In the spring morning in Kyoto, the branches are blooming, and the blossoming flowers in various prefectures are in bloom.
The air began to fill with a faint fragrance, which is the smell of warm spring flowers. After several spring rains, the streets of Kyoto seemed a bit wet, but the weather after the rain was extremely pleasant. The return of the southern swallows to the north meant that it was a brand new one. The year is coming.
But many people have a vague feeling that Kyoto may become less peaceful in this new year.
The sensational Chunwei fraud came to an end temporarily after the Supervisory Yuan captured the last few relevant people from Jiangnan. Emperor Qing quickly gave his opinions on how to deal with it. Except for Guo You, the Minister of Rites, the rest of the court Seventeen officials involved were sentenced to death by beheading.
Our Emperor wants to use this incident to give people a serious warning.
Let each other know something.
Emperor Qing could accept the use of the Chunwei quota by court officials to seek benefits.
But he will never allow these people under his nose to completely divide the cake of the imperial court.
The scholars below must have a channel to come up. Even if this channel seems very narrow, it must not be completely blocked. It turns out that Emperor Qing thought that the people in the court should have a ruler in mind, but he still underestimated people. Greed in the heart.
Every share in Kyoto is extremely precious even to many wealthy families.
So as I kept eating, there was naturally not much left in the end.
Emperor Qing was actually helpless.
Because the matter of Chunwei cannot be investigated in depth at all.
That's why he warned the people below him by openly asking questions.
Spring rain comes one after another.
On March 17th, there were several booming thunders in the sky in Kyoto. The originally bright sunshine was soon shrouded by layers of dark clouds. People took the time to retrieve the clothes that had been dried in the yard and cursed secretly. Damn weather.
Not long after, light raindrops fell from the sky, and the smell of rain and soil filled the air.
On this afternoon, Yanshikou, which was made of bluestone slabs, was surrounded by a lot of people eating melons. Even though God above his head was urinating wantonly, it still did not dampen the people who came to watch the execution, because Kyoto has not been like this for many years. Massive beheadings.
Many people had gone to watch the lively legal battle between the Fan family and the Guo family in Jingzhao Mansion last time.
I just didn't expect that the Master of the Guo family would fall in so quickly. To the pity of the crowd, that Master Guo was not among the seventeen people waiting to be beheaded.
It is said that Mr. Guo Youzhi was the only official involved in the scandal who was sentenced to exile.
It stands to reason that killing this minister can truly serve as a warning to the monkeys, but I don't know what went wrong. In the end, His Majesty ordered Guo Youzhi to be exiled for three thousand miles.
In the pavilion set up at Yanshikou, people from the Third Division and the Supervisory Yuan were ordered to supervise the execution.
Lu Ze sat in the center, expressionless as he watched seventeen people dressed in white prison uniforms being pressed up. The clothes were stained with blood, and they looked like they must have suffered a lot in prison.
The people in the audience finally began to get excited, with noisy shouts accompanied by heavy rain and thunder.
The Prince of the East Palace personally supervised the execution!
This shows Emperor Qing's attitude towards this spring fraud.
Lu Ze looked dull.
The faces of the people in Sansi around him didn't look so good-looking.
Many of these people on the wooden platform not far away are still their old acquaintances. They may have been drinking and playing mahjong together during the Chinese New Year, or listening to music on the boathouse on the Liujing River, but in the blink of an eye, things have changed. Being separated, the mood is naturally not much better.
"Your Highness."
"The time has come."
Someone beside him reminded me in a low voice.
Lu Ze raised his head and looked at the gray sky. It was naturally impossible to see the sundial on a cloudy and rainy day without the sun. At this time, an object called a water clock was needed. This time, there were also people from Si Tianjian who came to prison.
Lu Ze nodded slightly.
Soon someone went out to read out the decree. The voice was a little unclear in the heavy rain, but when people saw Lu Ze on the main seat throwing the command arrow in his hand on the ground, everyone unanimously heard the last word clearly: "Behead." !」
Soon, the stage was covered with blood, and the bright red blood flowed to the ground as the rain washed away.
The spectators saw the physical reaction between the heads and the shiny machetes, and all of them lost the mood to join in the excitement at the beginning. Some of the people eating melons in the front row were even retching. This was probably the first time. See this scene.
Lu Ze had no reaction. After completing the task, he was ready to leave.
He thought silently that at this time Guo Youzhi should have been forced out of the city from the south gate. After losing Guo Youzhi as the pillar, the Guo family was eliminated in Kyoto, but he finally survived. Compared with the one in Yanshikou With his head on the ground, Guo Shangshu's treatment is undoubtedly much better.
Many people in the court felt that this was the result of the Fan family.
Although Guo Youzhi barely managed to save his life, the losses on the prince's side were still very huge visible to the naked eye.
However, what was even more unexpected was that the prince's side suffered a more severe blow soon. Such a blow was thousands of times more serious than the loss of a Minister of Rites.
.......
The censors of the Metropolitan Procuratorate collectively submitted a letter to impeach Prime Minister Lin Ruofu for being greedy, traitorous, and murderous. Regarding the assassination of Yuli on Niulan Street, the conspiracy role played by the Prime Minister's Office in it suddenly emerged. The center shook.
People immediately suspected that someone was deliberately messing with Prime Minister Lin.
Because five or six months had passed since the assassination on Niulan Street, the Supervisory Yuan finally concluded that the assassination was arranged by the Northern Qi Dynasty deliberately to provoke chaos in the Qing Dynasty. Some in the court speculated that the Qing Dynasty internal affairs There is a mole, but it's definitely not Prime Minister Lin.
joke.
If Prime Minister Lin was a female agent installed by Northern Qi, then this would undoubtedly be the coldest joke in the world.
But at this time, a conclusive witness suddenly appeared. It was said that he left the prime minister's house. Moreover, this witness was assassinated on the way to the Control Yuan to give a confession. The danger was full of danger and he was killed by the experts in the Control Yuan. Saved.
For a time, the wind in Beijing gradually became a little strange.
At the beginning, people in the court still tended to side with Prime Minister Lin. It was not that Lin Ruofu, who had been prime minister for thirty years, was such a good person, but that the existing court had managed to maintain a relatively stable situation. balanced situation.
Enough happened in Kyoto last year. Last month, seventeen high-ranking officials were beheaded at Yanshikou.
There really can't be too much trouble in Kyoto right now.
Why are people in the capital so angry about Fan Xian's passing of the little note?
Because when this newborn calf came up, he punched the old master to death, breaking the established rules.
Everyone in the court pays attention to being harmonious and making money.
There may be a few people who hope that the situation will become chaotic and they can take advantage of the troubled waters, but most people in the court still prefer to earn money safely. Even if they earn less, they are at least stable, which is better than losing their hat or even losing their hat. It's head-turning.
"How do you two think...this matter should be handled?"
In the imperial study, Emperor Qing asked Lu Ze and the second prince with a calm expression.
Lu Ze answered directly: "The relationship between my son and Prime Minister Lin is complicated. It is inconvenient to say more about this matter."
Li Chengze on the other side did not speak at this time and also maintained a silent attitude. This matter had exceeded the level of party struggle. Even Li Chengze, the second prince, did not think of overthrowing Lin Ruofu, who had stood in the court for many years. Prime Minister.
Emperor Qing didn't say anything more.
He had been staying in the imperial study that night, reading alone the memorials he had accumulated over the years. Looking at the countless political achievements of Lin Ruofu, the prime minister, Emperor Qing remained silent, which eventually turned into a long sigh.
In the East Palace Mansion, Lin Wan'er looked extremely anxious.
if carefully
Watching, you can see that Wan'er's belly is slightly bulging. At the beginning of the month, Wan'er was diagnosed with Ximai. Only a few people in the capital knew about this. Just when Wan'er was raising her baby with peace of mind and dreaming about the beautiful days in the future, the Lin family It spread throughout Kyoto.
Lu Ze originally wanted to hide it, but then he thought about it and couldn't hide it at all.
"Why?"
"I don't believe that my father would do such a thing, let alone assassinate him in the street."
Lu Ze sighed slightly, and Wan'er beside him frowned tightly.
I heard her continue: "Someone wants to frame my father."
The clever hostess of the East Palace quickly saw clearly the many flaws in this matter. It was impossible for Lin Ruofu, whose political wisdom had developed to a terrifying level, to leave so many flaws in his actions.
Lu Ze gently took Wan'er's shoulder and said softly, "Don't think too much."
"Anyone with a discerning eye can see that this is not true."
But the worry on Wan'er's brow became more apparent. She held Lu Ze's hand tightly: "But there has been no news from the emperor's uncle for a long time. No, I have to go to the palace to ask the Queen Mother."
Lu Ze quickly grabbed her.
Slowly squatting down in front of his wife, Lu Ze gently stroked her belly, with an indescribable tenderness in his tone.
"Believe me."
"I will take care of this matter."
Wan'er sighed slightly: "You and I have such a relationship, it is definitely not appropriate for you to speak about matters involving my father. In the final analysis, this matter still depends on His Majesty's wishes."
........
"The eucalyptus on Niulan Street... this matter was actually revealed by someone in our house." Lin Ruofu's face looked a little pale, and his eyes were focused on his close friend Yuan Hongdao in front of him: "You don't want to Say something?"
Yuan Hongdao frowned slightly: "It's my problem. I didn't expect there to be spies in the mansion. I just didn't expect to have the courage to break up with the prime minister. I just don't know who is behind it."
Lin Ruofu's expression did not change: "It's the one from Xinyang."
"Most of the forces she left in the capital are in the Metropolitan Procuratorate to take revenge on me."
"Retaliation for Wan'er, revenge for what happened between me and her over the years, and..."
Yuan Hongdao nodded, hesitated for a moment and then said: "Actually... this matter still depends on His Majesty's will. If His Majesty doesn't believe it, no matter how fierce the procuratorate is, the Prime Minister's position will still be extremely stable."
Lin Ruofu sighed: "The means used to deal with me are very low-level. The question is whether His Majesty is willing to believe it."
"So many people died in the Spring Festival some time ago, and they were all civil servants. I, the prime minister, who is the head of the civil servants, should have been responsible." He paused and continued, "But the most important thing is that His Majesty did not want me to come. Be this prime minister."
Many hints made by Lu Ze some time ago appeared in Lin Ruofu's mind.
At that time, Lin Ruofu actually thought about such a day in the future, but he did not expect that this day would come so quickly. Originally, Lin Ruofu thought that at least after the prince began to take over the inner treasury, his own The position will move.
Unexpectedly, someone secretly couldn't wait.
"Your Majesty needs me to clear the way for the Crown Prince, or the future His Majesty."
"Your Majesty will not allow the Prince of the East Palace to take over the inner treasury. There will also be the Prime Minister of the current Dynasty as a support in the court. The waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves ahead. I am the wave on the front bank. When it comes time to push out of the stage of history, I will be a good example for future generations. Make room."
"It's just that I didn't expect... the person who stabbed me in the back would be you."
Lin Ruofu looked at his close friend who had been with him for many years, with a trace of pain on his face. People will only be betrayed by their friends, and enemies will never have the chance to betray them: "Gong'er listened to Li Yunrui's words and attacked Fan Xian that time, but... In fact, you were the one who planned the assassination."
Yuan Hongdao was silent for a long time before speaking: "Yes, it's me."
"Even many things in the Prime Minister's Mansion this time were arranged by me."
Lin Ruofu's tone was full of confusion: "Why is it you."
"Sorry, old friend." A hint of apology flashed in Yuan Hongdao's eyes, "I hid in the study here just for this day. I am not a seller seeking glory, but I had a purpose when I lurked next to you. Your Majesty and the eldest princess both need you to go home and take care of themselves."
Lin Ruofu's figure became even more stooped.
"I will go to the palace tomorrow to bid my resignation to His Majesty."
"Dabao and Gong'er will be entrusted to the East Palace."
.......
Early morning hours.
The double agent Yuan Hongdao, who had just taken over from the Supervisory Yuan, was thinking about his trip to Xinyang in the near future. His spy life for so many years did not end with this action. He would have a new identity and go to Li Yunrui. With the trust brought by this action, I waited for time to stab the eldest princess in the back.
--puff!
The knife strike seemed very sudden in the dark night. Yuan Hongdao felt a chill on his neck. He subconsciously reached out to cover his neck, but he could only feel the uncontrollable blood flowing out. He raised his head with difficulty and looked at the familiar face in front of him. The man looked stunned.
"Second...Second Young Master?"
Lin Gong's expression was cold.
"All traitors must die."
In this way, a double agent who had been hiding for many years died in the streets.
Lin Gong, who sheathed his sword, disappeared into the vast night.
Lu Ze on the other side yawned and prepared to go home quickly to be with his wife. He shouldn't sneak out for too long.
"well."
"Let's make chaos!"
