"Father!" Li Xian stood up first and solemnly said with his hands raised: "All matters in the East Palace will be borne by my son. Please forgive me, Father."
"You don't even know what happened, so you rush to plead guilty, you prince..." Li Zhi glanced at Li Xian with some disappointment, then looked at Zhang Daan: "Zhang Qing."
"Your Majesty!" Zhang Da'an stood up and said solemnly, "Although the East Palace is involved in this case, it was only aware of it in advance and was not the culprit. Your Majesty, please investigate in detail."
Li Zhi took a deep look at Zhang Daan, waved his hand and said, "Speak!"
"Yes!" Zhang Da'an breathed a sigh of relief, and then said quickly: "The reason for this is because someone suggested to His Highness the Crown Prince, if we can find an opportunity to let the ministers go one step further. With the third rank of Tong Zhongshu's sect, His Highness summoned all the ministers After deliberation, I proposed three strategies: upper, middle and lower."
"Tell me which three strategies." Li Zhi sat calmly on the royal couch, with even a sneer on his face.
The ministers who caught a glimpse of this scene quickly bowed their heads deeply, and couldn't help but feel chills running through their whole bodies.
The appointment of the prime minister was the emperor's greatest power in the Tang Empire, and no one else could be allowed to interfere.
Even Empress Wu could only carefully plan this power in secret. Now Zhang Daan frankly said that he helped the prince plan for the position of prime minister. This was almost like seeking death.
"The best policy." Zhang Da'an held up his hand and said seriously: "To promote the great policy of the DPRK, to prompt one or more prime ministers to go out for inspection, and if there is a vacancy in the DPRK, His Highness recommends the minister Tong Zhongshu's third rank."
Li Zhi was stunned for a moment, looking surprised. He nodded subconsciously and said: "Zhang Qing's plan is noble and upright. If so, I will consider it."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhang Da'an looked solemn, and then said: "As for the central policy, the ministers in the court are relatively old, some are sick, and have even taken the initiative to retreat. Therefore, I suggest that your highness find someone to talk to, or You can make a promise and let him take the initiative to retreat."
"Who are you thinking of?" Li Zhi asked directly.
Zhang Daan cupped his hands and said: "Reporting to your Majesty, all the ministers and ministers in the court have considered it, but none of them have taken action."
"Slippery." Li Zhi waved his hand and said, "Continue."
"Yes!" Zhang Daan bowed his hands deeply again and said solemnly: "The next best option is to find a certain prime minister who is in poor health and make him sick..."
"This is what Gao Baobao did last year." Li Zhi's expression turned cold again.
"Yes." Zhang Da'an cupped his hands and said, "But in this case, I just opened my mouth, and His Highness the Crown Prince and Prince Zhan Shi interrupted me with harsh words."
"Huangfu loves you." Li Zhi stared at Huangfu Zhengyi.
Huangfu Zhengyi immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands and said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this is indeed the case, but His Highness the Crown Prince has chosen the best policy. The northwest has been initially decided, and the prime minister needs to be sent to inspect..."
Huangfu Gongyi turned around and glanced at Li Xuan, then he handed over his hands and said: "In addition to the Tubo incident, there is also the Tuyuhun incident. Tuyuhun only focused on himself and stayed out of the war this year.
To deal with the details, North Korea and China need to send senior officials to investigate. By the way, the progress of the Western Turkic War also needs to be determined. "
Li Xuan nodded calmly, with even a gentle smile on his face, then turned to look at the emperor and bowed seriously.
The moment he bowed, there was a hint of coldness in Li Xuan's eyes.
Li Zhi didn't pay attention to Li Xuan. He just looked at Li Xian and asked softly: "If that's the case, why did you find someone to make false letters? Erlang?"
"Your Majesty, I made that." Zhang Da'an cupped his hands and said, "Before I made the suggestion, I had checked all the available craftsmen in the capital. Later, I heard that the King of Nanchang had found my letter, and I immediately I knew it was false, so I immediately sent people to the bookstore... Soon, the King of Nanchang also arrived with people."
Donggong didn't actually have much fault in this matter. They just had plans set up in advance, but they didn't adopt them.
Li Zhi looked at Yuan Wanqing expressionlessly and asked directly: "Yuan Qing, when did the secret guard know about the plan of the East Palace? I want the time to be accurate."
After Li Zhi said something, all the officials present looked at Yuan Wanqing at the same time, but their eyes lightly passed over Li Xian and Zhang Daan.
Acting laxly and not doing things confidentially.
The same evaluation fell on the prince and Zhang Daan, but at this moment, Li Xian and Zhang Daan looked at Yuan Wanqing with solemn expressions.
Li Xuan glanced across, and couldn't help but have a flash of doubt in his heart at this moment.
The East Palace has been aware of this matter for a long time, but they still haven't handled their relationship well.
And now he admits it so simply...
Is Li Xian setting a trap for Yuan Wanqing?
…
Yuan Wanqing stood in the palace, looked at the emperor, raised his hands and said seriously: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the secret guards only started to pay attention when they realized that the East Palace was secretly investigating all the paper craftsmen in Chang'an. Everything was done following the East Palace. The actions in Chang'an City are being monitored...the secret guards are only monitoring and not taking any action."
Li Zhi nodded lightly. The secret guards could not move in the East Palace, but when they left the East Palace, they were under the surveillance of the secret guards.
"So, do you know about the Gao family?" Li Zhi asked slowly, but every word fell on Yuan Wanqing's heart, which was very heavy.
Yuan Wanqing cupped his hands and said: "Report to your majesty, I know about the engagement between the Gao family and the Zhang family, and I also know that Gao Wei secretly met with the Zhang family's maid, but I never knew that Gao Wei would take action against Prime Minister Zhang. I never thought that he would do that. Be bold.”
The officials in the palace looked at each other with faint eyes and looked inexplicably relaxed.
Yuan Wanqing's words actually indicate a very clear boundary.
The secret guards are indeed ordered to monitor, but generally they monitor external matters and do not involve the inner court at all.
They don't pry too much into the privacy of each mansion.
It is precisely because of this that they were negligent about Zhang Wenguan.
Li Zhi looked calm and continued: "Since we have focused on that bookstore a long time ago, then who went into that bookstore and killed people? Should the secret guard have any clues?"
The punishment is not as good as that of an official, and the courtesy is not as good as that of a common man.
The secret guards are not so strict in supervising the officials in the DPRK, but they should keep a close eye on the tentacles outside each mansion.
In that bookstore, the East Palace only found him, but there was no follow-up, but the secret guards should have sent someone to keep an eye on him.
In this case, the secret guard should at least know who committed the murder.
After a slight hesitation, Yuan Wanqing glanced at Li Xuan who lowered his head subconsciously. Suddenly, the emperor's previous roar came into his mind.
Immediately, Yuan Wanqing handed over his hand without any hesitation: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the secret guard did see the murderer, but that person..."
Yuan Wanqing turned sideways, looked at Wu Chengsi, cupped his hands and apologized, "That man ended up entering the Duke of Zhou's mansion."
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became cold and solemn, and everyone lowered their heads.
Even so, everyone wanted to see the look of Empress Wu behind the emperor and behind the bead curtain.
But at this moment, there was no sound from Empress Wu.
Li Zhi raised his head, looked at Wu Chengsi, and asked indifferently: "Chengsi, what do you say about this?"
Wu Chengsi couldn't help but shudder, and quickly raised his hands and said: "Reporting to your Majesty, I have indeed gathered some strangers in my family, but I have never allowed them to do such a thing... I would like to say this I don’t know anything about anything from beginning to end.”
Li Zhi looked at Wu Chengsi, the ministers in the palace also looked at Wu Chengsi, and even Li Xuan looked at Wu Chengsi.
Because Wu Chengsi had too many motives in this matter.
Of course, he has been working as a secretary for many years, and it is time for him to become very quiet and lively.
If something happens to the prince, something happens to Zhang Da'an, or even something happens to Liu Shenli, a lot of official positions will inevitably be vacated. In this way, he can take a big step forward.
Not the prime minister of the political affairs hall, but at least the position of the six ministers.
Li Zhi turned around, looked at Li Xuan, and asked, "King Nanchang, what do you think of this matter?"
"Reporting to your majesty, I think Duke Zhou may be guilty, but what happens in the end needs to be investigated. However, in my opinion, Duke Zhou's mansion should be cleaned immediately." Li Xuan bowed calmly.
Li Xuan took half a step back.
Although Empress Wu didn't speak, Li Xuan took the initiative to take a step back.
But is he really moving backwards?
It's just retreat as advancement.
If Wu Chengsi cannot be killed at once, then he must first tear a hole in Zhou Guogong's mansion.
Wu Chengsi is not a good person. There are too many things in his home that should not be known to outsiders. It is just right to uncover these things.
He took half a step back to nail him better.
When the officials in the palace heard Li Xuan's retreat, they couldn't help but feel a flash of disappointment in their eyes.
But while Wu Chengsi breathed a sigh of relief, he also became nervous. If the secret guard really checked him...
"Chengsi is not very courageous, and I don't want to believe that he would act so wantonly." Li Zhi opened his mouth and glanced at Wu Chengsi, who immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Li Zhi's eyes suddenly flashed with disgust, and then he said: "The East Palace came up with a plan, and then it was stolen by others; the secret guard secretly watched, but was discovered and used; Chengsi knew nothing about it, but was People regard it as a knife that harms others, so who is this person who secretly keeps an eye on the East Palace, the Secret Guards, and the Duke of Zhou's Palace at the same time?"
Li Xuan stood at the bottom, and the figures of many people suddenly flashed through his mind, including Li Jingye, Lun Qinling, Ming Chongyan, Yuan Wanqing... and of course, Wu Chengsi himself.
But now, if we want to completely find the mastermind behind the scenes, or even crucify him completely, we still need actual evidence.
Li Zhi's eyes flashed and he said: "In that case, let's investigate...the East Palace, the secret guards, and the Zhou Guogong's Mansion, all should be thoroughly investigated."
The ministers were suddenly shocked. They did not expect that the emperor would make such a big move.
Wu Chengsi's residence was fine, but the East Palace and the secret guards were the most untouchable places for the imperial court, but now the emperor wanted to investigate.
A flash of realization flashed deep in Li Xuan's astonished eyes.
Yes, the emperor does want to investigate, because now that the case has been investigated, it can no longer be carried out.
Li Xuan traced three clues from the bookstore, the East Palace, the Secret Guard and the Duke of Zhou's Mansion.
Although Wu Chengsi was easier to mess with, he was the only official close relative of Empress Wu in the court.
If Li Xuan were to attack him forcefully, he would inevitably anger Empress Wu. Li Xuan did not want to confront Empress Wu now, so it would be best for someone else to investigate Wu Chengsi on behalf of Li Xuan and report Wu Chengsi's affairs. , get to the bottom of everything.
"The order is sent to Dali Temple to investigate the East Palace and find out who leaked the information about the East Palace." Li Zhi's voice was cold.
Li Xian can't control the East Palace. He has his own problems, but others who dare to spy on the East Palace deserve to die.
"I accept the decree." Duan Baoxuan, the minister of Dali Temple, immediately stood up and held his hands.
"Pass an order, the Ministry of Punishment is going to investigate the secret guards..."
"I accept the order." Pei Yan stood up.
"Pass the decree, Yushitai is going to investigate the Duke of Zhou, and Zuo Qianniuwei will assist in the process. If there is any obstruction, we will kill him without mercy."
"I accept the order." Censor Zhongcheng Cui Mi and General Zuo Qianniuwei Li Jingjia accepted the order at the same time.
"The Prince of Nanchang resides in the political affairs hall, coordinating information from all parties, and must find out the conspiracy behind the scenes."
"I accept the order." Li Xuan stood up with a solemn expression and took the order seriously.
But I couldn’t help but ask myself:
Does the emperor really want to find this murderer?
(End of chapter)
