Chu Mingwei followed the palace man forward in small steps. He didn't even dare to raise his head and bowed his waist. He just looked at the feet of the palace man in front of him. After walking for a short while, he arrived outside a Nuan Pavilion. The palace man stopped and said softly: " Master Chu, go in, the emperor is waiting for you!"
"Thank you so much, Eunuch!" Chu Mingwei cupped his hands, straightened his robes, and then entered the door. Without raising his head, he took a few steps forward, knelt on the ground, and said respectfully: "Chu Mingwei, Minister of the Criminal Department, kowtow to the Emperor!" His forehead was pressed to the ground. Go up, no longer look up.
After a period of silence, a voice was heard saying: "Shilang Chu, remember, the Emperor's instructions tonight are not to be arrogant and to keep a low profile."
Chu Mingwei was a little surprised when he heard that the voice did not come from the emperor at all. He thought that the emperor summoned him but there was no one else. Then he realized that there was someone else present. He was confused and raised his head slightly, but he saw that the person talking to him was actually a palace official. Middle eunuch.
He knew that the emperor had previously valued the eunuch Liu Jin very highly, but when the Sima family was destroyed, Liu Jin was executed along with Sima Lan. Father-in-law Fan Dehai, who had been in the palace, was still the most favored eunuch around the emperor.
Fan Dehai is the eunuch in charge of the palace, but his reputation outside is not bad. I thought the eunuch here was Fan Dehai, but when I saw the eunuch's face, I didn't recognize him, let alone Fan Dehai, and I was very surprised.
This eunuch is not tall and slightly overweight, but his eyes are very sinister.
Although he didn't know the name of the eunuch, Chu Mingwei didn't dare to ask more. At this time, from the corner of his eye, he saw a bead curtain directly in front of him. The lights behind the bead curtain were also very dim. He vaguely saw a person sitting behind the curtain and knew that that was where the emperor was. , hurriedly lowered his head and said: "I will obey the emperor's will."
"The Emperor's dragon body is slightly unwell, and the decree will be passed down by the Za family." The eunuch said in a sharp voice: "Servant Chu, I heard that you have a close relationship with the Protector. Is it true or not?"
When the eunuch mentioned Qi Ning, Chu Mingwei's heart tightened, but he still said: "Reporting to your Majesty, I am on duty in the Ministry of Punishment, and Duke Huguo is the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment. I assisted Duke Huguo in the Ministry of Punishment to handle the case of Sima Shi's rebellion. I often have contact with the Lord Protector, but my contact with the Lord Protector is only for business purposes, and there is no deep personal relationship."
"So, the rumors outside that you are on good terms with the Protector of the Country are not true?"
Chu Mingwei said: "The Protector of the Country is the pillar of our great Chu, but I really can't reach him!"
"Do you think the Protector is the pillar of the Great Chu?" The eunuch then asked: "So, I, the Great Chu, cannot live without the Protector?"
Chu Mingwei's heart skipped a beat. He has always been extremely cautious in doing things. He has been in the officialdom for many years and his vigilance is naturally far beyond ordinary people. When he suddenly entered the palace tonight, his heart was hanging in the air. He listened to every word. He was thinking about it again and again, and he felt that something was obviously wrong with the eunuch's words. He immediately knelt on the ground and said: "Da Chu is the Emperor's Da Chu. Except for the Emperor, anyone can leave Da Chu. As long as the Emperor is true With the dragon in charge, our country will be peaceful and the people will be safe."
After a moment of silence, the eunuch said: "Servant Chu, if one day there is a rebellious minister in the court, what will you do?"
Chu Mingwei no longer hesitated and said decisively: "If there is a rebel, I should obey the order and eliminate the rebel, even if I die!"
"Okay!" The eunuch laughed sharply and then said slowly: "The Shenhou Mansion has found out that after Qin Ning captured the northwest, he had a strange idea and wanted to become king in the northwest. To this end, he secretly colluded with the Northern Han Dynasty. Are you Minister of Criminal Affairs, do you know what crime this is?"
Chu Mingwei's expression suddenly changed, his body trembled, he raised his head suddenly, and said in a voiceless voice: "The Protector of the Country...want to stand on his own feet?"
The eunuch's eyes were like daggers, staring at Chu Mingwei and said: "That's right. After the emperor knew about this, he sent Shenhou Mansion and Yulin Camp, led by Commander Chi himself. He originally wanted to bring Qining back to the capital and inquire more carefully. , but this man was so crazy that he actually killed dozens of Yulin Guards, and the evidence of his rebellious heart is conclusive."
Chu Mingwei's pupils shrank, and he was horrified.
"How to deal with the crime of treason?"
Chu Mingwei said: "Conspiracy to treason and treason will implicate the nine tribes and kill without mercy!"
"As expected of a veteran of the Ministry of Punishment." The eunuch said: "Conspiracy and treason are naturally unpardonable crimes. But...!" He glanced behind the bead curtain and said, "The emperor is thinking of the old marquis in Jinyi and the general Qi Jingwei. I, the great Chu, have made great contributions and cannot bear to see the Qi clan cut off, so I am merciful and do not pursue the nine clans. I only need to detain and imprison the people of the Protector's Mansion. However, there are many Qi clan members in the capital. How do you think we should deal with them? For good?"
"I will do everything according to the emperor's will!" Chu Mingwei did not raise his head.
Then I heard a few coughs behind the bead curtain, and a hoarse voice said: "Chu... Chu Aiqing, you are the Ministry of Punishment... Well, you are the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment. You have handled many cases. This case... Well, I... I don't want to stir up too much trouble." There is a big storm and the battle is still going on on the front line, so... So it's best to deal with it quietly. If you have any suggestions, just say it. If... If I say something wrong, I won't blame you!" This voice said Quite hoarse and weak, the little emperor seemed to be really unwell.
Chu Mingwei hesitated for a moment and finally said: "Reporting to the Holy Majesty, there are hundreds of people in the Duke Protector's Mansion. Once someone is sent to detain and imprison them, it is impossible that there will be no movement, and it will soon spread throughout the capital, so the matter cannot be concealed. After a slight pause, he raised his head and cupped his hands and said: "Both generations of marquises from the Jinyi Qi family have commanded the Qinhuai Army. The current leader of the Qinhuai Army, Yue Huanshan, was single-handedly created by General Qi Jingqi. Although the Qi family has no The military power of the Qinhuai Army was lost, but... the influence of the Qi family on the Qinhuai Army cannot disappear in such a short period of time."
"What do you mean?" the eunuch asked.
Chu Mingwei said: "Your Majesty, in addition to the Qinhuai Army, there is also the Black Scale Camp outside Beijing. Although there are only a few hundred people, these people must be loyal to the Qi family. Duan Canghai went to the northwest, but Zhao Wushang still stayed. In the Black Scale Battalion, Zhao Wushang is a retainer of the Qi family. Once something happens to the Qi family, Zhao Wushang and the hundreds of officers and soldiers of the Black Scale Battalion will never remain indifferent." He hesitated before continuing: "Also There is the Tiger God Camp, which is responsible for guarding the capital. The leader of the Tiger God Camp, Xue Lingfeng, has also received favors from the Qi family. I am really not sure whether he will have any ideas when the time comes."
The emperor did not speak, but the eunuch did sneer: "Shilang Chu, do you want to say that Qining has committed treason, and the court cannot punish him for his offence, otherwise there will be rebellion?"
Chu Mingwei hurriedly knelt on the ground and said in fear: "I don't dare. What I mean is that the fighting on the front line is intense and it is an emergency. If the news of Qining's treason spreads, it will inevitably affect the morale of the front line troops and the consequences will be disastrous." "
The eunuch snorted coldly: "Don't you know this truth, Your Majesty? That's why I summoned you to discuss this matter."
"Your Majesty, the Jinyi Qi family is the founding marquis and has a deep foundation in the military." Chu Mingwei said: "The Holy One has ordered people to find out Qining's treason. That is absolutely true, but...!" After a moment of hesitation, Then he continued: "But if the Ministry of Punishment really wants to hear the case and even detain the Jinyi Qi family members, I think the charges must be made public, otherwise... Otherwise, I am afraid that the morale of the military will be unstable."
The eunuch said coldly: "So, Qining still has a great influence in the military?"
"It's not Qining, it's the Jinyi Qi family." Although Chu Mingwei has been feeling terrified since entering the palace, he also understands that if he doesn't explain the matter clearly and rashly touches the Qi family, he may be shattered to pieces if he is not careful. , bravely said: "It is the prestige accumulated by the first two generations of Jin Yihou in the military." Seeing that the eunuch and the emperor did not speak, he continued: "If the charges are made public, it will inevitably cause an uproar, and the morale of the frontline troops will be affected. The war is not going well, but if the charges cannot be announced and the Qi family is dealt with rashly, it will also cause chaos in the military, so...!"
"So the Jinyi Qi family can't be touched, is that what you mean?" The eunuch said angrily: "Chu Shilang, it seems that you don't dare to handle this case."
"If the Holy One has a will, even if I am shattered to pieces, I will definitely not betray the Holy One." Chu Mingwei felt that cold sweat was breaking out on his vest: "But it is the Holy One who has the will. This matter can only be done in a low-key manner. I... I deeply believe that. "
The emperor coughed twice and then said: "What good idea do you have?"
Chu Mingwei thought for a moment and then said cautiously: "I think that it is not necessary to detain all the members of the Jinyi Qi family in prison for the time being. We only need to quietly lure the main prisoners of the Qi family out of the Protector's Palace, and then secretly detain and imprison them. As for other people in the mansion, you can send someone to closely monitor them and prevent them from coming in and out at will. Once the war has begun, or even after the war, Qining's treason will be made public to the world. At that time, the Jinyi Qi family can be treated openly and honestly. Punish them." After a pause, he continued: "As for the other Qi family members in the capital, I can send someone to give some hints to their family heads and tell them that it is best not to have anything to do with the Jinyi Qi family. Leave the capital as soon as possible and return to their hometown. If they understand the meaning, it would be fine to leave the capital quickly, otherwise, when the time comes to punish these people, they can also be judged."
"That's very good." The emperor behind the bead curtain said: "You... you should do it as soon as possible. Don't let anyone come into contact with the Qi family, let alone let the Qi family have contact with outsiders. Well, also, Qining If he is on the run, he may find an opportunity to return to the capital. You must pay close attention to the movements of the Qi family and set a trap. If Qi Ning really has the courage to return to the Qi family, arrest him immediately. If he resists, he will be killed without mercy!"
Chu Mingwei fell to the ground and said: "I obey the order!"
"Qining has rebelled against the country. You can take up the position of Minister of the Ministry of Punishment." The emperor said: "Chu... Chu Aiqing, I have high hopes for you. Don't let me down!"
Chu Mingwei was startled, but immediately thanked him and said, "I thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"