King of Han Dynasty of Ming Dynasty

Suddenly.

The scene suddenly changed, which was completely different from what it was just now.

Kong Gongjian no longer had the arrogance and pride he had just now. He was completely devastated by the memorial submitted by Zhu Gaoxu. He had no idea how to face it or how to answer this question. All he had was endless fear and terror.

"Spare your life?"

"Hehe." Seeing Kong Gongjian's attitude suddenly change and become unbelievably humble and polite, Zhu Gaoxu raised his slightly raised mouth corners with a hint of intriguing sneer. He stared at him for a long time with half-closed eyes and continued:
"Duke Yansheng, these words don't sound like something you can say!"

"The prince and I just heard you being so arrogant and asked us what we can do to you."

"Why are you so humble now? I am really caught off guard. I can't believe that you said this, Duke Yansheng. Do you think there is something wrong with my ears, or did I see or hear it wrongly?"

"Ok?"

His words were full of sarcasm and ridicule. He sneered coldly at Kong Gongjian, who had been kneeling on the ground obediently for some time without knowing it, without giving the other party any face at all. Of course, his words were said deliberately to disgust the other party.

How could Kong Gongjian, who was kneeling on the ground, not know what was said to his heart? Zhu Gaoxu did it on purpose to take the opportunity to attack and disgust him.

But what’s the use of knowing it?

From the moment Zhu Gaoxu took out the memorial, his current behavior and ending were already doomed.

Apart from lowering his posture and accepting the punishment honestly, he no longer had any other choice or opportunity. He had had opportunities before to resolve the current situation calmly, but these opportunities were ruined one by one by his own arrogance and disdain.

This move truly proves the saying that the more arrogant they were before, the more embarrassed they are now.

But for Kong Gongjian, it doesn’t matter what the embarrassment is!
As long as we can get through this difficult time safely and securely, we will be very lucky.

certainly…

Although Zhu Gaoxu received this memorial, he did not directly order people to arrest him, nor did he use certain people to make his evidence of guilt and the dirty things he had done public.

This move really gave Kong Gongjian confidence, knowing that Zhu Gaoxu and the other man didn't know whether they would deal with him in the future, but at least now he was safe. Or to put it bluntly, he was still useful to the King of Han and the Crown Prince, so he didn't have to worry about his life.

It doesn't matter if others vent or ridicule him. As long as there is life, there is hope. As long as you can stay alive... everything is possible.

Of course... Although he was humble and modest, it did not mean that Kong Gongjian was as honest as he seemed. Naturally, he also had his own little calculations and plans in his mind.

For him.

As long as we can safely get through the current dangerous situation and as long as we have enough time to operate.

As for the evidence of Zhu Gaoxu's crimes, they are not a big problem. We can find opportunities to slowly make up for them or completely eliminate them.

It is precisely because of these series of reasons that Kong Gongjian is so honest, because he can see hope in his eyes.

Thinking of this, Kong Gongjian suppressed the frustration and anger in his heart. His expression did not change at all, nor did he feel angry at all. He still had a faint smile on his face and bowed respectfully, saying:
"Your Majesty did not hear wrongly, and I did not say wrongly."

"It is because of the prince's earnest teachings that I have truly realized my mistakes at this time and place."

"I have come back to the right path and realized how ridiculous and pathetic I was before. I beg the prince and His Highness to give me a chance to reform and correct my mistakes."

Say it.

He knocked his head heavily again, and his forehead had turned bright red without him knowing when.

"Oh?"

Zhu Gaoxu let out a surprised voice, glanced at Kong Gongjian who was kneeling on the ground with interest, and asked with a smile:
"Since Duke Yansheng has such thoughts and is able to realize that he is not wrong and turn back to reform, it really comforts me."

"so……"

"Now, Lord Yansheng, can you tell me what happened to the students in the Hanlin Academy who rioted today?"

"Who is operating and organizing this?"

"Of course, the most important point is that Duke Yansheng has not attended court for many days and has never left the palace."

"Who did the Duke of Yansheng learn about the events in the imperial court from? And how did that person pass on the information to the Duke of Yansheng?"

"I wonder if Lord Yansheng can help me solve my doubts so that I won't be confused?"

This is said.

Kong Gongjian's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly raised his lowered head and opened his half-closed eyes. He looked at the Crown Prince and Zhu Gaoxu who were so close to him with a look of shock and disbelief, and almost couldn't help swearing.

As for the current question, he really never dreamed that Zhu Gaoxu would be so shameless as to ask such a question.

Isn't this definitely making him a traitor, betraying his spies, and those who work hard for him?
This act is extremely cruel and brutal, it is definitely inhumane!

For a moment, Duke Yansheng fell into deep thought, his brows furrowed, not knowing how to answer this question. His mind was filled with thousands of thoughts, and he was extremely conflicted.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu chuckled, narrowed his eyes, looked back coldly, and raised the corners of his mouth slightly, and said in a deep voice:
"Oh?"

"Does it make Yanshenggong very embarrassed?"

"Didn't Lord Yan Sheng just say that he has realized his mistakes and is ready to turn over a new leaf?"

"Why are you unwilling to speak now?"

"so……"

"I'm afraid the words that Duke Yansheng just said were not meant to trick me, right?"

"If that's the case, then I have to remind Duke Yansheng that my current identity is not just the Prince of the Ming Dynasty!"

"When His Majesty left the capital, he specially ordered me to be the regent in front of all the civil and military officials in the court. Seeing me is like seeing the emperor."

"so……"

"This king hopes that Duke Yansheng will think it through. If this king did not have the status of regent, it would be fine if Duke Yansheng fooled this king. But if this status of regent is involved, and Duke Yansheng's words just now are fooling this king, then this matter... is probably no different from the crime of deceiving the king."

"For this reason, I hope Duke Yansheng will think twice!"

“Don’t lose the big picture for the small.”

"Don't sacrifice your life for some unnecessary people."

"If this is the case, I am afraid that I will feel that it is not worth it for the Duke of Yansheng."

"This matter, I can give Duke Yansheng one more chance. I hope you can seize it. Don't let me down, and don't make it difficult for me."

Although the words were light and the expression was calm without showing any joy, anger, sorrow or happiness, they sounded like knives stabbing into Kong Gongjian's heart, and at the same time, his heart, which had finally calmed down, was lifted up again, and he complained in his heart:

“Is it going to end yet…?”

"How can you still threaten people like this? You never do it twice!"

"Do you have to be so cruel that you have to play with him to death or scare him to death before you can stop?"

"He is simply not a human being at all." Although Kong Gongjian was secretly dissatisfied with Zhu Gaoxu's behavior, he had to bow his head when he was under someone's roof!

Things have come to this, what else can he do?
As the saying goes: A dead Taoist friend is not a poor Taoist.

It is always easier to accept the death of others, or selling out others, than to die yourself.

He simply stopped hiding it and threw it all away. Then Kong Gongjian also spoke directly, waving his hands repeatedly and replied:
"Your Majesty, you are joking about this matter."

"How dare I play tricks on the prince and the crown prince?"

"Even if I were extremely brave, I wouldn't dare to do something so outrageous!"

"This is not..."

"I am thinking about how to tell His Majesty what happened."

"Pfft..." Seeing his shameless attitude, Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help laughing, so he looked over with interest, but he didn't tease him too much about this matter, nor did he expose Kong Gongjian's tricks and make excuses for himself. He asked:

"In that case..."

"I think at this moment, Duke Yansheng must have thought it through and knows how to answer this question of mine, right?"

"pretty good!"

"Then I am all ears."

"Let's take a look and see who is causing trouble."

"Say it!"

After hearing this, Kong Gongjian naturally did not hesitate any longer, since he had already made up his mind, and bowed respectfully and replied:

"Your Highness, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"I have indeed not been to court recently, so I naturally don't know what happened in the court yesterday."

"And the person who informed me of the news was Liu Dong, the censor of the Metropolitan Censorate."

"This is the message he passed to my housekeeper when he went out to buy groceries."

"That is why I am able to know what is happening in the court."

"It was he who instigated me in the letter, and I was so obsessed that I did something like instigating the students of the Imperial Academy."

Say it.

He was unusually single. He reached into his bosom and took out the letter written to him by the censor Liu Dong. He handed it forward with both hands and continued respectfully, "This is the original letter. Please have a look, Your Majesty and Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Seeing the letter presented by Kong Gongjian, Zhu Gaoxu and the Crown Prince were both stunned for a moment. They looked at the letter in Kong Gongjian's hand in astonishment. Their pupils couldn't help but change, and their expressions suddenly became extremely solemn.

What the hell?
No... How is this different from what they thought?
The censor Liu Dong encouraged Kong Gongjian to encourage the students of the Hanlin Academy?
What is this operation?
Could it be that there is someone else involved in this, or someone has calculated against everyone and is deliberately using these two people to push the situation forward?

Thinking of this, Zhu Gaoxu reached out and snatched the letter handed to him by Kong Gongjian, opened the letter in his hand as quickly as possible, and looked at the contents on it. The prince, who had been sitting aside like an outsider from beginning to end, could no longer sit still at this moment. He leaned over and looked at the contents of the letter in Zhu Gaoxu's hand.

Just like this, after a long while, Zhu Gaoxu took a few deep breaths, suppressed the restless emotions in his heart, and exchanged glances with the prince who was reading the contents of the letter.

Then, Zhu Gaoxu raised the letter in his hand and asked in a deep voice:
"Yanshenggong"

"Just based on the letter, why are you so sure that it was given to you by Censor Liu Dong?"

"Rather than someone else deliberately instigating this matter?"

"Or in other words, have you ever verified the contents of the letter and discussed it in detail with Liu Dong and the others in secret?"

After hearing this, Kong Gongjian was slightly startled, and subconsciously raised his head, shook his head and replied:
"No."

"After something like this happened, I don't have the time or energy to verify it."

“There’s not even enough time to set up.”

"Besides, as for the contents of the letter, as long as they are true, that is enough for me."

This is indeed true.

From Kong Gongjian's perspective, it is indeed enough as long as the information in the letter is true.

After getting a definite answer, Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaochi looked at each other inconspicuously, but did not dwell on the matter any more. After a brief silence, Zhu Gaoxu continued:
"Fine!"

"Let's forget about this matter. This king believes in you."

"but."

Having said this, Zhu Gaoxu paused, his face suddenly became extremely solemn, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he said:
"Yanshenggong"

"I am very satisfied with your attitude."

"So I hope you can help me do one more thing."

"No, no, that's probably not accurate. I should say you should clean your own ass."

"After all, the incident involving the students of the Hanlin Academy was caused by you guys, so I hope that you will be in charge of the interrogation, sentencing, and execution of these students."

"I wonder if that's okay?"

After these words were spoken, Kong Gongjian's half-closed eyes suddenly opened, and he looked back in astonishment and disbelief. He instantly forced a smile that was uglier than crying, and spoke cautiously with a slightly trembling voice:
"Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"This, this, this"

"Old and decrepit"

Before he finished speaking, before he could finish the rest of his words, Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand, his eyes narrowed slightly, his face suddenly darkened, his voice suddenly rose a few notches, revealing a terrifying coldness, and asked:

"how?"

"difficult?"

"You caused all the trouble and the bad things yourself, do you still want me to find someone to clean up your mess?"

"If you find it difficult to do, then why don't you think more about it before doing it?"

As he spoke, Zhu Gaoxu paused, frowned, but did not deliberately embarrass himself, and continued:
"I don't ask you to behead everyone, but I have to arrest a few people to set an example. So, you know what to do. If you still find it difficult to do it here."

After hearing these words, Kong Gongjian, who was originally in a very difficult situation, suddenly became introverted and waved his hands repeatedly, saying:

"no, I'm fine"

"I know, I know."

"No difficulty, there is no difficulty at all." (End of this chapter)