The sunset is infinitely beautiful, hanging low in the sky, releasing infinite light, dyeing the white clouds under the blue sky red, and giving the palaces in Kaifeng a layer of brilliant color.
Chongzheng Hall, known for its majesty and solemnity, also looks magnificent under the light of the setting sun. After a day of exposure, it was still warm around Chongzheng Hall. Therefore, the doors and windows of the hall were all opened to avoid suffocating His Majesty the Emperor. Even so, it was difficult to completely eliminate the heat.
In the quiet room, Emperor Liu, with disheveled hair and single clothes, lay lazily on the recliner he had used for more than ten years, rocking gently.
The evening breeze seeped in, causing the gauze curtains hanging around to sway. Zhang Dejun stood in front of the emperor, holding a cattail leaf fan in his hand, fanning the wind gently and regularly.
This should have been the job of the lady holding the fan, but Emperor Liu wanted to see Zhang Dejun alone, and everyone else had to step back to leave space for the two of them.
Including Yantuo, the head of the chamberlain, he had to stay far away. While he personally prevented others from disturbing Emperor Liu, he could not restrain his curiosity, concentrate, pricked up his ears, and couldn't help but look into the room.
But obviously, all the effort was wasted and nothing useful was heard at all. Zhang Dejun's voice was so loud in front of him, but when he was in front of officials, he was as loud as a mosquito.
I noticed that Zhang Dejun, who was waiting in front of Emperor Liu, was sticking out his butt and bending over. He looked disgusting. Villain! Symptoms! lackey! This is Yantuo's evaluation of Zhang Dejun.
"That's what happened. Please ask the officials for review..." Here, Zhang Dejun didn't know that Yantuo had slandered him. He reported the investigation situation wholeheartedly. After saying that, he bent even lower, cautiously and lowly. Waiting for Emperor Liu's response.
When Emperor Liu heard these things, he remained silent for a while, and there was no movement for a long time. When Zhang Dejun raised his head cautiously, he found that Emperor Liu's expression was a bit complicated. It could only be described as complicated.
There was no anger as Zhang Dejun imagined, and he looked very calm, but Zhang Dejun firmly believed that there must be turbulent emotions hidden under that calm face.
The official's beard swayed slightly in the breeze, and the corners of his eyes twitched slightly, making the wrinkles particularly clear. His eyes, which had always been calm and deep, now seemed a bit hollow and unfocused.
Even Zhang Dejun rarely saw Emperor Liu like this. Emperor Liu just raised his hand, and Zhang Dejun was so frightened that he quickly lowered his head, as if hoping that Emperor Liu would not notice him.
"Show me the charter of your investigation results!" Emperor Liu just spread his hands.
Hearing this, Zhang Dejun did not dare to neglect, and did not care about fanning. He quickly took out a memorial from his arms. In addition to the investigation report written by Zhang Dejun himself, this memorial also includes the oral testimony of a series of related investigation subjects involved.
In terms of evidence properties, none of these things constitute a complete chain of evidence, but it is a fact that the direction of the investigation points to the Prince's Palace.
In this kind of matter, it doesn't matter whether evidence is needed or not. The key is to see what Emperor Liu thinks and thinks. As for what Zhang Dejun wants, just complete the task, be realistic, and don't ask for merit. He just hopes that the officials will not take the anger out on him. Thank God.
Emperor Liu probably didn't know what kind of emotions he was feeling. He was not surprised by such a result, and even had some expectations. But when he actually received the report from the Imperial City Division, he felt a mixture of understanding and disappointment. coexist, but there is not much anger.
It was impossible for Emperor Liu not to have no feelings for Liu Xu. After all, this was his first son. In addition, he lost his mother at birth and was an orphan. In the past, he could not help but feel a little more pity.
Although Liu Yang was appointed as the crown prince, Emperor Liu also placed a lot of effort on the other princes, especially the older sons.
Not only because he was standing in the position of an emperor, but also because he had a father's feelings in it. Even at this moment, Emperor Liu could still recall Liu Xu's early, wise, respectful and joyful appearance when he was young.
But now, his son has grown up, become independent, has his own ideas, and is no longer easy to control, at least it is no longer convenient for him to educate him as a father.
In the palace, Emperor Liu was still lying in that posture, looking a little weak, and the sound of reading the memorials drowned out the slight sound of the wind.
Seeing this, Zhang Dejun gently waved his fan again. After hesitating for a moment, he still lowered his voice and said: "Guan family, these are just the confessions of the scholars and merchants. They can't explain anything. Maybe there are other hidden secrets in them... ..."
"What?" After hearing what he said, Emperor Liu stopped what he was doing and raised his eyes to glance at Zhang Dejun: "Do you think I still need your comfort?"
"Don't you dare! You're talking too much!" Emperor Liu's eyes made Zhang Dejun feel frightened. He quickly lowered his eyebrows and didn't dare to talk anymore.
It was just a not very thick memorial, but Emperor Liu read it for a long time. It had been a long time since he had read the text in such detail.
After a while, Emperor Liu gently placed the writings on the small case beside him. He still didn't say anything, but just leaned there quietly, his expression completely silent.
This made Zhang Dejun even more uneasy. Although he was not sure what he was worried about, he just felt that the atmosphere in the quiet room was particularly depressing, and he also felt that Emperor Liu was in danger in this state.
After hesitating for a while, Zhang Dejun still said bravely: "The official family, according to the investigation by subordinates, has arranged for Murong Defeng to secretly investigate the matter."
"Oh?" Sure enough, Emperor Liu's attention was caught and he gave a little reaction.
"I am aware of it. If I am not aware of it at all..." Emperor Liu murmured, so low that Zhang Dejun, who was close to him, could not hear clearly.
After closing his eyes and thinking for a long time, Zhang Dejun heard the sound of heaven again just when his waist was sore and he thought Emperor Liu was about to fall asleep.
His movements were very slow, his speech was very slow, but his tone was extremely serious: "Listen up!"
"Yes!" Zhang Dejun immediately cheered up.
"The investigation of this matter ends here!"
"yes!"
"I heard that there have been a lot of rumors in Tokyo recently, and the people in the city are talking a lot!" Emperor Liu continued: "I don't want any further rumors about this matter to appear!"
"yes!"
"The detective officials involved in this investigation will be rewarded. However, no leaks are allowed, especially for all the people involved. I don't have to tell you how to deal with it!" When Emperor Liu gave this order, he looked at Zhang Dejun's face. His eyes were emotionless: "If I hear any rumors, I won't ask anyone else but you!"
Faced with Emperor Liu's somewhat unreasonable threat, Zhang Dejun felt a little aggrieved, but more importantly, he was nervous. He had foresighted that investigating this kind of thing would probably get him into trouble. All I can say is, sure enough.
"Stay back!" Emperor Liu raised his hand in a lazy manner and pointed at the memorial on the case: "Take these and burn them!"
"Yes!" At this time, Zhang Dejun seemed to be able to answer yes.
After Zhang Dejun respectfully stepped back, Yan Tuo quickly came up and wanted to take care of Emperor Liu. However, seeing Emperor Liu's intimidating and indifferent expression, he did not dare to say anything. He just picked up the cattail leaf fan and took it from Zhang Dejun. The responsibility of the wind.
At this time, Emperor Liu's emotions were all calm, his face was peaceful, his eyes were clear, but there were many distracting thoughts in his mind.
Regarding this matter, if it were any person, such as a minister, even Zhao Pu, if he wanted to attack political opponents and eliminate dissidents, Emperor Liu's iron fist would directly hit him.
But it happened to be his own son, which was the situation he least wanted to see. This made him angry, but also felt helpless.
Since ancient times, no matter how wise or powerful the emperor is, he will always appear hesitant and cautious when facing the issue of successor. It's the same when it comes to Emperor Liu.
Although he had established the crown prince early, everything did not go as smoothly as he wished. With so many sons and so many political forces involved, there is only one throne. Even if he is Emperor Liu, how can he restrain everyone's thoughts and let them completely follow their own will?
Even ordinary people can still get into trouble because of family inheritance issues, let alone the supreme position?
Liu Xu's problem is not surprising. It is obviously Emperor Liu's personal problem. On the one hand, he established the crown prince, but on the other hand, he wanted to put pressure on him. On the one hand, it is possible to give the princes power, entrust them with important responsibilities, and cultivate their abilities, but on the other hand, they are required to keep to themselves, not to have any disloyal intentions, and to serve the court conscientiously and run errands. Is this possible?
Liu Yang's position as the crown prince is now absolutely secure. Even if Emperor Liu is suspicious, he doesn't have much suspicion. He is determined to pass on the country and the country to him. After so many years of training, experience, and testing, Emperor Liu also believed that Liu Yang could take over from him in the future.
However, how can things be absolute? At least with Emperor Liu, there was always a sense of crisis. Unless he died and his brain stopped spinning, everything would go smoothly.
This incident obviously caused Emperor Liu to think more about the heir issue. In the past, when Liu Xu was working in the imperial court, he had always been serious and down-to-earth, making few omissions and not showing any abnormalities. Why was he suddenly ready to take action?
Liu Xu is like this, what about Liu Xi? Where is Liu Fang? Even the fifth-year-old Liu Yun, who always seems lazy and unmotivated? Liu Hui, the seventh Duke of Wu, was very close to the civil servants in the south of the Yangtze River; Liu Shu, the ninth brother, had always been frivolous, and it would be impossible for him to have the desire to seize his legitimate son; even the tenth prince Liu Zhao, who was only sixteen years old, was also a symbol of Fu. The queen's son is Liu Min's only legitimate son after Queen Wei. Will he have any ideas?
Having more sons means more blessings, but for the Tian family and Emperor Liu, this may not be the case. What's more, these sons are not ordinary people, and there are many interests involved behind them, which makes Emperor Liu even more unhappy. Taste it...
