Back at the palace, Song Huan immediately summoned Huo Qi.
"Have you heard anything about what happened in the court today?"
Huo Qi nodded: "The minister who has always been honest turned out to be corrupt and perverted the law, and even killed people in his family."
"This matter is not only known to my subordinates, but has been spread throughout the entire court and inside."
Song Huan sneered and let the matter spread among the people, using the pressure of public opinion to influence Emperor Liang's judgment...
This does seem like Song Liang's style of doing things.
"The Ministry of Punishment has now blocked the information and is unwilling to disclose it to the outside world."
"You go to the Punishment Department on my behalf and inquire about the news..."
Huo Qi hesitated to speak, but finally spoke to Song Huan: "Your Highness, you..."
"Are you willing to listen to my advice?"
Song Huan was a little surprised. In his memory, this was the first time Huo Qi interrupted him!
"Huo Qi, what do you want to say?"
Huo Qi lowered his head and did not look at Song Huan.
"Your Highness, the Holy One has made a decision on this matter."
"you……"
"Just let nature take its course."
Let nature take its course?
Could it be that Emperor Liang really believed the slanderous words of Song Yu and Sun Shutong, and Fang Wanlin and even Cheng Xun became suspicious...
"Huo Qi, I also want to let nature take its course."
"But that is a bright official career for a loyal minister, and even his life!"
"How can I let nature take its course?"
Huo Qi frowned, as if he was having a fierce struggle in his heart.
"Your Highness, the matter has reached this point and there is no room for change."
"The Sacred Heart is unpredictable. Even if you come forward in person, you can't save Fang Wanlin!"
"He must die!"
Song Huan understood the truth.
However, Song Huan refused to accept it!
Could it be that the end result of fulfilling one's duties and conscientiousness is to be suspected, framed, and convicted?
Why?
This world shouldn't be like this!
"Huo Qi, I know what you mean."
"It's funny. Half an hour ago, I was still trying to persuade the prime minister to see the situation clearly and not to act impulsively."
"But now, the person who really acted impulsively turned out to be me!"
"I will go to the palace to find my father. Even if I may be punished by him, I must give it a try..."
Seeing that Song Huan was determined to speak for Fang Wanlin, Huo Qi could only let out a long sigh.
"Useless Your Highness!"
"The Holy One has decreed that Fang Wanlin has perverted the law for his own personal gain and disregarded human life. He will be executed tomorrow!"
Song Huan was about to turn around and leave, but when he heard Huo Qi's words, his footsteps stopped instantly.
Could this rare and honest person in the officialdom really want to die unjustly and end his life in a messy manner while being infamous?
Song Huan didn’t want to believe it!
Cheng Tianlin said earnestly: "Do you think it would be so easy for the Holy One to listen to Sun Shutong's slander?"
"But why would the Holy One insist on punishing Fang Wanlin?"
"Your Highness, there is a saying that people's words are to be feared!"
What people say is scary!
These four words flashed through Song Huan's mind like thunder.
If it were in the past, Emperor Liang would not be so sensitive to the relationship between officials.
In the old days of Daliang Court, Shangguan Yi had many supporters, and General Xu Rong had a group of loyal subordinates.
The two are at odds with each other and each has his own faction.
At that time, Emperor Liang hoped that the prime minister could quickly develop his power and create a three-legged situation in the Liang court to restrain each other.
However, with the successive downfalls of Shangguan Yi and Xu Rong, the situation reversed instantly.
Emperor Liang would keep a close eye on every courtier to avoid excessive interactions and cliques for personal gain.
Especially after these two people fell, Cheng Xun, as the prime minister, became the real head of the officials.
Cheng Xun was a man with both status and strength. Emperor Liang was afraid that he would follow Shangguan Yi, so he would naturally pay special attention to him.
If Fang Wanlin was just an ordinary minister and the corruption case against him was full of loopholes, Emperor Liang would definitely order someone to investigate carefully.
But the fact is that Fang Wanlin was promoted by Cheng Xun.
It can be said that he is Cheng Xun's confidant!
With this identity, Emperor Liang will definitely be more sensitive.
After all, Daliang could find another official who could do the job.
But if this person really had a close relationship with Cheng Xun, then Emperor Liang would never allow him to continue to serve as Minister of Civil Affairs.
Even, want to take his life!
The deeper meaning of this incident is to kill one person as a warning to others and to frighten the courtiers.
As long as there is a slight possibility of official protection, Emperor Liang will never let it go!
Even an honest minister like Fang Wanlin would be executed by Emperor Liang.
The courtiers see it, who will dare to tell stories about covering up in the future?
At this moment, Song Huan finally understood everything.
It turns out that Song Liang was just the trigger for Fang Wanlin's death.
The one who really detonated this bomb was Emperor Liang himself!
As an emperor, Emperor Liang will never allow any threats to exist in this court!
If the king wants his minister to die, he must die.
so.
Fang Wanlin must die!
Seeing that the expression on Song Huan's face was extremely complicated and he didn't say a word for a long time, Huo Qi knew that he had listened to what he said from the bottom of his heart.
"Your Highness, this is a special period, so there is a lot of noise in the court and everyone is in danger."
"I understand that you, like the Prime Minister, cherish talents."
"But if you risk your future for talents, is it really worth it?"
"Where there is life, there is hope!"
"Even if Sun Shutong used a trick to get rid of Fang Wanlin, the Holy One is well aware of what he did."
"Once a person like him is placed in an important position, his true nature will soon be exposed."
"By then, his end will only be even more miserable!"
Huo Qi had never said so many words in one breath.
What he said today was, firstly, to give Song Huan comfort, and secondly, it was also what he said from the bottom of his heart.
It's just that the emperor also has his own thoughts and considerations. What can he, a little shadow guard, change?
The overall situation has been decided, and Song Huan understands that continuing to indulge in this matter at this moment will only cause unnecessary trouble to himself.
"Does Fang Wanlin have any family members?"
"Back to Your Highness, Fang Wanlin has a wife and a son who live in Bianjing City. His son is just three years old. He is an orphan and a widower. He is really pitiful!"
Song Huan pondered for a moment: "Fang Wanlin is a guilty minister, and his son is also the queen of a guilty minister."
"His wife and children continue to live in Bianjing City. Just rumors are enough to kill people."
"Luozhou is not far from Bianjing. You can go to Luozhou to buy a house for me and take his wife and children there."
For orphans and widowed mothers, a house alone is definitely not enough.
After that, he asked Xiao Lingzi to give the two of them five hundred taels of silver every month, so that they could live and settle down!
