Jingming

Chapter 145 Listen to me, thank you...

Fang Muxian is naturally safe for the time being, and even received courtesy.

Because Luo An knows the seriousness of this matter, this is the No. [-] case of Tianzi under the alert of the heavens, and the pomegranate blossoms act.

Luo An didn't understand why it was called Pomegranate Blossoms, but it was His Majesty's name anyway.

After Wang Zuo returned from Guangdong, the arrangement for this operation began.When Wang Zuo went to the southeast, His Majesty chose a special name, which shows how important it is in His Majesty's mind.

"These are the first things the criminals are talking about." Fang Muxian said obediently, "The criminals have been working in the Marquis for so many years, and they have already been in deep trouble. Kangling's supervisor is the only one who confessed not to be greedy. In the case of Yinzi, it was the first time that the sinners had checked the accounts with the Ministry of Households and the Ministry of Industry on behalf of the Hou Mansion in such a down-to-earth manner before. When Fan Zhaomo talked about this matter in the Hou Mansion, the sinners knew that His Majesty should order the commander to investigate other matters Therefore, I came forward, only hoping to make atonement for my crimes and leave a whole body."

Luo An looked at him vigilantly and admiringly: In that case, why did you send someone to wait outside the city gate, and then notify Marquis Shouning to run away?Wouldn't it be more credit to cooperate to take him down?

But these are not his concern, he has to wait for the emperor's next decision.

When he left the Imperial Prison and was about to report to the emperor, he saw Lu Song coming: "Your Majesty's order, to bring him into the palace, Your Majesty wants to see him."

"……I see."

Don't you need to read the confession first?
Just as Fang Muxian sat down on the floor in the cell, Luo An came back again: "Search carefully, the shackles are ready, let's enter the palace."

So Fang Muxian stood up calmly: "Your Majesty wants to interrogate criminals?"

Luo An did not answer.

By this time, it was already dark.

When Luo An and Lu Song took Fang Muxian, who was guarded by several guards, to Chengtian Gate, Fang Muxian said: "Did Commander Luo order someone to fetch the books and letters kept by the criminals for their own sake? Your Majesty sees it." At that time, criminals can also report truthfully."

Luo An still ignored him.

Fang Muxian didn't take it seriously, anyway, just point to the point.

He believed that the emperor would definitely investigate.As long as the factory guards enter the mansion and the Marquis of Shouning runs away, such a big mansion, as well as the mansion of the Marquis of Jianchang, will be in panic after all.

If the incident happened, would Empress Dowager Zhang not ask for self-protection?
Even though the Empress Dowager Zhang and the Zhang family escaped death because of their status, the emperor still wants to run the Zhang family in order to establish his prestige, right?Then the emperor who had just taken the throne to attack Zhang's family will eventually have stains on him.

So all the same.

He just walked into Chengtian Gate calmly, and then walked into Meridian Gate.

With the pride of "the calculation has been done" in his heart, he came to the Qianqing Palace with a generous attitude, ready to burn his last "strength".

However, in the main hall of Qianqing Palace, he saw a screen, and behind the screen was a well-dressed woman.

"...The criminal Fang Muxian kowtowed to His Majesty, Long live Your Majesty! Long live! Long live!"

Zhu Houcong on the throne saw him knelt down "obediently and nervously", and the strange and disgusting feeling became stronger.

"Luo An, Lu Song, and Huang Jin stay here. Everyone else, retreat fifty steps away from the main hall."

After Zhu Houcong finished giving his orders, Luo An handed the confession to Huang Jin, and then he and Lu Song stood in front of Fang Muxian and stared at him.

"You claim to be born in the fifth year of Chenghua, from Sishui County, Yanzhou Prefecture, Shandong Province. You have been in the Shouninghou Mansion for 24 years. Although you are married, you say you have no children. The eight godsons are loyal, filial, righteous, honest and shameful. Very good."

After Zhu Houcong said a word, the pupils of Fang Muxian who was kneeling on the ground shrank slightly: because he hadn't read the confession yet.

...That's right, since the supervisor of Kangling needs to make up documents to try to lure himself out, naturally he has already been eyeing him.

"The fifth and the seventh went to Shouninghou's Zhuangzi outside the city, the eldest and sixth went out of the city in disguise from the silk and satin village, the second and fourth joined Shouninghou and went to Tongzhou, the third and eighth were waiting in the southeast Send letters on a regular basis." Zhu Houcong looked at him, read his confession after saying this, and then asked suspiciously, "Empress Dowager Cishou, Marquis of Shouning, and Marquis of Jianchang ordered you to find a way to burn me to death?"

The Queen Mother Zhang's figure behind the screen flickered, Fang Muxian's expression did not fluctuate much, and then he said: "The criminals have no other choice, and they are worried every day. Today, I hope that the whole body can be preserved, and I can see the spirit of my parents in heaven. Cry for the crime of unfilial piety."

Before Zhu Houcong could speak, a shrill and trembling voice sounded from behind the screen: "You wolf-hearted dog! Marquis Shouning treats you well, you have planned everything, and now you dare to bite at random? Your Majesty, I have never done this before. Read it!"

"Auntie is not in a hurry." Zhu Houcong smiled first, and then continued to ask Fang Muxian: "So, you have the contents of the confession, the account books and some original letters? How can you keep letters for so many secret matters?" Original?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the criminals are effective in handling affairs, and the Marquis is becoming more and more trustworthy. Many letters are handwritten by the criminals on their behalf, and many of their own letters are submitted by the criminals to the Marquis. Many of the letters submitted were therefore transcripts."

Fang Muxian looked at the suddenly enlightened emperor, and looked behind the screen out of the corner of his eye.

First point out some understanding of him, the emperor's intention was to beat Queen Mother Zhang.

This is an opportunity that the emperor can't refuse, so things will just go on like this!

Since he refuses to inherit, the fundamental interests can no longer be bridged.

After more than twenty years, Fang Muxian knows exactly what kind of temperament and habits the Queen Mother Zhang and the Zhang brothers have!
Zhu Houcong heaved a long sigh: "Auntie, you have read it just now. Now that there is an internal archives department, a royal study room, and a national policy meeting, the new rules set yesterday, many official documents need three more transcripts from now on. Later. I didn’t expect this to happen all of a sudden. I don’t know what’s wrong with this lowly servant. Not only did he kneel outside the Chengtian gate to beg for help, but he also persuaded Marquis Shouning not to return to the city.”

Fang Muxian listened to the emperor's aggrieved, bewildered and respectful voice in astonishment. Was the queen mother's secret anger towards the emperor relayed by Mrs. Shouning Hou when she returned to the mansion?
This young emperor who kept making all the ministers scrambling and making new moves, the emperor who let Zhang Fujing take the emperor bestowed a sword to kill him in the south after the defeat of Guangdong and Guangxi, had such a temper?
He carefully recalled Shou Ninghou's personal report: there were only a few grand court meetings in total, and a total of two banquets from the Qianqing Palace.

The first big court meeting was a disaster for the Japanese family, so he first insisted that it was a man-made disaster, and then he bargained with the ministers for military training when he gave the banquet.

Nothing happened in the next few big ceremonies, and the last time they gave a banquet, they wanted to take away the property of the relatives. It was very youthful to make cakes for the relatives.

He also sneered at Shouninghou and Jianchanghou!
Now Fang Muxian listened to the emperor's tone, raised his head and looked over there, but all he saw was a helpless and embarrassed face.

...It's not reasonable, so many moth emperors can be produced in half a year, the emperor who promoted Guo Xun and demoted him to the camp, stepped on the emperor who supported important ministers and wanted to protect criminal officials like Wang Qiong, let Shouldn't the emperor, who is often frowning and haggard every day after leaving the palace, be a fearless, power-hungry, self-willed emperor?
"... I don't know what the intention of this traitor is to deceive the master's family secretly, to withhold letters, and to create fake account books in private! Your Majesty clearly learned that this villain is really accusing him of slander. The fire of the Jingmen, I really I don’t know! My younger brother is also a fool, he must have been tricked by this traitor.”

Zhu Houcong sighed: "Yes. The incident happened suddenly. Mr. Yang Ge knew that this matter should not be ignored, and he was afraid that Marquis Jianchang might misunderstand something. However, it may not be useful for Marquis Jianchang to send his son to tell Marquis Shouning the truth. Now that the Marquis of Shou Ning is suspicious, if he really does something against him and I have to deal with it, then I will fulfill the intention of this lowly servant."

One bite at a time, Fang Muxian's judgment was wavering, and he became more and more humiliated.

He was kneeling after all!

"...Your Majesty, you are talented, benevolent and virtuous, I suddenly know about this matter and have no idea..."

Fang Muxian could tell that there was an obvious pleading in Queen Mother Zhang's tone.

"It's really difficult." Zhu Houcong acted in a dilemma, and said to himself, "I'm afraid that no matter whose letter or token it is, Shou Ninghou only thinks it's a fraud, but actually wants to arrest him. This lowly servant has a heart Really sinister!"

Fang Muxian looked at the emperor's cold gaze, but his mind became clearer.

It's still the same, Shou Ninghou was scared away after all.Since Shou Ninghou knew and approved the fire of the Rijingmen, he will run away this time.The dog emperor's words are correct, even if he temporarily pretends that Fang Muxian did it alone, the rift between Queen Mother Zhang and the emperor is irreparable!

This is indeed a conspiracy, so what if the emperor's character is beyond his expectations?
"Luo An, Lu Song, take him to the Rijing Gate and tie him up." Zhu Houcong said to Huang Jin, "Ask him as I taught you, and don't let him sleep."

"The slaves obey the order."

The only "outsider" left in the main hall also left, Zhu Houcong stood up from the throne, walked behind the screen, pulled a stool over and sat down.

Empress Dowager Zhang involuntarily turned to the side, her eyes frightened.

"Hey--"

Zhu Houcong let out a long sigh, and Empress Dowager Zhang trembled slightly again.

"My aunt also knew that day that it was not a natural disaster, so I asked someone to investigate it." Zhu Houcong said as if chatting with family, "Those two servants were both sent to the palace by Qian Ning and Jiangbin after being favored. It is also true that he kept his own law and acted faithfully. I thought that Qian Ning and Jiang Bin were on trial at that time, and these two servants used their lives to repay their kindness, so it made sense that there was no warning that day."

He looked at Empress Dowager Zhang, still with a helpless expression on his face: "Who knew that it was this lowly servant who did it."

Empress Dowager Zhang murmured, "It turns out that this lowly servant was planted by two traitors, Qian Ning and Jiang Bin! Your Majesty, this lowly servant has ulterior motives, and his words are not credible!"

Zhu Houcong showed a wry smile: "It's just that this rebel knelt outside the Chengtian gate and shouted loudly, so many people in the five houses and six departments noticed it. I'm worried that this lowly servant has been planning for a long time. If you do it again, it will be impossible to clean up."

Empress Dowager Zhang looked panic-stricken and bewildered.

Zhu Houcong looked at her for a while before saying: "Auntie, because of the succession issue, you and I always have some rifts. After I entered the palace, I made up my mind in the morning and evening, and when the fire broke out in the Rijing family, I first thought of protecting my aunt. I really hope that The whole family is in harmony, and they all hope that Daming will get better and better, and the Zhu family will get better and better."

"... Your Majesty... has indeed been doing this all the time." Empress Dowager Zhang was full of unease and powerlessness. How could he make people unable to find fault?
"Before there were people in the southeast who killed officials and rebelled. Mr. Yang Ge and the others have been asking to clean up the Huangzhuang Huangdian. For the sake of the world's stability, I have no choice but to invite them. Although many of them are the Huangzhuang of Renshou Palace, but before I When I ascended the throne, I was rewarded with the land of Zhenhuangzhuang. This time, I originally planned to use the Marquis of Shouning and Jianchang to supervise the construction of Kangling, but I still use my Huangzhuang to make up for it. Who would have thought... oh... ..."

Empress Dowager Zhang burst into tears: "...Your Majesty, he must have been deceived by this lowly servant!"

"I think so too."

After Zhu Houcong said this and nodded, Empress Dowager Zhang hurriedly agreed, as if she was relieved.

"Right now, I'm afraid that Marquis Shouning will do something again under the suspicion." Zhu Houcong said, "I'm afraid it's still only my uncle's mother to go and persuade him to come back. Over the years, many courtiers have impeached Marquis Shouning and Jianchang. Hou, this time, I will pick three or five of them, punish them with some extra money, and then tell the officials that this is the matter of that lowly servant. My uncle and mother have gone to persuade me, should the Marquis of Shouning believe it?"

"Your Majesty...is this really the way to deal with it?"

Zhu Houcong said awe-inspiringly: "I can swear in the name of my ancestors. As long as Marquis Shouning returns as soon as possible, I will not make the whole court suspicious. I will deal with it in this way! The ancestors are above, if I suspect my aunt because of this, am I not a relative?" Hurry up for those who hate you? The world will also talk about my violence and unfilial piety!"

Queen Mother Zhang nodded again and again: "Okay! Okay! Then I'll go!"

"It's not in a hurry." Zhu Houcong looked very concerned, "As an aunt, even though it's just a trip to Tongzhou, it needs to be well-prepared. Tomorrow morning, my aunt will be escorted by the guards who are not on duty in the palace. Tonight Well, Auntie should write a letter first, bring a token, and let the son of Marquis Shouning rush over there first. In case Marquis Shouning sees his guards in great numbers tomorrow, but suspects that he is going to arrest him, and hides again. Oh no."

"Your Majesty is very considerate, that's right!"

Empress Dowager Zhang only felt that the emperor was really thinking about it, and she really didn't want to ruin the family's friendship.

She even reflected a little guilty: Is the fake smile during this period unnecessary?
But here I wrote my autographed letter, took off the jade pendant and waited until the son of Marquis Shouning entered the palace to hand it over to him. When I walked out of Qianqing Palace, when the night wind blew, Empress Dowager Zhang remembered the meaning of the emperor's words many times before.

Are those all guesses?

No...he is not a simple and honest emperor...

Looking back at the brightly lit lights next to Rijing Gate, Empress Dowager Zhang felt chills in her heart: That kid Heling was too frightened to go back to the city, so he couldn't really do this, could he?
That bastard also said that he was also one of the chief envoys... The emperor asked his personal guards to escort him to Tongzhou, was he really there to pick up someone?
The whole world will also talk about his violence and unfilial piety... From this point of view, what the emperor said should be right.

He wouldn't actually kill himself and his two younger brothers now.

But the intention is to assassinate... so what should I do?
Queen Mother Zhang has nothing to do.

……

Beside the Rijing Gate, the interrogation that Fang Muxian thought was very different from what he imagined.

Si Bingbi, the chief inspector of ceremonies, sat behind a desk, holding a pen and asking him some questions over and over again.

It is all the experience before entering the Shouning Hou Mansion.

Where are you from?How many people are there in the hour family?Who are the people in Lijia?Where did you learn...

Over and over, just ask these questions.

Luo An looked at Huang Jin a little strangely: This is what His Majesty ordered, right?what's the effect?
Zhu Houcong is not a professional. With his only common sense, he just knows that this will help Fang Muxian mentally exhausted and tortured.

Fang Muxian had to go through all this tonight.Although it is in the open air, the conditions are not too bad, and there is a big fire next to it, which is very warm.

Zhu Houcong walked down Danbi slowly, and Luo An and Lu Song all greeted him.

After nodding his head, Zhu Houcong came to Fang Muxian.

Before continuing to torture, he felt that what he said to Mu Xian should be lethal.

So say a few words before going to bed.

"I want to thank you."

Fang Muxian was in good spirits at this time, and his attention was very concentrated: "...the criminals know that they should not help the tyrant, and they did not come out today to claim credit. The criminals deserve death..."

Zhu Houcong smiled "sincerely": "I want to be a good emperor, but I am still too young. Although the courtiers also know that there are problems everywhere in Ming Dynasty, they all want to be safe and smear everywhere. They, always I am worried that I am young and energetic, so ambitious, and eager to get the country's affairs out of control."

Fang Muxian looked at him, not knowing what to say after this sentence, so as to continue to be consistent with what he said before.

Zhu Houcong continued to smile: "You burn the fire well, it is related to my position, no courtier dares to touch this Nilin. For more than half a year, I have really used the influence of this day's Jingmen from time to time, Let the courtiers have to give in on some things. After going back and forth, the courtiers also know my temper, and no longer treat me like a child, thinking that I might really be a good emperor, and take them to the history. .”

"They know that I can listen to many things and persuade them. But they don't know that the locality has reached such a point. No matter what three-legged cat jumps out to light the fire, half of the country seems to be about to explode. So I I have to thank you, with you telling the story of Fang Xiaoru’s ten clans being barbarized in the south of the Yangtze River, and with your deliberate and deliberate killing of officials, all of them are corrupt officials without exception, so it will be difficult for them to refute me on many things in the future.”

Fang Muxian's heart sank, why did he investigate so quickly?

He immediately "cryed": "Your Majesty, the criminals don't know anything about Jiangnan, the criminals..."

"Don't you feel that Fang Xiaoru is being humiliated?" Zhu Houcong interrupted him, "Although the position is different, your ancestor was a respectable person. What kind of ugly behavior are you doing now? You hate the Zhu family deeply but bow down?"

Fang Muxian was dumbfounded for a moment, and his eyes showed hatred uncontrollably.

Zhu Houcong sighed: "Is it really... crazy? Isn't it? I don't know how stupid Shou Ninghou is? You want to create chaos. How could you just burn the Nijingmen? Burning the main hall is not good. Is it? If it happens, the world will be in chaos immediately, and if it doesn’t, I will be more likely to be furious. You can’t mobilize the people in the palace yourself, and if you take the next step, you can coax Marquis Shou Ning, which is considered a good tongue.”

He shook his head: "It's ridiculous when you think about it. You don't understand Zhen, you don't understand the current situation in the court, and I and the courtiers overestimated you. The money wasted in the many business transactions of the Shouning Hou Mansion, you secretly After swallowing it, you dare to set fires everywhere in the Ming Dynasty, relying on nothing more than the foundation outside. So you have helped me with one more thing, Japan, a country that will not be conquered by the ancestors, will become famous again in the future. "

Fang Muxian couldn't help but shrink his pupils.

This is completely uncontrollable, after all... why?
He didn't understand, because he didn't know what Donglin Party existed many years later, and he didn't know where the source was.

He even didn't understand why the dog emperor could tell Japan from him.There is nothing related to Japanese pirates in the Shouning Hou Mansion!
"Hehe." Zhu Houcong cheated a little more, so he laughed: "It doesn't matter which daimyo hides it, it's all the same anyway."

After finishing speaking, he turned around and ordered: "Luo An, Lu Song, make an exception tonight and stay in Qianqing Palace. The three of you, ask questions in turn, and quietly ask Huang Jin if you don't understand."

(End of this chapter)