Zongren Mansion.
Mei Yin was sitting in the lobby, looking at King Zhu Zhu of Zhou standing below the hall, he couldn't help but frown, and said to the Security Bureau commander Shi Gu Sanshen beside him: "Give him a chair."
Gu Sanshen looked at Mei Yin with a little surprise in his eyes. As a criminal, it was extremely kind to let him not suffer from the iron shackles, but he was still allowed to sit?
But after all, the chief judge was Mei Yin, and Gu Sanzhen was just a spectator, without any objection, and nodded to the people from the Security Bureau on the side.
The chair is coming.
Zhou Wang Zhu Ju sat down and asked Mei Yin: "Is Princess Ningguo okay?"
Mei Yin nodded slightly, did not hesitate, and replied calmly: "Everything is well with the princess. It's just that she hasn't thought about food and tea in recent days. She has been worried about the prince's affairs. She wanted to go to the palace to plead for mercy several times, but I stopped her every time."
Before the dust settles, all pleas for mercy will only add fuel to the fire and will only make the situation more serious.
The emperor cannot be held hostage, even if these people do it out of family affection.
A smile appeared on Zhu Zhu's vicissitudes of life, and he said: "My sister-in-law did the right thing, and it's not in vain that Taizu has always attached great importance to you. Ask, if you ask clearly, I will be relieved."
Mei Yin looked at the person holding the pen on both sides, and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, to be honest, the emperor paid special attention to this inquiry. Not only did he set up a special pen clerk, but even the historian was involved. After the two sides, there was also the empress dowager. People from Changsui, Prince Yan's Mansion, Prince Dai's Mansion, Prince Liao's Mansion, Prince Min's Mansion, etc. are listening. If the prince has any grievances, he can express them directly to the court."
Zhu Rui's cheeks trembled slightly. This was the first time in his life that he had heard of such an interrogation.
I originally thought that Zhu Yunwen would get rid of him, lock him up in the clan mansion, write a random petition, and force him to be detained. Then what awaited him would be either an indefinite detention or the misery of being killed. However, he did not expect that Zhu Yunwen not only did not Being a "black prison", it was so open and aboveboard, and so many people were gathered to watch!
If you cry out for injustice, the voice of injustice will definitely reach everyone's ears and eyes.
But, am I wronged?
Zhu Ju knew that his sin was unpardonable.
Seeing that Zhu Xi was silent, Mei Yin began to ask: "Your Majesty, according to the statements of twenty-seven officials including Kaifeng Magistrate Ren Yi and Tongzhi Wang Wentao, the Zhou Dynasty promised the magistrate three thousand taels of silver per year and Tongzhi two thousand taels." Silver, up to the county magistrate level, is given 500 taels of silver every year, and he uses heavy profits to win over local people and form the Kaifeng Prefecture camp to bully the court and the people. Is this true? "
"really!"
Zhu Tie did not deny it, nor could he deny it. The irrefutable evidence had already fallen into the hands of the Security Bureau, and even the account books had been dug out.
Mei Yin looked at the clerk and historian aside, frowned and reminded: "Your Majesty, you must know that this inquiry is of great importance and should not be taken lightly."
Gu Sanshen raised his eyebrows. Mei Yin had gone too far. He told King Zhou without telling him, could you change your words?
Is this guy a member of the emperor or the king of Zhou?
Zhu Ting looked at Mei Yin calmly and said: "It is my doing to control Kaifeng Mansion, and it is also my doing to promise huge profits."
Mei Yin sighed after hearing Zhu Zhu's words.
I thought that Zhu Xi would defend himself and refuse to admit all this, and then the matter would be deadlocked here. Mei Yin is not worried about the stalemate. The result of the stalemate means that the matter will continue to be delayed.
It's impossible to get rid of the person while it's unresolved.
This was a means of self-protection, but now Zhu Ru unexpectedly admitted it.
Mei Yin stared at Zhu Ru and saw that Zhu Ru
Not intending to defend himself, he said solemnly: "Since you admit it, then the matter is settled. Let's talk about another item. In the 24th year of Hongwu, the Yellow River burst its banks on the north and south banks of Heiyang Mountain in Yuanwu, causing the Yellow River to seize the Huaihe River. Countless people were killed. Some witnesses said that the Yellow River bursting its banks was a man-made disaster, not a natural disaster!"
"And the culprit of the man-made disaster is the Zhou Palace. It was the Zhou Palace that colluded with the White Lotus Sect and used human lives and troubled times to summon Maitreya, which caused the flood. Can you admit this?!"
Zhu Zhu's face turned a little pale, his eyes rolled, and he said, "I know about this matter."
"What?"
Mei Yin was shocked.
Gu Sanshen's eyes lit up. As long as this matter is confirmed, King Zhou will be chopped off even if he has a hundred heads.
Zhu Xi took a deep breath and said: "I am aware of this matter, but this matter was done by Shi Wanghan, the chief minister of the Prince of Zhou's Palace. It has nothing to do with me or the Prince of Zhou's Palace."
"You're talking nonsense!"
Gu Sanshen jumped out and said sternly: "Without your permission, how could the Kaifeng prefecture and the local government mobilize so many boats in a short period of time? How did those officials receive the news?"
Zhu Ju looked at Gu Sanshen, sneered, and said: "Commander Gu Shi, you have investigated so much, but have you ever thought about where I was when the great flood occurred in the 24th year of Hongwu?"
Gu Sanshen's expression changed.
Zhu Ju stood up and shouted loudly: "In the 22nd year of Hongwu, Taizu exiled me to Yunnan. In the 23rd year of Hongwu, I was recalled to the capital. It was not until December of the 24th year of Hongwu that I was allowed to return to Kaifeng! During this period , what does the affairs of Prince Zhou's palace have to do with me, Zhu Xi?"
Gu Sanshen gritted his teeth and said: "Although you are not in Kaifeng, you are always in control of all matters in Kaifeng Mansion! Zhu Youdou can't really make the decision, and Chief Shi Wang Han can't act on behalf of Prince Zhou's Mansion! And back then, you Use tricks..."
Zhu Ju looked at Gu Sanshen, interrupted him, and said: "More than a thousand miles away, how can I predict the coming heavy rain, and how can I control it remotely? Commander Gu Shi's words are hard to convince people. I can guarantee that, The Yellow River taking over the Huai River has nothing to do with me."
Mei Yin nodded slightly. The Yellow River taking over the Huai River was the most fatal thing. If he didn't admit it, at least he wouldn't lose his head.
But not admitting it doesn't mean that things will end.
After all, Mei Yin was carrying the emperor's orders, and there were people from the security bureau watching, so it was impossible not to conduct a thorough investigation.
Mei Yin, who was in a dilemma, could only say with a cold face: "Shi Wanghan, the chief minister of the Zhou Dynasty, is dead, and there is no evidence of his death. However, the crown prince, Zhu Youhuang, accused the prince of being involved in what happened that year. Although you were in the capital, you secretly took advantage of Taizu's illness. Escape, take a fast boat to Kaifeng, make a secret plan, and then leave Kaifeng Mansion. All the secrets are only known to close relatives, Wang Han and others. Can you admit this?"
Zhu Ju's face did not change and he said: "How can Zhu Youyi's words be trusted? He is infatuated with the daughter of a brothel. In order to maintain the dignity of the palace, I have banned and punished him many times, and even drove away the confidante in his mouth. I have a grudge. In my heart, weaving lies is just a matter of personal revenge!"
"Let Zhu Youxuan come out!"
Mei Yin shouted.
Zhu Youyi, who was listening in the east chamber, came out, looked at the angry Zhu Xi, gritted his teeth, turned to Mei Yin and said: "King Zhou is good at the art of escaping the golden cicada. He secretly left Kaifeng after he became a vassal." , entered Fengyang, the central capital, only if the matter was exposed, he would be punished by Taizu and exiled to Yunnan."
"In the twenty-fourth year of Hongwu, he heard that Qin Tianjian predicted that there would be heavy rain in the north, so he secretly left the capital and sneaked into Kaifeng Mansion. Although there were not many people who knew about this, it was important to the family.
What is known will be known to adults by asking. "
Mei Yin looked at Zhu Youhuang who had betrayed King Zhou, and her expression turned gloomy. She said in a deep voice: "Zhao Zhou Princess, Zhu Youdun, Zhu Youxuan, Zhu Youjuan."
Several people entered the hall.
Mei Yin warned as usual: "You have heard clearly what Zhu Youyi said. You must answer truthfully. If you deceive the court and find out in the future, the crime will be added to the crime and you will not be spared lightly. Princess Zhou, Zhu Youyi Is what you said wrong?"
Princess Zhou looked at Zhu Rui, her hands trembling slightly.
"boom!"
The gavel clapped violently, and Mei Yin said: "Princess Zhou, please face north and reply."
Princess Zhou shook her head slightly and whispered: "In the twenty-fourth year of Hongwu, the prince has been in the capital and has not returned to Kaifeng."
Mei Yin looked at Zhu Youdou and said, "If someone gives false testimony, he will be implicated. Zhu Youdou, please think about it before you reply."
Zhu Youdou resolutely took a step forward and said, "It was Zhu Youxu who framed him. The prince has never left the capital without permission."
Seeing this, Mei Yin couldn't help but nodded slightly.
Whether from the perspective of family ties or from within the royal family, Mei Yin did not want King Zhou to take such a big blame. Other crimes were fine, but this matter was related to the life and death of countless people, and the consequences would be too serious.
Just when Mei Yin asked Zhu Youxuan and was about to deny Zhu Youxuan's testimony, Zhu Youxuan, who was only seven years old, said timidly: "Didn't my father come back in the 24th year of Hongwu? I heard my mother and concubine talk about it. .”
"What?"
Mei Yin was stunned on the spot.
Zhu Youyi was extremely excited and shouted: "Look, he knows this is true. I didn't lie!"
Zhu Youdun quickly said to Mei Yin: "Zhu Youjuan is just a child, and his words cannot be trusted. What's more, in the 24th year of Hongwu, he was not born yet."
Zhu Youjuan looked at his brothers who stared at him, and couldn't help but become nervous, and shouted in fear: "My mother-in-law once said that I was supposed to be born in February or March of the 25th year of Hongwu, but it was just because my father came back that , unfortunately she fell ill and was unable to serve, so Aunt Chen had sister A Fang."
Zhu Tong immediately took two steps back, his face pale.
Gu Sanshen came out and said: "Captain Mei, the matter is now clear. We only need to read the birth records of the princesses in the Zhou Palace to find out whether Zhu Xi returned to Kaifeng Palace in the 24th year of Hongwu! "
When Mei Yin saw that Zhu Ru was in despair, she knew that the matter was settled.
If he continued to deny it, it would mean that he was wearing a colored hat. If word spread, King Zhou's face would be gone.
"No need to investigate, I plead guilty!"
Zhu Rui sat paralyzed on the ground and said feebly.
Mei Yin held Jingtangmu's hand and secretly exerted force, with red eyes, and said angrily: "You are a prince and the son of Taizu, how could you do such an unconscionable thing? The Yellow River seized the Huaihe River, and many people died! "
Zhu Tie laughed and said: "So what if I am the son of Taizu? When has my destiny ever been in my own hands? In the third year of Hongwu, I was named King of Wu. I thought I could live a comfortable life in Suhang, but What? In the eleventh year of Hongwu, I was renamed King of Zhou! In the fourteenth year, I was granted the title of Kaifeng! Can you imagine how dilapidated Kaifeng was back then?"
"I just want to fight for my right to live comfortably, and I have worked hard to restore Kaifeng. Just because I went to Fengyang, Taizu actually exiled me to a barbaric land. Do you know that Yunnan is full of poisonous insects, and how many times have I On the verge of death! After returning to the capital, I made up my mind that only by controlling my own destiny can I live without having to look at other people's faces!"
