The imperial prison has always been deserted, because there are really not many people who are qualified to enter the imperial prison, but in the spring of the 28th year of Kaibao, the imperial prison in Luoyang is really lively and somewhat popular.
Among them, the most special person is undoubtedly the former imperial envoy and the top administrator behind the imperial edict, Wang Jien.
As he walked, the jade on his waist kept swaying, and the yellow spike at the end of the jade was a bit dazzling in this dark prison. Accompanied by Yantuo and Zhang Bin, deputy envoy of the Imperial City Department, Emperor Liu It is extremely rare to come to the imperial prison.
Why Wang Jien was captured by Emperor Liu, based on Zhang Bin's observation and understanding during his years as deputy envoy, the most important two points are that he deceived the officials too much and made too many claims on his own.
Realizing this, Zhang Bin naturally did not dare to hide anything from Emperor Liu, and reported Wang Jien's reaction and request to Emperor Liu in detail. Even though Zhang Bin wished he could deal with Wang Jien as soon as possible, as the deputy envoy of the Imperial City Department, he was assigned to balance the power. However, Wang Jien was not easy to get along with. In addition to being unable to squeeze people away, Wang Jien could almost push Zhang Bin away. Round and flatten as desired.
Therefore, Zhang Bin's experience in the Imperial City Division over the years can be described as bitter and tearful. He suffered a lot of humiliation and the mental pressure from Wang Jien was too great.
But there was no possibility of compromise. After all, Emperor Liu was still watching from behind. Offending Wang Jien and still saving his life, offending the old emperor... shouldn't be an option at all.
Zhang Bin also tried to confront Wang Jien tit for tat, but the result of the head-on battle was that he lost even the meager power in his hands under a series of blows. The key is that if he went to Emperor Liu, he would not get more support. .
The struggle between doglegs without the support of their masters is also particularly sad. No one knows how Zhang Bin survived these years and what kind of mental journey he has gone through. He is almost like a walking zombie.
Finally, the day came for Zhang Bin, who endured the humiliation and humiliation, and finally "cleared the clouds and saw the sun". God can see the pity. Just yesterday, when he received the secret order from Emperor Liu on his way back from Wang Jien's house to celebrate his birthday, Zhang Bin's mood could only be expressed in four words: God has eyes.
Cao Mengde once said that for an eunuched official to be favored by the master of the world, it is enough to kill a jailer. Now Emperor Liu has proved this with facts. Wang Jien's so-called power is really insignificant in front of the old emperor.
And when Zhang Bin, the deputy envoy, was used to preside over the liquidation task, the efficiency was even higher. Overnight, all Wang Jien's disciples, followers, and party followers were controlled. This is what Wang Jien saw when he woke up from a hangover. origin. No one would have thought that the first task after the formation of the "Imperial City Battalion" would be to arrest their direct leader.
After going through many prison cells, it is obvious that the current "occupancy rate" of the imperial prison is not low. However, it is obviously impossible for so many people to be investigated by Emperor Liu under the imperial edict, nor can it be during the period after the edict to decentralize power was issued. It is easy to imagine how these people came and under what name they were arrested.
Emperor Liu's expression was very cold and he was indifferent. Under the guidance of the jailer, he went to the innermost cell where Wang Jien was being imprisoned. However, one day later, the situation was completely different. Although he was not shackled, his body was full of embarrassment, and now he looked like a sixty-year-old man.
He had heard the movement in the prison passage for a long time. When Emperor Liu's body came into view, Wang Jien's eyes suddenly lit up. He walked to the edge of the prison cell with a pair of old legs and kowtowed: "Young man, see the official family! See the official family!"
Just like bloodline suppression, no matter where he was, his first reaction when seeing Emperor Liu was always to pay homage and kowtow. However, in this situation, Wang Jien's tone was filled with sadness.
Seeing this, Emperor Liu's old eyes also showed a touch of emotion, and some past memories also appeared in his mind. He stretched out his hand and said: "Zhang Bin said you wanted to see me. Thinking of the friendship over the past few decades, I Came here especially to see you!”
Wang Jien was very familiar with Emperor Liu. Sensing his slight change in mood, a little hope immediately appeared in his eyes. He stood up and grabbed the iron fence, crying out: "Officials, I'm innocent! I beg you, officials, to be aware of everything. Don't listen to villains slandering and provoking."
"You are such a smart person. Do you really not know the purpose of my coming to prison today?" As soon as he opened his mouth, Emperor Liu's old face immediately turned cold. He pointed to the outer prison cells and said, "I won't leave the rest for now." Mention, how did all these messy people in the imperial prison get in?"
Wang Jien's face was slightly dull, but he reacted very quickly and said immediately: "I was ordered to monitor the public opinion in the capital. These are suspicious people. I -"
Before he could finish speaking, Emperor Liu quickly interrupted him with a stern tone: "I don't have time to listen to your sophistry. If all you have to say is this nonsense in front of me, then I don't have to listen anymore!"
Hearing this, Wang Jien's old face turned pale again. He was stunned for a moment, and then he kowtowed and said tremblingly: "For the sake of my dedicated service for many years, can the official family spare my life?"
"No?" Emperor Liu answered simply, "However, for the sake of your loyalty to the royal family for decades, I can keep your whole body!"
"Official, even if I have my faults, I am loyal to you!" Wang Jien's face was filled with fear, and with tears streaming down his face, he bowed especially sadly: "My little one, I am not harmful to you."
"You are harmless to me, but you are very harmful to the court!" Emperor Liu's emotions finally broke out, and he angrily yelled at Wang Jien: "Thanks to you for serving me for decades, you have even forgotten what I am most taboo about. Yes? Just because of the things you did without telling me, I am already very tolerant of you before I deal with you today!"
Hearing what Emperor Liu said, Wang Jien's eyes immediately dimmed a lot. Although he had some doubts in his heart, he had already realized that Emperor Liu probably knew all about his shady activities. At the same time, his life was probably really Can't keep it.
A huge feeling of fear swept through his body in an instant, and even his hands and feet were numb. Wang Jien sat slumped in the cold place, his performance somewhat unbearable.
However, a generation of great eunuchs do have their dignity after all. After a while, Wang Jien raised his head again, his eyes were reddish, and he said in a calm voice with a hint of hope: "All the blame for the Imperial City Division is on the young man. The blame is on me." It’s hard to escape, I sincerely have no complaints. But for the younger ones’ adopted sons, who mostly obey my orders, can they be given a lighter sentence?”
Wang Jien's three remaining adopted sons and their family members also did not escape. They were all captured and were also imprisoned in imperial prison at this time. After staring at Wang Jien for a while, and seeing that his expression did not appear to be hypocritical, Emperor Liu still said calmly: "Wang Shouzhong has a lighter crime and can survive, but the other two cannot, and his descendants can be sentenced to exile. Leave a piece of incense as my last gift to you. A gift!”
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" After hearing this, Wang Jien kowtowed again, looking like he was crying with gratitude.
"I'm sending you off now. I've spent the past forty years as master and servant!" After glancing at Wang Jien again, Emperor Liu sighed softly and turned around to leave.
"The officials stay!" However, he was stopped by Wang Jien again.
"What else do you have to say?" Emperor Liu frowned slightly, his tone cold.
Wang Jien raised his voice and said solemnly: "I would like to report to the official family. Xiao Xiao's actions are over-the-top, domineering and jealous. This has led to this misfortune. His crime is unforgivable and he dare not complain. When he is about to die, Xiao Xiao dares to report to the official family again. Furthermore, officials and family members must be careful of those around them, and must not relax their vigilance against those with ulterior motives."
"Who is the Xiao Xiao and the person with ulterior motives that you are referring to?" Emperor Liu turned around and asked with interest.
"Yantuo!" Wang Jien said directly without any hesitation.
As soon as these words came out, regardless of other people's reactions, Yan Tuo's face changed drastically, his legs went weak, he knelt down directly, and said passionately: "Guan family, this bully has deceived you, and he still doesn't want to repent. Don't listen to his slander. ah.
I am loyal to the officials and wholeheartedly, but because of my old grudge, I falsely accuse me. What a vicious intention, I hope the officials will learn from it! "
After saying this, Yantuo glared at Wang Jien fiercely. If eyes could kill, Wang Jien would have been crushed to ashes in prison.
"Officials must not forget the story of the Khitan Lord Yelv Jing!" Wang Jien said again sincerely, then raised his head and looked at Yantuo coldly. There was a little bit of joy in his eyes, as if he was saying: Old thief, if I fall, you won’t even think about it easy!
The two dogs, even when they were dying, still did not forget to bite each other. Emperor Liu was very emotional. He looked at Wang Jien and then glanced meaningfully at the frightened Yantuo. He turned away without saying a word.
"Old thief! I'll give you an advantage by leaving your whole body!" After Emperor Liu walked away, Yan Tuo stood up quickly and angrily yelled at Wang Jien.
"I'll wait for you below! Haha" Wang Jien looked arrogant and laughed loudly.
In the Luan Jia, Emperor Liu's body swayed slightly with the bumps. On the side, Yantuo was waiting in the Luan Jia, which was rare. It could be seen that he was a little restless. The reason was naturally because of Wang Jien's backlash in the imperial prison.
Emperor Liu's face was expressionless, but Yantuo could not maintain his usual calmness. His face was a little red, and his back was nervously hot and sweating. He struggled a little in his heart, and finally knelt down to Emperor Liu and said mournfully: "Guan family, I'm young. It’s unjust!”
"What are you wrongfully accusing?" Seeing this, Emperor Liu asked calmly.
"That traitor Wang Jien knew he was going to die and wanted to take the little one to be buried with him, so he tried to frame him. What he said has no basis and is purely conjecture. I hope the officials will be aware of it!" Yan Tuo was panicking, but he was still smooth-talking.
Hearing this, Emperor Liu smiled softly: "You two have been fighting for decades. It's not like I don't know what Wang Jien's thoughts are. Can't I still see it? A man's words are good when he is about to die, but a bird's words are good. The sound of death is mournful, but this person is worse than a bird."
Hearing what Emperor Liu said, Yantuo burst into tears and quickly bowed: "The officials are wise! The officials are wise! That's exactly what it is!"
However, after Yantuo had finished paying homage, Emperor Liu said leisurely: "But by the way, how many years have you served me?"
"Your Majesty, if we count from the eleventh year of Qianyou, it has been thirty-three years!" Yantuo wiped his tears and replied, he remembered these clearly.
"Thirty-three years is a long time!" Hearing this, Emperor Liu's old eyes showed a trace of reminiscence. It took him a long time to come back to his senses and said to him calmly: "I know I am not easy to serve, can you?" It’s not easy to stay with me for so long!”
"Being able to serve an official is truly a blessing and honor that a young man cannot achieve in many lifetimes!" Yan Tuo blurted out his loyal words.
"You are an old member of the Jinyang Palace. In terms of closeness, you are closer than Zhang Dejun. You are now in your sixties, right? Have you ever thought about the rest of your life?" Emperor Liu asked like a heart-to-heart.
Yan Tuo remained tense at all times and shook his head without thinking: "I only know how to serve the officials and have no other thoughts. Not to mention the sixty-year-old, I am an old man. As long as I still have breath, I will serve the officials!"
"You old thing, you still want to serve me until you are seventy or eighty? You don't even know why you are a thief if you are old and don't die. Do you want to be that tired old thief with me?" Emperor Liu laughed.
Yantuo couldn't laugh at this, lowered his head and said tremblingly: "The official said this, I am extremely frightened!"
Emperor Liu smiled, thought for a while, and said in a deep voice: "Tell me the truth, have you ever thought about leaving the palace and spending your old age peacefully? I can give you a grace!"
Upon hearing this, Yantuo was stunned for a moment, and then said: "I have never had such a thought, I just want to serve the good officials wholeheartedly. What's more, even if I leave the palace, there is nowhere to go in the world!"
"Don't you have an adopted son in Hedong? Now that he has grown up, he can go back to Taiyuan and enjoy the service of future generations!" Emperor Liu said softly: "To tell you the truth, Zhang Dejun violated my taboo. It is not a pity to die, but I have no doubt about his loyalty to me. I would not be happy to give him death!
You and Zhang Dejun are both my old slaves, and you also have feelings. You have served the emperor for thirty-three years and have seen too many royal secrets. This is not a good thing for you.
While I can still move, I can give you a favor. I have lost a loyal servant and I don’t want anything to happen to you in the future."
Hearing what Emperor Liu said, Yantuo thought to himself, as long as the officials trust me, who can do anything to me? While his mind was spinning, there was a look of emotion on his face, and he bowed: "The official is thinking of me so much, I will never forget it. However, I only want to serve the official for the rest of my life, and I don't want to covet." Personal comfort and enjoyment!”
Emperor Liu looked at Yantuo silently, with scrutiny in his eyes. After a long time, he chuckled and said, "This is just an occasional thought. If you don't want to, I won't force you. However, this opportunity is only available once. I missed it." , no more!"
Yantuo immediately said: "I forgive you for having the courage to speak out, but even if you die, I will die in the palace and next to the officials!"
"Haha." Emperor Liu smiled again, and his mood seemed to improve: "It's rare for you to be so loyal!"
After saying that, Emperor Liu completely returned to his usual indifference, raised his finger and said: "I know that you have a long-standing grudge with Zhang Dejun, and I'm afraid you feel uncomfortable because of the biting you just now! In this way, you go to see Zhang Dejun on his way, and you also represent me. Give him a ride!”
"Yes!" Such an order was simply a joy to Yantuo at this time. There were so many surprises that he responded immediately without thinking too much.
After saying that, he respectfully stepped back from his chariot. Soon, there was another sound of hooves of a horse racing away. Listening to the receding sound, Emperor Liu's eyes were extremely cold.
On that day, Wang Jien, the once arrogant envoy of the imperial city, died in prison. This had a huge impact on the Imperial City Division. A major crackdown that could be described as heart-breaking followed, and most of Wang Jien's disciples, disciples, and close men were punished in the subsequent crackdown. The Imperial City Division's reputation plummeted, but Emperor Liu said that from now on, he would go into battle lightly.
Such a change made the onlookers stunned. Many bureaucrats didn't know whether to be happy or not. What they were happy about was that this power was castrated and the Imperial City Division was in decline. However, this did not seem to be the efforts of these loyal ministers, but overall , you should still be happy.
A few days later, before Emperor Liu's fifth birthday, the eunuchs and eunuchs who were running rampant in the inner court disappeared. In the process of carrying out an ordinary mission of Emperor Liu, they disappeared, and the death was even more sudden. There were many rumors in the palace, but it was certain that Yan Tuo was dead, and many people knew how he died.
There is no need to explain the reason for killing Wang Jien. As for Yantuo, it is a bit more obscure, but in comparison, Yantuo was a little unjust. To put it bluntly, for some heartbreaking reasons, Yantuo has certainly done a lot of taboo things, especially in recent years, but what really made Emperor Liu feel murderous was this person who made Emperor Liu aware of that A restless heart, fueling the flames in those inconspicuous places
Of course, Wang Jien's words in prison also reminded Emperor Liu of his sudden and violent murderous intention.
Facts have once again proved that in Emperor Liu's era, it was difficult to have a political turmoil without killing people or bloodshed.
