Chang Feng could choose to turn a blind eye and sit back and watch Li Guang frame Li and Xie.
Chang Feng was just an acquaintance with Li Dongyang and Xie Qian. It’s hard to say how deep the personal relationship is.
Li Guang is Bingbi of the Supervisor of Ceremonies, one of Chang Feng's Shangguan, and a popular figure around Empress Zhang.
Being his enemy would obviously not do Chang Feng any good.
But if Chang Feng just sits back and does nothing, he won't be him anymore.
There were very few conscientious people in the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty.
After experiencing so many years of official battles and palace intrigues, Chang Feng still retains a trace of conscience. It's not much, but it's enough.
Chang Feng remembered that the last time he accompanied his godfather Huai En to fish for tortoises on the bank of Yongding River. The sunset was picturesque that day, and the sky was red with burning clouds.
Huaien said to him earnestly and thoughtfully: "You remember to be an upright royal guard. Protect the virtuous ministers and kill the treacherous ministers."
He did not dare to forget for a moment the teachings of the old minister to protect virtuous ministers and punish treacherous ministers during his lifetime.
Chang Feng made a decision without any hesitation: Li Dongyang and Xie Qian had to clear their grievances.
Chang Feng asked Gu Dayong: "Where did you find the jade horse?"
Gu Dayong's answer shocked Chang Feng.
Gu Dayong said: "Ahem, Eunuch Li remembers that there is a jade horse in the surplus warehouse of Kunning Palace. I went to look for it early and later, but found nothing."
"Eunuch Li suspected that someone in the palace had stolen the treasures in Yingku and carried away the jade horse."
"So Eunuch Li searched the palace people's dormitory. Under the bed of Liu Jin's dormitory, he found a box of treasures. The jade horse was among them."
"After finding the jade horse, Eunuch Li picked it up and took a look. Hey, guess what?"
Chang Feng asked: "What's wrong?"
Gu Dayong said: "There is really a line below that says, 'Xie Qian, the running dog of the sect, presents a gift to the internal minister'!"
Changfeng stared at Gu Dayong without saying a word.
Li Guang’s good tactics! I had long heard that he and Liu Jin were competing for favor in Kunning Palace, and there had been frequent gaps with Liu Jin over the years.
It seems that this time Li Guang is trying to hunt rabbits. While framing Li Dongyang and Xie Qian, they also conveniently got rid of Liu Jin!
Sun Chunbin walked to the door of the warehouse and said with a proud face: "How about it, now the evidence is complete! It is enough to prove that Li Dongyang and Xie Qian are villains who follow the influence of others!"
"People like this still want to join the cabinet? Are they worthy?"
Chang Feng turned around and glared at Sun Chunbin: "They don't deserve it, do you?"
Sun Chunbin boasted that he had Li Guang's backing and was not afraid of the boss of Jinyiwei at all. He responded tit for tat: "I don't deserve it, someone else does!"
Chang Feng smiled and said, "Hey, you want to say Dongguan Liu Zhang, right?"
In the six official books, the official official is called Tianguan; the household official is called local official; the rites official is called spring official; the military official is called Xia official; the criminal official is called Qiu official, and the industrial official is called winter official.
Sun Chunbin was not to be outdone: "Chang Tongzhi, don't talk nonsense. In short, the evidence has been found. We should return to the emperor immediately."
Chang Feng suddenly became humble: "Ah, Master Sun, wait a moment. Give me a moment."
Sun Chunbin thought Chang Feng had lost in this matter and was afraid of the winner, so he became respectful.
He was wrong.
Chang Feng has gained a lot of power in recent years and has developed a habit. To whomever you want to punish, be respectful in your words.
Chang Feng went back to the check-in room and said to Qian Ning in a concise and concise manner: "Check the etiquette department for Sun Chunbin! Check him out!"
"If we can't find out his illegal affair, we will find a way to frame him!"
Qian Ning held up his hands: "Yes! Master Chang!"
After giving orders to Qian Ning, Chang Feng and Sun Chunbin went to the main hall of Qianqing Palace to resume their duties.
On the way to the main hall of Qianqing Palace. Chang Feng thought in his mind: Who is Jin Yiwei's mole? Damn he actually colluded with Li Guang!
This is easy to check. The number of people who are eligible to enter Jinyiwei stalls is limited.
If I find out, I will definitely deal with it according to the family law!
Not long after, the two came to the main hall of Qianqing Palace and reported to Emperor Hongzhi.
Emperor Hongzhi's expression changed drastically: "The evidence is actually conclusive?"
Chang Feng said: "Maybe someone framed him. He made a lie in the secret file."
When Sun Chunbin heard this, he seemed to have grasped Chang Feng's handle: "The Jinyiwei stall is a very important place, involving the top secrets of the Ming Dynasty."
"Is it so easy to cheat? It shouldn't be. Who in the court doesn't know that Chang Tong is shrewd and capable?"
"Could someone be cheating under your nose?"
Sun Chunbin gave Chang Feng an unsolvable problem: Either you, Chang Feng, neglected your duty, or Li and Xie were unclean.
Emperor Hongzhi said: "Sun Chunbin, you go down first."
Sun Chunbin said, "Your Majesty. I heard that there is a group of people in the capital. They are good at kidnapping officials and extracting confessions through torture. They use torture to force officials to write false confessions."
"I'm afraid."
Emperor Hongzhi said: "Don't worry. No one dares to tie your ticket, I said so! You go down first, and we will discuss this matter at court tomorrow morning."
Sun Chunbin said: "Yes, I will retire."
After Sun Chunbin left, Emperor Hongzhi stroked Tong Qian and said, "I don't believe that Li Dongyang and Xie Qian are people who cling to treacherous eunuchs."
"But the evidence is in the secret stall of Jinyiwei. Li Guang also found out the jade horse. Tomorrow morning, Sun Chunbin and Yan Guan will definitely attack Li and Xie Qun."
"Before tomorrow morning, you have to find out the truth and clear their innocence."
Chang Feng cupped his hands and said, "I obey your order."
Emperor Hongzhi said again: "You are my confidant. Let me tell you clearly, I plan to let Li Dongyang and Xie Qian join the cabinet together."
"It's up to you whether you can let these two wise ministers enter the cabinet smoothly."
Chang Feng left Qianqing Palace, returned to Jinyiwei, and found Fatty Xu to discuss alone.
To restore Li and Xie's innocence, they must catch Jin Yiwei's mole.
There were so many people in Jinyiwei, but Chang Feng only trusted Fatty Xu unreservedly.
He was surprised to find that he had promoted so many people and made friends with so many people over the years. At the critical moment, there is only one person who can be completely trusted, Fatty Xu.
He told Fatty Xu what happened.
Fatty Xu said: "I am a donkey in the grinding mill. I just listen to orders. Just tell me how to catch the mole."
Chang Feng said: "It is difficult to catch the mole. It is easy to say. I saw the secret files of Li and Xie three days ago. The secret files were clean at that time."
"In other words, the mole stuffed those two pages into the secret file within the last three days."
"In Jinyiwei, only households with more than 100 households can enter the secret file room to supplement or read the secret files."
"Just check the people who have entered the secret room in the past three days."
Fatty Xu said: "I'm going to call the old man in charge of the stalls."
Chang Feng is busy looking for the culprit. At the same time, Kunning Palace.
Liu Jin was tied up with five flowers and knelt in the torture chamber.
Each of the six palaces has a torture chamber to punish those who made mistakes.
Li Guang stood in front of Liu Jin and looked at him with a half-smile.
There was a small wooden box beside Li Guang. There was a pile of gold and silver jewelry and a jade horse in the small wooden box.
Li Guangyin smiled and said: "Liu Jin, unclean hands and feet are the most taboo thing in the palace. This box of things belongs to Yingku. But I found it under your bed."
"You are confused. You are also a eunuch now. You are still two steps away from being promoted to eunuch. There are many ways to get rich. Why do you want to steal?"
Liu Jin shouted hysterically: "Someone framed me. I have never stolen anything from the palace!"
Li Guang sneered: "When thieves in the world are caught, they all say they were wronged!"
"I am the steward of Kunning Palace. If something like this happens, I have to deal with official matters so that I can warn the palace people below."
"Gu Dayong, according to the rules in the palace, what is the crime of stealing?"
Gu Dayong replied: "I'll give it to my godfather. Beat him to death!"
Li Guangdao: "Ah? I want to beat him to death! Liu Jin is the great-grandson of Eunuch Huai'en. I really can't bear to beat him to death."
At this moment, Queen Zhang entered the woodshed surrounded by a group of palace people.
Queen Zhang asked: "Li Guang, what's going on?"
Li Guang knelt down and replied: "This is for the Queen. I am here to look for a jade horse in Kunning Palace. There is no sign of the jade horse in the surplus warehouse."
"The old slave judged that someone had dirty hands and feet and stole the surplus treasury. He led the people to search the palace people's bedrooms one by one."
"This box of stuff was actually found under Liu Jin's bed! The evidence is conclusive that Liu Jin stole palace items!"
Queen Zhang frowned: "Liu Jin stole something?"
Liu Jin shouted: "Empress, I am wronged! I was playing with His Highness the Crown Prince in the front courtyard just now. Suddenly I was kidnapped by Eunuch Li's men."
"I've never seen that box before!"
Queen Zhang didn't know whether to believe Liu Jin. After all, the stolen goods are there.
Li Guang said a few words, which touched Empress Zhang's heart: "Empress, Your Highness is the crown prince. Everything that happens around you will be published in "Daily Notes" and "Records" in the future."
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's eldest companion turned out to be a dirty thief who stole palace belongings. If this is recorded in the history books, it will damage His Highness' reputation!"
Once her son was involved, Queen Zhang turned into an old hen eager to protect her young.
However, Empress Zhang was not a fortune teller, so she would have never expected that there were so many bad things about Zhu Houzhao in the history books. Not bad at all.
Empress Zhang said seriously: "You are right. First, Liu Jin will be removed from all official positions."
Gu Dayong interjected: "Thank you, Queen, just removing him from his post seems like a light punishment. He should be whipped thirty more times!"
Gu Dayong also disliked Liu Jin for a long time.
Empress Zhang said: "You can do what you want." Then she left the execution room, completely ignoring Liu Jin who shouted that he was wronged.
Several young eunuchs took off Liu Jin's shirt.
Li Guang personally tortured Liu Jin with a whip dipped in salt water.
The cowhide whip was struck on the body, and each whip would turn up the flesh and blood on the tortured person's back.
Liu Jin endured the pain and humiliation, gritting his teeth and saying nothing under the severe pain.
Li Guang, I, Liu Jin, have taken note of this account! I won't cry out in pain, nor will I beg for mercy. If you can't kill me today, I will kill you tomorrow!
As Li Guang whipped Liu Jin, he cursed in his heart: Let you be favored by His Highness! Let you please Queen Zhang!
There is no room for two tigers in one mountain in Kunning Palace! Unless it’s a male and a female, it’s a pity that you and I are neither male nor female!
After thirty lashes, Liu Jin was already dying.
Li Guang sneered: "Hang him upside down!"
"Hanging upside down" is a torture invented by the eunuchs in the palace.
Hang people upside down from the rafters. A kind of "cross buckle" is tied to the legs, and green bricks are hung on the waist. The person's Qi and blood will flow down into the brain. After hanging for three to five hours, the person who is being tortured will bleed from the brain and bleed from the seven orifices and die.
Li Guang wanted to punish Liu Jin to death.
Sometimes, a person should not take into account his background and relationships. If you want to punish him, then kill him painfully and kill him in one go.
Li Guang knew that Liu Jin had a close relationship with Chang Feng. Qian Neng also regarded Liu Jin as one of his own.
Just kill Liu Jin and find money to make amends. Leaving him a way to survive will cause endless harm!
Fortunately, Liu Jin also has a confidant. Chang Feng introduced a young eunuch named Wei Bin to Liu Jin. Liu Jin has always been fond of Wei Bin.
Wei Bin learned that his backer had been punished, so he risked beheading and left the palace to report the news to Chang Feng.
At the palace gate, the Han general guarding the gate stopped him.
The Han general stretched out his hand: "Where is the note for leaving the palace?"
Wei Bin said anxiously: "I came out of the palace to see your Jinyi Guard Chang Master for an urgent matter! I don't have a note."
He announced Chang Feng's name, but the Han general did not embarrass him and let him go.
Zuo Tongzhi was in the room.
Chang Feng is asking Gao Wenze, the manager of Baihu.
Gao Wenze is in his fifties and is the "old flying fish" in Jinyiwei.
He has been managing the stalls since the 15th year of Chenghua.
He is serious about his work and a bit dull. Regardless of whether Wantong was in power or Zhu Ji was in power, Chang Feng was in power, but he was not promoted.
But he was indispensable in the stall, and he was not demoted.
Chang Feng asked Gao Wenze: "Who has entered the stall in the past three days?"
Gao Wenze replied: "Master Chang, you know that every hundred or thousand households add the secrets of hundreds of officials into secret files on the 15th day of every month. Today is the twelfth day."
"In the past three days, only Sun Tongzhi, Qian Qianshi, Wang Qianshi, Shi Zhenfushi, Shen Qianhu, and Zhao Qianhu have entered the secret file room and reviewed the secret files."
Chang Feng thinks in his mind: It seems that the inner ghost is among the "old longevity star" Sun Guishou, "second shopkeeper" Qian Ning, "little country player" Wang Miaoxin, "big man" Shi Wenyi, "painter" Shen Zhou, and "black Maitreya" Zhao Xiangfo.
No, there is a seventh person who is suspected, that is Gao Wenze in front of him.
Chang Feng was about to investigate one by one. Suddenly the young eunuch Wei Bin burst in: "Master Chang, it's not good!"
Chang Feng asked: "What's wrong?"
Wei Bin cried and said, "Hey, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, eh, Eunuch Li did something to Eunuch Liu, and gave him thirty lashes. He even hung him upside down!"
Chang Feng was surprised: "Hanging upside down? That will kill people!"
Wei Bin nodded: "Yes. Eunuch Li is trying to kill Eunuch Liu! If he hangs here for three to five hours, Eunuch Liu will die!"
Chang Feng asked: "Is it because of the jade horse?"
Wei Bin replied: "Yes! Eunuch Li did not say that Eunuch Liu stole things from Yingku!"
Chang Feng asked: "The Queen doesn't care?"
Wei Bin replied: "The Queen said that Eunuch Li and Eunuch Gu will take care of it."
Chang Feng said angrily: "Li Guang has such a cruel heart!"
Fatty Xu said: "Liu Jin is one of our own. We can be saved! Master Chang, please come to the palace quickly!"
Chang Feng shook his head: "This is a matter of the harem. How can a domestic slave care about the harem?"
Fatty Xu was a little anxious: "Then we just wait for Li Guang to kill Liu Jin? Liu Jin is your nephew!"
Chang Feng said: "We can't control the affairs of the harem, but there is someone who can."
Fatty Xu asked: "Who?"
Chang Feng said: "Hurry up and go to my house to find Tangtang. Only she can legitimately enter Kunning Palace and rescue Liu Jin."
Fatty Xu thought for a moment: "Why did you forget our little princess? I'll go right away!"
Half an hour later, the execution room of Kunning Palace.
In the torture chamber, only Li Guang and Liu Jin were left hanging upside down.
Liu Jin was dying and fell into a coma. The blood from the whip wound flowed down his back to the ground.
Li Guang drank tea and sneered: "Don't think you are the only smart one. Look at the thick legs that hug the prince tightly. When the prince comes to the throne, he will be able to overtake me and have all the power."
"Playing you to death is as easy for me as shaking an egg to make it brown."
Li Guang has ordered that no one is allowed to enter the torture chamber within five hours.
After five hours, Liu Jin will turn into a dead corpse and be sent out of the palace to become food for wild dogs in a mass grave.
Li Guang was feeling proud when he heard a girl shouting at the door: "I've blinded you. Dare you stop me, the princess?"
(End of chapter)
