Aoyama

Chapter 333: Suppressing the Rebellion
In the Pipa Hall, Lin Chaoqing held a red-hot iron in his hand and was reluctant to put it down.

It was not until it cooled and was covered with a layer of gray iron that the Jiefanwei Commander smiled and looked back at Chen Ji: "Every time I see Doctor Chen, I seem to see a good show of escaping from desperate situations. This is the first time I have seen a person who can come and go as he pleases in the Pipa Hall of the Imperial Prison. I admire him."

Chen Ji was still tied to the wooden frame, his expression unchanged: "Maybe it's not the end of the world?"

Lin Chaoqing laughed: "That makes sense."

He threw the branding iron into the stove, untied Chen Ji's ropes with his own hands, and raised his arm to signal outside: "Please come in. It's late at night. Your Majesty is still waiting."

Chen Ji rubbed his wrists and looked down at his bare feet.

He raised his foot and looked at Jie Fanwei beside him: "Please help me put it on."

Lin Chaoqing smiled and said, "Young man, didn't anyone teach you not to make enemies casually?"

Chen Ji said calmly: "I just know that you can't just let it go easily after someone punches you, or there will be a second punch sooner or later."

Lin Chaoqing looked at Chen Ji carefully: "You are a little different from when you were in Luocheng."

Chen Ji nodded: "It's going to change."

The next moment, Lin Chaoqing squatted down and put on boots for Chen Ji.

As he put on Chen Ji's boots, he said without even looking up, "Master Chen, face is the least valuable thing in the world. Lin putting on boots for you may become a good story in the future."

Chen Ji said seriously: "Master Lin is very flexible and will surely become very rich and powerful in the future."

Lin Chaoqing put on his boots for him, stood up and dusted his hands: "Lin is just helping your majesty. Please go in."

The young eunuch led Chen Ji through the long and dark corridor. Lin Chaoqing stood straight with his hands behind his back behind them, his expression hidden in the darkness of the Pipa Hall.

……

……

This time when entering the palace, he did not go through the Meridian Gate, but through the Xihua Gate.

The young eunuch led Chen Ji all the way through the Imperial Wine Room, Wuying Palace, and Huangji Gate. The moonlight cast Chen Ji's shadow on the vermilion palace wall, without any hurry.

Chen Ji looked up at the eaves beasts and felt as if he had traveled through time and space thousands of years and accidentally entered this place. After struggling all the way, he finally learned how to get along with them.

The young eunuch saw him looking around and said in panic, "Master Chen, please stop looking around."

Chen Ji smiled and said, "It won't hurt to take a look."

The young eunuch was startled for a moment, then lowered his head and led the way in small steps without saying anything more.

The two walked through the dark palace, one in front of the other. Only the Renshou Palace was brightly lit, and the air was filled with smoke. Even if they were waiting outside the palace several feet away, they could still smell the faint sandalwood.

When Chen Ji arrived outside Renshou Palace, he saw the prince kneeling in front of the Filial Piety Monument in his official robes, unable to get up. Behind the prince, there were several officials who had been summoned to the palace overnight, standing in line in red robes.

When Chen Ji appeared, everyone looked at him, then turned back and stood with their hands hanging down.

The young eunuch whispered to Chen Ji, "Master Chen, please wait here for the emperor's order. You are not allowed to enter the palace without being summoned."

Chen Ji nodded and said, "I understand."

At this time, the red gate of Renshou Palace was open, and people outside could hear an official inside saying loudly: "Your Majesty, our Great Ning Law strictly prohibits the private possession of bows and crossbows and heavy armor. Now someone is openly using a bow and crossbow under the feet of the emperor. This is a serious crime of treason. The culprit should be found, his property confiscated, and he should be executed."

Another person said, "The Yulin Army is the imperial guards. Taking weapons and leaving their post without permission is also a crime of treason! The main culprits Chen Wenren and Chen Ji should be executed immediately."

Someone said, "Chen Ji is just a small flag officer, what does he have to do with it?"

Chen Ji recognized the voice as that of Chen Lizun, the head of the Chen family's first branch.

But the debater said, "Chen Wenren and others have been arrested by the Five Cities Military Command. They have confessed that the actual leader of Li Xuan's garrison is Chen Ji! Your Majesty, I ask Your Majesty to make a holy judgment and behead Chen Ji and Chen Wenren as a warning to others!"

From beginning to end, the man on the throne just closed his eyes and meditated without saying a word.

At this time, Chen Ge Lao sat on the embroidered cushion, lowering his eyes: "Your Majesty, the crossbow incident involves a lot of things, it is better to find the traitor first. As far as I know, Prince Fu was also in the Eight Great Hutong at that time, you can send him to ask."

With just this one sentence, the murderous intent suddenly shifted from the Chen family to Prince Fu.

Everyone was shocked. Lord Chen was the prince's teacher, and now he was targeting Prince Fu. This was no longer a simple investigation of treason, but a fight to seize the throne.

Elder Hu opposite raised his eyelids, glanced at Elder Chen, and then lowered them again.

Emperor Ning sat cross-legged behind a veil, his expression unclear: "Pass it on to Prince Fu."

Wu Xiu said loudly: "Pass on His Majesty's order, and invite Prince Fu to see you!"

Two sticks of incense later, a young man in a black slanting collar and a large lapel followed the young eunuch into the palace. On his lapel were embroidered dragons and flowers with silver thread.

The strange thing is that his dragon's tail turned into a honeysuckle vine, and even the Chilong on his body had its eyes closed.

The young man winked at Chen Ji as he passed by him.

Then he quickened his pace, walked into the hall and knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, your son bows to you. I wish your Majesty a long and lasting imperial plan, a stable country, a harmonious society, and a long life..."

Emperor Ning interrupted, "Alright, alright."

Prince Fu's voice suddenly stopped.

Someone asked, "Your Highness Prince Fu, are you in the Eight Great Hutongs today?"

Prince Fu answered honestly, "Yes."

Another person asked, "What is Prince Fu doing in Bada Hutong?"

Prince Fu raised his head and smiled, "What else can you do in the Eight Great Hutongs? Listening to music and watching operas, of course."

Elder Chen spoke slowly: "Your Highness Prince Fu, have you ever seen anyone use a bow and crossbow?"

Prince Fu answered honestly, "I saw it." Chen Ge Lao asked again, "Then did you see who was using the bow and crossbow?"

Prince Fu shook his head and said, "I didn't see anything. As soon as I saw someone using a bow and crossbow, I ran away immediately."

Chen Ge Lao asked again: "Since it has nothing to do with you, why are you running away?"

Prince Fu said sincerely, "I'm afraid that Lord Chen will pin this on me."

Zhang Zhuo, who was sitting opposite to Lord Chen, lowered his head, his shoulders shaking slightly.

Emperor Ning said slowly, "Prince Fu, who do you think hid the crossbow?"

Prince Fu quickly replied, "The Wang family."

Emperor Ning said calmly: "Your answer is quite straightforward, but how do you know it is the Wang family?"

Prince Fu lowered his body and said, "This is your guess, Your Majesty."

An imperial censor beside Qi Ge Lao suddenly asked, "May I ask Prince Fu, is Outer City Fu Ruixiang your property?"

Prince Fu answered honestly again: "Yes, I created Fu Ruixiang when I was free, with the original intention of making some money."

The censor speculated, "As far as I know, Fu Ruixiang has been at odds with Hutchison for years. According to folklore, Hutchison has always been suppressing Fu Ruixiang. So, could it be that you want to take over Hutchison's business and want to take advantage of the chaos to shoot Wang Huan?"

Prince Fu looked up at the censor, then at Lord Chen and Lord Qi, and finally turned to the curtain and said loudly: "Your Majesty, I don't have the courage. After this incident, I immediately sent all 12 of Fu Ruixiang's main culprits to the Wucheng Military Department to confess their crimes and be executed. The silver earned over the years, a total of 74,110 taels, was also sent to the inner treasury and is being counted by the Silijian."

Chen Ge Lao said in a hoarse voice: "It may be too late for Prince Fu to cut off his tail and save his life now."

Prince Fu said loudly: "Lord Chen, why don't you check the origins of the crossbowmen first, and then make a decision. You said that I took the opportunity to seek revenge, but I think it was the Wang family who killed them to silence them."

Chen Ge Lao said casually: "I think Prince Fu knew that the two archers had committed suicide by taking poison, and there was no evidence."

Chen Ji stood outside the Renshou Palace and listened with his own ears as the Qi and Chen families turned black into white. Anyone with a discerning eye knew that the crossbow should have nothing to do with Prince Fu, but the dirty water had to be poured on Prince Fu.

The censor beside Qi Ge Lao asked, "Prince Fu, do you have anything else to say? Can you prove your innocence?"

Everyone looked at Prince Fu, who rolled his eyes and said nonchalantly, "Anyway, it wasn't me. If you can prove it was me, I will plead guilty and accept the punishment."

Hu Ge Lao suddenly opened his eyes and began to scold: "How can you be so disrespectful in front of the emperor!"

Prince Fu stopped kneeling and moved his body, sitting cross-legged on the mirror-like lapis lazuli brick. He slapped his hands on the ground and cried, "Father, please make the decision for me! I have always been law-abiding. How could I have done this?"

Renshou Palace fell silent, and everyone looked at Prince Fu's mischief with complicated expressions.

Hu Gelao suddenly said, "Everyone keeps saying that Prince Fu was the mastermind behind this. Do you have any evidence? Not only Prince Fu is here tonight, but also a group of Yulin soldiers. Why not call the Yulin soldiers over to question them as well?"

Emperor Ning rang the Sanshan Bell in his hand.

The next moment, Wu Xiu's voice came from Renshou Palace: "Call Chen Ji, the flag officer of the Yulin Army, to enter the palace!"

Chen Ji lifted his skirt and walked past the prince. He stepped over the threshold and prostrated himself on the ground: "I, your humble servant Chen Ji, wish your majesty a long and lasting imperial plan, a stable country, a harmonious society, and a long life..."

In an instant, everyone's eyes were on his back.

Emperor Ning asked slowly from behind the veil: "Go on, why don't you continue?"

Chen Ji fell to the ground and said sincerely, "This humble servant has just learned these few sentences."

"Nonsense," an official beside Hu Ge Lao stepped out and said, "Chen Ji, do you admit your guilt?"

Chen Ji replied: "I don't know, sir."

The military official said loudly: "Chen Ji, you are the imperial guards, but you are fighting privately among the people with weapons. What crime should you be punished for?"

Chen Ji did not answer.

Another person bowed to the gauze curtain and said, "Your Majesty, I request that the imperial guards Li Xuan, Qi Chenzhuo, Chen Wenren, and Chen Ji be severely punished to serve as a warning to others."

"Li Xuan, Qi Chenzhuo, Chen Ji, Chen Wenren and others disregarded the law of the country. They should be punished with 100 strokes of the cane and exiled to Lingnan!"

"Chen Liqin, Chen Lizhi, and Qi Xianshu failed to educate their children strictly and should be severely punished!"

Amidst the condemnation, Chen Ji never defended himself.

At this time, Zhang Zhuo suddenly said, "Chen Ji, let me ask you, why did you, the Yulin Army, go to the outer city to fight with the idlers in the market?"

Chen Ji replied: "We found someone hiding bows and crossbows in the market, so we went to suppress the rebellion."

The Minister of War angrily said, "Nonsense! Who allowed you to mobilize the government troops without authorization? Why would we need you to suppress the rebellion?"

Chen Ji replied: "My Lord, the Yulin Army is not in a position to mobilize the imperial army. I am here to suppress the rebellion by following your orders."

The Assistant Minister of War was obviously stunned, and everyone looked at Chen Ji. Even Chen Lizun did not expect Chen Ji to answer like this.

Suppressing the rebellion by imperial order? How could it be suppressing the rebellion by imperial order?

You must never say such things casually!

The Minister of War asked in a serious tone, "What order? Whose order?"

Chen Ji said: "According to the order of His Majesty, the Yulin Army will go to the Eight Great Hutongs to suppress the rebellion and capture the rebels."

The Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War looked stunned. He didn't expect Chen Ji to dare to tell such a big lie.
Chen Lizun on the side said anxiously: "Chen Ji, don't talk nonsense."

The Minister of War angrily shouted, "How dare you bully the emperor? How audacious! Your Majesty, please take this boy out of the Meridian Gate and behead him in public!"

At this moment, the person behind the veil slowly spoke: "This is an oral order from me."

In an instant, everyone turned to look at the swaying veil, but they could not see the expression behind the veil.

(End of this chapter)