Two days later, the Forbidden City.
The Chengqian Palace was ablaze with incense, and Emperor Zhizheng, who was wearing a wide robe and long sleeves, was sitting with his eyes closed among the Yin and Yang Bagua paved with purple gold bricks in the middle of the hall.
"Prosperity, wealth and honor are all trivial, but the body and life are destined to be great. The water of fire and wind is like floating water, so that the false body can be broken first..."
Wang Mian on the side saw that his master did not practice Taoism, but read a poem by Ma Yuma, so he stepped forward and said jokingly: "Master, you have a deep relationship with Taoism, and you are so great that you forget love and glory in the world. Sooner or later, you will have a better life." If you can become a god in one day, your slaves will follow you to heaven and serve you all the time."
Emperor Zhizheng, who was in a daze while reciting poems, was disturbed by Wang Mian. He slowly turned his head to look at him and frowned: "Why show it?"
Wang Mian quickly explained: "Eunuch He got cold a few days ago and has not recovered. Today, he is on duty and will be served by the slave!"
Emperor Zhizheng stretched out his hand noncommittally. After waiting for a while, there was no response, and he became even more upset: "Idiot, help me up!"
Wang Mian was so frightened that he crawled to Emperor Zhizheng's side and carefully helped the Ninth Five-Year Emperor stand up.
"Go, tell the cabinet members to come here!" Emperor Zhizheng took a sip of tea and added, "Call Lu Yunshen by the way."
When the news reached the cabinet, the three grand maesters had not yet left.
Qin Yan stood up from the kang, beat his waist and said with a smile: "Guozhi, Zhang Ming, let's come together!"
Guozhi is the character of Xia Yangqiu, the second auxiliary, and Mingming is the character of Wu Xingbang, the third auxiliary.
The emperor summoned him, and the old chief assistant made an appointment to meet him together. The two deputies quickly helped Qin Yan out.
Gong Youwei, a member of Zhongshushe, was waiting in front with a lantern, but the three people behind him were speechless for a while.
Finally, Qin Yan broke the silence and asked the two deputies: "It's so late, and the emperor asked us to have an audience with the cabinet. Do you know why?"
Xia Yangqiu sneered in his heart. Today, the cabinet received two reports. One was from Youqiandu Yushi, his own hardcore Huang Lun. They were escorting the Zhou and Ge families to Beijing. They had just crossed the river and the Zhou and Ge families were They were all poisoned on the ship. All seventy-three members of the two families were not spared, and they died in a miserable state.
Another thing is that the right minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs requested an order to ask Zhou and Ge about the case. It turned out that the imperial edict praising the meritorious officials in Hailing County was read out normally.
It was obvious that Xia Shoufu had read the two excerpts first, but now he pretended to be nonchalant.
"What a cunning old man!" Xia Yangqiu cursed in his heart.
At this time, the third assistant Wu Xingbang said: "In my opinion, it should be because the two convicts, Yangzhou Magistrate and Lianghuai Salt Transportation Division Yunpan, were poisoned while being escorted."
Qin Yan suddenly realized: "By the way, I remembered the discount I just received this afternoon. Look at my memory, it's getting old!"
Seeing that Xia Yangqiu was silent, Qin Yan turned around and asked, "Guozhi, what do you think of this matter?"
Xia Yangqiu felt disgusted in his heart, but he still said solemnly on his face: "This Huang Lun can't handle even this. After returning to Beijing, he must be severely reprimanded!"
Qin Yan smiled and said, "Let's talk about it later. I'm asking about the fact that Hailing County was invaded by bandits and now that Zhou and Ge are dead, how can we investigate it? If His Majesty asks, how should we respond? ?”
When Wu Xingbang heard this, he shut his mouth knowingly. There was so much going on here, how could he not know about it after having been in the cabinet for many years.
Zhou, Ge, and Cao Bangzhou, who had been escorted to Beijing, were all the first assistants, and Huang Lun and Kong Yiyuan were the second assistants.
Now that something like this has happened and the two of them are secretly fighting, it would be too stupid to get involved.
Xia Yangqiu thought for a while and replied: "First, let's go south with the gangsters from the Ministry of Punishment and Dali Temple to find out the cause of death! In addition, let's send someone to find out the truth about Zhou and Ge's collusion with bandits, especially the source of gunpowder. By the way, Cao Bangzhu Be careful, nothing happens again!"
Qin Yan sighed, turned around and patted Xia Yangqiu's arm: "Guozhi is still clear-headed. I'm old. I fall asleep at night and can't think straight. When your majesty asks about it later, it's up to you to tell me the plan you just made. Your Majesty, listen!"
At this time, a lantern at the palace gate in the distance gradually approached. When the three of them saw it, it turned out that Lu Yunshen, the commander of the Jinyi Guards, had also arrived.
Lu Yun bowed deeply and said, "I have met these three gentlemen."
For the country's number one spy leader, even three bachelors would not neglect him easily.
After seeing the ceremony, Xia Yangqiu, who was familiar to everyone, said: "Yuanzhong, your nephew Lu Tao took people to Yangzhou this time, right? Now that the Zhou Ge family has been silenced, does your nephew have any clues? ?”
Lu Yunshen was shocked when he heard this: "Mr. Xia is talking about the case of the Yangzhou magistrate and the salt transport magistrate colluding with thieves?"
Xia Yangqiu nodded.
Lu Yun sighed deeply and said: "My knees are sore today and I can't go to the ground. I didn't go to the Yamen. I didn't expect this kind of thing to happen. This, this, I just found out about it!"
Xia Yangqiu glanced at Lu Yunshen suspiciously and then stopped talking.
At this time, the group of people had arrived at the gate of Chengqian Palace, and after a message was passed, the four of them entered the palace.
After saluting, Emperor Zhizheng looked at the four people below the steps and said, "You should all know why I came to you today, right?"
After waiting for a while, no one spoke. Xia Yangqiu saw that Qin Yan had no intention of speaking, so he stepped out and said: "Reporting to your Majesty, I guess it is a matter in Yangzhou Prefecture."
Emperor Zhizheng nodded: "Master Cifu, tell me, what should we do about this matter?"
Xia Yangqiu just wanted to repeat what he just said, but after he glanced up at Emperor Zheng, he changed his mind: "I beg your Majesty to judge!"
Emperor Zhizheng glanced at the crowd indifferently and snorted coldly: "A boatload of guards in royal robes can't even see the prisoners. Lu Yunshen, what do you do for food?"
Lu Yunshen was so frightened that he quickly knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, when Lu Tao comes back, I will torture him carefully!"
Emperor Zhizheng showed disdain on his face: "Lu Tao is your nephew. He doesn't have the guts to betray you as an uncle. However, those Jinyi guards he brought should be well trained!"
"Yes!" Lu Yun kowtowed deeply and replied, "I will definitely deal with it strictly. If anyone is found to have colluded with poisoning, he will be killed without mercy!"
Emperor Zhizheng turned to look at the three cabinet members: "Huang Lun and Kong Yiyuan failed to do their job well. They will be demoted one level and fined for one year."
Xia Yangqiu's heart tightened.
Emperor Zhizheng said again: "Zhou Yi and Ge Youli are already dead, and nothing has been found. Let's just bury them as serving officials for the time being!"
Xia Yangqiu and Wu Xingbang were shocked and wanted to say something, but they both knew nothing.
"As for colluding with bandits!" Emperor Zhi Zheng pondered for a moment, "Encircle and suppress the locals vigorously, capture the bandit chief alive and torture him severely!"
Xia Yangqiu couldn't bear it anymore after hearing this: "Your Majesty, please send someone to investigate the case again, and give an account to the dead people!"
Emperor Zhizheng frowned and did not say anything. Instead, he turned to Lu Yunshen and said coldly: "Cao Bangzhu killed a good man and took credit for his crimes. I am very disappointed in him. How should you deal with it when you go back? Do you understand?"
Lu Yunshen secretly glanced at Emperor Zhizheng's murderous eyes, and his voice trembled slightly: "Yes~~~~"
Qin Yan came out at this time and said: "Your Majesty, Zeng Dayou handed over the document and asked for instructions on what to do with the imperial edict to commend everyone in Hailing?"
Emperor Zhizheng said: "Don't read the part about Ge and Zhou people. Other people who have made meritorious deeds should still be rewarded!"
"Yes!" Several people responded in unison.
"Let this be the case! You all go back and rest!" After Emperor Zhizheng waved his hand, he sat cross-legged, made the Dantian mudra with his hands, and stopped talking.
Wang Mian said: "Three masters, Mr. Lu, your majesty is going to practice, please invite me!"
