Sima Lan's face was expressionless, but Sima Changshen had already said in a deep voice: "My lord, who are you referring to by the traitorous minister?"
Everyone knows that the most important minister in the court now is Ma Lan, the Zhenguo Company. Everyone knows that many memorials in the court are transferred from Sima Lan to the palace. At this time, the King of Huainan claimed that there were traitorous ministers blocking the hearing, and any The first thing people think of is naturally Ma Lan from Zhenguo Company.
Su Zhen also changed his color and said anxiously: "Your Majesty, it is the sacrificial ceremony now, we still...!"
"Wuxiang Hou, you are also one of the four hereditary princes of the Chu State. You are deeply favored by the country and there are traitorous ministers in the country. Do you want to protect yourself and ignore it?" King Huainan said solemnly: "The sacrifice ceremony is naturally to pray to the ancestors for the peace of the country and the people. Nowadays, there are treacherous ministers in the Chu State who are disrupting the government, and our country, Chu, is in danger. If we can't stand up to our ancestors in front of our ancestors, what is the use of this sacrificial ceremony?"
Qi Ning looked at the indifferent expression of King Huainan and sighed secretly.
He knew something big was going to happen at today's sacrificial ceremony, but he didn't expect it to happen so quickly. Moreover, King Huainan spoke mercilessly. Although he didn't name anyone, no one knew who the traitor he was talking about was.
Su Zhen opened her mouth, but couldn't speak.
"Your Majesty, it is not easy for our ancestors to conquer this country." King Huainan sighed: "You are the emperor, I am also of royal blood, and I am your uncle Wang. Uncle Wang may not be very capable, but if you see someone who wants to cause chaos, If I want to lose the country and the country of Da Chu, I will never agree to it. Even if I risk my life, I have to keep the peace of my country and the country of Da Chu."
The officials all lost their countenance, knowing in their hearts that today's events were irreconcilable.
The battle between Huainan King and Sima Lan has long been known to everyone. In fact, many people know in their hearts that the conflict between the two is getting more and more intense, and there will never be a retreat from such a battle. Unless one party completely collapses, otherwise the two will People can only fight to the death, so many people even guessed that sooner or later these two people would directly confront each other, causing a drastic change in the court.
But no one thought that King Huainan would suddenly attack during the sacrificial ceremony.
Sima Changshen sneered and said: "King Huainan, you keep saying that there are traitors in the court. Who are the traitors you are talking about?"
The King of Huainan also smiled coldly, did not answer Sima Changshen's words, and cupped his hands to Longtai and said: "Your Majesty, I would like to ask Your Majesty to handle this case in public, so as to explain it to Taizu Taizong and the late Emperor."
Yuan Lao Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites frowned and said: "Your Majesty, the sacrificial ceremony is not a child's play. Now is an auspicious time. The various sacrificial rituals must not be neglected or disrespectful in the slightest. If the case is decided at such a time, this... This seems to be inconsistent with etiquette. .”
"Old Minister Yuan, you are an old minister of our Chu State, a well-educated man who knows everything from ancient times to the present." The King of Huainan sighed: "You should understand that if the country is uneasy, the etiquette system will be weakened. Only when the country is peaceful and the people are safe can it be a great gift. Now I have a treacherous minister in Chu. Of course, if you can't eliminate evil and preserve righteousness, what's the use of this sacrificial ceremony?"
Qian Raoshun, the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment, knelt on the ground and said loudly: "I implore the Emperor to put an end to this case and restore a bright and innocent world!"
Long Tai calmed down at this moment and asked, "How does Uncle Wang think I should handle this case?"
"Your Majesty, here is the confession. After three halls of testimony, the truth will naturally come out." The King of Huainan said seriously.
Long Tai pondered for a moment and then said: "Give the confession to the Duke of Zhen for a look."
Qian Raoshun picked up the confession with both hands, stood up, walked to Sima Lan, and presented the confession. Sima Lan was calm and collected, took the confession, glanced at it a few times, still expressionless, Longtai glanced at it and said : "Mr. Zhenguo, is what you said in your confession true or false?"
Sima Lan sighed: "If you want to impose a crime, there is no reason to hesitate. Your Majesty, a mere confession can prove that the Hu Bowen case was instigated by an old minister. It is too ridiculous."
Qi Ning did not see the confession, but he had already guessed it. He knew that the confession would definitely be very detrimental to Sima Lan.
Hu Bowen and Liang Xiong worked together to deliberately sabotage the mission to Dong Qi. Although Qi Ning exposed his conspiracy, Hu Bowen never confessed who was behind it. Now it seems that Hu Bowen's confession should reveal the truth behind the scenes. The evil point was directed at Sima Lan.
However, Qining was deeply suspicious of whether the confession was true or false. After all, Hu Bowen's case was later handed over to the Ministry of Punishment, and it was known throughout the court that Qian Raoshun of the Ministry of Punishment was a member of the King of Huainan. If the King of Huainan ordered Qian Raoshun It is not too difficult for Shun to point the finger of this case at Sima Lan.
The King of Huainan had already smiled and said: "Your Majesty, of course such a serious case cannot be settled based on a confession. I also ask your Majesty to summon the guilty minister Hu Bowen, so that he can personally tell the Emperor the truth about the matter."
"Hu Bowen is here?" Long Tai frowned.
King Huainan said: "Shang Shu Qian has already sent someone to escort Hu Bowen to the imperial mausoleum, and he can be summoned at any time."
As soon as these words came out, the ministers became aware and thought to themselves that everything today was planned by the King of Huainan. Since Hu Bowen had been escorted over, it was certainly planned in advance by the King of Huainan to pursue Hu Bowen's case during the sacrificial ceremony. , since King Huainan dared to attack the most powerful official in the dynasty during the sacrificial ceremony, he was naturally well prepared. Things today are obviously not good.
Some active ministers could not help but look around. Guarding under the sacrificial platform were elite warriors led by Chi Fengdian. At present, all the monarchs and ministers were under the protection of the Yulin Camp. In other words, they were also under the protection of the Yulin Camp. Under the control of Yulin Camp.
Many people know that Chi Fengdian has a close relationship with the Jindao Tantai family, and the Jindao Tantai family even supported the Huainan King back then. If Chi Fengdian is close to the Huainan King today because of the Jindao Tantai family, , then the situation of the Sima family can be said to be extremely dangerous.
Although the Black Sword Battalion of the Sima family has amazing combat power and is not inferior to the Yulin Battalion from the front, only the Yulin Battalion is protecting the sacrificial ceremony this time. Even if the Black Sword Battalion wants to respond in time, it is too late to set off from the station.
Before the emperor could speak, Sima Changshen had already said sternly: "Your Majesty, Qian Raoshun colluded with the King of Huainan to harm our Sima family. Please be aware of everything and conduct a thorough investigation."
"The words of the loyal minister are too strong, and I can't bear it." Qian Raoshun said immediately: "This official is loyal to Da Chu and loyal to the emperor. Every case he handles is handled impartially and he never dares to show favoritism. It's a violation of the law." Staring at Sima Changshen: "The loyal and righteous Marquis said that the subordinate officials colluded with the prince, but I don't know where to start?"
The King of Huainan also sneered and said: "Sima Changshen, it seems that you are used to being domineering on weekdays. In the clear sky and in the daytime, you have falsely accused the Minister of Punishment of colluding with this king. Is this great Chu the world of your Sima family? What are you talking about? What is that?" His tone was full of chill.
Qi Ning remained silent, but he could tell that King Huainan's words were filled with resentment, as if he had been holding it in his heart for a long time.
Sima Changshen was about to argue again, but Sima Lan had already said in a deep voice: "Shut up." Without looking at King Huainan, he said to Longtai: "Your Majesty, since I followed Emperor Taizong in the Northern and Southern Wars, I have served three kings successively. , can be regarded as a veteran of three dynasties. When he followed Emperor Taizong, the veteran had already sworn an oath to be loyal to Dachu in this life, even if he died, he would have no regrets. Over the years, the veteran has worked hard day and night, not daring to make the slightest mistake. Now that the emperor has ascended the throne not long ago, the veteran is grateful Taizong and the late Emperor Long En, although I am already old and decrepit, I will do my best, hoping to share the emperor's worries."
There was silence everywhere, but there was disdain in King Huainan's eyes.
"I deal with many political affairs on a daily basis. Although I can't say that I manage everything every day, everything is complicated. I only have one heart, that is, no matter what happens, I must put the interests of our great Chu first. This will inevitably make many people feel sad. Unhappy." Sima Lan sighed: "I just want to be able to see Taizong and the late emperor a hundred years later, and I will be able to feel no regrets." He looked at the confession in his hand and said: "This confession says that the veteran ordered Hu Bowen to destroy the Jin Yiwai. Dong Qi wanted to prevent Princess Tianxiang from becoming the queen of Chu. He also said that the old minister was selfish and wanted to make Sima Wanqiong the queen of Chu. The old minister really didn't know how to argue and asked the Holy Spirit to summon Hu Bowen. , made a public statement.”
The King of Huainan smiled and said: "Your Majesty, since the old Duke wants to clear his grievances in front of all the officials, if he does not summon Hu Bowen, it will make it impossible for the old Duke's grievances to be vindicated."
Long Tai pondered for a moment and then said: "Summon Hu Bowen."
The King of Huainan winked at Qian Raoshun, who immediately bowed and retreated. The ministers were all uneasy at this time, but they did not dare to speak. Everyone lowered their heads and had their own thoughts in their hearts.
Not long after, everyone saw Qian Raoshun coming back, followed by two armored warriors from the Yulin Camp, escorting a shaggy-haired prisoner with a shackle onto the altar. With a thin appearance and a sallow complexion, knowledgeable people would immediately recognize him as Hu Bowen.
Old Shangshu Yuan stood on the sacrificial platform, and when he saw Hu Bowen coming on the stage, his face suddenly became solemn. When Hu Bowen saw Old Shangshu Yuan, he suddenly bowed slightly to the old Shangshu. Old Shangshu Yuan sighed and shook his head, and then Hu Bowen stepped forward and walked out. After two steps, he was immediately grabbed by the Yulin warrior, pushed to the ground, and knelt down.
Qining saw that in just a short period of time, Hu Bowen seemed to have changed into a different person, with a sallow complexion and emaciated skin. He knew that he must have suffered a lot in prison.
"Your Majesty, the guilty minister Hu Bowen is here!" Qian Raoshun said respectfully.
Longtai had naturally seen it, frowned slightly, and finally asked: "Hu Bowen, was that confession made by you? In your confession, you admitted that Duke Zhenguo ordered you to sabotage the mission and go to Dong Qi. Is this true?"
Hu Bowen knelt on the ground, raised his head, and said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the guilty minister, thanks to the grace of the Holy One, followed the Jin Yihou as an envoy to the Eastern Qi Dynasty. He originally wanted to serve the country wholeheartedly, but... The guilty minister was coerced by others, and someone threatened the guilty minister. If If you don't act according to his instructions, all the guilty ministers will be in ruins. The guilty ministers were confused for a moment and abandoned the official position for personal reasons, so... then they took the risk in an attempt to destroy the mission and prevent the marriage between Da Chu and Dong Qi."
"So, this confession was all made by you yourself?" Longtai said coldly.
Hu Bowen hesitated for a moment and suddenly shouted: "Your Majesty, the guilty minister dare not deceive the emperor. With this confession, the guilty minister... the guilty minister was also forced by others!"