The sky is gradually getting brighter, and the north wind that has been blowing all night has subsided slightly. However, the climate is extremely dry. There have been only two light snowfalls since the beginning of winter, both of which were only superficial and did not fully moisturize the land.
The square gates and city gates opened one after another, and the sleeping city of Chang'an slowly woke up. Businessmen were like clouds, and people were like rain. Officials from all walks of life came out of their respective squares on carriages, entered the imperial city through the Zhuque Gate, and headed towards the East Palace Gate. Convergence.
The east and west cities have been completely renovated and rebuilt, and they are larger than before. They have brought together rare goods and treasures from all over the world, and merchants gathered there. But now the west is in turmoil. First there was the Battle of Hexi, and then the cannibals invaded the Western Regions, which temporarily cut off the Silk Road. So in the past, after the city gate was opened, groups of merchants from the Western Regions led their camels into Chang'an City amid the melodious sound of camel bells. Missing, the merchants always felt as if something was missing, and the atmosphere was a bit strange...
His Majesty Li Er personally conquered Liaodong and ordered the prince to supervise the country. However, the prince did not place the meeting place in Taiji Palace, but moved it to the East Palace to show his respect for the imperial power.
Naturally, there is also a certain avoidance of suspicion...
At three o'clock in the morning, the civil and military officials had gathered in the main hall of the East Palace. The prince, who had just returned to the East Palace from Xingqing Palace, took a rest in the back hall and drank a cup of hot tea to warm himself up. Go down to the main hall and preside over the court meeting.
"The prince goes to court!"
Amidst the shrill and melodious singing of the chamberlain, Li Chengqian, dressed in a yellow python robe, walked out of the back hall, came to the throne and took his seat.
The ministers were divided into two groups, all bowed and saluted, and shouted: "I have an audience with Your Highness!"
Li Chengqian sat as peacefully as a mountain, nodded calmly, and said in a deep voice: "My dear friends, please take a seat!"
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
After the ministers thanked each other, they took their seats.
During the Tang and Song Dynasties, the emperor and his ministers sat opposite each other in the palace. There was never a bad habit of the emperor sitting down and the ministers standing there. Although the emperor was the son of Haotian and the supreme being in the world, he never treated his ministers as slaves. The Tang Dynasty just did not have the Song Dynasty. The graceful appearance of "sharing the world with the scholar-bureaucrats", but there is only a distinction between master and subordinate between the monarch and his ministers, and there is no distinction between high and low.
Of course? The space at the imperial meeting is limited, and it is impossible for everyone to have a seat. Only officials with sufficient rank and title can sit on the cushions. The other officials with insufficient rank can only stand behind a group of big shots...
Li Chengqian sat on the throne, looked around at the ministers in the palace, paused for a moment, and then said, "Dear ladies, do you have anything to say?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Taichang Qing Wei Ting walking out of the class and coming to the palace. He held a fluorene board and bowed, saying, "I have something to report!"
Li Chengqian glanced at everyone and saw Xiao Yu, the leader of the civil servants, with his eyebrows lowered and his eyes calm, feeling a little at peace in his heart. Then he asked, "If you have anything to do, you might as well report it."
"Here!"
Wei Ting responded, and then knelt down on the ground while the courtiers were stunned, with the fluorene board placed by his side. He stretched out his hand to take off the black gauze beam crown on his head, and placed it in front of him. Then he kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, last night's tribe The middle son Wei Zhengju didn't come back all night? It was not a big deal at first. But at midnight, someone sent a letter to the minister's residence, saying that Wei Zhengju had been deceived and mistakenly entered the royal forbidden garden. He had been captured by the imperial guards and was later sent to the "Hundred Horsemen" Si', died after being tortured to force a confession..."
There was an exclamation of "boom" from Li Zhengdian, and all the ministers were surprised.
The chamberlain immediately screamed: "Quiet! How can you be disrespectful in front of His Highness?"
The palace then became quiet, but the ministers were still whispering to each other and looking at each other.
If it had been anyone else, everyone would not have been so surprised, saying that they had "accidentally entered" the Royal Forbidden Garden. Who knows if there was a premeditated plan? What's more, I don't know if I bumped into any noble person. Although it was a bit excessive to be sent to the "Hundred Knights", it only needed to condemn the royal family for taking the law lightly, so he wouldn't be so shocked.
However, Wei Zhengju had a conflict with Fang Jun not long ago, which almost caused the entire Jingzhao Weishi to be implicated, and was severely suppressed. The "Baiqisi" was also involved in this.
Now he just "accidentally entered" the Royal Forbidden Garden, and was accused of being transferred to the Jingzhao Mansion for interrogation, but he was sent directly to the "Baiqisi" and was "tortured to extort a confession" to death...
The content contained in this is enough to make everyone think about it.
Li Chengqian looked solemn and asked: "Is there any conclusive evidence that Wei Fengchang said this?"
"Fengchang" is the ancient name of Taichang Qing. If others call him this, it not only shows that he is a close relative, but also has the meaning of admiration.
Wei Ting shook his head and said: "There is no evidence...but I firmly believe that this matter is true, so I took off the black gauze and begged Your Highness to order the 'Baiqisi' to investigate this matter strictly. If my son is really the 'Baiqisi' I ask Your Highness to uphold justice and uphold the laws of the country. If it is purely a slander, I am willing to resign from my official position, retire and return to my hometown as an apology, and I ask Your Highness to fulfill my wishes."
His Highness the Minister was shocked again.
Is this a question of whether you resign or not? You are simply threatening the prince! That is to say, the prince is benevolent. If His Majesty Li Er were to sit on top, he would probably directly accept your resignation, and by the way, he would rub off your title to the end, and then be sent away three thousand miles to the ends of the earth to seek justice...
Li Chengqian's face was ashen as he stared at Wei Ting, wishing he could eat him.
Before, he had sympathized with Jingzhao Wei and believed that the thieves framed Wei Zhengju to form this series of conspiracies. But now he couldn't help but have doubts in his heart. Was Jingzhao Weishi being framed by someone else, or was this a trick by Jingzhao Weishi?
Because Wei Ting's words came out, it meant that he, the prince, had no deterrent power in the eyes of the Wei family. Otherwise, how would he dare to say such coercive words?
It’s so deceiving!
Xiao Yu said: "Taichang Qing's words are out of character. Wei Zhengju has not been seen for just a day, which is not enough to be missing. We cannot ignore the law just because he is a descendant of the Jingzhao Wei family. Is it illegal to file a case? Furthermore, Taichang Qing has no evidence but wants Baiqisi to participate in it. What is the reason for this? To take a step back, even if Wei Zhengju really died at Baiqisi's station, Since the Jingzhao Mansion, the Ministry of Punishment, and the Dali Temple have opened a case for trial, why should the 'Baiqisi' be involved in the case? The 'Baiqisi' is His Majesty's fierce tiger and the wing of the country, and he must not become a prisoner of the imperial court!"
"Baiqisi" must not be involved in this matter. Even if Wei Zhengju died in the "Baiqisi" execution chamber, the Tribunal of Justice could only preside over the trial.
Otherwise, "Hundred Qisi" will definitely be questioned, and he will not be able to explain clearly, and then the royal family and the prince will be implicated.
After all, Wei Zhengju did die in the "Baiqisi" torture chamber...
Wei Ting knelt on the ground with a determined face. Before he spoke, someone on the side had already made an excuse and said: "The Duke of Song Dynasty said this wrongly. It is precisely because the 'Baiqisi' is His Majesty's fierce tiger and the wing of the country. Moreover, he has always behaved according to the rules and has never secretly framed him." , the abuse of lynching, so everyone in the government and the public praised him and believed in his innocence. "Hundred Cavalry Division" is an important weapon of the country, how can we allow the three law divisions to intervene in it? If so, the imperial power will be damaged, and it will be left to him. Conducting an internal trial yourself is really the best way to safeguard Tianwei."
Li Chengqian looked sideways and found that the person speaking was actually the servant Liu Ji... He couldn't help but frowned.
Although this guy has always been a fool and followed the crowd, he has become very determined since he attached to Fang Jun, and now he can be regarded as one of the big bosses of the Donggong family. Although I don't feel ashamed of him as a person, I respect his abilities and am willing to help him and put him to good use. Who would have expected that he would be the first to stand up to support Wei Ting and provoke "Baiqisi"?
Everyone knows that the prince is currently supervising the country. Once "Baiqisi" is confirmed to have murdered Wei Zhengju, the crime will inevitably be implicated on him, the prince. If the government is in turmoil, he, the prince, will be the first person responsible. He will be subjected to endless slander and his reputation will be ruined.
Does this bastard want to give Gu a "stab in the back"?
Extremely abominable...
Cen Wenwen, who was already old and frail, didn't know what was going on, but he had been accustomed to intrigues and intrigues and ups and downs in government throughout his official career, so he subconsciously felt that the matter might be something serious. After pondering for a while, he said, "What Liu Shizhong said is very inappropriate. The establishment of the 'Hundred Cavalry Division' was a last resort done by His Majesty in order to stabilize the imperial power and protect the country. When it was established, he set the original intention of never interfering with the court's justice. Liu Shizhong now agrees that the 'Hundred Cavalry Division' will review everything The death of a commoner without an official title not only goes against His Majesty's original intention, but also disrupts the empire's judicial system. Where will this move place the Three Law Divisions? I think it is absolutely unacceptable."
