"Your Majesty, the officials are here!" In the Kunming Hall, the personal female official ran up to Da Fu excitedly and said to her.
Da Fu was sitting on the couch, sewing a fur coat with his own hands. He was not good at needlework, so although his hands were slender, his movements were not dexterous, but his beautiful eyes were attentive, and every stitch and thread seemed to contain his heart.
"Here he comes, how can he be so frivolous?" Dafu glanced at him lightly.
Feeling the expression of the queen's eyebrows, the female officer immediately returned to her dignity, and there was a little hesitation on her beautiful face: "It's just——"
"Just what?" Dafu raised his head and cast a confused look.
"The official is angry and seems to be in a bad mood!" said the female official.
Feng Mei frowned slightly, Da Fu thought for a while and ordered: "I know, get back!"
Recently, probably because he felt guilty, the emperor went to the harem more frequently, and only came to Kunming Hall. He seemed to abandon all the concubines and favor the queen alone.
The wind in her footsteps made the palace ladies who were saluting in Kunming Palace a little cautious, but the empress always looked calm and calm. Going straight into the inner hall, he saw his queen safely on the bed. She neither saluted nor said anything, but just buried her head and focused on threading the needle. Liu Chengyou couldn't help but froze for a moment and coughed lightly as a reminder.
Finally, as if he felt someone's embarrassment, Dafu finally raised his head and asked softly: "Who is so bold as to make the officials angry?"
The queen's words were thorny, but Liu Chengyou's anger seemed to dissipate all of a sudden. He walked a few steps in front of the couch and pointed in the direction of Guangzheng Palace: "It's not Fan Zhi! This person is becoming more and more stubborn, stubborn in his opinions, and speaks rudely. Don’t take me as the emperor seriously!”
Seeing that Liu Chengyou's words were full of resentment, Dafu raised his beautiful eyebrows and said calmly: "I know that Fan Xianggong, although his temper is impatient, he always fights with reason, and he is not an unreasonable person. How could he speak rudely and be rude to officials?"
Facing Da Fu's calm gaze, Liu Chengyou said: "General Meng Hanqing of Zuo Yulin paid high taxes privately, and officials disturbed the people and took too much money. I want to kill him to uphold the law of the country and set a warning for others. But Fan Zhi won't allow it. He argued with me in front of the emperor, saying that Meng Hanqing's crime would not lead to death..."
"If you don't kill such a silverfish, what's the use of keeping it? Fan Zhi didn't give me any face. He bluntly said that I can kill Meng Hanqing, but he will not sign the order if I pay Yousi! Tell me, is this intentional? Am I against it?"
"I have given him face once before regarding Dun Qiu Ling, and I will give him face again this time. It is simply unreasonable to compile a "Xing Tong" and then use it everywhere to cause trouble!"
The Dunqiu Order mentioned by Liu Chengyou happened this spring. A warehouse official in Dunqiu was greedy for money and hundreds of pieces of silk, and he was accused of the crime. However, the warehouse official was a relative of Dunqiu Ling. When Liu Chengyou heard about it, he wanted to execute Dunqiu Ling as well.
As a result, Fan Zhi stopped him. In his words, Liu Chengyou was implicated in torture, which made Liu Chengyou extremely angry. Only that time, Liu Chengyou took a step back and let the Ministry of Punishment investigate and deal with it on its own.
After listening to Liu Chengyou's description, Da Fu was thoughtful, but he understood the situation. He was still unhappy and asked calmly: "According to the criminal law of the Han Dynasty, does Meng Hanqing deserve the death penalty?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Chengyou opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
Seeing his silence, Dafu said: "The "Xingtong" was revised at the will of the officials, and was approved by you personally before being issued to the world. I remember that the officials also said at the time that this reflects the authority of the emperor, and all the subjects around the world need it. Comply. According to the law, Fan Xianggong is not unreasonably partial. How can we blame him?
His words may be fierce and unpleasant, but given the magnanimity of the officials, can't they be tolerated? If a country has dissatisfied ministers, the country will not be destroyed. Isn't it a blessing for the country and you to have such honest ministers who dare to speak out? "
Although the Queen's words had no enlightening effect, the anger on Liu Chengyou's face had completely dissipated. He was originally standing in front of the couch a few steps away, but now he naturally took the initiative to move forward, carefully sat on the edge of the couch, and sighed:
"It's not that I don't understand the truth, I'm just a little angry. I'm angry at these lawless scoundrels, but I'm also angry at Fan Zhi who doesn't understand me! I enacted laws to kill dirty officials and eradicate evil, but in his view, it turned out to be torture!
It is not my fault for indiscriminate killing. In fact, recently, from the central government to the local government, there have been frequent cases of corruption. The Han Dynasty was founded less than ten years ago, the world was not unified, and the four borders were not restored. However, the officials in the imperial court had lost their vigilance and used public affairs for personal gain and enriched their own pockets.
Among them, although there are accumulated shortcomings over the past three generations, many people are also due to their depravity. But no matter what, this wind must not rise. I want to punish people with severe punishments, but it is not because of anger that I have murderous intentions..."
After listening to Liu Chengyou's confession, I noticed the fatigue in his expression and Da Fu's somewhat stiff attitude, which finally eased, and there was more understanding and compassion in his beautiful eyes.
However, he still said lukewarmly: "Today, I have already talked too much. Since this involves national affairs, the administration of the court, officials and their families should handle it themselves. I am only a woman in the palace, so I shouldn't talk nonsense!"
Paying attention to Fu Hou's serious and cold expression, Liu Chengyou felt a little helpless and just sat there, a little at a loss what to say. Da Fu retracted his gaze and focused on embroidery.
After a moment of silence, Da Fu lowered his head and bit the silk thread with his silver teeth. In order to break the embarrassment, Liu Chengyou took the initiative and said: "This robe was sewn for me, right?"
Facing Liu Chengyou's gaze, Dafu didn't react for a moment. He put down his needle and thread, shook it, and gestured to him, his voice much gentler: "Try it!"
"Okay!" Liu Chengyou suddenly became excited.
She came up and put it on under his care, and complimented her directly: "It's warm, comfortable, and beautiful..."
A smile finally appeared on Da Fu's face, and he asked, "If you don't take it away again, you can just give it to someone else, right?"
Liu Chengyou had done this kind of thing once or twice. Most of the utensils and affection made by the concubines for Liu Chengyou were used by him to win people's hearts.
Seeing the Queen show off her beauty, Liu Chengyou felt better and immediately said: "Don't worry, I definitely won't do it this time!"
Hearing this, the big talisman stretched out his hand to untie it for him. Seeing his displeasure, he said, "It's not finished yet, and besides, it's not time to wear this thick coat yet."
Only then did Liu Chengyou react and take off his clothes obediently. Seeing that Da Fu's attitude had softened a bit, he couldn't help but get closer and wanted to take the opportunity to get intimate, but was blocked by him. Liu Chengyou was stunned, he wasn’t here to have sex...
Dafu sighed: "Did you come to Kunming Hall specifically to tell me about the conflicts between the king and his ministers, and the important affairs of the country?"
At the mention of this, Liu Chengyou reacted and shouted outside. Zhang Dejun came in respectfully, holding a root of Jade Ruyi in both hands. Liu Chengyou took it, stroked the end of the handle, and said to the big talisman with a relaxed expression: "Liangzhou Jieduzhi, Bu Jiashi came to the court, and I specially presented this Ruyi. It is indeed a treasure and important weapon. I want to give it to Liu Yang. You should keep it for him first!"
With that said, he handed the Ruyi handle to Dafu's hand. Seeing that she was a little stunned, Liu Chengyou gently pressed her hand and said: "I came out to relax. I have some things to do in Chongzheng Hall, so I will go back first..."
Holding Ruyi in both hands, Da Fu looked at Liu Chengyou's leaving figure, his eyebrows contemplating, his expression serious, and a touch of relief revealed in his beautiful eyes.
On Liu Chengyou's side, he felt much more relaxed after walking around the queen's chamber. The cool early winter breeze blew in and his mind was much clearer.
His thoughts turned to political affairs again. He thought about it for a while and then ordered: "Zhang Dejun, select porcelain and brocade jackets from the palace and give them to Fan Zhi. Go and do it yourself and deliver them to Fan's house. In addition, send them to Fan's house." Some charcoal for heating!"
"yes!"
It seems that Liu Chengyou listened to the queen's advice, but Fan Zhi had some problems with his temperament, but such a minister is still rare. If all the ministers in the court were his yes-men, he, a wise king, would be even more tired.
However, when he returned to the Chongzheng Hall, Liu Chengyou's expression became cold again. He summoned Zhao Huo and immediately ordered: "Pass the imperial edict, Meng Hanqing, to grant death!"
Zhao Yao was shocked when he heard that he could listen to the dispute between Liu Chengyou and Fan Zhi over this matter. Although he did not dare to neglect, he still carefully asked for instructions: "Your Majesty, do you want to submit it to the Ministry of Punishment?"
"Didn't I make it clear enough?" Liu Chengyou glanced at him and said coldly: "He is ordered to go to prison and commit suicide! In addition, draft an edict and distribute it throughout the world, so that officials at home and abroad can take Meng Hanqing as a warning and not touch him. National law!"
"Yes!" Zhao Yao lowered his head.
Leaning lightly on the imperial case, Liu Chengyou began to think again. Seeing his condition, Zhao Yao thought he still had orders and did not dare to leave without permission. Sure enough, after waiting for a while, Liu Chengyou said again: "Select for me some people who are proficient in the law from the Third Hall, the Ministry of Punishment, Dali, and the Supervisory Yuan!"
"yes!"
"The law should not be set in stone, but it should be perfected according to circumstances..." Liu Chengyou's voice echoed lightly in the hall.
