Today's morning court time seemed to be earlier than usual. All the ministers were discussing something in a low voice, but no one dared to make a loud noise.
After a while, a eunuch from the back of the palace supported the black-haired and white-bearded Han Emperor, and walked slowly and staggeringly to the dragon chair. The Han Emperor angrily threw away the eunuch's hand, and then waved the eunuch away.
Emperor Han sat expressionlessly on the dragon chair, looking down at His Highness's ministers who were kneeling and shouting long live, and suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of crisis. Everything that happened last night had kept him awake all night. He never expected that his ninth son, Liu Xu, would be the first to betray him. Liu Xu had a pitiful background since he was a child. Although he knew that he was wronged in the imperial examination case, he His punishment has been very lenient. I didn't expect that in just a few months, Liu Xu would have his own inner circle. Wouldn't it be even more terrifying for his other heirs and ministers? What makes me even more heartbroken is that father and son turned against each other and brothers killed each other, but such things still happened after all.
The atmosphere in the entire hall was solemn for a long time. The Han Emperor pondered for a long time before he said calmly: "Without courtesy, please be free!"
After hearing this, all the ministers looked at each other and stood up cautiously, but everyone was still silent. No one dared to speak first, because everyone did not know what to say, and they were all waiting for the Han Emperor to speak first.
As expected, Emperor Han spoke first, but what was unexpected was that Emperor Han spoke so calmly and calmly, "Have General Chang Sun of the Longhu Guard and Hou Zhigui of the Yulin Guard come to court?"
Changsun Chongwei and Hou Zhigui hurriedly came out of the court parade, clasped their fists and saluted, saying in unison: "I'm here!"
"How was the case of Liu Xu's rebellion last night?"
When Emperor Han asked with a long voice, his tone was so calm that even the ministers were surprised.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, except for the 2,000 surrendered Jinwu Guards led by Hu Dayou, the remaining 10,000 people have been wiped out. The King of Wei has been captured alive and is now being held in the sky prison, waiting for His Majesty's fate!" Changsun Chongwei reported loudly. .
"Have you found any accomplices or remnants?"
"We haven't found out the accomplices yet!" Changsun Chongli replied calmly, "Your Majesty, please see if this case requires a royal trial."
Emperor Han thought: "Let this case be handed over to the three departments for trial!"
Prince Liu Yan seemed a little unhappy after hearing this. Now Cui Hao is the Minister of the Criminal Department of the Three Laws Division, and Yang Youxian, the Minister of Dali Temple, is a member of Prince Ning. Du Zongting, the imperial censor, only has the responsibility of supervisor. If the case is handed over to the Three Laws Division, it will be really difficult. The loss is huge, and now we must find a way to fill the position vacated by Hu Dayou with our own people.
Just when Liu Yan was meditating, Xun Mou seemed to understand. He went out and said: "Your Majesty, this time Jinwu Guards General Hu Dayou was captured for participating in the rebellion. The Jinwu Guards' guards were also hit hard. We must find a way. Order a competent person to fill this vacancy, and then reorganize the Jinwu Guard to ensure the safety of the Imperial City."
The Emperor of the Han Dynasty had already expected that someone would definitely raise this matter last night, so he had already thought of a countermeasure. After the rebellion of King Wei, the Emperor of the Han Dynasty became more cautious. He knew that the power could not be left aside. It is not possible to choose anyone among the ministers, so we can only wait for this civil service test. It is most appropriate to select from the tributes who have just entered the golden list. Firstly, they do not have any power when they first enter the official career. Secondly, these guards now choose The man must be left directly to himself. Therefore, the Han Emperor replied without hesitation: "Let's put this matter on hold! As for the Jinwu Guard, I will leave it to General Changsun of the Longhu Guard for the time being. After the Quan test, I will personally take care of it."
Xun Mou did not expect that the emperor would make such a move, so he could only stand back to the courtroom in disgrace.
The two people from the Ministry of Punishment and Dali Temple were thinking about how to handle King Wei's case. After all, King Liu Xugui of Wei was the prince, and any outcome of the trial would be unfavorable to them. So Cui Hao, Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, Chu Li said: "Your Majesty, the case of King Wei's rebellion is of great importance. Now the trial of his comrades is the top priority, and King Wei's rebellion has been confirmed, so I would like to ask Your Majesty to decide how to deal with King Wei?"
The Emperor of the Han Dynasty breathed a long sigh of relief and said calmly: "Liu Xu was demoted to a commoner and imprisoned in a prison! His wife and daughter were demoted back to Taiyuan, the companion capital, and they were not allowed to enter the capital without my order. The remaining rebels were interrogated by the three departments of the party. Just leave the list to me to decide!"
In the afternoon, a rare heavy rain suddenly fell in Kyoto. But even with such a heavy rain, Liu Xu could no longer see it. Tianlao was a death sentence prison specially used to imprison the emperor's grandsons and nobles. As long as those who were imprisoned here could only wait for death from the Holy God.
Inside the damp and cold iron prison, there are airtight thick walls on three sides, and in front of it are cold iron bars as thick as an arm. There is only a wooden bed for one person, and traces of snake, insect, and rat bites can be seen everywhere. What was even more unbearable was the bone-chilling coldness. Inside the dark prison, it was as if he was in a dream. This was the most desolate moment in Liu Xu's life.
Liu Xu was sitting on the wooden bed, curled up with his hands on his knees, shivering all over. He couldn't tell whether it was because of fear or the biting cold. He stared at the wet ground with dull eyes.
Suddenly, there were bursts of footsteps in the corridor of the cell, and Liu Xu heard people running towards the iron bars as if they had lost their souls. Just when he was about to shout, the familiar figure was Du Zongting, the imperial censor, an old friend from the past. , subordinate, ally, now a traitor, a sad person, Liu Xu collapsed to the ground in disappointment, his eyes full of anger and hatred.
Du Zongting stopped in front of Liu Xu's cell, and waved his hand to signal the followers behind him to retreat. He looked at the lost prince in front of him, his former master, and felt a sense of sadness and even a hint of regret in his heart. Du Zongting wanted to say something, but how should he address the familiar yet unfamiliar prince in front of him? What can I say? After thinking for a long time, he broke the silence with a trembling voice: "Wang... Master! Are you okay?"
Liu Xu's vicious eyes seemed to be able to eat Du Zongting alive at this moment. Liu Xu didn't say anything, but just stared at him with wide eyes, as if he wanted to burn his face deeply into his heart for the next life. I want to take revenge on him. But the more he thought about it, the anger in Liu Xu's heart became more and more uncontrollable. The moment his blood surged, he rushed to the iron fence and roared hysterically at Du Zongting: "Get out..."
Du Zongting's eyes were red, and he knelt on the ground with a "pop", and then burst into tears. He was so choked that he could not speak and could only keep kowtowing his head.
Liu Xu seemed to be moved at this moment, with tears streaming down his face, and he shouted heartbrokenly: "Why... why..."
