Changsun Xingbu had been kneeling in Yang Ming's study for more than an hour.
Yang Ming is currently sitting behind a few desks, flipping through Pei Ju's volume "Illustrated Records of the Western Regions".
It has to be said that the important ministers during the Kaihuang years were really powerful. Pei Ju only stayed in Zhangye for two and a half years, but the content recorded in this book of Western Regions is very detailed and can be regarded as a treasure.
In other words, Yang Guang is taking advantage of his father's wealth. The ministers who have stayed behind to assist the country are a huge wealth.
After Yang Guang ascended the throne, the ministers who really emerged from his hands could be called pillars. Only Yu Wenshu came to protect his children, and the others were almost useless.
On the contrary, Su Wei, Pei Ju, Niu Hong, and Yang Yue, who were already central leaders during the founding of the Emperor, really supported the court.
Zhang Heng and Guo Yan were considered good ministers, but unfortunately Guo Yan was dead. Zhang Heng was not favored by Yang Guang now, but Pei Yun and Yu Shiji were getting along well.
"Are the rumors true?" Yang Ming asked casually without raising his head.
Changsun Xingbu breathed a sigh of relief. The prince finally spoke to me. He replied:
"I will never deceive Your Highness. There are definitely situations where the city defense gate generals have enriched their own pockets. I failed to discipline An Ye well, causing him to take bribes and pervert the law. I am guilty, so please forgive me."
Yang Ming said calmly: "When your father was still alive, I was always protecting him, including your second uncle, Sun Chi, who was recommended by me as Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. I treat your family well."
"The prince has been kind to you, and the eldest grandson has nothing to repay," eldest grandson Xingbu kowtowed to Yang Ming.
Yang Ming closed the file, raised his head and said: "You are the eldest son, so Gu asked you to come to the East Palace. Wuji is the youngest son, and he is still young, so Gu is placed next to the prince. How painstaking Gu is to make such an arrangement. You guys It’s not like I don’t know.”
After saying that, Yang Ming stood up and clasped his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth in front of the bookshelf:
"Diligence and frugality have not gone unnoticed, and arrogance, luxury, and fatigue have not gone undefeated. Changsun Shengquan is aware that if he knew that there was such a quarrel between you brothers, he would not be able to close his eyes."
The eldest grandson Xingbu immediately cried bitterly: "I have failed your Highness, I am ashamed of my late father."
Yang Ming snorted coldly: "You are guilty of being unruly and unruly as an elder brother. An Ye is also guilty of being lawless. I don't care what I do with you this time. Whatever is decided by Dali Temple, lest others say that I am too biased towards you." "
"I would like to accept the punishment together with Changsun Anye," Changsun Xingbu kowtowed.
Yang Ming said calmly: "A house that accumulates good deeds will always be happy, and a house that accumulates bad deeds will always be in trouble, so take care of yourself."
Starting from the reign of Emperor Kaihuang, the position of Minister of Dali Temple must be held by those who are upright and selfless. To put it bluntly, I don't want to be disrespectful to anyone, and I don't give face to anyone.
The current minister of Dali Temple is Zheng Shanguo, and the two young ministers are Pei Yun and Yang Wang.
Changsun Anye's case was sent directly to Dali Temple. There were no three memorials, because those sentenced to death must undergo three memorials before they can be sentenced. Changsun Anye's case was not worthy of the death penalty.
This is the fact. According to the laws of the Sui Dynasty, no matter how greedy you are, there is no death penalty. The most serious thing is to be demoted to a commoner. And with Changsun Anye's background, Yang Ming actually has to nod in the end.
But Yang Ming said, if I don’t nod this time, Dali Temple can have the final say.
It's obvious that he doesn't want to protect him, so Dali Temple must be trying to kill him.
Zheng Shanguo and Yang Wang were both in Beijing, and piled in front of them were the case files handed over by Sili Tai, which clearly revealed the illegal things Chang Sun Anye had done.
I don't usually check you because the higher-ups don't ask you to do so. As long as you check, you will get it right.
"The eldest grandson Anye is easy to deal with. Just demote him to a commoner. But this eldest grandson Xingbu is hard to decide." Yang Wang looked at Zheng Shanguo, waiting for the other party to make up his mind.
Who does Zheng Shanguo belong to? The emperor and the prince made mistakes, and he dared to find fault.
Of course, picking thorns against Yang Guang were all innocuous, but he was very enthusiastic about picking thorns against the prince, because he felt that the prince was the hope of the future, and he must be strict with himself and be lenient towards others.
For example, he has advised against the Jinyang Tower incident, the matter of letting Dugu Yin go to the province, and the matter of sitting back and watching the corruption of King Liang, etc., etc.
Of course, Yang Ming accepted it humbly because of his face. As for whether to change it or not, that was beyond Zheng Shanguo's control.
"Obviously, the prince does not intend to take sides this time. The eldest son's family has been too troublesome recently, and they do not feel embarrassed, but they certainly don't know that they have also embarrassed the prince and the prince," Zheng Shanguo said:
"In the files reported by Wei Fuzi, it is recorded that Changsun Anye has been greedy for money over the years, and Changsun Xingbu also spent a lot of money. It can be seen that he did not report the knowledge and violated the law. I think, led by the right military servant of the East Palace, he can no longer do this Yes, let him be dismissed."
Yang Wang frowned and said, "Do you really dare to be the master of this? Are we going to exempt the prince's people if we say they are exempt?"
Zheng Shanguo smiled and said: "Can't you see that the prince actually used the help of Dali Temple to help kick out the eldest grandson Xingbu? If the prince does it, he may have a reputation of being ruthless and unjust. Let's do it , it’s a matter of course.”
Yang Wang smiled and said: "I thought I wanted to use Changsun Anye to warn the other prison generals and ask them to cough up some money."
Zheng Shanguo said: "There must be something to this meaning. The prison guards are really too rich. If you change one group, the next group will still have the same virtues. They can't help it. Besides, they are all involved with the Twelve Guards. Don’t blame everyone, Changsun Anye is killing a chicken to show the monkey this time, the court wants to use this to collect some money, so he is unlucky, he has been in the limelight recently. "
"This boy is indeed dishonest. He dares to say anything after drinking. I heard that the eldest grandson's family is also looking for trouble for him," Yang Wang said, "Insulting my stepmother with words is also unfilial. His career is ruined."
Zheng Shanguo took a file, then dipped his pen in cinnabar and drew a circle:
"That's it. The eldest grandson Anye will be demoted to a commoner, and the eldest grandson Xingbu will remove him from his post and keep him for future use."
Changsun Wuji, who lived in Gao Shilian's house, was stunned when he learned the news and hurriedly discussed with his uncle and mother Gao.
"The cycle of cause and effect means unfavorable retribution," Gao Shilian stroked his beard and said with a smile, "The prince still protects Wuji."
However, Mrs. Gao said with an ugly face:
"Xingbu is the direct eldest son. Now that he has been dismissed and returned home, it is still unknown whether he can be used again in the future. Anye deserves it, but Xingbu should not be like this. Ji Sheng (Chang Sun Sheng) will never bear the thought of Xingbu being like this." After all, this is the legitimate eldest son, if he is destroyed, the family will also be destroyed."
How awesome were the heirs in ancient times? If the eldest son dies, both parents need to pay filial piety, and it is the heaviest beheading among the five services.
Changsun Wuji also sighed: "Although I resent them, I can't bear it. Xingbu has no title, only the lowest rank of Chaosan doctor. According to past practice, once a rank like his is dismissed, it will be difficult to be used again." , we are not Jing Zhaowei, we don’t have the capabilities that others have.”
The most powerful Changsun Chi and Changsun Sheng of the Changsun family are both dead. The descendants have no support. They are now at a low point, and only the Yuan family of Luoyang can help.
But the Yuan family couldn't say anything in Dali Temple. After all, they had already sentenced them, and no one could make them change the verdict.
"The line of cloth must be protected, otherwise I would be ashamed of my deceased husband," Gao said seriously: "Fortunately, there is a sentence in Dali Temple's penalty that is reserved for use. We can think of a way to use these four words, brother. I need help with the cloth."
Gao Shilian shook his head and said: "It's useless. Zheng Shanguo is an incompetent person. When I see people on weekdays, they don't look at me seriously. This matter ends here. The prince acquiesces, and Dali Temple judges that no one can do this." If any of you dare to complain about the changes, you will be in trouble with Dali Temple."
Gao said with a sad expression: "If Xingbu is cut off from his official career, how will I explain to Ji Sheng after I go down? The family cannot be ruined because of me and Wuji. I cannot bear the infamy."
Changsun Wuji was silent.
The next day, snow began to fall in the capital, and Mrs. Gao, dressed in plain clothes, knelt outside the Zhuque Gate to plead for mercy for her eldest grandson Xingbu.
She was very smart this time. This matter cannot be done by the men in the family. Anyone who dares to plead will be punished, but the woman is fine, not to mention that Gao is indeed the stepmother.
A stepmother is also a mother, and it is only natural that a mother pleads for her son.
After the incident spread, many people in Changsun's family came to persuade Gao to leave, including Changsun Sheng's two sons-in-law in Beijing, Wang Shao, the general secretary of Neishi Province, and Liu Kui, the chief minister of Taicheng.
"Go back, don't do this false show of mercy," Changsun Xingbu looked disgusted and went to pull Gao off the ground, but was kicked to the ground by his fourth uncle, Changsun Chang.
Changsun Chang went up and slapped his nephew twice, grabbed his nephew by the collar, and said bitterly:
"You bastard, how dare you treat your stepmother like this at the foot of the Imperial City? Do you still want this face of yours?"
Changsun Xingbu also realized that he was outside after all, and a son should not treat his mother like this, so he hurriedly knelt in front of Gao:
"Just go back with me. The entire capital is watching my son's jokes. Please don't cause any more trouble to your son."
Gao didn't say a word from beginning to end.
A group of people blocked the Suzaku Gate. The person on duty today was Yang Yan, the second son of King Yang Hong of Hejian. He sent everyone:
"What do you want to do if you are stuck here? Get out of my way. The Crown Prince's concubine's car is about to return to the palace. If you block it, I will arrest you. Don't blame me for not saving face for you."
Changsun Chang hurriedly called to everyone: "Get out of the way, get out of the way quickly."
Everyone retreated to one side of the road. Only Gao was still kneeling in the middle. No one else dared to pull her. After all, she was Chang Sun Sheng's wife. The others were either peers or juniors and did not dare to pull her.
Yang Yan was also embarrassed. He was a female prostitute, and Chang Sun Sheng's prestige in the military had always been very good. He didn't want to embarrass a housewife whose son followed the prince back to the palace every three days.
The prince is so defensive, he doesn't want to cause trouble.
Time passed little by little. Pei Shuying, who had gone out to pick up her son back to the palace, arrived in a convoy outside the Zhuque Gate. They were far away. Pei Zhong dismounted his horse and stepped forward. He originally planned to chase the people away, but he saw that it was Changsun Wuji's mother. Go back and report to Pei Shuying.
Why did Pei Zhong know Gao?
Because in the early years, when Yang Rui arranged a residence for Changsun Wuji and his wife, it was Yang Jin who stole Pei Shuying's land deed, which was the backyard of a silk and satin village, and the steward of that silk and satin village was Pei Zhong's youngest son. flood. (End of chapter)
