As the court meeting began, many officials had already entered the palace and were standing silently below, waiting for the old emperor to appear.
Today's court meeting can be said to be the most crowded one in so many years.
Many important figures came to the court one after another.
Of course there is Li Xiang among them.
There was another figure who entered the palace together with Li Xiang.
Everyone looked at him one after another, and their hearts suddenly thumped. Why is he here too?
All officials who go to court, whether they are military attaches or civilians, must be searched when entering the court and are not allowed to bring any sharp weapons, but this one is an exception.
All the officials who went to court were, without exception, wearing official robes, but he was wearing a golden armor with a sword on his waist, and he looked majestic.
This person is none other than Guan Jing, the great military general of the dynasty.
Guan Jing's right to carry a sword was personally given by the old emperor. In fact, this general did not like things at the court meeting, nor did he like intrigues in the court. However, everyone understood that as long as Guan Jing came to the court meeting, , then today's court meeting will naturally be different from the past.
Li Xiang and Guan Jing walked forward together. Li Xiang suddenly joked: "General Guan, what are you happy about today?"
Guan Jing looked serious, "Li Xiang, you know better than me what will happen today."
"Oh?" Li Xiang asked in confusion, "Since General Guan knows what will happen today, which side does General Guan stand on?"
Guan Jing said seriously: "I just came here to suppress them."
Li Xiang smiled slightly, bent over and said, "This is the best."
Everyone stood still. As time went by, the people of Marquis Wenru's lineage became more and more nervous.
But the people of Zhennanhou's lineage were puzzled. It was already at this time, why was Zhennanhou not there yet?
"Report!"
It was at this moment that a voice sounded outside the hall.
Immediately afterwards, I saw a little eunuch trotting in, taking three steps at a time and then two steps at a time. He quickly knelt down on the ground and said in panic: "Big... something bad is going to happen!"
The old emperor has not yet arrived at the palace. At this time, Zheng Dehai, the chief chamberlain, will naturally be in charge.
"Why are you so panicked?"
The little eunuch took a few breaths, then stumbled and said: "General Manager Zheng...Zhennanhou...Zhennanhou Master has been killed!"
As soon as this statement came out, everyone in the court was shocked.
Li Xiang and Wen Ruhou had actually expected this result a long time ago, and they were not too surprised in their hearts, but they still had to pretend at this moment.
The most surprised people were the people of Zhennanhou's lineage. They never thought that Zhennanhou would die!
As the most loyal subordinate of the Marquis of Zhennan, Yuan Zuo quickly stepped forward and asked: "Don't talk nonsense! You dare to spread rumors about Lord Zhennan Marquis. Do you think your life has been too long?"
The young eunuch quickly shook his head, "Commander Yuan, I really didn't lie. Master Zhennan Hou is really dead. He died in his own mansion!"
Yuan Zuo wanted to say something more, but Guan Jing came out and interrupted: "Where is the body of Zhennan Hou now?"
The young eunuch hurriedly replied: "Still in the Zhennan Hou Mansion, the imperial doctor has already passed and is trying to find out the cause of death."
At this time, one or two coughs came from outside the hall.
Everyone looked at him and immediately knelt down to worship.
"His Majesty!"
The old emperor smiled and said, "Get back on your feet, dear friends."
Then, with the support of Zheng Dehai, he sat on the dragon throne.
After the old emperor coughed twice, he asked: "I just heard that the Marquis of Zhennan was killed outside?"
Hearing this, Yuan Zuo immediately took a step forward, bowed and said: "Your Majesty, if Lord Zhennan Hou has made great contributions to the dynasty and is an old minister, I hope your Majesty will investigate clearly!"
"I hope your Majesty will investigate clearly!"
With Yuan Zuo taking the lead, many people from Zhennanhou's lineage came out one after another.
The old emperor remained calm and did not speak, but looked at Prime Minister Li.
Li Xiang came out of the queue and said loudly: "Your Majesty, the Marquis of Zhennan is a well-deserved hero of our dynasty. If he really dies at the hands of evil people, he must be investigated clearly!"
With Li Xiang's words, people in Zhennanhou's lineage were very happy.
At the very least, the prime minister is backing them.
Guan Jing looked at Li Xiang with a strange look. He really didn't know what kind of medicine this man was selling in his gourd.
However, he is not in a hurry. As a friend for many years, he knows exactly what Li Xiang wants and how to do it. He just needs to wait quietly.
The old emperor nodded and said, "Just do as Mr. Li said."
Zheng Dehai cleared his throat at the side and said, "The imperial doctor is entering the palace!"
The court meeting was quiet for a while, and soon the imperial doctor entered the hall.
The old emperor asked: "I ask you, is the Marquis of Zhennan really dead?"
The imperial doctor nodded and said: "Reporting to your majesty, Lord Zhennan Hou has been confirmed dead."
"Has the cause of death been found out?"
"this……"
The imperial doctor found it difficult to speak.
The old emperor stared, "Say."
The imperial doctor then raised his hands and said, "Reporting to your majesty, the Marquis of Zhennan was beaten to death with fists."
As soon as this statement came out, everyone was shocked.
Yuan Zuo questioned: "That's nonsense. What kind of realm is Master Zhennanhou? How could he be beaten to death with fists?"
The imperial doctor quickly said: "Commander Yuan, I have been practicing medicine for half my life, and I have done countless things to determine the cause of death. If Lord Zhennanhou really died of an unexpected death, I can't find out even if I want to, but Lord Zhennanhou was indeed killed." People were beaten to death.”
The old emperor said: "Did you bring the body back?"
The imperial doctor nodded.
The old emperor waved his hand and ordered the corpse to be brought into the palace.
After the body entered the palace, Yuan Zuo was naturally the first to go to check. After seeing the body, Yuan Zuo remained silent.
Guan Jing also walked to the corpse calmly, took one look at it, and then curled up the corners of his mouth.
He already knew who beat Zhennanhou to death.
Yuan Zuo stood stunned for a moment, then turned and said: "Your Majesty, please thoroughly find out the murderer of Zhennan Hou!"
The old emperor asked: "Did the Minister of Dali Temple come today?"
In the crowd, the Dali Temple minister came forward, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I am here."
"I need your Dali Temple to investigate the death of Zhennan Hou and find the murderer. Do you have any objections?"
The minister of Dali Temple was stunned for a while and said nothing for a long time.
This is a hot potato.
It is actually not difficult for Dali Temple to find out the murderer.
Putting aside this matter, is it difficult to say that there are probably only a few people who can kill or dare to kill Zhennan Marquis. If this is really going to be found out, should I say it or not?
The old emperor asked again, "Do you have any objections?"
Finally, the Dali Temple minister gritted his teeth, stamped his feet, cupped his hands and said: "My lord, I obey the order!"
"In this case, let Dali Temple investigate first. After the cause is found out, I will naturally tell everyone the truth."
After saying these words, many people's faces changed.
Mainly people from the Wenruhou family. They thought something was going to happen in today's court meeting. They actually knew the murderer of Zhennanhou, but most officials still didn't know the situation. If they spoke out at this time , isn’t it just self-inflicted?
Therefore, they could only remain silent.
Guan Jing knew in his heart that there would be no troubles in today's meeting, so he resigned directly.
The old emperor also waved his hand and ended the court meeting.
After the dispersion of the dynasty, the people of Wenruhou's lineage were at the end, waiting for Zhang Xi to speak.
Arriving outside the palace, Zhang Xi turned around in front of the carriage and said to the people of his lineage: "After I go back today, I must not mention the word Zhennan Marquis to others. At this time, only Mingzhe can protect himself."
Liu Yun asked: "But what if Yuan Zuo and his gang come to find us?"
They and Yuan Zuo's group are just grasshoppers on the same rope. If such a big thing happens, Yuan Zuo will definitely come to find a countermeasure. After all, after seeing the body of Zhennan Hou, he should have understood what happened last night. In the end what happened.
Zhang Xi calmly said: "No, all the people from Zhennanhou's lineage are missing."
After that, Zhang Xi got on the carriage, leaned in the carriage, took a long breath, and slowly closed his eyes.
…
…
At today's court meeting, the two people who should have appeared most did not show up.
If these two people showed up, there would actually be no need to go to Dali Temple to investigate the case, but the result would be available today.
But Gu Xiaotian couldn't go along with the wishes of those people. This line was so intertwined that people on Marquis Wenru's side must have been well prepared and waiting for the two of them to appear.
But Gu Xiaotian is not considered a courtier after all. If the emperor does not summon him, there is naturally no need to go to court.
As for Sun Gusheng, although he is the prince in name, he has actually been away from home for so many years and has never been to the court. Even if everyone knew that he had returned to Kyoto, they would not say anything about his absence from the court.
Coupled with the fact that the old emperor and Prime Minister Li are secretly helping, this matter will definitely not come to an end today.
At this time, the two of them were sitting in the courtyard of the Gu family's mansion, drinking tea and admiring flowers, feeling very uncomfortable.
After Sun Gusheng took a sip of tea, he reminded: "Dali Temple should check it out soon."
Gu Xiaotian smiled and said: "You are still worried about this. Even if it is really found out that you killed the Marquis of Zhennan, will they really dare to arrest you?"
"You are the prince!"
Sun Gusheng said helplessly: "But after all, he still killed someone. The emperor broke the law and the common people are equally guilty."
Gu Xiaotian laughed, "Then why don't you tell me the cause and effect, but that Zhennanhou assassinated you first."
Sun Gusheng looked at the empty tea bowl and said for no reason, "It's going to rain soon."
…
…
The Minister of Dali Temple, dressed in official robes, was sitting on a chair. He looked complicated at this time. Below him stood a group of Dali Temple officials and the corpse that had been brought back.
Zhennan Hou Lin Daofu was beaten to death with fists. It was too simple.
"Let's talk about it. What should we do about this matter?"
"Sir, if you really want to investigate this matter, it's very simple. The person who killed Zhennan Hou didn't even think about hiding anything. Instead, he entered the house in a big way, killed the person, patted his sleeves and left. "
The Minister of Dali Temple sighed and said: "Of course I understand such a simple thing, but if he dares to do this, he must not be afraid of investigation. Your Majesty said he wants the murderer, but in fact he wants the truth."
Those officials, look at me and I look at you.
This kind of thing has always been thankless. If you really want to find out the truth, you will definitely offend a lot of people.
In Dali Temple, most of them are capable people, but because they have offended some people in the past, they have been kept here and unable to take a step forward.
Although the world has been unified, the struggle within the imperial court has not changed and is still so realistic.
An official cautiously suggested: "Sir, how about we find out the murderer and then tell your Majesty that nothing else has been found?"
"Are you thinking that His Majesty is old and has lost his brain?"
The Minister of Dali Temple frowned and cursed angrily: "You are not in the court meeting today. You didn't see the look in His Majesty's eyes. Your Majesty must know everything in his heart, but there are some things that must be said from my mouth in Dali Temple!"
The official who had just made the comment remained silent.
"First find the person who killed Zhennanhou, and by the way, check who else Zhennanhou has met these days."
The minister of Dali Temple looked up to the sky and sighed: "It's really going to rain."
Some people died, but not completely...
