Li Longji knew Li Linfu very well, and just by listening to his tone, he realized that he was serious this time.
No frame-up, no personal gain, hand over the case to the third division for a fair decision?
In this case, it is indeed possible that Xue Bai committed a major crime and deliberately beat Yuan Ming, using a small mistake to cover up a major crime?
This kind of little trick was something Li Longji had picked up at his fingertips when he was young. He had long been tired of it and was too lazy to argue with a young man.
For example, a beautiful little kitten is rolling on the ground, trying to make it happy but unable to bite it, but Genu jumps out and points at the kitten and shouts, "Look, saint, he is so scheming!"
Once or twice is enough, two or three times will be annoying, but if it comes a fourth time, Ge Nu won't be so stupid... That is, is this little milk cat really a man-eating tiger?
This thought flashed through his mind, and Li Longji laughed, feeling so ridiculous.
Not to mention ridiculous, even if it is really a tiger, it is still a little tiger. He has never raised any poisonous snakes and beasts, so he will not make such a fuss like Ge Nu.
"Right Prime Minister, don't be excited. Xue Bai will arrive soon. You will know as soon as you ask."
Li Linfu had a clear conscience and responded: "I act magnanimously and I am not afraid of confronting him in front of the emperor."
"Annoy me?" Li Longji laughed and scolded: "Why did I say this was a confrontation?"
"I think your Majesty is too indulgent of Xue Bai." Li Linfu was quite confident.
Li Longji was not in the mood to distinguish right from wrong. When he summoned his ministers, he was actually beating them every few months to maintain their respect for the emperor.
Genu usually works seriously, which is good, but when he comes to him and acts as a remonstrator in a serious manner, it is very annoying. Does the emperor really not know his little thoughts about dealing with the East Palace? No one has dared to show this attitude in front of the emperor for more than ten years.
Fortunately, Li Linfu only did it occasionally. Perhaps he was forced by Xue Bai's dirty tricks and allowed him to do it once.
"Let's not talk about this for now. I've seen your plan to increase revenue and reduce expenditure." Li Longji said, "Very good."
"It's a great honor for me to be able to share your Majesty's worries!"
The monarch and his subjects returned to the most harmonious way of getting along.
"Now that we have money, we have great potential for national affairs." Li Longji said with high spirits: "I want to build a city in the northwest to suppress Tubo. This is a military matter and must be done well. You and I, the monarchs and ministers, should destroy Tubo in our lifetimes; Shi Guo dares to follow Xiaobo. If the State of Lu stops paying tribute, we must send troops to destroy it... Also, the people of Huazhou have been admonishing me for many years, hoping that I can enshrine Huashan, so this matter has been handed over to your right minister."
Li Linfu's back bent even more.
He finally came up with many ways to increase revenue and reduce expenditure, but before he could let go of it, he brought it up again at this time.
I definitely wouldn’t dare to give advice.
He had just persuaded the saint to investigate Xue Bai, and he had shown his attitude, but it was just a small and innocuous matter. What is being discussed at this time is the real national affairs. The saint always decides with his words and does not listen to anything others say.
"Your Majesty, take the order."
Li Longji laughed, patted Li Linfu's shoulder affectionately, called him "Shiro", and praised him again.
It was precisely because Li Linfu was so capable and obedient that he allowed him to form a clique for personal gain and frame the East Palace.
"Sage, Xue Bai is here."
"Call."
When Li Longji saw Xue Bai, he raised his hand and scolded him immediately.
"Shu Zi! It's lawless. I don't know what you are thinking?!"
"Back to the saint, it was Yuan Miao who went too far..."
"That's enough." Li Longji immediately shouted, "If you dare to be clever again, I will punish you and make amends to the Prime Minister."
Xue Bai had a look of helplessness on his face, but actually turned around, crossed his arms in a perfunctory gesture, and said to Li Linfu: "Right Prime Minister, I have indeed made a heavy move."
Li Longji was angry and laughed, and said: "Shu Zi, you are rude, go back and write a poem, and I will see if I will spare you."
"According to the order."
"Sage is not allowed." Li Linfu suddenly spoke, his words were righteous and righteous, with a sense of awe and righteousness, "Sage, Jingzhao Mansion has found out that Xue Bai is involved in a major case, but the evidence is not enough. If the saint indulges him today, he will be arrested again tomorrow. , I'm afraid it will damage the country's prestige..."
When Xue Bai heard this, he seemed to be energetic and said tit for tat: "Okay, the saint asked me to apologize. I have settled the matter. If the right side is aggressive, then we will discuss it clearly in front of the emperor."
Li Longji smiled instead of being angry. He turned to Gao Lishi and said calmly without any surprise, "The two fighting cocks are over."
As soon as he opened his mouth, the hall fell silent, and Li Linfu, who still wanted to refute, immediately fell silent.
"Sage, please calm down." Gao Lishi said with an apologetic smile.
"Bring me my music score."
"According to the order."
Li Longji sat down, holding the score in his hand, looking cool and unrestrained, and said with a sneer without raising his head: "Defense, I also want to hear, who dared to commit murder in the capital of the Tang Dynasty."
Li Linfu's face condensed, he had already felt the unfathomable power of the emperor, who controlled everything but kept it hidden. He opened his mouth and said slowly: "According to the news reported to me by Jingzhao Mansion, although it is unbelievable, the facts are there. Murder in the suburbs. The case is probably the work of someone sent by Xue Bai."
"oh?"
"In February this year, there was a fight in Qingmen Restaurant. It was caused by Xue Ling's debt. Xue Bai was also present. He instructed Da Xi Yingying to send people to attack Mrs. Guo Guo, and then rescued her in order to win over Mrs. Guo Guo. I have a good impression. On that day, many people saw that two brave men became the guards of Guoguo's wife's house. This matter was in full view, and there were also files in Nanya, and the evidence was conclusive. I believe that Jingzhao's house was responsible for Xue Bai His suspicion is justified. He has ulterior motives and is a serious suspect..."
Li Longji was still reading the music score, his expression unchanged.
However, Gao Lishi noticed that the saint's eyes moved slower than usual.
He glanced at Xue Bai again, it was still hard to believe that such a young man could have such a deep city, but many things that had happened all along were indeed strange.
Li Linfu had a lot of evidence. He even had the appearance and experience of the two murderers, and he explained what was obviously a ridiculous thing.
"Your Majesty, the Jingzhao Mansion will soon find out the truth. Please call Jingzhao Yin Xiaojiong for detailed inquiries and expose this sinister traitor, so that the noble concubine will not be deceived!"
With these last words, Li Longji finally raised his head...
~~
In Jingzhao Mansion, Xiao Jiong was looking at the two portraits in front of him with expectation.
He actually didn't expect that Lu Qi could investigate so smoothly, because this case was obviously very difficult to investigate. There was nothing at the murder scene except some messy body parts.
But if the real culprit cannot be found, the final suspicion will actually fall on the right prime minister. Although the Right Prime Minister seems to be standing up for Hu'er, in fact Hu'er has just arrived in Chang'an. Even if he really takes action, the world will say that it was the Right Prime Minister who instigated it.
In short, under great pressure, Xiao Jiong was extremely appreciative of Lu Qi's ability to investigate such a difficult case.
"Now all we have to do is search Fengwei Building and capture these two murderers!"
"Really?" Yuan Ming said: "In this way, Xue Bai's serious crime is confirmed, and my case will be fine?"
"That's right." Xiao Jiong thought to himself that Yuan Ming's case was actually a case of Jingzhao Mansion. Fortunately, it was stopped in time. "Once Xue Bai is convicted, many things will go smoothly."
Yuan Miao was overjoyed and asked, "Has Jingyin sent people to search?"
"Of course." Xiao Jiong said: "Not only Fengwei Building, Xue Bai also purchased many paper mills recently, and I also sent people there."
"good!"
Yuan Zhen applauded, thinking to himself that if he did this, he could win the Chang'an paper mill and sell a piece of paper for dozens or hundreds of dollars, so there would be no need to worry about being rich and wealthy.
"Thanks to Ziliang." Xiao Jiong proudly stroked his long beard and said with a smile: "I have a good taste in people, right? Today, I recommended two people to the court, one is Lu Qi and the other is Cui Yuan. There are geniuses. Haha, now you can see Lu Qi’s abilities."
"Zi Liang is really amazing. In just a few days, he found out everything clearly." Yuan Ming said, "I really don't know how he did it."
While talking, a clerk arrived.
"Jing Yin! The saint has summoned you and ordered Jing Yin to come to see you."
Xiao Jiong patted his knees, stood up, and said to Yuan Ming: "This is because Party Yang is panicking and wants to rescue Xue Bai in advance. The right prime minister stopped him in time."
"yes."
"I will go to interview the saint right now. When Ziliang comes, he will take charge of the search and get the truth as soon as possible."
"Don't worry, Jingyin."
Xiao Jiong just left the Jingzhao Yin Mansion and was about to get on his horse when he saw another official coming in a hurry.
"Jing Yin! Lu Facao has an urgent message..."
"Ziliang?" Xiao Jiong was overjoyed, "Did he get the real murderer?"
"Jingyin, please take a look."
Xiao Jiong was so excited that his hands trembled a little, and he hurriedly opened the letter...
~~
At the same time, the Prince's Courtyard.
Li Heng and Zhang Ting were waiting for news, both looking a little uneasy.
When he learned that Xue Bai used Longyou's dead soldiers to kill Pei Mian, he realized that he had no choice.
If Xue Bai is found out later, the East Palace will be in great trouble; if Xue Bai is not found out, sooner or later the East Palace will be threatened. It is better to take some risks and eliminate this matter as soon as possible while it is still possible to use Lu Qi.
Therefore, he gave Lu Qi some information.
"The two Longyou veterans were brought back by Huangfu Weiming. After Huangfu Weiming's death, they have been wandering around Chang'an, saying they want to avenge Huangfu Weiming. The East Palace has been urging them to surrender, but it is a pity that they cannot be mobilized."
"Pei Mian is not from the East Palace, but was sent by Wang Zhi to investigate the Longyou veterans. It was found that they were arranged by Xue Bai to enter Madame Guo's house. Therefore, it is said that Xue Bai used Huangfu Weiming's dead soldiers to kill people. In order to frame the East Palace, Suo Douji slandered them as Wang Zhongsi’s people.”
"The case must be settled and the East Palace cannot be involved..."
Of course, Lu Qi was unreliable, so Li Heng naturally had to make other arrangements.
He even contacted Yu Chaoen again, always paying attention to changes in the situation so that he could make timely remedies.
The current situation is that they have used Suo Douji's power to convict Xue Bai, the real murderer. It just depends on whether Lu Qi can keep the fire from burning to this point.
"Don't be too nervous. Generally speaking, Lu Qi will not betray the East Palace. His father and ancestors have a good reputation for two generations. The reputation is not easy to come by. People of the time are beautiful. There is no need to ruin it easily just to curry favor with the cockfight."
Zhang Ting nodded and reviewed the mistakes she had made in this whole matter. She was involved in a power struggle for the first time at the age of eighteen. She still had many shortcomings, but it didn't matter. As long as Li Heng trusted her, there would be more in the future. Chance.
"It's too difficult for Your Highness. He has been passive every time. This time he successfully eliminated Xue Bai, which only eliminated the hidden dangers but gained little."
"After all, it is difficult to sit in the position of prince. Let's see if we can subdue the forces behind Xue Bai."
Zhang Ting said: "Yes, I'm really curious about who else Xue Bai can lead to."
While talking, Li Jingzhong hurried over and said in surprise: "Your Highness, it's not good! The matter has reached the imperial court..."
"What?!"
Li Heng was taken aback, and then he quickly took Zhang Ting's hand and said, "Ms. Ting, please intercede for us. We must insist that Xue Bai accepted Huangfu Weiming's subordinates."
"Okay." Zhang Ting said, "Will Lu Qi secretly provide evidence?"
"Don't worry, I have arrangements and we can't be traced."
Having said that, the couple was still very nervous.
After a while, a secret message finally came.
Li Jingzhong took it and took a look and said happily: "Your Highness, it should be Lu Qi."
"Give it to me quickly!"
Li Heng took it in a hurry, spread it out immediately, and glanced away, but he was stunned on the spot.
"Your Highness?"
Zhang Ting was curious and stepped forward to take a look, only to see crooked handwriting on the white rattan paper.
"In the incident, my subordinate was demoted by a villain and ordered to leave the capital immediately. As I cry goodbye, I would like to ask Your Highness to take care."
"This..." Zhang Ting's eyes widened and he said in surprise: "Who is it?"
"Xue Bai has taken action." Li Heng murmured, "I'm afraid the success will fall short this time, and the harm will not be eliminated."
"Your Highness, what should we do?"
"Go to Sanniang and ask her to enter the palace to beg." Li Heng said, "I have to try to meet Chang Yuan..."
~~
Xiao Jiong rubbed his old eyes and looked at the white rattan paper in his hand with some disbelief.
"He was brutally murdered just a stone's throw away. I hope Beijing and Yin will do their best to investigate and not let all the previous efforts go to waste."
This is a note sent by Lu Qi. The handwriting is not ordinary, but it can be seen that the writing is extremely hasty and every word is indignant.
Who can demote officials under the right prime minister at a critical moment? He will definitely investigate this matter, but nine times out of ten it is the person behind Xue Bai.
Xue Bai was timid.
The truth is about to come out and they are doing their best to stop it.
"Quickly, send an order from me and let Yuan Zhen take charge of the search. We must find the murderer as soon as possible!"
"Here!"
Xiao Jiong pulled the reins and headed towards the palace without hesitation.
~~
In the palace city, Xue Bai sighed.
"I really don't know what to say. It seems that the right prime minister is used to this and is lawless."
"Shuzi!" Li Linfu was furious and shouted: "When things come to a close, how dare you play some unflattering tricks?!"
"Can't get on the stage?!"
Xue Bai asked back, also getting angry.
Not caring that he was in front of the emperor at this time, he raised his hand and pointed at Li Linfu, scolding: "I have worked hard to create high-quality and cheap bamboo paper, and you have tried every means to get people to snatch it away, but I can't get on the stage?! "
"..."
Li Linfu was stunned for a moment, thinking that he had heard wrongly.
It was because of the four words "good quality and low price" in Xue Bai's words that he realized that he was talking about bamboo paper.
What does the whole thing have to do with bamboo paper?
Li Longji was also surprised. Watching these ministers fighting, only at this moment did he feel unexpected and looked at Gao Lishi.
Gao Lishi also looked confused and shook his head to express his ignorance.
"Don't interrupt." Gao Lishi scolded: "The right prime minister is asking you if you are the mastermind of the murder."
"After all, he wants to take away my bamboo paper craftsmanship!" It’s cheap, the quality is improved, how could he not know the huge benefits in it? He just let his son-in-law take it away on purpose!”
"Nonsense!" Li Linfu quickly stopped, "Do you think I don't know your tricks?"
"If what I say is true or false, just pass a piece of bamboo paper into the palace. The sage will take a look and know the truth."
Li Longji's eyes fell on the music score in his hand again.
This music score is not made of ordinary white rattan paper, but tribute paper, which cannot be bought with a hundred dollars.
He pondered for a moment, nodded to Gao Lishi, then put down the score, stood up, walked around, and asked Xue Bai himself.
"boast?"
"Back to the saint." Xue Bai said calmly: "I'm not boasting. I have really made cheap and high-quality bamboo paper. The raw materials for a piece of paper cost less than a penny, and the quality is not inferior to that of hemp paper. Of course, the craftsmanship is also good. There is room for improvement, and the Right Chancellor has a long-term vision and is already here to seize it.”
"Did you kill Pei Mian and those Uighurs?"
"I think it's the right side that kills..."
"Presumptuous!" Li Longji yelled angrily.
Xue Bai kept silent and replied: "I have met Pei Mian several times, the people around Wang Zhongcheng. I don't even know who those Uighurs are, let alone where they died."
Li Longji looked at Gao Lishi.
With just one look, Gao Lishi responded, "Go back to the saint, Jing Zhaoyin has arrived."
"Call."
Xiao Jiong came in a hurry.
Li Longji immediately asked: "Xiao Qing has made numerous inferences, is there any evidence?"
"Back to Your Majesty, I'm already searching..."
"Searched?"
"Not yet."
"The case is so complicated, how did you find out?"
Xiao Jiong said: "Returning to your majesty, it was Xue Bai who beat up the imperial official. I checked his files and found something wrong. He was involved in the Liu Ji case and the Yang Shenjin case. In the Yang Shenjin case, more than thirty people were involved." People were beheaded to death with a single sword..."
"Fart, if nothing else, the files on Yang Shenjin's case are in Dali Temple. Are you checking them? How long did it take you to judge my case? I don't know how long it took you to decide the outcome first, then make up the process and create the evidence. It's so familiar. .”
Gao Lishi looked at him sideways, waited for Xue Bai to finish what he said, and immediately shouted: "You have no right to speak! How dare you be so presumptuous in front of the emperor!"
Xiao Jiong looked grim and said: "Your Majesty, this case was handled by Lu Qi, the legal director of Jingzhao Prefecture. The strange thing is that he was suddenly demoted and ordered to leave Beijing immediately. I thought there was something fishy about this matter. "
Xue Bai was a little surprised when he heard this, thinking that Lu Qi could run so fast.
Li Longji was impatient and waved his hand, asking Gao Lishi to check. He left these people to dry and served them as royal meals.
This was done for more than half an hour, until Gao Lishi came to report.
"Sage, we have found out that Lu Qi's release was made by the left prime minister and the Minister of War, and the right prime minister personally approved it."
"Chen Xilie?" Li Longji said with a smile: "I almost forgot about him. So, he was demoted by my slave himself?"
"yes."
"Has the paper arrived?"
"We're here." Gao Lishi showed a bright smile and said, "Is this old slave grinding ink for a saint?"
"Okay, then write one."
Li Longji smiled heartily, stood up gracefully, looked at the bamboo paper spread on the imperial desk, shook his head, and said with a smile: "The craftsmanship is average, not as good as I expected."
"The saints used to use tribute paper." Gao Lishi smiled and said, "How can it be compared to this cheap product?"
"Come!"
Li Longji took the imperial pen, looked at the bamboo paper in front of him, thought about what he wanted to write first, and then started writing.
He studied Wang Xizhi's calligraphy, using running script, with flying dragons and dancing phoenixes, which is very expressive.
The thick ink fell on the bamboo paper without being smudged, and the charm of the emperor's calligraphy was well preserved.
The emperor wrote four words——
"Fashionable through the ages."
Today's two chapters together are called "Being impartial and selfless, each showing one branch". A total of more than 16,000 words were written~~ I won't say how many volumes I needed to write this number of words. Friends who have monthly votes, please vote for Me, I want to compete for the list this month~~Please vote for me, please subscribe~~
