "I know what you are thinking. Mr. Xu is a nobleman of our Imperial Astronomical Bureau. However, if you want to see the director through him, forget it. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau does not ask about the affairs of the court. This is the rule."

Zheng Xinghuai was about to say something else when he heard the white-robed sorcerer add, "Xu Yinluo has already gone to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to ask for help. If this path is feasible, do you still need to say it?"

He, he has already been to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau... Zheng Xinghuai's expression was complicated. Among the envoys returning to Beijing, only Xu Yinluo has been working on this matter.

Due to the situation, the others chose to remain silent.

As they were talking, hurried footsteps came from downstairs, followed by Zhao Jin's roar: "Which yamen are you from? How dare you trespass into the post station where Lord Zheng lives......"

Zheng Xinghuai and others ran out of the room and happened to see Cao Guogong in military uniform, waving his scabbard and slapping Zhao Jin's face, breaking half of his teeth.

Yinluo from the night watchman's yamen ran out of the room with several copper gongs and shouted: "Stop!"

Ordering the copper gongs to hold down the furious Zhao Jin, the silver gong glared and warned: "This is the imperial guards of the palace."

Zhao Jin's face froze.

Yinluo took a deep breath and bowed his hands and said: "Duke Cao, you are..."

Cao Guogong looked at Zheng Xinghuai who ran out of the room, smiled coldly, and said: "According to the order of His Majesty, Zheng Xinghuai will be arrested and brought back to the Dali Temple for questioning. Anyone who disobeys will be killed without mercy."

"What?!"

The faces of the night watchman and Zhao Jin and others changed.

Zheng Xinghuai stood tall and fearless, with a clear conscience, and said, "What crime have I committed?"

Duke Cao was stunned, and his smile turned playful, with a mocking tone: "It seems that Lord Zheng did not go out today. Well, the commander of Chuzhou, the Duke of Protector of the State, Que Yongxiu, has returned to the capital. He sued your majesty for colluding with the demons and killing the King of Zhenbei and 380,000 people in Chuzhou City."

Zheng Xinghuai staggered, his face pale.

........

Huaiqing Mansion.

The chief guard knocked on the door of Princess Huaiqing's study, stepped in, and presented the note in his hand:

"Your Highness, the information you want is all here. Lord Zheng has been imprisoned. In addition, there are many people in the capital who are spreading rumors that "Lord Zheng is colluding with the demons and barbarians". It is Cao Guogong's people who are behind the scenes....."

Huaiqing listened, unfolded the note, and read it silently.

"I knew that my father had a backup plan. Que Yongxiu had returned to the capital a long time ago and was lurking in the dark, waiting for an opportunity. My father ignored the rumors in the capital just to wait for this moment. It's amazing."

She waved her hand.

The chief guard left.

After the door of the study was closed, Huaiqing, wearing a plain white dress, walked to the window and quietly looked at the spring scenery outside the window.

A gentle sigh echoed in the study.

.......

East Palace.

Lin'an ran with her skirt lifted up, like a cluster of gorgeous flames, with her skirt, waist jade and ribbon fluttering.

Six palace maids chased after her, shouting: Your Highness, slow down, Your Highness, slow down.

"Crown Prince, Crown Prince..."

The sweet voice like a silver bell echoed, drifting into the palace from outside.

The prince was in the bedroom with the pretty maid, and his face changed drastically when he heard the girl's shout. He hurriedly climbed down from the bed, picked up the clothes on the ground, and quickly put them on.

Fortunately, the eunuchs in the East Palace were sensible and knew that their master was working hard to expand the royal family. They stopped Lin'an from entering the bedroom and invited her to the reception room.

The prince dressed up and walked into the reception room. When he saw his sister, his face softened and he said gently, "What's the hurry?"

Lin'an frowned delicately, his charming peach blossom eyes flashed with anxiety and worry, and he said repeatedly, "Brother Prince, I heard that Zheng Buzhengshi was arrested by the emperor."

The prince was silent for a while and nodded, "I know."

He has been the prince for so many years, so he has a background. He knows everything about the court.

Lin'an said sneakily, "Father, he, he wants to kill Lord Zheng, right?"

After the prince dismissed the eunuchs and palace maids, and only the brother and sister were left in the hall, he nodded and gave a positive answer.

The bright peach blossom eyes dimmed, and Lin An whispered: "Prince Huai massacred the city and killed 380,000 innocent people. Why did my father cover up for him and put the blame on Lord Zheng?"

This is related to the face of the royal family, and there is absolutely no way to give in... The prince wanted to say this, but seeing that his sister was in a low mood, he sighed and patted her on the shoulder:

"You are a girl, don't worry about these things, why don't you learn from Huai Qing, you shouldn't have returned to the palace."

Lin An hung her head, like a frustrated little girl.

The prince still felt sorry for his sister. He held her shoulders and said in a deep voice, "Father likes you because you are sweet-talking and you never ask about the affairs of the court. Why have you changed now?"

Lin'an said weakly, "Because Xu Qiyan's position is getting higher and higher..."

The prince's face changed and he showed an angry look, "Did he instigate you to enter the palace?"

"No..." Lin'an's mouth shrank and he said aggrievedly, "I, I dare not see him. I have no face to see him."

The King of Huai was her uncle. He committed such atrocities in Chuzhou. As a member of the royal family, how could she completely distance herself from him?

The guilt for the 300,000 innocent souls made her feel ashamed to see Xu Qiyan.

She even gave up on herself and thought that she would never see him again.

"So, you came to me today to ask me to plead with the emperor, right?" The prince led her to sit down again. Seeing his sister pecked his head, he shook his head and laughed:

"The emperor didn't even see you, how could he see me? Lin'an, there is no right or wrong in the officialdom, only gains and losses. Let's not talk about whether it is useful for me to come forward. I am the prince, and I must stand with the royal family and nobles.

"You are just a girl, no one cares what you do. If you were a prince, you would have lost the throne based on your actions a few days ago."

Lin'an said sadly: "But, killing so many people, there must be a price to pay. Otherwise, who would believe in our Dafeng's royal law. I heard from Huaiqing that the one who killed people for the King of Huai was the Protector of the Country.

"He killed so many people, and the emperor still wants to protect him. I am very unhappy."

Silly sister, under the dragon throne of the emperor, there are mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

There were many such things in the past, and there are many now, and they will continue in the future. No one can change it.

Including the one you like, Xu Qi'an.

The prince shook his head helplessly.

......

Dali Temple, prison.

In early summer, the air in the cell was foul and smelly, mixed with the smell of prisoners urinating and defecating at will, and the smell of rotten food.

The stuffy air made people sick.

The Dali Temple Secretary entered the prison with two pots of wine and a bag of beef. He walked slowly to the cell where Zheng Xinghuai was imprisoned, and sat down without being shy about the dirty place name.

"Sir Zheng, I want to drink with you." The Dali Temple Secretary smiled.

Zheng Xinghuai, with shackles on his hands and feet, walked to the fence, looked at the Dali Temple Secretary, and said, "You don't look very good."

"What's wrong? It's obviously rosy and relaxed."

The Dali Temple Secretary opened the butter paper and shared it with Zheng Xinghuai. While eating, he suddenly said: "After this is over, I will retire and return home."

Zheng Xinghuai looked at him and nodded: "Very good."

After eating meat and drinking wine, the Dali Temple Secretary stood up and bowed deeply to Zheng Xinghuai: "Thank you, Lord Zheng."

He did not explain and walked away on his own.

Thank you for letting me find my conscience.

When Fang Fu walked out of the dungeon, the Dali Temple Secretary saw a group of people coming towards him. The two people walking side by side in the front were Cao Guogong and Huguogong Que Yongxiu.

What are they doing here? Huguogong, as the main figure in the case, is also being detained?

The Dali Temple Secretary glanced at them and saw the followers behind them... Detained with followers?

"Dali Temple Secretary, we meet again."

Que Yongxiu came up with a smile, looked him up and down, and said:

"So you are just a sixth-rank official. When I was in Chuzhou, I thought you were a first-rank official, so powerful that even I dared to question you."

The Dali Temple Secretary suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice: "Why are you here in the Dali Temple?"

"Of course, to interrogate the prisoner." Que Yongxiu showed a sarcastic smile: "According to the order of His Majesty, the prisoner Zheng Xinghuai will be brought to trial. During this period, no one is allowed to enter the dungeon. Those who violate the order will be punished with the same crime."

After that, the two dukes entered the dungeon side by side, and the entourage closed the dungeon door and locked it from the inside.

They want to kill people to silence them... The thought flashed through the mind of the Dali Temple Secretary, as if struck by lightning.

He instinctively wanted to ask the Dali Temple Secretary for help, but the two dukes dared to come here, which was enough to show that the Dali Temple Secretary knew about this and acquiesced.

Because the two dukes had received instructions from His Majesty.

"They want to kill and silence the witnesses, and then pretend to commit suicide out of fear of crime, so as to make it known to the world. In this way, the anger towards the King of Huai will be transferred to Zheng Xinghuai.

"This is much simpler than overturning the previous statement and forcibly exonerating the King of Huai, and it is also easier for the people to accept. Your Majesty, he, he does not intend to try the case at all, he wants to catch you off guard and leave you with no choice..."

The Dali Temple Secretary walked away quickly, his pace getting faster and faster, and finally he ran wildly, rushing to the stable of the government office.

He had only one thought in his mind: to find Xu Qian'an.

Only the stinking stones in this pit can stop the Duke of Huguo and the Duke of Cao, and only he can be angry for his belief in his heart.

.......

Duke of Cao covered his mouth and nose, frowned, and walked in the corridor between the dungeons.

"What's this smell, Duke of Cao, you haven't led troops for too long. "The one-eyed Que Yongxiu said in a low voice.

"Stop talking nonsense, finish your work and leave, or something bad will happen." Duke Cao waved his hand.

The two stopped in front of Zheng Xinghuai's cell. Que Yongxiu glanced at the wine pot and butter paper on the ground and said, "Master Zheng, you are living a good life."

Zheng Xinghuai's eyes turned red in an instant, and he ran out dragging his shackles, roaring like a lion: "Que Yongxiu, you beast!"

Que Yongxiu was not angry either, and said with a smile: "I am a beast, a beast who killed your whole family. Zheng Xinghuai, I let you escape by chance that day, which caused so many things later. Today, I am here to send your family to reunite. "

Zheng Xinghuai yelled and roared, his mind flashed with his grandson being picked up by a spear, his son being nailed to the ground, his wife and daughter-in-law being hacked to death.

The people of Chuzhou City fell to the ground under the arrows, and their lives were worthless.

The scenes were vivid and clear, making his soul tremble and wail.

Que Yongxiu laughed heartily, laughing forward and backward.

Duke Cao sneered and said:

"You have been jumping up and down these days, and His Majesty has been fed up. If you were not useful, you would have died silently. Zheng Xinghuai, you are still not smart enough. If you can think about everything that happened in Chuzhou, you should know who you are facing. "

Zheng Xinghuai suddenly froze, as if he had been hit by a club.

After a few seconds, the scholar's body trembled, trembling non-stop, trembling non-stop.

"Why did he do this, why did he do this... Those, those are his people..."

He lowered his head and never raised it again.

The scholar's spine was broken.

Que Yongxiu snorted: "Thank Cao Guogong, you will die knowingly."

As he said that, he stretched out his hand and smiled grimly: "Give me the white silk, I will send him up personally."

An attendant handed over the white silk, and another attendant opened the prison door.

Que Yongxiu strode in, shook his wrist, and the white silk wrapped around Zheng Xinghuai's neck. He pulled it hard and smiled:

"Zheng Xinghuai, the governor of Chuzhou, colluded with the demons and slaughtered 380,000 people. After being exposed by the Protector of the Country Que Yongxiu, he hanged himself in prison.

"Are you satisfied with this ending, Mr. Zheng?"

Zheng Xinghuai could no longer speak. His eyes bulged, his face flushed, and his tongue stuck out bit by bit.

His struggles went from intense to slow, and he kicked his legs occasionally. His life passed quickly, like a candle in the wind.

At this moment, his life was about to come to an end, and his past life emerged in Zheng Xinghuai's mind.

A miserable childhood, an energetic teenager, a lost youth, a selfless middle-aged man... At the end of his life, he seemed to have returned to the small mountain village.

He ran on the muddy road in the village, running towards home. He had walked this road thousands of times, but today, for some reason, he was particularly anxious.

Bang bang bang!

He knocked on the gate anxiously.

The gate slowly opened, and an ordinary woman stood inside the door, weathered and gentle.

He breathed a sigh of relief, as if he had found a harbor in his life, rested all his fatigue, and smiled happily.

"Mom, I'm home..."

......

After an unknown amount of time, a loud noise broke the silence of the dungeon.

The iron door leading to the dungeon was violently kicked open, hitting the opposite wall heavily, and the loud noise echoed in the dungeon corridor.

Xu Qiyan rushed into the dungeon with a knife in his hand.

Dali Temple Secretary followed him breathlessly. At his age, even if he usually pays attention to maintaining his health, the intense running still makes his lungs burn.

Dali Temple Secretary rushed into the corridor after Xu Qiyan and saw him suddenly frozen at the door of a cell.

Frozen there, like a sculpture.

Dali Temple Secretary's heart sank, and he staggered over without knowing where he got the strength.

In the gloomy cell, a corpse was hanging on the fence.

Dali Temple Secretary sat on the ground, covering his face, tears streaming down his face.