Changsheng rode his horse ahead, with Datou and others galloping behind. It was late afternoon, and there were not many pedestrians on the street, but Miss Bai's huge figure and low-flying wings still attracted the attention of passers-by.
Arriving at the corner of the street, Yang Kai shook his head and caught up with Chang Sheng, "Your Majesty, is it appropriate for us to go to the palace now?"
Yang Kai was usually taciturn and would not speak easily. When he heard him speak, Changsheng reined in his horse and slowed down, waiting for him to continue.
Yang Kai said, "My lord, Master Zhang is an expert, mature and prudent. If he were not so angry that he would never attack anyone in the household department. Now that Master Zhang is angry, if he is blocked from entering the palace, I'm afraid I won't be able to help but take action. If we rush to the palace at this time, will we be criticized for joining forces with Master Zhang to force him to the palace?"
Changsheng was also angry at first and didn't think much about it. After hearing what Yang Kai said, he realized the seriousness of the problem and hurriedly reined in his horse and slowed down, frowning and thinking.
Seeing Changsheng stopped, Shi Xuanming also said, "What Yang Kai said makes sense. The civil servants headed by Qian Zhonglin have always been afraid that we would join hands with Master Zhang to rebel. Master Zhang was originally fighting in Hanzhong, and we are far away in Shenzhou in the northeast. , actually returned to Chang'an at the same time, no one would believe this was a coincidence, they would all think that we were in secret contact with Zhenren Zhang, and came back together to force the palace to hold us accountable."
The big head at the top also heard what Yang Kai and Shi Xuanming said, "Damn it, why is this so awkward? If we also go to the palace, it does seem to have been discussed in advance. They have been slandering us and Master Zhang wears a pair of trousers, and if we go there, we will be convicted."
Qian Zhonglin was the murderer behind the murder of the nuns in Shifang Nunnery. Yu Yi hated this man deeply. If she hadn't been worried about causing trouble for Changsheng, she would have killed Qian Zhonglin long ago. Now that Datou and others are hesitant, she He said angrily, "We are back. Even if we don't go to the palace, we can't avoid suspicion."
After everyone expressed their opinions, Chang Sheng did not answer immediately. What Datou and others said made sense. This matter was indeed too coincidental. They both returned to Chang'an on the same day with Zhang Shan, and they both came back angrily to ask questions. To anyone, this matter looks like it was discussed in advance. Zhang Shanhe himself was a military general sent abroad and was not with the emperor on weekdays. The civil servants headed by Qian Zhonglin must have said bad things about the two of them in private. As the saying goes, three people make a tiger. The emperor was already suspicious, and the civil servants continued to speak ill of them one after another. If you say bad things over time, you will definitely doubt yourself and Zhang Shan. If you rush to the palace with Zhang Shan at this time, it will be equivalent to telling the emperor that you and Zhang Shan are indeed in the same group.
For someone else, there are only two choices at this time. One is to be upright and not afraid of the shadow, and run directly to the palace to support Zhang Zhenren. The second is to temporarily suppress your anger and watch on the sidelines to avoid suspicion. But both options have drawbacks. After thinking anxiously, Changsheng thought of another way, pulled the reins and turned, "Let's go to the Ministry of Punishment."
Although Changsheng did not explain to everyone why he went to the Punishment Department, everyone on his side understood why he went to the Punishment Department. Zhang Zhenren came to the Hubu Department undoubtedly because of the shortage of food and grass in the camp, while everyone on his side went to the Punishment Department because the veterans from the Western Regions were convicted. After being beheaded, although both parties returned to Chang'an, they were not doing it for the same thing. Even if it was spread afterward, there would be reasonable excuses.
The officials of the Tang Dynasty continued the three provinces and six ministries system of the previous dynasty. The three provinces of Zhongshu, Menxia, and Shangshu worked in the palace, while the six ministries of officials, punishment, soldiers, households, workers, and rites all worked in the inner city, and the offices were separated from each other. Not far away, after crossing a few streets, the group arrived at the entrance of the Criminal Department Yamen.
A large number of official documents were delivered from various places in the Sixth Department every day. The postmen and postmen were all on horseback. Therefore, when they heard the sound of horse hooves, the yamen at the entrance of the Criminal Department were still discussing where the postman came from. He was so ignorant of the rules that he rode his horse at a fast pace. , but when Changsheng and his party came to the door, they immediately understood that the person coming was not the postman, because the postman could not have such a good mount, and the momentum of the few people was far beyond that of the postman.
While Changsheng and others dismounted, Datou announced from a high place, "Prince Zhongyong has arrived, and Xiao Cunzhi, the Minister of Punishment, has come out to meet him."
Da Tou shouted, Changsheng no longer had to announce his home. Hearing Da Tou shout loudly, the yamen servant at the door panicked instantly. One of them turned around and ran in to report, while the rest of the people knelt down to pay tribute.
Changsheng waved his hand to the yamen guarding the door, and stood at the door of the yamen, waiting for the Minister of Punishment to come out and speak. At the same time, he thought quickly in his mind that everyone on his side coming to the Punishment Department was just a formality, because the death penalty approval of those veterans was not The decision was made by the Ministry of Punishment, but reported to the Menxia Province, which was finally approved by the Menxia Province. However, the process still had to go, and we could not just rush into the palace and drag Qian Zhonglin out.
The Liubu Hall officials usually sit in the court, but Chang Sheng is the only one who is indifferent when he is in office and often cannot be found.
It didn't take long for Xiao Cunzhi to run out with a group of subordinates. It turned out that the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment and Yang Fugong were in the same group. After the eunuch party fell, he was beheaded by the guilty party. Xiao Cunzhi was the successor. After taking power, he and Chang Sheng imprisoned and beheaded imperial prisoners together. Chang Sheng can be considered a half-acquaintance.
Changsheng is a prince, so even the first-rank officials have to kneel down and bow down when they see him. However, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice is only a third-rank official, so naturally he has to kneel down and bow down, "Xiao Cunzhi, the lower official, pays homage to the prince Qiansui."
Facing the officials from the Ministry of Punishment kneeling down to worship, Changsheng did not order them to be exempted from the ceremony, but said coldly, "It's rare that Mr. Xiao still remembers me."
Putting aside the quality of an official's character, anyone who can become an official must have sufficient intelligence. Seeing Changsheng's cold expression and poor speech, Xiao Cunzhi immediately understood why he came and said eagerly, "I know that the prince will come sooner or later. , please invite the prince and the four generals inside to serve tea."
Hearing Xiao Cunzhi's words, Changsheng felt a little relieved. The implication of Xiao Cunzhi's words was that he knew he would definitely come and why he came. Since he still had the nerve to let him in for tea, it meant that this person definitely didn't do everything right. , so as not to be embarrassed to see him.
"Wait for me outside," Chang Sheng said to Yu Yi and others, then quickly stepped forward to help Xiao Cunzhi up, "Master Xiao, please get up quickly, all adults, please get up too."
Xiao Cunzhi didn't talk nonsense. After standing up, he immediately ordered his men to greet Yu Yi and others, then turned sideways and raised his hand, asking Changsheng to go first.
As soon as Changsheng stepped onto the steps, he heard a muffled sound coming from the east. Although the sound was not loud, he could tell that it was the explosion of energy caused by the master's palm. He frowned and looked eastward, and sure enough he found two deep The purple color disappeared in a flash.
The place where the complexion appeared was in front of the palace gate. The flash of two deep purple complexions showed that two Taixuan masters had just exchanged palms, but the two did not continue to attack.
Zhang Shan had already rushed to the palace before. As expected, one of the two dark purple complexions just now came from Zhang Shan. This shows that Zhang Shan failed to enter the palace, but was blocked from the palace gate.
Seeing that Zhang Shan was already involved with others, Changsheng felt anxious and quickly walked up the steps to go to the main hall with Xiao Cunzhi.
Xiao Cunzhi didn't talk nonsense, and immediately whispered when there was no one around, "Your Majesty, in recent days, more than a dozen official documents related to General Guide and his subordinates have been handed in from various places. I know that General Yao and others are The prince also found that there were many strange things in the files he brought back from the desert, and it seemed that someone was maliciously harming him, so he tried to delay it as long as possible, trying to delay it until the autumn. However, the subordinate minister issued a letter to ask questions, and the lower official had no choice but to go to the imperial court. Submitted for transfer, I never thought that all the provinces would approve the death penalty. The reply was forwarded to the Ministry of Punishment, and the lower officials delayed it as long as they could. So far, only two death penalty approvals have been issued that have reached the deadline, and one has been sent to the Northeast Province. Shenzhou, one copy was sent to Zizhou on Jiannan Road, and the remaining dozen or so official documents were not sent out."
Hearing Xiao Cunzhi's words, Changsheng felt relieved, "Thank you, Mr. Xiao, for your reply. To be honest, I rushed back from Shenzhou. I have rescued those seven people. When was the reply sent to Zizhou sent? How many people were involved in the case? ?”
"It was sent out on the eighth day of last month. The three people involved in the case have probably been executed by now," Xiao Cunzhi sighed, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I may have spoken lightly, but I have really tried my best."
"Master Xiao's words are serious. Even so, I can't thank you enough." Changsheng said here and heard the sound of anger coming from the east again. "I can't thank you enough for your kindness. Master Xiao, I'll go first." Imperial Palace, please hold back the remaining replies and never send them out again."
"Okay." Xiao Cunzhi nodded seriously.
At this time, the two of them had not entered the main hall, and the business had already been finished. Changsheng did not continue walking north, but turned around and returned, walking quickly.
Xiao Cunzhi trotted behind him, "Your Majesty, there have been many changes in the court situation in recent times. You should be more careful."
"Is Qian Zhonglin taking charge of the province again?" Changsheng asked casually.
"Yes," Xiao Cunzhi nodded, "The emperor has great trust in him. Recently, all the affairs of the court and central government have been handled by the Ministry of Menxia. Even major matters such as moving the capital are also handled by the Ministry of Menxia."
Hearing Xiao Cunzhi's words, Changsheng frowned, stopped and turned around, "Move the capital? Move the capital to something?"
"The emperor has decided to move the capital from Chang'an to Luoyang." Xiao Cunzhi said in a low voice.
"You live well in Chang'an, why do you want to move the capital?" Chang Sheng was angry. No wonder the money was gone. It turned out that it was used to move the capital. Moving the capital is not a trivial matter. It can be said to be nerve-wracking. All the palaces and yamen They all need to be rebuilt, which requires a huge amount of money.
Xiao Cunzhi frowned and shook his head, "I don't know what I am doing."
At this time, there were frequent dull sounds of gas explosions from the east, indicating that Zhang Shan had already made contact with the palace guards. Changsheng was so anxious that he did not bother to talk to Xiao Cunzhi. He hurriedly said goodbye and rushed to the palace with Datou and others.
Changsheng shook the reins and urged the horse without saying anything, and Datou and others did not speak either. As a former Yushitai official, everyone is familiar with the criminal law and knows the nature of fighting against the imperial guards. The imperial guards are responsible for defending the imperial city, and attacking the imperial guards is the same. rebellion.
Although we still don’t know why Zhang Shan was so angry and attacked the imperial guards, but everyone knows one thing, that is, the matter has completely gone bad, and there is no possibility of good deeds...
