No war in the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 11 The civet cat exchanges for the prince

Hearing this, Wang Anshi did not panic, but stood in front of Su Ze and said:
"It just so happens that my father was once the magistrate of Jiangling Prefecture, my mother also holds an imperial title, and I also hold a patron saint title. According to the laws of this dynasty, if the Imperial City Division wants to arrest an official, they must obtain an imperial decree!"

The two officers, one fat and one thin, were a little confused. Su Ze also understood his current situation. He pulled Zhang Chulan over and said:

"This place is dangerous, leave quickly!"

Zhang Chulan said with a righteous look:

"When we were little, we always carried the trouble together. I won't leave this time!"

Su Ze said anxiously:

"This is a huge disaster. Can you handle it?"

Zhang Chulan said in a daze:

"Are you really related to the demon book?"

Su Ze was amused by her naiveté and said:
"Nonsense, of course it has nothing to do with me, but now someone is blaming me! You're only bringing trouble to Mr. Zhang by staying here. If you leave, I can still find someone to save me!"

Hearing this, Zhang Chulan's eyes lit up and she immediately said:
"I'll go back and beg my father, and then go to the palace to beg Zhang Xiuyuan!"

After saying this, Zhang Chulan led the maids and servants to leave. The thin officer wanted to stop them, but was stopped by the fat captain:
"The most urgent thing is to take the prisoner Su Ze away and avoid any complications!"

Seeing Zhang Chulan and her group leave, Fatty stepped forward and said to Wang Anshi:

"This case is of great importance. Young Master, you have such a good past. Why would you get involved with such a traitor?"

"This Su Ze has no official status, so we don't need an imperial decree to take him back, right? The Imperial City Department is doing business, so please be accommodating and don't bring disaster to his family."

Hearing the fat captain's words of both kindness and force, Wang Anshi said calmly:
"Brother Su is my guest. If Wang did this, wouldn't the world say I'm selling out my friend for fame?"

"There's a banquet going on at Wang's house today. Let's talk after the banquet!"

After saying that, Wang Anshi opened the gate and pulled Su Ze into the house.

Zeng Gong followed in without hesitation.

After closing the gate, Wang Anshi's brothers were sent by Wu to investigate the situation. Wang Anshi said to Su Ze:

"I'm going to go and pay my respects to my mother. Brother Su, please sit inside first."

Wang Anshi's house was surrounded by soldiers, and Su Ze had nowhere to go. He could only sit down in the house and start thinking about the situation.

Although he didn't know the specific situation, Su Ze knew that he was in big trouble.

The Imperial City Bureau, similar to the Jinyiwei of the Ming Dynasty, was a secret agency directly under the emperor.

The person in charge of the Imperial City Administration now is Li Yonghe, the governor of the Palace Front Administration.

The evil book that the two imperial city officials mentioned just now is an underground book that has been popular in the city of Bianjing recently, which is a story about the "Civet Cat Substituted for Prince" incident.

The story of the cat substituting for the prince was a famous case during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong, before Emperor Renzong ascended the throne.

This also talks about Zhenzong's harem.

The biological mother of the current emperor Zhao Zhen is Li Chenfei, but he was raised by Zhenzong's queen Liu E since he was a child, and it was said to the outside world that he was Liu E's biological son.

This naturally involved the harem war during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong. As the loser, Li Chenfei not only had her son taken away from her, but was also not allowed to recognize her son.

After the death of Emperor Zhenzong of Song, Liu E was promoted from empress to empress dowager and began to rule the country.

At this time, Li Chenfei was still in the palace, but Empress Dowager Liu, who was known as the second Wu Zetian, naturally did not allow Zhao Zhen to recognize his biological mother in order to establish her own legal basis for ruling the country. Even before Li Chenfei's death, she hid it from Zhao Zhen, who had become the emperor, and he did not even see his biological mother for the last time before her death.

It was not until Empress Dowager Liu died that Emperor Zhao Zhen learned the truth and was deeply saddened.

There are many versions of this palace fight among the people, among which the "狸猫换太子" is the most popular.

In this version, Empress Liu E and Consort Li, both pregnant, gave birth to a son. However, Empress Liu E, in collusion with eunuchs, replaced Consort Li's son with a civet cat and the son of Consort Li, now Emperor Zhao Zhen, with her own son.

When Emperor Zhenzong saw that Concubine Li Chen had given birth to a monster, he was very angry and sent her to the cold palace.

The Queen at the time, Liu E, gained a son and suppressed the person vying for her favor, achieving ultimate victory.

However, the story of "the cat replacing the prince" has been circulating since the reign of the late Emperor Zhenzong, and Bianjing has never been short of royal gossip.

However, a story about "The Substitute Prince" has recently appeared on the market and is very popular among underground booksellers.

This evil book was even presented to the emperor, who was naturally very angry and ordered the Imperial City Bureau to conduct a thorough investigation.

But as they investigated, they actually found the connection with Su Ze.

Su Ze checked his memory and found that he had definitely not done this.

As for why he was framed, it might be because his previous life was too impulsive and often spoke gaffes after drinking, so he was used as a scapegoat.

After figuring out the whole cause and effect, Su Ze still couldn't find a way out of the situation.

Hide in the Peach Blossom Spring?
You can hide for a while, but can you hide forever?
But this can also serve as a fallback.

At this moment, another shout came from outside the door:

"The Jiedushi has arrived!"

Wang Anshi had already explained the situation to his mother. When Wu came out from the backyard, Su Ze hurried forward to pay his respects.

Su Ze sincerely thanked Wang Anshi's mother, Wu, and said:
"Madam Wu, my brother is a righteous man, but this matter is of great importance and cannot affect my brother's future. I should just go out and do it."

Unexpectedly, Wu said:

"Selling out friends for safety is not the way I raise my sons. You have seen what my brother did, so you must remember this in the future."

Wang Anshi's brothers and sisters nodded one after another.

No wonder she could raise a son like Wang Anshi. This old lady Wu is truly extraordinary.

But Su Ze had no time to think about these things, as the soldiers outside the door started knocking again.

Su Ze made up his mind and had just thought of a plan to give it a try.

At worst, I can just hide in the Peach Blossom Spring.

Su Ze said to Wang Anshi:
"Everyone has their own responsibility. The Imperial City Bureau will not give up."

After saying this, he walked to the door, opened it, and saw a middle-aged general wearing a red helmet and armor standing at the door, surrounded by fat and thin officers.

When Fat Dutou saw Su Ze leaving, he immediately said:

"Jiedushi of the Palace Front Department and Supervisor of the Imperial City Department, Li Jiedu is here! The prisoner Su Ze refuses to confess his guilt!"

Su Ze's heart trembled slightly. This middle-aged general in a red helmet was actually Li Yonghe, the governor of the Palace Front Department. He was definitely an important official in the court.

However, Su Ze soon understood why this Jiedushi Li appeared here in person.

Because in addition to being the head of the Imperial City Bureau, Li Yonghe is also the younger brother of Li Chenfei, and the uncle of the current emperor.

The case of the demon book involves the secret history of the imperial palace, involving the biological mother and adoptive mother of the current emperor, and even the legality of the emperor's succession to the throne. No wonder the Imperial City Bureau is making such a fuss!

Su Ze took a breath. It was better that Li Yonghe came. He could give it a try!

　There are many versions of "The Substitute Prince", and "Fat Bird" is the version that was circulated in the Song Dynasty.

　　The version of "The Substitute Prince" created by Yuan Zaju is even more bizarre. It is also the version in "Seven Heroes and Five Gallants". You can search for the details yourself.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)