The moment the silk cloth was lifted, there was a deathly silence all around.
Sima Changshen stared at the contents of the box, and his proud face suddenly changed color. At this time, the officials who were closer to the side had already seen that there were five or six barrels in the wooden box. Some officials even I couldn't help but cover my nose, but I recognized that those were actually the buckets used to pay tribute.
Sima Changshen's pupils shrank, and he hurriedly lifted the silk cloth of other boxes and opened them one by one. Everyone saw that there was nothing else in the five boxes. They were all filled with barrels, and there were thirty or forty large and small ones. Most of these barrels are wooden barrels, but there are also copper barrels, but there are not many copper barrels, only three or four.
As for the antique calligraphy and paintings that Sima Changshen had previously firmly believed to be rare treasures, not even a shadow could be seen.
Sima Changshen's face had turned pale at this time, and his forehead was sweating. Dou Kui seemed to have sensed something. He glanced at the box and was stunned for a moment. He couldn't help but take a few steps forward to wait for a clear look at the few animals. The boxes were all full of tribute buckets, and they were immediately overjoyed, with a look of surprise on their faces that was difficult to conceal.
There were soon whispers everywhere.
Qi Ning walked over slowly at this time, glanced at it, and then stared at Sima Changshen. Sima Changshen felt that Qi Ning's eyes were like daggers, but at this time, he did not dare to look at Qi Ning at all, and just murmured: "A trap, this... this is a trap." He turned around suddenly and saw Dou Kui beside him. He grabbed Dou Kui by the collar and said sternly: "Dou Kui, what the hell are you playing? This... this is a trap! "
"A trap?" Dou Kui broke away and took two steps back. His mind was settled, and he was already confident at this time: "Zhongyi Hou, what do you mean by a trap? Should I ask you to stop the carriage in the middle of the road tonight? Can’t you go?”
"Why are there all respectful buckets in the box?" Sima Changshen said angrily: "This... how is this possible?"
Dou Kui straightened his official robe and said calmly: "Since the Huainan Prince's Mansion is being confiscated, naturally everything that can be confiscated and returned to the treasury should be confiscated as much as possible. These Gong barrels are also within the confiscation range, but they are not good things after all. , so I sent someone to transport it back to the household department in the middle of the night, Zhongyihou, does this violate the national law?"
Generally speaking, when property is confiscated, the barrels are rarely transported away. Generally speaking, apart from transporting valuable items such as gold, silver, jewelry, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, the remaining tables, chairs, and furniture will be directly bid by someone to transport them away. Gongtong has always been a thing that no one cares about. The Huainan Prince's Palace enjoys all the glory and wealth. It is true that there are a few Gongtong made of pure gold. However, when the house was ransacked yesterday, they had been taken away.
No one expected that what Dou Kui shipped out from the Huainan Prince's Mansion in the middle of the night was actually a batch of Gongbong. Although the night-luck Gonggbong was indeed a bit unbelievable, in terms of legal principles, there was nothing wrong with it, and No one would be stupid enough to think that transporting a batch of barrels would be to enrich one's own pockets.
At this time, Sima Changshen had realized that he had been severely teased, but in full view of everyone, he had nothing to say.
Qi Ning sighed and said: "House of Zhongyi, now that the dust has settled, everyone is not blind and can see clearly what is being transported in the carriage." Pointing to Gongtong in the box, he smiled and said: "Who wants it? I think these are antique treasures and I can take them back for collection now, and I can ask the emperor to give them all to everyone."
There was a burst of laughter all around.
Sima Changshen only felt his face getting hot, but Qi Ning continued: "Empress Zhongyi said that there are treasures hidden in the Huainan Palace, but Mr. Dou and I searched every corner of the Huainan Palace. By the way, the person responsible for the search is still Brother Yu Lin in the palace has registered all the things they found and transported them to the Ministry of Household Affairs. I really don’t know what kind of treasures there are in the Huainan Palace that will be smuggled out."
When Chen Lanting saw Sima Changshen in trouble, he couldn't help but said: "Does the Marquis of Jin Yi not know that King Huainan had a hobby of collecting rare treasures? And I heard that he also found a hidden place to hide those rare treasures. Rare treasures. Zhongyi Hou is naturally worried that someone will find those secret treasures and take them for himself, so he will...!"
"Wait a minute." Qi Ning frowned and said, "Shilang Chen, when you say this, I have to ask you clearly. You said you heard someone said that King Huainan has a secret treasure, so you have to make it clear who told you and where is the evidence? , where are those secret treasures hidden?”
Chen Lanting was stunned and said sarcastically: "Xiaoguan has only heard people mention where those secret treasures are. How does Xiaguan... how do I know?"
"You don't know why you are talking nonsense here?" Qi Ning sneered: "Who did you hear mention it? Bring him here now and let's explain it clearly in front of all the adults. Otherwise, people will think that I and Mr. Dou I discovered the secret treasure and secretly enriched myself. I cannot bear this injustice. Lord Dou, can you bear it?"
"Of course not." Dou Kui was confident and spoke sternly: "I and the Marquis are loyal to their duties and abide by the law. Today has been... hum, I have been wronged by the loyal and righteous Marquis once. If there are people who continue to go to the Marquis and the Marquis next time, Do you have to endure the muddy water thrown at me? I manage the household department and deal with money and food all day long. Some people are suspicious and think that my hands are dirty, but that's fine. However, the Jinyi Qi family has always been honest and honest. The young Marquis is even more upright and upright, and I cannot stand it if someone with ulterior motives slanders the reputation of the Jinyi Qi family."
Qi Ning said: "So since Shilang Chen has said this today, he must provide evidence to prove that King Huainan has a secret treasure. You should bring the person who told you this secret now." Raising his hand. He touched his nose and sneered: "The secret treasure treasured by King Huainan will naturally not be publicized to the outside world. How did that person know that King Huainan had the secret treasure? If he were not very close and trusted by King Huainan, I would be very It’s hard to believe how he knew?”
He sang harmoniously with Dou Kui, but his words were full of murderous intent.
The last sentence is really important. If anyone knows about the secret treasure of King Huainan, he may be a member of King Huainan. Now the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty are most worried about being implicated in King Huainan's rebellion. They are eager to break away from King Huainan. relationship.
Chen Lanting also knew that something was wrong and said hurriedly: "Master Hou, this... I actually heard someone mention it by chance. Who said it? I really can't remember it."
"Oh?" Qi Ning said coldly: "If you can't remember one sentence, you can evade everything." Pointing at Chen Lanting's nose, he said: "Before I heard that King Huainan conspired to rebel, you had conspired with King Huainan in the middle of the night. Is there such a thing? ?”
Chen Lanting was so distraught that he lost his voice and said: "What... how can this happen? Jin Yihou, you... please don't slander me. Do you have any evidence?"
"Master Chen can talk nonsense without evidence. If I don't have evidence, can't I guess?" Qin Ning said lightly: "Chen Lanting, you have to remember that you can eat randomly, but you can't talk nonsense. Again, I Let me ask you again, is it true or false that the King of Huainan has a secret treasure?"
Chen Lanting was sweating on his forehead. He couldn't help but raise his sleeves to wipe it off and said, "This... this must be a rumor made by someone. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it."
"It seems that Mr. Chen still understands the truth." Qi Ning showed a smile: "If there is no evidence, don't talk nonsense. Even a three-year-old child knows something. Is it possible that a high-ranking official in the court is not as good as a child? Since Huainan It is a lie that the king has a secret treasure, so smuggling the secret treasure from the palace is even more nonsense." Suddenly he looked at Sima Changshen and asked: "Zhongyi Marquis, Mr. Chen said that someone made a rumor about the secret treasure from the palace, but I don't know what you mean. how?"
Sima Changshen already knew that he was being plotted by Qin Ning. He sneered and said, "I don't know whether it is true or not. Until the evidence is found, it is difficult to say that it is true, but I cannot say that it is not true."
"That's it." Qi Ning smiled slightly, pointed at the box and said, "So Zhongyi Hou thinks these things are important? Is Mr. Dou suspected of smuggling treasures?"
Sima Changshen had nothing to say, put his hands behind his back, and snorted coldly.
"It seems that Marquis Zhongyi no longer thinks this is a secret treasure of the palace." Qi Ning waved his hand: "Master Dou, these boxes were originally in good condition, but someone has destroyed the iron locks. What do you think we should do?"
Dou Kui said: "What it was like before, it should be restored to what it was like before."
Qi Ning smiled and said: "Not bad." Pointing to Sima Changshen's subordinates, he said: "You have all heard that the broken iron lock should be restored now, and then the box will be carried back to the carriage. How did you put it before? Put it away exactly."
The subordinates all looked embarrassed, and they didn't know what to do for a while.
Sima Changshen took out an ingot of gold and threw it into the box, saying, "This ingot of gold is enough to buy ten more boxes."
"Since the loyal and loyal candidates are offering gold compensation, for the sake of Duke Zhen Guo, Lord Dou, please don't pursue this matter too closely." Qi Ning laughed.
Dou Kui was already obeying Qi Ning's orders at this time, and immediately said: "Everything must be obeyed by the Marquis." His face darkened, and he said to the followers of the Sima family: "You haven't put the box back yet, how can you do it? Are you leaving these buckets outside the palace gate?"
Without waiting for Sima Changshen's instructions, a group of people hurriedly closed the boxes and carefully carried the five boxes back to the carriage.
"Zhongyi Hou, after tonight's lesson, you should not get involved in the affairs of other departments and yamen easily in the future." Qi Ning sighed: "Don't ask the Queen Mother for an order to search. If the Queen Mother knew that the order was just to search Gong Tong. , I don’t know how to get angry.”
"You...!" From the beginning to the end today, Sima Changshen was at a disadvantage under Qi Ning's men. He was full of resentment and anger, but had no way to vent it in full view of the public.
Qi Ning smiled slightly and said: "But actually, there is no need to worry too much. Marquis Zhongyi has said that he will ask the emperor for an order to reduce his title. If the title is reduced, without the title of Marquis Zhongyi, you will not have any reputation or qualifications. It's not a bad thing to get involved in the official affairs of other yamen and be free and at ease. Isn't this the reason for the loyalty and righteousness?"
The ministers are thinking that you, Sima Changshen, made a bet in public, and now that you have completely failed, you will not be shameless and shameless. Tonight, you can still be regarded as a loyal and loyal prince. When the emperor's decree comes, you will reduce your title and take over your land. From now on, the four hereditary princes of Chu will be It will be one of the four.