Lu Xinzhong's overwhelming power in the Ministry of Internal Affairs collapsed in one day. His followers had dispersed like birds and beasts, and they all knelt down at Shen Jing's feet. They begged the general manager's forgiveness and continued to serve in the palace. He was the only one who put on a rough brown prison uniform and was chained by people sent by Dali Temple. , was taken to the lobby for interrogation, and the previous prestige was gone.
"Criminal Lu Xinzhong!" The Hunanese stretched out his sleeves, slapped the table and shouted, "As a slave, you dare to form a party for personal gain and commit rebellion. You have no sense of shame! Your crime has become an ironclad fact. , it stands to reason that there is no need for another trial; but there are still doubts in this case and we must not let it go easily. Tell me honestly, where did you get the news about the court meeting? Which accomplice told you? "
Lu Xinzhong was held down by two jailers on his shoulders, and he knelt on a wooden bench without saying a word. When he raised his eyes and saw that it was the Hunan people who were interrogating him, he thought to himself: "I have little contact with Party Chen, but I have little contact with Party Chen." Their interests are at stake and they will not let me reveal the name of the old uncle. If you treat him with humiliation, maybe you can cooperate...'
With this glimmer of hope in his arms, he replied in the most humble manner: "Beyond the adults, the little ones deserve to die, the little ones deserve to die... But the little ones have a cheap life, and it is not a pity to die; the adults have precious lives, and the little ones deserve to die." How dare you involve all the gentlemen? I hope you will sentence me to death immediately and stop affecting others!"
The people from Guoxiang didn't hesitate at all, their expressions suddenly sank, and they bowed to the sky: "This is His Majesty's decree. He asked me at Dali Temple to examine it carefully and find out the accomplices. How can I violate the Holy Will?" The criminal, Lu Xinzhong, openly ignored the imperial edict, bargained with me, and was evasive. It's really abominable! Someone, pick up the criminal and give me a hard cane!"
Lu Xinzhong was shocked. Before he could understand the intention of the Hunan people, he was dragged down on the stool. Without any explanation, the water and fire sticks were beaten down one after another, making Eunuch Lu scream in agony. Not enough.
"I said, I said!" Lu Xinzhong couldn't hold on for a moment, stretched out a hand and said, "Put it down now!"
The Guoxiang man winked, and the people on both sides stopped.
While feeling pain, Lu Xinzhong said: "The reason why Xiao Xiao, Xiao Xiao knows about the court meeting is because the Secretary of the Imperial Guard told me the secret."
The man from Guoxiang was not surprised by his answer. He continued to ask without expression, "So, you really conspired with the old uncle to exploit the people in the capital?"
Lu Xinzhong was stunned for a moment: "Yes..."
"But that was not my idea," he quickly added, "Manager Shen took all the oil and water scraped out! I was just listening..."
"Presumptuous! Presumptuous!" Guoxiang people roared hurriedly to cover up his voice, "I'm about to die, but I still want to drag Mr. Shen into the water! He has already made a clear explanation and put him in jail!"
Lu Xinzhong knew that there was no hope of survival. He gritted his teeth and wanted to call out Shen Jing's name like crazy, shouting to the whole hall. The jailers on both sides suddenly became anxious and stepped forward to cover his mouth and drag him down. Go to the hall.
The people from Guoxiang witnessed all this, and their hearts were beating suddenly. Fortunately, it was finally quiet before their eyes. He sighed and tilted his head to look at the clerk who was recording the confession: "Secretary, please erase his last few sentences and give them to me. I will submit them to the Ministry of Punishments!"
"Are you ready to hand it over to Ye Yongjia?"
Chen Tongpao stood up slowly under the candlelight, took the confession from the Xiang people, and asked.
"According to your instructions, let the guy come to a clean account," Guoxiang lowered his head gloomily and muttered, "But I don't understand, why should I stand idly by at this time? If Ye Yongjia gains power, will the New Deal really be transformed?" If it succeeds, then we will have no room to fight back.”
Tongpao Chen smiled slightly: "Sixing shouldn't be so anxious. That uncle has been abandoned by the emperor, and siding with him now is tantamount to putting out the fire. It's better to stabilize our advantage first."
"Now, what advantage do we have?" Guo Xiangren waved his hand and sneered.
Tongpao Chen said slowly: "Although we can't help those two imperial guards, we must not sever ties with the prince. In my opinion, the prince is also likely to be involved, and he must be completely swayed to Qingliu's side, so that The superior imperial power cannot be separated from us, and it will be difficult for Ye Yongjia to resist."
"What's your plan?" Guoxiang people didn't doubt his resourcefulness at all.
Chen Tongpao whispered in his ear for a while, then stroked his beard and said with a smile: "I'll tell you so much first. After all, you and I have to put a long line in order to catch the big fish!"
After taking over the case, Ye Yongjia, through Ming Huiguang, ordered Lu Tingci to go to surrounding prefectures and counties to investigate the actual situation.
Lu Tingci had always been meticulous in handling matters, so Ye Yongjia was relieved and allowed him to search slowly. Unexpectedly, there was no result within a few days, so he hurriedly called him back.
When Lu Tingci came to the Ministry of War, he saw that Ye and Cai were displeased and asked him face to face: "Lu Yushi, this is an opportunity for you to make meritorious deeds. Why didn't you notice any disadvantages?"
Lu Tingci did not panic and replied seriously: "If you use some unjust means, you can find out countless 'truths', but I despise such behavior. I went to those places and asked the local people, But most of their answers were hesitant and their eyes were evasive, so the officials around me advised me that these people did not dare to tell the truth and had to be sent to the county government for careful questioning. But I refused on the spot. …”
"Isn't this a good idea?" Cai Xianqing interrupted him.
"Servant Cai," Lu Tingci bowed to him, "even if we are sure that they are hiding something from each other, then must the words they brought to the court and said under threats have to be the 'truth'? I think that through unjust means, Doing what you feel is right will not make the people feel any justice."
"What you said is indeed correct," Ye Yongjia sighed and said helplessly, "But if everything follows this law, we will not be able to defeat those Qingliu. I heard that Lu Yushi is a person who knows how to adapt. Why are you today? Have you forgotten this?"
Lu Tingci said: "Tingci knows very well that 'etiquette has its own rules and authority', but it is for treating others. To treat yourself, you must live up to your conscience."
Ye Yongjia was about to reply to his words when he suddenly saw a person pushing open the door and walking directly into the living room. He bowed his head and saluted Ye Yongjia without saying a word.
"Who is this?" Cai Xianqing glanced at him coldly.
The clerk was dumbfounded and said with a smile: "Two gentlemen, this is the minister of Dali Temple who has handed over Lu Xinzhong's confession."
The Guoxiang man took a step forward and held the paper in his hands.
