The First Auxiliary Road from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 1177 Etiquette and Law

Princess Hong'an's reaction made all the court officials gasp in amazement.

  Even though she didn't admit it, who wouldn't think too much about it?

"Wen Zhen..." An Suiyun looked at Sheng Yuan reflexively.

But just as he started talking, Sheng Yuan blocked him back: "Don't ask me, I am also wearing a blindfold when entering the cave, I am completely in the dark!"

"..." An Suiyun couldn't help rolling his eyes after hearing Sheng Yuan's nonsense.

Someone nearby wanted to see the scene up close, but immediately gave up the idea.

Good fellow, they couldn't even get the answer from their immediate superiors, so who are they? !

Sheng Yuan noticed that his colleagues on both sides changed their sitting posture, turned their heads and whispered with others, and he immediately felt much more relaxed.

……

Princess Hong'an was stunned for a moment, feeling that she and her daughter Yongping were on the edge of a cliff. If they made any mistake, they would both fall into the abyss.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, she could only pinch her arms under the cover of her sleeves and try her best to use her brain to find a way out.

However, the most difficult problem at the moment was not given by the Queen, nor by Concubine Cen, but was solved by her good daughter Yongping.

Because she felt that she owed too much to the child, she gave him too much trust, so that until now, she didn't know which people Yongping had bribed in the palace!

It would be a lie to say that the former Chen royal family did not leave her with any connections; but she only used those people once, and then they were all sent out of the capital... At that time, she felt that she had cleared away the trouble, but she did not expect that it would make her helpless now.

If this matter had nothing to do with Yongping, she could have justifiably cleared herself of the matter; unfortunately, even if she pretended to be ignorant, she could not say that it had nothing to do with Yongping.

  Unless she no longer cared about her daughter, how could she watch Yongping being convicted of the crime while she herself was left unpunished? !

Wanting to deny it outright, Princess Hong'an pursed her lips for a long time and said nothing more.

The information is unclear at the moment. The more she says, the more mistakes she will make. Even if she cannot strike back, she must leave enough room for herself to advance and retreat.

Thinking of this, Princess Hong'an's eyes quickly flashed with determination.

Then, she suddenly cried out, "Uncle, Zhen Quan is wronged! If I had known that I would be framed like this, why would I reject your kindness and give up such connections! If I had accepted your painstaking arrangements, it would not be unfair for me to be accused now!"

Princess Hong'an suddenly started crying for the late emperor, and her action caught Concubine Cen off guard.

She had never thought that Princess Hong'an, who had been trying to save face for most of her life, would actually do such a thing!

If I remember correctly, even during the most difficult time when her position as Crown Princess was in jeopardy, she never lost her composure in front of others.

Sadly, what's the point of doing this? !

Concubine Cen was only surprised for a moment, then she calmed down.

She wanted to scold him, but when she saw the Queen's signal, she immediately stopped what she was about to say.

Just as she gave up the idea of ​​confrontation, Princess Hong'an, who had been crying loudly, fainted.

"Come here, take the eldest princess to the side hall and ask the imperial physician to take a look at her."

Sheng Ran watched the plot unfold as expected, and calmly ordered the eunuch to help the man.

Her attitude gave the people present countless thoughts. "Where is the Minister of Rites?" Sheng Ran asked after the hall was quiet.

The meaning was obvious: she had no intention of letting the matter go.

He Benchu, who was staring at the queen, immediately stood up and said, "I am here."

"For a small discussion in the Lanzheng Hall, just follow the original rules. The ministers can just sit down and respond." Sheng Ran smiled and motioned for the other party to sit down. "Minister He, just follow the previous example."

Upon hearing this, He Benchu ​​had no choice but to sit back.

"Minister He, this booklet in my hand is the evidence that Concubine Cen reported to the Princess's Mansion for colluding with the eunuchs with ill intentions. Although this matter should be handled by the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice, the Grand Princess Hong'an is of a special status, and she has the message from the late Emperor Chengyuan to protect her. Now she keeps crying about the late emperor, and I don't know what to do... Minister He, you have served in the Ministry of Rites for more than 20 years, and you know the etiquette and the situation the best. I would like to consult you, which is more important, etiquette or law, and who should give in?"

When He Benchu ​​heard Sheng Ran's words, his scalp tightened.

However, he did not hesitate and immediately responded with a folded hand: "Your Majesty, the word ritual and law, although ritual comes before law, the smooth implementation of ritual depends on the maintenance of law; without the restraint of law, ritual and music will easily collapse. Moreover, the former Yan established a country by abiding by the law and emphasizing the law; the later Chen and Chu followed suit. Therefore, law is the foundation of the establishment of the Great Chu Dynasty.

There is also the lesson of the former Qi Dynasty, which valued ritual more than law, so that the powerful and wealthy could run rampant in the world in the name of ritual. The law was unable to punish their crimes, which led to the people suffering and complaining. Only then did the Great Chu suppress their lawlessness and save the people of the former Qi Dynasty from dire straits.

Therefore, those who can be pardoned according to rituals, if they violate the law and it is a serious crime, should be restrained and punished according to the law. "

He went around in circles, but in the end he insisted on convicting people according to the law, which was exactly what Sheng Ran wanted.

"Well, my dear minister, what you said makes sense." Sheng Ran nodded with satisfaction, and then slowly looked at the others, "I wonder what your opinions are on this?"

After she asked this, even those who had different opinions just now shut up.

Among those attending the small meeting this time, there were none of the fools who appeared in the big court meeting.

We are not stupid. Just by listening to the way the Queen addressed He Benchu ​​from the Ministry of Rites, we knew what he was thinking!

Before answering, he called him Minister He all the time; after answering, Minister He turned into Aiqing.

Such a change is like providing the answers directly on the test paper!

  Then who would be so stupid as to object? !

It’s not like I like to go against the empress or the emperor.

"I have no objection."

After the officials on both sides exchanged their opinions, they all bowed in response.

"Well, in that case... Is the commander of the inner guard here?" Sheng Ran smiled and nodded gently to everyone, calling out the commander of the inner guard and handing the matter over to him. "You and the three judicial officials should work together to investigate and make sure to find out the clues. Don't deal with it hastily just because the two nobles are involved. Otherwise, I will dismiss you for breaking the law knowingly!"

People from the Internal Guards, the Censorate, the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice were shocked when they heard this.

The Queen was telling them that if they did not consider the facts and were lenient towards Princess Hong'an and the other two just because they were afraid of power, then they would have to fill the hole.

Thinking of this, the few people who were originally relaxed became tense in an instant.

Especially after meeting the queen's smiling eyes, every official present breathed softly.

Based on their understanding of the emperor and empress, the empress who governs the country on behalf of the emperor is not as easy to talk to as the emperor.

Although Princess Hong'an is indeed not easy to deal with, compared to the Queen...well, they should just pick the soft one!