"My beloved, did I blame you wrongly?"
As soon as the emperor said these words, Concubine Pang relaxed and almost fell to the ground.
This incident had a huge impact on her. Just because of her selfish motives, she almost implicated the entire Pang family.
Before she could recover, Cao Bin quickly saluted:
"Your Majesty is wise..."
Kou Zhun stopped him and said:
"It's not official, it's about the emperor's heir, how can it be such a child's play?"
"If something like this happens again in the future, how will the official family feel?"
"As I see it, I'd better investigate carefully and find out."
Cao Bin said quickly:
"Prime Minister Kou, you just came here and you don't know the whole story at all. There are some inside stories that we can't reveal clearly."
"Furthermore, this is an internal palace matter, and it is up to the officials to make their own decisions. Could it be that Prime Minister Kou also wants to intervene?"
Cao Bin did not intend to elaborate with Kou Zhun, and only used words to prevent him from intervening in the matter.
Kou Zhun is not like the emperor who is in it, and the authorities are confused.
He is also more rational than the emperor. If he knew the whole story, he would probably see the flaw.
After hearing Cao Bin's words, Kou Zhun was no longer as kind as before and said sharply:
"How can there be private affairs in the Tian family? The emperor's family affairs are state affairs!"
Cao Bin ignored him and turned to the emperor:
"In the official family, Prime Minister Kou is very concerned about your heirs, and perhaps there is a suitable candidate for adoption."
"you......"
Kou Zhun was disgusted by Cao Bin's actions.
He once forced the emperor to adopt a son from a side branch and establish him as the foundation of the country, but the emperor refused.
I also knew that the emperor hated this idea.
But he didn't mean this at all now, he simply didn't want to let Concubine Pang go.
Unexpectedly, Cao Bin did not debate with him face to face, but directly brought the topic to the topic that the emperor hated.
He is so immoral,
If he reasoned head-on and quoted scriptures, he could blast Cao Bin to death, but when it came to sensitive topics, he had no chance to speak.
As he expected, the emperor straightened his face, waved his hand and said:
"Okay, Kou Qing, if you don't know the whole story, don't get involved in palace affairs."
After saying that, he hesitated for a moment and said to Concubine Pang:
"My beloved concubine, you temporarily resume your position as 'Shunrong'."
The emperor also knew Kou Zhun's purpose. If he directly restored Concubine Pang to the position of noble concubine, Kou Zhun would definitely not agree and would continue to entangle her.
Moreover, the Pang family is still awaiting punishment, and it is not appropriate for Concubine Pang to resume her status as a noble concubine.
Although the position of Shunrong is higher than that of beauty, ranking second, it is not outstanding, and it does not have the exclusive status of the harem.
Seeing that Cao Bin had rescued herself against Kou Zhun again, Concubine Pang felt very satisfied and did not ask for the position of noble concubine anymore.
Kou Zhun hesitated for a moment and did not refute again, so he acquiesced.
However, he was very angry by Cao Bin and stared at him directly and said:
"Cao Bin, don't think that if you cure me of illness, I will let you go!"
"You surrounded the execution ground, what kind of crime do you deserve?"
Before Cao Bin could speak, the emperor waved his hand and said:
"I already know about this matter. I have pardoned his crime and Prime Minister Kou will stop pursuing it!"
Kou Zhun was choked up immediately. He had never felt so aggrieved since he became an official.
When he was young, he dared to fight even Emperor Taizong, but he didn't expect to hold back twice in a row when facing Cao Bin.
I used to think that this person was a bit crooked, but now I look at him with admiration.
Although he is loyal and upright and hates evil, he is different from Bao Zheng and others in that he does not care too much about the quality of his means.
Cao Bin's method attracted his attention.
Thinking of the letter sent by Yicheng County Magistrate, he had the idea to seriously consider it.
At this time, Cao Bin stopped his Qigong, and the emperor stretched himself and stood up and asked:
"Juncai, when will my body be 'healed'?"
Cao Bin hurriedly said: "Wei Chen has spent three or four years conditioning his body since he started using this technique. Wei Chen is not sure..."
He didn't dare to speak too fast, nor too slow.
If the emperor finds out that he has lied to him, he will be so happy now and resentful in the future.
By then, why don’t you chop yourself up alive?
The emperor frowned and was about to say something when the Queen Mother comforted him:
"Your Majesty, don't be too anxious. You are in your prime now and can definitely afford to wait."
The emperor's mood improved and he said:
"Okay, Juncai, let's go with Kou Xiang, and send the bodyguard back."
Cao Bin said, "Your Majesty, since the empress is already innocent, can the Grand Master and his family reduce their crimes?"
"no!"
Before the emperor could speak, Kou Zhun had already retorted resolutely.
This was the beginning of his ideal of "all righteousness prevailing in the dynasty", and Cao Bin would never be allowed to destroy it.
No matter how much he admired Cao Bin, if he wanted to ruin his plan, he wouldn't mind ruthlessly attacking him.
Cao Bin also got angry and said angrily:
"Prime Minister Kou, do you have any conclusive evidence of the Grand Master's crime?"
"Is it too overbearing to convict a leader and aide of a dynasty to death based solely on the crime of catching someone's suspicion?"
Kou Zhun said:
"The truth has collected enough evidence to convict Pang Ji of confiscating his family and genocide."
"The current situation is that the officials are thinking of old feelings and giving a lighter punishment."
Seeing that Cao Bin wanted to refute, he waved his hand and said:
"Uncle Zhongjing, there is no need to say more. The court and His Majesty have already convicted you, and you have no right to inquire about this case!"
Cao Bin was immediately speechless. He was still just the magistrate of Xiangzhou. He only had the right to complain about injustice, but he did not have the right to review.
He looked at the Queen Mother, and Queen Mother Liu also shook her head slightly.
Although her status is lofty, she is limited to the palace. If she interferes in government affairs, it will not only arouse the emperor's vigilance.
Kou Zhun and other ministers will also attack together.
Cao Bin also saw that the person who really wanted to kill Master Pang was not the emperor, but Master Pang.
Seeing that Kou Zhun looked indifferent, he gritted his teeth and said:
"Since Prime Minister Kou claims to be fair, Cao Bin still has evidence to present!"
As he spoke, he said to the emperor: "The official family and the ministers also copied some criminal evidence from the Prince of Xiangyang's Mansion, and asked the court to deal with it impartially."
The emperor was surprised and said: "What kind of evidence is that?"
Upon hearing this, Cao Bin immediately asked a young eunuch to help deliver the message.
After a while, a few personal guards came in on a sedan chair, carrying a large box.
Cao Bin opened the box and said:
"Officials, Kou Prime Minister, these are the clues collected by Zhao Jue, King of Xiangyang, from more than a hundred officials, big and small!"
Looking at the huge box, the emperor and Kou Zhun were both shocked and quickly stepped forward to check it out.
Every time he turned over a book of "Evidence of Crime", the emperor's face became more angry.
These more than 100 officials, plus the Ponzi gang members, accounted for almost half of the officials in the imperial court.
There are these people from all factions, and some of them are even Kou Zhun's cronies.
If we really had to deal with them justly and kill and depose these people, the imperial court would not only be a matter of instability, but would be directly paralyzed.
Cao Bin looked at Kou Zhun and said:
"Prime Minister Kou, you have always been fair and dignified. Since you want to investigate and deal with it, you must not show favoritism!"
"Cao doesn't know if the evidence for Master Pang's crime is really conclusive, but these people are absolutely not innocent..."
If you clean up, I will expose it. At worst, the court will fall apart and everyone will disperse directly...
